Hopkinton Independent July 22

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HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 21 | No. 14 | July 22, 2020

School Committee addresses concerns with reopening guidance

By Sandy Quadros Bowles Contributing Writer

T

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

he state commissioner of education hopes students can return to school this fall on a full-time basis, a 180-degree change from his previous inclination to encourage a combination of remote learning and brickand-mortar return, superintendent Carol Cavanaugh told members of the Hopkinton School Committee at their July 9 meeting.

Hopkinton will “make decisions based on the resources we have in front of us, the health and safety of our kids and what we believe are the best kinds of instruction for our students, given the parameters,” she said.

“We’re going to create a plan that is just right for Hopkinton.”

Cavanaugh added, “We have lots of logistical problems” with full-on school reentry, but “that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be done. It would cost

ON DECK

A Red Sox-themed craft featuring Lake Maspenock Preservation Association president Drew Logan (left) and friends was among those participating in the July 4 Boat Parade on the lake.

School Committee | 14

INSIDE

With Ritterbusch’s election, Select Board reorganizes

HISTORY

Hopkinton’s relationship with slavery re-examined

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

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Election | 13

NEWS

Social justice advocates want Select Board to act

8

SPORTS

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

he Select Board held a brief meeting on July 2 primarily for the purpose of reorganizing the board following the Town Election on June 29, when Amy Ritterbusch was elected to the board in place of John Coutinho, who had been the vice chair.

Brendan Tedstone was tabbed to continue as chair for another year. Irfan Nasrullah was selected vice chair. Both were approved 4-0, with the nominees abstaining from their own vote.

After the vote, Tedstone paid tribute to Coutinho, who was known for being especially visible around town, attending a wide variety of events.

8

Amy Ritterbusch (white shirt) holds signs with her family outside Hopkinton Middle School on June 29.

Simoes shows power in collegiate summer league

16

Hopkinton has 42% less inventory of houses to sell compared to last year.

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2 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020

Hopkinton Independent The Hopkinton Independent is published by Hopkinton Independent, LLC, 32 South St., Westborough, MA 01581. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of the ad that was in error if notified in writing within three business days of the publication date. All material is the property of the Hopkinton Independent.

Permission must be obtained in writing before reproducing any material. The Hopkinton Independent is delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to 100 percent of the homes and businesses in Hopkinton, reaching more than 7,200 addresses. It also is available at Hopkinton Public Library and Town Hall as well as dozens of other sites through town.

STAFF

Publisher: David Bagdon Dir. of Business Development: Susanne Odell Farber Founder: Sarah Lothrop Duckett

Managing Editor: Jerry Spar Editorial contributors: JEAN CANN, LYN CALKINS, MICHELLE SANFORD, CHRIS VILLANI, DEBORAH BURKE HENDERSON, Tricia LaCascia, John Cardillo, John Buday, Sandy Quadros Bowles, Christine Strickland, Gethin Coolbaugh

contact us:

For advertising, contact Susanne Odell Farber Cell: 508-954-8148 or email: sue@sodellconsult.com For Mailed Subscriptions Contact The Hopkinton Independent 508-435-5188 (office), 508-366-2812 (fax) Editorial comments and inquiries, including Letters to the Editor should be emailed to: editor@hopkintonindependent.com

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

Residents work on public needs fund W

hile Zack Sisitsky’s sophomore year at Georgetown University was upended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he recognized there are far more people for whom the pandemic has caused greater issues.

And while there are many accomplished charitable organizations in town, they can be limited in their scope. Thus the idea for an emergency public needs fund was hatched.

The idea, SisINDEPENDENT itsky is quick to acknowledge, was not THOUGHTS his. There are similar JERRY SPAR funds in other towns, and the idea for it had been circulating through some members of the community, but none of them was able to devote the time to it.

Sisitsky, along with Hannah Krueger, a teacher who grew up in Hopkinton, have taken on the task of getting this organization started.

“I’ve aways been involved in nonprofits and fundraising roles in the community,” said Sisitsky, who grew up volunteering for the Sharon Timlin Memorial Event, which until this year was organized by his mother, Abbie Rosenberg. “I got connected to some people in town who discussed that there was a need for an emergency public needs fund in Hopkinton. Basically, the way they described it was we have a lot of great organizations in Hopkinton — like Project Just Because, Hopkinton Youth & Family Services, the Hopkinton Youth Commission, the Hopkinton Country Club Charitable Foundation — and these places are awesome to help individuals and families who have needs.

But essentially any funds they give or

any help or services they can offer are earmarked toward specific causes. So, Project Just Because helps with food and clothing donations, Hopkinton Youth & Family Services helps with challenging family situations, and the list goes on for what each organization can or cannot help with.

“Hopkinton Youth & Family Services and the town in general was seeing an increasing number of cases where families and individuals had needs that extended beyond what these organizations could offer. So there was really no place for them to go. So this project is a financial safety net to support residents who are experiencing challenging circumstances, who have needs that expand beyond what the organizations we currently have can help with.”

As an example, Sisitsky said if a working parent’s car breaks down and requires a repair, the fund could cover the cost — making the payment directly to the mechanic.

“One of the keys to this fund is that we want to keep everything anonymous,” Sisitsky said. “At no point is the fund supposed to know who the recipient is who needs the service. We’re going to work through other organizations in town. Project Just Because, Hopkinton Youth & Family Services, these other organizations are going to be referral organizations to the fund. So anyone who has a car repair payment, equipment and travel fees for youth sports, getting their son or daughter’s picture at school, these little needs that they can have here and there — or they can be bigger, it’s not just for small payments — they would go through a referral organization, say Hopkinton Youth & Family Services.

Hopkinton Youth & Family Services would review their application and then come to the fund [with the information] Independent thoughts | 3

Ask the insurance nerd!

Last issue we asked if your neighbor’s tree falls on your house, whose homeowner policy would pay the claim? Assuming the claim was an ‘act of God’ and not your knucklehead neighbor cutting down the tree, the answer is YOUR homeowner policy would pay for the damages. Whatever portion of the tree is laying on your land is now YOUR tree. The traditional homeowner policy will pay any expense to remove the tree and any debris that is touching your home. Once the tree & debris is off the home, the insurance company will typically only pay $500 to dispose of the tree & debris. Remember, wherever the tree is laying, it’s that property owner’s tree and problem! If you have insurance questions, you better call Paul!

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The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020 • 3

NOW is a GREAT TIME To Sell Your Home!

Four Days!

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

CARTOON CRAFT

# of DAYS TO OFFER, on average, for homes listed by Chuck Joseph’s team since January 2 DTO

4 DTO

15 DTO

19 Old Farm Road

6 Lakepoint Way

11 Wild Road

2 DTO

3 DTO

3 DTO

4 Blueberry Road

1 Chestnut Street

6 Susan Drive

6 DTO

3 DTO

2 DTO

51 Hayden Rowe Street

137 Hayden Rowe Street

22 Grove Street

0 DTO

5 DTO

4 DTO

7 Sea Marsh, Mattapoisett

1 Pine Oak, Holliston

5 Briarcliff Road

The Sweeney family’s Flintstones-themed boat was judged most creative at the Lake Maspenock Preservation Association July 4 Boat Parade.

Independent thoughts | from page 2

without revealing who they are or anything about them. We’d review it, confirm that this is a legitimate need.

They would tell us how much money and what vendor, then we’d write the check and give it to Hopkinton Youth & Family Services, and they would give it to the vendor. … So we’re able to provide them that need and that money without ever knowing who the person is.”

Sisitsky said the plan is to have a board in place by the end of this month and file for nonprofit status in August, which will allow the organization to start accepting donations while it waits for governmental approval as a charitable organization. Anyone with an interest in joining the cause can email Sisitsky at zcs14@georgetown.edu or Krueger at hmkrueger@gmail.com.

Sisitsky noted that while Hopkinton’s reputation might be as a town with many expensive homes and financially secure residents, the town is not immune to financial distress.

“Suburban poverty is real in Hopkinton,” he said. “When you drive by the high school and see all the cars in the senior [parking] lot you wouldn’t think that, but they’re seeing these needs.

They’ve seen it for years and they’re seeing it more and more now as more people move into Hopkinton and obviously with this pandemic accelerating financial needs. So it’s definitely kind of an under the radar thing but it’s certainly a huge issue. We want to start this initiative for community members to pay it forward and help each other out.”

Added Sisitsky: “Everyone is going through different challenges. We’re all in the same storm but in different ships.

This can be a really powerful initiative for the community to pay it forward.

I’m really excited to see what holds for it in the future.”

Election items of note Town clerk Connor Degan shared some interesting information (at least it was interesting to me) about the June 29 Town Election (details on the results can be found on Page 13).

There were 12,540 residents registered and eligible to vote in the election.

Of those, 7,511 were unenrolled, 2,903 were registered as Democrats and 1,964 were Republicans. There were 55 members of the United Independent Party and 53 Libertarians. There were 10 other party affiliations, but none had more than 18 members. Of note, there were two members of the Pirate Party and one member of the Pizza Party (yes, really).

Some might have noticed that the ballot read “Board of Selectmen” rather than “Select Board,” which is the new name the town voted last year to call the primary board in town. According to Degan, while there was a bylaw change voted upon at 2019 Town Meeting, there would need to be a change to the town charter for it to be reflected on the ballot. The next charter review is not until 2027 (10 years after the last one). There is a process where the name could be changed earlier, but it would require a Town Meeting and ballot vote, and Degan noted the process would require time and money.

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Fischer, Kelly to play D1 baseball Congratulations to Hopkinton High School rising seniors Joshua Fischer and Conor Kelly, who announced earlier this month that they will play collegiate baseball at the Division 1 level. Fischer announced plans to play at Fairfield, while Kelly is headed to UMass Lowell.

The duo helped the Hillers go 16-6 and reach the Division 2 state championship game in 2019. Fischer, a left-handed pitcher, started the final game and pitched four-plus innings of one-run ball in Hopkinton’s 2-0 loss to St. Mary’s of Lynn. Kelly is a left-hitting outfielder who also pitches.

“I am excited to announce my verbal commitment to further my academic and baseball career at Fairfield University,” Fischer tweeted on July 2.

“Thank you to my coaches, family & friends who have supported me along the way. Go Stags!!”

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Baypath bids farewell to Godfrey Baypath Humane Society recently announced that Cornelia Godfrey is leaving after eight years as the shelter operations manager.

“The dedication that Cornelia has shown to animals at the shelter and those waiting to be rescued is unmatched and unwavering,” executive director Elizabeth Jefferis wrote in an email, adding: “Cornelia’s compassion and commitment have been at the heart of Baypath.

Each day, Cornelia ensures that Baypath meets the needs of the animals in our care. It is this — her intense focus on what is best for the animals — that has helped us maintain low staff turnover and to structure a business model admired by the community and our partners.”

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4 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020

Viewpoint Open schools now My head is spinning as I navigate through myriad media platforms trying to understand the proper tack to take regarding our schools. Why can’t we all hope to get back to the way things used to be using the brick and mortar model exclusively this fall?

Empirical data from different countries reveal that perhaps 5 percent of children pass the virus on. Relying on distant learning without standards of LETTERS TO available technology restricts throughput, and platooning classes THE EDITOR between days can have no other effect than to dilute outcomes.

