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HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 21 | No. 24 | December 9, 2020

Select Board wants PD input on MAPC pledge By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

uring the continuation of its debate about whether or not to adopt the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) pledge to address systemic racism, the Select Board on Dec. 1 agreed that members of the town’s public safety departments — most notably the Police Department — should first be invited to share their views. The MAPC pledge, among other things, calls on towns “to address racism within law enforcement in a proactive, intentional and consistent manner,” and commit to “an anti-violence approach to policing.” Select Board chair Brendan Tedstone and member Brian Herr said adopting the pledge as it stands would offend members of the Police Department and might lead to officers looking for employment elsewhere. “I have heard directly from members of our police force: ‘If you sign

DEEP CUTS

Kevin Yurewicz of American Climbers takes a chainsaw to a fallen tree on Dec. 1. Crews worked to clean up after the previous day’s storm, featuring strong winds, brought down trees and power lines across town.

MAPC | 6

INSIDE

HHS set to give winter sports a try

VIEWPOINT

Resident works to support mental health museum

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

COVID

Post-holiday spike continues, vaccines expected in spring

f Hf Sports | 13

NEWS

FILE PHOTO/TRICIA LACASCIA

fter navigating the return to school and the return to high school sports during the fall, Hopkinton High School athletic director Rich Cormier said the lessons learned from that season will inform the winter slate scheduled to begin Dec. 14. Hopkinton plans to offer an aggressive slate of sports, going beyond many other area schools in an effort to get more athletes competing even as the state fights through a second wave in the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the biggest differences between the Hillers and many of the other schools in the state is the plan to offer winter track.

Basketball is one of the sports approved for the upcoming winter season, although with social distancing rules things will look very different.

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2 • The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 2020

Hopkinton Independent 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.

STAFF

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

FOR ADVERTISING: Contact Susanne Odell Farber Cell: 508-954-8148 or Email: Sales@HopkintonIndependent.com FOR MAILED SUBSCRIPTIONS, Contact the Hopkinton Independent Office: 508 435-5188 or Email: Sales@HopkintonIndependent.com EDITORIAL COMMENTS AND INQUIRIES, including Letters to the Editor should be emailed to Editor@HopkintonIndependent.com

Letters to the Editor must include the writer’s name, address and contact information for verification. Letters should be no more than 400 words, and the Hopkinton Independent offers no guarantee that all letters will be printed. Letters should be relevant and not primarily for the purpose of promoting an organization or event or thanking volunteers and sponsors.

Resident looks to make impact as intern with mental health project E

very year there is more and more discussion about mental health and how to spread awareness and eliminate stigma associated with it. Hopkinton’s Emily Taylor is hoping she can play a role in helping this movement continue to go forward. Taylor, a college junior at Holy Cross, is a communications intern with an organization called National Museum of Mental Health Project (NMMHP). “As of now it’s entirely online,” Taylor explained. “It began as a research INDEPENDENT fellowship at Assumption University, and as THOUGHTS they kept going with JERRY SPAR it they were planning on trying to make a physical space, but then COVID-19 happened and they kind of shifted gears and they realized that it might even be beneficial to have an entirely virtual space rather than a physical one, so that’s their approach.” Initially a research-focused organization, NMMHP switched to a nonprofit last year. “The organization is focused on researching and creating exhibits about mental health in order to transform attitudes and understanding of mental illness and mental wellness,” Taylor said. “It began when they were researching how exhibits create spaces for kind of breaking down stigma, because museums inherently are a non-judgmental space. No one’s going to be looking over your shoulder as you’re engaging this content, so you’re able to go at your own pace. You’re able to learn, explore, observe, and you’re able to access language that helps you put words to ideas that you haven’t necessarily been exposed to before. “Currently they’re developing their first virtual exhibition, which they want to release at the very beginning of 2021. That one is called ‘I Get It,’ and it’s kind of going along with that idea of either understanding yourself better or understanding the people around you better. The first part of it that we’re working on now is compiling an oral history. We’re going to get videos from individuals who are personally affected by mental illness, sharing some part of their story. It can be about someone who has helped them, it can be about how they’ve learned to overcome a specific challenge, what they did to address that — really anything they want to share. And we’d be featuring that on our website.” Mental health exhibits can come in a variety of forms, including some that use art. One of the first, Taylor said, is an interactive exhibit from Finland called “Mental Health: Mind Matters,” which premiered in North America in 2018 at the University of Minnesota. “These museums work in partnership with psychiatrists and mental health professionals so they can develop interactive exhibits that allow you to understand what it’s like to live with a mental illness,” Taylor said. “If you’ve seen those videos where it simulates what it’s like to hear auditory hallucinations, they have stuff like that, where it simulates elements of the psyche of people with mental illness so people can understand what the symptoms are like. It’s done

HopkintonIndependent.com

Emily Taylor

out of hopes that they will have empathy formation — facilitate a connection, an understanding so that you kind of know what someone’s going through.” Taylor’s interest in mental health began when she was at Hopkinton High School. “I really loved AP psychology,” she said. “I took it with [Mike] Hamilton and it was my favorite class at Hopkinton High School. That’s what encouraged me to become a psych major at college, and it’s all fallen into place from there.” In addition to majoring in psychology, Taylor is getting a minor in neuroscience. After she graduates she is considering entering a clinical psychology program or a speech language pathology program. “I’m really interested in mental health and mental health advocacy,” she said. “I want to be a therapist when I’m older. So I thought it would be great to look at mental health from a side that I hadn’t considered before, because everything I’ve been doing in school so far has been lecture-based, science-focused, learning about that aspect of psychology and mental health. But then when I saw there was an art connection that I could explore and have that exposure as well, I thought that would be really cool, so I wanted to get involved.” While her internship is set to end soon, she said she plans to stay connected with the organization for the foreseeable future. “I feel like I’m involved in something that’s going to be so helpful, at least I think it will be helpful, because it’s going to make mental health resources accessible to a lot of people,” she said. “Having it be virtual, people around the country or even around the world can access this content and learn really valuable things. That’s why I am excited about the project.”

Library conducts survey The Hopkinton Public Library is seeking residents’ assistance in creating a new long-range plan, which is designed to reflect the community’s priorities and needs. To that end, the library is conducting a short survey about current and future library offerings. The survey is available at bit.ly/ HPLs-survey and should take about 10 minutes to complete. It will remain open through Dec. 13. Anyone is welcome to respond, even if they do not use the library very much or at all. Anyone who would prefer to fill out a paper version of the survey can obtain a copy by calling library director Heather Backman at 508-497-3400.

The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 2020 • 3

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4 • The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 2020

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COVID spike continues; widespread vaccines expected in spring By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

opkinton health director Shaun McAuliffe, during his COVID-19 update to the Select Board on Dec. 1, said the town was up to 47 active cases, as the number continues to rise dramatically. “I don’t think it’s any surprise that we’ve seen an incredible surge over the last two months,” he said. “We’re seeing significant increases every day. … We’ve seen 23 new cases since [Nov. 25].” Added McAuliffe: “We’ve had over 140 cases since September 21st to [Dec. 1]. I say over 140 because we know that there are cases that haven’t been added to our count yet.” While the numbers are high, McAuliffe noted that most affected people have had only minor symptoms, and there have been no recent COVID-related deaths in town. “On a positive note we’ve had less than five COVID-19 hospitalizations in this wave,” he said. “Most have been a simple visit to a 1-2 day stay. Those have been related to [low oxygen saturation in the blood] or breathing issues.” McAuliffe also said the town continues to do a good job managing cases and limiting spread, especially in the schools. “To date we still have no evidence of school or community spread,” he said. “We’ve been able to track every case coming into town and everything that’s presented itself in school. We’re doing a really good job at containing the illness. We have individuals contracting the illness at work and then we have spread in the home. But because [public health nurse] Kasey [Mauro] and I are reaching out to residents within a day or two days we’ve been able to confine it to the home without letting it spread.” McAuliffe said several of the cases are travel and sports related, with the remainder coming from social gatherings outside of town. “If you’re participating in any activities, be it sports, dining out, whatever, you’ve just got to give it a second thought because there’s a lot of risk out there,” he said. In an interview with the Independent two days earlier, McAuliffe said there were 14 cases at Golden Pond Assisted Living, a spread that appeared to have started when a resident returned from another facility and was determined to be positive. McAuliffe said

HopkintonIndependent.com

I’m imploring residents in the work force, treat the virus with respect. Wear your face covering. It’s the law. Socially distance. Practice good hygiene. And most importantly, we need people to stay home if you’re ill. — Health director Shaun McAuliffe the virus then spread around the floor where the individual resides, and at least one employee contracted it as well. McAuliffe said a conference call had been set up between Golden Pond representatives, town health officials and state officials. He added that the outbreak could have been worse if not for good communication and improved testing. “I’m kind of grateful that we got our rapid testing system in place when we did because we’ve been able to get on top of these cases and stop significant transmission,” he said, adding that the individuals at Golden Pond were largely asymptomatic. The town’s other senior facility, Fairview Estates on West Main Street, “has done a really good job of keeping everything tight,” McAuliffe said. He indicated there was one positive case there, and that person was in quarantine. “We’re doing a decent job monitoring both of those facilities,” McAuliffe said. “Then we’re starting to work with the two apartment complexes. We’re seeing more cases there because it’s larger families living in smaller places.” Health officials have been notified that large-scale vaccinations are expected to be available in the spring, McAuliffe said, and the town has been preparing by using grant money to acquire generators, tents and COVID | 5

