We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at news@communityadvocate.com or call us at 508-366-5500 WEST BOYLSTON ― West Boylston Public Schools has a new superintendent the current Marlborough High School principal had been Marlborough High principal since 2018 He was previously the district's director of STEM education worked for 23 years as the head of facilities for Marlborough Public Schools Riley takes over the West Boylston job from Richard Meagher Meagher announced earlier this school year that he would retire at the end of the year which led to the creation of a superintendent search committee The committee started with 22 applicants for the position Subsequent interviews and tours of the schools narrowed the search down to two candidates Southbridge Assistant Superintendent Kelly Williamson She subsequently took a position in Bedford School Committee Chairman James Pedone said during a meeting April 9 that both Riley and Williamson were strong candidates but Riley showcased a lot of strengths that the district needed "There were three key components that were very consistent that I think are important for our district," Pedone said "One is his knowledge and history of involvement in curriculum and he is innovative and he is open-minded At this point I think he would be an excellent fit for our community and going forward." School Committee member Emily Lehman Miller said during the April 9 meeting that was clear from interviews that Riley had the passion and enthusiasm to continue to learn and improve in his profession Riley is that he is a collaborative and creative problem solver I think that is what the district needs right now," Lehman Miller said "I also appreciate his enthusiasm about the work you can usually read when somebody is done and I appreciate the fact that he is still working to learn new things." "I am honored to be here," Riley said during his interview on April 9 "When I think about my philosophy as a leader I consider myself to be a servant-based leader but I come in every day to serve the students and the staff of the district When I get asked about why I wanted to be a teacher it was always because I wanted to help kids That is a very important decision to take as a career path and I am dealing with folks who have put their career path to serving kids Marlborough education advocates propose 11.1% school budget increase Here's whyThe MetroWest Daily NewsIn a city with a AAA bond rating more than $14 million in free cash and a residential tax rate that has dropped nearly 40% over the past decade it would be easy to assume our public schools are fully supported our educators and students are achieving progress under increasing pressure — and with increasingly limited resources the city’s per-pupil education funding has remained virtually flat Our school community has repeatedly been asked to do more with less Marlborough spent $2,907.80 less per pupil than the state average and it’s time for the per pupil expenditure to get back on track The superintendent’s proposed 11.1% budget increase (for fiscal 2026) — is not about expansion it's to maintain the current services and staffing levels and to responsibly account for unavoidable cost increases Earlier: Why Marlborough school board says 11.1% budget increase is justified We’ve made these gains with enormous effort by the staff We need support to build the foundation to keep growing The mayor’s fiscal 2026 budget has not been released and with it comes an important opportunity: to align our city’s financial strength with the real measurable progress happening in our schools our educators are defying the odds and overcoming obstacles and the students deserve a high-quality education Funding this budget is not a bold leap — it is a step toward stability was designed to support underserved students While the state has delivered this increased funding through Chapter 70 These funds are meant for our most vulnerable students the question we ask you isn’t whether we have the money It’s whether we have the courage to use it we ask you to value our all of us — students but solutions should not come at the expense of those who make learning possible Submitted collaboratively by Marlborough School Committee members Katherine Hennessy Earl Geary and Dan Caruso; Marlborough Educators Association President Elton Thomas; Whitcomb Middle School teacher Heather Colatuoni; and Marlborough High School student Taylor Cronis (This story has been update with additional information) Marlborough High has hired Ken Stukonis as its next football coach athletic director Jeff Rudzinsky said on Friday Stukonis was on Marlborough’s staff the previous four seasons and was Assabet’s head coach for 12 years who stepped down after last season due to health concerns Mahoney coached the Panthers for 21 seasons Rudzinsky said the school interviewed three finalists and that Stukonis “provided us with the best fit for where we are right now in our program.”  A Panther once again: Pete Jones, a Marlborough High alum now at AMSA, to replace Rudzinsky as Marlborough AD "It's just such an honor," Stukonis said Friday afternoon "I played all my sports in Marlborough when I was a young kid I went to Panther games every Friday night; my mother was a football nut Or if the Shamrocks were playing - whoever was at Kelleher (Field) winning a Super Bowl and going to two other title games "He's someone who's extremely knowledgeable about the game of football," Rudzinsky said "He's got a great way about him with the kids He's even-keeled and understands today's kid."  Stukonis has been an auto collision instructor since 1999 at Assabet He was recognized in 2018 as the AASP (Alliance for Automotive Service Providers) Auto Collision Teacher of the Year He played middle school football in Marlborough for Fran Polymeros and Ken Reynolds "That's where I started to have a love and passion for the game," Stukonis said Stukonis said Marlborough varsity assistant coaches TJ Raeke and Graham Asum will be retained and that his offensive coordinator at Assabet although Noah Sowden was one of the region's top scorers Stukonis said he met with the team on Thursday "The whole situation with Sean makes it a little bit tougher They know there's going to be some changes Mahoney is a member of the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, inducted in May of 2024 He entered last season with a career 150-111 record and was named the MIAA's Football Coach of the Year in 2020-21 "Sean is the ultimate gentleman," Stukonis said Probably the best X's and O's guy I've been around and came to Marlborough in 2004 after spending six seasons as the coach at Assumption He also coached girls basketball and tennis at Marlborough Rudzinsky is retiring at the end of the school year after 15 years and will be replaced by Marlborough High grad Pete Jones currently the AD at Advanced Math and Science Academy "I couldn't be more excited to work with coach Stukonis He and I have known each other for a long time and will hit the ground running in the coming weeks," Jones said "The student-athletes have an enormous amount of trust in Rudz and coach Mahoney but will have some new faces thrown at them this fall." Rudzinsky had kind words regarding Mahoney who was recently diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) a rare and aggressive neurodegenerative disease A GoFundMe set up in late March has raised more than $80,000 "Having someone of Sean's knowledge and experience in the game of football .. having stability in today's high school athletics - the leadership that he provided to these student-athletes over the years we're forever grateful for that," Rudzinsky said It was one program that I never had to worry about because I knew it was going to be done the right way." Mahoney captained the club football team at Worcester State to a 24-3 record in 1984-85 and the Lancers appeared in two national championship games He was inducted to the WSU Hall of Fame in 2018 alongside his daughter Michaella Tim Dumas is a multimedia journalist for the Daily News He can be reached attdumas@wickedlocal.com Voters will consider a number of items at annual town meeting Monday including a $7,091,838 proposed budget for fiscal 2026.  