HI 1.11.23

HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT

Decision nears on Elmwood School replacement plan

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

Members of the Elementary School Building Committee are stressing the need for community involvement over the next few weeks as the committee closes in on a recommendation for the site of a replacement for Elmwood School.

During a presentation at the Dec. 20 Select Board meeting, Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) members explained that inflation and other factors are contributing to a huge increase in building costs as compared to Marathon School, which was completed in 2018 at a cost of approximately $47 million. Residents then approved a four-classroom addition at a cost of about $4 million.

While the cost for Marathon School was about $425 per square foot, Elementary School Building Committee chair Jon Graziano shared, the town’s engineering consultant estimates the cost for a new building to be around $700 per square foot by the time ground

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

At a hybrid informational meeting Jan. 4 held at the Hopkinton Senior Center, residents urged the town to take a step back from joining Grafton, Southborough and Westborough in a proposed regional emergency communications center (RECC), citing concerns about security and displacing some the town’s dispatchers.

The meeting — which followed another session the previous day at Town Hall — ran for 2 1/2 hours, as some people vehemently expressed their opposition, speaking about the effectiveness of the town’s first responders and the

Town Manager Norman Khumalo (left) answers a question at the Jan. 3 RECC discussion at Town Hall as (from left) Fire Chief Bill Miller, Police Chief Joseph Bennett and Public Safety Communications Director Meaghan DeRaad listen.

Attendees celebrate the arrival of 2023 a few hours early during a family-oriented event at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts on the evening of Dec. 31.

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The Hopkinton Independent is published by Hopkinton Independent, LLC, 32 South St., Westborough, MA 01581. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of the ad that was in error if notified in writing within three business days of the publication date. All material is the property of the Hopkinton Independent. Permission must be obtained in writing before reproducing any material. The Hopkinton Independent is delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to 100 percent of the homes and businesses in Hopkinton, reaching more than 7,600 addresses. It’s also available at Price Chopper and Hopkinton Drug as well as at many other local businesses.

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Publisher: David Bagdon

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Founder: Sarah Lothrop Duckett

Managing Editor: Jerry Spar

Social Media director: David Bagdon

Editorial contributors: Lyn Calkins, Chris Villani, John Cardillo, Christine Strickland, Christie Vogt, Jane Bigda, Susan Gonsalves, Courtney Cornelius, Mary Ellen Gambon

Town mourns Harrington, former Select Board chair

Mary Harrington was not one to hold back — both her opinions and in the time she spent volunteering to make Hopkinton a better place.

Harrington, who died last month at the age of 86, served on a number of boards and committees, including the Select Board, for which she had a stint as chair. She also was one of the founders of the Hopkinton Youth Commission, ran the local Girl Scout chapter and worked to provide rides and meals for neighbors in need.

A fifth-generation Hopkintonian, Harrington graduated Hopkinton High School in 1954 and never left the family “compound” on Wood Street.

“Mary was the original townie,” said another former Select Board chair, Brendan Tedstone. “She knew everybody and everything about the town. Her family and our family rival each other for who’s been here the longest.

INDEPENDENT THOUGHTS JERRY

SPAR

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“She was initially my treasurer when I ran for Select Board the first time. She schooled me on local politics and what to do. Any time I had a question about anything, rather than research it, I would ask her what she thought about it and she would research it and get the answer. She knew Hopkinton inside and out.”

Tedstone said Harrington was known for being direct and unafraid to share what was on her mind.

“She would never hold her tongue,” Tedstone said. “If you asked her a question, you were getting an unabridged answer, honest, concise, no beating around the bush.

“There’s not enough time for me to say what an awesome person she was,” Tedstone added. “Politically, she was great for Hopkinton. For me, she was a steadfast, solid supporter from back when I was stealing pumpkins with Dave, her youngest child [she and husband William also had three daughters]. She did a great job of bridging — keeping old Hopkinton but welcoming some of the new stuff long before all the new stuff came in.”

Tim Kilduff, best known for his work as the town’s liaison to the Boston Marathon and as a consultant to the Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce, recalled a memorable first meeting with Harrington.

“My introduction to local politics was when Mary schooled me at the first Hopkinton Annual Town Meeting I attended,” he shared. “The lesson was delivered in her straightforward and frank style. Despite the initial difference, she was always ready to listen and ultimately support ideas that added to Hopkinton’s well-being. In short, Mary is irreplaceable. The best we can ask for is for her family and the community to remember how much she loved both.”

Also of note, the town lost another longtime resident and volunteer last month with the passing of Dick Stewart at the age of 91. Stewart was a longtime employee and eventual co-owner of Pyne Sand and Stone when it was headquartered in town. An Army veteran, Stewart volunteered with the Hopkinton Fire Department and had a stint as deputy chief.

Phipps honored on 101st birthday

Longtime resident Russ Phipps was in the spotlight late last month as he celebrated his 101st birthday in style. On Dec. 28, there was a drive-by celebration in front of his home on Winter Street. Phipps still lives in the home he built after returning from serving

Mary Harrington

in the Army Air Corps in World War II.

The drive-by included an appearance of a Sherman tank (on a flatbed truck), courtesy of the American Heritage Museum in Hudson. There was a small gathering of friends and family, including daughter Marcie Caporizzo and son Rusty Phipps. (His wife of 71 years, Doris, passed away in 2015.)

“I can’t come up with words to describe [what it means], you people doing all of this,” Phipps told the crowd after being serenaded with the “Happy Birthday” song. “I’m amazed is all I can say.”

The following day, Phipps visited the American Heritage Museum and shared his story with media outlets including WCVB-TV and The Boston Globe.

While he laments the loss of those who did not survive the war, including his brotherin-law, who was a close friend, Phipps said sometimes a situation calls for urgent action.

“Be prepared to fight; freedom isn’t free,” Phipps said. “If it comes to the point where you’ve got to stand up and fight, you’ve got to do it.”

Heifer finds a home

It turns out that the farm animal that had been wandering free on Ash Street and previously referred to as a bull and a steer actually is a heifer — a young female cow. We now know this because, after a few months of sauntering into residents’ backyards and living in the woods, the heifer has been corralled.

Curt and Eve Varner, owners of a small farm off Ash Street, stepped up to adopt the cow when they saw the situation becoming dire.

“She would have died,” Curt Varner said.

They named her Harriet, and she spends her days grazing among sheep. The Varners own four other cows who live in an adjoining pen, and they are giving Harriet time to adjust before trying to have them all share space.

“She’s very skittish, which is understandable after what she’s been through,” explained Curt, who noted Harriet is about 300 pounds under her ideal weight of 1,000 pounds.

Harriet, who escaped when she was taken from another farm to the slaughterhouse down Ash Street, had been visiting the Varners’ farm during her time on the loose. Town officials struggled to come up with a way to capture her.

“We’ve been working on this since late summer,” said Bill Proctor, the town’s animal control officer. “We couldn’t get anywhere near it. Luckily, the cow stayed in the woods and didn’t really bother anybody.”

Eventually, the Varners stepped up to assist. They already had erected a second fence to keep Harriet away from their other cows, as there was some tension between them. So they opened their smaller pen and placed food inside it. One day when Harriet ventured inside, Eve snuck around and closed the pen.

“She found herself a new home with new friends,” Proctor said.

McBride honored for PJB volunteerism

Congratulations to Project Just Because volunteer Bette McBride, who was named a New England Patriots Difference Maker of the Week last month.

According to the announcement, McBride has been volunteering as a leader in the food pantry’s free grocery store a minimum of two full days a week for more than three years. Each day she helps an average of 60 households/families as they shop in the food pantry.

“Bette greets everyone with a warm welcome and ensures that their food pantry experience goes smoothly,” the announcement reads. “Her efforts and hard work keep the food pantry process at Project Just Because running efficiently, while bringing an element of hospitality. Patrons typically come to Project Just Because during a hard time, and Bette makes it a more dignified, low stress situation for customers during those times with her friendly, confident disposition upon greeting and getting patrons out the door.”

Bette McBride

Russ Phipps waves to attendees of his 101st birthday drive-by celebration Dec. 28 in front of his home on Winter Street.

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Former School Committee member questions article’s accuracy

[Editor’s note: This letter is in response to the Year in Review column from the Dec. 14 issue that included a summary of the School Committee controversy earlier this year.]

Does it disturb only me that a local paper puts in print assumptions based on hearsay, statements the editor, upon being queried, writes are “factual” and “objective,” when in actuality they are conjecture and opinion? He has no idea why I, a twice-elected official, resigned after four years of unfailing service on the School Committee. He has never asked to have a conversation with me about it. Assumptions are easier.

—

Meg Tyler, Hopkinton School Committee, 2018-22

Organics best option for Town Common

Using only organic fertilizer on the Hopkinton Common is an idea long overdue. I watch children and dogs rolling on the grass and families eating sitting on the ground. Pesticides and herbicides are increasingly implicated in multiple health problems, often after being approved by the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency]. The current biodiversity conference has a goal of eliminating one half to two-thirds of pesticide use worldwide.

When we focus on how things look on the surface, forgetting more important underlying issues such as health and well being, we are failing as planetary citizens. Town committees are still considering dumping herbicides in Lake Maspenock. How can we be so shortsighted? Many pesticides contain PFAS, which have already polluted our drinking water. I for one, would rather look at a “tossed salad” than a child or dog sickened by harmful chemicals. Grass does not have to be a monoculture but can support the life and biodiversity on which we all depend.

— Carol Esler, Hopkinton

Marathon Way needs cleanup, lights

At night the traffic pattern on Marathon Way, which includes the Doughboy triangle, is confusing and dangerous. The Doughboy triangle is not lighted, and the construction materials still remain in the area along with portable toilets in the roadway. We were told by the MassDOT supervisor that all materials would be moved to the DPW site on Cedar Street for the winter. Why are they still there? Two years of this mess in our Historic District is unacceptable. Who is standing up for the Historic District and all that it represents for our downtown? If this area will be cleaned up for the Boston Marathon, why wait all winter?

For the sake of traffic safety and the visual aspect of our town, please have this area lighted and cleaned up.

— Rick and Beth Kelly, Hopkinton

Questions remain about Main Street project

This time of year my favorite morning chore is firing up our old cook stove. It’s a fairly complex process, but the first step in the lighting protocol requires three newspaper pages, which I crinkle up and drop into the firebox. (We keep a random collection of newspapers in a small basket handy to the stove.) One of my many idiosyncrasies is that I can’t condemn a sheet of newspaper to the flames without first reviewing the news and the date.

The other day it was the April 21, 2021, edition of the Hopkinton Independent that I pulled out, featuring a headline article about the Main Street project. I read, “The 18,000 is the general will of the community. Twenty people is not.” Among the many things I am not, is a mathematician. That said, it doesn’t take a mathematician to know that 18,000 is a considerable exaggeration, given that the actual total town population in 2018 was 17,012 and the Town Meeting vote on the project was 504 to 278, which is not even 2 to 1 in favor. (And, for the record, 278 is nearly 14 times 20).

Recently I’ve read of a grant program for Hopkinton to subsidize businesses that were negatively impacted by COVID. I’m thinking back to a Select Board meeting of Sept. 24, 2019, wherein it was stated, during a discussion of the Main Street project’s effects on businesses, “The revenue lost, that needs to be taken care of.” Hopefully the proponents of this omnishambolic Main Street project will certify that the “revenue lost” was a consequence of COVID and not the Main Street project. Perhaps if the Chamber of Commerce and the project promoters work together, our Main Street businesses will indeed be “taken care of.”

— Edwin E Harrow, Hopkinton

Editor’s note: The opinions and comments expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Independent. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and must include the

Resident sentenced for role in meningitis outbreak

Hopkinton resident Sharon Carter was re-sentenced Dec. 13 to 5 months in prison and a year of supervised release for conspiring to defraud the Food and Drug Administration, based on her work at the New England Compounding Center, which was blamed for a deadly meningitis outbreak 10 years ago.

Carter, 58, also must pay a fine of $4,000. In December 2018, she was convicted following an eight-week jury trial. The government had appealed her original sentence, as well as those of some of the other 13 individuals tried as part of the case.

More than 100 people died, and 753 patients across 20 states were diagnosed with fungal infections after receiving injections manufactured by NECC that were contaminated with preservativefree methylprednisolone acetate, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.

Carter, 58, was the director of operations at NECC, a Framingham-based company that now is defunct. She was accused of partaking in an operation that made drugs in an unsafe manner and in insanitary conditions.

According to the press release, Carter “oversaw the processing and confirmation of drug orders received by NECC. Carter conspired with others to shield NECC’s operations from regulatory oversight by the FDA by claiming to be a pharmacy dispensing drugs pursuant to valid, patient-specific prescriptions. In fact, NECC routinely dispensed drugs in bulk without valid prescriptions. Carter directed employees to engage in numerous fraudulent prescription schemes to deceive regulators by creating the appearance that NECC had prescriptions for the drugs it was selling.”

