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HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT

Precious time for HHS grads

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

Speakers at the Hopkinton High School graduation ceremony June 6 in the HHS athletic center emphasized the importance of time. Members of the class of 2025 also were encouraged to hold on to their individuality and take risks as they set off into a challenging world.

Class president Ash Sridhar thanked his family and teachers for their role in shaping students into who they are today. Sridhar described his classmates as “kind, supportive and ambitious individuals”

Former SRO Porter guilty of child rape

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

[Editor’s note: Readers are warned that this story includes descriptions of sexual acts.]

Former Hopkinton Deputy Police Chief John “Jay” Porter was found guilty June 6 on three counts of child rape following a three-day trial at Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn. Porter’s bail was revoked, and he was taken into custody. A sentencing hearing was set for June 18.

The jury took about two hours before returning with the guilty verdicts. Porter was charged with having sexual and digital intercourse with a Hopkinton High School student when he was the school resource officer there two decades ago. He also was found guilty of having oral sex with her when driving her home from babysitting at his home.

Porter did not testify in the trial. The defense called only one witness

Class president Ash Sridhar speaks at the June 6 graduation.

Hopkinton High School graduate Peyton Schmidlin stands tall as her vehicle turns into the school parking lot during the senior car parade June 7.

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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.

Select Board youth movement questioned

In light of the discussion during the Hopkinton Select Board’s May 27th meeting, I am writing to highlight what appears to be a concerning shift in how we define “new leadership.” The phrase was used repeatedly — and tellingly — as a synonym for youth, suggesting that experience might now be a disqualifier rather than a strength.

Remarks from Mr. Brian Herr and Mr. Matt Kizner implied that leadership should come from a “new generation,” and Mr. Kizner cited “the number one piece of feedback” from the community as a desire for younger voices. In doing so, they effectively passed over candidates such as Mr. Shahidul Mannan (age 54) and Ms. Amy Ritterbusch (age 52) for chair in favor of someone 15 years younger. It should be noted that Shahidul Mannan was reelected by the same electorate Mr. Kizner refers to.

Ironically, this philosophy emerged just moments after Mr. Herr proudly touted what he considered a very successful year leading the board. In fact, just last year, Mr. Herr remarked, “I would suggest my years of experience and my demeanor can help the community move forward together again.” If leadership capacity has suddenly developed an expiration date, one might reasonably ask why Mr. Herr relinquished only the chair role — and not his seat on the board.

Mr. Herr also floated the idea that leadership should be reserved for those with school-aged children. That would disqualify single residents, those without children, or parents whose children have graduated. At least he avoided borrowing the “childless cat ladies” label made infamous by JD Vance.

If an age-based framework for leadership is taking root, it should be subjected to public discussion. Many residents who currently serve — and aspire to serve — in town government deserve to know whether they’re considered too old to lead, despite being elected or appointed. Are we really prepared to elevate private conversations and anecdotes over the results of democratic elections?

The implications are serious. If age is now a disqualifying factor, should that rule apply to all town boards and committees?

Perhaps we should update the town motto to reflect this shift: “Hopkinton, established 1715 — where 40 is the new 65.”

If the new policy excludes those 40 and over from civic leadership, then I’d like to suggest early senior tax exemptions. If we’re too old to serve, we at least qualify for a discount.

— Sravan Krishna, Hopkinton

Stop damaging Terry Field

To the person who has been riding a fat-tired bike onto Terry Field off Center

decreasing education funding — towns all over the U.S. face increased pressure to cut costs. And first on the chopping block is most often the music program. But you know what every school needs more of? Music.

Music doesn’t just make kids smarter (research shows it does). It also gives kids a healthy outlet for stress, a creative way to express feelings, and opportunities to bond with friends and with those from across grades and activities.

In Hopkinton, we are so lucky to not only have a music program but to have a robust and award-winning program. If you’ve never been to a concert at the high school, you might be blown away by the sheer number of kids on stage — and the talent they have. Chorale, concert music and jazz are alive and well in Hopkinton, thanks to the leadership of Mr. Hay and our dedicated music teachers.

The music program has been a game changer for our son, a 2025 graduate. He had a dual blow during the pandemic — social distancing and a broken leg that isolated him during middle school. Music became his outlet. He picked up the guitar, he listened to vinyl, he practiced clarinet. In high school, he picked up saxophone and joined the school’s exceptional jazz ensemble. He’s now continuing his musical studies at university next year.

Music class at HHS is a safe space — if only to relax a bit. Mr. Hay is a worldclass teacher who demonstrates deep knowledge and love of music with kindness and grace for adolescents he knows are balancing pressure from academics, parttime jobs, relationships and other activities, like sleep.

In a town where our school’s ranking and our sports teams often make local news, this is a love letter to the entire Music Department, led by Craig Hay. I also wanted to thank our public school administration, School Committee, Select Board and you, our local community, for keeping the arts well-funded. Because, while STEM drives innovation, the arts drive inspiration. And we think the world needs dreamers now more than ever.

— Jill and Matt Petrie, Hopkinton

Beavers at Bloods Pond deserve better

I am writing this letter to inform the town of inhumane practices regarding beaver population management in Hopkinton. Recently, a beaver trap was used in Bloods Pond on South Mill Street to trap and kill a beaver. Despite calls to the Hopkinton Police Department and the Environmental Police, the beaver was kept in the trap for days with no food and limited air, forced to struggle until it died alone.

I am certain this is not the first time this has happened. Based on my own research, the Board of Health issues trapping permits to licensed PAC [problem animal control] agents when beavers have been found to pose a public health and safety threat. In order to follow licensing guidelines, trappers are required to check their traps daily and remove beavers immediately. The Board of Health is also encouraged to explore alternatives to lethal measures prior to issuing a permit for trapping.

Beavers are a keystone species who increase the biodiversity of wherever they live. My favorite part of every evening is watching the beavers in Bloods Pond glide peacefully through the water, going on their evening swims. The Hopkinton Board of Health must be pushed to enforce humane guidelines surrounding beaver trapping and should revoke trapping licenses when prohibited practices occur. They should also be more transparent about what kinds of alternatives they have explored before resorting to lethal measures so that no more beavers face inhumane and brutal deaths from drowning and starvation.

— Allison Palacios, Hopkinton

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

Nursing organization honors Carter

Hopkinton public health nurse Sim-

one Carter recently was recognized for her work with two honors: election as the president of the Massachusetts Association of Public Health Nurses, and the President’s Award from that same organization.

“I’m very humbled,” Carter said of both accolades.

Carter received the award from the MAPHN’s current president in recognition for her work in public nursing.

Carter has made an impact in town and throughout the state. She and former Hopkinton public health nurse Kasey Mauro were the first two nurses in the state trained and approved to provide foundational public health at the municipal level. She also was selected by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to draft the state’s nursing standards, and had been serving as the MAPHN vice president.

She has managed all this work while providing critical disease prevention, detection and health education to residents.

Carter credits the work of those around her for helping her get to this point.

“I would not be here if it weren’t for everyone,” said Carter. “It doesn’t happen in a vacuum.” She credited Health Director Shaun McAuliffe, community members and other public health professionals helping “quietly in the background.”

While the role means more respon-

Pride festival June 21

The Hopkinton Center for the Arts and other town organizations are gearing up to host another year of pride festivities this June.

The HCA will be hosting the town’s fifth annual pride festival at its facility on Hayden Rowe Street on June 21. It recently gained approval from the Select Board for the festival’s parade, which will go down Hayden Rowe Street, across Pleasant Street and back up to the HCA campus.

The day also will include games, crafts, live music, kid-friendly activities and more. HCA director Kelly Grill said the free event is all about showing support and celebrating the LGBT community.

Exercise equipment on Center Trail

Thanks to the completion of an Eagle Scout project by Troop 1 Hopkinton and other volunteers, residents now have the opportunity to do strength training while walking local trails.

Troop 1 recently completed the installation of exercise equipment on Center Trail. The equipment — which includes a pull-up bar, a dual exercise bar and a sit-up bench — is located near an intersection between the trail and a path leading to the high school athletic fields.

will be a net positive for Hopkinton — especially as the forecast for public health nationally remains uncertain.

“We’re sort of at the forefront [now],” she explained. “We have the ability and the know-how to be a leader in the state and show communities best practice and how to do things costeffectively.”

She added her aim is to continue building a “robust public health nursing program” in Hopkinton — a goal that has been in focus for the Health Department for many years.

“We really feel it’s more important than ever to show our pride and support,” said Grill, adding: “This has been an event that we wanted to make sure continued, and we’d like to see it continue to grow.”

While the HCA hosts the event on its campus, it partners with the the Hopkinton Freedom Team and Hopkinton Youth & Family Services to make pride happen. This will be the third year HCA will host, after the festival was moved from behind the middle school.

The festival starts at 1 p.m. on June 21. More information, including how to sign up to volunteer or host a vendor table, can be found on the HCA’s website (hopartscenter.org).

According to Life Scout Rishit Lalchandani, who orchestrated the equipment installation as part of his Eagle Scout project, installing everything was a two-day event.

Lalchandani and a group of about 20 people spent the first day unpacking and assembling everything, as well as digging holes in which to set the equipment. Day two involved lugging in, preparing and pouring concrete to set everything in place and putting up signs.

“We also put some mulch around the equipment to cover up everything,” Lalchandani added.

As to why the 15-year-old picked the exercise equipment as his Eagle Scout project, he gave two reasons. First, he took the project over from another Scout who had been unable to get it done due to time constraints, and the equipment had been waiting to be installed for two years.

“The troop needed to get it done,” he explained, noting that there had been a two-year delay from the time the equipment was obtained to when it

The Hopkinton Police Department’s Sweet Scoop Citations program is back again this year, ready to hand out rewards to deserving Hopkinton youth.

“It’s a great way [for the department] to interact with kids,” said school resource officer Augusto “Goose” Diaz, who runs the program with Hopkinton

Sweet Scoops began in Hopkinton last year as a way of recognizing kids who are making a positive impact in the community. Kids recognized for their good deeds, which can include everything from helping a friend to “being a responsible citizen,” are rewarded with a certificate for ice cream redeemable at The Spoonery or Hop-Yo in Hopkinton.

Diaz, who runs the program, borrowed the idea from a friend and colleague at the West Boylston Police Department. He noted that other departments now are implementing the program and are using it to connect

“We have a lot of young guys in our department,” Diaz explained. He went on to say the program is aimed at developing “as many positive interactions as we can with these kids.”

Diaz also plans to host a celebration at the end of the school year — June 23 — on the Town Common. He has partnered with sponsors such as BoMain, Price Chopper, AllTown Fresh and more to bring an afternoon of games, pizza and fun to Hopkinton students.

Hopkinton public health nurse Simone Carter poses with the President’s Award from the Massachusetts Association of Public Health Nurses.

‘A SLICE OF HOPKINTON’

This issue’s winner is Vaishnavi Muralikrishnan for this photo of son Pradyut checking out the fountain at the Town Common. To enter next issue’s contest, email your photo (put “Photo Contest” in the subject line) along with your name, phone number and description of the photo to editor@ hopkintonindependent. com. Photos with people or pets in them are encouraged. Photos that are not selected as winners might be posted on our website.

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

Town continues to wait for Main Street utility pole removal

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

Town Manager Elaine Lazarus recently shared an update on the Main Street Corridor Project as the work nears completion.

Remaining work includes the transfer of wires from telephones to underground infrastructure, she explained. Verizon was expected to be on-site early this month to work on the west side of the project. Comcast was expected to complete its work by the end of June. AT&T was expected onsite at the end of the month and planned to complete its work “in a couple of weeks.”

A.F. Amorello & Sons, the project’s construction company, was hoping to complete plantings in early June.

One question that has surfaced at committee meetings over the past month is when the utility poles will be removed. The removal will improve sidewalk accessibility and increase the picturesque quality of the downtown area.

In an email to the Independent on June 2, Dave Daltorio, the town engineer/facilities manager, shared why there is no concrete timeline for removing the poles yet.

“The old utility poles between the police station and Wood Street will be removed by Verizon once all the overhead utility lines in this area have

been removed from the old poles,” he explained. “Currently only Verizon has lines remaining on the old poles in this area. Verizon has started work in this area to remove these lines but has not provided an anticipated schedule for completion of its work in this area.

“Verizon may remove old poles in this area as their work progresses, or they may wait to remove all the old poles on the project when they’ve completed all of their work on the project,” he added. “They have not informed the town regarding how they will be proceeding.”