How much longer can parents continue to simultaneously guide their students through classwork and working from home with their regular job within the same timeframe?

At the end of the day, school regulations and organization are managed by local governments. I invite the School Department and School Committee to put the necessary preparations in place so schools can open near Labor Day. — David Hamacher, Hopkinton

conduct” to stem off greed. Plain common sense!

“Treat others the way you want to be treated” means you don’t call people names “willy nilly” when you disagree … and where is color mentioned or excluded in that rule? Regardless of who you deal with, you should treat others with the same respect you would want them to treat you, and that goes for all colors. Be even nicer to people who suffer from past and raw wounds, the sick and vulnerable who need more love because of hardship. And if you have a hard time finding empathy try a strategy called “role reversal.” For example, try living in a colored shoe since 1968.

My point is, for things to change we need fair leaders with infinite common sense and unwavering ethics to stand against abusive practices. Besides, each of us has a responsibility to lead by example. Gandhi once said: “Where there is love, there is life.” Unless we make this life worthy of his wisdom, how else are we going to live in a peaceful world?

— Nathalie Scott, Hopkinton

Save Deer Run Sanctuary forest

Help! Hopkinton’s east side is being invaded by detrimental forces from the sun, who wish to destroy this magnificent forested expanse open to hikers, nature lovers, bicyclists.

[Hopkinton Area Land Trust’s] Deer Run Sanctuary is completed by the “Liberty As I watch or read the news, I am wondering what happened to common sense Mutual” forest, which surrounds it. One can, and does, get lost in this expanse of and ethics. It doesn’t take a brain (yet I have an educated one) to see they are lagging! ferns, trees, bird calls. This greater forest has been a natural escape from the presLet’s start with the pandemic. We lacked PPE because we outsourced our basic ent world of problems for many, many years, with Liberty Mutual’s cooperation. needs manufacturing elsewhere, making us vulnerable during a crisis. How could Now, during the pandemic, Liberty Mutual has sold its part to a Connecticut our leaders be so short-sighted as to not know better? Common sense was lacking solar company, leaving the Deer Run Sanctuary pared down to a minimum. right from the beginning!

Hopkinton’s Planning Board and Conservation Commission can stop the pendWe need pharmaceutical companies to research and find cures, but we also ing project, a sure “detriment to the neighborhood and the town” according to town need them to act ethically so all patients who need it can benefit — not just the bylaw 210-203 D2. The northern parcel, the forest, can continue to be enjoyed by ones with big wallets. All too often they are sucked into a whirl of greed (see residents; the southern parcel with the sustainable building and gardens can become EpiPen and insulin!). Or simply watch “60 Minutes,” which revealed the illegal senior rental housing, which Hopkinton sorely needs, with no expansion [or] any practice of “off-label selling,” which makes the pharmaceutical companies using building construction on the lot. such practices, their sales reps and unscrupulous doctors very rich, while leaving Readers, residents, officials, please write or email to support your appreciation behind an array of people with drug dependencies, bankruptcies and death in some of this forested oasis in its entirety at 71 Frankland Road. Don’t wait, urgent need cases. We would expect our leaders to forbid this circle of “abuse” since we pay a to write or email.

Re-Opening Campaign high price on both ends of that circle. WithMilford money Regional tied up in/ scams, it’s amiss for / Creative #2 (Diagnostics) Created 6/17/20 greater good. We must insist that our government takes an active role in holding (10.25 x 7.5) CMYK — Ann Karnofsky, Hopkinton perpetrators accountable while supporting business models that integrate “ethical

What’s happened to common sense and ethics?

Hopkinton Independent / Half-Page

YOU’RE SAFE WITH US

Now for some good news...

Milford Regional is pleased to once again offer ALL of our services to the community.

As we welcome back patients in every department, we want to reassure you that we are committed to the highest level of safety for our patients, visitors and staff. Our adherence to strict guidance from the State, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) ensures that everyone who enters Milford Regional can have confidence in the safety measures we have taken.

To underscore our commitment to patient safety, Milford Regional was recently recognized nationally with an “A” safety grade for the fourth consecutive time, a designation only given to the country’s safest hospitals.

“The safety and care of our patients can be seen in everything we do.

While we have added hours to imaging to help get patients back on track with routine tests, appointments are scheduled to assure adequate time to clean all equipment between patients.”

Laura L. Chapman, BS, R.T. (R) Director of Diagnostic Imaging

So, if you are looking forward to the birth of your baby or are ready to schedule an elective surgery or a routine diagnostic test or exam (colonoscopy, mammogram, X-ray, etc), you can feel confident that your safety is always our top priority.

For more information about our newest safety guidelines and procedures, please visit milfordregional.org/safe-with-us

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

14 Prospect Street • Milford, MA milfordregional.org

The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020 • 5

Sweeney promoted to town accountant A

t a brief Select Board meeting July 14, the board unanimously approved the hiring of Ben Sweeney as senior accounting manager/town accountant.

A certified public accountant who grew NEWS BRIEFS up in Hopkinton, Sweeney had been serving as procurement and grants manager for the town since November of 2018. Previously he was the assistant controller at the Archdiocese of Boston.

Town manager Norman Khumalo had high praise for Sweeney. Khumalo pointed out that Sweeney, working with department heads, submitted applications to 27 competitive grant programs and acquired 13 grants worth $3.6 million, with eight applications still awaiting decisions.

“That’s a very high strike ratio,” Khumalo noted.

“I see him as the entrepreneurial spirit incarnate,” Khumalo said. “He has, in the few months with the town, implemented a town-wide solution for making routine purchases to save time and money, and created SOPs [standard operating procedures] to streamline the procurement process, including a public bidding process for surplus property. He has participated in procurements across multiple departments.”

Sweeney said he was appreciative for his opportunities with the town.

“I am just so thrilled to be working here in this community that I grew up in,” he said. “My parents still live here, and I have a lot of family here. I’m just so grateful for it.”

The board instituted a hiring freeze during the pandemic but previously had approved making a hire for this position.

“Congratulations to Ben,” Select Board chair Brendan Tedstone said.

“That is a well-deserved promotion. …

I love when we can promote qualified people from town.”

Regarding the position Sweeney is leaving, Khumalo said, “At this point we have not made a decision whether to fill the grants manager and procurement position.”

Also during the July 14 meeting, Parks & Recreation Commission chair Dan Terry asked about putting two items on an upcoming agenda. One is to discuss the town manager’s suggestion to move the Parks & Rec Department from the office building at 85 Main St. to the building at 6 Walcott St., which is on land recently acquired by the town for the purpose of additional downtown parking. Terry opposes the move, saying it would have “a serious impact on the short-term and long-term operations of Parks & Rec.” The second item is in regard to the penalty for a parking ticket at the Sandy Beach parking lot.

Terry suggested raising the fine from $20 to $100, noting that the current fine “has proven not to be a deterrent” to people without permits.

The board also met in executive session to discuss strategy with respect to pending litigation regarding Purdue Pharma.

Summer Concert Band cancels program The Hopkinton Community Summer Band announced that its 2020 program has been canceled “in order to keep all of our members safe and healthy.” The decision was made after consultation with the Board of Health.

“While we are disappointed, we look forward to our 16th season next summer when we can meet again on the common, play some great music and connect with everyone,” read an email from organizers Caitlin MacDonald, David Purdy and Craig Hay. The band, open to current and past musicians ages 14 and older in the Hopkinton area, normally practices together in June and July, leading up to a performance on the Town Common as part of the Sunday Summer Concert Series. It has performed for 15 years.

Kaushik named a 2020 Commonwealth Heroine Hopkinton resident Meena Kaushik was honored during a virtual ceremony on June 24 after being named a 2020 Commonwealth Heroine by the Massachusetts CommisMeena Kaushik sion on the Status of Women.

Kaushik was nominated by state Rep. Carolyn Dykema.

“Meena is a natural bridge builder with a passion for bringing people together,” Dykema said in a press release. “Since moving to Hopkinton, she has dedicated herself to giving back and enriching the community through the arts and cultural awareness. Meena is a consummate volunteer and a true leader. It was my honor to nominate her for this recognition.”

Kaushik is the community outreach chair for the South Asian Circle of Hopkinton, a group for which she is a founding member. She is an active member of the scouting community and the town’s Cultural Council, and recently was elected to a position on the Board of Library Trustees.

Kaushik also is very involved in Budget Buddies, a nonprofit that helps women become financially independent.

Dykema cancels Senior Picnic State Rep. Carolyn Dykema announced that her annual Senior Picnic has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event traditionally is held in Hopkinton every August and draws close to 200 seniors from the 8th Middlesex District’s four towns (Hopkinton, Holliston, Southborough and Westborough).

“I’m so disappointed that this event, which has become so special to the district, has to be canceled due to the current health concerns,” Dykema said in a press release. “It’s been my privilege to carry on this wonderful tradition to honor and celebrate our senior residents because they have given, and continue to give, so much to our communities. While it’s clear the event needed be canceled to prioritize the health of our residents, I’ll miss seeing so many friends from across the district.”

PJB offers no-contact delivery In an effort to help more residents, the Project Just Because Hopkinton food pantry has expanded its food delivery service to any Hopkinton resident in need of food. Available items include nonperishables, bakery items, dairy items, fresh produce, frozen foods, gluten-free foods, paper goods, cleaning supplies and pet food.

Any resident can receive this service weekly throughout the year during open hours. Normal operating hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m.3:30 p.m. In July and August the pantry will be open from Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

For more information visit projectjustbecause.org, call 508-435-6511 or email pjboffice@comcast.net.

Mental Health Collaborative receives Red Sox grant Hopkinton-based Mental Health Collaborative finished second in voting for the Red Sox Foundation’s Impact Award for Massachusetts. As the runnerup, the organization will receive a $2,500 grant and be honored at Fenway Park.

Five organizations were selected from each New England state to participate in the contest. KyleCares Inc., another organization that focuses on mental health, was the winner from Massachusetts, garnering 9.162 votes.

Mental Health Collaborative received 7,608 votes.

“Thank you to all of our supporters and those that helped Mental Health Collaborative come in second place for the 2020 Red Sox Foundation Impact Award,” founder/executive director Abby Rosenberg posted on Facebook.

“I look forward to sharing future success stories with you!!”

Introducing

Cultural Council elects new officers The Hopkinton Cultural Council, at its June 18 online meeting, unanimously elected a new slate of officers.

Ilana Cassady is the new chair, Jonathan Meltzer is treasurer, Laura Stacey is secretary and Hopkinton Public Schools liaison, Darlene Hayes is the public relations coordinator, Christine Enos is the membership coordinator and Rick Jacobs is the grantee reception coordinator.

“I’ve had a good time being the chair these past three years,” former chair Sterling Worrell said. “Thank you for all your help.”

The Hopkinton Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 local Cultural Councils (LCC) serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The LCC program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences and humanities every year. The state legislature provides and annual appropriation to the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community.