“As NECC’s director of operations, Sharon Carter conspired with her colleagues to lie to federal regulators to perpetrate a massive fraud scheme that harmed hundreds of people across the country whose lives will never be the same. Our thoughts are with them as Ms. Carter is finally held responsible for her role in one of the worst public health crises in U.S. history,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “While she now heads to prison, rest assured the FBI, and our law enforcement partners will continue to work to bring others who like her, violate the law and put patients at risk to justice.”

Added U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins: “One may think that making misrepresentations or lying to federal regulators is a victimless crime. This case proves otherwise. In her role as director of operations, Ms. Carter conspired to deceive regulators into treating NECC as a lawfully operating pharmacy. The victims in this case — all trusting, innocent people — were simply seeking pain relief. Instead, those who survived were sentenced to a lifetime of anguish and trauma.”

Main Street narrowness questioned

Select Board member Shahidul Mannan asked Town Manager Norman Khumalo about the narrow roadway on

the western portion of the Main Street Corridor Project.

The town elected to widen the newly reconfigured roadway this fall following complaints from residents and concerns that emergency vehicles would not be able to pass easily through traffic.

“It’s not a design flaw, it met all the MassDOT [Massachusetts Department of Transportation] standards for the width that it was, but I guess when town staff saw it in the ground they wanted it to exceed the minimum requirements by the MassDOT,” Select Board chair Amy Ritterbusch said.

Concurred Khumalo: “It’s our judgment that Hopkinton would be better served with a wider corridor.”

Mannan questioned where the funding was coming from to pay for the widening.

“We know that our partners at MassDOT are funding the adjustments that were made on the southern side of the corridor,” Khumalo said. “We are still in discussions with MassDOT about what might need to be done or adjusted on the northern side.”

Khumalo added that he did not anticipate that the widening of the northern side of the road would extend the project past its scheduled October 2023 completion date.

Meanwhile, late last month, the town announced that the project contractor, A.F. Amorello & Sons, had finished work for the season. Work will resume after the 2023 Boston Marathon in April.

Amendment to leash law proposed

The Select Board voted to open the Town Meeting warrant Jan. 1 and close it on Jan. 31. Town Meeting will be held May 1.

The board also voted to place on the warrant an amendment to the leash law. Currently, dogs are required to be leashed between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. The amendment would extend the leash requirement for the entirety of the day when a dog is not on its owner/keeper’s property. As per the current law, it would not apply to hunting dogs, guide dogs or therapy dogs under direct command of their owners/keepers, nor dogs used in law enforcement.

Small business assistance available

Khumalo announced that the town has $100,000 to offer via an economic recovery support grant for local small

Questions continue to be asked about the narrowness of the western portion of Main Street, where a new bike lane has been installed as part of the Main Street Corridor Project.

we have now extended the deadline indefinitely,” he said.

Tennis club gets alcohol license

A general all-alcoholic license was issued to the Hopkinton Tennis and Swim Club, which is planned for a location off Lumber Street. The club has received a permit since 2016, and some board members questioned if an annual license should continue to be awarded while little progress has been made on the facility.

businesses that were adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each businesses can apply for a $5,000 grant.

Businesses must be in Hopkinton, have 25 or fewer employees and have been adversely impacted as a result of COVID-19.

“As we always say, small local businesses are a valuable part of this community, and we know that they did face unprecedented hardships during the pandemic,” Khumalo said. “Therefore, we’re very pleased that through our partnership with senate President Karen Spilka’s office we are now able to offer this funding to provide some form of stability to small businesses.” …

Meanwhile, Khumalo said the town received applications from 37 families for its COVID-19 support fund and distributed $1,600 to each household.

“Due to the very strong demand,

“I’m going to want to know a date certain next year when it’s going to open if I’m going to extend it,” Select Board member Muriel Kramer said.

A representative from the company indicated via a letter to the board that site work recently began, although Town Manager Norman Khumalo said he did not believe any building permits had been issued.

New police officer welcomed

Nicholas Walker was introduced as the town’s newest police officer. Walker, 27, is set to graduate later this month from the Boylston Police Academy.

A native of Hopedale, Walker most recently served as a dispatcher in Hopedale and Mendon.

Walker said he chose to become a

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

Residents express opposition to regional dispatch center

a building on a former Superfund site (contaminated land) in its town.

Khumalo noted that over his 13-year tenure as town manager, he has been asked to look into regionalizing dispatch services. An attempt to create a regional dispatch center with Ashland and Southborough failed in 2010. This idea is being explored now to improve efficiency, not to save money, he stressed.

“Investigating a RECC is not intended in any way to impugn the quality, the dedication and commitment of our communications staff,” he stressed. “We are simply doing so as a matter of how we do business.”

The current RECC feasibility study by UMass Boston’s Collins Center for Public Management initially included seven towns but was whittled down to four, which would cover about 70,000 residents (19.000 of which are in Hopkinton).

If the RECC is approved by the Select Board, the town would enter into an intermunicipal agreement (IMA) with the three other communities. As part of the IMA, if the town decides to have a district, the district decision would have to be approved by Town Meeting and subsequently by the state Legislature. After that, the town can apply for a state development grant in a competitive process. If that grant is approved, the “more definitive components” of the RECC will be more clearly defined.

At a previous Select Board meeting, the former Center School on Ash Street had been floated as a potential RECC headquarters. Westborough has proposed

While an RECC could provide greater standardization and interoperability, several residents countered with the sentiment expressed by resident Marlene Troupes: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

As a former worker at the Senior Center for 25 years, Troupes described the close relationship she had with the dispatchers who regularly knew the names and situations of the people involved in calls.

She added: “I think we have very good care for our people now.”

Fire Chief Bill Miller noted that RECCs “have been around for decades.” He later described them as “the wave of the future.” He said 25 percent of Massachusetts cities and towns are part of a RECC.

Police Chief Joseph Bennett said he did not wholeheartedly endorse the RECC concept.

“It is part of government to look at options,” he said. “It’s just a fact of life. And if the town should decide to go ahead with the RECC, I worry about you. I worry about you guys right now.”

Some residents raised concerns that the other towns would benefit more from the RECC than Hopkinton, asking officials to delay joining. Westborough potentially could get the RECC building, while the other two towns only have one dispatcher currently and would augment their capabilities in an RECC.

Others brought up an RECC that combined Hopedale, Mendon and Millville. Hopedale pulled out in 2012 after three years, complaining about problems

with communication and cooperation, according to multiple media reports at the time. A specific issue raised was mishandled calls — including an hours-long delay in getting a police officer to the site of a hit-and-run crash in 2011. In 2015, Hopedale entered into a new regional dispatch agreement with Upton.

Michael Shepard spoke about how knowledgeable the first responders are about Hopkinton. He has taught his children and now his grandkids to go to them whenever they may need help.

“These guys are the best part of our community and the part of the community we depend on.”

Replied Khumalo: “Well spoken, well said.”

Khumalo explained that the taxpayers would fund the creation of the IMA. Also, if the town pulled out of the RECC, Hopkinton would bear a financial responsibility. It also would lose its own equipment because it would have to use the equipment provided by the state.

New police officer welcomed

police officer in part to set a positive example for his 4-year-old son, adding that he’s excited to work in Hopkinton.

“I wanted a community that supports their police department and also has a strong partnership, a police department that really focuses on community policing and community engagement and involvement,” he said. “I think that Hopkinton is going to be a perfect home for me.”

Town offers clothing recycling service

The Town of Hopkinton last month announced a partnership with Helpsy to offer a free and easy home pickup clothing recycling service for the community. Residents can request for unwanted clothing textile items to be picked up at their homes by Helpsy. Pickups, which will take place weekly on Mondays between 7 a.m.-5 p.m., can be scheduled by visiting helpsy.co/hopkintonma or calling 800-244-6350. All items should be placed in a closed bag and left outside by the curb. Helpsy will accept donations in any type of bag, as long as the items are dry and clean.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection recently enacted new waste ban regulations that prohibit textiles, including clean clothing, footwear, bedding, towels, curtains, fabrics and more from being disposed in the trash.

Additional Boston Marathon bibs awarded

Boston Marathon invitational entries were assigned to the Hopkinton Freedom Team, Hopkinton Parent Teacher Organization and the Hopkinton Women’s Club. The three organizations were passed over after last month’s raffle for the 50 numbers that the Boston Athletic Association distributed to the town, but the BAA was able to make three more numbers available.

“The Hopkinton Women’s Club

Pat O’Brien, a former longtime Hopkinton police officer, explained that the town invested in a software platform called ProPhoenix about a year ago, an expense that would be wasted as well as “countless hours of training” if replaced in the RECC.

Communications union president Robert Savolt said he feared the impact of what was termed as “dark stations” with no dispatchers in the late evenings.

“We love seeing you come into the station,” he said, fearing an RECC would resemble “a corporate operation.”

“Is it worth giving up this community aspect for potential savings?” he added. “Frankly, once you lose us, we’re gone.”

“I’ve dedicated my whole adult life to this job,” added Evan Brooks, a dispatcher of 21 years. He said he feared losing his job or losing seniority if he is retained as part of the RECC.

“The intimate knowledge we have one day could save your life,” he said.

would like to express their gratitude to the BAA, the Hopkinton Select Board and the town manager for providing the additional bibs for the 2023 Marathon,” the Women’s Club said in a statement. “This will enable us to continue to give numerous scholarships and awards to Hopkinton students and donations to multiple town charities.” …

A parade permit was issued to the Hoyt Foundation for the first Dick Hoyt Memorial 5 Mile Road Race, which is scheduled for May 27 at 10 a.m. The start will start and end at Marathon School, with partial road closures that will be discussed with the Police Department.

Misc.: Budget work continues; appointments approved

Regarding the town budget, which is to be presented to the Select Board in January, Khumalo said in December that following an updated budget from the School Department, the town needed to trim $2.8 million to reach a balanced budget. Previously, the gap was $1 million.

“Therefore, we will be looking closely at both the potential sources of funds as well as the budget requests to develop some options for addressing the shortfall,” Khumalo said.

The appointment of Ayako Barnum as a senior library assistant was confirmed by Select Board members. She had been working at the library since July as a temporary assistant. …

Keerthika Deepala was appointed to a fill a vacancy on the Hopkinton Cultural Council, while Randall Kramer was appointed to fill an open spot on the Veterans Celebration Committee. …

The Select Board accepted the resignations of Patricia Srodawa from the Council on Aging (effective Dec. 31) and Linda Muri from the Veterans Celebration Committee. …

The Select Board approved a request from Eversource to install seven new poles on Clinton Street to “allow for improvements and upgrades for the increase and improvement of reliability for electric service” in town. The board added a condition that there be no double poles.

CPC approves $1 million cricket pitch request for CPA funding

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

At a brief public hearing Dec. 15, the Community Preservation Committee approved several applications for fiscal year 2024 funding via the Community Preservation Act, including a $1 million proposal for the redesign of Pyne Field to include a cricket pitch.

Under the Community Preservation Act (CPA), at least 10 percent of the funding raised must be allocated among three categories — open space, historic preservation and affordable housing, according to the state website. The remaining 70 percent can be allocated to any of these categories, as well as recreation. The recommendations approved at this meeting will be placed on the Annual Town Meeting warrant for votes in the spring.

Pyne Field redesign funding request increased

to $1 million

At the previous week’s meeting, members of the cricket community spoke about the skyrocketing popularity of the sport and the need for an appropriate field on which to play. While committee members expressed support, one concern raised was the availability of parking.

In response to the concern over parking, CPC chair Ken Weismantel recommended increasing the amount of the funding request for the Pyne Field redesign from $706,000 to $1 million to see if spaces can be incorporated into the plans.

“I still think parking ought to be significantly more than what was shown on the plan,” Weismantel said. “And I honestly don’t have a problem with the million dollars, quite frankly.”

Parks & Recreation Commission chair Dan Terry told the committee that the original plan was to implement a two-phased approach. In the first phase, the cricket pitch and youth baseball field would be constructed. Once the amount of usage is determined, Terry said, there would be a better understanding of parking needs. The second phase then would “perfect the parking,” he explained.

Terry added that there is parking available 100 yards away. He also reminded the committee members that cricket is not considered to be a spectator sport and would not demand a large number of parking spaces. Participants tend to carpool.

“I just think you’re going to be more popular than you think,” Weismantel countered, saying he would rather request up to a million dollars and then return what is not needed.

