SupportingLocal Journalism
Marlborough gears up for annual veterans fundraiser Giving
Marlborough Hudson
By Paul Hopkins Reporter
HUDSON – The Hudson Select Board has approved a $130,000 contract for design services for the Public Library Building Project. Tappe Architects of Boston, the chosen bidder, was one of nine firms that submitted proposals. Design services are for the “proposed renovation, expansion, and/or new construction” of the library. Cost estimates range from $20 million to $24 million.
Board Member Diane Bemis, who sat on the Library Building Committee, said the group was delighted with the finalists. She noted that Tappe “brings a lot of experience” with libraries and recently finished an addition to another Carnegie library in Melrose — “a very, very similar situation to what we have.” The Building Committee moved quickly: It took a walk-through of the library with architects on
By Shealagh Sullivan Reporter
MARLBOROUGH — A fire last month at an assisted living facility in Fall River resulted in 10 deaths, the greatest loss of life to fire in Massachusetts in over 40 years.
Marlborough firefighters are worried it could happen in their city.
In a social media post on July 17, days after the Gabriel House fire, Marlborough Firefighters Local 1714 called for an increase in the city’s fire department staffing, claiming it was below the national standards set by The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
“The loss of life or loss of multiple lives should not be what it takes to make reactive decisions to protect the public safety personnel or the citizens we serve,” the post read.
The NFPA 1710 — the Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career
By Paul Hopkins Reporter
HUDSON – The Hudson Board of Health is expecting a response from town officials after the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) identified a number of violations and points of “non-compliance” that require action.
The DEP report noted eight violations and 23 deficiencies, many having to do with equipment testing and logging of results. The report also noted that Hudson does not have a “written strategic plan, capital improvement plan, or asset management plan,” and ordered the town to submit that information by July 1, 2026.
An edition of the Community Advocate
State Water | from page 1
MassDEP calls Hudson water system ‘non-compliant’ Hudson awards contract for library design work
While the board felt it was important to share the state report as a matter of transparency, Lauren Antonelli, the town’s director of public health, stressed that municipal water is safe to drink. Antonelli said the state report is about facilities and that the deficiencies reported do not affect water quality today. She
said the state “wants to help us get into compliance” and the intent is not to cause alarm.
A written statement submitted by DPW Chief Eric Ryder, who was unavailable to attend this meeting, said his department takes the issues seriously and is “committed to addressing concerns.” Upon his return, he told the Community Advocate that “the town is
actively working on developing an action plan to address the noncompliance issues,” and that for some items, “we aim to implement immediate fixes, particularly through improved record-keeping.”
Health Board Member Matthew Gallen said he had a hard time believing the issues were being taken seriously. Gallen said, “My issue is to hold the
DPW accountable” and noted the DEP report includes some deadlines that are approaching in 2025.
The Hudson Board of Health will meet again on September 16 at 5:30 p.m. The location of the meeting has not been determined as of publication.
Stay tuned to the Community Advocate for ongoing coverage of this issue.
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Library | from page 1
July 17, had proposals due \ on July 24, and chose Tappe unanimously on July 31.
Tappe Architects lists 23 library projects on its website, including the Worcester Public Library, Tufts Library, and most recently, the Melrose Public Library.
A two-story addition to the Hudson Library from 1966 has been shifting for years. An engineer determined that the addition’s foundation was the issue, creating further structural problems. According to the library’s website, “If the library remains at its current location, the goal is to renovate and expand. If the library must relocate, then it may become a renovation project or new construction based on the location. The 2024 conditions assessment concluded that the library’s 1966 addition is not constructed on a suitable foundation system nor is the foundation built on a suitable subgrade.”
Tappe Architects will create schematic drawings, including complete floor plans showing shelving, furniture, and equipment layouts. The design work will also include elevations and building sections, as applicable; and a site plan shows building location, parking, and utilities.
Hudson’s Public Library is one of the well-known “Carnegie libraries” funded by the Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. He donated money to build more than 1,600 libraries in the United States and nearly a thousand in other countries. Built in 1905 with a $12,500 Carnegie grant, the building replaced a smaller library that opened in 1867. The library — even with the 1966 addition — has since outgrown its space and, according to library officials and trustees, needs to expand to meet modern expectations. It is likely to be a yearslong project. If the existing building is renovated, the library would need to find a temporary location. An entirely new facility would involve securing a space.
