Hopkinton Independent 8/4

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HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 22 | No. 15 | August 4, 2021

COVID cases rise, but high vax rate sparks optimism

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

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PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

irst the bad news: Yes, the COVID situation is trending in the wrong direction, and that includes in Hopkinton.

Now the good news: As of late July, about 92 percent of eligible individuals in town had been vaccinated — ranking Hopkinton among the highest statewide — and that’s limited the local problems caused by this new wave.

“We’re starting to see cases,” Health Director Shaun McAuliffe acknowledged July 27. “Since our last board meeting on [July 21] we’ve had 14 cases come in. But because most of the people were vaccinated, they had very mild symptoms and the residents dismissed them as allergies or a cold — anything but COVID. So by the time we were alerted to their illness they were in their final days [of being monitored/quarantined].”

McAuliffe said three family members appear to have contracted the disease during a trip.

DOG DAY

Hopkinton Police Officer Brian Sanchioni brought K-9 Titan to the Parks & Recreation Playground Group at Center School on July 26 for a demonstration and to answer questions from the curious campers.

COVID | 8

Sanborn excited to lead Hillers football

INSIDE ARTS

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

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Live theater returns to HCA with multiple August shows

f Hf Sanborn | 16

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

ark Sanborn had a positive experience during his years as a three-sport standout at Hopkinton High School, and he wants the same for his players now that he is taking the reins of the Hillers football program.

“I enjoyed the experience of being teammates with guys I still hang out with today, the feeling of playing a game on Friday after grinding out a week of practice, there is nothing better,” Sanborn said. “I just hope I can provide that.”

Sanborn, 31, is stepping into his first varsity head coaching position. He has been an assistant coach for the Hopkinton varsity for the past three seasons, focusing on special teams and wide receivers. And he brings head coaching experience with the HHS junior

Former Hopkinton High School football standout Mark Sanborn is the new Hillers coach.

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2 • The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021

Hopkinton Independent

Volunteering hits home for group of local teens

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

STAFF

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

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

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

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H AY D E N R OW E P R O P E R T I E S . C O M

Above: Hopkinton High School student volunteers pose with their supervisors during their Habitat for Humanity trip to Tampa, Florida, last month.

Right: Manoli Barris (left) and Sam Scire pause for a photo while helping with the construction of a house.

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ne of the many negative consequences of the COVID pandemic had been a restriction on volunteering.

In particular, each summer a number of Hopkinton teenagers join charitable or religious organizations that travel to other states and help build homes or do repairs for those in need of assistance, but the pandemic forced the cancellation or alteration of many trips.

Manoli Barris, a rising senior at HopINDEPENDENT kinton High School, decided to take matters THOUGHTS into his own hands.

JERRY SPAR First he did some research and found a Habitat for Humanity location in Florida that was looking for help and was willing to accept volunteers.

“I reached out to different Habitat for Humanity locations — I called a couple up here in New England, but I got the feeling with COVID guidelines it would be impossible to do that kind of volunteering up here,” he said. “So I started calling places more southern and western — out to Chicago and down to Miami. I came across the Habitat for Humanity in Tampa and found out that they’re one of the top Habitats in the United States. They said with COVID you could probably only bring a group of six or seven. So I got a group of six and we went down there.”

Barris’ friends — classmates Sam Scire, Tommy McAuliffe, Spencer Horgan, Cal Greenwood and Michael Berman — were quick to jump on board.

Together with two adult chaperones (John Barris and Benton Berman), they headed south and rented a home for the week of July 11-18.

After a day to themselves, the group headed to the job site — three duplexes under construction — and were put to work. Considering none of them had prior experience with home building, they weren’t sure what to expect.

“The first day, we walked in and I didn’t really know how it was going to work,” Barris said. “We were greeted by these really nice people. They gave us a brief overview and told us what we’d be

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doing. After an orientation of about an hour-and-a-half, they gave us tools and we started putting in windows. What’s really interesting to me is they gave us so much responsibility, which I thought was really cool. We were putting in windows, putting in doors, cleaning up, putting in different kinds of insulation.

“For the first couple of windows we did it with the supervisors teaching us, but after that they were like, ‘All right, can you go put in a window on the second floor?’ We were drilling into concrete, all this stuff. I was really surprised with the freedom they gave us. It was really cool to see that different type of work — putting in windows, putting in doors specifically, that I found interesting. Now I have a much better idea of how it works.”

The work hit home one day when one of the future residents made an appearance.

Recalled Barris: ”One day there was a woman standing outside of the duplexes staring at one of the apartments, and I said, ‘Hey, can I help you?’ She said, ‘Oh no, don’t worry, I’m actually moving into this apartment.’ At that moment I was like, oh my goodness, let me go over to her. I really wanted to get to know her and see who these people are who are moving in here.

“She was a fantastic woman, a hard worker. It was unreal. She was saying, ‘What a big yard, my kids are going to love it.’ I could tell she was just sweet to the core.”

Added Barris: “The way they described it to us on the site is that the people who are getting these homes are people who really want to put in the work but they never really got the good chances, the shot they deserve.

Independent thoughts | 3

The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021 • 3

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This issue’s winner is Elyssa Granoff and Tyler DeWolfe for this photo of their vizsla, Whiskey (left), fetching a toy in Lake Maspenock with their neighbors’ American water spaniel, Murf. States Granoff: “This is a nightly routine for the two pups who have been best friends since they both came home in January.” To enter next issue’s contest, email your photo along with your name, phone number and description of the photo to editor@hopkintonindependent.com. Photos with people or pets in them are encouraged. Photos that are not selected as winners might be posted on our website.

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Independent thoughts | from page 2

And they’re not just giving these homes away. They make you pay, but it’s a reduced price and a zero percent mortgage.

“It was definitely a meaningful experience to meet that woman.”

The group worked from 7:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. five consecutive days, and checked out Tampa during their free time, including a visit to the University of Tampa one day and the local beach another afternoon.

Now back in Hopkinton, Barris said he’s already thinking about making another trip next year and perhaps getting involved with the HHS Habitat for Humanity club.

“I really think all of us would want to do this again,” he said. “I’m thinking of making it an annual thing with our group. We really loved it, and it was really meaningful for all of us.”

Locals ride in Pan-Mass Challenge Twenty riders from Hopkinton will be among the more than 6,000 participants in the 2021 Pan-Mass Challenge, a two-day, 211-mile bikeathon across the state Aug. 7-8. The event is the primary fundraiser for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The Hopkinton riders are: Kristi Allen, Elizabeth Boland, Jay Dimare, John Farina, Drew Logan, Kristina MacPherson, Aimee Mannix, Diane

Mimmo, Stuart Miniman, Susan Perlini, Bob Pfeifer, John Powell, Brian Rosendale, Devette Russo, Jeff Simes, Stephen Smith, Mark Stephan, Alexander Stephan, Rory Warren and Matthew Watstein.

Riders have 16 routes from which to choose, covering between 25 and 211 miles, and there is a virtual option as well.

For more information on the event or to make a donation, visit pmc.org.

HCAM seeks support With people moving away from live television and toward streaming platforms, HCAM, the town’s local television station, is paying a price.

Funding for HCAM comes from cable TV subscribers, so when those numbers drop, HCAM’s revenue falls with it.

Some states, including Massachusetts, are considering bills that would extend the contributions from cable providers to include streaming services.

Jim Cozzens, HCAM’s station manager, has reached out to the community looking for individuals to sign a petition (thepetitionsite.com/711/673/424/ support-massachusetts-bill-h.130) in support of the bill.

“Here at HCAM, we exist to connect our community of Hopkinton, from our schools and town government to nonprofits and sports teams, businesses and individuals, we are all Hopkinton, and I hope that you will consider supporting us, and this current bill,” Cozzens wrote.

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4 • The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021

Plays, pints, music, more at Hopkinton Center for the Arts

By John Buday Contributing Writer

T

he Hopkinton Center for the Arts caps off the summer with three August productions: a comedy musical set in prehistoric times, a children’s production of “Willy Wonka Jr.,” and a one-act play festival offering pies, pints and social activism.

Director Alyssa Rae Surrette and music director Eric Balboni are producing the two musicals for Enter Stage Left. The first of these, “Firebringer,” features a small cast of high school and college students acting out the story of a tribe of cave-people who make the discovery of a lifetime. Performances run Aug. 8, 9, 13 and 14 in the Delbridge Family Performance Space.

Elementary and middle school students make up the cast of “Willy Wonka Jr.” The production follows British writer Roald Dahl’s original narrative, as the main characters enter into a contest to win a lifetime supply of candy and a free tour of Willy Wonka’s candy factory. Performances run Aug. 20 and 21 in the outdoor amphitheater.

“I’m excited to be back at HCA and ESL and to kind of get back into whatever our new normal looks like when it comes to performing,” Surrette said. “I’m excited for hopefully a packed house for these young and budding artists.”

HCA Executive Director Kelly Grill directs two of the four one-act productions for the festival “A Play, A Pint & A Pie.” The festival occurs in the outdoor amphitheater on Aug. 28, lasting about two hours. Paul Champlin and Karen Trachtenberg direct the other two productions. The four plays were chosen from more than 100 scripts from around the country submitted to judges.

Audience members may present their tickets at the festival for a free meat pie and pint of beer, with more items available for purchase throughout the event. The directors also will ask audience members to vote on their favorite play toward the end of the festival.

Surrette, Balboni and Grill are very excited for the return of in-person rehearsals and live productions.

Cast and crew of “Firebringer” rehearse for the upcoming production at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts.

“The best part was the actors coming out so excited like, ‘Oh my god, you’re doing something,’ ” Grill said.

Many of the young actors have not performed live in more than a year.