Parks & Rec pulls request for Fruit Street master plan study

While Parks & Rec gained money for the Pyne Field request, the Parks & Rec Commission decided at its meeting earlier that evening to pull its request for $50,000 for a master plan study for Fruit Street. At the last CPC meeting, members pointed out that between the baseball field, cricket pitch and dog park, among other amenities, there really wasn’t much available land left to assess there.

Conroy property funding request not included

Weismantel said the request for funding for the purchase of the Conroy property was being removed for consideration. The 85-acre parcel is located west of Hopkinton State Park, near Saddle Hill Road. It is abutted by a town-owned parcel and a parcel owned by the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

Marathon School playground, HHS items excluded

The CPC decided at the previous meeting not to include a funding request for $1 million for a playground at Marathon School. It also decided not to consider funding requests for a new high school track, improvements to Field 3 and a proposed amenities building.

Multiple items approved

The CPC approved the following items for inclusion in the warrant at Town Meeting:

$40,000 for the restoration of vital historical records.

An amount to be determined to purchase the Jenner land, a parcel of about 40 acres that is surrounded by the Conroy property and the DCR property.

An amount to be determined to purchase the Connelly land, a 20-acre parcel adjacent to College Rock.

$30,000 for boundary markings for land that is owned by the Conservation Commission and managed by the Open Space Preservation Committee.

$5,000 for trailhead parking at the Ash Street trailhead by Elmwood Farm.

Two requests for amounts to be determined to purchase parcels at and to the south of Berry Acres.

$5,000 to add bridges and boardwalks in Berry Acres, west of the Chamberlain

Street extension, at Legacy Farms South and at the trail entrance at the northwest end of the rail bed.

$60,000 for additional benches and shade structures at the dog park.

$350,000 for outdoor space improvements by the Hopkinton Housing Authority.

$40,000 for preliminary trail engineering study for the Western Route Trail.

$48,400 for preliminary trail studies to determine where trails would be appropriate from Hopkinton State Park, traveling south through Legacy Farms North and concluding at a town-owned parcel at 53 East Main Street.

Weismantel noted that any items that were turned down this year can reapply in future years without prejudice. He said he will be presenting the requests before the Capital Improvement Committee on Monday at its 6 p.m. meeting.

The CPC hearing was continued until the next meeting on Jan. 26 at 5:30 p.m. Materials will be presented by applicants in the meantime to supplement approved requests.

Planning Board approves Morse Lane family subdivision

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

The Planning Board at its Dec. 19 meeting voted 6-3 to remove a 1992 condition that restricted the number of allowable lots on the Capobianco family subdivision to four on Morse Lane, paving the way for a fifth lot to be configured on the property.

At the start of the hearing, chair Gary Trendel acknowledged that “this was a tricky one for us.” There were concerns raised at previous meetings about setting a precedent by removing a condition approved by a previous Planning Board. This was weighed against the desire of the applicant to allow a family to form one more lot to accommodate a family member on a family subdivision.

While the property does not meet current town subdivision standards, applicants Raymond and Anna Capobianco have worked to clear land around the road to bring its width closer to conformity at 22 feet, according to their attorney, Timothy Nealon.

Principal Planner John Gelcich researched the issue and presented revised language for the findings and conditions to help board members better understand the unusual issues this request has raised.

“The problem that we faced is that the decision in 1992 didn’t have a lot of detail in it,” Gelcich explained. “And trying to find findings that justified their actions was difficult. The Planning Board essentially granted blanket waivers for this project.”

He noted that the subdivision currently is subject to the regulations im-

— Principal Planner John Gelcich

posed by the Planning Board in 1992. This means that the current board cannot require extra conditions to meet today’s standards.

Gelcich said the board could either approve or deny an amendment to strike the condition, which was what was originally proposed by the applicant. Another option he presented was to amend the condition in the 1992 approval to change the number of allowed lots from four to five. A denial would have to indicate why it didn’t conform to state or town subdivision control regulations in place in 1992.

Trendel added that there was nothing in the documentation to show why the number of lots was capped at four at that time.

As the discussion progressed, Gelcich noted that if the Capobianco family made road improvement modifications on the private road, a new subdivision plan would have to be approved by the Planning Board because the conditions would no longer conform to the 1992 standard. It also would have to meet current standards.

Nealon noted that the improvements made to try to widen the road were “of the applicants’ own volition.” He agreed with Gelcich’s assessment that the 1992

documents didn’t provide information on the reasoning behind the lot number restriction. Gelcich clarified that the applicant could bring the road up to the standards under which it was approved in 1992. Going beyond those parameters would be considered “an amendment to the road that hasn’t been approved.”

Member Ronny Priefer made a motion to accept the proposed findings with an amendment to allow the five lots without striking the condition. Member Jane Moran seconded this motion.

At that point, member Rob Benson said he would like to deny the motion. He raised concerns about ignoring a board precedent and noted that family subdivisions no longer are approved in town. While Gelcich acknowledged these points, he said the Planning Board needs to follow strict guidelines, such as if the change would make Morse Lane unsafe.

Because there was a motion made, a vote had to be taken on it. The discussion continued on a situation Trendel described as being “clear as mud.” The board approved Priefer’s motion by a 6-3 vote.

Conditions were unanimously approved to prevent the approval of future lots without a new subdivision plan

application process. The intent was to document the decision in a way that was not done by the board three decades ago, Trendel said.

The Trails hearing continued

Another complicated case that came before the board again was the open space mixed-use development (OSMUD) site plan for The Trails. Peter Bemis, the project’s engineering consultant, appeared before the board regarding the 55-and-over housing development located off Legacy Farms North Road. He previously had been told repeatedly by both the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission that he needed to provide more information to address their concerns.

Last year, fines were issued against The Trails because sediment ran into the Hopkinton Reservoir, impacting both Hopkinton and Ashland. There had been severe rain during the summer of 2021, Bemis noted, that the stormwater management system could not handle.

Bemis explained that now that the development is in its third phase, some site modifications needed to be made. However, later in the meeting, the town’s engineering consultant said that most of these changes already had been made.

Bemis presented an overview of the proposal, noting that the sidewalks are the primary aspect that needed to be changed. On the private road system, the Hearing | page 9

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 8-year-old Rocky.

Here is Baypath’s description of Rocky:

“This handsome boy came to us from a home due to no fault of his own, and he is ready to find another heart to steal! He really loves to be around people and has met many people on his walks and at the shelter. He’s gone on walks with other dogs, but we are unsure if he would want to live with another dog, as he isn’t really interested in playing with them. He may want all the love to himself!

“He loves to play in the water and bob for treats. He enjoys short walks and walks very well on a leash, although he is very strong.

“Rocky loves car rides. He sits like a perfect gentleman and calmly rests his head on the window while watching cars and people go by.

“Even though there is nothing better than a cozy bed or couch to snuggle up on, he does enjoy a good play session — especially with squeaky toys.

“Rocky is looking for a quiet home that he can retire to and live out his golden years.”

For more information on Rocky 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 problem that we faced is that the decision in 1992 didn’t have a lot of detail in it.

sidewalks are on one side of the street.

Bemis asked to amend the plans to remove a grass strip and take the sidewalk up to the street edge.

Bemis also described challenges controlling sediment during construction. As a “best management practice” to control stormwater runoff, he explained, the culvert was pulled back and a sump

pit was created.

“Having done that, we saw an opportunity to then take that sump and make a permanent connection,” he continued. He said this allowed the water to flow northward to the constructed wetland system. The third-phase basin was the one that overflowed after massive rain, discharging toward the Hopkinton and Ashland reservoirs. The basins now are planned to be larger.

Another important modification Bemis requested was changing the configuration of the parking lot to prevent

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.

Transportation programs

The Senior Center offers transportation to and from the center as well as local shopping Mondays through Fridays for Hopkinton residents. Those looking for transportation for medical appointments or essential shopping should call to learn about options at least three business days prior to the desired day of travel.

Exercise classes

Fitness classes are free through January and February to encourage residents to start the new year on the right foot.

Chair yoga, Mondays, 9 a.m.

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

Stretch class, Tuesdays, 9 a.m.

Zumba, Tuesdays, 10 a.m.

Balance & Flexibility, Tuesdays, 11 a.m.

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

Tap dancing, Tuesdays, 2 p.m.

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

Joy of movement, Wednesdays, 10:45 a.m.

Zumba plus toning, Fridays, 9:15 a.m.

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

Meditation, alternating Fridays, noon (call for schedule)

TED Talks discussion group

Mondays, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

In 1984, TED Talks were created to bring technology, entertainment and design information to the curious and open-minded public. These videos cover a wide array of subjects and always lead to lively discussion and conversation. Casual TED Talks group meetings are held either in-person or over Zoom every Monday for one hour. Attendees will view one of these videos and follow with a discussion. The program is free. Register by calling the Senior Center at 508-497-9730.

Librarian visit

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m.-noon

Starting in January, Danielle Cook, the Hopkinton Adult Services librarian, will be visiting the Senior Center once a month to provide a variety of library services. Residents can stop in to learn about the talking books program, update or renew a library card, check out a book, get help with research or learn about available library services.

Art appreciation: Massachusetts art revealed

Thursday, Jan. 19, 1-2 p.m.

This presentation led by local art historian Jill Sanford will feature a collection of images from the Pilgrims to modern skylines. Massachusetts; famous people, events, architecture, landforms and industries are represented in surprising and interesting ways through a variety of art styles.

Falls prevention clinic

Thursday, Jan. 26, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

The Hopkinton EMS team will provide free assessments and education on preventing falls and injury. There will be free screenings with a nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist and podiatrist along with practical tips for safety. Followup will be available through the Community EMS program, as well as a home safety check and referral to a primary care physician if indicated. To register, call 508-521-8829.

AARP

income tax assistance

Tuesdays beginning in February

AARP Foundation tax-aide volunteers (IRS certified) will help individuals prepare and file their returns for free. While this program is focused on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low to moderate income, it is open to anyone of any age. Appointments begin Feb. 7 and continue each Tuesday through the end of March. For more information or to register, call the Senior Center at 508-497-9730.

the cutting of trees.

He noted that a peer review had not yet been completed by Phil Paradis, the town’s engineering consultant from BETA Engineering.

Trendel stressed the need for a site walk because of the number of changes proposed. It was scheduled for Jan. 7.

“This project has been challenging — and I think that Mr. Bemis would agree that this is true — both for ConCom and the Planning Board,” Gelcich said before he presented the staff report. He noted that the proposed changes affect stormwater, and BETA needs to review them to determine how they will impact the site.

Paradis confirmed that it is “a difficult site.” What he also noted was that eight out of the 10 items that were requested already have been done without prior approval.

“Typically when a developer discovers a need for a project change, a sketch is provided and information is given before it’s constructed,” said Paradis.

He also noted the drainage problems, pointing out that “it was clear cut from day one.” He said some of these problems “are not typical of a construction project of this size and scale.”

“It’s way more complicated to review something that’s already built and yet not in conformance with the details provided,” Paradis said, adding that BETA has identified other nonconforming aspects during its site walks.

Bemis noted that the changes were made to improve stormwater management.

“It wasn’t just for trying to ignore an approved plan,” he said.

The hearing was continued until the next meeting on Jan. 9.

Conservation Commission releases units for development at The Trails

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

The Conservation Commission at its meeting Dec. 20 voted 4-1 to release two units on the open space mixed-use development (OSMUD) site plan for The Trails after some prolonged debate.

The hearing was continued because the commissioners continued to stress that there still are incomplete plans for drainage improvements for the site, where sedimentation had filtered into Hopkinton and Ashland reservoirs during the summer of 2021.

Peter Bemis, the project’s engineering consultant, appeared before the board regarding the 55-and-over housing development located off Legacy Farms North Road. He previously had been told repeatedly by both the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission that he needed to provide more information to address their concerns.

At this meeting, Bemis described the poor soil conditions that have plagued the site. He also spoke of the need to deepen the stormwater retention basin on the Brookdale portion of the project, noting that it was the only source of water this summer for the “fairly extensive” vegetation there.

Excavation would be needed for a modified wet basin, he continued. Deepening the basin also would support a fish population. An alternative would be “a wetland-type basin,” Bemis noted, but that “wouldn’t be prudent if we were pumping water from it.”

“It’s a little bit of a quandary whether we would be able to retain it as a feature for the project going forward

and maybe have a purpose for it,” he said. Deepening the basin would bring up more poor soil that he said would have to be repurposed on the site.

Bemis also stressed the need to continue with a 28-day plan regarding the development of units for this phase of the project that he mentioned at the previous meeting.

Phil Paradis, the town’s engineering consultant from BETA, noted a concern that there was “a significant modification to the plans” not yet requested by the applicant. Previously, infiltration plans were submitted for each unit. Because of the summer storms in 2021, they were not implemented. Bemis put in roof drains to attempt to control the water.

