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HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 23 | No. 6 | March 23, 2022

After resignations, School Committee seats go on ballot By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

DIAPER DUTY

The Parkhomenko family, (from left) Victor, Nikita, Robert and Maryna, takes a break after loading a truck with baby supplies donated by Elmwood School families. The items are to be shipped to Ukrainian families in need. See story, Page 2.

he School Committee will have a new look this spring, and voters will get to decide how it plays out. Following the surprise resignations of two members, Joe Markey and Meg Tyler, on March 8, the Select Board determined in a special meeting March 12 that the seats would be placed on the ballot for the May 16 Annual Town Election. Because nomination forms for all town positions are due at the close of the business day on March 28 — with an exception for those who are nominated at the Democratic or Republican town caucuses, which take place the week after the deadline — there was a question of if there was enough time to notify residents and allow candidates to draw papers and gather 50 signatures from registered Hopkinton voters in time. However, the Select Board was in agreement that it would make more sense to get the seats on the ballot this spring rather than appoint individuals to School Committee | 17

INSIDE

Mick leaves legacy at HYS

NEWS

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

Select Board steers clear of official support for Ukraine

my Mick’s passion for soccer was infused during her time patrolling the fields at the Noble and Greenough School, where she was a standout high school player. A knee injury and seven subsequent surgeries kept her from pursuing an opportunity to play Division 1 college soccer at Notre Dame, but the game has been part of Mick’s life through her role as president of Hopkinton Youth Soccer. She recently stepped down from that post after a dozen years, and she said she is proud of the strides the organization has made and will remain an active participant in Hopkinton’s soccer community. “I have been doing this for a long time,” Mick said, noting that she took over in the spring of 2010 after previous president Brian O’Keefe helped usher in the Fruit Street field project.

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Hopkinton Independent

Elmwood community answers call to help Ukrainian families in need

The Hopkinton Independent is published by Hopkinton Independent, LLC, 32 South St., Westborough, MA 01581. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of the ad that was in error if notified in writing within three business days of the publication date. All material is the property of the Hopkinton Independent. Permission must be obtained in writing before reproducing any material. The Hopkinton Independent is delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to 100 percent of the homes and businesses in Hopkinton, reaching more than 7,200 addresses. It’s also available at Price Chopper and Hopkinton Drug as well as at many other local businesses.

STAFF

Publisher: David Bagdon Dir. of Business Development: Susanne Odell Farber Founder: Sarah Lothrop Duckett Managing Editor: Jerry Spar Social Media director: David Bagdon Editorial contributors: Lyn Calkins, Michelle Sanford, Chris Villani, Deborah Burke Henderson, Tricia LaCascia, John Cardillo, John Buday, Sandy Quadros Bowles, Christine Strickland, Mary Ellen Gambon, Christie Vogt

Elmwood School teacher Dena O’Shaughnessy hands a box of baby supplies to Victor Parkhomenko on March 11. The donated goods are to be sent to Ukrainian families in need.

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

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

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

t’s been an emotionally challenging time for the Parkhomenko family — parents Maryna and Victor, 8-year-old Nikita and 6-year-old Robert — Ukrainians who have lived in Hopkinton for two years. But a gesture from the Elmwood School community — in the form of thousands of donated diapers and other baby items — has offered a little solace while the Parkhomenkos’ home country has been under attack by neighboring Russia. Maryna put out INDEPENDENT the call for assistance after being contacted THOUGHTS by Nikita’s thirdJERRY SPAR grade teacher, Dena O’Shaughnessy, who wanted to know if there was something she could do. “I just ask [for her to] pray for everyone,” Maryna said. “Then when I saw all this information about kids and newborns [needing supplies], I sent her a letter that if they can organize this donation for Ukraine, I would appreciate it and I will ship it at my own cost.” O’Shaughnessy let Elmwood families know about the situation, and the donations starting pouring in immediately after — “Much more than we expected,” O’Shaughnessy said. “People have been so generous. It’s truly amazing.” On March 11, the Parkhomenkos brought a box truck to collect the donations and prepare them for shipping.

It was a rare positive moment in what has been a terrifying few weeks for the family. Maryna’s mother lives alone in Kyiv, which has been under fierce attack. Maryna said she has been able to talk to her mother daily, and she said her mother does not want to leave despite the danger. She noted it’s also dangerous for those trying to find a way out of the city. “She said, ’It doesn’t matter where I die, at home or on the way [out],’ ” Maryna recounted. Meanwhile, Maryna said the family has lost contact with her husband’s relatives due to damage caused to communication lines in their town. Nikita, the Parkhomenkos’ thirdgrader, is eager to know what is happening in his birthplace of Kyiv. “We talk about it. We didn’t talk about COVID, but about war, yes, we talk,” said Maryna, who also has a 6-year-old son, Robert. “Nikita was born in Ukraine and we are from there. They are our relatives, and [the boys] need to know. I try to explain everything to him. But he’s too young to understand how dangerous it is. He doesn’t understand, but every morning he asks, ‘Did Ukraine win?’ ” In Nikita’s class, O’Shaughnessy said she has delicately introduced the topic. “What we’re doing at this level, when I announced to the class that we would be collecting supplies, I said for babies in the Ukraine, some of them don’t have homes any longer and they just don’t have the things that we are Independent thoughts | 3

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used to having in a hospital here in the USA,” O’Shaughnessy said. “And then several students raised their hands and said, ‘I know what’s going on in the Ukraine.’ So before we even brought up the topic that Russia had invaded the Ukraine, my students were very well aware of what had been going on. “But at this grade level we’re just keeping it to the point of being good global citizens. I like to use that term at this level because we’re focusing a lot on empathy and kindness at Elmwood School this year, so we’re trying to focus on we’re helping babies in need. That is something that they can connect with. We’re trying to stay away from all things related to the violence. Because some of the kids may have some awareness and some may not.” The class also used the donation collection as a math exercise as they kept track of the different items. “They’re more excited about their diaper total going up,” O’Shaughnessy said with a laugh. “That’s where their focus is. [On a recent] afternoon, I had one little boy say, ‘Mrs. O’Shaughnessy, it’s a miracle, we have over 2,000 diapers. The joy in his face — they know they’re doing something good for somebody

else, but the joy that they’re getting to say, ‘We have 43 pacifiers today,’ that’s sort of their level of thinking about it now. [Principal Anne] Carver was in the room taking a peek at what was going on and we had tears in our eyes, because what was happening was amazing.”

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Family Fling Saturday Friends of Hopkinton is eager to see town-wide gatherings return, and this week the organization will get things started with a family event at the Town Common. The inaugural Family Fling will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and feature a scavenger hunt, football toss, cornhole, hula hoops, bubbles and more. There is no fee to participate. Dunkin’ is providing free hot chocolate, coffee and munchkins. “It’s actually to keep our name out there, because it’s been two years since we had an event,” explained Ann Click, one of the organizers. “We just wanted to do something. We all feel like breaking out. And basically, we’re feeling more comfortable about offering an outside activity.” For more information on Saturday’s event, which is cohosted by the Hopkinton Lions, visit friendsofhopkinton.org.

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UCTC lacks transparency t has recently come to my attention that a significant part of the charge given to the Upper Charles Trail Committee (UCTC) is as follows: “The UCTC will … develop and steward a planning process that includes extensive community input, and that fosters openness and LETTERS TO inclusion through dialogue and communication with stakeholders.” THE EDITOR In addition, under the 10 items in its charge, Items 2 and 3 discuss working with the community and neighborhoods: “2. Ensure that the development plan reflects the community’s aspirations; 3. Provide an assessment of the broader neighborhood context and the appropriateness of the Upper Charles Trail in a specific location, given the quality of life and visual characteristics of the area valued by the community.” It appears to me that the UCTC has failed to carry out these responsibilities. To my knowledge, none of my neighbors were informed of the committee’s decision to extend the trail down Hayden Rowe Street, nor has the committee surveyed the residents regarding their input on the wisdom of that decision and how it would affect their “quality of life and the visual characteristics of the area valued by the community.” Therefore, the lack of transparency suggests that the committee has failed to carry out its charge and at least raises the question that there are other “behind-the-scenes” forces at play. Personally, I believe that the UCTC proposal increases safety issues to both pedestrians and vehicles on Hayden Rowe as a highly trafficked thoroughfare, is far more costly to the town than the Trails Club proposal in the woods, and is undesirable to those who wish to take a “peaceful” or “restorative” walk or run. This suggests to me that the proposed UCTC trail is likely to be very under-utilized and may be wasteful of town resources.

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Fire photo caption insensitive I received my copy of the March 9 edition of the Hopkinton Independent and was disappointed to see the caption “Great Ball of Fire” under the picture of the fire on the front page. Given that someone’s (or several people’s) homes were destroyed, this caption is in incredibly poor taste. To lose valued personal possessions and then be mocked, and your loss turned into a cheap joke/song reference would be dehumanizing to say the least. I suggest a retraction and apology.

— Katherine Hudson, Hopkinton

Editor’s response: The front-page caption headline about the Mayhew Street fire was an attempt to use a familiar phrase to describe what was in the photo. The Independent certainly did not intend to make light of the situation or the effect it had on people’s lives. 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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Select Board: Town takes no official position on Ukraine A

t its meeting March 15, the Select Board considered a resident’s request for a town-sponsored display to show support for Ukraine, but members NEWS ultimately did not more BRIEFS forward after questions were raised about the town taking a political stance. Brendan Tedstone said he is “totally in support of the Ukraine,” but was concerned such a move could set a dangerous precedent. “I don’t know anybody who’s not in favor of showing our solidarity toward Ukraine,” he said. “But as a town and as a board, do we make political statements in town? … I hate to be that guy that’s dropping the anchor, but right now the board is amenable to this, which is certainly a socially acceptable thing. What happens if in six months there might be a new composition of the board and something else comes up and it’s offensive. I want to see what our position is

on making official political statements through the town.” Town Manager Norman Khumalo agreed that such a statement could lead to future concerns but noted: “The board does not have a policy in place to guide this decision making.” Chair Irfan Nasrullah said he would support a resident or private group organizing a rally or other show of support for the embattled nation, which has been under attack from neighboring Russia. “I just don’t want to be taking sides,” Nasrullah said. “Personally, I have chosen a side, and that’s the Ukraine, it’s a no-brainer. But on behalf of the town I think we have to take a step back and say, ‘Should the town make this political statement?’ ” Amy Ritterbusch suggested a show of support for refugees might be more appropriate. But in the end, the board took no action on the request.

Town to hire law firm for PFAS The Select Board unanimously approved a request from the town manager to sign a retainer agreement with the law firm of Napoli Shkolnik PLLC for “evaluation, advice and prosecution of all available legal claims against any and all parties, individuals and/or corporations that may be liable under the law for injuries and/or property damages suffered by the town arising out of the contamination of water supplies” by PFAS and similar substances. Khumalo said town counsel recommended approval of the agreement, noting that the firm has “the institutional capacity to work on this new and emerging issue.” Khumalo also noted that Napoli Shkolnik PLLC will not receive payment from the town “unless there is successful recovery.“

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DPW presents new weed treatment program Nearly two years after nixing a plan to use herbicides to treat weeds in Lake Maspenock, and after voters at a previous Town Meeting also voted it down, the Conservation Commission on March 15 took up a revised plan from the Department of Public Works. This time, it may have legs, largely because, unlike before, there are multiple proposals — a “toolbox of options” — to help combat invasive weed growth in the lake, a popular recreational spot teeming with wildlife and with many residents living along its shores. However, the use of pesticides remains among the recommendations, and that doesn’t sit well with some residents. While expressing thanks to the DPW, the Town Weed Advisory Committee and its consultant, David Mitchell, for submitting a multi-faceted plan, the Conservation Commission ultimately continued a public hearing on the plan until its next meeting on March 29.

Organic grass for Town Common? At its meeting March 8, the Parks & Recreation Commission discussed the possibility of switching to organic grass at the Town Common as well as updates regarding the Fruit Street fields project and spring and summer programming. Jim Agabedis of Minuteman Landscaping attended the meeting to present a plan for organic lawn care on the Town Common. Agabedis explained the basics of organic lawn care, describing the process as safe, natural and effective, as well as a means to restore health to soil damaged by chemical treatments. Services may include soil testing, a soy-based fertilizer program, weed control, aeration and overseeding. Commissioners asked questions about weather constraints, aesthetics, weeds and costs associated with switching to a chemical-free lawn care plan. Parks & Recreation Director Jay Guelfi was to share cost estimates at the next meeting and also will seek additional bids.