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6 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020

More tweaks to proposed solar project off Frankland Road

Presents

‘A SLICE OF HOPKINTON’ Hopkinton Independent Photo Contest

This issue’s winner is David Hughes for his photo of twilight on Lake Maspenock from earlier this year. To enter next issue’s contest, email your photo along with your name, phone number and description of the photo to editor@hopkintonindependent.com. Photos with people or pets in them are encouraged. Photos that are not selected as winners might be posted on our website.

,

on Hey Hopkint

Get out s! your camera

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

All photos must be submitted by individuals 16 and over. The photo must be high resolution, and not submitted for use by any other media outlet. Winners will pick up their gift certificate at Bill’s Pizzeria.

Sign up for our HI free newsletter Hopkinton Independent Your #1 Source for Hopkinton

By Jennifer L. Grybowski Contributing Writer

A

t its July 13 meeting, the Planning Board continued a public hearing regarding a proposed commercial solar photovoltaic installation on Frankland Road, the former Liberty Mutual site.

Representatives from Seaboard Solar attended the Zoom meeting to update members on their progress on a punch list of items given to them after the last hearing.

“We appreciate your willingness to work with us on those issues,” Planning Board chair Gary Trendel said.

One of those items was concern over the potential effect of the project on nearby residential wells. Adam Coasta, an attorney working on behalf of Seaboard Solar, said the company didn’t believe there would be any effect on well water because of the nature of the project and that there would be no extensive excavation needed. However, the company did reach out to the town’s Health Department director, Shaun McAuliffe, and health agent Bryan Besso for their opinions. Both concluded they did not see this project having any negative impact on wells.

Another topic Seaboard Solar addressed was parking for visitors to the trails on the property. Costa noted there is no parking required for the solar project itself, but due to requests from residents to provide parking, the company did some research into site possibilities.

None were found to be suitable.

“They presented concerns and obstacles from our perspective,” he said.

So in lieu of adding parking into the design, Costa said Seaboard Solar was prepared to make a monetary donation to Hopkinton Area Land Trust (HALT).

“We are donating this money to HALT so they can pursue the permitting to put in the parking in the place they feel is best,” Seaboard Solar project manager Pedro Rodriguez said.

HALT president Morrie Gasser said the donation will be adequate.

“We have identified a location that seems good,” he said, referring to an area on Cross Street.

The hearing also included in-depth discussions about screening. Seaboard’s landscape plan includes double rows of plantings along the length of the array, landscaped edges around the gravel drive, screen plantings along the corridor of the gas line easement, and additional native plantings such as red maples, red oaks and high value wildlife shrubs like berry bushes and St. John’s wort near the restoration area.

“The idea is we are going to have a randomized design that has two rows of trees so we can ensure the maximum screening from neighbors but that also has a natural feel,” Rodriguez said.

“We have never created such a complex landscape design.”

Responding to a concern about the panels reflecting the sun and moon, Rodriguez said the project will utilize anti-reflective panels to minimize that issue.

One resident at the hearing expressed his frustration at the project in general.

“I want to register my disappointment with the process, that the town doesn’t seem to have the ability or perhaps the will to really ensure that projects like this happen in appropriate space,” abutter Bob Ionta said. “I continue to believe this is not an appropriate space. This is an industrial project in a residential neighborhood.”

The hearing was continued to the next Planning Board meeting on Aug. 3.

Solar overlay district clarification An important clarification was made early in the meeting related to the proposed solar overlay district zoning change slated for Town Meeting and how it might affect the Frankland Road project. Trendel explained that any projects proposed prior to the map’s acceptance — should it pass at Town Solar | 7

news PHOTO/CHRISTINE STRICKLAND

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SAME NAME, NEW LOOK Country Farm had a grand opening ceremony on July 7, after the store (located on Cedar Street next to the Post Office) transitioned to a liquor store/ market. Attending the ribbon cutting were (from left) Chamber of Commerce president Cristina Morrissiey, owners Raj Patel, Neel Patel and Makesh Patel, and Chamber of Commerce representatives Ron Foisy and Amanda Faucher.

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020 • 7

Imagine Corps pairs students with local nonprofits

By Jennifer L. Grybowski Contributing Writer

I

n his career, Hopkinton resident Joe Gammal is passionate about working with companies on creative problem solving, innovation and collaboration.

But as a sports coach and parent, he is passionate about working with youths.

He has combined these two passions to form Imagine Corps 2020, a learning and service program for local youths.

“The program is designed to nurture the collaborative problem solving talent of teens today and enable them to be the future impact makers of tomorrow, but leveraging that to have impact in the community today,” Gammal said.

Gammal, a corporate trainer with Synecticsworld who has worked with companies internationally, said he took a class on creative problem solving and facilitation at WPI as a college student and it changed his life path. He has made a point to pass on that knowledge to his own children, and he thought it would be important to bring that same training to other teens because it’s not the kind of education typically studied in school.

“It is this idea of facilitating innovation and facilitating others to create breakthroughs by developing solutions and embedding change in organizations,” he said.

Imagine Corps 2020 (imaginecorps. org), which began last week, will include Zoom instruction, live discussions and interactive, hands-on exercises designed to give students experiential training and practice.

“We will study the human dynam-

The program is designed to nurture the collaborative problem solving talent of teens today and enable them to be the future impact makers of tomorrow, but leveraging that to have impact in the community today. ­— Joe Gammal

ics about where people are and are not successful and what kinds of things get in the way,” Gammal said. “There is this idea that people embrace what they create.”

Skills sharing sessions will focus on skills that are not only applicable in everyday interactions, but life skills that the current workforce is really calling for, such as creativity, originality, complex problem solving, leadership and social influence, emotional intelligence, active learning strategies, critical thinking and more.

“We will be doing experiential training as creative problem solvers and collaborative innovators,” Gammal said. “It will be very hands-on.”

There will be two main programs (both of which are fee-based, with scholarships available): Breakthrough Thinking, which is nine hours over two days, and Innovative TeamWorkshop,

which is 18 hours over four days. Both programs will foster personal creative thinking, active listening, open mindedness, making connections, breaking connections to make new connections, creative problem solving, idea generation and development, elements of interaction, climate building and more.

“How do you get ideas and how do you treat ideas?” he said. “When we learn these skills, we become more resilient so we can tackle what comes our way.”

Once the students are trained, they will be paired with local nonprofits, including Project Just Because, Live4Evan and Hopkinton Community Partnership.

“These are nonprofits who need a youthful boost of energy and idea to address a real challenge or opportunity facing their cause and/or the worthy constituencies they serve,” Gammal

More tweaks to proposed solar project off Frankland Road Solar | from page 6

Meeting — would not be guaranteed.

“We now understand that the assumptions made by the Planning Board during the discussion for the Frankland Road solar special permit and the solar overlay district were incorrect and that the submission of an application prior to the notice of a Planning Board hearing for a zoning change does not grandfather its proposed use,” he said.

Trendel went on to explain that based on discussions with town counsel, the board thought if the Frankland Road project was approved, and the solar overlay map — which does not include the affected parcel — was accepted at Town Meeting, the Frankland Road project would be allowed to continue.

Town counsel has opined that is not correct.

“A special permit must be issued prior to the notification, therefore we understand there might be a conflict in the proposed overlay district which will preclude the Frankland Road solar development should the article be approved at Town Meeting, which was not the stated intent of the board during deliberations of the zoning article,” Trendel said.

Trendel elected chair Early in the meeting the board reorganized following last month’s Town Election. Trendel was elected

chair, taking over for Muriel Kramer, who remains on the board but said she wanted to pass on the leadership responsibilities after two years.

Several board members had kind words for Kramer.

“I want to thank you for your leadership, it’s been invaluable,” member Jane Moran said.

“I congratulate you for doing a stellar job,” member Deborah FeinBrug added. “I’ve been impressed and honored to serve with you.”

“I’ve learned so much from you in the past two years,” Trendel said.

“You always seek perspectives other than your own, and I think that’s so important for us as a board. From a transparency perspective … I think you champion that in a way that is really anchored home for me. I really appreciate your ability to help people find their voices.”

Rob Benson was elected vice chair.

The board welcomed Sundar Sivaraman as a newest member. There is one vacancy, as Amy Ritterbusch stepped down after being elected to the Select Board. The Planning Board and Select Board will consider a new appointment in the near future.

“I would encourage people if they know of someone who is interested or know of someone who is a good fit to encourage them to apply,” Trendel said.

said. “We will invent solutions to key challenges for local nonprofits while we learn.”

After the workshop there will be small group coaching to help students integrate and activate tools learned, as well as give students an opportunity to ask questions and share what they are learning with each other.

“It introduces the kids to these groups in their community that are doing great things,” Gammal said.

“It takes the lessons and gives them hands-on experience on how to apply the concepts.”

The program will culminate with an “impact invention session and concept jam” at the end of the summer where the students will have the opportunity to share what they’ve learned.

“We will be sharing skills of how you work together to solve challenges and then applying them to challenges in our own communities,” he said.

Students in grades 8 through 12 are invited to attend. Gammal said the program is designed for students who want to make a difference in their community while receiving skills and experiences that will give them an edge in all they do.

They will be supported by corporate sponsors and community mentors.

“These are people who want to aid youths while at the same time bolstering their communities in demonstrable and noteworthy ways,” Gammal said.

“They are mentors of innovation and creative problem solving who want to pass on to future generations the transformative impact they’ve had.”

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8 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020

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Hopkinton’s history includes slavery

By Cathy Buday Contributing Writer Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Hopkinton Independent on Feb. 25, 2016.

M

ost people associate slavery with the Deep South, where the economy until the Civil War relied on enforced labor to pick cotton and tobacco.

But slavery was common around New England, too — even in Hopkinton.

While it ended earlier here than it did in the South, slavery was a part of New England’s early history. Emily Blanck’s 2014 book “Tyrannicide: Forging an American Law of Slavery in Revolutionary South Carolina and Massachusetts,” noted that while a 1641 law prohibited Puritans from keeping slaves, it provided exceptions for “strangers” and “war prisoners.” These two loopholes cleared the way for enslaving Africans and Native Americans. The first slaves from Africa arrived in Massachusetts in 1638.

“As Massachusetts Puritans created a thriving commercial and shipping center, their ships began to partake directly in the Atlantic slave trade, bringing more slaves to their shores,” the book notes. By 1764-65, according to census records, Massachusetts had 5,779 slaves, about 2.5 percent of the total population, the book reported.

A 1915 paper by Frances Safford to commemorate Hopkinton’s 200th anniversary, published on the Hopkinton Historical Society website, observed that slavery was accepted here, even by men of the cloth. “Rev. Samuel Barrett was the first minister,” Safford wrote. “His salary was 60 pounds in money and his firewood. Mr. Barrett’s home stood on the site of the present Town Hall, and as he lived at a time when the colored people were held as slaves, he had a number of servants.”

Linda Connelly of the Hopkinton Historical Society did extensive research on slavery in Hopkinton, and her project was presented at a discussion in 2015. She found a treasure trove of information in the works of Hopkinton historian Elias Nason,

who in the mid-1800s began researching the topic of slavery.

Nason wrote that Barrett “received Jackee, a negro” and other slaves, and pointed out that “Brampton Sketches,” an 1890 novel written by Hopkinton resident Mary Claflin and based on her hometown, describes a high gallery where the “colored people sat,” what she described as relics of the slave trade.