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In the wake of Fall River fire, firefighters push for more staff
Fire Staffing | from page 1 Fire Departments — recommends four firefighters per truck. In Marlborough, trucks are staffed by two or three firefighters, according to department leadership.
Union President Matt Armour said the city’s firefighters have repeatedly called for an increase in staffing. In 1990, the department responded to just over 4,000 calls. Last year, it responded to over 9,000.
According to Armour, staffing has not increased in those 30 years. He added that over the past 10 years, the department has consistently asked for an increase to its minimum staffing — which is currently 16 firefighters during the day and 14 at night — through the city budget process. Time and again, it was denied.
“It’s never really easy to have these conversations, especially in the wake of tragedy. We don’t take lightly the fact that 10 people lost their lives out in Fall River,
but I think the message that is resonating across the state is that we’re trying to be proactive, not reactive here,” Armour said.
Last year, Marlborough Mayor Christian Dumais announced the city had re-established the West Side Fire Station Committee.
“As I mentioned in my inaugural speech, this station will not be built overnight. However, I am hopeful that this committee represents the first of many steps taken to ensure this station becomes a reality after decades of promises,” Dumais said at the time.
The effort to construct the West Side Fire Station dates back to 2016 when large developments, including Avalon Bay and the Apex Entertainment Center, became more prevalent. The increase in fire department calls and the city’s population led to a push for another station to spread out personnel and ensure equitable access to services.
The original committee
was formed in 2018.
Since its formation, the committee has identified several parcels of land that could house the fire station. At a town hall last year, Dumais said the city and committee are “being very methodical about it.”
“The city has recognized that as the community continues to grow, additional staffing and a fire station located on the west side of the community [are] needed. We will continue to work with the city officials while advocating for the needs of the fire department to provide services in a safe and efficient manner for our members and the public we serve, while recognizing the financial impacts this has on the community,” Assistant Chief Jeffery Emanuelson told the Community Advocate. Currently, Marlborough has about 41,000 residents. An increase in population puts a strain on all the city’s services, Armour said. Systems across the city are feeling
the effects, without getting what they feel is needed for staffing and funding.
“It’s no secret that if you drive through any portion of town, you’re just seeing an exponential amount of construction and apartment buildings, and new businesses and new buildings are going up on a daily basis. That’s a demand on our infrastructure, and that’s a demand on city services, including the fire service,” Armour said.
Armour added that while efforts have been made to build the West Side Station, the union hasn’t felt the support from city leadership when it comes to staffing across the board.
“We appreciate and respect the dedicated fire department personnel and all public safety employees. We are constantly evaluating and assessing the needs of the city in order to keep all of our residents and visitors safe,” said Dumais in a statement to the Community Advocate.
A majority of fire departments in Massachusetts fail to meet the NFPA 1710 recommendations. As towns and municipalities weigh strained budgets and volatile federal funding, Armour said it’s not a union-versus-government fight, but a collective push toward a safer and more secure city.
“We want to maintain a positive and friendly relationship within our city government. We’re not looking to put them under the microscope or air out dirty laundry. We’re certainly not trying to do that. But what we are trying to do is bring awareness in the wake of tragedy,” Armour said. “We think Marlborough is a community that could potentially be in this very same situation that Fall River was in in a very short window of time.”
“As a resident of the city that I work in, it’s important to me to know that my family is safe when I’m not there,” he added.
Marlborough gears up for annual veterans fundraiser
By Shealagh Sullivan Reporter
MARLBOROUGH — In the back of the Prospector Saloon, sitting around arranged folding tables, Marlborough veterans and locals alike eagerly discuss raffle donations, local bands, and how to best decorate a float proudly displaying the American flag.
For them, it’s another Wednesday evening. However, they’re preparing for one of the biggest days for veterans in Marlborough and beyond.
The volunteers are gearing up for the fourth annual Day to Benefit Veterans, a day for people across the Commonwealth to celebrate while giving back to veterans in their community. The fundraiser is organized by A Day to Benefit Veterans, a nonprofit organization run by local volunteers dedicated to raising funds for local veterans programs.
For many volunteers, the organization’s mission hits close to home.
“It’s local Massachusetts citizens helping local Massa-
chusetts veterans,” said John Pucillo, a retired Navy Lieutenant Commander and president of A Day to Benefit Veterans.