“Willy Wonka Jr.” represents a return to Surrette’s usual work teaching theater to kids in kindergarten through eighth grade. Surrette described the “Wonka” cast as quick learners.

“With COVID, I haven’t really been able to create with my students for a really long time,” Surrette said. “Last summer, we did online, but it’s different. … They are just so hungry to create and to have fun and enjoy this ensemblebuilding moment. I’m enjoying it for, if nothing else, the joy it brings to them just seeing them get back to what makes them happy.”

Balboni, the music director, called the music for “Firebringer” exciting, fast-paced and fun, and he has a positive impression of the casts for both productions.

“The music [of ‘Wonka’] is iconic,

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some of it’s really challenging,” Balboni said. “We’re diving in, we’re rolling up our sleeves. But there’s such a great attitude, I think that the younger ones especially missed this. … Being in the [HCA] space with them, teaching the parts … it’s just such a great experience to have again.”

Surrette also enjoys having a positive rehearsal space created by the “Firebringer” cast and production team.

She and Balboni said the high schoolers and post-graduates have gotten along very well.

“My approach to directing in general is more of a collaborative process,” Surrette said. “I think it’s really important for actors to have a say in what they’re doing and in the development of their character. With such an ensemble-based show, it’s very easy to start that conversation and keep that ping-pong back and forth of what we’ve been doing.”

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A Pie.” Along with Grill, Paul Champlin and two others, he also judged the plays sent in for the festival. The judges received a total of 106 scripts from across the United States as well as Canada, England, Ireland and Belgium.

“I think it has given the readers an enrichment to their lives, to read these plays,” Houk said. “It has given us things to talk about beyond the play itself. … And this has been a great experience so far.”

The judges emphasized social activism as a bonus for determining which plays to pick. One of the plays confronts themes of gender bias. Another is a comedy following the interactions of two women with dementia who live in a nursing home.

“Our goal was to involve as many poignant points that need to be talked about in the modern world as possible,” Houk said. “There are some laughs, it’s not all serious. But it all has something to say.”

Houk took inspiration for the oneact festival from his involvement in theater groups based in Midland, Texas.

He ran the McLaren Comedy Festival for a few years.

Grill also came upon the idea for pints and pies after seeing traditional Scottish theater in Edinburgh.

“At any given day during lunch, they had some of these pubs that you literally go in and you get a play, a pint of beer and a pie,” Grill said. “I thought, oh, that sounds fun. … So, the two ideas sort of came together.”

Surrette and Balboni both emphasized the performers as a main reason for people to see their upcoming productions.

“For us to celebrate the youth and their passions is really important,” Surrette said. “Also, who doesn’t love a good show?”

Added Balboni: “These singers are putting themselves out there and they need to be received. If you come and just sit in that audience and experience the theater, you are going to be giving them energy that they’re going to give back to you as the audience.”

Tickets for “Firebringer,” “Willy Wonka Jr.” and the “A Play, A Pint & A Pie” festival are available for purchase at the HCA website (hopartscenter.org).

The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021 • 5

Local teens hit high notes with Electric Youth

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By Jerry Spar Managing Editor When the teenage song-and-dance group Electric Youth hit the Town Common on July 25 as part of the Parks & Rec Concerts on the Common series, there were a couple of familiar faces on the stage.

Hopkinton teens Kelsey Breslin and Finley Doherty are members of the prestigious 14-person ensemble, whose shows consist of singing and dancing to pop songs and show tunes, with backing by the Boston Show Band. Electric Youth (EY) is coming off a four-week tour of Austria and Italy, where the group performed 14 shows.

While Doherty is completing her first season in the group, Breslin is a four-year veteran who graduated Hopkinton High School in the spring and is wrapping up her time with EY before heading to college.

Breslin started out starring on a different stage, as she was a basketball standout in her elementary and middle school years and expected to play at least through high school. But when the performing bug hit, her priorities changed.

“When I was younger I went to Enter Stage Left in Hopkinton and I would do one musical a year there,” she recalled. “But I was playing sports that entire time and I thought that’s what I wanted to do. I was so into basketball and so excited to play in high school.

[For Enter Stage Left] you graduate after eighth grade and you can’t do the musicals anymore. And I remember being so upset and just missing it. So I went to my parents and was like, ‘I think I want to do theater more and I think I want to find a place where I can do it.’ It ended up working out, but I then had to make the decision to give up sports because

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SOLD AT $935,000 LISTED AT $869,000 Hopkinton teens Finley Doherty (left) and Kelsey Breslin are members of Electric Youth, which performed on the Town Common last month after returning from a European tour.

the time commitment was so big.”

The daughter of two college basketball players — Jen (Saint Anselm) and Roger (Holy Cross) — Breslin was a little unsure how her parents would react. She was pleasantly surprised when they threw their support behind her new passion.

“The conversation went a lot better than I thought,” she said with a laugh.

“I thought they were going to fall over when I was like, ‘I don’t want to play basketball.’ But they took it really, really well. They’ve always been so supportive. I think they appreciate theater, even though it’s so different from what they’ve always done. But they absolutely love coming to the shows, and they’re so fun. I’ve appreciated that

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6 • The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021

Planning Board discusses Eversource LNG facility improvement work

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he Planning Board at its meeting July 26 discussed requests from Eversource for stormwater management and earth removal permits as well as updates from board liaisons on making Hopkinton’s trails systems more interconnected.

There were two preliminary hearings on Eversource’s requests for its project at the LNG (liquified natural gas) facility at 52 Wilson St. After some discussion, they were continued to Aug. 23.

“The work that’s being proposed with this application is essentially the paving of an existing gravel access road,” said Tracy Adamski, who presented on behalf of the applicant. Adamski said the road is 24 feet wide and approximately 875 linear feet, and paving it would provide better access to the rear of the site.

A 15-foot access road also is being proposed at the request of the Hopkinton Fire Department to allow another point of entry to the site at the back.

A stormwater management system including stormwater basins will need to be incorporated, Adamski added, as there is no current design in place. This will allow for the capturing and treatment of the increased water flow from the addition of impervious surfaces. The plan is said to meet the requirements of the town’s stormwater bylaws as well as the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) stormwater standards.

An earth removal permit was requested in order to allow for construction to take place.

Another concern was the increase in sedimentation into the Hopkinton Reservoir because of the heavy rain this summer, so Principal Planner John Gelcich wanted to ensure that the stormwater management system would be adequate.

The Planning Board scheduled a site visit for Saturday, Aug. 7, at 9:30 a.m., which would be open to the public. Participants should meet at 55 Wilson St. The hearings were continued until the next meeting on Aug. 23 to allow for comments from town engineering consultant BETA Group as well as from the site visit.

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Members Jane Moran and David Paul gave updates on trails system progress for the Upper Charles Trail Committee (UCTC) and the Trails Coordination and Management Committee (TCMC), respectively.

“Our charge is to come up with various routes from the Milford Upper Charles parking lot through the eastern part of Hopkinton,” Moran said as she presented a conceptual plan. “It must include the Center Trail, and then we would end up at the Hopkinton State Park.”

The eventual goal is to have an interconnected trails system from the existing parking area through

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private developments along Hayden Rowe Street with easements to reach the Marathon School property. Trails would then continue through EMC Park to the school campus to connect with the Center Trail, eventually continuing to the State Park.

Completing an interconnected system will be several years down the road, with the assistance of grant funding. The priority would be the trail through the school campus.

Paul explained that the TCMC manages all trails in the town. He reviewed the major trail systems and goals for connectivity, including working with other trails organizations to plan coordination of a trail network.

Feedback from neighbors will be essential to the success of trails enhancement. The committee also works with the Boy Scouts on creating loop trails and bridges.

“They’re doing a lot of good things and moving in the right direction,” Paul said.

Misc.: Leonard Street changes OK’d A revised version of the subdivision plan on Leonard Street was presented to the board by developer Lou Petrozzi and was approved by an 8-0 vote. It contained two modifications members recommended at the last meeting. A small parcel on the left-hand side of the property at Maple Street Extension did not have a number on the previous plan and is now marked as 4A. This parcel is not able to be developed, but Petrozzi is leaving it open in case it is needed for an access road to the subdivision.

The name of Buckland Street, a nonexistent paper road, was removed from the subdivision plan.

The name remains on property not connected to the subdivision, Petrozzi explained.

“We’re not able to remove that from the plan because it is on prior plans that were signed by this board,” he said. …

A controversial plan was withdrawn from consideration by the developer without prejudice before the meeting. The Equestrian Realty Trust project off Ash Street and Chestnut Street had been presented as a five-lot subdivision. But during that hearing it was acknowledged that the intent was to construct a solar farm on the property, and the subdivision plan was a means of skirting the new solar bylaw. The application for the proposed roadway through the parcel also was withdrawn without prejudice. Both withdrawals were approved unanimously.

The developer retains the right to reintroduce the proposal at another time. …

The issue on the alleged disturbance of Indigenous artifacts at the Wilson Street solar development site was expected to be discussed at this meeting. However, Grasshopper Energy, the developer, and the Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office are in the process of negotiating a compromise. The project is expected to be discussed at the next meeting.

The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021 • 7

Resident faces charges after crash A

n individual from Hopkinton was arrested on multiple charges following a two-vehicle accident July 5 in Shrewsbury.

According to Shrewsbury poNEWS BRIEFS lice, Hopkinton’s Leosol Vargas was driving a Lexus RC350 that collided with a Chevrolet Equinox around 2:15 a.m. at the intersection of Route 9 and Quinsigamond Ave. The Equinox flipped over and caught fire in the middle of the intersection, and the driver was helped to safety by emergency personnel and taken to the hospital.

The Lexus ended up in the parking lot of Burger King with “massive damage,” police indicated. There were five individuals in the Lexus, and none of them appeared to have suffered serious injuries.