“I think that’s kind of a big thing

because potentially, if the infiltration is used, there may not be a need to expand the basin,” said Paradis. He noted that the basin is on a slope.

The second basin, he continued, needed a design change to a shallow pond because it would be a place for mosquitos.

Paradis also noted that at the Planning Board meeting the previous night, there was a request for an infiltration basin on the Wilson Street side of the project that runs behind the houses on the property line that was not brought before the Conservation Commission.

He added that his team observed the first basin being pumped out last week, but it didn’t make much of a difference in the pond elevation. The second basin, according to his team’s observation, was cleaned out. A layer of stone was placed at the bottom, which Paradis said “was not a good idea for a natural basin.” Other minor issues remain to be discussed.

“We’re making progress slowly, I think,” chair Jeff Barnes said. A duplex building was released for construction by Conservation Administrator Kim Ciaramicoli. But the applicant pushed for more at this meeting.

Barnes added that Bemis needed to seek advice from property owner Vin Gately and the engineering team at EDC rather than from the commission.

Commission co-vice chair Melissa Recos said the second basin needs to be either a wet basin or an infiltration — not both.

Bemis and the project attorney noted that they “inherited” the work done on the stormwater system from the previous engineer, Bohler Engineering, and are trying to correct errors.

Bemis and Gately asserted the need to release more units for development by the commission.

“I really think it’s in the best interest of the site for us to continue to put units in and backfill them,” Gately said, noting the improvements made in erosion control. He reiterated Bemis’s concern from the previous meeting that they “are being penalized” by construction delays.

Barnes stressed that appropriate stormwater management is a paramount concern and that documents submitted continue to be “incomplete and inaccurate,” hindering the commission’s ability to make a decision. Some comments still have not been addressed after two months, he said.

Paradis said there were “two different packages” submitted to the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission. Also, some of the work on the plans already has been performed.

Commission members said they would like to attend the Planning Board’s site walk on Jan. 9 to get a more complete picture of the project.

The commission voted 4-1 to release two units, with Recos opposed.

Said Recos: “Obviously we all want to get this behind us as soon as we can.”

Frankland Road solar moves forward

By contrast, the hearing regarding changes to the stormwater management plan for the Agilitas solar development project at 69 Frankland Road moved forward much more swiftly. Agilitas previously purchased the property from Seaboard Solar for a 5.8-megawatt commercial solar array at the former Liberty Mutual property.

Nick Facendola, a principal at Level Design Group, represented the applicant. He explained that a modification to the second stormwater basin needed to be made because the excavator discovered Indigenous artifacts.

“We’ve been working with the local tribal representatives,” he said. “There was a new Native American monument identified in this location,” he said. “That’s a monument that was not identified when the initial surveys were done when Seaboard Solar was the owner.”

The monument was discovered after the trees were cleared and is located near the proposed berm, he added.

Also, during the initial excavation, Facendola said that it was discovered that the area “was a large dump site” for topsoil spoilings and boulders. A stormwater infiltration basin cannot be installed in fill material, so it the area would need to be excavated. He called BETA to examine the conditions. This area will be undisturbed.

There now are two smaller subbasins proposed. He said there is minimal disturbance to the buffer zone. An 8-inch pipe will connect the two basins, which would accept overflow water. There will be one other 8-inch pipe and a small splash pad. There will be a net decrease of 104 feet of undisturbed buffer zone now, according to Facendola.

Said Facendola: “We’re going to protect this area through the remainder of construction.”

The board voted to approve the amended notice of intent (NOI). Member Ted Barker-Hook complimented Facendola on submitting a complete and detailed presentation. Member Janine LeBlanc voted against it because she was against the original NOI.

Despite continued concerns with the project, the Conservation Commission approved the release of two units at The Trails, located off Legacy Farms North Road.

FILE

PHOTO/JERRY

SPAR

Parks

Rec discusses CPC requests, progress on initiatives

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

At its hour-long meeting Dec. 15, the Parks & Recreation commission discussed its applications for funding before the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) that met later that evening, noting the positive momentum for a cricket pitch at a reconfigured Pyne Field.

Progress made on pickleball courts

Director Jay Guelfi said soil samples were taken at the proposed site off Fruit Street (across from the new dog park) by an engineering firm. He requested that a date be set up for community engagement with stakeholders, including pickleball enthusiasts, to garner additional information. Current plans include four permanent pickleball courts and four temporary courts that can be converted into a tennis court so that tennis, which also is growing in popularity, could be included.

Guelfi also announced that the bidding documents are being prepared by the new town accountant so that the project can move forward. Once the paperwork is completed, a bid can be accepted by late January or early February. Construction could then begin in the spring, and the pickleball project is anticipated to be completed by the end of the summer.

Guelfi noted last week’s CPC meeting, where cricket enthusiasts explained the sport and the number of players involved. Because it is not considered a spectator sport and because players tend to carpool, he said the games are not expected to strain the parking situation, although parking was a concern brought up at the CPC meeting. Because CPC chair Ken Weismantel expressed a need for an initial parking plan to be incorporated into the design, the funding request was raised from $704,000 to $1 million. The money would be drawn from CPC funds and not impact taxpayers.

“The cricket guys, I would say, lobbied for our current reconfiguration of Pyne Field,” Guelfi said. “I felt overall that it was well-received and people were enthusiastic about it.”

Parks & Rec Commission chair Dan Terry explained that the project was expected to be done in two phases, with parking initially expected to be done in the second phase. He said a good solution for parking would be to create steps to the lower area because of the steep grading there.

“I think the expensive part is just accessing that area with some steps and regrading,” he added, noting that a large, paved lot would not be necessary. It would need to be accessible.

Fruit Street master plan study pulled

Commissioners voted unanimously to pull the $50,000 request for CPC funding for a master plan study of Fruit Street from consideration. It was pointed out that most of the land in that area is being used for various recreational purposes. Discussion arose about the possible need for a town master plan for the wider area that encompasses

land designated to entities other than Parks & Rec.

“We’re kind of built out at Fruit Street at this point between the pickleball court, the dog park, this field and the parking lot,” Guelfi said.

“I think the field problem is still a real problem in town and needs to be sorted through,” said commissioner Amy O’Donnell.

EMC bathroom project awaits bid

Guelfi said he will reach out to the company that expressed interest in bidding on the EMC bathroom construction project. Previously, the consultant desired to submit a bid but had questions about language in the request for bids that could not be answered because staff was not in place to respond.

Terry said he would reach out to other firms that have been involved in previous projects in town to see if there is an interest. Guelfi noted that it is “concerning” and “a little weird” that no other companies have submitted bids.

“It’s just the study,” he explained. “You would think that would kind of be a layup.”

Summer concert series plans taking shape

Commissioner Laura Hanson announced that she has filled nearly every slot for the summer concert series on the Town Common.

The list includes award-winning Boston rockers Bird Mancini. Another potential artist is Kevin So, whose music encompasses soul, blues, folk and country stylings. So recently toured as a keyboardist for renowned blues artist Keb’ Mo’.

Guelfi receives good marks

Commissioners reviewed Guelfi’s performance over the past couple of years. He received a score of 4 out of 5 after commission discussion. Guelfi was praised for adapting programming during the pandemic so that recreation activities still could be enjoyed. Guelfi also was commended to reaching out to diverse members of the community, such as cricket players and elders — a jigsaw puzzle competition called “It’s a Puzzler” will be held at the Senior Center in January, and it quickly sold out. In that regard, commissioner Cynthia Esthimer said, “He is excelling.”

“It is really important to note that programming is continuing to surge and is growing at a great rate, continued Esthimer. She noted that the work to engage people during the pandemic has strengthened public confidence in the department.

Said Esthimer: “I think that’s a sign of a good leader.”

One area for improvement commissioners noted is enhancement in overall communication strategies and weekly meetings among staff members.

“He’s reaching out to every single group in the community,” Hanson noted, commenting on new programming. “I think he went above and beyond.”

College Axis Project gives high school students an edge

By Christie Vogt Contributing Writer

F or high school juniors and seniors, the pandemic has been a significant source of uncertainty and anxiety as students plan for their educational and professional futures. Concerned about the gaps in college advising and application assistance during this period, Christine Chapman founded The College Axis Project (CAP) in May 2021.

Unlike many other college guidance programs, CAP is designed to serve students of all socioeconomic backgrounds and does not target specific populations. “We are a blended program,” Chapman explains, “so those who can afford our services and those who require financial assistance receive the same high-quality product in small-group settings. This also facilitates the sharing of diverse experiences and ideas.”

CAP’s programs include college process workshops and boot camps that cover everything from applications to resumes, personal statements and essays. The nonprofit also offers a two-night college application retreat in Vermont and is getting ready to launch a college counseling online course with videos and guided tutorials. In addition to its paid programs, CAP delivers popular free resources like college profile review meetings with a professional college counselor and an online resource library for students

and parents.

The quality of its instruction is another aspect that sets CAP apart, Chapman says. “The people delivering the program include my colleagues, who are seasoned educational consultants, educators and professionals who have spent years working in college admissions and college or guidance counseling settings, and me,” Chapman says. “Together we represent more than 100 years of experience in the field.”

Chapman notes that the college admission process has grown increasingly stressful and competitive, while

at the same time, guidance counselors at public and private schools must manage overwhelming caseloads. CAP offers students much-needed personalized guidance that they might not have sufficient access to at their schools, Chapman says.

Describing the process of working with students on their college essays, Chapman remarks on how participants are not accustomed to the high level of attention that CAP provides. “It’s powerful because our process allows for connection and vulnerability to happen so a truly authentic piece can evolve,” she says. “That’s the stuff that lights my soul on fire when I think about the work that I do and being able to offer that to anybody and everybody.”

Since launching, CAP has provided more than 100 free college profile review opportunities and granted more than $2,000 in financial aid in the

form of tuition assistance and courses. Chapman is committed to the philosophy that these services should not be a luxury. “I’d like to give every high school junior and senior the guidance and empowerment that they should have as they get ready to transition into an undergraduate education or a vocational path or whatever it may be,” she says. “That is what drove me to get College Axis off the ground.”

Chapman lives and works in Hopkinton, but CAP also is registered to provide services in California, Florida, New York and Texas.

To learn more about The College Axis Project, visit thecollegeaxisproject.org, call 617-823-5403, or email christine@thecollegeaxisproject.org.

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

Time for New Year’s financial resolutions

can avoid the effects of rising interest rates. If you do carry a balance, you might be able to transfer it to a lowerrate card, depending on your credit score. And if you’re carrying multiple credit cards, you might benefit by getting a fixed-rate debt consolidation loan. In any case, the lower your debt payments, the more you can invest for your long-term goals.

P rofession al i nsights

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

It’s that time of year when many of us promise ourselves we’ll go to the gym more, or learn a new language, or take up a musical instrument, or any number of other worthy goals. But this year, when making New Year’s resolutions, why not also consider some financial ones?

Here are a few to consider:

• Don’t let inflation derail your investment strategy. As you know, inflation was the big financial story of 2022, hitting a 40-year high. And while it may moderate somewhat this year, it will likely still be higher than what we experienced the past decade or so. Even so, it’s a good idea to try not to let today’s inflation harm your investment strategy for the future. That happened last year: More than half of American workers either reduced their contributions to their 401(k)s and other retirement plans or stopped contributing completely during the third quarter of 2022, according to a survey by Allianz Life Insurance of North America. Of course, focusing on your cash flow needs today is certainly understandable, but are there other ways you can free up some money, such as possibly lowering your spending, so you can continue contributing to your retirement accounts? It’s worth the effort because you could spend two or three decades as a retiree.

• Control your debts. Inflation can also be a factor in debt management. For example, your credit card debt could rise due to rising prices and variable credit card interest rate increases. By paying your bill each month, you

• Review your investment portfolio. At least once a year, you should review your investment portfolio to determine if it’s still appropriate for your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. But be careful not to make changes just because you feel your recent performance is not what it should have been. When the financial markets are down, as was the case for most of 2022, even quality investments, such as stocks of companies with solid business fundamentals and strong prospects, can see declines in value. But if these investments are still suitable for your portfolio, you may want to keep them.

• Prepare for the unexpected. If you encountered a large unexpected expense, such as the need for a major home repair, how would you pay for it? If you didn’t have the money readily available, you might be forced to dip into your long-term investments or retirement accounts. To prevent this, you should build an emergency fund containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses — or a year’s worth, if you’re retired — with the money kept in a low-risk, liquid account.

These resolutions can be useful — so try to put them to work in 2023.

