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HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 21 | No. 22 | November 11, 2020
Dems the facts: Hopkinton votes blue Election adds to pandemic anxiety By Jerry Spar Managing Editor
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PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
Campaigners carry signs for presidential hopeful Joe Biden and state Democratic candidates during Election Day outside Hopkinton Middle School on Nov. 3.
nyone with an interest in the race for the presidency had to be feeling some anxiety last week — before the election, on Election Day and then during the nationwide counting that lasted the rest of the week, as the race was too close to call before then. Hopkinton residents had an outlet to discuss their feelings, as Hopkinton Youth & Family Services offered oneon-one Zoom (or phone) chats for anyone dealing with election-related stress — during what is already a stressful time due to the pandemic. Additionally, an election mental health resource web page included links to organizations and website that can help. Among the advice for “election sanity” was to practice meditation and train one’s mind to be more resilient, transform anger, become less reactive and more open, and limit anxiety. Election | 7
COVID surge leads to curfew, other restrictions
INSIDE
By Jerry Spar Managing Editor
NEWS
MARATHON
Runners adjust after 2021 race postponed Residents push for solar zoning policy
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COVID | 9
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SPORTS
PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
assachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker last week announced a slew of new restrictions designed to control the current surge of COVID-19 cases, including a 10 p.m. curfew and a reduction in the number of people who are allowed at private gatherings. The restrictions were to take effect this past Friday (Nov. 6). The curfew — technically a stay-at-home advisory from the Department of Public Health – urges residents to stay home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. except for necessary activities such as work, school and critical errands. Going for a walk also is approved. Restaurant table service is to end by 9:30 p.m. in order to comply, and other stores/facilities are to close at 9:30 as well, although supermarkets, pharmacies, gas stations and retail
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A sign outside Hopkinton Middle School asks people to wear a face covering. Hopkinton’s overall success with protective measures has helped keep the town’s COVID-19 numbers in check.
HHS soccer teams cap strange season
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2 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 11, 2020
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Publisher: David Bagdon Dir. of Business Development: Susanne Odell Farber Founder: Sarah Lothrop Duckett Managing Editor: Jerry Spar Social Media director: David Bagdon Editorial contributors: Jean Cann, Lyn Calkins, Michelle Sanford, Chris Villani, Deborah Burke Henderson, Tricia LaCascia, John Cardillo, John Buday, Sandy Quadros Bowles, Christine Strickland, Gethin Coolbaugh, Jennifer L. Grybowski
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T
he recent announcement that the Boston Marathon would not be held on its traditional mid-April date for the second consecutive year was disappointing news for Hopkinton — where the race begins and provides a spiritual and financial boost — but it was taken in stride by those who saw the way things were trending with the COVID-19 pandemic. Resident Lauren Melton was hoping to run her first Boston Marathon this past April only to see it called off a few weeks before participants INDEPENDENT were to head to Main Street for the start. THOUGHTS “I kind of saw that JERRY SPAR it was coming when things globally were moving in the wrong direction,” she said. “There were probably a lot of people that were pretty far along in their training, so they could have made the decision a little earlier. But I think they also wanted to do everything they could to maintain it, so they didn’t want to call it too early in case things started to turn around. But when it eventually came I was fully expecting that it was going to be postponed.” Melton did run the “virtual” race — completing 26.2 miles in and around Hopkinton in September while raising close to $4,000 for the Hopkinton PTA — and while the experience was nothing close to
PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
The Hopkinton Independent is published by Hopkinton Independent, LLC, 32 South St., Westborough, MA 01581. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of the ad that was in error if notified in writing within three business days of the publication date. All material is the property of the Hopkinton Independent. Permission must be obtained in writing before reproducing any material. The Hopkinton Independent is delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to 100 percent of the homes and businesses in Hopkinton, reaching more than 7,200 addresses. It’s also available at Price Chopper and Hopkinton Drug as well as at many other local businesses.
Hopkinton adjusts after Marathon postponement
In 2021, for the second straight April, the Boston Marathon starting line on Main Street will be quiet due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
what it should have been, she enjoyed it nonetheless. “I did it in a great time and I had a few people along the way who cheered me on, then I had like a neighborhood welcome crew when I got back to the house,” she recalled. “So it was pretty cool, it was still pretty special.” So while she again was disappointed that she won’t get to toe the starting line on Main Street in April with some 30,000 other participants, she appreciates that the decision was made so far in advance. “I think it was wise for them to do it early because I think just based on where we are with the trajectory, the status of cases and the status of having vaccines, I just don’t think that we’ll be where we need to be to host something like that,” Independent thoughts | 5
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he residents who proposed two four-lot developments off Cedar Street Extension and Lincoln Street introduced two new plans at the Nov. 2 Planning Board meeting in hopes of getting support from board members. Lincoln Street residents Courtney and Kyle Derderian — along with project designer Joe Marquedant — took feedback from previous Planning Board meetings in coming up with their new designs for what Plan B for Deer Ridge Estates shows a long cul-de-sac off Cedar Street they are calling Deer Ridge Extension with nine house lots. Estates. One design (Plan A) shows a seven-lot development However, board members were split on which opoff Cedar Street Extension with tion they preferred — A, B or the original plan — with two homes at the end of Lincoln Street. The second the emergency access to Lincoln Street the primary design (Plan B) has nine homes off Cedar Street Extensticking point. sion and no new homes on Lincoln Street, although it “I’m not comfortable with any of them as they proposes constructing a cul-de-sac on Lincoln Street to currently stand,” Trendel said, adding: “I think there’s improve safety and convenience there. Lincoln Street still some work to do on the design front.” currently has a flat end, and with it being a narrow road, The hearing was continued to Nov. 16. Courtney Derderian said school buses won’t travel on it and trucks are forced to back down the road to leave. Board members praised the applicant for the new MassDOT discusses Fruit Street work design ideas, but concerns were raised about having a long cul-de-sac off Cedar Street Extension and potenEngineers representing the Massachusetts Departtial safety issues with only one access road. ment of Transportation checked in with the Planning Fire Chief Steve Slaman said ideally emergency Board to discuss the state’s plan to redo the Fruit Street personnel would have more than one way to access bridge over Interstate 495 as part of the I-495/I-90 Inevery road, indicating that if a fallen tree or another terchange Improvements Project. As part of the plan, obstacle were to block the roadway his trucks would the state plans to alter the landscape, affecting 83 trees have no way to reach homes there. and 290 feet of balanced stone wall. While the plan calls “In a perfect world we could access from two difor bringing in new trees and relocating the stone wall, rections,” he said, although he noted that the developer board member Muriel Kramer expressed concern with expressed a willingness to install fire sprinklers in the what she called “the most scenic roadway in town.” houses as a compromise. “I would never suggest we impose on the state’s Plan A has the new road off Cedar Street Extenability to create the improvement, but if there is a choice sion at 1,000 feet, which is the maximum allowed for about the ways that they do it that protects the scenic a dead-end road without a waiver. Plan B has the new value of a roadway in Hopkinton, I do think that’s an road at 1,159 feet, although that was an adjustment appropriate [discussion],” she said. after talks with the fire chief, as it shortened the length The plan would widen the road, add shoulders on of the driveways off the cu-de-sac. both sides (which cyclists could use) and add a sidewalk “I’m comfortable with the sprinklers in place and that would run from the intersection with Saddle Hill the shorter driveways,” board member Mary LarsonRoad to Huckleberry Road. The sidewalk plan was Marlowe said. “I’m relatively comfortable with that well received, including by a couple of residents who option.” called in to say it would allow for far better walking/ Board members expressed a desire for the new cycling access and safety. road to connect with Lincoln Street — with a gate to The hearing was continued to Nov. 16. prevent through traffic — not just for safety but also for community reasons. “As a community, being able to be connected to Leonard Street development gets waivers your community through walking, biking or jogging, there’s real value there,” said vice chair Rob Benson, The board approved a series of waivers for the who chaired the hearing. proposed three-house development off Leonard Street. Gary Trendel suggested removing one of the Developer Lou Petrozzi will be allowed to skip house lots if necessary to make room for a connection the required environmental analysis and traffic impact to Lincoln Street. report. A waiver also was granted for the minimum “We’d have to waive the length of the dead-end 40-foot right of way (Petrozzi’s plan has it at 27 feet) street off of Cedar Street Extension because it would and for Petrozzi to construct a hammerhead turnaround be slightly more [than 1,000 feet], but that becomes a using a driveway. little bit easier for me to process or digest personally The board also voted to designate the proposed when there is that emergency road connectivity beconstruction — a section of Leonard Street — as a tween them,” Trendel said. “I’m looking at it, you’re rural road, setting the minimum width of paved travel still getting eight buildable lots there. … To me that’s way at 20 feet. something that I could get comfortable with.” The hearing was continued to Nov. 16. Fran DeYoung said he would prefer the new road stay under 1,000 feet. “I really would like to stay within Development off Hayden Rowe proposed the purview of what the bylaw states,” he said. It also was not clear if the board even had the Developer Ron Nation introduced plans for a power to waive the 1,000-foot dead-end limitation. nine-home cul-de-sac in a wooded area off Hayden Town planner John Gelcich, after talking to assistant Rowe Street, with the access road at the open field town manager Elaine Lazarus, said it might require a near the corner with College Street (the field that has variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. a billboard on its north end). The land is owned by Courtney Derderian asked the board for more Margaret Paolini. guidance so that the project could move forward. During a brief discussion, questions were raised “We’d really like for the board to commit to us a about wetlands on the property. direction to go with, because we’d really like to move A site walk was scheduled for Nov. 14, and the from our concept to our definite plan state,” she said. hearing was continued to Dec. 7.