Daltorio stated that the old utility poles between the police station and Ash Street will be removed “when all utilities have provided customers with new underground service and all overhead lines in this area have been removed.”

He said Comcast is striving to complete its work by the end of June but stressed that Verizon can’t start its work until Comcast is done.

“Once Comcast completes its work on the project, anticipated to be the end of June, the town believes Verizon will be able to provide a schedule for the completion of its work, including the removal of old utility poles,” he stated.

Added Daltorio: “The town and MassDOT have been and will continue to communicate with Comcast and Verizon to complete their work as expeditiously as possible.”

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Select Board reviews proposed FY 26 water, sewer rates

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

The Select Board on June 3 reviewed the proposed water and sewer rate recommendations for the upcoming fiscal year provided by the town’s consultant in preparation for the board’s June 17 vote.

Our job is to tell you how much money we need, and the charter sets it up so that the Select Board decides what the rates are. Sometimes they don’t always match.

Matthew Abrahams of the Abrahams Group gave a presentation providing a 10-year projection of anticipated revenue and expenditures. The firm has been providing rate studies for the town over the past two decades.

— DPW Diretor Kerry Reed

Abrahams gave an overview of the town’s water budget over the next decade. While the current number is $2.8 million, that amount is expected to triple to $8.4 million by FY 35.

He also mentioned the proposed connection to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) system, which he described as “a hot topic.” The costs related to the MWRA were included in the analysis.

“Eventually, if and when the town connects to the MWRA, the MWRA will be able to assess the town based on the water that it uses,” Abrahams added, noting that he expects that cost to be about $2 million annually.

The infrastructure cost for the MWRA connection is included in the eight-year capital plan, along with other projects. It contains $45 million in investment.

Abrahams noted that the water budget is projected to triple over the next 10 years, rising from $2.8 million to $8.4 million in FY 35.

The first water rate option Abrahams proposed was presented last year. It anticipated the need to raise the water rate 25% for FY 26, then go up by increments of 7% through FY 30. With the expanded projection time frame, FY 31-35 would go up by 9% each year.

For an average user, the FY 26 increase would raise the water bill from $259.01 to $323.77, a difference of $64.75.

She explained that the town “got hit with some huge regulatory requirements,” particularly the PFAS water filtration system at Well 6, which depleted funds. Under her direction, the DPW is “trying to take a more proactive approach” with capital investment rather than waiting to fix what is absolutely necessary.

Added Reed: “Our job is to tell you how much money we need, and the charter sets it up so that the Select Board decides what the rates are. Sometimes they don’t always match.”

Member Amy Ritterbusch favored the steady rate increase. This was also the recommendation of the Water & Sewer Advisory Board, which chair Paul Gallagher presented later in the meeting.

Reed said she preferred the 25% option for FY 26 to “do the investment now.”

Sewer rates to go up

The three options for the sewer rates showed more modest increase rates.

The first model showed a 7.5% increase for FY 26 and 27. It would double to 15% from FY 28-30 and then go to no increase. The bill for the average residential user would go up by $31.80 to $455.77 from $423.97.

The second plan would lessen the impact in FY 26. It proposed a 5% increase for the average residential user, with the bill going to $445.17. The rate then would increase annually for three years, go back to 5% for FY 30, and then go flat for five years.

The second option would raise the rate each year over 10 years by 10.5%. For FY 26, users would feel a pinch of $27.20. The average user’s bill would jump to $286.21.

The third option would raise the FY 26 rate by 5%. The average residential bill would rise by $12.95 to $271.96. The burden would be heavier over successive years, peaking at a 15% increase over FY 28-30 before falling to 7.5% for the remaining years.

Member Matt Kizner posed several questions to Abrahams, Department of Public Works Director Kerry Reed, and Water/Sewer Director Eric Carty. A key question he had was why the revenue dropped over the four-year period prior to FY 24, which caused the FY 25 rate hike.

Abrahams said he did not have the data on hand but believed that revenue didn’t keep up with expenses.

He added: “So maybe rate action wasn’t as high as it should have been.”

Kizner responded that the presentation showed no retained earnings by FY 35.

“I don’t want to kick the can for 10 years,” he said.

“That’s why we’re coming before you with the recommendations for the rate changes,” Reed replied.

The third option would raise the rate by 10% each year from FY 26-31. Then it would revert to no increase for the remaining years.

Hopkinton’s rates will be impacted by Westborough’s $17 million in capital investment over the next decade. Hopkinton outsources much of its sewer flow to Westborough, which will impact the sewer rates. The projected impact to Hopkinton is expected to be between $50,000-$70,000 annually beginning in FY 27.

Gallagher said that the WSAB recommends a flat 10% increase over the next 10 years.

He added that the WSAB is trying to look at other options to handle Hopkinton’s water demand, such as buying more water from Ashland. He cautioned the Select Board that Hopkinton’s intermunicipal agreement with Ashland will expire in about a year, years before MWRA water will become available.

Rapscallion restaurant license approved

The board voted to approve the common victualer license and all-alcohol license for Rapscallion, a new restaurant Select Board | 8

Hillers Pizza owner Sismanis to serve jail time after guilty verdict

By Nick Schofield Contributing Writer

[Editor’s note: Readers are warned that this story includes descriptions of indecent assault and battery.]

Hillers Pizza owner Petros “Peter” Sismanis was found guilty of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 years of age and two counts of witness intimidation June 12 after a two-day trial in Framingham District Court.

The jury was quick with its deliberation, reaching a verdict on all three counts in less than 30 minutes.

On the indecent assault and battery charge, Sismanis was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison, with six months to serve and two years suspended. For that charge he also received three years probation and will be required to register as a sex offender in Massachusetts. Sismanis was given three years probation for both counts of witness intimidation. All charges were to be served concurrently.

The charges against Sismanis stemmed from an incident on Jan. 12, 2023, when he brought a then-16-year-old girl down to the Hillers Pizza supply closet in the basement of the establishment at 77 West Main Street. The victim alleged that out of view of security cameras, Sismanis — who was 55 years old and the victim’s boss — grabbed her around the waist and kissed her on the mouth.

The two counts of witness intimidation, which counted for both the victim and her mother, came into play when the mother picked up her daughter and attempted to leave. Video evidence showed Sismanis repeatedly making motions at the vehicle and putting his body in the way, preventing it from leaving.

There was no visible reaction from Sismanis nor the victim, who was in court as well, while the guilty verdicts were read.

Accuser details incident

At the start of the prosecution’s casein-chief on June 11, Pavan Nagavelli, assistant district attorney for the Middlesex District Attorney’s office, brought the accuser to the stand.

The accuser provided details of the alleged assault, noting that Sismanis had been sitting down when she “peeked her head” into the basement supply closet. It was when she turned around that he grabbed her and kissed her.

Nagavelli had the accuser confirm she had not given verbal consent for neither the kiss nor him grabbing her waist.

Following the kiss, the accuser claimed that “he told me I couldn’t tell anybody.”

The two went back up in the elevator to the lobby of 77 West Main Street, where Sismanis allegedly directed the accuser to return to the restaurant through the front doors while he went through the rear entrance.

“We left together, so I don’t know why we would return separately,” she remarked.

The accuser then said she became distressed and went to the bathroom after handling a few more customers, which is when she called her mother. Her mother, who works at a hospital an hour away from Hopkinton, agreed to get her.

Accuser’s mother discusses arrival

The commonwealth brought the accuser’s mother to the stand to testify as

well. Judge Matthew McGrath noted to jurors that she was a “first complaint witness,” a party that a sexual assault victim has told of the alleged assault. Only one of these witnesses is allowed in a sexual assault trial.

“You may not consider this testimony as evidence the assault occurred,” McGrath said.

The accuser’s mother detailed her arrival to Hillers Pizza, which occurred around 9 p.m. She described retrieving her daughter, exchanging words with Sismanis and attempting to leave. Both the accuser and her mother stated at this point, Sismanis repeatedly attempted to block their vehicle from leaving the parking lot.

As well, the witness confirmed earlier testimony regarding Sismanis’ pleas as he blocked their vehicle from leaving. She claimed he said things such as, “Just kill me … hit me with your car,” and, “What can we do to fix this?” repeatedly.

“At any point, did [Sismanis] ask you to make a deal?” Nagavelli asked.

“He said he would do anything … if I didn’t call the police,” the witness responded.

Believing Sismanis would continue to prevent her from driving away, the witness called the non-emergency line of the Hopkinton Police Department. Officers responded within minutes and directed the witness to drive to the police station, she claimed.

The entire interaction in the parking lot lasted almost 30 minutes.

Lt. McNeil takes stand

Nagavelli ended the prosecution’s case with one final witness: Hopkinton Police Lt. Matthew McNeil. Now an administrative lieutenant with the HPD, McNeil was the evening patrol supervisor on Jan. 12, 2023. During Nagavelli’s questioning, McNeil detailed how he was the first officer to the scene and what he saw.

Hopkinton police had arrived at the parking lot of Hillers Pizza close to 9:30 p.m. that evening after receiving a call that Sismanis was blocking the mother’s vehicle from exiting the plaza.

In his testimony, McNeil detailed how Sismanis was ordered to return inside the restaurant while he talked with the mother.

“I spoke with the mom,” said McNeil. “I told them to go to the police station.”

Sgt. Shannon Beloin escorted the witness and the victim to the Hopkinton police station, where she was reported to have taken the victim’s statement.

McNeil then detailed how he returned to Hillers Pizza with Officer Matthew LaTour after the restaurant had closed to speak with Sismanis.

“He was wondering what [the victim] said to us and why we were there,” the lieutenant said. “He said he just brought her to the basement to show her supplies.”

McNeil went on to testify that Sismanis claimed he only touched the victim’s shoulder. Nagavelli brought LaTour into the courtroom so McNeil could demonstrate the action for the jury.

Then, according to the lieutenant, the story changed. In another demonstration with LaTour, McNeil described how Sismanis’ story morphed to him putting his arm around the victim’s shoulder and leaning in to kiss her forehead.

All the while, Sismanis pleaded his innocence to the police officers, McNeil claimed.

“He said he didn’t do anything sexual

— that he would lose everything,” he reported.

Defense points to videos

Cataldo called no witnesses in the defense of his client. Instead, he played four videos for the jury that previously had been submitted into evidence.

Three of the videos showed camera angles of a five-minute period of time when the mother’s vehicle was parked while Sismanis walked back into Hillers Pizza and back out, just before police arrived. The fourth video showed the victim interacting with coworkers and socializing following the incident in the basement.

In his closing remarks, Cataldo referenced the videos and reiterated points he had made in his opening statement.

“The charges don’t meet the facts, you will find,” he told the jury.

He reiterated that it was the victim who initiated the trip down to the supply closet, that Sismanis never closed the door when they entered and suggested that the victim was in a “normal mood” in the roughly 90 minutes between when the incident occurred and when her mother picked her up.

Just as in his opening statement, Cataldo did not deny the interaction took place. He characterized the behavior Sismanis exhibited afterward — which he argued was not threatening or coercive — as “pleading for what he believed to be his future.”

As to why the victim would make her allegations at all, Cataldo said: “There’s 500,000 reasons why they’re seizing upon an opportunity to exaggerate.” The comment referenced an outstanding lawsuit for $500,000 against Sismanis by the victim’s mother.

In his closing remarks, Nagavelli pushed back on Cataldo’s continued assertion that the victim made no effort to resist or find someone to report the crime to in the immediate moments afterward.

“What is demanded of women and children these days when they’re approached by people of authority?” Nagavelli asked the jury.

He posed a similar question regarding the mother’s decision to remain in the Sismanis | 22

Hillers Pizza owner Peter Sismanis was found guilty of indecent assault and battery for an incident that occurred in the basement of the West Main Street restaurant in 2023.

HHS grad competes in Miss Massachusetts Teen pageant

By Nick Schofield Contributing Writer

Jordan Kenney, who graduated from Hopkinton High School this month, has been studying for a completely different type of test: competing in the Miss Massachusetts Teen USA pageant.

“Honestly, it’s a very fun experience,” said Kenney. “It requires a lot of hard work, but it’s still very enjoyable, which is important when you’re pursuing something.”

Kenney holds the title of Miss Hopkinton Teen USA. She earned the title after applying and going through a brief interview process.

“If there’s no other girls trying to compete for your title, you don’t have to do earlier competition,” Kenney explained. “It depends on demand.”

She then prepared for the Miss Massachusetts Teen pageant, which was held June 13-15 in Plymouth.

The three-day event crowned a winner who will go on to compete in the Miss Teen USA pageant in Florida later this year. The winner of the pageant also receives a cash prize, along with two photo shoots and perks from various

pageant sponsors.

