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HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 21 | No. 8 | April 22, 2020
Emphasis on mental health during pandemic By Gethin Coolbaugh Contributing Writer
M
COVER ME
Select Board member John Coutinho poses with the statue of longtime Boston Marathon starter George Brown at the Town Common after placing a protective mask on it to raise awareness for public safety. The mask was made by Hopkinton High School student Emily Karp. For more photos of masks on statues in town, check the Hopkinton Independent website at HopkintonIndependent.com.
aintaining mental health during times of quarantine and social distancing is just as important as any other coronavirus-related precaution. That’s why local therapists like Abbie Rosenberg are using their training to help individuals and groups in Hopkinton during these uncertain times. Rosenberg founded the Mental Health Collaborative on Wood Street one year ago — in memory of a patient who committed suicide — with a mission of “building resilient communities through mental health education and awareness.” “That was really needed before this pandemic, but I think it’s going to be even more necessary when life starts to normalize,” Rosenberg said. “Because people are having, understandably, a really hard time with this.” Rosenberg said local community groups have reached out to her for Mental health | 12
Hopkinton-bred nurse honored on ‘Kimmel’
INSIDE PANDEMIC
By Jerry Spar Managing Editor
A
pril 7 started out like a normal day — well, the new normal, during the pandemic — for Hopkinton native Taylor Chace-Myers. An ICU nurse at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Chace-Myers works the overnight shift (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) at the hospital. On that morning Chace-Myers received a text message from a fellow nurse, telling her to expect a phone call from the producers of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Chace-Myers had been chosen as the show’s #HealthCareHero after her coworker, who had been contacted by one of the show’s producers, nominated her. Health Care Hero | 14
Residents find ways to show support
2
POLICE
Home invasion fugitive arrested, arraigned
8
SCHOOLS Taylor Chace-Myers (left) was honored by talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and given a $10,000 gift for her work as a nurse at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Transportation issues remain problematic
11
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2 • The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020
Hopkinton Independent The Hopkinton Independent is published by Hopkinton Independent, LLC, 32 South St., Westborough, MA 01581. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of the ad that was in error if notified in writing within three business days of the publication date. All material is the property of the Hopkinton Independent. Permission must be obtained in writing before reproducing any material. The Hopkinton Independent is delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to 100 percent of the homes and businesses in Hopkinton, reaching more than 7,200 addresses. It also is available at Hopkinton Public Library and Town Hall as well as dozens of other sites through town.
STAFF
t’s not surprising that so many people in town have stepped up and found ways to help each other during the coronavirus pandemic. That said, it is impressive how creative some people have gotten in finding ways to support and honor their neighbors and friends, especially those most in harm’s way. Here’s a look at a few such people and projects. There are others, and we’ll highlight more uplifting stories at our website (HopkintonIndependent.com).
INDEPENDENT THOUGHTS JERRY SPAR
Publisher: David Bagdon Dir. of Business Development: Susanne Odell Farber Founder: Sarah Lothrop Duckett Managing Editor: Jerry Spar
For advertising, contact Susanne Odell Farber at: Cell: 508-954-8148 or email: sue@sodellconsult.com Or you may call the Hopkinton Independent at: 508-435-5188 (office), 508-366-2812 (fax) 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.
Front Porch Project Local photographers Sara Maida and Bernadette Markey heard about the Front Porch Project from a woman in another Massachusetts town and decided to see if it would work in Hopkinton. “It started with a photographer in Needham, The DeCandia family enjoys a light moment while posing who went around to dif- for a picture as part of the Front Porch Project. ferent families and took front porch pictures,” Maida said. “A few of us in town saw it and thought it would be a great thing to use our talents to help others.” Added Maida: “I initially started [publicizing] it with the Hopkinton Moms Group just to see where the interest was. Then every time somebody posted a picture I’d probably get five or six additional emails from it. It’s just been a lot of word of mouth.” Maida and Markey visit a family, take a few quick photos in front of their house (staying a safe distance away, of course), email them the photos and request a donation — “Whatever they feel comfortable donating,” Maida said — to the local food pantry Project Just Because. In addition to raising money for a worthy cause, the project has allowed people to have more human interaction. “I think it helps everyone’s morale,” Maida said. “A lot of people have said, ‘It’s the first time I’ve gotten dressed since this all started,’ [or] ‘It’s the first time my family really spent five minutes just sitting.’ We’re able to capture a moment in time that we’ll hopefully never get back again. “They feel it gave the family a moment to be real, a moment to do something outside of sitting in their houses or whatever they’ve been doing since they’ve been stuck inside.” PHOTO/SARA MAIDA PHOTOGRAPHY
Editorial contributors: JEAN CANN, LYN CALKINS, MICHELLE SANFORD, MELISSA ORFF, CHRIS VILLANI, DEBORAH BURKE HENDERSON, Tricia LaCascia, John Cardillo, Ed Turner, John Buday, Sandy Quadros Bowles, Christine Strickland, Gethin Coolbaugh
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The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020 • 3 As of last week Maida had visited more than 40 homes and had a similar number on her waiting list. She goes out every few days, weather-depending, and tries to hit 15-20 homes in a two-hour window. Maida said the project has been as enjoyable for her as her subjects. “It’s been great for me to see other people besides the three people that live in my house, and have the brief social interaction,” she said. “I think that’s how everybody else feels. Sometimes people want to have you stay and talk for hours.” For more information on the Front Porch Project, email semaida@gmail.com or bernadettemarkey39@gmail.com.
If We ALL Work Together, We Will Rise ABOVE
Bear Hunt goes big If you noticed a lot of stuffed bears outside homes on March 28, that was no coincidence. Inspired by the children’s book “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt,” residents were asked to display bears in their front window, driveway or yard. One participant reported seeing 55 bears in neighborhoods all over town. Organizer Anne Mattina explained that she heard about a similar event being planned in her Western Massachusetts hometown, so she thought she’d try it here. She pushed it out on social media, and the response was impressive. “People really embraced it, which was great,” Mattina said. “It was just a great way to spend an hour to two without violating the [restrictions] we’re living under, in terms of social distancing.”
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Town Common tribute Lindsay McDermott wanted to honor all those people who are putting themselves at risk during the pandemic — first responders and medical workers, to be sure, but also all the other people who are doing their part to help the public get through this difficult time, including supermarket employees, delivery drivers and others. Her idea was a tribute on the Town Common. “Basically we have lawn signs, and we are putting the name of someone on each sign to honor them,” she explained. “It will be like the Fire Department but also people in town who are working on the front line — if they’re nurses, or doctors, or the guys delivering oil in town, anything like that. We’re just calling these people out in town and saying there are this many people helping out, we should be thankful for them.” McDermott originally planned to use a small area of the Town Common, but she already had 250 names as of April 13, so the display will be a lot bigger than anticipated. And that’s fine with her. “It’s kind of been crazy, the outpouring we’ve had,” she said. “We thought we were really going to have to search out some of these people. It was easy to get the DPW and the Fire Department and the police, but people have been reaching out with other members of the community. And I’d love to still have more names of people. I know there’s a ton of people out there who aren’t being honored, and they really should be for what they’re working on and doing.” Added McDermott: “A resident in town emailed and said her husband is a manager [at a supermarket in a neighboring town]. I told her he’d already been
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Independent thoughts | 4
We must learn from pandemic, fix health care
H
ow can a virus create such economic havoc and decimate a large number of people in a matter of weeks? In January the virus felt very remote since it was in China. Then came Europe, and we were still watching, helpless and sorry for what Italy, Spain and others were going While all this LETTERS TO through. time went by, our counTHE EDITOR try had the arrogance to believe that since we have the best of everything, we would vanquish this culprit in no time. But the truth is we are not the strong giant we think we are. None of the countries have come out victorious from the pandemic, including ours. Sadly, it has uncovered many of our own American problems that put us far behind some other countries in regards to “stress” values. With the economy crashing down and job losses, we now face another health pandemic — one that leaves so many people without health coverage, adding to the many part-time workers who are without coverage. Although the government is trying to come up with a solution while the pandemic is being fought, it is a temporary fix, barely a band-aid if you are lucky enough to navigate successfully through an already overwhelmed
system just to avoid financial ruin. What all of us must realize is that none of us is immune from these threats and, therefore, it is time to think of a better way, reflecting equity and justice for all during current and future pandemics. Whether you pray to God or not, no matter which party you support, it is time to pull our resources together, the best one being human capital. Look around and see what human capital does: doctors, nurses, front-line workers, first responders, food workers, everyday people all over the country pitching in one way or another. With COVID-19 we’ve all become equal and one, which means we’re not so different after all. We are capable of empathy, resilience, acceptance and unity. It is incumbent upon us to pursue those efforts of unity and equality beyond the crisis to make this a better world for all. We must trust that human capital is the steady force that will create and generate new ideas needed to overcome the many problems uncovered by this pandemic. As we create more space for love for one another, we must create solutions to fix our very American problems, including our health care system, something we all deserve. — Nathalie Scott, Hopkinton
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4 • The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020
Town declares emergency, adopts tax relief measures The Select Board unanimously decided at its April 7 meeting to declare a state of emergency in Hopkinton due to the coronavirus pandemic. Governor Charlie Baker already had declared Massachusetts to be in a state of emergency, but the move makes the town available for additional funding. The declaration was set to remain in effect NEWS BRIEFS until rescinded by the Select Board, unless the governor first rescinds Massachusetts’ state of emergency. The board also voted to adopt several tax relief provisions, including an extension of the due date for fourthquarter real estate and personal property taxes from May 1 to June 1, and an extension of the due date for applications for property tax exemptions to June 1. The board also voted to waive interest and other penalties for late payments of property taxes, betterment assessments, water/sewer bills or any other charges added to tax for payments with a due date on or after March 10, when payment is made by June 30. “COVID-19 has imposed economic hardships on many residents of Hopkinton and across the commonwealth,” Town Manager Norman Khumalo said. “The Select Board’s actions provide all the relief available under the law.”
