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HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 20 | No. 22 | October 30, 2019
Alliance forms against downtown project By Jerry Spar Managing Editor
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PHOTO/FRED PARSONS
ackie Potenzone has a warning for fellow Hopkinton residents. Potenzone, who has lived on Wood Street for two decades and run a hair salon there for the past 18 years, said the Main Street Corridor Project should scare everyone in Hopkinton, due to the town forcing some property owners to temporarily or permanently relinquish rights to slices of land (albeit while receiving compensation). “If it can happen with this project — because nobody’s been more vigilant with this project and following it than I have — it can happen anywhere in town,” Potenzone said. “It can happen to anybody who owns a house. If the town can do this to me and the corridor residents, it can happen anywhere.” Potenzone is one of the key figures in the Main Street Alliance, which is collecting signatures for a petition the group plans to bring before the Select
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While much of Weston Nurseries’ land has been converted into modern homes at Legacy Farms, this property across the street from the company’s retail building remains a throwback to a quieter time in town.
Downtown | 10
INSIDE OPKINTO •H
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ohn Coutinho has spent a lifetime trying to emulate his parents’ spirit of volunteering. Coutinho, who serves as the vice chair of the Hopkinton Select Board, was taught at an early age by his parents, Mannie and Frances, that success in life shouldn’t be measured by personal gains. “For me growing up, seeing my father always volunteering, he always said, ‘John, you’re never truly successful until you give back,’ ” Coutinho recalled. “He said, ‘That’s when you can sit back and say you did enough.’ ” Coutinho prides himself on being a servant with a familiar face around Hopkinton. In addition to his six years on the Select Board, Coutinho has spent more than a decade on the Zoning Advisory Com-
MassDOT to discuss I-495/I-90 interchange
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SCHOOLS
District warns about major expenses ahead
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SPORTS
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Editor’s note: This is a new feature in the Independent called “Hopkinton High-Five” where we salute a resident who has made contributions to the community.
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By Gethin Coolbaugh Contributing Writer
John Coutinho volunteers with numerous organizations in town, and he serves as vice chair of the Select Board.
Support strong at HHS for unified basketball
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2 • The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019
Hopkinton Independent The Hopkinton Independent is published by Hopkinton Independent, LLC, 32 South St., Westborough, MA 01581. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of the ad that was in error if notified in writing within three business days of the publication date. All material is the property of the Hopkinton Independent. Permission must be obtained in writing before reproducing any material. The Hopkinton Independent is delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to 100 percent of the homes and businesses in Hopkinton, reaching more than 7,200 addresses. It also is available at Hopkinton Public Library and Town Hall as well as dozens of other sites through town.
STAFF
Publisher: David Bagdon Dir. of Business Development: Susanne Odell Farber Founder: Sarah Lothrop Duckett Managing Editor: Jerry Spar Editorial contributors: JEAN CANN, LYN CALKINS, MICHELLE SANFORD, ERIKA STEELE, MELISSA ORFF, CHRIS VILLANI, DEBORAH BURKE HENDERSON, Tricia LaCascia, John Cardillo, Ed Turner, John Buday, Brandon Peddle, Steve McGrath
contact us:
For advertising, contact Susanne Odell Farber at: Cell: 508-954-8148 or email: sue@sodellconsult.com Or you may call the Hopkinton Independent at: 508-435-5188 (office), 508-366-2812 (fax) Editorial comments and inquiries, including Letters to the Editor should be emailed to: editor@hopkintonindependent.com
Anderson Field project hits fundraising goal C
ongratulations to organizers of the Lauren Anderson Field Restoration Project, who announced in early October that they had already hit their fundraising goal. The project has raised more than $30,000 in donations and in-kind services since it was launched on Aug. 1. “Hopkinton has always been a small town with a big heart,” said Kathy Kilduff, team leader. “It has been inspiring to see how many people remember Lauren and are willing to support this project.” The grassroots project will restore the Lauren Anderson Field at Hopkinton High School in memory of Lauren Anderson, a former student and athlete who died in a tragic horseback riding accident in November 1994. Donations will be used to refurbish the softball field’s scoreboard and add a set of bleachers, two dugouts with benches and bat racks, dugout and outfield windscreens and fence toppers. Work on the field has already begun. Rich Yurewicz of American Climbers and his crew completed extensive tree work in the early fall. The implementation team, led by HHS graduate Ryan INDEPENDENT Fowler, is in charge of building the dugouts. Additional work will take place in spring 2020, in preparation for a May field THOUGHTS rededication event. JERRY SPAR “We are so grateful to everyone who has helped make this project such a success,“ Riki Anderson Rubin said on behalf of the Anderson family. “I wish I had words to express our thanks to each and every one of them, but there are no words that clearly express how truly grateful we feel. The thought that after 25 years Lauren would still be remembered by so many people leaves us speechless.” Added Kilduff: “Now Lauren’s legacy, her sparkle, will live on for years to come.”
McDermott honored by HC 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.
Hopkinton kindergartner Brody McDermott signs a baseball card of himself during a ceremony at Holy Cross where he was named an official member of the team.
Brody McDermott, the Hopkinton kindergartner who earlier this year was declared cancer-free (a story told in these pages last month), recently was honored by the Holy Cross baseball team. During a ceremony at the Worcester college, the 5-year-old was feted by the Crusaders as part of a Team IMPACT program. Team IMPACT is a nonprofit that partners children facing serious illnesses with college teams. He signed a letter of intent to become a member of the program, then was presented with a Holy Cross jersey, hat and bat signed by the team. He also was given baseIndependent thoughts | 3
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“The Big Picture in a Small Town”
The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019 • 3
Dead trees a danger I’m sure that many of my fellow citizens have observed the many dead trees lining the sides of our town roads. Many branches hanging over the roads. A month ago we witnessed first-hand what happens when a large tree falls. There was no high wind at the time a huge oak tree with no visible signs of being a threat fell across the road between our home and our LETTERS TO neighbor’s. It took out electricity and it took several hours to THE EDITOR clear the road. A few minutes before it fell a car was approaching. Thank goodness the car wasn’t a few minutes earlier. This is a present danger with winter and ice storms and heavy snow taking down trees and limbs. Please, those who are our town representatives, do something before someone is injured or worse! — S.A. White, Hopkinton
Town Hall parking an issue Needing to go into the Town Hall, I saw the sign that I was unable to park in the parking lot where I usually park before entering the Town Hall. I was shocked. I know that a new parking lot is being planned behind the Town Hall eventually, however, for Town Hall employees and residents not to be able to park their cars in the current parking lot is wrong. Safety is the issue when someone has to park along the downtown streets and walk across the very busy streets to the Town Hall. What happens when the parking spaces are filled up with snow? Other businesses downtown need the parking spaces outside their stores as well, and to have Town Hall employees using the spaces all day makes it harder for those who want to park close to the store or restaurant they want to go to. The decision to stop the parking beside the Town Hall should be reconsidered. Safety is first! — Mary McLeod, Hopkinton
More on proposed bike lane Editor’s note: These comments refer to the article “Proposed Main Street bike lane raises safety concerns” from the Oct. 16 issue (Page 9), in which Ed Harrow was quoted extensively. I hope you will entertain my attempt to clarify several points. As there is no similar bike lane in the U.S.; at least neither VHB, nor MassDOT, nor I have been able to locate one, it makes finding statistics relating to the proposed bike lane rather difficult. However: • Over the distance of approximately eight-tenths of a mile, this bike lane will be crossed approximately 30 times by streets and driveways. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in a study published in August of this year notes: “Two-way protected bike lanes raised from the road were crossed by driveways, alleys, exit ramps, or intersecting roads an average of 6 times per mile.” • With the grade involved, I attempted to find a study that would show the effect of grades upon speed. I did find one, but for cars at highway speeds, and only a 3 percent grade, not a 6.75 percent grade. The study found cars sped up about 8 percent when traveling down a 3 percent grade. On my bike, just coasting, from the bank to the drug store parking lot (where I had to brake to avoid a collision with an inattentive motorist) I reached 17 mph. • Massachusetts has published a bike-lane handbook, MassDOT Separated Bike Lane Planning & Design Guide. It notes, in Exhibit 4J on Page 64 what is called “Approach Clear Space.” This is the distance from intersecting driveways and streets where parking should not be allowed alongside a bike lane. The slowest car speed specified is 10 mph, requiring 40 feet of “clear space.” I do not believe the planned parking on the southerly side of Main Street meets the spirit of the requirements of Exhibit 4J; I believe doing so would significantly reduce the number of parking spaces. • Several studies on “inattentional blindness” have been done, the most well known in 1975. It explains why we don’t see bicycles and motorcycles when they are in plain sight, and where they are expected to be. This planned bike lane violates both of those as bicycles will be at least partially blocked by parked cars, and potentially traveling in an unexpected direction, increasing the likelihood of car/bicycle collision. — Ed Harrow, Hopkinton
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McDermott honored by HC
Independent thoughts | from page 2
ball cards of himself, which he signed for the players. Brody will join the Crusaders for practices, games and other team events during the season. According to Brody’s mother, Lindsay, all of the HC players came to Hopkinton for Brody’s cancer-free celebration in late summer. HC coach Greg DiCenzo is a Hopkinton resident.
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4 • The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019
Local author delves into world’s greatest mysteries Science writer Hulick releases ‘Strange But True’ By Deborah Burke Henderson Contributing Writer
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s a young child, Kathryn Hulick dreamed of being an author. Curious and creative by nature, she was in awe of everything that seemed magical and mysterious. She penned her first novel in high school and honed her writing skills during her time at Colby College in Maine and work on campus as a writing tutor with ESL students. Although she never intended to be a science writer, her fascination with science, mysteries and the unexplained whet her appetite and set her career path. Hulick writes regularly for Science News for Students and Muse magazine. She has also published numerous nonfiction books for the children’s educational market on topics such as robots, video games, artificial intelligence, energy technology and dinosaurs. “I love the theory of science,” Hulick admitted, “and encourage others not to just believe what they see or hear but to question and seek out reliable, valid scientific points of view, understanding that not all information is created equal.” Most of all, she wants people to engage in the process of smart thinking, separating fact from fiction to explain the unexplainable, and have fun doing so. “I challenge readers to develop critical thinking and use the scientific method of gathering and studying evidence to understand the world around them,” Hulick said. “It is important to
In her book “Strange But True,” author Kathryn Hulick, a new Hopkinton resident, encourages using the scientific method and smart thinking to explain the unexplainable.
be skeptical and ask questions, without losing your sense of wonder.” In the newly released “Strange But True: 10 of the World’s Greatest Mysteries Explained,” Hulick takes the reader around the world exploring and unraveling the mysteries of the Zonbi slaves of Haiti, secrets of an ancient Egyptian
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It is important to be skeptical and ask questions, without losing your sense of wonder. — Kathryn Hulick
tomb, disappearances associated with the Bermuda Triangle, startling deaths of the Dyatlov Pass Incident in the Himalayas, and discovering the true form of the Kraken sea monster. Readers will learn how sightings of flying saucers and stories of alien abductions can be explained by sleep paralysis, false memories and hypnosis. They’ll find out about pareidolia and
how this psychological phenomenon may explain some ghost sightings. Targeted for explorers as young as 10, “Strange But True” captivates one’s attention, engages the imagination and encourages questioning minds. Vivid stories are beautifully illustrated by British artist Gordy Wright, whose haunting artwork sets the mood Author | 5
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“The Big Picture in a Small Town”
The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019 • 5
Community
Q&A
Everyone in town has a story to tell and opinions to share. In this feature, we shine the spotlight on one resident to learn more about them and their connection to town. Q: What brought you to Hopkinton?