This marked Kenney’s first time competing in a pageant, though she noted it has been a long-time dream to enter. It wasn’t until receiving encouragement from a close family friend who runs Miss Connecticut that Kenney decided to give the pageant a try.

While she is a bit later to teen pageant competitions (Miss Massachusetts Teen is open to contestants as young as

14), Kenney said this was a “good time for me to explore something like this.” She noted that much of her preparation work has helped her learn skills and aspects of the real world she can use as she enters college at the University of New Hampshire and beyond.

The 18-year-old was working since February on those skills, focusing heavily on interviewing and public speaking.

“The interview is 50% of your score,” Kenney noted. “It’s pretty significant to your total.”

The pageant judges question competitors based on extensive questionnaires they filled out when applying for the competition. Kenney said she spent a lot of time practicing her answers, getting more comfortable talking in front of people and feeling confident in answering questions she may not know are coming.

On top of doing interview practice several days a week — which involves Kenney recording herself and watching the video to take notes and make improvements — she also worked on her walk and met with her coaches weekly.

“I have to practice walking because my heels are tall,” Kenney said. She

noted that each contestant has a walking pattern they need to demonstrate throughout the competition.

The walking practice was important for the other two parts of the pageant: evening gown and activewear. Throughout all three portions of the event, contestants were judged on criteria including character, poise, confidence and personality, according to the Miss Massachusetts website.

Kenney, who was one of 25 competitors in the Miss Massachusetts Teen pageant this year, said before the event that earning a top spot in the competition would be nice, but she has found the work to get to this point as its own reward.

“Even necessarily if I don’t place in the top five or top 12, the process itself is very rewarding,” said Kenney. She described it as a learning experience that has taught her about setting goals and skills like public speaking.

Although Kenney is 18, she still will be eligible for the teen pageant again by next year’s application deadline, and she said she would be open to it.

“I see myself being more successful having the experience under my belt,” Kenney said.

Parks & Rec to replace deteriorating Carrigan Park fence

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

he Parks & Recreation Commission on June 10 learned that funds will be available at the end of the fiscal year for replacing the dilapidated fence at Carrigan Park that concerned abutters at the May 28 meeting.

Parks & Rec Department Director Jon Lewitus told commission members that he spoke with the town’s Accounting Department about replacing the fence, located at 5 Marshall Avenue.

“Long story short, we have the money to do it,” he said.

Lewitus said he spoke with Town Manager Elaine Lazarus, who told him that departments tend to have unused funds at the end of the fiscal year. When FY 25 concludes on June 30, unused

funds will be evaluated to put toward the project. Lewitus estimated that Parks & Rec has about $1,800 in funds remaining.

He added that he received a quote for the fence, which was lower than the $10,000 previously projected. This negates the need for multiple project bids.

In a related development, Lewitus said Hopkinton Little League president Gabe Recos has begun clearing baseball equipment from the fence area. Lewitus will work with the Department of Public Works to clean up the parking area.

Sandy Beach boat dock installed

Lewitus announced that the highly anticipated Sandy Beach boat dock was installed on June 9 in time for summer usage.

“We had a few people there today,”

Lewitus said, noting that they offered feedback that will lead to improvements for this summer.

“We’re going to tale a long, hard look at it on how it’s designed for next year,” he continued, noting that it will be included in the parking lot paving project plans.

Vice chair Kyle Smith said he is working on implementing a modification to the boat ramp by next summer. He also will be addressing the Conservation Commission as to removing brush and creating a “true path to it.”

Said Smith: “I don’t think we’re talking crazy dollars, but still, it’s dollars.”

Pickleball scheduling discussed

Chair Dan Terry discussed al -

Concerts & Movies Common on the

July 13th Antarctica

July 20th Roy Scott Big Band

July 27th Hopkinton Community Summer Band

August 3rd Carolyn Rae & The Rumors

August 10th Knock on Wood

August 17th Studio Two

August 24th Din Check

Sundays after the Farmers Market!

5:00-7:00pm

June 26th Wicked

July 10th Moana 2

July 24th Inside Out 2 August 7th Mufasa

lowing scheduling for three pickleball courts off of Fruit Street via the PlayTime Scheduler app.

The courts he suggested for reservations are the ones closest to the fence near the parking lot, he explained. A limit of 18 reservations for a three-hour time frame on Wednesday afternoons was proposed, with a wait list available. This will take up one of the tennis courts during that time frame.

The program will begin for June 18 reservations and will be adjusted according to demand.

“I think one of the things that will do is give people time to get comfortable using PlayTime Scheduler and start playing pickleball in a different way,” said Terry.

and brewery located at 22 South Street, the former location of Quattro.

“We’re looking forward to coming to Hopkinton,” said owner/operator Peter Daniel. “We’ve heard a lot of good things.”

Hamilton, Carty thanked for service

Thursdays, starting at dusk

As the meeting began, Herr thanked Bob Hamilton, HCAM-TV’s government meeting producer, for his years of dedicated service to the town as he leaves the position.

“Without him and his colleagues at HCAM, getting this information out to the public would be that much harder,” Herr said.

Herr also congratulated Carty, the water/sewer director, for 40 years of service to the town on his anniversary. Carty, who is retiring, said he was happy to contribute to his hometown.

Jordan Kenney represented Hopkinton in the Mass Massachusetts Teen USA pageant this month.

Pros, cons of pool ownership: Take the plunge

Some homebuyers see a swimming pool as a property enhancement — an aesthetically pleasing feature that provides entertainment for friends, family and neighbors and endless fun and exercise for the kids. It’s almost like being able to vacation every day at the comfort of your own home. Other homebuyers aren’t so eager to get their feet wet.

Kim Foemmel

To be sure, there are significant considerations: the cost and effort to maintain a pool, whether or not it will actually be used, and safety and liability issues. However, most common concerns are easily addressed.

The cost of maintaining a pool is relatively reasonable, particularly for newer pools or those in good condition. Local pool service companies can open and close a pool and maintain the chemical balance; but, after learning how to open and close it properly, many homeowners are able to maintain the pool themselves. Pools operate on a sand or cartridge filtration system, which circulates the water and have a skimmer to filter out leaves and dirt. An automatic pool robot vacuum can be programmed to continually clean the pool. A simple weekly water quality test will determine the chemicals, salt or acid needed to keep the water clear and safe for swimming.

Pool heaters can extend the seasonal use, and solar covers can naturally warm the water while also helping to keep out leaves and debris. Lockable, retractable safety covers will help restrict kids and pets from unsupervised entry.

There are two types of pools: lined and gunite. A lined pool is usually round or rectangular and has a plastic liner that can last 10-20 years and can easily be replaced. They sometimes come with a warranty. Gunite pools can be free-forming in shape; they are made with concrete and often have tiles at the top. They typically need to be resurfaced approximately every 20 years, and the tiles will need to be replaced if they start falling off. Saltwater pools can be easier to maintain than chlorine or bromine.

It’s financially advantageous to find a home with an existing pool rather than install it. Considerations of adding a pool include topography, which can become complicated and costly in an area with ledge or rocks that might require drilling or dynamite. There are also town and neighborhood restrictions and permits, fence requirements, zoning and wetland issues, the addition of surrounding patio or stone-scaping, and so forth. Because a pool doesn’t typically add much value to a home due to not being able to use it the whole year, it’s unlikely an owner would see a return on the investment of installing one. (Additionally, the pandemic spurred a demand for pools; many vendors have a waiting list of a year or longer.) Above-ground pools are cheaper to install but usually less visually attractive depending on the topography.

So, if the house you love has a pool you’re not sure about, take a moment to reconsider. Grab a glass of lemonade, pull up a lounge chair and dip your toes in while you think about it!

Kim Foemmel, Real Estate Broker Foemmel Fine Homes Hopkinton, MA 508.808.1149

Kim.Foemmel@gmail.com FoemmelFineHomes.com

Baypath Adoptable Animal of the Week

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

Here is Baypath’s description of Leilani:

“Looking for a sweet and snuggly sidekick? Meet Leilani! This 4-month-old pup is full of love, playful energy and puppy charm — and she’s ready to find her forever home.

“Leilani is currently in a foster home where she’s thriving. She lives for car rides, walks, toys and couch cuddles. Her foster raves about how well she’s doing: She’s working on her housetraining, sleeps through the night and even puts herself to bed when she’s ready to turn in.

“She’s friendly with other dogs, loves meeting people (including kids!) and is gaining confidence every day. Leilani would love a home with a playful dog buddy to help show her the ropes as she continues to grow.

“With her silky-soft ears, gentle heart and happy little personality, Leilani is truly something special. If your dog is looking for a little sister — or your family is ready to welcome some puppy love — Leilani might be the one!”

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

For more Adoptable Animals of the Week, check the Hopkinton Independent website at HopkintonIndependent.com.

Porter found guilty of child rape

Porter | from page 1

— Porter’s wife — before resting. She broke down in tears when the verdict was read, while her husband stood at the defense desk with his head down.

Charges detailed

Porter was convicted on three counts of rape of a child.

The first two charges were related to an incident that occurred on Sept. 13, 2004, when the accuser, then 15, said Porter was taking her home from school after she experienced a mental health crisis during the school day at Hopkinton High School. The school administration team that oversaw her Individual Education Plan (IEP), of which Porter was a member, agreed that he should drive her home.

TOWN OF HOPKINTON

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

P.O. Box 209, 83 Wood Street Hopkinton, Massachusetts 01748

Notice to the General Public

e Town of Hopkinton Department of Public Works will initiate herbicide application activities throughout select right-of-way areas within the Town of Hopkinton, MA. Application activities are to take place on the approximate dates of June 23, 2025 through November 1, 2025 for the purposes of controlling Poison Ivy and other noxious, hazardous, detrimental and/or invasive vegetation species.

e herbicide Rodeo (EPA Registration #62719-324) will be applied in compliance with 333 CMR 11.00 via hand application and/or truck-mounted sprayer.

For additional information please contact Kerry Reed, Town of Hopkinton Director of Public Works, 83 Wood Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748, 508-497-9740.

In her testimony, the accuser said Porter pulled up to the police station and told her to wait up the road. He exchanged his police cruiser for his personal vehicle and changed into a red T-shirt and jeans. During the drive, he pulled into a nearby church parking lot. The accuser alleged that Porter kissed and fondled her before digitally penetrating her, the first charge. He then attempted to have sexual intercourse.

“I wasn’t wet enough,” the accuser said during her earlier testimony, which she said “frustrated” Porter. This was the second charge.

The third charge occurred in June 2004, when the accuser said Porter drove her home from a babysitting stint at his Hopedale home. On the ride home, the accuser said she put her arm around Porter, and he began to caress her. She performed oral sex on him, the third charge. The incident was disrupted when lights from another vehicle startled Porter, the accuser said.

During the case, another sexual encounter occurred on the accuser’s 18th birthday, when Porter took her to lunch to celebrate and then back to her college dorm. Because they were both adults at that time, no charges were filed in this instance.

Porter declines to testify

At the beginning of the court session June 6, Judge Michael Pineault asked Porter if he wanted to testify. He affirmed that he did not.

At the beginning of the trial and before the jury was instructed to begin deliberations, Pineault told jurors that it was Porter’s right not to testify, and that his decision should not impact their decision-making process, as a defendant is innocent until proven guilty.

The only witness the defense team called was Porter’s wife, Lori. She noted that their 30th wedding anniversary is June 10.

She testified about having the accuser at the house as a babysitter “because we were trying to help [the accuser] with her confidence.”

The judge allowed for a short break after this testimony. When court resumed, the defense rested its case.

Closing arguments differ

Defense attorney Maura Tansley painted the accuser as a troubled teen with “a complicated psychology” that manifested before Porter became the HHS school resource officer. She said that while her adjustment counselor

described the girl as “very bright,” her IEP stated that she “also had social and emotional concerns.” She described the accuser as a “runner” who “engaged in self-harm.”

“She picked him,” Tansley said. “She demanded more of his time than other students, and she knew that.”

She added that an IEP team member with a doctoral degree assisted in the development of the plan, which included a previously described “point system” to see Porter as a reward for good behavior.

Said Tansley: “They were setting up Mr. Porter for disaster.”

She also said the case was “riddled with inconsistencies” between the accuser’s description of the sexual encounters given to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office in 2022 and the accuser’s testimony during the trial.

Tansley added that the accuser did not say anything about the alleged assaults until she was asked by HPD Sgt. Tim Brennan years later if she had had any sexual encounters with Porter.