Vargas, 23, was charged with operating under the influence of liquor resulting in serious bodily injury, operating to endanger, drinking alcohol from an open container in a motor vehicle, and possession of narcotics.

A passenger in the Lexus, 22-yearold Benjamin Peterson of West Boylston, was charged with obstruction of justice, two counts of illegal storage of a firearm, and two counts of an intoxicated licensee carrying a firearm.

Police stated that two handguns were found in the Lexus, and shell casings in an adjoining parking lot matched the caliber of at least one of the handguns seized.

Displays sought for Art on the Trail The Hopkinton Cultural Council is inviting artists to submit work for display as part of 2021 Art on the Trail.

The program will run from Oct. 7-17 (setup is from Oct. 4-7) on the mile-long Center Trail, which starts on Main Street, across from Hopkinton Lumber.

This is an open call to artists from all genres in Hopkinton and the surrounding areas for the creation of original artworks in all visual mediums. The theme is “Walk to Inspire — Dedication and Celebration of the 125th Boston Marathon.” Work may include inspiration from Boston Marathon legends such as Team Hoyt. The marathon will be held Oct. 11 this year.

Space available for each piece is 3 feet deep by 8 feet wide. The art may be freestanding or suspended from a tree branch with fishing line (no nails in the trees). The artwork will be displayed outside and exposed to the elements.

Submissions are due by Aug. 15 and must include a $25 entry fee. Artists whose work is not selected will be refunded the entry fee.

For more information, visit artonthetrail2021.artcall.org.

The dates are subject to change due to weather conditions, mosquito populations, mosquito virus activity and/or special event spraying. The program will shut down when cool nighttime temperatures become prominent.

A detailed notice about the spray schedule is posted on the CMMCP phone system (508-393-3055) after 3:30 p.m. each day and also is listed on the organization’s website at cmmcp. org (click on the 2021 Spray Schedules button on the right).

Requests for service can be called in between 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays or submitted through the website. Results of these requests may initiate an application of mosquito insecticides to defined, site-specific areas of town. Such an application may be accomplished by using truck-mounted equipment depending on the extent of the application.

Residents also can request to be excluded from any spraying. For more information, visit cmmcp.com and click on the No Spray Info button on the right.

Town scores high in livability survey The town recently released a summary of the National Community Survey Livability Report, which was conducted last summer by the National Research Center. The results show that the overall image/reputation of Hopkinton is higher than the national average, with 91 percent of respondents rating it as either excellent or good. The overall quality of life in town also is reported as higher than the national average, with 94 percent of those surveyed stating it’s either excellent or good.

The results previously were shared with the Select Board in March.

The National Community Survey reports on a town’s “livability,” or its desirability to be lived in, and offers a holistic view of the town’s quality of life. Analyzed in the report are multiple central facets of a community: economy, mobility, community design, utilities, safety, natural environment, parks and

recreation, health and wellness, education, arts and culture, and inclusivity and engagement.

The survey was mailed to randomly selected households in July 2020, and data was collected through Sept. 14, 2020. The report provides the opinions of a representative sample of 589 residents.

“The results from the National Community Survey’s Livability Report are a testament to Hopkinton’s ongoing efforts to continuously improve our residents’ quality of life,” Town Manager Norman Khumalo stated. “We are extremely pleased to see numerous ratings within multiple facets increase from our 2013 survey and we look forward

Firefighter graduates academy Hopkinton firefighter/paramedic John Shea graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s 10week Career Recruit Training Program on July 23. Shea has been assigned to Hopkinton Fire Department’s Group 1.

Local teens hit high notes with Electric Youth Youth | from page 5

they’ve been able to come on the tours.

It’s so cool to have them there.”

Her father had heard about a program at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts and suggested she try it out. After attending summer camp there, Breslin was ready for more of a commitment. She auditioned for Electric Youth, which is based out of the school, and earned a spot despite concerns about her lack of dance experience.

“I did not feel confident going into the tryouts,” she recalled. “I had never danced before. Pretty much all we do is centered around dancing. I hadn’t taken a dance class, so I kind of went into it blindly. I played sports, so I wasn’t coordinated in any way. So I was definitely not confident.”

After being selected and joining the ensemble, Breslin put in additional work to master the moves being taught at the rehearsals.

“I spent a lot of extra time because I had never danced before, so I didn’t know what I was doing,” she said. “I needed to get to the level everyone else was — or at least try.”

That was four years ago. Now Bre-

slin is heading into her final shows with the group before starting college at the University of Tampa, where she will study in the musical theater program.

She plans to double major in Mandarin so she has a backup plan.

In the meantime, she is relishing the opportunity to perform a couple more times with her friends in EY. The group returned from Europe last month, and it was a different experience than when Breslin and EY toured there four years ago.

“We went to the same places that we went my freshman year, but it was completely different with COVID,” she said. “It was a lot more normal than I anticipated, but even some of the shows they had to keep track of how many people were coming in and take people’s names down. It was a lot harder to draw a crowd at a lot of the shows, because people were kind of timid in getting out and being in groups.”

She said the highlight was a show in Menaggio, a resort town on Lake Como, at the foot of the Alps.

“It was the coolest thing,” Breslin said. “There were so many people there.

It was a really, really big crowd, and they liked it.”

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to continuing to build upon the work we’ve done to improve town services.

We thank those who responded to the survey and also encourage any resident with an issue or concern regarding town services to contact town officials.”

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Town Hall Q&A: Assistant town manager Elaine Lazarus

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor Elaine Lazarus first came to Hopkinton in 1992 as town planner and she has played key roles in the town’s growth over the past three decades. She currently serves as assistant town manager.

Lazarus grew up in Raynham and got her Elaine Lazarus undergraduate degree from UMass in environmental design. She also has master’s degrees from the University of Rhode Island and Suffolk University. After working for General Services Administration as a planner, she worked as an assistant planner for the Town of Wellesley, and then was a shared town planner for the towns of Charlton and Dudley for two years.

She joined Hopkinton Town Hall in 1992 as town planner, which included working on the town’s master plans and working to implement them. She also served as planning director and director of the Land Use Department when it was formed in 2010.

She still runs the Land Use Department as part of her role as assistant town manager.

Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, gardening and being outdoors.

Hopkinton Independent: What first drew you to Hopkinton?

Elaine Lazarus: “The location was good, commuting wise. But also, it was a community that was growing. In the early to mid-‘90s there was quite a boom in development. There was lot of opportunity for interesting work in the planning field. And it was a community that was forward-looking from a planning standpoint. As a planner, it was nice to work in a community where planning and then implementing those plans was a priority.”

HI: Looking back at when you started in town and were working on your first master plan, have the changes to the town been what you expected?

EL: “A lot of the things the town had envisioned during those planning processes are still the vision today. The desire for a community with rural feel, with lots of accessible open space, managed development, managed growth. But some of the things have changed. For example, the approach to housing development has changed a bit, with developments such as Legacy Farms, which I could not have predicted in those early years. People in Hopkinton I think are very pragmatic in their approach and I think that affects the vision through time.”

HI: What are your primary responsibilities in your current role?

EL: “A few years ago I went back and got that second master’s from Suffolk University, in 2015.

Because I guess my desire was to have a more holistic approach to local government and to work more cross-departmentally, different projects and initiatives. This position gives me more of the ability to do that. So I’m involved in projects that may cross boundaries. I also deal with the town’s general insurance — not the health insurance but the property insurance and so forth, that’s one of my major responsibilities. I serve as staff to a bunch of boards and committees. The Select Board is one, but also the Woodville Historic District Commission, and I help out the other historical commissions as needed, the Upper Charles Trails Committee, some of the open space initiatives that occur, including working with some of the volunteers who manage the land that’s under the jurisdiction of the Select Board. And I’m involved in Annual Town Meeting as well. My job is a catch-all position. There’s a lot that’s going on, a lot of administrative work involved.”

HI: What is a goal for the near future?

EL: “One of the things that I’m trying to finish up right now is an orientation handbook for boards and committees with a lot of the frequently asked questions, as a way to assist board and committee members with learning about their roles and their responsibilities — things like open meetings and records management, how to post an agenda, when to post an agenda, that kind of thing. I would like Q&A | 10

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“One of the siblings presented [symptoms] almost a week before the others,” McAuliffe said.

“The family was smart and careful enough to have tested their children multiple times so that the two kids who just tested positive [July 27] were negative over the last week that they’ve been home. So that was good.”

Meanwhile, a senior appeared to have contracted COVID while visiting someone in the hospital, and two other cases were linked to the Provincetown cluster, McAuliffe said.

“At the end of the day it appears that many of the illnesses are related to exposures to high-risk environments,” he said. “It’s travel, it’s being in a hospital or rehab facility, it’s being in bars without a mask or face covering, and there were a couple of family gatherings where people were unmasked and there was at least one if not more positive people at the party without a face covering on.”

Added McAuliffe: “Six of the 14 cases were unvaccinated children, and I believe everybody else was vaccinated.”

McAuliffe said it appears that the large majority of cases were standard COVID, while two likely were the Delta variant. Tests were being conducted in late July to confirm.

“With the exception of one of the adults, they all had very minor symptoms, so the vaccines were working,” McAuliffe said. “In one case [originating from Provincetown] I expect them to have had the Delta variant. They were suffering from bad headaches, sore throat, a cough and severe chest tightness. But they’ve recovered. We also have a senior with what we believe is Delta.”

HopkintonIndependent.com

The Hopkinton Board of Health has been discussing what emergency measures might be needed if the positivity rate continues to climb in August.