TOP ISSUES AT TOWN MEETING: The proposed fiscal 2026 budget of $7,091,838 reflects a 4.8 percent increase of the current budget • A $2,874,618 appropriation to Southern Berkshire Regional School District • A $200,000 appropriation to the stabilization fund • A $115,621 increase to the New Marlborough Fire/Rescue budget to raise stipends for first responders • A $100,000 appropriation from free cash for repairs to Norfolk Road The town is seeking a state grant for additional funds for this project • A $300,000 appropriation from free cash for an owner's project manager and initial design plans for renovating Town Hall The building is not currently ADA compliant • A $86,650 appropriation from free cash for a police cruiser • Amending town bylaws pertaining to Accessory Dwelling Units to comply with state law adopted last year Amanda Burke can be reached at aburke@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6296 Lee voters will consider the fiscal 2026 operating budget an amendment prohibiting ADUs and the principal dwelling from becoming short-term rentals and various other items.   Mount Washington's Annual Town Meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m A fundraiser for the roof replacement will feature a documentary It's a story of Jewish perseverance — just like the old building.  Voters at annual town meeting on Saturday approved the spending of $3 million for a temporary bridge at Brookside Road Town officials and staff say they misinterpreted a town bylaw that requires nonresidents to get permission to "address" a town meeting Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device (This story has been updated with additional information.) The state has chosen a site in Marlborough for a new police crime lab with Worcester losing out on a bid for the facility according to the state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance The state police have plans for 180,000 to 200,000 square feet for a laboratory The proposal selected comes from Boston-based Greatland Realty Partners which is expected to construct a building along Martinangelo Drive in The Campus at Marlborough business park according to a spokesperson for the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance The park includes offices of B.J.'s Wholesale Club The agency considered a developer’s bid for a crime lab near Polar Park in Worcester a project pushed by Worcester officials as an economic boost The bid for was submitted last July by Madison Properties More: Will new state police crime lab come to Worcester? Here's the pitch There were also proposals to build the crime lab in Auburn Expected to begin operations in November 2026 the new crime lab will combine the operations at the current Maynard and Sudbury facilities Attempts to reach the city and Madison Properties about the bid for the crime lab were not immediately successful When its proposal for the crime lab was revealed last July Madison got the support of Worcester leaders president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce he had harsh words for the state agency Wednesday saying it prioritized cost over other factors when making the decision “DCAMM is broken and in desperate need of reform,” Murray said “DCAMM’s operating model and culture is not aligned with the state's clearly stated priorities articulated by various gubernatorial administrations.” who was the state’s lieutenant governor from 2007 to 2013 Healey’s focus on green energy and investing in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods among other priorities when arguing for the project’s suitability for Worcester “All of those things the Worcester location offered,” Murray said “If you're looking to have access to the talent pool Worcester is the Heart of the Commonwealth for a reason." The objectives of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance included efforts to reduce energy consumption and prioritizing buildings deemed historic landmarks and those located in Gateway Cities “DCAMM operates in a way that's not aligned with priorities of the Legislature," Murray said "It's been in need of reform for a long time The Marlborough Mayor's Summer Internship Program is back for 2025 offering students a chance to gain hands-on experience in city departments Participants can work up to 25 hours per week from June to August collaborating with department heads and employees The program is open to college-aged individuals who have recently graduated high school legal and election management/city records “It was wonderful to see students eager and excited to contribute to municipal government last year,” said Mayor J. Christian Dumais “This internship offers a unique opportunity to introduce them to a career path they may not have previously considered By providing an insider’s view of how the city operates students gain valuable firsthand experience this initiative also supports projects across departments by providing additional staff through the internship program.” 'A better Marlborough': J. Christian Dumais inaugurated as 44th Marlborough mayor Those interested in applying are asked to visit ma-marlborough.civicplus.com/162/Mayors-Office MARLBOROUGH — Weeks after declining to hire either of two finalists to become the city's next superintendent of schools the School Committee is seeking to buy some time and hire an interim superintendent for the 2025-26 school year The news comes after a School Committee meeting on March 25 when Director of Finance and Operations Matthew Wells said there was not enough time to hire a permanent superintendent Superintendent of Schools Mary Murphy announced in January that she is retiring on June 30 after three years on the job the board voted not to offer the job to either of them and to instead reopen its search Either became neither: Marlborough School Committee reopens search for superintendent Those interested in the interim superintendent’s job have until April 14 to apply The job is advertised to begin on July 1 and last for one year Requirements sought from interim superintendent candidatesAmong the qualifications required applicants must be certified as a superintendent or assistant superintendent; they must have at least a master’s degree with a doctorate preferred; have a minimum of five years of educational administrative experience; and have experience working with a large multilingual population The job posting said the goal of the job is “to lead the Marlborough Public Schools in developing maintaining and steering the district in all aspects in pursuit of educational excellence; and to improve the learning experience for every child we serve.” 'I'm going to miss it': Mary Murphy retires June 30 as Marlborough's schools superintendent The posting also lists 22 job responsibilities including preparing the annual budget; holding meetings with teachers and other employees concerning the improvement and welfare of the schools; working with the School Committee on collective bargaining; and performing other tasks as assigned by the School Committee No salary range was listed in the posting; rather the salary will be negotiated with the School Committee based on experience and qualifications To apply, visit mpsedu.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5069310 Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW on Facebook at ffacebook.com/NormanMillerCrime MARLBOROUGH — A Worcester man suffered life-threatening injuries after a T-bone crash late Thursday afternoon as he ran a red light, according to police The 52-year-old man was transported by a medical rescue helicopter to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester after the 4:56 p.m crash at the intersection of Boston Post Road (Route 20) and Boundary Street “Witnesses stated the operator was passing (another) vehicle on the right-hand side and went through a red light at the intersection,” Attaway said Click 'Like': How Facebook helped Marlborough Police return stolen jewelry to its rightful owner crashed into a Toyota RAV4 that was in the intersection was transported to an area hospital to be treated for unspecified It appeared the man driving the Corvette was using a bike lane to improperly pass vehicles before running the red light “They’re (investigators) still investigating why he was driving that way if there was some sort of medical or something else,” Attaway said follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime School officials are pointing to higher transportation costs as the reason In February, the district signed a new five-year contract with transportation provider NRT for more than $21.7 million transportation costs will still increase from the current contract according to Murphy — an 8% boost in year one and 3% to 5% increases in years two through five it would have seen a 40% increase in year one followed by the 3% to 5% increases afterward “If we ran the same amount of buses next year as this year (33) that is still an 8% increase in transportation costs (in the first year).” 