In her closing statement, prosecutor Maren Schrader stressed repeatedly that the accuser was 15 years old. She displayed a picture of the accuser on television screens as she addressed the jury.

“The woman that you saw on the stand is not the little girl you see in this photo,” she said.

Since that time, she earned a nursing degree, became a mother of two, and works as a nurse in a Boston hospital pediatric unit. Schrader suggested that the patients “represented who she was at 14-16 years old.”

Schrader described the accuser’s decision being prompted by an instance when she was treating a 12-year-old girl who allegedly had been sexually assaulted.

Said Schrader: “At that point, she realized it’s not just about me.”

She said the accuser testified in open court about the extent of her emotional and psychological issues as a youth. She also said that she relied on Porter as a support system and constantly sought validation from him, stating in her testimony that she was “obsessed” with him to the point that she agreed to have sexual relations with Porter in the church parking lot when he asked her.

“Is that wrong?” Schrader asked. “Yes. But under the law, it doesn’t matter if you want to have intercourse with a 35-year old. What does she understand at 15 at a level that a 35-year-old would understand?”

Schrader said the manila folder with the accuser’s name in Porter’s office closet was a piece of evidence the jury should consider. It was discovered by current HPD Deputy Chief Scott van Raalten and given to Chief Joseph Bennett when the two assisted in cleaning out Porter’s office upon his retirement.

“There were no other children’s files,” she said.

As to the sexual encounters with the accuser, Schrader said, “He created those opportunities.”

“He knew it was wrong,” she stressed. “He told [the accuser] it was wrong, and he did it anyway.”

While there were some discrepancies between the prosecutors’ account of the circumstances and the accuser’s testimony, Schrader said they amounted to five lines of text in a 128-page

document from three years ago that the accuser had not seen until she was on the stand.

“Isn’t that completely reasonable?” Schrader asked.

She said inconsistencies as to whether Porter or the accuser pulled down her pants or whether he allegedly “kissed or licked” her did not change the instances of alleged sexual assault the accuser described in great detail on the stand.

Schrader added that the two times when the accuser was allegedly sexually assaulted by Porter when she was a minor occurred in a vehicle.

“He can’t dispute being alone with her [then],” she said. “Why? Too many witnesses.”

Later in her argument, Schrader said that Porter could have left a note saying that he dropped off the accuser at home when he took the time to exchange vehicles at the police station and change into casual clothing.

She also said Porter told the accuser to delete any electronic communications with him, which is why they aren’t available.

Schrader also referred to police officers as being “brothers in arms.” She suggested that Bennett “lost what he thought were two good officers” as a result of the scandal — Porter and Brennan.

She added that the accuser had nothing to gain by coming forward now, suggesting that the defense may characterize this as her getting revenge upon Porter.

Jury decides quickly

Shortly before 1 p.m., Pineault gave his instructions to the jury. Proceedings broke from 1-2 p.m. for lunch. He told jurors that the verdict had to be unanimous, and he would not accept a verdict until the jury deliberated for at least one hour to ensure that they took the time to review evidence and discuss the case.

At 4 p.m. proceedings resumed.

After reviewing the verdict, the judge asked the jury foreperson to read it. Porter was found guilty on all three counts.

At the announcement of the first charge, there was an audible gasp. After all of the charges were read, the judge said Porter’s bail was revoked, and he would be taken into custody.

Porter stood at the defense desk, his head slightly down, until he was escorted out of the courtroom by officers.

Lori Porter, who was seated, had her head in her hands and sobbed, her cries growing louder. Family members and friends who sat near her tried to comfort her and console each other as the defense attorneys approached her.

Porter will be sentenced at 2 p.m. on June 18 at Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office released a statement a few hours after the verdict.

“The defendant in this case abused his position of power to take advantage of and manipulate a child to gain her trust before sexually assaulting her on multiple occasions,” District Attorney Marian Ryan said in the statement.

“During her ninth and 10th grades at Hopkinton High School, the victim would often go see the School Resource Officer, John Porter for support,” the statement read. “That relationship changed during 10th grade, going from one of a trusted adult and student to a flirtatious then sexual one.”

Bennett also released a statement after the verdict.

“The Hopkinton Police Department learned today that former employee John Porter was convicted by a jury in Middlesex Superior Court of three counts of Child Rape,” the statement read. “The Hopkinton Police Department cooperated fully with the Middlesex District Attorney’s investigation into this case, and we thank the District Attorney’s Office for their professionalism in handling this matter.”

[Editor’s note: For more stories on the trial, check HopkintonIndependent.com.]

Jay Porter (far right) stands with defense attorneys Maura Tansley and Leonardo Angiulo in court June 3.

Southwick’s Zoo celebrates 60 years of animals, adventure, memories

Once upon a time, there was a farm surrounded by a beautiful forest, filled with all manner of woodland creatures. It’s the beginning of many fairy tales, but this tale is far from fiction. Southwick’s Zoo, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary as a renowned family attraction, is the kind of story that puts a big smile on anyone’s face. It has action, adventure, lions, tigers and bears … oh my!

The property, in the family since the 1800s, was handed down to Justin A. Southwick, who had a passion for all kinds of exotic birds. He sold his dairy cows and used the money to collect rare birds and waterfowl, welcoming visitors from all around the area to view them. Receiving donations, he purchased other animals of interest, created their habitats and was dedicated to educating the public about his collection.

The Southwick/Brewer family incorporated the zoo in 1965, and today it is home to hundreds of species from around the world — giraffes, big cats, alligators, rhinos, gibbons, porcupines and more. Cindy Brewer, Justin’s great-granddaughter, was elected president of the zoo in January and is excited to continue her family’s legacy.

“It’s a true privilege to build upon what my family began generations ago,” she said. “I grew up surrounded by the animals, the land, and the people who made Southwick’s what it is today. I’m excited to lead us into the future — growing and innovating in ways that serve both our animals and our community.”

Along with its well-loved educational programs, Skyfari Sky Ride, Within the Wild Carousel and other favorites, the zoo also has some plans underway, such as a new gibbon exhibit as well a bird show that features the master aviators free flight, showing off how they have been taught to contribute to the park by picking up recyclable materials.

“Celebrating 60 years is a testament to the dedication of our staff and family, the support of our community, and the wonder of the animals we care for,” Brewer said. “From our roots as a family dairy farm to becoming one of New England’s most beloved zoological parks, this anniversary reflects the passion, resilience, and dedication that has guided us for decades. This milestone isn’t just about looking back, it’s about envisioning the next chapter of the park.”

Southwick’s Zoo is pulling out all the stops to

The Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants (MassCPAs) announced that Jeff Strassman was elected to the organization’s Board of Directors for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which began May 1.

Strassman, a Hopkinton resident, is New England managing principal at Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, where he leverages his deep industry expertise and client service experience to support audit, tax and advisory professionals in delivering high-quality, personalized solutions. Grant Thornton Advisors LLC is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, offering tailored audit, tax and advisory services to organizations of all sizes.

MassCPAs Board of Directors is a group of 19 elected members that sets policies, manages programs and oversees activities that benefit the 11,500-member organization and accounting profession in Massachusetts.

“MassCPAs Board of Directors are an exceptional and diverse group of forward-thinking leaders,” said Zach Donah, CAE, president and CEO of

celebrate, bringing back its old banner and hosting a vintage-style bash on June 21 with discounted admission prices, a performance by the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra, guest vendors and other plans to honor the property’s history. The family is excited to celebrate with the guests who have showed their supported through the decades.

“This celebration is our way of saying thank you to the families, friends and fans who’ve been with us on this journey,” Brewer said. “We hope everyone comes out to enjoy the fun, share their memories and be a part of this very special day in our history.”

Southwick’s Zoo (southwickszoo.com) is located at 2 Southwick Street in Mendon and is open every day from mid-April to Oct. 31, rain or shine.

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

MassCPAs. “Their fresh ideas and strategic insight will help shape our initiatives and foster innovation across the accounting profession in Massachusetts. I am confident that Jeff’s involvement will be instrumental in driving long-term growth and value for our members and the industry.”

Strassman previously served as the manufacturing and distribution industry leader in Citrin Cooperman’s Boston office, where he advised clients across a range of sectors, including life sciences, health care and professional services. He has deep experience working with multinational SEC registrants, privately held businesses and private equity-backed companies.

His areas of expertise include initial public offerings (IPOs), secondary offerings, mergers and acquisitions and the optimization of financial and operational controls. Strassman also has led the development and delivery of white papers, trainings and seminars on the technical and practical implications of ASC 606 (revenue recognition) and has guided numerous companies through its implementation. He also previously served in the firm’s Professional Standards Group.

Justin A. Southwick, who helped found Southwick’s Zoo, sits behind the wheel of a company truck with an animal friend, circa the 1960s. Southwick is the grandfather of the zoo’s current president, Cindy Brewer.

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

21 Hidden Brick Road

7 Forest Lane, Unit 4

3 Edge Hill Road

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

$1,350,000

$1,070,000 June 2

Simon Cambridge, Jillian Cambridge

Michael Davis, Lauren Davis

Abhishek Shah, Jalpaben Shah

Onofrio, Susan L. Onofrio, Susan C. Onofrio Andrew Wheeler, Alison Wheeler

$1,435,000 June 3 Robert Chewning, Meriden Chewning Nermin Khalil, Larry Bushey Jr.

Mushtaq, Kyle Girard

Demirbilek, Kristina Demirbilek

Navigating retirement: Key risks you can’t afford to overlook

Retirement should be a time of freedom and fulfillment — a reward for decades of hard work and careful planning. But this next chapter also brings unique financial risks. Recognizing and preparing for these challenges can mean the difference between an independent future and one filled with financial stress.

1. Withdrawal rate risk

A common concern for retirees is determining how much they can safely withdraw each year without running out of money. If the withdrawal rate is too high — especially during poor market years early in retirement — it can significantly reduce your portfolio’s longevity. Creating a flexible, sustainable withdrawal strategy is essential to preserving your savings over time.

2. Inflation risk

Even moderate inflation erodes your purchasing power over time. Across a 20- to 30-year retirement, this can have a major impact on your standard of living. To help offset this, retirees should consider keeping part of their portfolio in growth-oriented investments that have the potential to outpace inflation.

3. Longevity risk

With many retirees living 25 to 30 years or more in retirement, longevity is both a gift and a financial challenge. Your savings must stretch further than ever before. Solutions may include delaying Social Security to increase benefits or incorporating lifetime income options like annuities to provide guaranteed income.

4. Portfolio monitoring, asset allocation

Once you retire, your investment strategy needs to be closely monitored — not set on autopilot. Regularly reviewing and rebalancing your portfolio

helps ensure it stays aligned with your income needs, goals and risk tolerance. It’s also important to evaluate the role each account plays — IRAs, brokerage accounts and employer plans all serve different purposes. A thoughtful, wellmaintained asset allocation can help balance growth with capital preservation.

5. Healthcare and long-term care costs

Medical expenses, including Medicare premiums, out-of-pocket costs and long-term care, can place a heavy burden on your finances. These costs often rise faster than inflation. Without proper planning, they can quickly drain your savings. Exploring supplemental health coverage and long-term care insurance early can help protect your assets.

6. Tax efficiency

Taxes don’t disappear in retirement — in fact, they can be surprisingly complex. Income from Social Security, required minimum distributions (RMDs), and taxable investments may push you into higher tax brackets. A tax-efficient withdrawal strategy that coordinates between IRAs, Roth accounts and brokerage assets can help reduce your overall tax burden and extend the life of your nest egg.

Final thoughts

Successful retirement isn’t just about accumulating enough savings — it’s about managing the risks that come afterward. By proactively addressing these challenges, you can help ensure a more stable and enjoyable retirement. Partnering with a knowledgeable advisor can give you the clarity and confidence to not just retire from something — but to something — with purpose and confidence.

Jim Valis & Gregg Manis

Blackstone Valley Wealth Management 22 South Street Suite 202 Hopkinton, MA 01748 (508)435-1281 blackstonevalleywealth.com Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Private Advisor Group, a registered investment advisor. Private Advisor Group and Blackstone Valley Wealth Management, LLC. are separate entities from LPL Financial.

Professional insights

James A. Valis, MBA, CFP® Gregg R. Manis, CFP®

HHS graduates urged to maintain uniqueness, meet future challenges

and acknowledged that there is not a single message he could give that would capture the full scope of their journey through high school.

“Humans, like fingerprints, are beautifully and unequivocally unique,” he said.

He then spoke about time, the 9.3 million minutes of life the students have experienced, with 2.1 million minutes of that as high schoolers. With the brain’s very limited capacity to retain information, Sridhar said there were about 350 hours of high school that defined their lives.