Democratic town caucus April 8 The Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee will hold its nominating caucus for the May Town Election on April 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Hopkinton Town Hall, Room 215. Check-in and registration will begin at 6 p.m. Registered Hopkinton Democrats or unenrolled voters who switch to Democrat that night may vote. Unenrolled voters must be registered as unenrolled for at least one week prior to the caucus. Republicans and third-party voters may not participate in the caucus. The Hopkinton Democratic town caucus is to nominate and endorse candidates for the Annual Town Election on May 16. The Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee (HDTC) holds regular Caucus | 5

HopkintonIndependent.com

The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022 • 5

Frankland Road solar developer announces plans to start work By Walter Bird Jr. Contributing Writer

controversial solar array project planned for land off Frankland Road is moving forward while the developer prepares to submit an application for a building permit, even as it is mired in litigation filed by some abutters. Planning Board members on March 7 reviewed a letter submitted by Connecticut-based Seaboard Solar updating the town on the status of the project and its intention to proceed with tree clearing and site stabilization. The board, minus one member who was not present, also held public hearings on three other projects, taking action on two of them and agreeing to continue discussion on another at its next meeting. “As you know, we received all the approvals required for our solar project, but most of the approvals were then appealed by a neighbor,” Pedro Rodriguez of Seaboard Solar said in the letter dated Feb. 18. “After the proper legal procedure, all the [appeals] have now been dismissed except for the one against the special permit. As you are aware, we are entitled to proceed with the construction of the project, at our own risk, while the special permit appeal is being litigated, and we plan to do so.” “Due to the time constraints of the statement of qualifications that we received from the Massachusetts Department of Utilities,” Rodriguez continued, “we decided to proceed with the clearing of the property and the stabilization of the site while we prepare the documents needed for the issuance of the building permit.” The letter also outlined several conditions related to a special permit and stormwater permit to be completed before the start of site clearing and stabilization as well as conditions that will be completed before the building permit is issued. Saying he didn’t intend for any discussion on the project at the meeting, Chair Gary Trendel acknowledged the communication between Seaboard Solar and the town. “There is active litigation,” he said, “but they would like to get started with [the project], and it certainly is within their

Democratic town caucus April 8 Caucus | from page 4

monthly meetings the third Thursday of the month. Check hopkintondemocrats. org for more information.

Rally organizer charged with fraud Boston activist Monica CannonGrant, who led a rally at Hopkinton Town Common last year following the death of local teenager Mikayla Miller, was arrested March 15 and indicted on charges that she and her husband defrauded donors to her nonprofit, Violence in Boston. Cannon-Grant and Clark Grant stand accused of using donations for personal expenses and hiding their actions from other members of the organization. According to the office of Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins, the pair face two counts of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of conspiracy, 13 counts of wire fraud and one count of making false statements to a mortgage lending business.

right. They’re doing things they’re legally allowed to do.”

Marathon School expansion discussed The board voted to continue discussion on the expansion of Marathon Elementary School, but not before casting an eye toward the potential need for future expansion to accommodate a growing student population. The $3.6 million project would add to the school that opened in 2018 on Hayden Rowe Street. Plans call for four additional classrooms: two kindergarten classrooms on the first floor and two first-grade classrooms on the second floor, along with a stair tower to support it. “Just from our conversations with the school, everybody’s very happy,” Lee Rich, project manager for DRAArchitects, told the board. The original design included some designated spaces, such as an art room, but, Rich said, because of an increase in the student population — the school, originally built to accommodate 600 students, now houses about 620 — those rooms have been taken offline and will become regular classrooms. “The design of the classrooms is pretty much identical,” Rich said. “The employees are pretty happy with the design at this point.” Responding to a question about parking, Rich said, “We’re not really increasing the population. These classrooms will just reestablish what the [original] design intended.” Board Member Rob Benson asked whether there is any other space where additional classrooms might be constructed in the future that would require alterations to the existing roadway, parking lot and site plan. “I don’t see the town stopping to increase its population,” Benson said. “Our team has done studies to consider what additional areas might be considered around Marathon School,” responded Jim Barrett from DRA. “At some point, we will start triggering the requirement for [shared areas such as] the cafeteria, gymnasium, library, etc. At some point, these spaces are going to be affected by the overall size of the population. There are some [areas] that are possible, but there would have to be a study to dictate whether they’re prudent or not.”

Laborers’ Training Center moves forward Continuing a previous public hearing on the proposed expansion of the Massachusetts Laborers’ Training Center, the board gave unanimous approval, with several conditions, to the site plan and stormwater plan. Plans for the project at 37 East Street include a new headquarters building, crane training facility and addition to the existing dormitory building, along with associated site improvements. … Unanimous approval was awarded to amend a previously approved plan for the Connelly Farms subdivision project at the corner of Hayden Rowe Street and College Street. The amended plan calls for a shortened roadway, shifting the location of the end of the cul-de-sac and reducing the number of lots from nine to eight.

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Resident coordinates International Women’s Day celebration By John Buday Contributing Writer

opkinton resident Shova Khanal Sharma, in her position as vice president of the Federation of Indian Associations-New England, recently coordinated an International Women’s Day celebration of roses, gourmet food and recognition of gender biases. “The New England chapter … started celebrating last year,” Sharma said. “Our main objective is to empower women, and every year we have a theme: what we can do better for our community.” The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) targeted older adults for appreciation this year. Sharma organized the March 8 festivities at the Northborough Senior Center. She estimates some 70-plus seniors attended the event. Volunteers from Hopkinton joined Sharma as well.

Hopkinton’s Shova Sharma (right) hands out roses to older adults at the International Women’s Day celebration in Northborough on March 8.

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“[The seniors] sacrifice their needs and take care of families and community,” Sharma said. “They never prioritize themselves, always thinking of others. Nothing is better than saying thank you on International Women’s Day to our seniors and providing lunch and roses.” The event featured a panel of community leaders, including We Care Charity founder Stefani Kalyani and Gallagher Real Estate agent Jasmin J. Ortiz, among others. Panelists discussed the significance of International Women’s Day and overcoming biases against women steeped in society today. Sharma, FIA event chair Mukta Munjal and the volunteers praised local women leaders for their contributions to the community, awarding them a certificate of appreciation. Sharma views the good will women can contribute as functioning in a pyramid-like setup. “I have individually helped 19 women to find a job,” she said. “Some women just need a little push, they don’t believe in themselves. So if I, one person, can help 19 women, imagine how many women are in a position that they can help thousands and thousands of other women.” Nicolás Dueñas, who does community outreach for Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, initiated the day’s festivities alongside Sharma. State Rep. Hannah Kane also commemorated International Women’s Day and FIA’s organization of the event. “I believe it is critically important to celebrate the cultural, political and socioeconomic achievements of women, and I am very pleased to see the federation’s event,” Kane said, adding: “As a strong advocate for the advancement of women and for women’s rights, I deeply appreciate the opportunity to shine a spotlight on gender equality and reproductive rights and to give voice to the ongoing need to curtail violence and abuse of women.” Sharma said she worried at first about how the guests would react to the event. But every guest greeted her with hugs and smiles. Sharma said the guests were surprised to hear “Happy International Women’s Day,” and they were appreciative to receive a free lunch and roses. The Hopkinton resident gave credit to her fellow volunteers, including FIA New England President Abhishek Singh. She describes Singh as a great leader “behind the scenes” at FIA. Singh and other volunteers, including men, helped set up decorations, manage the livestream and coordinate other technical aspects for the celebration. Fighting against gender biases requires a team effort, according to Sharma. But it can begin with small steps in the workplace, domestically and elsewhere. “It’s not necessarily the same person who is going to help you, but somebody else will help you,” Sharma said. “Small things matter. So, start with family. … We are all equal. Have a mindset that women are not weak.” Added Sharma: “If you say, ‘Hey, you’re beautiful,’ after a few days, that person will tell you the same thing. Instead of talking all the time, try to give. If you compliment others, if you support others no matter what, if it’s a small hand — it doesn’t matter, that will come back to you in a different way.”

The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022 • 7

Residents fight deadly disease with celebration of life

COMEDY FOR A CAUSE! Featuring Paul Nardizzi PHOTO/TRICIA LACASCIA PHOTOGRAPHY

Fashion Show co-host Kathy Mazur (left) dances with model and fellow cancer survivor Laura Brand during last year’s event.

By Jane Bigda Contributing Writer

he greater Hopkinton community will have a chance to fight a “silent killer”of women with a celebration of life, a fashion show, on April 12 and 13. The fun evening, which includes dinner and a cash bar, will benefit research in detecting and curing ovarian cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic cancer in the United States and, since many women don’t recognize the symptoms until the disease has progressed, causes more deaths than other female reproductive cancers. This year the American Cancer Society estimates there will be about 20,000 new cases in the U.S. with about 13,000 women dying of the disease. The symptoms include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urgency or frequency of urination. “Many of the symptoms for ovarian cancer are symptoms which women experience day-to-day,” said Marie Boyle, who along with Kathy Mazur hosts the Fashion Show, now in its third year. Both women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer and, after undergoing treatments, are doing well. Boyle said she, like most women with the disease — 75 percent, according to the American Cancer Society — are diagnosed at an advanced stage of the illness, meaning more invasive therapies and higher mortality. “Early detection is the key to fighting this disease,” said Boyle. She noted there is currently “no device to detect the cancer early.” To help remedy that situation, all proceeds from the Fashion Show go through the non-profit girlygirl P.A.R.T.S. (Prescreening Awareness Required To Silence) to support Ursula Matulonis, M.D., chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the DanaFarber Cancer Institute, and her team, who are working to develop an early pre-screening tool. Dr. Matulonis has attended the last two shows and will

participate in this year’s event. While fighting a deadly cancer is serious business, the Fashion Show is anything but. “This is not your normal fashion show,” said Boyle. The models, who all are cancer survivors or currently being treated for the disease, “are energetic and full of life. With music pumping, they dance down the runway with audience members. Everyone is having fun,” she said. “It is really a celebration of life.” Mazur, whose business, Swoon, supplies all the outfits worn in the show, said, “It is uplifting to see these survivors loving life and full of energy. They are inspirational.” She added the event also is positive for the models, since “it gives them a chance to be with others who understand what they have gone through and to feel good about themselves.” The community has rallied around the event, with individuals and businesses providing sponsorship and services. “Everyone who takes part in the show is a volunteer,” said Mazur. The volunteers include Swoon employees, who help select outfits and dress the models. Hair is styled by Hair Haven and Glam Salon and Day Spa, while volunteers including Suzanne Hewett do the makeup. Members of girlygirl P.A.R.T.S. help behind the scenes while others donate flowers, baked goods and more. Ginny Martins & Associates of Southborough is the gold sponsor. “We are so happy to have such surrounding community support,” said Mazur. The past two Fashion Show events raised about $40,000. Mazur and Boyle hope this year’s edition has similar success. Tickets for the Fashion Show, which is held at Central Public House on Main Street from 6:30-9:30 p.m., are $100 and go on sale March 23 on Eventbrite or by contacting Libby Skiba at libskiba@yahoo.com. Additionally, for a week after the show attendees will receive a 10 percent discount at Swoon, and the store, located at 5 Walcott Street, will donate 10 percent of its sales to the fundraiser.

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8 • The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022

East Main Street homeowners denied variance to rent property for private functions By Walter Bird Jr. Contributing Writer

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

he owners of 47 East Main Street, also referred to as 1790 Stone Manor, were dealt a significant blow in their attempt to rent out the property for private events when the Board of Appeals on March 9 voted to deny a variance from current zoning regulations. While the owners had agreed to more than a dozen conditions in an effort to gain approval to move ahead with hosting private events, board members agreed the proposal did not meet the conditions for a variance. Voting on two separate motions related to the request for a variance, the board voted 5-0 and 3-2 in opposition. On the first motion, “Owing to circumstances relating to the soil conditions, shape or topography (but not size) of such land or structures, and especially affecting such land or structures (but not affecting generally the zoning district in which it is located), a literal enforcement of the provisions of this chapter would involve substantial hardship, financial or otherwise, to the petitioner,” Chair Mark Hyman and members Mike DiMascio, James Burton, Ria McNamara and Kevin Baxter all voted against. On the second motion, “Desirable relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good, and without nullifying or substantially derogating from the intent or purpose of this chapter,” McNamara, Burton and Baxter all voted in op-

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position, with Hyman and DiMascio voting in favor. With public discussion previously having being held, no additional comments were allowed at Wednesday’s meeting, but property owner Anna Dorcey and attorney Peter Barbieri were present for the online meeting. Before the issue was brought to a vote, associate member John Coutinho, who did not have a vote on this matter and who called into the meeting by phone, said the board had established “tight conditions” surrounding the proposed business, and argued it would fit in with the neighborhood. “They really do have a problem with the topography,” Coutinho said. “The location is only a couple hundred yards away from Weston Nurseries, one of the largest retail establishments in our town, and the International Marathon Center,” Coutinho said. “To have a venue like this right next door … I see it wouldn’t be a detriment to the neighborhood at all, especially with all the conditions we put on.” Baxter, acknowledging he did “love the idea,” said even with the proposed conditions, which among other things attached stipulations to gatherings of 50 or more people, or where alcohol is served, there still was neighborhood opposition. “Yes, there are commercial neighbors on one side who are in support of this,” Baxter said, “but there are residential neighbors on the other side who are not supportive. The conditions are wonderful, but they aren’t making the neighbors happy. I find that to be concerning.” Added Hyman, “I think we’ve already decided, at least to this specific proposal before us, it’s not within the permitted use or we wouldn’t be here.” Hyman did suggest the owners could come back with a different proposal. “I don’t want to suggest they could do this simply if they incorporated as a nonprofit,” he said. “I think they might have a better argument. If they brought it to [Building Inspector Mike] Shepard, and someone appealed it to us, we’d have to decide on that.” Although she could not comment at the meeting, Dorcey, in a Feb. 28 update to an online petition posted on change.org which as of Wednesday night had garnered 578 signatures, referred to the upcoming vote, saying, “We’ve had to agree to several stipulations to make this happen; however, we do not seem to have enough support of the Board of Appeals members. It is unfortunate, as they don’t seem to think this is a need for the town, or that our property would meet the standards of a variance.”