'Not getting the money': Marlborough School Committee proposes 11.1% budget increase Murphy, who announced earlier this year that she would retire in June said the decision to cut the number of buses was made to help protect education-based positions “We’re trying to save positions,” she said Murphy said she and school principals have visited neighborhoods near all of the city's schools to help determine which potential walk routes will be added. They also worked with a state program called Safe Routes to Schools which helps municipalities develop safe walking and bike routes for students through a community-based approach Murphy said about one-third of Marlborough's elementary students who are taking the bus this year will not be able to do so next year She said middle and high school students are less affected The superintendent stressed that students will not be walking in dangerous areas No students will be walking along Boston Post Road (Route 20) 'I'm going to miss it': Marlborough superintendent of schools will retire on June 30 Specific streets and students who will be affected by the change have not been finalized She said two informational meetings are planned for May 1 — at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. — in the Little Theater at Marlborough High School She said it's a way for parents and others who have questions to get them addressed A link to the potential walking zones is available by visiting https://tinyurl.com/24u4unf9 MARLBOROUGH — It’s back to the drawing board for the Marlborough School Committee in its search for a new superintendent of schools The School Committee voted unanimously during its March 11 meeting to not offer the job to either of the two finalists selected by a search committee, instead choosing to conduct a second search to find a replacement for the retiring Mary Murphy “I have to say to a degree of disappointment I struggled with making a decision for either and left me more with a decision of neither,” said committee member Heidi Matthews during the meeting I don’t feel like either candidate is a fit for Marlborough.” 'I'm going to miss it.' Marlborough superintendent of schools will retire June 30 A search committee put forward two finalists — David Ljungberg, assistant superintendent of schools in Stoneham, and David Thomson, interim superintendent of schools in Mashpee — and the School Committee interviewed them on March 5 committee members said that although they believe both men would make good superintendents they did not see them fitting in Marlborough Committee members seek candidate experienced with diversityCommittee member Katherine Hennessey spoke of the district’s diversity She said 33% of students in Marlborough are English-language learners 57% are of Hispanic or Latino origin and 58% of students are from low-income families She said Marlborough Public Schools needs a superintendent who has more experience with such a diverse community “Neither candidate is the right candidate to move forward for a vote tonight,” Hennessey said during the March 11 meeting “We need a leader with more experience working with a more diverse population and in an urban district setting.” Cellphone policy: Marlborough High School students get chance to prove they're responsible Committee member Michelle Bodin-Hettinger added that she felt neither candidate brings “the skill set needed to keep us moving in the right direction.” Committee member Daniel Caruso said a new job description will have to be refined to emphasize the qualities the committee is looking for Mayor J. Christian Dumais, who chairs the School Committee said he had come to the meeting prepared to vote for a candidate “It’s going to be a challenge recruiting (a new superintendent),” he said and I hope to find someone sooner rather than later.” Hennessey suggested using a company to conduct a search rather than just an in-house search committee but it would lead to a wider range of candidates who may fit their criteria The committee voted to reach out to several companies to inquire about hiring one to conduct the search Citing higher costs in several areas, the Marlborough School Committee has voted to request an 11.1% budget increase for the district's fiscal 2026 school budget The budget request of $84.2 million, which is about $8 higher than the current year's budget, is now in the hands of Mayor J. Christian Dumais, who will set a budget to present later to the City Council During a School Committee meeting on April 8 several reasons were given for the higher proposed budget Committee members pointed to an almost $1.3 million increase in transportation costs more than $1 million more to be spent for out-of-state tuition and $500,000 more for a new math curriculum 'I'm going to miss it': Marlborough Superintendent of Schools Mary Murphy will retire June 30 got emotional as committee members discussed the need for the higher budget and how anything cut from the proposal would hurt students Committee member: Marlborough is lowest in per-student spendingCommittee member Katherine Hennessey said Marlborough Public Schools ranks lowest in the area when it comes to per-student spending Hennessey said the city has to work together to make sure students get the education they deserve “We need everyone to walk hand in hand with us,” she said As committee member Heidi Matthews spoke of budget needs, her voice began cracking. She said the City Council has “failed” the School Department because it takes pride in not increasing the city budget despite increases in costs “I became a School Committee member because of the children all the kids who don’t have a voice,” she said 'Don't feel either candidate is a fit': Marlborough School Committee reopens its search for superintendent Matthews said some departments are afraid to request more money because they fear it will be rejected by the City Council she urged the council to use some of the more than $19 million in free cash the city has on hand “People are leaving the community to go to elsewhere for schools because we’re not spending the money,” Matthews said Committee concerned City Council will approve smaller budgetCommittee Vice-Chairwoman Michelle Bodin-Hettinger, said money that comes in from the state’s Student Opportunity Act is sent to the city and the amount spent on the schools has decreased “The Student Opportunity Act is supposed to help our students and we’re not getting the money,” she said Bodin-Hettinger said the city is “fiscally strong,” but despite that she said she believes Dumais and the City Council will approve a lower budget “We anticipate the Mayor and City Council will force cuts which will result in a decrease in services effecting students,’ she said who as mayor also serves as chairman of the School Committee follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCirme MARLBOROUGH — Donald Landers Sr., a former Marlborough Public Schools assistant superintendent and vice principal who had been the city's Ward 7 city councilor since 2008 In a statement, Mayor J. Christian Dumais said Landers' dedication to Marlborough "left a lasting impact on everyone he met.” he served Marlborough Public Schools for three decades in roles including assistant superintendent business department chairman and director of adult education," Dumais said "His legacy of service and commitment will not be forgotten Our thoughts are with Betsy (his wife) and his family during this difficult time.” Don Landers was also founder of Marlborough Youth Baseball, as well as the Akiruno (Japan) Cultural Exchange Program. He was also a former chairman of the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce 'Everybody liked him': Marc Kantor, Marlborough youth baseball coach and umpire, dies at 46 Fellow city councilor says Landers was 'pillar of the community'City Council President Mike Ossing said he had Landers as a teacher while in high school in the 1970s Ossing said Landers had a passion for education and took pride in both greeting new city employees and making sure they got started on the right foot “Don was a pillar of the Marlborough community,” Ossing told the Daily News in an email “Don always had a smile and greeted everyone like he had known them for years Don was ‘Marlborough’s ambassador’ as he would provide tours of the city to all new municipal managers and elected officials community members and business in the city 'A marvelous man': Joseph Keefe, Natick's longest-serving schools superintendent, has died at 93 Among those employees was Heather Gutierrez, Dumais’ chief of staff “He was the first councilor to welcome me to the Legal Department when I was there years ago with Mayor (Arthur) Vigeant,” Gutierrez wrote