The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 2020 • 5

ZAC continues efforts to limit commercial solar By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

t its meeting Nov. 23, the Zoning Advisory Committee continued its discussion on solar zoning and how it could formulate wording to limit developments in residential areas. The discussion centered around language and specific requirements the committee might suggest be adopted as part of a commercial ground-mounted solar bylaw. Among the items discussed was setbacks. The current bylaw calls for a 60-foot setback. Committee member Ted Barker-Hook noted that 60 feet is the width of 6 1/2 standard parking spaces, or the distance from the pitcher’s mound to home plate on a baseball field. Making the distance substantially farther often won’t make a major difference. Case in point: the solar array on Lumber Street, which is clearly visible from many homes on Alexander Road even though it is, Barker-Hook said, more than 300 feet from the nearest back door. The problem with that array — an example oft cited as something the town wants to avoid letting happen again — is the topography. Committee chair Mary Larson-Marlowe explained that the land slopes downward from Alexander Road, then rises up to where the solar array is, which makes the setback and screening there almost useless. “I don’t think the setback’s going to help us,” committee member Ria McNamara commented, adding: “That structure off Alexander is abominable. Who buys a residential house in a residential neighborhood expecting that to be plunked down behind them? Nobody. It’s unfortunate. We got caught unawares. We just need to fix it.” McNamara suggested focusing on limiting the size of an array, primarily to make it less profitable. “If it’s not economically feasible today it’s not going to happen,” she said. “The developers are not going to show up. We’re looking at another town here that says 1.5 acres [maximum size]. That’s what makes sense. Because that really literally reduces the ability to do a solar farm here again.” McNamara said another advantage to capping the size is it’s a simpler plan, and one that would be an easier sell to voters who must approve any bylaw changes at Town Meeting.

If we limit the amount of land for these [solar arrays] then we don’t see the thing happening. That’s a fact. It’s financially unfeasible.

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— ZAC member Ria McNamara “If we limit the amount of land for these things then we don’t see the thing happening,” she said. “That’s a fact. It’s financially unfeasible. And I think that that’s an easier, faster way of reducing the number of solar farms coming here than trying to go through screening and coverage and all these other things that we were talking about. Because yeah, the average person going to Town Meeting falls asleep. They don’t get these things. It’s not like this is part of their everyday vernacular. So I’m just saying if we were to pick something, that’s probably the easiest thing to pick, and explaining it as to why it’s not economically feasible. … I’m all for screening and I’m all for coverage, but that’s not going to work at Town Meeting.” Committee member John Coutinho said any changes must be clear, specific and defensible, to minimize the risk of the town being sued. “We have to be careful about saying what we want people to do with their land,” he said, noting the town has limitations regarding private property. Added Coutinho: “We have to be careful with the subjectivity. It just leaves too much open and it leaves us way open for lawsuits. To Ria’s point, if you want to do something, you’ve got to put it in writing, what the numbers are.” The discussion will be continued at a future ZAC meeting. Larson-Marlowe encouraged members to take some time and come up with items to focus on going forward. “Write down what you think is important that the Planning Board will have in front of them as the bylaw to hold developers to,” she said.

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COVID spike continues; widespread vaccines expected in spring COVID | from page 4

vaccination stations. The town has been running flu vaccine clinics, and McAuliffe said those are good practice for when the COVID-19 vaccine comes. “Right now we have a small staff doing 200 flu shots a day,” he said. “If we brought the staff up to 100, with the plan we have we could vaccinate the entire population of Hopkinton in a fiveday period.” In the meantime, he stressed that residents need to be vigilant — especially those who are working outside the home.

“I’m imploring residents in the work force, treat the virus with respect,” he said. “Wear your face covering. It’s the law. Socially distance. Practice good hygiene. And most importantly, we need people to stay home if you’re ill. If someone in the household is ill, they should assume that it’s COVID,” which means no family members should go out in public until a negative test is obtained. On a related note, the Select Board approved the hiring of a public health agent for the Health Department, primarily to aid with administrative and inspection work.

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6 • The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 2020

Select Board wants police input on MAPC pledge Select Board members (from left) Irfan Nasrullah, Amy Ritterbusch and Mary Jo LaFreniere, along with School Committee member Lya BatlleRafferty, hold signs at an anti-racism protest at the Town Common in June. The three Select Board members support the town adopting the MAPC pledge to address systemic racism.

MAPC | from page 1

that thing, that’s BS,’ ” Herr said. “I’ve heard that. So let’s not go there.” Added Tedstone: “There are a lot of police departments out there that are hiring. If some of our highly rated law enforcement officers take offense to the fact that we back this, that we need to tell them how to do their job when they already do it wonderfully, there’s a chance that a lot of these cops … will go somewhere else. So I don’t think the backlash is an angry Facebook post or somebody standing at the common with a sign that’s backing someone politically that you may or may not support, I think this backlash has a lot more legs than what’s perceived.” The three Democrats on the board — Mary Jo LaFreniere, Irfan Nasrullah and Amy Ritterbusch — said they were prepared to sign the pledge, although they were willing to hear suggestions about modifications and they supported the idea of getting input from the police and other town departments. “I hope that our law enforcement officers know that we really appreciate all the efforts and all the programs that they’re already doing, with the escalation and mental health counselors. And I believe one of our officers is taking a civil

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rights course to become a civil rights officer, and I think that’s fabulous,” Ritterbusch said. “I don’t think signing the pledge takes away from that, and I hope that our employees understand that. “I am comfortable signing the pledge today, and I think it’s really important for all towns, even if they don’t have a large racism problem, to sign and show solidarity with the whole region and make it a priority for our legislators and higher-ups.” Herr, a former Republican who now is independent, said he wanted to make it clear that he acknowledges a problem exists, but he doesn’t agree that this is the best way to address it. “I believe that there is systemic racism in America,” he said. “I believe there is systemic racism in Massachusetts. And I believe there is systemic racism in Hopkinton. I don’t know where it is, and I don’t pretend to be an expert in understanding it or how we uncover it or how we address it. But I want to. But I don’t know if alienating some of our key employees, those that keep us safe in particular, is going to help the cause.” Herr noted that the state legislature is working on adopting reforms that will impact all Massachusetts towns, and he said the town would be better off letting the process play out. He acknowledged it’s an emotional issue — driven to the forefront this year following the death of a defenseless Black man, George Floyd, at the hands of Minneapolis Police and leading to nationwide protests — but he said it’s leading to a questionable decision-making process. “I don’t know what the answer is, but I don’t think jumping on a pledge because we’re all emotionally distraught in these times is the answer when it can alienate some of the very people we want to work with to protect part of this process. So I’m struggling with it,” he said. “I didn’t like some of the terminology when it first came out, and there’s still terminology in there that I think is going to alienate people, so I’m not a fan of it at this time.

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“I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves because of our emotions and we’re letting the process manage us, instead of us managing the process. … That’s what this feels like to me, that the situation is managing us instead of the opposite.” Added Herr: “Managing to emotions is not good business. We run a damn good business here in Hopkinton. We’re not perfect, but we’ve run a really good business here for many, many years. That’s why we’re not broke, like 300 other towns in the state right now because of COVID. That’s why we’ve got some of the greatest schools in the state, let alone the country. There’s a lot of things that we do really well to manage our business. And to manage our employees and manage the culture in which they work is part of the management and the leadership process that we are charged with. If we just sign on to things because we’re all emotional about something and we lose good employees because of that, well, you know what, six months from now, the emotional piece is going to be waning, because that’s just what happens in life, but the employee problem we’re going to have is going to be much bigger. So that’s why managing the process instead of letting the process manage us is so important to me.” LaFreniere countered that this is not a new issue to her, and it won’t go away anytime soon. “I’ve been fighting this fight since the 1960s, when I sent friends to Selma, Alabama, to get hurt [in a protest march],” she said. “I was in Roxbury the night when Martin Luther King died [assassinated in Memphis]. My whole life I have been fighting this racist issue, and I want to see us continue to move forward, and move forward at a lot better pace than we have in the past.” Added LaFreniere: “It should be emotional when talking about unfairness.” Town manager Norman Khumalo, who hails from Zimbabwe and has a history of working for social justice, agreed that potential fallout is worth considering. “In terms of backlash, I do share that at a personal level,” he said. “I’m the town manager. I’m an African. I’m brown, I’m Black. And clearly the issues that are raised here are at some levels very personal. And I can see by extension some members of the community thinking that the town manager is the one who is behind this. … Whenever these issues are raised, the issue of backlash does some up.” Nasrullah empathized, although he noted the pledge was introduced by members of the community. “I understand the concern about backlash,” he said. “And also as a brown person I understand that concern of, ‘Oh, it’s very self-serving of me.’ But I don’t believe so. When we are talking about systemic MAPC | 7

The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 2020 • 7

Presents

‘A SLICE OF HOPKINTON’ Hopkinton Independent Photo Contest

This issue’s winner is Anne Burtenshaw for a photo of her dog, Izzy, sitting among a carpet of leaves on the Center Trail last month. 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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Season’s Greetings Uncertain times make you appreciate the things that matter. That’s certainly true for us here at Cabinet Gallery. As we celebrate our 36th year in business and 5th year in Hopkinton, we’re so grateful for the people of this community. Thank you for your continued support as we wish all of you a healthy and joyful holiday season.