“At our board meeting [July 26] we started that discussion, and at our next meeting we’re going to discuss what that positivity rate or condition would look like,” McAuliffe said. “And while we’re discussing this and researching it, if something happens over the next couple of weeks, we’re prepared to put together an emergency meeting. It likely would be to enact an indoor mask requirement similar to what we have in Provincetown and Cambridge.

“We’re just trying to do whatever we can to prevent the spread in the unvaccinated community in town. Luckily we don’t have a very large unvaccinated population.”

Regarding schools, McAuliffe said he is waiting for guidance from the state before making a recommendation for the fall. The Centers for Disease Control recently released a statement encouraging people — including those who are vaccinated — to wear face coverings indoors in high-risk areas.

“We have our unvaccinated population [children under 12] attending school. The expectation is they’re going to have to wear face coverings,” McAuliffe said. “Is everybody going to have to wear a face covering? We just don’t have a lot of guidance from the state on that.”

Meanwhile, the Health Department has a replacement ready to take over for Kasey Mauro, who stepped down as public health nurse in June.

Simone Carter, who most recently has been serving as a VNA (Visiting Nurse Association) nurse and has experience with the state’s COVID system, is scheduled to go before the Select Board at its Aug. 3 meeting for final approval.

The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021 • 9

Resident files complaint related to Main Street project The Main Street Corridor Project is using this town-owned lot on Marshall Avenue to store construction equipment.

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

A

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

Marshall Avenue resident filed an open meeting law complaint with the Office of the Attorney General about what she sees as a lack of transparency regarding the storage of construction materials for the Main Street Corridor Project.

Lucia Lopez originally filed a public records request with the town that the discussion of storage materials was not on the agenda for the Select Board meeting on March 2 because Town Manager Norman Khumalo said he had been informed of the construction company’s request that afternoon.

“In an effort to understand the process by which the staging areas were chosen and approved, I submitted a public records request and discovered that the town manager appears to be avoiding allowing resident input by not being entirely forthcoming with the Select Board,” Lopez said. “The manner in which the town manager is conducting business is deeply concerning.”

Lopez received a response from Assistant Town Manager Elaine Lazarus on May 7 noting that her request was received by the office on April 26. In that response, Lopez was given a link to documents relevant to the project.

In this information was a letter from Town Engineer Dave Daltorio dated Feb. 24 to both Khumalo and Lazarus. Under a section entitled “Not for Agenda,” the following request, copied directly from the letter as written, was made by Daltorio about the contractor. (Typos in the original document have been included.): “They would like to use Marathon Way, 6 Walcott, Marshall Street for storing pipe, structures, parking excavators overnight, and for their employees to park? Other projects have used Marathon Way (Eversrouce Gas). Do we need to ask the Select Board to approve the use of these locations? No fill material will be stored there and a temp chainlink fence would be installed. (Do we include this in the update and ask the Select Board?)”

Lopez said that Khumalo’s statement at the Select Board meeting that he received information on the afternoon of the meeting would appear to be false if this email, which included a reference to the contractor, was dated six days prior to the meeting.

“Learning that the town manager and town engineer knew about the staging areas six days prior to the March 2 meeting and that the town manager introduced the discussion to the Select Board as something he’d just learned about that afternoon leads me to wonder what else he is misrepresenting and to whom,” Lopez said.

Lopez said she had 30 days to file the open meeting law complaint. She filed her request March 31 for information concerning what she believes is a violation.

“I wasn’t involved until two weeks after that meeting, so I was playing catchup about learning as to the approval of the staging areas,” she explained, noting that the storage of materials directly impacts her home and young children. “I have been trying to work with the town to get information.”

Storage of construction materials in the Marshall Avenue parking lot also was discussed at a Parks & Recreation Commission meeting on March 17.

In a response to her records request, Lopez received a letter from the town’s law firm, Miyares and Harrington, at the

In an effort to understand the process by which the staging areas were chosen and approved, I submitted a public records request and discovered that the town manager appears to be avoiding allowing resident input by not being entirely forthcoming with the Select Board.

— Marshall Avenue resident Lucia Lopez

request of the Select Board. The letter stated that the Select Board met on April 6 regarding her complaint and did not consider the issue to be a violation of open meeting law because a Main Street Corridor Project update was included on the agenda that was posted 48 hours in advance.

“That notice sufficiently identified

the ‘Main Street Corridor Project’ as the subject of its update, thus providing the ‘listing of topics’ required by the statute, and the ‘reasonable specificity’ required by the regulations,” the letter stated.

“Any person interested in the Main Street Corridor Project was placed on reasonable notice that the project, including its status and any imminent actions,

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were to be discussed and possibly acted upon by the Select Board at its meeting.

And, in any event, the Chair could not have anticipated that the course of the Select Board’s discussion concerning the construction update might specifically involve a request, made that same day by a construction contractor, to use Marathon Way as a laydown area.”

Khumalo, in an interview, said he stands by his actions and statements.

He said he was simply trying to bring the matter to the attention of the Select Board. “There was no way that I was trying to circumvent the process,” he added.

Part of Lopez’s concern arose from a previous situation with Eversource last year at the Marshall Avenue lot, she said. Eversource began to store sand and salt on the lot without notification to the residents.

Eversource’s use of the lot was referenced in the March 2 Select Board meeting. At that meeting, there was a vote on the use of Main Street but not the Marshall Avenue lot. The attorney’s letter referenced that Marshall Avenue “was only briefly mentioned.”

Lopez decided to bring this complaint to the Attorney General’s office to be further examined in light of the letter from Daltorio and other documents she received in the public records request, she said.

“I made this request because this is me trying to understand the process,” she said. “It is my understanding that the complaint is still being reviewed by the Attorney General’s office.

She added that a response from the Attorney General’s office “could take months.”

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Boating back in business at Hopkinton State Park Boating in Boston employees (from left) Isabelle Koerner, Jeffery Wright and Nate DeGregorio are happy to see customers returning to Hopkinton State Park.

By Sidhi Dhanda Contributing Writer

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usic from the 2010s plays on the radio while campers run around — some playing four square while others have a chin-up competition. Out on the Hopkinton Reservoir, five tiny, elementary-aged children are wearing helmets and learning how to sail. There is camp taking place, kids are smiling, and all this is taking place safely, in real life. Not over a Zoom call.

To many, this image is a reminder of the wonderful pre-pandemic world.

To the veteran employees at Boating in Boston at Hopkinton State Park, this is not the pre-pandemic summer they remember. Typically there would be 8001,000 people on site per day. Through the first half of the summer this year, there were approximately 600 people daily.

On only two or three days this summer the usual number of visitors appeared.

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any given moment. Last summer, Boating in Boston had to cut capacity to 15 people. By the end of the season, the company increased the number to 50.

Jeffery Wright is the main instructor at Boating in Boston.

“I was at Boating in Boston before it was Boating in Boston,” he said, noting he was a camper for 11 years before becoming an employee.

“Last year, I had maybe 10-15 private lessons in total,” he said. “There were no group lessons.”

Before COVID, there were 2-3 lessons a week. This year, a lot of people are excited to get back out on the water and learn a new sport.

“Right now, I am teaching at least one lesson every day,” he said. “There are definitely a lot of people taking lessons.”

Even with all the restrictions last year, Boating in Boston still was able to host its in-person camps. Each camp was limited to 20 children at a time to maintain 6 feet of social distance, and masks were required.

“The heart of camp was still there, but it is great to welcome more campers back,” said site lead Isabelle Koerner.

This year, a group of campers can hang out around a picnic table. Last year, only two campers were allowed to share a table. Now there are about 40 kids at each weekly camp, which is the same number as before the pandemic.

Even though the experience is different than it was before COVID, it does not take away the joy the employees have working there. This is Nate DeGregorio’s first year working for Boating in Boston.

“I enjoy working outside, by the water,” he said. “It is a fun summer job!”

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to finish that up and have that available for people to use.”

HI: What has been your biggest challenge during your time here?

EL: “I’m not sure I can identify a biggest challenge. One of the great things about Hopkinton is that people are engaged in so many things and it always presents a lot of opportunities for new initiatives and things to work on.

I suppose maybe a challenge is trying to balance all of those — which are all good things.”

HI: What stands out as a memorable moment here?

EL: “I think completing that first master plan. It was a hard process. I wasn’t totally new to the field. But I was new to Hopkinton. When it was complete I felt a a great sense of accomplishment, in 1993. And one of the things I have enjoyed over the years is Town Meeting. I enjoy the Town Meeting process each year.”

HI: What has been the most enjoyable part of your job?

EL: “I think working with the people in Hopkinton, both who work for the town and residents and those in the business community. It’s the people.”

The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021 • 11

BUSINESS PROFILE: AN ADVERTISER FEATURE

Under Pressure soft wash makes properties look new

Waste Removal and Recycling

Mark Mercer (left) runs Under Pressure with help from his brother, Chad.

By John Buday Contributing Writer

E

xterior cleaning company Under Pressure has spent 22 years making tired, dingy homes look brand new through pressure and soft washes. It recently moved its base of operations from Framingham to Hopkinton.

“I went from a 10,000 square foot building to a 1,300 square foot building,” owner Mark Mercer said. “Our goal is to do less better. We used to be a company that would just say yes to every type of cleaning, but I’ve found that when we stick to what we’re good at, which is commercial, residential building and house washing, that’s where we really thrive.”

Under Pressure provides a comprehensive washing service for homes and businesses. This includes hot and cold pressure washes and what Mercer calls soft washes — the most common method of cleaning.

Soft washes are low-pressure washes that rely on a cleaning solution of soaps, mildew-cides, algaecides and other ingredients to break up grime and mold. The company performs about 1,500 to 2,000 soft washes a year.

Mercer also offers a popular annual maintenance service. This involves his team visiting the homes of participating clients every year to inspect for potential problems and to maintain roofs, gutters and windows.