The intersection at Hayden Rowe and Chestnut Street was repaved April 14, one of the final steps to completing the road improvement project.
PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
The project, which began almost two years ago, provides the intersection with new, full-service traffic lights and a widened roadway, allowing for dedicated turn lanes. The primary cause for the delay, according to the town, was Verizon’s lack of urgency to relocate and reconnect a utility pole.
Intersection repaved
Old Towne Pound to be restored
The oft-delayed Hayden Rowe/ Chestnut Street intersection improvement project moved closer to completion April 14, as workers repaved the road.
Resident Jane Moran appeared before the Select Board during its April 7 meeting and was granted permission
to fix up the Old Towne Pound on West Main Street. Moran said the stones that form the circular pound used to be chest high in the 1970s, but the current formation is much lower due to neglect. Moran said local landscape designer New View offered to do the bulk of the work restoring the wall. Residents Art Brooks and Jeff Barnes also have volunteered to help with the project. Moran is seeking $1,200 for signs that will tell the history of the pound, which she said was one of a few in town that date back to the 1700s and were built to contain livestock that residents left in the center of town to graze.
ATOZ community meeting May 7 The Select Board voted to allow ATOZ Laboratories to hold its required community outreaching meeting virtually given the state’s emergency situation. The company is seeking to establish a marijuana testing lab at 100 South St. The meeting will be held Thursday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m.
Those interested in listening and/or asking questions can call 413-240-4743 and use the ID number 429 135 160#.
Water limits in effect May 1 The Hopkinton Water Department announced that the town again is required to implement a mandatory restriction on non-essential outdoor water use in order to protect stream flow and aquatic life and ensure sustainable drinking water. The restriction is in effect from May 1 through Sept. 30. Sprinklers can be used for lawn watering two days per week outside the hours of 7 a.m.-7 p.m. All other outdoor non-essential use is permitted daily outside the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents in Precincts 1 and 3 may water on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Precincts 2 and 4 may water on Wednesday and Fridays. Lawn watering is not allowed on Saturdays, Sundays or Mondays. This only applies to those water services connected to the municipal water system. A normal lawn only needs about 1 inch of water per week. If rain is expected, or has just occurred, then systems should be shut off for the remainder of the week in order to avoid unnecessary and wasteful water use. Residents should check to ensure that their system is not dispensing more than what is needed during a dry week as well. Due to the twice-per-week restriction, the common belief is the sprinkler system needs to run for extended hours to maintain a green lawn, which is not the case. An irrigation company can set sprinklers to maintain the minimum amount required. Any person violating the town’s water use restriction by-law shall receive a written warning for the first offense and a $100 fine (included on the next water bill) for the second offense. For any further violations, water service may be suspended. For more information, visit the Water and Sewer Department page at the town’s website (hopkintonma.gov).
Independent thoughts | from page 3
nominated. She called me and was in tears that somebody would have already nominated him. She thought it was amazing that somebody had already thought of her husband. So I think it’s wonderful for everybody involved.” McDermott enlisted help from fellow residents Davinia Magargal, Jessica Staffieri, Sophia Vernovsky, Natasha Clarke, Missy Doran, Laura Wauters and Rachel Dobinski to pay for the signs and hand-write each name. The Dobinski family also donated a large thank you sign that will explain the project. “I have a friend who’s a nurse with three kids in town,” McDermott said. “She goes in and she comes home and she always worries that she’s bringing it back to the kids, but there’s not much that she can do about it. They should be honored for having their families go through it. It’s tough for all of us to sit at home, but I can only imagine how much worse it is being out there.” For more information on the Town Common tribute or to nominate someone to be honored, email lindsay.mcdermott@yahoo.com.
K of C supports PJB Like many others, the Bishop Rice Council of the Knight of Columbus (serving Hopkinton and Ashland) had an event canceled due to the pandemic. Instead of giving up on the Food For Families food drive, the council is taking it online. The virtual food drive to support Project Just Because is on now. There are two ways to support PJB. The preferred method is to purchase an Amazon e-Gift Card and have it emailed to pjboffice@comcast.net. That will allow Project Just Because to buy items in bulk and have them delivered to the PJB office on South Street. The second option is to visit the PJB website at projectjustbecause.org, scroll down to Amazon Wishlists, Food Pantry, and donate there. Again, the items will be shipped directly to the PJB office.
HopkintonIndependent.com
The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020 • 5
Local author seeks to reverse trend of desensitized culture Ciaramicoli urges large-world thinking in latest book By Deborah Burke Henderson Contributing Writer
When we deepen our understanding of human nature, our view of the world and of ourselves widens. From this perspective, we discover forgiveness for others and for ourselves.
I
n his most recent nonfiction work, “The Triumph of Diversity: How to Rejoice and Benefit from the Interconnectedness of Humankind,” Hopkinton resident Arthur P. Ciaramicoli, Ed.D., Ph.D., examines the recent resurgence of hate, prejudice and divisiveness within the American culture. “I never intended to write this book,” Ciaramicoli stated, “but the rising rate of prejudice in this society is deeply troubling. It’s up to each of us to live with empathy, understand and embrace diversity, and reverse this dangerous trend.” A licensed clinical psychologist for more than 35 years, Ciaramicoli’s life work is helping people see their potential, uncovering the good within and guiding individuals to overcome prejudice toward themselves and others. In “Triumph,” the author points out that much of prejudice is based on learning from distorted sources, but also that a degree of prejudice and discrimination is based on one’s own unresolved hurts. He explains that when the origin of prejudice cannot become identified, it is often the result of conditioning from the past that has not been examined earlier in an objective manner. Based on distortions, these lessons often are passed down from generation to generation. Several studies cited prove discriminatory behavior is rooted in the desire
— Arthur Ciaramicoli
to conform to the norms of the group to which one belongs, and that fear often is based on inaccurate assumptions. “Prejudice and discrimination are learned, just as appreciation for diversity and acceptance and joy in engaging those who seem different is also
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learned,” he stated. “We must work to end Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, because the struggle is the same — to preserve diversity, inclusiveness and the freedom to be and to speak without fear of reprisal.” He shares stories about people who have overcome prejudice and stereotypes from neo-Nazi white supremacists to a teenage Muslim boy, from religious, business and education leaders to everyday people. He shows how having an open mind and an open heart has enriched their lives. “When we deepen our understanding of human nature, our view of the world and of ourselves widens,” he said. “From this perspective, we discover forgiveness for others and for ourselves.” He addresses “the scary trend of becoming a desensitized culture.”
Credible research cites that frequent exposure to hate speech online or in person desensitizes those listening to forms of verbal violence against particular groups. A study featured in the journal Aggressive Behavior verified that hate speech breeds hate and violence. “This exposure lessens the perceived suffering of victims and increases prejudice to whatever group is being demeaned,” he stated, adding, “Every time we demean another person for their imperfections, we revisit the times the same behavior was done to us.” He notes that trust in both business and political leaders is at an all-time low, and that there is a toxicity in leaders who demonstrate “pathological certainty,” the need to always be right. The author urges humankind to expand their minds to see the advantages of living and working in a diverse environment. Ciaramicoli shows us that awareness and acknowledgement of a biased view is the beginning of changing a Ciaramicoli | 7
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6 • The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020
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This issue’s winner is Carol Quinlan for her photo of the family’s dog, Henri, helping pass the time by working on a puzzle during the pandemic. 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 — especially people passing time during the COVID-19 outbreak.
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he Edible Book Festival, normally held at the Hopkinton Public Library, selected its winners earlier this month via an online vote. The winner in the family category, with 41.5 percent of the vote, was a creation by Kristen Fonseca based on “Strega Nona” by Tomie dePaolo. Second place went to Kristen and Lauren Strechay for their work based on “The Great Alone” by Kristin Hannah. Third place went to Bret, Allison, Audrey and Lorelei Johnson for their work based on “Pineapple Pete’s Remarkable Feast” by Josephine Baskin Minow.
HopkintonIndependent.com
In the adult category, the winner in a close race, with 33.8 percent of the vote, was Amy Ritterbusch for her creation based on “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson. Second place, with 32.3 percent of the vote, went to Allison Johnson for her work based on “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” by Beverly Cleary. Third place, with 29.2 percent of the vote, went to Amanda Schwarz for her work based on the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. The Edible Book Festival was started in 2016 as part of Girl Scout Troop 65040’s Bronze Award project to promote reading and literacy, and has become an annual tradition. This year’s festival was scheduled to be held on March 27 at Hopkinton Library, but had to be canceled due to concerns with the coronavirus. Instead, the troop created a new platform for entry and voting, using Google forms.
The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020 • 7
Local playwright helps children face difficult issues
TODAY’S MARKET
If you are thinking of selling your home, I would be happy to discuss the current market and what you can expect given the new Covid-19 conditions.
By Michelle Sanford Contributing Writer
T
hrough her own experiences being bullied in elementary school, longtime Hopkinton resident Cheryl Melody Baskin has come out the other side and is now determined to help other children facing those same issues. “I know what it’s like to feel isolated, bullied, teased — all those things,” said Baskin, an author, life coach, singer, motivational speaker and playwright. “Everything I’ve done in my professional life has been the result of trying to change the world a little bit by raising awareness in children and adults.” Through the years, Baskin has been fine-tuning a play she wrote about various types of bullying and social pressures children may be dealing with these days. The three-act musical theatrical production, “Peace Begins with You and Me,” is an educational resource that seeks to teach children how powerful their words, actions, feelings and thoughts can be. Messages encourage children to turn negative actions into positive actions through anti-bullying, inclusion, empathy and nonviolence. Baskin wrote the play to include modern-day scenarios that children may be experiencing such as cyberbullying, school shootings, childhood suicide and prejudice, as well as how to change patterns of behavior through teamwork, tolerance, friendships, kindness and using social media for positive changes. She said with social media a large part of children’s lives today, cyberbullying is on the rise and therefore the play certainly is relevant. “When I was a kid, bullying happened in the neighborhood and school. Now kids can bully online, viciously. Kids have committed suicide because of it,” she said. “I’d love to see social media used more positively; sending positive messages to one another.” An important part of the play focuses on “peace promises,” during which members of the cast make promises to recognize and change their negative behavior or simply promise to help others in their community, respect their parents, or be kinder. The script can be edited and used as teachers or organizations see fit.