in an email “He was known for inviting new department heads to lunch at the Prospector for their famous burgers!” others praise Landers' public service on FacebookSeveral people posted about Landers’ death and shared memories of him on Facebook “Councilman Donald Landers embodied the meaning of public service and was a true champion for not only his constituents, but for the workforce that drives this city and the services they provide,” Marlborough Firefighters Local 1714 posted on its page “Don was always an avid supporter of every union representing the city's employees and would graciously express his appreciation for the work they do to keep Marlborough beautiful and safe You simply cannot replace a man like Councilor Landers and he will surely be missed by all that knew him We'd like to express our final thanks to him for all of his support over the years and wish him eternal rest.” A commenter on a separate post said: “He will be greatly missed Was a kind man and a great neighbor to my family and I He never slowed down and was also checking in to see how things were going 'It's very stable': New boardwalk installed on Lake Williams in Marlborough Another commenter said: “I was just talking about him yesterday Treated me great and a great reference for me when I applied for job at DPW Loved to talk with him whenever I seen him downtown Will be greatly missed by the whole community in Marlborough Ossing said Landers’ advocacy for Ward 7 will be missed “I served with Don on the City Council for (all of) his 18 years,” Ossing wrote in his email “Don served the residents of Ward 7 with pride effort and enthusiasm to address ward and city issues Don was a valued member of the City Council with a wealth of knowledge His friendship and love for the city and its residents will be sorely missed.” MARLBOROUGH — A fire that destroyed a Miles Standish Drive home and two vehicles on Sunday morning was started by some sort of issue with an SUV parked in an exterior carport Assistant Fire Chief Jeffrey Emanuelson said Wednesday “The fire originated in the Jeep Renegade in the engine compartment,” Emanuelson said “We don’t know exactly what caused the fire to start It’s up to the homeowner’s insurance company to decide if they will send it out for a forensic investigation.” The house at 230 Miles Standish Drive is a complete loss, and now friends of its owners — Joan and Gary Follett — have started a GoFundMe to help them recover started by Kate Haywood and Kristin Robertson aims to help raise money for the couple to buy “essentials” as they look for a temporary home Earlier: Fire officials investigating Marlborough blaze that destroyed home, two vehicles “Joan is a sweet and generous soul who would be the first to show up if any of us were in need,” the GoFundMe page reads. “She is a former colleague and a retired Westborough teacher who loved and advocated for so many students It’s time for the community to shower her and her family with the love and support they need during this time.” GoFundMe to help couple 'get started on their long journey of healing'Fire officials said the fire started about 10 a.m. Sunday, spreading from the Jeep to the carport and then to the home. The home, which was most recently assessed at $624,400, according to Marlborough property records The residents were home at the time of the fire but escaped unharmed The money raised from the GoFundMe will help the Folletts “get started on their long journey of healing,” according to the account To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-our-marlborough-neighbors/ MARLBOROUGH — A social media post that was spread far and wide on Facebook has helped Marlborough Police find the rightful owner of some jewelry they’ve had in their evidence room for more than a decade Last week, the Marlborough Police Department posted on its Facebook page a photo of a couple that was found inside a bag of suspected stolen jewelry in 2014 The post was shared more than 160 times on Facebook Scott DeCiero said the family of the couple depicted in the photo has come forward “A family member of the victim — the son of the couple depicted in the picture — became aware of the post and said it was his parents," DeCiero told the Daily News The man told police his mother’s home was broken into in 2014 when she lived in Natick DeCiero said he called Natick Police and confirmed the report “He brought in some photos of the book and it coincided with the photo we had,” the sergeant said “He also brought in photos of his mother wearing some of the jewelry that we had.” Earlier: Marlborough Police hope social media helps them return lost jewelry The son was also able to identify some of the jewelry The jewelry has been returned to the woman DeCiero said the case remains under investigation MARLBOROUGH — Fire officials are investigating a Sunday morning blaze that destroyed two cars and a house at 230 Miles Standish Drive Marlborough Fire Capt starting from one of the vehicles and an attached exterior carport before spreading to the exterior of the home "The house was vacated by one person," Martins said "She called 911 10 minutes after she noticed smoke." Fire officials said the house and the cars were a complete loss The house was deemed uninhabitable and the family was displaced The home was most recently assessed at $624,400, according to City of Marlborough property records The fire remains under investigation by the Marlborough Fire Department and the state Fire Marshal's Office Their social media photos reflect a life of faith singing with their daughter at home and at church events That drastically changed for the Marlborough family on Monday after Suyanne Boechat Amaral kissed her husband Lucas Dos Santos Amaral goodbye before he went to work at their small painting business Trump made the deportation of undocumented immigrants a key point of his campaign platform and has put into place a number of executive orders that change immigrants’ legal statuses to fulfill that promise described how ICE pulled over Dos Santos Amaral Boechat Amaral called the traffic stop “random.” “They said they were looking for someone who looked like him,” she said She added that even though Amaral wasn’t the individual they were seeking agents reviewed his name and discovered he overstayed his visa Eldridge said it was “clearly racial profiling by ICE.” Boechat Amaral spoke with the agent on the phone who said Dos Santos Amaral was in the country illegally She later had to pick up the keys at a nearby police station Dos Santos Amaral was processed in Burlington and is being held in ICE detention at Plymouth County House Of Corrections The ICE detention center has 350 to 400 detainees The sheriff’s office declined to comment on Dos Santos Amaral’s specific situation noting that ICE has requested they not comment on cases ICE didn’t reply to GBH News’ request for comment because they illegally broke our nation’s laws as far as this administration goes,” she said “I know the last administration didn’t see it that way so it’s a big culture shift in our nation to view someone who breaks our immigration laws as a criminal.” Eldridge spoke to a rally of immigrant rights supporters on Wednesday saying that immigration enforcement is causing “deep anxiety” in immigrant communities “I truly hope that all Massachusetts residents can gain an appreciation for how deeply disturbing it is to have a national immigration police that often seems to have no limits to its power,” he said Boechat Amaral said the family was aware of the new Trump administration’s focus on immigration but they thought the president was only planning to arrest “criminals and people who are a danger.” because we do things regular people do — not anything bad,” she said Boechat Amaral has Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals a legal status which protects people from deportation if they were brought to the country without papers as children She said her husband has had no prior criminal record She’s been able to talk to him on the phone but not visit the Plymouth detention facility She described their calls as filled with anxiety with Dos Santos Amaral crying and scared by the arrest and cuffing of his hands and feet at the time The family has acquired an attorney with the help of Eldridge’s office and their church Boechat Amaral is hoping her husband will be released on bond but doesn’t think the court date will be until March The family is worried about the impact of that wait Boechat Amaral described the past few days as a nightmare worried about her husband and the impact on their daughter who asked to sleep with one of her father’s sweaters last night And she just stood there,” said Boechat Amaral He’s just gone for a few days and will come back.’ She said 'I know Your essential daily newsletter delivering trusted news and can't miss programs from Boston and beyond Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMARLBOROUGH CT (WFSB) - A firefighter was transported to a hospital during a house fire battle in Marlborough on Monday Fire officials said the fire broke out around 5 a.m they said they found fire coming out of the basement and extending into the first and second floor It reported smoke coming from the roof of the home It learned that crews from Colchester responded to the scene to help put out the flames The firefighter who was hospitalized experienced minor medical issues Officials said the home was vacant at the time of the fire Eyewitness News saw trucks put down salt to give firefighters traction “We run rural water,” said Chief Kevin Asklar “We do have a draft site not far up the road here so we are able to establish our water draft there A cause for the fire had yet to be determined as of Monday morning Refresh this page and watch Eyewitness News for updates MARLBOROUGH – The word is hard to find along the gym’s walls But the current group talks as passionately as they play tossing out key words such as culture and foundation Marlborough is building and adding on with each match A program that earned just four wins in 2022 has already surpassed that total this spring The Panthers have yet to drop a set en route to a 5-0 start Adding to the few banners in the Marlborough gym with the word “volleyball” on them is a goal that will take time to achieve “We want to be the program at our school that they look at us and they see differently than other programs,” said senior captain Nick Andrade after the Panthers defeated Wachusett Monday We’re all laser focused,” added senior captain Declan McCarthy “It’s a group mentality in making the team one being.”  earning a home playoff match (sweeping Burlington) in a 14-win season After a 4-14 record three years ago and successive 2-win seasons last decade the program is back to playing at a level not seen since 6-foot-9 Zach Auguste (who played basketball at Notre Dame) was drilling kills in 2010 with most of the toughest competition happening when fellow orange-and-black “foes” are across the net just two have ended with the opposition scoring more than 20 points We practice every day for that,” said senior captain Calebe Pereira of playing in tight sets “Those are the moments when practice really comes into play Pereira had 23 assists on Monday while Andrade with dominant on the serve Maddox Gathers threw down six kills; Owen Ott was a force at the net; Reo Tanaka had four kills; and Lucas Nascimento unearthed a team-high nine digs “There’s a mentality now of not letting the ball hit the floor,” said head coach Chris Lowe We never have to talk about creating energy; it’s just happening on its own.”  Andrade talked about how the captains took advantage of the summer to play on the grass or at the beach or in simple pickup games Workouts at the gym supplemented the non-stop hitting “We did everything we could to play outside,” he said “I know the other kids did the exact same things.”  Too early to talk about winning a league title “Putting a volleyball banner up in this gym for this year it would set a foundation of people knowing the culture how things are supposed to be run,” Pereira said “How you’re supposed to have fun as a team and how you’re supposed to build a program.”  Lowe cautioned that despite a Mid-Wach A-leading 3-0 record “A lot to work on still – I've got plenty of notes from today – it will be a tough practice (Tuesday),” he said “There’s a long way to go until we can do that but the guys who have been here the last year or two who did graduate have played a big part in building this culture as well Now this group is carrying it on and taking it to the next level.”  MARLBOROUGH — A man who lived at a local migrant shelter and is accused of raping and impregnating his own teen daughter has been ordered held without bail The man, who the Daily News is not identifying so as not to also identify the victim of a sexual assault, was arrested by Marlborough police over the weekend for an incident that was reported last May According to the heavily redacted incident report, Eliot Community Human Services, which is operating migrant shelters at the Holiday Inn and Extended Stay hotels in Marlborough contacted police last May for an incident that occurred the previous month 'We want a better life': Haitian asylum seekers share their experiences in Framingham Eliot staff removed the girl from her father’s custody began yelling at staff and making threatening gestures Staff members told police they wanted the man to leave for the safety of the staff and other children at the shelter Police arrested the man this weekend. Marlborough Police Chief David Giorgi referred all questions to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office The DA's Office did not say what day the suspect was arrested nor did it provide any information about the investigation that led to the arrest More: Are Massachusetts politics on immigration changing? Strategists explain what it means The man was arraigned Monday in Marlborough District Court on one count of aggravated rape of a child Judge Meghan Spring ordered him held without bail pending a hearing Friday to determine whether he is a danger to the public Just to remind our audience — Dos Santos Amaral was on his way to a painting job one morning and was pulled over by ICE in January but they detained him after finding he had an expired visa and was undocumented dealt with three weeks of detention at Plymouth’s ICE detention center in Massachusetts and then had a transfer to Texas where he was bounced to two infamous detention centers still scared — I never went to the jail [before this incident] Betancourt: Dos Santos Amaral had never been incarcerated in his life He was very emotional throughout the interview he called it a “nightmare situation.” One particular moment that stuck out to him was the day he was transferred to Texas without knowing what was going on shackled and put on a flight for eight hours We talked about what was going through his head I was speaking to God to not let me go to Brazil because I cannot … I can’t imagine life without my daughter it sounds like faith plays a big role in his life He and Suyanne are actually church performers around Massachusetts when he’s not working at the paint business They talked a lot about their faith when discussing Dos Santos Amaral’s transfer from Karnes Detention Center to Pearsall a packed detention center closer to the border There was a hundred men inside of the cell where Lucas eventually found out he would be freed he was so anxious that he didn’t understand the moment when his attorney was able to convince the judge that he wasn’t a flight risk Celedon had to call him later to let him know he’d been released on $8,000 bail He was released a few days later — but with just a piece of paper He was actually never given back his identification pre-recorded: He stayed the whole day at the airport because I had to have a friend go get him — bring his license So we paid two tickets: his ticket and my friend’s ticket he’s home now — Lucas — but the case isn’t over How is he living with that hanging over him He told me that driving by the same light every morning where he was stopped by ICE makes him really anxious and he does worry about being detained again was to open the door for more cases … like me I think God is working for something bigger we know that there are a lot of other cases we’ve heard about like Amaral — people who’ve been detained whose only crime Do we have any sense of how many people have gone through something like this ICE doesn’t actually release numbers that note that someone is undocumented and has no criminal record We have heard of several people in the communities around Boston — Chelsea in particular — that have been allegedly undocumented and detained by ICE MARLBOROUGH — The Sudbury Valley Trustees and the City of Marlborough are conducting a prescribed burn on March 27-28 in the Desert Natural Area off Concord Road as part of a habitat-restoration effort sections of the trail in the Desert Natural Area will be closed during the burn Signs will be posted to inform visitors of these closures The decision to schedule the burn on March 27-28 was made after consulting with the contractor, Star Tree Wildfire Protection, LLC The Trustees and the city had previously announced plans for the burn