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Please Support Your Neighbors Over the next few weeks, we urge you to support the good work of Project Just Because, a volunteer-led nonprofit that provides food, clothing and other supplies to our neighbors in need. PJB welcomes new or gently used items as well as cash donations. Visit projectjustbecause.org

The Hopkinton Independent presents “A Slice of Hopkinton” photo contest, sponsored by Bill’s Pizzeria. Readers are encouraged to submit photos of people, places or things in Hopkinton. The Independent staff will select one winner for each issue. The winner will have their submitted photo published in the paper and will receive a $25 gift certificate to Bill’s Pizzeria.

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.

Select Board wants police input on MAPC pledge MAPC | from page 6

racism we are talking about how it’s going to affect everybody and how we can have a fair playing field.” Responded Khumalo: “Part of our work here in town is to accept that there is a diversity of opinion. While I agree with you that this was brought to us by citizens, I’m not naive to think that everybody in Hopkinton agrees with this position.” Tedstone, an independent, said the pledge has “pros and cons,” but he said it would not affect any clear changes. “I think there’s a fine line between being proactive and stirring a pot that doesn’t need to be stirred,” he said. “As Mr. Herr said, I’m sure there’s racism in Hopkinton. Will this pledge eliminate the racism? No, it absolutely won’t. And will it have our Police Department or Fire Department or town manager or selectmen — it doesn’t afford them any more power to eradicate racism in Hopkinton.” Tedstone said the pledge puts the Select Board in an awkward position with the police. “I have a hard time looking Chief [Joseph] Bennett in the face and saying, ‘Listen, I’m a selectman four hours a night twice a month, I’m going to tell you how to do your job, the job that you’ve done I would venture to say perfectly over the last 30-something years,’ ” he said. “I have a hard time criticizing the work of our Police Department over an issue that has not come to light to us.”

Nasrullah countered that he views it in almost the opposite way. “The way I read this and the reason I’m comfortable signing on to this is because it’s already being done,” he said. “I’m not telling the police chief how to do his job. I’m saying, ‘Great job. Keep going. Continue at it.’ That’s just how I see it. I think we’re doing our community a disservice to not bring the police chief and fire chief into this discussion.” LaFreniere said it was her understanding that Bennett already has met with some of the residents who requested the town adopt the pledge. She also noted that numerous communities in the immediate area — as well as the Hopkinton School Committee — have adopted the pledge or a modified version of it. “In this day and age, this is long overdue,” she said. “Some kind of proclamation about the racist problems in this country has been overdue since the inception of the country. I think that we are just being asked to be supportive of this and our other communities. … I think we are doing a fantastic job as a community. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t acknowledge something more, something further and continue to move forward.” The discussion was tabled to the next meting. Tedstone and Khumalo planned to discuss bringing together members of the Police Department and possibly other departments to get their input.

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Select Board’s revised rules require speakers to be identified A t its meeting Dec. 1 the Select Board voted to approve an updated Select Board Rules of Procedure, which includes a directive that members of the public must state their name and address prior to commenting. This issue rose to the forefront after NEWS BRIEFS some members of the public were allowed to anonymously criticize a town Planning Board member. Although their names were available via documents at Town Hall, they were not made public at the

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Select Board meeting in August when they spoke or had their letters read. Traditionally speakers have been asked to give their name and address, although town counsel determined that it was not required based on the existing Select Board Rules of Procedure, which was last updated in 2009. Town manager Norman Khumalo and assistant town manager Elaine Lazarus led the project to revise the entire 27-page document. “I think whoever did this did a wonderful job,” Select Board member Mary Jo LaFreniere said. “It’s so much more succinct. I think the public is going to be able to read it. It’s much clearer. There’s just not a whole lot of added extra [verbiage].” All five Select Board members voted to approve the document.

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During the Dec. 1 town manager’s report, Khumalo reported that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation selected A.F. Amorello & Sons, based in Worcester, to serve as the contractor for the Main Street Corridor Project. “We’re looking forward to the project process wrapping up and going forward,” Khumalo said. Select Board members who were familiar with the company voiced their support for the selection. The work is expected to start in the spring. “We’re talking with our consultant as well as MassDOT to actually formally launch the project and we will let you know as soon as possible,” Khumalo said.

Board supports residents concerned about MassDOT project The Select Board heard from two members of the Hopkinton North Woods Coalition, a group formed to protect the interests of residents who are most affected by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s I-495/I-90 Interchange Improvement Project, which includes replacement of the Fruit Street bridge over I-495. Wilson St. Pierre, who said the coalition includes more than 100 homeowners, indicated the group has three priorities: safeguarding water quality, reducing road and construction noise impact, and improving road safety along Fruit Street. St. Pierre said road salt runoff already is a problem, contaminating wells in the area, and he expects that will only get worse, as will noise issues. “The highway has been steadily creeping closer to the Roosevelt Farms neighborhood in particular over the last 20 years,” he said. “This latest project will bring it yet another 60-80 feet closer to residents’ homes there. Obviously noise levels go up.” Resident Kathy Hervol expressed concern about noise during construction. She said when the tollbooths were re-

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moved — work that primarily was done at night in order to minimize traffic impact — “We heard jackhammers and such for probably six months, and we don’t want to go through that for six years.” St. Pierre also brought up concerns about landscape changes and sidewalk improvements farther down Fruit Street that he hopes could be added to the project (MassDOT has resisted this). He said the group is not looking to stop the project, just to look out for the residents’ best interests, and he hoped for the town’s support. The Select Board enthusiastically agreed that the residents should get their backing. Select Board member Brian Herr suggested that the town manager reach out to representatives on the state and national level and bring in town counsel to interact with MassDOT as needed.

Treasurer: Town’s finances in ‘strong position’ Chris Heymanns, the town treasurer/ collector, provided a positive report on the town’s finances to the Select Board. “As of the most recent fiscal quarter end, which was September 30th, I am happy to report that despite the continued COVID-19 crisis the town remains in a strong position financially,” he said. “As of the date of this report the town held $58.8 million in deposits and investments. Our tax collections and state aid, which are the two largest sources of revenue, have continued to track as expected.” Added Heymanns: “In the coming months the town is strategically positioned in terms of reserves, revenues and investments, and I feel confident in our ability to react to any uncertainty or any unforeseen events that might lie ahead financially.” The board reacted positively to the news. “It’s an awesome reflection of what a wonderful town that we are,” Select Board chair Brendan Tedstone said. “The fact there we’re in such a strong financial position at this point, almost a year into the pandemic, is a direct reflection of you, [chief financial officer] Tim [O’Leary], Mr. Khumalo and everybody else involved in these departments.”

Water Dept. explains higher bills, chlorine smell The town’s Water and Sewer Department is in its first full six-month billing cycle since the pandemic started and has been receiving more calls for high water bills. With most people being at home much more than normal, residential use has increased. Dishwashers, bathrooms and laundry are the major indoor uses. In particular, with the increased use of toilets, leaks in the flapper valve are more likely to occur. Coupled with the increased use in the home, the prolonged drought also has caused a large increase in outdoor usage. These two factors are the main reasons for the rise in customer use. Check hopkintonma.gov for water conservation tips and the department’s billing policy. The town has completed the water blending facility at Fruit Street. This brings all the Fruit Street wells together for common treatment for pH adjustment and chlorination. This will help improve water quality and quantity from the site. In order to comply with the state regulation for disinfectant for the new facility, the town is required to increase the amount of News briefs | 9

The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 2020 • 9

Lung cancer program helps save lives HHS grad spreads word about screening initiative By Sandy Quadros Bowles Contributing Writer

ung cancer kills more people than any other cancer. Nearly a quarter of all cancer deaths are caused by lung cancer. A major reason for this sobering statistic: By the time patients experience symptoms such as coughing up blood or chronic coughing, the disease often has reached an advanced stage that can be more difficult to treat. But there is a way at-risk individuals can improve their chances. Screening for lung cancer is one of the most effective ways to reduce lung cancer mortality, according to the American Cancer Society. However, only 4 percent of those at high risk get screened. Hopkinton High School 2020 graduate Thrusha Puttaraju, now a freshman at Northeastern University, is working to increase these numbers. She is a member of the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative, which promotes lung cancer screening for those at high risk of developing lung cancer. Her involvement was inspired by a family history of cancer, with “not the best prognosis,” she said. Her experiences have made her “very passionate about cancer and spreading the word about cancer.” About 228,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed each year, according to the American Cancer Society. About 135,720 people — 72,500 men and 63,220 women — will die. In an effort to reduce these numbers, Puttaraju is working to make people aware of the availability and importance of screening, particularly in November, which was National Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Screening is available to people who are between the ages of 55-80, who have smoked the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years and

currently smoke, or who have quit smoking within the past 15 years. Members of the initiative encourage people who fall into this category to disThrush Puttaraju cuss the issue with their primary care physician. Screening involves a CT scan that takes about five minutes and involves “very minimal” radiation exposure, Puttaraju said. She encouraged smokers to be honest with themselves about the need for screening. A “stigma” around smoking sometimes holds people back from considering screening. “People don’t want to admit to themselves how much they smoke,” she said. At other times, she said, “people underestimate how much they smoke. It’s up to the patient to come to terms with how much they’re smoking.” But screening can save lives. “Early detection almost always guarantees a better outcome and a better prognosis,” she said. If a screen shows early signs of lung cancer, doctors can treat it at a stage when the prognosis is generally more promising, and before the cancer “has spread from its primary location” and become potentially more lethal, Puttaraju said. Some people will receive clear screens. While this is welcome news for sure, it should not serve as an alternative to quitting smoking. Not matter what the outcome, Puttaraju said, “consider quitting even if you have a clear screen.” For more information on American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative, visit alcsi.org. To learn more about tips on quitting smoking, visit cancer.org/latestnews/how-to-quit-smoking.html.