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Everything I’ve done in my professional life has been the result of trying to change the world a little bit by raising awareness in children and adults. — Cheryl Melody Baskin “The script is flexible and can be used in a small classroom or a full theater experience. It’s a great performing arts opportunity for a classroom, a school, home school, Sunday school — all sized groups,” said Baskin. “It would be great for high school students to perform for elementary students or for a classroom to read aloud in class.” The script — for sale online through Amazon or Baskin’s website (cherylmelody.com) — includes a director’s guide, song lyrics and music sheets. There are no licensing or royalty fees. Today, as an adult, Baskin now views her own bullying experiences very differently than when she was a child. “Bad experiences can be gifts,” she said. “They teach us what not to do and what we want to do.”
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Local author seeks to reverse trend of desensitized culture Ciaramicoli | from page 5
perspective one comes to see as untrue. That individuals who work on changing their internal dialogue from negative to positive are usually the same people who become committed to not only seeing the truth about themselves but are likely to become committed to seeing the truth about others. Triumph shows that two factors are clear — countries, states, communities and individuals are healthier, happier and less prone to discriminate and harm others when individuals have expanded empathic ranges. What is also clear is that “declining empathy is a danger sign for our country.” Feeling compassion for those suffering in the world, locally, nationally
and internationally connects us all to our shared humanity. “We — you and I — can change the negative trend in our country, and maybe the world, if we don’t generalize, don’t demonize and don’t make assumptions about people or their choices without knowing the facts,” Ciaramicoli said. “We could be a better people and nation if we focused on taking the time to listen and learn from those who seem to have different perspectives than us.” “The Triumph of Diversity” is available online at open-bks.com and Amazon.com. Visit BalanceYourSuccess.com for more information about Ciaramicoli or to view his bookshelf for other recommended readings and read his blog.
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8 • The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020
Hopkinton police, fire, DPW bring smiles to birthday parties Members of Hopkinton’s Police Department, Fire Department and DPW have been celebrating birthdays in style during the pandemic.
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opkinton’s new police chief, Joseph Bennett, is looking to continue to find creative ways to engage and connect with the community, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. One of the most successful programs has involved officers driving past the homes of children celebrating birthdays or other special events. “We put a posting out to let people know we would come by, and it has really evolved quickly,” Bennett said. “As we’ve moved forward, we are getting fantastic feedback. It’s a quick opportunity to engage the people.” Initially, police officers or firefighters would stop by a child’s house on their special day. Given the current need for social distancing, representatives from the Police Department, Fire Department and Department of Public Works have been teaming up to put together a parade to drive by the house, Bennett said. The trucks and police cars line up down the road and slowly drive by the house with lights, sirens and horns announcing their presence. “We have been doing at least two per day and people seem to love it,” Bennett said. “It’s our way of saying we are here, we are always here, and we are happy to do it for the public.”
Involving the Fire Department and DPW, and their enthusiastic participation, shows the “character of the community,” Bennett said. The response from the public has been tremendous. A total of 51 birthdays or special events were on Bennett’s calendar between April 1 and April 10, with more coming in every day. “We need stuff like this,” he said. “Many communities are doing this, there is so much support, and we want to make sure that we are staying connected.” The birthday visits are part of a larger effort that started under former HPD Chief Edward Lee to expand community engagement. It’s something Bennett wants to continue and build upon now that he has taken over the top role. The plan involved first reaching out to the community to gauge expectations and see what people want from the Police Department. Being connected with the town and its residents and businesses is something that has always been of value to the police, Bennett said. “We are working to enhance that by spreading it out through the rank and file and getting more engagement,” he said.” Once we get through [the pandemic], we are going to get police officers out into the community more and engage with the business community. We are going to begin doing that right away.”
Fugitive arrested, returned to Hopkinton A
fugitive wanted for a Hopkinton home invasion in 2011 was arrested earlier this month in Rhode Island and returned to Hopkinton to be arraigned. On April 5, police in Burrillville, Rhode Island, acted on a tip that Carlos Ortiz was in nearby Woonsocket, and they arrested him on an outstanding warrant. The 28-year-old Ortiz was held as a fugitive from justice at the Adult Correctional Facility in Cranston, Rhode Island. After waiving his rights to extradition, Ortiz was transported to the Hopkinton Police Department on April 9. A video conference arraignment was held at the police station, and Ortiz was ordered held without bail and transferred to the Billerica House of Corrections. Ortiz was wanted for a November 2011 home invasion that occurred on Lincoln Street in Hopkinton, where a mother and her adult son were tied
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up and robbed at gunpoint. While two other men — Jared LeMay and Corey Ridolfi, both of Cumberland, Rhode Island — were arrested in 2012 and convicted in 2016, Ortiz, charged with conspiracy to commit home invasion as well as home invasion, never appeared at his arraignment. The men were connected to a string of armed home invasions and robberies in Franklin and Rhode Island. Police said in 2012 that the victims were chosen randomly, but the suspects had connections — in the form of family, friends or employment — to the neighborhoods where the crimes were committed. The HPD credited Sgt. Timothy Brennan, the Franklin Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and the FBI for their efforts in the case. “This case is an example of multi-agency/multijurisdictional collaboration,” HPD Chief Joseph Bennett said. “Thank you to all who helped us solve this crime and get this violent fugitive off the streets.”
The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020 • 9
New HPD Chief Bennett: ‘No other place I would rather be’ By Chris Villani Contributing Writer
J
FILE PHOTO/JIM KLEINKAUF
oseph Bennett has been preparing for the challenge of leading a police force during a crisis for some time now. The newly named Hopkinton police chief also is an adjunct professor at Dean College in Franklin, and among the topics he covers is crisis management. One of his first slides, one that he said his students never quite saw as a serious threat, addresses pandemics. “It’s not if, but when, the next pandemic will happen,” Bennett said in an interview, referring to the slide. “A lot of really smart people have been trying to raise our guard about this.” Bennett takes over the Hopkinton police department in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had infected more than 28,000 Massachusetts residents and killed nearly 900 through April 14, the middle of an 11-day period when officials predicted there would be a surge in both cases and deaths in the state. “With this happening now, there is no other place I would rather be than here, doing this job, during these times,” Bennett said. “It’s something I have been studying. I’ve lectured and taught on some of these topics and that has helped us quickly get into motion safeguards to protect the people here in the building and around town.” Bennett most recently served as deputy chief before he was unanimously appointed by the Hopkinton Board of Selectmen to replace Edward Lee, who resigned after six years leading the department. Bennett has been with the HPD for more than 25 years. He joined as a patrolman in 1993 and has moved up through the ranks, holding positions as a detective, sergeant and administrative lieutenant. He was tabbed interim chief following Lee’s departure on April 3, and the Select Board awarded Bennett the position April 7, pending a successful contract negotiation. “It has been an intense week, to say the least,” Bennett said. “When the board selected me, I was overwhelmed with happiness. I have tried to work hard and do the right things for my career, and to make it to this position is such an honor.” But the focus quickly shifted to the task at hand: leading the department through a crisis the likes of which few have ever seen. The days have been long, and Bennett has referred back to his training and teaching often. “Epidemics and pandemics, crisis response, they are all topics I have covered, which means you have to go out and study them before you can present them,” he said. “I find that the time I invest in teaching has helped me learn a lot and grow.” And, he admits, “I never thought it would be so applicable.” As Bennett steps into his new role, he is looking to impress upon the people of Hopkinton the vital importance of social distancing and staying home whenever possible in the hopes of curbing the virus’s spread. He encouraged residents to only go out for essential needs and to get some exercise by walking or running, being careful to give each
Joseph Bennett sits with his wife, Wendy, and grandchildren Hopper, 5, and Mable, 2, at the Select Board meeting in March 2019 when he was named deputy chief.
other plenty of space. Some of the trails in town are getting so crowded that people are getting too close to one another, Bennett said. “If you want to wear a cloth mask out of respect for others, that’s great,” he added. “As a society, we have to recognize that the wearing of a surgical mask is for the respect and care
of others.” The novel coronavirus has upended life around the world, and that has been felt acutely in Hopkinton through the postponement of the Boston Marathon from April 20 to Sept.14. Bennett, who also teaches courses in sports and special event planning, said the marathon is his favorite project and he enjoys coor-
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dinating with so many other groups from federal law enforcement partners to the Boston Athletic Association. “We can deliver the marathon, absolutely,” he said. “What we will need is guidance from our public health officials. Given the present state of the pandemic, we are planning for the fact that it’s not going to be gone, it’s not going to go away. The preventive vaccine is not going to be here by the fall.” Those sobering facts leave Bennett looking to public health experts and officials to let him and his officers know what kinds of modifications may need to be made, but he promised, “We will do everything we can to deliver the marathon in September.” “There is a long history, the years it’s been going through tragic events, wars, economic depression, it’s a symbol of resiliency,” Bennett said. “The whole story is resiliency.” Select Board chair Brendan Tedstone said Bennett was to be officially pinned on camera at the board’s next online meeting, which was scheduled for April 21. While Bennett has been able to enjoy his professional success with his wife, Wendy, he said he will have to put off a larger social gathering to commemorate his ascension to chief with the pandemic ongoing. But it’s something that is in the cards when the time is right. “I love being with people and I am looking forward to having a big party and celebrating my new position,” he said. “Wendy and I try to focus on the positive, we have a lot to celebrate.”