HopkintonIndependent.com
The Hopkinton Independent • November 11, 2020 • 5
Hopkinton adjusts after Marathon postponement Independent thoughts | from page 2
she said. “And I would prefer that they do something more inclusive at a time that’s more appropriate. Because I think if they had maintained it in April it probably would have been limited to elite runners, like a few other big races did this year. There’s such a huge component of the Boston Marathon that’s for fundraising. If they had kept it to only the elite runners, all the charities would have been left in the wake with nothing. “So I like that they called it early. It helps people if they were planning on beginning their training early. And it leaves the door open for it to be a larger race later in the year.” As the longtime chair of the Hopkinton Marathon Committee, which works with the Boston Athletic Association on aspects of the race at it relates to Hopkinton, Dorothy Ferriter-Wallace supported the decision to postpone the 2021 race. “We personally commend the BAA for making this announcement early,” she said. “I think everyone expected this given the situation, with the whole virus situation and no therapeutics or vaccine coming out. So I was not surprised, and I understand why they want to err on the side of caution. This has been such a truly unusual year.” Ferriter-Wallace said the HMC has worked with the BAA over the years on a number of adjustments to the start — including time changes, wave starts and security enhancements following the 2013 bombing at the finish line — and the organization will continue that work whenever the race returns. “I will be scheduling a meeting next month to go over some aspects,” she said. “I think the health and safety of the run-
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ners, volunteers and businesses, but more importantly how it affects Hopkinton, the residents of Hopkinton, will come into play as well.”
Parks & Rec limits Town Common permits The Parks & Recreation Commission, which oversees the scheduling of events at the Town Common, decided at its Nov. 2 meeting to limit the number of permits it will award due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We want to try to deter any sizable crowds from gathering on the common,” commission chair Dan Terry said. “Given where we are, and with [Gov. Charlie Baker’s] new guidance, in the short term we decided what we want to do is discourage crowds, because I believe, and the commission believes, it’s the right thing to do until the rules go back to what they were. So, we’re not permitting events for the foreseeable future. “There will be exceptions, including for the Christmas tree lighting and the Diwali lighting and the menorah lighting, but those aren’t going to be ceremonies with crowds.” Technically groups do not need a permit to use the common, unless they are selling things or if they want to ensure they will be able to reserve the property for themselves. For example, organizers of the weekend Trump campaign rallies held at the common last month did not obtain a permit. “We don’t have a right to tell people they can’t gather in a public place,” Terry said.
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‘A SLICE OF HOPKINTON’ Hopkinton Independent Photo Contest
T h i s i s s u e ’s winner is Jamie Lewis for this photo of 13-year-old Oscar the dog dressed up as “Sloth-scar” for Halloween. To enter next issue’s contest, email your photo along with your name, phone number and description of the photo to editor@ hopkintonindependent.com. Photos with people or pets in them are encouraged. Photos that are not selected as winners might be posted on our website.
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All photos must be submitted by individuals 16 and over. The photo must be high resolution, and not submitted for use by any other media outlet. Winners will pick up their gift certificate at Bill’s Pizzeria.
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6 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 11, 2020
SACH plans events prioritizing unity, communication By John Buday Contributing Writer
A
s turmoil and division continues to grow around the country, it has spared no community, Hopkinton included. But a two-year-old local nonprofit is trying to combat local divisions through messages of peace, unity and open conversation. The South Asian Circle of Hopkinton, a group including Hopkinton residents with roots in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other countries, aims to build greater unity among Hopkinton residents. Its motto is, “Enriching our community through our collective strength and vibrant spirit.” SACH will host two events before the end of the year in celebration of community diversity. The Hopkinton Lights Up As One campaign kicks off with a lights display at the Town Common from Nov. 13 to Dec. 11, centered around messages of open communication and unity. A large banner of colored flood and LED lights will display the words Hopkinton Lights Up As One. “There are some ideas that are sort of still being worked on,” SACH communications chair Charusmitha Ram said. “But every two or three days we are going to send different messages based on a certain color.” For its second event SACH will host its annual gala fundraiser concert over Zoom on Dec. 12. It will feature a performance from local band Aria that mixes fusion music with music of South
The South Asian Circle of Hopkinton is sponsoring a display called Hopkinton Lights Up As One, in which a variety of lights will be illuminated at the Town Common.
Asian roots. Tickets will be available on the SACH Facebook page and website, (southasiancircleofhopkinton.org) and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts will record the concert. Ram also asks for community members to light candles and lamps at home during the lights display, and to post pictures under the hashtag #HopkintonLightsUpAsOne in celebration of the year’s end. Each day the team will send out different messages based around the letters in “Hopkinton.” “We want to represent the values of this town,” Ram said. “We are very much aligned with what our Hopkinton stands for. Hopkinton basically was our inspiration.” For example, the ‘p’ will stand for pride, and the event will include a
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three-day celebration of LGBTQ pride in the community. SACH is partnering with the Hopkinton Freedom Team (HFT), for which Ram serves as a board member, to foster LGBTQ support and positive messaging between Nov. 20-22. The Hopkinton Freedom Team (hopkintonfreedomteam.org) prioritizes what member Freya Proudman calls a “transitional, transformative justice model” for addressing local incidents based in hate and bias. HFT members meet monthly to discuss how to support the entire community in its diversity, championing values of love, inclusion and trust. Resident Cathleen Dinsmore formed the Hopkinton team earlier this year. The first area Freedom Team came together in Natick four years ago. SACH and HFT continue to work out the details of their collaboration.
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Proudman said supporting LGBTQ needs and rights to expression proved very important to her. “Every week Freedom Team tries to have a different focus,” she said. “A couple of weeks ago was our focus on the LGBT community and trying to decide what we can do to lead the town forward.” Proudman is currently writing her undergraduate dissertation thesis on LGBTQ rights. “It’s a topic I love, a topic I’m very passionate about, and I think [Ram] saw that I really, really cared about this topic,” she said. Continuing into next year, most of the events for the campaign Hopkinton Lights Up As One will center on themes of unity and open conversation of diversity. SACH has planned to work with the Hopkinton High School Diversity Club and will continue collaborating with the HFT as well. SACH also continues its Conversations, Not Conspiracies campaign that began in August. The campaign prioritizes having open conversations rather than spreading conspiracies, holding an online gallery of local art pieces centered around this theme. One of the initiatives under Conversations, Not Conspiracies is a scholarship program called Young Women in STEM, which awards $1,000 to a winning high school student wanting to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and/or math. When deciding how to celebrate, Ram said she was feeling unsettled by current events on the national and local levels. She cited this past August when a Hopkinton resident rode his motorcycle around the Town Common during an India Independence Day celebration, revving his engine loudly and drowning out event speakers. The motorcyclist later apologized, saying he misunderstood how the American flag would be treated at the gathering. “People were very hurt, the South Asian community was very hurt about what happened,” Ram said. “Things settled peacefully, and we came to a peaceful consensus. … But it did hurt the community, and so that’s one of the reasons we wanted to launch this campaign, because conspiracies really hurt communities.” Added Ram: “The only way we can prevent that is by having more open conversations so that we can we can get to know each other.” SACH seeks to represent the values of Hopkinton by bringing people of different backgrounds, religions and opinions together. Education through culture remains at the forefront of the nonprofit’s mission to unite people. “Education through culture is a big part of it, and we’ve planned out a lot of fun activities for next year,” Ram said. “Based on all those things, we need to fundraise. … We’d love to have the whole community participate.” Representing Hopkinton values includes representing the LGBTQ community. Proudman also defined what she saw as a misconception with the idea of pride — that it belongs solely to the LGBTQ community. “Pride is for everyone,” she said. “It’s really powerful when different groups kind of come together, especially groups of different minorities coming together to support one another.”
The Hopkinton Independent • November 11, 2020 • 7
Residents show strong support for Biden
PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
Residents turned out in big numbers to cast their ballots on Election Day. Election | from page 1
Youth & Family Services director Dawn Alcott said she only heard from three residents on Election Day and the day after. “One call was from a young adult who was confused by the tension around the election and how he felt people were not treating each other kindly,” Alcott said. “The other two callers were older community members who were feeling a lot of anxiety and we were able to talk about keeping the coverage of the election somewhat controlled — choosing how much media to interact with and finding an enjoyable way to spend some time. Both were more homebound residents who were finding it hard to be alone and not have anyone to talk to about the presidential election. We talked about their experiences with other elections and how they got through challenging elections in the past.” While the nation was divided between Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump, in Hopkinton the choice was clear. The unofficial results showed Biden with well more than twice as many votes as the incumbent (6,976 votes to 2,936, with Libertarian Jo Jorgensen grabbing 137 for third), a slightly higher percentage than the statewide totals as of Wednesday night. “Clearly the town is in line with the overall Massachusetts electorate,” said Select Board member Brian Herr, who switched from Republican to independent two years ago due to frustration with Trump. “That has been the case in statewide elections for several cycles now. The Republicans that get traction can reach 38 percent in Massachusetts for federal elections. Those that don’t usually finish around 32 percent. Massachusetts and Hopkinton value positive, forwardthinking leadership. Trump’s candidacy never had a chance here.” Hopkinton, which used to have a strong Republican presence, has been trending more and more Democratic over the last couple of decades. Hopkinton had 13,105 registered voters for Tuesday’s election. Of those, 3,022 are registered as Democrats, 1,975 are Republicans, 7,862 are unenrolled and 156 are members of another party (Libertarian, United Independent Party, etc.). In 2016 Hopkinton went for Hillary Clinton big (60 percent to 32.6 percent for Trump and 7.4 percent for thirdparty candidates), but the number for the Democrat was even bigger this time out. “One change I did see is from 2016 is a big decrease in the number of votes for third party candidates,” said Select Board member Amy Ritterbusch, a Democrat. “It seems like Hopkinton voters who were lukewarm toward both Trump and Clinton in 2016 chose Biden in 2020.” Ritterbusch also noted that while
Massachusetts and Hopkinton value positive, forwardthinking leadership. Trump’s candidacy never had a chance here.
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— Select Board member Brian Herr the number of registered Democrats has increased modestly in the last four years (about 400), more significant is the willingness of the local Dems to get involved in town politics. “Locally I noticed that after the 2016 election a lot more younger people, women, minorities and Democrats started putting their hat in to run for local office in Hopkinton or to serve on appointed boards and committees,” she said. “So the demographics of our local officials has changed significantly since 2016 and I think more closely mirrors Hopkinton residents as a whole. Also in the local elections Democrats are turning out to vote more frequently in the local election than Republicans and independents are, so the local Democrats seem more energized and engaged after 2016.” Touching on Massachusetts Ballot Question 2, which dealt with ranked choice voting, Ritterbusch said she was surprised that it did not pass in Hopkinton (5,214 to 4,690) nor statewide (by a similar percentage). “After the close primary race for our Congressional District 4 where none of the candidates received a majority of the votes, I really thought a ranked choice system made sense,” she said. Hopkinton went with yes on Question 1, the right to repair, 7,301-2,608. The rest of the state agreed, as it was on pace to pass easily. For U.S. Senate, Hopkintonians supported incumbent Democrat Ed Markey, with 6,558 votes compared to 3,424 for Republican Kevin O’Connor. For U.S. Congress, residents backed Democrat Jake Auchincloss over Republican Julie Hall, 6,213-3,572. Markey and Auchincloss both had healthy leads with the majority of the state’s votes counted. State Sen. Karen Spilka (7,840 votes) and state Rep. Carolyn Dykema (7,913), both Democrats who were running unopposed, received strong support in town.