Meet George Robinson
George: “I grew up here, [and] it ended up that we had enough land that my grandparents would give out land to the kids and grandkids. Probably in my 30s, I came back and got the piece of land and started to build a house. After my parents passed away, my brother got the homestead. Since I was a kid growing up, I remember hearing about three brothers living together in Worcester one time, and I thought that was the coolest thing to have three brothers live together, and years later here we are. I’m lucky to have family around, all because my grandfather had land.”
Q: What do you do for a living?
George: “I spent 30 years with the phone company doing various jobs. I loved dealing with people, with the customers. Fixing their phone lines was one of the greatest jobs. [Today], I’ve got one of the best part-time jobs you could probably ever ask for: driving the senior bus [at the Hopkinton Senior Center]. [I] started out with doing medical appointments, and then from there they got a bus and asked me if I’d be interested, and I said, ‘Absolutely.’ It’s one of the best things that ever happened to me.”
Q: What activities and hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
George: “I like golf. I love swimming. I did a lot of skiing when I retired, but between the knees and a bad ankle now I have trouble skiing. One of these days I’m going to try waterskiing again, because I still have my big-boy waterski! I like motorcycling and I like boating. I like to do a little bit of just about everything, especially anything that involves the outdoors.”
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Q: What is your favorite thing about Hopkinton?
George: “Probably the people I know. They’re great people. A lot of us who grew up in Hopkinton, a lot of people stayed here, a lot of people came back here. Even the new people that come here, just a warm, friendly feeling with a lot of the people that you meet. I love just being able to drive around on a back road and still see farms, still see fields, look at the stone walls. I can’t drive down a road and not jog a childhood memory.”
Q: What are some of your favorite places around Hopkinton?
George: “I love the town lakes, like Lake Whitehall. There’s not many houses around it you can see once you’re on the lake, so to me it’s just like being up in Maine. I enjoy the restaurants, Carbone’s, The Spoon. Just driving the back roads. The state park is really nice, too.”
Q: What are some of your favorite Hopkinton memories?
George: “The old schoolhouse parties that they used to put on. In October, they’d put on a harvest party or a Christmas party. [I remember] just watching horses go down School Street more so than cars. [It] makes me feel really old when I think about that! [Also], just being able to take off on a bicycle and go anywhere you want and not have to worry. You could go anywhere you want all day long. As long as you were back by suppertime, you didn’t get in trouble.”
Q: If you could change one thing about Hopkinton, what would it be? George: “It’s a toss-up between the traffic and the taxes. Hopkinton is becoming more and more like the [other] towns around here. The building, I think, is out of control, the traffic. You ask anybody, the traffic is out of control. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like in another 10 years. But it’s because we have such great schools that people are flocking to Hopkinton, and they just keep building and building and building. And we have to keep building more schools and it just keeps raising our taxes. They’re going to tax a lot of people out of Hopkinton.”
Don’t let the thought of selling your home haunt you.
— Interview conducted by Gethin Coolbaugh
Local author delves into world’s greatest mysteries Author | from page 4
and sparks the imagination. Hulick’s greatest writing challenges were being respectful of the cultures highlighted, being fair about the history involved and making her work exciting for readers. For each topic covered, she conducted numerous interviews, including scientists researching in the field and individuals who had gone through a given experience. “Strange But True” was released earlier this month by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, and Hulick offers more information about it on her website (kathrynhulick.com). At the recent book launch in West Boylston, Hulick read from the introduction and told a story not included. She asked the audience to break into small groups, allowing opportunity to
discuss, share experiences and offer other possible explanations of what could be going on. “Not knowing is OK,” Hulick said. “There are so many mysteries in life that are still unexplainable.” Other promotional events in the area include meet and greets at Enchanted Passage Children’s Bookstore in Sutton on Nov. 2 from 2-3 p.m. and Bedlam Book Cafe in Worcester on Nov. 8 from 7-9 p.m. “Enjoy these mysteries. Feel free to dream about the possibilities of forces beyond those known to science, because an active imagination can lead to insightful ideas. But you must also practice the art of doubt,” Hulick warned, adding: “If you do this, you might just discover which mysteries are truly unsolved and which fantastic ideas could really be true.” “The Big Picture in a Small Town”
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6 • The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019
MassDOT in Hopkinton Oct. 30 to discuss I-495/I-90 interchange Greyhound Friends open T house Nov. 3
he Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will host a meeting at the Marathon Elementary School cafeteria on Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 4:30-8:30 p.m. to discuss the I-495/I-90 Interchange Improvements Project. The purpose of the meeting, conducted by the Executive Office of NEWS BRIEFS Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), is to provide the public an opportunity to provide comments and ask questions regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) filed by MassDOT for this project. Written comments are due to the EOEEA by Dec. 6, 2019. Written comments should be sent
to Secretary Kathleen Theoharides, Attn: Page Czepiga, Assistant Director, MEPA Office, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, 100 Cambridge St., Suite 900, Boston, MA 02114 or page.czepiga@state.ma.us referencing this project with the designation EEA#15334. The I-495/I-90 interchange serves as a major crossroads for commuter traffic and is used by nearly half of freight trucking entering Massachusetts. MassDOT’s conversion to all-electronic, open-road tolling allows the agency to make safety and operational improvements to the interchange, which will enhance commerce and facilitate economic growth locally and regionally.
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As it prepares to reopen, Greyhound Friends will hold an open house on Sunday, Nov. 3, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at its facility at 167 Saddle Hill Road. The event is open to all. “Greyhound Friends is relaunching its work in greyhound adoption and advocacy,” said board president CarynAmy Rose. “Our adopters, volunteers and friends have been eager to see us reopen our adoption kennel, and we are excited to welcome everyone back. We hope to see many of our Hopkinton neighbors stop by. Whether they are ‘greyhound people’ or not, we are eager to meet them and demonstrate who we are and what we can do for the dogs who will soon pass through our doors on their way to loving homes.” Added kennel and operations manager Theresa Shepard: “We are planning a fun and full day for our visitors on November 3, whether they are coming to see us for the first time or returning as old friends. Our kennel building has been updated to reflect the most current practices and standards, and we will give tours throughout the day. There will be refreshments available, as well as music, activities, and our customary remembrance ceremony for adopters to honor their pets no longer with us since our last gathering.” For more information, visit greyhound.org.
Veterans Day events planned The annual Hopkinton Veterans Day ceremony will he held on Monday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Hopkinton Senior Center. The Senior Center will open at 10 a.m. for the event. That evening, the annual Hopkinton Veterans Dinner, sponsored by the Hopkinton Veterans Celebration Committee, will he held at the Woodville Rod and Gun Club.
Town conducts smoke testing of sewers
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In order to improve the sewer service in the area, the town has contracted Weston & Sampson to conduct smoke testing of the sanitary sewers Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the months of October and November. During the test, white smoke is introduced to the sanitary sewer system via a smoke-generating machine. During this procedure, white smoke will be venting from holes in manhole covers located in the street and from plumbing vent pipes located on or near the roof surface of buildings. This is normal and should not cause alarm. Smoke should not enter any premises unless there is a dry trap in an unused fixture or a defect in the building’s plumbing. Residents may wish to pour two gallons of water down any basement floor drains or unused plumbing fixtures to ensure that the drain trap will be effective. Should smoke be detected within a home or building, do not be alarmed. The smoke is non-toxic and non-staining and dissipates quickly through open windows. Anyone with a lung ailment or respiratory condition such as asthma or emphysema should stay away from the smoke. Any smoke within a building
“The Big Picture in a Small Town”
should be immediately reported to the Fire Department at 911 and the persons conducting the tests. Because the smoke is capable of causing irritation, the town and the testing company are seeking to identify locations of residents with related health conditions. Anyone with a lung ailment should contact Weston & Sampson at 508-293-1074 and leave a message with their information, or call the Hopkinton DPW at 508-497-9740. Residents are not required to be at home during the smoke testing. If there is a pet home, precautions should be taken to ventilate the area where the pet will be.
Growth Study Committee workshop Nov. 20 The Hopkinton Growth Study Committee will hold a workshop on Nov. 20 at the Hopkinton High School cafeteria. The public is invited to see what the Growth Study Committee has been up to this fall, ask questions and share ideas. The committee will share what the data is indicating, as well as five common myths about growth in town. For more information, visit hopkintonma.gov/ gsc or email chair Amy Ritterbusch at growthstudychair@hopkintonma.gov.
ZAC public forum moved to Nov. 7 The Zoning Advisory Committee has scheduled a public forum for Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. in Room 215/216 at Town Hall. The purpose of this forum (which was originally scheduled for Oct. 21) is to hear ideas and proposals for desired changes to the zoning bylaw and/or the zoning map. Zoning bylaws generally regulate the use of land, buildings and structures. This is an opportunity to propose changes to the land uses permitted in specific areas in Hopkinton, the manner in which certain uses are permitted, dimensional requirements, or other ideas with respect to land use regulation. The committee invites residents, businesses, town board/committee and organization representatives to the forum to present ideas and suggestions. Proposals may also be submitted in writing prior to the forum to John Gelcich, principal planner (jgelcich@ hopkintonma.gov).
Senior Center seeks outreach coordinator The Town of Hopkinton is seeking a 30-hour outreach coordinator for its Senior Center. Under the direction of the Senior Services director, the outreach coordinator will perform professional and administrative work in communicating the exciting programs and services of the flourishing Senior Center to meet the needs of and enhance the quality of life of the town’s beloved senior population and more. The outreach coordinator performs caring home visits to the seniors of Hopkinton in order to assess needs and communicate programs. This position also schedules rides for medical appointments and regularly interacts with staff, other town departments, government and agencies, as required. For more information, visit the Human Resources Department at Town Hall, log on to hopkintonma.gov or email hr@hopkintonma.gov. Application deadline is Nov. 11.
The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019 • 7
Hopkinton Center for the Arts hosts fundraising gala Nov. 2 By Melissa Orff Contributing Writer
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he Hopkinton Center for the Arts will be celebrating self-acceptance and self-expression through the arts as it hosts its fifth annual fundraising gala. The gala, which will be held at HCA’s Delbridge Performing Arts Center from 7-11 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, is the center’s largest fundraiser and supports the center’s mission of “fostering the creative spirit in everyone.” This year’s gala will be themed “This is Me,” which is based on a song from the hit stage musical “The Greatest Showman.” “It’s about how people who have encountered obstacles in their life were able to use their art form — visual arts, dance, music — to help them overcome and show themselves through their art,”
HCA co-director Kelly Grill said of the choice of this year’s theme. The theme will be on full display throughout the hall, with self-portraits hanging on the walls, pictures of students who have taken classes at the HCA, and even a fun magic mirror so attendees can see themselves from a different angle. “It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Grill. “Great music, wonderful food and incredible raffle prizes.” The gala will feature live music from the band Night Rhythm, food from MetroWest Catering and an open bar. There will be a live auction where attendees can bid on everything from tickets to Broadway shows to a vacation in Tuscany. Raffle prizes will include a number of experiences such as Swan Boat rides in Boston, Blue Man Group tickets and free weeks of camp at the YMCA.
Coutinho an ever-present volunteer
“We will have our very popular wine pull,” Grill said of the raffle offerings. “You can go home with a $15 bottle of wine or a $45 bottle of wine, all for the cost of the ticket.” Grill said that this year’s event will be about the “incredible” stories that Grill, fellow co-director Kris Waldman and the HCA teachers hear every day from students or parents about the transformation that comes over someone as they discover a new talent and appreciation for an art form. “That is the magic of this place,” she said. “It’s a way for people to show themselves to the world, and we wanted to share that with everyone.”
