HI 9.27.23

Select Board addresses police hiring controversy

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

Thepolice hiring controversy dominated much of the Sept. 19 Select Board meeting, as members held a discussion with Chief Joseph Bennett about the department’s policy and how board members could become more involved.

The controversy started at the Sept. 5 meeting, when members voted 4-1 to delay the promotion request for two Hopkinton Police Department officers to the rank of sergeant.

During the public forum portion of the Sept. 19 meeting, Officer Nick Walker, representing the police union, noted the department’s staffing issues and accused the board of making the situation worse.

“Since December of 2020, the Hopkinton Police Department has lost 17 members,” Walker said. “Only one of those officers retired. Fourteen of them are active law enforcement officers in other agencies to this day. They chose

Movie magic for local couple

By Courtney Cornelius Contributing Writer

Having just retired after a successful 30-year career in the television industry, Bob Gilbert — producer of “Ask Bob” and “Let’s Talk” and vice president and general manager of WABU-TV Boston — had plans, which included travel, fun with friends and working on the fixer-upper he and wife Susan Scannell Gilbert recently had purchased in Hopkinton.

Two weeks later, COVID struck … and plans changed.

“Everything just shut down, you know? And I got bored pretty quickly,” Bob said.

Cast and crew members prepare to film a scene at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts for the movie “Atomic Poop.”

Hopkinton High School soccer player Georgie Clarke dribbles past an Ashland defender during their game Sept. 5. The Hillers, one of the top teams in Eastern Massachusetts, opened the season with six straight wins. See story. Page 22.

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STAFF

Bajrami constructs her success story

Greta Bajrami is not afraid of taking on a challenge.

As if starting her professional career as “an immigrant, a minority, a woman and a young adult” was not enough, she chose a maledominated profession — construction — in which it’s difficult to break through and last. And she succeeded.

That led to the Hopkinton resident being named an Ernst & Young New England Entrepreneur of the Year for 2023.

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INDEPENDENT THOUGHTS JERRY SPAR

“That award was probably the highlight of my career thus far, because it’s one of the hardest awards to get,” said Bajrami, noting she shared the stage with leaders from some high-profile companies. “The reason I got welcomed on that stage, it was a very rigorous process, they wanted to know how your entrepreneurship worked and how you saw entrepreneurship and what you did to advocate for recruiting talent and doing something different.”

Born in Albania, Bajrami immigrated to America with her parents in 2000. They settled in Worcester, which has a big Albanian immigrant community.

Bajrami eventually went to Worcester State College, where her career ambition took hold. As part of an entrepreneurship class, she developed a plan that she could apply to “any industry that I saw an opportunity.”

Having worked one summer in construction, Bajrami “saw there was so much I had been learning as a student in the college classroom that was missing in the day-to-day hustle of construction and construction workers.”

“So I embarked on the journey to open my own construction company, which at that time seemed like a really big dream — to be 21 and wanting to open your own company,” she said. “But through resilience and determination, I found my footing.”

At first, Bajrami struggled to find and retain quality employees, and it was equally challenging to find homeowners willing to trust her with their money.

“I hired three people, I had one van of equipment, and I started going around to every [general contractor], architect, engineer and asked them if they would give me something to work on,” she recalled. “At first, nobody wanted to give us anything, so we were mainly doing repair work. But being on job sites every single day and being on rooftops every single day really strengthened me and gave me the skills that I needed not only to excel but survive in this industry. Because it is a very cutthroat industry, it is very fast-paced, there’s a lot of pressure and anxiety that builds up, because we’re working on people’s most valuable things, which is their homes.”

She stuck to her strategy of focusing on quality and allowing word to spread.

“I always believed in craftsmanship,” she said. “I believed if we started backwards through the hands on the roof, we would find a way to have it all come together. I think a lot of entrepreneurs start from sales and marketing. My philosophy was to start from the hands, from the people, and really build everything around the identity of what we were doing out there.”

Without much money to spend on marketing, she took to social media for free publicity, writing blogs and posting photos and videos to build a brand as well as educate homeowners.

Her big break came in the winter of 2014-15, when a massive storm caused problems for homeowners across the region.

“When I finally found my footing was when the 2014-2015 ice dams happened — that big, historical storm,” she said. “At that time, people just wanted a roofer; no one really cared how many years you’d been in business. So, I think business is a little bit of luck, and it’s about holding out and holding on as much as you can and believing that your moment will come. That’s when my moment came. That storm was definitely the fire to the fuel, and after that we never stopped.

“Fast-forward 12 years [after starting], and we have four offices of Golden Group

Greta Bajrami shows off her New England Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Roofing and Solar, and we have grown to over 40 employees. Being such a big company, and being that we financially bootstrapped this without any investors or outside capital caught the attention of a lot of [people]. I’ve been getting local and national awards for quite some time now. I’ve appeared on many podcasts, and everybody wants to know how I was able to build such a successful company.”

Library hosts Read-In Oct. 5 at Town Common

The Hopkinton Public Library is sponsoring a Read-In at the Town Common on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 5-7 p.m.

The event serves as an opportunity for the community to come together to support the right to read, explained Danielle Cook, adult services librarian.

“Our Read-In is part of Let Freedom Read, a state-wide initiative celebrating our communities’ First Amendment rights to find all sorts of books at their local libraries, and takes place during Banned Books Week,” Cook shared. “Book bans, threats to funding, and other efforts to censor library materials have increased steeply in the last year, and disproportionately affect the most vulnerable among us, as well as violating the First Amendment rights of all individuals to borrow and read whatever they like from the library.

“We believe that everyone who walks into the library deserves to find a book on the shelves that is interesting or helpful to them,” Cook continued. “Unfortunately, in recent years there has been a steep increase in Massachusetts and across the United States in book challenges, which seek to reduce the variety of books on our shelves, often by targeted removal of books.”

Cook encourages residents to attend the Read-In with a blanket or chair and a book — or attendees can borrow a book from one of the librarians, who will have selections on-site.

Paluri siblings produce for charity

Just Sold

Arjun and Nysha Paluri came up with a crafty way to support two local organizations. The siblings — Arjun is a freshman at Hopkinton High School while Nysha is in fifth grade — produced their own Hopkinton-themed merchandise, hand-decorating T-shirts, keychains, tote bags and more with the high school’s ‘H’ logo and selling them at the PolyArts festival at the Town Common on Sept. 9.

The duo created the items over the summer and sold more than 200 of them at PolyArts. With the money they raised, the Paluri kids made donations to Project Just Because and the Michael Lisnow Respite Center.

Locals set for Jimmy Fund Walk

A total of 19 Hopkinton residents are registered for the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk on Oct. 1. Among the locals are Kathryn Curry, Yvonne Riley, Mark Day, David Shapiro, Myra Tamba, Paul Decker, Gary Trachtman, Jaime Vivian, Abhi Das and Alicia Boulanger.

The annual event raises funds to support all forms of adult and pediatric care and cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Jimmy Fund Walk has raised more than $167 million for Dana-Farber in its 34-year history, including a record-breaking total of more than $8.8 million in 2022.

Helpful kids meet cats at Baypath

A group of youngsters from Juniper Trail, in the Legacy Farms North neighborhood, held a bake sale on the occasion of Indian Independence Day, which was Aug. 15. The children raised $800, which they donated to Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton.

The children took the donation to Baypath on Sept. 12 and got a chance to meet some of the cats at the facility.

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Children from Juniper Trail play with cats at Baypath Humane Society after making a donation to the shelter on Legacy Farms Road North.

Nysha (left) and Arjun Paluri sell Hopkinton High School-themed items at PolyArts.

PHOTO/AMIT JAGDALE

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

The Open Space Preservation Commission at its nearly two-hour meeting Thursday night approved the donation of open space to the town at a Whisper Way subdivision after a contentious Planning Board meeting showed that the process should have taken place before building permits were issued. Land was supposed to be conveyed to the town as part of an open space and landscape preservation development (OSLPD) special permit for the 12-unit subdivision. However, Planning Board meeting documents show that four lots had building permits issued for the con-

struction of the homes in that subdivision prior to the conveyance of the open space or the placing of a conservation restriction on the land, contrary to the requirements of the OSLPD bylaw. Also, two of the three units constructed have been issued certificates of occupancy and have been sold.

Craig Nation of the subdivision’s development team explained that the project was approved in June 2019 and that three houses have been built. But the developers felt they were “sort of lambasted about the process,” unaware that the OSPC was the entity that was supposed to decide whether or not to accept the conveyance of the open space.

The open space in question sur-

rounds Whisper Way. Its acquisition would allow the property to connect to Cameron Woods and existing trails along townowned property. Said Nation: “We just assumed that Open Space wanted it all along.”

OSPC chair Ed Harrow said that in a meeting he had with Principal Planner John Gelcich and Planning Board chair Gary Trendel that week, he suggested OSPC be designated as the receiving entity “by default” in the case of OSLPDs. Harrow said the two seemed receptive to the idea.

The OSPC voted unanimously to support OSPC being the primary recipient of donated open space land in OSLPD cases and also to be consulted about whether or not to accept the land and to have the right of refusal.

“This would at least put in one good step,” said Harrow.

One question Harrow had was about moving a crossing. Nation replied that a shift of 40 feet would allow the crossing to move away from a vernal pool and closer to an existing path and bridge. While the Conservation Commission has approved this change, the Planning Board has not done so yet.

Since abutting land was acquired after Whisper Way was approved, that land would allow the open space to connect to the Valleywood Road neighborhood. Another half-acre parcel on previously disturbed land, Nation said, also could be conveyed to the town. It originally was planned for a septic system for the subdivision, but the developers determined it was no longer necessary there for the project.

Nation said he would like to wrap the land donations proposed into “one neat package” at the meeting. He requested a letter from OSPC to the Planning Board conveying the acceptance of the proposed land donation.

“It’s about continuity and contiguity,” agreed OSPC member Jane Moran.

Nation added that the house lot boundaries already have been marked.

“One of the concerns that has come up in both Open Space and [Conservation Commission] is property boundaries that get, for lack of a better word, overstepped,” said Harrow, noting that sometimes the markings can be “indiscreet or unclear.” Because of this concern, he said the boundary along the open space donation should be clearly marked.

Member Steve Levandosky asked when the town would take possession of the open space donation.

Replied Nation: “We’re here to work it out and convey it as soon as possible.”

Developer Ron Nation proposed OSPC | page 5

Baypath Adoptable Animal of the Week

Each week, the Independent highlights an animal available for adoption at Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton. This week we feature 9-monthold Dizzy.

Here is Baypath’s description of Dizzy:

“Meet Dizzy, the super-sweet young pup who loves to go on walks, loves hanging out with dogs, and, like most, loves to eat! Dizzy is already house-trained and cratetrained. She is food motivated and eager to learn!

“Now all Dizzy needs is a home. Because of all the bouncing around in her early life, Dizzy can be nervous of new people and is looking for a home with a confident dog sibling to learn from. She’s already learned so much during her time here and in foster. She is now seeking a family that can assist her in continuing to gain trust in unfamiliar surroundings and people. She is more at ease around women, but with patience and tasty treats, she warms up to others quickly!

“We believe Dizzy would do well in a home with teenagers and adults who can show her what it’s like to have a loving family.”

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

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

The Open Space Preservation Commission agreed to accept a donation of land that abuts the Whisper Way development off Wood Street.

This issue’s winner is Ankur Sen for this photo called “The Backyard Bloom.” To enter next issue’s contest, email your photo along with your name, phone number and description of the photo to editor@hopkintonindependent. com. Photos with people or pets in them are encouraged. Photos that are not selected as winners might be posted on our website.

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

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

OSPC approves open space donation off Whisper Way

that the current deed be given to the town and held in escrow. This would allow the details to be worked out while the other lots are developed.

Moran, who also serves on the Planning Board, said the Planning Board is looking for confirmation that OSPC is amenable to taking the land and is “open to working with the developer.”

“In my mind, we were trying to correct a mistake that has always existed,” she explained of the Planning Board’s viewpoint. “There should have been a vote to accept these properties from developers before it went to Town Meeting.”

Moran made a motion noting that the OSPC is generally in favor of the conveyance of the proposed open space at the Whisper Way development as is, and that the additional 5 acres discussed will have easements tweaked in partnership with the developer to allow for a trail. It also included a recommendation for a time extension to allow the developer to work with the OSPC on the issue.

Said Harrow: “That’s a mighty mouthful of a motion.”

This motion was approved unanimously. Harrow said he will draft a letter addressing the OSPC’s approval to the Planning Board.

“I think what this commission can look forward to is all the developers coming through this commission for this similar conversation going forward,” said Moran.

Resident proposes pedestrian bridge

In a letter to the OSPC, resident David Freed proposed building a pedestrian bridge over part of an old access trail that goes into his backyard on Winter Street where the land is muddy and wet. He offered to do so at his own expense. The trail goes from Cameron Woods to the Sylvan Way property.

Moran pointed out that this would have to go before the Conservation Commission. During commission discussion, a condition was proposed that Freed would have to allow public right of way to cross through his property to access this trail, either by an easement if the property is owned by him or permission from him if there is a mortgage involved.

Levandosky explained that he has talked about the proposal with Freed, who plans to discuss it at the October OSPC meeting. Neighbors already access Lake Whitehall through his yard, with his permission.

OSPC | from page 4

Lake Maspenock advocates push for limited use of herbicides to control weeds

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

Thickening invasive weeds in Lake Maspenock have some residents calling for the potential limited use of herbicides to contain a growing problem that threatens to choke off the aquatic life there.

“The problem has been going on for years,” explained Sabine St. Pierre, the vice president of the Lake Maspenock Preservation Association. “Now it’s dire.”

She recalled a contentious Town Meeting vote in 2015 when the use of herbicides was debated but denied. Shortly after that vote, the Select Board formed a citizens input group (CIG) to research options and report them to the Department of Public Works and the Conservation Commission.

St. Pierre and Joe Baldiga, the CIG leader, went out on Lake Maspenock on Sept. 8 to survey the weed situation. Along with volunteers, they extracted what St. Pierre called “an overwhelming amount of growth and a variety of native and invasive types of weeds.”

Said St. Pierre: “For us living on the lake, it’s awful for us to watch what we call the town gem falling to pieces.”

Baldiga, who has lived on Lake Maspenock for six years, said there was “a vocal but very small minority of citizens who spoke up against the use of any chemicals.” The CIG, working with limnologist Dave Mitchell, recommended the targeted use of herbicides on two occasions to the Conservation Commission, but their use was denied.

“[Mitchell] spent gobs of time

Friday, Oct. 27

The Haunt

6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Welcome to Deadwoodville, our little hidden town deep in the woods of Hopkinton. Deadwoodville prides itself as a creepy, ominous, and scary community with gruesome oddities. During your tour of our ghastly town, you will meet our unwelcoming citizens and be carefully guided through our village of the living dead. We are certain Deadwoodville will leave you breathless!