“A lot of homeowners these days are so busy that they don’t have time or lack the knowledge to maintain some of the basics,” Mercer said. “The other part is the risk involved with homeowners doing things like climbing up on ladders to do gutters. It’s not safe.”

Mercer calls the maintenance service the future of the business — a way for homeowners to pay less per month while also providing Under Pressure with regular revenue.

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“I’m really focused on the impor800-321-3002 • www.elharvey.com tance of practicing what you preach,” Mercer said. “If I had my own house washed, I would not want certain products used around my plantings. I spent a lot of time, money and effort, I want them to look good. I don’t want the soil to be neutralized a week after the washHealth & Safety Matters ing because it was somehow affected by the chemicals.”

Most To Us Under Pressure also has plans in 2022 to launch a franchise model. The team is creating training videos in preparation to welcome franchise owners.

Health & Safety Matters Most To Us Mercer founded the business in 1999 after working with a pool cleaning company and hearing many customers ask if he also could clean their decks and patios. He still finds the work deeply satisfying today.

“Even our guys who do it 50 hours a week still enjoy the process,” Mercer said. “It’s taking something that’s dirty or tired looking and waking it up and making it feel fresh.”

Added Mercer: “People cry. I think the homeowners come home and see their patio that they haven’t seen look that good since their husband installed it. They burst into tears because it looks good.”

Mercer takes pride living in the community. He and his wife have participated in fundraisers for groups like the Hopkinton Parent Teacher Association and the Hopkinton Moms Group.

They also maintain a partnership with Hopkinton Parks & Recreation, cleaning playgrounds.

Under Pressure Power Washing Inc. is located at 88A Elm Street in Hopkinton. More information can be found at underpressurewash.com or by calling 508-422-0700.

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

Transportation Options for Seniors

The Senior Center can help residents find transportation assistance for medical appointments and essential shopping, utilizing grants and MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) programs. Individuals aged 60 and older, veterans or those homebound due to a disability should call the Outreach Department at the Senior Center at least three business days in advance of the desired day of travel at 508-497-9730, ext. 1615, for assistance in scheduling a ride Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Lunch Program

Meals are back to being in person at the Senior Center. Call to sign up at least two days in advance. Cost is $5 per meal, or pre-purchase a ticket for five meals for $20.

Volunteers Needed

With the Senior Center back up and running in person, the center is in need of volunteers. Anyone interested in more information can visit the center (28 Mayhew St.) and learn where their assistance could be used. Pick up an application or contact volunteer coordinator Sue Stewart at 508-497-9730, ext. 1618, or via email at sstewart@hopkintonma.gov.

Exercise Classes

All classes now are in person Chair yoga, Mondays, 9 a.m.

Exercise with Linda, Mondays, 10:30 a.m.

Stretch class, Tuesdays, 9 a.m.

Zumba, Tuesdays, 10 a.m.

Exercise with Joni, Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m.

Tap dancing, Tuesdays, 2 p.m.

Tai chi, Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.

Chi gong, Fridays, 10:30 a.m.

Meditation, alternating Fridays, noon (call for schedule)

Vladimir Putin: Corrupt, Competent, Environmentalist and the Coming Cold War?

Friday, Aug. 6, 12:30 p.m. (Zoom) This presentation is a look at the career of Vladimir Putin, as an autocrat who is corrupt, competent and an environmentalist. It includes an examination of the policies and actions that could lead to a new Cold War. Who would believe that Russia could be the leading food producer in the world in the future? But that is a real possibility. It is one of the results of Putin’s competence. Presenter Henry Quinlan has been involved with the former Soviet Union and Russia since 1986 and has made more than 60 trips. His last trip was in 2018. He lived in Moscow from 1990-95 and witnessed the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Wildlife in Your Backyard

Friday, Aug. 13, 12:30 p.m. (Zoom) From dragonflies and butterflies to birds and mammals, a wide variety of animals may visit area backyards. Which animals are most likely to be seen in fall and winter? Which animals are seen more often in spring and summer? Find out more about our local wildlife, as well as occasional visitors, and what brings them to our neighborhoods. Presenter Joy Marzolf takes participants on a beautiful virtual tour of this amazing country. Prior to founding her company, The Joys of Nature, she was a naturalist and educator at Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary.

Our Time Memory Cafe

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.

TED Talks

Mondays, 12:30 p.m. (Zoom) In 1984, TED Talks were created to bring technology, entertainment and design information to the curious and open-minded public. These videos cover a wide array of subjects and always lead to lively discussion and conversation. The Outreach Program at the Senior Center will have casual TED Talks group meetings over Zoom for one hour every Monday at 12:30 p.m. The meeting will consist of viewing a video and then discussing it. The program is free. Register by calling the Senior Center at 508-497-9730.

HopkintonIndependent.com

The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021 • 13

Calendar To submit an item for the Hopkinton Independent calendar section, email the information to: editor@HopkintonIndependent.com. Submissions should be limited to 100 words and are subject to editing by the HI staff.

Monthly Veterans Breakfast at Senior Center Aug. 6

The Veterans Breakfast is held on the first Friday of every month from 9-10 a.m. at the Hopkinton Senior Center. If the first Friday is a holiday or snow day, the breakfast switches to the second Friday. It’s also the second Friday in July. The cost is $4. No registration is required. For more information, contact Amy Beck or Judi Allessio at the Senior Center, 508-497-9730.

Event Calendar Sponsored by the

HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS Hoffman & Matisse Exhibit: When We Were Trees | July 6–Aug. 27 Linda Hoffman and daughter Ariel Matisse present their second exhibit at the HCA. Details at www.hopartscenter.org.

FIREBRINGER Musical Comedy August 6–7, 13–14 | 7:00 p.m.

New musical comedy featuring a local talented cast of up-and-coming musical theater performers. Directed by Alyssa Rae Surrette and Music Directed

by Eric Balboni. Tickets on sale now at www.hopartscenter.org.

A Play, A Pint & A Pie August 28 | 6:30 p.m.

In an homage to the great tradition of Glasgow, Scotland theater, A Play, A Pint & A Pie is coming to Hopkinton!

Presented by Enter Stage Left Theater, this one night only outdoor event (for patrons 13 and older) will present a series of original one act plays from writers all over the world. Tickets: $25, $20 students / seniors. Tickets available at www.hopartscenter.org.

quilt project, raffle baskets, a quilt raffle, quilts for sale, a boutique shop and vendors.

Admission fee is $6 (under 12 free). For more information, visit marathonquilters.com.

Dignity Matters silent auction Sept. 16-23

Dignity Matters, a regional nonprofit with a Hopkinton chapter that supports the needs of women and girls who are homeless or disadvantaged, is holding an online silent auction fundraiser from Sept. 16-23. Items available include sports, entertainment and vacation packages, gift certificates, jewelry and custom accessories. For more information, visit bit.ly/dignity-matters-now.

Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk Oct. 3

Registration is open for the 33rd annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk.

This year’s event will be virtual. Participants are encouraged to “Walk Your Way” from wherever they are most comfortable — for example, in the neighborhood, on a favorite trail or on a treadmill — on Sunday, Oct. 3. Walkers must commit to raising at least $100 ($25 for those under 18). The event raises funds for cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. To register or support a walker, visit JimmyFundWalk.org or call 866-531-9255.

Farmers Market on Sundays through Oct. 10

The Hopkinton Farmers Market is held at the Town Common on Sundays from 1-5 p.m., running through Oct. 10. Health and safety protocols are in place. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers receive a $10 incentive for a $10 purchase, and there are Healthy Incentive Program (HIP) benefits as well. For information, including a list of vendors for each week and pre-ordering options, visit hopkintonfarmersmarket.com.

Baypath Paws & Claws 5K Oct. 17

Registration is open for the 12th annual Paws & Claws 5K to benefit the Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton. The event — which will return live this year — will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17, at Hopkinton State Park. The event includes a division for those running/walking with a dog. For more information, visit baypathhumane.org.

Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka Jr. August 20 at 6:30 p.m.

August 21 at 3:00 p.m.

Enter Stage Left Theater outdoor children’s production. Perfect for the whole family. Directed by Alyssa Rae Surrette and Music Directed by Eric Balboni. Tickets: $15, $12 students / seniors. www.hopartscenter.org.

Hopkinton History Museum open Mondays

The Hopkinton History Museum and Research Center, located at 168 Hayden Rowe St., is open to the public every Monday from 2-5 p.m. Masks are required for those who are not vaccinated for COVID-19. For more information, visit hopkhistsoc.org.

Thursday Movies on the Common through Aug. 12

Hopkinton Parks & Rec’s Movies on the Common series runs every Thursday through Aug. 12. The family films start at dusk (approximately 8:30 p.m.) and are free. Remaining movies include “Toy Story 4” (Aug. 5) and “Frozen 2” (Aug. 12).

For more information, visit the Parks & Rec website at hopkintonma.myrec.com.

Sunday Concerts on the Common through Aug. 22

Hopkinton Parks & Rec’s Concerts on the Common series runs every Sunday through Aug. 22. The performances start at 5 p.m. and are free. Remaining concerts include Steve Spector and Hot Acoustics (Aug. 8), Din Check (Aug. 15) and Studio Two-Beatles Tribute Band (Aug. 22). For more information, visit the Parks & Rec website at hopkintonma.myrec.com.

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Marathon Quilters 2021 Quilt Show Sept. 11-12

The Marathon Quilters 2021 Quilt Show is titled “Imagine the Possibilities.” It will be held Sept. 11-12 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts (98 Hayden Rowe St.). There will be 70-plus quilts on display, as well as a community art

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14 • The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021

Schools Elementary School Building Committee starts work T

he newly formed Hopkinton Elementary School Building Committee-2 (ESBC-2) met for the first time on July 15 at Elmwood School.