Over the past four years, the HCA has been able to raise more than $200,000 through the gala fundraiser, which is not only used as a source of operational funds but also allows the HCA to provide concerts and programs free of charge for the community and to offer scholarships to children, teens and adults who might not otherwise be able to afford classes. “It is really a wonderful celebration of arts in the community,” Grill said. Gala tickets can be purchased for $100 each (or $600 for a group of eight) at the HCA or online at hopartscenter. org. Black and white party attire is suggested.
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Coutinho | from page 1
mittee and five years on the Planning Board, and he serves on a number of other committees in town. “People are very passionate here,” he said. “Running for office is difficult because you’ve got to prove yourself, and every year I’ve just got to make sure that people understand that I love the town and I will work full time to make sure that people get what they voted for.” Born and raised on the North Shore, Coutinho moved to Hopkinton 21 years ago after his sister, Cissy, recommended the town’s kindergarten program. He spent 35 years working as a mechanical engineer and industrial designer before shifting to a semi-retirement career in construction. “I think of myself more as a full-time selectman. I’m the selectman that’s always around,” Coutinho said. “[Town Manager] Norman [Khumalo] knows [he can say], ‘John, could you come in and sign some papers? Everybody else is at work.’ I say, ‘Fine, I’ll be right in.’ ” A typical week of Select Board responsibilities includes weeknight meetings every Monday through Wednesday and many Thursdays. Once a week, he meets with the police and fire chiefs, and he frequently stops by Khumalo’s office. It all adds up to 25-30 hours of work each week. Without the demands of full-time employment, Coutinho makes it a priority to be where those on the board who are bogged down by regular jobs cannot. “[I try to] go to all of the evening events, go to the Veterans Breakfast, go to the bean supper, go to wakes and funerals,” he said. “As a member of the board, it’s important that the town shows up for people that have been here and contributed a lot.” While much of his work is done within Town Hall, Coutinho is particularly passionate about a couple of activities beyond those walls. He serves as the Select Board’s special liaison to the Boston Athletic Association (BAA), meeting monthly with the BAA’s CEO or board of governors in preparation for the race that has made Hopkinton internationally recognizable. “We’re four generations into the Marathon. It’s a fabric of Hopkinton,” Coutinho said. “It means about $1 million a year to the town in real money and tertiary money.” Additionally, Coutinho is a staunch supporter of the trails in town and a member of the Upper Charles Trails Committee. Outside of Town Hall, Coutinho is involved with his church, St. John the Evangelist, as well as the Freemasons, Shriners International and the Knights of Columbus. “When everybody says ‘John, thanks very much,’ I say, ‘That’s what we do. We take care of each other — and that’s what it’s all about,’ ” Coutinho said. “We have to take care of each other. We’re a small town, we’re a small state, and if we’re starting to talk about national politics, we really have to take care of each other.” Much like his parents inspired him, Coutinho hopes his volunteer work will encourage his two college-aged daughters to continue the family tradition of helping others. “I want my kids to see that you’re either all in or you’re not,” he said.
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SACH set to host Diwali Gala By Melissa Orff Contributing Writer
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he South Asian Circle of Hopkinton (SACH) will be celebrating the “Festival of Lights” with the Hopkinton community with its annual Diwali Gala dinner on Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. This year’s event is themed “A Journey through South Asia” and will take guests through different South Asian regions — from Sri Lanka and India to Pakistan and Bangladesh. The evening will feature folk dance and music from different regions, poetry by Bengali Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, and a signature classical dance called Bharatanatyam. “It will be an evening filled with fun, delicious food and drinks, and extraordinary decor with created by our talented high schoolers,” said Meena Kaushik, one of the SACH board members and an organizer of the Diwali Gala. A five-course buffet of traditional Indian food and an hour of cultural programs including dancing, music, poetry and more will entertain the 200-plus guests who will be in attendance. The gala will include the traditional lighting of the lamps — this year done by special guest State Rep. Carolyn Dykema — which signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. During the traditional five-day Diwali festival, temples, home, shops and office buildings are brightly illuminated as a metaphor for knowledge and consciousness. Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists from around the world, but is a celebration that can be shared by all, said Kaushik. “In South Asia, all celebrations are inclusive,” she said. “We celebrate with friends, and family and our neighbors; everyone is welcome.” The SACH is a community based, non-profit organization founded in September of 2018 with a mission of “bringing together the collective strength,
The South Asian Circle of Hopkinton will celebrate Diwali with a gala at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts on Nov. 9.
celebrating the culture and sharing the vibrant spirit of the South Asian diaspora of Hopkinton.” As part of this year’s Diwali celebration, the group put up a lighted display sign at the Town Common. The SACH also organizes regular displays at the library to educate people on South Asian traditions and cultures. Some of the displays have included the history of Chai tea and facts about the lunar new year. The group also hosts a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) camp for elementary school students every summer. “We do this to give back to the Hopkinton community with the talent that is here from the South Asian community,” Kaushik said. For more information about the Diwali celebration and about the SACH, visit southasiancircleofhopkinton.org.
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FACES AT RACES Fall is road race season in Hopkinton. Among the races this month were Michael’s Run (bottom left), where Hopkinton High School football players Sam Lozeau (76) and Owen MacDonald assisted Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center participant Jen Gilman at the Town Common on Oct. 19, and the Paws & Claws 5K (top and bottom right), where runners and walkers — including the Brown family of Hopkinton (Ken, Nick and Lisa) — toured Hopkinton State Park with their pets on Oct. 20. “The Big Picture in a Small Town”
The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019 • 9
Presents
‘A SLICE OF HOPKINTON’ Hopkinton Independent Photo Contest
This issue’s winner is Lauren Fogarty, for her photo of a heart that was carved into a fallen tree branch around Lake Whitehall. To enter next issue’s contest, email your photo along with your name, phone number and description of the photo to editor@hopkintonindependent.com.
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Neighbors lace up sneakers to help neighbors Annual road race benefits RE/MAX Charitable Foundation By Michelle Sanford Contributing Writer
N
eighbors helping neighbors. That’s the slogan of the RE/MAX Executive Charitable Foundation and that’s exactly what the organization has been doing since 2009 — helping provide assistance to individuals and families throughout the Metrowest area and beyond. “Basically, our goal is to be able to help those who have fallen on catastrophically hard times,” explained foundation president Sandy Lucchesi, a 34-year resident of Hopkinton and a RE/ MAX agent for the last 15 years. And by that, Lucchesi explains that through a grant application process, funding is awarded for such things as health-related hardships or other devastating emergencies. For example, the nonprofit foundation could assist with medical bills for someone seriously ill, provide funding to a family that may have gone through a disaster such as a home fire, or assist with funeral costs. Since its inception, the RE/MAX
Executive Charitable Foundation has bestowed $170,000 to applicants. “Just this year, we’ve awarded $30,000. That’s far exceeded anything we’ve done before,” Lucchesi said. Those monies have been given to individuals or families living in Hopkinton, MetroWest and other area locations. “Really any community in which we serve,” Lucchesi said of RE/MAX. Over the past 10 years, monies for the grant funding have been raised in various ways, including contributions from RE/MAX agents themselves. “A lot of our agents voluntarily donate some of their commission from every transaction,” Lucchesi said. “They’re very generous people.” Anyone interested can become a member of the RE/MAX Executive Charitable Foundation, Lucchesi explained, noting members do not have to be RE/MAX agents. Still, is it the foundation’s successful fundraisers that continue to be a mainstay when it comes to raising grant support. And the foundation’s biggest
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“The Big Picture in a Small Town”
10 • The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019
Main Street Alliance wants new vote on downtown project Downtown | from page 1
“Absolutely not,” she said. “We’re just collateral damage. They want this plan to go through. They want this downtown corridor plan. We’re just collateral damage to the Select Board. Absolutely not, 100 percent not. Because if we had support from the Select Board we wouldn’t be doing this.” If the board denies the alliance’s call for a new vote, the fight will not end, Potenzone promised. “I personally will take Jackie Potenzone, shown speaking at a Select this to court,” she said. “I Board meeting last month, is part of the Main Street will not allow an easement Alliance, which was formed to oppose the Main Street Corridor Project. on my property. And I have spoken to other corridor residents and they want to protect their Rob Phipps, whose family has run private property rights.” Phipps Insurance downtown since 1950, Added Phipps: “I’m not sure what is another member of the alliance. the next legal ramification is, but we “Everybody we talk to has reservacertainly wouldn’t stop there if that was tions about the project but didn’t know their attitude.” how to muster forth,” he said. “We’re Meanwhile, project-abutting resifinding that when we bring up a few dents and property owners were told things, people have been waiting for this they would receive a letter by Oct. 25 group to organize — any group to orgafrom Howard S. Dono & Associates nize — to have another voice, other than with information about the appraisal Town Hall and the town manager and process. In a press release, the town said the Board of Selectmen and those who that a review process will follow the apwould benefit from such a project. There praiser’s work, and then the town will is always another side, and we’re it.” contact property owners to inform them Both Potenzone and Phipps exof the amount of just compensation they pressed confidence in acquiring enough will be paid for the proposed easements. signatures, but Potenzone noted that it According to Phipps, the project still would leave the matter in the hands has not addressed what it set out to acof the Select Board. And she has no complish, and engineers have acknowlconfidence that the Select Board will edged this is merely “the best they can be supportive. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
Board. The ultimate desire is to get a new Town Meeting vote. “We started [Oct. 18] and it’s been really an overwhelming response from people that support us,” Potenzone said. “Our main goal is to bring this Article 47 to Town Meeting and the repeal of the project to Town Meeting, and have the corridor residents have a chance to speak on it, to voice our concerns and our opinions, and to have a vote there that we can actually be present and know our properties are on the article. Because in 2018 when it was voted on, none of the residents were notified by mail.” Potenzone’s property, located next to Next Generation Children’s Center, near the fork of Wood Street and Main Street, was not part of the original plan, she said she was told. However, she later was added for an easement, meaning workers would be able to access her property as needed, with the understanding it would be returned to the same condition when they were done with the project. She fought against the easement and eventually was removed from the plan. However, she says that because her property is listed on Article 47, she is not in the clear. “In the years that I’ve been involved with the plan, the plan has changed multiple times in front of my house,” she said. “What they say they’re going to do and what they do are two different things. And my house is still vulnerable to an easement, because I’m on Article 47. So I have just as much to worry about as the rest of the residents on that article.”
do.” He said he doesn’t regret that the town has invested years and hundreds of thousands of dollars in an attempt to make the downtown better, but it should cut its losses and back out of the project. “The reason why this kicked off in the first place, back in 2009, it was just an attempt to find out what were the issues and how do we solve them,” he said. “It was determined that the town needed to address its traffic congestion, traffic flow and pedestrian safety, and that was really it. Now so much water has gone over the dam, and nine years of expert engineering has not been wasted [but] it’s essentially proved that these issues are going to continue and this project is not going to appreciably change anything as far as the original reason why this project was conceived. That’s our opinion. We’re not experts, we don’t have all the answers. … But that’s where we’re at. We’re frustrated.” Members of the alliance are determined to get a new vote, and they say they would accept the outcome once people are better informed. “We want to find out where we stand with the people,” Potenzone said. “We want to know how the people of Hopkinton feel about our properties being subject to easements. Some people don’t want this project to go through, not just the alliance. There’s a lot of residents in Hopkinton that feel with the state of the town we have now, with the crisis in the schools, and with the way this project has been handled, they don’t want it to go through. We just want to ask the people. They may vote against us, and that’s fine. But at least we know where we stand.”