The class president told a story about two young monks, one of whom carried everything in his backpack to school and never cleared it out. By fifth period, he said, the monk was feeling the heaviness of the load.

The wise monk advised that hanging on to what was weighing him down would persist in burdening him. Sridhar said, “Humans are better at hanging on to negative memories that drag us down than the positive ones that empower us. … What’s still in your backpack ready to be unpacked?”

He also quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail behind.”

Sridhar encouraged his classmates to use their limited time wisely, as well as challenge the status quo and redefine it.

“Failure is never a permanent condition,” he said. “Even Icarus as he plummeted from the sky laughed. … The fall means you once flew. When the wind picks up, don’t fear the fall, because if you’ve flown once, you can always fly again.”

Superintendent bids farewell

Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh, who is retiring June 30, acknowledged that she and HHS Principal Evan Bishop, who will succeed her, are in a sense, graduating as well.

She said that because of their education in the district, graduates have a strong foundation in academics and social/emotional fortitude that they can commit to a meaningful life.

Cavanaugh reminded the students that they will be responsible for the world they are inheriting.

She said they are reaching adult-

hood during extraordinary times facing not just one catastrophic event or challenge.

“The world seems to be standing on the precipice of profound shifting,” Cavanaugh noted, giving examples of the climate sounding alarms, technology reshaping what it means to be human, rising inequality and a stormy political landscape.

Cavanaugh said in high school 40 years ago, she read books by Ray Bradbury including “Fahrenheit 451” that warned of a society that stifles “intellectual freedom and critical thinking” and where technology manipulates people.

“It’s messy,” she said of the world graduates are facing. Cavanaugh said she is not looking at it from a point of despair but rather “out of hope infused with confidence” that the class of 2025 could meet those challenges.

The superintendent also spoke about artificial intelligence and technology, saying it can be embraced but should not supplant “our thinking, our intellect, or curiosity, our ability to create or our humanity.”

She quoted a newspaper essay that addressed AI not being able to replicate a person’s human-ness or ‘me-ness.’ She urged graduates to define their own meness, cling to their humanity and make choices between “fear and boldness, passivity and action and disrespect and civility.”

Cavanaugh concluded by saying, “I’m confident knowing our collective futures are in your hands. I wish you the very best, and I’m counting on you.”

Support essential for grads

Valedictorian Dylan Striek said he looked to Chat GPT for speech ideas and got metaphors about climbing mountains, planting seeds and even comparing high school to a bagel.

He described high school as “weird,” but also comprised of unique, small moments that helped “make us who we are.”

Striek said although students all had individual experiences, they did not happen without the support of family and friends. He encouraged his peers to spend time with their loved ones this summer and said he was “proud to be on this timeline with you.”

Class officers Mollie Muldoon (vice president), Dhruv Shah (treasurer) and Ava Carboni (secretary) presented gifts to class advisors Kristen Murphy and Connor Zanini and thanked previous advisor Doug Levitt.

They announced a class gift of custom umbrellas for the outside eating area as well as a signed class flag.

Also during the ceremony, Holly Paharik received the Marion T. Harris Award. The honor, named after a longtime Hopkinton educator, is given to a student who exemplifies Harris’ personal qualities, including academic achievement and student involvement in clubs and athletics.

Cavanaugh and Bishop were presented gifts, and the yearbook was dedicated to the outgoing superintendent. Music was performed by the HHS band under the direction of Craig Hay. A group of seniors also presented a musical number.

Graduation | from page 1

Graduates and their families crowded into the high school’s athletic center for commencement exercises June 6.

School Committee reorganizes, bids superintendent farewell

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

Reorganization and recognitions were on the agenda at the June 12 School Committee meeting.

Kyla McSweeney was elected chair and Susan Stephenson was chosen as vice chair.

As it was her last meeting before retiring, Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh thanked the community, students, parents, faculty, staff and administrative council as well as executive administrative assistant Georgette Wagar for their support over the last nine years.

She also thanked all the School Committee members past and present, showing a list of names on the screen and noting it has been interesting having five bosses.

“You get different perspectives … and I’m very grateful,” the superintendent said.

She said her successor, Evan Bishop, is a “brilliant choice,” describing him as “smart and invested. He’ll be wonderful.”

Member Nancy Cavanaugh expressed gratitude for the superintendent’s work leading the district through growth and “ups and downs” like COVID.

“The district came out in a better place from having had you [here],” she said.

The superintendent and School Committee members also paid tribute to the board’s student representative, Savannah Rivera, talking about her insightful reports, sense of humor and tolerance. They wished her well at West Point and presented her with a gift as well as her nameplate.

Rivera described her tenure with the board as “an incredible experience,” saying that she hoped her successors would get as much out of their service as she did. Rivera also gave the superintendent a gift before leaving to attend a banquet for the track and field team.

Carol Cavanaugh also paid tribute to HCAM’s Bob Hamilton, who is moving away.

In her final superintendent’s report, Cavanaugh showed photos of Loop Road, which now has donated banners on every lamppost reading “Home of the Hillers,” a gift from the class of 2024.

She also showed progress of the Hopkins School addition/renovation project, including the new gymnasium and multipurpose room that will be used as the temporary cafeteria next year while work continues.

The superintendent said she did a walk-through, noting construction is moving quickly and is “exceeding my expectations.”

Gymnastics option approved

In other business, athletic director

Ricky Andrade presented a proposal for Hopkinton to join an existing gymnastics co-op for the winter season 2025-26. Andrade explained that the co-op is hosted by Medway and includes Milford and Holliston.

The co-op expects to be down to only a few participants this winter, and he said it would be “a good step” for Hopkinton to provide another option for female student athletes.

A student survey indicated seven rising ninth graders were interested in joining, with an additional five students as potential participants.

The practice facility is in Ashland, the practice schedule is set and a coach is in place, Andrade said.

The cost of $2,400 will be split by the number of participants. Andrade said user fees and the athletic equipment budget could cover uniforms and other items that may be needed.

The board unanimously approved the proposal.

Lease payments, board appointments made

The School Committee also approved lease payments of $171,192 with Apple for the 1:1 laptop program at the high school, teacher laptop replacements, replacement iPads at Marathon School and graphics lab renewals at the high school.

Technology director Ashoke Ghosh said funding would come from the fiscal year 2026 technology budget.

In an unrelated matter, the board agreed to have Bishop, the incoming superintendent, serve on the board of directors for the ACCEPT Collaborative and the Education Collaborative as Cavanaugh has done.

Other business included:

— Approval of a two-year contract for Jessica Beattie, the new director of student services, who will begin July 1;

— Acceptance to the Hopkins students gift account of $16 from Box Tops for Education, $150 from Holliston Candy College, and $5,737 from ShowTix4UDigital Theatre LLC;

— Approval for sixth graders to travel to Freedom, New Hampshire, from Nov. 17-19 and Nov. 19-21 for Outdoor Classroom. The program and transportation costs $435 for participants. middle school assistant principal Ann Benbenek invited Carol Cavanaugh to be a chaperone;

— Establishment of a meeting schedule, including 6:30 p.m. starts to meetings on July 24 and Aug. 14, followed by 7 p.m. meetings on Sept. 4 and 18, Oct. 9 and 30, Nov. 6 and 20 and Dec. 4 and 18. The meetings will be in-person with virtual options for members who may be away.

Mark Freeman, CEPA

Financial Advisor

508-293-4017

Bishop concluded the speech portion by thanking Cavanaugh and reflecting on how he and this class “grew up together” since his arrival in the district in 2013.

Bishop noted a parent presented him with artwork depicting “Oh, the Places You’ll Go,” featuring significant parts of town. He said the gift inspired him to write a poem for the ceremony.

His poem included several students by name and some apparent inside jokes, and it concluded with the following that

encapsulated some of the themes of the speeches.

“So grad, go chase the sun.

This may seem like the end.

But it’s only just begun.

Remember to always keep smiling like no other.

Be positive, be curious and be kind to one another.

Here’s to the moments, both big and small.

To the journeys ahead, give it your all.

I will miss you and HHS no doubt.

Hopkinton’s class of 2025, peace out.”

We’re in

Mark.Freeman@edwardjones.com

Let’s start

The Garland Show

June 20 & 21 | 7:30 p.m.

Following a string of successes on stage and screen in the early 1960s, Judy Garland became one of the most publicly sought entertainers of the era, and CBS cautiously moved to bury the hatchet to capitalize on the star’s public appeal. This new, dynamic musical drama by Paul Champlin chronicles the 1963-1964 Judy Garland Show, a production rife with promise but plagued by political and artistic struggles, interpersonal strife, and wavering CBS investment in its success. Inspired by “The Judy Garland Show: Rainbow’s End” by Coyne Steven Sanders.

5th Annual Hopkinton Pride Festival June 21 | 1 to 4 p.m.

The HCA, the Hopkinton Freedom Team, Hopkinton Youth & Family Services, Hopkinton Parks & Rec, and many more organizations across the MetroWest cohost Hopkinton’s Celebration of Pride & Love. You are invited to participate in the festival and the walk portion, which will begin at about 1:30 p.m. from the HCA. After the walk, join us at the festival for live music, fun activities and crafts, games, freebies, a chance to support some local organizations, and so much more!!

Open Mic for Teens—sponsored by the HCA Teen Advisory Board

June 24 | 7 p.m.

Show off your singing, dancing, poetry, or musical instrument skills in front of a live audience. Sign up now, and let’s make some noise! $10 at the door. Concessions will be sold.

6th Annual Summer Concert Series

Hopkins student creates clothing brand, publishes book

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

The founder of the e-commerce clothing brand Speerotee said he draws inspiration for his designs from the things he loves.

On the company website, the designer champions the idea that his clothing is meant to celebrate the liveliness and uniqueness of the individuals who wear it.

The tag line “An investment in fashion is an investment in self-confidence” appears on the top of the page.

The entrepreneur behind the business also is a published author.

And he is 10 years old.

Ruhaan Jain is a fourth grader at Hopkins School who has an app and an opinion article he wants published as side gigs. He also plays chess competitively and enjoys soccer and reading in his spare time.

His ambition comes as no surprise to his father, Chandra Manish, who recalled Ruhaan randomly asking one day to buy gum at a gas station.

Shortly after, his son came home with $25, having sold the gum to his classmates.

“He is always thinking about profit margins,” Chandra said. “Even when we are dining out, he will ask questions and show interest in what the restaurant could be making.”

Megan has a love for music and has been singing her whole life. She started playing guitar six years ago, and she did her senior project on Music Theory. She even wrote a song. Being involved in Best Buddies meetings as well as their prom has given Megan the opportunity to meet many different people. She is also part of an organization that coordinates “Night to Shine,” an event for people with disabilities.

In her spare time, Megan has a part-time job working at Fairview Estates Elderly Home where she works as a dishwasher and server. She has become close to residents and staff, and she will miss them when she goes to Cedarville University in Ohio in the fall. Congratulations, Megan!

Katie McBride • Debbie Brosseau 508-277-9600 katie@mcbrideteam.com The McBride Team of RE/MAX Executive Realty would like to congratulate Megan Cappetta on her award for Student of the Month.

Chandra described Ruhaan as “very gifted,” and pointed out that while he might spend hours trying to solve one cube, his son could finish combinations within 10-15 seconds.

Ruhaan’s entrepreneurial spirit kicked in when he started a YouTube channel as a soccer fan, “creating content with little input” from anyone else, according to his father.

When the youngster attracted enough views to receive checks from it, Chandra said his son announced he wanted to create his own clothing line.

“I thought, ‘If I didn’t like my clothes, how many other people feel the same way,’ ” Ruhaan noted.

Last June, Ruhaan crafted his own brand of jackets, T-shirts, hoodies, shoes and shorts for children, teens and adults. Ruhaan made an online store (speerotee.com) to sell his creations — featuring lines with a panda or phoenix, for example, with new items such as signatures and pastels arriving soon, according to the site.

The fourth grader said the brand name Speerotee holds no special meaning but was chosen “randomly.”

Ruhaan started getting the word out about his clothing store at school, where he delivered a presentation about it. He said he relies on advertising “with good SEO” and Instagram to bring customers to his business.

During the two months he spent designing his brand, Ruhaan said he kept in mind ways to make his clothes different from what is sold at “tons of other stores.”

the book he wrote and illustrated.

Late last year, he wrote and illustrated a book called “Sketch Smash” through Amazon, which describes the collection of comics as “a zany mix of characters” with “quick humor and visual gags.”

