Community Advocate

By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor Region – Ever since she was a little girl, Samantha Kiley of Berlin has loved to roller skate. “I started at age 7, going to a lot of parties that were held at the Hudson Roller Kingdom,” she recalled. “I also participated in an after school program. It was so much fun.” Now 25, Kiley is still...

Marlborough - Charles E. “Charlie” Callahan, 67, of Marlborough, passed away peacefully Aug. 18, 2019 at UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital. He was the husband of Karen F. (MacKinnon) Callahan for the past 36 years. He was born, raised and educated in Marlborough, the son of the late Robert and Marjorie (Morris) Callahan, and was a graduate of Marlborough High School,...

Marlborough - David M. “Dave” Cook, 67, died unexpectedly Aug. 16, 2019. He was the loving husband of Linda (Woupio) Cook, who was by his side for over 28 years. He was born in Everett, the son of Robert E. and Mary (McCool) Cook,  and had lived in Marlborough for the past 20 years. David was raised in Everett, but moved...

Shrewsbury/Brewster - Lucy A. (Mangano) Gerardi, 90, of Shrewsbury and Brewster, died peacefully Aug. 18, 2019 in the UMass Medical Center, surrounded by loved ones. She leaves her devoted husband of 70 years, Peter F. Gerardi. Lucy also leaves her sons, Brian P. Gerardi and his wife Jane, Bruce J. Gerardi and his wife Sandra, Peter F. Gerardi Jr. and...

Former New England Patriots player Chris Sullivan to be keynote speaker  By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor Marlborough – Like far too many families, Kathy Leonard in 2014 joined a group she had hoped to never be part of - those who have lost a loved one to an opioid addiction. But sadly, her beloved son Jonathan Testa died in December of that...

By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor Westborough – On any given day at CrossFit Prototype, the floor is busy with athletes of both sexes and all ages, working out. At the back of the gym, there are several young girls, lifting weights, under the careful guidance of their coach, Joe Black. But although these girls are quite young, only 13-17 years old, they...

Southborough - Mary "Elise" (Larkin) Zarrilli, 89, of Southborough, died peacefully Aug. 16, 2019 at St. Patrick's Manor in Framingham. Elise was born in Ansonia, Conn. to Joseph Clement and Mary (Conlon) Larkin. Elise, the oldest of five children, grew up in her beloved city of Ansonia, moving several times as the family grew and eventually prospered. She went through...

Hudson - Joan F. (Gardner) McDonald, of Hudson, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loving family, Aug. 15, 2019 due to complications from diabetes and Alzheimer’s. She was 76 years old. Joan was born in Cambridge and was the daughter of Earl and Frances (Cheney) Gardner. She had two sisters and a brother and was a graduate of Waltham High School....

Southborough - Jory Damon McKinley, 57, passed away Aug. 9, 2019 after being stricken ill at his home in Southborough. He was the beloved husband of Alicia M. (Hernandez) McKinley for the past 29 years. Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., he was the son of the late William Thomas McKinley and Marlene Marie (Mildner) McKinley of Reading. Jory lived in Pittsburgh; New...

By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer Hudson – Spectacular sights, sounds and tastes were experienced from dawn to dusk Aug. 17 at the 12th Balloons & Blues Festival hosted by Hudson-Concord Elks Lodge 959. Early-risers arrived with coffee and cameras to observe most of the festival’s participating 10 hot-air balloons get inflated. The balloonists hailed from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey...