To the Town That Holds the Dream: A Letter Before the Meeting

Before I step into my upcoming meeting with the planning board, I want to share something important here—on this blog, with this community, and especially with the residents and local businesses of Northbridge.

What you’ll read below is the letter I’ve written to present at the meeting. But it’s more than a formal statement. It’s a reflection of my heart, my vision, and my deep respect for this town and the land that holds it. Thrivewell Estate is still in its early chapters, but it’s being built with intention—and with the hope of becoming something that serves and uplifts the very fabric of this community.

This letter is about more than zoning or planning. It’s about purpose.

It tells the story of how I arrived here, what inspired this vision, and why I believe Thrivewell can be a meaningful addition to Northbridge—a place where restoration, healing, and community connection are at the center.

I believe in transparency, and I believe that trust is earned through openness and sincerity. That’s why I’m sharing it now, ahead of the meeting—to invite you into the process and offer my voice directly to you.

Whether you're a neighbor, a small business owner, or someone curious about what’s unfolding at the estate, I welcome you to read this letter and receive the heart behind it.

Letter to the Town

“Good evening everyone, and thank you for the opportunity to share this with you.

My name is Kelley Marathas, and tonight, I’m not just here to talk about a business plan.

I’m here to talk about second chances — and about the story that connects all of us to this place.

I moved to Northbridge officially on April 1st, 2025.

It wasn’t part of some long-term plan.

But almost the moment I arrived, I felt it — something real, something rooted, something resilient in the spirit of this town.

And the truth is, I’ve always belonged to this region.

I grew up riding horses on my aunt’s farm in Mendon — growing up in the Blackstone Valley’s fields, farms, and small towns.

At the time, I couldn’t have told you why.

Now, it’s clear to me: I was meant to find this town. And this town was meant to find me.

This place — and its quiet strength — has been in my story all along.

But the connection runs even deeper.

In 2020, my own life was burning down around me.

I couldn’t hide my alcoholism anymore.

And in January 2021, I hit rock bottom — the roof, metaphorically, collapsed.

I lost almost everything.

I stood there — bones exposed, stripped bare — unsure of how I would ever rebuild.

But I wasn’t finished.

With the help of community, of new purpose, and a lot of grace, I slowly built a new life — one better and stronger than anything I had before.

And that’s why, when I first saw the Oakhurst Manor years ago, through a historic homes group online, something deep inside me stirred — even though I didn’t fully understand it at the time.

I remember being struck immediately by its beauty — even through the damage. I had no idea then that my path would one day lead me right back here, at exactly the time it was most needed.

The Manor has a mighty history.

It once stood at the heart of the town’s social life — hosting lavish parties, welcoming some of the most influential figures of the time.

Its grounds and great halls were once graced by none other than President Taft and poet E.E. Cummings.

But like so many great stories — and like so many of us — even something that mighty can still fall.

Even the strongest can find themselves at rock bottom.

And today, the Manor and I share something rare and powerful:

We both know what it means to survive the fire.

To be stripped down to our foundations.

And to choose to rise again.

But there’s a deeper part of this story I need to share.

Almost exactly one year ago, I took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to France with my mother — something that only became possible through my sobriety.

We walked the streets of Paris — a city I first fell in love with when I was 19.

But this time, I saw it with new eyes — eyes clear with recovery, with gratitude, and with possibility.

And I was able to share it with my mother, for her very first trip to Europe.

The trip was prompted by my cousin’s wedding, held at a château three hours west of Paris —

The daughter of the same aunt and uncle who, years earlier, had gifted me the opportunity to enter treatment when my life was unraveling.

They also gifted us the chance to stay at that château — a breathtaking historic estate, alive with energy.

And walking those grounds, stepping through those ancient halls, something inside me came alive.

It wasn’t just admiration.

It was a deep, almost electric feeling —

life still flowing through history.

A sense that places, like people, can carry soul.

Can endure.

Can transform.

At the time, I didn’t fully understand why that feeling struck me so powerfully.

But I do now.

Because almost exactly one year later, standing here in Northbridge —

I have the chance to restore something born of the same inspiration.

The Oakhurst Manor — 120 Hill Street — was originally modeled after the great châteaus of Europe.

The same style, the same spirit, the same soul that lit something inside me on that trip.

And now, this Manor has crossed my path — waiting not to be torn down, but to be reborn.

When I began working to open Flow to Thrive Transformation Studio at 41 Pine Street, the Manor crossed my path again.

And in that moment, the vision for The Thrivewell Estate came to life.

It became clear:

The Manor, just like me, isn’t meant to be torn down.

It’s meant to be rebuilt — stronger, wiser, more vibrant.

Our story together — mine and the Manor’s — will become the comeback story of Thrivewell Estate.

And the people who come here — the people we welcome, the people we help — will feel that energy.

They will feel the truth that you can rebuild something beautiful, even from ashes.

That broken does not mean finished.

That restoration is not just possible — it’s powerful.

And what we’re building together — what Thrivewell Estate will actually be —

is something rooted deeply in both history and healing.

At 41 Pine Street, we’ll have Flow to Thrive Transformation Studio — a space for yoga, meditation, journaling, movement, workshops, and community connection — a place where people come to grow, heal, and find their flow again.

And at 120 Hill Street, we’ll bring back The Thrive Manor — carefully restored into a boutique wellness retreat hotel.

A place for spa services, conscious retreats, sober milestone celebrations — a place where people can step out of the chaos of life and step into reflection, peace, Beauty, and renewal.

Together, these two properties will form The Thrivewell Estate — honoring the Manor’s historic soul, offering real transformation, and drawing visitors regionally — and eventually nationally — to experience everything Northbridge has to offer.

Every decision we make at Thrivewell Estate will be grounded in one thing: Respect —

for the Manor’s history, for this community, and for every guest who walks through our doors.

Today, I have two fully developed business plans — for Flow to Thrive and for The Thrive Manor — operating under the unified vision of The Thrivewell Estate.

When I learned about the legal and financial challenges facing 120 Hill Street’s current owner, I reached out — not with judgment, but with a lifeline. I am now actively working with the current owner, building a strategic plan to free the property from court entanglements and bring it back the right way.

This is not just an idea anymore.

It is a serious, actionable plan, rooted in experience, strategy, and a deep commitment to doing right by both the Manor and the town it belongs to.

I have the experience, the industry connections, and am able to get the investor support needed to restore the Manor with honor and strength — without burdening the town financially.

But there’s one final hurdle.

I respectfully ask for your approval to rezone both 41 Pine Street and 120 Hill Street for business use.

I promise you this:

I will do the heavy lifting.

I will honor this town, its history, and its people with every single decision made.

Respect — for the Manor, for Northbridge, and for the community — will guide everything we do.

The fire didn’t end my story.

It didn’t end the Manor’s story.

And with your support, it won’t end this one either.

Together, we can rebuild something extraordinary — and make Thrivewell Estate a living symbol of what it means to rise again.

Thank you for your time, your trust, and your consideration.”

Thank you for taking the time to witness the dream in motion.

I am beyond grateful to be here—and to walk this journey in partnership with you.

With sincerity and hope,

—Kelley