City celebrates Heritage Festival
By Jennifer K. Gray Contributing Writer

Marlborough - Above: Jack Carney and his father, Jim Carney, meet Mother Goose Sept. 30 at the city's Heritage Festival. PHOTOS/JENNIFER K. GRAY

Marlborough - Members of the community gathered on Main Street Sept. 30 for an afternoon of entertainment, shopping, community support and delicious food, as part of Marlborough's annual Heritage Festival. Young and old enjoyed dancing the streets, live music and supporting their favorite local charities and restaurants.

Chowderfest judges Darren McLaughlin, Salvatore Genovese, Claire Noble, Marilyn Perry and Mary Jo Nawrocki tasted chowder provided by 13 diff erent restaurants.

The competition was so tough that the judges' decision resulted in a tie for first and second places. First place was awarded to Coral Seafood and Horseshoe Pub. Second place went to Best Western and First Edition. Third place was awarded to Corcoran's at Embassy Suites.

Chowderfest was also a huge hit this year with the community, with more than 500 tickets sold. Restaurants that came to the festival stocked with 15 gallons of chowder ran out before the event was over. Others, who brought 25 to 30 gallons of chowder, continued to ladle chowder into the bowls of hungry festival attendees until it was gone.

Right: Journey Gray, 9, performs CPR on Lamar Holley, 10. Marlborough emergency personnel were on hand at the Heritage Festival to demonstrate emergency vehicles and answer questions.

In total, the restaurants distributed more than 250 gallons of chowder.

The community vote resulted in a first place award to Kennedy's Market, second place to Coral Seafood and third to Tasty Home Cookin'.

Left: Self-professed "chowda-head" Jay Gault and his wife, Andrea, attend this year's Chowderfest, their first. Right: Assistant Librarian Caitlin Beery of the Marlborough Public Library reads a book to Sugita Mahendarkar, 2. The library booth at the festival offered festival attendees information about library programs and events.