The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022 • 9

With COVID waning, health officials refocus By Walter Bird Jr. Contributing Writer

OVID-19 is not completely off the radar, but as cases continue to decline, Hopkinton health officials are ready to dig in to other important health issues. “One of the things we’ve been discussing is how one of our challenges, moving out of COVID, is keeping it in the rearview mirror and transitioning into the basic everyday services we were providing pre-COVID,” Health Director Shaun McAuliffe told the Board of Health during its March 14 meeting. He listed three general areas of focus: mobile integrated health care, community EMS programs (CEMS), and youthand family-related substance abuse. The state Department of Public Health lists about two dozen approved community EMS services whose focuses include, among others, mental illness and mental health, housing stability/homelessness and substance use disorders. “In a nutshell,” Public Health Nurse Simone Carter said, “our big things coming up as far as education is a focus on chronic disease prevention, things that impact our EMS services.” Mental health, she said, is a huge area of concern. Going hand-in-hand with that, she added, is substance abuse. “I think that goes across all ages, whether in the pediatric community or the elderly community. It’s everywhere right now,” Carter said. “I see us partnering with Youth & Family Services, working with kids and schools and the Senior Center and Council on Aging for older folks.” Part and parcel of that, she added, will be the continued work on an initiative by the town to get certified as an age- and dementia-friendly community. While she said she doesn’t think the town has a huge issue with housing stability right now, Carter said, “The more we can focus on what drives our population as far as their mental health and their well-being that way, it all ties together. We’ll see more of a focus on that as we focus on health promotion rather than this emergency response we’ve been in.” McAuliffe said his department is taking a data-driven approach toward identifying issues and sifting through mortality and morbidity data. For people ages 50 and under, drug use and depression are key issues, while dementia is a focus for older age groups. “The Senior Center just formed a new committee that is meeting kind of bimonthly,” McAuliffe said. “We’ll be part of that group as are our EMTs with the Fire Department. We’ll work on how best we can address the challenges in the community.” He also noted a Drug-Free Communities grant being rolled out by Youth & Family Services, and said the town will be working with the organization, along with the MetroWest Health Foundation and the schools, “to attack that issue.” Referencing the recent news of six West Point cadets who were hospitalized while on spring break after reportedly overdosing on cocaine laced with fentanyl, McAuliffe said, “We’re receiving calls about harder drug use. We’re trying to work with Youth & Families and Drug-Free Communities staff to get ahead of that.” Board members were happy to be talking about something other than COVID, but acknowledged the scope

of the issues now requiring attention. “It’s refreshing to hear all these issues that are non-COVID that are quite meaningful and diverse in their scope,” Member Rick Jacobs said. “There’s a lot of stuff here. I don’t want you to get buried in things you don’t necessarily have to. I’m interested to see how this layers out into the field.” Added Chair Lisa Whittemore, addressing McAuliffe and Carter, “I want to make sure you’re not boiling the ocean. It’s so wonderful to have a conversation about something other than COVID. It’s been two years. I really love to see this as part of our strategic plan. I love the way you’re talking with partnering with the Senior Center, Council on Aging, schools, and Youth & Family Services. … I just want to say to both of you, breathe for a couple weeks before you jump in, because it’s been so long.” McAuliffe said he met with Youth & Family Services representatives prior to

the meeting and is working with them and the town manager to get a consultant on board. Carter noted that a focus on dementia and the whole person “has been around for a while.” “It’s not that we haven’t been thinking about it,” she said. “It’s that we only had time for COVID, COVID, COVID for so long. So we really just have to refocus our attention.”

Questions remain on PFAS Revisiting a topic that has generated much discussion, McAuliffe said he has been “needling” the Department of Public Health and other state agencies on disseminating more information regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. “The risk varies greatly based on age, populations and types of

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exposure,” McAuliffe said. “All the focus has been on the drinking water, but it hasn’t been on food. Research out there suggests that of the PFAS load we carry in our body, 20 percent comes from water, the other 80 percent from the food we eat. Much like COVID, there’s a lot more education that needs to be done. We’re just pushing the regulatory bodies to produce that communication material so we can get it out.” McAuliffe said people his age, 55, or older focus on exercise, a healthy diet and staying on medications as a way of maintaining good physical health. “That’s where my list is,” he said. “It’s not on the PFAS concentration we’re seeing in the water in Hopkinton, so this is the stuff we need to get out. It shouldn’t be up to local health to come up with 250 different versions of this. It should come out of the state departments and really target the communities that are at risk.”

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10 • The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022

Scott Septic solves neighbors’ messiest problems By Christie Vogt Contributing Writer

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eople don’t call us for fun,” Dottie Scott of Scott Septic says. “Usually there’s a problem.” Luckily for Hopkinton residents, the Scotts are “big problem solvers” who have the technical expertise to respond to those urgent calls with speed and skill. Family-owned and operated, Scott Septic was founded in 1968 by Don Scott. When he retired in 1981, his son, Rob, and Rob’s BUSINESS PROFILE wife, Dottie, took An advertiser feature over the business. Today, the third generation of Scotts — Dottie and Rob’s children, Rob and Stacey, both born and raised in Hopkinton — serve customers while Dottie manages the office. “Both of my kids take a lot of pride in solving situations that other companies cannot solve,” Scott says. After graduating from Hopkinton High

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School, both Rob and Stacey jumped into the septic business. Rob handles septic system installations and excavations, while Stacey manages septic system pumping and repairs and Title V inspections. “My kids know their stuff, they know it very well, and they get it done,” Scott says. “It doesn’t matter if the job is a big job or a small job. Every job has the same importance.” During the pandemic, the Scotts’ services were in especially high demand as people spent more time at home, which meant increased septic system usage as well as greater attention to the condition of houses. For homeowners without apparent issues, Scott recommends having your septic system serviced every two years to “avoid drama and trauma.” Scott Septic also has been busy thanks to the bustling real estate market. People who are trying to sell their houses often find out that their home doesn’t pass the Title V inspection, a septic inspection that is required for the sale of properties. “Title V came into play in 1995, so anything that is over 25 years old could very well not be up to guidelines,” Scott explains, “even though it works fine.” The family dynamic of the business means customers can expect excellent service, Scott says. “We’re just totally in tune with each other and everybody who calls. Our jobs are intertwined,” she explains. “No customer gets left out; they get the most attention and the best service from all three of us.” As one Hopkinton customer shared in a review, working with Scott Septic was “a totally positive experience” that included a “competitive quote, on-time start and completion,” as well as “courteous and professional” service. After more than 50 years in operation, the business is poised for continued growth, Scott says. “My kids are in it to win it. They’re only in their 30s,” she shares. “They’ve been here since day one and have no plans to go anywhere else.” Plus, Scott adds, “this business doesn’t go away — it’s a forever kind of business.” Scott says their goal is to maintain the company’s high level of service and to “be there for people when they need you. That’s important.” To learn more, visit ScottSeptic.com or call 508-435-4168 for a free estimate. Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Hopkinton Independent advertisers.

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The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022 • 11

COMING SOON Presents

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This issue’s winner is Sophia Zanella for this photo of ice on the water at Hopkinton State Park at sunset on a recent day. To enter next issue’s contest, email your photo along with your name, phone number and description of the photo to editor@ hopkintonindependent.com. Photos with people or pets in them are encouraged. Photos that are not selected as winners might be posted on our website.

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Mick moves on after 12 years running youth soccer program Mick | from page 1

“I wanted to carry that forward and make sure everything was taken care of,” Mick said. “I also wanted to make sure we had a variety of programs available to service kids and families of all different levels and help to get a turf field at the high school.” Added Mick: “I feel like our program is at a really good place and my kids are getting older. My oldest is in college and my youngest is in the fifth grade. I felt like it was time for new blood, fresh faces and fresh ideas.” Mick has seen four of her children participate in the youth soccer program with varying levels of passion. She began playing the sport at a young age and it became a huge part of her life. “It wasn’t just about soccer, it was about being part of a team and a community,” the Framingham native said. “I wanted to pass that along to Hopkinton. We have a great community and a lot of kids and families who participate in sports, so I wanted to do what I could to help out.” Michelle Midkiff is taking over as president and said HYS will recognize Mick’s contributions by creating a scholarship in her honor and by putting up a banner at the tennis courts thanking her for her service. In a letter to HYS families, Midkiff said she is “all in on this adventure that passes on the soccer experience to the next generation.” “I am looking forward to helping our kids with forming friendships, understanding the concept of teamwork, developing their fitness, muscle strength

and coordination, learning about taking risks, making mistakes and recovering from them, building resiliency, acquiring leadership skills, learning to win and learning to lose, gaining respect while being respectful and having lots of fun along the way,” Midkiff wrote. Midkiff said she expects participation in the program — already at a high level — to continue to increase. Mick, who also coaches the Hopkinton High School girls junior varsity team, said she still will be involved with the HYS board and helping out in any way she can. One upcoming issue is the ballot initiative slated for May’s Annual Town Meeting that will deal with replacing the artificial turf at the Fruit Street fields. Mick said the shelf life for the field has come due and hopes the town replaces the surface with a more environmentally friendly infill and a shock pad to reduce concussion risks. Mick added that she will serve as a liaison between the youth and high school programs. “Players in the high school program are ready and willing to give back,” she said, referring to clinics organized by high school athletes for their younger peers. “The high school kids do all the planning and run everything and it’s hugely successful.” And, as the JV coach, Mick will continue to get to know athletes who work their way through youth soccer. “It’s great for me,” she said. “I love that I have been able to see so many of these kids who grew up through the program.”

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12 • The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022

$20 O Early Re ff gistrat Discoun ion Ends Ma t rch 31

HCA offers visual/performing arts programming for all ages, abilities By Christie Vogt Contributing Writer

August, the HCA launches Theater Month Half and Full-Day with aPrograms children’s production of “Seussical

the Musical” and a college-age production of “Little Women.” HCA also will bring hat makes the Hopkinton Center back the immensely popular A Play, A Pint for the Arts special is that we have & A Pie program, an outdoor event that services for the whole family,” says opincludes admission to a series of original erations director Sandee Buckley. “It really one-act plays, a savory pie and a pint of ale makes me happy when I see a parent come (or root beer). in with their child and, rather than waiting in For children ages 4-14, Buckley says the car, they come in and take a look at the summer programming “really runs gallery or take a class themselves.” the gamut,” with options for explorThe HCA, located at 98 Hayden ing dance and movement, discoverRowe Street, is a regional arts center ing new visual art mediums, making that provides music, dance, theater, movies, performing plays, learning ceramics and visual arts programceramics (in a newly renovated ming to the MetroWest community. studio) and more. Aiming to offer The HCA serves participants more teen-focused options, the from age 4 through adulthood, HCA is also adding a new program and the center is eager to welcome BUSINESS PROFILE called Rock Band where teens residents to a variety of upcoming SUMMER An advertiser feature who play instruments can gather spring and summer activities. The to learn how to collaborate with center is bustling with events nearly other musicians. every weekend in addition to hosting its Visit HopArtsCenter.org for more inforweekly classes. One highly anticipated mation. Sign up for youth and teen summer event, Buckley says, will be the HCA’s programs by March 31 and receive $20 off Celebrity Spotlight On the Arts fundraising registration. concert on May 7, featuring award-winning Business Profiles are advertising feasinger-songwriter Judy Collins. tures designed to provide information and This summer, from late June through background about Hopkinton Independent July, HCA will host live outdoor concerts, advertisers. as well as outdoor gallery exhibitions. In

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The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022 • 13

Galliford’s Restaurant and Tavern celebrates 5th anniversary By Christie Vogt Contributing Writer

n 2017, the Brewer family debuted Galliford’s Restaurant and Tavern alongside the celebrated Southwick’s Zoo, which the family also owns. To commemorate its fifth BUSINESS PROFILE anniversary this An advertiser feature year, Galliford’s hosted a Mardi Gras-themed celebration March 4-6, complete with special menu items, live music and prizes. “The restaurant is such a huge component to rounding out the zoo,” says Cindy Brewer Lavoie, CFO of Southwick’s Zoo. “We realized before that this was something that we really needed for our guests to have an enjoyable day here at the zoo,” she says, “but we really didn’t know how important it was until after we built it — not just for the daily patronage, but also for the community.” Galliford’s specializes in New England comfort food and offers indoor and outdoor dining as well as pickup and delivery options. The menu changes several times a year and some patron favorites include the fresh fish dishes, bourbon steak tips and oven-fired pizzas, Lavoie says.