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8 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 11, 2020
Solar zoning issues dominate ZAC public forum By Jerry Spar Managing Editor
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uring the Oct. 26 Zoning Advisory Committee meeting there was a public forum for zoning proposals and ideas. Not surprisingly, the conversation was focused on commercial solar zoning. “This was not intended to be a solar meeting,” ZAC chair Mary Larson Marlowe said with a smile, but that’s what residents wanted to discuss. The Zoning Advisory Committee (ZAC) last year was tasked with designing and submitting a commercial solar zoning map for the Planning Board. After much discussion and debate, the map ended up highlighting parcels of land where solar
already existed or had been permitted, along with a stretch of land along Interstate 495 and a piece at the E.L. Harvey facility on the Westborough line. Due to the pandemic and the changes to Annual Town Meeting, the map did not go before voters. A new version is expected to be presented at next year’s Town Meeting. Jane Moran, who is a member of the Planning Board, joined the public forum to reiterate her desire to focus more on coming up with a list of restrictions and less on identifying parcels on a map — especially if there’s no explanation with it. The solar map “does not have verbiage or any documentation to back it up,” she said, adding that it could lead to trouble if the town has to defend it.
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“We had heard from the assistant town counsel at a Planning Board meeting that stated that the state attorney general wouldn’t really look at the map, they would only really look at the verbiage that came out of the Planning Board, via the ZAC — in this case the verbiage is going to come out of the ZAC,” she said. At a previous ZAC meeting Moran had suggested adding specifics to the wording of the bylaw, including restricting the percentage of a lot that can be used for solar as well as grade restrictions. “Strengthen up the bylaw and be very specific about what can and can’t go into a commercial zoning bylaw,” she said. Added Moran: “I think it’s going to take some work to come up with some congenial language that would meet all of the needs of not only the private property owners and the abutting neighbors but also the town, and what our town wants ourself to look like. So I think this is going to be a much bigger project than what the ZAC is anticipating. … I think we have to have some concrete language that backs up why the map is what the map is.” ZAC member John Coutinho agreed. “What we should have in there are the parameters that had us design that map,” he said. “Because at Town Meeting when we start to bring it up they’re going to say, ‘Well, how did you come up with the sites that you came up with?’ ... Because otherwise it does look kind of arbitrary, and much of it [is] on state land.“ Fawn Ridge Road resident Scott Ober is an abutter to the proposed Seaboard Solar project in the forest behind the former Liberty Mutual property. After the Planning Board granted a permit for the project, Ober and a neighbor filed a lawsuit against the Planning Board and the town to oppose the development. He supported the idea of language that restricts solar developers, especially in forested areas. “I think obviously it needs to be strengthened to protect this town,” he said, requesting language that specifies no clear cutting, a 100-yard buffer zone around any park or trail, safe-distancing requirements for any private well water, stronger storm
water regulations to ensure that there’s less erosion in the abutting neighborhoods, and a cap on the size of large-scale solar facilities. Alexander Road resident Sean Kimball, whose property is near a poorly screened solar array that has frustrated neighbors in the Charlesview Estates community, said the town of Athol did a thorough study of solar zoning and suggested board members review it for ideas. “[Athol] is essentially doing the same exact thing that we’re doing,” he said, adding that the town’s report includes suggestions on addressing setbacks, screening, minimum acreage, noting of land clearing, segmentation (adjoining lots that might be developed later) and more. Ron Nation, a resident as well as a developer, suggested that ZAC look more closely at changing setback regulations and nailing down objective criteria to ensure any new solar arrays do not become a blight in a residential community. “I think that’s definitely doable, that you can make your own rules and regulations as basically what you can do,” he said. “Anyone saying that you can’t do that, from what I understand, is dead wrong. So you’re not powerless.” Nation said the key is to identify what “suitable areas” are. “I think it would be nice to nail that down, if that’s even possible, before you can go much further,” he said. “If [land along Interstate 495] is suitable it would seem like the whole town would be suitable. It’s for the most part heavily wooded, it’s got steep terrain, it’s got wetlands, it’s got everything. If that’s a suitable area, and we don’t want to have Hopkinton look like the solar capital of the world, I think the whole thing’s going in the wrong direction.” The solar bylaw is to be discussed at the next ZAC meeting. The only public comment not related to solar came from Select Board member Amy Ritterbusch (via email). She suggested a sign bylaw change so that residents could display non-governmental banners for longer than 30 days, although she noted that the rule is rarely enforced anyhow.
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The Hopkinton Independent • November 11, 2020 • 9
Hopkinton health director optimistic despite COVID surge COVID | from page 1
stores are allowed to stay open later. The private gathering limits are being reduced to 10 for indoor settings (down from 25) and 25 outside (down from 50). Public gathering guidelines were not changed. Baker said he did not plan to shut down schools. Calling the virus a “relentless, invisible enemy,” he added that individuals are expected to wear a mask anytime they are in public, even if they are 6 feet away from anyone else. The state’s COVID numbers have been surging — in the nine days leading up to Baker’s announcement there were more than 1,000 new infections each day. Hopkinton, with 14 active cases as of Nov. 2, had moved into the yellow category on the state’s COVID-19 status map (the categories range from no color to green to yellow to red, which would mean further restrictions). Health director Shaun McAuliffe said a surge was expected due to the time of year. “If this were a non-COVID year we’d expect to see an increase in cold, flu and other respiratory diseases as we get into the winter months. So we knew it was coming,” he said during a Nov. 2 appearance on HCAM’s Hopkinton Hangout Hour. “The start of the winter months is the start of the cold and flu season. And now when you add COVID in, and the way COVID spreads, you had to believe that we were going to see an uptick in cases. And that’s what we’re seeing.” That said, McAuliffe said the town continues to do a good job of keeping the situation under control. “Because we’ve done such a good job in Hopkinton really since day one, to date we haven’t seen any evidence of community spread or any spread in the schools. We’re doing well there,” he said. “But residents are going off to work, coming in contact with someone who’s ill, and bringing it home. They might be spreading it to a family member in the household and it’s staying there. We’ve seen the majority of our cases coming in that way. Some of those instances have caused minor disruptions in school. Then we’ve had the athleticrelated illnesses that caused more or less
Because we’ve done such a good job in Hopkinton really since day one, to date we haven’t seen any evidence of community spread or any spread in the schools. We’re doing well there.
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— Health director Shaun McAuliffe four or five issues at the schools. But again, those were one-off — someone contracted an illness from someone they were exposed to on their sports team, they didn’t spread it at home, and there was no spread in the school.” McAuliffe said a quick response, thorough contact tracing and responsible behavior have helped avoid a spread. He noted that more than 100 individuals who were identified as close contacts to COVID-positive individuals in school were notified, held out of school and told to get tested, and none of them tested positive. “That’s a tribute to the fact that the face covering wearing, the distancing, the general attention to hygiene, and staying home when you’re sick works,” he said. “Even though we’re not at full capacity at school there’s still a lot of contact and it’s working. So if we can just take what we’re practicing in the school setting and apply it to home, I think we’re going to be a lot better off. And I firmly believe that we should be able to move from this yellow risk rating down to the green over the next two weeks.” Added McAuliffe: “I don’t know that we’ll go back to the unshaded metric, but I firmly believe that we can get back and sustain Hopkinton in the green.”
HPD to get assessment for MPAC accreditation Hopkinton Police Chief Joseph Bennett announced that a team of assessors from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission is scheduled to visit Dec. 2-3 to begin examining various aspects of the Hopkinton Police Department’s policies and procedures, operations and facilities. Verification by the assessment team that the department meets the commission’s is part of a voluntary process to gain NEWS BRIEFS state accreditationstandards — a self-initiated process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the profession by the profession. The Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program consists of 257 mandatory standards as well as 125 optional standards. In order to achieve accreditation status, the department must meet all applicable mandatory standards as well as 55 percent of the optional standards. According to Bennett, achieving accreditation is a highly prized recognition of law enforcement. He encourages anyone interested in learning more about the program to call him or the department’s accreditation manager, Lt. John Porter.
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Winter parking ban starts Nov. 15 The Department of Public Works is reminding residents that as per the town bylaws, vehicles are not allowed to be parked on any street between 1-6 a.m. from Nov. 15 through April 1. The DPW may remove any vehicle in violation, with the owner liable for towing and storage charges. Additionally, it is illegal to deposit snow onto any public roadway or sidewalk. Violators are subject to a $25 fine.
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10 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 11, 2020
Schools HHS students advocate for ocean life with Beachlex By Sandy Quadros Bowles Contributing Writer
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Beachlex officers are Hopkinton High School juniors (from left) Gabe O’Brien, Jacob Waxman and Chaitrali Samant.
