HI 3.22.23

HHS hockey falls in state final

FY24 budget moves forward after adjustments

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

Following a lengthy discussion, the Select Board voted unanimously March 14 to forward a revised fiscal year 2024 budget of approximately $113 million to the Appropriation Committee. A stipulation was made to restore $115,000 from a $350,000 reduction to the schools budget in case pending grant money does not get approved.

Over the weekend before the meeting, Town Manager Norman Khumalo made adjustments to the FY24 budget proposal to reflect an increase in net state aid of $918,672, a $1 million reduction in overlay contribution because Eversource did not file a tax appeal this year, and the application of opioid fund money to Youth and Family Services ($30,000). The operating budget still shows an increase of 2.3 percent.

Earlier in the evening, the School Committee met to discuss the

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

Astellar effort from senior goalie Jack Lang and an early lead were not enough for the Hopkinton High School boys hockey team, as the Hillers came up short in the state title game, falling 4-1 to Canton at TD Garden on March 19.

Canton (22-4), the No. 3 seed in the Division 2 tournament, scored twice in just over a minute at the end of the second period to take a lead it would not relinquish. The Bulldogs, who lost in the state final a season ago, captured their third state championship and first on the ice since 2019 (they shared the 2020 title after it was canceled due to the pandemic).

Eighth-seeded Hopkinton (20-5) lost for the second time in the season’s final game after dropping a 3-2 contest against Wachusett in the Division 3 title game in 2019, but the season

Hockey | 22

HHS goalie Jack Lang watches the puck during the state final.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

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K of C aims to alleviate food insecurity issues

The Knights of Columbus Bishop Rice Council 4822, which represents Hopkinton and Ashland, once again is organizing its Food for Families Food Drive, which runs through March 26. Last year’s event raised $2,350 and “literally a ton of food and supplies,” shared council member Jim Kenealy.

“Just as we are putting the pandemic in our rear view, skyrocketing inflation is decimating family budgets,” the council wrote in its appeal. “Also, additional federal [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] benefits are expiring this month for many families. Food insecurity affects 1 out of 8 Massachusetts residents.”

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The food pantry at Hopkinton-based Project Just Because will be the recipient of the donations, and the council notes that PJB is “continually challenged to meet the ongoing needs of our community” and is running “critically low on food and supplies.”

Anyone interested in supporting the effort can donate in a few ways. One is by sending a check made out to Project Just Because, with “K of C 4822 FFF Food Drive” written in the memo line, to ATTN: K of C Food Drive, St. John the Evangelist, 20 Church Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748. Another is by purchasing an Amazon e-gift card, including “K of C FFF Food Drive” in the message box and having it emailed to pjboffice@comcast.net. Lastly, gifts can be made through donor-advised charitable funds by selecting Project Just Because in Hopkinton (Tax ID 06-1728553) and specifying in the use or note area that it is for the K of C Council 4822 Food for Families Food Drive.

“We understand that these are trying times for many, including our own families and friends, and there are an overwhelming number of requests for aid from numerous worthy causes and organizations,” the council shared. “Food is a basic necessity, before all others. We truly appreciate your thoughtful consideration and participation in the Food For Families Virtual Food Drive as best as you are able.”

Student to curate exhibit at HCA

Hopkinton High School senior Owen Fitzpatrick received a grant from the Hopkinton Cultural Council and will be the first student to curate an exhibit at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts Loft Gallery.

Fitzpatrick is putting out a call for artists to submit pieces of work “right from the walls of your home” for the exhibit, which is titled “More Than Four Walls: A Independent thoughts | 3

Student to curate exhibit at HCA

Reflection on Family and Community.”

“Our homes are more than the four walls around us,” Fitzpatrick writes. “There’s been so much discussion lately of who we are as a community — we are not this, or we are not that. I would like to make a positive statement about who we are and what is important to us. By engaging families from all areas and groups in Hopkinton and surrounding communities, people will see that while different, we all have a common thread of making our homes beautiful for our families. Through sharing what that is and means to each of us, we will come together. My exhibit will promote community connection and encourage families to form bonds through the art that they find beautiful that they keep in their homes.”

Families are invited to email a photo (jpeg recommended) containing one work of art along with the family’s name, the title of the artwork, the dimensions (height and width; must be no larger than 18 inches wide) and a brief description (125 words or less) of why the piece was chosen and its significance. The exhibit is not looking for posed family photos, although photos may include people.

Items can be emailed to morethanfourwalls2023@gmail.com, and individuals can use the same email for questions.

A total of 16-18 pieces will be chosen for exhibition and displayed with the description sent in by the family. The family that best describes why their piece of art represents them will win a $100 gift certificate to Start Line Brewing.

The deadline for submissions is April 15, and the show will run from May 13 to June 24.

Shared Fitzpatrick: “I want people to think about art in our world and in our homes and encourage people who may not know each other to meet at this show, expand community in our town, and encourage more participation [at the] HCA.”

Volunteers seek to beautify town

Jeff Barnes, chair of the Conservation Committee, and Mike Boelsen, a longtime trails volunteer, are leading an effort to beautify the town by removing litter from roadsides.

They are organizing the inaugural Hop Yellow Bag Day on Saturday, April 1, from 9 a.m.-noon (rain date April 2).

Volunteers — who should wear bright clothes and work gloves — will meet at the Town Common gazebo at 8:30 a.m. to pick up a yellow trash bag and be assigned an area.

“We’ll prioritize certain areas and then work our way down from there,” Boelsen explained. “I don’t know how many people are going to come. If just a few come, we’ll focus around town, certainly what’s going to be seen from the [Boston Marathon] point of view. … Typically in a neighborhood you don’t have too much trash. It’s more in the wetland areas and secondary roads.”

Boelsen noted one area that stands out is around the Interstate 495 interchanges and where the highway crosses Route 135 (Wood Street). He said the state is responsible for those sections, but they do not get the same attention as the rest of the town, which is covered by the Hopkinton Department of Public Works.

He also said Dell EMC has a group of about 40 individuals who are going to do a similar project, focused on roads that Boston Marathon visitors will see. And anyone who is not available on April 1 can reach out for a bag and collect trash anytime before the DPW pickup on April 3.

For more information, email Boelsen (mikeboelsen2@gmail.com) or Barnes (jbarnes@hopkintonma.gov).

Schools should get full funding

As we approach our annual town meetings and decide our funding priorities, I want to make a case for fully funding Hopkinton Public Schools.

Hopkinton has long held providing a top-tier public education as an essential piece of our identity. Our schools have received local and national recognition for our student outcomes and the excellence of the staff around them. Another hallmark of our schools’ value is our rapidly expanding student population. This educational success is only possible because of the support and collaboration at every level in Hopkinton.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The excellence in our schools benefits Hopkinton as a whole. Well-funded public schools provide significant social and economic benefits for communities, like reducing unemployment and dependence on public assistance programs, and increasing tax revenue. Educational excellence also reduces crime, improves public health and increases civic engagement.

According to the Northwestern University Institute for Policy Research, National Bureau of Economic Research and the U.S. Department of Education, for every dollar a community spends on public education, the community receives:

$2 back through tax revenue and reduced spending in other areas;

—

$25 reduction in lifetime health costs;

$20 increase in property values.

Since November, I have participated in many lengthy discussions about district needs and how the budget will address those needs. This budget is being presented to the community with great care, thought and diligence by everyone involved. We had joint meetings with partnering boards and committees and received unwavering support for the meticulous approach of school stakeholders to ensure a fiscally and academically sound budget.

Any cuts to this budget will impact our students and the community in the coming school year and beyond. Underfunding our schools will have student academic and socioemotional consequences and financial and social costs to Hopkinton. If the growth in our community is due to the success of our schools, it stands to reason a loss in population, tax revenue and property values will occur if we compromise that success.

Like everywhere else, the schools have dealt with increased needs and rising

Letters | page 5

Select Board supports IMA with Southborough for water supply

The Select Board at its meeting March 14 voted to support an intermunicipal agreement with Southborough to purchase water for Hopkinton. While the water comes from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, Hopkinton would purchase the water directly from Southborough.

The plan is designed to address Hopkinton’s issues with PFAS in its current water supply.

The agreement is for 25 years and allows for Hopkinton to purchase 2.7 million gallons per day, with the potential for more in the future, Town Manager Norman Khumalo explained.

Hopkinton would pay for all design and construction costs for the two new

water mains that would be installed and also pay for some upgrades to Southborough’s system Additionally, Hopkinton would contribute $1 million for three water-related projects in Southborough as an incentive.

Southborough’s Annual Town Meeting is March 25, and Hopkinton is to send a representative to discuss the arrangement and seek support.

While the town will address its water needs with this agreement, Khumalo previously said town officials will continue to talk with MWRA representatives about alternatives, including “convincing the state to bring a water line under [Interstate] 495.”

Dirty water issue addressed

Many residents dealt with dirty water in their homes recently, as a water main break on Wood Street at the intersection with Elm Street caused issues across a wide area of town.

DPW Director John Westerling credited employees for working through the weekend of March 11-12 — first Saturday night to fix the break, then “all day Sunday flushing hydrants to try to flush out the dirty water that was disturbed.”

“There are still some pockets of dirty water in town,” Westerling said on March 14. “We ask for our residents to continue to be patient as that water settles down and as it continues to flush through people’s lines.”

Comcast deal will boost HCAM

Attorney Bill August, representing the town, explained to the Select Board that Hopkinton has completed a 10-year agreement with Comcast as part of the cable company’s renewal process. The deal will provide the maximum 5 percent funding from Comcast’s annual revenues in town for Hopkinton’s cable access station, HCAM. The percentage matches the contribution from the town’s other cable provider, Verizon.

August added that as part of the deal, Comcast will for the first time offer one of HCAM’s channels in highdefinition and upgrade two other stations to SD-SDI.

“It is a good contract,” HCAM program director Jim Cozzens said, crediting Khumalo for his “passionate” support of the station.

Town political committees to host caucuses

The Hopkinton Republican Town Committee and Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee will hold their nomi-

nating caucuses in the coming days. The purpose of the meetings is to nominate and endorse candidates for the Annual Town Election on May 15.

The Republican Town Committee will meet Friday, March 31, at 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Center (28 Mayhew Street). The Republican caucus is open to all Hopkinton registered Republicans and unenrolled voters. To receive a nomination (or for more information), contact HRTC chair Jim Mirabile at 774-708-0645 by March 29 at 8 p.m. Only registered Republicans are eligible to receive nominations.

The Democratic Committee will meet Monday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall (18 Main Street), Room 215/216. Participant check-in will begin at 6 p.m. and will close promptly at 6:45. Those who have been registered Hopkinton Democrats for at least one week prior to the caucus, defined as the end of the day on March 27, may participate. For more information, visit hopkintondemocrats.org.

Misc.: Board approves new hires

Diane Hendrickson’s promotion to the position of town treasurer/collector was approved by the Select Board. She has been serving as assistant treasurer since 2012 and has worked for the town since 2006.

Also approved as was the appointment of Allison Keaney as circulation and technical services supervisor at the Hopkinton Public Library. Keaney most recently served as head of circulation at Dover Town Library. …

The Select Board voted to authorize the town manager to sign forms for the town to participate in national opioid settlements with pharmaceutical manufacturers Teva and Allergan and pharmacies CVS, Walgreens and Walmart.

The settlements require the settling manufacturers and pharmacies to pay a total of more than $20 billion to abate the opioid epidemic. Of this amount, approximately $17 billion will be used by participating states and subdivisions to remediate and abate the impacts of the opioid crisis.

The town’s Department of Public Works installed barriers along West Main Street earlier this month in an attempt to address the high rate of accidents in the area.

Turkey Ridge developer fined for stormwater issues

By Mary Ellen Gambon

Contributing Writer

The Conservation Commission at its meeting March 14 voted unanimously to leverage fines previously held in abeyance totaling $31,800 against the developer of the proposed Turkey Ridge Estates development because of a new violation discovered on the day of the hearing.

During the update of stormwater management efforts, members stressed that the committee was losing its collective patience with the project’s continuing violations despite a significant effort by Goddard Consultants, an environmental engineering firm, to stabilize the site.

The project, located at 52 Cedar Street Extension, near the Southborough border, has encountered several issues over the past few months, with heavy rains, snow and challenging topography contributing to sedimentation flowing into the riverfront area at the Sudbury River. This has been compounded by what the commission determined was poor engineering of the site by the previous firm.

Conservation Administrator Kim Ciaramicoli initially ordered a partial cease and desist order on construction for violations of erosion controls she witnessed on Dec. 29 after a large rainstorm caused a plume of silty water to run into the riverfront area. Although the developer took measures to remediate the situation, including installing mulch and hay bales, a significant rainstorm on Jan. 26 led to subsequent violations being cited because there still was a large amount of unsecured soil on the site, some of which seeped past the barriers.

At the last meeting, the board voted to hold both fines in abeyance until this meeting to give the developer a chance to resolve the problems.

The previous week, Ciaramicoli said

she observed that spoil piles mentioned at a previous meeting had been secured and that a retaining wall and erosion controls were installed to support the infiltration basins.

On March 14, Ciaramicoli said “a deluge of rain” caused two areas of turbid discharge she witnessed at about 9 a.m., one at the site of the Dec. 29 violation and the other on the opposite side at a low point on the site. The upper basin overflowed, and the contractor was trying to control it by pumping water from one basin to another.

BETA Group, the town’s engineering consultant, visited the site at 11 a.m., she added. Turbid water was seen going over a silt fence as well as an overflow at the original plume area. One of the basins was beginning to erode. The contractor notified Ciaramicoli that the situation was under control at 2 p.m. after riprap and check dams.

“So, lots of progress,” she said, calling the situation “a two-sided coin.” “Unfortunately the site was still over-

Stormwater | page 6

Schools should get full funding

Letters | from page 3

costs. We must address these needs and costs now, as our students do not have the luxury of seeing what will happen if we wait. Education is timely and essential and builds on itself — education loss snowballs.

Please consider reviewing Hopkinton Public School’s proposed fiscal year 2024 operating budget: hopkinton.k12.ma.us/about/school-committee/budget.

— Holly Morand, Hopkinton School Committee

Downtown needs green space

As springtime and Boston Marathon time approach, it is imperative that as a town we should focus on two of our most important downtown green spaces: the Town Common and the Center School land. The Town Common is in desperate need of more shade trees. Where is the tree planting plan? The much-used grassy field behind Center School has sadly become a construction supply and equipment storage facility.

Green spaces downtown are in danger of slowly disappearing. They are integral to our health and well-being. They need the attention and protection from the entire community and our elected and appointed officials.