Galliford’s Restaurant and Tavern is open year-round for dining and private events.

With three levels each boasting more than 5,000 square feet, guests also appreciate the casual and cozy atmosphere, she adds. Named after her father, Robert Galliford Brewer, Lavoie says the restaurant is a great way to showcase the family’s many years of experience in the food business. “Most zoos will outsource to a food service company,” she says, “but we’ve always done it on our own.” They also pride themselves on using fresh, local ingredients whenever possible and sourcing from places like the Daniels Farmstead. In addition to its regular offerings,

Galliford’s has been “exploding with events,” Lavoie says. Additional spaces beyond the main restaurant area, including private rooms and a patio that overlooks the zoo grounds, have made Galliford’s a popular venue for weddings, showers, corporate events and other gatherings. “It’s just a beautiful place to hold something like that,” Lavoie says, “because it’s a nice atmosphere, and it’s really spiritual and relaxing out in the country.” Aligned with the zoo’s commitment to conservation, Galliford’s is the only restaurant in Massachusetts to be powered

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by geothermal energy, a system that is better for the environment and increases the efficiency of the building, Lavoie says. During the height of COVID-19, Lavoie shares that the Galliford’s team pulled together. “We’ve never worked so hard in our lives,” she recalls. “Our employees did a wonderful job. It was very taxing, and still is in some capacity, but we made it through it.” At one point during the pandemic, Galliford’s delivered meals to essential workers. Through its Galliford’s Gives Back program, the restaurant continues to support local nonprofits and schools. This spring, Galliford’s will be hosting a “spectacular” Sunday brunch for both Easter and Mother’s Day, Lavoie says. “We’re excited this year because we’re going to be able to be basically back to normal.” Galliford’s, located at 5 Southwick St. in Mendon, is open Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. To learn more, visit gallifords. com or call 508-928-0928. Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Hopkinton Independent advertisers.

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ACCESSIBLE FACILITY

14 • The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022

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.

Movie streaming Hopkinton Library cardholders now have access to the Kanopy movie streaming service. Patrons can watch free movies that they might not find on other streaming services. Check the library website for details.

Rebel the Therapy Dog Rebel visits the library every Tuesday from 3-4 p.m.

each month. Anyone with questions or in need of knitting materials should email Jak at jmiller@hopkintonma.gov.

Abraham Lincoln by Lou Del Bianco Tuesday, April 12, 6:30-7:30 p.m. (Zoom) In this interactive, dramatic program, actor-storyteller Lou Del Bianco portrays Abraham Lincoln as Civil War president, frontiersman and storyteller. Lincoln’s values — honesty, education, equity, inclusion, social justice and perseverance — shine through this dynamic new presentation. Authentic historical quotations are used throughout. This event is supported by the Friends of the Hopkinton Public Library. Register via the library’s website calendar for Zoom info.

LGBTQ+ Book Club

Frayed Knot Fiber Arts Circle Wednesday, March 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m. (in-person) 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 welcome to attend with their current project or pattern. This group will meet on the last Wednesday of

Thursday, April 14, 5:30-6:30 p.m. (in-person) Attendees will discuss a range of books across all genres. All LGBTQ+ adults and teens 14 and over are welcome, as well as allies. The group meets the second Thursday of each month. Books will be available at the circulation desk. Register via the library’s website calendar.

Marathon spotlight: Ann Dragsbaek Our new address:

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Leading up to the April 18 Boston Marathon, the Independent will profile local charity runners. This issue we highlight Ann Dragsbaek, who is running to raise funds for Project Just Because. Dragsbaek will be competing in her 16th Boston Marathon this spring. She started running after having her first child in 1997 but did not run a marathon until after her fourth child in 2006. “Running became my passion,” she stated. “I felt I was setting a good example to my children and teaching them they could do

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The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022 • 15

Updated Information as of March 2022

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT HOPKINTON DRINKING WATER Anyone in need of a translation see contacts below.

Hopkinton Water Department located in Hopkinton, Massachusetts has levels of PFAS6 above the Drinking Water Standard What happened? Our water system received notification of PFAS6 results showing that our system violated the 20 ng/L PFAS6 Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) drinking water standard during the October – December 2021 compliance period with a quarterly average of 26 ng/L at the Fruit St. Pump Station. The quarterly average of PFAS6 has ranged between 22 and 26 ng/L since Quarter 3, 2021 to date and our system will continue to notify consumers every 3 months with updated information as required. Samples collected on October 7, 2021, November 4, 2021, and December 1, 2021, reported levels of PFAS6 at 28.6, 25.1 ng/L and 25.5 ng/L, respectively. Exceedance of the MCL has been determined from these results. Compliance with the PFAS6 MCL is calculated as a quarterly average based upon the total number of samples collected during the compliance period. The location where elevated levels of PFAS6 were reported is from one of five facilities (including the Ashland Interconnection) that supplies drinking water to our system. PFAS6 levels were reported below the MCL at our other locations.

What does this Mean? This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. Although this is not an emergency, as a consumer of the water, you have a right to know what happened, what you should, and what we did and are doing to correct this situation. On October 2, 2020, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) issued a new drinking water regulation setting a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/L) for the sum of six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (called PFAS6). PFAS6 includes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA). PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used in the manufacturing of certain fire-fighting foams, moisture and stain resistant products, and other industrial processes. An MCL is the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water which is delivered to any user of a public water system. Some people who drink water containing PFAS6 in excess of the MCL may experience certain adverse effects. These could include effects on the liver, blood, immune system, thyroid, and fetal development. These PFAS6 may also elevate the risk of certain cancers. For more information on PFAS, see the links below. Some people who drink water containing PFAS6 in excess of the MCL may experience certain adverse effects. These could include effects on the liver, blood, immune system, thyroid, and fetal development. These PFAS6 may also elevate the risk of certain cancers. For more information on PFAS, see the links below.

What should I do? For Consumers in a sensitive subgroup (pregnant or nursing women, infants and people diagnosed by their health care provider to have a compromised immune system) • Consumers in a sensitive subgroup are advised not to consume, drink, or cook with water when the level of PFAS6 is above 20 ng/L. • Bottled water should only be used if it has been tested. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires companies

licensed to sell or distribute bottled water or carbonated non-alcoholic beverages?to test for PFAS.? See https://www.mass.gov/info-details/ water-quality-standards-for- bottled-waterin- massachusetts#list-ofbottlers-. For all other consumers not in a sensitive subgroup • If you are not in a sensitive subgroup, you may continue to consume the water because 20 ng/L value is applicable to a lifetime consuming the water and shorter duration exposures present less risk. • If you have specific health concerns regarding your past exposure, you should see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) link below and consult a health professional, such as your doctor. Steps you can take to reduce your intake - Consider taking the following steps while actions are being implemented to address this issue: • For older children and adults (not in a sensitive subgroup), the 20 ng/L value is applicable to a lifetime of consuming the water. For these groups, shorter duration exposures present less risk. However, if you are concerned about your exposure while steps are being taken to assess and lower the PFAS6 concentration in the drinking water, use of bottled water1 will reduce your exposure. • In most situations, the water can be safely used for washing foods, brushing teeth, bathing , and showering. Please note: Boiling the water will not destroy PFAS6 and will somewhat increase its level due to evaporation of some of the water.

What is being done? Our water system has taken the following pro-active measures: • Our other sources have been sampled, and those sources did not contain PFAS6 above the MCL. • We will continue to blend water at Fruit St. Water Treatment Facility to reduce PFAS6 levels at this location. • We will continue to sample our water sources for PFAS. • We are designing a filtration system to remove PFAS6. • We offer a bottled water rebate program for people in a sensitive subgroup in the form of a $20 monthly credit off your water bill 0 you may apply on our DPW website at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoI mZWLTXh4helWCVjnl6LH5vLXfmh3lqWsWyvnR2pnhw5Q/viewform • When additional information becomes available, this public notice will be updated.

Where can I get more information? For more information, please contact Director of Public Works John Westerling at 508-497-9740 or jwesterling@hopkintonma.gov, or the Water/ Sewer Manager, Eric Carty, at 508-497-9765 or ericc@hopkinton.gov, or view our website at: https://www.hopkintonma.gov/departments/department_ of_public_works/pfas.php Additional information can be found at the weblinks listed below: • MassDEP Fact Sheet - Questions and Answers for Consumers https://www.mass.gov/media/1854351 • CDC ATSDR Information on PFAS for consumers and health professionals https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/ index.html • Massachusetts Department of Public Health information about PFAS in Drinking Water – https://www.mass.gov/service-details/per-andpolyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas-in-drinking-water

This notice is being brought to you by the Town of Hopkinton

HopkintonIndependent.com

16 • The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022

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.

CALENDAR

K of C Food for Families Food Drive March 17-April 3 The local Knights of Columbus annual Food for Families Food Drive will be held virtually from March 17-April 3. The event supports the Hopkinton Food Pantry at Project Just Because. Individuals can send a check made out to Project Just Because with “K of C 4822 FFF Food Drive” in the memo line and mail it to K of C Food Drive, St. John the Evangelist, 20 Church Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748. For more information, including other ways to make a donation, visit the Knights of Columbus Ashland-Hopkinton Council 4822 Facebook page or go to projectjustbecause.org.

Family Fling at Town Common March 26

information or to purchase tickets, visit baypathhumane.org/fur-ball-gala.

mation or to purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/ HWC2022FashionShow.

The Friends of Hopkinton and the Hopkinton Lions Club invite all residents to the first Family Fling, to be held on the Town Common on Saturday, March 26, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Activities will include a scavenger hunt, football toss, cornhole, hula hoops, bubbles and much more. There will be free hot chocolate, coffee and munchkins provided by Dunkin’. For more information, visit friendsofhopkinton.org.

Women’s Club Fashion Show March 27

Veterans Breakfast at Senior Center April 1

The Hopkinton Women’s Club Fashion Show, featuring Cabi clothing, will be held Sunday, March 27, from noon-3:30 p.m. at the Westborough Country Club. The event, which serves as a fundraiser for the organization’s scholarship fund, includes a buffet luncheon, mimosa station, coffee, tea and dessert as well as raffle items. Tickets are $75, and the deadline to purchase is March 11. For more infor-

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. This month’s breakfast is scheduled for April 1. No registration is required. For more information, contact Amy Beck at the Senior Center, 508-4979730.

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 as well as a newsletter, check hopkintonseniorcenter.com. Anyone with questions can call 508-497-9730. The Senior Center also has a Facebook page that provides updates on resources, programs and events.

fuel assistance), loan durable medical equipment, help with transportation and much more. Anyone looking for assistance or more information about services should call to make an appointment.

Baypath Humane Society Fur Ball March 26 Baypath Humane Society’s annual Fur Ball Gala will be held March 26 from 6-11 p.m. at the Marriott hotel ballroom in Newton. This year’s event has the theme of “A Night in Paris.” The event will include a number of auction items in a wide price range. The dress code is black tie optional. Tickets are $100 and include food, entertainment and dancing. For more

Event Calendar Sponsored by

HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS Enter Stage Left Theater Presents: The Cemetery Club | March 25 & 26 | April 1 & 2 | Curtain at 8:00 p.m. Join us for this heartwarming comedy! Three Jewish widows meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husbands’ graves. Ida is sweet-tempered and ready to begin a new life; Lucille is a feisty embodiment of the girl who just wants to have fun; and Doris is priggish and judgmental, particularly when Sam the butcher enters the scene. Directed by Paul Champlin, and featuring Kelly Grill, Dawn Anderson, Mary Scarlata-Rowe, Steve Lillis, and Barbara Goldman. Racky Thomas & The Travelin’ Medicine Show Revival Band March 27 | 12:00 Noon Come feel the spirit of a down-home revival meeting as the band serves up an inspired and eclectic gumbo of gospel, blues and country blues—with a dash of New Orleans R&B and a pinch of boogie for good measure. In an effort to make the arts accessible to all, we will be offering this concert on a pay-what-you-can basis. Tickets range from $0 to $25.