This year’s fundraiser will be on Sept. 7 at the Hudson Elks Pavilion. The event will feature raffle prizes, a silent auction, food from local restaurants, live music, and more. Romeo’s Duo, Rumour Has It, and The Allens will be performing.
There will be a tank on display from the American Heritage Museum, as well as hourly cash raffle prizes.
The event has raised about $50,000 in past years, according to Joni Layden, the organization’s clerk. Money raised from the event gets donated to various charities for veterans in Massachusetts, such as Second Chance Cars, a Massachusetts-based organization that donates used cars to people in need.
General admission is $25, and cash prize raffle tickets are $10. A table for 10 people is $250.
A Day to Benefit Veterans first started as a fundraiser at the American Legion organized
by Layden in just two weeks. Despite the short notice, the event raised $5,600, she said.
She and other volunteers saw the opportunity to do something bigger, and with the help of Bob Kays, now the chairman of the organization’s board of directors, the Day to Benefit Veterans was born.
“We’re always looking for new donors, new corporate sponsors, anyone that can help us,” Pucillo said. “We’re actually looking to get bigger and bigger every year.”
For more information on A Day to Benefit Veterans, head to https://adaytobenefitveterans.org/.
A
to
City Council approves overlay district on Ames St.
By Shealagh Sullivan Reporter
MARLBOROUGH – As affordable housing discussions in Marlborough continue, the City Council Urban Affairs Committee voted to approve a new overlay district at the corner of Ames Street and
The zoning amendment allows a maximum of 90 units on the property. The parcel was formerly zoned for 23 units, with a focus on single-family homes.
The Ames Village Overlay District sits on 11 acres and is currently vacant, though the Gutierrez Company and the Marlborough/Northborough Realty Trust have plans for up to 90 condominium units. According to attorney Brian Falk, the condos would be marketed toward “emptynesters and retirees.”
The Marlborough Planning Board voted, 6-0, last month to recommend the zoning amendment.
About four acres of the property will be left in its “natural vegetative state,” said Falk.
“Our view is that we’re already providing a lot of green space, and a lot of green space that’d be left in its natural vegetative state, and so to have these additional requirements for landscape areas and recreational areas, we didn’t think seemed necessary,” he said.
Councilor At-Large Sean Nevin raised concerns over the increase in units on the property. He also mentioned he was concerned that the property owners were not marketing the potential condominiums to families.
“I think we have seen time and again, the city of Marlborough needs more singlefamily housing. I don’t think what we need is another 90unit multifamily residential building, especially one that is age-targeted. We need more family housing, and we need to figure out ways to do
it,” Nevin said.
However, other councilors emphasized that affordability is more necessary than ever.
“I hate to say it, but that’s kind of where the market’s going right now. If you want affordable housing, I don’t think it’s going to be small homes,” said Ward 2 Councilor David Doucette.
Councilors also discussed the potential impact more single-family homes could have on the city’s schools.
Councilor Kathleen Robey, chair of the committee, added that condominiums didn’t erase a potential impact on the school district.
The committee voted 4-1, with Nevin opposed.
The project will need to go through a site plan review and apply for a special permit before plans can be finalized and construction can begin.
The Community Advocate will continue to report on the Ames Village Overlay District.
Day
Benefit Veterans is a way to celebrate and raise funds. (Photo/ Shealagh Sullivan)
Giving new life to old stuff: Furniture bank seeks volunteers
By Adri Pray Reporter
MARLBOROUGH — Looking to get rid of old furniture still in good condition? Have time on your hands and want to volunteer? Passionate about environmentalism and humanitarianism?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above, congratulations. You (and your stuff) would make a great candidate for the newly opened New Life Furniture Bank in Marlborough.
The furniture bank is a nonprofit organization that gives new life to old stuff by making good-condition donations available to families in need who have been referred and vetted by social service agencies.
The Marlborough warehouse located at 55 Maple Street is the second New Life facility in Massachusetts; the first is located in Walpole and serves hundreds of families every year.
“We don’t take the stuff that the cat has beat up, because it’s all about giving our clients a dignified experience as opposed to just giving them something to put in their house so they can lift themselves up,” said longtime volunteer Mike Kahn, who connected with the mission in 2017 and has been instrumen-
tal in getting the Marlborough facility up and running.
