HUDSON Mary-Lee King, a longtime adviser to governors and state senators, and leader in of an important state agency whose quiet influence was far-reaching, was feted Friday afternoon for her 40 years of public service.
The Hudson resident, whose career began in 1977 as a legislative aide, retired on the last day of 2020 as deputy commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game.
There were many stops along the way.
“Mary-Lee King broke some glass ceilings. Now, if you asked Mary-Lee, she would say, I didn’t break glass ceilings, I was just doing my job, ” said state Rep. Kate Hogan, D-Stow, in her remarks to more than 30 people gathered to celebrate King’s work. “But indeed, she is a mentor and an inspiration to many of us.”
KEYNOTES: Library offers limited indoor browsing
Rosemary Rimkus
After more than a year of COVID-caused imperatives, the staff of the Hudson Public Library is welcoming limited patrons back to its stacks. Head librarian Aileen Sanchez-Himes said capacity of 12 patrons may visit for 20 minutes for general library business, or 30-minute access to the library computers, after they have contacted the library or registered online. Glass partitions are being installed at the service and reference desks.
With the recent closing of the children’s room due to steam pipe breakage, many of the children’s books and services have moved upstairs to the main library, according to children’s librarian Jillian Bennett. “Every one of the children’s room team has done a really incredible job bringing library services to families during this time,” said Bennett, “and I look forward to having patrons back here as soon as possible.”