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10 • The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020
Creativity, fun at Miss Tanya’s By Deborah Burke Henderson Contributing Writer
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he experienced staff at Miss Tanya’s Family of Nursery Schools and its popular summer camps is committed to providing an enriching, creative and exciting early childhood experience for preschoolers in a safe, caring environment. Registration is open for all three Westborough locations, and summer programming begins June 9. Camper ages range from 2 years and 9 months to 7 years, and parents typically register children for a three-day session (Tuesday through Thursday) of three or four hours. “Safety is our top priority, and we’ll be following whatever health guidelines may be in place at the time summer camp
HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS
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starts,” stated Lorraine Swanson, director of Miss Tanya’s Nursery School in downtown Westborough. “We do all we can to give children the best possible first-school experience.” Each two-week session is theme-oriented and will include center time, open-ended activities, music and movement, and plenty of outdoor play on the spacious playground area. Programs emphasize socialization skills, teamwork, creativity and a focus on the whole child. “It’s all about making summer camp fun and instilling a love of learning,” Swanson said. “We nurture the joy of being a child with all its wonder and curiosity.” Miss Tanya’s offers preschoolers a wonderfully creative environment. Children explore, play and build with all things imaginable, including finger paints, water, fabric, blocks, tiles, wood and countless other materials. Creativity and imagination are fostered, fine motor skills engaged and, most of all, youngsters have fun in a loving, supervised environment. Teachers are professionally educated and licensed through the Department of Early Education and Care, and sessions typically include 40 campers with an adequate camper-teacher ratio. “I love setting up that love of learning for the rest of a child’s life,” Swanson noted, adding, “The children are so brave at trying Children 2.9 years new things, working together on projects of theirand ownolder making Each session its the ownbest theme and growing more independent every day.with I have of both worlds, being a teacher here as well as the director.” Visit misstanya.com for program details about any of Miss Tanya’s three locations. Contact directors Lorraine Swanson (508-366-0304 or mtnurseryschool@gmail.com), Tonya Herrod (508-366-5700 or woodland@gmail.com) or Dustie Shannon (508-366-7909 or mtlongmeadow@gmail.com). Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Hopkinton Independent advertisers.
Woodland School
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Miss Tanya’s summer program is divided into one one-week session and four two-week sessions. Each is theme oriented and will include gathering and center time, open ended art activities, music and lots of outdoor play!
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33& Extended day day available available &55Day Day Morning Morning Options Options –- Extended 25 Longmeadow Rd., Westborough 508.366.7907 7 Washington Street, Westborough 508.366.5700 Pigs say oink, cows say moo! We will have some fun and you will too!
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SUMMER VACATION CAN INCLUDE FUN-FILLED LEARNING AT EDUCATION STATION
Our teachers are professionally educated and licensed through the Department of Early Education and Care. Camp is open to children 2.9 years of age and older.
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Miss Tanya’s summer program is divided into six sessions. Each session Miss Tanya’s summer program is is theme oriented and will include open divided into six sessions. Each session ended art activities, music and lots of is theme oriented and will include open outdoor play. ended art activities, music and lots of outdoor play. Days & Times:
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June 8 — June 19 (3 or 5 days)
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Miss Tanya’s summer program is divided into six sessions. Each session is theme oriented and will include open ended art activities, music and lots of outdoor play.
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Explore our playground bugs and beyond! 9-1 (bring a lunch!) Our teachers are professionally educated and licensed through the Department of professionally educated July Our 6 – teachers July 17areand Early Education Care. and licensed through the Department of Early Education and Care. ARTrageous!
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SS #1,3,4,5 3 or 5 Day Option 9-12 9-1 (bring a lunch!) SS #2 First week 3 or 5 Day Option Second week M,T,W,TH only (4th of July week) 9-12 9-1 (bring a lunch!) SS #6
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June 22 - July 2 (Fourth of July)
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July 6 – July 17 July 6 – July 17 ARTrageous!
Creativity comes alive!
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July 20 – July 31
Messy July 20 – Science! July 31
We will learn what scientists do and complete Messy Science! many experiments of our own! We will learn what scientists do and complete many experiments of our own!
Water Play!
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August 3—August 14 August 3—August Water Play ! 14
We’ll color, pour, freeze and spray and of course get wet!
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Upon a Time In the Land of S.S. Once #6 August 17-21 Once UponLongmeadow! a Time In the Land of Let’s put our own spin on old fairy tales! Longmeadow! Let’s put our own spin on old fairy tales!
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For more details, please visit www.misstanya.com Let’s put our own spin on old fairy tales!
Now Enrolling for Fall 2020 Nursery School and Private Full Day Kindergarten HopkintonIndependent.com
Touchstone Community School hosts camp
By Deborah Burke Henderson Contributing Writer
T
ouchstone Community School, a school for pre-K through Grade 8 in Grafton, offers Summer@Touchstone, a summer camp that reflects the school’s progressive, playful and joyful approach to learning. The only independent school in Grafton, Touchstone has been serving youngsters for 38 years, and Summer@ Touchstone is heading into its sixth year. “We will be following all recommended health guidelines, and then some, to provide a safe environment for our campers,” head of school Sally Kent stated. “With no more than 45 campers, there will be plenty of rooms and recreation areas with experienced teachers spread throughout.” Summer@Touchstone offers rich, engaging experiences that foster empathy, compassion and the joy of lifelong learning in a small, community school setting. “Children have missed so much school this year. This camp will restore some of that school feeling with a day full of play and choice,” Kent said. In her first year as head of school, Kent has brought more rigor, intentional literacy and math blocks to the morning schedule with mixed-aged project blocks students can choose from in the afternoons. Projects blocks range from woodworking to cooking to theater. Five one-week sessions begin June 29. Campers will enjoy days filled with outdoor play, hands-on activities and opportunities for friendship and new learning. Touchstone School and Summer@ Touchstone value the growth that comes from outdoor education, projects by choice, indoor quieter times for story or reading, and games. Mornings are filled with cooking, outdoor sandbox, “chicken time,” plasma cars, gardening, pick-up sports, yoga, storytelling and crafts. Afternoons have quiet read-aloud and read-to-self and game times, water play, more sports such as archery and basketball, and project blocks. Focused project blocks include woodworking, sewing puppets by hand and sewing patterns by machine, art and gardening. These projects are included in the camp fee. There is no additional cost, except for fabric and patterns in the sewing-by-machine class (recommended for ages 10 and up). Registration is open. Discover additional details at summer.touchstone. com. Anyone with questions can call the admissions office at (508) 839-0038 or email summer@touchstoneschool.com. Tuition and deposits will be 100 percent refunded if camp is canceled due to COVID19. Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Hopkinton Independent advertisers.
The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020 • 11
School Committee continues to deal with transportation concerns By Sandy Quadros Bowles Contributing Writer
H
opkinton School Committee members agreed April 9 to further examine the district’s transportation policy after receiving additional concerns from the public about the safety of bus stops. “The policy endangers children,” Sue Creswell, a grandparent of a student in the district, wrote in an email to the committee. The meeting was broadcast via the Zoom platform and no public comment was allowed at the live meeting. Committee chair Meena Bharath said she hopes that technology changes will allow public participation in future Zoom meetings. The comments about school bus safety follow a February meeting in which a number of residents said that some students are congregating in unsafe areas to wait for the bus or crossing streets that lack crosswalks, sometimes in the dark and during busy commuting times,. The transportation policy calls for bus stops at “centralized locations.” “Students are not entitled to streetby-street or door-to-door pickup and/or discharge. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to ensure safe passage of his/her/their child over roadways to an
established stop,” the policy reads in part. “The district’s responsibility begins when the child boards the bus at the pickup location and ends when the child disembarks at the drop off location after school,” the policy states. As the school population has grown to nearly 4,000 students, a number of bus stops have been consolidated in recent years. Some committee members asked Thursday whether and how the committee can define safety of bus stops. “What I think is safe is different from others,” committee member Jen Devlin said. “It’s a very difficult issue to come to terms with. Safety has come up many times.”
Last day of school moved up to June 17 In another issue, committee members agreed to keep schools open, via remote learning, through four days of the previously scheduled April vacation. By an unanimous vote, members supported Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh’s recommendation that school continue April 21-24. No remote learning was held April 20, which was the Patriots Day holiday.
Making this change, Cavanaugh said, will “keep the instructional momentum we have gained.” Remote learning officially began April 6. “Our attendance has been good, teaching and learning has been going well, so I would think it would not be in our best interest to interrupt teaching and learning at this time,” Cavanaugh said. This change also means the last day of school moves from June 23 to June 17, which Cavanaugh touted as another key benefit. “What’s nice about this is, if we can imagine that the stay at home order would be lifted by then, it will be really nice for our kids to be able to enjoy another four days of true summertime, as opposed to four days of sort of being idle in the house without any kind of education or interaction between teachers and students,” she said. A survey of school personnel showed strong support for canceling the vacation, with 77.2 percent of the 408 respondents preferring that option. Bharath joined her fellow committee members in supporting the measure, but she noted that the survey respondents who wanted to keep the vacation was “not a negligible number.” She said she understood why some might want to take a break during this stressful time and encouraged
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anyone who faced challenges related to the decision to reach out to school staff. As of the meeting, May 4 remained the date when schools were scheduled to reopen, although whether that will actually happen depends on decisions by the state. If schools do open May 4, Cavanaugh estimated it would take about a week “to adjust to the routine.” She praised teachers, administrators, families and students for successfully implementing remote learning, saying, “It’s monumental what’s been accomplished in a couple of weeks.”