Proceeds raised from the ticket sales to this fundraising event will support Hopkinton Center for the Arts (HCA) and the MetroWest YMCA.

investigating options and finally recommended the limited use of herbicides, particularly on the north basin, where the water is more shallow,” Baldiga explained.

He hopes the Conservation Commission will be more amenable to considering use of herbicides now that other recommended weed control methods, including drawdowns of the lake, have had limited success.

“If you get a good, solid freeze for a few weeks, that has proven effective,” Baldiga continued. “Every three years, you can do an extended drawdown as low as 8 feet lower than normal depth. We are trying to use herbicides in com-

Saturday, Oct. 28

Sunday, Oct. 29

5K & Wee-Wicked Run

Join us for a Wicked 5K fun run/ walk on a relatively flat course with tra ic-free roads and groomed gravel trails. Music and prizes! Costumes encouraged!

those who prefer to see the dead during the day.

bination with drawdowns.”

Said Baldiga: “[The Conservation Commission] has been the gatekeeper; the Select Board has not stepped in.”

The weeds are now growing in new areas and are migrating toward the south basin, he added, “because they get chewed up by boats.”

Volunteers are getting discouraged, noted St. Pierre.

“When they get to [the Conservation Commission], it’s like they’ve already got their minds made up,” she noted. “It’s a futile effort, and it makes people not want to do the job anymore.”

One volunteer was former GIC chair Jaime Goncalves. He resigned as the CIG’s leader in June 2020 after the Conservation Commission voted against the application of herbicides. He is now the LMPA president.

Goncalves said that while drawdowns can be effective, they only work when the weather cooperates.

“If we don’t get any snow or cold weather, the weeds come back even stronger the next year,” said Goncalves. “Last year, the lake never froze.”

He added that the town is limited in the amount of water it can remove from the lake. Overspilling can flow over the dam and into Milford.

“In my mind, there have been some misconceptions and fearmongering going around the use of herbicides,” he said. “The idea is to use a very diluted amount. We’re not talking about dumping barrels and barrels of herbicides into the lake.”

Many municipalities and private organizations around the state use herbicides to address excessive weed

growth, he added.

Other than targeted herbicides, Goncalves said the most effective way of thinning the weeds is to remove the sedimentation from the lake’s bottom. Dredging the lake is not under consideration. He estimated that it would cost “tens of millions of dollars” based upon the cost of a smaller dredging project done in Milford that was less than onefifth of the size of Lake Maspenock.

“From an LMPA perspective, we obviously do hear a lot of complaints about the nuisance and annoyance of the weeds,” said St. Pierre. “People are worried about their kids swimming, and we’ve had complaints from the boaters.

“From our perspective, it’s more about the ecosystem,” she added, noting it is getting “choked off.”

Education is key for St. Pierre. The LMPA held a community-building event on Sept. 19 to provide information. She recommended “lake-friendly practices.” They include not adding sand to lakefront property and using non-phosphorous fertilizer on the lawn.

“Nobody is jumping up and down about the use of herbicides,” St. Pierre stressed. “But at the same time, we have to make a conscious effort to protect the health of the lake and its ecosystem. I think that if people don’t open their minds to that, they’re doing the lake a huge disservice.”

Bill Sweeney bought a house on the lake in 2002. Since then, he has seen an influx of new residents and their boats. A major concern for him is out-of-towners “bringing boats in that are not technically allowed.”

Sweeney explained that Lake Maspenock’s Sandy Beach is supposed to be enjoyed only by residents. There used to be a gate at the entrance. He said it was “never manned or locked,” and it has since been removed.

“There are weeds coming in from other sources that are impacting the lake,” he said. “Nobody is controlling who is using our lake.”

Weeds dragged in on boats from other places are contaminating the lake, he explained. He said anybody who has a boat in Hopkinton should be notified that they need to power-wash their boats and keep them out of the water for 10 days after using them in another body of water. He suggested that the town implement signage to that effect, as he has seen in Florida.

“People look from a distance and think it’s beautiful,” said Sweeney. “But if you look two feet down, the weeds are so thick.”

Lake Maspenock Preservation Association vice president Sabine St. Pierre (left) and limnologist Dave Mitchell show some weeds they removed from the water during a recent analysis.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

ZAC seeks public input on MBTA Communities zoning as deadline looms

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

The Zoning Advisory Committee at its meeting Monday night sought community feedback as the town formulates its response to the state’s MBTA Communities Act.

The state adopted the MBTA Communities Law in 2021 to spur the development of multifamily housing by right in communities served by the MBTA outside of Boston to help ease the state’s housing crisis. Hopkinton is considered to be an MBTA-adjacent community because of its proximity to the Southborough commuter rail station.

Principal Planner John Gelcich shared a presentation on the methodology behind this requirement and the implications if a community chooses not to comply with it. He noted that housing development has slowed since the 1980s and cannot accommodate the growing population. Massachusetts currently has some of the highest housing costs in the country for both sales and rentals. He also noted that metropolitan Boston has one of the lowest rates of building permit issuances in the nation.

“While there are things that we’re fighting against in Massachusetts, that doesn’t mean that we can’t build more dense housing,” he said, noting that southern states have more developable land. “It just means that we have less land to play with, compared to other states.”

Hopkinton would be required to zone for 750 housing units, a density of 15 units per acre for 50 developable acres, or 10% of the 2020 Census housing stock, whichever number is greater. The target stressed was 750 housing units. For the zoning districts to count toward the minimum land area, they have to have a minimum of 5 acres.

Although the statute doesn’t require affordable units, compliance guidelines allow districts to include an affordability component in marketrate developments. Hopkinton’s current draft bylaw states that 10% of the developments over five units must be affordable, like in the new inclusionary zoning bylaw.

“A lot of people are still viewing MBTA Communities as an option,” said Gelcich. While not technically a mandate, Attorney General Andrea Campbell made clear earlier this year that communities that do not comply will face fair housing lawsuits and will be deemed ineligible to receive 16 state grants at this time, and potentially more. On Aug. 17, the guidelines were revised to include mixed-use developments to encourage housing above street-level retail businesses.

What the MBTA Communities Act seeks to do is create what was termed as “missing middle housing.” This excludes single-family detached homes and large apartment buildings, focusing on multilevel smaller developments and townhouses. Allowing for a variety of smaller styles of development allows towns to make them “not so cookiecutter,” according to Gelcich.

Gelcich stressed that the law does not require the units to be built. There needs to be zoning districts to accommodate them, however. They most likely would be overlay districts in Hopkinton’s case.

While the goal was to encourage public participation, Gelcich noted that mainly Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce members took part in the virtual meeting. He encouraged people to share their feedback with ZAC as the deadline to complete the proposal looms on the horizon. ZAC would need to recommend a draft to the Planning Board, and then it would be submitted to the state. The state would review the proposed bylaw before it goes to Town Meeting for a vote in May 2024. Gelcich hoped the draft could be completed by Dec. 1 to prepare it for this process. Then, more public outreach can be done to make residents aware of it.

ZAC chair Ted Barker-Hook acknowledged that the committee is “under a time crunch” to identify the land to be included in the zoning district.

Current areas identified near the train station include the Carbone’s Restaurant property and about 22 acres in the area of the Forest Lane condominiums (across from the entrance to Hopkinton State Park). This likely would mirror the adoption of zoning on the Southborough side of the commuter rail station, Gelcich said.

In addition, about 76 acres at South Street were discussed. The concern there, Gelcich said, was losing land that currently is industrially zoned. Other parcels near Interstate 495 were discussed in lesser detail. The Elmwood School and the downtown area also could potentially be included in the MBTA Communities zoning.

Former Select Board member John Coutinho noted that the Hopkinton Drug property, currently up for sale, “would be absolutely perfect to have some really great retail to go underneath with apartments above.” It would encourage pedestrian activity downtown as well.

He added that the Communities at Golden Pond assisted living facility also may fit under the criteria for the zoning. Another point he made is that emptynesters can’t find apartments in town when they want to downsize.

Gelcich said that public opinion so far is against using the Center School property as part of this zoning district because it is being considered for other uses.

Barker-Hook noted that for this zoning district to pass at Town Meeting, it “must overcome at least two big hurdles.”

“The first is educating the people of Hopkinton that we have no choice in creating zoning for more dense housing,” he said. “The feeling in town, as we all know, is frustration with rapid overdevelopment.”

Also, he said there will be a lot of “not in my backyard” discussions about the land included. Increasing the acres would allow the housing to be less dense.

“I very much want to find ways where we can diversify our housing stock and our socioeconomic picture in town,” Barker-Hook said. “I also know the reality of that seems to get voted in and out of Town Meeting.”

Planning Board vice chair Rob Benson noted that the new housing would stress the public school system, which already has an exploding population.

The key, Barker-Hook said, is to find balance between the state’s demands and the town’s goals.

Commission on Disability holds inaugural meeting

The Commission on Disability held its first meeting Sept. 18, electing officers and outlining goals for community engagement and awareness of accessibility issues in town.

Holly Morand, also a School Committee member, was elected chair in a 4-0 vote. Alex Danahy was selected as vice chair.

Morand discussed the state’s approach to commissions on disability, which can be tailored to meet the needs of individual communities. The primary focus of these commissions is “to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life,” according to the state’s website.

To learn more about the town’s goals for the commission, members said creating a community survey is vital.

Main Street construction continues

Work on the Main Street Corridor Project in late September focused on finishing the sidewalks and bike lane.

Regarding the peeling light poles — on which a number of residents have commented — the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), which is overseeing the project, indicated the poles will be replaced but did not give a timeline.

At the Aug. 22 construction meet -

ing, Eversource confirmed there is no update on transformer availability, which is delaying completion of the utility work. As such, the final course of pavement likely will not be completed this year.

Most traffic and speed limit signs have been placed. The town has requested that MassDOT remove the second pole from street signs. Street signs will be mounted on single poles. MassDOT will be scheduling work for the remaining poles.

Police warn of scam calls

The Hopkinton Police Department issued a warning to the public after residents reported scam phone calls from someone purporting to be a Hopkinton police officer.

According to an HPD post on Facebook, the residents who reported the calls noted that “the number the scam caller used showed up on caller ID as the Hopkinton Police Department business line.”

The department stressed that an officer should not be calling and asking for personal information. HPD warned people to not give out any personal information, such as Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers.

Anyone who is unsure of a caller’s identity should offer to call back, then hang up and contact the Hopkinton Police Department at 508-497-3401.

A 2021 online article warned that

scammers can spoof phone numbers of police departments. Responding to yes or no statements from spoofers can allow personal and financial information to fall into the wrong hands. Some strategies noted callers requesting bail money for a friend or claiming that there is a warrant out for the individual’s arrest.

Flu clinics scheduled for October

The Hopkinton Health Department announced two drive-through flu clinics in October.

The first is for older adults. It will be held Friday, Oct. 13, from 9:3011:30 a.m. at the Senior Center (28 Mayhew Street). Nursing staff from the Health Department will be at the Senior Center each Wednesday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. to assist with registration. Individuals should bring their insurance card and identification.

The second is for all ages, including schoolchildren. It will be held Friday, Oct. 20, from 2:30-5 p.m. at Hopkinton Middle School (88 Hayden

Rowe Street).

Check the town’s website (hopkintonma.gov) for registration.

AARP seeks tax volunteers

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program is looking for volunteers to help elderly and low- or moderate-income individuals file their tax returns. Previous tax prep experience is not required. Volunteers will receive the necessary training. Internet access and basic computer skills are necessary.

Tax-Aide volunteers work at local senior centers and libraries, including in Hopkinton, during February and March. Training takes place in November, December and January and is primarily online.

In addition to tax preparation, volunteers also are needed in administrative and technical roles. Bilingual speakers are needed in all roles, including interpreting. For more information, email Kirk Joslin at KirkNJoslin@gmail.com or visit mataxaide.org/interest.

Hopkinton couple produces low-budget movie

So, he decided to focus on his lifetime ambition and write a screenplay.

“I knew it was going to be kind of campy — and kind of stupid,” he confessed with a chuckle.

After finalizing the script for “Atomic Poop” — which Bob described as “a romantic comedy, and in the middle of all the normal problems that romance has, aliens invade Earth!” — he and Susan set about production.

With Bob’s broadcasting experience and Susan’s acting career (including roles in TV shows “Dynasty,” “Remington Steele,” “The A-Team” and “Ryan’s Hope”), they were confident in their abilities. They bought and learned to use a 4K camera and sound equipment and shot the footage themselves. Susan handled casting and costumes and did the directing. Bob was in charge of writing and photography as well as scheduling.

“At first we were going to call it ‘The Cheapest Movie Ever Made,’ ” he said jokingly. Financing it with their own savings, they used their still-empty house as a movie set and tapped local drama students to provide the talent.

Even with their combined background, “making this movie was like going to college!” said Bob. “We learned so much — good things and bad things.”

For example, he shared, a movie is legally required to have closed captioning before it can be made available for audience viewing. Also, network outlets won’t deal with filmmakers directly; an agent is required.

In addition to those hurdles, unforeseen challenges arose (“COVID was probably the least of them!” Bob remarked), particularly when their leading man quit midway through filming. Not wanting to scrap and reshoot everything they’d already filmed, they had to “get

creative” to explain the replacement actor: “He goes into a spaceship and is hit with an ‘alien transformation ring,’ ” Bob said with a laugh.

Despite the obstacles, they persevered, and “so many really nice people helped us,” he noted gratefully. One friend gave them a monitor, and another edited the footage. Hopkinton Center for the Arts and local businesses Murphy’s Eats & Treats in Ashland and Weston Nurseries allowed them to use their properties for filming.

When production finally was complete, it was time to get the movie on the air.

“Another really nice guy I talked to from New Jersey directed us to FilmHub,” Bob said. “They have some basic technical requirements — length of the film, closed captioning — but then you can just load it up. You don’t need a middleman; the distributors are unnecessary.”

The Gilberts took his advice and sent the movie to FilmHub. “Atomic Poop” now is available on Tubi, a freeto-download streaming app.

“I can’t tell you what a thrill it was to see it come up! It just made our little movie real,” he recalled. “We were so proud to be able to tell the talent that they could call their mothers and tell them to watch.”

Bob again expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the project and declared, “None of this would have been possible without the help of my amazing, lovely wife!”

He also credits his relentless determination.

“So many people were telling us we couldn’t do it — ‘It’s too expensive, too hard, too much work.’ … They basically told us it was impossible, you know?” he said. “But I just don’t give up! That’s my message to people with their lifetime ambition: Don’t give up.”