Pair from HHS join Youth in Philanthropy board
T PHOTO/GABE O’BRIEN
he reasons why people should support aquatic life could fill an ocean, members of a new organization led by Hopkinton High School students believe. And in fact, they do, the students say. From a fish that produces 300 million eggs at a time to a footlong octopus that resembles a fictional Disney elephant, these creatures are vital to the well-being of the ocean where they live and deserve protection, the students believe. Hopkinton High School juniors Gabe O’Brien, Chaitrali Samant and Jacob Waxman created Beachlex this past summer to showcase the stories of these creatures and the challenges faced by the ocean and its inhabitants. Beachlex — the name is short for “beach lexicon” — features a website (beachlex.wixsite.com/beachlex) and Twitter (@Beachlex1) and Instagram (@beach. lex) accounts. The students also work to raise money for the Ocean Conservancy. A peek into their social media introduces readers to a world of fascinating ocean creatures, from the common to the extraordinary. Recent posts have featured: — The flamingo tongue shell, a colorful denizen of the reef. — The South Atlantic humpback whale, which is battling back from near extinction. — The ocean sunfish, which can weigh up to 2,205 pounds. The female can produce up to 300 million eggs at one time. — The dumbo octopus, which is named for its resemblance to the Disney character and lives more than 13,000 feet below the ocean’s surface. But not all posts are as enjoyable to read. The group also featured Trash Island, a collection of floating trash and plastic that originated in the Pacific Rim. The feature notes that up 2.4 million tons of plastic winds up in the ocean, more than half of which is less dense than water and is unable to sink. “We’re trying to show all animals deserve to be protected and call the ocean their home,” Samant said. “With global warming and climate change, it’s as important as ever to protect our oceans,” O’Brien said. O’Brien, who is founder and copresident with Samant, is no stranger to
Sharks in and around Cape Cod have drawn a lot of interest, the group members said. Their social media has featured information about various types of sharks and the importance of each. Although shark sightings can provoke beach closings and panic, the animals play a vital role in keeping the ocean ecosystem healthy, the students said, and should be protected. “It’s their habitat,” Samant said. “They are an integral part of the ecosystem.” Remove them from oceans, organization vice president Waxman said, and “The cycle of sea life is disrupted.” As a result, O’Brien said, “Their prey would dramatically increase.” Sharks “help to keep everything in balance.” Respecting the ocean will lead to protecting it, the students hope. “The ocean does not belong to humans,’’ Samant said.
Gabe O’Brien’s love for photography, especially during trips to Cape Cod, helped inspire Beachlex.
the ocean. He frequently visits Cape Cod, where he regularly photographed the sights, including some of the sea creatures that fascinate him. He decided in July to transform his enthusiasm for photography into forming the official organization. As they work to spread the word about Beachlex, the students are working to become an official 501(c)(3) non-profit. They are also hosting a fundraiser in conjunction with the online clothing website SaltWater Dry Goods, which is selling a T-shirt to support their efforts (swdrygoods.com/products/beachlex-tee). “We’re giving people a reason to care about the animals,” Samant said. She hopes their writings and posts will give readers “a personal stake” in the issue.
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he Foundation for MetroWest announced 32 students, including Hopkinton’s Kevin Gu and Ashley Wojcik, will represent MetroWest on its Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) Junior The students will SCHOOLS Board. serve on the student-run NOTEBOOK board, which functions like a nonprofit board and supports the work of the foundation and the YIP program, during the 2020-21 school year. “Youth in Philanthropy is a place where passionate, young individuals learn different ways they can help their community,” said Gu, a junior at Hopkinton High School. “By serving on the YIP Junior Board, I hope to gain a more extensive understanding of a real nonprofit organization’s inner workings. By being an active and integrated part of a nonprofit board, I hope to meet other civic-minded students, gain leadership experience, and increase my knowledge of the processes that take place.” “I joined the YIP Junior Board as a way to learn more about philanthropy and the different nonprofits in my area,” said Wojcik, a senior at HHS. “Along with meeting other high school students in nearby communities, I have enjoyed seeing just how many people are impacted by local nonprofits and how big of a role they can play in people’s lives. This experience has made me more appreciative of the dedicated philanthropists I have met and has instilled a passion in me that will continue for the rest of my life.” Once students apply and are accepted to the Junior Board, they immediately delve into assessing and addressing the needs of their community: writing grants, volunteering and visiting local organizations across MetroWest. Junior Board members have the opportunity to create change by promoting and supporting youth philanthropy education while providing unique leadership opportunities within their communities. They learn not only the ins and outs of how nonprofits operate, but also crucial skills like teamwork, budgeting, and project management that they can carry beyond the program and into their community and future careers. Gu will serve on the YIP Junior Board’s fundraising committee. Wojcik will serve on the recruitment committee.
HopkintonIndependent.com
14 from HHS recognized by NMSP Hopkinton High School placed 14 individuals on the list of Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Program for 2021. The students were recognized for demonstrating outstanding performance on the qualifying test, placing in the top 50,000 out of the 1.5 million students who took the test last year. The students are: Sara Bernardo, Julia Budden, Shaye Butler, Pablo Diaz-Granados, Katelyn Diune, Karen Gallagher, Rehan Habib, Andrew Liu, Mantra Rajkumar, Usayd Sheikh, Alisa Stolyar, Shreya Thalvayapati, Antonio Weissinger and Anne Zhu. Previously the National Merit Scholarship Program announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists for its 66th annual program, and four Hopkinton High School students made the list: Alex Fomin, Olivia Jones, Andrea Liu and Rohan Minocha.
Locals graduate from college At Stonehill College’s commencement exercises, held Aug. 8, Hopkinton’s Cameron Finlayson, Nicholas Gammal, Rachel Der Kinderen and Samuel Lehman were among the graduating class. … Megan Donovan graduated from Hofstra University in the spring, earning a Bachelor of Arts in drama and English. … Liam Doherty and Alexander Terry earned their bachelor degrees in May from St. Lawrence University, which plans to have an in-person commencement ceremony next August.
Flu vaccine deadline Dec. 31 The. district is reminding families that all public school students from pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 are required to have an influenza vaccine in adherence with the updated Massachusetts immunization guidelines. The deadline to submit proof of the vaccination is Dec. 31. The HPS reminder notes that the flu vaccine will remain a requirement for all public schools in the state in future years as well. Families can contact their primary care physician for more information.
The Hopkinton Independent • November 11, 2020 • 11
Sports Hillers boys soccer enjoys chance to compete By Chris Villani Contributing Writer
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PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
here is no sectional tournament or league title for the Hopkinton High School boys soccer team to compete for this year, but that has not stopped the Hillers from making the most of the season they get to have. “You don’t have that playoff element, but it’s still competition and it’s Junior Tora Ito battles for a ball in a game against Medway earlier this season while teammate Sam still soccer,” coach Garrett Vasington watches. Sawyer said. “So we are still having a lot of fun.” cally and it’s really difficult to avoid the The Hillers compiled a 1-2-4 record contact, so that’s where we are getting most through the first seven games of the 10of the whistles. The kids are learning to live game slate, which was to end this past with it and it disrupts the flow of the game, weekend. The games themselves have but that’s the way it is this fall.” been different with COVID-19 restrictions Hopkinton is not a senior-laded team that prohibit contact between players and this fall, but senior captain Patrick Crantz force the game to the ground by outlawing has been a standout for the Hillers in goal. headers and other arial play. “He is an excellent goalkeeper and “There have been a lot of whistles,” he has kept us in a lot of games,” Sawyer Sawyer said. “Players want to play physi-
said. “But he is also really good at providing vocal leadership during games and practices. He loves to get out there and compete every day and he loves the sport. He has been a great leader and he brings a lot of energy.” Junior captain Owen Schnur has boosted the scoring, including scoring four times in two games against Norton on Oct. 24-25 (a 3-2 win and a 3-3 tie). In the Oct. 25 game Spencer Smith scored with 10 minutes remaining, the third time Hopkinton came back from a deficit. Schnur netted two goals, while Andrew Gaughan had two assists. Crantz had some big saves in goal. In the Oct. 24 win Schnur scored the winner — his second of the game — on a laser to the upper right corner from just outside the box. Tora Ito had the assist after tapping the ball to Schnur on a free kick. Gaughan set up Schnur’s other goal, in the second quarter, delivering a long ball into the box that Schnur deflected into the goal with his shoulder (headers have been banned due to COVID). Gaughan also played a key role in the Hillers’ first goal, sending a cross to Ito for a left-footed finisher in the fifth minute. Ito, a junior, has provided a spark this season. “Tora is really strong as a kind of a general in the middle of the field, possessing and distributing the ball,” Sawyer said. “He inspires kids with the way he
has played.” Without any long-term goals this year, Hopkinton has adopted a “short-term” mindset. “It’s all about just preparing and competing in the next game,” Sawyer said. “ ‘Who do we have next?’ And we get ready.” As is the case for all the teams in Hopkinton’s “pod,” the Hillers have been playing back-to-back games on Saturdays and Sundays. “With the back-to-back games, you are hoping that the Sunday game is one in which you can adjust and improve based on what you just did on Saturday,” Sawyer said. With only a couple of seniors on the roster, there also is an eye toward next season and laying a foundation for the program for the years to come. But having the chance to get out on the field this year has helped the players on the 2020 team put the sport into perspective, especially after some of their peers missed out on the spring sports season. “That’s been the philosophy this fall, the most important element has been safety and to participate and play and the seniors are having a great experience, too,” Sawyer said. “We are lucky to be out here and we remind ourselves that just getting the chance to play is outstanding, so that’s made some of the changes more bearable.”
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Little League champs The Hopkinton Little League 9U team beat Southborough 10-0 in four innings on Oct. 25 at EMC Park to win the Southborough Little League 9U Fall All-Star Championship with an 11-0 record. Hopkinton, which earlier this season won the Medway Tondorf Tournament, finished the season with a perfect 24-0 mark.