Neighbors lace up sneakers to help neighbors
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Despite an early snow last year, there was a strong turnout for the annual RE/MAX Executive Charitable Foundation’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors 5K Run/Walk at Hopkinton Country Club. This year’s race will be held Nov. 23. Road race | from page 9
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fundraiser is the annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors 5K Run/Walk that starts and ends at Hopkinton Country Club. This year, the race takes place on Saturday, Nov. 23, beginning at 9 a.m. For a $45 registration fee, the first 100 runners will receive a long-sleeve, crew-neck technical shirt and everyone will enjoy a post-race brunch at the Country Club. If participants are expecting a banana and granola bar, think again. The buffet brunch will include eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit, home fried potatoes, muffins, pastries, juice and more. A silent auction also will be held. Earlier this fall, a cornhole tournament raised $3,600. The foundation’s
“The Big Picture in a Small Town”
approach to its success is the more people involved the better. Lucchesi said it is the combination of people taking part in events, assistance from corporate event sponsors, and membership that helps the foundation so it can help others. “It allows us to extend our network, bring in more ideas, and spread the word about us. That in turn increases our fundraising and helps us to accomplish our mission,” she said. For more information on the RE/ MAX Executive Charitable Foundation or to locate the grant application form, view remax-executiverealty-ma. com/comm.asp. For more details on the road race and to register, visit remax5k. racewire.com.
The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019 • 11
Schools Hopkinton schools step up for STEAM Week By Melissa Orff Contributing Writer
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PHOTO/MELISSA ORFF
he Hopkinton Public Schools went full STEAM ahead with a week of fun and educational science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics activities throughout the district. Oct. 21-25 was officially STEM Week in Massachusetts, a statewide effort “to boost the interest, awareness and ability for all learners to envision themselves in STEM education and employment opportunities, and complement the formal instruction happening in the Commonwealth beyond STEM week.” Schools across the state took part in the STEM Week celebration by coordinating different events for students in order to promote STEM topics, and this year specifically, to promote underrepresented groups to become more familiar with STEM careers. Hopkinton students at all grade levels had the chance to explore different areas of STEM — plus the added ‘A’ for art to make it STEAM — through different activities led by their teachers during the school day and during after school enrichment. Each of the five days took on different subject, kicking off Monday with science. Students in the elementary schools learned about constellations and discovered what
Hopkinton High School ninth-grader Isabella Theodorou checks out the technology that helps the Hopkinton Police Department keep the public safe during STEM Week in Massachusetts.
would be needed to fry an egg on the sidewalk. At the high school, students learned about electrophoresis during lunch break and could stay after school to make virtual reality art. Tuesday was for technology, and programs ran from coding at the elementary grades through a robotics scrimmage and a drone simulation at the high school. The Hopkinton Police Department
even got involved with STEAM week by demonstrating to the high school and middle schoolers all of the technology used by the department in order to provide public safety to the residents. “This is probably the most used piece of equipment that we have,” said School Resource Officer Phil Powers, demonstrating the automatic defibrillator that sits in a police cruiser to use in case of heart failure. “With this and
CPR there is a good chance you can save someone’s life.” Wednesday brought engineering projects throughout the district, including young students “Helping Harry” by designing and building the puffball a perch out of simple materials and testing the strength. Art was abound on Thursday with creative projects that tied into other STEAM subjects including making kaleidoscopes, exploring texture by using chemical reaction of absorption, and even learning about the chemistry of glazes. The week ended with fun math activities and games in order to promote a love of math and the related career paths the subject can bring one to. Valerie Lechtanski, a retired Hopkinton High School teacher who has returned to the school this year as a STEAM consultant thanks to a grant the district received, said that exposing kids to STEAM fields is important in this day and age. One of Lechtanski’s primary goals is to reach out to the community to foster relationships with businesses with the hope of providing externships and internships for high school students in order to expose them to STEM-related fields. “There are a lot of opportunities in STEM careers here in Massachusetts,” she said.
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“The Big Picture in a Small Town”
12 • The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019
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HPS receives grant to promote career technical education By Melissa Orff Contributing Writer
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he Hopkinton Public Schools are looking to expand their career readiness offerings thanks to a grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Assistant superintendent Jen Parson, Hopkinton High School principal Evan Bishop and math teacher/subject matter leader Carla Crisafulli spoke during the Oct. 17 School Committee meeting about the grant the district received from the DESE to promote career, vocational and technical education (CVTE) in traditional high schools. The grant, Parson told the committee, was stemmed from the Department of Education’s goal of supporting traditional high schools offering opportunities for students to explore careers before heading to college or into the workforce. “The Department of Education has found that there are plenty of people in Massachusetts and plenty of jobs, but that skills aren’t matching the labor force,” Crisafulli said. Ten Hopkinton faculty members worked over the summer to apply for the grant that will allow school districts in Massachusetts to expand career technical education, develop innovation pathways such as internships and work study opportunities, and expand their offerings in early college programs. One of the district’s first goals in promoting career exploration, said the group, is to increase awareness of Keefe Regional Technical High School in
As our communities grow and change it is a really important time that we invest into these different options.
Framingham. Starting with sixth grade, the district plans to expose students to the technical school and career exploration opportunities. “We want to let families know what is offered there,” Crisafulli said. “A lot of the programs they offer can lead to strong-paying jobs,” Bishop said. Next school year the district hopes to develop a career exploration elective at the high school that will be open to all students. Students could pick an area of focus for “exploration, immersion and exposure” involving different careers of interest. There also will be a refocus on work-study and internship programs for upperclass students at the high school. “[Work-studies and internships] give students that opportunity to dive deeper into a specific career,” Bishop said. “For students who want to go into the workforce right out of high school, it gives them the opportunity to get in the door.” Along with the hard skills needed in the workforce, the high school would be working with the students on the soft career-readiness skills such as making eye contact, being on time, and taking and implementing feedback, Bishop explained. “We will be working with students on these career skills as a way to be
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successful,” he said. The district’s dual college enrollment program with Mass. Bay Community College also will be bolstered in order to provide career exploration for students who might be interested in working toward a certificate or earning an associate’s degree after high school. “This has a lot of potential for our students,” Bishop said. Finally, the district will be developing a work resource guide for the 3 to 5 percent of the Hopkinton students who enter the workforce directly after high school. The guide will be a compilation of resources for students including job search sources and resume-writing resources. The next steps in the CVTE work, said Parson, is informing faculty, students and families about occupational trends and related opportunities all while applying for an additional implementation grant from the DESE for the 2020-21 school year. Bishop commented that the administration and staff at HHS are excited to move forward with providing these opportunities for their students. “As our communities grow and change it is a really important time that we invest into these different options,” he said.
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Lions Club hosts speech contest The Hopkinton Lions Club invites high school students to participate in the Massachusetts Lions Youth Speech Contest. This year’s topic is: What is heroism? The Hopkinton Lions Club Level Competition will be held Thursday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. The youth speech competiSCHOOLS tion provides an NOTEBOOK opportunity for students to speak publicly and freely on a designated topic of general interest. The competition starts at the Hopkinton Lions Club level and proceeds through several levels of competition, ending several months later with a statewide competition. In between there are zone, region and district levels where the winner of each level has the opportunity to proceed. Each contestant will be judged on delivery, effectiveness and text of speech. Each speech should last no less than five minutes and no longer than eight minutes. The winner of the Hopkinton Lions Club competition will receive $100. Awards at the zone, region and district levels are at the discretion of the district governor. At the state competition level, the winner receives $1,500 and each runner-up gets $500. To be eligible, a student must be in Grade 9-12 and reside in Hopkinton or attend school in town. The speech must be given in English. For more information, visit the Hopkinton Lions website at hopkintonlions.org or email hopkintonlions@ gmail.com.
Top of the Hill ceremony Nov. 26 Hopkinton High School’s Top of the Hill program honors alumni for their exceptional achievements and contributions to society. This year’s induction ceremony will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. at the HHS auditorium. The Class of 2019 inductees are: Jean Scarlata (1947), Dr. Patrick Lynch (1977), Sam Sennott (1996), Missy (MacDonald) Sadler (2000) and Matt Ellam (2006). The program is presented by the Hopkinton Parent Teacher Association, Hopkinton Education Foundation and Hopkinton High School.
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“The Big Picture in a Small Town”
Hopkinton’s Caroline Sullivan is serving as a peer tutor for chemistry in Hamilton College’s Quantitative & Symbolic Reasoning Center (QSR) this year. The mission of the QSR Center is to support students in the development of their academic skills, and to foster collaborative learning and intellectual growth. Sullivan, a senior majoring in biochemistry/molecular biology, is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy. Tutors are students who have been recommended by the departments for which they tutor. They have taken the courses they tutor and have been trained in tutoring techniques and interpersonal relations.
The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019 • 13
School projects estimated to cost $16M Expansion plans amount to biggest expenses Father & Son Special Receive 50% off Son’s haircut with Dad’s haircut Expires 11/30/19
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School officials say the high school is in need of expansion, as it is already 30,000 square feet short of state academic standards with enrollment numbers continuing to rise.
By Melissa Orff Contributing Writer
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he Hopkinton School District may be looking for more than $16 million in capital requests for FY21. Director of finance and operations Susan Rothermich presented the preliminary capital 10-year plan during the Oct. 17 School Committee meeting, touching on the major expenses the district will be facing in the near future. With enrollment exploding over the past few years — an increase of 500 students in the past three years alone — space in the buildings is becoming extremely constrained. The district is waiting for the results of a capacity study to be completed before making formal recommendations, however, one only needs to look in the buildings during the school day to see the need for more space, school officials said. “The high school is 30,000 square feet short of space, and Elmwood is 20,000 square feet short according to MSBA [Massachusetts School Building Authority] academic standards,” Rothermich explained. “That deficit in square footage is not even forward-looking.” The district hopes to add two portable classrooms at Elmwood and four at Hopkins next school year just to keep pace with current enrollment. The preliminary costs for the portable classrooms for both schools could run close to $5 million. At the high school, plans would be to construct six additional permanent classrooms at the back of the building, at a potential cost of $5 million. Because money for the design engineering would have to be approved at the May 2020 Town Meeting, the new classrooms may not be completed until the summer of 2021, just in time for an incoming freshman class of 312 students and climbing. Another big potential expense next year will be roof replacements — both partial and full — at Hopkins and the middle school. The replacement cost is estimated at $5 million for both schools. According to Rothermich, bids will be going out for the replacements in December so that numbers can be firmed up for approval. An Elmwood feasibility study will cost the district $700,000, but if the district is approved for a new or completely renovated Elmwood project, that cost will be partially reimbursed by the MSBA, Rothermich said.
My biggest concern is that while this is a huge task, that it still isn’t going to be enough.
— School Committee member Amanda Fargiano
“Starting early would put us ahead of the curve,” she stated. Several School Committee members asked if any of the projects could be pushed off past FY21 in order to spread out the capital requests. Rothermich responded that both roofs are leaking and causing on and off disruption in some classrooms. “It does not make for a great environment,” she said. As for the additional modular classrooms at Elmwood and Hopkins, and permanent classrooms at the high school, time is of the essence. “I think waiting is going to put us where we are not able to offer kids the quality of education that we hope to,” said superintendent of schools Dr. Carol Cavanaugh. Rothermich added that if the growth in enrollment was happening a little more gradually, the district might have been able to stagger these capital projects over several years. “[The unprecedented growth] really caught everyone off guard,” she said. “But the students are here, and we don’t see any end in sight to the growth.” Another concern that the School Committee raised was if the capital plans were taking into consideration future growth. “My biggest concern is that while this is a huge task, that it still isn’t going to be enough,” commented Amanda Fargiano. Rothermich and Cavanaugh said that the district’s capacity study, which should be final at the end of November, will hopefully shed some light on the future needs of the buildings. “Are we going to be a 5,000-student district? No one knows,” Cavanaugh said. “The Big Picture in a Small Town”
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14 • The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019
Sports ‘Ultimate’ lessons about athletics, sportsmanship Flying disc game becomes more popular in Hopkinton By Jean Cann Contributing Writer
I
n 2017, Liz Siber walked into the Hopkinton Parks and Recreation office looking to find a way to introduce youth to Ultimate, a sport she picked up as a graduate student in
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Hopkinton youngsters participate in a game of Ultimate, a sport that is gaining popularity in town.