Movie | from page 1

Conservation Commission focuses on violations at The Trails, Leonard Street

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

The Conservation Commission at its meeting Sept. 13 reviewed violations incurred by several ongoing development projects, including The Trails and Leonard Street.

The Trails project engineer Peter Bemis was not present initially for the violation hearing to discuss fine assessments of $141,600, which was a continuation of a hearing at the previous meeting. The commission voted 5-0 to assess them.

In Bemis’ absence, chair Jeff Barnes indicated that Bemis did submit information since the last meeting. He noted that commission vice chair Melissa Recos, an engineer and stormwater management expert, reviewed it on her own time and had some follow-up comments, which were directed to Engineering Design Consultants.

What frustrated Barnes was that no calculations, design or notification about a constructed swale were provided to Conservation Administrator Kim Ciaramicoli, even after Bemis was chastised at previous meetings for not providing more details about remediation efforts.

“The same kind of mess continues to go on, unfortunately, at the site,” Barnes said. “The message, I think, isn’t completely getting through to these folks.”

Despite her input to Bemis during a site walk about possible strategies to implement, the swale was constructed without any town feedback, Ciaramicoli said. The site is now stabilized, and a detention basin was cleared out since the last meeting.

Member Ed Harrow said that the fines should be assessed despite the absence of Bemis and owner Phil Gately. Member Janine LeBlanc agreed, noting, “Anything the commission requires just gets ignored.”

Bemis arrived near the end of the meeting, which lasted for 2 1/2 hours. He said that the calculations were received by the commission and were shown on the overall plan as “chutes” to the basin. The swale was built to prevent further erosion and “a recipe for disaster” in the wake of anticipated rain.

Violation at Edgewood at Hopkinton reviewed

The violation hearing for Edgewood at Hopkinton, a subdivision at Chamberlain Street and Whalen Road, was continued until the next meeting because the applicant had a family emergency. Violations and potential fines were discussed at the previous meeting for three violations that occurred between late July and midAugust. Sediment had flowed beyond the limited area of work into the wetland resource area in one instance.

She updated the commission on the status of the work. Lots 4 and 5 of the project had been adequately stabilized since the last meeting to prevent sedimentation flow, as well as land between lots 10 and 11, Ciaramicoli noted. Iron was found in the soil there, giving it a reddish hue. Lots 24 and 26 were hydroseeded, which was “doing well” because of the recent rains.

Her concern was that Lot 12, where one previous violation occurred, was not secured. Loose soil was visible even though check dams had been installed.

There were no new violations. Ciaramicoli drafted an enforcement order that requires a stabilization method be employed and recommended a “stabilizing as you go” strategy for the developer. Sedimentation also must be removed by hand and

— Jeff Barnes Conservation Commission chair

observed by a wetland scientist.

Barnes said the project will continue to be monitored as construction progresses. The applicant will appear at a future meeting to update the commission.

Leonard Street violations tabled

The commission discussed an April violation with developer Lou Petrozzi of Wall Street Development Corporation. The site at 8, 10 and 12 Leonard Street has experienced stormwater management issues since July 2021. A couple of stormwater pollution protection plan (SWPP) reports that had been delinquent were provided, but only one each for the past two years. Petrozzi said Goddard Consulting had been hired to supply them but had not done so as the commission requested.

Petrozzi said the first two houses are “occupied and landscaped.” Landscaping needs to be completed on the third house that has been hampered by the rain.

He added that a problem on the site “is not Wall Street’s doing.” The water flow, he said, is coming from off-site onto his property, including catch basins on Box Mill Road. He said one catch basin is “an inch too high.” Grading work on Leonard Street also has diverted stormwater across the street to his property, he said.

Petrozzi asked for a riprap slope to be placed where the erosion is problematic and causing water to flow onto the development. Barnes was amenable to that proposed solution and said the catch basins need to be repaired. Petrozzi said he will mark off the area for the proposed riprap for the commission’s consideration.

The fine discussion was tabled until the Oct. 10 meeting.

Deerfield Estates certificate of occupancy discussed

Deerfield Estates, a condo development, explained Ciaramicoli, was completed “about 20 years ago.” Two reviews were conducted by Lucas Environmental over the last two years. The commission was seeking operations and maintenance reports for the past three years, and these reports were received for 2022 and 2023; a management company had taken over in 2021, causing a delay.

Catch basins needed to be cleaned, and some gutters

apparently were improperly installed by homeowners. Ciaramicoli asked that residents be made aware of stormwater regulations and educational information. She said the management company refused to do so.

A Capital Group Properties representative noted that this company no longer manages the property, but Wellington Property Management Group does. He has been “on top of them for the last couple of months” to provide the commission with needed documentation.

The representative added that a memo was sent to residents about adding downspouts, but not the educational information Ciaramicoli proposed. The overgrown basins were mowed, but he said “there is only so much we can do” since Capital no longer manages the property.

Member Jim Ciriello said the application is in the name of Capital Group Properties, which makes that company ultimately responsible. Barnes said Capital Group should hire an outside consultant.

Chamberlain-Whalen trail extension approved

The commission approved by a 5-0 vote a request for two exemptions that will allow for the extension of the Chamberlain-Whalen trail submitted by the Hopkinton Trails Committee.

The proposed trails system will connect the ChamberlainWhalen and Edgewood neighborhoods to the Center Trail and the school complex, explained Ciaramicoli. That leg of the proposed extension is earthen with stone dust and will be 8 feet wide.

The second exemption request involves two trail boardwalk crossings over bordering vegetated wetlands on the lower portion of the proposed extension. The commission has approved this type of construction in the past, Ciaramicoli noted.

She added that she surveyed the area with Trails Committee chair Peter LaGoy and member Chuck Dauchy and agreed with the trail delineations. LaGoy explained that this design avoids the trail system going into the wetlands. It was put together by Dauchy. The upper part of the trail was adjusted northward in response to neighbors’ concerns that it be further away from their homes.

There was some discrepancy about the name of the committee filing the application. Member Jim Ciriello pointed out that the Hopkinton Trails Committee filed the application, but he did not know if the town recognized it as such. The Trail Coordination and Management Committee at its meeting on July 19 voted unanimously to rename itself as the Trails Committee.

LaGoy explained the committee still is officially known as the Trail Coordination and Management Committee. Because of the lengthy name, he said Town Manager Norman Khumalo “signed off on that about a year ago” regarding referring to the committee as the TCMC and/or the Trails Committee.

Winter Squash, Green & Yellow Beans, Potatoes and Tomatoes, BUTTER &

The same kind of mess continues to go on, unfortunately, at the site. The message, I think, isn’t completely getting through to these folks.

Strength of inclusionary zoning bylaw tested by developer’s proposal

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

The Planning Board met for nearly four hours Sept. 11 in a marathon session where two contentious cases dominated the meeting. Several hearings were continued, including three regarding a Whisper Way development where land was slated to be conveyed as open space.

The meeting shed light on a couple of procedural errors that had transpired. A vote needed to be retaken on the findings regarding a proposed subdivision at 0-24 Chestnut Street by Keystone Development Corporation. This is the first case where the town’s new inclusionary zoning bylaw is being utilized. There was confusion as to whether the vote on the findings needed a supermajority of two-thirds to pass; only a simple majority was required. Another vote for a revised finding explaining the board’s previous vote had to be voted to be stricken after Principal Planner John Gelcich reported the error.

In the case of the Whisper Way 12-lot project — which had to be continued due to the lateness of the evening — land was supposed to be conveyed to the town as part of an open space and landscape preservation development (OSLPD) special permit. However, meeting documents show that four lots had building permits issued for the construction of the homes in that subdivision prior to the conveyance of the open space or the placing of a conservation restriction on the land, contrary to the requirements of the OSLPD bylaw. Also, two of the three units constructed have been issued certificates of occupancy and have been sold.

“We acknowledged that the permits were mistakenly issued due to miscommunication within the Land Use Department and have not taken any action to revoke or amend these permits,” the document read. “It was determined internally that no further building permits would be issued until the open space requirements were met.”

Inclusionary bylaw called into question

Keystone representative Richard Olstein gave a presentation to the Planning Board showing the financial impact of developing one affordable unit along with the seven proposed market-rate units. He used it to strengthen his argument that building an affordable unit off-site was more feasible.

Olstein argued that according to the bylaw, its purpose was to increase the availability of affordable housing in Hopkinton. The board’s findings, however, said that there had to be “a significant benefit to the town” showing the rationale for not including the affordable unit with the market-rate ones.

His financial breakdown illustrated that the costs incurred for developing the affordable unit there, including the land, infrastructure, construction and other costs, would total $1,541,000. The projected sales price is $228,500, which he said showed a significant loss.

“That’s a heck of a deal,” noted chair Gary Trendel.

Olstein said it was “inconceivable that any development can support that kind of a loss before the development even starts.” From his perspective, providing a special permit for the affordable unit offsite did constitute a significant benefit to the town in terms of its affordable housing stock.

Trendel noted that the size of the home was “the tricky part.” He noted that affordable units in other developments do not have to be the same size. But they must not be significantly different in style and other factors from market-rate ones.

Resident Sam Sader questioned whether building luxury units was a way to get around building affordable ones due to the cost. He also asked about how the cost to maintain the property of an affordable unit would impact the decision.

Gelcich pointed out that right now, market prices, interest rates and construction costs are expensive.

Member Ron Priefer proposed that the developer acquire a property

for more than one affordable unit. He suggested that money in the affordable housing fund be used to offset the cost. Trendel said this was “outside the scope” of the current debate.

Gelcich noted that in proposing affordable housing units, “a carrot and a stick” had to be offered to developers.

For Trendel and others, the term “significant net benefit to the town” weighed heavily in their findings against the special permit proposal. The developer argued that the affordable unit is what is required by the bylaw. Trendel countered that that related to the unit being included in the proposed development.

Chuck Joseph, a longtime real estate developer in town, argued that to create more affordable housing, zoning changes would have to be made.

After a protracted discussion, the proposed findings, with a modification about the occupancy permit requirement, were narrowly approved 5-4. Because it was thought that a supermajority was required, Trendel and those who opposed the findings created a new finding explaining the decision. That was later rescinded when it was found out that it was not necessary, and the findings and the special permit proposal were shot down in a combined vote by a 6-3 margin.

Vice chair Rob Benson noted that the developer’s financial costs alone should not be justification for providing an affordable unit off-site. This language was included in the discussion of the decision to stress this sentiment, which was the view of the majority, in addition to the lack of a “significant benefit.”

Tempers flare during Whisper Way hearing

Due to the meeting’s length, Trendel said that the three hearings regarding the Whisper Way property would have to be continued. He provided time for some initial discussion given that an error by the town was involved and the issuance of permits, construction, selling and issuance of certificates of occupancy were issued before the open space was

properly marked and conveyed.

The discussion became heated when attorney Mark Kablack, Ravenwood’s representative, stressed that his client was “anxious to proceed with the development of this community.” He asked that the board accept the deed for the open space as it is currently defined into escrow until the board decides to amend the open space permit. Kablack said this would allow for permits to be pulled for building on other lots in the development. The deed would be presented to the town.

If the deed is amended, there will be an additional 5 acres of open space, he added.

Trendel noted that there has been a history of encroachments onto open space in town with other developments. If the land has been disturbed, the town may not accept it. The Hopkinton Area Land Trust and the Open Space Preservation Committee both put forward that the open space boundaries be clearly marked to prevent encroachment before property can be conveyed. In this case, the conveyance, Gelcich said, would go to the OSPC.

Kablack said “the tendering of the deed is the completion of the deal.”

From his perspective, Trendel said “that obligation has not been met,” and that the open space delineation may change during the hearing process.

Added Trendel: “If no one accepts the property, then it can’t be conveyed.”

Kablack said his strategy has been used in other developments in town, notably the Chamberlain-Whalen development.

Gelcich corrected Kablack’s assertion about Chamberlain-Whalen, noting that it was not an OSLPD and therefore not bound by the bylaw. He read the bylaw several times to Kablack, stressing that an extension of time can be granted, “but only if the entity or agency to which the open space is being conveyed concurs with the request.”

Said Gelcich: “I think the issue here is Open Space Preservation Committee has said they are not going to be the recipient of that open space if there are encroachments on it.”

Any encroachments need to be identified beforehand, he added. The Select Board would need to sign the escrow agreement as well.

This provoked a tense series of exchanges between Kablack and Gelcich, where they reiterated the same points several times. Kablack kept asking where this process is outlined in the bylaw about OSPC. Gelcich said that as the “entity accepting the open space,” the OSPC needs to weigh in before the deed conveyance extension can occur.

Trendel had to step in at that point because “the banter back-and-forth isn’t going to get us any closer to a resolution.”

Gelcich clarified that “the board makes that decision” about the entity to which the land is to be conveyed, and it had chosen the OSPC.

Replied Kablack: “The Planning Board doesn’t have that right, either under your bylaw or under the special permit.”

He added that from his perspective, it has to go into escrow and go before the Select Board and then to Town Meeting for the land to be conveyed.

The board later voted unanimously to continue the three hearings regarding this property.

Said Trendel: “We’re not going to solve this tonight.”

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS in Hopkinton

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Should you invest … or speculate?

You’ll find some big differences between traditional and speculative investments — and knowing these differences can matter a great deal when you’re trying to reach your financial goals.

To begin with, let’s look at the basic types of traditional and speculative investments.

Traditional investments are those with which you’re probably already familiar: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, government securities, certificates of deposit (CDs) and so on. Speculative investments include cryptocurrencies, foreign currencies and precious metals such as gold, silver and copper.

Now, consider these three components of investing and how they differ between traditional and speculative investments:

The first issue to consider is risk. When you own stocks or stock-based mutual funds, the value of your investments will fluctuate. And bond prices will also move up and down, largely in response to changing interest rates. However, owning an array of stocks — small-company, large-company, international, etc. — can help reduce the impact of volatility on your stock portfolio. And owning a mix of short- and long-term bonds can help you defend yourself somewhat against interestrate movements. When interest rates fall, you’ll still have your longer-term bonds, which generally — but not always – pay higher rates than short-term ones. And when interest rates rise, you can redeem your maturing short-term bonds at potentially higher rates.

With speculative investments, though, price movements can be extreme as well as rapid. During their short history, cryptocurrencies in particular have shown astonishingly fast moves up and down, resulting in huge gains followed by equally huge, or bigger, losses. The risk factor for crypto is exacerbated by its being largely

unregulated, unlike with stocks and bonds, whose transactions are overseen by well-established regulatory agencies. There just isn’t much that investors can do to modulate the risk presented by crypto and some other speculative investments.

A second key difference between traditional and speculative investments is the time horizon involved. When you invest in stocks and other traditional investments, you ideally should be in it for the long term — it’s not a “get rich quick” strategy. But those who purchase speculative investments want, and expect, quick and sizable returns, despite the considerable risk involved.