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12 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 11, 2020
Resilient HHS girls soccer finds success By Chris Villani Contributing Writer
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oming into a season having graduated 12 seniors from the previous year would be a challenge for any team. But the Hopkinton High School girls soccer team also has had to deal with the new rules and a compressed schedule foisted on it and every other school during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, the Hillers have responded as well as could be expected to a year unlike any other. “The one thing this team has shown is their individual and collective resilience and maturity,” coach Tom Skiba said. “We graduated seven starters, so we knew this was going to be a challenging year to begin with. So you have that and you layer on top of it all of the obvious COVID restrictions.” Hopkinton posted a 4-2-2 record heading into the final weekend of the season (Nov. 7-8). On the weekend of Oct. 17-18 the Hillers earned a tie and suffered their first loss against defending state champion Holliston, which has rattled off a nearly 30-game unbeaten streak. “The loss was arguably our best performance all year in terms of how the team played and our ability to possess
Birtwhistle and Ashley Butler. DuPont, Kylie Skiba and Lillian York had assists. Butler and Mikulis starred on defense, which has taken on a new challenge due to the adjusted rules for the season. “They have been very good at handling the new rules,” Skiba said of his players, referring to COVID-19 restrictions that prohibit contact between players and playing the ball in the air. One thing Skiba said has helped is the tip-top shape in which his players began the season, pointing out that he had Ava Perlov heads upfield during a recent victory over visiting Ashland. more than half a dozen players score higher on a preseason fitthe ball,” Skiba said. “We generated quality scorness test than the top score from last year. ing chances against a really good team. The way “They were certainly putting in the work to get we performed, I thought, was fantastic, given the in shape physically as well as their technical skills,” opponent and everything we were up against.” he said. “It was clear they focused on those, which is Mother Nature dealt Hopkinton and its comreally the limit of what they were able to do during petitors yet another setback, as a late October the pandemic anyway.” snowstorm postponed a couple of games against The focus on skill is particularly vital in a year Ashland. When they were made up early last week in which much of the physicality has been removed the Hillers took a 3-1 victory before dropping a from the game. It also has allowed Skiba the chance 1-0 decision despite controlling much of the play. to focus more on team-based activities to prepare for In the victory, freshman Johanna DuPont scored games. He said, across the board, the seniors have two goals, Lexy Trendel had one tally, Gabi Ciri been playing well and leading the team, especially had two assists, and Ava Perlov had the other assist. goalkeeper Kristen McCluskey. The previous weekend, DuPont scored the “In our first week she was the difference, no game’s lone goal in the 64th minute of a 1-0 vicquestion,” Skiba said. tory over visiting Norton on Oct. 25. Tiffany MiLexi Viehl also has stood out, controlling the kulis started the game-winning sequence when she center of the field. dribbled up the left side of the field and sent a pass “She controls the pace of the game, the tempo up to Trendel, who tapped it to Brooke Dougherty of the game, and she has grown so much,” Skiba near the left sideline. Dougherty delivered the ball said. “She was the MVP of the team last season and to the middle of the box just before she was knocked she has just improved exponentially and become an down by a Norton defender. DuPont got a step on even more impactful player.” her defender, raced in and beat the goalie to the ball, The rest of the senior class has done well to redirecting it into the middle of the net. complement Viehl and Butler, a junior who stepped On Oct. 24 the girls picked up a 3-1 victory at into a starting role in the outside midfield. Norton. The goals were scored by DuPont, Brooke
HHS to host girls hockey co-op team I f there is a winter sports season — it remained in limbo as of last week — Hopkinton High School will become the host school for the co-op girls hockey team that previously was hosted by Dover-Sherborn and included players from a few other schools. HHS athletic director Rich Cormier said the Hillers have the most SPORTS players on the team, which usually ROUNDUP determines the host school. However, because both he and the D-S athletic director were new last year they decided to leave things in place for 2019-20. The Hopkinton School Committee, at its Oct. 29 meeting, voted 5-0 to approve the move. With the change, New England Sports Center (NESC) in Marlborough will become the team’s home rink (instead of a rink in Hopedale). NESC is where the HHS boys practice and play. “It’s not going to impact us financially all that much, but because we have the largest contingent it makes much more sense for us to be the one booking the ice time, scheduling the buses and things like that,” Cormier said. HHS had 10 players on the team last season. Cormier said ultimately he hopes the Hillers will be able to field their own team.
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The Hopkinton High School golf team ended its season on Oct. 28 with a 231-276 victory over Holliston. Parker Hohn shot a 37, followed by Jack Petruney at 38 and Ryan Lundy, Teddy Henneberry, Connor Hallenbeck and Drew Morse, who all shot 39. On Oct. 27 the Hillers routed Medway, 231-271. Emma Canestrari, playing in her first varsity match, shot a 43 to contribute to the win.
HopkintonIndependent.com
The team bid farewell to its four seniors: Hohn, Lundy, Henneberry and Geoff Tocco. … The HHS cross country teams raced to wins on Oct. 28, in their home finales. The boys beat Ashland 19-36. HHS took the top four spots, courtesy of Nick Brown, Matthew Burdulis, Jake Lacoche and Craig Salois. The girls edged Ashland 26-31. Olivia Jones, working her way back from an injury, finished second. Autumn Tumbleton was fourth, followed by Grace Joy in fifth. Lisa Levandovsky was seventh. … The HHS field hockey team knocked off Ashland 3-1 on Nov. 3 behind goals from Alyssa Souza (90 seconds into the game), Avery Hutchinson and Elizabeth Kane. That avenged a 1-0 loss to the Clockers the day before.
HHS seniors announce college plans A few Hopkinton High seniors have announced college commitments. From the lacrosse team, goalie Colin Norred will play lacrosse at Springfield College, while attacker Reilly DelPonte committed to St. Bonaventure. From baseball, Cam Jerrett will play at Clarkson University. And as previously mentioned, cross country standout Olivia Jones is headed to the University of Florida.
Bliss named NFHS Coach of the Year Former longtime Hopkinton High School golf coach Dick Bliss, who retired after last season, was named the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coach of the Year for 2019-20. … Former HHS baseball and hockey player Dan Merzel, who graduated in 2005, is a rookie umpire in Major League Baseball.
The Hopkinton Independent • November 11, 2020 • 13
BUSINESS PROFILE: AN ADVERTISER FEATURE
Integrity makes difference for OnTo Mortgage By Deborah Burke Henderson Contributing Writer
R
ick Scherer, CEO and senior mortgage planner at OnTo Mortgage, and partner Rich Clayton have built a successful and growing mortgage brokerage based on five core values, the first and most salient being integrity. “Rich and I believe in investing in people — our clients and our employees — and always doing the right thing,” Scherer stated. Scherer and Clayton have leveraged everything good they’ve learned from 18 years in the industry and established their own company with a work culture unique in the real estate market. Forward thinking and progressive, the partners operate from a philosophy based on the importance of integrity in one’s work, “showing up” for one another, and always maximizing the client experience. Satisfied clients attest the OnTo Mortgage team is always available when needed and makes the entire home mortgage or refinancing process extremely transparent and easy to follow. The company’s online tools allow applicants to view the full mortgage or refinancing timeline up front, with clear milestones laid out, which is also most reassuring. Having just surpassed its first-year anniversary last month, the company is doing well, on track to close a little under
Spilka nominates Lykan for state manufacturer award
M
assachusetts State Senate President Karen E. Spilka nominated Hopkinton-based Lykan Bioscience for a Manufacturer of the Year award, part of a series of awards given by the state legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus to promote “Made in Massachusetts.” The awards recognize companies across the commonwealth that BUSINESS support outstanding innovation in the field of BRIEFS manufacturing. This year, the caucus is acknowledging the many manufacturers who have demonstrated an unprecedented response to the needs of Massachusetts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lykan Bioscience was selected from among many outstanding manufacturing firms located in the Second Middlesex and Norfolk district, which Spilka represents in the State House. The company offers manufacturing services for autologous and allogeneic cell-based therapies for individuals with serious health conditions, such as cancer. During the pandemic, the company constructed a 64,000 square foot purpose-built manufacturing facility on South Street, with plans to create more than 150 new jobs by 2022. The company is online and equipped to manufacture advanced therapy medicines for thousands of patients with unmet needs. “Biotech is an exciting field and one of our strengths in Massachusetts — particularly in the MetroWest area. As the chair of the Biotech Legislative Caucus, I sought to bring the industry to the center of our conversations on Massachusetts’ economy, environment Business Briefs | 14
managing for success. “We manage by co-authored agreements among our employees,” Scherer explained, “which is a phenomenal way to ensure that everyone delivers on what they say and continue to grow both personally and professionally in the process.” Whether a customer is buying, selling, refinancing or building their dream home, there is a lot riding on the loan specialist. Scherer reassures clients the team is comprised of top-notch professionals who will provide quick and OnTo Mortgage founder Rick Scherer, a Hopkinton resident, supports the community through accurate financial advice. He sponsorship of both the RE/MAX Executive Charitable advises clients to take advanFoundation and Baypath Humane Society. tage of today’s historically low interest rates. $400 million for the year. In an exciting “We can help you refinance your loan growth surge, the team has expanded to or determine the right, personalized mort25 employees. Last month the company gage solution to fit your family’s needs,” was recognized with a gold award as the Scherer stated, “and we’re committed to top residential lender in Massachusetts by providing you with services that exceed Banker & Tradesman. expectations.” Scherer, both entrepreneurial and emScherer’s goal is twofold: ensure an pathic by nature, embraces the concept of individual fully understands the options
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and best rates available and guide his customer in making the right plan of action. New and existing customers may initially check out the different loan programs available online, use the company’s decision-making tools and calculators, and apply for a loan in just four quick steps with a short form application. Once the application is complete, Scherer will call to discuss the details of the loan or customers may set up an appointment with Scherer using the online form. “I’m available anytime by telephone or email for personalized service and expert advice,” Scherer said, “and promise to ensure each customer an amazing experience.” The company offers fixed and adjustable rates, conforming loans (conventional loans that adhere to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines), and jumbo and super jumbo loans. Mortgage terms vary from five to 30 years. Discover more at ontomortgage.com, email info@ontomortgage.com or call the office at 617-778-0024. Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Hopkinton Independent advertisers.
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14 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 11, 2020
Spilka nominates Lykan for state manufacturer award Business Briefs | from page 13
and health.” Spilka said in a press release. “I applaud Lykan Bioscience’s work, and I am grateful to Senator Eric Lesser and Representative Jeff Roy, joint chairs of the Manufacturing Caucus, for extending this opportunity to me to recognize one of our rising stars.” “We are honored to have been nominated for this award and thrilled to State Sen. Karen Spilka (left) presents a citation to have our brand-new fa- Lykan Bioscience CEO Anthony Rotunno as part of cility available to meet Massachusetts’ Manufacturer of the Year program. clients’ demand,” Lykan CEO Anthony Rotunno said. “Being based in Massachusetts allows us to be able to efficiently and cost-effectively supply treatments to so many patients, starting in the Northeast region. As a company, offering treatments to as many patients and saving as many lives as possible is our passion.” A ceremony to confer this and other manufacturing awards took place on Oct. 27 in a virtual forum.
Baldiga, Fine repeat as Super Lawyers Hopkinton residents Joseph Baldiga and David L. Fine were selected to the 2020 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list. Each year no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Baldiga is a partner and co-chair of the Creditors’ Rights, Bankruptcy and Reorganization Group at Mirick O’Connell. He concentrates his practice on creditor and debtor rights, bankruptcy proceedings, out-of-court loan restructurings, and the purchase and sale of distressed businesses. Fine is a partner and chair of the Construction Law Group at Mirick O’Connell. He represents and counsels clients in the construction industry, including commercial, institutional and residential owners and developers, general contractors, construction managers, specialty subcontractors, suppliers and manufacturers. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area.