2001. With support from Parks & Rec and Boston Ultimate Disc Alliance (BUDA), Siber started a Sunday afternoon program that attracted about 16 kids, coached by a few high schoolers. This fall, Hopkinton Youth Ultimate League drew nearly 40 participants. Also known as Ultimate Frisbee, after the brand-name disc, or as Flying Disc, Ultimate first came about in 1968 when played by a group of high school students in New Jersey. Now the World Flying Disc Federation oversees the sport, which is played by millions in 84 countries. The non-contact sport, played on a field between two teams of seven players, combines aspects of soccer, football and basketball. Positions include handlers, mids and deeps playing in offensive and defensive formations.
One unusual aspect of the game is that it is self-officiated and relies on players to uphold the spirit of the game. “My favorite parts are watching these kids learn the rules and have discussions about them while playing,” Siber said. “This teaches them fairness and composure at a young age. For example, kids can call themselves out of bounds if they catch the disc out of bounds. Kids can help an opponent who is not certain if he caught the disc by saying, ‘Yes, that was a fair catch.’ Kids learn unique things about each other during our ‘spirit breaks,’ which fosters mutual respect of teammates and opponents.” The Hopkinton program meets once per week, on Sunday afternoons behind Hopkinton High School, and includes students in Grades 1-8. As
well as the sport being fun, Siber feels that part of the league’s appeal is due to the fact that it’s not a big-time commitment for kids or parents. “Only older kids go to one or two tournaments a year,” Siber said. “It’s low cost because we just need a field, a disc and cones, and it’s a pretty fast learning curve for picking up the basics.” The league includes weekly clinic-style practices with scrimmages divided into elementary and middle school age groups. Siber coaches along with four other USA Ultimatecertified BUDA coaches: T.J. Gansenberg, Dean Ranzo, Royi Shemesh and Zack Best, a Hopkinton High alumnus who just graduated from UMassAmherst, where he played Ultimate. Ultimate | 15
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The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019 • 15
Sports Unified basketball brings school together Support grows for Hillers’ special athletes Special education teacher Caitlin Burke encourages athlete Grant McNamara during Hopkinton High School’s unified basketball game against Holliston on Oct. 11.
Do we care for Hopkinton town employees?
PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
By Chris Villani Contributing Writer
T
he Hopkinton High School unified basketball team saw a surge in numbers in its second season, with nearly 40 partners joining the program’s four athletes in an experience that has been special for all involved. “It’s really, truly rewarding to build that relationship with our athletes,” said Jay Golden, who coaches the team along with fellow special education teacher Caitlin Burke. “Day-to-day, when we have our practices and games and other team activities, those relationships lend a lot of perspective to our kids and they seem to really appreciate it.” Unified basketball brings together students in the special education program (the athletes) with those in the general education program (the partners). During the inaugural season last year, the team had about 30 partners, and that number that has jumped to 37 this year. “We didn’t have a ton of seniors last year so we had a lot of kids returning, and word of mouth gets around about what a great experience it is,” Golden said. “Kids play, they talk to their friends about it and bring them out. “We are a varsity sport, so it’s even more impressive that so many kids have come out. If they are with us, they can’t play varsity soccer or football or field hockey — you do one or the other.” The partners work with the team’s athletes. The latter group includes Ryder Peishoff, a senior who played with the team last year. “He is a huge Providence Friars hockey fan,” Golden said, due to the
fact that Peishoff’s sister attends the school. “He is always wearing his gear. He is our 3-point specialist. He’s a great 3-point shooter and it’s been a lot of fun having him.” Grant McNamara is part of the 18to-22 life skills program at HHS and another returning athlete. Senior Liam Finnegan has brought a great energy, his coach said. “He is funny, always smiling, just a great kid to have on the team,” Golden said. Jack Malone, an eighth-grader, is new to the program, and Golden said he has been a great addition. The creation of Hopkinton’s program has come at a time in which many area schools are embracing unified sports. The Hillers meet three times per week, either for practices or games, over the course of an eight-week season that begins in late September and extends to mid-November. Neighboring towns, including Holliston, Bellingham and Natick, have added teams and are on the Hillers’ schedule this fall. The games will conclude with a round-robin-style jamboree. As of mid-October the location of this year’s tournament was still to be determined (it was held in Auburn last year). The season will conclude with a team dinner and banquet to celebrate the year and the athletes and partners who participated. Golden said he and Burke jumped at the opportunity to lead the team when it was created a year ago. “It melded two of our greatest interests and seemed like a natural fit,” he said. “It’s been really cool to bring this to Hopkinton.”
‘Ultimate’ lessons about athletics, sportsmanship Ultimate | from page 14
Initially, the kids Siber saw coming to the Hopkinton program hadn’t really found another sport they loved. Now she sees a combination of kids looking for their niche and youngsters who also enjoy other sports, including football, lacrosse, soccer and hockey. This fall, the Hopkinton program included its first middle school team that competed at a tournament at Devens, and sent a group of girls to BUDA Girls Day with coaches from the Brute Squad, the top women’s team in the nation.
Of the Hopkinton league, Siber said, “It’s competitive, but it’s balanced not to burn kids out or take up too much time from kids or parents.” Registration for the program (fall or spring leagues) is through Hopkinton Parks and Rec (hopkintonma. myrec.com). Siber also runs a one-day clinic over winter break and a summer camp. Information about other leagues in the area can be found at buda.org/u14. For older kids, Hopkinton High School now has an Ultimate club team coached by teacher Mason Challinor.
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16 • The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019
Business BUSINESS PROFILE, AN ADVERTISER FEATURE:
Artists find themselves at HCA Center provides opportunities for growth, self-expression, enjoyment for all ages Left: Enjoy the magical fantasy of “The Nutcracker,” directed by Jessica Wilson, with two holiday performances this December.
By Deborah Burke Henderson Contributing Writer “You: Artists Depict Themselves” is the theme of the Hopkinton Center for the Arts’ current juried art exhibit (through Nov. 19) highlighting more than 40 visual artists. It reflects “This Is Me!,” the focus of the HCA’s fifth annual gala fundraiser (Saturday, Nov. 2), which will feature live music, festive food, an open bar, amazing raffle prizes and special guests who will share how the center helped shape their lives. “Whether it’s through art, dance, music, theater or ceramics, our students continually discover parts of themselves they never knew and further develop existing talents and passions,” stated Kelly Grill. “Co-director Kris Waldman and I feel incredibly grateful, all the time, to witness these life-changing stories and watch how the arts connect us all.” Each season, Grill and Waldman strive to introduce innovative, new visual and performing arts programming to expand the center’s repertoire of offerings. Patrons and newcomers alike agree the center brings joy and a sense of belonging to their families. This season meet Jessica Wilson, now serving as the center’s director of dance, who will direct the ballet for two spectacular holiday performances of “The Nutcracker.” On Saturday, Dec. 7, as part of Hopkinton’s Holiday Stroll, young children will enjoy an abbreviated, 50-minute narrated performance (11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the HCA’s Delbridge Performance Center) with HCA students dancing excerpts from Acts I and II, followed by a chance to meet the cast and enjoy sweet treats. The full, two-hour performance of this holiday classic will be presented
4
Below: Jessica Wilson conducts a ballet class for young students at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts.
“
My goal is to create a learning atmosphere that is welcoming for all ages and abilities.
— HCA dance instructor Jessica Wilson PHOTO/LIZA VOLL PHOTOGRAPHY
on Saturday, Dec. 22, at Ashland High School with admission at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tickets for either event may be purchased at the center or online at hopartscenter.org. Wilson, founder and former direc-
tor of MetroWest Ballet in Hudson, received early training from a Royal Academy of Dance-affiliated school in Natick, Boston Ballet and Walnut Hill School. She also studied with Hopkinton’s distinguished artist Jacqueline Cronsberg.
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With classical ballet at its core, Wilson has expanded the dance program. It now includes ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and hip-hop. “I want to make sure students feel comfortable and safe enough to take chances in order to progress and develop as aspiring artists,” Wilson stated. “My goal is to create a learning atmosphere that is welcoming for all ages and abilities.” Wilson knows students have expectations to progress, and dance is a challenging art form. She provides the instruction and support necessary to challenge each student’s progress in both technique and performance. “If a student is struggling with a technical element, I try to help them understand that nothing in life will always feel easy,” Wilson said. “I encourage my students to move through challenging moments and turn them into interesting and beautiful movement. They must trust and be themselves.” Wilson will take the months ahead to observe her students further and select an appropriate performance repertoire for the spring season that will help her aspiring artists develop and grow. “There is truly something here for everyone,” Grill added with a smile. To purchase tickets or discover other center highlights, visit hopartscenter.org. Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Hopkinton Independent advertisers.
The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019 • 17
Senior Snippets All activities unless otherwise noted are at the Hopkinton Senior Center, 28 Mayhew St. The Senior Center is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday from 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m., and Friday from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Call 508497-9730 for more information or to register for a program. For a more extensive listing of programs check Ourseniorcenter.com/find/Hopkinton-council-on-aging or www.hopkintonseniorcenter.com.
Pound Class
Wednesdays, 5 p.m. Instructor Rebecca Tredeau leads the world’s first class jam session inspired by the infectious, energizing and sweat-dripping playing of the drums. Designed for all fitness levels and any age. Pound sticks are available for 25 people, and some yoga mats will be available. Class size is limited. Seniors 55-plus take precedence. Sign up in advance. The cost $3 per class (paid monthly). No child care services are provided.
Yoga: Slow Flow
Wednesdays, 6 p.m. This class is suitable for all levels of yoga practitioners, with or without yoga experience, looking to explore the asanas (l poses) through slow and clear alignment-based practice. The focus is on building strength and stability through fundamental poses from the ground up. Fundamental standing poses, sun salutations, seated poses and twists, pranayama (breath control) and meditation will be taught in each practice. The instructor is Crystal Lee. The first class is free, then it’s $5 per class for drop-ins or $3 per class if paid monthly. Call to register.
Chi Gong
Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Chi Gong combines deep breathing with whole body movements to harmonize mind and body to promote energy, prevent illness and accelerate healing. The instructor is Linda Bellefeuille. The cost is $5 per class for drop-ins or $3 per class paid monthly.
Halloween Bash
Thursday, Oct. 31, 12:30 p.m. Eat, drink and get ghoulish at Halloween Bash. It’s sure to be a scream! Join the center for some witches brew, a showing of “The Birds” (1964), table games and more. Pre-registration required and costumes encouraged … only if you dare.
Showtime at the Senior Center The Senior Center held its annual variety show on Oct. 17. Some 120 people turned out to watch the 17 acts perform. Among the acts were (right) Linda DiBona and her dog, Piccolina, and (top) the Senior Center staff “band.”