A third difference between the two types of investments is the activity required by investors. When you’re a long-term investor in traditional investments, you may not have to do all that much, once you’ve built a portfolio that’s appropriate for your risk tolerance, goals and time horizon. After that point, it’s mostly just a matter of monitoring your portfolio and making occasional moves — you’re not constantly buying and selling, or at least you shouldn’t be. But when you speculate in crypto or other instruments, you are constantly watching prices move — and then making your own moves in response. It’s an activity that requires considerable attention and effort.

One final thought: Not all speculative instruments are necessarily bad investments. Precious metals, for instance, are found in some traditional mutual funds, sometimes in the form of shares of mining companies. And even crypto may become more of a stable vehicle once additional regulation comes into play. But if you’re investing for long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement — rather than speculating for thrills and quick gains, which may disappear just as quickly — you may want to give careful thought to the types of investments you pursue.

Mark Freeman

Edward Jones Financial Advisor

77 W. Main Street,

Hopkinton,

MA (508) 293-4017

Mark.Freeman@edwardjones.com

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

Clancy, McFarland recognized as AICPA Women to Watch

Hopkinton residents Jessica Clancy and Courtney McFarland were named two of seven recipients of the 2023 Women to Watch Award by the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

The awards recognize women who have made outstanding contributions to the accounting profession, their communities and their firms/companies and to the development of women as leaders.

“MassCPAs is thrilled to acknowledge the achievements of this remarkable group of women, and we’re excited to honor Jessica and Courtney for their outstanding contributions to their firms, community and the accounting profession,” said Amy Pitter , MassCPAs president and CEO.

Clancy, managing director at tonneson + co, and McFarland, a partner in AAFCPAs’ Healthcare Practice, are being honored in the Experienced Leader category, reserved for women with more than 15 years of experience in accounting.

With more than 21 years of experience, Clancy specializes in high-networth individual and family office tax planning and consulting, serving clients in industries that include financial services and distribution.

Beyond her pivotal role at the firm, she finds fulfillment in mentoring new staff and participating in training initiatives. Her passion for sharing knowledge and supporting colleagues contributes to a collaborative and growth-oriented work environment.

Courtney McFarland

Clancy thrives on providing guidance and solutions to meet clients’ tax needs, while cultivating meaningful bonds with both clients and coworkers. In her free time, she dedicates herself to volunteering for Project Just Because in Hopkinton, demonstrating her commitment to making a positive impact in her community.

“Jessica consistently exceeds the expectations of her role in the tax department and makes substantial contributions to various facets of the firm’s culture and expansion,” said Amy Phelan, CPA, tax shareholder at tonneson + co. “Her influence resonates profoundly with her character and determination, and she authentically prioritizes people’s well-being, both within the firm and in her community. Coupled with her aptitude for business growth, Jessica stands as an ideal nominee for this award.”

Demonstrating an expansive background in advising the nation’s health care safety net landscape, McFarland brings a comprehensive array of solutions aimed at resolving the intricate challenges confronted by AAFCPAs’ health care clients. These encompass

an assortment of facets, ranging from audits in accordance with uniform guidance/single audit and government auditing standards, to adeptly navigating the nuances of the 340B pharmacy program requisites. Additionally, she provides insights to help maximize reimbursements, best practices for reconciliation and analysis of statistical and programmatic data, tracking and monitoring risk-based contracts, maximizing reimbursements and guidance on health care reform.

Additionally, McFarland trains professional staff on topics related to assurance, financial management and regulatory compliance for health care organizations. She is a regular guest speaker for the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, the Mass Council of Human Services Providers and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

“From her earliest days with AAFCPAs, Courtney has always exuded the spirit of an emerging leader,” said Carla McCall, AAFCPAs’ managing partner. “Her unwavering passion for serving vulnerable populations has been nothing short of inspirational. With each challenge, she’s risen, carving her own unique path with determination and grace. It’s a privilege to witness her evolution into the experienced leader she is today, earning not just respect but the genuine affection of those around her. She truly embodies the essence of a go-getter, turning every hurdle into a stepping stone.”

Award winners will be honored Oct. 26 at the MassCPAs Women’s Leadership Summit at the Westin Hotel in Waltham.

Marathon Quilters receive grants

The Marathon Quilters Guild announced recently that it received a grant of $2,500 from the Mass Cultural Council as well as $500 from the Hopkinton Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, as part of the Local

Cultural Council Program.

These grants signify that Marathon Quilters Guild provides significant public value through its programs and services. Since 1996, the guild has stayed true to its mission to educate, inspire and participate in community quilting projects for charities. Recent charitable donations from the guild have gone to Project Linus, Dignity Matters and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. This grant helped support the guild’s 11th quilt show, “Sewing Mends Our Souls,” at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts on Sept. 16-17.

MRMC earns multiple honors

Milford Regional Medical Center continues to be recognized by a number of highly distinguished health care organizations that laud the hospital’s excellence in a number of areas.

Over the summer, Milford Regional was bestowed with three notable honors, including a 5-star ranking from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This ranking is the highest given by CMS and is awarded to only 16 % of the 3,076 qualifying hospitals.

For the first time, Milford Regional was included among only 153 other hospitals nationally on Becker’s Hospital Review 2023 Great Community Hospitals list.

Milford Regional once again received an ‘A’ grade for outstanding social responsibility on the 2023/24 Lown Institute Hospitals Index, ranking number one in Massachusetts and 42nd nationally for patient safety. This index is the only ranking to include metrics of health equity and value of care alongside patient outcomes.

“These acknowledgments speak volumes about Milford Regional’s ability to put its patients first. Our care team’s ability to consistently deliver personalized, high-quality care further underscores our continued commitment to serving our community,” said Milford Regional Medical Center President and CEO Edward J. Kelly

Jessica Clancy

Platinum Physical Therapy grows to serve more patients

By Christie Vogt Contributing Writer

Platinum Physical Therapy has added another physical therapist to its Hopkinton team and recently debuted a fourth location in Maynard. The clinic, which also has offices in Ashland and Milford, is growing to meet the increased demand for physical therapy services, particularly as people return to their delayed wellness goals.

“Over the last couple of years, we saw a lot of surgeries being postponed due to COVID-19, and people put off addressing other health issues as well,” explains Courtney Cappadona, one of Platinum’s physical therapists and the Hopkinton clinic manager. “Now, people are taking care of their health again and getting back into their fitness routines.”

As a student at Simmons College, Cappadona says she had a “huge passion for health, wellness and fitness,” and she knew that she “didn’t want to sit at a desk or computer all day,” so the school’s physical therapy program was an ideal fit. Upon graduation, Cappadona began working at Platinum Physical Therapy, and after six years with the clinic, she says she “can’t even imagine leaving.”

“At the Hopkinton clinic, we’ve all become a family,” she says. “We genuinely love each other and hang out outside of work. We are focused on our patients, and they are our number one priority, but we’re also always checking in with each other and having fun because it’s a long day if you’re not able to laugh with each other.”

Relationship-building is paramount to patient success as well.

“Patients turn into family, too,” Cappadona says. “We see them consistently for weeks and get to learn about their lives, hobbies and careers. This builds a whole picture where we can connect the dots and say, ‘Oh, that’s what you want to be doing? OK, let’s change your plan to mirror that.’ Life stressors can play a significant role in pain, too, so being able to talk openly about issues allows us to build trust and ultimately reach patients’ health goals.”

Platinum offers 40-minute, one-on-

one treatment sessions to address a wide range of pain and mobility issues and also offers services like dry needling, cupping, kinesio taping, fall prevention and running gait analysis. Platinum also is one of the only local clinics that does not use aides, assistants or techs for patient care. Patients typically work with the same therapist through their entire care plan, Cappadona says, “so that gives us a better eye on their progress.”

For Cappadona, one of the highlights of her job is treating patients who had thrown in the towel and then witnessing their remarkable recoveries. One recent patient was on medication for chronic back pain and hadn’t found much success with previous physical therapy.

“Within weeks of working together, he was cutting back on his meds and back at the gym doing strength training that he hadn’t done in years,” she shares.

“When a patient comes in thinking, ‘Oh, there’s nothing you can do. I’m kind of a lost cause,’ that’s when we go, ‘OK, challenge accepted.’ That’s where we thrive.”

To learn more, visit platinumptma.com or call 508544-1540.

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

Platinum Physical Therapy’s Hopkinton team includes (from left) Christian Navarro, Lindsey Maher, Julianne Rickert, Courtney Cappadona, Kelly Williamson and Kim Bolick.

Tip leads to cease-and-desist letters to illegal food operations in town

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

Health Director Shaun McAuliffe told the Board of Health at its meeting Sept. 13 that an email he received led to his investigation that uncovered five illegal food operations in town.

“We had received a complaint about a food service establishment that was operating out of someone’s home,” he explained. “We investigated it and learned that they were preparing food for about 300 people.”

According to the email, the food preparer — whom McAuliffe did not identify — used the WhatsApp platform to take orders for Indian cuisine prepared at a home in the Legacy Farms neighborhood. An attached screenshot of the menu showed dishes including sabudana khichdi, vada pav, roti and curry dishes. Orders were placed via direct message.

McAuliffe joined WhatsApp and was able to track down the operator by the phone number.

“After that, it was disclosed to us through another source that there were multiple kitchens operating in the same format,” he continued.

In another case he researched, a legal Rhode Island business was distributing spices to illegal operations in Hopkinton.

While investigating this case, the search algorithm led him to the other illegal vendors. None of them were permitted, according to McAuliffe. Cease-and-desist letters were issued in all five cases. There were three home-based restaurants, a party platter business and an “establishment operating as a wedding and function venue.”

“You opened up a can of worms,” said BOH chair Richard Jacobs, adding that internet searches are helpful because then an informant is not involved. He speculated whether others may be operating illegal alcohol or tobacco distribution operations in the same fashion.

McAuliffe and Town Manager Norman Khumalo agreed that enforcing these regulations should also lead toward a pathway of compliance. One operator has been receiving assistance over the past two months from McAuliffe to open a restaurant legally, while three others are considering it.

McAuliffe explained to each operator that there were ramifications they never had considered if someone got sick from the food. There is no insurance coverage for the illegal business, and the homeowner’s insurance won’t cover claims. In a couple of cases, the operations also violated homeowners agreements. If the Department of Revenue investigates these operations, there is a concern about tax evasion.

Said McAuliffe: “You open yourself up to an incred

ible amount of liability, and most of them were not aware of the liability.”

Some help with online investigation may be coming to the Health Department soon in the form of tech-savvy public health students from Regis College. McAuliffe recently formed an internship partnership with the college.

While four of the operations have ceased, the one operating as a wedding and function venue has not, recently using a tent to continue with the activity.

McAuliffe said he hoped to partner with the Police Department and Fire Department so that they would make him aware if they spotted any suspicious activity like this, particularly on nights and weekends.

He added: “If anything, this situation has brought different departments together with me to try to solve this.”

COVID-19 testing discussed

In other Board of Health news, Public Health Nurse Simone Carter noted that the federal government earlier this month approved a COVID-19 vaccine booster. The Health Department has been awaiting state guidance as to when it will be available for distribution.

Carter noted that the previous bivalent booster shots no longer can be used. The new booster is univalent and targets the most current strain of the virus.

More data about the COVID-19 rates in town should be available later in the week, McAuliffe said. The virus is expected to spike due to children returning to school.

Jacobs asked her to provide “what the red flags are” for health concerns that should be on the board’s radar, including COVID-19.

“We all know that we’re in a COVID surge,” Carter said. “We don’t test as much because we know what to do, like stay home and isolate.”

Response actions are triggered by how illnesses, such as COVID-19, norovirus or hepatitis, are spread, McAuliffe noted.

Carter added that a lot of illnesses are seasonal, particularly now with respiratory illnesses.

She added that free COVID-19 tests will no longer be offered because there is no government funding. The current vaccine program for children will continue.

Carter recommended that people seeking COVID-19 vaccines consult their doctors or pharmacists.

Said Carter: “Until we have a little bit more support from the state, I don’t recommend that we go out on our own on that.”

There is “value to pursuing the privately funded vaccines on a town basis,” she added. Carter also expects a “bridge program” for the vaccine promised by the federal government via state governments as the transition from government-funded vaccines to privatization commences. The new shot is expected to cost around $130.

“Once the state figures out exactly how they are going to do the bridge program for our vulnerable seniors, we will be able to address that going forward,” said Carter. “There’s no need to worry people, but we don’t have anything definitive just yet.”

PFAS update provided

The state’s Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency are reviewing whether to drop the reportable concentration number of PFAS (human-made per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) for municipal wells to 4 parts per trillion, McAuliffe said. Private well concentration rates are expected to remain at 20 parts per trillion.

He is also in the process of initiating a “downgradient property status” for the MetroWest YMCA Family Outdoor Center on East Street. An off-site secondary backup well on the lower level of the property was determined to be one of the highest sources of PFAS in the community. This would allow the YMCA to receive liability relief.

McAuliffe stressed that residents considering having their water privately tested for PFAS should check to ensure that the lab is certified in Massachusetts. He gave the example of a resident who used a non-state-certified lab and “spent a significant amount of money” only to receive a report that “didn’t make sense.”

McAuliffe said the lab told the resident that it had sent the test to a second lab. A joint investigation with the DEP showed that this lab “possibly made up data.” A complaint is in the process of being filed with the Attorney General’s Office on behalf of the resident. McAuliffe called it “a cautionary tale.”

Skin Smart Salon unveils healthy skin, client confidence

By Christie Vogt Contributing Writer

Awoman in her 40s who avoids mirrors, a teen who grows bangs to hide his forehead, a new mom without time to care for herself — Lisa Massimiano sees a wide range of clients at Skin Smart Salon, but they all share the same goal: to be confident in their skin.

Massimiano is an experienced licensed esthetician and esthetics instructor. An Ashland resident, she opened her salon in Ashland 14 years ago and offers a variety of skin care treatments. Although people visit Massimiano for many different skin care concerns, about 80% of her current clients are seeking help with acne.

Eight years ago, Massimiano began searching for a more effective treatment program for her acne clients. During her research, she came across Face Reality, an acne program based in California.

“I liked what I read about their program,” she says. “It made a lot of sense to me, and I decided to become a certified Face Reality acne specialist in order to begin offering the program at my salon.”

Adds Massimiano: “Acne affects both men and women and can continue to affect people at multiple stages of their life. I see many adults that still struggle with acne.”

The Face Reality program, which includes biweekly treatments and a personalized home care regimen, boasts a 90% success rate, Massimiano says.

“I have clients who come in after being unsuccessful with drugstore products, prescriptions and dermatology visits,” she explains. “They might go to a doctor who gives them a prescription and says, ‘See you in three months.’ That leaves people feeling abandoned, and when they don’t see results, they get frustrated and give up.”