And a 1906 paper written by Appleton H. Fitch notes that Barrett “spoke with regret at being compelled by circumstances to dispose of [his slaves].”

According to Nason, about 15 slaves older than age 16 lived in Hopkinton in 1765.

Another slave owner was Charles Henry Frankland (the famous Sir Harry Frankland), an English gentleman who moved to Boston in 1739 and worked as a merchant trader. Frankland notoriously consorted with a lowborn teenager, Agnes Surriage (and later married her), but not before he scandalized all of proper Boston society. He built a country home in Hopkinton to get away from the gossip.

James Ward’s 2014 book “The Common Uncommon” notes that, “The terraces leading up from Frankland Road were constructed by his slaves.”

After Frankland’s death in 1768, his widow lived in the home for a while. Eventually her sister Mary Swain lived there, along with “three negro slaves, of which one is old and blind,” Ward’s research found.

And from Osbornes’ History of Hopkinton, Connelly found that, “A slave was responsible for burning the Frankland estate; a child hunting for a silver spoon and a barrel of something caught fire.”

According to Nason, a Frankland slave named Robert was described as being a “genuine son of Africa” with the letter ‘C’ imprinted on either side of his body and having “skin as black as ink.” Another Frankland slave named Dinah gave birth to several mixed-race children on the Frankland estate.

One was famous magician and performer Richard Potter, the first American-born magician, whose father allegedly was Sir Harry’s son. Dinah’s other children — Phebe, Sidney and Robert — “were

Slavery | 9

Residents push for discussion of social justice matters

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D

uring the public forum portion of the July 2 Select Board meeting, three residents called attention to current high-profile societal issues and how Hopkinton is dealing with them.

Ilana Cassady said she is seeking “improved communication, transparency and action from our local government.”

“Many local citizens, including myself, have increased their awareness of systemic racism and lack of anti-racism both locally and nationally,” she said.

“At first glance, Hopkinton seems to be doing many things right. We are one of the safest communities in the state, and I am proud to be raising my children here.

But once I started to dig deeper and look at our community from a person of color’s perspective, I realize how privileged I have been.

“I believe now is the time that we must begin to implement changes in order to make healthy progress and ensure Hopkinton is safe and secure for all residents. As our Select Board, you all have the power to guide our town and shape our futures so that all residents feel safe, represented and equal.”

Casady requested that four calls to action be put on the agenda for the Select Board meeting on July 21 for discussion and vote.

The first is for the Select Board to make a formal statement in support of Black Lives Matter. The second is to institute anti-racist hiring practices, implement diversity and sensitivity training in all departments, and set hiring goals to increase diverse representation.

The third is to review the allocation of funds to public service employees including but not limited to police officers, mental health specialists and social workers in order to reallocate funds to decrease police responsibility and increase alternative social services in town.

The fourth is for the Hopkinton police chief to give a formal statement on how he is making changes within “The Big Picture in a Small Town”

I believe now is the time that we must begin to implement changes in order to make healthy progress and ensure Hopkinton is safe and secure for all residents. As our Select Board, you all have the power to guide our town and shape our futures so that all residents feel safe, represented and equal. ­— Ilana Cassady the department to address intrinsic racial bias.

Added Casady: “We must all do our part to dismantle systemic racism. It all starts here.”

Resident Mike Werner said he believes strongly that action needs to be taken on these issues.

“As someone who has grown up here and as someone who is a white male, I’ve really seen a shocking and considerable amount of racism from people who look like me in town,” he said. “I think there’s a tendency for a lot of that racism to happen behind closed doors and in private conversations, as well as homophobia. … I just really think that it’s important for the town and for the Select Board to recognize how serious and ingrained a problem this is.”

Resident Michelle Heeney noted that there have been people of color speaking out lately about troubling experiences in town — something she indicated she was personally familiar with as well.

“I think that there needs to be a way that we as a town grow from this and don’t shy away from the fact that we have problems, that we need to make a commitment to our residents to make this as safe a place for everyone as it is for the safest people in our town,” she said.

The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020 • 9

Hopkins, for whom town was named, was slaveowner

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

I

t seems unlikely that any of Hopkinton’s statues would face the same fate as those of controversial historical figures across the country — torn down by protesters or removed by local governments and stashed away.

Hopkinton’s statues — paying tribute to the World War I doughboy, longtime Boston Marathon starter George V. Brown, inspirational marathoners Rick and Dick Hoyt, and Greek marathon legends Stylianos Kyriakides and Spyridon Louis — would seem unlikely to stir up animosity.

However, there are some prominent Hopkinton names with pasts that include slave ownership (see accompanying story). And then there’s the man for whom the town — as well as a town elementary school — is named, Edward Hopkins.

Hopkins was a wealthy British businessman who traveled to America in 1635 and was one of the founding fathers of Connecticut, serving multiple terms as governor of that state. Late in his life he returned to England, where he died in 1657.

Part of Hopkins’ fortune was donated to Harvard College, which used some of the money to purchase land from Native Americans and rent out plots to English settlers for an annual fee of one penny an acre. Thus was born the town of Hopkinton, which was incorporated in 1715. In 1832 the Massachusetts legislature and Hopkinton residents struck a deal with Harvard, paying a total of $10,000 to have Harvard relinquish its ownership rights.

According to multiple reference

sources, Hopkins was a slaveowner — as were many wealthy landowners in New England at that time. In a 2017 article in The Razor, the student newspaper of Connecticut’s Hopkins School (a private school also named for Hopkins, who was its original benefactor) author Elijah Sabin wrote: “Hopkins was a slaveowner, and when he died in 1657, his estate included an unnamed slave. In Hopkins’ will, ‘the Negar’ was inventoried as property just like Hopkins’ clothes and cows.”

It’s not clear how many slaves Hopkins owned or how they were treated — slaves in the North generally had more rights than Southern slaves but nonetheless were considered property.

School Committee chair Amanda Fargiano said it’s an issue about which she would like to learn more and discuss.

“The Hopkinton School Committee is committed to social justice and working to end racism in our school community,” she wrote via email. “To further underscore this commitment, at the July 9th meeting the School Committee members unanimously voted to adopt the MASC [Massachusetts Association of School Committees] Anti-Racism Resolution. While the school staff and administration oversee resolution of any individual experiences with racism and social injustice, policy level decisions, including the naming of school facilities, are considered by the School Committee. As such, the School Committee will investigate and consider any appropriate action regarding information about the slave-owning history of Edward Hopkins after whom the Hopkins Elementary School is named.”

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Hopkinton’s history includes slavery Slavery | from page 8

described as mulattos and very bright,” according to Nason.

Nason’s other notes mention “Scipio,” who worked in the meeting house, “Tobias’ wife,” described as “a negro,” and “Tilda,” who belonged to Agnes Surriage’s sister Mary.

After slavery was outlawed in Massachusetts in the late 1700s, some former slaves appeared to stay with their Hopkinton families. The 1790 census, (also referred to by Nason) included categories for “Head of Household,” “Free White females,” “Free white Males Under 16” and “Free White Males Above 16,” and then a separate category called “All Other Free persons,” the implication being former slaves.

“They very likely are house servants; perhaps in some instances farm laborers,” noted Connelly in her paper.

“We can only imagine what life was like for them. Treated like family member?

Treated like someone from a much lower class? How well were they paid?

Certainly they were not treated as equals — subservient, perhaps viewed in an affectionate but subservient relationship?”

Connelly found something else more troubling: several mentions of mixed-race children being born to servant women. “I would have to assume that … the children were fathered by white men and that the individuals took advantage of black women’s lowly status and lack of power; a gentle way of saying that they probably were raped,”

her report notes.

Hopkinton Vital Records to 1850 mention “Sarah, Daughter of Tobias, a servant of Mr. Charles Morris of Boston and Sarah, a free woman” interpreted as: a black baby born in Hopkinton to a father who is a black servant and a black mother who is free.

Other mentions in the Hopkinton records include Jane, “a servant of the late captain Thomas Clarke, and George Gyres, a free negro of Grafton,” who filed intentions to marry in April 1777; Zilpah, “A Mollatto Young Woman, a Servant, baptised Sep 27, 1769”; and John Laton, “black, died of Consumption Sep 26, 1810, age 58.”

And Fitch’s 1906 paper noted that he once possessed a bill from a Hopkinton resident for days of work done by one of his slaves at the gristmill dam, in what is now Ashland. Fitch also wrote that he knew the daughter of one of the slaves, who lived to be over 100 years old.

Thanks to Connolly’s research of these records, a picture of slavery in Hopkinton has emerged.

“I was able to piece together many small pieces of info to come up with a list of names of individuals who certainly were slaves, or slaves and their children who later became “servants for life,” she concluded.

“I find it amazing to understand that in this town, Hopkinton, where my children grew up and went to school, slaves lived, labored and were owned by individuals,” she added.

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10 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020

Fruit Street bridge to be replaced as part of MassDOT project

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

Next steps for the project include environmental permitting, right-of-way acquisition and procurement of and contracting with the design builder.

Construction is anticipated to start in 2022 with completion anticipated in 2027.

I

n the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) video public hearing on the I-90/I-495 Interchange Improvement Project, which was posted online on July 9, Hopkinton residents learned more about how the project will affect the community.

The 25 percent design hearing indicated that the Fruit Street bridge over I-495 will be replaced in order to accommodate interchange reconstruction. It’s anticipated that it would be stage constructed, with one lane open for alternating traffic during this time.

With this project — anticipated to cost almost $300 million — the MassDOT is looking to “improve the safety and operational efficiency at the system interchange of these two nationally and regionally significant interstate highways” as well as “address chronically deficient traffic conditions.”

According to the presentation, the interchange is one of the busiest in the state, with approximately half of all trucks entering Eastern Massachusetts using it. The crash rates on I-495 within the interchange are two times the statewide average, causing it to be identified as a high-crash and high-congestion location that does not meet current and future traffic demands.

After having a series of hearings that started in the fall of 2017 and receiving input from residents, MassDOT has settled on a proposed complete redesign of the interchange that features the following improvements:

— Joe Cahill HNTB

The MassDOT I-90/I-495 Interchange Improvement Project will include replacing the Fruit Street bridge with a version that will include a sidewalk as well as wider shoulders on both sides that bicyclists can use.

— Ramps will be widened to include shoulders.

— All acceleration and deceleration lanes will be lengthened to meet standards.

— Eight new ramp flyover bridges will be constructed.

— For the interstate main lines, both I-90 and I-495 shoulders will be widened.

— On I-90, bridges over Whitehall Brook and the MBTA Commuter Rail will be replaced, and the existing

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interchange ramp bridge over I-90 will be removed.

— On I-495, bridges over I-90 and the MBTA Commuter Rail will be replaced, an I-495 Northbound bridge over Flanders Road will be partially reconstructed, and the existing interchange ramp bridge over I-495 will be removed.

— 1-495 Northbound will be realigned into the median from Fruit Street to Flanders Road.

— An auxiliary lane on I-495 Northbound from I-90 to Route 9 Eastbound will be added.

— To create space for the new ramps on I-495, the Fruit Street bridge over I-495 will be replaced.