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chlorine that is added to the water. This may cause residents to notice a chlorine smell on first draws from the faucet or shower. A whole-house or point-of-use carbon filter will help reduce taste and odor issues. Check the Water Department media outlets for updates, including Twitter (@hopkintonwater). For instantaneous updates go to https://groups.google. com/all-groups and select water and sewer notices.

Misc: Seaboard Solar declines meeting about sale Khumalo, tasked by Town Meeting to contact Seaboard Solar to discuss the possibility of the town purchasing the forested land off Frankland Road — the former Liberty Mutual property — said Seaboard Solar declined to meet with him, indicating the property is not for sale. Seaboard Solar already was granted a special permit by the Planning Board to construct a solar array there. Two abutters are suing the Planning Board in an attempt to stop the project. … The Select Board approved a host

community agreement with PerkinElmer, a company on Parkwood Avenue, regarding its plans to add a marijuana research facility. … The Select Board accepted two gifts from the Hopkinton Trails Club: two picnic tables (valued at $350) that will be placed near the pond on the Pratt fields, and $100 to the library for the purchase of trail use-related literature. The board also approved a $250 gift to the Ambulance Fund from William Scott Ober and Gayle Ober of Fawn Ridge Road.

Scouts recycle Christmas trees Hopkinton Boy Scouts Troop 4 will hold its annual Christmas tree recycling fundraiser on Jan. 2 and Jan. 9. The fee is a $15 donation per tree, which includes curbside pickup. Participation is limited to Hopkinton residents, and reservations are required. The trees will be recycled in town thanks to support from JB Sawmill. For more information or to schedule a pickup, visit troop4hopkinton.com/ tree-collection or email tree-pickup@ troop4hopkinton.com.

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10 • The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 2020

Happy Holidays HOPKINTON AREA LAND TRUST

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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.

Women’s Club sign fundraiser ends Dec. 10, meeting Dec. 14 The Hopkinton Women’s Club, celebrating 100 years, is selling hand-painted wooden holiday 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. The next meeting is Monday, Dec. 14, via Zoom. Visit the club’s website for details or or contact Judith Weinthaler at 508-435-3287 or HopkintonWC@gmail.com.

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Let it (2020) Go!—Outdoor New Year’s Eve Family Event | 3 to 6 pm On Dec. 31 join us a the HCA for this free event, featuring Brilliant Ice Sculpture, Frozen’s Anna and Elsa, and some yummy treats. Free, but timed tickets must be reserved in advance at www. hopartscenter.org.

The Nutcracker Story | Online Event Adapted from the Nutcracker ballet, the The Nutcracker Story is the perfect online Holiday performance for families to enjoy from home. Featuring the dancers of the Hopkinton Center for the Arts dance studio under the direction of Jessica Wilson. Dec. 18–20. Free event. Get your tickets at www.hopartscenter. org

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Arts in Bloom at HCA through Dec. 19 The 15th annual presentation of Arts in Bloom runs from Nov. 13 through Dec. 19 at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts’ Lotvin Family Gallery. The public is invited in person (with masks and social distancing). Gallery hours are Mondays through Fridays 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Juried by Marie Craig, director of Boston’s Fountain Street Gallery, this year’s event presents work from 35 artists from California, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including four from Hopkinton. For more information, visit hopartscenter.org or call 508-589-4409.

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Schools

OPENING DOORS OPENING DOORS To New Beginnings

To New Beginnings

Schools consider later start times in future

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By Sandy Quadros Bowles Contributing Writer

lementary and secondary schools could start at a later hour in the future to allow students to get more sleep, School Committee members said Nov. 19 at their meeting. One possibility could be starting the high school and middle school at 8 a.m. and elementary schools at 9 a.m. In previous years, a lack of buses would have made that unworkable, finance director Susan Rothermich said. But she SCHOOLS NOTEBOOK said there are enough buses now to make this work. Studies from the Sleep Foundation have shown that students who obtained five or more extra hours of sleep each week reported improved academic performance, increased alertness and decreased depression. Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh said the concept of later start times for Hopkinton schools was considered even before she was superintendent, and also has been discussed more recently. But during the pandemic the school community’s focus was elsewhere, and she did not think this was the time to make any immediate changes. “People are just kind of holding it together on a shoestring,” Cavanaugh said. “Right now I don’t know if anyone has the strength” to add more to their plates. Committee member Meg Tyler was interested in looking more closely at the issue and said she thought the community was able to multitask even while dealing with pandemic-related issues. “We can juggle a lot in this district,” she said. Tyler said she is hearing that students in the hybrid model are “grateful for more sleep” when they are learning from home. Committee member Nancy Cavanaugh noted that the current start times require some students to wait for the bus in the dark. Changing the start time to 8 a.m. for older students would eliminate that, she said. The issue would have to be explored further with both the teachers union and the community at large, the superintendent said. “We need to bring the public in,” she said. “Parents and families need to have some voice” in the discussion. In other issues, three departments offered their budget requests for FY22. Building and grounds requested an increase of $318,794, which is 9.2 percent over the current budget. This figure includes COVID-related PPE (personal protective equipment) expenses of $187,000 and reflects the loss of $77,000 in building rentals. Student services requested an increase of 3.6 percent over last year’s budget, which includes an increase of $383,833 in salaries and $42,019 in expenses. Technology requested an increase of 13.06 percent over the current budget. This requested increase includes new half-time positions for webmaster and account manager.

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Hopkinton schools ranked No. 1 in state Hopkinton recently was ranked as the No. 1 school district in Massachusetts for 2021 by Niche, a website that rates schools, companies and neighborhoods nationwide. The district received an A-plus overall grade, earning A-pluses in academics, teachers, college prep and health/safety. Hopkinton received a straight A in clubs/activities and a C-plus in diversity. Hopkinton also ranked No. 1 in the state for having the best teachers and being the best place to teach. It ranked 14th among the safest school districts (earning another Aplus grade). Earlier this year Hopkinton High School was ranked third in the state by U.S. News & World Report, being an exam school and a charter school. “Given that we are embarking on the season of thanks, I hope you might find a moment to thank the teachers for their commitment to ensuring that all children learn at the highest levels,” superintendent Carol Cavanaugh wrote in an email sharing the rankings with schools families. “In turn, I also want to thank you, the families of Hopkinton, for the support you offer our public schools — every day and without hesitation. I am grateful to be your superintendent.” According to the Niche website, “The 2021 Best School Districts ranking is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Ranking factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, public school district ratings, and more.”

Lions Club hosts speech contest The Hopkinton Lions Club is hosting its annual youth speech contest virtually on Thursday, Dec. 17. The topic is: Is winning everything? The competition, which is part of a statewide program, provides an opportunity for students to speak publicly and freely on a designated topic of general interest. It is open to Hopkinton residents in grades 9-12, and the speech must be given in English. Each contestant will be judged on delivery, effectiveness and text of speech. Each speech should last between 5-8 minutes. The winner will receive a $100 prize. Winners in town will have the opportunity to advance to a zone-level competition, followed by regional, district and state events for winners at each level. For more information, visit hopkintonlions.org or Facebook @hopkintonlions, or email hopkintonlions@gmail.com.

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12 • The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 2020

Schools When will schools return to full-time? By Sandy Bowles Contributing Writer

We need to figure out a solution. If there’s a will, there’s a way.

quick return to full-time, in-school education is not feasible because of logistical and scheduling issues, superintendent Carol Cavanaugh told School Committee members at their Dec. 3 meeting. The issue of how and when to return to school full-time will be the task of a group scheduled to be discussed at the Dec. 17 School Committee meeting, she said. A similar group helped determine the best options for reopening schools in September. There are many positive aspects to returning, Cavanaugh said. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has argued in favor of reopening, and there appear to be no cases of in-school virus transmission. With the effectiveness of masks, a 3-foot distance between individuals works, science has shown, and, “Isolation is bad for kids,” she said. But the process would not be simple, she said. Hundreds of pieces of furniture would need to be rearranged and schedules would have to be reworked. Lunch continues to be a concern, with limited space to accommodate students at a safe distance. These challenges should not be “insurmountable,” committee member Meg Tyler said.