The committee, formed SCHOOLS by a vote at the May 18 NOTEBOOK Select Board meeting, is tasked with coming up with a plan to replace Elmwood.

Jon Graziano was elected chair

1920

and Joe Markey vice chair.

“We are excited to follow in the example of the previous Elementary School Building Committee, partnering with the community and the MSBA [Massachusetts School Building Authority] to develop a solution that will allow Hopkinton’s educators to deliver a high level of education to our students and one which will be embraced by all members of the Hopkinton com-

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munity,” Graziano stated.

The ESBC-2 is scheduled to meet again Oct. 14 at Elmwood to review the current conditions of the school.

All meetings are open to the public, and input from members of the community is encouraged.

Canty’s Scholarship recognizes 10 Canty’s Underdog Scholarship continues to give 10 scholarships worth $1,000 each year in memory of Brad Canty. This year’s recipients are Holly Burns, Haley DeLuca, Katelyn Diune, Katherine Graham, Nicholas Igartua, Katherine Morse, Megan Murchie, Charlie Nealon, Catherine Szczepankiewicz and Nia Alvarado-Rodriguez.

College Honors: Locals graduate UMass A number of Hopkinton residents were among the approximately 5,500 students who received bachelor’s degrees at the University of Massachusetts commencement on May 14 in Amherst. Local degree recipients include Freeman Alfano, Zain Awan, Kalina Bergmann, Aayushi Berry, John Buday, James Cavallo, Tristan Clark, Maeve Cross, Michael Domingo, Reece Donahue, Jack Feather, Lauren Hamm, Meghan Herlihy, Jake Leblanc, Gianna Mangano, Helene Mason, Astha Parmar, Rebeka

Pohl, Kyle Rock, Emma Wailgum and Amber Walsh. …

At Tufts University’s graduation ceremonies, Ana Margarida Brasil received a B.A. in sociology and Juliana Vega del Castillo earned a B.S. in computer science. Both graduates also were named to the dean’s list, as were sophomore John Youssef and freshman Grace Ye. …

Angad Mokha graduated cum laude with a B.S. in biology and also was named to the dean’s list for the spring semester at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. …

At Bryant University, freshmen Dennis Field, Jacqueline Zeigler and Benjamin Morey-Beale were named to the dean’s list. …

At the University of Wisconsin, Eloise Petruska graduated with a B.S. in environmental studies and physics. …

James Desmond earned a spot on the dean’s honor list at Gettysburg College. …

Kira Hanson graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in film and animation. …

Elizabeth Henneberry was named to the dean’s list at Hofstra University. …

Megan Canfield was named to the dean’s list at Emmanuel College.

Editor’s note: Information for college honors is provided by the schools.

Those interested in being included in this section should forward the information or request for the school to email it to: editor@hopkintonindependent.com.

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.

Library Goes Fine-Free

The Library Board of Trustees recently voted to make Hopkinton Public Library fine-free for overdue materials.

Hopkinton will join the ranks of the many libraries eliminating overdue fines that may place an undue hardship on patrons and/or create barriers for access.

For a number of years, the library has forgiven fines for seniors and have held “fine amnesty” days. Now, overdue fines no longer will be assessed on any late materials that belong to the Hopkinton Public Library. Patrons still will be responsible for lost or damaged items.

Internet Computers Available

Public internet computers are available in the library’s lower level for adults. Computers in the Teen and Children’s Department are not yet available.

Computer sessions are limited to one hour. See a reference librarian for more important information.

HopkintonIndependent.com

Study Rooms Available

Study rooms now are available for limited use. Contact the Reference Desk at 508-497-9777, ext. 2, or via chat at bit.ly/ HPLchat to get information from a reference librarian, or reserve a study room at picktime.com/hplib/services.

Summer Reading Program

The last day to register for the summer reading program is Aug. 6, and the program ends on Aug. 13.

It’s All Relative Genealogy

Tuesday, Aug. 10, 7-8 p.m. (Zoom) Eric Migdal, owner of It’s All Relative Genealogy, will show participants how to locate records to aid in their genealogy research using the census as well as birth, death and marriage records, utilizing sites such as Heritage Quest, Family Search, Newspapers.com, Ancestry and more.

Register via the website calendar.

Chat ’n’ Chew Book Group

Wednesday, Aug. 18, 12:30-1:30 p.m. (virtual) Instead of assigning a book for all participants to read, each person reviews something they have read. Check the library’s website calendar for details.

The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021 • 15

School Committee Listening Series underway

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

T

he School Committee has started its Listening Series, which it describes as “targeted office hours to help the School Committee hear directly from specific sectors of our school community about their lived experiences, challenges, successes and concerns about diversity, equity and inclusion.”

The series kicked off Sunday, Aug. 1, and runs through Tuesday, Aug. 24.

The schedule is as follows: — Sunday, Aug. 1: BIPOC (black, indigenous and other people of color) students and families; — Tuesday, Aug. 3: Single parents and socioeconomically disadvantaged families; — Sunday, Aug. 8: LGBTQIA+ students and families; — Tuesday, Aug. 10: English learners and families (ELPAC); — Sunday, Aug. 15: Families/ students receiving supports through IEP or 504 plans (SEPAC); — Tuesday, Aug. 17: Advanced learners and their families (ALPAC); — Sunday, Aug. 22: Students and families whose school experience has been impacted by religious beliefs and/ or practices; — Tuesday, Aug. 24: Open session for those who were not able to attend a relevant session and/or for those who identify with a group not listed above.

Attendees will be invited to “share their experiences, highlight concerns, identify successes, and make suggestions for ways to improve student experience,” the committee stated.

“Better understanding the experiences of our students and families will be helpful as the School Committee sets the budget and policies for the coming year.”

Zoom links will be accessible through the School Committee webpage, the town calendar and school listserv emails. Anyone with questions or difficulty connecting can email School Committee Chair Nancy Cavanaugh at ncavanaugh@hopkinton. k12.ma.us.

Committee discusses norms The bulk of the July 22 School Committee meeting focused on the discussion of norms for committee members, which serve as a code of conduct and policy.

“Every year the School Committee looks at the norms of how we do business,” said Cavanaugh. “And we update them as we feel is appropriate for the committee in terms of what helps us work more efficiently and meaningfully for and on behalf of our community.”

Committee members reviewed the policy guidance provided by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) to incorporate into its past policy strategies. No vote was taken, as this was more of a working discussion.

One addition to the norms that was discussed was the MASC explanation of a committee meeting being held in public versus it being a public meeting.

“I think not always understood is kind of the difference between a meeting that occurs in public bound

by open meeting law versus a public meeting where people can kind of come in,” the chair explained, noting that some of the committee’s meetings are forums where public participation is encouraged.

Member Joe Markey approved of the language that stated once a decision is made by the committee, its members will support the official position of the School Committee.

Cavanaugh agreed, noting that robust discussions and disagreements before a matter is approved can lead to better decisions that the members will then support.

One of the roles of the committee discussed was evaluating the superintendent’s effectiveness in hiring, evaluation and other staffing issues.

“I think the unspoken thing is that we’re not to get involved in the personnel operations of the superintendent,” Markey said.

Members should direct questions to the superintendent by the Tuesday before the meeting so that she can incorporate the answers into any presentation she gives. This was the norm before the pandemic, but meetings were more frequent because of urgency of the situation on school policy. This will help to shorten the amount of time during the meeting when the superintendent would need to answer followup questions.

“Some of this guidance is just implicit, because we already do this,” added Member Meg Tyler.

These discussion points will be compiled into a document to be presented at the next meeting on Aug. 12.

fessionals, one for Hopkins Elementary School and one for the middle school.

“In each of those buildings, they have an EMPOWER program, which is designed to offer social and emotional supports during the day,” explained Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh, who said that the two principals each requested an additional staff member to support the program’s goals. Money for the positions would come from a $69,826 grant rollover from the previous year.

Also approved by a 5-0 vote was

a memorandum of agreement to ratify the three-year contract for the paraprofessionals.

The vote on the ratification of the contract for the Hopkinton Teachers Association at the middle school was postponed until the next meeting at the superintendent’s request, as details still were being discussed. …

Over the previous two weeks, 11 students enrolled into the Hopkinton Public Schools, bringing the total enrollment for the upcoming year to 3,910. Class sizes range between 20 and 23 students.

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High School addition work continues Susan Rothermich, the director of finance and operations, gave an update on the construction of the addition to the high school. Waterproofing had been sprayed on 95 percent of the building’s exterior and was to be completed by late July, she said. The brick veneer installation has been continuing. Once that work is complete, the windows can be installed.

Inside, the rough electrical work was nearly finished and will be ready for inspection shortly. The drywall then can be added.

“Right now, the schedule calls for final inspections at the end of August,” she said. “As you know, anything can happen.”

The exterior work had been delayed because of the rain. However, now that the waterproofing is done, interior work can be performed more quickly.

The metal framing for the classrooms also has been constructed, as well as the upper floor framing.

“It’s really nice how the shape matches the other wing really well,” noted Lya Batlle-Rafferty as the committee members viewed two pictures.

“It will look like it’s always been there,” Rothermich said.

Misc.: Paraprofessional hirings approved The committee unanimously approved the request to hire two parapro-

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16 • The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021

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Tondorf titlists The Hopkinton Little League 10U Tondorf team dominated the competition this summer, going 14-0 and outscoring its opponents 193-19 to win the tournament. The team consisted of (from left), front, Cam Nelson; second row, Luke Bateman, Rocco Yurewicz and Tanner Barbieri; third row, Yanni Schaarmann, Liam MacLennan, Patrick Reilly, Carson Polsinello, Trevor Hodne, Connor Moore, Arjun Mehta and Preston Cabana; back row, coaches Matt Nelson, Rick Polsinello and Scott Hodne.