— Rick and Beth Kelly, Hopkinton

Editor’s note: The opinions and comments expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Independent. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and must include the writer’s name and contact information for verification. Letters should be relevant and not primarily for the purpose of promoting an organization or event. Letters may be edited by the Independent staff for space, errors or clarification, and the Independent offers no guarantee that every letter will be published. For a schedule of deadlines for letters and other submissions, check the Hopkinton Independent website (HopkintonIndependent.com) and click on the Contact header, then on Editorial Deadlines.

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Water can be seen overflowing erosion controls at the Turkey Ridge Estates project on March 14.

PHOTO/ED HARROW

whelmed today.”

Member Jim Ciriello criticized what he termed as “the so-called erosion controls,” noting that the mulch is not properly covering the site. He stressed that the fines should be assessed at this point because of failures in the work plan and engineering.

Fellow member Ed Harrow agreed, noting he was “utterly disappointed” with the erosion controls.

“When we got there, the pump that was being used to pump the first basin had died, and there was no spare,” he said. “I just question the efficacy of the engineering.”

Member Ted Barker-Hook pointed out that Ciaramicoli observed a separate minor violation she described in an email to the developer that was shared with commissioners. She chose not to impose a fine because the water was clear. Ciaramicoli confirmed that water was being discharged into the resource area on March 9, which she called “a disappointing moment.”

Said Barker-Hook: “I think creating fines and then not asking people to pay them gives them liberty to say, ‘All right, what I’m doing is the right way to do things,’ so I worry about that.”

“The developer knew it was a difficult site and proceeded to develop it anyway,” added member Janine LeBlanc.

Co-vice chair Melissa Recos called for an outside stormwater management inspector to be brought in at the developer’s expense in addition to the fines.

A new issue raised by Barker-Hook was the potential of the project impacting Southborough on the other side of the Sudbury River. He noted that poor stormwater management for The Trails last year caused problems with Ashland’s water supply.

Ciaramicoli said she “wouldn’t be surprised” if Southborough was impacted and would reach out to the town.

Landowner Courtney Lussier, who lives on part of the property, spoke after the fines were assessed. She said she be-

lieved some of the “misconceptions” of the remediation by commissioners was unfair.

“Whether you assigned the fines or not, I just want to be crystal clear that there’s never for one moment been a lack of effort on our end,” she said. Developer

Shane Perrault did not join the call until the end because “he is up to his knees in snow and mud and water down there trying to work on this property. When Perrault spoke from the site, he said they had “been working for 36 straight hours.”

Said Lussier: “We’re trying our absolute hardest morning, noon and night.”

Goddard Engineering consultant Andrew Thibault added that this type of fine assessment is usually done when negligence is a factor. He said that has not been the case here.

Chair Jeff Barnes said the applicant needed to be diligent moving forward.

Mass. Laborers Training decision finalized

Hearings on The Trails were continued at the request of the applicant, while the request for a continued hearing on the pond dredging at the Mass. Laborers Training facility was withdrawn.

The Mass. Laborers Training facility had filed a request for reconsideration to reopen the hearing. Barnes explained that there were no changes to the application, but that the applicant disagreed with the commission’s findings.

The project, located at 37 East Street, became contentious when neighbors sought an alternative proposal for a gas line that would cut through the wooded area of the property. They preferred a second option that would place the gas line on Clinton Street, allowing them to connect to the line. The applicant later proposed two other alternative routes and made some concessions before the 4-3 vote on Feb. 8.

The commission voted unanimously not to reopen the hearing, which finalized its decision.

Baypath Adoptable Animal of the Week

Each week, the Independent highlights an animal available for adoption at Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton. This week we feature 4-year-old Sonja.

Here is Baypath’s description of Sonja:

“This sweet girl enjoys romping around, chasing balls and exploring the great outdoors! Calm and smart, she is eager to please on leash with extra love and attention and would make a perfect companion for those who enjoy time outside or simply laying on the couch. She just wants to go everywhere with you! Sonja doesn’t make any messes in her kennel, what a neat girl!

“Sonja has a playful spunk and loves the sound of squeaky toys! This social butterfly loves hanging out with her dog friends. Whether playing or hanging out, Sonja enjoys her time with them!

“She is searching for an adult-only home with dog experience. We are unsure how she would do with cats.”

For more information on Sonja and any of the other available pets at Baypath, email adopt@baypathhumane.org or visit

Board of Health works on tobacco regulations, strategic planning

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

TheBoard of Health met March 13 to discuss when a hearing can be held on the adoption of the amended state product regulations for tobacco sales and to announce progress made on the Health Department’s strategic plan.

The board voted unanimously to approve moving forward with plans for a public hearing on the amended tobacco product regulations discussed at the previous meeting two weeks earlier. The changes will bring Hopkinton into conformity with the state’s 2022 regulations, which recently were revised.

The problem, Health Department administrator Nidia LaRoche said, is that a date cannot be scheduled now “due to the availability of prime space” in town for an in-person meeting.

Asked board member Rick Jacobs: “Are we talking about six months, six weeks or six days?”

LaRoche estimated that it would take a couple of months to secure a site.

Chair Lisa Whittemore said while the state regulations cannot be modified, a couple of Hopkinton’s provisions can be changed.

Health Director Shaun McAuliffe explained that while Hopkinton currently has a policy prohibiting the sale of rolling papers, blunt wraps were not included. Blunt wraps can be used to include marijuana or similar substances, he noted.

“I don’t think it’s a huge step for us to consider banning blunt wraps,” he said.

Whittemore noted that there is a sunsetting provision passed in 2019 that terminates a store’s tobacco license once the business closes. There are eight stores in Hopkinton that sell tobacco, according to McAuliffe.

McAuliffe added that the state’s fine structure for stores caught selling tobacco products to minors “has started a conversation with existing businesses that do sell tobacco” about whether they want to continue to sell tobacco products.

The fines are stackable, he explained. For example, a store can receive a fine of $1,000 for the first offense, but if someone has purchased three packs of cigarettes, the store is fined $3,000. The fine increases to $5,000 for the third offense, per state mandate.

Hopkinton can determine the length of a license suspension, McAuliffe said. The board previously voted for three days, which mirrors the state’s policy. The town also can decide to increase tobacco prices over the state minimum, but McAuliffe and Whittemore agreed that it would be more prudent to keep the prices at the state minimum to prevent people from going out of town for cheaper products.

Strategic planning process moves forward

McAuliffe announced that the Health Department received a revised proposal from the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston to work with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council on the department’s strategic planning initiative. He said Town Manager Norman Khumalo approved of the plan and asked if it could be covered in the department’s budget.

McAuliffe said that he believed cov-

ering the cost would be feasible. He also submitted grant proposals to the state and the MetroWest Health Foundation for assistance because the strategic plan is a requirement for state accreditation. It also is important to secure an entity to help prepare the strategic plan because other communities will be undergoing the same process.

“My argument to them is, if you’re going to require this of us, there should be a funding mechanism,” he explained, noting that he will hopes to get between $20,000 and $30,000 in grant funding.

“I’m sorry that it’s taken so long to get going, but I think they’ll do a really good job,” said Whittemore. “I think it will really help the town, and I think the board will enjoy it as well.”

The board voted unanimously to allow the town to collaborate with the Collins Center on the strategic plan.

Respiratory illnesses decline

Public Health Nurse Simone Carter shared that the number of respiratory illness cases, including influenza and COVID-19, is declining in Hopkinton. The town is “below the surge” for influenza, while COVID-19 rates are going down slowly.

This is a national trend as well, she added, as COVID-19 cases went from 33,000 per day nationwide the two weeks prior to the meeting to 30,000 in the past week.

More vaccines available

COVID-19 vaccines are still available, Carter said, as well as many free test kits. Carter said she has distributed test kits to the post office and the Council on Aging. The expiration date has been extended for 15 months past the date on the test kit by the federal government, she explained.

Once completed, the Health Department will have distributed more than $250,000 worth of COVID-19 test kits, she noted. The latest recipient is Hopkinton Youth Soccer.

Next month, the town will begin its training on the administration of NARCAN for suspected drug overdoses, as well as education on preventing and treating substance misuse, Carter said.

Said Carter: “No judgment, no stigma.”

Each kit will include two doses of NARCAN, a mouth shield for administering breaths during CPR, two pairs of gloves and fentanyl testing strips. This will be done on the second Tuesday of the month, excluding July and August. Carter offered to consult with residents who may need kits on an individual basis and said conversations will be kept confidential.

Whittemore praised Carter for her work, calling the NARCAN program “really exciting.”

Misc.: Director shares updates on Boston Marathon, PJB

McAuliffe said he was working with the food vendors participating at the Boston Marathon to ensure all hold mobile Updates | page 9

This issue’s winner is Mary Ostiguy for this photo of Dusty the cat lounging on a box of nails at Hopkinton Lumber. 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.

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.

Veterans Breakfast

The March 3 Veterans Breakfast brought together dozens of “comrades” who were reminded of military events that previously occurred on March 3. One humorous anniversary hearkened to Congress appropriating funds to buy a small herd of camels — yes, camels — from Africa to test as alternative choices of military transport. An informal vote determined there are no military camels in use these days.

Many subjects were involved in a group discussion which is reflected in the photo of a sample of veterans in attendance. They are under the watchful gaze of David J. “Jeff” Macmillan Sr. (Navy) from his position in the Vets Photo Gallery. Pictured are (from left) Muriel Kramer (Air Force) with a photo comprising a combat team of Philippine scouts who were integral to the recapture of Manila in 1945; Bob Chesmore (Navy); Jacques LeDuc (Coast Guard) showing General H. Norman Schwarzkopf in a “victory pose” at the end of Desert Storm in 1991; Ralph Lawson (Coast Guard) with Time Magazine’s representation of the emergence of a new Turkey under Kemal Ataturk and the demise of the Ottomans 100 years ago; Hank Allessio (Army); Police Chief Joseph Bennett, guest; Tyler Staback (Marines) displaying the camel experiment in 1855; Betty Branagan (Navy) with an 1865 active debate of opposing factions regarding the Freedmen’s Bureau; a guest (Vietnam veteran) with a photo of the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) that was decommissioned March 3, 1980, and remembered as the first nuclear submarine and the first to journey submerged under the North Pole in 1958; and Neil Svendson (Army).

The next Veterans Breakfast will be April 7.

Select Board forwards budget to Appropriation Committee

implications of a $350,000 reduction to its proposed budget.

The budget so far

The School Committee voted for a $60.1 million budget, which is an 8.3 percent increase over FY23. About 4.5 percent of that increase, Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh said, was in non-negotiable costs either by contract or law.

Before factors like the increased state aid were known, the School Committee was asked to trim $1.7 million from its budget plan to be in accordance with the town’s directive of a cap of 5.1 percent in increases.

However, Khumalo’s revisions meant that Cavanaugh and other administrators met on Monday to find places in the budget to decrease by $350,000 instead.

Cavanaugh presented a plan to the School Committee showing a reduction for two technology integration specialists, noting that one would remain in a 0.6 FTE (full-time equivalent) capacity to teach computer science. The savings would be $120,000.

Also on the list were reductions for newly requested part-time positions in business/technology/engineering and fine arts to save $45,000, as well as a number of one-time purchases like furniture, shelving, maps, a tuba and textbooks to create a $70,000 reduction.

Finally, Cavanaugh explained that Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey LaBroad had filed for a grant through the Student Opportunity Account to cover “additional positions that would impact teaching and learning.” The district is awaiting word on that possibility for

Health Director shares updates on Boston Marathon, PJB

Updates | from page 7

food permits with the Health Department.

The Health Department also will be working with the School Department to collect unopened prepackaged foods that are under temperature control and distribute those products to Project Just Because, a local nonprofit that distributes food and household necessities, as well as the YMCA to help combat food insecurity. This, he said, will help reduce the waste of products like yogurt, string cheese and fruit.

McAuliffe also announced that he learned earlier in the day that local supermarkets will begin donating bread to Project Just Because for free.

This week, McAuliffe said he will be meeting with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to go over its department review. He noted that Hopkinton is leading the towns in the MetroWest Public Health Collaborative. Once all towns in the collaborative provide reports, the collaborative can determine where to provide resources, including nurses, food inspectors and hardware. …

Whittemore agreed to provide an analysis of McAuliffe’s performance for the board to review at its next meeting on April 3. Board member Regina Miloslavsky had volunteered to draft the assessment. Because Whittemore has more direct contact with McAuliffe, the board agreed that she should evaluate his work. Because of the Open Meeting Law, members cannot collaborate on it.

approximately $115,000.

The superintendent noted there are 4,202 students in the school system, 100 more than what was projected for this school year.

Per pupil comparisons presented

Cavanaugh spoke about per pupil expenditures comparing Hopkinton to 321 communities in the state. In six categories, Hopkinton ranks in the bottom 25 percent of the state for per pupil expenditures.

In another five categories, it ranks in the bottom 50 percent.

In its only higher ranking, the town is 90th out of 321 for “professional development,” an area that is mostly grant funded, Cavanaugh said.

Noting the schools have maintained quality despite the situation, Cavanaugh added, “At some point, there has to be a breaking point.”

School Committee vice chair Amanda Fargiano said she is concerned about the enrollment growth and per pupil expenditures and had more questions about “judgment calls being made at the 11th hour.” She wanted to know where the figures for reductions were coming from, and, “What is the tradeoff?”

School Committee chair Nancy Cavanaugh compared the last couple of weeks of changing budget information as “bouncing like a ping-pong ball.” She recommended having a “placeholder” for the money in the town’s budget in case the grant is not approved.

School Committee members said they understood the spirit of cooperation the town seeks and the need for fiscal responsibility. Still, some members said they didn’t want the $350,000 removed from the proposed budget or the suggested items totaling $235,000 taken out either.

School Committee member Jenn Devlin said the “restructuring” of positions “rubs me the wrong way,” because it implies those positions are not performing vital functions.

Member Holly Morand referred to the numerous meetings and public hear-

ings held about the budget where none of these reductions over the last couple of months were brought up.

Member Lya Batlle-Rafferty agreed it is “frustrating.” She said, “We put everything out there to collaborate [months ago] and we got a lot of nodding. And last minute we got, ‘No, we don’t like it.’ ”

She said she is trying to weigh her feelings of frustration with her thoughts on the “back and forth cuts.”

Nancy Cavanaugh expressed hope the funds could be retained for “peoplefacing” positions and said she hoped a solution was forthcoming “quickly and reasonably.”

She acknowledged there was “not a consensus” among the committee heading into the Select Board’s session.

Other departments impacted by changes

Khumalo noted at the Select Board meeting that the adjusted operating budget would maintain critical services, meet contractual obligations and have a 2.9 percent tax impact on existing homeowners.

The town manager said under the latest plan, the School Department got $4.3 million in new funding and its budget contains many new positions. The rest of the town is not adding new positions, Khumalo said.

He emphasized a 26 percent jump in health care costs for town and school employees. That includes benefits for new school employees as well as other employees who have switched from their spouse’s coverage or decided to add on to the town’s insurance.

He said the proposed budget before the Select Board was a recommendation and not a decision, and board members or Town Meeting could decide to spend more or less money.

Town Chief Financial Officer Tim O’Leary highlighted other budget adjustments made to get to the current figure. They included level-funding highway paving, slowing police vacancy recruitment, deferring communications staff changes and deferring Fire

Department staff changes.

Fire Chief William Miller said that he is comfortable foregoing additional staff at this time, and using increased funds in overtime for coverage would be “a step in the right direction.”

Miller acknowledged there may be times people have to wait for a fire truck or ambulance, and the department will continue to rely on mutual aid when multiple calls occur.

“We all need to play a role to close the deficit,” he said.

Khumalo said since he’s worked for the town, the Fire Department has had numerous additions made to staff.

Select Board member Muriel Kramer said the Fire Department should be the priority going forward when there is flexibility in the budget.

Select Board member Irfan Nasrullah said the town was lucky with Eversource not filing an appeal this year after eight straight years of appeals, but that savings might not happen again and could not be counted on as a future revenue source.

To give more funding to the schools, Select Board member Shahidul Mannan suggested putting less money into the stabilization and OPEB (other post-employment benefits) accounts this year.

He noted that last year, $400,000 was contributed to the OPEB fund and this year, nearly double is recommended. “A 98 percent increase is a bit too high. Let’s not overdo it.”

O’Leary noted the stabilization fund has a balance of $3.9 million. Last year, no funds were added; this proposal calls for a $700,000 contribution.

The CFO emphasized the need to be financially responsible and realize that when staff is added, health care costs and other liabilities are added as well.

He spoke about maintaining a Triple-A bond rating to get lower interest rates that can potentially save an average homeowner about $200 down the road. Ultimately, when the revised budget was approved, it was with the understanding the additional money to the schools would come out of the suggested OPEB and stabilization funds.

Khumalo described the budget talks as “a very vibrant, forward-thinking discussion.”

Planning Board discusses proposed amendments to zoning bylaws

By Mary Ellen Gambon

Contributing Writer

The Planning Board met for four hours March 6 and reviewed several proposed amendments to the town’s zoning bylaws that will come before Annual Town Meeting voters on May 1.

The changes to the town’s current Flexible Community Development Bylaw dominated the discussion, as members debated the benefits of more inclusionary zoning versus the impact on property values of those who live in more expensive homes. The change is intended to increase the inventory of affordable housing by reducing the threshold for the number of units a building is required to have as well as to increase the mix of affordable and market rate units in developments.

Chair Gary Trendel said that these amendments were being discussed to educate the public and not for approval by the Planning Board. The board’s role is to vote on whether or not to recommend them. It could not take the vote that evening, he noted, because feedback on them had not yet been received by town counsel.

Principal Planner John Gelcich explained that the current policy allows for offsite affordable housing units or payment to the affordable housing trust fund if developers choose not to include these units in their development. One of the primary changes is that the Planning Board would have to approve a special permit for this if the bylaw is approved. Another is that the policy would lower the threshold from the 10th unit — the current standard — to the fifth unit, he said.

Trendel noted that developers have tended to skirt the affordable unit requirement in the past by proposing developments with eight or nine units. He stressed that the entire state is experiencing an affordable housing crisis. The new policy also would prevent Hopkinton from falling under the 10 percent affordability housing threshold. If the town does, developers would be able to build developments by right, a policy referred to as Chapter 40B.

Another proposed change would rename this bylaw as the Inclusionary Development Bylaw, Gelcich said. A

third would be to remove the requirement for a special permit and make this by right, which was spurred by the MBTA Communities law. This policy, which does not require affordable units, states that municipalities with access to the MBTA must have at least one zoning district with multifamily housing permitted as of right. Hopkinton is considered an MBTA adjacent community under this law and would be required to have zoning for 700 such units, even if they are not built, if the town decides to adopt this law. If Hopkinton doesn’t, it no longer will be eligible for certain state funding opportunities.

“Part of it is changing it to potentially comply with MBTA Communities and allow for affordable housing in any of those types of developments, should that get passed,” Gelcich said. “The other part is to bring it more in line with how inclusionary zoning is done throughout the state.”

An additional change would be that developers would be allowed to make a payment in lieu of affordable units or place them elsewhere in town only by special permit by the Planning Board, Gelcich added. The Planning Board would need to determine if there is a benefit to having a unit somewhere else.

Member Ron Priefer questioned the interpretation of the percentage. Gelcich explained that the number of affordable housing units would be rounded up with the new policy. For example, a development with 12 units would be required to include one affordable unit, while one with 16 would require two.

Gelcich also said the exact amount of the payment in lieu amount would be determined by the project and market, which could not be specified in the

policy.

Priefer suggested rounding up rather than rounding the number of units to the nearest whole number. The board will discuss this at its next meeting in two weeks.

Member Rob Benson was vocal in his disapproval of the new bylaw, stressing the impact it would have on developers’ profits as well as current property owners’ home values.

As an example, he pointed to Whisper Way (a new development off Wood Street), where a house is on the market for $2.6 million.

Said Benson: “Do you think anybody on Whisper Way that’s paying $2.6 million wants an affordable unit next door to them? No.”

Trendel countered that he lives in a neighborhood “that has a pretty good mix” of market rate and affordable units.

“I’ll just tell you as a single-family homeowner that I like the fact that there is socioeconomic diversity in my neighborhood,” he continued. “I think it adds to the richness of it. I think it’s great to have people with different backgrounds and different jobs and at different points of their lives.”

Said Trendel: “My job as a Planning Board member is not to make sure that the developers can make a lot of money.”

“I do think it is this board’s responsibility to create an equitable law that all members or individuals who want to live in Hopkinton have the opportunity through affordable housing,” Fran DeYoung added, calling the policy “well overdue.”

No public comment was received on this issue, which Trendel said surprised him.

Other zoning proposals continued after discussion

The Planning Board also discussed other proposed amendments to the zoning code. Although no vote was taken, general consensus among the members appeared to be reached about the viability of the new section on electric vehicle parking as well as the exemption of rooftop solar panels and related equipment from the definition of mechanical equipment.

These hearings, as well as the Inclusionary Development Bylaw, were continued until the next meeting.

Grasshopper presents modifications for solar array

Electrical engineer Chris Balogh appeared before the board to show proposed modifications to landscaping and fencing plans for Grasshopper Energy’s 2.4-megawatt commercial solar farm between Wilson Street and Cedar Street. He proposed loaming, seeding and adding brush to the 75-foot buffer zone, as well as new trees and some mesh fencing along the property’s boundaries. The entrance would have boxwoods and native flowers at the entrance to hide the electrical boxes.

Member Jane Moran suggested using tall ornamental grass rather than the boxwoods to cover the utility boxes, as they would be better able to withstand street salting. Balogh said he would consider that, and Trendel and LarsonMarlowe agreed that it was a good idea.

Trendel suggested green or brown mesh fencing rather than the black fencing on the slide. He said the primary issues were screening for Wilson Street as well as abutters, as well as the disturbance of and restoration of the buffer zone, where boulders need to be removed.

The proponent’s team said a more detailed plan will be presented at the next meeting.

Said Trendel: “I think we’re all eager to get some closure on this.”

Weston Nurseries presents plan for operations building

Project designer Joe Marquedant spoke on behalf of the applicant, the Weston Nurseries Garden Center. He proposed taking the site of the demolished office building area for a barn for staff office use. Approximately eight employees would work inside, and there would be 10 parking spaces. There would also be “a minimal amount of side lighting” for the walkway.

Because of the planting season approaching, he asked that the decision be made that evening despite the late hour.

The only concern Gelcich raised was that a plan be provided including all of the building numbers on the property to assist the Fire Department and the Building Department in case of an issue. He called the project “pretty straightforward.”

The major project site plan was approved with conditions, including the building numbering plan.

I do think it is this board’s responsibility to create an equitable law that all members or individuals who want to live in Hopkinton have the opportunity through affordable housing.

— Planning Board member Fran DeYoung

Citizens’ petition articles on zoning spur discussion

ing for the benefit for a particular proponent.” He called for “robust discussion” to look at the zoning in a broader context.

Jaime Goncalves, the president of the Lake Maspenock Preservation Association and a former member of several town committees, said that the LMPA board voted to oppose the proposed zoning “because of the potential impacts to the lake.”

He noted that contaminants from the concrete plant could flow from the stream into the watershed area. He also said there was “no guarantee” as to what would go into the site.

Speaking as a citizen, he said there were proposals before to rezone that corner. Increased traffic and the disturbance to residential environment were issues that he and other residents brought to the board’s attention.

Several residents also voiced their opposition because of the potential environmental impacts, noise and light pollution. One resident said he would be more amenable to housing, while a scond voiced concern about the empty business properties on South Street. A third brought up the narrow sidewalks, raising a safety concern with many children in the area.

Abutter Vikasith Pratty opposed the proposal. He gave a presentation in which he mentioned that noise and traffic would affect the neighborhood property values.

By Mary Ellen Gambon

Writer

Two citizens’ petitions came to the attention of the Planning Board and were discussed at the March 6 meeting. The Planning Board’s role, as with the proposed zoning amendments it discussed, is to decide whether the board will recommend them for approval at Town Meeting — not to approve or deny them. Regardless of the vote, the discussion will be raised at Town Meeting.

The first one proposed involved changing zoning for 0 and 2 West Elm Street from Residence B to Business. Mary Overholt, a member of the recently closed Community Covenant Church, presented the petition. The church, which was founded by Swedish-speaking immigrants in 1907, is going to be sold, she explained. The church relocated to Hopkinton from Milford 47 years ago and held its final service Dec. 11. It is located at the corner of West Elm Street and West Main Street.

The two lots owned by the denomination include about 5 acres, she explained. She said that the area would benefit from business zoning, noting that surrounding zoning bordering Interstate 495 and West Main Street allows businesses such as the Price Chopper complex.

Planning Board chair Gary Trendel acknowledged that the church is experiencing “a tough situation.”

Vice chair Mary Larson-Marlowe said the change “makes a lot of sense as a business area.”

Board member Ronny Priefer agreed and complimented Overholt on her comprehensive presentation.

Principal Planner John Gelcich said the change would allow for uses such as small bed and breakfast establishments, retail stores and service shops, business and municipal offices, restaurants and mixed-use developments with retail space on the first floor, among other uses.

The second citizens’ petition article generated more discussion. Peter Bemis, an engineering consultant, sponsored a petition as a resident to change the zoning of Hayward Street at South Street from Residence Lake Front to Rural Business. This would allow for Marguerite Concrete, a concrete company located in Hopedale, to build on these parcels near the former EMC property. The owner, who occupies an office on South Street, would like to relocate his concrete company headquarters in Hopkinton. Bemis said the owner needs to make a decision about relocating the company in the immediate future.

Bemis gave a proposal overview for perspective, but Trendel told him that this was unnecessary because the Planning Board was looking at the rezoning only — not voting on the proposed 24,000 square-foot building.

Trendel noted that the Planning Board has already received more than 30 letters from neighboring residents about the proposed change.

Larson-Marlowe raised concerns about traffic on the narrow street in a densely populated residential area.

Board member Rob Benson also asked whether citizens’ petitions like this have passed within the past 30 years, which could not be answered during the meeting. He wondered about setting a precedent.

Said Benson: “In receiving all the letters, there’s lots of concerns from residents who live there about businesses encroaching on their residential neighborhood.”

Board member Fran DeYoung referred to it as “spot zon-

The hearing was continued until March 20.

Contributing

The owners of the recently closed Community Covenant Church at the corner of West Elm Street and West Main Street seek to change the zoning for the land from Residence B to Business as they prepare to sell the property.

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

SENIOR SNIPPETS

The Hopkinton Senior Center is open Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and Fridays from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. For a more extensive listing of programs and services, including lunch program menus as well as a newsletter, check hopkintonseniorcenter. com. Anyone with questions can call 508497-9730. The Senior Center also has a Facebook page that provides updates on resources, programs and events.

Transportation Programs for Seniors

The Hopkinton Senior Center offers transportation to and from the Senior Center as well as local shopping Mondays through Fridays for Hopkinton residents. Anyone looking for transportation for medical appointments or essential shopping should call to learn about transportation options.

Dropped Stitch Knitters and Vintage Quilters

Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.

For anyone interested in knitting, crocheting, quilting or sewing, both the Dropped Stitch Knitters and Vintage Quilters gather Thursday mornings at the Senior Center to work on projects, learn from others, and help and encourage one another as they work on projects. Both groups are welcoming interested individuals looking to learn, enhance their skills or just join in the fun. To learn more about both of these groups, individuals can stop in for a visit or call the Senior Center.

Fraud Protection Seminar with the FBI

Thursday, March 30, 1 p.m.

This special presentation, hosted by the FBI’s Boston Division, will include important tips to protect individuals from fraud

New Construction in Hopkinton!

and theft, along with the most common scams happening today and how to avoid becoming a victim. Advance registration is requested by calling the Senior Center.

Hopkinton Senior Center Book Club

First Monday of every month, 10:30 a.m.

One of life’s pleasures is a good book. Another is the time to read it. At these hybrid meetings (in person or Zoom), participants can relax and bring something to drink — all while enjoying book reviews and socializing. On April 3, the book is “Kurt Vonnegut: The Making of a Writer” by Dan Wakefield. On May 6, the book is “West with Giraffes” by Lynda Rutledge.

Repair Cafe with Hopkinton Lions Club

Saturday, April 1, 9 a.m.-noon

Repair Cafe is a community event where people bring their items that are not quite working right but still too good to throw away, and other community members help repair them. There is no charge unless replacement parts are needed. Similar events have been held in more than two dozen towns across Massachusetts in recent years, including Hopkinton last year. Anyone with an item in need of repair or who enjoys fixing things and is interested in being a volunteer should contact the Senior Center. Volunteers are being sought to help with knife sharpening, general furniture repair, lamp rewiring, mending and small appliance repair, to name a few things.

Our Time Memory Cafe

Thursday, April 6, 1 p.m.

Our Time Memory Cafe is a welcoming gathering for those experiencing forgetfulness or mild cognitive impairment or living with dementia, along with their care partner, family and friends. The cafe is a place to socialize, have social 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.

Six Pillars of Brain Health

Wednesday, April 19, 1 p.m.