Regarding the Fruit Street bridge, Jonathan Kapust from the design consulting firm HNTB Corporation said: “Additional improvements will include a sidewalk on the southern side of Fruit Street linking Huckleberry Road and Saddle Hill Road. Additional shoulder width is provided to facilitate construction without closing the bridge. The wider shoulders will be able to accommodate bicycles. A robust landscaping

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plan … is anticipated for Fruit Street to maintain the character of the roadway on either approach to the bridge. The replacement of the Fruit Street bridge is anticipated to need permanent and temporary easements to accommodate guardrail transitions, sidewalks and relocated utilities.”

Looking at the project timeline, Joe Cahill from HNTB said: “Next steps for the project include environmental permitting, right-of-way acquisition and procurement of and contracting with the design builder. Construction is anticipated to start in 2022 with completion anticipated in 2027.”

Anyone interested in commenting on the current plan can do so in writing

by July 23 via email (495-90Improvements@state.ma.us) or by postal mail to MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Highway Design Project File No. 607977. Letter writers should identify themselves by name and affiliation — abutter, local official or concerned citizen.

More information is available at the MassDOT website (mass.gov/massdothighway-design-public-hearings).

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The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020 • 11

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

Curbside Pickups

The library is “open” for curbside pickups Monday through Friday. After placing a hold, preferably through an online account (instructions are on the website), you will receive an email or phone call (ID “Town of Hopkinton”) letting you know when the item is ready, then you can call the library to schedule a pickup time.

Those without access to a computer can place a hold by calling the library.

Book returns are being accepted Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through the Church Street book drop. Do not leave books if the book drop is locked as it poses a safety issue for staff and might damage books. Returned books will remain in quarantine for at least three days, so they might not come off your account immediately. Any overdue fines on returned items are being waived.

Summer reading

Summer reading for adults, teens and children has started. Sign up at hpl. bookpoints.org/. You will need your library card number and PIN to register. If you do not have a library card, you may sign up for a temporary one at forms. gle/6stRezZopj4crsk27.

There are lots of virtual story times for children listed on the library’s website calendar.

Senior Snippets The Hopkinton Senior Center remains closed to the public, but the staff remains available to assist residents. Call (508) 497-9730 if in need of assistance, with questions or just to say hi. For a more extensive listing of programs check Ourseniorcenter.com/find/Hopkinton-council-on-aging or hopkintonseniorcenter.com.

The Hopkinton Senior Center Outreach Department continues to be available to seniors and residents in town during the pandemic. The department is working with many organizations in town, including the Knights of Columbus, to facilitate food shopping and medical rides. Outreach can be reached by phoning the Senior Center at 508-497-9730 and leaving a message.

Durable medical equipment (walkers, bath seats, canes, crutches — but no longer commodes), for Hopkinton residents’ use only, is available to be loaned out free of charge. Wheelchairs, both standard and transport, require a $25 refundable deposit and are limited to two months.

Lunch Program

The Senior Center, partially funded by a grant from the MetroWest Health Foundation, has begun a limited takeout lunch program (Tuesday-Friday) for Hopkinton seniors, particularly those who are homebound and/or have relied on the center for their daily main meal in the past. While there are limited quantities, anyone who knows of a senior who might benefit from this program can call the Senior Center at 508497-9730. Cost is $2 per meal.

Job Opening: Head Chef

The Town of Hopkinton is seeking a part-time (up to 19 hours) head chef for the Senior Center. The head chef will prepare and serve meals with exceptional customer service to seniors and others participating in the department’s meal program, monitor supplies, accept deliveries and ensure supplies are stored appropriately within required guidelines. This

Diversity Book Club Tuesday, July 28, 7-9 p.m. (Zoom) The book being discussed at this meeting will be “Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do,” by Jennifer L. Eberhardt, Ph.D. Sign up on the library website calendar.

DNA as a Research Option, with Seema Kenney Tuesday, Aug. 4, 7-8 p.m. (Zoom) Whether you’ve taken or are still considering a DNA test to determine your kinship with someone or trace your lineage, knowing how to work with the results you receive is crucial. Receiving the result is one thing, understanding them and using them as a research tool are totally different things. Sign up on the library website calendar.

Trivia

Tuesday, Aug. 11, 7-9 p.m. (Zoom) Trivia night, moderated by library staff, will be a test of science fiction knowledge. The winner will receive a secret code worth extra points for the summer reading program. Sign up on the library website calendar.

HI

Caregiver Virtual Support Group

Friday, July 24, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Are you caring for a parent, spouse or partner or a close friend? Are you overwhelmed and isolated? The Caregiver Support Group provides an opportunity for learning and a space for sharing your concerns with others who face similar challenges.

Our Time Memory Cafe (Virtual Offering)

Call for dates Our Time Memory Cafe is a welcoming gathering for those experiencing forgetfulness, mild cognitive impairment or living with dementia, and their care partner, family and friends. The cafe is a place to socialize, share experiences with others going through similar changes, and form friendships. A care partner must accompany anyone who requires assistance. The program is a joint venture between the Hopkinton Senior Center and Hopkinton Public Library. For more information or to register, call (508) 497-0108 or email info@ ourtimememorycafe.org.

Recipe Swap

Friday, July 24, 12:30 p.m.

Grab your favorite recipes to share with your friends.

During quarantine we are all looking for recipes to spice up our daily meals. This program is facilitated by Marlene Troupes, outreach coordinator for the Senior Center. Preregistration is required. This presentation will be offered live through Zoom.

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12 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020

BUSINESS PROFILE: AN ADVERTISER FEATURE

Main Street Home Improvement specializes in fine carpentry, remodeling Main Street Home Improvement owner Rodrigo Vassoler, a Hopkinton resident, services homeowners with fine carpentry needs and remodeling projects of any size.

By Deborah Burke Henderson Contributing Writer

W

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ith nearly two decades of related experience having worked for various companies, Rodrigo Vassoler, owner of Main Street Home Improvement, is a trusted resource and ready to help homeowners achieve their remodeling dreams.

“I was excited to open my business in January of 2018,” Vassoler said, adding, “The flexibility of being able to make my own schedule allows me more time with my family, which is important.”

His passion is finish carpentry work, including trim, baseboards and crown molding, which he knows adds that perfect touch to any project. He has all the tools and equipment needed and prides himself on working with great care and attention to detail. Additional services include framing, deck work, tiling, interior and exterior painting and any type of remodeling work, large or small.

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When first meeting a homeowner for a no-cost assessment, Vassoler asks key questions about goals and timeframe for the completed work.

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Within 24 hours, he will send along a quote with an anticipated project end date. Once hired, Vassoler stays in touch frequently with project updates.

“I believe in building a solid relationship with each customer from the very beginning,” Vassoler said, “and that hasn’t failed me. If people trust you and your work is good quality, the jobs will come.”

Vassoler works primarily in Hopkinton but is willing to travel within a 25-mile radius or more. It all depends on the size and significance of the job involved.

Currently he is transforming a homeowner’s basement in Ashland into a live-in residence as an in-law apartment, complete with full kitchen and bath. One remodeling project in Hopkinton entails building an outdoor deck and another focuses on rebuilding a living room fireplace and mantle.

“I love what I do,” Vassoler said.

“It gives me great satisfaction to begin a project and see it through, step by step, to the end. I love making things pretty.”

Over the years, Vassoler has gained experience in cosmetic work as well, those last few details to make each job come alive for his customers. He enjoys giving his best, and his work typically exceeds customer expectations.

Vassoler’s advice to homeowners is to consider securing three quotes on any project, be sure to ask if the business is licensed and insured, and never pay for an initial consultation.

Main Street Home Improvement is conveniently located at 90 East Main St., downtown. To request a free project assessment, contact Rodrigo Vassoler at (774) 292-0678 or schedule an appointment online at mainstreethomeimprovement.com.

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The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020 • 13

With Ritterbusch’s election, Select Board reorganizes

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Residents cast their ballots at Hopkinton Middle School on June 29.

Election | from page 1

“As chair of the Select Board I would like to note and appreciate the six years of hard work that Mr. Coutinho has put in to the Select Board,” Tedstone said.

Planning Board chair Muriel Kramer, a former Select Board chair, checked in during the public forum portion of the meeting to add her praise.

Kramer recalled when she was first elected to the Select Board she received some advice from the person she was replacing, Paul Nelson, who had stepped down for health reasons.

Said Kramer: “The piece that he shared with me that I remember is the way it is important for the residents of Hopkinton for their leaders to be involved and to show up at events that are important to them. And I just wanted to take a moment to specifically thank John for being the best there has ever been at that very task. He showed up for people at events large and small, tirelessly, with great humor, great investment and great support. And I think that I am not alone in thanking him for his dedicated service, but in particular for the ways that he represented Hopkinton in such an enthusiastic and warm and dedicated way.”

The official results from the election showed Ritterbusch with 1,612 votes to 941 for Coutinho.

In an interview with the Independent just after the results were announced, Ritterbusch said she had been cautiously optimistic about her chances, despite Coutinho raising concerns about online attacks that he blamed on her supporters. Coutinho, who until last month was chair of the Hopkinton Republican Town Committee, primarily was criticized in online chats for being a supporter of President Donald Trump.

“I was feeling generally pretty good, but I didn’t know because Coutinho had made a big issue of the negative campaigning and I wasn’t sure how that would play out with voters,” Ritterbusch said. “But I generally had a good feeling.”

Ritterbusch said one of her primary goals will be to improve “communication and transparency — making sure the public understands, like the financial situation we’re in due to COVID and if we have to delay things or cut things that they understand what our choices are. I want to make sure we’re communicating that to the public so they’re not surprised.”

Coutinho texted that he takes pride

in having helped to make Hopkinton the desirable community it has become.

“It has been my honor to serve the town over the last two decades on numerous boards and committees,” he wrote. “Over that period Hopkinton has become one of the premier towns to live and work in Massachusetts. I am enormously proud of the achievements we have accomplished together.

It is imperative that the new leadership team protect our wonderful community during these stressful economic times.

I’m certain the residents of Hopkinton will expect nothing less.”

It was a good night for Democrats overall, as Joe Markey and Lya BatlleRafferty won the two open seats on the School Committee, the only other contested race. They beat out Republican Dawn Ronan for the seats being vacated by Meena Bharath and Jen Devlin. Markey finished with 1,846 votes, Batlle-Rafferty amassed 1,578 and Ronan garnered 1,090.

“It’s good to know that the community is paying attention, that people like Amy and I who have been working in different capacities over the past 15 years kind of quietly moving the ball forward for the town have developed apparently the trust of the community, and that’s quite a responsibility,” Markey said. “I’m looking forward to working hard on the School Committee. We have an awful lot of work ahead of us.”

In the uncontested races, the following candidates were elected: Board of Assessors, Adam Munroe (1,999 votes); Board of Health, Elizabeth Whittemore (2,003); Board of Library Trustees (2 seats), Meena Kaushik (1,931) and Jessica McCaffrey (1,764); Cemetery Commissioner, Claire Wright (1,924); Commissioners of Trust Funds, Mary Duggan (1,999); Constable, Patrick Atwell (1,975); Housing Authority, Darlene Hayes (1,793); Commissioners of Parks and Recreation (2 seats), Laura Hanson (1,982) and Liisa Jackson (1,950); Planning Board (2 seats), Jane Moran (1,878) and Sundar Sivaraman (1,896).