Junior Prom rescheduled Also at the April 9 meeting, Cavanaugh shared that the Junior Prom, normally held in May, has been rescheduled to Nov. 14 following discussions with HHS administrators and junior class officers. Cavanaugh also offered a reminder that all school fields are closed. This has been an ongoing issue, as youngsters have continued to meet and practice sports on the fields despite orders to avoid congregating. “Please try to honor that request that our fields are closed and students should not be using them,” Cavanaugh asked of parents.
12 • The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020
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Mental health | from page 1
advice on how to handle the many stresses created by the COVID-19 crisis. She also is working with area emergency room doctors who are having a difficult time coping. “Part of how Mental Health Collaborative feels that we can make an important impact under the present circumstances is by helping to open up conversations about mental health and the interrelated states of mental health that we all go through,” she said. “We all have mental health — just as we all have general health — and we need education about how we talk about it, without stigma and misunderstandings getting in the way. In the wake of COVID-19 we plan to help communities in as many ways as possible, and part of that will be through helping folks understand the range of emotions that we may be going through — disappointments, grief, fear, uncertainty, anger, etc.” Rosenberg also appeared on HCAM-TV’s Hopkinton Hangout Hour program via Zoom to share her thoughts with the community about how to handle the stress and anxiety. “We can’t control any of that [COVID-19], but we can control our response to it,” Rosenberg said. “Some of the responses people are having are very normal — fear and isolation and uncertainty and losses.” Dr. Vinnie Cappetta, another licensed mental health counselor in town who runs Check Your Compass Counseling, also is seeing patients remotely using technology. His grief support group at 249 Wood Street meets weekly, and he is considering more frequent dates for his trauma group. “It’s different for every person,” Cappetta said. “For some people, they were struggling with anxiety before and this is like struggling with anxiety on steroids now because there’s more to be anxious about.” Cappetta also is stepping up his efforts to help patients who can no longer afford to pay for appointments because of the loss of employment due to the coronavirus work stoppage, as well as those who have lost insurance or are underinsured. While loss of life is a tragic reality of this pandemic, there are other kinds of losses that many are experiencing — from loss of jobs to the cancellations of special events like graduations and weddings — that Rosenberg insists shouldn’t be pathologized. Rosenberg says that people who have diagnosed mental illnesses may need more professional help right now, but for others these times can help to forge a resolve to learn how to deal with difficult situations. “[Some] people are [being] kinder to others and in some ways maybe less judgmental in some of the groups I’ve been talking to,” Rosenberg said. “On the contrary, I think other people will deal with their fears with not being as kind and being more judgmental. So I think everyone’s dealing with their emotions in the best way that they can.” Said Cappetta: “Now because of COVID, [some
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Just [remind] yourself that this is temporary, because sometimes in the midst of this quarantine it seems like it’s never going to end. Although we don’t know when, we do know it will end. — Abbie Rosenberg, Mental Health Collaborative executive director
are] not focused on some of the things that were really causing them anxiety. Now they’re just focused on finding toilet paper and they need to survive this crisis. For some people, it’s taking away some of the things that they were anxious about.” Rosenberg also is making sure her own mental health is a priority during a time when therapists are focused on responding to the needs of a society in crisis. “I’m doing the same thing that I’m telling people to do — make sure I get enough sleep, eat the right kinds of food, get some exercise or fresh air every day, talk to people, connect with people, and try to help other people,” she said. “Because in that way, we’re helping ourselves. When we brighten someone else’s day, we’re also helping ourselves.” Rosenberg stressed the importance of connecting with friends and family in whatever ways we can — for the moment, virtually — during times of social distancing, as well as trying to maintain a regular daily routine if home from work or school indefinitely. Breathing exercises, laughing and praying also can be beneficial. “Now is a time where we have a little bit more time at home with people in our family,” Cappetta noted. “It’s a great opportunity to build some memories with the people in our family, but also probably a good idea to set some boundaries because a lot of us are in each other’s space more now.” Both Rosenberg and Cappetta suggested that, if social media and news heighten anxiety during these times, it is best to limit or avoid them. Cappetta also encourages getting out of the house to exercise now that the weather is getting better. “Just [remind] yourself that this is temporary, because sometimes in the midst of this quarantine it seems like it’s never going to end,” Rosenberg said. “Although we don’t know when, we do know it will end.” Rosenberg encourages individuals and community groups to reach out via the Mental Health Collaborative website at MentalHealthCollaborative.org. Cappetta’s counseling website is CheckYourCompass.org.
The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020 • 13
HCA feels financial impact of pandemic Instructor Sarah Alexander (top right) teaches an online art class to some of her students.
By Michelle Sanford Contributing Writer
L
ike so many small businesses in town, the Hopkinton Center for the Arts has been struggling due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shuttered since March 12, the HCA has been forced to cancel classes and postpone a number of performances and other events. The HCA’s Hayden Rowe Street building has been without the sights and sounds of people taking classes, viewing exhibits and enjoying live performances. Nonetheless, the HCA is determined to keep people engaged in the arts while also trying to raise money to ensure its financial health for when the stay at home advisory finally ends. According to director Kelly Grill, the HCA is facing a $40,000 budget shortfall and thus has come up with innovative ways to keep programming afloat while also helping to alleviate the monotony of staying at home. In April the HCA began offering online classes for children and adults, including various types of dance, such as ballet and hip hop. There also are theater, music and other creative and fine arts classes available remotely. “We’re hoping to offer as many types of dance classes as we can,” Grill said. “For the ballet classes, the kids use a chair and get dressed up in their attire. They love it.” When it comes to an online ceramics class, its unlikely participants have a pottery wheel at home. Instead, instructors have been coming up with different ways to teach and create sculptures by hand. “The overall response has been fantastic,” Grill said. “Our teachers are amazing. We’re just trying to keep as much art contact going as we can.” There are open mic nights on the HCA’s Facebook page, as well as a daily online art challenge. Not only do the classes help break up the day, Grill said, “They also bring some normalcy back to our days. They used to take these classes before having to stay home, and now they still can.” The director added that her organization is encouraging residents to share any ideas they may have to help keep people engaged in the arts during this unprecedented time. Online classes are teleconferenced through Zoom. After signing up for a class via the HCA website
(HopArtsCenter.org), participants access the class via a computer, tablet or smart phone. While the online classes have been going well, Grill remains fearful of the budget shortfall. As a result, the HCA is seeking donations from those who are able to help. Recently a very generous pledge was made by Edward and Lisa McFarland. The couple will match dollar for dollar other donations up to $10,000. “They’re very impressed by what we do here and made this incredible donation,” Grill said. “We couldn’t be more grateful.”
Hopkinton resident helps transform convention center into field hospital
Bob Dobinski’s company leapt into action when asked to transform the Boston Convention and Exposition Center into a field hospital to help deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Chris Villani Contributing Writer
D
oing work at the Boston Convention and Exposition Center is nothing new for Hopkinton’s Bob Dobinski. The president of Corp-Events New England has aided in the construction of trade shows and other events for the past 30-plus years. But when Gov. Charlie Baker
announced that the BCEC would be transformed into a field hospital to care for the homeless and other at-risk people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Dobinski and the Teamsters’ Local 25 were pressed into service for a very different purpose. “Charlie Baker announced the activation of the contract with Suffolk Construction on Friday morning [April Convention center | 14
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14 • The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020
Hopkinton-bred nurse honored on ‘Kimmel’ Health Care Hero | from page 1
“Literally all this comes out of nowhere, so I was like, ‘What? What’s going on?’ ” Chace-Myers recalled. “She explained that they have been doing this appreciation weekly to help health care workers around the nation, they’re interviewing the frontline workers on this. “So I talked to the producers of ‘Jimmy Kimmel.’ I was super nervous, I’m not like a spotlight person. But I was like, ‘You know what, this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I really want to represent Boston and my hospital and my coworkers and stuff, so I’m going to do it.’ ” Chace-Myers did not have much time to prepare, as the taping was scheduled for just after 5 p.m. that same day. “In the afternoon they reached out to me and and I talked to IT, they helped me set up my computer for the TV and the lighting in my house,” she said. “This was all kind of makeshift — I had to put lamps behind the computer. Then they prepped me for some of the questions, did a pre-interview to see about my background.” After graduating Hopkinton High School in 2003, Chace-Myers got her nursing degree from Northeastern and has worked at Beth Israel ever since, currently in the cardiovascular ICU unit. The mother of a 3-year-old boy (Quinn) and an 18-month girl (Sawyer), Chace-Myers splits child care duties with her husband, Tom, who is deputy general counsel for the Department of Early Education and Care. The
I was super nervous, I’m not like a spotlight person. But I was like, ‘You know what, this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I really want to represent Boston and my hospital and my coworkers and stuff, so I’m going to do it.’ — Taylor Chace-Myers
family lives in Hamilton, on the North Shore. Chace-Myers shared her story with Kimmel and talked about the challenge of working at a hospital during the pandemic. Kimmel offered thanks and then announced she would receive a gift of $10,000, which Chace-Myers had no idea was coming. “No, I did not know that until he said it on the actual show, during the interview,” she said. “I was like, ‘Oh my god.’ It was pretty much like a blackout moment, like, ‘Did he really just say that?’ ” Kimmel also said the coffeemaker Lavazza would donate 4,500 bags of coffee for the staffers at Beth Israel. After the interview aired that night, Chace-Myers received congratulations and words of support from friends, family and strangers. “I’ve heard from a lot of people,” she said. “Honestly, it’s so kind and
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appreciated. Just a lot of kind words. It helps get through such a tough situation. Everyone’s been really kind and sweet. “It’s kind of been a whirlwind.” Chace-Myers was especially pleased to represent her family, which has a long history of working in the medical profession. Her parents watched the interview from their home in Florida, where they spend part of the year. “They were so proud,” she said. “They were so taken aback, so happy that all of our hard work is being thanked. My mom is a retired nurse, I’m a nurse and my sister’s a physician. … Being in the health care field, sometimes it takes such a big crisis, like a pandemic or the Boston Marathon bombing or something to see that we do put our patients and our families first.” Chace-Myers also hopes the appearance will raise awareness for the need for more personal protective equipment (PPE) at hospitals. Her sister, Constance, a physician in San Diego, helped start a non-profit organization called FrontlinePPENow (frontlineppenow.org) last month to advocate and raise funds for more PPE
for all the health care workers. “The biggest issue is protective equipment, because if the health care force goes down, the ship goes down — if the health care workers start getting sick,” Chace-Myers said. “And we have seen health care workers already getting it. We just don’t have enough protective equipment, and that’s a nationwide problem.” Chace-Myers also has her own family to worry about — something that’s especially challenging considering her exposure to patients who have the virus. “The biggest thing we’re doing obviously is social distancing, we’re not seeing anyone,” she said. “I bring a separate pair of clothes and change at the hospital after my shift, wipe down everything I can with wipes, come into the house and have my husband semiquarantine the kids in the playroom — hold them off, let me come in, I go to the laundry and put all of my work clothes in there immediately, and then book it to the shower, take a shower, then I go out to see the kids. Nothing is foolproof, but that’s what most health care workers have been doing.” Going home to her family is something that drives Chace-Myers, especially after she has seen firsthand the challenges for families whose loved ones have been stricken with COVID-19. “I can’t even imagine being a patient or a family member,” she said. “It breaks my heart every shift, they’re so isolated. There’s no family in the hospital. We try to do FaceTime so the family can feel like they still see them. You’re kind of like the glue that lets them know their loved one is taken care of. It’s nice to have that appreciation on the other side, because I don’t think it’s always the case.”