If you would like to discuss your personal situation with a financial advisor contact:

Mark Freeman

Edward Jones Financial Advisor

77 W. Main Street, Hopkinton, MA (508) 293-4017

Mark.Freeman@edwardjones.com

Christopher Stevenson Edward Jones Financial Advisor

77 W. Main Street, Hopkinton, MA (774) 991-0781

Christopher.Stevenson@edwardjones.com

Christopher Stevenson

Mark Freeman

Christine Chapman, co-founder of The College Axis Project, has been an educational consultant since 1995.

Presents ‘A SLICE OF HOPKINTON’

Hopkinton Independent Photo Contest

This issue’s winner is Jim Brennan for this photo of his 5-year-old granddaughter, Dottie Snee, standing on Pout Rock during a sunset walk at Lake Whitehall. To enter next issue’s contest, email your photo along with your name, phone number and description of the photo to editor@hopkintonindependent.com. Photos with people or pets in them are encouraged. Photos that are not selected as winners might be posted on our website.

Community input ‘critical’ as Elmwood replacement project decision approaches

is broken — which is anticipated to be in early 2025, if everything goes according to plan.

Add in the fact that this school will be bigger than Marathon due to the ongoing enrollment spike, and taxpayers should anticipate a big number when details are finalized.

The town will receive assistance from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, estimated to be in the neighborhood of 25 percent of the construction costs.

Graziano said January would be “critical for community engagement” before the committee settles on a plan — including the location and grade configuration — on Feb. 13. The plan then will be presented to the School Committee on Feb. 16 and the Select Board on Feb. 28.

Graziano anticipates a Special Town Meeting to be called for next November for residents to make the ultimate determination.

There will be two community forums in January when residents can ask questions and offer opinions — during the day on Jan. 12 at the Senior Center, and in the evening on Jan. 24 at Hopkinton High School.

“Everybody needs to pay a lot of attention in January because there’s going to be a lot of information coming out, a lot of meetings, a lot of discussions,” Graziano said.

While the discussions continue, Graziano, committee member Mike Shepard, Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh and Schools Finance Director Susan Rothermich heard from Select Board members who expressed concerns about the overcrowding at all the schools and how it can be remedied without continuing to bring major projects before taxpayers.

One option is to build a school with three grades

(2-4) on the former Todaro property on Hayden Rowe Street, just south of Marathon School.

Having an elementary school with three grades would allow for Hopkins School to become a Grade 5-6 school. With Grade 6 being removed from the middle school, it then could share space with the high school — potentially avoiding the need to add classrooms at either upper-level school as enrollment numbers continues to soar.

Meanwhile, no matter what happens with the Elmwood project, Cavanaugh indicated Hopkins School will need expansion, as the current building no longer is big enough to accommodate two grades of students.

The Select Board also asked about the strain on traffic along Hayden Rowe Street if that site is selected.

Shepard said he initially was not a big fan of the Hayden Rowe site, but he came around after realizing that there would be advantages, most notably a more efficient bus schedule due to all of the schools being in the same area.

“The engineering firms that we’re working with, they know that the traffic is our major concern,” he said. “They’re going to see what potential solutions there are.”

Other options include either renovating and expanding the current Elmwood building or constructing a new school on the same site on Elm Street.

Graziano said the MSBA enrollment prediction for 10 years down the road is slightly higher than what the town’s numbers indicate — the opposite of what occurred when Marathon School was being planned. The design will be based on a two-grade total of 785 students and a three-grade projection of 1,195 students — which shows an increase of well over 100 students per grade from the current totals.

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.

Angie moved to Hopkinton in the middle of the seventh grade and is currently a Junior. Administrators have commended Angie on her incredible growth academically, emotionally and socially. Passionate for arts, Angie serves as a stage manager for the HHS Drama Club, where she is most happy.

Last year, after initiating a conversation with her parents, Angie’s family hosted a single international student which this year expanded to two students!

Angie says she derives a lot of pleasure from being a host to these exchange students. She is considered a wonderful representative and leader within the Hopkinton High School community.

Hillers boys hockey eyes return to tourney CHEER UP

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

The Hopkinton High School boys ice hockey team earned a spot in the state tournament last season with a .500 record, but having most of his roster back this winter has coach Scott Hayes aiming to eclipse last year’s success.

“We want to be a tournament team, but we also really take it one game at a time and we don’t get ahead of ourselves,” Hayes said. “I like to focus on the next day, what do we need to take care of the next day? I think if we keep our focus on succeeding on a daily basis, that will lead us where we want to go.”

Hayes said the Hillers came into the new season in shape, focused and excited. Despite graduating a half-dozen seniors from last year’s roster, Hopkinton returned the bulk of the players who saw significant roles last winter and added a pair of players who previously played junior hockey instead of competing for HHS.

Senior captain Joe Carrazza is helping to lead the team and provide a boost on offense.

“He is a speedy forward and a good goal scorer,” Hayes said. “He is really one of the emotional leaders on our team. His play sets the tone for everyone else on the roster, so we lean on Joey for a lot of leadership and scoring.”

Another senior, Joe Scardino, is a heady player and the prototypical “power forward,” Hayes said.

“He can put the puck in the net and he is an excellent skater and a very, very smart player,” the coach said. “He is anchoring our top power-play unit.”

On the blue line, the Hillers lean on senior Drew Morse, another captain who is a jack-of-alltrades. In addition to playing on the top defensive line, Morse can score goals on the power play and on the rush.

“Drew is very important to us,” Hayes said.

Senior goalie Jack Lang returns for another year, and Hayes said the Hillers began the season expecting another solid performance from the experienced netminder. Lang has Morse and senior

“Dylan is a very, very skilled defenseman,” Hayes said. “We are looking for him to score some goals for us. He is on the power play unit and we can always trust him to handle the puck.”

Mansur is one of two seniors who is suiting up for Hopkinton after playing junior hockey last winter. Senior Pavit Mehra is the other and made an immediate impact for the Hillers by scoring two goals and adding an assist in each of the first three games of the year.

“We are expecting him to put the puck in the net all season,” Hayes said.

Another new impact player is freshman forward Cam MacPherson, who is on the top line along with Mehra and Carrazza. He also scored in his first three games at the varsity level and is contributing by taking faceoffs and playing on the top power-play unit.

“Any freshman who can come in and play right away is really a coach’s dream,” Hayes said.

Hayes is hoping the experience and talent will help his team compete in a strong Tri-Valley League, where Norwood, Medfield, and Westwood figure to be among the Hillers’ top competition.

“It’s such a good league and there is great parity,” Hayes said. “You have to be ready on any given night.”

The McBride Team of RE/MAX Executive Realty would like to congratulate Angie O’Leary on her award for Student of the Month.

Dylan Mansur helping him out on the defensive end of the ice.

Jack Lang is back for another season protecting the HHS goal.

The Hopkinton/Ashland Fighting Irish cheer team finished third at the AYC Level 3 national cheer championship in Florida last month.

Golembiewski tracks future at Penn

majors that better fit his interests. The campus was yet another standout.

“It’s a big city, but once you’re on campus and in the middle of it, it doesn’t feel like you’re in a city at all,” he said. “It feels like any normal campus in a suburb.”

During his visit, Golembiewski was hosted by a Penn high jumper who won a national title in his home nation of Singapore.

“That was a great start right off the bat,” he said. “I could tell there was a lot of skill there and it was great to meet someone from a different country with different experiences. It showed me the different kinds of kids I would be able to meet.”

He said his family, including parents Jeanne and Craig and older sister Maggie, were a huge help and a great source of support to him throughout the recruiting process.

field teams, taking part in the heptathlon and the decathlon. He has had a standout high school career at Hopkinton, capped off by earning a sixth-place finish and All-American status at last spring’s Nike national competition.

“I wasn’t seeded anywhere near six, so to be able to go in there and perform on a not-so-great day weather-wise was amazing,” Golembiewski said.

With two more seasons (indoor and outdoor) of high school track left, the most important thing for Golembiewski is to make sure he has an injury-free few months after tweaking a hamstring last year.

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

Anumber of factors steered Hopkinton High School senior Sean Golembiewski to the University of Pennsylvania, including a top-notch education, a beautiful urban campus and a strong track and field program.

Ultimately, he said, the Quakers provided “the best all-around fit.”

“There were a whole array of reasons,” Golembiewski said. “I feel like I

made a good connection with the coach during my visit and they have worldclass facilities. I really liked the team and the campus.”

Golembiewski started his recruiting process early and ultimately took three official visits, checking out two of Penn’s Ivy League rivals, Princeton and Cornell. Eventually, it came down to Penn or Princeton, and Golembiewski said he felt a stronger connection with the coaching staff with Penn. The Philadelphia school also had academic

hillers thrillers

HHS Athlete Spotlight

Golembiewski, who was Tri-Valley League Large School Division MVP for soccer and led the Hillers to the Division 2 state championship game in November, will compete as an allaround athlete for the Penn track and

Hurdles is Golembiewski’s favorite event, but he is going to try to learn some new events during his final high school seasons in order to be able to compete in the five- and 10-event competitions in college. He has minimal experience with throwing events and pole vault, but he said he is looking forward to the challenge.

“I feel like I am a pretty good allaround athlete in track, so I feel like I could excel in the decathlon,” he said. “It’ll be fun to do all the other events.”

Paharik is called on to fill a variety of roles, including sometimes guarding a player much taller. “She is one of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached, and she never backs down from any challenge,” HHS coach Mike Greco shared. “Most of what she gives us doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, but she hustles as much as any player I’ve ever worked with. She is a leader with her communication on the court and willingness to sacrifice her body for the team.”

Hopkins took first in both the long jump and high jump in a win over Norwood on Dec. 29, and she won the long jump and took second in the high jump in the following meet, helping the Hillers to a 3-0 start. She was entered in the long jump, 55-meter hurdles and 4x200 relay for the Jan. 7 FreshmanSophomore Championship meet. “She is a tireless worker at each of her events and always boosts her teammates,” stated HHS coach Jean Cann.

Athletes are selected after consultation with HHS coaches.

Check HopkintonIndependent.com for more about these amazing athletes

Holly Paharik

Girls Basketball Sophomore

Josie Hopkins Girls Indoor Track and Field Sophomore

Sean Gołembiewski (448) has committed to the track and field program at Penn.

to: editor@HopkintonIndependent.com. Submissions should be limited to 100 words and are subject to editing by the HI staff.

Active Bystander Training Jan. 15

A free public workshop focused on Active Bystander Training will be held Sunday, Jan. 15, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. via Zoom. The workshop, sponsored by the Hopkinton Freedom Team and Hopkinton Youth & Family Services, with support from Middlesex Savings Bank, is appropriate for ages 13 and older. It will be led by facilitators from True Story Training. For more information and to register, check the Freedom Team website (hopkintonfreedomteam.org).

MLK Interfaith Program Jan. 22

The annual MLK Jr. Interfaith Day, organized by the Islamic Masumeen

Center of New England (115 Wood Street), will be held Sunday, Jan. 22, at noon. Individuals from all communities and faiths are invited. Speakers include Town Clerk Connor Degan, Police Chief Joseph Bennett, Freedom Team representative Cathleen Dinsmore, Hopkinton Public Schools Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh, Select Board member Shahidul Mannan, Pastor Lourey Savick from the United Parish of Upton and Shaykh Tabarsi from the Islamic Masumeen Center of New England. For more information, visit islamicmasumeen.org.

HCAA Lunar New Year Gala Jan. 22

The Hopkinton Chinese American Association (HCAA) will host its Lunar New Year Gala on Sunday, Jan. 22, from 5-8:30 p.m. at Hopkinton High School. There will be food, music, dances and fun activities. All are welcome. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit HCAAMA.org.

Overdose/suicide gatekeeper training Jan. 27

Hopkinton Organizing for Prevention (HOP) and Hopkinton Youth & Family Services present a virtual program titled “Intersections of Suicide and Opioid Use: A Gatekeeper Training” on Friday, Jan. 27, from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The program will be led by Joanna Bridger, LICSW. Attendees will learn to recognize risk and protective factors as well as warning signs and discuss possible interventions to prevent suicide and refer people to appropriate resources for treatment. For more information and to register, visit the Hopkinton Organizing for Prevention Facebook page.

HPTO Harlem Wizards fundraiser Feb. 1

The Hopkinton Parent Teacher Organization (HPTO) will host the Harlem Wizards basketball team on Feb 1 in the Hopkinton High School

athletic center. In addition to performing tricks, the Wizards will play a game against Hopkinton schools staff. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the game starts at 7. Tickets can be purchased at pretix.eu/ harlemwizards/Hopkinton.