SENIOR SNIPPETS

Thrift Store

First Friday Night Open Mic with Special Guest Carlin Tripp | April 1 | 8:00 p.m. Our monthly First Friday 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. Our open mics are hosted by Jack Byrne. This month our featured guest is Carlin Tripp. Socializing and sign-up will take place from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m. $5 at the door | Free to HCA Members. HCA BluesFest | April 9 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. In the spirit of HeatherFest, HCA is excited to bring three amazing bands together for the HCA Bluesfest 2022! Coming to our stage is the Chris Fitz Band with special guest Ken Clark, the Racky Thomas Band, and Sonya Rae and Ryan Taylor! Get ready for a night of extraordinary music and talent. Tickets on sale now. Wine and beer will available for purchase. Did you know that HCA Members get 10% off of performances and FREE entry to open mics and jazz jams? Become a member today! www.HopArtsCenter.org

Your Arts Center | Tickets & Details at HopArtsCenter.org

The thrift store is open Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Transportation Programs for Seniors The Senior Center offers transportation to and from the Senior Center as well as local shopping Tuesdays through Fridays for Hopkinton residents. The Senior Center also can help residents find transportation assistance for medical appointments and essential shopping. Anyone interested should call the Senior Center to learn more about the transportation options.

Lunch Program The Senior Center website has a full lunch menu. Individuals should call to sign up at least two days in advance. The cost is $5 per meal, or a pre-purchased ticket for five meals is $20.

Outreach Services The Senior Center has an Outreach Department. The department can help identify assistance programs (including

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Thursday, March 24, 1 p.m. Performing a unique, interactive and highly entertaining program, local singersongwriter (and former sportswriter) Howie Newman will sing baseball songs, offer up baseball trivia and tell stories about his days as a sportswriter on the Red Sox beat. Howie covered baseball for the Patriot Ledger, Lowell Sun, Boston Globe and Lynn Item as well as several other newspapers and magazines. For three years, he provided color commentary for the Lowell Spinners, a Red Sox farm team, on WCAP radio. Howie will display his personal memorabilia and have a few door prizes available. This program is sponsored by a grant from the Hopkinton Cultural Council, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Justice of District Court, Hon. James M. Murphy Wednesday, March 30, 1 p.m. (virtual) March is National Judicial Outreach Month. In Massachusetts, the trial court’s annual outreach efforts include engaging with communities across the commonwealth about the importance of an impartial and independent judiciary governed by the rule of law.

Dementia Friends Information Session Tuesday, April 12, 7-8:30 p.m., at Hopkinton Center for the Arts Wednesday, April 27, 1-2:30 p.m., at Senior Center Becoming a Dementia Friend is easy — individuals simply attend a one-hour Dementia Friends information session offered by a Demential Friends champion. Participants can turn their new understanding of dementia into a practical action that can help someone with dementia in the community. These information sessions are suitable for people of all ages; families are welcome. Call the Senior Center to reserve a seat.

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Musical Baseball Show

Thursday, April 14, 1-2 p.m. Art For Your Mind is an engaging, educational, art observation experience designed to broaden the minds of its participants. Programs are for people of all backgrounds — artists and non-artists alike. This presentation will discuss why certain works of art have captivated observers through time. From medieval images to abstract art, discover what’s special about many famous creations by artists such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Velasquez, Picasso, Monet, O’Keeffe, Warhol and others. Through time and around the world, see how art and its meanings have evolved. The cost is $3 per person.

The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022 • 17

Schools

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fill the seat until next year. I’m really grateful for anyone “I do think the general public would like to have a vote,” who has been here, for all of Select Board Member Amy Ritthe work that we have done, terbusch said. Concurred Chair Irfan Nasand for seeing the light at the rullah: “I think it’s up to the end of the tunnel. And I really people to decide and not really hope that Joe and Meg will something for us to appoint if we have that option for a vote.” have some time to decompress The Select Board also adfrom all of that. dressed the possibility of appointing one or two people to fill the seats until the May election, — Lya Batlle-Rafferty but Town Clerk Connor Degan School Committee Member expressed concern that an appointment could favor a potential ers Association released a statement candidate. harshly criticizing Markey and Tyler for There now are three School Comtheir behind-the-scenes efforts. mittee seats available on this year’s Markey and Tyler expressed disapballot. The first is the seat belonging to pointment that Cavanaugh read the HTA Chair Nancy Cavanaugh, who has pulled letter at a meeting without first notifying papers to run for reelection. Christopher them, and they also were frustrated that Melton also has pulled papers for the they did not receive more support from seat. their fellow members regarding the open All School Committee seats are for meeting law complaint. Superintendent three years. However, Tyler’s seat has Carol Cavanaugh led an investigation two years remaining, while Markey’s that determined Markey and Tyler did seat has one year left. Individuals elected not violate the law. to fill the two new seats only would serve All members also have noted the role for the remainder of the existing term and social media — specifically Facebook then could run for reelection. groups — has played in making it more An individual must be a registered challenging to be in public service. voter and a resident of Hopkinton in order “My opinion is that social media has to be on the ballot. contributed to a deterioration of social Markey and Tyler sent in their resigskills,” Markey stated. “I left social menation letters to Degan on March 8. dia in 2016. It’s far too easy and reward“I need a break,” Markey explained ing for some to snap off a snappy remark in an email to the Independent. “It’s been for likes and hearts, without considering a long two years, and as I look at all the the real-life people affected. Governthings available, time already invested ment works through tediously boring above and beyond what most people public meetings. People wanting to make would do, and how I want to spend my a difference need to show up in person time moving forward, I’m happy to open or write letters. I always advise people to the spot to one of the other 18,000 resiget off social media and into meetings.” dents of Hopkinton who want to pick up The three remaining School Comwhere I left off.” mittee members held a special meeting Added Markey: “Hopkinton is home on March 11 to officially announce the [to] many capable and highly engaged vacancies. citizens, many drawn here by an interest “For the people in the public, I know and passion for good schools. I am conthat this has generated a lot of public infident the community will continue to be terest. It’s a little bit different than what well served by new volunteers motivated we had seen with the School Committee to run in the election and close out the in terms of I don’t remember it needing to remaining year of the term.” go through either a special appointment Tyler, who was in her second term, or an interim election,” Nancy Cavanalikewise indicated the time was right for ugh said. “So this is a little bit different. her to turn her focus elsewhere. And I know people are curious, I think a “Serving on the Hopkinton School little bit of anxiety around what’s going Committee for four years has been an to happen, but I just want to make sure educational experience and a privilege,” people know there are provisions in the she wrote via email. “I have seen inside Mass. general laws as well as in our town the machine. Fresh voices and fresh charter and that we will continue with the thinking will be a boon to both commitbusiness of the schools. There will not tee and community. Without doubt, I am be an interruption in our commitment impressed by the good work that goes on to making sure that our students and our in our district. However, I now need to fix schools are running smoothly.” my attention on my family and the work Cavanaugh, Amanda Fargiano and that nourishes and inspires me.” Lya Batlle-Rafferty offered their support While Markey stated that he enjoyed to the two departing members. his time on the School Committee “im“Anyone who lasted these two years mensely,” the committee recently had to on any of these boards has done above deal with some divisiveness. and beyond what you expect to do when After Markey and Tyler strategized you get elected into these positions,” with Melton to build support for lifting Batlle-Rafferty said. “I’m really grateful the mask mandate and opposing a new for anyone who has been here, for all of school calendar that added additional the work that we have done, and for seeholidays, a resident filed an open meeting law complaint and the Hopkinton TeachSchool Committee | 18

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18 • The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022

Student musicians hit high notes M

arch has been a busy month for the Hopkinton Public Schools Music Department. It’s only fitting, as the National Association for Music Education officially designates March as Music in Our Schools Month, a time for educators to raise SCHOOLS awareness of the benefits NOTEBOOK of music education for all children and that school is where all children should have access to music. Concerts were held for singers and musicians from Hopkins School to the high school. Meanwhile, a number of local students were accepted to the 2022 Massachusetts Music Educators Association Junior Central District Festival: Owen Bayes (chorus), Aritro Chatterjee (orchestra), Urmi Chowduri (chorus), Julia Hoffmaster (chorus), Leah Hong (orchestra), Tarun Karthick Prasanna (band), Aditi Khistle (chorus), Joshua Kim (band), Acadia King (chorus), Simrit Kukreja (orchestra), Yulhee Kwon (orchestra), Vishuddhi Makeshwarah (orchestra), Alex Stephan (band), Arshia Tharakabushanam (chorus),

Bentai Vacha (orchestra), Olivia Wiedenmann (chorus), Jacob Wu (orchestra) and Kevin Zhu (band). Rehearsal and performances are to be held via Zoom in April and May. … Additionally, the Hopkinton High School jazz ensemble earned a silver medal at the Massachusetts Association of Jazz Educators Central District 1 Festival held March 3. The ensemble received an invitation to MAJE State Finals, which were scheduled for March 26 at Norwood High School. Three Hopkinton High School students were recognized for outstanding musicianship: Sean Thapa (bass), Jacob Chastain (alto saxophone) and Ryan Hwang (drums). … Hopkinton High School’s Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter includes 2022 valedictorian Celia Jenkins and 2022 salutatorian Olivia Sward.

Top prize went to Simran Kaur for her project titled “Treating 2,4-DExposed Planaria with Drug-Supplement Interactions to Palliate Parkinson’s Disease.” Second place was a tie between Ishita Khurana and Sahithi Pogula. Third prize went to Vania Gautam. The Valerie Lechtanski Prize for Perseverance was presented to Isael Thomas and Raquel Abraham. Additional qualifiers for the March 11 regional fair included projects by Avani Da, Tomo Oga and Briana Mallouh; Dylan Strick and David Priefer; Evanya Mathur and Srilakshmi Venkatesan; Eva and Esha Bennet; Shrija Kumar and Garima Chauhan; and Arin Upalekar, Kaizar Rangwala and Alex Stephan.

Science Fair winners announced

HHS student Sahithi Pogula was named Massachusetts winner of the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Award for Aspirations in Computing. Students receive recognition for their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and plans for post-secondary education. …

The 34th annual Hopkinton High School Science Fair featured 41 teams showcasing their work for judges on March 2.

HHS student wins state IT award

HHS is sending four robotics teams to the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas in early May: Team 2602A, Team 2602F, Team 2602H and Team 2602J. … A number of students from the HHS Business Professionals of America Club qualified for the national competition in Dallas in early May. … Worcester Academy announced its honor roll and headmaster’s list for the first semester, and a number of Hopkinton students were recognized. Senior Ryan D’Amour earned first honors, while junior Ally Gray, sophomores Jonathan D’Amour and William Masterson and freshman Carly Brand were named to the headmaster’s list.

Marathon Fund offers scholarships The Hopkinton Marathon Fund Committee is offering six $1,200 scholarships to Hopkinton residents who are graduating high school and have been accepted to a two- or four-year college. Applicants must have lettered in at least one varsity sport. The deadline for applications is April 15 at 2 p.m. For more information and an application, visit the town’s website (hopkintonma.gov) or email elainel@hopkintonma.gov.

School Committee vacancies added to ballot for May election

TAKE THE BACKYARD PLUNGE!

School Committee | from page 17

ing the light at the end of the tunnel. And I really hope that Joe and Meg will have some time to decompress from all of that.” Added Cavanaugh: “It has certainly been quite a two years that we’ve had. As a matter of fact, [March 11 was] the twoyear anniversary of when our schools had to shut down at the very beginning of the pandemic. I have been keenly aware that the workload has been a little bit different, not just on the School Committee but on some of our other boards and committees in town and our staff certainly as well.” Markey, following his success leading the group that oversaw the building of Marathon School, was elected to the School Committee in 2020, just as the pandemic was taking hold. He noted how that limited his ability to contribute

Spring Quiz 1. Jen & Nick are cleaning out their basement and notice some water damage. The water came across the ground surface and through a basement window. Their walls and carpet are damaged. Would their home insurance cover the claim? 2. Brooks & Katie discovered some staining on their ceiling from ice dams during the winter. Would their home insurance help cover the repairs? 3. Emma & Noel left their bedroom window open during a rain storm. The rain stained and warped the floor. Would their home insurance cover the claim? Answers: 1: No, water coming across the ‘ground surface’ is consider flooding. Jen & Nick would need a flood policy to cover the damage. 2: Yes, water coming through the ceiling caused by an ice dam is covered. 3: Yes, rain water coming through the window and causing damage is covered.

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in other areas as the committee had to spend so much time “trying to figure out simply how to keep the train on the track and educate students amidst a myriad of complications.” He wrote that he has no regrets about his time on the committee despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic. “Clearly the whole system failed last year when many school districts were essentially closed,” he wrote. “While Hopkinton did better than most, from what I can see the hybrid model and quarantine day practices set many kids back and we’re still seeing the ramifications of that. I guess I wish I could have done more, but know I tried my best. Some of the disruption was for good health reasons, but I saw some disruption rooted in administrative challenges at the state and national level.” Markey, who indicated he plans to stay involved with his kids’ Boy Scouts and youth sports programs and get more involved at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, also wrote that he’s been “talking to people working at the state level for ways to ensure that the disruptions that happened the past two years won’t ever happen again.” He also takes pride in encouraging more diverse viewpoints on the School Committee. “One of the accomplishments that I’m most proud of is the committee’s adoption last year of new norms and protocols that provide a framework for greater diversity of opinion in committee deliberations than the prior norms that emphasized conformity,” he stated. “Over time I hope the new norms will lead to more comfort exercising and tolerating dissent while maintaining cohesion, respect and focus on the educational mission.”