Gov. Maura Healey’s administration granted $100,000 to New Life, which helped it open its doors in March. The grant also supported the purchase of brandnew mattresses and air conditioners for residents, and supported the state’s envi -
ronmental and housing goals. When clients come into the bank, they’re first greeted by a volunteer who will sit down with them and take them through a virtual inventory of the furniture. Clients make their selections on an iPad, while a team of volunteers pick through the warehouse and load a U-Haul, completing a seamless shopping experience.
Typically, families walk away with dressers and desks, mattresses and linens, and dishware. The facility receives donations from a variety of sources: individual households looking to downsize, junk removal companies, and businesses looking to give back to the community, among other sources.
“Anyone who’s in a situation where they’re essentially emerging from a form of housing trauma or crisis and needs to have their new space outfitted would be eligible to come to us on a referral from one of the [social service] agencies,”
said Executive Director Andy Crossley.
The effort is mainly volunteer-driven; however, a handful of paid staff members keep the place operational, which has been a main challenge for the up-and-coming facility. About half a dozen volunteers staff the furniture bank when it’s open to clients.
Many of the volunteers are retirees or teenagers and young adults who need community service hours. Some people work directly with clients to make them feel comfortable while shopping; others are in the warehouse pulling selections and refinishing and repairing gently loved furniture.
“We truly love each other, those of us who are volunteering here,” Kahn said. “We have a great relationship, we enjoy what we’re doing. Nobody here is judgmental; we’re focused on our clients. It’s a very collaborative environment here. We would love to have more people join us.”
The Marlborough Commuter Shuttle is at your service!
The 14 – passenger handicap-accessible shuttle connects local commuters and employees between the City of Marlborough and the Southborough MBTA Commuter Rail. The commuter route includes three round trips in the morning and in the evening to and from the business park at 200 Forest Street/ Campus Drive, Apex Center of New England, and downtown Marlborough. This option provides free public transportation for those who take the train to and/or from Boston & Worcester.
Monday through Friday
Morning Trips: 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Afternoon/Evening Trips: 3:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Any questions or concerns, please contact us at 508-229-2010 or info@marlboroughedc.com
The team at New Life Furniture Bank treats clients with dignity. (Photo/Adri Pray)
Local pub raises funds to help Marlborough teen fight cancer
By Shealagh Sullivan Reporter
MARLBOROUGH — Earlier this year, Amiyah Miller was just like any other 15-year-old.
A student at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, she was making the most of her freshman year. Then, in March, just days after her 15th birthday, the unthinkable happened.
She was diagnosed with a rare type of sarcoma, desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT).
Since her diagnosis, Miller has undergone chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumor, which resulted in the loss of about half of her tongue.
According to her mother Lisa Roman, doctors said it was originally thought that Miller wouldn’t ever talk or taste food again. But she’s fought hard, Roman said, and with the remaining part of her tongue, she is still able to enjoy life to the fullest.
However, Miller is again
going through chemotherapy and radiation.
A GoFundMe was started by Miller’s parents when she was diagnosed, which has raised just over $13,000 as of Aug. 11.
“Amiyah is an incredible young woman — kind, resilient, and loved by so many. We believe in her strength, and with your support, she won’t have to fight alone. Every donation, share, and prayer
A local pub helped a resident in need of support.
makes a difference,” the GoFundMe states.
Inspired by the situation, a local pub decided to give back.
Gina O’Toole Anello works at Funky Murphy’s at 31 Main Street in Marlborough, and often helps organize fundraisers for local charities and individuals in need. When she first heard about Miller back in March, she immediately started gathering donations
for her and her mother.
“She’s a 15-year-old little girl going through it. I just like to help people that are in need,” Anello said.
So, she decided to run a raffle to raise money. With Roman unable to work while taking care of her daughter and Miller going through radiation treatments nearly every day, Anello
said she wants to help ease the burden any way she can.
The raffle was held on Aug. 18. There were five winners, Anello said.
Since Anello’s initial fundraiser in March, Roman said she and Miller have felt the outpouring of love and support from the Marlborough community.
“I was so grateful to these people that don’t even know me,” said Roman, a Marlborough native.
Often stuck in bed, Miller reads the posts and comments of support. It makes all the difference, Roman said.
“She’s in a lot of pain. She may be admitted to the hospital,” said Roman. “It’s really, really, really tough on her, but seeing those posts and everything has been amazing. We’re just thankful, thankful for everyone.”
If you’d like to donate to Miller’s GoFundMe, please head to tinyurl.com/yp12oew.