“What I like about the Face Reality program is that we work together as a team,” Massimiano adds. She strongly emphasizes education, making sure clients know how certain lifestyle factors can improve or worsen their progress. “Chronic acne is most often a genetically predetermined condition, and although I tell people they can’t change their DNA, it doesn’t mean they can’t learn how to manage their acne and keep

it under control,” she says.

“I think people struggling with acne like this approach because they aren’t left to figure it out on their own. They come in every two weeks initially for a treatment, and I adjust their home care as needed. I also encourage my clients to contact me if they have any questions,” Massimiano explains. “Clients feel they have a support system, which is important because clearing acne is a process, not a quick fix.”

For Massimiano, the commitment required to become a Face Reality specialist has been worth it, as she’s seen hundreds of happy clients. “One woman who came in, for example, was extremely self-conscious and skeptical that I could help her,” Massimiano shares. “We started slowly, and after a few months, she was thrilled with the results and felt so much better about herself. I love the fact that I can help people achieve their goal of clear skin.”

To learn more, visit skinsmartsalon.com or call 508-8811180.

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Lisa Massimiano is the owner of Skin Smart Salon and a licensed esthetician and certified acne specialist.

Select Board discusses hiring/promotion policy with police chief

to leave this agency to go to different departments. This is what led to our contract being more competitive, but we are still struggling to recruit due to a lack of support from town management.”

Walker said Bennett had planned to bring forward a new officer candidate at Tuesday’s meeting, but “after seeing the stress our department is under, this officer chose to withdraw from the hiring process and has already been hired by another local agency.” He also claimed the Select Board has violated the town charter by interfering with the day-today operations of the department.

“To the residents of Hopkinton, please listen to us,” Walker said. “The Hopkinton Police Department is struggling right now. We have nine vacancies in a 29-officer department. We cannot fill these positions under these conditions. Our officers are working short-staffed and often unsupervised. We are telling you that there are fewer officers protecting you and your family than there should be on every shift, and town management is making it harder than ever to recruit.”

Added Walker: “While we welcome transparency and oversight, it should be done in conjunction with the Police Department and the chief of police. The town should be working with us, not against us.”

When the board began its discussion about the situation later in the meeting, chair Muriel Kramer first clarified that the Select Board is “actually the hiring and promoting authority.” While she did

not take issue with the HPD’s internal process, she noted that there has never been a process that she knew of where “we really get involved, review the candidates, interact with all the materials and understand really how the promotions fit in the departmental structure and growth,” which she said would be typical for a hiring authority.

Board member Irfan Nasrullah said that because there is professional staff handling the process, “I don’t think I need to be reviewing personnel files and determining who gets promoted and who doesn’t. I think we leave that up to our professional staff. But it would be helpful to understand what they go through.”

Member Amy Ritterbusch noted that for other town hiring situations, Human Resources staff “comes and

explains the whole interview process to us. I think that’s helpful.”

Member Shahidul Mannan agreed that he would like to know more about the process.

“It would be good to have a little bit better understanding as [Bennett presents] promotions maybe before the meeting or during the meeting from HR and the chief and others involved, more about the process a little bit, more about the considerations, and how the selection was done, among others,” he said. “And I think that’s just due diligence that I would expect on all promotions and hiring. … I think the town and the residents would appreciate it, and the police force would appreciate it because that gives them the credit that’s due through the promotion and the badges and I would say satisfaction and honor of the promotion as well.”

Member Mary Jo LaFreniere — who was the lone dissenting vote to delay the promotions — said that it felt like the board was “singling out a department, and it really bothers me.”

Kramer explained that the difference is that the Select Board is the hiring authority for the police, while in other cases the town manager is the hiring authority and the Select Board only votes to approve or oppose that decision.

Kramer said one of her first meetings during her current stint on the Select Board included the promotion of Jay Porter to deputy chief. Porter last year was suspended by the department and eventually charged with two counts of child rape dating back to when he served

as a school resource officer in town. He has pleaded not guilty.

“I had questions, or wished I felt comfortable bringing questions; I had some reservations about that decision,” Kramer said of Porter’s promotion. “Where is the right time and the right place to have a candid conversation if you have reason to have questions about a promotion? How do we do that?”

Mannan said the recent challenges have put the town in an awkward position, and it’s important to learn from them.

“That also tells us that we have a fiduciary duty from the town representative perspective that maybe we do the due diligence in a little more transparent way than before, only because of these challenging experiences and times,” he said. “And again, not to reflect on anything, it’s more to embolden our Police Department, ourselves, and make sure everyone feels more comfortable that we have taken some learning and moved toward a more confident and more robust way.”

Added Mannan: “I think we need to change the optics or the perspective a little bit thinking that we are here to criticize or single out. That’s not the goal at all. The overall intent — my intent and I think everyone’s I’m hearing — is to promote, motivate and support our Police Department.”

LaFreniere said any delay in the hiring or promotional process makes the problem worse for the HPD.

“Right now we are down [a lot of officers], and we are down officers as we

Police | page 17

Officer Nick Walker voices his concerns to the Select Board at its Sept. 19 meeting.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Missing elderly man rescued but dies 4 days later

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

An elderly man disappeared from The Communities at Golden Pond assisted living facility on West Main Street on Sept. 10 and was rescued two days later. However, he died four days after being taken to a local hospital.

Jim Noon, 84, wandered away from Golden Pond on Sept. 10 around 10 p.m. A press release from the Hopkinton Police Department originally stated Noon had dementia, but it later was changed to indicate he had “health conditions and may be confused or disoriented.”

Noon never strayed that far from the grounds, interim Hopkinton Fire Chief Gary Daugherty believes, but because he was in a “very deep, thick area of brush and mud,” he was difficult to locate.

Noon is believed to have entered the woods behind Icehouse Pond — right next to the Golden Pond residence — and may have fallen into the brush soon after.

“I think in the middle of the night he tripped, and he was there the whole time,” said Daugherty, who added that he walks the area himself. “That’s my speculation, just because there’s a lot of thick thorn bushes, it’s very hilly, it’s not an easy terrain to walk, especially without a flashlight or anything. … He wasn’t on a path. He was in the woods, between two creeks and a marshy area, surrounded by big thorn bushes.”

Daugherty was in the command post outside the Golden Pond facility to coordinate the search, which had resumed the morning of Sept. 12 after a pause due to heavy rain and darkness the night before. He said the concern for the man’s safety escalated after the downpours.

“I was starting to get nervous there with the

amount of time that went by and the weather the night before,” he said. “I was really getting nervous. Being wet all night, I was worrying about him getting hypothermic, being out in the environment for 36 hours, not eating, not drinking.”

The key to the discovery, Daugherty said, was a computer analysis.

“We searched that area the night before and during the day with dogs and drones, then we used some data that we have with a mapping program that takes the patient’s age, his medical history, all types of statistics from national searches, and it creates a cone from the last-seen point,” Daugherty explained. “We put all the data into the computer, and that projected his route of travel. Then we basically did a line search from the last-seen point through that cone, and that’s how they found him.”

Individuals from the State Police Special Emergency Response Team eventually located Noon about 138 yards from the Golden Pond facility, Daugherty said. Noon was “conscious and alert,” according to the State Police, and Daugherty said he was “talking a little bit.” Noon was in stable condition and was transported via ambulance to the hospital.

After some recent tragic endings to local searches, including this summer’s drowning at Sandy Beach, this month’s positive outcome — at least initially — brought great relief to first responders.

Daugherty recalled the moment he got the call from the State Police that Noon was discovered. He said there was a little delay after the initial communication of “We found him,” as rescuers worked to determine Noon’s condition.

“As soon as we found him and we knew he was alive, there was a lot of excitement,” Daugherty said. “That was a lot of hard work for 36 hours by a lot of firemen and cops and troopers.”

Select Board discusses hiring/promotion policy with police chief

Police | from page 16

go up in rank, a lot,” she said. “This man, our chief, needs help. And by us just taking our time, saying, ‘Oh, let’s wait for this, let’s do that …’ We have to make decisions, and we have to make decisions that are going to help him and help him now. But, ‘Let’s wait until we get this’ — I mean, we could have a report in a month, but we could have it in a year-anda-half. And if we’re not going to promote anybody or hire anybody in that time, we’re not helping them. I just feel like if we are going to do something like this, then we’re going to do it right now, and move. … We can’t drag this thing out. We need a lot of police officers on the ground and we need to promote a lot of people to give them some authority.”

Kramer stressed that she wanted the Select Board to be able to be more aware of and perhaps

directly involved in the hiring/promotional process “meaningfully, before it’s just a vote on the promotion.”

Bennett noted that the department’s process is “robust” and involves numerous people/panels, adhering to department policy as well as the collective bargaining agreement with the union. Any changes to the individuals involved in the interview process could require negotiations with the union, he said.

Said Kramer: “I think we need a process whereby the Select Board of today or the Select Board of the future has an opportunity to ask questions about a promotion or about a hiring before the whole family is in front of us [expecting to celebrate the promotion]. That’s my whole point, in case there are times when we have concerns about a particular decision. And that’s fair play.”

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HOPKINTON HOME IMPROVEMENT

Hay relishes role with schools, community band

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

Educator

Craig Hay said that he feels fortunate to be doing exactly what he wanted from the time he was a kid — teaching music.

Hay has been the band director at Hopkinton High School for about a decade. Previously, he worked at the elementary level in town for 20-plus years.

As subject matter leader in the Music

Department, he collaborates with 11 music teachers in Grades K-12. Hay’s duties include administrative work, curriculum construction, performance coordination and “work to keep current in teaching practices.”

Hay said the district has a band, orchestra and chorus at the various grade levels as well as a concert band, pep band, jazz ensemble, jazz lab group and a cappella group called Noteworthy at the high school.

The groups perform in a concert series three times per year and are featured at football games and on holidays like Memorial Day.

The department is supported by the parent-driven Hopkinton Music Association, which provides scholarships for seniors, private lessons, concert attire and more.

“I appreciate what they do, and there are a lot of kids involved in music in Hopkinton,” Hay noted.

Hopkinton High School also offers courses such as music theory, music technology and beginner guitar and hosts a state festival where groups are evaluated and given feedback.

The most challenging aspect of Hay’s role is to adapt to changes in the field.

“It keeps you on your toes,” he said. “Things in education constantly change, so there is always something new you have to learn.”

And the best part?

“I have fun every single day,” he said. “I’m doing what I want to do.”

Hay grew up in Concord and was inspired by his high school music teacher and a middle school teacher who got him thinking about pursuing education as a profession.

He started playing clarinet at age 10 and saxophone shortly thereafter and participated in bands throughout his school years.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and his master’s degree from the University of Illinois, majoring in music education.

But as entrenched as he is in the school district’s music program, Hay is equally devoted to his role as director of the Hopkinton Community Summer Band, which is celebrating an important

milestone next year.

“It will be our 20th year next summer,” Hay said. “We’re going to try to make it special and invest time in coming up with ideas to make it memorable.”

Hay explained that the band is comprised of approximately 40-50 members, ranging from retiree age to as young as 14.

He took over conducting duties from Steve Yavarow several years ago and is assisted by colleagues Caitlin MacDonald and Dave Purdy, who take the lead when he jumps in to play with the band.

He describes the band as having a “laidback, relaxed” vibe with different levels of musicianship that is fully accessible and stress-free. No auditions are required; interested musicians can just sign up in the spring and join the fun.

“Some [members] are parents who decided to brush off their instruments after a long while and may be nervous. … Then they realize this is a group where they fit right in and play what they can play, no pressure,” Hay said. “Others are at a higher level and play in other bands as well.”

The community band starts rehearsing in June and plays a concert on the Town Common every summer. This year, they also performed a pregame concert at Polar Park before a Worcester Red Sox minor league baseball game thanks to someone with ties to that organization.

Hay feels like a concert or two each year is the band’s sweet spot, because for some members, the experience goes beyond playing marches, pop songs, selections from Disney, a classical piece and other light fare.

“It’s the social aspect,” he said. “Some people just like seeing each other and spending time together rather than having a desire to play at a lot of places. The students really enjoy playing with other members, and alums come back to see their friends and have fun with it.”

Hay said the community band has lasted so long because members take pride in hearing themselves improve over the course of rehearsals. The opportunity to perform publicly is “always a bonus.”

The support of the town also is crucial to the band’s longevity, Hay added.

“The people in town know it offers a place to play, and they look forward to hearing the concert on the common,” he said.

Next spring, he will be advertising at various outlets for musicians to join and anticipates that the 20th season may feature something extra to celebrate.

Stay tuned.

Longtime Hopkinton Public Schools music teacher Craig Hay poses with a man on stilts during the Hopkinton Community Summer Band’s appearance at Polar Park prior to a Worcester Red Sox game on July 30.

Consultant’s report on SPED program sparks discussion

By Susan Gonsalves

Contributing Writer

Areport that audited the Hopkinton Middle School special education program was at the core of several discussions during the Sept. 21 School Committee meeting.

AthenaK12 Educational Consulting studied SPED services in Grades 6-8 in the fall of 2022, the findings of which can be found in a 37-page document on the district’s website.

Athena gathered information by reviewing documents, site visits, observation of instruction, and oneon-one and small group interviews with SPED and general education teachers, according to the report.

The consultants praised staff members for their passion for assisting students and their expertise, noting they had a “strong, positive work ethic.”

The study also pointed out flaws such as lack of time to give direct academic support, a shortage of reading instruction, a shortage of SPED teachers to provide services in both the co-teaching and pull-out models, absence of space for providers like physical and occupational therapists, and a need for a director of curriculum, instruction and assessment for special education at the secondary level.

The report also highlighted the need for professional development training in co-teaching, better clarity in intensive program IEPs (individualized education plans), more time for planning and team meetings and more.

The consultants suggested that scheduling was determining services and recommended special education students have fewer related arts options and receive more direct instruction.

Concerns expressed during public comments

During the public comment section of the meeting, a trio of speakers expressed concern not only about the shortfalls talked about in the report but also what they described as a “breakdown of communication and respect” between administration and teachers.

A proposal last year to cut SPED personnel was referred to because it contrasts with the consultant’s findings.

Heather Marusa noted she sees teachers giving up planning and lunch times to help de-escalate “meltdowns” by students and noted principals pitch in when needed in classrooms, but not administration.

Paula Toomey said she is “alarmed and dismayed” by the lack of pull-out services for children, a lack of respect for SPED students and teachers, and the shortfall of staff.

Sabine St. Pierre talked about last year’s “strife” between the parties “who should be sharing cohesive partnerships to solve problems.” She said a climate survey should be done with teachers, administrators and the School Committee, with everyone open to criticism.