A review of the 58-page paperback, also available on Kindle, states: “It’s super fun, packed with bright, colorful pics! Perfect for anyone who loves a good, witty sense of humor.”

Chandra said Ruhaan’s “contagious energy,” inspired him to self-publish a book of his own, admitting that the process is not easy.

Of his son’s various ventures, Chandra added, “He keeps busy for sure.”

Chandra, a dentist, and his wife, Shriti Shah, a corporate attorney, are mindful that Ruhaan does not get overwhelmed or stressed out by all his endeavors.

Noting Ruhaan did not take feedback from his parents regarding his designs, Chandra advised parents of gifted children to “closely watch them … but let them follow their passion.”

“Parents know their kid best,” Chandra said. “They will lead you. …We treat him as an individual and let him decide, and it is working out.”

Along with everything else, Ruhaan attends an advanced math class. Chandra added, “As soon as it is not all fun for him, we’ll call it a day.”

The University of Rhode Island announced its dean’s list for the spring semester, and it includes a number of Hopkinton residents: Delaney Augspurg, Trinity Birtwistle, Morgan Burnie, Sydney Capello, Anthony Cherubim, Raine CrippsFurlong, Julia Dever, Paige Hughes, Neha Kunam, Lily Pete, Emerie Peterson, Ariana Scheidel, Eliza Worrell and Josie Zeigler. …

Maeve Watson was named to the president’s list and the trustees’ list at Champlain College, where she is majoring in psychology. … Ohio University College of Health Sciences and Professions student Lucy Hebert was named to the dean’s list. …

Mia Carboni was named to the dean’s list at the

College of William & Mary. …

At Bucknell University, junior Olivia Jaye (majoring in cell biology/biochemistry) and sophomore Drew Behrens (computer engineering) were named to the dean’s list. …

Colin Norred was named to the dean’s list at Springfield College. …

Chloe Johnson graduated from James Madison University with a B.S. in kinesiology. …

Holly Burns received a B.S. in education from the University of Alabama.

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

Ruhaan Jain wears a lightweight performance quarter-zip from his Panda Collection, part of his clothing brand, Speerotee. He is holding “Sketch Smash,”

HHS boys tennis reaches state semis

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

The Hopkinton High School boys

tennis team put together a string of 21 straight victories before the run came to an end June 9 in the Division 2 state semifinals with a 3-1 loss to Duxbury.

“They are good, really good,” Hillers coach Mike Miller said of the fourth-seeded Dragons (19-3) following the loss. “We have run into them before and we have been in this position before. We feel like we are knocking on the door to try to get to the next step but have not been able to do it.”

Miller said his previously undefeated team felt confident going into the semifinal match, which was played at Bridgewater-Raynham High School. Top-seeded Hopkinton’s second doubles tandem of junior Chavdar Kamenerov and sophomore Owen Gormley picked up the team’s lone point. Sophomore Joe Krattenmaker, who posted an undefeated record throughout the season, had a lead on his opponent when the rain came, and it was decided, with the overall outcome already determined, that the match would not conclude.

Still, Krattenmaker put together an incredible campaign, with Miller halfjoking in saying that he may have set the program record for the most matches won with clean sweeps.

“He had some of the quickest matches through the entire year, and he went undefeated all the way through,” Miller said. “You always knew, when you heard some balls being smacked around hard, that it was him.”

Krattenmaker moved to second singles this year because Hopkinton added German exchange student Max Sendele. Miller said Sendele emailed him about a year ago, asking about the tennis program.

“We had a lot of good players coming back, but having someone come in like Max who was as good as he was and took the No. 1 spot, that slides everyone

Young Hopkinton brothers badminton stars

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

From a young age, Arnav and Virat Satish have been encouraged by their parents to be active and participate in sports. So when their father, Satish Donga, had them try badminton, one of the sports he plays, he was not surprised to see them excel.

“I wanted them to play any racket sport or anything that can keep them

Donga

HHS No. 1 singles player Max Sendele returns a shot during a match earlier in the season.

me more.’ ’’

Each practice typically consisted of 90 minutes of on-court work and then another half hour of working out. Miller acknowledged that it sounds cliche to say, but as good as his athletes are at tennis, they are even better people.

“The see each other as training partners,” Miller said. “The most fun I have is watching them battle day in and day out, and seeing them get as good as they can be.”

else down,” Miller said. “That only made us that much stronger.”

Hopkinton’s run to the state semifinals also was driven by some talented seniors. Co-captain Ilian Glace held his own at the No. 3 singles position. Co-captain Rishit Shekhar and Kais Guessab were the primary duo at first singles. The older players were a huge part of the team’s success this spring.

“I am so proud of the way they played, especially the seniors,” Miller said. “We had great senior leadership,

Hopkinton brothers Arnav (left) and Virat Satish are among the top players in the country in their age groups.

Hillers softball ends tourney run in semis

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

hrough five innings on June 11, it appeared that the Hopkinton High School softball team might find a way to knock off Bedford and its dominant pitcher, Alyx Rossi, the Gatorade Player of the Year for Massachusetts.

Things went south in the sixth, however, and the third-seeded Buccaneers used that three-run frame to take a 3-1 victory in the Division 2 state semifinals at Worcester State University.

Hopkinton pitcher Addy Walls was the story through the first five innings. Not only did the sophomore keep a

talented Bedford offense off the board — allowing just one hit and one walk to that point — she provided the only run, sending Rossi’s second pitch of the game over the fence in center field. It was the first run Rossi and the Buccaneers had allowed this postseason.

The Hillers defense helped out, with center fielder Callie Arthur and shortstop Holly Paharik making diving catches.

In the fateful sixth, Bedford had a runner on first with one out when Rossi smoked a liner that drilled Walls. The ball deflected into foul territory on the first base side for a hit. Walls stayed in the game but suddenly showed some

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vulnerability, allowing two more hits and three runs before ending the frame with a strikeout.

Meanwhile, Rossi, a 5-foot-9 lefthander, continued to roll. She finished with 15 strikeouts and allowed just two hits — Walls’ homer and a bunt single by Ava Davenport — and one walk — to Paharik, her future Boston College teammate.

Second-seeded Hopkinton finishes its memorable season with a record of 20-4.

“We had a really special group of athletes this season,” coach Shannon Allberry-Yerardi stated. “On any given day, any one of them could be the hero. I strongly believe the way they trust and support each other on and off the field was a primary reason for our success this season. They all put in the work and challenged each other to be better every day.”

Allberry-Yerardi credited the five seniors who have been on board since they were freshmen for helping to rebuild the program. And she highlighted two players in particular.

“We are incredibly lucky and grateful to have had both Holly Pa -

harik and Addy Walls on the same roster for the last two years,” the coach gushed. “Words cannot describe what Holly Paharik means to our program at Hopkinton High School. She is a game changer; you can actually feel the energy of a game shift when she steps into the batter’s box. She approaches every pitch in every game, scrimmage and practice like she’s being watched by top college coaches. She’s the first one at the field and the last to leave every day. She pushes everybody to be their best selves both on and off the field. She’s a once-in-a-career student-athlete. It has truly been an honor to have Holly on our team for the last four years.

“Addy Walls has been our rock on the mound. She’s confident and composed and competes extremely well in high-pressure situations, and has already hit some really impressive milestones: 300-plus career K’s; 200-plus K’s this season alone. She gives our defense so much confidence to make big plays behind her. On offense, Addy is a very reliable bat; she sees the ball very well and has excellent pitch selection. I’m so excited to see what comes next for Addy.”

Young Hopkinton brothers badminton stars

racket sport,” Donga said.

This year, Arnav, 12, has been selected to represent the United States in the U-13 category at an international badminton tournament in July that will be held in Guatemala. Meanwhile, Virat, 10, is ranked as the No. 1 badminton player in the United States in the U-11 category.

Arnav said he enjoys taking part in open regional championships (ORCs), of which there are several around the country each year. The events have taken him to places like California, Illinios and Texas, he said.

“It’s fun playing against different people,” Arnav said, adding that he is proud to have the chance to play for Team USA in Guatemala this summer.

Virat similarly said he likes having the chance to test his skills against different players.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said.

While badminton is enjoyable for both brothers, it’s also hard work. The two spend about 30 hours or more per week training. Arnav said that most

mornings for him start with a run and then jumping rope to improve his fitness. Virat said it is not uncommon for him to spend 35 hours playing in a single week. Their mother, Madhavi Parimi, constantly helps them strive to improve through encouraging them to do their workouts, have strong nutritional habits and hone their skills.

“She is the backbone,” her husband said.

The boys spend time training at HelloBirdie Badminton in Marlborough under the tutelage of Eva Lee Waller, a two-time Olympian, and Nick Waller, a former U.S. badminton team member. Both coaches have achieved goals that the brothers hope to match someday. Virat said that he wants to compete in the Olympics. Arnav also said he would like to play internationally, and he will get his first chance this summer. His father said the chance to compete against athletes from another country is causing his son to up his game.

“He feels that he has something to push to, and I think he is working hard for that,” Donga said. “I can see the difference in the way he is training now.”

Badminton | from page 17

Members of the HHS softball team celebrate after their quarterfinal victory over Westwood on June 7.

Menning shows great promise in pool

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

WhenWill Menning

was a little kid, he took swimming lessons in the pool in his family backyard. He started to show some promise in the sport, which led his parents to bring him to the Goldfish Swim School.

Now a fourth grader at Hopkins School, Menning’s early potential already is coming to fruition. He is a member of the Crimson Aquatics Swim Team and one of the few 10-and-under swimmers from the eastern part of the United States who participated in the Eastern Zone Age Group Championships in Rochester, New York.

“It was exciting to swim with the best swimmers in the eastern U.S.,” said Menning, admitting to being a little bit nervous swimming on that big stage. He said he overcame it by listening to some music and thinking positive thoughts.

The strategy seems to have paid off. Menning finished 11th in the 500 freestyle and 13th in the 200 free. This season, he is ranked in the top 10 in New England in three events. His highest rank is fourth in the 500 free, which he said is his favorite event.

“Since the race is long,” he said, “there’s a lot of time to think about strategy.”

Menning said he fell in love with the competitiveness of swimming. He also likes the fact that there always is a way to improve.

In addition to the meet in Rochester, Menning also has traveled to Vermont and Rhode Island for swimming. But he likes to be a well-rounded kid as well. He said he likes to play the video game Minecraft, play with his friends, go biking and build things out of Legos when he is not in the pool. His favorite sport other than swimming is ultimate Frisbee. He also spends time playing water polo and soccer and enjoys social studies and history when he is in school.

Menning already has accomplished a great deal in swimming, but at a young age, he still has great aspirations for swimming.

“I’d like to qualify for the junior nationals when I’m 14,” he said.

HHS unified track grows in multiple ways

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

The Hopkinton High School unified track and field team, which combines athletes with intellectual disabilities and team partners from the school, was bigger this year than last. And coach Chip Collins said the growth manifested itself in more than just the numbers.

“We had a few new partners and athletes this season, it’s always great to add onto the team,” Collins said near the end of the 2025 season.

“Every year, it just keeps getting more and more fun,” Collins added. “The quality of the partners who are coming out is great, they are fully invested in it. They understand that they have to compete at their best level. It’s been an absolutely great season with nice friendships and bonds developed.”

From a meet interrupted by a microburst that sent everyone scurrying to the gym to the number of personal records that fell on a weekly basis, the season was filled with memorable moments.

Leading the way for the athletes is captain Kelsey Carlson, who first joined the team in 2017 and competed in the 18-to-22 division.

“It’s been great having her,” Collins said. “She is a super role model.”

Junior John Murray is someone his coach described as the “spark plug of the team,” constantly firing up everyone else ahead of meets and leading the stretching routines.

Collins called Jennifer Zhang a “spitfire” and said freshman Avery Schacht has been a great addition to the team. Kartik Sharma runs a solid 800 meters for the Hillers and has been a strong competitor in the javelin, Collins said. Two other new athletes to the program included Landon Rockhold, a freshman, and Aurora Kesner, who completed her eighth grade year this spring.

“It was great to have an eighth grader on the team,” Collins said. “It helps her get ready for high

school, and she can make friends early so that when she comes to high school, she feels comfortable.”

Nikhil Tenneti and Tanush Vuda were two more successful athletes this spring.

Hopkinton also had strong partners this spring, including captain Connor Minogue.

“He is a great role model for all of our athletes,” Collins said. “He is going into special education for his career, which is awesome. He has a calling.”