Participants will learn about the six pillars of a brain-healthy lifestyle, share brain-boosting activities and be inspired by others. This session is a good overview for anyone interested in improving their brain health and will provide actionable steps people can take along with resources to learn more. Advance registration is requested by calling the Senior Center.

MCOA Walk Massachusetts Challenge

Walking consistently has numerous physical and mental health benefits. Regardless of how far or fast one walks, whether an individual uses a cane or a walker, remaining active is key to aging well and living independently. Walking is accessible for most people, whether done outside at a local park or indoors and in place on rainy days.

With six challenges, there’s a challenge for everyone. The only competition is one’s self: to be better than yesterday. Individuals who meet milestones are entered to win up to a $50 gift card. For each person who completes their challenge, the Hopkinton Senior Center is entered to win up to $1,000 for future programming. The more each person walks, the more everyone wins. Registration can be found at walkmachallenge.com or by calling the Senior Center. Participants will choose a challenge and track their walking during the period between May 1 and Oct. 31.

Hopkinton SEPAC Parent Meetup

Wednesday, March 29, 6:30-7:45 p.m.

LIBRARY CORNER

For more information on any of the following programs or other activities at the library, visit hopkintonlibrary.org. The library also can be found on Facebook, @hopkintonlibrary, and on Twitter, @HopkintonPLMA.

Nutrition Facts Label Reimagined

Thursday, March 23, noon-1 p.m.

In this Zoom program, attendees will discover the nutrition facts needed to know for maintaining a healthy weight throughout one’s life. With an understanding of these nutrition numbers, individuals will be able to create a balanced, sustainable eating plan.

SAT Practice Test

Saturday, March 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

This free SAT practice test is with the Princeton Review. Registration is available via this link: secure.princetonreview.com/event?PSOId=518552.

Author Talk: Pam Jenoff

Tuesday, March 28, 7-8 p.m.

This Zoom program features New York Times bestselling historical fiction author Pam Jenoff, author of “The Lost Girls of Paris.” She will talk about her newest book, “Code Name Sapphire.”

Frayed Knot Fiber Arts Circle

Wednesday, March 29, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Participants are invited to bring their current project or pattern. This group is open to teens and adults of all skill levels. All fiber arts crafts (knitting, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, needle felting, etc.) are more than welcome. This group meets on the second and last Wednesdays of each month from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Hopkinton SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) is hosting a meetup event for parents and caregivers of special needs students. Attendees can meet other special needs parents and learn more about Hopkinton SEPAC.

‘Black Rodeo: A History of the African American Western’

Wednesday, March 29, 7-8 p.m. African American Westerns have a rich cinematic history and visual culture. In this virtual program, professor and author Mia Mask examines the African American Western hero within the larger context of film history by considering how Black Westerns evolved and approached wide-ranging goals.

Red Cross Blood Drive

Friday, March 31, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Register on the Red Cross website at rcblood.org/3AmuYsP.

‘The #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Advocacy’

Tuesday, April 4, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Author and scholar Jennifer Brunton, Ph.D., will take part in a discussion of her new book, “The #ActuallyAustistic Guide to Advocacy,” which she co-authored with Jenna Gensic, M.A. “The #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Advocacy” takes an in-depth look at the key elements of effective, respectful, inclusive advocacy and allyship

Author Talk: Kate Beaton

Tuesday, April 4, 7-8 p.m.

This enlightening hour online is with highly acclaimed cartoonist Kate Beaton, the New York Times bestselling author of “Hark! A Vagrant!” and “Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands.”

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS in Hopkinton

Listing sponsored by ...

How to get the best return

Thinking about selling and wondering what improvements will yield the biggest return on your investment?

the floors will look much newer. Did you know you can sand and poly plastic shower inserts to make them look new again, or glaze a tub to make it shine?

Kim Foemmel

Professional insights

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Let’s start with the entryway! Curb appeal is the first impression. With the snow gone, now is a great time to walk around the home and see how it fared over the winter season. Does the house need paint or a power wash, is there any window or trim rot, do gutters need to be cleaned or reattached? Trimming bushes and adding plantings, fresh mulch and flowers in planters is a great way to spend a weekend outside in this nice weather. To really make the property pop, adding a fresh coat of paint on the house and deck, replacing rotted trim with Azek materials, replacing garage doors and seal coating the driveway all are great and reasonably priced improvements that will make a big impact. Kitchens and baths are where you will receive almost 100 percent return on your investment, within reason.

However, spending $300,000 on a new kitchen or $75,000 on a new primary bath likely will not see a similar return. Replacing appliances that have seen better days, installing new counters, backsplashes and hardware, and sometime updating the cabinetry and/or hardware will make a huge impact. Oh, and floors! There are rare times that we do see timeless floors where we can strip and replace all the grout and

Then there is paint! A $50 can of paint is worth thousands on the wall. Buyers are looking for fresh and neutral paint colors that are in style and are the current trend. I love taking a trip to the local paint store to see the new colors that I know will make a huge impact with bringing a dated home into the new century. Changing a room to a lighter color typically will help it make it feel brighter and bigger. Go grab a few samples and see how they look in different parts of the room, and how they match the furniture and the floors. If the whole house needs to be painted, consider choosing a total of three or four colors, keep them neutral and make sure that they work well together. Neutral sells as it allows a buyer to picture themselves and their furniture in the home.

Refinishing floors, replacing carpet and replacing window seals also are great ways to achieve a better return on your investment. My rule of thumb is if we can make double the money of your investment, then it’s likely worth the effort!

With spring here, now is a great time to consider decluttering, organizing, and donating/selling items you no longer need. Realtors have contractors who can help with all this and have teams of people who can help make this process a breeze.

Contact Kim Foemmel at Foemmel Fine Homes to find out what your home is worth!

Kim Foemmel Foemmel Fine Homes

1 Lumber Street, Suite 207C Hopkinton, MA (508) 808-1149

Kim@FoemmelFineHomes.com

The above are all property sales as recorded by the state and posted in the previous two weeks.

Miss Tanya’s nurtures children’s curiosity

By Christie Vogt Contributing Writer

Iffamilies are on the hunt for an outdoors-focused summer program, Tanya Trainor, the owner of Miss Tanya’s Family of Nursery Schools, says she knows just the place. “We spend 99 percent of our time outside during the summer,” she says, “and we are a processoriented program, which means that we’re more interested in the mess than the product. Children have the freedom to make their activities what they would like them to be.”

Miss Tanya’s welcomes children ages 2 through 7 and has three locations across Westborough: Longmeadow School, Nursery School and Woodland School. A nursery school program is available at each site while the toddler program is housed at Longmeadow and the kindergarten program is at Woodland.

Parks & Recreation Commission

five days per week. Children can expect lots of water-based, hands-on activities and even canopies and quiet areas to rest in the fresh air. The summer sessions are themed with titles like Messy Magic, Ooey Gooey Fun, Move Your Muscles and Kids in the Kitchen.

“We have a lot of choose-your-ownadventure time,” Trainor adds, “known in the olden days as ‘free play,’ where children can do whatever they’d like within the environment that has been set up by the teachers.”

Children

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

The Parks & Recreation Commission

at its meeting March 9 voted 3-0 to approve a permit allowing the return of the Hopkinton Farmers Market to the Town Common this summer, with attendees noting the positive impact it has had historically on several aspects of town life.

MISS TANYA’S Summer Program 2022

Longtime farmers market manager Laura Davis announced that she will be retiring from running the farmers market after 11 years. While the market has grown in popularity, she said the number of volunteers has dwindled over the years.

Nursery School

Miss Tanya’s schools are staffed by caring, long-tenured, qualified educators. For more information on all three of Miss Tanya’s locations and to learn what makes them unique, visit misstanya.com.

“The farmers market has become an institution here in Hopkinton,” said chair Dan Terry. “I know a lot of people enjoy it immensely and appreciate that it is a service there.”

“I’m hoping to find someone who can work with me this whole season and then take over,” Davis said, noting that event planning and fundraising skills are helpful attributes.

attracted between 300 and 500 people every Sunday over the course of its 19-week run from June to October. There were 12 vendors who participated each Sunday, with 60 vendors attending for varying amounts of time. Attendance was impacted by the Main Street Construction Project and difficulty parking, she said.

Davis said the number of volunteers when she started was 12, and now there are only three.

Davis noted that last year a market coordinator position was created to help with the growing number of vendors and visitors. Volunteers and vendors begin setting up at 11:30 a.m. for the 1 p.m. opening. Upon closing at 5 p.m., the breakdown effort takes about a half-hour.

The market also offered two $1,000 scholarships to high school students who planned on pursuing degrees in environmental studies or food science. About $27,000 has been donated to date, Davis said.

All sites have special summer programs starting in June that range from one- to two-week sessions for three to

Nursery School Woodland School

Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Hopkinton Independent advertisers.

“Those are big shoes to fill,” said commissioner Laura Hanson.

Last year, Davis explained, the market

The market also held two successful winter events at Weston Nurseries, she added.

Grant funding received totaled more than $11,000, Davis said, which included

Commission approves return of Farmers Market

“The department has always been very appreciative of the farmers market,” he said, “and I know the community has as well.”

Food truck plans for Boston Marathon curtailed

At the last meeting, the board discussed the possibility of having as many as 15 food trucks serving a variety of cuisines for spectators at the Boston Marathon. At this meeting, Guelfi said that the number had to be slashed to four vendors because the Boston Athletic Association’s decision to use part of the Town Common “does not leave much room for vendors.”

anticipates the town to be a tourist attraction for the entire weekend for the event.

Guelfi suggested that American, Asian and South Asian food be offered. He also said that attendees typically buy T-shirts, sweatshirts, novelty items and cowbells from vendors, as well as carnival-type food like fried dough. It would be difficult to cram all of these vendors into a small space, he stressed.

Proposal for College Rock hits snag

a United States Department of Agriculture grant that almost covered expenses.

Said Davis: “And we spent all that and $38 more.”

Terry noted that despite running a basically break-even operation, the farmers market attracts people to town for dining

and shopping as well as purchasing healthy foods.

Parks & Recreation Director Jay Guelfi added that it is a huge draw that entices folks to hang around for the popular summer concert series on Sunday evenings.

Only the crosswalk between the gazebo and the holiday tree will be allocated, which Guelfi said concerned both him and Town Manager Norman Khumalo at a meeting they had earlier in the day.

Because of the town’s pledge for diversity, equity and inclusion, Guelfi said it is important to offer different types of food. He noted that he and Khumalo discussed the impact not having food availability would have on the town, as it annually

Daniel Vickers, the owner of and instructor at the Greater Boston Climbing School, appeared before the commission in January asking to use College Rock for commercial rock climbing instruction and guided trips. He is a member of the American Mountain Guides Association. Guelfi said that he recently learned that College Rock falls under the Conservation Commission, and Vickers would need a permit from that group. Guelfi said he spoke to Conservation Administrator Kim Ciaramicoli about the proposal and

Parks & Rec | page 16

The Hopkinton Farmers Market is set to return to the Town Common starting in June.

FILE PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Chapman Education: Where every student has a champion

By Deborah Burke Henderson Contributing Writer

Christine Chapman is an independent educational consultant and member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). As founder of Chapman Education and the College Axis Project, she helps students and families navigate the secondary school and college search and application process. Her focus is always on finding the best match of individual and institution.

“I have been given a gift that I’ve honed over the past 30 years of providing educational services,” Chapman stated, “helping students become empowered to put forth their best selves.”

Chapman loves her work. Students and families can feel it in her energy and enthusiasm and hear it in her voice. Her strength is meeting young people where they are. Developing a long-term relationship with each person holds a deep and meaningful place in her heart. Chapman and her team will dig deep into their students’ stories, understand who they are, discover their passions and interests, and help young people see and believe in their own potential. Testimonials confirm this approach is working.

“Sometimes, high schoolers are undecided about what they want to do next,” Chapman stated. “I help them see this as a wonderful and exciting time. Kids are given the freedom to explore all they are, welcome the different opportunities available, and take time to discover

Christine Chapman loves to give back to her community through involvement with the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, where she leads its teen advisory board.

and claim their own paths.”

Chapman recounted a quote by Rita Pierson, professional educator and TED Talk speaker, which encapsulates her approach to guiding youth.

“Every child deserves a champion — an adult who will never give up on them. Who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.”

“This says it all for me,” Chapman added. “That power of connection with young people is so critical. Years later, I hear from students as to their many accomplishments and the hurdles they faced along the way.

The stories are not only gratifying but further underscore the impact I had hoped to make in each relationship.”

Chapman Education

Chapman Education offers both hourly services and comprehensive packages for families seeking private school placement or for high school graduates entering the college application process. Working virtually, experienced counselors help create a strategy for the application process, develop a list that reflects the student’s learning style, academic goals and post-grad plans, and work with students, one-on-one, on a single component of these applications or on all aspects.

Chapman also loves working with high school students, advising parents of the importance of preparing young people to enter the higher education application process with open eyes. Additionally, Chapman supports transfer

Proposal for College Rock hits snag

Parks & Rec | from page 15

noted that she shared the same concerns the Parks & Recreation Commission had about excluding resident access, trash and damage to the natural resource.

Said Guelfi: “I found it was quite odd that when College Rock had graffiti all over it, it was [my responsibility].”

He noted that the Conservation Commission’s review would be “very thorough.”

Terry questioned whether all of the issues raised about a recreational program would fall under the Conservation Commission’s jurisdiction. Guelfi said he will attend that meeting and express the commission’s concerns.

Eagle Scouts propose service projects

Eagle Scout Kaisar Rangwala proposed building a shed on the concrete slab located at the dog park at Fruit Street. It would be used for storing equipment, he explained.

“We’d have a seasonal place to access tools right on the site,” he said.

Guelfi noted that he allocated a $1,200 budget to Rangwala for the project. Rangwala is designing it, and troop members will help in building it. Once the scoutmaster gives final approval, they can plan the construction. He hopes it can be built in the summer.

Terry suggested that Rangwala speak with the Building Department to determine the proper specifications for the shed.

Also, Eagle Scout Surya Raja proposed building a kiosk for the highly anticipated pickleball courts off of Fruit Street. He asked about the timing for the project.

Guelfi explained that the pickleball court plans need to go before the Planning Board, and the approval process should be complete in April. Construction is expected to begin in the fall on the courts, so the kiosk would not need to be built until next spring.

Terry noted that it could be con-

and graduate school applicants.

The College Axis Project

Chapman founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to providing small group workshops and educational resources about the college process. All new students are offered a free profile review and learn about the College Axis Project. Work is performed in small group settings of four to six students. Boot camps and retreat settings are available, along with need-based scholarships to attend programs.

To discover more about Chapman Education and the College Axis Project or to schedule a consultation meeting with an educational counselor, visit ChapmanEducation.org.

Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Hopkinton Independent advertisers.

structed offsite in advance. Guelfi added that the Department of Public Works could assist with concrete pouring. The Highway Department can help with any heavy machinery needed.

Guelfi stressed that the past three Eagle Scout projects over the past four years have been successful. They included patching up the tennis courts, building a map of the United States over EMC Playground, and building a kiosk at the dog park. Rangwala still has two years before he turns 18 to complete the project.

Skate park project discussed

Guelfi noted that the proposed skate park has become “an involved engineering project.” He has asked for input from Town Engineer Dave Daltorio at the request of the town manager.

Daltorio, via Guelfi, requested that materials be delivered to the site at 6 a.m. pending notice to the abutters. Terry said that more outreach needed to be done to the neighborhood for the sake of transparency. Supplies would need to be delivered early in the morning in the summer because use of the park starts as early as 8 a.m.

Terry asked that the vote be tabled. Two of the five commissioners, Liisa Jackson and Amy O’Donnell, were not able to attend the meeting.

Said Terry: “I think that when you try to push processes through too fast, it seems like you’re trying to do something that’s not completely transparent.”

Guelfi retiring, but timeline ‘fluid’

Guelfi recently announced that he will be retiring from his role as director. He said he was asked by Khumalo to stay until the end of the calendar year. Guelfi said he agreed, calling his timeline “fluid.”

The department also is seeking a coordinator following the departure of Jenny Hart last month.

The next meeting will be Thursday, March 23, at 5:30 p.m.

Facilitator works with school leaders to move forward with SEPAC

Consultant Amy Rebecca Gay conducts the March 8 meeting with the School Committee and SEPAC.

LaBroad emphasized the focus should always be on “results and outcomes.”

He and Carol Cavanaugh talked about the need to rebuild trust with the parent group. The superintendent acknowledged it was lost during the budget season and will take time to fix.

Another topic was the use of social media and the impact it can have during disputes such as during the budget process. Halliday said social media initially was used to organize because SEPAC didn’t

get the data it needed.

She said social media was not “misused” but gave empowerment to families and support to teachers. However, she said it was not a SEPAC page but rather a “repository” for parent letters.

On the topic of “sustainability,” School Committee members said the relationship with SEPAC needs to be embedded in school policy so that in the future it will continue no matter who is sitting on the committee.

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

Consultant

Amy Rebecca Gay led members of the Hopkinton School Committee, administrative staff and the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) through a two-hour working session March 8 to see if they could repair their communication issues and work effectively together in the future.

SEPAC members were among the individuals speaking out against proposed cuts to therapy services earlier in the budget process. They expressed concern at that time they were not receiving timely or accurate information and were left “out of the loop” regarding the budget.

Some of the discussion March 8 revolved around Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh’s concern that a distinction be made between SEPAC weighing in on programming matters versus operational steps that are taken to solve problems. Operations would include things like personnel decisions, teacher training, bargaining rights, shifting of staff and service delivery.

Cavanaugh said she didn’t want a situation with individual parents coming in to publicly talk about their special education (SPED) child and a specific problem with their learning plan. That is something that is handled with the director of student services and others individually on staff.

Examples used throughout the meeting included levels of staffing in the cafeteria. Cavanaugh noted it would be appropriate for parents to express a collective concern about issues arising affecting a number of students. However, she added that SEPAC deeming a certain number of supervisors assigned to oversee the cafeteria inadequate or putting forth what they want as a staffing number would be beyond their scope.

SEPAC chair Jen Halliday said she is looking for better communication and access to information from the district.

School Committee vice chair Amanda Fargiano talked about how the School Committee also serves in an advisory capacity. Members bring forward concerns expressed by individuals in the community or that they see in data. However, she noted that although they may want changes made, the committee leaves it up to the district educators to decide the best course of action.

School Committee chair Nancy Cavanaugh spoke about the importance of working more closely with SEPAC and meeting regularly, something that was lost because of COVID.

Director of Student Services Karen Zaleski said she is willing to collaborate, organize monthly meetings and continue planning the SEPAC calendar and family events as well as sending emails and memos to parents of special needs children, as in the past.

Zaleski added she is willing to participate in additional sessions and provide information but would like advance notice of what agenda topics at meetings involving SEPAC will be and who is setting the agenda so she can prepare.

It also would help her to bring in an appropriate director or principal pertinent to an issue.

Nancy Cavanaugh spoke in favor of having more input from SEPAC. Cavanaugh currently serves as the liaison to that group and sees its role as “bringing the temperature of the community to us.”

She said it would be useful for the School Committee to “have feedback on the issues you hear and see.”

Gay ultimately had the groups commit to meeting during the second week of May to do a recap of the school year — what went well and what needs to be done going forward.

Likely in October, another session would have SEPAC “bring the voice of the parents” to the School Committee and administrators, identify systemic challenges, ask questions and “have a dialogue,” the parties agreed.

Another idea was to have a “point person” from SEPAC attend School Committee meetings when pertinent special education issues are on the agenda if they cannot attend all of the sessions.

Halliday and SEPAC vice chair Jamie Wronka emphasized the importance of having access to accurate data so it could be shared with parents who have concerns. There was some back-and-forth discussion with administrators on how much data SEPAC should be entitled to and when it would cross the line into “operational” matters rather than for informational purposes.

Assistant Superintendent Jeff LaBroad noted that he previously was a building principal and always wanted to hear from parents. He would tell them to let him know if what he promised to resolve a situation did not happen in a certain amount of time.

“It’s a powerful, relationship-building bridge,” LaBroad said.

He said asking productive questions is fine, but there also has to be trust that school leaders will “make things right” for the kids and have their best interests in mind too.

PHOTO/HCAM SCREENSHOT

HHS Science Fair winners advance to state competition

“PFAS Pollution and Its Effects on Daphnia Pulex: Implications for the Environment and Human Health”;

Akshay Jana and Shaurya Patni for “Treating Transgenic C.Elegans with antioxidant supplements to alleviate symptoms of ALS”;

Sahithi Pogula for “In Silico SALL4 Oncogene Overexpression Correlation to Non-Coding RNA Post-Transcriptional Regulation and Epigenetic Control”;

Jacob Dold and Kaizar Rangwala for “Artificially Intelligent Diagnosis and Databasing of CNS & Brain Tumors Using Multilayer Perceptron Neural Networks”;

Shrija Kumar and Garima Chauhan for “Utilizing Lactate, a Cell Waste Product To Increase Immunity

in Pink Shrimp: a Model for Immune Response”;

Piyusha Majgaonkar and Miyu Hasegawa for “Natural Water Filter? The Phytoremediation of Lead and Fluoride using Water Hyacinths”;

Izael Thomas, Raquel Abraham and Isaiah Kuruvilla for “The Effect of Berberine on Planarian Eye Regeneration.”

At the regional competition, five HHS teams won prizes — including four that placed in the top 15 — and earned spots in the state competition.

In addition to the team of Striek, Blair and Mudenur taking second place, three HHS individuals received thirdplace prizes: Pogula, Venkatesan and Findlen.

Additionally, the team of Mallouh, Oga and Daga received honorable mention.

HHS BPA competitors advance to nationals

The team of Dylan Striek, Rylee Blair and Disha Mudenur captured first place at the Hopkinton High School Science Fair on March 1 with their project titled “Electrolytic Extraction of Dawsonite from Ocean Water: Efficient Saltwater Mineral Recovery through Electrolysis.”

The trio went on to take second place at the regional fair on March 10 at WPI, earning a spot in the state-level event May 5 at MIT, and was to compete in a playoff for the International Science Fair.

Second place at the HHS event went to Briana Mallouh, Tomo Oga and Avani Daga for “Next Time-Step Pollution Level Prediction Using Custom Recurrent Neural Networks.”

Third place was awarded to Srilakshmi Venkatesan for “Utilizing Hypermagnesemia to Understand the Impact of Neuromuscular Blocking Agents on Caenorhabditis Elegans: A Safe Novel Automated Model for Paralytic Drug Testing.”

The Valerie Lechtanski Prize for Perseverance was presented to Syesha Sen, Haasini Yarram and Snigdha Mara-

pally, whose project was titled “Nailed it: Effects of Chemicals on Air Quality in Nail Salons.”

“Our new format worked out well and I am so grateful to the many community members who stepped up to help us out at the last minute with the snow day scramble,” Science Fair coordinator Kristen Murphy shared. “I feel fortunate to teach and live in such a wonderful community. And I’d also like to give a special shoutout to Connor Zanini, one of our Science Fair mentors who always goes above and beyond for this program. Connor did so much work behind the scenes and was instrumental in making this all come together.”

In addition to the top three finishers, nine other individuals or teams qualified for the regional qualifier at WPI: Juliet Findlen for “Chlorella vulgaris as a model for photobioreactor use in industrial carbon removal”;

Arin Upalekar, Alexander Stephan and Nathan Hung for “Utilization of Coagulant Chemicals to remove Microplastics from Laundry Water”;

Necalli Vela-Garcia, Surya RajaAmudhan and Nithu Sridharan for

Hopkinton High School’s Business Professionals of America club members participated in the state leadership conference March 4-5 in Norwood, and 22 students qualified for the National Leadership Conference on April 2630 in Anaheim, California.

Dhruv Shah was elected state president, while Vainavi Malisetty was elected state secretary.

Earning first-place awards in the state competition were Veer Bhatia, Pranamya Keshkamat and Shaurya Patni (Network Design team), Ryan Hicks, Pranav Kapoor, Robert Litscher and Samuel Vasington (Global Marketing team), Anya Krishnamony, Odundo Omondi and Emily Skaff (User Experience Design Using Adobe XD team), Neya Rajasingh (Financial Analyst), Kaesha Rajgor (Economic Research) and Sahithi Pogula (Health Leadership).

Second-place finishers included Neil Abraham , Kyle Bertucci-Bissonette, Nathan Carson and Bharat Mekala (Small Business Management team), Harini Thatigutla (Global Marketing), Sanketh Udupa (Digital

Media Production) and Alveena Ehsan (Health Leadership).

Additionally, Surya Raja competed in Digital Media Production.

HMS Drama presents ‘Charlotte’s Web’

The Hopkinton Middle School Drama Club will perform “Charlotte’s Web” at the HMS auditorium on Friday, March 24, and Saturday, March 25, at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available at the door or online (showtix4u.com/event-details/71859).

Charlotte’s Web is based on E.B. White’s loving story of the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a little spider named Charlotte. Wilbur has a problem: how to avoid winding up as pork chops! Charlotte, a fine writer and true friend, hits on a plan to fool Farmer Zuckerman. She will create a “miracle.” Spinning the words “Some Pig” in her web, Charlotte weaves a solution that not only makes Wilbur a prize pig but also ensures his place on the farm forever.

Local collegians recognized

Hopkinton residents named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Clark University included Natalie Beck, Sean Cahill, Callie-Rose Ronan and Afnaan Syed. All received first honors. …

At Bryant University, Dennis Field was named to the president’s list, while Michael Ambrosone, Sean McGrail and Jacqueline Zeigler were named to the dean’s list. …

Marylauren Burke, a junior computer science major, was named to the Le Moyne College dean’s list. …

At Tufts University, junior Grace Ye, sophomore Sasha Fomin and freshman Matt Burdulis were named to the dean’s list. …

Kamala Chuss was named to the dean’s list at the University of Connecticut.

Editor’s note: Information for college honors is provided by the schools. Those interested in being included in this section should forward the official notification or request for the school to email it to editor@hopkintonindependent.com.

Hopkinton High School students Shrija Kumar (left) and Garima Chauhan stand in front of their project at the annual HHS Science Fair on March 1.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

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.

Baypath Humane Society Fur Ball March 24

Baypath Humane Society’s annual Fur Ball Gala will be held Friday, March 24, from 6-11 p.m. at the Verve Hotel in Natick. This year’s event has a disco theme. The event will include a number of auction items in a wide price range. Tickets are $150 and include food, entertainment and dancing. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit baypathhumane.org/fur-ball-gala.

Family Fling at Town Common March 25

The second annual Family Fling is set for Saturday, March 25, at Hopkinton Town Common. The event, sponsored by the Friends of Hopkinton and the Hopkinton Lions Club, will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and include food, entertainment and activities, including a scavenger hunt. Parking will be available at Center School (11 Ash Street). For more information, visit friendsofhopkinton.org.

BSA Troop 4 Pancake Breakfast April 1

Hopkinton Boy Scouts Troop 4 will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, April 1, from 7:30-11:30 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church (20 Church Street). The Scouts will serve a variety of pancakes along with sausage, juice, coffee and more. There also will be a silent auction. General admission is $6 via advanced purchase or $8 at the door. Senior citizens pay $5, and veterans eat free. Proceeds will fund high-adventure trips for Troop 4 Scouts, including hiking in national parks as well as camping and outdoor adventure opportunities. For more information, email pancake-breakfast@troop4hopkinton.com.

Yellow Bag Day town cleanup April 1

Volunteers are needed for Hop Yellow Bag Day, a program to beautify the town and remove litter from the roadsides. The event takes place Saturday, April 1, from 9 a.m.-noon (rain date is April 2). Participants — who should wear bright clothes and work gloves — will meet at the Town Common gazebo at 8:30 a.m. to get a yellow trash bag. The DPW will remove the bags from the roadside the following Monday. For more information, contact Mike Boelsen at mikeboelsen2@gmail.com or 508-377-8350.

Couch to 5K training program starts April 2

The Hopkinton Running Club Coach to 5K is a 10-week program designed to train anyone who has ever wanted to run a 5K (3.1-mile) road race. In-person training begins Sunday, April 2, and is held weekly from 8-9 a.m. The goal of the program is to run the Sharon Timlin Memorial 5K on Saturday, June 17. The program costs $50 and includes weekly in-person training sessions, access to club coaches, a Couch to 5K T-shirt and membership in the Hopkinton Running Club. To register, visit runreg. com/hrc-membership-2023. Email questions to hopkintonrunning@gmail.com.

Women’s Club Marathon fundraising event April 3

The Hopkinton Women’s Club Boston Marathon runner, Beth Hankin, will host an evening of chocolate and wine on Monday, April 3, at 7 p.m. The fundraising event will take place at Dulce D Leche, 200 Homer Avenue, Ashland. Participants will enjoy wine and chocolate tasting while making their own chocolate to take home. Tickets are $45. For information, email Beth@BethHankinWellness.com.