Resident-owned Steady Steps open for business Hopkinton has a new business in town, as Steady Steps Home Health & Rehab, a family-owned home health agency, opened its doors this summer at 34 Hayden Rowe St. (Suite 174). The company is led by resident Kunjal Dharod, BPTh, MSPT, post-professional DPT. Dharod says his company’s mission is to “Bring independence a little closer.” Steady Steps (steadystepshhr.com) serves the Metrowest area with services including skilled nursing and physical therapy, and it has plans to add occupational therapy, speech language pathology, medical social work and home health aide.
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CALENDAR
To submit an item for the Hopkinton Independent calendar section, email the information to: editor@HopkintonIndependent.com. Submissions should be limited to 100 words and are subject to editing by the HI staff.
Diwali virtual celebration Nov. 13
The India Association of Greater Boston and the South Asian Circle of Hopkinton are among the organizations joining together to support Massachusetts Celebrates Diwali 2020, a virtual celebration of the Festival of Lights on Friday, Nov. 13, from 5:30-7 p.m. Participants are encouraged to dress festively and light an oil lamp or candle as part of the event. For more information, including the Zoom link information, email Ravi Dasari at rdhello2@gmail.com.
HCA annual gala Nov. 14
The Hopkinton Center for the Arts’ annual gala is moving online this year, to be held Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. This year’s event is titled Art Lights the Night. It will be DJ’d by Mad Marj and feature appearances from Tony-nominated actor Jere Shea and Grammynominated songwriter David Jeremiah. Participants can take part via a free Stage Pass or purchase a $25 Luminary Package or a $1,000 VIP Gala Package (for 10 people). A related silent auction will run from Nov. 8-15. For more information and to register, visit hopartscenter.org.
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HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS HCA Art Lights the Night Virtual Gala | Saturday, November 14 The HCA annual gala is going virtual this year with performances from alumni and some special guests. Plus, the night will end with a dance party with DJ Mad Marj who has opened for Cardi B, Katy Perry, Mary J. Blige. Free tickets are available at www.hopartscenter.org/gala Arts in Bloom 2020 | In-Person Exhibit: Nov. 13–Dec. 19 The 15th Annual Arts in Bloom show features artwork from local and national artists and is juried by Marie Craig of the Fountain Street Gallery in Boston. Artwork will be accompanied by Hopkinton Garden Club members floral arrangements from Nov. 18 - 24. Lotvin Family Gallery, 98 Hayden Rowe St. Hopkinton.
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Women’s Club sign fundraiser ends Dec. 10
The Hopkinton Women’s Club, celebrating 100 years, is selling hand-painted wooden multi-seasonal signs to raise money for its scholarship fund. Orders must be placed by Dec. 10. To order, go to the club’s website at hopkintonwomensclub.org. The Hopkinton Women’s Club also is accepting new members. Visit the club’s website for details.
SACH year-end gala Dec. 12
The South Asian Circle of Hopkinton (SACH) will hold its year-end gala fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 12. The event will be a virtual live concert featuring a Hopkinton band, Aria. The band will perform music with South Asian roots as well as fusion music. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the South Asian Circle of Hopkinton Facebook page or email southasiancircle.hopkinton@gmail.com.
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Primarily Potters Show & Sale Friday & Saturday, Nov. 20–21 Shop local for amazing one-of-akind pieces from seven local artisans and special guest Michael Alfano. All visitors to the HCA are required to wear masks. Social distancing and space capacity limits must be observed at all times. 10am to 6pm. Delbridge Family Performance Space, 98 Hayden Rowe St., Hopkinton. www.hopartscenter.org.
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The Hopkinton Independent • November 11, 2020 • 15
Senior Snippets The Hopkinton Senior Center remains closed to the public, but the staff remains available to assist residents. Call 508-497-9730 if in need of assistance, with questions or just to say hi. For a more extensive listing of programs check Ourseniorcenter.com/ find/Hopkinton-council-on-aging or hopkintonseniorcenter.com.
Lunch Program
The Senior Center, partially funded by a grant from the MetroWest Health Foundation, is running a limited takeout lunch program (Tuesday-Friday) for Hopkinton seniors, particularly those who are homebound and/or have relied on the center for their daily main meal in the past. While there are limited quantities, anyone who knows of a senior who might benefit from this program can call the Senior Center at 508-497-9730. Cost is $2 per meal.
Calling all Jigsaw Puzzlers
Monday, Nov. 16, and Monday, Dec. 14, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For those who are tired of the same puzzles and would like a new one, the Senior Center is offering a puzzle pickup day. Participants should pre-register so the center can make sure to have the correct number of puzzles to share. Puzzle donations are welcome.
Thanksgiving Luncheon
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. As an addition to the ongoing lunch program, seniors will have an opportunity to pick up a turkey dinner at the Senior Center. Delivery will be available to those who have no means to get to the center. This program is provided by a CARES Grant and is limited to 100 participants. Those interested should call to make a reservation by Friday, Nov. 13.
Books, Books and More Books
Friday, Nov. 20, and Friday, Dec. 18, 12:30 p.m. Seniors are invited to participate in a book club being held virtually (phone, laptop or iPad) to share what they have been reading and to get reading suggestions. Participants should call the Senior Center for the call-in number or Zoom meeting invitation link.
For more information on any of the following programs or other activities at the library, visit hopkintonlibrary. org. The library also can be found on Facebook, @hopkintonlibrary, and on Twitter, @HopkintonPLMA.
anytime to visit the outdoor StoryWalk. It will remain displayed through November as long as the materials last the weather. The StoryWalk is located on the back wall of the library (adjacent to the parking lot). The featured story is “How to Catch a Turkey” by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton.
30-minute Baptiste Yoga Series
A number of virtual story times for babies, toddlers and preschoolers will be held in November. Check the website calendar for offerings.
Decoding the News
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 7 p.m. In this Zoom class, participants will get the facts they need to avoid the bias, hype and disinformation when it matters most. Register on the library’s website calendar.
Chat ’n’ Chew Lunchtime Book Group
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 12:30 p.m. The Chat ’n’ Chew book club will meet on Jitsi. Instead of assigning a book for all participants to read, each person reviews something they read this month. Register on the library’s website calendar.
Catalyst Book Club for Grades 9-12
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m. Registration and book information for this online book club can be found at the library’s website calendar.
Grade 8/9 Book Group
Thursday, Nov. 19, 3 p.m. Registration and book information can be found at the library’s website calendar.
November-Themed StoryWalk
Call for dates (Virtual) Our Time Memory Cafe is a welcoming gathering for those experiencing forgetfulness, mild cognitive impairment or living with dementia, and their care partner, family and friends. The cafe is a place to socialize, share experiences with others going through similar changes, and form friendships. A care partner must accompany anyone who requires assistance. The program is a joint venture between the Hopkinton Senior Center and Hopkinton Public Library. For more information or to register, call (508) 497-0108 or email info@ourtimememorycafe.org.
TED Talks
Mondays, 12:30 p.m. In 1984 TED Talks were created to bring technology, entertainment and design information to the curious and openminded public. These videos cover a wide array of subjects and always lead to lively discussion and conversation. The Outreach Program at the Senior Center will have casual TED Talks group meetings over Zoom for one hour every Monday at 12:30 p.m. The meeting will consist of viewing a video and then discussing it. The program is free. Register by calling the Senior Center at 508-497-9730.
SMOC Fuel Assistance
The Outreach Department at the Hopkinton Senior Center is assisting residents of all ages with applications to the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) for the home heating season, which is from November to April. State income guidelines must be met — for a household of one it’s $39,105, for two it’s $51,137, etc. For more information or to make an appointment, call 508-497-9730 and ask for Marlene or Kim.
Library Corner
Mondays, Nov. 9, 16, 23, 30, noon This Zoom class, taught by Natasha Linton of Nourish, is a vinyasa flow designed to leave participants vitalized and reinvigorated so they can step back into their day recharged. Register on the library’s website calendar.
Our Time Memory Cafe
Story Times
Friends of Hopkinton Library Children’s Book Bonanza
During the month of November there will be a children’s book sale in the Children’s Room. All books are pre-COVID donations and withdrawn library books. There is no cost, but donations to the Friends are welcomed.
Library Closed Thanksgiving Weekend
The library will close Thursday, Nov. 26, and reopen Monday, Nov. 30. The library also might close early on Wednesday, Nov. 25.
Medical Equipment
Durable medical equipment (walkers, bath seats, canes, crutches — but no longer commodes), for Hopkinton residents’ use only, is available to be loaned out free of charge. Wheelchairs, both standard and transport, require a $25 refundable deposit and are limited to two months.
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Neighbors Helping Neighbors RE/MAX Executive Charitable Foundation’s
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We’re flipping the bird in 2020! The run/walk can be done anytime, anywhere during the designated dates of November 19–26. Cost is $25 for adults/$10 for kids. For more information and to sign up visit www.remaxvirtual5K.racewire.com The RE/MAX Executive Charitable Foundation is a non-profit organized to carry out the philanthropic mission of improving the lives of families and individuals in our local communities. Through the support of our sponsors, donors and agents, the RCF has donated $250K since 2009. It’s all about Neighbors Helping Neighbors.
Starting Nov. 10, stop by the library
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16 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 11, 2020
Police Log Editor’s note: Due to space limitations, this is an abbreviated version of the Police Log. For the full Police Log visit the Hopkinton Independent website at HopkintonIndependent.com. Among the edits were numerous reports of unemployment fraud.
October 20
7:00 a.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street involving four cars. No injuries were reported. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officers Jay Deiana and Jessica Ferreira responded and requested a tow truck. A report was to follow. 8:48 a.m. Multiple callers reported a transformer on fire on Front Street. Officer Jay Deiana responded along with the Fire Department and the fire was extinguished. Eversource was notified and responded. 11:41 a.m. An Ash Street resident reported her mailbox was knocked over, and she wanted the vandalism logged. 1:19 p.m. A caller reported she was involved in a motor vehicle accident in the front parking lot of Marty’s on Main Street. Sergeant Timothy Brennan responded. Both vehicles were towed. 5:24 p.m. A motorist reported debris fell from a truck and damaged her windshield on West Main Street. She was unable to get the truck driver’s attention and she continued to drive to work. Officer Ryan Polselli responded and took a report.