in February noting that precise dates would be dependent on weather conditions Star Tree, the Trustees and the city have coordinated with local fire departments and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation's regional fire warden to prepare for the operation Earlier: Sudbury Valley Trustees says land purchase will allow it to protect more wildlife A prescribed burn previously occurred at the site project partners have thinned and removed trees and cleared fire breaks in preparation for the upcoming burn More information about the project and a map of the trail closures can be found at www.svtweb.org/desert The Sudbury Valley Trustees is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting natural areas and farmland throughout the region MARLBOROUGH — Investigators are hoping the power of social media will help them return jewelry found more than a decade ago to its rightful owners Marlborough Police on Friday posted on their Facebook page a photo of a couple that was found inside a matchbook in a bag of jewelry found in 2014 “We kind of started going through some old property so we decided to post it,” DeCiero said Friday DeCiero said the jewelry — a mix of necklaces earrings and charms — is believed to have been stolen some people “known to police” due to previous break-ins were evicted from a city apartment the landlord went through the apartment and found a pillowcase full of the jewelry DeCiero said investigators at the time sent the photo of the couple — a young man and a woman — to surrounding departments but came up empty Say hello, tout a restaurant: Community Facebook pages see rapid post-COVID growth The photo was found inside a matchbook for Korday Studio Wedding Photographers of Framingham. The studio, according to Daily News archives DeCiero said Marlborough Police didn’t have a Facebook page in 2014 and did not think of using social media back then to try to find the jewelry's rightful owners “It wasn’t as popular back then as it is now,” he said Police are hoping someone recognizes the couple and reaches out to them so they can return the jewelry to its owners “If we can return some property to the rightful owners that would be a good thing,” DeCiero said Anyone with information is asked to call DeCiero at 508-485-1212 or send a private message on the department’s Facebook page MARLBOROUGH — A local man is alleged to have sold a total of nearly 10 pounds of cocaine to an informant and now faces federal drug charges State and federal authorities arrested Ricardo Guzman last Thursday after an investigation that began earlier this year According to a press release from the federal Department of Justice a source purchased 499 grams (1.1 pounds) of cocaine from Guzman on Jan Authorities recorded the purchase through audio and video the same source arranged to buy another 3 kilograms of cocaine (6.6 pounds) for $75,000 Two-year probe: MetroWest Drug Task Force was inspiration behind $7 million drug bust “It is alleged that Guzman was observed leaving the building where he resided with an unknown male carrying two large approximately 5-gallon plaster buckets and placing them in a truck bed,” according to the release Guzman got into another vehicle and drove to meet the source Authorities then took him into custody and found 500 grams (1.1 pounds) of cocaine in his possession They then searched the truck and the buckets and found another 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds) of cocaine Authorities charged Guzman with one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine Guzman faces a minimum of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 40 years He also faces a minimum of four years of supervised release to a lifetime of supervised release and as much as a $5 million fine Guzman made an initial appearance Thursday in U.S. District Court where he was ordered held for a detention hearing (Editor's note: This story has been updated to provide additional information and to correct an inaccuracy.) MARLBOROUGH — A flock of dead geese that's reportedly "consistent" with bird flu was found Friday morning on Hager Pond although experts are saying the risk to humans is low a swan and a Canada goose were found deceased on Bruces Pond off Apsley Street in Hudson Marlborough-based Gianquinto Wildlife Rehabilitation Center reported Friday afternoon on its Facebook page that "at least a half dozen" dead Canada geese were found earlier in the day on the ice at Hager Pond Alyssa Gianquinto, founder of the wildlife rehab organization, told the Daily News in a phone interview that the center is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to get the birds off the ice She said that Marlborough animal control and the Fire Department were aware of the situation as well as that a bald eagle was spotted feeding on a carcass Dead birds in Plymouth: Why Massachusetts officials suspect bird flu, and what to watch for Gianquinto added that the past year has been a bad one for bird flu we do not recommend touching the birds," she said particularly domestic poultry and cats ...The big idea we're telling people is do not touch the birds." Marlborough Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Emanuelson said that while the birds were found on the ice the possibilty of it cracking or melting makes it too dangerous to remove the birds at this time A Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife spokesperson wrote in an email that it was also aware of the dead waterfowl at Hager Pond cases where several dead/sick geese or swans are observed in close proximity would be considered suspect HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) cases," the spokesperson wrote In Hudson, the Fire Department animal control and the Health Department responded Saturday morning to the report of the dead swan and Canada goose on Bruces Pond officials said they acted "out of an abundance of caution" to recover the birds to safeguard public health and prevent potential transmission to other wildlife or domestic animals "It’s important to take preventive measures and remain cautious to protect both people and animals," said Lauren Antonelli, director of the Hudson Health Department What to know about bird fluWith the outbreaks in Plymouth and other locations MassWildlife advises people to do the following: Marlborough High School named Pete Jones on Thursday as its next athletic director who is retiring at the end of the school year after serving 15 years in the role currently the AD at Advanced Math & Science Academy in Marlborough is a 2003 Marlborough High graduate who in 2023 was named District 2 Athletic Director of the Year by the Massachusetts Secondary Schools Athletic Directors Association Jones starts his new position on July 1 and was chosen out of a pool of more than 50 candidates Rudzinsky was selected in 2010 out of 70 candidates to replace Rich Riley after "Rudz" – as he is known – had already served at Marlborough High as an assistant football coach for 11 years an assistant softball coach and president of the booster club for nine years but he is pleased to pass the position over to a familiar face "I've known Pete since he was a (soccer and basketball) player here," Rudzinsky said Thursday morning "Just knowing that we're getting someone who understands Marlborough High and has a passion for keeping us where we are and taking us to the next level – he bleeds orange and black." Marlborough High and AMSA co-op in four sports (field hockey meaning Jones is involved in both schools' athletic programs took over at AMSA in 2016 and is a past president of the Central Mass he received the President’s Award of Merit for Central Mass from the Massachusetts Secondary Schools Athletic Directors Association (MSSADA) Secondary Schools Athletic Directors Association I'm very excited; I've always wanted to get back there," Jones but this has been a tremendous nine and a half years here (at AMSA) Eagles already soaring: AMSA athletics on the rise Rudzinsky graduated from Belmont High in 1978 and is a member of the school's basketball hall of fame. A year ago, he was named Athletic Director of the Year for District 3 He said Jones' familiarity with MHS and his presence at the school is a bonus “He’s been involved and knows our facilities The transition will be seamless," Rudzinsky said "The student-athletes here at Marlborough High know him and have seen him around Although he joked that “I’m old and beat up” for one of his reasons for leaving he said the experience has been both rewarding and challenging “When you see kids after they’ve graduated and they thank you and say ‘I wish I would’ve listened to you,’ you know you’ve made an impact,” he said I probably worked more hours than anyone in the business because that’s the work ethic I have “I probably could have passed things off to other people but I’m stubborn and I wanted to make sure I did it the right way.”  