Voting took place at Hopkinton Middle School, and Degan said there was a “steady stream” of voters despite a thunderstorm that brought heavy rains in the late morning. Degan said about 1,300 residents requested mail-in ballots.

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14 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020

Schools School Committee addresses concerns with reopening guidance School Committee | from page 1

money and resources.”

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education commissioner Jeffrey Riley has asked districts to prepare for three potential scenarios: a full return to school, a combination model of remote and in-person learning, and a completely remote model.

The third option allows schools to “turn on a dime,” if schools must close again and go to a completely remote model, she said. By having this plan in place, changes could be made “pretty much overnight” if necessary, Cavanaugh said.

Riley also suggested that complete plans not be set in stone until early August, to allow for the most up-to-date medical information.

This news, Cavanaugh said, likely will frustrate parents hoping to figure out their schedules for school reopening. “I know how difficult it is for parents to make plans,” she said.

One reason for the push to in-person learning is to reduce the mental health impact on students who have been isolated from personal contact with classmates and teachers, supporters of the plan have said.

The challenge, Cavanaugh said, is that children likely will face challenges with either approach. “Kids’ physical health could be compromised by being in school,” she said.

“Kids’ mental health could be compromised by being out of school.”

New committee member Lya Batlle-Rafferty also questioned the mental health impact of “kids being stuck in the same room for hours and hours on end.”

Riley wants students to have lunch in their classes at a space of 6 feet apart because they will have to remove

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masks to eat. Three feet of separation is required the rest of the school day when students are wearing masks.

To accommodate that lunch regulation, some students may have to eat in other settings beside the classroom, such as the library or athletic center, to maintain ample space, Cavanaugh said. Lunch, she noted, could be a “huge ordeal.”

Having ample space in classrooms creates another concern, Cavanaugh said. To maintain adequate space, “you would absolutely, positively have to be buying desks,” she said.

Transportation guidelines are expected shortly from the state. Busing issues include maintaining adequate separation between students. Additional bus routes may be needed, with possible staggered start and end school times.

Committee member Meg Tyler encouraged students to spend time in some of the town’s “beautiful outside spaces” to release them from a full day spent in one room.

“I don’t dislike the idea” of this “change of venue,” Cavanaugh said, noting that children would have the chance to enjoy fresh air. ”It really would be very tricky to have our kids in the same room with the same four walls,” all day, she added.

Reentry Group holds first meeting The reopening issue is being discussed by the Hopkinton Reentry Group, which met for the first time July 7 and was scheduled to meet three more times throughout the summer.

The group includes administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, staff, medical and health professionals, elected officials, parents and students, who are advising the plan for reentry to the Hopkinton Public Schools in September.

The 36-member group, which has been divided into various subcommittees, will ultimately make recommendations to the superintendent and central office administrators.

Members will examine many issues, including delivery of curriculum and instruction, transportation and food service, different scheduling scenarios, and health and safety protocols, including social distancing parameters.

The Hopkinton Reentry Group reviewed guidance on the topic of health and safety, communication and visitation to the school during its first meeting.

Visits to the school by parents and other guests will be minimized, if not almost eliminated, according to the presentation. Zoom and other electronic forms of communications will be used between the district and families.

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Meetings will be conducted online whenever possible.

Any staff member or student who has symptoms of any kind should plan to stay home. Schools must establish a “COVID sick room” for any child or adult who begins showing symptoms during the school day.

Schools also must establish plans for when a student or faculty member tests positive for COVID-19.

“We need to limit movement and reduce physical proximity between students to ensure safety,” Cavanaugh said.

The group also looked at issues of daily transitions, including staggering arrival and departure times and limiting or eliminating classroom transitions. Floors and travel directions should be marked if possible, with separate exits and entrances established for different groups.

Six feet of distance should be kept between students while eating.

Classrooms and other additional locations can be used to serve prepackaged lunches. Surfaces will be disinfected between lunches, and no sharing of food will be allowed.

Questions remain on transportation, but discussion included opening all bus windows, even in inclement weather, modifying start times, increasing the number of bus runs, and encouraging walking, biking and parent transportation.

In the area of communication, schools will provide training for all staff and students, reinforce healthy practices for all students and staff by beginning with a morning message, post appropriate signs, and reward adherence to healthy policies.

The final decision on school reopening will be made by the superintendent and central office administration.

Fargiano new committee chair In other School Committee news, members voted Amanda Fargiano as chair and Nancy Cavanaugh as vice chair at the July 9 meeting. The board reorganization is traditionally done after the spring elections.

Lya Batlle-Rafferty and Joe Markey are the newest members of the committee, replacing Jen Devlin and former chair Meena Bharath, who did not seek reelection.

The committee also announced it will hold weekly Zoom office hours leading up to the start of the school year to provide an opportunity for the community to ask questions, raise concerns, or provide feedback on school matters. Each meeting will be hosted by two School Committee members.

The office hours are on the following Wednesdays: July 22 (7-8 p.m.), July 29 (1-2 p.m.). Aug. 5 (7-8 p.m.), Aug. 12 (1-2 p.m.), Aug. 19 (7-8 p.m.) and Aug. 26 (1-2 p.m.).

For details about the Zoom information, email Fargiano at afargiano@ hopkinton.k12.ma.us.

The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020 • 15

HHS graduation ceremony Aug. 2 T

he long-delayed Hopkinton High School Class of 2020 graduation ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 2, beginning at 10 a.m. The event will be held at Chick Welch Field at David Hughes Stadium (the HHS football field). Rain date is the following day at 10 a.m. The event will be broadcast on HCAM.

PHOTO/HOPKINTON HIGH SCHOOL

“We are thankful that our students will SCHOOLS have the opportunity NOTEBOOK to come together one last time as a class and walk across the stage to receive their diploma,” HHS principal Evan Bishop wrote in an email to the HHS community on June 25. “While this year’s graduation will be traditional in some ways, there will be many aspects of our ceremony that will need to be modified to ensure the safety of all attendees.”

All attendees must wear face coverings before, during and after the ceremony. Anyone who refuses to wear a face covering or mask without a valid justification — medical or other disabling condition — may be denied entry.

Attendance is limited to the graduates and three guests per graduate (all of whom must be registered in advance). The graduates and their guests will be seated together on provided chairs on the field in unmarked 12-foot squares, from end zone to end zone, facing the stage. A map with seating arrangements will be shared prior to the event.

Faculty and staff members who attend will be seated 6 feet apart in the bleachers once the ceremony begins.

Graduates will gather on the turf field (below the football field) at 9:30 a.m. for a brief rehearsal and run through of expectations.

Families with the last names that begin with A-K will park in the water tower lot, while families with the last names beginning with L-Z can park in any of the lots in front of the high school. There should only be one car per family.

Guidance from the state suggests ceremonies be kept as brief as possible. As a result, there will be limited speeches and no musical number. Seniors will walk onto stage when their name is read. As they accept their diploma, there will be no handshakes or hugging. At the end of the ceremony, families and the graduate will be dismissed row by row.

The Class of 2020 finally will get an in-person graduation ceremony — albeit one with restrictions related to social distancing — on Sunday, Aug. 2.

Matsoukas receives National Merit Scholarship Hopkinton High School graduate Alexander Matsoukas was named a winner of a college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship. Matsoukas plans to study computer engineering at the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in Needham.

Matsoukas joins classmates Matvey Ortyashov (Boston University) and Grace Ye (Tufts), who previously were announced as winners of National Merit Scholarships.

These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.

Houley AMSA valedictorian Hopkinton resident John Houley was valedictorian of the Class of 2020 at Advanced Math & Science Academy (AMSA) in Marlborough. Houley is set to attend Boston College this fall.

AMSA scheduled in-person outdoor graduation ceremonies on July 19 at ForeKicks in Marlborough.

Theis named interim assistant principal

Locals shine at Worcester Academy

Laura Theis was named interim assistant principal at Hopkinton High School for 2020-21, the school announced earlier this month. Theis fills the spot vacated by Josh Hanna, who left to become principal at Franklin High School.

According to her bio on the HHS website, Theis came to Hopkinton in 2012 as a Spanish teacher. She has a Master of Education degree in Spanish from Framingham State University.

She graduated from Stonehill College with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and secondary education.

Worcester Academy recently announced its honor roll and headmaster’s list for the second semester, and a number of Hopkinton residents were recognized.

Seniors Aidan Busconi and Deen Muttakin, junior Emma Potas and freshman Ally Gray received first honors. Seniors Lily Bradway, Adara Groman, Rohan Krishnan, Tingyu Liang, Michael Rabinovich, Angela Scumaci and Carlin Stewart and juniors Lauren Gray and Yixin Huang were named to the headmaster’s list.

Hwang earns Berklee summer scholarship Berklee College of Music awarded City Music Summer Scholarships to 60 outstanding young musicians from the United Ryan Hwang States and Canada, and one of the recipients is Hopkinton resident Ryan Hwang.

The students, who must be nominated by a Berklee City Music fullmember site, have received full-tuition scholarships valued at $4,345 to Berklee’s Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive program, taking place virtually from July 11 through Aug. 14.

Five-Week is one of the world’s most comprehensive summer performance programs, providing students with oneon-one instruction from Berklee faculty and special guests, including Esperanza

Spalding, Jacob Collier, Terri Lyne Carrington and Victor Wooten, among others.

Hwang, a drummer, attended the Berklee City Music Preparatory Academy for four years. He is studying drums at Five-Week.

“During my time at Prep Academy I benefited greatly from the program,” Hwang said. “It was a wonderful experience that improved many different areas of my musicianship, from instrumental skills to technical production. I can’t wait for virtual Five-Week.”

HHS Debate Club holds workshop The Hopkinton High School Debate Club is holding a free summer workshop for Hopkinton students in the Class of 2024, 2025 and 2026. The workshop will be held via Zoom on Aug. 3, 5 and 7, from 3-4:30 p.m. each day.

The workshop is billed as a “great way to improve public speaking, get a feeling of debate, and have a lot of fun.”

No experience is necessary.

For more information, email fferdous@hillers.org.

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16 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020

Sports Army’s Simoes shines in short summer stint After a short stint in a collegiate summer league in North Dakota, Tim Simoes will soon head to West Point for his senior year.

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

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fter having his college season cut short and amid a busy training schedule at West Point, Hopkinton’s Tim Simoes was more than willing to drive halfway across the country for the chance to get in a couple weeks of summer baseball.

Simoes spent two weeks with the Bismarck Larks of the Northwoods League and adjusted well to seeing live pitching for the first time in months. The rising senior at Army hit a grand slam in his first at-bat with the Larks and added two more home runs in a game a few days later.

“It’s been great to get an opportunity to play and get back in some games, Simoes said during his time in North Dakota, “and to see a new part of the country has been really cool.”

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With the pandemic far from over, Simoes had to take some precautions to make sure he could play baseball this summer. When he arrived in Bismarck, he quarantined in a hotel room awaiting his COVID-19 test results. He then moved in with a host family and got a taste of what life is like in the Midwest.