Walking Group
Fridays, Nov. 1, 8, 15 and 22, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Enjoy the beautiful fall foliage and exercise at the same time. The walking group, led by Lisa Deneen, COA receptionist, meets at the Senior Center and the group walks to the Center Trail or other trails nearby. This activity is weather permitting. Pre-registration required.
Ageless Grace
Friday, Nov. 1, 12-1 p.m. Ageless grace is a brain fitness program based on neuroplasticity that activates all five functions of the brain. Exercises are based on everyday movements that are natural and organic. Jessica Gibson, occupational therapist at Homecare Solutions (which is sponsoring the program), will be the presenter. Pre-registration required.
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50-plus Job-Seekers Networking Group
Mondays, Nov. 4 and 18, 1:30-3:30 p.m. If you are 50-plus and unemployed, underemployed, returning to the workforce or seeking employment, you are eligible for this program. Learn the skills needed to obtain employment in the current job market, including resume writing that works, creating an elevator pitch, confronting ageism, managing stress and locating senior friendly employers. Ed Lawrence, a career coach, will facilitate each meeting. There will be time for networking as well. The multi-month series takes place the first and third Monday of the month. For more information or to register, contact Ashley Shaheen, co-facilitator, at 508-497-9730 or visit the website at www.mcoaonline.com/50plusregistration. This program is free thanks to a grant from MCOA.
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Chess for Fun: Learn and Play
Mondays, Nov. 4, 18 and 25, 2-3 p.m. Chess for Fun is a new program for adults of all ages. Each weekly one-hour session will offer instruction and practice for beginners, as well as a place to meet for anyone who wants to play chess for fun. The instructor/facilitator is Kate Gasser, a lifelong competitive chess player with experience in chess instruction. Kate also co-leads a chess group for grades K-5 at the Hopkinton Public Library. Chess sets will be provided. A beginners handout will be available. Pre-registration required.
Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Richard Rodgers composed popular music for more than 50 years. During that time, his main lyric-writing partners were Lorenz (Larry) Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II. These two partnerships produced countless hit songs and record-breaking Broadway musicals, many of which were later made into movies. The presentation by Bruce Hambro celebrates the most renowned music that arose from these two phenomenal partnerships. Bruce Hambro is a music and film historian. Pre-registration required.
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Fridays, Nov. 1, Nov. 15, Dec. 6 and Dec. 20, 10-11 a.m. Do you like to laugh? Do you like to discuss current events? Do you like to talk with people or do you prefer to sit back and listen? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions then the Conversation Cafe is for you. Conversations help us think differently, and the Senior Center challenge residents to think differently with D’Eon, outreach coordinator and facilitator of this new program. Light refreshments served.
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18 • The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019
Hopkinton Community Partnership helps meet needs in town By Michelle Sanford Contributing Writer
I
f Heather Smith had her choice, fundraising would be her full-time job. Over the years, the Hopkinton resident and human resources executive has been involved volunteering her time and helping to raise funds for a number of causes in the community. “One hundred percent I would do it all the time if I could. I really love it,” she said. It’s because of that passion that Smith and another local resident, Missy Doran, co-founded the Hopkinton Community Partnership (HCP), an independent philanthropic organization whose goal is to help fulfill various needs in town. Smith serves as president of the HCP and Doran as vice president. Over the years, Smith has served on the Hopkinton Parent Teacher Association board and served on the Hopkinton Education Foundation board and chaired its fundraising efforts, and she currently is involved in a number of other school and town organizations. Through all her involvement, Smith said she would hear about various needs of people or groups in town. “I’d hear it through the grapevine and it made me think there are so many needs out there that can’t possibly all be met,” she said. That’s when she and Doran took action. This past spring, HCP came to fruition, and since then the two women have been organizing events to raise funds to be doled out to communitybased education-driven programs, in
addition to individuals and families in need. The two are hoping to have one fundraising event each month. In mid-October, the HCP collaborated with Uno’s in Westborough for a “dough-raiser” in which the eatery donated up to 20 percent from patrons’ checks throughout one day. On Oct. 27, the organization sponsored a fun Trunk or Treat event in the parking lot of Marty’s Fine Wines. Future events include a Nov. 2 Moms Night Out, which begins at 7 p.m. at Hopkinton Country Club. The fun evening will include light appetizers, a cash bar and vendors on hand so attend-
ees can shop. The cost is $20 per person. Another upcoming HCP event is an Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt that begins on the Town Common and takes children and their parents through the downtown area looking for elves at various businesses. The scavenger hunt is scheduled for Dec. 14, beginning at 11 a.m. As monies begin to come in from fundraising events, Smith and Doran encourage residents and local groups to apply for funding through HCP’s grant application, which is available on an ongoing basis through the website. Non-monetary requests are taken into
consideration as well. Smith said the Hopkinton community has been extremely supportive of her and Doran’s efforts and expressed thanks to the organization’s primary sponsors, Middlesex Savings Bank and Eversource. “The community and schools have been great. Any time we’ve asked for help they’ve come out, and I’m very thankful for that,” Smith said. Registration for all HCP events, as well as more details and contact information, can be found on the organization’s website at hopkintoncommunitypartnership.com.
Library Corner Library Job Postings
Applications due Nov. 7 To fully support the newly expanded hours, the library will be adding three library assistants and one reference librarian to the team. Check the library’s website (hopkintonlibrary.org) for more information.
Halloween at the Library
Thursday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Kids can trick-or-treat at the library all day. Costumes encouraged but optional.
Friends of the Library Book Sale
Friday, Nov. 1, 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.,
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Special Fall Family Saturday Honoring Children’s Author Lucy Fitch Perkins
Saturdays, Nov. 2 and 9, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. This program is part of the Hopkinton Historical Society’s ongoing celebration of the Fitch family of Hopkinton.
Local Author Talk: George Leal
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Our Time Memory Cafe
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 1-3 p.m. Our Time Memory Café is a welcoming gathering for those experiencing forgetfulness or mild cognitive impairment, or living with dementia, along with their care partner, family and friends. A care partner must accompany anyone who requires assistance. Registration is requested but not required.
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Journey Through the Roots of American Popular Music With Musician Jon Waterman
Saturday, Nov. 23, 2-3 p.m. “Journey Through the Roots of American Popular Music” explores the history of American music and celebrates some of the characters and happenings that shaped it through songs and stories. For more information on any of the following programs or other activities at the library, visit hopkintonlibrary.org. The library also can be found at Facebook, @hopkintonlibrary, and on Twitter, @ HopkintonPLMA.
E The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019 • 19
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.
St. Paul’s Community Supper Oct. 30
The October Community Pasta Supper at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (61 Wood St.) will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome to the event, which is being supported by the churches of the Hopkinton Christian Service Connection. The pasta supper is held for the community on the last Wednesday of every month. The meal is free, although donations will be accepted. For more information, visit stpaulhopkinton.org.
HCA annual gala Nov. 2
The Hopkinton Center for the Arts’ annual fundraising gala will be held Saturday, Nov. 2, from 7-11 p.m. at the HCA’s Delbridge Performing Arts Center. There will be live music (Night Rhythm), food (MetroWest Catering) an open bar, a live auction and raffles. This year’s theme, “This is Me,” which is based on a song from the hit stage musical “The Greatest Showman,” focuses on an especially timely message: self-acceptance and self-expression through the arts. Tickets are $100 (or $600 for a group of eight) and are available at the HCA or through hopartscenter.org.
Moms Night Out Nov. 2
The Hopkinton Community Partnership is hosting a fundraiser called Moms Night Out on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. at Hopkinton Country Club. There will be light appetizers, a cash bar and vendors, all to support the HCP. Tickets are $20 per person. For more information and to register, visit hopkintoncommunitypartnership.com.
Annual Diwali Gala at HCA Nov. 9
The South Asian Circle of Hopkinton will host its annual Diwali Gala dinner on Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. It will be an evening filled with fun, delicious food and drinks, entertainment, community networking and cultural shows that represent multi-cultural aspects of the Indian sub-continent. The program includes musicals, dances, poetry from Tagore, interactive decor and displays, and a lively emcee. All communities in Hopkinton are welcome to join. For more information, visit southasiancircleofhopkinton.org or email communications@southasiancircleofhopkinton.org.
Artists show at HCA through Nov. 9
On view at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts’ Lotvin Family Gallery is an exhibit titled “You: Artists Depict Themselves.” The free exhibit, which started Oct. 7, runs through Nov. 9. The show was juried by Arthur Dion, director emeritus of Gallery NAGA in Boston. For more information, visit hopartscenter.org.
Children’s Entertainer Jeannie Mack at HCA Nov. 10
Kids will be dancing down the aisle during this rockin’ Jeannie Mack concert on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 3 p.m. at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. Recommended for ages 1-8. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids. For more information, visit hopartscenter.org.
Women’s Club wine glass painting fundraiser Nov. 16
The Hopkinton Women’s Club will host a wine glass painting fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 2-4 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (61 Wood St.). Each ticket ($35 before Oct. 19, $40 before Nov. 1) includes two wine glasses and all the painting supplies. There will be non-alcoholic beverages, snacks and door prizes, as well as raffle prizes for an additional fee. Proceeds help fund the Hopkinton Women’s Club Scholarship. For more information, contact Judith Weinthaler at 508-4353287 or HopWCMembership@gmail.com.
Pediatric health issues lecture Nov. 18
Erika Johnson, DPT, a physical therapist and pelvic floor specialist at Platinum Physical Therapy, will give a free lecture covering pediatric bowel and bladder dysfunction on Monday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Start Line Pediatrics (77 West Main St., Suite 201). Topics to be covered include but are not limited to: constipation, urine and stool “accidents,” fecal staining, increased bathroom use frequency and bed-wetting. For more information and to register, contact Start Line Pediatrics at 508-435-7100.
Hot Acoustics at HCA Nov. 22
Hot Acoustics, a local band that plays favorite rock and roll and top-40 songs, will perform at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts on Friday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the HCA Local Scene Series, sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank. Tickets are $15 per person. Child watch is available for an additional fee. For more information, visit hopartscenter.org.
Primarily Potters Show/Sale Nov. 22-24
Shop local and browse the unique pottery of nine local artisans at the Primarily Potters Show and Sale the weekend of Nov. 22-24 at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. Meet the artist on Friday, Nov. 22, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. For more information, visit hopartscenter.org.
RE/MAX Neighbors Helping Neighbors 5K Nov. 23
The RE/MAX Neighbors Helping Neighbors 5K is set for Saturday, Nov. 23, at 9 a.m. at Hopkinton Country Club. The race features long-sleeve crew-neck technical shirts, a postrace breakfast buffet and a silent auction. Proceeds benefit the RE/ MAX Executive Charitable Foundation, a non-profit that provides financial or service-based assistance in the community. For more information or to register, go to racewire.com/register.php?id=10197.
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Hopkinton Running Club 10K race Dec. 7
The Hopkin10K Road Race, organized by the Hopkinton Running Club and held in memory of Andy Welzel, will take place Saturday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m. The race starts at Victory Field on Fruit Street and the course takes runners on a scenic journey around Lake Whitehall. The race is in memory of Andy Welzel, a lifelong Hopkinton resident, father and beloved coach who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in 2006. All proceeds fund the Andy Welzel “Pay it Forward” Scholarship. For more information or to register, visit racemenu. com/Hopkin10k.
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Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt Dec. 14
The Hopkinton Community Partnership presents the Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The event, for pre-kindergarten through Grade 5, starts at Hopkinton Town Common and travels throughout the downtown, where elves will be hidden among local businesses. All participants get a prize. All proceeds go to the Hopkinton Community Partnership. For more information and to register, visit hopkintoncommunitypartnership.com.