Hopkinton resident helps transform convention center into field hospital Convention center | from page 13
3] and we activated men to start with the construction at 6 o’clock that same day,” Dobinski said. With his crew working around the clock, Dobinski said they would construct about 100 treatment rooms in a week’s time. The vast main floor of the Seaport District convention center was filled with white dividing walls, partitioning the space typically used for massive expositions and other gatherings. A total of 1,000 beds were planned for the BCEC, according to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. About half of the beds would be reserved for the homeless, with the other half to catch spillover patients from other hospitals during the anticipated surge in coronavirus cases this month. Baker said health officials predicted the number of cases in the state would peak around April 20. A similar field hospital was being built in Worcester’s DCU Center. For the Boston project, work was being done 24 hours per day. Dobinski said he was able enlist anywhere from 40 to 50 workers, sometimes more, working for two 12-hour shifts. “We went ahead and circulated it to the workers and, on a volunteer
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basis, they were given the opportunity to support this effort,” he said. “We encouraged people in not-so-good health or at-risk individuals not to participate. Health precautions are in place to help with the screening of people in and out of the building to create the best, safest work environment possible.” Boston also set up 560 beds for the homeless population at a former hospital in Brighton, as well as using a wing at Boston Medical Center, a Suffolk University dorm and tents located outside homeless shelters. Although the work rapidly came together at the convention center, Walsh said he hopes the facility remains empty and is not needed and hospitals in the city are currently within their capacity. Whether or not the beds are ultimately needed amid the ongoing health crisis — which through mid-April had claimed the lives of more than 800 Massachusetts residents and infected over 28,000 — Dobinski said the members of Local 25 were happy to get the opportunity to work, and do so for a good cause. “The convention business has been extremely depressed since the outbreak,” he said. “So this has provided a livelihood beyond unemployment for a number of the personnel.”
The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020 • 15 COMMUNITY
Q&A
Everyone in town has a story to tell and opinions to share. In this feature, we shine the spotlight on one resident to learn more about them and their connection to town. Hopkinton Independent: What brought you to Hopkinton? Michael Torosian: “Well, I married a townie. I came here in 1987 after marrying a townie from the Irvine family, Susan, and I’ve been here ever since. I grew up in Malden, just north of Boston.”
Meet Michael Torosian Ashland Fire Department.”
HI: What do you do for a living? Torosian: I work for HCAM Television. I’m a production coordinator, so I produce all the television shows you see on local cable access. In my other job, I’m a full-time fire alarm operator for the town of Ashland and the
HI: What do you do in your free time? Torosian: “I do a lot of volunteering. For years I’ve always been involved in community, always believing in giving back. You know, you get out what you put in. With that, coaching Little League Baseball, softball, coached soccer, coached football. I’ve served on all the boards — I was a board member for all of ’em. Yeah, do whatever. I did a short time on the Hopkinton Youth Commission I was appointed to. I also volunteered for the Hopkinton Fire Department. I’ve been a call firefighter for Hopkinton for 32 years.” HI: What makes Hopkinton stand out from other towns in your opinion? Torosian: “When I came to town, there was 8,500 people. And what are we now, just tipping the scales of 18,000? So, it still has that small-town appeal. I don’t care how big it gets. You can always, always count on the community support for everything. Whether it is a young child with cancer, a tragic death in the family to times like this [social distancing and quarantining], the community is just out there supporting everybody the best they can. It doesn’t have to be of the scales of Project Just Because. It doesn’t have to be that big. The neighbors take care of the neighbors and the citizens just try to help out and be there for everybody.” HI: You’re very active on the town Facebook groups and pages. Why are you so passionate about social media? Torosian: “One of the reasons why I do what I do with the [town Facebook group] page and all the social media postings is our mission at HCAM is connecting the community, and my big passion, it’s not like making TV shows, playing with all the cool equipment, it is keeping the community connected to the information. So, connecting the non-profits and what they do and the people who make those go, making sure everyone knows about it. All the talented kids in this community, between the concerts and the plays and the sporting events, trying to cover as many of those as possible, because of the talent that the whole community, not just the parents, should see. I think everyone should see and know about it, how fortunate they are and how blessed they are to live in this town. It’s all about giving to the community.”
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HI: What are some of your favorite places around town? Torosian: “I believe in staying local, keep it local, keeping the businesses going. Whether it’s Hopkinton Drug, the schools, Cornell’s, Bill’s Pizzeria, you know, Carbone’s — I go to them all.” HI: What are some of your favorite Hopkinton memories or experiences? Torosian: “I never really get to enjoy [the Boston Marathon] because I always end up working the fire station, but fun times, the Marathon. Everything’s fun. I mean, Polyarts. I was here for both the 275th and the 300th town anniversaries. Man, to see the town come out for that was amazing. Those will always top my list.” HI: If you could change anything about Hopkinton, what would it be? Torosian: “Well, of course everyone wants to change the traffic, which it took a virus to do right now. Would I change anything? Well, you see, we grew so fast that we became a little bit more reactionary than planning — like the schools, we’re going through a process with the school growth, and we’ve got to put the modules back on and we’ve had modules down at Elmwood School, and now we’re adding more modules there and we’re adding more modules to Hopkins. We had to do the addition to the Marathon School even before it opened! I think what happened was they were stuck with their decisions [and said], ‘Oh, we can only build out so far,’ and instead of spending that little bit extra building out further instead of scrambling later. I’m not going to say I wanted to see the growth slow down. I just wish we were ahead of the growth instead of growing with it.” — Interview conducted by Gethin Coolbaugh
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16 • The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020
Police Log Editor’s note: Due to space limitations, this is an abbreviated version of the Police Log. For the full Police Log visit the Hopkinton Independent website at HopkintonIndependent.com.
March 31
1:14 a.m. Multiple callers reported a transformer blew and power was out on Hayden Rowe, Ash and Nebraska Streets. Sergeant William Burchard responded and confirmed the power outages and reported neither smoke nor fire were present. Eversource was notified. 3:38 p.m. A caller reported children
playing on the high school turf field on Hayden Rowe Street in violation of the governor’s orders. Officer Derek Morton responded and removed them. 5:20 p.m. A caller reported his golden retriever ran away while in the Upton State Forest on the Hopkinton side. The animal control officer was notified. 6:45 p.m. A Woodview Way caller reported a package that had been delivered around noon by UPS was stolen from the front door of her building. Officer Derek Morton responded and assisted the reporting person.
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ARRESTS April 2
1:52 p.m. A Jamie Lane resident reported someone stole a package from the steps of his home. Officers Philip Powers, John Corridan, Matthew Santoro, Brian Sanchioni, Lieutenant John Porter and Sergeants Timothy Brennan and Scott van Raalten responded. While on a detail, Officer Derek Morton reported the suspect passed him in a vehicle. The suspect was caught on West Main Street. Damien J. Lee, 18, of 16 Beacon Street, Clinton, was arrested
April 1
6:05 a.m. An off-duty firefighter reported a vehicle on fire on Interstate 495 near the 21A exit. Officer Stephen Buckley responded along with the State Police and the Fire Department. The fire was extinguished and a tow truck removed the vehicle. 8:10 a.m. A caller reported a raccoon chased her and her dog on Forest Lane. Officers Moira McGaffigan and Ryan Polselli responded and checked the area with a negative find. 9:50 a.m. A Riverbend Road caller reported a raccoon had been walking around the neighborhood and acting strangely. The animal control officer was notified. 11:15 a.m. A caller in Texas reported he received a scam phone call stating his grandson, who lives in Hopkinton, was in trouble and needed money. The caller had already spoken to his grandson and he was fine. The incident was logged, and the caller was advised to notify his local police department as well. 12:27 p.m. A caller reported witnessing a vehicle hit a wall on East Main Street, drive off, and pull in to the caller’s driveway. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Moira McGaffigan and Benjamin Stickney responded and reported damage to the wall. A message was left for the DPW. A report was to follow.