Friends of Whitehall annual meeting April 5

The Friends of Whitehall annual meeting will be held Wednesday, April 5, at 7 p.m. at the Sanctuary at Woodville (Woodville Baptist Church), 249 Wood Street, Woodville. The guest speaker will be Richard Trubiano, supervisor of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) headquarters in Hopkinton. He will talk about Lake Whitehall and Whitehall State Park and what DCR does for maintenance and preservation. The annual business meeting also will take place, with a review of

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the past year’s accomplishments and plans for 2023. Anyone interested in the lake is encouraged to join. For more information, visit friendsofwhitehall.org.

Become a Dementia Friend April 6

Individuals are invited to become a Dementia Friend by attending an informational program at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts on Thursday, April 6, from 7-8:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about the different types of dementia, what it’s like to live with dementia, and small gestures that make a difference. For reservations, call the Hopkinton Senior Center at 508-497-9730. The program, open to residents of any town, is sponsored by the Hopkinton Council on Aging.

Trail Explorers at Hopkinton Public Library April 26

Parents and children can drop in between 4-6:30 p.m. at the library’s event room to learn about the great trails all over town. There will be activities and prizes, plus information about geocaching, mountain biking, trail running, building stuff in the woods and more. Representatives from the Trails Club, Hopkinton Area Land Trust, Upper Charles Trail Committee, Parks & Rec, New England Mountain Bike Association, YMCA, Wildwood Learning Center and Mass. Audubon will be on hand along with the sponsoring organizations, the Hopkinton Trail Coordination and Management Committee and the library. For more information, visit HopkintonMA.gov/Trails.

MBCC Against the Tide at Hopkinton State Park June 18

The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) will host its annual Against the Tide event on Saturday, June 17, at Hopkinton State Park. The event features multiple competitions and recreational activities, including a half-mile or 1-mile swim, a 5K or 10K run and a 3-mile fitness walk. There also will be a virtual component. Proceeds benefit MBCC’s work toward breast cancer prevention, locally and nationally. For more information and to register, visit mbcc.org/swim.

Veterans Breakfast first Friday of each month

The Veterans Breakfast is held on the first Friday of every month from 9-10 a.m. at the Hopkinton Senior Center. In July, and if the first Friday of the month is a holiday or snow day, the breakfast switches to the second Friday. No registration is required. For more information, contact Amy Beck at the Senior Center, 508-497-9730.

Trails organizations seek monthly volunteers

The Hopkinton Trail Coordination and Management Committee (TCMC) and the Hopkinton Trails Club have created a monthly trail volunteer day on the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m.-noon. Residents also are encouraged to inform these groups of maintenance issues observed on trails (downed trees, trails becoming overgrown, etc.) by emailing TCMCchair@hopkintonma.gov or hopkinton.trails.club@gmail. com. For more information, visit hopkintontrailsclub.com.

Al-Anon weekly meetings Thursdays

Anyone affected by someone else’s drinking is welcome to attend a confidential Al-Anon meeting, which takes place every Thursday from 7:30-9 p.m. at the meeting room in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (61 Wood Street). For more information, visit al-anon.org or call 888-4AL-ANON.

Event Calendar Sponsored by

Bob Malone: Live In Concert

March 24 | 8 p.m.

The HCA is excited to have our friend Bob Malone back for another amazing night of music including his band and the Malonettes! Known for his high-energy piano rock and blues concerts, Malone has traveled the world playing for John Fogerty and has recorded or played with musical icons Ringo Starr, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, and Jimmy Buffet, to name a few.

Tickets on sale now!

Comedy Fundraiser with Comedian

Corey Rodrigues March 30 | 7:30 p.m.

Join our host Katie Ambrosini as she fundraises for the HCA Boston Marathon with comedian Corey Rodrigues. In 2019, Corey made his late-night TV debut on the Conan O’Brien show. He has won awards such as the Catch a New Rising Star and the Funniest Comic in New England and has been a hit at festivals like Big Sky Comedy and Big Pine Comedy. His comedy is honest, fun and hilariously relatable. This will be a fun night for sure!

508.435.6738

First Friday Open Mic with feature George Wood April 7 | 8 p.m.

Calling all singers (and people who love to listen to people sing)! Open Mic is a great way for singers to put themselves in front of a very supportive and fun crowd and to learn by watching other singers.

About George Wood: There is an almost epic quality to the songs of this man. The arrangements are electric and inspiring, and his voice is like a fine wine that needs to breathe and fills the air with its aroma, eliciting a craving for more. His music is sweet and soothing but deep and emotional.

Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards April 8 | 8 p.m.

Little by little, you will get to know Mark and Raianne through their unmistakable vocal harmonies, poetic lyrics and downto-earth personae. They are a married musical couple based out of Webster, Massachusetts. These prolific and hardworking Massachusetts-based artists have contributed over seventeen albums within their first decade and toured consistently throughout the US and Canada.

Obituaries are submissions, typically from funeral homes, that are not subject to the same level of editorial oversight as the rest of the Hopkinton Independent. Obituaries may be edited for grammatical and factual mistakes and clarifications and shortened for space considerations.

Elaine Mitsock

Elaine Marie Mitsock, 64, a longtime Hopkinton resident, passed away Feb. 27.

Born in Malden, she was the daughter of Lorraine (Belliveau) and Leonard Saulnier.

Elaine was raised in Wakefield and attended Lesley College. She went on to have a 36-year career as a dedicated teacher in special education at Holliston Middle School. She was a member of Saint John the Evangelist Church in Hopkinton, where she was the religious education coordinator and a CCD teacher. Most importantly, Elaine loved her children and grandchildren.

Elaine is survived by her three daughters, Katelyn Causton and husband Ben, Christina Capps and husband Paul, and Emily Mitsock. She also

leaves behind her two sisters, Barbie Saulnier and husband Ralph, and Marianne Waisnor and husband Bob, and their daughter, Stacey Driscoll and husband, Chris; as well as her two beloved grandchildren, Leonard and Josephine Causton.

Funeral services are being held privately and are under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton. In lieu of flowers, donations in Elaine’s memory are welcome to the Elaine M Mitsock Memorial Scholarship fund. The scholarship will be awarded to a Holliston High School student who has participated in the special education program Elaine was so dedicated to. Donations can be made online at gofundme.com/f/Elaine-mitsock or checks can be mailed to Holliston Scholarship Foundation with her name in the memo at the following address: P.O. Box 6786, Holliston, MA 01746.

Joseph Incardone

Joseph “Joey” Incardone of Millis, formerly of Jamaica Plain, passed on Feb. 23. He was the son of the late John Incardone and Jean (Mahoney) Incardone.

Born in 1959 in Brookline and raised in Jamaica Plain, Joey was interested in automobiles and racing at an early age, often spending weekends at the racetrack with his brother and friends. After attending Brighton High

School, he found work in the automotive repair business. This led to starting and running an auto repair shop with his brother, John, in Hopkinton — Main Street Service Center — for over 40 years before retiring due to health reasons.

Joey leaves his brother, John Incardone and wife Robin Incardone of Hopedale; his nephew, John Incardone of Woonsocket, Rhode Island; his niece, Gina Incardone of Natick; and Leanne and Rick Connors and their children of Millis.

Graveside committal prayers were held March 8 at St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury. Services were under the care of the Roberts Mitchell Caruso Funeral Home, Millis.

Joseph Scarlata

Joseph T. Scarlata, 90, of Hopkinton died peacefully in his home after an extended illness on March 1. Joe was born Feb. 8, 1933, in Boston to the late Joseph and Rose (Glennon) Scarlata.

Joseph is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jean (Deneen) Scarlata; his children, Stephen Scarlata and wife Cristina of Riviera Beach, Florida, Mary Scarlata-Rowe and husband Keith of Hopkinton, and Anne Morgan and husband William of Hopkinton; 13 grandchildren, Antonia and Paulina Scarlata, Benjamin and Samuel Lozeau, Adam, Deven and Caroline Rowe, Annie Conway, Elizabeth Ashley and husband Michael, William Morgan and wife Nancy, and Dylan Plotkin; and five great-grandchildren. He also leaves his sister, Rosemary Blair of Canton, sister-in-law Donna Deneen of Hopkinton, nieces and nephews Cathy, Robert, Theresa, John, Susie, Maura, Patrick, Catherine and Dennis and their families, as well as many other cherished relatives and friends. Joseph was predeceased by father figure Paul Daly and brothers-in-law Robert Blair and John Deneen.

Raised in Roslindale, Joseph graduated from BC High in 1951, entered the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Japan as a radio operator. Following his military service, he obtained a degree in business and finance from Babson College.

Joseph met his wife, Jean, in 1962 while both were working at Framingham National Bank. Joe and Jean were married on April 27, 1963, and settled in Jean’s hometown of Hopkinton to start a family and raise their three children. Joseph worked as an accountant through these years and explored different entrepreneurial endeavors.

As Joseph’s Catholic faith grew through the years, he followed his passion and opened St. Anthony’s Book and Gifts on Waverly Street in Framingham. Joe committed himself to his business for 45 years, only recently stepping back from his duties due to illness. A man of great unwavering faith, Joseph spent years devoting himself

to his religious passions, including the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Divine Mercy, St. Charbel, the rosary and more. Joseph is well known for sharing messages on how to obtain salvation following God’s laws to everyone through the store and beyond. We are sure anyone who knows Joe would agree he succeeded in his life’s mission of spreading his messages!

Joe was a man who valued his family, faith and country. He loved music, gatherings at the lake, family trips and weekend getaways with friends. He will be greatly missed.

A funeral was held March 5 from the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, followed by a funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Parish, and then burial in St. John’s Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made in Joseph’s name to St. Benedict Abbey, 252 Still River Road, Still River, MA 01467-0067.

Michael John Arnum, 54, of Lancaster passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 26. He was born Oct. 27, 1968, in Cambridge, to Martha (Thompson) Arnum and the late Malven Arnum.

Michael had a deep passion for gardening, plants and all things green, working many hours on home vegetable and flower gardens. He loved history, gadgets and bird feeding, often attracting hummingbirds to the yard. He was a fantastic cook and baker, well known for his culinary skills, sharing goodies with all he knew. Mike also was a prolific writer and avid reader. Mike enjoyed travel, as he was fluent in French and perfecting his Norwegian. Proud of his Norwegian heritage, Michael was a longtime active member of Sons of Norway. Fascinated by weather phenomena and astronomy, Michael was an ardent comet and eclipse watcher, and he loved to watch thunderstorms and snowstorms, too.

An incredibly hard worker, Michael took adversity in stride and persevered. A kind and gentle man with a unique sense of humor, he had a keen ability to pick out the most distinctive gifts for friends and family. A wiz with technology, Michael was always helpful to those of us who were technologically challenged. A graduate of Lincoln-Sudbury High School, Michael furthered his studies and received a B.S. in horticulture science at Cornell University. Later he earned his Master’s of Business Administration from Boston University and recently received the prestigious Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) certification.

Michael served many years as marketing director for Tower Hill Botanical Gardens in Boylston before taking a position as marketing director at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge. His most recent title was with shrub

Michael Arnum

and tree sales at Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton, where he often would make valuable contributions to the Marketing Department.

In addition to his dear mother, Michael is survived by his loving sisters, Karen Mitchell and Anita Arnum, three nephews, Ryan, Nicholas and Jake Mitchell, and two beloved cats, Chase and Ozzie. Michael also has several relatives in Norway. A smart, sweet and gentle man, Michael left us way too soon and will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Funeral Service were held March 4 at Duckett Funeral Home of J.S. Waterman & Sons, Sudbury. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Michael’s memory to the Audubon Society or your favorite cat rescue, horticulture society or any of the many organization to which Michael belonged.

Jane Maguire, 71, of Franklin and Harwich passed away at her home surrounded by family on March 8.

Born in Framingham, she was the daughter of Joyce (Brennan) Dunlap of Ashland and the late Allen Dunlap. She was the wife of 42 years to Charles “Chuck” Maguire III of Franklin. Jane is survived by her mother-in-law, Jean Maguire, and is predeceased by her father-in-law, Charles “Charlie” Maguire of Holliston.

Jane was raised in Ashland and attended Ashland public schools. She earned her Bachelor of Science in education from Salem State College and master’s degree in education from Suffolk University. In 2012, Jane retired from teaching after 39 dedicated years as an elementary school teacher at Center School and Elmwood School in Hopkinton. Jane enjoyed being able to entertain her family and friends all throughout the year. She loved to travel and especially loved trips with her teacher friends, affectionately known as the “Getaway Gang.” She took pleasure and pride in her garden at the Cape, taking walks along the beaches and bird watching. She loved sharing special moments with her grandchildren as well. Jane was a strong woman and a true matriarch. Her most cherished life’s work was her role as a mother and grandmother.

Besides her husband and mother, Jane is survived by her daughter, Catherine Flannery and husband Scott of Hopkinton; her siblings, Tom Dunlap and wife Janet of Amherst, Marilyn Perlis of Rowayton, Connecticut, and Beth Green and husband Howie of Sharon. She also leaves behind two grandchildren, Megan and Ryan Flannery of Hopkinton. Additionally, Jane is survived by Chuck’s family, Catherine Pereira and late husband Kenneth, Nancy Bemis and husband Thomas of Merrimack, New Hampshire, and John Maguire and wife Nancy of Norfolk. She also leaves nieces, nephews a great-niece and great-nephew, several cousins and many friends.

A visitation was held March 16 at the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton,

followed by a celebration of life service. Interment was to be held privately at a later date at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jane’s memory may be made to a cancer research charity or to an organization of your choice.

Michael Allen

Michael Allen, 78, of Hopkinton passed away March 11. He was born in Jamaica, New York, and was the son of the late Geroge and Elizabeth (Berthney) Allen. He was the loving husband of 54 years to Maria (Aragon) Allen. Michael proudly served in the U.S. Navy. He enjoyed traveling and was an avid gardener and runner, having run multiple marathons. As a hobby, he rebuilt and restored classic cars. He also enjoyed woodworking.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Michael Allen and fiancee Marie Perlatonda of Boston, Elizabeth Carvelli and husband David of Boston, and Matthew Allen and wife Melanie of Charlotte, North Caroline. He also leaves behind his brother, Robert Allen and wife Lynette from Copley, Pennsylvania, and his sister, Maryann Bassett and husband Charlie from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Funeral services were to be held privately under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Michael Allen and Courtney Wagner (Michael’s kidney donor) are welcome to New England Donor Services (classy.org/give/162811/#!/ donation/checkout), 60 First Avenue, Waltham, MA 02451, or Milford Center Resident Fund, 10 Veterans Memorial Drive, Milford, MA 01757.

James Robson

James Thomas Robson, 58, of Hopkinton passed away at his home on March 8. Born in Framingham, he was the son of Marcia (Russell) Robson of Hopkinton and the late Thomas LeRoy Robson. He was the husband of the late Nancy (Mangan) Robson.