“We can only get better when we learn from our mistakes,” St. Pierre said.

She said “lack of transparency” has been at the heart of problems, and “the perception of many” is there have been “attempts to pull the wool over the eyes” of parents. She added parents had to sign a petition to initially access the report.

“I appreciate the community engagement and interest in this particular piece,” said School Committee chair Nancy Cavanaugh.

Additional reimbursement likely for new school project

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

During a brief meeting Sept. 19, the Elementary School Building Committee learned that the proposed Elmwood School project is likely to receive an additional $1.3 million in reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

The range previously cited for MSBA reimbursement was $44 million to $46 million.

Emphasizing that he would know more definitively later in the week, Jeff D’Amico, Vertex’s project director, said the firm and MSBA have been going back and forth with questions on a variety of topics related to its schematic design submission.

D’Amico said, for example, Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh and Assistant Superintendent Jeff LaBroad had fielded inquiries about the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) program.

Other questions were about square footage, offsite improvements on Hayden Rowe Street and the overall budget, D’Amico said.

An area previously deemed ineligible, comprised of 3,000 square feet of “collaborative space,” now will receive reimbursement.

Similarly, D’Amico said, the plan called for three science, technology and engineering rooms. Although two rooms were approved in the past, it took some convincing to get the third deemed eligible as well.

Additionally, he explained that $300,000 had been set aside to handle project advisory changes when MSBA “upped the bar” on achieving sustainability goals. The MSBA indicated it would make that amount eligible for reimbursement.

“Overall, we have a great outcome,” D’Amico said. “It’s a good day for us, and the hard work of the committee, School Department, Vertex and [architect] Perkins Eastman has paid off.”

ESBC chair Jon Graziano said that often in these types of projects, members of the public make the comment that “consultants try to sell us on fancy stuff.”

“Hiring great consultants pays off in real financial ways,” Graziano said, praising Vertex and Perkins Eastman for “getting the maximum [reimbursement]”

Recommendations of report summarized

Director of Student Services Abigail Hanscom led a presentation summarizing recommendations in the audit along with Nicole Murray, SPED director of curriculum, instruction and assessment for Grades 6-12; Beth Callahan, who holds that title at the elementary level; and Matt Lefebvre, HMS principal.

Hanscom noted the importance of ongoing team communication, development of a co-teaching model plan, professional development and participation in the budget process.

Lefebvre described the START/EMPOWER programs, agreeing with the consultant’s call for a designated teacher for the latter, currently covered by the adjustment counselor and two paraprofessionals.

START, he said, is a short-term transitional program for students following a traumatic event or illness. EMPOWER gives further support on the social/emotional issues side.

School Committee member Holly Morand said she wondered how long the issues in the Athena report were going on without intervention. She said she worries about staff members and making sure they have what they need.

Hanscom said she felt welcome and supported since joining the district in July, including by the superintendent and other administrators.

School improvement plans highlighted

Another major portion of the meeting involved presentations by building principals on their school improvement plans.

Having a shared plan were elementary-level principals Lauren Dubeau (Marathon), David Brauninger (Elmwood) and Matt Cotter (Hopkins).

Some of the goals concerned social and emotional learning, culturally and linguistically sustaining practices across grade levels, and literacy and the implementation of new writing curriculum — including “flexible, small group and cross-curricular opportunities.”

from MSBA. “I hope the public recognizes the values of these firms,” he said.

Special Town Meeting date, approach discussed

The committee talked about Special Town Meeting tentatively being scheduled for Nov. 13 and the special election on Nov. 28. Graziano explained that the Select Board does not have the official setting of these dates until Oct. 3.

He said it is critical to keep the project on track in order to open for the 2027 school year.

The committee and interested citizens are setting up meetings, including with the Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 10 and the Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC) on Sept. 26.

ESBC member Jagrut Jathal is trying to organize a meeting with Legacy Farms residents, possibly Oct. 17 or Oct. 19.

Graziano spoke in favor of having another neighborhood-type meeting with residents on the other side of town. There also is a plan to meet with Hayden Rowe Street residents who are worried about stormwater management, he said.

D’Amico noted again that the ESBC is limited to sharing information and presenting facts rather than advocating or lobbying with its presentation.

He estimated the presentation by Vertex/Perkins Eastman at Special Town Meeting would be between 30-60 minutes.

Graziano said it most likely would have to be on the shorter side because there are other items on the warrant.

There will be no more Elementary School Building Committee meetings until Oct. 18. Instead, board members will concentrate on attending public forums a few weeks before Special Town Meeting to allow for questions and answers.

In other business, the committee voted 5-0 to authorize Perkins Eastman to meet with the town’s Engineering Department to discuss a sewer connection to the proposed school.

Social and emotional learning and equity also were cited by Lefebvre, as were targeted writing assignments within science, English language arts, history and social sciences. He also talked about culturally responsive classroom instruction and addressing the SPED students’ needs as they transition to Grade 6.

At the high school, Principal Evan Bishop outlined goals and talked about the “student experience” and giving students “more voice and choice in their learning,” data collection on their feelings of inclusion, and offering more “real world” skills and post-secondary options.

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.

Ashland-Hopkinton Porchfest Sept. 30

Ashland-Hopkinton Porchfest, a grassroots community music festival, is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 30, from 2-6 p.m. (Rain date is Oct. 1.) The event features free musical performances at front porches of more than 25 homes in Hopkinton and Ashland. For more information, including a listing of performance locations, visit ashhopporchfest.org.

Live4Evan Oktoberfest at Start Line Brewery Oct. 1

The Hopkinton-based charity Live4Evan will host its annual Oktoberfest fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 1, from 2-5 p.m. at Start Line Brewery (151R Hayden Rowe Street). The event, featuring food, music, friends and more, will bring the community together to celebrate Live4Evan’s growth in housing support for families affected by congenital heart disease. Tickets are $40 and are required for admittance. For more information, visit live4evan.org.

Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk Oct. 1

Registration is open for the 35th annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, which is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 1. Funds raised are donated to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Jimmy Fund Walk features four distances, from the full marathon (starting in Hopkinton) to a 5K. To register or to support a walker, visit JimmyFundWalk.org or call 866-531-9255. Registrants can enter the promo code NEWS for a $5 discount off the registration fee. All registered participants will receive a bib, medal and T-shirt.

Become a Dementia Friend Oct. 3

Individuals are invited to become a Dementia Friend by attending a free informational program at Faith Community Church (146 East Main Street) on Tuesday, Oct. 3, from 7-8 p.m. Attendees will learn about the different types of dementia, what it’s like to live with dementia, and how to communicate with people who have dementia. For reservations, call the Hopkinton Senior Center at 508-497-9730. For more information about the program, visit dementiafriendsma.org. Residents of all towns are welcome.

Baypath’s Paws & Claws 5K Oct. 15

The 14th annual Paws & Claws 5K presented by VCA Animal Hospitals, a fundraising run/walk for Baypath Humane Society, will be held Sunday, Oct. 15, at 10:30 a.m. at Hopkinton State Park. Participants can register as an individual or as part of a team. For more information — including about sponsorship options — and to register, visit baypathhumane.org.

Women’s Club Monthly Meeting Oct. 16

The Hopkinton Women’s Club will hold its next monthly meeting on Monday, Oct. 16, at 9:30 a.m. at the Hopkinton Public Library. There will be a social gathering followed by a business meeting. Prospective new members interested in learning about the organization’s charity work, educational programs and social gatherings are welcome to attend. For more information, visit hopkintonwomensclub.org or email HopWCMembership@gmail.com.

Michael’s Run 5K for Respite Center Oct. 21

The 24th annual Michael’s Run, a 5K run/walk to benefit the Michael Lisnow Respite Center, will be held Saturday, Oct. 21. The race starts and ends at the Town Common. On-site registration opens at 8 a.m., and the race starts at 10. The family event includes food, music, crafts and games. For more information or to register online, visit hopkintonrespite.org.

Friends of Whitehall Fall Cleanup Oct. 21

The Friends of Whitehall‘s fall lake and trail cleanup will be held Saturday, Oct. 21, from 9 a.m.-noon. Participants will gather at the boat landing parking lot at Whitehall State Park on Wood Street (Route 135) and be assigned areas of trails and shoreline around the lake to clean up debris and refuse. Gloves, trash bags, tools, bug spray and water will be provided, along with coffee and doughnuts for volunteers. For more information about the cleanup and the Friends of Whitehall, which is welcoming new members, visit friendsofwhitehall.org.

Mental Health Collaborative Golf Tournament Oct. 23

The Mental Health Collaborative Fall Classic will be held Monday, Oct. 23, at Hopkinton Country Club, starting at 9 a.m. Activities include continental breakfast, golf, boxed lunch, cocktail reception, silent auction, awards dinner and live auction. Participants provide an opportunity to support the critical cause of mental health literacy for teens and young adults, and allows MHC to educate more teachers, students, parents, coaches, young adults, organizations and communities. For more information about participating or becoming a sponsor, visit mentalhealthcollaborative.org.

Women’s Club Program on Eco-Friendly Living Oct. 23

The Hopkinton Women’s Club will host a presentation by the Hopkinton Sustainable Green Committee on Monday, Oct. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Hopkinton Public Library. Guest speaker Linda Chuss will talk about the local impacts of climate change and measures residents can take to be part of the solution. For more information, visit hopkintonwomensclub.org or email HopWCMembership@gmail.com.

Event Calendar Sponsored by HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Project Empathy

Sept. 29 & 30 | 8 p.m.

Project Empathy brings the power of human connection to our community. In this performance-based project, people are tasked with telling each other’s true, personal stories. For 6-8 weeks, the cast engages in empathy exercises, reflective writing, and perspective-taking to build trust and understanding. The connective experience culminates in a performance of stories for an audience. To make the arts more accessible to all, this performance is on a pay-what-you-can basis.

Art Exhibition Opening History Is No Mystery: The Conversation Continues October 6 to November 11

American history has currently been erased and whitewashed and the exhibit is a creative response to that by highlighting the realities of what America was built on. This exhibition is supported in part by Hopedale and the Hopkinton Cultural Councils and curated by Shea Justice.

First Friday Open Mic with feature Terry Kitchen October 6 | 8 p.m.

Calling all singers (and people who love to listen to people sing)! Open Mic is a great way for singers to put themselves in front of a very supportive and fun crowd and to learn by watching other singers. ur feature performer, Terry Kitchen, has been called “one of New England’s best songwriters” by The Boston Globe. Kitchen creates songs that are portraits of ordinary people and emotions, captured with extraordinary compassion, honesty and humor. $10 at the door; free for HCA members.

Sunday Jazz Jam

October 8 | 11 p.m.

Grab a cup of coffee and join us in our barn loft for an hour-long concert by the MetroWest Jazz Project followed by a public jam session. The MetroWest Jazz Project is a collaboration of jazz musicians playing acoustic contemporary jazz featuring the unique sound of the vibraphone. The jam session welcomes amateurs and professionals of all ages and talents. This is a free event but a donation is appreciated.

LIBRARY CORNER

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

Schedule Update

The library will be closed Oct. 7-9 for Indigenous Peoples Day weekend.

Author Talk: Amor Towles

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 8-9 p.m.

This Zoom program is a chat with Amor Towles, who has written three international bestsellers.

English Language Circles

Thursday, Sept. 28, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

English Language Learners Conversation Circles are for people at all levels, whether just getting started or refining skills and vocabulary. Those interested should register at forms.gle/VmdRxxUQZRosGGwW9 to be placed with a group.

The Fabric of Fusion: One of Many, Many to One

Saturday, Sept. 30, 3-4 p.m.

In the novel “Digging to America,” the Donaldsons and Yazdans grapple with the topic of assimilation vs. integration as they go about raising their Korean-born daughters. For this event, which is part of the One Book/One Hopkinton program, members of the South Asian Circle of Hopkinton will host a lively panel discussion. It will cover many facets of life, including locating or living a part of one’s life away from a country and origin or working within family structures that belong to different locations in one’s formative years and onward.

One Book/One Hopkinton Book Discussion

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 6-7 p.m.

This is a library staff-facilitated book discussion of the One Book/One Hopkinton book choice, “Digging to America.” Books are available at the library, compliments of the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation.

Genealogy With Eric Migdal: Ethnicity and Migration

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

As part of the One Book/One Hopkinton program, this online event is an evening of genealogy with Eric Migdal of It’s All Relative Genealogy. It will cover tracing relatives via ethnicity and migration, which can prove challenging, especially when names shift in pronunciation or spelling or are translated across languages/alphabets.

50-Plus Job Seekers Networking Group

Wednesday, Oct. 4, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

This Zoom program is a professional forum for networking with peers in a safe and comfortable environment conducive to developing new relationships and developing skills and strategies to help with a career transition.

Broadway Musicals: The Golden Age, 1927-64

Wednesdays, Oct. 4, 10-11 a.m.

This virtual class is presented by Friends of the Hopkinton Public Library as part of the Life Long Learner program and is offered at no charge to the community. With the opening of “Show Boat” in 1927, a new style of musical was born. Referred to as the “book” musical, it would become the standard of shows on Broadway, especially in the 1940s and 1950s, with

great shows by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Presenter Fran Lautenberger will discuss the development of this new musical form and show clips of the best and brightest Broadway has to offer.

Red Cross Blood Drive

Thursday, Oct. 5, 2-7 p.m.

Registration is available on the Red Cross website at rcblood. org/3AmuYsP

Narcan Training and Community Harm Reduction

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Narcan, the brand name of the generic drug naloxone, is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids. This free training from the Hopkinton Health Department will provide participants with brief instruction on how to recognize an opioid overdose, when and how to use Narcan, and a free kit to take home.

Eclipse and Solar Science for Adults

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 6-7 p.m.

Adult Librarian Danielle Cook will lead a fun evening of science demonstrations and a craft. In anticipation of the annular solar eclipse this fall, this discussion will cover the scale of the solar system, how eclipses actually happen, why they’re exciting and how to safely view one.

SENIOR SNIPPETS

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

Aging in Place

Part 1: Thursday, Sept. 28, 1 p.m.

Part 2: Thursday, Oct. 19, 1 p.m.

So many seniors today are living longer than generations before. It’s called the Longevity Dividend, as it’s the best gift one can get. This two-part series will have individuals make the most of that gift. The first session explores the attitudes and behaviors that may be holding one back from having a truly fulfilling and happy retirement. The second session helps devise a plan to make that a reality. This is all from information based on the latest research by psychologists and gerontologists. Attendees will find out not just how to live longer but also how to make these extra years really count.