Knights of Columbus free throw contest Feb. 7

The annual Knights of Columbus free throw competition will be held Tuesday, Feb. 7, at Hopkinton High School after the Hopkinton-Ashland varsity boys basketball game. All boys and girls ages 9-14 can participate regardless of disabilities. Trophies/medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each age category, and first-place winners advance to the district finals. Registration will begin in the high school gym at 7:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by Ashland/Hopkinton Bishop Rice Council 4822. For more information, visit bishopricekoc.org/events.

HCA Member’s Exhibition Artist

Reception

January 13 | 6 to 7 p.m.

Join the artist members of HCA for the opening reception of their annual exhibition. This year 55 members, representing 22 towns in Massachusetts and one town in Maine, submitted work to the show. The reception is open to the public and light refreshements will be served.

2nd Annual Winter Bluesfest

January 14 | 7 to 10 p.m.

Hey, blues enthusiasts! Are you ready for this? Taking the stage will be three amazing bands for the Second Annual HCA Winter Bluesfest. Coming off their big win at the NH Blues Society competition will be Frankie Boy and the Blues Express, and representing the Boston Blues Society as this year’s winner will be The Matt Swanton Band. Headlining the evening will be The Chris Fitz Band with guest Ken Clark on Hammond B3 Organ. Do not miss this show!

Mary Poppins Jr The Musical

January 27, 28 & 29

Your favorite practically perfect nanny takes center stage in this Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious adventure based on the award-winning Broadway musical and classic Walt Disney film. Directed by Mary ScarlataRowe. Mary Poppins will be peformed in the Hopkinton Middle School Auditorium, 88 Hayden Rowe Street, Hopkinton. Four performances, tickets on sale now.

First Friday Open Mic with Feature Erin Ash Sullivan | February 3 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. Our host is the talented Jack Byrne. Socializing and sign-up start at 7:30 p.m. and the music begins at 8:00 p.m. All ages welcome! Acts range from singersongwriters, instrumentalists, poets, beatboxers, and everything in between! $10.00 at the door — HCA members are free.

LIBRARY CORNER

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

Schedule update

The library will be closed Saturday, Jan. 14, through Monday, Jan. 16

Frayed Knot Fiber Arts Circle  Wednesday, Jan. 11, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Participants are invited to bring their current project or pattern. This group is open to teens and adults of all skill levels. All fiber arts crafts (knitting, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, needle felting, etc.) are more than welcome. This group will meet on the second and last Wednesdays of each month from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

50-plus Job Seekers Networking Group Wednesday, Jan. 11, 6-8 p.m.

This virtual program (held via Zoom) focuses on self-assessment and transferable skills. It’s designed for those who are unemployed and actively looking, underemployed, seeking a new career direction, re-entering the job market after a long employment gap, or recently

retired and looking for an”encore career.” Red Cross Blood Drive

Tuesday, Jan. 17, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Register on the Red Cross website at rcblood.org/3AmuYsP.

Author Talk: Dana K. White, decluttering to start the year

Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2-3 p.m.

In this virtual program, participants will learn to become better organized and clutter-free. The program is led by author Dana K. White, creator of the popular podcast and blog “A Slob Comes Clean.” She will impart tips from her books, “Organizing for the Rest of Us” and “Decluttering at the Speed of Life.”

50-plus Job Seekers Networking Group Wednesday, Jan. 18, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

The Massachusetts Library Collaborative’s 50-plus Job Seekers Group meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month via Zoom. This program is for those who are unemployed and actively looking, underemployed or seeking a new career direction. This session will focus on creating a “career story” pitch.

Common foot conditions for diabetics and how to treat them

Saturday, Jan. 21, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

In this presentation, those with diabetes or who have a loved one with diabetes will learn how to take care of their feet.

Hopepunk

Tuesday, Jan. 24, 7-8 p.m.

This virtual program is for anyone who wishes they felt more hopeful about the state of the world. Renan Bernardo, Brianna Castagnozzi, Susan Kaye Quinn and T. K. Rex are writing hopepunk stories that challenge people to look up from doom-scrolling and envision a future filled with defiant optimism.

‘The Ransomware Hunting Team’ Wednesday, Jan. 25, 7-8 p.m.

In this virtual program, Pulitzer Prize finalist Renee Dudley and local Pulitzer Prize winner Daniel Golden will discuss their latest book, “The Ransomware Hunting Team: A Band of Misfits Crusade to Save the World from Cybercrime.” Urgent, uplifting and entertaining, the book is a real-life technological thriller that illuminates a dangerous new era of cybercrime.

ScHoolS

Dharbanga wins Lions Speech Contest

At the Hopkinton Lions Club’s annual high school speech contest Dec. 6, Hopkinton High School senior Ryan Dharbanga took first place, with HHS junior Eva Bennet the runner-up. The topic was “Environmental Crisis: Fact or Fiction?” Contestants were judged on delivery, effectiveness and text of speech. In addition to winning the $200 first prize, Dharbanga advances to a regional competition this month.

“We were very honored to have six local students carve out time from their busy schedules to participate in our yearly Lions Club Speech Contest,” said Lions Club President Mike Tarsi “The quality of all six presentations was outstanding, and the students deserve the highest commendation for their preparation leading up to the contest.”

This marks the 40th annual Massachusetts Lions Youth Speech Contest. For more information, visit hopkintonlions.org.

HPTO presents ‘Secret Lives of Teens & Tweens’

The Hopkinton PTO will present a dynamic and fun two-hour presentation called “The Secret Lives of Teens & Tweens” on Wednesday, Jan. 11, from 7-9 p.m. at Hopkinton Middle School.

The program, led by counselor Jon Mattleman, is for parents/caregivers and focuses on what teens and tweens are really thinking, what they fear, why

they do not share more, and how caring adults can effectively support them. The presentation covers areas such as depression and anxiety, social media and technology, suicide, “acting out” behaviors and more.

No registration is necessary, and all are welcome to attend. For more information, email emgraz@gmail.com.

Local students recognized

Hopkinton’s Amanda Gollaher earned the dean’s award with distinction for the spring 2022 semester at Colgate University, where she was majoring in international relations and Russian & Eurasian studies.

Also at Colgate, Katherine Woelflein earned the dean’s award for academic excellence for the spring 2022 semester. …

Matthew Kiszla, a junior majoring in computer science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, was a member of a student team that recently completed an intense research project titled “Evaluating CSO and SSO Notifications in Massachusetts.” …

Mariana McCarthy earned a spot on the high honors list at Suffield Academy, where she is in the Class of 2026. …

At Boston College High School, senior Zachary Ewing and freshman Aaron Ewing were named to the honor roll for the first quarter.

The Hopkinton Lions Club held its annual meet-and-greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus on Dec. 18 at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. The event provided an opportunity for children with special needs such as autism, ADHD and physical disabilities to talk to Santa and Mrs. Claus and sit for pictures in a low-stress environment. The Hopkinton Center for the Arts, Christine Snow of Sunshine Photography, and Muffin House Cafe helped to make the event a success — along with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Hopkinton Lions Speech Contest winner Ryan Dharbanga (left) and runner-up Eva Bennet stand alongside Hopkinton Lions Club President Mike Tarsi.

Some therapy reductions restored in revised school budget proposal

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

During a budget discussion Jan. 5, Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh notified the Hopkinton School Committee that proposed cuts to physical, occupational and speech therapy services had been revised.

The initial plan to cut 0.8 of a staff position from physical therapy, 0.8 from occupational therapy and 0.5 from speech therapy had been met with backlash from educators and parents over the last several weeks.

As a result of more discussions with stakeholders over the holiday break period, Cavanaugh said occupational therapy would be reduced by 0.4, but the other services would not be cut at all.

She added that if it is found that speech/language therapists have extra time, they may be “redeployed” to offer literacy instruction and interventions.

Cavanaugh said speech/language therapists have a strong background in phonics and phonemic awareness that could be helpful to students at Marathon and Elmwood.

She added that SPED delivery models would be closely watched to see where changes may be made in the future. Noting that the district primarily uses an “outdated, nonintegrated pull out” approach that separates SPED students from their peers, Cavanaugh said other options should be considered.

“It will augment the social, emo-

tional and behavioral goals for kids,” she said, referring to using a different model.

Although most of the therapy positions will stay intact in this budget plan, the remaining reduction and data collection process still came under fire.

Jen Halliday and Dan Malone of the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) gave a presentation, saying the approach that was taken when proposing cuts left out key stakeholders, were not data-driven and discounted the role of therapy providers.

Halliday said she only received requested data through a Freedom of Information request made on Nov. 9, with the data coming on Nov. 28.

She said the remaining proposed reduction equals two days per week of a therapist’s job, adding, “No cuts are acceptable.” Halliday noted there is no compelling argument that the programs would not be hurt by the measure.

Showing 15 years of data about levels of therapy in the district, Halliday said staffing is the lowest it has been even though SPED students comprise 12.5 percent of the school population.

Malone outlined the other duties therapists have beyond direct service delivery to students such as meetings, phone calls, travel, prep work, evaluations, consultations and more.

Halliday also noted that speech therapists cannot be “repurposed” as literacy instructors because they may not have sufficient training.

She said the discord between parents and educators and school administrators leads to bad morale and affects levels of trust, hurts employee retention and may increase out-of-district placements, among other things.

Earlier, School Committee member Holly Morand, attending remotely, said she objected to the remaining SPED cut and still was unclear on the “gap” between the district’s data and the “rebuttal” information from stakeholders.

Other members of the board praised school administrators for sitting down with concerned parties to discuss the disagreement and ultimately altering the proposed staffing cuts.

School Committee member Jenn Devlin said that the town and schools had managed to eliminate the “us versus them mentality” that existed in the past. She expressed it is “dangerous” to have that confrontational dynamic within the smaller school community between educators and administrators.

She expressed the wish the “adversarial” relationship could be fixed.

School Committee member Lya Batlle-Rafferty complimented the superintendent for talking to people and compromising instead of just “holding her ground” during the dispute.

She said it is “commendable” that conversations are going on with different points of view.

In response to the SEPAC presentation, School Committee vice chair Amanda Fargiano said the downward trend in the number of therapists may be attributed to the fact that teaching methods have changed. She said instead of looking back, she wants to make sure the district is ready and prepared in the future to handle student growth.

Chair Nancy Cavanaugh said this budget process has had the most engagement from all stakeholders than she has witnessed in years. She thanked the superintendent and other administrators for all the time they spent working on it.

Overall, the budget once again was presented by Director of Finance Susan Rothermich. The fiscal year 2024 net operating budget request is $60,199,487 — an 8.4 percent increase. The Select Board had requested an increase cap of 5.1 percent.

Rothermich noted that 80 percent of the budget covers salary/staff, and negotiated salary increases totaled a 5.6 percent hike alone, at $3 million.

She reported that usually towns hear about Chapter 70 funds from the state in late January. Because there is a new governor, the communities will have to wait until March to get that information.

Nancy Cavanaugh pointed out that Chapter 70 money goes through the town and not the school department.

Climate action strategy outlined

At the Dec. 15 School Committee meeting, Geoff Rowland and Nicole Simpson of the Hopkinton Sustainable Green Committee talked about the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Rowland explained “net zero”

occurs when carbon emissions (CO2, methane) equal emissions sinks (trees, ocean, etc.).

Top emissions sources include electricity production, food, agriculture and land use, and industry, which account for 70 percent, while other sources include transportation and buildings.

Schools fall into the municipal buildings category at 1.4 percent, Rowland noted.

Actions in a plan for Hopkinton would include doing a greenhouse gas inventory, assessing the level of the town, businesses and residences; setting a target date for achieving net zero carbon emissions; and presenting a realistic implementation plan to achieve net zero.

Using databases and baseline year 2017, emissions decreased slightly from 2017 to 2019, from 11.8 to 10.6 ton Co2e per person. Rowland noted as data becomes available, the Sustainable Green Committee will continue to track this information.

Residential buildings, commercial and industrial and passenger vehicles produce a significant portion of local emissions, he said.

A timeline for actions was given with input collection from stakeholder groups and the community at large ongoing through spring 2023. There is a deadline at the end of January to submit articles or resolutions to Town Meeting, and in spring 2023, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is available to help finalize a climate action plan.

Tentatively, in May 2023, a presentation at Town Meeting would occur, followed by the Select Board adopting a final plan as a town document, Rowland explained.

The Sustainable Green Committee would like to see a 50 percent improvement over the 2017 baseline by 2030. By 2037, the proposed target for Hopkinton would be 75 percent improvement, and by 2045, net zero carbon emissions would be achieved.

“No matter what date you pick, this is going to be crazy hard for everybody,” Rowland said. He added he’d like to see Hopkinton set an example and be “inspirational,” for residents.

Some of the positive measures the school district include solar installations existing and planned over buildings and parking lots; plans for a net zero Elmwood School replacement; backup battery storage at Marathon School; composting at the high school; and Green Communities grants for energy conservation measures.