A graduate of Keefe Tech in Framingham, James was a self-employed welder and fabricator for many years. He enjoyed working on classic cars, fishing and camping. He was a loving son and brother and will be dearly missed. Besides his mother, James is survived by three sisters, Paula Robson of Southborough, Donna McRobert and husband Phillip “Pogey” of Hopkinton, and Pam Dailey and husband Edward of Hopkinton. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his only child, his son, Thomas James Robson, who passed away in 2020. A private graveside service was to be held at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Hopkinton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hopkinton Ambulance Fund, 73 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748. Arrangements are under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton.

Jane Maguire

Hillers end season with Garden party

Hockey | from page 1 represented a marked improvement after a .500 record last winter.

“I’m proud of the boys, I thought they played incredibly hard,” coach Scott Hayes said. “We worked hard for every chance that we got, but it just didn’t go our way today.”

Aside from Canton’s flurry at the end of the second period, Lang was masterful in net in the face of relentless pressure. Four different Bulldogs scored and Canton finished the game with a 33-17 edge in shots on goal, but Lang helped keep the game within reach until the closing moments.

“He was outstanding, Jack just keeps getting better and better,” Hayes said. “He played great hockey for us through this stretch run, he’s been awesome for us all year. I wish we could have generated a little more offense to help him out today. He deserved it.”

Senior Jeffrey Chaput gave the Bulldogs a twogoal cushion with less than three minutes to play in the game when he took a pretty feed from captain AJ Thomas and ripped a shot past Lang. Thomas added an empty-netter with 25 seconds left to make it a 4-1 game.

Pavit Mehra put the Hillers on the board first just 3:12 into the first period. Coming off a four-goal performance in the semifinal win over Walpole, the senior forward scored off a rebound from a Cam MacPherson wrist shot.

“It was a heck of a season,” Mehra said. “Any time you get to the state finals, that’s about as good as it can be. I am so proud of the team and the guys.”

Mehra said he thought the Bulldogs were able to settle down more than the Hillers and gather their emotions playing in front of a big crowd at the home of the Bruins. But, as Canton continued to keep the pressure on, the Hillers and Lang held off a furious attack for the rest of the opening frame. Lang stopped 12 Canton shots through the first 15 minutes, and Hopkinton escaped the first period with the one-goal advantage.

Hopkinton held on to the one-goal edge even as the shots on Lang continued to pile up. The Bulldogs finally broke through with 1:48 left in the second period when junior forward Brendan Tourgee managed to get a puck to trickle past Lang after it ricocheted off the post. Just 75 seconds later, Canton scored for a second time when junior Brian Middleton buried a wrist shot from the left wing.

Despite the late tallies, Lang stood up to the Bulldogs barrage throughout the second period,

after which Canton held a 22-6 edge in shots on goal. During one wild sequence early in the period, Lang blocked a shot and then made a spectacular glove save on the rebound attempt, diving to his left to snag the puck out of midair and keep it a 1-0 game.

“I was definitely trying to track the puck, because the puck was going everywhere at that point,” Lang said. “The next thing I know, it ends up in my glove as I’m diving across the crease.”

As the Hillers cleared the puck back to the offensive end following the highlight-reel save, the student section showed appreciation for the goalie’s efforts.

“Thank you Lang,” they chanted.

Senior captain Joe Carrazza saved his thanks for the fans and students who packed the Hopkinton cheering section.

“It was awesome playing here, seeing everybody here and knowing that we made our town proud,” Carrazza said. “Being [in the final] for the second time in five years. It was great, it was awesome.”

The Hillers reached the final following a 5-1 victory over Walpole in the semifinal on March 12 at Loring Arena.

MacPherson scored in the first period, after Walpole had taken a 1-0 lead. Mehra then exploded with four goals in the second period, scoring in a variety of manners — on the power play, on a 2-on-1 break, on a shorthanded breakaway and on a tough-angle shot from the left side late in the period.

In an exciting 5-3 quarterfinal win over Norwood on March 8 at New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mehra broke a 3-3 tie with 1:30 remaining in the game, taking a nice feed from Dylan Mansur and scoring from in front.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

It was a heck of a season. Any time you get to the state finals, that’s about as good as it can be. I am so proud of the team and the guys.

— HHS forward Pavit Mehra

HHS fans show their support during the state championship at TD Garden.

Hopkinton’s Carey to be featured in figure skating showcase

withdrawn and they had an invite to compete a week later.

“My partner called me and I said, ‘Worst-case scenario, we get last place and push through a four-minute program and we do our best,’ ” Carey recalled. “We made the decision that we were going to come back and we had one week of training for our last nationals.”

Carey and Depietri competed at the senior level at the national championships alongside Olympic and world medalists and some of the most accomplished skaters in the country. They placed 14th overall in the senior ice dance division at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, California.

“It was a pretty good competition to go out on,” he said. Ice Chips 2023: Full Throttle will take place Friday, April 7, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 8, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. The shows will be held at the Tenley E. Albright Performance Center at The Skating Club of Boston in Norwood. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit scboston.org.

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

Ice dancing has taken T.J. Carey around the world, and he has competed at the highest levels of national and international skating, but the Hopkinton resident will be close to home as he takes part in the Ice Chips theatrical skating show on April 7 and 8 in Norwood.

The event is put together by the Skating Club of Boston and is returning for the first time after a three-year hiatus. Carey has been taking part in Ice Chips every year since 2008.

“The audience will be able to see all different levels of skating,” Carey said. “There are the younger skaters, the more developing skaters, soloists and national and international competitors.”

The headliner for this year’s event is Nathan Chen, the 2022 Olympic gold medalist, three-time world champion and six-time U.S. national champion.

Carey will be performing with his skating partner, Caroline Depietri. The pair have known each other since childhood and formed a partnership over a year ago after Depietri had skated for years as a singles competitor. Carey and Depietri compete in ice dancing, which is a type of competitive figure skating that brings together the technical elements like spins and lifts and traditional dance styles like the waltz or foxtrot to the ice.

Carey has been on skates since he was 3 years old. It was a natural fit for someone who comes from a skating family.

“My mom was a skater, all three of her brothers played hockey, their dad played and coached hockey, my two older sisters were figure skaters and my older brother was a hockey player,” he said. “From a very early age, I just always really loved skating and watching skating, too.”

Carey recalled watching old DVDs of his sisters’ skating competitions over and over again. Soon, he was the one on the ice in competition. He took part in national championships at three different levels and has competed around the country as well as in Germany and France.

My mom was a skater, all three of her brothers played hockey, their dad played and coached hockey, my two older sisters were figure skaters and my older brother was a hockey player. From a very early age, I just always really loved skating and watching skating, too.

— T.J. Carey

He thought he had retired after his final competition in November, the U.S. national qualifiers. He and Depietri were second alternates, and Carey did not train for the next two months ahead of the nationals in late January. On Jan. 17, he received an email that said another couple had

Caroline Depietri and Hopkinton’s T.J. Carey will perform at a skating show in Norwood next month.

SportS

HHS boys track relay wins national title

Hopkinton High School’s 60-meter shuttle hurdles relay team captured first place March 11 at the New Balance Nationals indoor meet in Boston.

SPORTS ROUNDUP

The team of Declan Mick, Drew Bialobrzeski, Paul Litscher and Sean Golembiewski posted a time of 31.15 seconds, three-tenths of a second faster than the Norsemen Track Club.

HHS coach Jean Cann noted that the foursome had not run the event in two months. And at least year’s nationals, Hopkinton was disqualified after a video review for leaving a relay too early.

“There’s not a lot of room for error,” Cann said. “They all have to be on. They ran great.”

Golembiewski also competed in the hurdles earlier the same day, but the state champion slipped in the blocks and did not advance out of his heat. Also competing for Hopkinton were Elyse Srodawa (2 mile), Josie Hopkins (high jump), Luke Boothroyd (400), the shuttle hurdles relay B team and the 4×400 relay team of Golembiewski, Boothroyd, Ruben Noroian and Litscher, which set another school record but did not place.

Meanwhile, at the Nike Indoor Nationals in New York, the girls 55-meter shuttle hurdles relay team of Bridget O’Connor, Emma DeMichele, Ellie Driscoll and Kiley Locke finished fifth to earn All-America honors.

Skiers compete at state meet

A number of HHS athletes competed at the skiing state championships on March 1 at Berkshire East.

On the girls side, Klara Niss finished 11th overall, including 15th in giant slalom and 22nd in slalom. Lila Mato (73rd overall), Annaleigh Crantz (78th) and Libby Herlihy (99th) also competed. For the boys, JB Flynn was 62nd overall. … HHS senior Justin Sokol finished 12th at the New England wrestling championships over the

weekend of March 3-5.

Girls hockey falls

The HHS girls hockey co-op team’s first-ever postseason game did not go in its favor, as host Winthrop skated away with a 5-0 victory on March 2. It was a one-goal game after one period, and the fifth-seeded Vikings scored twice in each of the final two periods to pull away and remain undefeated. Hopkinton, the 28th seed, wrapped up its season with a record of 6-13-2.

Bannon recognized at Wheaton

Former HHS lacrosse player Cory Bannon, now a goalie at Wheaton College, was named New England Women’s & Men’s Athletic Conference Men’s Lacrosse Defensive Athlete of the Week for the week of Feb. 20-26.

In his only match of the week, the senior posted a 79.2 save percentage after stopping 19 of 24 shots in a 6-5 victory over visiting Curry College on Feb. 26.

Through Feb. 26, Bannon was leading the NEWMAC with a 68.4 save percentage to rank ninth in the nation and a stingy 6.00 goals against average to place him 12th among goalies in NCAA Division 3. He ranks second among league leaders with 26 saves in two matches over 120 minutes of action. Bannon was 2-0 on the season after opening the campaign with seven stops in a 21-7 victory over Anna Maria College on Feb. 15.

The business and management major has started eight of 14 games that he’s appeared in during his tenure in Norton and owns a lifetime save mark of 57.6 percent. Bannon has recorded 87 saves while owning a 7-1 win-loss record to go with a 7.50 goals-against average. Wheaton opened the season 4-0.

The HHS 60-meter shuttle hurdles relay team of (clockwise from top left) Sean Golembiewski, Declan Mick, Drew Bialobzeski and Paul Litscher won the New Balance Nationals title.

PHOTO/HHS ATHLETICS

SportS Marathoner Cybulski fundraises for facts

By Courtney Cornelius Contributing Writer

Anna Cybulski and her husband, Barrett, had a house in South Boston when they decided to move to Hopkinton; but their residence wasn’t the only thing about to change. “The very same day we signed the purchase and sale, I found out I was pregnant — so, good timing, all in all!” she recalled.

Trading her career as an occupational therapist at Boston Children’s Hospital for full-time parenting was a dramatic shift in her lifestyle. Cybulski was used to overcoming work-related challenges, and taking care of a child was a very different role.

“I had a bit of an identity crisis, I think. I felt a little lost, a little isolated,” she shared.

Then Cybulski joined a Hopkinton running club called Moms Run This Town. She had run cross country in high school and college, but she wasn’t familiar with the technical aspects of running, and she’d never been in a road race.

“Friends would say, ‘It’s so nice to have someone who runs a sub 9,’ and I was like, ‘What’s a sub 9?’ ” Cybulski confessed, referring to a shorthand expression for minutes per mile pace.

She kept running and then started doing races, and soon realized the needs that were once satisfied by her job could be fulfilled in other ways.

“I’ve kind of fallen in love with the process of setting goals and training,” she said.

Since then, she’s run three half-marathons — the Cambridge Half in 2021, which she’s “proud to have completed in under two hours!”; the Horseneck Half in May 2022; and then the Cambridge race again.

When people in her running group started to sign up for the 2023 Boston Marathon, Cybulski decided to go for it.

“I thought, ‘You know what, why not give this a shot? I’m definitely going to say yes to opportunity!’ — and it’s been a pretty active year!”

It’s been active in other new arenas as well.

Like the technical aspects of running a foot race, Cybulski also wasn’t familiar with local issues or government processes, and she didn’t pay much attention to politics. But, “I guess I’m getting to that stage as a parent, moving into this community and seeing how much I’ve gained since moving here — in terms of the friendships, the Hopkinton Moms Group, this running club — I started thinking, I didn’t just invest in a house, I invested in a community,” she reflected. “I wanted to be more involved in what’s going on in the town.

“So when eHop reached out, I was like, this is so great. … I mean, the whole goal of eHop is to educate — to reach all those people who really don’t know what to say or how to vote, or what’s going on, or how to get involved

APRIL QUIZ

1. Austin and Cam go to the local playground to play. Austin and Cam accidentally bump into another child, who falls down the slide and is injured. Would the home insurance for Austin and Cam’s families help pay for the injuries even though it occurred away from their property?

in the discussions on town matters.”

Formerly called Educate Hopkinton, eHop is a non-biased, nonpartisan civic organization established in 2007 to present accurate, relevant and easily accessible information to help Hopkinton voters understand town and school budget-related issues and make informed choices.

Ninety percent of Hopkinton’s registered voters do not attend Town Meetings. But eHop — and now, Cybulski — aims to change that. “eHop empowers people to feel they have the knowledge to make decisions, and that’s really important,” she said. So, she’ll be running her first-ever Boston Marathon to help empower eHop.

“I’m really excited for the challenge,” she said, adding that her fundraising goal furthered her motivation.

“It’s amazing to see the support — local vendors willing to make donations or provide gift cards for raffles, to feel the connectedness and to see people say, ‘Yeah, this is a big deal, and we’re here to help you.’ It just feels really good,” she shared. “And every dollar that comes in, whether $5 or $50, brings a big smile to my face. Everyone feels the same excitement, and that’s pretty awesome.”

Her family supports her mission, as well. Barrett and their sons — Price, age 4, and Rowan, age 2 — have attended all her races, and they’ll be at the Boston Marathon, holding signs to cheer her on. The changes in Cybulski’s life, and her responses to them, seem to underpin her message.

“Sometimes big changes seem unattainable, but I feel like, we really can, within our own communities, we can have a voice,” she said.

More information about Cybulski’s endeavor can be found at her GoFundMe page (Anna Runs Boston), on Instagram (RunWithMe_eHop) or at eHop.org.

2. Miles and Harlow started dating a few months ago. Miles regularly drives Harlow’s vehicle (which is owned by her parents) whenever they go anywhere. Miles has an accident with the vehicle and is not a listed driver on Harlow’s parents’ insurance policy. Can the insurance company deny the claim?

3. Ron is bringing Easter decorations to the local youth group scavenger hunt. While Ron is driving, a bunny runs out onto the road and Ron slams on his brakes to stop. The decorations go flying and are destroyed in the car. Would Ron’s auto or home insurance pay for the damaged decorations?