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2:31 p.m. A Bridle Path caller reported his mailbox was hit earlier in the day. Officer John Corridan responded to view the damage and took a report. 3:40 a.m. A Forest Lane caller complained of a loud mechanical noise coming from the clubhouse. Officers Brendon Lyver and Jessica Ferreira responded and found all quiet. 12:52 p.m. A caller reported a tree fell down on Cedar Street and it was blocking the roadway. Officer Moira McGaffigan and the DPW responded and removed the tree. 4:58 p.m. A Main Street caller reported her vehicle was taken without her permission. Officer Preston Mucciarone assisted.
April 4
11:16 a.m. A Saddle Hill Road resident reported a person from a vehicle stole a package sitting outside her house. Sergeants Matthew McNeil and Timothy Brennan and Officers Matthew Santoro and Jay Deiana responded and checked the area with a negative find for a vehicle matching the description provided by the caller.
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and charged with larceny under $250, possession of Class D substance over one ounce, possession Class D substance with intent to distribute, and possession of Class E substance. Officer Moira McGaffigan subsequently recovered the stolen property.
April 9
10:20 a.m. In Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Sergeant Timothy Brennan arrested Carlos Raul Ortiz, 28, of 47 Pine Street, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, on three warrant charges stemming from a 2011 Hopkinton home invasion.
April 5
12:01 a.m. A UMass Memorial Medical Center employee requested a wellbeing check on a Woodview Way male trying to get his father into his car in order to transport him to the medical center. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Stephen Buckley responded, and the father and son were gone upon their arrival. 7:47 a.m. A caller reported the foyer door at a West Main Street bank was unsecured. Officers Ryan Polselli and Matthew Santoro responded, and a report was to follow. 11:53 a.m. Officer Ryan Polselli reunited a stray dog on Winter Street with its owner. 4:53 p.m. A caller reported a group of kids playing and trespassing on high school fields on Hayden Rowe Street in violation of the governor’s orders. Officer Tyler Brabham responded and removed them. 7:11 p.m. A caller complained of noise and activity at the Hopkinton Sportsmen’s Club on Lumber Street. The incident was logged and the caller was going to follow up with Town Hall later. 7:38 p.m. A Norcross Road resident reported she found a loose pit bull and was unable to locate its owner. The animal control officer was contacted and was to assist.
April 6
8:56 a.m. A caller reported the inside odor of natural gas on West Elm Street. Officer Jay Deiana responded along with the Fire Department and it was determined the odor was coming from the sewer. The sewer company was to be notified. 10:57 a.m. A Krueger Road caller reported his puggle was missing and frequently goes missing. The animal control officer was contacted. The owner eventually located the dog. 11:16 a.m. A caller complained of a blue Suzuki dirt bike speeding up and down Chamberlain Street. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Benjamin Stickney and Moira McGaffigan responded. Officer Stickney caught up with the rider and advised him of the complaint. 12:32 p.m. A caller reported a large gathering of youths in a parking lot on Hayden Rowe Street in violation of the governor’s orders. Officer Benjamin Stickney removed the youths. 2:41 p.m. A caller reported teenagers congregating on Hayden Rowe Street in violation of the governor’s orders. Officer Moira McGaffigan and School Resource Officer Philip Powers removed the teens. 2:58 p.m. A caller reported a drone flying within the company’s facility on Wilson Street. Sergeant William Burchard
The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020 • 17 and Officer Derek Morton responded and were unable to locate the drone. 2:59 p.m. A caller reported a group of teenagers hanging around on Frankland Road in violation of the governor’s orders. Officers Brian Sanchioni and Preston Mucciarone responded and spoke to five teenage girls in their vehicles, spaced apart. 3:44 p.m. Buildings and Grounds staff complained of kids on the high school turf field in violation of the governor’s orders. Officers Derek Morton and School Resource Officer Philip Powers removed the youths.
April 7
10:54 a.m. Officers Jay Deiana and Philip Powers responded along with the Fire Department to a brush fire on Winter Street. The fire was subsequently extinguished. 2:14 p.m. School Resource Officer Philip Powers removed youths from the high school turf field on Hayden Rowe Street, as they were in violation of the governor’s orders. 2:38 p.m. A Downey Street resident reported a neighbor dumped leaves and rocks in her yard. Officer Preston Mucciarone spoke with the caller about the civil dispute. 4:57 p.m. A caller reported a teenager riding a dirt bike with no license plate on Hidden Brick Road. Officer Preston Mucciarone responded and the biker was gone upon his arrival. 5:11 p.m. A Whirty Circle resident reported a fox hanging around outside her house. Officer Derek Morton responded and notified the animal control officer. 6:17 p.m. A caller complained of a pizza delivery person speeding on Ash Street. Officer Derek Morton responded and spoke with the driver.
April 8
1:20 a.m. A Woodview Way caller reported finding five uninvited boys in her apartment who ran off when they heard her calling 911. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officers Stephen Buckley and Robert Ekross responded and removed the youths from the neighborhood. 8:40 a.m. A caller reported being harassed by a person from a previous relationship and an unknown female associated with that person. Officer Brian Sanchioni responded and took a report. 4:54 p.m. A Church Street caller reported he believed his son, who was not welcome, entered his home. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Preston Mucciarone responded and reported nobody was home. 5:39 p.m. A Church Street caller reported his son was trespassing on his property, in the shed, and he wanted him removed. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officers Derek Morton and Preston Mucciarone responded and removed the unwanted son.
he retrieved his belongings. 5:05 p.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan transported a prisoner to the Billerica House of Correction.
April 10
8:34 a.m. A caller reported an erratic operator on Hayden Rowe Street. Officers Jay Deiana and Philip Powers responded and issued two criminal applications. 11:54 a.m. The Milford Police Department requested HPD be on the lookout for a person drinking while driving toward Hopkinton. Officer Philip Powers checked Hayden Rowe Street with a negative find. 5:11 p.m. A caller reported a black dog with a red collar roaming loose on Pinecrest Village. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded and notified the animal control officer. 5:23 p.m. Officer Jessica Ferreira removed a mattress from the roadway of Hayden Rowe Street and notified the DPW.
April 11
2:55 a.m. The State Police reported a caller crashed his car and was on East
Main Street, where he was seen running eastbound. Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Brendon Lyver and Stephen Buckley responded and requested an ambulance. The patient was transported to the hospital. The DPW was informed of damage to a guardrail. 10:22 a.m. A Hayden Rowe Street resident complained of a neighbor pumping water from his home into the street and making a mess. A message was left for the Water Department. 1:21 p.m. A Breakneck Hill Road caller reported a fire under the house’s deck. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Ryan Polselli responded along with the Fire Department and the fire was extinguished.
April 12
1:15 p.m. A caller reported two vehicles possibly drag racing on Ash Street. Officers Moira McGaffigan and Ryan Polselli responded and checked the area with a negative find. 6:57 p.m. Officer Brian Sanchioni reported three loose dogs on Wood Street.
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8:02 p.m. A caller reported a couple fighting in their motor vehicle in the roadway of East Main Street. Officer Preston Mucciarone and Sergeant William Burchard responded and reported the vehicle was disabled and the couple was awaiting AAA. Officer Mucciarone stood by.
April 13
2:41 p.m. A caller reported a fallen tree on wires on West Elm Street. Officers Ryan Polselli, Benjamin Stickney and Brian Sanchioni responded and notified Eversource. 3:05 p.m. A caller reported a fallen tree on wires and a leaning pole on Winter Street. Eversource responded. 3:10 p.m. A caller reported a fallen tree on West Elm Street. Officer Preston Mucciarone responded and shut down the street from Pond Street to Old Farm Road. Eversource responded. 3:16 p.m. A caller reported a tree fell on wires and a pole snapped on Saddle Hill Road. Officers Derek Morton and Philip Powers responded with barricades. Eversource was notified.
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11:29 a.m. A Golden Pond employee reported a resident was missing from the West Main Street facility. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officers Matthew Santoro and Brian Sanchioni and K-9 assistance responded. The individual was found and transported back to Golden Pond. A report was to follow. 12:59 p.m. A Frankland Road homeowner reported he was notified that several unauthorized vehicles were on his property. Officers Matthew Santoro and Philip Powers responded and advised the individuals that they were not allowed on the property and moved them along. 4:59 p.m. A caller requested assistance in retrieving his items from a previous residence. Officer Preston Mucciarone assisted the individual and stood by while
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Obituaries CJ Harris Carl “CJ” Harris Jr., 27, an old soul, completed his journey on earth on March 29 at Boston Children’s Hospital, of complications from a bone marrow transplant last May. With his parents by his side, he is finally free from pain. Always with a smile and a kind word to all who he interacted with, he remains an example of one who is known and loved by all. Hearts are breaking all over the world. Born Jan. 7, 1993, in Framingham, CJ lived in Hopkinton for many years. He enjoyed Little League, spending time with his cousins and grandparents and tearing up the neighborhood on his four-wheeler. In 2004 CJ and his family moved to North Sandwich, New Hampshire. CJ enjoyed the great outdoors of New Hampshire for over 10 years. Snowmobiling, four-wheeling and riding his dirt bikes over Young Mountain were his passions. CJ played Sandwich Lot Baseball, loved the Sandwich Fair, and enjoyed camping in the Notch with Kyle and jumping off the RT 113A bridge into the river. Along with numerous Craig’s List purchases, these were just a few of his well-known shenanigans. CJ attended Inter-Lakes High School in Meredith, New Hampshire, and graduated in 2011. In the fall of 2011 CJ began his four-year college experience at Colby Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire. Majoring in history, CJ experienced college life to the fullest. While attending college, CJ was an RA, a stage show actor and a potter extraordinaire. Many of his college friends visited him frequently while he was hospitalized. His working career spans many mediums. Laconia Harley-Davidson, Bootleggers, Peter Christian’s Tavern, State of New Hampshire 911 Call Center and, most recently, St. Joseph Community Services Meals on Wheels, to name a few. CJ had many passions in his life, including his RX-8, cooking, shooting guns and his many friends. But most of all he enjoyed his Harley-Davidson. Riding for CJ meant freedom, and he logged many miles, including countless trips to Nova Scotia; York, Pennsylvania; Daytona, Florida; and many points in between. He was a member of the Winnipesaukee HOG Chapter. CJ also enjoyed the annual “guys weekend” trip to Americade in Lake George, where it is was said, “He is the only real rider of the group.” He was a legend among men. He was a co-founder of the annual Heather’s Ride out of Meredith, New Hampshire. For 10 years money was raised for his sister’s Patient Support Fund at Boston Children’s Hospital. Over $140,000 was raised in nine years. His proudest moment was officiating the marriage of his sister, Nichole, to his best friend, Kyle. CJ leaves in sadness his mom, Barbara (Lutz) Harris, and dad, Carl D. Harris Sr. of Candia, New Hampshire, his loving sister, Nichole Perreault and her husband, Kyle, of Effingham, New Hampshire, and the apple of his eye, his niece, Leah Perreault. He also leaves loving grandparents Harold Lutz of Black Rock, Nova Scotia, and Donald and Julia Harris of Hopkinton, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his sister, Heather Siebert, “Gramma” Dorothy Lutz of Black Rock, Nova Scotia, and aunt Susan Mespelli of Upton. The epitome of the word “warrior,” he endured medical challenges too many times in his short life. He would want his doctors and nurses and all of his “friends” at Boston Children’s Hospital to be remembered for their attention and commitment to helping him through his medical struggles and very lengthy hospitalizations. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations be made to the Pediatric Patient Assistance Fund, #9999052, at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
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Burial was to be private. A celebration of life is planned for May 17 at Searles Castle in Windham, New Hampshire, if allowed during these uncertain times.