Sanborn takes reins of HHS football team Sanborn | from page 1

varsity and freshman football teams as well as the JV baseball team and middle school basketball squad.

A lifelong Hopkinton resident, Sanborn played baseball at UMass-Lowell from 2009-12. Baseball, he said, was his first love. But a coaching opportunity in football is what led him to his current position.

“I volunteered as an assistant [shortly after college] and I instantly got hooked,” Sanborn said. “I fell in love with coaching and I was at a point where I wasn’t sure what career path I wanted to pursue. I thought maybe teaching was a route I wanted to take.”

After leaving the business world, Sanborn first worked as a long-term substitute, then a position opened up for a wellness teacher and Sanborn took it. This school year will be his seventh teaching at Hopkinton High.

“The best decision I made in my life was getting involved in education and coaching,” he said. “I feel so grateful.”

Sanborn takes over for Dan MacLean, who led the program for two seasons, including the modified “Fall 2” campaign this past spring in which the Hillers went 2-3. Sanborn said he’s excited to get the ball rolling with practices in late August, but much of his focus is long term.

“The idea of building a positive culture is really important,” he said. “We want the right attitude, effort, the values and morals that are really important to a football team and the commitment to the idea that football is a great teacher for life. There are so many skills you learn that prepare you for the rest of your life. So we want to represent the program the right way on and off the field.”

Athletic Director Rich Cormier said Sanborn’s

HopkintonIndependent.com

This program means so much to me. Getting involved with this program as a coach was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.

— Mark Sanborn familiarity with the program played into his being selected for the position, but he added that Sanborn is the right person for the job regardless of his past experience with the program.

“He is an awesome coach, he is great with our student-athletes, he has tremendous character and integrity, and he has the right values we want to demonstrate in our program,” Cormier said.

Cormier said he hoped Sanborn would be a “steadying influence” for the Hillers.

“We are very hopeful that Mark will be at the helm for many years, leading our football program,” Cormier said.

Asked about his coaching style, Sanborn said he is not a yeller and a screamer, but he does place an emphasis on strong fundamentals. Among his greatest strengths, he said, is his ability to get along with his student-athletes and make sure everyone is having a good time from the star quarterback to the last player on the bench.

More than anything, Sanborn said this is an opportunity to build a team and a program that has been important in his own life.

“This program means so much to me,” he said.

“Getting involved with this program as a coach was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.”

The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021 • 17

HHS soccer standout Viehl named Scholar All-American

FILE PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Lexi Viehl received national recognition for her athletic and academic excellence.

Recent Hopkinton High School graduate Lexi Viehl was selected by the United Soccer Coaches to the High School Scholar All-America Team for 2020-21.

The award recognizes players who have excelled on the field as well as in the classroom, with at least a 3.75 grade-point average.

After helping the Hillers to a 6-2-2 record last fall as a senior midfielder, Viehl was named a Tri-Valley League All-Star and earned a spot on the All-Eastern Massachusetts first team as well.

Viehl is headed to Cornell, where she hopes to walk on to the soccer team.

A ceremony will be held in January in Kansas City to honor all of the winners at the United Soccer Coaches Convention. The organization distributes awards to youth, high school and college soccer athletes.

In other HHS girls soccer news, Sowmya Karthikeyan was selected to serve on the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Student Advisory Committee.

Locals shine for Roger Williams lacrosse

` Three Hopkinton products played key roles for the Roger Williams University

men’s lacrosse team, which went 8-4 in a shortened season. Tyler Zanini was named to the All-Commonwealth Coast Conference first team for his play as a long-stick middie. The freshman led the team and ranked fourth in the conference with 22 caused turnovers, while his 34 ground balls ranked second on the Hawks.

Ryan Bannon, a junior goalie, was named to the All-CCC third team after recording an 8-4 record with a 10.45 goals-against average, both ranking third in the CCC. He totaled 120 saves with a .511 save percentage. Hunter Goodrow, a junior defender, also was named All-CCC third team and earned a spot on the CCC All-Academic team. Goodrow, who also competes on the Roger Williams wrestling team, recorded 13 ground balls and forced seven turnovers while starting all 12 games.

Abbott continues success at Quinnipiac Quinnipiac men’s lacrosse player Will Abbott was named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic Team after finishing second on the team with 14 points in six games during the shortened season. …

Stonehill College women’s lacrosse player Lydia Rudden was named to the Northeast-10 Conference All-Academic team. Starting all 10 games, the sophomore attacker recorded 13 goals and a team-high 19 assists — sixth-best in the conference — for 32 points. …

Maggie Dolan, a women’s lacrosse player at Campbell University, was named to the Presidential Honor Roll for the third straight year. The redshirt sophomore collected eight points in five games. …

Natalie Calkins finished fourth in scoring for the Merrimack College women’s lacrosse team, tallying seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points in 14 games. …

Olivia O’Connor enjoyed a strong freshman season on the women’s lacrosse team at the University of New Hampshire.

Playing all 11 games (starting three), O’Connor recorded four goals and one assist and ranked third on the team with 16 draw controls.

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Hopkinton Little League’s Sparkler 8 team captured the championship of the Ashland Sparkler Tournament last month. In the title game on July 18 at Gryncel Park in Ashland, the boys bested an undefeated Shrewsbury team, 13-12. Pictured are (from left), players Colin Martinez, Myles Walsh, Curtis Marchand, Ryan Martinez, Nate Gregg, Josh Hagberg, Luca Yurewicz, Malcolm Ricci, Carson O’Donnell, Nolan Oram, Drew Howard and Dylan DeCosta, and (in back) coaches Nate Oram, Courtney Bowker, George Hagberg and Ed O’Donnell.

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18 • The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021

Police Log ARRESTS July 20

9:27 p.m. A caller reported a suspicious male attempting to enter a vehicle on Hayden Rowe Street.

Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officers Tyler Brabham and Cody Normandin responded and administered field sobriety tests and utilized a portable breath test. A 60-year-old Milford resident was arrested and charged with OUI liquor, marked lanes violation, and drinking alcohol from an open container, and was placed into protective custody.

July 22

10:10 p.m. On East Main Street, Officer Cody Normandin conducted a motor vehicle stop and subsequently arrested a 31-year-old from Natick and charged him with OUI liquor and speeding in violation of special regulation.

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.

July 13

1:55 a.m. Multiple callers reported a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident on Hayden Rowe Street, where a vehicle

stuck two mailboxes and possibly headed toward Milford. The Milford Police Department was notified. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Stephen Buckley responded and noted damage to two mailboxes and two DPW signs. A message was left for the DPW. 10:08 a.m. A caller reported a tree fell on wires on Kerry Lane. Officer Kevin Sager responded and notified Eversource.

3:59 p.m. A caller reported a road rage incident that turned into a physical assault on West Main Street. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Brendon Lyver responded and a report was to follow.

July 14

11:22 a.m. A caller reported a large log in the roadway of West Main Street.

Officer Philip Powers responded and notified the DPW for removal.

July 15

5:51 a.m. A Woodview Way caller reported she took in a stray cat and was having difficulty with its care. The animal control officer was notified.

7:47 a.m. A caller reported his Segway was stolen sometime the previous day. Officer Kevin Sager took a report.

8:36 a.m. A caller reported an erratic operator all over the road who nearly hit a pedestrian on Chestnut Street. Officers Ryan Polselli and Philip Powers responded and checked the area with a negative find.

9:26 a.m. Officer Philip Powers came across and assisted a confused male on

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Ash Street. The man’s brother arrived to take care of him.

9:51 a.m. A caller reported she lost her Toyota car key and house key the previous day on Hayden Rowe Street and wanted the incident logged.

2:39 p.m. A caller reported an unruly woman, possibly with an altered mental state, causing a disturbance at a South Street business. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officers Matthew Santoro, Brendon Lyver and Kevin Sager responded along with an ambulance. The woman was transported to the hospital.

3:50 p.m. A caller reported a smoking power box on Glen Road. Sergeant Timothy Brennan responded along with Eversource.

July 16

11:55 a.m. A caller reported low-

hanging wires on Parker Point Road.

Officer Jay Deiana responded and notified Verizon.

5:28 p.m. The Westborough Police Department requested an officer speak with a West Main Street resident and advise her to cease calling a Westborough restaurant. Officer Robert Ekross responded and spoke to the woman, who was to stop with the phone calls.

8:50 p.m. A Woodview Way caller reported someone smashed her car window and attempted to steal another car.

Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Ryan Polselli and Robert Ekross responded and a report was to follow.

July 17

12:41 p.m. A caller reported a male inside a Fruit Street bathroom was unable to get out. Officer Jessica Ferreira

Obituaries Shirley Southwick Shirley Lyon (Packham) Southwick, 88, of Gloucester, died July 10 at her home in Gloucester. She was born Jan. 4, 1933, in Everett, daughter of the late Walter and Marion (Lyon) Packham. She is predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Rev. Philip Southwick, and her sister, Betty Cooke of Rowley.

After graduating from Everett High School, Shirley attended Boston University’s College of Liberal Arts, where she met her future husband, Philip, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree. She taught elementary school in Hopkinton. Later in life, she attended Salem State College, specializing in learning disabilities, then teaching in the Merrimac public school system. She also taught at the Pentucket Workshop Preschool in Georgetown. She was active in the Georgetown First Congregational Church, teaching Sunday school and participating in the handbell choir, church band and guild. After her husband’s retirement, she was active in the West Gloucester Trinitarian Congregational Church.