— School Committee member Joe Markey

Parents would be happy to help move furniture if it meant their children could be back in school on a full-time basis, Tyler said. Committee member Joe Markey concurred. He noted that discussion about the “road to return” to full-time instruction seems to focus on “obstacles on the road to recovery” rather than how to make it happen. Doing what’s best for students should be the goal, he said. “We need to figure out a solution,” he stated. “If there’s a will, there’s a way.” Cavanaugh countered that she is not trying to be an “obstructionist” but has to consider the demands on staff. Custodians cannot be asked to move 700 pieces of furniture while at the same time cleaning and sanitizing buildings, she said. “We’re all in this together,” Markey responded. He said the needs of families, some of whom quit jobs to help teach students at home, must also be considered. Cavanaugh said the return group should include those who are “most impacted,” including teachers and adminis-

trators as well as families. Committee chair Amanda Fargiano said there were “a lot of considerations” and suggested surveying parents. One option, she suggested, was phasing in a return by tiers, perhaps starting at the elementary level. Cavanaugh noted that the school community has expressed various viewpoints. While some want a quick return, others, she said, have suggested keeping remote learning in place until mid-January. “We need to remember there are unique voices,” she said. Fargiano said she also has heard various opinions from the community, including concerns about how fully remote students would be integrated into a full return. Tyler said she hopes that when the group is formed, “There’ll be a nice showing of parents.” Cavanaugh noted that, at the high school level, one student testing positive could potentially create 30 close contacts, and double that if the student has a sibling in the schools. “It’s very, very tricky,” she said.

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December StoryWalk

Starts Dec. 8 Stop by the library anytime to visit the outdoor StoryWalk. It will remain displayed through December 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: “While We Can’t Hug” by Eoin McLaughlin. The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.

Teen Fortnite Tournament for Grades 6-12 (Virtual)

Friday, Dec. 11, 3-5 p.m. One Up Games again will host a video game tournament, this time virtual. Anyone interested should carefully read the tech requirements before registering on the library’s website calendar.

‘Take & Make’ Preschool Story Time (Virtual)

Wednesday, Dec. 16 This program, an online story time for ages 3-5, will include 1-2 stories, songs and rhymes and an activity to try at home. The story time will be available starting at 9 a.m. on Dec. 16. December’s theme is winter. Check the library’s website calendar for important information and signup dates.

Smart Holiday Treats Workshop (Zoom)

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m. Looking for some new holiday dessert recipes that are not filled with processed ingredients? Cook some seasonal desserts that are actually good for you. Join Nancy Wind to explore some superfoods and learn a little about Ayurveda. Register on the library’s website calendar.

Chat ’n’ Chew Lunchtime Book Group (Virtual)

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Instead of assigning a book for all participants to read, each person reviews something they read during the month. Register on the library’s website calendar.

Friends of Hopkinton Library Annual Meeting (Zoom)

Wednesday, Jan. 6, 6:30 p.m. All members are invited to attend. The agenda will include the election of officers, approval of the dues structure, and affirmation of regular business. The annual meeting will be followed by the January board meeting. Anyone interested in attending should email Beth Mezitt at bethm@westonnurseries. com to get on the list for the Zoom link.

The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 2020 • 13

Sports HHS aims for most complete winter sports season possible Sports | from page 1

“We have upwards of 200 student athletes who compete in winter track, and many of them also lost out on their spring season,” Cormier said. “So we feel we are in the best position right now to give them an opportunity to be with their team and to train.” But training for the HHS track teams will not be as simple as using the athletic center, which has largely been converted into socially distant classroom/lunch space. While the basketball court will be usable this winter, the track teams will have to practice outside and will hope to compete with some of the other area schools in meets at Wheaton College, Cormier said. The MIAA officially moved winter track to the so-called Fall 2 season, which begins in late February. The hope is that more indoor track facilities would be open by then and allow most schools to be able to compete. But Cormier is skeptical. “The reality is, I don’t believe the Reggie Lewis Center is going to open for Fall 2 either,” he said, referring to the indoor track facility in Boston. “Competing now gives our students the chance to compete and try to set personal bests and do so under the watch of an official.” In addition to indoor track, HHS plans to offer boys and girls basketball, boys and girls ice hockey and alpine skiing this winter. Wrestling and competitive cheerleading, which are traditional winter sports, will be moved to the spring. Another winter sport that is going to launch for some schools, swimming and diving, will not take place until Fall 2 for Hopkinton. “It’s not a safety situation, we just do not have access to a pool,” Cormier said. Even for the sports that are a “go” for the winter, numerous questions and details still remain. Hopkinton and other schools in the ski league are working with Ski Ward to figure out the logistics, including how many athletes might be allowed on the mountain at one time and how many are allowed to race. With no locker room facilities available, arrival times also have become important. Instead of athletes arriving at a facility early to warm up and change, buses will need to be scheduled to make sure athletes spend as little time at a venue as possible — competing shortly after arrival and leaving shortly after the competition is over. “The logistics in every single sport is going to look a lot different,” Cormier said. The bench area in hockey is one that will be a challenge to figure out since there is not a realistic way to maintain social distancing between coaches and players at most facilities. Cormier said he was planning a walk-through at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough last week to see what the hockey teams might have to do to space themselves safely during games. In basketball, Hopkinton will have to balance court time between eight teams. Both the boys and girls will field varsity, junior varsity, freshman and middle school squads. Fortunately for the Hillers, there is enough space in the athletic center to permit adequate spacing on the benches and allow for some spectators, should guidelines permit. That will not be the case everywhere and it’s not yet assured for Hopkinton either, Cormier cautioned.

“We are waiting as a league and as a school to make a decision on spectators,” he said. “We don’t play until January and we don’t know what the COVID situation is going to be at that time. It would be nice for parents to watch their sons and daughters play, but it’s just not going to be possible for everyone.” If there is a silver lining, it’s that the

sports themselves should look pretty much like they always do. The jump ball is out for basketball, as are out-of-bounds plays near the basket, but the rest of the game is, more or less, the same. Cormier said the state eliminated guidance that called for contact to be removed from the games, which allows hockey and basketball to play without the severe limitations im-

posed on soccer and field hockey. “Even though parents and students were frustrated, I think they understood the fall was different,” Cormier said. “People erred on the side of caution and tried to make sure they provided the safest environment possible and went above and beyond what was probably needed to make that happen.”

HHS athletes commit to colleges Hopkinton High School held a ceremony Nov. 18 for six senior athletes who have committed to a college program for next year. Joshua Fisher will play baseball at FairSPORTS ROUNDUP field University. Hope DeLuca will run track and cross country at the University of Vermont. Reilly DelPonte will play lacrosse at St. Bonaventure. Olivia Jones will run cross country and track at the University of Florida. Greta Field will run cross country and track at UMass Lowell. Katya Markovich will play lacrosse at Southern New Hampshire University.

Winter registration open Registration is open on FamilyID for high school students interested in participating in a winter sport. Athletic director Rich Cormier requested families register their student as early as possible in order to plan for tryouts. The winter season is scheduled to start Dec. 14, with games beginning in early January. Sports being played in the winter season include basketball, ice hockey, skiing and possibly track and field.

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14 • The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 2020

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.

’Tis the Season, Or Is It?

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increased tax liability, and the gifts might need to be returned if the giver gets sick. In this seminar, elder law attorney Arthur Bergeron will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of gifting to help determine the best approach for each case. This is a Zoom presentation. Those interested should call the Senior Center to sign up, and a link will be sent out before the program.

Calling all Jigsaw Puzzlers

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 preregister so the center can make sure to have the correct number of puzzles to share. Puzzle donations are welcome.

Holiday Dinner

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. In place of the regular lunch program, the center is inviting Hopkinton seniors to enjoy a holiday pot roast dinner. Meals must be reserved by 2 p.m. on Dec. 7. Delivery will be available to those who have no means to pick up their meal outside the Senior Center.

Books, Books and More Books

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.

Our Time Memory Cafe

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 experi-

ences 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 open-minded 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.

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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The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 2020 • 15

Business BUSINESS PROFILE: AN ADVERTISER FEATURE

Country Farm Liquors: Quality beverages, friendly service Hine and Mukesh Patel are the proud owners of Country Farm Liquors, serving and supporting the Hopkinton community for more than two decades.

By Deborah Burke Henderson Contributing Writer

any people in town know Mukesh Patel as “Mike.” He and his wife, Hina, own and operate Country Farm Liquors at 3 Cedar St., adjacent to the Post Office downtown. Their son, Neel, serves as store manager. Nearly three decades ago, the couple came to America from the state of Gujarat located on the western coast of India on the Arabian Sea. “We are industrious and very proud of our strong work ethic,” Patel stated, adding, “We wanted to run a local business here that would help people.” Shortly after their arrival stateside, the couple purchased what was then a Cumberland Farms convenience store and changed the name to Country Farm. Within the past 10 years, they’ve had plans to transform Country Farm into a liquor store. Finally, last February, the Patels secured an all beverages alcohol license from the town’s Select Board when Old Town Liquors closed its doors. “We also own the building at 68-72 Main St. that housed Old Town,” Patel stated, “and we are currently working with a commercial real estate agent to find a client for that storefront space.