Among the other partners were Molly Muldoon and Elise O’Brien, who participated in a varsity sport for the first time. Collins had high praise for the addition of freshman partner Eabha O’Callaghan.

“She is wonderful,” he said. “She has been amazing with every single one of the athletes. She is the glue, she fits right into the team.”

Chris Resnick, a varsity hockey player, is another strong partner. The team also included partners Raegan Breen, Alyssa Budden, Alyson Green, Lila Harper, Ana MacPherson, Angelina Parker, Natalie Waxman and Sealan Zhang. Collins said all of the partners provide support and a strong human connection to their teammates.

“We are all one team,” he said. “They work together and cheer each other on. It’s just been great.”

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Hopkinton fourth grader Will Menning dives into the pool at a recent meet.

— Unified track coach Chip Collins

An exchange student from Germany, Dieckmann recorded more than 100 kills as a middle hitter for the Hillers, who were playing their first season as a varsity team. “Right from the start of the season, he was extremely motivated and enthusiastic to get better every day,” coach Jake Enos shared. “Throughout the season, he became the spark that the team needed to stay positive and rally together as a team.” Dieckmann capped his single season with Hopkinton by receiving the coach’s award for “his dedication to the team and his maturity as a player and person,” according to his coach.

Heading into the Division 2 state semifinals, Walls was hitting .463 with 22 RBI, seven doubles and four home runs, including a grand slam in the Hillers’ quarterfinal win over Westwood. On the mound, she was 19-0 in 20 starts with a 1.56 ERA and .181 opposition batting average, compiling 200 strikeouts in 126 innings. “Addy has been our rock on the mound this year,” coach Shannon Allberry-Yerardi noted. “She’s confident and composed in highintensity moments. She’s a great teammate who truly values and celebrates the successes of her teammates both on and off the field.”

TheHHS girls track team took seventh place at the state Division 2 championship meet. Josie Hopkins finished first in the pentathlon, third in the 100-meter hurdles and fifth in the long jump to lead the way. Bella Walkiewicz took second in the high jump and sixth in the 400 hurdles. Kaelyn Faber was third in the shot put. Evelyn Woodbury was seventh in the high jump.

The HHS boys finished ninth, led by Sean Finnegan (second in the 2-mile and sixth in the mile), Logan Sullivan (second in the high jump), Iago Ferreira (fifth in the 400), Mason Barros (fifth in the triple jump) and Ryan Morin (seventh in the shot put).

At the Meet of Champions, held June 5-8, Sullivan tied for second in the state in the high jump, clearing 6 feet, 4 inches, which was 2 inches out of first place. Harry Millar was sixth in the 110 hurdles in 14.53 seconds, which was less than a half-second from first. Sean Finnegan finished seventh in the 2-mile. For the girls, Hopkins took eighth in the pentathlon.

Hillers baseball bows out

The HHS baseball team could not muster any offense June 4, and it resulted in a 2-0 loss to host Reading in the Division 2 Round of 16.

Andrew Beauchemin had the Hill-

ers’ only hit of the day, and Zach Stacey reached on a walk. That was all Hopkinton could get against Reading junior righthander Grady Ventura, who recorded seven strikeouts in his complete-game gem.

The Hillers, seeded 15th, end their season at 15-8.

In Hopkinton’s first-round game on June 1, Christian Wheeler raced home on a wild pitch with two outs in the sixth inning for a 1-0 victory over visiting WhitmanHanson.

HHS lax teams, girls tennis fall

The HHS girls lacrosse team fell behind early and could not mount a comeback in a 17-9 loss to 16th-seeded Methuen in a Division 2 first-round game May 30. The 17th-seeded Hillers ended their season with a record of 11-8. …

HHS boys lacrosse saw its season come to an end with a 13-4 road loss to Tri-Valley League rival Westwood on June 2. Hopkinton, the 23rd seed in Division 2, ended its season at 9-10. …

HHS girls tennis, seeded 20th in Division 1, lost a 3-2 decision to 13th-seeded Franklin on May 29 in the first round. The Tri-Valley League Large School Division champion Hillers ended their season at 13-6.

HHS Athlete Spotlight

Athletes are selected after consultation with HHS coaches.

Felix Dieckmann Boys volleyball Junior

Addy Walls Softball Sophomore

For more information on any of the following programs or other activities at the library, visit hopkintonlibrary.org. Visit the library’s website calendar for event registration information. The library also can be found on Facebook, @hopkintonlibrary.

ALL AGES PROGRAMS

Animals of the Rainforest Live Animal Show

Wednesday, June 25, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

The Joys of Nature presents a live animal show about rainforest animals around the world. A wet, leafy habitat requires animals to develop special adaptations to survive. How do they find food and avoid predators in the forest? Do they climb? Change color? How do some species deal with extreme temperatures and other challenges? Attendees will learn the answers to these questions and more while meeting some rainforest animals up close. Registration is required, and children under the age of 9 must be accompanied at all times by a responsible person age 12 or older while visiting the library.

Puzzle Race

Saturday, June 28, 2-4 p.m.

Teams will race to complete a 500-piece puzzle. Registration is required, and up to six people may be on a team. This event is appropriate for patrons aged 9 and up. Questions can be directed to Adult Services librarian Dan Boudreau at dboudreau@hopkintonma.gov.

CHILDREN/YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS

Half-Day Library Arcade

Monday, June 23, 12:30-3:30 p.m.

On the last day of school, the library’s Betty Strong Room will be open to middle school and high school students starting at 12:30 p.m. Music will be played, and board games, table tennis, cornhole, giant Jenga, Nintendo Switch and other activities will be set up.

Living the Otter Life

Tuesday, June 24, 4-4:30 p.m.

In this virtual program, award-winning author

The Hopkinton Senior Center is open Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and Fridays from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. For a more extensive listing of programs and services, including lunch program menus as well as a newsletter, check hopkintonseniorcenter.com. Anyone with questions can call 508-497-9730. The Senior Center also has a Facebook page that provides updates on resources, programs and events.

Variety Show Volunteers

The Senior Center is looking for two volunteers to co-direct the center’s upcoming variety show. This would include holding the performance signups, supervising rehearsals, setting up day-of program order, etc. Anyone interested in this theatrical opportunity can contact the Senior Center.

TED Talks Discussion Group

Mondays, 12:30 p.m.

In 1984, TED Talks were created to bring technology, entertainment and design information to the curious and open-minded public. These videos cover a wide array of subjects and always lead to lively discussion and conversation. Casual TED Talks group meetings are held every Monday for one hour. Attendees will view one of these videos and follow with a discussion. The program is free.

Sound Bath

Wednesday, June 18, 2:15 p.m.

In this magical and relaxing hour, participants will be led by Crystal Lee to experience the sound waves from crystal bowls. The waves are meant to synchronize brain wave frequencies, fostering deep relaxation and a tranquil mind, which may

and summer reading champion Katherine Applegate will talk to viewers about her enthusiastically heartwarming novel in verse, “Odder, which is inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers.

Science Heroes: Adventure of the Missing Color Thursday, June 26, 6-6:45 p.m.

Through hands-on experiments and fun, interactive stories, Science Heroes gets kids excited about the science that’s all around and celebrates the scientists who color the world with art. This program is for ages 5-12.

Science Heroes: Experiment Lab Thursday, June 26, 7-7:45 p.m.

In this informal and interactive workshop, children ages 12 and up will work together to investigate exciting science concepts through hands-on experimentation.

ADULT PROGRAMS

Get to Know Your Government: Massachusetts Office on Disability Thursday, June 26, 2-3:30 p.m.

The Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) is a small state agency that provides information, guidance and training on disability-related civil rights and architectural access. The MOD helps people understand their disability rights and obligations, how regulations apply to the specifics of their situation, and practical steps they can take to assert their rights and comply with the law. This presentation will help the community navigate the government, have more successful government interactions and learn more about the MOD and how it can help them. It does not include legal information.

MEETINGS/TRAININGS

Volunteer Information Session Saturday, June 28, 10 a.m.

The quarterly Volunteer Information Session will be held in the Ellsworth Room.

ease anxiety, manage stress and support a balanced mood. Attendees should bring a yoga mat, pillow and blanket. Individuals may sit in a chair or lie down for this session. Advance registration is requested.

Hiking With Lisa

Friday, June 20, 10:30 a.m.

Individuals are invited to join in this summer for some great physical fitness opportunities outside. On June 20, the group will hike Peppercorn Hill, which has rocky terrain and is approximately 2 miles in length to reach a scenic lookout spot. Advance registration is requested.

Online Language Learning With Mango

Wednesday, June 25, 10-11 a.m.

In this program from the Hopkinton Public Library, librarian Danielle Wolber will discuss Mango, a phone app and website that individuals can use for free with their library card. Mango can help someone learn a wide variety of languages or brush up on a language that they used to know. Learning a new language is a fun and engaging way to exercise one’s brain, meet new people and learn about the world.

Our Time Memory Cafe at the Senior Center Thursday, July 10, 1 p.m.

This is a welcoming gathering for those experiencing forgetfulness or mild cognitive impairment, or living with dementia, and their care partner, family and friends. The cafe is a place to socialize, share experiences and form friendships. This is a joint venture between Senior Services and the Hopkinton Public Library. For more information, call the Senior Center.

police log

ARRESTS

Editor’s note: The Hopkinton Independent’s policy for the arrests section is not to include the names of individuals who have been arrested.

May 27

12:15 a.m. On Hayden Rowe Street, Officer Peter Lord arrested a 28-year-old Springfield resident and charged him with possession of a Class B drug.

May 30

8:36 p.m. A caller reported an erratic operator on Spring Street. Officers Lucille Creedon and Matthew LaTour responded, conducted field sobriety tests on the driver and subsequently arrested a 63-year-old from Westborough, charging her with OUI liquor.

June 5

7:59 a.m. On Main Street, Robert Ekross arrested a 41-year-old from Uxbridge on a warrant.

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.

May 27

3:09 a.m. A Revolutionary Way resident reported a large group of teenagers being rowdy and stating they were going to Southborough to beat up another individual. Officer Brian Zinioti and Sgt. Shannon Beloin responded, and the teens were gone upon their arrival.

8:03 a.m. A West Main Street walk-in reported someone used her credit card to make purchases that were delivered to an address in New York. Officer Brian Ziniti responded and took a report of fraud.

9:33 a.m. A Valentine Road resident reported his lawn mower got caught on an electrical box and potentially exposed wires. Officer Benjamin Vaz responded along with the Fire Department. Eversource and Verizon were contacted for assistance.

10:50 a.m. A motorist reported he got a flat tire on South Street, which caused him to crash into a lamppost. No personal injuries were reported. Officer Brian Ziniti assisted.

12:42 p.m. A Winter Street caller reported someone stole a bike and a canoe from his property. Officer Brian Ziniti attempted to assist, but the reporting person had a medical emergency and was transported to the hospital.

9:49 p.m. A caller reported juveniles attempting to get into a van on Mayhew Street. Officers Augusto Diaz and Justin Cappuccio responded and spoke with the parties, who were looking for their cat. They moved along.

11:23 p.m. A Revolutionary Way resident complained of loud music in the neighborhood and stated he was unable to sleep. Sgt. Shannon Beloin and Officer Peter Lord responded and did not hear loud music but spoke to a neighbor and advised him of the complaint.

May 28

3:30 p.m. A Huckleberry Road resident reported a stolen license plate. Officer Kyle Quinzani responded, took a report and entered the plate number into Criminal Justice Information Services.

8:24 p.m. A Wilson Street caller reported he heard a single gunshot close to his residence. Officer Lucille Creedon responded and checked the area with a negative find.

May 29

1:29 a.m. A Constitution Court resident reported her hus-

band was walking in the woods with his dog, and he fell and could not get up. He was unable to say where exactly he was. Officers Robert Ekross, Aline Matos and Peter Lord responded and located the man. EMS evaluated him, and Officer Matos assisted the parties in getting back home.

11:58 a.m. A caller reported a possibly rabid raccoon in a box inside a West Main Street clinic. A message was left for the animal control officer.

2:31 p.m. An East Main Street caller reported an extortion scam. Officer Nicholas Walker spoke with the caller and took a report.

4:44 p.m. Officer Robert Ekross took a motor vehicle crash report on Saddle Hill Road.

5:49 p.m. A caller reported an injured rabbit on Greenwood Road, Officer Robert Ekross responded, dispatched it and moved it to the side of the road.

May 30

8:38 a.m. A Hayden Rowe Street caller reported she was concerned that her housecleaner, who lives in town, did not show up to work the previous day. The caller was advised that her concern was a civil matter.