He said there were fewer people wearing masks in North Dakota, but also far fewer cases. Despite a recent uptick, as of July 14 the Peace Garden State had seen around 4,500 confirmed cases of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus and fewer than 100 deaths.

The rate of infection, even when adjusted for the smaller population, is about half that of Simoes’ home state.

The result has been some semblance of normalcy at the ballpark.

“The team is doing a really good job,” he said. “They are opening the stadium to fans. They normally get around 2,000 people every night but they are limiting it this year and hovering around 800 or 900 and spreading people out.”

The vast Northwoods League, which includes teams in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and other Midwestern states, has been divided into smaller pods in an effort to limit travel and minimize the risk of exposure.

The Larks are playing the other two North Dakota teams in that group (the Bismarck Bull Moose and the Mandan Flickertails).

Restaurants and shopping centers are open with restrictions in place, and he was able to play some golf with his teammates in between games.

Simoes is heading into his senior year at Army after only playing 15 games during his junior campaign before the season came to a sudden halt.

Simoes had been off to a strong start, hitting .306 with seven RBIs and 11 runs scored and earning Patriot League Player of the Week in the season’s opening week.

“It was definitely frustrating, you just feel heartbroken for the seniors and the guys who are probably never going to play competitive baseball again at such a high level,” he said. “To see it end so quickly and without warning is sad, but certainly there are bigger issues in the world.”

Still, Simoes noted the many lost opportunities for the team, which was on its spring break trip to Florida when the plug was pulled on the season.

“Things were going well and we were jelling as a team,” he said. “We lost out on the chance to play our big league games and play Navy and make a run at a league championship.”

Simoes is hoping to have some sense of normal returned by the time his own senior season comes along in the spring of 2021. In the meantime, he’s heading back to West Point after his short but memorable stint in North Dakota.

“This is the first chance I have gotten to play summer ball,” Simoes said.

“It’s one of the reasons I was willing to come all the way out here for a couple of weeks, to have that experience, and it has been worth it.”

The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020 • 17

Police Log ARRESTS July 2

1:10 p.m. A School Street caller reported unemployment fraud. The incident was logged.

12:05 a.m. A caller reported a vehicle nearly hit several mailboxes on West Main Street. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officers Jessica Ferreira and Tyler Brabham responded and located the operator. Julie C. Steinkrauss, 46, of 5 Rae Ave., Needham, was arrested and charged with OUI liquor, possession of a Class E substance, and marked lanes violation.

June 25

July 5

9:23 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officer Moira McGaffigan responded to a report of a trailer that struck a fire hydrant on Fruit Street. No personal injuries were reported. A report was to follow.

10:45 a.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle flipped on its side off the trail

by Echo Lake on Hayden Rowe Street.

Officers Matthew Santoro and Moira McGaffigan responded and reported the incident was in Milford. The Milford Police Department was notified.

11:51 a.m. A detail officer reported a van was stuck on Piazza Lane. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Moira McGaffigan responded and closed the road while the operator waited for a tow.

3:20 p.m. Officers John Corridan and Tyler Brabham responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident involving two vehicles on Grove Street. No injuries were reported.

8:49 p.m. A caller complained of someone setting off fireworks in the Clinton Street area.

2:14 a.m. On Lumber Street Extension, Sergeant William Burchard and Jessica Ferreira arrested Heather R. Taylor, 52, of 195 Saddle Hill Road and charged her with marked lanes violation and OUI liquor.

July 10

9:01 p.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Robert Ekross and Benjamin Stickney conducted a motor vehicle stop on Main Street and subsequently arrested Sarah R. DeFonzo, 27, of 23 Summer St., Hudson, and charged her with OUI liquor and failure to stop/yield.

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.

June 23

12:19 a.m. Officer Brian Sanchioni discovered a stop sign vandalized with graffiti on Proctor Street and Saddle Hill Road.

8:59 a.m. An East Main Street caller reported a 10-wheeler drove by her residence at a high rate of speed. She followed the vehicle to a local business and subsequently confronted the driver. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded and took a report.

5:25 p.m. A caller reported an illegal burn on Ash Street. Officer Derek Morton responded along with the Fire Department and the fire was extinguished. The homeowner was advised of burning rules.

7:16 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident on Stonegate Road involving a car and a tree. Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Brian Sanchioni and Preston Mucciarone responded and found property damage. A report was to follow.

9:30 p.m. Multiple callers on Pine Island Road complained about boaters on the lake playing loud music. Officer Brian Sanchioni responded and checked the area with a negative find.

June 24

12:08 a.m. A Grove Street caller reported a skunk was stuck along with the dog in a child area of the backyard. The animal control officer was notified. The caller was advised to utilize bright lights and orange peels to scare the skunk away.

10:23 a.m. A Cubs Path resident reported unemployment fraud. She had filed it with the state and wanted it logged.

11:33 a.m. A caller reported a vehicle nearly hit a young boy on the crosswalk on Main Street five minutes earlier. The driver beeped and yelled at the boy in the road and kept driving. No description of the vehicle was given. The caller wanted the incident logged.

12:01 a.m. Officer Robert Ekross moved a dead deer off the roadway of Main Street and notified the animal control officer.

8:50 p.m. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident involving personal injury on Cedar Street. An ambulance was requested and two people refused treatment.

June 26

June 27

8:16 a.m. A caller reported losing a set of AirPods on Saddle Hill Road. Officer Brendon Lyver responded to the location, but no one answered the door.

4:38 p.m. A Blueberry Lane resident reported his mailbox was vandalized overnight. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and took a report.

10:01 p.m. A Wedgewood Road caller complained of people setting off fireworks near her house and toward Cedar Street Extension. Officers Benjamin Stickney, Jessica Ferreira and Tyler Brabham responded and checked the area with a negative find.

June 28

12:02 p.m. A caller reported he was walking his dog on South Mill Street and his dog was attacked by another dog. It was determined the incident took place in Holliston. The Holliston Police Department was notified.

12:33 p.m. A Whirty Circle caller reported an issue with his neighbor, which he called about the day before. He had told the neighbor not to cut through his yard.

The neighbor subsequently placed “No Trespassing” signs on the caller’s land.

The caller wanted the civil dispute logged.

1:34 p.m. A motorist reported he struck a rabbit on the highway and requested advice on how to remove the bunny from his vehicle. The dispatcher spoke with the reporting person.

ficer Lyver and Buckley spoke with the homeowner.

11:35 a.m. A caller reported possible gunshots and loud noises and loud voices on Trailside Lane. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil responded and spoke with people on scene who were building a shed. All was OK. 6:03 p.m. A Pond Street caller reported her neighbor removed her mailbox and placed signs on her property. Officer Derek Morton took a report.

7:35 p.m. A walk-in reported hitting a raised manhole cover on Cedar Street.

Sergeant Timothy Brennan responded and notified the DPW. 9:31 p.m. A motorist reported a minor hit-and-run motor vehicle accident on Hayden Rowe Street. Sergeant William Burchard responded and took a report.

June 30

7:51 a.m. A Greystone Lane resident reported unemployment fraud. The incident was logged.

1:05 p.m. The Ashland Police Department reported three males who caused a disturbance in a restaurant took off on East Main Street and headed toward the center of Hopkinton. Officers Ryan Polselli, Benjamin Stickney and Moira McGaffigan responded and checked the area with a negative find.

3:27 p.m. A caller reported two males going between two West Main Street gas stations and asking customers for money.

Officers Derek Morton and Brian Sanchioni responded, and the men were gone upon their arrival.

6:27 a.m. Officer Robert Ekross found a dead beaver in the roadway on Wood Street and notified the DPW for removal.

10:09 a.m. A Breakneck Hill Road caller reported unemployment fraud. The incident was logged.

11:33 a.m. A Third Road resident reported her car was vandalized. Officer Matthew Santoro responded and took a report.

12:10 p.m. A Hayden Rowe Street caller reported a man on a motorcycle took pictures of her house. He stated he liked the house and wanted to photograph it. Officer Brendon Lyver responded and reported the man was gone upon his arrival. The caller wanted the incident logged.

1:48 p.m. A caller reported an hour earlier she was on West Main Street walking to a store and was harassed by someone. Officer Matthew Santoro responded and spoke with the caller. A report was to follow.

July 3

11:39 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan spoke with a landscaping truck driver on Overlook Road about dumping of grass.

July 4

8:28 a.m. A walk-in reported he was walking his dog on Maple Street and encountered a dog walker who was walking two dogs. The dogs leaped up on him and knocked him to the ground. Officer Tyler Brabham assisted.

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9:20 a.m. A caller reported an incident that took place in the Price Chopper parking lot on West Main Street the previous night. Officer Tyler Brabham took a report of vandalism.

11:55 a.m. A caller complained of a road hazard on Cedar Street near Main Street, where he hit a manhole cover and damaged his vehicle. The incident was logged and the DPW was notified.

7:24 p.m. A caller reported an illegal burn on Walcott Street. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded along with the Fire Department. The resident put out the fire.

8:51 p.m. Officer Benjamin Stickney observed a fireworks display on Grove Street and spoke to the person setting them off.

9:06 p.m. A caller complained of fireworks being set off on Fruit Street. Officer Ryan Polselli responded, located the origin, spoke to the person responsible and shut him down for the night.

9:12 p.m. Officer Benjamin Stickney came across parties setting off fireworks on Lakeshore Drive and shut them down.

9:35 p.m. A caller reported someone on Walcott Valley Drive setting off fireworks. Officers Robert Ekross and Benjamin Stickney responded and located the responsible party, who was to stop setting off fireworks.

10:18 p.m. A Hillcrest Drive resident reported fireworks being set off in the area. Sergeants William Burchard and Timothy Brennan responded and checked the area with a negative find.

11:19 p.m. A caller reported someone in a tan vehicle with the lights off on Hayden Rowe Street setting off fireworks. Sergeants Timothy Brennan and William Burchard checked the area with a negative find.

July 5

12:18 a.m. A Walcott Street resident reported a bat in the house. Sergeants William Burchard and Timothy Brennan responded and removed the bat.

12:32 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan checked on a vehicle on Cedar Street and found the occupants gazing at the moon. They were to be moving along.

12:43 a.m. Sergeants Timothy Brennan and William Burchard checked on an Ash Street property, where it appeared a breaking and entering had taken place.

8:28 a.m. A caller reported she encountered a bear cub while out walking on a trail around Lake Whitehall.

The animal control officer was notified.

3:07 p.m. A caller reported she struck a cat on Grove Street. The animal control officer was contacted.

6:51 p.m. A caller reported a young jet ski operator acting recklessly on Lake Maspenock. Officer Preston Mucciarone responded and advised the father of the driver of the complaint.

8:00 p.m. A caller reported he was locked in the State Park. Officer Preston Mucciarone responded and opened the gate.

9:14 p.m. A Fruit Street caller complained of fireworks being set off in the area. Officer Preston Mucciarone responded and checked the area with a negative find.

11:25 p.m. A caller reported motor vehicles drag racing on Hayden Rowe Street. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officer Tyler Brabham responded and moved the racers out of the area.

July 6

8:45 a.m. Multiple calls were received about bushes on fire in the median of a West Main Street parking lot. Officers Philip Powers and Benjamin Stickney responded along with the Fire Department and the fire was extinguished.