Hopkinton Night at the Celtics Dec. 27
The Hopkinton Basketball Association is sponsoring its fourth annual Hopkinton Night at the Celtics on Friday, Dec. 27. Some Hopkinton travel basketball players will be selected to have a short scrimmage on the parquet floor before the Celtics-Cavaliers game as well as at halftime, and other kids will have the chance to participate in additional on-court activities. All Hopkinton residents and their families/friends (even if they are from outside Hopkinton) are welcome to attend. For more information and to order tickets ($75 each), go to hopkintonbasketball.org. “The Big Picture in a Small Town”
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20 • The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019
Police Log October 8
6:41 a.m. A motorist reported hitting a deer on Fruit Street. Officer Brendon Lyver responded, and a report was to follow. 11:46 a.m. An alarm company reported an individual stuck in an elevator on East Main Street. Officer Ryan Polselli and the Fire Department responded. The alarm company called back stating the person was released. The Fire Department was canceled en route. Officer Polselli confirmed the situation. 12:29 p.m. Officer Jay Deiana reported someone dropped a bag of cement on Wood Street. The DPW was notified. 12:33 p.m. A Teresa Road resident reported seeing a coyote in his backyard and wanted it logged. 4:00 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle hit and knocked over a mailbox on West Main Street and drove away. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil responded and notified the Grafton Police Department to be on the lookout. 7:06 p.m. A caller reported a maroon SUV with one headlight and no taillights on East Main Street. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded and checked the area with a negative find. 9:29 p.m. A Pond Street caller reported hearing neighbors screaming. Sergeants Matthew McNeil and Aaron O’Neil and Officer Benjamin Stickney responded, and a report was to follow.
October 9
6:15 a.m. A caller reported a sus-
picious man in a parked van on Loop Road. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded and found two commercial vans and workers fixing the light posts. All was OK. 9:55 a.m. A caller reported an outside odor of natural gas on Wood Street. Officers Moira McGaffigan, Jay Deiana and Benjamin Stickney responded along with the Fire Department. The odor had dissipated and zero readings were reported. 10:08 a.m. Officer Jay Deiana assisted a disabled motor vehicle with a possibly snapped axle on Main Street. 10:30 a.m. A caller reported an intoxicated male on Wood Street had entered a vehicle with a case of beer. Officers Ryan Polselli and Benjamin Stickney responded and reported the vehicle was still in the driveway and the individual was not in the vehicle. 10:44 a.m. Officer Benjamin Stickney reported coming upon a road rage incident on Wood Street. One driver involved reported the incident was only verbal. The second vehicle took off before he could get its license plate. 11:01 a.m. The Upton Police Department reported a hit and run motor vehicle accident in its town and requested Hopkinton be on the lookout. Officer Ryan Polselli checked West Main Street for the vehicle with a negative find.
October 10
7:08 a.m. A Walcott Valley Drive caller reported an outside odor of
natural gas. Officer Moira McGaffigan responded along with the Fire Department, and zero readings were reported. 11:13 a.m. Sergeant John Porter assisted a person seeking sex offender information. 12:59 p.m. A DPW employee reported fallen wires on Eastview Road. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded along with the Fire Department and reported a wire was coiled around the telephone pole. Verizon was notified. 12:28 p.m. Officer Ryan Polselli stood by a disabled motor vehicle that ran out of gas on West Main Street until fuel was delivered. 2:26 p.m. The Fire Chief reported two cisterns on Washington Lane had been vandalized. Officer Jay Deiana responded to view the damage and take a report.
October 11
11:13 a.m. A walk-in reported losing her car key and wanted the incident logged. 10:14 a.m. The Housing Authority Director reported receiving a message from a Davis Road resident stating there was a fire. Officers John Corridan and Moira McGaffigan responded along with the Fire Department and reported there was no fire. The officers spoke with the resident and reported there had been a miscommunication. 1:18 p.m. A Nicholas Road walkin reported a scam phone called and wanted it logged. 1:49 p.m. A walk-in spoke with Officer Brian Sanchioni about a suspicious incident that occurred at her mother’s house. 2:23 p.m. Officers Moira McGaffigan and Brian Sanchioni responded to a motor vehicle accident on Hayden Rowe Street. No personal injuries were reported. A tow truck removed one vehicle. A report was to follow. 6:14 p.m. A caller reported her vehicle was struck in the library parking lot while she was inside the library. Officer Derek Morton responded and took a report.
7:07 p.m. A Lyn Path resident reported a case of harassment. Officers Brian Sanchioni and Tyler Brabham responded and took a report.
October 12
2:09 a.m. Officer Brendon Lyver assisted the Southborough Police Department in searching for the owner of a motor vehicle that was unattended and running in Southborough. 2:23 p.m. Officer Robert Ekross responded to Wood Street to notify the owner of the running vehicle in Southborough. The owner was to call the Southborough Police Department. 12:10 p.m. A Woody Island Road caller reported his chocolate lab was missing. The animal control officer was notified. The caller called back and stated the dog had been found. 8:53 p.m. A Locust Street resident reported a male rang her doorbell and ran off. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officers Brian Sanchioni, Derek Morton and Tyler Brabham responded and were unable to locate the individual. The officers were to follow up with school resource officer Philip Powers for possible ID from the homeowner’s security video. 9:14 p.m. A Walnut Way caller reported a person taking photos of her house earlier in the day and wanted the incident logged. 10:34 p.m. A caller reported loud music and noise on Hayden Rowe Street. Officers Derek Morton, Brian Sanchioni and Tyler Brabham responded and dispersed a small group.
October 13
12:21 a.m. A South Mill Street resident reported he was away from home and he saw bright lights on at his house via an app on his phone. He was not sure if it was a fire or lights on in the living room. Officer Brendon Lyver responded and checked the property and found everything secure. 3:16 a.m. Officer Robert Ekross checked on a vehicle on the side of the roadway of Lumber Street and found the
ARRESTS October 10
11:42 a.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Moira McGaffigan and Benjamin Stickney responded to Hopkinton High School on Hayden Rowe Street and arrested Angelo O. Maisonet, 18, of 58 Warren Road, Framingham, on a warrant charge.
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4:44 p.m. Officer John Corridan conducted a motor vehicle stop on Main Street and subsequently arrested a homeless woman, Chloe L. Collins, 23, and charged her with operation of a motor vehicle with license suspended and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. 6:51 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle backed in to his vehicle on Main Street. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officers Brian Sanchioni, Tyler Brabham and Preston Mucciarone responded, and after field sobriety tests were administered arrested Barbara J. Johnston, 58, of 387 Hanlon Road,
“The Big Picture in a Small Town”
Holliston, and charged her with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and OUI liquor, second offense. 10:00 p.m. A caller reported an erratic operator on Main Street. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officers Brian Sanchioni, Tyler Brabham and Preston Mucciarone responded and subsequently arrested Kenneth J. Nunez, 23, of 86 Bishop St., Framingham, and charged him with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and operation of a motor vehicle with license suspended.
October 18
5:46 p.m. On Wood Street, Officer Preston Mucciarone arrested Bonnie DiCori, 65, of 4 Woodview Way on a warrant.
October 19
2:42 a.m. On Hayden Rowe Street, Sergeant William Burchard arrested Jason D. Knipe, 35, of 37 Cedarview Circle, Milford on a warrant charge. His vehicle was left at Cornell’s.
The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019 • 21
Police Log operator watching a show on his phone. All was OK. 8:04 a.m. A Saddle Hill Road resident reported a breaking and entering that occurred during the night. Officers Jay Deiana and Brendon Lyver responded, and a report was to follow. 11:20 a.m. A Mayhew Street caller reported being locked out of her house. Officer Ryan Polselli responded and assisted in gaining access to the house. 2:42 p.m. A Woodview Way caller reported his vehicle was struck overnight while in the neighborhood parking lot. Officer Ryan Polselli responded and took a report. 11:56 p.m. A caller reported being bitten by a dog on Wood Street. The information was logged and the animal control officer was notified.
October 14
12:29 a.m. Officer Brendon Lyver assisted the State Police on West Main Street. 10:58 a.m. A walk-in spoke with Officer Ryan Polselli about a possible scam. A report was to follow. 12:33 p.m. A caller reported losing his wallet and wanted the incident logged. 7:06 p.m. A Ridge Road caller reported hearing gunshots in the area. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Derek Morton responded and found all quiet upon their arrival.
October 15
5:16 a.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield checked on a person in a vehicle parked on Hayden Rowe Street and found him playing Pokémon Go. All was OK. 8:40 a.m. A caller reported a chocolate lab running loose in the roadway of Cedar Street. Officers Jay Deiana and Ryan Polselli responded and checked the area with a negative find. 9:04 a.m. A caller reported a suspicious pickup truck parked in front of his Rough Rider Ridge home. Officers Moira McGaffigan and Jay Deiana responded and spoke to an individual doing construction at the house next door. All was OK. 9:43 a.m. A caller reported losing her cell phone in the State Park on Cedar Street the day before and wanted it logged. 1:37 p.m. A caller in Milford asked for directions and was advised that 911 is for emergencies only. 2:10 p.m. A caller reported a fight on Main Street. Officers Benjamin Stickney, Ryan Polselli, Moira McGaffigan and Jay Deiana responded to the disturbance and reported the fight was between a boss and an ex-employee. One person had run away on foot. The officers checked the area for the individual with a negative find. A report was to follow. 2:40 p.m. A walk-in spoke with Officer Benjamin Stickney about an ongoing suspicious incident. Officer Stickney took a report. 8:00 p.m. A motorist reported a vehicle attempted to run him off the road on Cedar Street. Officer John Corridan and Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded and advised the operator of the complaint.
October 16
8:09 a.m. A caller reported a school van driving erratically on the MassPike.
The State Police were notified. 11:20 a.m. A walk-in reported a phone scam and wanted it logged. 11:24 a.m. School resource officer Philip Powers issued parking tickets on Hayden Rowe Street. 3:22 p.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield provided a student from Pinecrest Village with a courtesy transport. 5:39 p.m. A Downey Street resident reported a person going door-to-door claiming to be from Eversource. Officers Brian Sanchioni and Tyler Brabham responded and spoke with the person, who had a badge and works for Direct Energy. All checked out OK. 7:25 p.m. A Prestwick Drive caller reported two men ringing the doorbell and knocking on the door. Officer John Corridan responded and sent them on their way.
October 17
4:55 a.m. A caller reported a fallen tree on School Street that was blocking both lanes of travel. Officer Stephen Buckley and Sergeant William Burchard responded and contacted the Highway Department. 5:06 a.m. Officer Robert Ekross removed branches from the roadway of Wilson Street. Stone Work Specialists
5:34 a.m. A caller reported a fallen tree limb on Lumber Street that was blocking a lane of travel. Officer Robert Ekross responded and removed the branch from the roadway. 6:02 a.m. Sergeant Matthew McNeil reported a fallen tree on wires on West Elm Street. Eversource was contacted. The Fire Department advised a road closure. 7:30 a.m. Multiple calls were received about a fallen tree on wires on School Street. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officer Moira McGaffigan responded along with the Fire Department. Eversource was notified. 8:12 a.m. Sergeant Joseph Bennett found a lost dog on Norcross Road and notified the animal control officer. 8:39 a.m. A Chestnut Street caller reported a case of check fraud. Officer Moira McGaffigan assisted. 9:16 a.m. An East Main Street caller reported a vehicle hit his stone wall by the driveway some time the previous night. Officer Moira McGaffigan responded, viewed the damage, and notified Verizon of damage to a pole. A report was to follow. 2:12 p.m. A Davis Road caller reported a receiving a fraudulent call involving a social security number. The incident was logged. Police Log | 22
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22 • The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019
Police Log Police Log | from page 21
2:41 p.m. A concerned caller reported a man in black jeans walking on the breakdown lane of Interstate 495 with no vehicle nearby. The State Police were notified. 3:39 p.m. A walk-in spoke with Officers Tyler Brabham and Brian Sanchioni about a harassment order. 6:02 p.m. A Hayward Street resident complained of a male solicitor banging on her door and looking in her windows. Officer Preston Mucciarone responded and was unable to locate the solicitors, who had registered at the station. 7:05 p.m. A walk-in spoke with Officers Brian Sanchioni and Tyler Brabham about difficulty getting paid by his employer.