James F. Sullivan James F. Sullivan, 77, of Upton and formerly of Hopkinton, entered into eternal rest on April 1. He is the beloved husband to Gerda Sullivan. Born July 26, 1942, in Framingham, he was a son of the late Timothy and Catherine (Danahy) Sullivan. He was raised and educated in Hopkinton and was a graduate of Hopkinton High School Class of 1960. He then earned his degree in finance after high school and worked at local banks, before serving in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Prior to retirement, James was employed as a driver for Allied Systems. Prior to that, he was employed at Anchor Motor Freight and Lease Way. Jim enjoyed traveling in his earlier years, working and spending time with his family and friends. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his siblings, Janice Robinson and her husband, Kippy, of Framingham, Timothy Sullivan and his wife, Doris, of Milford, and Richard Sullivan and his wife, Rosanne, of Northbridge; his uncle, James Sullivan of Nantucket; several nieces and nephews; and many cousins. Due to the current restrictions on public gatherings, Jim’s funeral service took place privately with his family on April 7 in Evergreen Cemetery, Hopkinton, with military honors. A memorial Mass will be announced at a future date. Services are under the care of the WilliamsPederson Funeral Home of Upton.
Mike Zilembo Michael J. Zilembo, 98, of Hopkinton and formerly of Marlborough, died unexpectedly April 9 at Milford Hospital. His wife of 66 years, Margaret (McMaster) Zilembo, died in 2012. He was born, raised and educated in Marlborough, the son of the late Charles and Mary (Notormasso) Zilembo. Part of “The Greatest Generation,” he was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving in the Asiatic Pacific Theater aboard the USS Starling with the rank of sonarman third class. Following an honorable discharge, Mike worked in the construction field, helping to build several large projects in Boston. He then went on to work for the city of Marlborough in the school department, where he stayed for over 25 years, retiring as head custodian in 1988. Mike was a member of the former St. Ann’s Church most of his life and currently the Immaculate Conception Church. He was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan. He traveled extensively while in the Navy and then with his family to Bermuda, Cape Cod, Ogunquit, Old Orchard Beach and the mountains of New Hampshire. Mike enjoyed fixing things around the house and running errands around town, and he always made time for a fresh cup of coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts. He was a loving father and family man, always putting family first, and especially enjoyed time spent with his great grandson, Dylan, and his great nephews and nieces. He leaves two daughters, Susan M. Lindberg and Dale A. Zilembo, both of Hopkinton, a grandson, Sean M. Lindberg and his wife, Melissa, a great grandson, Dylan Lindberg, currently living in Australia, as well as many nephews, nieces
The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020 • 19
Obituaries and cousins. He was predeceased by his siblings, Nicholas, Thomas, Johnny, Lucy and Charlie, who died in February. A graveside service was held April 13 in Evergreen Cemetery on Wilson Street. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Immaculate Conception Church and a graveside service with full military honors at a later date and time to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mike’s memory to the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org, the American Heart Association at heart.org or the Buddy Dog Humane Society at Buddydoghs.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Collins Funeral Home in Marlborough. All are invited to sign Mike’s online guestbook at CollinsFuneral.com.
Roy Stratton Roy D. Stratton, 95, of Westborough and formerly of Hopkinton, passed away at Milford Regional Medical Center on April 14 from complications of COVID-19. Born in Ashland, he was the son of the late Doris W. (Bernard) and Alvin E. Stratton. He was the husband of 64 years to the late Mertice E. (MacKay) Stratton. A Navy veteran of WWII, Roy served as machinists mate second class aboard the USS Appalachian. Prior to his retirement in 1987, Roy worked at Kiddie Fenwall in Ashland for 41 years. He was a past legion commander and a lifetime member of the Hopkinton Legion, a member of the 1/4 Century Club at Fenwall, a member of over 50 years of the Hopkinton Masons, and a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Hopkinton. He enjoyed golfing and gardening. Roy is survived by his son, Roy D. Stratton Jr. of Upton and his fiance, Holly Parkin of Connecticut; two daughters, Sue George and her husband, Philip, of Upton, and Janis Bunting and her husband, Charles, of Charlton. He also leaves behind two grandchildren, Tori Stratton and Bryan Ordway. He is predeceased by his siblings, Merrill H. Stratton and Alvin Stratton. Funeral services and interment at Evergreen Cemetery in Hopkinton are being held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hopkinton Legion. Arrangements are under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton.
William Eddy William A. Eddy, M.D., age 94, of Framingham passed away on March 31. He was born in Hartford to the late Eva Miller Eddy and Edward George Eddy. Dr. Eddy was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Cantor Eddy. He is survived by his son, Wayne Eddy and his wife, Tina, of Hopkinton, his daughter, Sue Bloom and her husband, Dave, of Kentfield, California, and his daughter, Eve Swenson and her husband, Matt, of Spokane, Washington. He was the proud grandfather of Max, Gianna, Bella, Kelsey and Melissa. William was a radiologist who worked at Framingham Union (MetroWest) Hospital, St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester and in private practice. Dr. Eddy received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Vermont. He served as a radar specialist in the Navy during World War II. Dr. Eddy loved his work and practiced medicine until the age of 86. He was known for his astute radiologic diagnostics, honesty and integrity. Donations in William’s memory can be made to Meals on Wheels BayPath. Private funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, Hopkinton.
Shirley Lowe Shirley L. Lowe, 83, of Hopkinton passed away April 6 at Milford Regional Hospital. Born in Sebec, Maine, she was the daughter of the late Violet (Stevens) and John Hughes. She was the wife of 54 years to the late William E. Lowe. Shirley enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and knitting. She is survived by her sons, Stephen Hughes of Maine, Wako Johnson and his wife, Peggy, of Bellingham, Cindy Hume and her husband, Douglas, of Vermont, and William Lowe of Hopkinton. She also leaves behind her sister, Bessie Gray of Florida, as well as six grandchildren, Jennifer, Lisa, Stephen, Keith, Douglas and Derrick, and 10 great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by four brothers and one sister. Services will be held at a later date and are under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton.
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Stephen Interrante Stephen Michael Interrante of Franklin passed from this life on April 4. Born in 1976 on the U.S. Navy base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Stephen was the treasured son of Albert and Janice Interrante and the youngest of three children. Steve grew up in Medfield, where he made many lifelong friends and enjoyed numerous successes in competitive sports. After graduating from Medfield High School, he went on to study at Providence College, where his magnetic personality and easygoing nature expanded the circle of friends he would have throughout his life. Steve graduated from Providence College in 1999 and embarked on a career in financial services while living in Somerville, Charlestown and the Back Bay. He loved his time with family and friends and was a central figure in annual camping trips, golf weekends, Wiffle ball tournaments, card nights, Sox games, European and cross-country trips and more, all while spending a significant amount of time as a devoted godfather and uncle to his nieces and nephews. In 2009 he met Maura Sullivan, his future bride and the love of his life. Steve and Maura welcomed their first child, Annie Jacqueline, in 2012, followed by the 2016 birth of James William, who completed their beautiful family. Steve was the devoted brother of Rebecca of Medway and Jason and his wife, Lisa, of Hopkinton. Uncle Steve shared countless memorable times with his nephews and nieces, Jack, Reese, Benjamin and Taylor. His passing also is grieved by the Sullivan family, Barbara and Bill Sullivan of Medfield and their children and grandchildren. The Interrante and Sullivan families are deeply grateful for the support of family and friends as well as the compassion of Dr. James Cleary and the staff at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Stephen was a devoted and steadfast friend to many. He will always be remembered and treasured for his sense of humor, his strength of character and endless empathy for others. A celebration of Steve’s life will be held at a later date when his family and friends will be allowed to gather. As a gesture of sympathy, donations may be made to The Annie and James Interrante Fund on gofundme.com. For the online guestbook, visit robertsmitchellcaruso.com.
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20 • The Hopkinton Independent • April 22, 2020
Can We Talk? If you or someone you know, is feeling disconnected as a result of the pandemic, a friendly phone call could help. We need each other to get through this difficult time. Reach out to your family, friends, and neighbors to let them know that you care. This will help everyone to feel a greater sense of community. And remember, this too shall pass.
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