Repair Fair

Saturday, Sept. 30, 9 a.m.-noon

The third annual Hopkinton Repair Fair is held in partnership with the Hopkinton Lions Club and Hopkinton Public Library. This is a free community event where people bring items that don’t work quite right — dull knives, small appliances, books that need rebinding, textile and clothing in need of repair, etc. — and others help repair them. Individuals must remain on site while their item is repaired. If replacement parts are needed, attendees should bring them or be prepared to run out to a hardware store. For more information, to register or to be considered as one of the “fixers,” call the Senior Center.

Dementia Friends Info Session

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 7-8:30 p.m.

In this 90-minute session, open to residents of all towns, community members will learn about dementia and how to be inclusive and welcoming to those living with cognitive and memory impairments. For more information or to make a reservation, call 508-4979730 or email sdocknevich@gmail.com.

Our Time Memory Cafe

Thursday, Oct. 5, 1 p.m.

Our Time Memory Cafe is a welcoming gathering for those experiencing forgetfulness or mild cognitive impairment or living with dementia, along with their care partner, family and friends. The cafe is a place to socialize, have social experiences with others going through similar changes and form friendships. A care partner must accompany anyone who requires assistance. The program is a joint venture between the Hopkinton Senior Center and Hopkinton Public Library. For more information or to register, call 508497-0108 or email info@ourtimememorycafe.org.

AARP Clutter Program: Decluttering and Downsizing

Thursday, Oct. 12, 1 p.m.

Individuals spend a lifetime accumulating treasures, trinkets and memories. But having too much stuff can impede people from relocating or getting health care into their homes. This engaging presentation explores why stuff is so important for some people and teaches practical, easy-to-follow tips on downsizing and decluttering.

Halloween Costume Party Featuring the Elderly Brothers

Thursday, Oct. 26, 1 p.m.

Attendees will get into the spooky spirit with sweet treats, live music and tons of Halloween fun. Costumes are welcome. Advance registration is required.

Defense anchors talented HHS girls soccer

“She is back, and we have her playing in the midfield,” Skiba said.

Recupero and Nina Tzouganatos were named the co-Coach’s MVP last year, and both juniors are expected to take on leadership roles again.

“They are really the heartbeat of our team in terms of controlling the flow of play through the middle of the field,” Skiba said.

Also of note, the Hillers have three sets of sisters, with sophomore Alex Clarke and freshman Sophia Tzouganatos joining their siblings, while senior Juliana Grontzos and her junior sister, Fotini, round out the trio.

“We are taking it one game at a time,” the coach added, “but the big goal for us is that we would love to be able to repeat as TVL Large School champions. If we are able to do that, we should be able to get into the tournament.”

The Hillers were knocked out of the tourney by Bishop Feehan last year. Skiba said he hopes to see his team play well enough during the regular season to earn a home tournament game this fall.

“Having a home game in the tournament is not something we have been able to do since I have been coaching,” Skiba said. “We would like to have that happen this year.”

HHS unveils Athletic Hall Of Fame class

Margie

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

The Hopkinton High School girls soccer team graduated just four starters from a team that advanced to the final eight in the state tournament, and coach Tom Skiba is optimistic that this year’s team has a stout defense that could lead to another long tournament run.

“Our ability to possess the ball and create chances, it’s all based on having a very strong possession game,” Skiba said. “That was our core belief on how to play the game, that’s a core strength for us. But our defense, both the back line and the collective team defense, is quickly emerging as a strength for this team.”

Skiba said the Hillers have been working hard on team defense during the preseason and the early part of the regular season. HHS won its first six games and outscored opponents 19-4 in the process. Part of the early success is based on having settled on a rotation of goalkeepers to fill a hole created by

graduation.

Sophomore Aila Chase is the core starter, Skiba said, with fellow sophomores Callie Arthur and Ella Nye rotating as backups.

To fill spots at attacking midfield, Skiba moved some of last year’s starters from the outside to the middle. Juniors Madison Recupero and Anagha Kulkarni are expected to play significant minutes after seeing a lot of the field last fall.

Sophomore Mairin O’Connor is another first-year player who is going to play quite a bit this year, and Skiba said she is “extremely productive.”

The Hillers once again will be led by Georgie Clarke, a senior and the reigning Tri-Valley League MVP and all-New England selection.

“She is the big scoring threat up front,” Skiba said.

The team welcomes back co-captain Brooke Birtwistle, who returns to the field after missing time last year due to injury.

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

The Hopkinton High School Athletic Hall of Fame is set to induct its sixth class on Oct. 21. A total of 20 inductees will be enshrined, with their careers

coaching the Hillers

team in 2021, heads to the HHS Athletic Hall of Fame next month after compiling 307 victories and three state titles.

ranging from the 1940s through 2009. In the contributor category, Ken Burt will be inducted after serving as a physical education teacher and a three-sport coach — soccer, basketball and baseball — for three decades. Steve Simoes is another inductee, having led Hopkinton to a state championship in baseball in 2004 and appearances in the state final in 2019 and 2021. His career included 290 wins and 15 state tournament trips.

Margie Grabmeier had similar success in volleyball. Her teams made the state tournament in all 18 seasons she coached. She won 307 matches and three state titles.

Dave Cross is an inductee in the athletes category. The member of the class of 1948 was a three-sport star who captained the undefeated 1947 football team. Rick Breault played basketball for Burt, his fellow inductee, and went on to play basketball at Northeastern. Charlie Brock, a 1971 graduate, was a star basketball player who competed at Springfield College and spent 20 years as a coach.

Nesta Karner Eaves, class of 1979, was a field hockey star who went on to play at Salem State and with the Olympic Development team.

John Donovan, a 1988 graduate, was a standout running back for Hopkinton for four years and played basketball as well on three state tournament teams. Jeff Golden, class of 1995, was a twosport star in basketball and baseball and continued his baseball career at Princeton

HHS players celebrate a goal by Georgie Clarke early in the season.

Grabmeier, shown

volleyball

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Hillers boys soccer eyes return to postseason

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

The

Hopkinton High School boys soccer team has a new crop of seniors leading the way after the team advanced all the way to the state title game a season ago.

Coach Garrett Sawyer said his team has good senior leadership this fall as well as a strong culture, so things are looking good.

“Even though we graduated a large senior group, we are bringing back a group of seniors who did get a lot of playing experience last year,” Sawyer said.

Defense once again is a mainstay for the Hillers. Hopkinton posted a number of shutouts last season and kept three of the first five teams it played this year off the scoreboard en route to a record of 4-0-1.

Senior captains Sean McCann and Will Bialobrzeski are back after starting on the defensive line in 2022.

The attack is anchored by Jack Ianelli and Drew Bialobrzeski, two more senior captains.

“They got a lot of playing experience last year, and they will help fill the holes left from the graduating group that contributed a lot of goals,” Sawyer said. “They are both strong seniors and strong forwards who are going to help us out a lot this year.”

Carlos Henkle, the team’s fifth captain, is another experienced player.

“He plays with a lot of energy in the middle,” Sawyer said. “He is disruptive as a defender, and he has good vision as an attacker. All five of those players are good leaders to go along with their skills.”

Sawyer said the goal for his team is to compete for a Tri-Valley League title again and then make another run in the state tournament.

“Even though we have a lot of guys back, we are still trying to establish our team identity, so that is a short-term goal, too,” Sawyer said. “I think contending for a league title is a reasonable goal for this team.”

Sawyer said the TVL Large School Division looks fairly even, with Ashland, Westwood and Holliston among the Hillers’ top competition. He expects this year’s team to be defined by the play of its seniors.

“It’s like that every year; I think the seniors step up every year and try to establish their own identity as a team and create their own unique legacy, no matter what happened the previous year,” Sawyer said. “We are lucky to have another strong group of senior leaders who know how to perform our best as a team and know what it takes to win.”

HHS unveils Athletic Hall Of Fame class

Hall of Fame | from page 22

and as a professional pitcher.

The Hall of Fame also will welcome Jamie Keiler from the class of 1998. Keiler starred in cross country, basketball and softball before playing hoops at Ithaca College and leading her team to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.

Jess Titus, class of 2000, was a threetime volleyball captain and a standout in track and field. Classmate Jim Mecone was another three-sport star who made a total of eight Tri-Valley League All-Star teams. He went on to play football and compete in track at Bowdoin College.

Baseball and football standout Tyler Call graduated in 2001, winning a league MVP and helping the Milford Legion baseball team advance to the World Series. Fellow 2001 graduate Sean Keane became the boys basketball all-time leading scorer and a TVL MVP.

Ken Lysik of the class of 2002 played football and lacrosse, winning a player of the year award in the latter before playing at Pace. Mari Levine played 12 seasons of varsity sports in soccer, basketball and softball, graduating in 2002.

The Hall of Fame will induct three members of the class of 2005. Emily Daly,

a track and field star, participated in the Olympic Training Program for the hammer throw for the 2012 Games in London. Sean Terry was a four-year runner for the Hopkinton cross country team and won multiple MIAA titles in swimming before participating in the sport at the Division 1 level at Fordham. Allison Berkley was one of the best soccer players in school history and played soccer at Miami of Ohio.

Cory Thalheimer, a 2008 grad, was a five-time TVL AllStar, seven-time TVL champion and two-time TVL track and field MVP. He captured three individual school records and was a two-time NCAA Championship qualifier at Clemson.

The induction ceremony will take place Saturday, Oct. 21, at Hopkinton Country Club. A limited number of tickets are available at $60 per ticket. Those interested can contact Aubrey Doyle at soxwin18@comcast.net.

508.435.3911

Federico Rossi eyes the ball during a win over visiting Holliston on Sept. 14.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

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

David Senior

David Earle Senior, 88, of Hopkinton and formerly of Natick, passed away at Golden Pond assisted living in Hopkinton on Aug. 20. He died following a brave battle of many years with Parkinson’s disease. The son of the late Effie (Stevenson) Senior and Noah Senior, he was born in Boston and raised in Waltham.

David proudly served in the U.S. Army during the post-Korean War Era from 1954-56. He trained in the Army Tank Corps and served in post-World War II Germany. After the Army, in 1963, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Boston University.

David worked at a variety of interesting jobs throughout his life. As a teenager, he worked as a golf caddie, and later, he held jobs as a taxi driver, doorman and, after his degree at BU, accountant. He worked for many years for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Boston at the Department of Transitional Assistance as a human resources special-

ist until his retirement.

He was a gracious man who always was very generous with his time and money. He had a deep faith in God and was a valued member of the Trinitarian Congregational Church in Wayland. He participated in the men’s ministry and bible studies. One of his favorite yearly service projects was the Angel Tree Christmas. This organization gives incarcerated parents a way to provide a Christmas gift and a personal message, delivered by caring, local volunteers, as a tangible representation of their love. David enjoyed purchasing and delivering gifts to needy children of incarcerated parents. He would deliver a gospel message and a personal message of love on behalf of the confined mother or father. David loved doing this and all volunteer work. David was an avid Boston sports fan and especially loved the Red Sox. David was a talented artist. He took great pleasure in painting and playing golf. He enjoyed spending time in Newport, Rhode Island, as well as attending horse races in Saratoga, New York.

David is perhaps best remembered as a kind and loving person who always enjoyed a good laugh with friends. He was considered the anchor of his family.

He is survived by his loving daughter, Lynne C. Boisvert and husband Normand “Joe” Boisvert of Hopkinton; brothers Kenneth Senior and wife Audrey of Waltham, Robert Senior and wife Marie “Annie” of Buzzards Bay, and sister Mary Holmes of Nashua, New Hampshire. He also leaves behind his grandson, Joshua Pizette, and great-grandchildren Sace David Alton and Vanna Lynn Alton.

David was predeceased by his brother, Daniel Charles Senior, as well as his daughters, Jana Mastrogianis, who passed away in May 2020, and Jana’s infant twin sister, Darleen Senior, as well as Lynne’s infant twin sister, Lisa Senior; and his grandson, Jake Alton, who passed away in July 2022.

Funeral and burial services were to be held privately. Arrangements are under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton. A celebration of David’s life will be held at the Trinitar-

ian Congregational Church in Wayland on Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in David E. Senior’s memory to either the Parkinson’s Foundation (parkinson.org) or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease (michaeljfox.org).

Patricia Tammi

Patricia Eve (Assad) Tammi, 83, died Sept. 1 after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was with her family at the end. She was born March 16, 1940, to Patrick Charles Assad and Josephine (Dee) Assad in Worcester. She was raised in Worcester and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy, Anna Maria College and Worcester State College. She was a dedicated teacher in Northborough before relocating to California, where she taught middle school grades in Fremont. She met her husband, who was from Shrewsbury, in Mountain View, California. She returned to Massachusetts in 1983, as her husband had a senior management position with Data General in Westborough. She lived in Hopkinton and substitute taught in many of the surrounding towns. She was active in the St. Matthews Catholic Church and the Fay School in Southborough as well as Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut, where her daughter, Abigail, attended. When Patricia’s husband retired in 2014, they returned to California to be close to Abigail and her two children.

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, her daughter, Abigail and husband Damian, and two grandchildren, Adrian and Arianna. She also leaves her brother, John Assad of Worcester, her nephew, Patrick Assad and wife Bridgette and son Joseph of Paxton, her niece Cheryl Tomcyzk and husband Robert and children Emily, Jack and Robert of Sterling, and her sisterin-law, Jeanne McElreath of Scottsdale, Arizona. She is predeceased by brother Alan Assad and sister Sandra Johns.

Patricia was named Eve since she was born on Saint Patrick’s Day Eve, and she shares her birthday with younger brother John (nine years apart). She was a

dedicated wife, mother and grandmother to her family. She and her husband enjoyed traveling through California, Oregon, Arizona and Nevada while living in California from 1967-83 and again from 2014 to the present. Her family visited all the New England states and particularly enjoyed the small towns of Cape Cod and the Maine coastal areas. She and her college friends made several trips to England and most of the countries of central Europe, and she later traveled with her husband to France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain. She and her husband enjoyed museums, theater and fine dining, and especially the grandchildren. A private burial was planned. There was a memorial Mass Sept. 9 at St. John’s Church, Worcester. Memorial gifts may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the American Cancer Society.

Timothy Garry

Timothy Joseph Garry, 30, of Holliston passed away Sept. 3. Born in Natick, he was the son of Joanne (Barresi) and Steven W. Garry of Holliston.

A 2011 graduate of Holliston High School, Tim was a star wrestler and football player at Holliston High School. He was an avid Boston sports fan, enjoyed fishing, golfing and boxing, and was known to be the life of the party. Tim had a charismatic personality and excelled as a salesman. He loved music and recently took pleasure in playing the guitar. Besides his parents, Tim is survived by his two brothers, Michael Garry and wife Lia of Hopkinton, and Brian Garry of Holliston. He also leaves behind his grandmother, Claire Barresi of Holliston, and niece, Caroline Garry, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and close high school friends.