PHOTO/DEBORAH BURKE HENDERSON

There’s been quite a lot of interest, but people seem to be holding back because of the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. We are hopeful to fill the space sometime in the new year.” Country Farm Liquors launched its grand reopening in July and was welcomed by Chamber of Commerce president Christina Morrissiey as the

Mahr joins Hopkinton Primary Care Milford Regional Physician Group announced that Dr. Melissa Mahr has joined Hopkinton Primary Care and will see patients at 77 Main Street (Suite 204). Mahr previously worked for Reliant Medical Group in Southborough, where she spent the last 15 years taking care of patients ages 18-100. Her specific areas of interest include women’s health, preventive medicine and geriatrics. Board certified in internal medicine, she earned her underBUSINESS BRIEFS graduate degree from Dartmouth College (magna cum laude) and medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. Upon completion of a combined internal medicine and pediatrics residency at the University of Maryland, Mahr spent three years in primary care with Johns Hopkins Community Physicians. Milford Regional also announced that neurosurgeon Ziev Moses, M.D., has joined the active medical staff and is accepting new patients at UMass Memorial Surgery at Milford, located at 91 Water St.

chamber’s newest member. According to Neel Patel, Country Farm has an established wine selection to appease the most specific tastes, small batch bourbons and a well-established variety of vodkas, other spirits and liqueurs, along with the top brands of beer, including Hopkinton’s own locally made craft beers. Special wine orders

are possible, and customers requesting such orders are asked to allow at least a two-week advance notice for proper fulfillment. Staff will alert customers if that notice time might be shortened. The shop also carries a modest amount of food items such as milk, eggs, juice, water, soda and candy. Lottery tickets and cigarettes also are available for purchase. A convenient ATM machine is inside the store, and just outside the storefront customers will find packaged ice for sale. For now, the store is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m., and closed for major holidays. Staff and customers are expected to follow the current health and safety protocols, wearing masks at all times and maintaining physical distancing once inside the shop. Proud to be part of the local community, the Patels and Country Farm Liquors sponsor the town golf league, support the Police Department, and make financial contributions to help support Hopkinton High School programs. Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Hopkinton Independent advertisers.

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GRLA hires Halstead Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects (GRLA) recently announced that Evan Halstead has joined the firm as job captain. According to GRLA, Halstead brings 15 years of architectural design experience. He has worked on scores of healthcare projects and more recently multifamily residential. As a LEED-accredited professional, Halstead has a passion for sustainable design. He received his degree in sustainable design from the Boston Architectural College and was active in the Boston Living Building Collaborative while attending BAC.

ERA Key’s Towne donates $1K to Baypath Donna Towne, a Realtor in the Westborough office of ERA Key Realty Services, recently donated $1,000 to Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton. Towne adopted her cat, Misty, from Baypath 13 years ago and has supported the organization for the past eight years. In addition to attending Baypath’s annual Fur Ball fundraiser and participating in the fall Paws and Claws run/walk at Hopkinton State Park each year, she has supported the organization financially through the ERA Key Charitable Trust. “I usually make a donation each year from the charitable trust for $500,” Towne said, “but since this year took such a toll on them due to cancellations of their events, I increased my contribution to $1,000. I also donate items such as dog and cat beds, and pet food and toys to give to others who are adopting pets.” The ERA Key Charitable Trust has donated more than $400,000 to area charities since its inception in 2004.

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16 • The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 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 and winter parking ban warnings.

Polselli responded and reported the crew was done for the day. 5:33 p.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Benjamin Stickney and Ryan Polselli assisted the Belmont Police Department with an arrest warrant by searching for a Revolutionary Way resident. It was determined that the individual had not been in the area for a while.

November 17

November 18

1:30 a.m. A Constitution Court resident complained of loud music playing in the neighborhood. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Tyler Brabham responded and were unable to make contact. The music was turned down. 7:40 a.m. A Grove Street gas station employee reported a customer left without paying for gas. Officers Brian Sanchioni and Brittany Firth responded and were to contact the suspect.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

9:12 a.m. A caller reported a malfunctioning traffic light on Chestnut Street. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded and reported the lights were working properly. 3:55 p.m. A caller complained of a vehicle speeding on Spring Street. Officer Philip Powers responded and caught up with the operator and advised him of the complaint. 8:08 p.m. A caller reported her sister’s boyfriend assaulted her in Framingham. Officer Preston Mucciarone assisted and contacted the Framingham Police Department. A report was to follow.

WINDOW PAIN

Officer Phil Powers stands next to his cruiser, which sustained heavy damage during a storm on Nov. 30 after a tree fell and struck the vehicle. Powers, who was not injured, had been on duty blocking West Elm Street, where another tree and wires were down.

2:38 p.m. A caller reported a person in a West Main Street parking lot searching for a ride. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and checked on the individual and stood by. 5:54 p.m. A Joseph Road caller reported he received about four phone calls and text messages from a man threatening him. Officer Robert Ekross spoke to the caller and assisted. 5:58 p.m. A School Street caller reported a solicitor, whom she thought was

involved in a scam. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil responded and checked the area and spoke with the reporting person. 6:53 p.m. Officer Brian Sanchioni and K-9 Officer Titan were deployed on Oak Street. 8:50 p.m. A Wedgewood Drive resident complained of landscaping equipment operating in violation of town bylaws. Officer Robert Ekross responded and advised the worker of town bylaws. 9:35 p.m. A West Elm Street caller reported hearing a loud crash in her yard and stated the motion detector light by her shed went off. Officer Ryan Polselli responded and checked the area with a negative find.

November 19

12:21 p.m. Officer Brian Sanchioni and K-9 Officer Titan were deployed to Marlborough. 4:28 p.m. A caller complained of a traffic jam on School Street due to paving and no police detail assisting. Officer Ryan

November 20

8:50 a.m. Officers Benjamin Stickney and Philip Powers removed a person from Elmwood School on Elm Street. 11:20 a.m. Multiple callers reported a motor vehicle accident involving four cars on Main Street. No personal injuries were reported. Two people refused medical assistance. A tow truck removed one vehicle. Officer Brittany Firth took a report. 1:37 p.m. A caller reported a contractor duped her and a neighbor out of money. Officers Brian Sanchioni and Brittany Firth responded and determined the matter to be a civil dispute. 4:38 p.m. A caller requested to speak with an officer about a speeding ticket her daughter received. Officer Derek Morton was to follow up via telephone. 4:43 p.m. A caller reported she found a wallet on Cedar Street. Officer Derek Morton responded and retrieved the wallet.

November 21

1:58 p.m. A postal worker handed in a purse found on Locust Lane. 4:36 p.m. Officer Preston Mucciarone responded to an ongoing complaint of a vehicle speeding on Heartwood Way. 6:39 p.m. Officers Brendon Lyver, Derek Morton and Nathan Wright searched for a runaway juvenile from Worcester on Freedom Way with a negative find.

November 22

1:55 a.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Preston Mucciarone checked on a motor vehicle on School Street and subsequently provided a courtesy transport for the occupant.

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The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 2020 • 17 3:30 a.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield checked on a vehicle in a Frankland Road parking lot and found it secure. 12:03 p.m. A caller reported possible fraudulent activity that may have occurred at her business. Officer Brendon Lyver took a report. 12:36 p.m. Several callers reported a dislodged manhole cover on South Street. Officer Moira McGaffigan responded and notified the construction company. 2:19 p.m. A B Street resident reported a past breaking and entering attempt. Officer Brendon Lyver responded and took a report. 6:41 p.m. A caller reported an Amazon van parked on Hayden Rowe Street facing the wrong direction. Officer Ryan Polselli responded and checked the area with a negative find on the van.

November 23

8:50 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan responded along with the fire apartment to a fire alarm activation on Ryegrass Circle, where a faulty first floor detector was determined to be the cause. 9:37 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan assisted a disabled motor vehicle on Grove Street. 12:19 p.m. A caller reported a delivery driver’s vehicle got stuck in the mud while avoiding the gate at Forest Lane. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded and requested a tow truck. The driver was able to free himself. A report was to follow. 4:50 p.m. A caller reported a bench in the roadway of Cedar Street, near the reservoir. Officer Ryan Polselli responded and moved it to the side of the road. 5:06 p.m. A West Main Street caller reported an unknown black Jeep on his property, across from DiCarlo Road, for a few days. Officers Derek Morton and Nathan Wright responded and made contact with the owner, who was to move the vehicle. 8:50 p.m. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Ryan Polselli responded to a motor vehicle accident on South Street, where a vehicle ran over a manhole. A tow truck was requested, and the DPW responded to replace the cover.

November 24

9:52 a.m. An Oak Street caller reported a suspicious male claiming to work for a pest control company was at her house and refused to leave. Officers Brian Sanchioni, Jessica Ferreira and Brittany Firth responded and spoke with the individual and reported a misunderstanding. All was OK. 1:23 p.m. A caller, refusing to talk on a recorded line, reported he took an animal tranquilizer and requested to speak with a female animal control officer. Officer Jessica Ferreira notified the Milford Police Department, which attempted to ping the call. 10:49 a.m. The Greenfield Police Department requested to speak with an officer about a High Street resident. Officer Ryan Polselli assisted. 7:36 p.m. A caller reported a loose German shepherd wandering in the roadway of Blackthorne Circle. The animal control officer was contacted.