October 21
6:08 a.m. Sergeant William Burchard responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on West Main Street. No injuries were reported. A tow truck was requested. 8:35 a.m. A caller reported a vehicle was stuck under the bridge in Southborough. Officer Moira McGaffigan responded to assist with traffic on Cedar Street. 11:34 a.m. A caller reported the outside odor of natural gas on Hayden Rowe Street. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil
responded along with the Fire Department. Eversource was contacted. 2:07 p.m. A caller reported she received a suspicious package at her former residence, which was forwarded to her. Officer Moira McGaffigan took a report. 6:01 p.m. Officer Derek Morton reported a traffic light on Main Street was out, and he notified the DPW. 6:31 p.m. A caller reported a tree leaning on wires on East Street. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Brendon Lyver responded and notified Verizon. Cones were placed around the area.
October 22
9:11 a.m. A Hayden Rowe Street resident reported losing her small, tan dog with a blue collar. The incident was logged. 10:34 a.m. A Sanctuary Lane caller reported a coyote walking behind her yard. The animal control officer was notified and was to respond. 12:30 p.m. The Framingham Police Department requested assistance locating a Woodview Way resident who was involved in a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident in Framingham. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil attempted but was unable to make contact with the person. 12:59 p.m. A Downey Street caller reported a disturbance in the area early in the morning, and he found some concerning items. Officer Brian Sanchioni responded and spoke with the reporting person. 1:38 p.m. A Smith Road caller reported an ill fox in the area. The animal control officer was notified. 2:25 p.m. Multiple callers reported a motor vehicle accident involving air bag deployment on Ash Street. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Moira McGaffigan and Benjamin Stickney responded. One person refused medical attention. A tow truck was requested for two vehicles. A report was to follow. 4:38 p.m. A motorist reported a black truck side-swiped his vehicle, damaged the mirror, smashed the back
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window and drove away. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Cody Normandin responded and took a report. 7:57 p.m. A caller reported a man repairing a bicycle in a hazardous location in the roadway of Cedar Street. Officer Derek Morton responded and provided the man with a courtesy transport.
October 23
7:51 a.m. Officers Brendon Lyver and Moira McGaffigan responded to a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. No injuries were reported. One operator was issued two criminal applications. 9:19 a.m. A Hayden Rowe Street business owner reported a vehicle and beer cans were left overnight in the parking lot. Officer Brendon Lyver responded and made contact with the owner, who was to remove the vehicle and cans. 1:47 p.m. A caller reported a website exposed certain sensitive information about campaign funding. Officer Brendon Lyver spoke with the caller. 3:48 p.m. A Hayden Rowe Street caller reported a loose small, brown dog with a blue collar in his yard that he was unable to catch. Officer Ryan Polselli responded along with the animal control officer, who returned the dog to its owner. 3:55 p.m. An Ash Street resident reported debris in the roadway from a previous accident. Officers Cody Normandin and Derek Morton responded and left a message for the DPW. 9:08 a.m. A caller reported seeing three vehicles driving on Hayden Rowe Street to the high school and hearing a girl possibly yelling “Get off me ” or “Help me.” Officers Cody Normandin, Ryan Polselli, and Derek Morton responded and the vehicles were gone upon their arrival.
October 24
7:37 a.m. A Sanctuary Lane resident reported hearing gunshots in the woods. Officer Matthew Santoro responded and
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October 25
10:51 a.m. Officer Jay Deiana discovered a fallen tree on wires on East Street and placed cones in the area. Eversource was notified. 12:02 p.m. A caller complained of more than 50 people on Main Street, many without masks. Sergeant Timothy Brennan responded. 4:02 p.m. A caller reported hearing approximately six gunshots on North Street. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded and checked the area with a negative find. 6:25 p.m. A caller reported a dead deer on South Street. The animal control officer was notified. 8:25 p.m. A caller reported a loose dark tan dog wearing a broken leash on Saddle Hill Road. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded and checked the area with a negative find. 8:30 p.m. A caller reported a cat was hit by a car on East Street and was moved to the side of the road. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded and reported the animal had no collar or ID. The animal control officer was notified.
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checked the area with a negative find. 11:58 a.m. An Alprilla Farm Road caller reported a man, with whom he has had past altercations, was walking up and down the road and staring at the caller’s house. The caller stated feeling intimidated by the person’s presence and requested an officer to ask him to leave the area and leave the caller alone. Officer Matthew Santoro responded and took a report. 1:04 p.m. A Wayside Drive caller reported an ongoing complaint of youths yelling and screaming in the neighborhood. Officer Matthew Santoro responded and assisted. 6:04 p.m. A concerned caller reported an elderly woman walking and running in the roadway of East Main Street and waving at people. Officer Preston Mucciarone responded and checked the area with a negative find. 9:00 p.m. Sergeant Matthew McNeil pursued a white Tesla, which failed to stop, on to Interstate 495. Sergeant McNeil notified the State Police that the vehicle got on the MassPike.
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5:18 a.m. Officers Stephen Buckley and Jessica Ferreira responded to a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. No injuries were reported. A tow truck was requested. A criminal application was issued to one operator. 8:15 a.m. A caller reported a deceased bobcat on East Main Street. The animal control officer was notified. 5:34 p.m. A Holly Trail walk-in reported fraud in which he applied for a job at Amazon and was tricked into a gift card scam. Officer Benjamin Stickney assisted. 6:21 p.m. A caller reported his grey husky ran off on Hayden Rowe Street. Officer Robert Ekross responded and searched the area with a negative find. 6:41 p.m. Officer Robert Ekross reported a German shepherd and a poodle ran loose on Main Street, and he collected them and put them behind a gate in a Mount Auburn Street backyard. 6:45 p.m. A caller reported three vehicles drove around the middle school on Hayden Rowe Street and then left. The caller found it suspicious and wanted it logged.
The Hopkinton Independent • November 11, 2020 • 17
October 27
8:09 a.m. A School Street caller reported stolen signs from his yard and wanted the incident logged. 9:41 a.m. A Falcon Ridge Road caller reported someone tampered with his garage door opener. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded and took a report. 10:12 a.m. An A Street resident reported a stolen sign from her property. Officer Jay Deiana responded and took a report. 3:34 p.m. A Church Street business owner reported a German shepherd on the roof across the street. Officer Derek Morton responded and requested the Fire Department bring a ladder. The homeowner was notified and stated the dog was a friendly service dog. Officer Morton was able to get the dog back into the house and canceled the call to the Fire Department. 9:11 p.m. A C Street resident reported stolen signs from his lawn and stated he has the incident recorded on video. Officer Derek Morton responded and a report was to follow. 11:08 p.m. A Constitution Court resident complained of loud noise coming from an apartment. Officer Stephen Buckley responded and spoke with the parties and advised them of the complaint.
October 28
6:04 a.m. A Wood Street caller reported seeing a coyote in the area and wanted it logged. 1:05 p.m. The DPW reported a landscape company blew a pile of leaves onto an Elm Street sidewalk a few days earlier and left it there. A woman walked into the street to avoid the pile and was nearly hit by a vehicle. Officer Jay Deiana responded and contacted the landscape company for removal. 2:32 p.m. Officer Jay Deiana assisted a disabled motor vehicle on West Main Street and requested a tow truck. 7:45 p.m. A motorist reported a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road on Spring Street. No vehicle type nor license plate number was given. Officers Brendon Lyver and Derek Morton responded and checked the area with a negative find.
October 29
2:30 p.m. The Housing Authority reported vandalism to residences on Mayhew Court by a youth. Officers Matthew Santoro and Cody Normandin responded and took a report. 4:14 p.m. A walk-in reported his cell phone was stolen from his open motor vehicle on West Main Street. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and took a report. 5:36 p.m. A North Street caller reported his Facebook was hacked and he requested assistance with protecting his page. The dispatcher spoke with the caller. 8:34 p.m. A Winter Street resident reported vandalism after a person removed his posted signs. Sergeant Timothy Brennan responded and assisted.
October 30
2:27 p.m. A caller reported a fallen tree on Pond Street blocking the roadway. Officer Robert Ekross responded and moved the tree off the road and notified the DPW. 9:50 a.m. A caller reported a fallen tree on Cedar Street. Officers Matthew Santoro, Moira McGaffigan and Cody Normandin responded and contacted the DPW. 11:40 a.m. A caller reported a fallen tree on Huckleberry Road. Officer Brendon Lyver responded and notified
the DPW. 12:36 p.m. The DPW reported multiple vehicles off the roadway of Chestnut Street. Officers Moira McGaffigan, Matthew Santoro and Cody Normandin responded and assisted. One vehicle waited for AAA. 12:56 p.m. A caller reported a tree fell on Ash Street. Officers Matthew Santoro and Cody Normandin responded and contacted the DPW. 6:25 p.m. A walk-in handed in a yellow Labrador retriever found on Meserve Street. Sergeant Matthew McNeil assisted and the owners went to the station to pick up the dog. 6:41 p.m. A caller reported a tree was blocking half the roadway of West Elm Street. Officer Brendon Lyver responded and moved the tree. 11:56 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident on School Street with no air bag deployment. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officers Tyler Brabham and Robert Ekross responded and requested an ambulance. One person was transported to the hospital.
October 31
10:28 a.m. A caller reported a dog with a red collar running loose on Cedar Street. Officers Matthew Santoro and Cody Normandin responded and checked the area with a negative find. 12:22 p.m. A Colella Farm Road resident reported a sign was stolen from his property and he wanted the incident logged. 3:17 p.m. Multiple callers reported a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street involving two or three cars. Sergeants Matthew McNeil and Aaron O’Neil and Officer Robert Ekross responded and requested an ambulance. One person was transported to the hospital while two people refused treatment. 7:23 p.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Robert Ekross checked on three vehicles in a Hayden Rowe Street parking lot. They were unoccupied. 7:40 p.m. A caller reported she wished to pick up her belongings on Woodview Way, but her ex wouldn’t allow her. Officer Robert Ekross assisted and arranged for pickup the next day. 10:00 p.m. A caller complained of fireworks being set off in the area of Morse Lane. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and found all quiet.