A funeral home service was held at the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Tim’s name to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (supporting.afsp.org/campaign/TG21) or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (donate.nami.org/TG21).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER

This report contains important information about your drinking water. Please translate it or speak with someone who understands it or ask the contact listed below for a translation.

Updated information as of September 2023

Hopkinton Water Department located in Hopkinton, Massachusetts has levels of PFAS6 above the Drinking Water Standard

What happened?

Our water system received notification of PFAS6 results showing that our system violated the 20 ng/L PFAS6 Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) drinking water standard during the July through September 2023 compliance period with a quarterly average of 22 ng/L at the Fruit St. Pump Station. The quarterly average of PFAS6 has ranged between 20 to 35 ng/L since Quarter 3, 2021 to date and our system will continue to notify consumers every 3 months with updated information as required. This does not apply to residents on private wells. Samples collected in July 2023, August 2023, and September 2023, reported levels of PFAS6 at 22.4 ng/L, 20 ng/L and 22.1 ng/L, respectively. Exceedance of the MCL standard has been determined from these results. Compliance with the PFAS6 MCL is calculated as a quarterly average based upon the total number of samples collected during the compliance period. The location where elevated levels of PFAS6 were reported is from our Fruit Street Blending Facility, one of five facilities (including the Ashland Interconnection) that supplies drinking water to our system. PFAS6 levels were reported below the MCL at our other locations.

What does this mean?

This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. Although this is not an emergency, as a consumer of the water, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did and are doing to correct this situation.

On October 2, 2020, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) issued a new drinking water regulation setting a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/L) for the sum of six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (called PFAS6). PFAS6 includes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA).

PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used in the manufacturing of certain fire-fighting foams, moisture and stain resistant products, and other industrial processes. An MCL is the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water which is delivered to any user of a public water system. Some people who drink water containing PFAS6 in excess of the MCL may experience certain adverse effects. These could include effects on the liver, blood, immune system, thyroid, and fetal development. These PFAS6 may also elevate the risk of certain cancers. For more information on PFAS, see the links below.

What should I do?

For consumers in a sensitive subgroup (pregnant or nursing women, infants, and people diagnosed by their health care provider to have a compromised immune system)

• Consumers in a sensitive subgroup are advised not to consume, drink, or cook with water when the level of PFAS6 is above 20 ng/L.

• Consumers in a sensitive subgroup are advised to use bottled water for drinking and cooking of foods that absorb water (like pasta).

• For infant formula, use bottled water or use formula that does not require adding water.

• Bottled water should only be used if it has been tested. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires companies licensed to sell or distribute bottled water or carbonated non-alcoholic beverages to test for PFAS. See https://www.mass.gov/info-details/water-qualitystandards-for-bottled-water-in-massachusetts#list-of-bottlers-

For all other consumers not in a sensitive subgroup

• If you are not in a sensitive subgroup, you may continue to consume the water because 20 ng/L value is applicable to a lifetime consuming the water and shorter duration exposures present less risk.

• If you have specific health concerns regarding your past exposure, you should see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) link below and consult a health professional, such as your doctor.

Steps you can take to reduce your intake - Consider taking the following steps while actions are being implemented to address this issue:

• For older children and adults (not in a sensitive subgroup), the 20 ng/L value is applicable to a lifetime of consuming the water. For these groups, shorter duration exposures present less risk. However, if you are concerned about your exposure while steps are being taken to assess and lower the PFAS6 concentration in the drinking water, use of bottled water will reduce your exposure.

• In most situations, the water can be safely used for washing foods, brushing teeth, bathing, and showering. Please note: Boiling the water will not destroy PFAS6 and will somewhat increase its level due to evaporation of some of the water.

What is being done?

Our water system has taken the following pro-active measures:

• The bid for construction of the Fruit Street filtration system was awarded and Construction is underway.

• The Southborough Town Meeting approved an article on March 25, 2023, that allows Hopkinton to pursue a connection to the MWRA water system. The design of that connection will begin soon.

• Our other sources were sampled, and those sources did not contain PFAS6 above the MCL.

• We will continue to blend water at the Fruit St. Water Treatment Facility to reduce PFAS6 levels at this location.

• We will continue to sample our water sources for PFAS6.

• We offer a bottled water rebate program for people in a sensitive subgroup in the form of a $20 monthly credit off your water bill - you may apply on our DPW website at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoImZWL-TX h4helWCVjnl6LH5vLXfmh3lqWsWyvnR2pnhw5Q/viewform

• When additional information becomes available, this public notice will be updated.

Where can I get more information?

For more information, please contact the Director of Public Works, Kerry Reed, at 508-497-9740 or kreed@hopkintonma.gov, or the Water/Sewer Manager, Eric Carty, at 508-497-9765 or ericc@hopkintonma.gov, or view our website at: https://www.hopkintonma.gov/departments/department_of_public_works/ pfas.php

Additional information can be found at the weblinks listed below:

• MassDEP Fact Sheet – Questions and Answers for Consumers https://www.mass.gov/media/1854351

• CDC ATSDR Information on PFAS for consumers and health professionals https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/index.html

• Massachusetts Department of Public Health information about PFAS in Drinking Water - https://www.mass.gov/service-details/per-andpolyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas-in-drinking-water

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police log

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September 8

2:17 a.m. Officer Nicholas Saletnik stopped a vehicle that passed him at 80 mph on West Main Street. A 29-year-old from Milford was arrested and charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, speeding in violation of special regulation, and OUI liquor.

Editor’s note: Due to space limitations, this is an abbreviated version of the Police Log. For the full Police Log visit the Hopkinton Independent website at HopkintonIndependent.com.

September 5

7:44 a.m. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Cody Normandin responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on C Street. No personal injuries were reported. A tow truck removed one car, and a complaint application was issued to a driver. Officer Normandin provided a courtesy transport to the Southborough commuter rail station.

9:04 a.m. A concerned caller complained of a bus stop issue on Grove Street where students must cross the street in order to catch the bus, and children almost were hit. Officer Matthew Santoro was advised, and the school bus company already was aware of the issue.

9:17 a.m. A truck company reported trucks that were parked on Ash Street were damaged over the weekend. The incident was logged.

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10:51 a.m. A Clinton Street caller reported a suspicious vehicle followed her while she was out on a walk and walking back to her house. The driver was described as middle-aged, bald and in an older GMC or Chevy with a dented rear bumper and Massachusetts license plates. Officer Sean McKeon responded and checked the area with a negative find.

2:26 p.m. A Pleasant Street resident reported someone on her porch. Officers Sean McKeon and Cody Normandin responded and found a female who was missing from the Senior Center. She was returned to the Senior Center.

7:10 p.m. A Woodview Way caller reported his vehicle was keyed. Officer Sean McKeon responded and took a report of vandalism.

September 6

6:59 p.m. A Constitution Court caller reported one of his neighbors was harassing him and his children. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Matthew LaTour responded and took a report.

10:40 p.m. The Northbridge Police Department requested Hopkinton suspend a resident’s license to carry. Officer Matthew LaTour assisted and took a report.

September 8

10:08 a.m. A caller reported a coyote in an East Main Street garden center. It crossed the road, possibly to a den. The incident was logged.

10:08 a.m. A caller reported he received a phone call from someone pretending to be from the Hopkinton Police Department. The caller was advised that an officer would not be contacting him unless he was in trouble or asked for help. The caller was advised that there have

been other fraudulent phone calls recently in town.

12:25 p.m. A caller reported that when he jogs on Wilson Street, dogs are loose and chase him. Officer Matthew LaTour responded, and the dogs were gone upon his arrival.

3:01 p.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Cody Normandin and Brennan Grimley responded to a motor vehicle accident on Legacy Farms North. No personal injuries were reported. Eversource was notified of a damaged pole.

3:03 p.m. A caller on West Main Street reported money was stolen from her wallet. Officer Sean McKeon responded and took a report of larceny.

September 9

2:20 a.m. Officer Nicholas Saletnik checked on a vehicle on South Mill Street and spoke to the driver, who stated he was a private investigator. Officer Saletnik collected all the information needed, and it matched.

9:47 a.m. A Hayden Rowe Street caller reported someone attempted to break into his maintenance room, and there was damage to the door and garage door. Officer Shannon Beloin responded and took a report of commercial breaking and entering.

6:19 p.m. Officers Cody Normandin and Sean McKeon responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Grove Street. A tow truck removed one car. No personal injuries were reported.

11:19 p.m. Multiple callers reported noise and a public disturbance with loud music at the EMC building on South Street. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officers Nicholas Saletnik and Augusto Diaz responded and issued citations and made checks of 176 South Street.

September 10

12:02 a.m. A concerned bartender from 110 Grill reported an older man sitting outside on a bench for over two hours. He claimed to be waiting for a ride. Officers Augusto Diaz and Nicholas Saletnik responded, and a licensed operator subsequently picked up the intoxicated man.

11:23 a.m. A caller reported she found a lost child at school on Hayden Rowe Street. Officers Sean McKeon and Tyler Staback responded, and the child was reunited with his mother.

11:16 p.m. A Golden Pond employee on West Main Street reported one of the facility’s residents was missing and hadn’t been seen by his health aid. He was new to the facility and was known to walk. Multiple units along with the Fire Department responded. The Milford K-9 unit responded to search. The State Police assisted in the search. An Upton police officer responded with a drone. Air wing was requested. Other assisted living facilities in the area were checked.

September 11

2:28 p.m. Officer Sean McKeon reported a tree fell on a wire on Spring Street. The DPW responded, and Verizon was notified.

September 12

3:56 a.m. A caller reported a tree limb fell down and across the roadway of Cedar Street Extension. Officer Augusto Diaz responded and moved the debris to the side. 9:36 a.m. The Framingham Police Department reported a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident in Framingham and

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requested Hopkinton make contact with an Eastview Road resident. Officer Cody Normandin attempted to make contact and eventually spoke with the female involved.

September 13

7:29 a.m. A third party caller reported a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident on Clydesdale Lane. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Cody Normandin responded and took a report.

7:45 a.m. Officer Matthew Santoro took a report of a motor vehicle accident on East Main Street where a school bus struck a pole. No personal injuries were reported.

11:51 a.m. Multiple callers reported a suspicious male going door-to-door on Sanctuary Lane and claiming to be from Eversource. Officer Robert Ekross responded and checked the area. The man was gone upon his arrival.

11:51 a.m. A walk-in reported she was rear-ended while parked in a local parking lot, but she was not sure which one. When she asked for footage from businesses’ security cameras, she was told to seek police assistance. Officer Cody Normandin assisted and took a report.

12:49 p.m. A caller, still bothered by what she witnessed three hours prior, reported she saw a man on the side of the road on Exchange Street with his pants down, possibly urinating. She stated he was being indecent. The man was described as in his late 40s or 50s with a cane and wearing a plaid shirt. The incident was logged, and officers were to patrol the area.

8:01 p.m. Officers Matthew LaTour and Shannon Beloin responded along with the Fire Department to Downey Street where a tree fell and pulled down wires, which fell on top of a vehicle. Eversource was contacted.

11:51 p.m. The Holliston Police Department reported a tree fell in the roadway of Ash Street. Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded and notified the DPW.

September 14

7:31 a.m. Officers Shannon Beloin and Sean McKeon responded to a motor vehicle accident on Cedar Street and requested Fire Department assistance. A vehicle was towed. No personal injuries were reported.

10:05 a.m. An Amherst Road resident reported a gopher stuck in baseball netting in her yard. Officer Brennan Grimley responded and was able to free the animal.

11:28 a.m. A walk-in reported she noticed some ‘X’s on the back of her car that were not there previously, and she was afraid of possible trafficking. Officer Brennan Grimley spoke with the reporting person.

12:41 p.m. Officer Brennan Grimley responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Pond Street. A criminal application was issued to one driver.

2:44 p.m. Officer Shannon Beloin responded to a motor vehicle accident on Main Street involving a minor and assisted with paper exchange.

5:43 p.m. A supervisor from the Water Department reported the driver of a truck that delivers water to them struck their fence on West Main Street and damaged it. The caller spoke to the driver, who denied hitting the fence and sped away. He provided a license plate, but it came back to nothing. The incident was logged for the time being.

September 15

3:21 p.m. A caller reported a fight between two 15-year-olds, which moved to the sidewalk of Main Street. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Matthew Santoro, Cody Normandin and Matthew LaTour responded and took a report.

4:01 p.m. A caller reported a hit-andrun motor vehicle accident in a Hayden

Rowe Street parking lot. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and took a report.

4:19 p.m. A Starbucks employee on West Main Street reported someone claiming to be the police was asking for information and money. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Cody Normandin responded and took a report.

6:43 p.m. A motorist reported a road rage incident on Granite Street, and the car was following the caller. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Cody Normandin responded. The vehicle was gone upon their arrival.

September 16

6:15 p.m. Multiple callers reported a tree fell down on Cedar Street Extension and was leaning on wires. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Cody Normandin responded along with Eversource. Verizon also was notified. The DPW and two detail officers assisted while Eversource cut the tree.

7:34 p.m. A Teresa Road resident reported his 7-year-old son ran out of the house and was missing. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Cody Noramdin responded. The father called back and stated he found his son.

9:30 p.m. A caller reported harassment on Hayden Rowe Street when a group of kids grabbed his belongings and ran away. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Cody Normandin responded and spoke with the parties and determined it was a misunderstanding. The belongings were returned to the caller.

September 17

2:09 a.m. A caller reported suspicious activity in the back parking lot of St. John’s Church on Church Street, where two indi viduals were talking. Both took off on foot. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded and found one vehicle in the church parking lot and another parked at the beginning of the new development behind the church.

6:16 p.m. A caller reported a hit-andrun motor vehicle accident on Downey Street. The vehicle took off toward Upton. Officers Robert Ekross and Brennan Grim ley responded, notified the Upton Police Department and provided the driver with a courtesy ride home.

6:46 p.m. A caller reported someone hit her car while she was inside a Hayden Rowe Street building. Officer Brennan Grimley responded and took a report.

7:10 p.m. A caller reported about 40-50 people were gathered on Sandy Beach on Lakeshore Drive. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Robert Ekross responded and cleared out the party.

11:14 p.m. A caller reported she be lieved a worker stole some of her belong ings on West Main Street. Officer Augusto Diaz responded and took a report.

September 18

7:56 a.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Tyler Staback responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Granite Street. A tow truck removed both vehicles. No personal injuries were reported.

8:05 a.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded to a motor vehicle accident on Clinton Street and issued a citation to a fe male operator. A tow truck was requested.

1:29 p.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield took a crash report on Hayden Rowe Street, and a tow truck removed a vehicle.

3:58 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle crash involving two cars on Lumber Street. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Matthew LaTour responded along with the Fire Department. Criminal applications were issued to both drivers, and both vehicles were towed. No personal injuries were reported.