October 18
8:08 a.m. A detail officer on Chamberlain Street reported a jogger was verbally harassed by a driver. Officers Matthew Santoro and Moira McGaffigan responded and checked the area with a negative find on the vehicle. 9:33 a.m. A caller reported losing a blue wallet on West Elm Street and wanted it logged. 11:43 a.m. A school bus driver reported a suspicious man in a black Jeep showing a puppy to students at recess on Grove Street. School Resource Officer Philip Powers and Police Chief Edward Lee responded and reported it was a parent of a student showing off the dog. All was OK.
12:13 p.m. Residents of Sanctuary Lane complained of construction vehicles driving down their private road. The information was logged. 12:13 p.m. Officer Moira McGaffigan responded to a civil dispute on Lakeshore Drive. A report was to follow. 12:37 p.m. A caller reported kids on bicycles with no helmets darting out on to Ash Street. Officer Matthew Santoro responded, and the youths were gone upon his arrival.
October 19
12:36 a.m. A Shaw Street caller reported a past breaking and entering. Officer Brian Sanchioni responded along with K9 assistance. A report was to follow. 9:33 a.m. An Elizabeth Road caller reported pool workers accidentally hit a water line. The DPW was notified. 2:21 p.m. A caller reported suspicious fliers had been distributed on car windows on John Matthew Road. Officer Ryan Polselli responded and did not see any fliers or suspicious people. 4:54 p.m. A caller reported a verbal altercation on Main Street. Sergeants Aaron O’Neil and Matthew McNeil responded and spoke with all involved parties. A report was to follow. 8:15 p.m. A Winter Street resident complained of noise in the neighborhood. Officers Derek Morton and Benjamin Stickney responded and heard gunshots in the area. The caller was notified that it was opening night of
coyote season. 8:34 p.m. A caller reported someone was throwing rocks at passing vehicles on Cedar Street. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Benjamin Stickney responded and checked the area with a negative find. 9:32 p.m. A Main Street caller reported her laptop computer was stolen. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded and took a report. 10:16 p.m. A Wood Street caller complained of noise from a loud party in the neighborhood. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Derek Morton and Benjamin Stickney responded and advised the neighbors of the complaint.
October 20
12:51 a.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield assisted the State Police on Pleasant Street. 4:22 a.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident on Wood Street, where a car hit a pole. Officers Stephen Buckley and Brendon Lyver responded along with an ambulance. The patient refused medical attention. A tow truck removed the vehicle, and Verizon was notified of a damaged pole. A report was to follow. 5:46 p.m. A Benson Road resident reported his dog was bitten by a dog from Smith Road. He was advised to call the animal control officer.
October 21
6:46 a.m. A motorist reported an erratic operator on West Main Street who
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was tailgating and threw an object at the caller. Officer Brendon Lyver responded and issued a verbal warning for marked lanes violation. 8:10 a.m. An Alexander Road resident reported an ongoing issue with a dog that continues to attack other dogs. The animal control officer was contacted and was to be handling the incident. 12:54 p.m. School Resource Officer Philip Powers, Officer Benjamin Stickney and Sergeant Scott van Raalten served a warrant of apprehension on Hayden Rowe Street and subsequently transported the arrested person to juvenile court. 1:13 p.m. A West Main Street store clerk reported a possibly intoxicated man had just left the store. Officer Ryan Polselli responded and checked the area with a negative find and advised the Upton Police Department. 2:12 p.m. A caller reported an injured coyote walking on the roadway of Cedar Street. Officer Moira McGaffigan checked the area with a negative find. 3:09 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle hit a school bus on Hayden Rowe Street and drove away. Officer Preston Mucciarone responded and notified the Milford Police Department to be on the lookout. 3:50 p.m. A caller reported a disabled motor vehicle blocking traffic on West Main Street. Officer Ryan Polselli responded and a tow truck removed the vehicle from the roadway.
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The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019 • 23
Obituaries Ted Gassett Theodore L. “Ted” Gassett, 76, a lifelong resident of Hopkinton, died peacefully Oct. 21. He is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Carol A. (Stevens) Gassett; their children, William A. Gassett and partner Adrienne Hollis, and Ann Michelle Dragsbaek and husband Torin, all of Hopkinton; four grandchildren, Maddie, Cole, Morgan and Luke Dragsbaek; two brothers, Jim Gassett of Florida and Tom Gassett of Colombia; and many nieces, nephews and their families. He was the brother of the late John, Joseph and Eugene Gassett, and the late Charles Rutkowski. Born in Framingham, he was the son of the late Joseph and Ann (Foy) Gassett, and was a graduate of Hopkinton High School, Class of 1961. Mr. Gassett served honorably in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1964-70. A builder and real estate developer, he owned and operated Circa 1700 Builders and Bay State Housewrights of Hopkinton. Ted was a longtime parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Church and was a president and member of the Hopkinton Kiwanis. He loved York Beach, Maine, enjoyed westerns and keeping up with current events on CNN and Fox News. A funeral Mass was celebrated Oct. 26 in St. John the Evangelist Church, followed by burial in Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Hopkinton. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.
Christine Salvucci Christine M. Salvucci, 94, died Oct. 11 at Metrowest Medical Center, Framingham. She was the wife of the late Gerardo Salvucci, who died in July 1975. Born in Marlborough, she was the daughter of the late Arenzo and Cora (Lizotte) Ferrelli. She worked for many years as a cook for the Hopkinton Senior Center. She is survived by her daughter, Jeanie Petani of Milford, wife of the late Jeffrey Petani, her granddaughters, Jean Michelle Petani of Hopkinton and Christine Petani of Milford, and her great-grandson, Jonathan Petani of Hopkinton. She also leaves her sister, Doris Ferrelli of Milford, and many nieces and nephews. Christine enjoyed taking care of the beautiful flowers in her yard. She liked to go shopping and out to lunch, especially for Mexican food. She really loved decorating for holidays and spending both birthdays and holidays with her family. She was very, very proud of her granddaughters and her great-grandson. A funeral Mass was held Oct. 25 in St. John the Evangelist Church in Hopkinton, followed by burial in St. John’s Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home (callanancronin.com).
David Kurzontkowski David P. Kurzontkowski 70, of Ridgeville, South Carolina, died peacefully on Oct. 6 with his family by his side. Despite loving life with family in South Carolina for the past 20 years, Dave kept close to his Hopkinton roots by visiting family and friends up North regularly. To say that Dave was a good employee is an understatement. He loved to work and demonstrated a lifetime of loyalty as an accomplished and essential employee at Kuhn Equipment in South Carolina. Restoring antique cars and traveling around the country
to car shows with friends was one of his favorite pastimes. He enjoyed shop talk and was especially known for his strong knowledge and love of all things Chevrolet. Most of all, Dave will be fondly remembered and greatly missed for his love, devotion and generosity to his large family, especially his grown children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who all cherished time with him. He had a heart of gold and was the kindest person in the world. There will be a memorial service in Hopkinton in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Red Cross.
Grace Keith Grace Ellen Keith, 88, of Hopkinton, passed away Oct. 15. Born in Framingham, she was the daughter of the late Edith Madelyn (Carter) and James W. Bancroft. She was the wife of the late Charles H. Keith, who passed away in 1984. A 1948 graduate of Hopkinton High School, Grace went on to graduate Class of 1952 from New England Deaconess School of Nursing. She was a lifelong Hopkinton resident and worked for 35 years in the Obstetrical Department at Framingham Union Hospital She is survived by her children, Sally Peck and her husband, Frank, of Florida, Susan Lindsay and her husband, Charles, of Ashland, and Robert Keith and his longtime companion, Colleen Scully, of Hopkinton. She also leaves behind two grandchildren, Robert M. Keith Jr. and Jonathan W. Keith; her step-grandson, Frank Peck Jr.; as well as seven great-grandchildren, Xander, Olivia, Phinneas, Ian, Mason, Logan and Dylan. She is predeceased by her sister, Priscilla Stevens. Funeral services were scheduled privately with family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association or Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements were under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton (ChesmoreFuneralHome.com).
Ruth VanFossen Ruth M. VanFossen, 69, of Holliston, passed away Oct. 17 while surrounded by the eternal love of her family at the Rose Monahan Hospice House in Worcester. Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Mary (Melia) and Arthur F. Kelley. She was the beloved wife of 47 years to Thomas Richard VanFossen Jr. of Holliston. She was a wonderful and caring individual who touched the lives of all who knew her through her constant love and support. She enjoyed reading, spending time with her grandchildren and visiting Scituate with her sisters. She also was an avid volunteer with her therapy dog, Barney, bringing immeasurable comfort to people of all ages at St. Mary’s Hospital in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. She was smart, creative and so incredibly special to all those who love her. She was the loving and devoted mother of Brian Thomas VanFossen and his wife, Betsi, of San Diego,, Mary-Kate VanFossen and her husband, Justin Gadsby, of Hopkinton, and Amy VanFossen and her husband, Chris Dimitri, of Arlington. She was the cherished Grammie of Emily VanFossen, Braeden and Emerson Gadsby and Anderson Dimitri. Ruth also will be loved and remembered by two sisters, Martha Voner and her husband, Dan, of Burlington, and Maura McClintock and her husband, Tom, of Norwood, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and assuredly everyone else she met. A funeral service was held Oct. 23 at the Chesmore Funeral Home of Holliston (ChesmoreFuneralHome.com). “The Big Picture in a Small Town”
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24 • The Hopkinton Independent • October 30, 2019
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$38.99
750 ml
Price Effective Oct 29th - Nov 4th, 2019
Complete list of specials at juliosliquors.com
So much more than a liquor store.
140 Turnpike Rd., Westborough Route 9 at Lyman St. (508) 366-1942 juliosliquors.com
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HomeServices
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Commonwealth Real Estate HomeServices
Commonwealth Estateof making a move…call today! If youReal are thinking
We have lots of buyers searching for their new home!
Karen McDermott (508)272-6644
Robin Fay (508)269-4441
NEW LISTING! $445,000
Nancy Wilson (508)820-6094
49 Forest Lane, Hopkinton Robin Fay & Nancy Wilson
MULTI-FAMILY! $669,000
7 Edson Terrace, Hyde Park Meeghan Ford
SOLD! $524,000
56 Wood Street, Hopkinton Robin Fay & Nancy Wilson
Meeghan Ford (508)962-7864
Daniele Pepin (617)967-1053 SOLD! $375,000
14 Robertson Road, Auburn Daniele Pepin Rand Alkass (508)479-7424
Ashwini Samaga (508)330-2292
HOPKINTON HIGHLANDS! $1,199,000
SOLD! $185,000
39 Greenwood Road, Hopkinton Karen McDermott
3 Williamsburg Drive, Uxbridge Rand Alkass
Where you deserve to be! (508) 435-6333 20 Main Street, Hopkinton
BERKSHIRE HATH
“The Big Picture in a Small Town”
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