2:27 p.m. A caller reported a social security scam and wanted the incident logged.

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11:16 a.m. Officer Brendan Lyver responded to a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. No personal injuries were reported.

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July 9

5:03 p.m. A caller reported a possible dead bear on the side of the roadway of Hayden Rowe Street, near College Street. Officer Robert Ekross responded and checked the area with a negative find.

5:05 p.m. A walk-in from Highland Street spoke with Officer Ryan Polselli about threats from an employee at his company.

6:01 p.m. A caller reported a male driving recklessly on a white moped through the Walcott Valley Drive neighborhood. Officer Robert Ekross responded and spoke with the individual, who was to put the moped away for the night.

8:24 p.m. The Ashland Police Department requested an officer to make contact with a Joseph Road resident who illegally dumped items in Ashland. Officer Robert Ekross spoke with the party responsible, and he was to retrieve his items.

July 10

2:49 p.m. A caller reported someone threw a beer can at his vehicle on West Main Street and drove away. Officers Brian Sanchioni and Matthew Santoro responded and checked the area with a negative find.

7:45 p.m. A walk-in reported she ordered prescriptions in the mail and instead received computer cords. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded and spoke to the reporting person.

5:43 p.m. Multiple calls were received about a vehicle that crashed into a pole on South Street. No injuries were reported. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Robert Ekross and Ryan Polselli responded and notified Verizon.

7:31 p.m. A Forest Lane caller reported a bat on his front porch. He was unsure if it was dead or alive. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil responded.

July 11

8:31 a.m. Officer Moira McGaffigan checked on and spoke with a person riding a moped on Walcott Street and issued a verbal warning for no helmet and unregistered and unlicensed vehicle.

4:09 p.m. A caller reported vandalism at EMC Park on Hayden Rowe Street. Officer Brendon Lyver responded and found the portable toilets upright, not tipped over.

8:56 p.m. A caller reported two large groups of people setting off fireworks and being loud on Lumber Street. Officers Preston Mucciarone, Brendon Lyver, and Philip Powers responded and found all OK. 11:28 p.m. Multiple callers complained about fireworks going off in the Glen Road area. Officer Preston Mucciarone responded and spoke with the homeowner.

July 12

11:14 a.m. A caller reported a large crowd of people smoking marijuana at the main beach at Hopkinton State Park on Cedar Street. The Ashland Police were notified.

1:44 p.m. A caller complained of a red jet ski operating at a high rate of speed on Lake Maspenock.

Officers Benjamin Stickney and Philip Powers responded and spoke to the operator and advised him of the speed limit. The officers additionally spoke to the lifeguards on duty.

8:33 p.m. A caller reported a female driving a Jeep with a light bar and a male on the roof on Hayden Rowe Street. Officers Preston Mucciarone and Brendon Lyver responded and located the vehicle and spoke with all involved.

July 13

8:10 a.m. A facilities worker reported a past breaking and entering at Center School on Ash Street. Officers Brendon Lyver and Moira McGaffigan responded and took a report.

8:13 a.m. A caller reported a fallen tree on wires on West Elm Street. Officer Matthew Santoro responded and contacted Eversource.

1:01 p.m. A Kimball Road resident reported a squirrel was stuck in her chimney. The animal control officer was contacted.

3:49 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. No injuries were reported. Officers Ryan Polselli and Preston Mucciarone responded and took a report. A tow truck was requested.

8:13 p.m. A Fruit Street caller reported a case of unemployment fraud and wanted the incident logged.

The Hopkinton Independent • July 22, 2020 • 19

Obituaries Jacqueline Cronsberg

In 1966 Cronsberg opened the Ballet Workshop of New England in Sudbury.

As she taught ballet, Cronsberg’s younger daughter, Sandra, pursued dance, studying at the School of American Ballet and later joining the New York City Ballet.

Working alongside Cronsberg was her husband, Sidney, the school administrator who videotaped performances wearing his trademark red sneakers.

Ballet Workshop closed in 2005 and Cronsberg joined the faculty at Boston Ballet School. She and Sidney sold their house in Hopkinton and moved to Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where they built their dream home. In 2016 the couple moved to California, where Sandra lives with her husband.

Cronsberg is survived by her daughter, Sandra Eshima, and her husband, Shinji; a grandson, Alexander Hurt, and his partner, Devon Gibbons; a granddaughter, Marguerite Bird, and her partner, Amir Lahidji; and two great-granddaughters, Theo Claire and Kayla Isabelle. She also is survived by her nephews, Christopher, Stephen and Eric Gootkind, and their families.

She was predeceased by her husband, who died in 2017; a daughter, Debra, who died in 1989; and sister, Jean Lindman, who died in 2017.

A memorial service was held June 6 at Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

Editor’s note: Due to space limitations this obituary has been condensed. To read the full-length obituary, visit HopkintonIndependent.com.

Eric Nickerson

Ronald Jannino

Eric Hampton Nickerson passed away peacefully in his home in the early morning of June 10 at the age of 73 after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. Eric was a 14-year resident of Milford, New Hampshire, and a 28-year resident of Amherst, New Hampshire.

He was born on May 13, 1947, in Greenwich, Connecticut, to Robert Edward Nickerson and Mary Jane Caldwell Nickerson. Eric predeceases his mother, a resident of Candler, North Carolina.

Eric is survived by his wife, Marie Labrie Nickerson; his children, Lisa Nickerson and her former husband, Mark McGonagle ,and their three children, and her partner, Robert Cramer, of Wayland; Robert Eric Nickerson and his wife, Lori Nickerson, and their three children of Hopkinton; his former wife and mother of Lisa and Rob, Jane Vance Nickerson of Natick; stepson Nathan Neveu and his wife, Jennifer Kilday Neveu, and their two children of Nashua, New Hampshire; his sister, Jan Nickerson, and husband, John Graham, of Candler, North Carolina, and their children, Jamie Gay and Jenna Graham; his former sister-in-law, Arlene Benedict Nickerson of Stamford, Connecticut; his nephew, Dillon Bowman; and many cousins, including Mary Schempp-Berg and her husband, David Berg, of Whangarei, New Zealand. Eric was predeceased by his father as well as his brother, Robert Tek Nickerson.

Eric grew up in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and attended the college preparatory Holderness School in Holderness, New Hampshire. He attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he received his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and control theory. He was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, commonly known as Fiji. Eric later graduated from the University of Rhode Island’s College of Business with his Master of Business Administration. Eric maintained many close friends from his fraternity and recently attended the 50th reunion in Newport, Rhode Island.

Early in Eric’s career he worked at Burndy Corporation and Texas Instruments. In 1978 Eric joined Teradyne Connection Systems in Nashua, New Hampshire, where he worked for 27 years before leaving his role as the global account manager for contract manufacturing.

After leaving Teradyne, Eric worked with Harting and Navico. Eric also enjoyed his time counseling small businesses as a certified mentor for SCORE, and his work as a UNH marine docent. He also was an avid sailor and hot-air balloonist.

The family will host a private service when the opportunity for travel permits.

Gifts in Mr. Nickerson’s memory can be made to the Shoals Marine Laboratory, as a memorial gift to Worcester Polytechnic Institute, or in support of Dr. Adam Bass’ Research Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Arrangements are being handled by Michaud Funeral Home & Crematorium in Wilton, New Hampshire.

Editor’s note: Due to space limitations this obituary has been condensed. To read the full-length obituary, visit HopkintonIndependent.com.

Dance Magazine Ronald J. Jannino led a series in 1994 passed unexpectedly about teachers who on June 20 at Boston’s had trained remarkBeth Israel Deaconess able young dancers Medical Center. He with a profile about was 75 years old.

Jacqueline Ann Born in Chelsea, Cronsberg, founder of the Ballet Workshop Ron was a lifelong of New England. At the time, Cronsberg Revere resident. He had been running the school in suburban was an alumnus of Everett Vocational Boston for nearly 30 years, but she was School, Class of 1963, Fitchburg State just getting started. The following year College, Class of 1967, he received his Cronsberg established the Massachusetts master’s degree in 1971 from Boston Youth Ballet, an ensemble that gave her State Teachers College and was the students the opportunity to perform some recipient of a second master’s degree of the most cherished ballets ever created. in advanced education from the UniCronsberg, a former Hopkinton versity of Massachusetts. He had a resident, died Jan. 12 in Mill Valley, Cali20-year career with the Revere School fornia, following a seven-year battle with System as a cabinetry and woodworking acute myeloid leukemia. She was 82. Her teacher. There he made many friends as death generated an outpouring from her a mentor with the students he taught. He former students, some of whom joined became their teacher, mentor and lasting leading ballet companies around the world. friend. Since 1986, he was elected to the Cronsberg was born Jacqueline Ann Northeast Regional Vocational School, Kirby in Boston, the eldest daughter of Wakefield, as a District School ComJohn and Marguerite Kirby. She began mittee Member. He remained as chair her dance studies at the Gertrude Dolan of the Safety/Security Committee and Theatrical Studios near her home in Roxnever ceased working for the good and bury and later studied with Mieczyslaw Pisafety of his students. Following retireanowski, a Polish emigre who had danced ment from the Revere School System, under Sergei Diaghilev and Anna Pavlova. he began a six-year stint with Parkside Cronsberg was educated at Girls’ Middle School in Manchester, New Latin Academy and Newman Preparatory Hampshire, teaching in the Computer School in the Back Bay. After high school, Division. she studied dance at Boston Conservatory.

Ron’s affiliations and memberships were many. He was longtime member of the Revere Council, Knights of Columbus 179, the Revere Loyal Order of the Moose 1272 and the Revere American Legion Post 61. He was a proud Navy veteran of Vietnam and carried a lifetime membership with the Disabled American Veterans Association. Ron and his family had an intense Waste Removal and Recycling working relationship with St. Mary of the Assumption Parish for over 80 years, serving as a member of the Holy Name Society, past president and member of the St. Vincent DePaul Society of the Parish and also as past president and member of St. Mary’s Baseball League.

Furthermore, He was the master of ceremonies for the annual telethon for the Revere League for Special Needs.

A strong advocate for diabetes research, he served as a member of the Advisory E.L. Harvey & Sons, Inc Council of the Joslin Patient Family Association of Boston.

800-321-3002 • www.elharvey.com His entire working career has been a journey of caring, giving & sharing.

The characteristics that drew people to Ron were instilled in him by his dear late parents, Anthony J. “Tony” and Louise (Verderico) Jannino.

He was the beloved husband of 48 years to Linda D. (Roche) Jannino, and the devoted father of Melissa A. Elam and her husband, Craig, of Revere, and John A. Jannino and his wife, Elizabeth, of Hopkinton. He is the cherished Papa of Catherine M. Elam and Jack W. Elam, both of Revere, and Ava D. Jannino and Rachael E. Jannino, both of Hopkinton. He was the dear brother to Whether you need your cooling system serviced or a new the late Anthony J. “Slim” Jannino, Jr. install, we’re here to help! We offer traditional and his late wife, Dorothy M. (Smith) Jannino. He also is lovingly survived by Central Air and Ductless Systems. many cousins.

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