November 1
9:52 a.m. A Falcon Ridge Drive caller reported a broken garage keypad and stated he was unaware when the vandalism occurred. Sergeant Timothy Brennan spoke with the caller and the incident was logged. 10:35 a.m. A concerned caller reported a political rally on the Town Common started to “creep” onto Main Street, and she had to drive slowly around the participants. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and reported the people were standing far enough off the road. 10:44 a.m. A Pond Street resident flagged down Officers Matthew Santoro and Cody Normandin and reported he just heard a loud explosion and his power went out. Officers Santoro and Normandin checked the area and found nothing suspicious. 11:04 a.m. A caller reported a smoking transformer on Winter Street. Sergeant Timothy Brennan responded along with the Fire Department. Eversouce was contacted. 11:08 a.m. A caller reported people at a rally at the Town Common were waving their flags at vehicles driving on Main Street. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and checked on the rally.
1:16 p.m. A Hayden Rowe Street resident reported the odor of natural gas inside her home. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded along with the Fire Department. The odor was traced back to a gasoline spill in the area. 9:02 p.m. A West Elm Street caller requested to speak with an officer about a package that was delivered to the wrong address, and the person who had it wouldn’t return it. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded and spoke with both parties. A report was to follow. 10:27 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident involving injuries on Interstate 495. Officers Jessica Ferreira and Benjamin Stickney responded. The State Police were advised to close down the ramp. An ambulance and a tow truck were requested.
November 2
10:28 a.m. A caller reported a large truck pulled wires down on Church Street. Officers Moira McGaffigan and Benjamin Stickney responded and notified Verizon. 12:37 p.m. A caller reported a fallen tree on Cedar Street. Officer Moira McGaffigan responded and assisted the DPW with removal. 5:48 p.m. A walk-in reported a past hit-and-run motor vehicle accident. Sergeant William Burchard took a report. 6:18 p.m. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Derek Morton responded to a motor vehicle accident involving a deer on East Main Street. No injuries were reported. A tow truck was requested and Officer Morton provided the driver with a courtesy transport home.
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Obituaries David Clements David Robert Clements, 87, loving husband of Ursula A. (Della Rodolfa) Clements, died Oct. 24 in his Ipswich home following a brief illness. David was born Aug. 27, 1933, in Brown Square in Ipswich. He was the fifth of seven children born at home to the late Joseph A. and Edith M. (Robicheau) Clements. David was a true Ipswich native and dedicated his life to his family and community. David attended Ipswich Public Schools, graduating with the class of 1952. He then went on to Beverly Trade School, where he honed his skills as a first-class tool and die machinist. He began his career at United Shoe and completed it at Beverly Pattern, from which he retired in 1995, freeing him to pursue his true passion of service to his community. Throughout his life, Dave was fondly known as “Cy” to his friends and family. He was everyone’s go-to guy, the one who was always there for you. No ask was too big and no favor was too small for Dave to drop what he was doing to help out. Dave’s love of community was evident in his role as a call fireman and later the auxiliary police, where he was awarded the rank of captain. Having fully embraced the motto of protect and serve, Dave later stepped into the role of director of civil defense for the Town of Ipswich. Dave took on this nascent program; when faced with the Blizzard of 1978 he mobilized the town’s response. After years of heading up emergency management in Ipswich, Dave joined the Massachusetts Task Force 1 (MA-TF1), a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It was with his FEMA family that Dave continued his service to community and country as a first responder on 9/11. At 68, Dave was the oldest member of FEMA working search and rescue for two weeks at the World Trade Center. Dave’s love of community was surpassed only by his love of family. A true patriarch, he stepped in as head of the family when his father died at an early age, becoming the surrogate father and mentor to his five sisters, brother, mother and 17 nieces and nephews. As a father, he was the loving disciplinarian who instilled a sense of responsibil-
ity, obligation and accountability. He approached life with a pragmatism and level of organization that was both impressive and comedic. He was a proud grandfather who would bend strangers’ ears with his tales of his six grandchildren’s accomplishments. In addition to Ursula, his loving wife of 60 years — the girl he married while waiting for a bus in New York City — he is survived by a son, Joseph P. Clements and his wife, Veronica, of Hopkinton; a daughter, Janice Clements-Skelton and her husband, William Skelton, of Ipswich; and six grandchildren, Maxwell Clements of Boston, Alexander Clements of Hopkinton, Margaret Clements of Hopkinton, Emily Skelton of Medford, Abigail Skelton of Boston and Wm. Vincent Skelton of Ipswich. He also is survived by two sisters, Doris (Lemieux) Banks and her husband, Earle, of Ipswich, and Rosemary Whynott of Gloucester; two sisters-in-law, Marie Gionni and Maureen Della Rodolfa, both of New Jersey; his treasured cousin, Lester Mountain of Fort Myers, Florida, and Nova Scotia; his devoted canine companions, Chloe Bell and Gracie; and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by brother Roland Clements (formerly of Ipswich) and sisters Ruth Rawson (Rowley), Lorraine M. Clements (Ipswich) and Charlotte Durkee (Georgetown). His funeral service was held Oct. 30, graveside in the Cowles Memorial Cemetery in Ipswich. Arrangements were under the direction of the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich (whittier-porter.com). Memorial contributions in his name may be made to The Masonic Scholarship Fund c/o the John T. Heard Masonic Temple, 70 Topsfield Road, Ipswich, MA 01938.
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Joseph Kenney, 67, a longtime resident of Hopkinton, passed away on Oct. 29. Born in Buffalo, he was the son of Grace (Sarcino) Kenney of Northborough and the late John Kenney. Joe grew up in Framingham and was a 1971 graduate of Framingham High School. For 39 years he was the loving husband of Linda E. (Whapham) Kenney of Hopkinton. Besides his mother and his wife, Joe is survived by four children, Stephen Kenney and his wife, Laura, of Upton, Michelle Michienzi and her husband, Vincenzo, of Ashland, Laura Kenney and her fiancé, Brian Prescott, of Boston, and Sarah Kenney of Boston. He also leaves behind his brother, Sean Kenney and his wife, Lora, of Northborough. Joe loved being Grampy to his four grandchildren, Emma, Nolan and Avery Kenney, and Benjamin Michienzi. Joe is predeceased by his brother James Kenney and will be missed by his
The Hopkinton Independent • November 11, 2020 • 19
Obituaries many nieces and nephews. Joe was the owner of Imperial Landscaping of Hopkinton. A simple man, nothing was more important to Joe than his family. He is known for his compassion, kindness, wit and generosity. Joe was a man who could say a lot in just a few words. Many will remember Joe for his prowess on the football and baseball fields while growing up in Framingham. He was a noted baseball, football and track and field athlete in both high school and college. Joe had a reputation for going above and beyond with family and friends, many of whom often looked to him for advice and support. An avid sports enthusiast, he enjoyed attending the New England Patriots games and in his younger days, coaching and supporting his children’s sports. Joe was known for enjoying breakfast at diners, being outside in all kinds of weather, camping with family and friends and vacationing in Maine. He also enjoyed relaxing with travel on cruise ships with his wife and children. Joe especially loved working side by side with his son, Stephen, at his landscape business. Joe is remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle. He also is remembered as a role model for his work ethic and values. Over the years he was strong and practical, and the kind of man who would always help if he was able. Joe was loved by many and we will miss him dearly. A funeral mass was held Nov. 6 at Saint John the Evangelist Church, followed by burial in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Hopkinton. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Joe’s name to the American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org). To share a memory or offer condolences, please visit the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton website (ChesmoreFuneralHome.com).
Daniel Laughlin Daniel R. Laughlin, 90, of Hopkinton and formerly of Cochituate, died peacefully and comfortably on Oct. 19 following a period of declining health. Dan was born on Dec. 22, 1929, in Cochituate to Edward Laughlin and Emily (O’Halloran) Laughlin. He attended Wayland High School and the Vesper George School of Art in Boston. He served in the United States Marine Corps in the Korean Conflict. He married Patricia Hogan in 1956 at the Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston. He was employed by Southworth Industries in Hopkinton until his retirement in 1994. He served as a trustee of the Hopkinton Public Library and on the Finance Committee of the Town of Hopkinton. He was a member of the Holy Name Society of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church. Dan was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Patricia A. Laughlin, and is survived by his brother Charles Laughlin of Crescent, Pennsylvania, his brother John Laughlin of Cochituate, his sister Louise Laughlin Lieb of Los Angeles, California, and his children, Kathy Laughlin Mone of Hoboken New Jersey, Elaine Laughlin of Providence, Rhode Island , Julie Laughlin of Falmouth, Edward Laughlin of Lowell, Greg Laughlin of Las Vegas, Nevada, Nancy Laughlin of Lowell and Jean Laughlin Davis of Pittsboro, North Carolina, as well as eight grandchildren and many nephews and nieces. He was the brother of the late Robert Laughlin and Francis Laughlin. Due to the COVID pandemic, all services will be private. Services are under the care of the John C. Bryant Funeral Home
in Wayland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hopkinton Senior Center, 28 Mayhew St., Hopkinton, MA 02148.
Shirley LePage Shirley A. LePage, 77, of Zephyrhills, Florida, and Gilford, New Hampshire, passed away on Oct. 16 at Massachusetts General Hospital. Shirley was born on May 2, 1943, in Framingham, the adopted daughter of Francis and Elda (Green) Arms. Shirley was raised in Hopkinton. A dedicated member of the Lions Club International, Shirley served as district governor from 2017-18 for District 35-1 in Zephyrhills, Florida. Affectionately known as Granny Grunt to her Lions family, Shirley also held several positions and earned awards including club president, zone chair, Vice District 15-Year Monarch Chevron, Golden Chain Award, Helen Keller Award, District and Multiple District Millard Conklin Crusader 4/2007 and several other awards of merit and honor including The Melvin Jones Fellow Award, the highest award in Lionism. In addition to her dedicated service with the Lions Club, she wrote beautiful poetry and children’s books inspired by her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, featuring Mrs. Wigglebottoms and her adventures. A natural conversationalist with a love for meeting new people, Shirley left a lasting impression with everyone she met. She was loved and adored by anyone who came in contact with her, leaving her mark in this world. Thank you Mom and Yia-Yia for giving us memories we will treasure forever ... know that we love you always and always will. Shirley is survived by her husband, Donald LePage, and her children, Robert Furbish, Heidi Sherkanowski and husband Chris, Heather Dyson, Colin LePage and wife Kerrie, Sharin LePage and daughter-in-law Tricia Furbish. Affectionately known as Yia-Yia, Shirley also leaves behind several grandchildren, Natasha and her husband Shane McNutt and Nathan Furbish, Allie, Christopher, Kimberly and Sarah Furbish, Dennis Kelly and Robert Murphy, Erica
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