November 25

1:07 a.m. An Edge Hill Road caller reported two men walking around his backyard after cutting through from the golf course. Officers Jay Deiana and Jessica Ferreira responded and checked the area with a negative find. 8:59 a.m. A caller reported smoke rising from a West Main Street house near the town pound. Officers Brian Sanchioni and Brittany Firth responded along with the Fire Department. The Ashland Fire Department also responded. The source

was determined to be a wood stove pipe. The building inspector responded. 11:00 a.m. A caller turned in a ring found on the Town Common. 1:09 p.m. A Saddle Hill Road caller reported a delivery driver delivered a Pottery Barn package to him, but he did not order anything. The delivery driver then sat in his vehicle in the driveway for 15 minutes. The caller found it suspicious and wanted the incident logged. 1:49 p.m. A caller reported low-hanging wires on North Mill Street. Officers Brian Sanchioni, Jay Deiana and Brittany Firth responded and placed cones in the area and notified Eversource. 4:26 p.m. A caller reported he witnessed a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident on Main Street, where one vehicle pulled over and the other fled the scene. The caller was able to see the license plate of the vehicle that fled. Officers Robert Ekross, Cody Normandin, and Ryan Polselli responded and caught up with the suspect. A report was to follow. 4:35 p.m. A caller reported a large pile of leaves in the roadway of Eastview Road and stated they were a hazard. Officer Cody Normandin responded and contacted the DPW. 5:24 p.m. A caller reported what sounded like fireworks in the area of Spring Street. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Ryan Polselli responded and found all quiet. 5:46 p.m. A caller reported what sounded like gunshots on Wilson Street. Officers Robert Ekross and Cody Normandin responded and checked the area with a negative find. 5:51 p.m. A caller reported hearing gunshots in the area of White Street. Officer Ryan Polselli responded and found all quiet. 6:36 p.m. A caller reported a van with its doors open and nobody around on Woodview Way. Officer Cody Normandin responded and reported it was a U-Haul van and all was OK. 7:13 p.m. Multiple callers complained of fireworks on Schofield Road. Officer Ryan Polselli responded and found the host of an engagement party, who stated they would cease setting off fireworks. 9:37 p.m. Officer Cody Normandin checked on a motor vehicle parked on Hayden Rowe Street, and the driver was on his way out. 11:47 p.m. A caller reported two vehicles parked on Saddle Hill Road with their lights on for over 30 minutes. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and found the occupants talking. They were moved along.

1:04 p.m. Officer Jay Deiana assisted a lost Uber driver on Main Street. 1:31 p.m. An Oakhurst Road resident reported her motor vehicle was stolen. Officers Brian Sanchioni and Jay Deiana responded and took a report. 2:01 p.m. An Oakhurst Road caller reported someone broke into his motor vehicle. Officers Brian Sanchioni and Brittany Firth responded and took a report. 2:11 p.m. An Oakhurst Road resident reported someone broke into her vehicle. Officers Brian Sanchioni and Brittany Firth responded and took a report. 2:38 p.m. A Thayer Heights Road caller reported his mailbox and post were stolen. He wanted the vandalism logged.

November 28

9:10 a.m. A caller reported a vehicle parked in a hazardous spot on Highland Street at Exchange Street. Officer Brendon Lyver responded and issued a parking violation. 2:21 p.m. A caller reported a possibly disabled bicyclist on Cedar Street. Officer Cody Normandin responded and checked on the person and all was OK. 2:37 p.m. A Cedar Street caller reported she found unfired ammunition. Officer Cody Normandin responded and recovered the ammunition.

November 29

1:44 a.m. Officer Tyler Brabham issued a winter parking ban warning on Rocky Woods Road. 10:17 a.m. A caller reported glass in the roadway of Hayward Street. Officer Brendon Lyver responded and swept the glass to the side of the road and notified the DPW. 11:27 a.m. An employee at a Cedar Street store reported an inside odor of electrical burning and also stated Eversource

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8:51 a.m. A caller reported the chapel door at a Wood Street church was open. Officers Brian Sanchioni and Brittany Firth responded and secured the door. 11:54 a.m. A Pinecrest Village resident reported someone rummaged through the glove box in his vehicle. He wanted the incident logged.

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12:17 a.m. A caller complained of noise on Woodview Way. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and checked the area with a negative find. 1:32 a.m. Sergeant William Burchard checked on a parked vehicle on Main Street and found three friends talking. They were moved along. 2:22 p.m. A caller reported she lost her two Germans shorthaired pointers in Ashland State Park. The animal control officer was notified. 2:41 p.m. Officers Jay Deiana and Nathan Wright assisted a disabled motor vehicle on West Main Street.

Electric was working outside. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded along with the Fire Department. The wiring inspector responded. No smoke or fire was found in the building. 3:44 p.m. A Longwood Drive resident reported she placed her dog’s feces in biodegradable bags at the end of her property, and her neighbor threw the bags of feces back into her yard. Officer Derek Morton spoke with the caller about trespassing. 5:37 p.m. Officer Ryan Polselli checked on a person walking into Hopkinton State Park on Cedar Street and subsequently provided the person with a courtesy transport to Claflin Avenue. 11:21 p.m. A Stoney Brook Road resident reported youths vandalized Christmas decorations the past two nights. Officer Preston Mucciarone spoke with the reporting person about the trespassing.

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18 • The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 2020

Obituaries Anthony Plante Anthony (Tony) Plante of Hopkinton, 82, died of heart failure on Nov. 2 at MetroWest Medical Center. Tony leaves his wife of 57 years, Barbara (DeLuca), formerly of Milford, daughter Stacey, son-in-law Joseph, and granddaughters Toni, Kelsey and Andie Brothers, all of Wrentham. Another daughter, April, died in infancy. Tony was born in Worcester to Beaven and Estelle (Donovan) Plante. Tony joined the Marine Corps shortly after high school graduation. Following basic training he was sent to sea school and served as a seagoing marine aboard the USS Randolph. Following that assignment he served as a military policeman at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. He was honorably discharged with the rank of lance corporal. Tony returned to Worcester and worked as a draftsman for the David Clark Company. When the company secured a contract to design and build spacesuits for the Gemini project, Tony accepted a transfer to NASA in Houston to lead the team for the duration of that assignment. He returned to Massachusetts and decided to change his career direction. He attended Framingham State College and graduated with a B.A. in English. He often joked about being mistaken for a professor by the younger students. Following graduation he completed a training program in computer science and worked as a management consultant in that field for various clients in New England until his retirement. Tony enjoyed music, especially classical, and was an avid reader. He built up an extensive collection of books and CDs and was seldom seen without reading material or a crossword puzzle in his hands while music played in the background. He enjoyed following local teams, particularly the Patriots and Red Sox. Tony enjoyed fishing, and until his health prevented it, an occasional golf game. He was a family man and loved spending time with the wife and kids at home and on vacations. After retiring he developed an interest in cooking and prepared many creative and

delicious meals. Dinners will never be the same without Grampy’s homemade buns. Tony is survived by a sister, Diane LeBlanc of Holden, a brother, Rev. Evan Plante and his wife, Carole, of Worcester, sisters-in-law Jennie DeLuca and Rosemarie Dicampo, and brother-in-law Leonard DeLuca, all of Milford, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Arthur Plante of South Carolina A funeral service was held Nov. 10 at the Consigli-Ruggerio Funeral Home in Milford, followed by burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Milford.

James Wallace Jr. James E. Wallace Jr., 59, of West Dennis, passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 17 at his new home on Cape Cod. Born and raised in Framingham, he was the son of Filomena (Palermo) Wallace and the late James E. Wallace. A 1978 graduate of Framingham North High School, Jimmy started working for the family’s restaurant business, Wallace’s of Framingham. He quickly ventured into a career in refrigeration and air conditioning and was self-employed, founding Framingham Refrigeration. He was known for bringing home many fun “toys” such as snowmobiles, a dune buggy and several muscle cars. He was inspiring to family and friends with his impressive mechanical and electrical know-how. Jimmy also made many friends while residing in Southborough, Hopkinton and Worcester. He was an avid fishing, boating and cooking enthusiast. He recently fulfilled his desire to move to Cape Cod after spending many happy days there. Besides his mother, Filomena of Framingham, he is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Lynn and Brian Wilder of Ashland, and his niece and her fiance, Victoria Wilder and Todd Carter of Natick. He was grandson of the late Domenico and Francesca (Genco) Palermo of Natick, and the late Arthur and Mary (Leveille) Wallace of Framingham. Jimmy also is survived by his aunts, cousins and friends who loved him.

A celebration of Jimmy’s life will take place at a later date when loved ones can safely gather together. Services are under the care of the Matarese Funeral Home in Ashland. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

Joanne Phipps Joanne M. Phipps, 74, of Hopkinton died Nov. 23 after a battle with Alzheimer’s. She is predeceased by her husband, Lawrence “Butch” Phipps, to whom she was married for over 40 years. Born in Framingham, she was the daughter of the late Francis “Max” Carey and Mary (McDonough) Carey. Joanne graduated from Hopkinton High School in 1964 and retired from the Southborough Post Office after 27 years. She had a passion for horses, coached cheerleading and was heavily involved in the boosters and community groups such as The Friends of Hopkinton. She is survived by her daughters, Tara Brown and husband Matthew, and Teri Nelsen and husband Darrick, all of Hopkinton. She also leaves her grandchildren, Brook, Cole and Trey Brown, and Logan and Jackson Nelsen, along with her sisters, Ruth Maffei and husband Andy of New Hampshire, and Fran Olsen and husband Bruce of Vermont, sister-in-law Mary Carey of Hopkinton and numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her brother, Bill Carey. A memorial funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 10:15 a.m. in St. John the Evangelist Church. Burial of cremains will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Hopkinton. Due to current conditions, face coverings are required and social distancing guidelines will be followed. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Hopkinton Community Partnership (hopkintoncommunitypartnership.com) 186 Ash St., Hopkinton, MA 01748.