She is survived by two sons, Craig Southwick and his wife, Cathie, of Georgetown, and Dwight Southwick and his wife, Tracy, of Oviedo, Florida.

She was the grandmother of seven: Rebecca, Christopher, Robert, Kevin, Stephen, Timothy and Julia. She also is survived by a nephew, Daniel Cooke and his partner, Wayne Ice, of San Francisco.

A graveside service at Harmony Cemetery, Georgetown, was held July 28. A memorial celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Donations in her memory may be made to the West Gloucester Trinitarian Congregational Church, UCC, 488 Essex Ave., Gloucester, MA 01930, the First Congregational Church of Georgetown, UCC, P.O. Box 200, Georgetown, MA 01833, or the hospice or charity of your choice. To share a memory of

HopkintonIndependent.com

Shirley with her family, visit the ConteGiamberardino Funeral Home website at cgfuneralhomegeorgetown.com.

Mary Stone Mary Stone died peacefully on July 20, following a full and happy life of 101 years. She was born to Ella and Henry Lord in Pittsburg, New Hampshire, where she and her sisters helped run the family business, Lord’s Cabins. Mary went on to nursing school in Rhode Island, where she proudly received her RN degree.

Upon returning to Pittsburg, she met her future husband, Norman Stone, who was working for Perini Corporation on a local construction project. Mary and Norman married in 1941 and moved to Massachusetts, where they lived most of their life in Ashland, raising their family and then retiring to Cape Cod. Following Norman’s death in 1992, Mary then moved to Hopkinton, where she remained until her health declined in 2021. Up until her final days, she treasured her family and all those who brought joy into her life.

Mary is predeceased by her husband, Norman Stone, and her sisters, Leora Frain and Myra Brooks. She leaves her son, Brian Stone and wife Penney Stone of Holliston, daughter Beverly Watson and husband Stephen of Weston, and daughter Eleanor Guare and husband Thomas of Greensboro, Vermont. Mary was especially proud of her grandchildren and their families, including Justin Stone, Brandon and Tara Stone, Ken, Kim, Owen and Lily Thompson, Sarah Guare and Anna Guare. Many friends and extended family members, especially Lany Borgerson, enriched her long and graceful life.

Matarese Funeral Home in Ashland handled the arrangements, which included a private memorial service followed by interment at Wildwood Cemetery.

The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021 • 19 responded and gained access to the bathroom.

8:24 p.m. A caller reported a large group of youths blocking the gas pumps and blasting music at a West Main Street gas station and requested an officer to ask them to leave. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Robert Ekross and Cody Normandin responded and the group was gone upon their arrival.

July 18

5:20 a.m. A caller reported a downed branch blocking Fruit Street. Officers Stephen Buckley and Cody Normandin responded and removed the branch.

8:13 a.m. An East Street resident reported a rooster was in his backyard.

The animal control officer was notified.

8:34 a.m. A Hayden Rowe Street caller reported an unwanted person known to him keeps showing up at his residence. Officer Moira McGaffigan responded and took a report.

2:15 p.m. A caller reported a man yelling for help in an East Main Street building. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Moira McGaffigan responded and reported the man had been locked inside a doorway at a church but since was let out.

July 19

7:58 a.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. No injuries were reported. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil assisted with paper exchange.

12:23 p.m. A Bridgeton Way resident reported a red fox was sleeping on her porch all morning. The animal control officer was notified.

1:18 p.m. A Jamie Lane resident reported seeing a male walking around her property and looking in her windows.

Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and checked the area with a negative find.

1:43 p.m. A First Road caller reported her neighbor’s dog escaped and was behind her house. Officer Jessica Ferreira and the animal control officer responded and the dog was located.

1:59 p.m. Officer Moira McGaffigan responded to a motor vehicle accident with no personal injuries on Main Street and took a report.

3:38 p.m. A Main Street caller reported neighbors throwing things at his balcony. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded and assisted.

July 20

1:43 a.m. Officer Stephen Buckley found a large pothole on Cunningham Street and left a message for the Highway Department.

11:21 a.m. Officer Matthew Santoro reported a fallen tree on wires on Clinton Street and notified Eversource.

12:19 p.m. While on a detail on Main Street, Sergeant Arthur Schofield reported a motor vehicle accident with personal injury. Officer Matthew Santoro responded along with an ambulance, which transported one person to the hospital. A tow truck was requested for the removal of two vehicles. A minor fluid spill was cleaned up.

7:28 p.m. A caller reported an owl on the side of the road of Saddle Hill Road.

Officer Tyler Brabham responded and assisted it.

July 21

2:18 p.m. A Pond Street caller reported witnessing a man grab his dog by the ear and hurt him. Officer Matthew Santoro responded and checked the area with a negative find.

2:33 p.m. An East Main Street caller reported a few items were stolen from her. Officers Moira McGaffigan and Ryan Polselli responded and took a report.

5:21 p.m. A motorist reported a motor

vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on West Main Street that went off the road and into the woods and then drove away.

Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Brian Sanchioni checked the area. The vehicle was gone upon their arrival.

11:51 p.m. A Main Street caller complained of a dog barking in the area for the past two hours. Officer Cody Normandin responded and eventually made contact with the owner, who brought the dogs indoors.

July 22

8:24 a.m. A caller reported a hit-andrun motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and reviewed camera footage, and there was no hit and run.

11:30 a.m. Officers Matthew Santoro, Jessica Ferreira and Philip Powers responded to a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. No personal injuries were reported.

5:13 p.m. Two callers reported stray dogs with no tags walking on Hayden Rowe Street. Officers Cody Normandin and Ryan Polselli responded and contacted the animal control officer, who picked up the dogs.

5:59 p.m. Officer Ryan Polselli noticed the traffic light on Main Street malfunctioning and notified the DPW. 7:17 p.m. A caller reported a case of fraud in which she provided the scammers with the last four digits of her social security number. Officer Ryan Polselli assisted.

7:50 p.m. A caller reported a male smoking from a bong out in public on Lumber Street. Officers Robert Ekross and Ryan Polselli responded. The man was gone upon their arrival.

9:43 p.m. A Forest Lane resident reported someone rang her doorbell twice

and left. A neighbor reported his doorbell was rung and nobody was there. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Ryan Polselli responded and checked the area.

July 23

7:35 a.m. A caller reported a turtle in the road on Downey Street. Officer Jay Deiana responded and relocated the tortoise closer to water.

1:33 p.m. A caller reported his vehicle stalled at a West Main Street intersection. Officer Jay Deiana responded and assisted in moving the vehicle off the road.

2:31 p.m. A caller reported a coyote running in the area of Saddle Hill Road.

The animal control officer was notified.

3:16 p.m. The property manager at Highcroft Way reported a resident’s purse was stolen by a furniture delivery company employee. Officer Ryan Polselli responded and took a report.

6:27 p.m. Several callers reported a suspicious man on the side of the road of Lumber Street taking pictures of himself.

Officers Ryan Polselli and Cody Normandin responded and took a report.

July 24

1:35 a.m. An Exchange Street caller reported two unknown motor vehicles in his driveway and two people ran toward his car. Officers Robert Ekross, Kevin Sager and Jay Deiana responded. A second caller reported involved parties were attempting to prevent harassment. The original reporting person was to leave for the night. Officer Jay Deiana requested an on-call judge for an emergency abuse prevention order.

12:16 p.m. A Davis Road resident reported her vehicle was missing. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded, and the caller reported her mother had taken her vehicle.

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July 25

10:16 a.m. A caller reported a yellow Lab in the middle of the roadway of West Main Street. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and checked the area with a negative find.

10:30 a.m. A caller reported chickens running in to the roadway of West Main Street. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil responded and reported they were turkeys.

10:37 a.m. A caller reported a yellow Lab loose on West Main Street. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil searched the area with a negative find.

2:51 p.m. A walk-in reported a deceased cat on the side of the roadway of West Main Street. Messages were left for the DPW and the animal control officer.

July 26

5:47 a.m. A Walcott Street walk-in reported his car tire was slashed and he knew who did it. Officer Kevin Sager assisted and took a report.

2:06 p.m. A caller reported she found a license plate on the side of the roadway of Fruit Street. The owner was contacted.

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5:55 p.m. A Linden Street caller reported she had a stray dog with no tags in her yard. The animal control officer was contacted, and the owner picked up the dog.

5:58 p.m. A Grove Street caller reported a dead fox or coyote and an odor.

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20 • The Hopkinton Independent • August 4, 2021

Marathon spotlight: Morgan Woodman

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“It is my greatest pleasure to give back to the community that has given so much to me,” Woodman writes.

“I am beyond excited and extremely grateful for the opportunity to run the 125th Boston Marathon for the Friends of Hopkinton, supporting them in their goal to provide community activities that encourage town spirit, enthusiasm and pride.”

Woodman, who has worked as a research laboratory manager since graduating from Roger Williams University in 2019 with a B.S. in biology and chemistry, is seeking to raise $5,000 via her GoFundMe page (gofundme. com/f/morgans-marathon-mission). She also is documenting her “adventure” through her Instagram page at healthyhitsthespot101.

“Being a part of a community can make us feel as though we are a part of something greater than ourselves,” Woodman writes. “It provides us with opportunities to connect with people, to reach for our goals, and better ourselves and others. Please consider donating to this wonderful organization and supporting me as I strive to complete a lifelong dream of running the Boston Marathon for, and from, my hometown.

Every contribution has a direct impact on strengthening and uniting families and the benevolent community in which they are a part of.”

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It is my greatest pleasure to give back to the community that has given so much to me. I am beyond excited and extremely grateful for the opportunity to run the 125th Boston Marathon for the Friends of Hopkinton, supporting them in their goal to provide community activities that encourage town spirit, enthusiasm and pride. ­— Morgan Woodman

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