The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022 • 19

Sports Powers earns All-America honors contest were Nina Staffieri (Grade 4/5 girls), Gabby Simulis (Grade 6 girls), Alyssa Budden and Teagan Resteghini (tie, Grade 7/8 girls), Michael Tighe (Grade 4/5 boys), Colin Dow (Grade 6 boys) and Lucas Hodne (Grade 7/8 boys). Winners in the 3-point shootout included Ireland Resteghini (Grade 4/5 girls), Jane Hopkins (Grade 6 girls), Alyssa Budden (Grade 7/8 girls), Caleb Kim (Grade 4/5 boys), Ryan Dorfman (Grade 6 boys) and Josh Kim (Grade 7/8 boys). Winners

in the cone drill were Murphy Chatten (Grade 4/5 girls), Riley Colleran (Grade 6 girls), Teagan Resteghini (Grade 7/8 girls), Caleb Kim (Grade 4/5 boys), Connor Nguyen (Grade 6 boys) and Connor Sullivan (Grade 7/8 boys). Winners in the 30-second shootout were Enza Spinelli (Grade 4/5 girls), Catherine Chow (Grade 6 girls), Teagan Resteghini (Grade 7/8 girls), Jackson Balster (Grade 4/5 boys), Alex Fine (Grade 6 boys) and Rocco Spinelli (Grade 7/8 boys).

Members of one of the Hopkinton Basketball Association Grade 5 boys teams celebrate after winning the Division 4 championship on March 13.

opkinton High School senior Kate Powers continued her record-setting indoor track and field season by earning All-America honors at the prestigious New Balance Nationals at the Armory in New York City SPORTS on March 11. ROUNDUP Powers finished fifth in the weight throw, recording a personal-best 51 feet, 3.5 inches on her final throw. She became the first Hopkinton AllAmerican since Jess Scott in 2013. Powers was to compete in one more meet, the USA Track and Field (USATF) Youth Championship at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island, New York. She previously won the weight throw at the USATF New England Youth Championship. Also at the New Balance Nationals, the HHS boys shuttle hurdles relay of Andrew Bialobrzeski, Will Bialobrzeski, Sean Golembiewski and Declan Mick finished second, although they later were disqualified following a video review. Golembiewski, still on the mend from a hamstring injury, competed in the open hurdles event as well. Meanwhile, at the National Scholastic Athletic Foundation Nike Nationals on Staten Island the same weekend, the HHS shuttle hurdles relay team of Kiley Locke, Sowmya Karthikeyan, Emma DeMichele and Ellie Driscoll competed, as did Keira O’Connor in the high jump.

Division was Fab 5 (Brooklyn Bearfield, Harper Shepard, Colbie Baker, Emily Fitzgibbons, Maggie Sanda). The winner of the Grade 5/6 Girls Division was Swish (Chloe Bearfield, Elena Valis, Gabby Simulis, Kate Riesenberger, Jane Hopkins). The winner of the Grade 7/8 Girls Division was Fire Balls (Maya MacLeod, Chloe Barnatt, Courtney Clemens, Ava Carroll, Lea Lamoreaux). The winner of the Grade 3/4 Boys Division was Hopkinton Ankle Breakers (Colton Geremia, Greyson Grove, Brendan Foutz, Christian Bialobrzeski). The winner of the Grade 5 Boys Division was And One (Patrick Reilly, Michael Tighe, Jackson Balster, Fin Clancy, Rocco Yurewicz). The winner of the Grade 6 Boys Division was Crushers (Matthew Fitzgibbons, Alex Fine, Aiden Nguyen, Connor Nguyen). The winner of the Grade 7 Boys Division was Shanghai Sharks (Rocco Spinelli, Landon Fitzgibbon, Lucas Hodne, Travis Rych). The winner of the Grade 8 Boys Division was Miami Shoota’s (Trevor Blinn, Ben Pantera, Carter Robillard, Gavin Cho). The winner of the Adult Division was Bus Drivers (James Marquedant, Joseph Clark, Ryan Hamilton, Craig Sager). The winner of the Senior Division was Ken’s Krew (Suren Padmalingam, Ken Abrahamsen, Ryan Elliot, Greg McNally). Proceeds from the event support the Mary Korbey Scholarship Fund.

Walsh shines for St. Olaf

HBA ends season with title, skills competition

Hopkinton’s Sean Walsh, a freshman hockey player at St. Olaf College, received All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honorable mention. Walsh appeared in 29 games, recording 12 goals and seven assists. He had four game-winning goals. Walsh helped the Oles (11-15-3) win the MIAC playoffs and earn its secondever appearance in the Division 3 NCAA Tournament. St. Olaf fell 4-3 in overtime to sixth-ranked St. Norbert in the opening round on March 12.

Korbey 3v3 draws crowd to HHS The annual Mary Korbey 3v3 Tournament returned after a two-year hiatus and drew a big turnout to the Hopkinton High School gym March 13. There were 46 teams, with almost 200 total participants. The winner of the Grade 3/4 Girls

The Hopkinton Basketball Association (HBA) wrapped up its season earlier this month with the Metrowest League playoffs. A number of Hopkinton teams advanced far in the playoffs, and one of the Grade 5 boys teams captured the Division 4 championship with a 48-44 victory over Rochester in the final on March 13 at the Dana Barros Basketball Club in Stoughton. Team members included Arjun Mehta, Jack Monopoli, Ben Brooks, Carson Polsinello, Chase Corregan, Ben Yang, Kevin Behrens, Jaden Jn Baptiste, Callen Fitzgibbon and Trevor Hodne. The team was coached by Scott Hodne, Rick Polsinello and Ted Behrens. … The HBA held its season-ending skills competition on March 13 at Hopkinton High School. Winners in the free throw

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20 • The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022

Obituaries 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.

Cathleen M. Egan Cathleen M. (Durand) Egan, 72, of Hubbardston, died peacefully Feb. 28 in the Life Care Center of Leominster after a short battle with ovarian cancer, with children Caitlin and

Ben by her side. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, on March 11, 1949, she was the daughter of the late Alcide and Eleanor (O’Rourke) Durand. She graduated from Coventry High School in Coventry, Rhode Island, with the Class of 1967. She attended Suffolk University as a journalism major for two years, and then pursued a course of study with the Katharine Gibbs School in Providence, from which she graduated with honors. She eventually went on to graduate magna cum laude from Fitchburg State College. Upon moving to Gardner with husband Mike in 1976, she accepted a position working at Mount Wachusett Community College, where she worked for the director of public relations and media services. This position led to a tenure at Digital Equipment Corporation, where she taught business writing principles. Cathy then was able to use her passion for the English language to work as an ESL and Wilson Reading specialist in the Gardner Public School System. She was particularly fond of this position and enjoyed nothing more than helping her students. She often would visit children’s homes on weeknights and weekends to voluntarily tutor. Cathleen is survived by her daughter, the optimistic and feisty Caitlin Egan and husband Brett Perkins of Foxborough, a son, the gentle and thoughtful Benjamin Egan and significant other Krista Braga of Hopkinton, and her beloved former son-in-law Michael Dupre and wife Nicole of Connecticut. She also leaves behind the raucous and fiercely loving Egan clan: Ann and Randy Roberts of New Hampshire, Tom and Sharon Egan of Dayville, Connecticut, John and Michelle Egan of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and nieces and nephew Kelsey, Patrick and Madison. She also leaves dear aunts Marguerite Barry of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, and Mary Campbell and Madeline Harmon of West Warwick, Rhode Island, dear cousins Susan Carlson of Sudbury, James Carlson of Exeter, Rhode Island, and Katherine Hebert of Coventry, Rhode Island, nieces Ellen Hudson and wife Diane, and Catherine Hudson, and great-nieces and nephew Jamison, Samantha and Hudson. She was predeceased quite unexpectedly by her most cherished and beloved husband of 34 years, J. Michael Egan, who died in 2008, sister Sue Ellen Hudson, brother Richard Durand, brother and sister-in-law Kevin and Joan Egan, and nephew Jesse Roberts.

Another nephew, Michael Egan, passed away peacefully on March 2, 2022, after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle accident in Florida. Cathy will be remembered for her style, wit, writing, and endless caring for those she loved. Though she was small in stature, she was fierce, with a massive heart. Funeral Services were held March 12 from the Boucher Funeral Home, Gardner, with a Mass in Annunciation Parish at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, Gardner. Burial at St. John’s Cemetery, West Street, Gardner, was to be held at a later date. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Foundation for Women’s Cancer, 119 Belmont Street, Worcester, or on its website at (foundationforwomenscancer.org), or to the House of Peace and Education, 29 Pleasant Street, Gardner, MA 01440. Please reference in memory of Cathleen M. Egan. Editor’s note: This obituary was shortened due to space limitations. To see the entire obituary, visit HopkintonIndependent.com.

Roberta Koning Roberta G. Koning, formerly known as Roberta A. Gately, passed away Feb. 11 at 96 years of age after a short illness. Born Feb. 9, 1926, to Julia (O’Brien) and Francis Gately, Roberta grew up in Roslindale/West Roxbury and lived in Boston before moving to Dover with her late husband, Menno G. Koning. Fondly known as Bobbi and Robbe, Roberta took an early interest in bookkeeping and math and was hired as a bookkeeper straight out of high school, where she was recognized for her honor roll quality work in her studies. In 1956 she achieved her license to trade as a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch-Boston, becoming one of the earliest women to join the company at this level. She held the license until 1959, when she and her husband started their family together. Later in 1971, Roberta became president of the Dover League of Women Voters while running her household with her three children. She later became a member of the state League of Women Voters during a very active time during the women’s liberation movement. She held other volunteer positions within the town of Dover and loved the people she met from town while working in these positions. With her husband, Roberta enjoyed traveling through the great cities in Europe and North America. Roberta and Menno were keen bridge players, competing throughout the Boston area and once becoming state champions in duplicate bridge. Roberta leaves behind her three children and their families: Brion G. Koning and wife Margaret of Framingham, Ria K. McNamara and partner Greg Cipriano of Hopkinton, and Robert J. Koning and wife Catherine of Keene, New Hampshire. She also will be missed by her grandchildren, Brendan and Andrew Koning of Silverthorne, Colorado, Connell McNamara and Patrick McNamara of Hopkinton, and Lynx Koning

of Keene, New Hampshire. She also leaves her nephews and their families, John Gately of Virginia, Tom Briody of Rhode Island, and Scott Briody of New Hampshire, as well as the late Charles Gately and wife Patricia. A celebration of her life was held at the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home in Natick on March 19, followed by burial at Highland Cemetery, Dover.

Merle Brown Merle (Kaminsky) Brown, 86, of Hopkinton and formerly of Hamden, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on Jan. 25. Merle and her twin brother, Matthew, were born in Brooklyn, New York, on Feb. 27, 1935. Merle was the daughter of the late Nathan Kaminsky and Hilda (Neufeld). She was the beloved wife for 65 years of the late Jay Brown, mother of Ellen (Mark) Factor of Hopkinton and the late Sidney Brown, sister of Seth (Annette) Kaminsky of Cold Springs Harbor, New York, and the late Matthew Kaminsky, and loving grandfather of Joshua, Eric and Samuel Factor. Merle graduated from Pace University in New York and was an office administrator for Hamden Public Schools for nearly 20 years. She was a longtime member of Mishkan Israel Synagogue in Hamden, where she was active in the Sisterhood. She also was a Hadassah life member. She loved to knit and crochet and made hundreds of hats and blankets over the years to help families in need. But her greatest passion was raising her two children and spending time with her grandchildren. Merle was loved by all who knew her, and she loved family and friends unconditionally. Funeral Services were held at Mishkan Israel Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut, on Feb. 2. The Robert E. Shure & Son Funeral Home was in care of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Merle’s honor to Congregation Mishkan Israel (cmihamden.org/giving) or Alzheimer’s Association (act. alz.org).