Rudzinsky wants more time with his grandchildrenRudzinsky has lived in Marlborough for 37 years and desires to spend more time with his four grandchildren - one of whom lives here while two are in South Carolina and one in Colorado All five of his own children graduated from Marlborough High Rudzinsky was often seen in the fall - usually wearing shorts - on the sideline at Kelleher Field during Friday Night football games He said he won't be hard to find in retirement Rudzinsky said he'll miss the students the most "I greet them in the morning; I'm here with all the administrators at 7:30 when they come in," he said "I'll miss all the folks I've been with in this building for all these years and the athletic directors - not only in the Mid-Wach (league) and Central Mass. I've made a lot of friends along the way; we commiserate together and we laugh together and we have a lot of fun together." He also said he is proud of the Whitcomb Middle School athletic complex, which was constructed in 2016 and included the city's first turf fields as well as a four-lane track and bleachers Fields at the high school were also upgraded to turf "Our baseball field and our softball field and our middle school turf field - they're as good as they get around the area." Rudzinsky started the Unified sports program at Marlborough High which has twice been recognized as a Unified Champion School by Special Olympics Massachusetts Marlborough annually hosts a Mid-Wach League Unified Jamboree for basketball "Unified basketball and Unified track meets there is nothing more enjoyable than seeing the smiles on the faces on the athletes and the partners who help out "It's going to take some time to get my hands dirty and meet everybody and just assess everything," he said we talked a lot about just participating and making sure all the students are aware of all the opportunities that we offer First things first is just recruiting our own kids and giving the students the opportunity to be successful." When Jones was hired as AD at West Boylston in 2009 he said he shared an office with the former AD who was a valuable asset in the transition he said Riley "was willing to still be around He spent much of my first year there still with me and coaching me through it I was lucky to have that connection with the previous AD at those two schools." Jones expects the same scenario to play out at Marlborough "Jeff and I are very close; we're very good friends," Jones said "I know that no matter what he's doing in his retirement He'll be a tremendous mentor to me as I get started." The Panther-Eagle connection between Jones' present and new jobs will also ease the adjustment when fall sports begin "It's great that our AMSA kids have had the opportunity to compete for Marlborough (in the four co-op sports)," he said "I'll still be around some of them next year so that will be fun to still be kind of their AD in a way." it's an opportunity to bring his business' renowned pizza and ice cream home Lawrence, co-owner of Picco Pizza & Ice Cream in Boston’s South End is opening a second location this spring in his home city of Marlborough in a historic building built in 1926 by the former People’s United Bank at 179 Main St "Picco," which is short for “Pizza and Ice Cream Company,” has been a South End institution since its opening in 2004 were each longtime employees before taking over as owners in 2019 Lawrence said he's been looking for a second location closer to home for about two years. Last July, he purchased the downtown Marlborough bank building, which was last occupied by Santander Bank a year earlier “I’m so excited that I landed in Marlborough and not one of the surrounding towns," he said Meredith Harris, executive director of Marlborough Economic Development Corp. said she was excited to hear Picco was expanding the city's restaurant offerings along Main Street sought after and not currently available in the Village District,” Harris said Lawrence said the Marlborough building needed a lot of plumbing work noting it’s never been used for a restaurant it will contain seating for about 100 people about double the size of Picco's Boston location A bar is being built around the original bank vault but the bank's original vault doors will remain The renovated historic space will also retain original features such as a marble floor hand-carved wood that faced the tellers' windows and an intricate Italian renaissance revival style ceiling But Lawrence said it will still be a casual family-friendly restaurant like the one in the South End “I don’t want to be intimidating for people,” he said All of Picco’s pizza and ice cream are made in-house Lawrence said Picco's pizzas are made with a cold-ferment sourdough and charred to maximize flavor And all pizzas are cooked well done to caramelize the outside and get the sugars brown with a signature char The ice cream and dairy-free sorbets are made from milk sourced from local farms chips and sweets are made in Picco’s kitchen eggs or artificial colors and flavors in the ingredients of Picco’s ice cream Picco offers many creative topping combinations which change with the seasons such as salami fennel and ricotta and Alsatian (sauteed onions Classics like cheese and pepperoni are also on the menu Other selections include baked macaroni and cheese spaghetti with hand-rolled meatballs made with beef and pork Picco Pizza got a boost on social media nearly three years ago when Barstool Sports founder David Portnoy paid a visit as part of his viral “One Bite” reviews Portnoy noted that Picco was "his spot" 10 years earlier good sauce,” Portnoy exclaimed outside the pizzeria He went on to give it an impressive score of 8.5 (MyKeeneNow) – Area fire crews are currently on scene of a structure fire at a building near the post office on Route 101 (Main Street) in Marlborough.adButlerLazyLoad("1517051765882240461",100,["734403","734403","734403"],"177038"); According to Southwestern New Hampshire Fire Mutual Aid the blaze was reported at 1:35 Friday afternoon and it was upgraded to a second alarm The blaze was initially reported at 134 Main Street Fire officials have not confirmed any details at this point Scanner activity indicates the fire fully engulfed the building’s front porch the bulk of the fire had been knocked down with substantial overhaul according to the scanner activity.adButlerLazyLoad("793970987035920000",100,["734403","734403","734403"],"177038"); Traffic was moving slowly through the area and being diverted onto Water Street That section of the roadway was closed at 1:51 p.m More information will be posted here when it becomes available Abbie is News Director and an award-winning reporter for Monadnock Media Group recognized several times by the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters Abbie can be reached by email at atrombly@wkbkradio.com A vacant Keene home under renovation was destroyed in an early morning fire causing $375K in damages and prompting a multi-town firefighter response Keene police officer Jake Dube identified in April 29 shooting that left Cullen Costa hospitalized; investigation into the incident is ongoing Brattleboro police are investigating a South Main Street shooting that left one man hospitalized and temporarily closed nearby roads Saturday night Eric Gagne joins My Keene Now & Next to preview Keene’s Thing in the Spring festival Keene City Council approves traffic changes and hears updates on downtown projects and the 2025-26 budget at May 1 meeting Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again Marlborough resident Cheryl Juaire is being recognized for her work in raising awareness about substance use disorder Juaire will be the first recipient of the MiraVista Behavioral Health Center’s You-Have-Our AdMIRAtion Award in 2025 Her efforts include connecting parents who have experienced similar losses and highlighting the impact of substance use disorder on families and communities A portion of the fee from each plate will benefit Team Sharing 'End the stigma': Marlborough nonprofit leads effort for 'overdose awareness' license plate “We hope it will save lives,” Juaire said in a statement supports parents who lost children to substance abuseHer journey into advocacy began after the death of her younger son She founded Team Sharing in 2017 to support parents who have lost children to substance use disorder also struggled