Five Star Painting

Anna Cybulski will attempt her first marathon when she runs Boston on April 17 as a fundraiser for eHop.

No need to worry about electrical work with LIT Electric

By Linda Chuss Contributing Writer

Whensomeone asks Matt Przymierski how he got started in the electrical field, he’ll candidly explain it was nearly random, a trade he chose in high school for no particular reason. It turned out to be a fortunate choice, because he grew to love what he does. As it turns out, he also has a talent for it, as evidenced by his path from high rises in the city to his own company in Boston’s western suburbs.

After graduating from technical school with a certificate in electrical technology, Przymierski worked for an electrical contractor for 10 years. He then worked for seven years as a foreman in the Boston electrical union, leading the electrical portion of large construction projects. He said, “I like the feeling of starting with an empty building and seeing how it looks at the end, with everything working in the final package.”

Last year, Przymierski started LIT Electric, a family-run business serving commercial and residential buildings in Hopkinton and nearby towns. His reason for taking this recent turn was not random. “My own business provides me with more independence and flexibility. That’s important for my family life at this point,” he said.

LIT Electric performs a whole range of work, from adding recessed lighting to give a room an updated look, to fixing

an electrical problem with a boiler, to completing all the wiring for additions and new construction. A recent popular request is for electrical vehicle chargers. “A lot of people have been buying EVs and they want a charger at their home, so we’ve been installing those,” he said. “In many cases, they also need an electrical panel upgrade.”

That is not the only reason homeowners need to upgrade their panels, Przymierski explains. “Especially in decades-old houses, the electrical panels are only 100 amps. When a house had fewer appliances and electronics, that was fine. Then people start installing things like air conditioners or pool pumps, and now, car chargers. The circuits begin to trip. That’s a sign to con-

A family-run, local electrical business, LIT Electric prides itself on providing quality service at a reasonable price.

to a 200-amp service and installed my car charger. I had an estimate right away and the work started within a week of my sign-off. The value was unmatched, and the customer service is top notch. Matt walked me through the process. Not sure what more you could ask for.”

Przymierski is gratified by his team giving 100 percent, not cutting corners and completing the job correctly. “Most people don’t know much about their electrical systems,” he said. “When they have a problem that needs to be fixed, they shouldn’t have to worry about getting taken. We are their quality electrical contractor with reasonable prices.”

tact us about getting a 200-amp panel.”

That is the exact situation that led Sean D. from Medfield to LIT Electric.

“My house was built in the 1960s, and I drive an electric car,” he shared. “LIT Electric upgraded my entire electric panel and outdoor meter from the original

LIT Electric is licensed and insured for residential and commercial electrical installations and repairs. For more information, visit LITelectricMA.com, call 508-400-3864 or email LITelectricMA@gmail.com.

Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Hopkinton Independent advertisers.

YMCA receives $2.5M MathWorks donation

At its seventh annual Marathon Community Breakfast on March 9, the MetroWest YMCA announced a $2.5 million leadership contribution from MathWorks to support the development of a new regional YMCA that will serve Ashland, Hopkinton, Holliston, Sherborn, Framingham and beyond.This lead gift is the first step in a capital campaign expected to continue through 2024.

“The YMCA is an exceptional organization that strengthens families and empowers communities across the country,” said MathWorks Senior Vice President and CFO Jeanne O’Keefe. “Supporting our local community is a core company value, so we were excited to collaborate with this nonprofit partner to build an inviting place for thousands of children and families within the area.”

The new regional YMCA will be located on the Boston Marathon route in Ashland on 12.5 acres of donated land near the regional train station. The site will serve as a Center of Community, bringing people together and welcoming people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. The bold vision for the YMCA includes a STEM Center, a Center for Early Childhood Education and Care, an Aquatics Center, a Center for Healthy Living, gymnasium and much more.

The YMCA has been working closely for many years with residents and community leaders, such as MathWorks, to identify gaps in programs and services that could be alleviated by a new regional YMCA.

According to Rick MacPherson, President & CEO of the MetroWest YMCA: “This transformational gift is the perfect way to launch our campaign. We are grateful for the faith MathWorks has put in the Y and appreciate the partnership we have built together focused on strengthening our MetroWest community. We look forward to bringing to the region a YMCA facility that the community will support and that the Y can sustain for decades to come.”

Gorman earns recognition for PT work

Hopkinton resident Mark Gorman, a clinic director at ATI Physical Therapy, recently earned the Clinical Excellence Award for leading his team to exceed patient expectations while meeting or exceeding the predicted improvement in patient outcomes over the last 12 months.

“We’re proud to announce that Mark was among the winners for outstanding performance in 2022,” said ATI CEO Sharon Vitti. “The Clinical Excellence Awards recognize the top clinic teams who consistently delivered great care in our clinics every day.”

Gorman received an undergraduate degree in rehabilitation science in 2009 and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy the following year, both from Northeastern University. He has worked as a physical therapist since then.

ATI Physical Therapy, with 900 locations in 24 states, focuses on patients with musculoskeletal issues.

Blackstone advisors honored again

Blackstone Valley Wealth Management’s two advisors, James Valis and Gregg Manis, were recognized with the 2023 Five Star Wealth Manager Award in the February edition of Boston Magazine. This award comes to the advisors for the ninth year in a row, since their opening of Blackstone Valley Wealth Management in 2013.

This exclusive designation has been given to select wealth managers for over 15 years in more than 45 markets throughout the U.S. and Canada. Award candidates were evaluated against 10 objective criteria and resulted in the Boston area’s top 3 percent of wealth managers who provide quality services to their clients.

Valis and Manis are managing partners at Blackstone Valley Wealth Management, located at 22 South Street, in the Hopkinton Square Plaza.

This Keepsake Edition will be exclusively about the upcoming 127th Boston Marathon from a Hopkinton perspective

police log

ARRESTS

March 6

8:20 a.m. On Main Street, Officer Matthew LaTour arrested a 41-yearold resident of Old Town Road and charged her with state highway traffic violation, OUI liquor, and child endangerment while OUI. Officer Matthew Santoro subsequently transported the children to school.

9:28 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle was stopped in the middle of the roadway on West Main Street and the driver appeared to be asleep. Officers Shannon Beloin and Cody Normandin responded and performed field sobriety tests. A 36-year-old from North Smithfield, Rhode Island, was arrested for OUI liquor.

March 7

4:21 p.m. A caller reported a possibly intoxicated driver on Main Street. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officers Shannon Beloin and Matthew McNeil responded and subsequently arrested a 36-year-old Worcester resident and charged her with resisting arrest, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, number plate violation to conceal ID, OUI liquor, motor vehicle operator refusal to identify self, and unregistered motor vehicle.

March 10

3:06 a.m. Officer Augusto Diaz conducted a motor vehicle stop on West Main Street. Officer Nicholas Walker assisted. A 33-year-old from Milford was arrested and charge with marked lanes violation and OUI liquor.

March 13

12:54 a.m. Officer Brennan Grimley conducted a motor vehicle stop on Cedar Street and requested a Portuguese-speaking officer from Milford for interpretation assistance. A 27-year-old Milford resident was arrested and charged with marked lane violation, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and OUI liquor.

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.

February 28

2:06 a.m. The Framingham Police Department requested a check of a person at a Chestnut Street residence who was to be arrested. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Brennan Grimley responded and spoke with a male, who stated he had not seen or spoken with said party.

8:43 a.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle crash on Wilson Street. Officers Cody Normandin and Sean McKeon responded. No personal injuries were reported.

10:05 a.m. Officer Sean McKeon responded to a motor vehicle accident on Wood Street and took an incident report.

March 1

9:45 a.m. A caller reported he dropped his wallet on West Main Street and someone returned it, however, the

cash was stolen from it. Officer Sean McKeon responded and took a report.

2:50 p.m. A walk-in spoke with Officer Sean McKeon about a found antique firearm.

March 2

12:14 p.m. Officer Matthew Santoro took a report of harassment on Hayden Rowe Street.

2:37 p.m. Officers Cody Normandin and Sean McKeon responded to a report of a disturbance on West Main Street, where a verbal altercation took place.

March 3

6:45 a.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street involving two cars. Officers Sean McKeon and Matthew Santoro responded and reported one person complained of a head injury. A tow

truck removed one vehicle, and an aggressive stepfather was on the phone and unhappy with where the vehicle was towed. Officer McKeon followed the tow truck to Fruit Street. A report followed.

9:36 a.m. A caller reported someone hit her car while it was parked in the Dunkin’ parking lot on West Main Street. Officer Sean McKeon responded and took a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident report.

11:50 a.m. A Clinton Street resident reported a FedEx truck delivered a package and then a red Range Rover pulled into his driveway, and the package was missing. Sergeant Timothy Brennan responded and took a report.

4:19 p.m. A Falcon Ridge Drive resident reported her snowplow person knocked over her mailbox and light post and returned to tape them. He hadn’t responded to phone calls, however. Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded and took a report.

March 4

10:31 a.m. A caller reported a rain cover on Smith Road popped up. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil responded and notified the DPW.

12:56 p.m. A caller reported a tree fell in the middle of the roadway on Clinton Street. Officer Tyler Staback responded and notified the DPW for removal.

March 5

1:21 p.m. A caller reported a motor

vehicle accident involving two cars on Main Street. No personal injuries were reported. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Tyler Staback responded and took a report.

8:01 p.m. The Milford Police Department reported a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident took place at Target, and the license plate number came back to a Prestwick Drive resident. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Matthew LaTour responded to the address to get the needed information.

Police log | page 28

Join host Katie Ambrosini as she fundraises for the HCA Boston Marathon Team with comedian Corey Rodrigues. In 2019, Corey made his late-night TV debut on the Conan O’Brien Show. He has won awards such as the Catch a New Rising Star and the Funniest Comic in New England and has been a hit at festivals like Big Sky Comedy and Big Pine Comedy. His comedy is honest, fun and hilariously relatable.”

March 6

6:16 a.m. A caller reported a dead turkey in the middle of the roadway on Cedar Street. Officer Nicholas walker responded and notified the DPW.

7:41 a.m. A caller reported a dog fell through ice at the pond on West Main Street. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officer Sean McKeon responded and reported the dog was out of the water.

12:09 p.m. A caller reported fallen wires on East Main Street. Officers Sean McKeon and Matthew LaTour responded and contacted Verizon.

1:55 p.m. Officer Matthew Santoro took a report of vandalism on Hayden Rowe Street.

March 7 10:33 a.m. A caller reported a disturbance on East Main Street when an employee who was let go earlier in the morning returned to the business and caused a scene. Sergeants Arthur Schofield and Timothy Brennan responded and reported the individual was moved along and was advised by the owner that she was not allowed back onto the property.

March 8

3:32 p.m. Officers Nicholas Saletnik and Matthew Santoro responded to a motor vehicle accident on Hayden Rowe Street involving two cars. No personal injuries were reported. A tow truck re-

moved one vehicle.

4:28 p.m. Officer Nicholas Saletnik reported low-hanging wires on Main Street near Marshall Street. Eversource was notified.

6:27 p.m. A motorist reported striking a baby deer on DJ Murphy Lane. The deer was limping but able to move along. Officers Nicholas Saletnik and Matthew Santoro responded and reported minimal damage to the vehicle.

March 9

5:20 a.m. A Woodview Way resident reported hearing screaming and banging from his neighbors and stated it sounded like someone was being dragged. Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Augusto Diaz and Nicholas Walker responded and spoke with the parties. Everything checked out OK.

11:53 a.m. A caller report a white cat not moving on Frankland Road. Officer Tyler Staback responded and notified the animal control officer, who retrieved the feline.

2:49 p.m. A caller complained of a black Range Rover speeding on Stoney Brook Road. When she asked the driver to slow down, he sped up. The caller wanted the incident logged.

4:56 p.m. A Wood Street resident reported water shooting out of her lawn. The Water Department was notified.

March 10

5:47 a.m. A Constitution Court

resident reported items were stolen from his apartment the previous day. Officer Augusto Diaz responded and took a report.

9:51 a.m. An Avenue E caller reported he wanted a 19-year-old former employee removed. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Robert Ekross and Tyler Staback responded and spoke with all parties involved and reported a dispute over wages. Officer Ekross took a report.

6:05 p.m. Officers Cody Normandin, Matthew LaTour and Nicholas Saletnik responded to a motor vehicle crash on Elm Street, where a vehicl e struck a pole. No personal injuries were reported. A tow truck removed the vehicle. Eversoure and Verizon were contacted about fallen wires and a damaged pole.

March 11

2:48 a.m. Officer Nicholas Walker and Sergeant Arthur Schofield checked on three juveniles on two bicycles on Walker Street. A parent of one of the juveniles came to pick them up.

2:10 p.m. A representative from a vehicle monitoring system company reported a vehicle emergency button had been pushed and they were unable to get in touch with the occupants. Officer Tyler Staback responded and eventually located the vehicle. All was OK.

5:14 p.m. Multiple callers reported a water main break on Wood Street. Of-

ficer Matthew LaTour responded along with the Water Department and reported the break was in a driveway.

6:25 p.m. A Constitution Court caller reported inappropriate activity taking place in a silver Honda in the parking lot. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and spoke with the operator.

March 12

8:46 p.m. A caller reported a dog walking in the middle of the roadway on Wood Street. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and reported the owner retrieved her pet. The animal control officer was notified.

March 13

3:59 a.m. A motorist reported a vehicle was swerving all over the road on West Main Street. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded and reported the vehicle headed to Interstate 495. The State Police were notified.

12:36 p.m. Sergeants William Burchard and Matthew McNeil and Officers Sean McKeon and Cody Normandin responded along with the Fire Department to a smoking vehicle on South Street. A tow truck removed the vehicle. A courtesy transport was provided to the driver to the gas station.

2:05 p.m. Multiple officers responded to Spring Street to search for a stolen 2020 black Jeep Grand Cherokee from Hampstead, New Hampshire.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday: W.D. O'Connell Irish

Owner and master blender Daithi O’Connell of W.D. O’Connell will join us in the Metro Station to kick off his rst releases in Massachusetts! If this doesn't get you in the mood for St. Paddy's Day, I don't know what will! Purchase a $10 Julio's gift card to attend.

Whisk(e)y Wednesday:

Plantation Rum & Long Pond Distillery

Join Julio's owner Ryan with Adrienne Stoner as we explore the wide world of rums from Plantation Rum, Long Pond, and Canerock! A whopping THREE Loch & K(e)y selections will be on offer, including the justdropped Panama 2012 nished in Pauillac wine casks! We’ll also enjoy a rare sip of Jamaican rum history from the rst-ever bottling from the legendary Long Pond Distillery.

So much more than a liquor store.

Police log | from page 27