Ann Lynch Ann K. (Gillis) Lynch of Milford and formerly of Quincy passed peacefully March 2 at Countryside Health Care-Milford from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. She was 90. Born in Brookline to the late Annabelle and Thomas Gillis, she was raised on O’ Callaghan Way in South Boston. She graduated from the Dorchester High for Girls in 1949 and Boston Clerical in 1951. She was married to the late John F Lynch, also of O’Callaghan Way, for 45 years until his death in 1998. They settled in Wollaston, where she lived for 65 years. Ann worked at the Navy Building, Howard Johnson’s, Liberty Mutual and Stop & Shop in Quincy in the corporate offices. Music and singing were an important part of her life. As a child, her father trained her and her two sisters to sing

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harmony and formed the Gillis Girls. The Gillis Girls sang on WEEI radio in 1942 and performed with a vaudeville act by Eddie Lyons to various audiences including hospitalized veterans. The Gillis Girls performed on the Boston Common to raise money for war bonds during WWII. She enjoyed playing piano and sing-a-longs and could harmonize just about anything. She was an active member at the South Shore YMCA and faithful participant in Linda’s exercise class for many years. She enjoyed many trips with the “Live Yers” and was an officer for the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE). With her husband, John, she greatly enjoyed biking along the Cape Cod Canal and the East Bay Bike Path, which was topped off with a PB&J sandwich and thermos of milk. They also enjoyed time walking around Castle Island followed by a hot dog from Sully’s. She enjoyed her weekly quilting classes taught by Lois at Saftlers in Whitman and produced many a cherished quilt. Her quilts always were a big hit at a family wedding or baby shower. When not quilting or reading a courtroom drama, she enjoyed watching “Downton Abbey,” “Judge Judy” and “Blue Bloods.” She is best known for her smile, which endeared her to all she met. She is survived by son John Lynch (Mary) of Weymouth, daughter Maryann Lynch of Milton, Vermont, daughter Maureen Allen (Bill) of Hopkinton, grandchildren Christine Zent of Weymouth, Brian Lynch of Hingham and Justin Thorpe of Milton, Vermont, and great-grandchildren Meghan, Allison and Lily. She also is survived by her dear sisters Jean Scholl of Tewksbury and Joan Owens of Plymouth, a brother, Thomas Gillis of Bangor, Maine, her niece, Deb, and nephews Billy, Tommy and Kevin. She is predeceased by her sister Mary and niece Barbara. Her family greatly appreciates the kindness and warm care at Whitcomb House, Cornerstone Canton and Milford, Countryside Health Care and Compassionate Care Hospice. Family and friends celebrated her life at the Deware Funeral Home, Quincy, on March 13. A Mass was held March 14 at St. Ann’s Church, Quincy, followed by burial at Knollwood Memorial Park in Canton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Howard Wolk H o w a r d W. Wolk, of Brookline and Falmouth and formerly of Natick, passed away March 9 after a 19-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Howard grew up in Waterbury, Connecticut, the son of Clarence and Rose (Sigal) Wolk. He attended the Taft School, Yale University and Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He served two years active duty in the U.S. Army as a lieutenant and retired as a captain. In 1962 he married Nancy (Sugarman) Wolk of Fall River — “The best thing I ever did,” he often said. Together they were blessed with three daughters, Lisa Larcenaire

The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022 • 21 and husband Dave of Newton, Sarah Bechta and husband Paul of Northborough and Falmouth, and Amy Bellville and husband Dean of Northborough, and six grandchildren, Julia and William Larcenaire, Jamie and Lainey Bechta, and Anna and Sadie Bellville. He leaves a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Arnold and Lynn Wolk of Sarasota, Florida, a sister-in-law and brother-in-law in Gainesville, Florida, Bahira Sugarman and Shaya Isenberg, and a brother-inlaw in Greensboro, North Carolina, Ken Caneva. In his younger days, Howard was general manager of the weekly newspaper Boston After Dark, which became the Boston Phoenix. Later he went on to become president of Valpey Fisher Corporation of Hopkinton, a manufacturer of electronic components. In retirement, he pursued his lifelong interest in automobiles and joined Foreign Motors West in Natick, where he became the company’s No. 1 Mercedes salesman, and No. 1 in New England. To this day, many of his clients have remained his friends. Howard served on the board of the Natick Service Council for 20 years, being president of the organization twice during that time. He, along with his wife, was an active member of Temple Beth Elohim, serving on many committees, including the Board Advisory Committee, and founding TBElle, the temple’s very popular and successful adult education program that showcases the talents and interests of fellow congregants. Howard was proud of his ability to be observant and both analytical and creative. He was an inveterate punster and storyteller, weaving jokes into the current topic of conversation. He was genuinely interested in others and loved to host them in his homes in Natick and Falmouth. Services, under the care of Brezniak Funeral Directors, were held at Temple Beth Elohim, Wellesley, on March 11, followed by interment at Beit Olam East Cemetery, Wayland. In lieu of flowers, donations in Howard’s memory may be made to the Adult Education Committee of Temple Beth Elohim, 10 Bethel Road, Wellesley, MA 02481, or Good Shepherd Community Care, 160 Wells Avenue, Newton, MA 02459.

Geraldine Silvestro M. Geraldine Silvestro, 80, a former Hopkinton resident, died March 9 at her home. She was the wife of the late Sebastian R. Silvestro, who died in February 2016, and the mother of the late Camilla Ann Silvestro, who died in 1970. Born in Wellesley, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Cameron) Rooney. She was a 1958 graduate of Wellesley High School and went on to attend hairdressing school. She worked for many years as a hairstylist and owned shops in Wellesley and Hopkinton before working full time for Bose Corp. of Framingham and hairdressing part-time from home. Once retired, she spent a good deal of her time volunteering for the Hopkinton Senior Center. Jerri’s favorite activities always involved family. Whether it was summers on Newfound Lake, her time in Onset, extended family gatherings around the pool, a Silvestro gathering of which there were many, or having half the neighborhood kids over, it didn’t matter; everyone was treated as family. She is survived by her daughters, Kelli A. Silvestro of Taunton, and Kerra L. Silvestro of Port St. Lucie, Florida, and her son, Sebastian J. Silvestro

and wife Heather Clary of Annapolis, Maryland. She also leaves behind three amazing grandchildren, Xavier Rogers and Alexandra Rogers of Port St Lucie, Florida, and O’Neil R. Silvestro of Annapolis, Maryland, as well as her sister, Betty Ann Jacobs of San Antonio, Texas. A funeral Mass was celebrated March 19 in St. John the Evangelist Church, Hopkinton, followed by burial in Glenwood Cemetery, Natick. Services were under the care of the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, Hopkinton. Donations may be made to Hospice Services of Massachusetts, 10 Riverside Drive, Lakeville, MA 02347.

Luis Gonzalez Luis Gonzalez, 81, died March 11 at his home after a brief illness. He was the husband of Agustina (Mendez) Gonzalez, to whom he was married for 61 years. Born in Puerto Rico, he came to the mainland United States when he was 19 years old. He worked in the maintenance departments of Holliston and Hopkinton schools for 31 years. In addition to his wife, Luis is survived by his son, Lou Gonzalez of Hopkinton, and his daughters, Martita Gonzalez of Hopkinton and Evelyn Gonzalez of Milford. He also leaves his grandchildren Joseph Gonzalez of Milford, Gina Gonzalez of Grafton and Kayla Gonzalez of Grafton, and his brother, Angel of Puerto Rico. A funeral Mass was celebrated March 18 in St. John the Evangelist Church, Hopkinton. Services were under the care of the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home. Donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452.

Benito Raia Benito Vittorio Michele Raia passed away March 6 at the age of 85. He began his life on May 8, 1936, in the town of Navelli in the province of L’Aquila (Abruzzo) Italy. Benito was the eldest of three children born to Alberto Raia and Maria Giannina (nee Salustro). Benito’s childhood saw the outbreak, destruction and eventual Allied victory of WWII. When Benito was 18, the Raia family emigrated to the United States, where Alberto and his brothers continued the family trade of fine custom tailoring. Benito joined the family business, where he honed his craft. In 1960, Benito swore his allegiance to the U.S. when he became a naturalized citizen. In 1967, he married New Jersey native Joanne (nee Majkowski) and they welcomed their only child, Jeffrey Christopher, in 1969. The young family made their home in Hopkinton, where Ben helped found the youth soccer program. In the 1970s, his hard work led to a contract with the U.S. Coast Guard, where Benito helped develop and design a Coast Guard uniform that became known as “Bender Blues.” After retirement, Benito and Joanne eventually made a permanent move to their home in Naples, Florida, where Ben became the president of his community homeowners association. Benito was an

extremely proud father and grandfather. An avid fan of both the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, Ben was especially delighted when his son joined the field crew at Gillette Stadium, as he would intently watch the games for any glimpse of his son beside Tom Brady. After a brief battle with cancer, Benito was called home on March 6. His last moments were spent surrounded in love by his family. He is survived and missed terribly by his loving wife of 54 years, Joanne; his son, Jeffrey and wife Brenda and their sons Roman Alberto Michele and Nicolias (Nico) William; his sisters, Elena (Troiani) and Nora (Gormley); and many friends and family members. A funeral mass was held March 16 at St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Naples, Florida.

Gerald Brodeur Gerald “Gerry” Brodeur, age 82, a 29year resident of Nevada, passed away at home March 13 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Gerry was born in Hopkinton, to the late George and Ruth Brodeur. He is survived by brothers George and Joe and sister Susan Dubois. He is predeceased by his wife of 49 years, Judy, and son Paul. Gerry is survived by his sons, John and wife Julie of Londonderry, New Hampshire, and TJ and wife Susan of Bend, Oregon. He also leaves behind two grandchildren, Kyle and Nicholas. Gerry also is survived by his devoted companion of 10 years, Patricia Kleri, his neighbor Dawn Farrell, who he considered an adopted daughter, and his beloved dog, Mikey. Gerry attended Columbia University in New York, where he majored in economics and played football as a guard and center. While at Columbia, Gerald received a commission in the U.S. Marine Corps, completing initial officer training prior to graduation. Gerry began active duty in the Marines in 1961, serving for 20 years and retiring as a major. His service included combat tours in Vietnam and an advising role during the Yom Kippur War in Israel. His personal decorations include Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medals (with valor), and Combat Action Ribbon. While on active duty, Gerry became involved with the Toys for Tots program, something that he continued for the remainder of his life. Gerald was the quintessential Marine, as many of his

friends and family will attest. Following retirement from the Marine Corps, Gerry raised his family in Hawaii, where he worked for several years as a scuba diving instructor and later had a successful career in the electronic security industry. Gerry was a member of Kaneohe Yacht Club, where he served as Port Captain. Gerry and Judy moved in 1992 to Las Vegas, where he continued his career in the security industry until full retirement. He was a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, served as treasurer of the Las Vegas Toys for Tots, was president of his homeowners association and was an avid golfer. The family is deeply grateful to the staff at Nathan Adelson Hospice. A celebration of life will be held at a place and date to be determined. His ashes will be scattered in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Memorial donations can be made to the Las Vegas Toys for Tots (las-vegas-nv. toysfortots.org).

Peter Burdzel Peter John Burdzel, 76, of Hopkinton passed away March 7 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Born in Augusta, Maine, he was the son of the late Statia (Sliva) and John A. Burdzel. He was the husband of 50 years to Sharon (Shuster) Burdzel of Hopkinton. Peter was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved old cars and attending car shows, 1960s music, reading and solving puzzles, and spending time with good friends. But most of all he loved his family, especially his beautiful grandchildren. Besides his wife, Peter is survived by two sons, Bryan Burdzel and wife Nancy of Upton, and Jeffrey Burdzel and wife Olivia of Richmond, Rhode Island; his siblings, Julie Cybart of Beacon Falls, Connecticut, and Vikki Nault and husband Jerry of Windsor, Maine; grandchildren Alyssa, Cooper and Kayla Burdzel, and grand-dog Dany. He also leaves behind his father-in-law, J. Harold Shuster of Akron, Ohio; and in-laws Brian Shuster of Clinton, Ohio, Tim Shuster (Pam) and Susan Moore (Ron) of Akron, Ohio. He is predeceased by a sister, Barbara Veilleux. Services are private and are under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (dana-farber.org) or to a charity of one’s choice.

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22 • The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022

Police Log Editor’s note: Due to space limitations, this is an abbreviated version of the Police Log. For the full Police Log visit the Hopkinton Independent website at HopkintonIndependent.com.

March 1

10:30 a.m. A caller complained of a DPW truck in the middle of the roadway of Pond Street, forcing motorists to go through snow banks in order to pass. The Highway Department was notified. 12:33 p.m. Sergeants Scott van Raalten and Matthew McNeil and Officers Matthew Santoro, Jessica Ferreira and Jay Deiana responded along with the Fire Department to a fire on Mayhew Street. Eversource, the wire inspector, and landlord all were notified and responded. Officer Santoro assisted with foot traffic of children walking home from school through the area. 3:22 p.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Main Street. No injuries were reported. 6:28 p.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Benjamin Stickney, Jay Deiana and Jessica Ferreira responded to a motor vehicle accident on Cedar Street Extension. No personal injuries were reported.