Simpson spoke about the use of ground source heat pumps for heat and cooling, with electric as the power source. She said solar panels can offset costs, and new federal and state incentives can help to save millions on a project.

She also noted Massachusetts will offer free advisory services on the topic of making school buses electric.

School Committee member Jenn Devlin said she would push through the measures immediately if they didn’t have costs to them. Devlin said the price tag represents a “big challenge,” and it would be a “hard sell,” to the community, already facing numerous requests. She added that alternative funding sources should be sought.

obituarieS

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

Kerri McLaughlin-Tomney

Kerri Ann McLaughlin-Tomney of Hopkinton passed suddenly on Nov. 21. She was surrounded by her loving family. Kerri was 56.

Kerri leaves behind her beloved husband and partner in life, Richard Tomney. She was the loving mother to Andrew and Zachary Tomney of Hopkinton. She was the cherished sister of Kenneth McLaughlin and wife Nancy, beloved sister-in-law to Beth (Tomney) Warner and John Schlupf of Cotuit, Jeanie Spinosa of North Carolina, Anthony and Kelley Spinosa of New Jersey, and Michael and Stephanie Spinosa of North Carolina, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Erin McLaughlin, and her brother-in-law, Bart Warner, both of whom she loved dearly.

A memorial service will be held at Faith Community Church of Hopkinton (146 East Main Street) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14. A celebration of Kerri’s life will immediately follow the memorial service at the Warren Center, 529 Chestnut Street, Ashland. A private burial is planned.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in Kerri’s name may be made to the National Autism Association at nationalautismassociation.org.

Richard Stewart

Richard C. “Dick” Stewart, 91, of Hopkinton passed away Dec. 12. He leaves his beloved wife of 67 years, Janet (Pyne) Stewart; their children, Karen Irvine and husband Skip of Cramerton, North Caroline, Brenda Stewart and husband Bruce Zalneraitis of Port Ludlow, Washington, Richie Stewart of Hopkinton, and Peggy Stewart of Scarborough, Maine; grandchildren Rachel Link and husband Brett of McLean, Virginia, Mary Irvine and husband Nicholas Byrne of Cary, North Carolina, Christine Irvine of Chicago, Alex Stewart and partner Ashley Casey of Milford, and Ryan and Aidan Dery of Scarborough, Maine. He also leaves behind seven great-grandchildren, all of whom he truly adored. He was predeceased by his parents, Preston Stewart and Cynthia (Clough) Stewart, and his brother, Arthur Stewart.

Dick was born in Milford and graduated from Hopkinton High School in 1949. After high school, he worked at Pyne Sand and Stone in Hopkinton until he enlisted and served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He was stationed in Germany and France during the Korean War. Upon returning to Hopkinton, he resumed working at Pyne Sand and Stone, where he eventually became co-owner. Dick also served with the Hopkinton Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter and eventual deputy chief. With his retirement in 1989, he and Janet enjoyed

many winters in Deltona, Florida. He loved maintaining the home that he and Janet built in Hopkinton in 1956. Other favorite hobbies included woodworking, gardening and cooking. More than anything, Dick cherished time spent with his beloved family and many lifelong friends.

Throughout his life, people of all ages were drawn to Dick because of his dedication to the town of Hopkinton, his Yankee ingenuity and his genuine love of people. Dick could often be found discussing historical Hopkinton events, talking about the impact of current development trends or sharing his favorite culinary recipes — like his legendary New England clam chowder.

A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Arrangements are under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Michael Lisnow Respite Center, 112 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748 or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Deborah Hadlock

Deborah Jean Hadlock, 68, died peacefully at home on Dec. 9 after a long battle with ALS. Deb spent the day surrounded by family and listening to her favorite soundtrack, “Out of Africa.”

Deborah was born Feb. 19, 1954.

She was predeceased by her parents, Richard and Gladys Wesson; three broth ers, William Ambrose, Michael Ambrose and James Wesson; a sister, Dorma Gonser, a niece, Loriann Ambrose, and a nephew, Billy Ambrose.

Deb is survived by a sister, Susan Studeny and husband Richard Studeny; a brother, Richard Wesson II; niece Cheryl Pennini and nephews John Am brose, Karl Gonser, Doug Gonser, Scott Chase, Richard Wesson III and Winston Mignott.

Deb also is survived by her imme diate family: husband Russell Hadlock, daughter Heide Mabee and husband Patrick Mabee, daughter Wendy Sousa and husband Mario Sousa, son Glen Hadlock and wife Janet Hadlock, and daughter Teresa Gratton and husband Robert Gratton. Deb also leaves behind her loves, her grandchildren. Besides her children, Deb’s pride and joy were her grandchildren. Hannah Ryan, Kyle Darling, Ashley Hadlock, Maya Sousa, Lilliana Gratton, and Gray Hadlock all will miss her dearly!

Deb’s love and caretaking extended even beyond her family with her role as residential caretaker at the Michael Lisnow Respite Center. She spent so many years, up until 2020, working with individuals with developmental disabili ties. To her, though, they were family. Especially the Marshall Avenue group. Deb formed a bond with them that cannot be duplicated.

Family and friends fondly remember Deb for so many great qualities — among them, her cooking!! Deb’s chocolate cake was a constant request by many.

In her final year of life, as the disease claimed her muscles, she refused to let it claim her mind or her sense of humor. Deb found comfort in spending time with her children, grandchildren, family, and friends. Some stopped by every week to

see her. So many sent gifts, cards, dinners, treats — and all with so much love. Deb found such comfort and joy in each.

As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Deb found great comfort in reflecting on her beliefs as well as attending zoom meetings along with her local congregation.

Deb’s life will be honored by a memorial Zoom and gathering in January. The date is still to be announced.

If you wish to pay tribute to Deborah’s life, donations can be made to her home away from home, the Michael Lisnow Respite Center, 112 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748.

Esmin Haven

Es Haven, 72, passed away Dec. 8 at her home in Buzzards Bay. She was the wife of Kent Haven. They were happily married for 52 years.

Born in Montreal, she was the daughter of the late Lily (Apostolakos) and Achilles Saloukas. She was raised on Long Island, New York, and graduated from Chamberlayne Junior College. A longtime resident of HopkinObituaries | page 20

ton, where she raised two children, she moved in 1994 to Buzzards Bay, where they called home.

Es worked as a medical transcriptionist and Greek translator for the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston.

She loved bingo, the Red Sox, slot machines and crossword puzzles, and volunteered at St. Margaret’s Regional School and St. John Paul II High School. Es never missed a school play or sports event. Her grandchildren were the love of her life.

Es fought to the very end and was in so much pain and never once complained. She was one of a kind and will be missed by everyone who knew her.

Survivors include her husband, Kent Haven; her children, Lisa Haven and Phil of Buzzards Bay, and Brett Haven and Deirdre of Fredericksburg, Virginia; and her five grandchildren, Josh, Kevin, Caleb, Aidan and Declan. She also leaves her sister and best friend, Pauline Saloukas of Maryland.

Relatives and friends were invited to visit on Dec. 18 at Chapman Funerals & Cremations, Wareham.

Therren Strout

Terry met her husband by becoming his pen pal while Lee was in the Air Force. Terry’s brother, Terrell, gave Lee his sister’s address. They wrote back and forth for three years, only seeing each other a total of three weeks over that time. They were married in Florida, living in Southborough before buying the house that use to be a carriage house in Westborough in 1964.

Terry worked for several dentists in Florida and Dr. Tasse in Northborough. Later, she worked for Magic Decorating in Westborough, first as a bookkeeper, then interior decorator. She went on to work for Elegant Interiors in Northborough. In 1987, she started her own interior design company, Environments, where she worked until her retirement. She became an accomplished interior decorator, and many customers became her lifelong friends.

borhood “girls” together at Specialteas, organizing her Christmas open house and participating in Women’s ministries, where she led countless events. Terry worshiped at Faith Community Church in Hopkinton.

Terry is survived by her husband, Lee, her two children, Kimber-lee Barton and husband Terrence, and Robin Pease and husband Charles; her grandchildren, Benjamin Barton, David Barton and wife Amanda, Aleecia Pease and Kathryn Pease; nephew Terrell Baggett Jr.; exchange daughter Ursula Schmidt and many “favorite” cousins.

tions can be sent to St. Vincent DePaul Society, 20 Church Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home.

Doris Davis

Therren (Terry) A. Strout, 83, passed away Nov. 16 peacefully at home. She was the wife of Lee R. Strout, celebrating their 63rd anniversary Sept. 7, 2022.

Born in Miami, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Thelma (Beach) Baggett. She was raised and educated in Miami, graduating in 1958. She went on to trade school to become a dental assistant.

Terry’s faith in Jesus as her Saviors permeated every aspect of her life. It was what motivated her to use her gifts of hospitality and organization to serve and benefit the lives of others. Terry was involved in many ministries throughout her life. From being the adult leader for MYF Youth Group, making meals for crews on Habitat for Humanity projects, sewing dresses for students in Africa, to serving on mission trips to Dominica and the Dominican Republic. She loved to be near the water, especially at Genelee House on Cape Cod, Hand & Foot card games, and spending time with her family. Terry and Lee traveled extensively throughout Europe, as well as across the United States. She loved being Momo, a name her grandson gave her when he couldn’t say Grammy. Terry loved to bring people together and plan a party. She was the social director and hostess. Terry loved getting the neigh-

Lee, Kim and Robin would like to thank our devoted CNA family that cared for Terry all these years. Especially Tina, Faith, Alexis and many others who have come through our home. Also, thank you to all the dear friends and family who visited and provided company, nourishment and prayers.

She is predeceased by her parents, brother Terrell Baggett, niece Sabrina Baggett and cousin Donna Dalzell.

A celebration of life was held Dec. 17 at Faith Community Church, Hopkinton. Burial was to be at a later date. Funeral arrangements are under the care and directions of the Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your choice of charity in Terry’s name.

Stephen Burke

Stephen Alfred Burke, 86, died peacefully on Dec. 15 after a long illness.

He is predeceased by his twin brother, Daniel Patrick Burke, and survived by his loving and devoted wife of 61 years, Mary Jo, and his sister, Barbara Gonsor.

Steve and Mary Jo enjoyed a long and happy marriage that will be remembered fondly by their four children: Stephen of Westford, Coleen of Mattapoisett, Tricia and husband Jamie of New York City, and Tim and wife Tara of Southport, Connecticut. He was a devoted grandfather and leaves eight grandchildren who thought the world of him: Ben, Max and Kate Thomsen; Neve, Julian, Quinn and Vivian Solawkis, and Murphy Burke.

He was born in Holyoke in 1936, son of Stephen and Evelyn (Dufresne) Burke. After graduating from American International College in 1958, where he earned his B.S. degree in economics and finance, he served in the National Guard. For over 30 years, Steve worked as a chief financial officer for a variety of small to midsize companies, many of them startups. Through his finance career, Steve traveled extensively around the globe and lived in several locations across the country, including Chicago and San Francisco.

Steve was an avid Boston sports fan and loved all local teams, especially the Red Sox. Always one to keep busy, he had many hobbies, including golf, gardening, cooking and woodworking; he was a real renaissance man. He enjoyed coaching many of his children’s sports teams and volunteered for a number of charitable organizations, including holding board of director and treasurer positions for United Way of Massachusetts, Western Connecticut Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the St. Vincent DePaul Society. He also enjoyed volunteering at the Hopkinton Senior Center greenhouse.

The family planned to hold a memorial Mass in January. Memorial contribu-

Doris Davis, 95, passed away Dec. 15 at home. She was the wife of Ray Davis, to whom she was married for 54 years. Born in Everett, she was the daughter of the late Frederick and Mildred (Dulong) Hemeon.

Doris worked for many years as an assembler for Dennison Manufacturing in Framingham. She also was closely involved with the American Legion and the VFW in Medway. She was happiest when vacationing in York Beach, Maine. She had a deep passion for music and loved to dance. Doris was so loved by her many children, their spouses and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In recent months, she greatly anticipated the arrival of her newest great-grandchild, whom she got to meet.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Frederick Straight and wife Bev of Southborough, Richard Straight and wife Mary Alyce of Hopkinton, Carol Ryea and husband Everett of Vermont, Millie Sosa of Leominstor, and Elizabeth Trudeau and husband Pierre of Hopkinton. She also is survived by 17 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her eight siblings, Gertrude, Helen, Anna, Theresa, Mildred, Elizabeth, Alfred and Ralph.

Calling hours were held Dec. 20 at the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service in Evergreen Cemetery, Hopkinton

Donations may be made to Salmon VNA & Hospice.

Barbara Crane

Barbara L. (Goodfellow) Crane, 94, of Mendon passed away Dec. 19 in Countryside Healthcare in Milford. She was the wife of the late Stanley T. Crane, who died in July.