Marilyn DiBenedetto Marilyn A. “Cookie” (Corcoran) diBenedetto of Clinton, formerly of Wayland, died peacefully in the comfort and care of her

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family on Nov. 16. She was the devoted wife of Bernard “Barney” diBenedetto of Clinton. She was the beloved mother of Bernard diBenedetto Jr. and his wife, Debbie, of Hopkinton; Katie Henley of Sudbury, and Nancy Vanasse and her husband, Michael, of Clinton. She was the sister of Henry F. Corcoran Jr. and his wife, Marie, of Falmouth; William J. Corcoran and his wife, Janice, of Falmouth; Susan E. Romeo of Amesbury;

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Vincent Corcoran and his wife, Judy, of Waltham and the late Gerald Corcoran. She also is survived by six grandchildren, 10 nieces and 13 nephews. Cookie was a devoted and loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, Nana and friend. She spent her formative years in Waltham and was an executive secretary for many years at Raytheon before retiring. She was a member of the Wayland Woman’s Club and St. Ann’s Altar Guild. She enjoyed caring for her grandchildren, holiday gatherings with family and going to the theater and plays. She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her. Private family services have been held. A celebration of Cookie’s life will be held when it is safe to do so. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the John C. Bryant Funeral Home of Wayland. In lieu of flowers, her family kindly suggests that gifts in her memory may be sent to Nashoba Nursing Services and Hospice, 3 Patterson Road, Shirley, MA 01464 and would be greatly appreciated.

Minerva Taylor Minerva Jane Taylor, 87, passed away on Nov. 13. She was born in Cleveland on Feb. 28, 1933, the daughter of the late William McKinley Duncan Jr. and Mary Louisa Duncan. Her father was an executive with the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad, Ohio, until 1946 when he changed careers to pursue an interest in agriculture and the family moved to Mercedes, Texas, where they had purchased a citrus grove. After Minerva graduated from high school in 1950, she attended the University of Colorado. She graduated in 1954 with a B.S. in medical technology and was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. Following college, she worked at MD Anderson hospital in Houston. In 1955 she married Theodore “Ted” Taylor, would would be her beloved husband of 65 years. Ted was a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force following his graduation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1958 they moved to Moorestown, New Jersey, where Ted worked for Radio Corporation of America (RCA). In 1962 Ted was transferred by RCA to Massachusetts, where they settled in Andover and resided for 53 years. In 2015 they moved to Rowley to live closer to their eldest daughter. Jane, as she was known to her friends, was an active member of Christ Church Andover, served on the altar guild and volunteered for many years at the church’s Andover Thrift Shop. In her later years she volunteered by reading to schoolchildren at the South Elementary School in Andover. She was an avid swimmer at the Andover/ North Andover YMCA, swimming every week for 25-plus years with a group of friends that became a story in the book “A Day in the Life of the American Woman.” She loved to travel, study history, play bridge and attend the Boston Symphony Orchestra. A nature lover, she treasured spending every summer at Squam Lake, New Hampshire, enjoying sailing, swimming and sharing outdoor adventures with her family. She was a gifted storyteller,

The Hopkinton Independent • December 9, 2020 • 19 with a great recollection of family history, which she shared with her grandchildren on their numerous visits. The past few years she was often seen taking walks and chatting with neighbors, her husband always at her side. Minerva Jane will be remembered for her easy smile, graciousness, relentless positive attitude and unwavering love and commitment to her husband and three children. Along with her husband, Minerva is survived by three children, Catherine Taylor and Dr. Bryan Parrott of Ipswich, John Taylor and wife Pam of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, and Cynthia Taylor and husband Don Jackson of Hopkinton. She also is survived by four grandchildren, Alex Taylor, Clay Taylor, Anne Jackson and Charlie Jackson, and seven nieces and nephews. She is survived by two brothers, Bill Duncan O’Neal of Overland Park, Kansas, and Dr. James Duncan of San Antonio. She was preceded in death by her elder sister, Anne Petersen. A private funeral service for immediate family was held at Christ Church, Andover, on Nov. 23. Services were under the care of the Conte Funeral Home of Andover (contefuneralhomes.com). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions on behalf of Minerva Jane Taylor may be made to the Squam Lakes Association, 534 U.S. Route 3, Holderness, NH 03245 or squamlakes. org, or to the Merrimack Valley YMCA, 360 Merrimack St., Building 9, Suite 270, Lawrence, MA 01843 or mvymca.org.

Mohamed Onsi Professor Mohamed “Mo” Onsi, 84, passed away N o v. 2 2 i n Syracuse, New York. He was born in Egypt and moved to Cairo in his teens to study accounting. After graduating with honors from Cairo University, he worked briefly at the National Bank of Egypt. He was appointed an instructor in accounting at Cairo University and was employed as a cost accounting consultant with the firm of Dr. Abdel Aziz Hegazy. In January 1960, Mo came to the United States for graduate school. He attended the University of Illinois, where he obtained both his master’s degree and his Ph.D. in accounting. It was there he met his beloved wife, Patricia, to whom he was happily married for over 56 years. Following graduation from Illinois, Mo and Pat moved to California, where he was an assistant professor of accounting at California State University, Fresno. In 1966 he joined the faculty of Syracuse University. Over the next 42 years Professor Onsi led faculty members in developing the accounting Ph.D. program, revising the MBA program, and establishing an M.S. in accounting program. He was chairman of the Accounting Department for a total of 13 years. Mo was proud of the fact that over the course of his career he taught in excess of 5,000 students and served as supervisor to 25 Ph.D. candidates. He pursued teaching opportunities outside the department as well, including programs at several foreign universities and in the Army Comptrollership Program. Mo took great joy in following his students’ careers and stayed in touch with many of them following graduation. Beyond his teaching and consulting, Mo was very active in research and service to his professional associations. He published over 30 research papers and served on the editorial board of several

academic journals. In recognition of his service, Professor Onsi was inducted into the American Accounting Association Hall of Fame, Northeast Region, in 1992. Mo was known for his gregarious personality and welcoming spirit, and he was always ready for a new adventure. In retirement he enjoyed spending time both in Syracuse and in Florida, frequently hosting family members from around the world. He also took two trips to Egypt, including one in celebration of his birthday in 2019. Mo is survived by his wife, his three children, Douglas Onsi (Nicole) of Hopkinton, Robert Onsi (Ellison) of North Potomac, Maryland, and Ellen Bonito (David) of Harrison, New York, and his six grandchildren, Alexandra, Thomas, Catherine, Isabella, Johnathan and Evalina, as well as by many nieces and nephews throughout the world. He loved them all dearly, and he will be missed very much. A celebration of Professor Onsi’s life will take place at a future date. Services are under the care of the Farone & Son Funeral Home in Syracuse. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Syracuse University in honor of Professor Mohamed Onsi.

Pat Basinger Pat (Chesmore) Basinger, of York Beach, Maine, and previously of Hopkinton, transitioned to her new life, very quietly and gently, on Nov. 12 in the company of her daughters. To know Pat was to know the essence of her spirit and what she loved: her family, hosting the holidays, Long Sands Beach, her many dogs (who took second place only to her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren), Disney trips with the kids, playing Skip-Bo with anyone who would play, caring for her elderly friends, traveling across the United States and Europe with friends, and opening her home to dozens of young men and women from other countries who came to the Seacoast for work. She made everyone feel welcome and loved. Pat had a gift for longterm, close-knit, enduring and meaningful relationships with people; it was her superpower. Pat was born Sept. 22, 1942, to Arthur and Marie (Lena) Chesmore. Pat graduated from Marian High School in Framingham and attended Georgetown Visitation Prep School in Washington, D.C. Shortly after graduation she began working at Raytheon, where she would make lifelong friendships as well as meet her future husband, Donald Basinger. Pat fell in love with the Southern coast of Maine during annual summer vacations. By the time her girls graduated high school she would find herself residing year round in her own cottage across from the beach that had captured her heart. Her daily walks with dogs were a fixture on Long Sands year round. She loved working for the Cutty Sark Motel and the Lynwood Inn, and she formed many lasting friendships with the guests who would return year after year. Pat is survived by her daughters, Cynthia McLin-Vokey (David) of South Berwick, Maine, and Ann Peterson (Bill), of Cape Neddick, Maine. She was a proud and loving grandmother to Brandi Brockett, Thomas and Kelly McLin, Cori Peterson, Jessica Williams, Eric, Kyle and Ryan Vokey, and their families. The highlights of her life were her great-grandchildren, Colby, Camden, Cayleigh, Emitt and Leighton. Pat also leaves two brothers, Arthur (Nevada) and Leonard (California). Arrangements are under the care of Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home in York, Maine. Services will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Wentworth Hospice or your local animal rescue.

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Talbert Pond Talbert Adair Pond, 76, of Hopkinton passed away Nov. 15 after a brief illness. Born in New Brunswick, Canada, he was the son of the late Garnet and Helen (Banks) Pond. Talbert served his country honorably during the Vietnam War as a Navy corpsman from 196468. He went on to become a registered nurse and head operating room nurse at Framingham Union Hospital for over 30 years. Talbert was an accomplished writer, obtaining his Bachelor of Arts from Framingham State College later in life, and wrote several short stories. He is survived by his daughter, Deborah Marie Nordahl and her husband, Victor, of Rochester, two grandchildren, Riley and Aidan Nordahl, and two brothers, William Pond of Meredith, New Hampshire, and Maxwell Pond of New Brunswick, Canada. Due to COVID-19, services were private. Services were under the care of the Matarese Funeral Home in Ashland. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his name to Fisher House of Boston, P.O. Box 230, South Walpole MA 02071.

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