March 2

9:38 a.m. A motorist reported the traffic lights on South Street were com-

pletely out. Officer Cody Normandin responded and found them functioning properly. 3:12 p.m. A caller reported an elderly man sitting in a car on Cedar Street with hazard lights on. Officer Cody Normandin responded and assisted a young male, who was awaiting a tow. 4:53 p.m. A motorist reported a vehicle failed to merge on West Main Street and nearly pushed her off the roadway. She wanted the incident logged. 5:26 p.m. A caller reported two dogs running in the roadway of Church Place. Officer Cody Normandin responded and returned the dogs to their owner.

March 3

3:23 a.m. On West Main Street, Officer Stephen Buckley assisted a man with foot pain. The Fire Department also responded to assist. 8:44 a.m. A caller reported icy road conditions on the small hill before the intersection. The DPW was notified for treatment. 10:18 a.m. A Chamberlain Street resident reported footprints in the snow around his house. Officer Moira McGaffigan spoke with the caller about the suspicious footprints. 3:42 p.m. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Brendon Lyver responded to a motor vehicle accident on Lumber Street. No personal injuries were reported.

10:30 a.m. A caller reported her Social Security number was stolen. Officer Moira McGaffigan responded and took a report. 12:44 p.m. A Robbern Road caller reported he snapped the handle of the main water shut off and could not stop his water. The Water Department was contacted and responded to shut off the water at the roadway. 1:38 p.m. A caller reported she “almost gets killed” every time she’s on Main Street. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil logged the caller’s complaint. 2:28 p.m. A caller reported a damaged vehicle was in a West Main Street parking lot all day. Officer Moira McGaffigan responded and checked the vehicle. 3:13 p.m. A Woodview Way caller requested an officer to remove a person from the rental office who was causing a disturbance. Officers Brendon Lyver and Moira McGaffigan responded and assisted. 10:19 p.m. A Carriage Hill Road resident complained of youths playing ding-dong ditch in the neighborhood. Officer Brittany Firth responded and checked the area with a negative find. 11:26 p.m. A Davenport Lane caller reported suspicious activity involving a car of teenagers that may have hit another vehicle in the area. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Stephen Buckley responded and spoke with the caller and viewed damage on a truck and spoke to people who were visiting a neighbor. Officer Buckley reported the operator of the vehicle was not involved in damaging the truck. 11:58 p.m. Officer Brittany Firth checked on a vehicle parked in front of a dry cleaner on Main Street. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Stephen Buckley responded as backup and administered field sobriety tests, and the driver was subsequently moved along.

March 5

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10:00 a.m. A caller reported a dog roaming around on Overlook Road. Officer Moira McGaffigan responded and located the owner. 3:38 p.m. An Oakhurst Road caller reported a suspicious vehicle in the area braking and reversing down the whole street. Officer Cody Normandin responded and checked the area with a negative find. 4:50 p.m. A caller reported a puppy and an adult dog walking on Whalen Road with no owner in sight. Officer Cody Normandin responded and the dogs were gone upon his arrival. 11:38 p.m. The Holliston Police Department reported an erratic operator headed toward Ash Street. Sergeant Arthur Schofield an Officer Brittany Firth responded and spoke with the operator.

March 6

9:39 a.m. A Connelly Hill Road resident reported someone rang her doorbell at 3:30 a.m., and in the morning three empty nips were found on her porch. Officer Stephen Buckley advised the caller to call 911 if someone rings the doorbell in the middle of the night. 12:00 p.m. Officer Brendon Lyver and Moira McGaffigan responded to a

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motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. No personal injuries were reported. 4:40 p.m. Officer Moira McGaffigan stood by on Main Street to keep the peace during a custody swap. 5:19 p.m. A Clinton Street resident reported the doors of an abandoned barn behind his property were open, and normally they are closed. Officer Robert Ekross responded and checked the barn and found all in order and no signs of anyone around. 9:43 p.m. An A Street caller reported a male rang her doorbell, and when she turned on the light, the individual took off. Officer Robert Ekross responded and spoke with the reporting person.

March 7

12:48 a.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Brittany Firth checked on two motor vehicles on South Street, one a rental with a flat tire that was left unlocked. The operator notified the rental company, and a tow was on the way. 8:19 a.m. A motorist complained of a tree company working in the roadway of Equestrian Drive, making it difficult for school buses to pass by. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and reported the roadway was passable and that the workers were going to be on their way. 10:24 a.m. A walk-in, the facilities manager for a business in town, reported youths entering and lingering and running around in his yard. Officer Cody Normandin assisted. A report was to follow. 1:05 p.m. On West Elm Street, Sergeant Matthew McNeil assisted a motor vehicle that lost its carrying load. 2:46 p.m. Officers Matthew Santoro and Cody Normandin responded to a Cranberry Lane residence and checked the garage and around the house and found nothing suspicious. 6:49 p.m. Officer Cody Normandin spoke with a female who had received threatening phone calls and messages. Officer Normandin took a statement and followed her home. A report was to follow.

March 8

12:27 a.m. A caller reported a tree fell and was blocking the roadway of Granite Street. Officer Shannon Beloin responded and moved a small dead tree off to the side of the road. 9:08 a.m. A caller reported fallen wires on Wood Street. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded along with the Fire Department. 9:11 a.m. Officer Jay Deiana assisted with fingerprinting a person at the station. 6:34 p.m. A caller reported two dogs running loose on Spring Street. Officer Robert Ekross responded and was unable to locate them. 7:04 p.m. A Castle Hill Road caller reported retrieving the two missing dogs from a previous call and notified the owner. The incident was logged.

March 9

8:55 a.m. Officer Cody Normandin responded to a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. No personal injuries were reported. A tow truck removed the vehicle.

The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022 • 23

Police Log March 10

2:06 a.m. Officer Brittany Firth checked on Sandy Beach on Lakeshore Drive.6:54 a.m. A motorist complained that the back window of a vehicle on Grove Street was not cleared off. Officer Jay Deiana responded and spoke with the driver at the intersection and told him to clear the snow from his back window. 1:13 p.m. A motorist reported that when she stopped on Main Street to allow pedestrians to cross the street, two vehicles passed her. She wanted the incident logged. 6:37 p.m. The Ashland Police Department reported dirt bike riders doing wheelies in Hopkinton near Lorigan Road. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Cody Normandin responded and checked the area with a negative find. 7:57 p.m. Sergeant William Burchard assisted a disabled motor vehicle on Main Street and provided a courtesy transport for the operator to the gas station. 9:02 p.m. A Woodview Way resident reported a male in blue basketball shorts and a hoodie yelling in Spanish at a female. Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Brendon Lyver and Cody Normandin responded and spoke with both parties. The male party was trying to fix the female’s vehicle. All checked out OK.

March 11

10:45 a.m. Officer Jay Deiana reported a motor vehicle accident on Hayden Rowe Street with no personal injuries. 12:29 p.m. A caller reported illegal dumping on Greenwood Road. Officer Brendon Lyver responded and reported a small amount of paper was thrown out. 3:52 p.m. A caller reported finding a loose dog on Hayden Rowe Street and left messages at the number on the dog’s tag. The animal control officer was notified. 5:37 p.m. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Cody Normandin responded to a report of a fight on West Main Street and took a report. 5:40 p.m. A third-party caller reported a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Main Street. Officer Robert Ekross responded and found debris and a license plate in the roadway but no vehicles. Officer Ekross notified the Milford Police Department about the license plate belonging to a Milford resident. 5:56 p.m. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Coy Normandin assisted a disabled motor vehicle on West Main Street and moved the vehicle off the roadway to allow traffic through. 9:27 p.m. A caller reported an erratic operator on Frostpane Lane who was swerving and driving over the yellow line. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Robert Ekross responded and issued a verbal warning to the driver, who stated he was trying to avoid potholes.

March 12

1:48 a.m. While making checks of East Street property, Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Shannon Beloin reported multiple vehicles and tents set up and subsequently contacted the YMCA director. The boy scouts were given permission to camp. All was OK.

8:54 a.m. A Prestwick Drive resident reported her dog was attacked at the dog park the previous day. The animal control officer was notified. 10:33 a.m. A Carriage Hill Road resident reported the outside odor of natural gas. Officer Brendon Lyver responded along with the Fire Department and Eversource. 5:36 p.m. A caller reported a tree fell on Ash Street and possibly snapped a pole and took down wires. Officer Robert Ekross responded along with the Fire Department and Eversource. Verizon was notified. Pat of Ash Street up to Front Street was closed. 8:36 p.m. A caller reported a tree fell in the roadway of Canterbury Lane and there were sparks in the air and debris in the roadway. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Cody Normandin responded and notified the Fire Department and also found low-hanging electrical wires. Significant damage to a guardrail was found, along with a mailbox in the roadway. The road was closed. 11:00 p.m. A caller reported a tree fell on primary wires on Winter Street. Officer Shannon Beloin responded and notified Eversource and placed a barricade on the street.

responded, took a report and subsequently provided the person with a courtesy transport to Westborough. 3:18 p.m. A Saddle Hill Road caller reported her house was broken into and items were stolen. Sergeants Aaron O’Neil and Gregg DeBoer and Officer Robert Ekross responded and took a report. 6:50 p.m. A walk-in reported an issue between her daughter and another party. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil spoke with the walk-in about the civil dispute. 7:26 p.m. An Ash Street resident reported his mailbox was stolen. Officer Shannon Beloin responded and took a report. 9:25 p.m. A Pond Street caller reported someone was attempting to enter his house. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Robert Ekross and Shannon Beloin responded and checked the house and area and found nothing out of the ordinary. 10:04 p.m. A Pond Street caller reported hearing scratching at a different door from before. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Robert Ekross and Shannon Beloin responded and checked the area with a negative find. Officer Beloin was to stay and patrol the area.

March 13

March 14

5:48 a.m. Officer Brittany Firth reported a tree fell on wires on Clinton Street. Eversource and a tree company were contacted. 9:30 a.m. A Connelly Hill Road resident reported finding empty alcohol bottles on her front porch and footprints in the snow, similar to a previous incident at her house. Officer Brittany Firth responded and went across the street to a neighbor’s to check for cameras. 12:57 p.m. A caller reported finding a loose brown and white dog with no collar or tags on Cunningham Street. The animal control officer was contacted and advised the person to take the dog to Baypath Humane Society. 1:06 p.m. An employee at a Main Street business reported a male was causing a disturbance, and when asked to leave, he started swearing and became agitated. Officer Brittany Firth

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3:41 a.m. A Commonwealth Avenue resident reported a tractor-trailer jackknifed and caused damage to his front lawn. Officer Stephen Buckley responded and reported four sets of tire tracks in the owner’s lawn. 4:39 a.m. A Walker Street caller reported someone was on a bike sitting in front of her house and she couldn’t leave for work. Officer Jay Deiana responded and reported the man on the bike was not there, and the caller was able to get out of her driveway. 7:19 a.m. Officer Cody Normandin responded to a motor vehicle crash with airbag deployment in two of three involved cars on West Main Street. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded as backup. Two tow trucks were requested. Verizon responded to repair damage to a pole. No personal injuries were reported.

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24 • The Hopkinton Independent • March 23, 2022

Because Because Because Your Your Your Family's Family's Family's

Baypath Adoptable Animal of the Week

Health Health Health & Safety &Because Safety & Safety Matters Matters Matters Most Most Most To Us To To UsUs Your Family’s

ach week, the IndepenHealth & Safety Matters dent highlights an animal availMost To Us able for adoption at Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton. Health & Safety Matters Most To Us This week we feature Piper, a 7-month-old female. Here is Baypath’s description of Piper: “Piper is the sweetest girl, and she’s looking for a dog friend to call her own! She is a little shy at first, and is looking for a patient family and most importantly a dog brother or sister to help her blossom! “Not only does she have the cutest spots, she’s also so soft! Piper loves to play! She is happiest when she has a dog around! They help build her confidence, and can help make scary things not so scary. Cats are too exciting for this young lady! No cats in her home, please. She loves her crate! It is her safe place, and where she collects all her toys! Piper has learned that couches are very cozy! Maybe she can snuggle up with your pup on the couch this winter? “Piper would love to live in a home with a fenced-in yard, she is still working on her leash skills, so the fence will help to keep her safe. She also would do best in a quiet area. Lots of traffic or city life would be too much for her! “Piper would be happiest in a home with older teens or adults. Once she is comfortable with you she gives the best snuggles! She is already working hard to learn new things, she knows sit, touch and wait! She’s ready for more training with her new family to help boost her confidence even more!” For more information on Piper and any of the other available pets at Baypath, email adopt@baypathhumane.org or visit baypathhumane.org/adopt. amily Family Owned Family Owned & Owned Operated & Operated & Operated Serving Serving MetroWest Serving MetroWest MetroWest Boston Boston Since Boston Since 1968 Since 1968 1968 Family Owned & Operated Serving MetroWest Boston Since 1968 For more Adoptable Animals of the Week, check the Hopkinton Independent website at HopkintonIndependent.com.

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