6:00 p.m. A caller reported a male wearing a silver jumpsuit and boxing gloves was yelling while running across traffic on Chestnut Street. Officers Benjamin Vaz, Matthew LaTour and Lucille Creedon responded and spoke to the individual.

9:08 p.m. A caller reported fallen wires on Curtis Road and no power. Sgt. Arthur Schofield and Officer Sean McKeon responded along with the Fire Department and reported primary wires were down. Eversource also responded.

10:02 p.m. A caller complained of noise and parking issues on South Mill Street. Multiple officers responded, and assistance was requested from the Holliston Police Department. A report was taken.

May 31

2:54 p.m. A caller reported a tree fell and caused a wire to fall down on Legacy Farms North. Officer Noah Buentello responded and notified Verizon.

5:20 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle crash involving two cars on East Main Street. Sgt. Cody Normandin and Officers Matthew LaTour and Lucille Creedon responded and requested an Ashland officer to assist with the language barrier. A crash report was taken.

7:04 p.m. A Briarcliff Drive resident reported his package was stolen after it was delivered by FedEx. Sgt. Cody Normandin assisted and took a report.

7:37 p.m. Multiple callers reported a low-hanging

wire on South Barn Road. Sgt. Cody Normandin responded and notified Verizon.

June 1

8:34 a.m. A caller reported a downed power line on Granite Street. Officer Nicholas Walker responded, moved the cable wire from the pole to the side of the road and reported it no longer was a hazard.

4:31 p.m. A Spring Street caller reported a disturbance and unwanted parties on the scene. Sgt. Arthur Schofield and Officers Justin Cappuccio and Robert Ekross responded and reported an Uber driver was taking a female home from the scene, and the parties were to remain separated. A report was taken.

June 2

9:30 a.m. A caller reported she was in a West Main Street parking lot, and a drone was flying around and hovering over her. Officer Justin Cappuccio responded and saw the drone but could not locate the operator.

1:52 p.m. Officers Nicholas Walker and Justin Cappuccio responded to a motor vehicle crash on West Main Street involving two cars. A report was taken.

1:54 p.m. Sgt. Matthew Santoro took a report of an assault at the high school on Hayden Rowe Street.

June 3

10:20 a.m. A caller reported someone was using his wife’s name on social media. Officer Nicholas Walker determined no criminal activity occurred, and he gave advice on how to mitigate the problem.

11:05 a.m. A caller reported a suspicious item in her late father’s belongings at her Longwood Drive home. Sergeant Matthew Santoro and Officer Noah Buentello responded to investigate. The State Police subsequently were called in to assist.

11:34 a.m. A caller reported a suspicious male asking customers at a West Main street business for money. Officers Benjamin Vaz and Augusto Diaz responded and took a report.

11:40 a.m. A caller reported a fight on West Main Street. Officers Noah Buentello, Augusto Diaz, Benjamin Vaz and Nicholas Walker responded, separated the parties and took a report. The incident was related to the previous call.

11:58 a.m. A caller reported a disturbance on Frankland Road where a person exited a vehicle and yelled and screamed. Officer Benjamin Vaz responded and located the vehicle, which was unoccupied. He checked the nearby woods but did not locate the owner.

12:42 p.m. A Revolutionary Way caller reported

Sismanis guilty on all counts

parking lot, musing whether a reasonable person would “drive through someone” to get away from them.

Nagavelli also addressed the concerns about decency and consent, once again highlighting the age gap between Sismanis and the victim. He used the analogy of a schoolteacher committing the same actions to ask the question whether what Sismanis did would be considered indecent as the law prescribes.

“This case is about what we think is right in our society,” Nagavelli concluded.

History factors in sentencing

Once the verdict was read, the prosecution and defense presented arguments to McGrath regarding Sismanis’ sentence.

Key to the commonwealth’s recommendation on the indecent assault and battery charge — 2 1/2 years in prison with 18 months to serve — was Sismanis’ history of sexual assault charges.

Nagavelli informed the judge that the defendant pleaded out to an indecent assault and battery charge in 1998.

Much like what Sismanis was charged with in this case, the conviction in 1998 involved a 19-year-old employee of his former business, Jelly Doughnuts. The victim in that case reported Sismanis repeatedly fondled her breasts and vagina.

Sismanis was put on the sex offender registry as a result of that case, but according to Nagavelli, he was removed in 2018.

“Five years later, this offense happened,” Nagavelli said. “He initiated contact with what could have been his next potential victim.”

After hearing from Cataldo regarding the “erratic behavior” that governed the defendant’s witness intimidation charges and assurances that he believed Sismanis would not violate any condition the court gave him, McGrath handed down sentencing.

“It was a terrible thing that happened to [the victim], even if it did not rise to the level of some other assault and battery we see,” McGrath noted.

McGrath opted for 2 1/2 years in prison with six months served in the house of corrections and two years suspended, along with probation for all three charges.

At sentencing, the victim’s mother read a brief statement written by the victim. In the statement, the victim noted it was “not easy to tell my story” and referred to Sismanis as a “horrific, hurtful person.”

“I hope you have the time to reflect, because all actions do have consequences,” the statement read.

In a brief statement to the Independent following the conclusion of the trial, Cataldo said there would be more to come in his client’s case and indicated he would seek a new trial.

Check HopkintonIndependent.com for more complete coverage of this trial.

Police

Sismanis | from page 7

her vehicle was stolen overnight. Officers Nicholas Walker and Noah Buentello responded and asked the management office for video footage of the area. The management staff accidentally had the vehicle towed. The owner was to speak with the management office.

3:49 p.m. A caller requested an officer to take a hit-and-run report on Pleasant Street. Officer Robert Ekross responded and took a report.

June 4

7:33 a.m. A caller reported an opossum was hit in front of Next Generation Children’s Center on Wood Street. Officer Aline Matos responded and contacted the DPW for pick up of the dead animal.

1:06 p.m. A Parker Point Road caller requested to speak with an officer about damage caused by a paving truck. Officer Noah Buentello assisted and explained that it was a civil dispute.

7:51 p.m. A caller reported a driver in a red Kia attempted to hit her son on East Street. Officers Matthew LaTour and Lucille Creedon responded and took a report.

June 5

7:37 a.m. Officers Kyle Quinzani, Noah Buentello and Robert Ekross responded to a motor vehicle crash on Main Street. A tow truck removed the vehicle. No personal injuries were reported.

2:32 p.m. Officer Kyke Quinzani responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Hayden Rowe Street and took a report.

5:12 p.m. A Parker Point Road resident reported a turtle just laid eggs in her yard, and she asked what to do with them and how to protect them. She was advised to leave the eggs alone and that it takes

around two months for them to hatch.

9:24 p.m. A motorist reported hitting a raccoon on Wood Street, and it was lying on the side of the road. Sergeant Arthur Schofield located the animal and notified the DPW for cleanup.

June 6

10:56 a.m. A Curtis Road calder reported a tree on his property was on fire. Officer Noah Buentello responded along with the Fire Department.

1:01 p.m. A passerby reported a car crashed into a rock on Lumber Street and was stuck and partially blocking traffic. Officer Kyle Quinzani responded, and a tow truck already was on the way. He took a report and provided the driver with a courtesy transport to the Police Station.

1:34 p.m. A caller reported a road rage incident on West Main Street that turned into a hit and run. Sergeant William Burchard responded, took a report and was to gather security camera footage from the area.

5:37 p.m. A caller reported an irate, possibly intoxicated customer at a South Street establishment. Sergeant Cody Normandin and Officer Benjamin Vaz responded to the disturbance and took a report.

June 7

1:09 a.m. A caller reported a possible underage drinking party on Front Street where he saw two teenagers throw beer cans by the roadway. Sergeant Cody Normandin and officer Nicholas Saletnik responded and checked the area. A couple of kids were by a bonfire. All checked out OK.

3:24 a.m. A caller requested a check of a Hayden Rowe Street location, where her daughter’s phone was pinging. The caller had not heard from her daughter

obituarieS

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

Katherine Micciche

Katherine (Dumais) Micciche, 75, of Pelham, New Hampshire, passed away May 20. She was the beloved wife for over 52 years of Diego G. Micciche, who survives her.

Born Oct. 8, 1949, in Skowhegan, Maine, she was the oldest child of the late Eleanor (Lunna) and the late Emile Dumais.

Kathy was raised and educated in Hopkinton. She graduated from Framingham State College in 1971 with a B.S. in education and began teaching middle school home economics.

On New Year’s Eve in 1971, she met Diego, and they were married by June of 1972. In 1974, they moved to Pelham, New Hampshire, and began raising their family.

Kathy became a stay-at-home mother, raising three sons and a daughter. Over the years, she continued to utilize her educator skills and home economic expertise by

and was trying to locate her. Officer Brian Ziniti responded to a local business where her phone was found, and he attempted to contact some of her contacts and missed callers. Sergeant Cody Normandin requested camera footage from the Hayden Rowe Street business. Officer Sean McKeon searched the field and wood line behind the business. Officer Brian Ziniti responded to speak with a friend of hers. A report was taken.

3:23 p.m. A caller reported an acid spill in a South Street dumpster and subsequent smoking in the dumpster. Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded along with the Fire Department.

4:09 p.m. Multiple callers reported a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on West Main Street and one aggressive driver. Officer Benjamin Vaz responded and separated the drivers. The State Police assisted. A crash report was taken.

11:10 p.m. A caller complained of noise coming from a Front Street party. Sergeant Shannon Beloin and Officer Sean McKeon responded, and the gathering dispersed and shut down for the evening. A report was taken.

June 8

8:10 a.m. A Gibbon Road resident reported her mailbox was vandalized the previous night. She stated her husband heard a crash around midnight, and there may have been a party in the neighborhood. The incident was logged.

10:09 a.m. A caller reported that a turtle may have been hit by a car near the State Park headquarters on Cedar Street. Officer Sean McKeon responded, moved the tortoise to the wood line and stated it appeared healthy.

11:13 a.m. A caller at EMC Park on Hayden Rowe Street complained of older kids kicking off younger kids without

skateboards who were playing at the skateboarding facility. The caller was advised that this was not a police matter.

11:23 a.m. A Pond Street resident reported parties were burning in front of his property on Lake Whitehall. Officer Brian Ziniti responded along with the Fire Department, and the fire was extinguished. 1:36 p.m. An upset Ash Street caller complained about the noise from a taco truck’s generator, plus multiple cars parked on Park Street and in front of her house during the Hopkinton Farmer’s Market. The complaint was logged, and she was advised to contact Town Hall about her complaints.

8:17 p.m. A caller reported being locked inside the State Park on Cedar Street. Officer Peter Lord responded and when he arrived, State Park employees were assisting locked-in drivers.

11:46 p.m. A caller reported two people in hoodies hiding in front of a Maple Street house. Sergeant Shannon Beloin and Officer Peter Lord responded and checked the area with a negative find.

June 9

11:05 a.m. A caller reported a vehicle crashed into a telephone pole on South Mill Street. Sergeant Cody Normandin and Officers Noah Buentello and Nicholas Walker responded along with the Fire Department. No personal injuries were reported. Verizon was notified of the damage to the base of a pole.

12:02 p.m. A caller reported a dead opossum on the side of the roadway on Wood Street. The DPW responded and removed the animal.

6:47 p.m. A caller reported a beaver was stuck in a net at Bloods Pond on South Mill Street. Officer Robert Ekross responded and contacted the animal control officer.

leading classes at the library and becoming an active Scout mom. The family traveled as much as possible over the years, and Kathy created scrapbooks for each trip. Kathy and Diego also enjoyed square dancing and belonged to several groups in the local area. She would often create her own skirts and dresses for square dancing and matching shirts for Diego.

As the children grew older, Kathy worked at So-Fro Fabrics and Joann Fabrics. She lovingly made quilts for family members and toys and bibs for her grandchildren. Kathy and Diego continued to travel, often going on road trips throughout the United States and cruises around the world.

In addition to her parents, Kathy was predeceased by her brother-in-law, Robert Smith.

She is survived by her husband, Diego; four children, James of Pelham, New Hampshire, Jason and wife Leanne of Milford, Jeffrey and wife Sara of Oneida, New York, and Jinger of Methuen; as well as three grandchildren, Kira of Milford, and Garrett and Alexis of Oneida, New York. She is also survived by her two sisters, Pauline Smith of Uxbridge and Dorothy Merullo and husband Joseph of Framingham, and several nephews and nieces.

Private services were held by the family. E-condolences can be left at pelhamfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial contributions sent to Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (cholangiocarcinoma.org/ donate).