with substance use and died in 2021 the two had discussed the idea of a specialty plate as a birthday present “We are hoping it will strike up a conversation because anyone who has a plate has been affected or knows someone who has been affected,” Juaire said in a statement and I hope everyone in Massachusetts will have one on their vehicles.” ‘The biggest barrier is us': Existence of overdose prevention centers slowed by stigma Her work aligns with MiraVista’s commitment to providing treatment for individuals with substance use disorder and fostering community support “Through nothing less than a Herculean effort Cheryl has turned her grief into action,” said Kimberley Lee MiraVista’s chief of creative strategy and development “Her advocacy work aligns with MiraVista’s commitment to provide both treatment for individuals with a substance use disorder as well as understanding of the disorder as a medical condition so communities will support and not judge individuals in need of treatment.” MiraVista created the admiration award to honor organizations and individuals that help foster connectedness within communities For more information on the specialty plate, contact Juaire at cheryl@teamsharinginc.org. To order when issued, visit mass.gov/how-to/order-a-special-license-plate-to-support-a-favorite-cause Details: cache-fra-eddf8230105-FRA 1746489345 3031045244 MARLBOROUGH — Superintendent of Schools Mary Murphy has confirmed that she will retire at the end of this school year Murphy, 64, first announced her plans Tuesday during a School Committee meeting “I’ve been with the district for 22 years and I actually met the requirement age a number of years ago,” she told the Daily News on Thursday “It’s the end of my contract so it’s a good time to move on to hopefully enjoy a few years of retirement.” 'She is Marlborough': Murphy picked by school board to be superintendent of schools “I consider the day I walked into Kane School 22 years ago (to be) one of the luckiest days of my life one of the happiest days of my life,” Murphy told the School Committee on Tuesday Murphy grateful to work in 'a unicorn district'Murphy said she decided to retire now because another multiyear contract would have pushed her into her late 60s She said announcing her retirement now will give the School Committee enough time to hire someone who has “more years than I have left.” She said whoever takes over will be coming to what she calls “a unicorn district.” I loved the support from the citizens and the government officials Cellphone policy: Superintendent says Marlborough students to get chance to prove they're responsible Murphy said she looks forward to spending more time with her son She also plans to travel at times other than during school vacations The seven-member School Committee, which is chaired by Mayor Christian Dumais when it's expected to discuss the search process for hiring Murphy's successor Details: cache-fra-eddf8230105-FRA 1746489365 3031162192 NORTHBOROUGH – Dylan Gaffny wore the usual black warmup jacket – with the orange ‘M’ just below her left shoulder As she spoke after Tuesday night’s gymnastics meet the uniqueness of her team and family linkage came into view The sophomore is competing for Marlborough this winter The rivalry between the two towns reaches a boiling point on Thanksgiving morning and simmers the rest of the year Asked if it was strange to be tumbling as a Panther my parents don’t like it,” while motioning to the other side of the gym at Algonquin High a junior football player at Hudson) – they're both in red right now Dylan Gaffny is one of six students (5 gymnasts 1 manager) from Hudson on Marlborough’s geographically large team this season Because many gymnasts from both communities train at Jean’s Gymnastics in Marlborough – where Marlborough head coach Samantha Kelley is director of operations – the collaboration at the high school is more of a natural fit than most outsiders realize “I know a lot of people from Hudson already,” said Marlborough freshman Sammy Mahoney It’s really great to be back with my second family,” said Hudson senior Jennie Cassidy “It’s nice for my senior year to come back and have the team that we do now.”  The alternative for Hudson was not competing at all The Hawks previously shared a program with Clinton Clinton and Maynard preceded the Hudson/Clinton partnership “It’s nice being able to have a team,” said Hudson junior Jillian Davis “It’s great being able to be with a large team and put up the scores that we do It’s really great being back in this environment and competing with everyone.”    This Marlborough team branches out well beyond Route 85. Students from Advanced Math and Science Academy, including Emily Kratzer (AMSA draws pupils mostly from Marlborough Clinton and Maynard) and Nashoba Regional (Bolton And the results have been worth tumbling over The collaboration has not only produced wins but camaraderie between all the schools that have come together to form one of the top teams in Central Mass “It’s a lot of fun,” said Marlborough senior Abigail Carroll “We’re so used to having new teams come with Nashoba and AMSA so it’s definitely a change but I really like it.”  While Gaffny was sure to refer to Hudson’s rare two-game win streak in the school’s Thanksgiving football matchup with Marlborough - “The rivalry’s fun,” she said we have the ring and they don’t.” - Mahoney put the orange and red mixture into perspective we bond and find ways to hang out with each other and get to know each other well,” she said He can be reached at tdumas@wickedlocal.com MARLBOROUGH, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) A second-alarm fire severely damaged a home at 134 Main St displacing seven residents and leaving the building uninhabitable according to fire officials.adButlerLazyLoad("1729539869232363416",100,["734403","734403","734403"],"177038"); to reports of a fire that started on the front porch The flames extended about a third of the way into the first floor before firefighters extinguished the blaze in roughly 30 minutes but fire officials said some pets may have died Three remained unaccounted for as of Friday evening Authorities do not consider the fire suspicious though the cause remains under investigation were able to evacuate safely.adButlerLazyLoad("2016364835521489900",100,["734403","734403","734403"],"177038"); The fire prompted temporary road closures on Main Street (Route 101) which was shut down between Water and Terrace streets until reopening to one lane around 3:30 p.m and Cheshire EMS assisted Marlborough fire and police at the scene A GoFundMe campaign was launched over the weekend to help the displaced family with clothing and other necessities.adButlerLazyLoad("383944819634946542",100,["734403","734403","734403"],"177038"); Nicole Colson is the editor-in-chief of MyKeeneNow MARLBOROUGH — Cat Werner likes working with food Werner, a longtime Southborough resident, recently opened Graze Craze, a growing chain that creates charcuterie boards and boxes, at 910 Boston Post Road (Route 20) in Marlborough She's the first Graze Craze franchisee to open in New England with a grand opening held earlier this month Werner said she gravitated toward Graze Craze because of the simplicity of charcuterie boards Charcuterie boards are boards that include cured meats They sometimes include other items such as honey and nuts "It's a simple product but now it's much more than just meat She said business so far has been "pretty good," and the business has gotten good feedback due to its trendy concept Werner said charcuterie boards are an interactive way of eating people are talking while they're picking and talking about what they're eating," Werner said Graze Craze President Cory Hibbard said the Marlborough store's opening marks a "milestone." "Opening in Marlborough is an exciting milestone for Graze Craze," Hibbard said "Cat and her team are passionate about what they do and are ready to deliver the quality we're known for We look forward to being part of the Marlborough community and providing clients with effortless catering for their events." Graze Craze was founded in 2018 by Air Force veteran Kerry Sylvester. According to the company's website Sylvester had noticed a growing trend toward the "graze" style of eating Grazing allows people the flexibility to eat an entire meal or small portions of food during the course of the day The franchise boasts 78 stores in 31 states Graze Craze sells grazing plates and offers charcuterie catering Products include boards for single serving The Marlborough location is open from 10 a.m on Saturday and is open Sunday for pre-orders only.