She had lived in Abington until moving to Mendon in 1965. She was a clerk at the former Miscoe Springs Beverage Co. for 10 years, retiring in 1995. Mrs. Crane previously had worked for the former Gardner-Moran Co. in Milford.

Mrs. Crane was born in 1928 in Rockland, daughter of the late John Claude and Almerta (Barbour) Goodfellow, and graduated from Rockland High School in 1946. She was a member of the Community Covenant Church in Hopkinton and also a member of the church’s choir.

She is survived by two sons, David A. Crane and wife Cheryl of Milford, and Eric S. Crane and wife Diane of Mendon; two grandchildren, Erica Crane of Milford and Nathan Crane of Mendon; three great-grandchildren, Jake, Brody and Charlotte, all of Milford; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a grandson, Adam Crane; a brother, Rev. Gordon Goodfellow; and two sisters, Shirley Blanchard and Phyllis Garland.

Visiting hours were held Dec. 30 in the Buma-Sargeant Funeral Home, Milford, followed by a funeral service in the funeral home. Burial was to be held at a later date in Swan Dale Cemetery, Mendon.

DeCenzo

Karen DeCenzo of Hopkinton, originally from Hudson, passed away on the morning of Dec. 18 after a long and courageous battle with sarcoidosis.

Karen came into this world on Aug. 4, 1963, the 10th of 12 children born to Peter and Rose Marie (Tanner) DeCenzo. Karen was born with an intellectual disability, but that did not stop her from thriving and interacting with so many in the community. Growing up, she loved being out in the neighborhood, riding her bike and going to visit the neighbors, including her dear friend Miss Sue, who nicknamed her “Ren.” Karen made strong bonds and was included in many activities with the friends she made along the way. She was a social butterfly of the humblest kind.

Karen is survived by her 10 siblings, David, John (and Carol) Toth, Kathleen, Patricia (and Scott) Szymkiewicz, Rosemary, Kevin, Jeanne, Anne (and Robert) Connoni, Maureen (and John) Fulghum, and Nancy (and Rocky) Zina, along with many adored nieces and nephews, cousins and dear friends. She is predeceased by a brother, James, and her parents, Peter and Rose Marie.

Karen kept active throughout the years, attending Sunshine Camp in the summers and Hudson High School. She went on to graduate from the Assabet Valley Vocational School culinary arts program in 1985. On holidays, she was always called upon for her kitchen skills to prepare the carrots and potatoes.

Karen participated in the Greater Marlboro Programs, was an avid bowler and swam for several years in the Special Olympics. She always looked forward to the weekends away at Boston University for the Special Olympics events, and was so proud of all the medals she earned.

For the past 20 years she was an important part of a close-knit community in the day program at the Michael Lisnow Respite Center. Located in Hopkinton, this organization supports children and adults with disabilities in many aspects of their lives. In this latest chapter of Karen’s life, Sharon Lisnow, Mary McSweeney and the dedicated staff at the Respite Center created a second family for Karen. For the past 18 years, Karen lived in a shared home sponsored by the Respite Center, enjoying her time with her three roommates, Kathy, Jenny, and John, along with the staff who took care of their every need.

Karen was loved by all who had the joy of meeting her, asking their story and happy to share her own as well. Karen always had a smile on her face, content to be with people. She had a knack for dates and ensured that everyone in the family knew when a birthday or anniversary was coming up. Oh, and yes, there were phone calls and FaceTimes, not just about the special dates, but calls to family and friends daily to say hello and see how they were doing.

Karen could be seen regularly in her New England Sports apparel. She was an avid fan of the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics, and would remind her family and friends of every upcoming game and call to chat about the outcome. She never missed her weekly pigskin pick-em and even won several times. When Karen was out somewhere, you’d more often than not hear a “Hey Karen” because she knew everyone and everyone knew her.

The family would like to extend their deep gratitude and love to all at the Respite Center for showing Karen so much compassion and care and filling her life

with respect, joy and love.

A funeral Mass was held at Saint Matthew’s Church in Southborough on Dec. 22.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Michael Lisnow Respite Center.

A celebration of Karen’s life will be held in the spring so we can all come together and share memories of Karen and her life well-lived.

The Tighe Hamilton Regional Funeral Home of Hudson assisted with arrangements.

Mary Harrington

Mary Elizabeth (Beattie) Harrington, 86, passed away peacefully on Dec. 23 at Milford Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. A fifth-generation Hopkintonian, and a graduate of Hopkinton High School, Class of 1954, she was the daughter of the late John F. and Katherine (Magurn) Beattie.

She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, William E. Harrington of Hopkinton, her children, Cindy Collette, MaryLou Knox and husband Joe, Kathy Laflash and husband Jim, and Dave and wife Vicki Schofield all of Hopkinton. She also is survived by her grandchildren and great grandchildren, John Collette of Hopkinton, Laura (Tim) Long of Massillon Ohio, Mike (Becky) Knox of Hopedale, Steve Knox and Katherine Knox of Hopkinton, Matt Laflash of New York City, Lucy, Will and Fern Harrington of Hopkinton, Alina Collette of Framingham, Aubrey and Caleb Long of Massillon Ohio, and Brynn and Molly Knox of Hopedale. Mary is predeceased by a granddaughter, Michelle A. Collette, and a brother, David F. Beattie.

Mary was very active in the Girl Scouts and Hopkinton town government, serving many years on the Zoning Board, Planning Board, Youth Commission and Board of Selectmen and as Hopkinton’s town historian and CEO of “The Compound,” amongst other endeavors. In her professional life she was employed at EMC Corp., Aetna and Dr. John H Duffy DDS.

Funeral arrangements, entrusted to the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, will be private at the request of the family.

Donations in Mary’s memory can be made to the New England Aftercare Ministries-The Bridgehouse in Framingham (thebridgehouse.org) or a charity of your choosing.

Doris Carver

town charter founding member and was formerly a contributing writer for the Hopkinton Independent. She was a cashier at Colella’s for several years.

You could find Doris anywhere there was fun. She loved to socialize, attend parties and play bingo. She loved to go to the casino and was a master crocheter, making blankets for all of the family. She enjoyed many family trips such as York Beach in Maine, Disney World, Alabama and the Wisconsin Dells. She loved and enjoyed the ocean, spending many weekends with her family camping in Hampton Beach and Westerley, Rhode Island. She loved spending hot sunny afternoons with her family around the swimming pool. She was crazy about Neil Diamond, attended many concerts, and was an avid Patriots fan right up to the very end, never missing a Sunday to watch “her guys” play to win.

Doris was always so proud of being from South Boston. She raised us to believe that the strongest women were born and raised there, and she took her family for several years into the city for the St. Patrick’s Day parade. She could frequently be heard boasting that “Southie is my hometown,” and if you close your eyes you can hear her sing the words to that song.

Doris was crazy about her family and the legacy she leaves behind. She was always the life of the party and had a soft spot in her heart for so very many. She left a huge presence that will be missed by all of us. Doris wore her heart on her sleeve, and you always knew where you stood with her. She sugarcoated nothing and was notable for “what you see is what you get.” She was a larger-than-life personality who will leave a large hole in those that loved her.

She is survived by her children, Kathleen Gosselin and husband Rick of Sims, North Carolina, Paula Hooper and husband Gary of Milford, Harold Carver Jr. and wife Linda of Auburn, Thomas Carver and wife Mary of Hopkinton, Colleen Brewer and husband James of Ashland, and Scott Carver and wife Michelle Lariviere of South Grafton. She also leaves behind 21 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, nine great-greatgrandchildren and her son-in-law, Arthur McCarthy. She was predeceased by her former husband, Harry Carver; a son, Philip Kelly; a daughter, Sandra McCarthy; and siblings Charles, Robert and Milton Pitty and Corinne Lenane, Mildred Cannizaro and Gertrude Lydon. Doris leaves behind many close friends and many beloved caretakers whom she considered to be her family.

thew Parish, Southborough. Entombment followed in St. John’s Cemetery and Mausoleum, Worcester.

Nicholas Stephens

Nicholas “Nick” Meriwether Stephens of Hopkinton and formerly Portsmouth, Rhode Island, passed peacefully, surrounded by family, on Dec. 22 at the Milford Regional Medical Center following a short illness.

He was born in 1934, the son of the late Louisa Smith Barnard and Roosevelt Goethals Thayer, and later was adopted by Theophilus Stuart Stephens. He also is predeceased by his beloved wife, Barbara Klayf Stephens, and leaves behind their loving daughters, Louisa Bissett (Ethan) and Elizabeth Cox (Bryan), and adoring grandchildren, Ella and Charles Cox, and Zachary Bissett. His later years included his cherished partner of 28 years, Phyllis Brooks. He also is survived by close siblings Maggie Mangold (Steve), Clare Flegg (Tony), Geoff Barnard (Sally) and Suzy Barnard (Michael Singsen), as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, and his devoted black Labrador, Pierson. He is predeceased by his grandmother, Mary “Rammy” Alger Smith.

Born in Newport, Rhode Island, Nicholas attended boarding school at Northfield Mount Hermon and studied geology at Brown University. He comes from a family with a strong Navy background. So, after graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he progressed from a commissioned ensign to a lieutenant commander, serving aboard the U.S.S. Braine during peacetime. Later, he worked as a human resources manager at Filene’s Department Stores for 40 years. That’s where he met his wife.

Doris Marie Carver, 91, of Hopkinton passed away at her home surrounded by her family on Dec. 23.

Born in South Boston, she was the daughter of the late Aldina (Silva) and Charles Pitty.

Doris was born in 1931 and was raised in South Boston, attending Gate of Heaven School. She met and married the love of her life, the late former Hopkinton Police Officer Harry Carver, and together they moved their family of eight children to Hopkinton, a community she loved for all of her years.

“Mrs. C” was loved and adored by many of the families and children in Hopkinton, often being referred to as that second mother. Doris loved to volunteer, spending countless hours at the Senior Center serving lunch. She was instrumental in the establishment of the Brampton Circle Tenants Organization. She was a

A funeral service was held Jan. 4 at the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery was to be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or stjude.org.

Lourdes Lirio

Lourdes G. Lirio, 76, a former Hopkinton resident who also previously lived in the New Jersey communities of Spotswood and Robbinsville, died Dec. 26 at Milford Regional Medical Center. She was the wife of Victorino Lirio, to whom she was married for 50 years. Born in Taal, Batangas, Philippines, she was the daughter of the late Maximino and Ester Gahol.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sons, Richard and wife Catherine Trinh-Lirio, and Vincent and wife Teresa Ona Lirio, and her five beloved grandchildren, Alysa, Sophia, Kailyn, Brandon and Dylan.

Visitation was held Dec. 31 at the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home in Hopkinton, followed by a funeral Mass in Saint Mat-

Nicholas’ greatest joys in life revolved around his family, whether it was hosting a lakeside barbecue for the Fourth of July or telling stories of his grandchildren’s latest escapades. Always dedicated to helping others, he volunteered with the East Bay Food Pantry and delivered food for Meals on Wheels. He was a passionate gardener — in addition to the many hours he spent working in his own beautiful garden, he volunteered to tend Blithewold Mansion’s gardens (Bristol, Rhode Island) and was a member of the Hopkinton Garden Club and the New England Dahlia Society. Nicholas appreciated art of all kinds and shot large-format black-and-white photographs, which he developed and printed in his basement darkroom. His photographs were exhibited in places such as the Art Association of Newport and the Carl Siembab Gallery in Boston, are part of the Fuller Craft Museum’s permanent collection, and toured the country as part of a two-man show under the banner of the National Endowment for the Arts. He was a member of the former Church of the Holy Spirit in Wayland and Trinity Church in Newport, Rhode Island. As patrons of the arts, Nicholas and Phyllis regularly attended the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Ballet, various plays and Boston Red Sox games, and he was a fan of the New England Patriots. He loved the water, and made sure that he always lived in a house that abutted the water, with a dock and boat.

A memorial service was held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Weston on what would have been his 89th birthday, Jan. 7. A private burial followed at the North Cemetery in Wayland. Services were under the care of Henry J. Burke & Sons Funeral Home, Wellesley. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his memory to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society or Greater Boston Food Bank.

Karen

police log

ARRESTS

December 7

11:36 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle crashed on West Main Street, drove right through the median, then drove away. A second caller reported the vehicle possibly hit a tree and may have heavy front end damage. Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded and stopped the vehicle at Pleasant Street and Main Street. Officer Brennan Grimley headed to the crash site on West Main Street and reported it appeared the operator drove over the barrier and flipped over. A 24-year-old from Candia, New Hampshire, was arrested and charged with leaving a firearm in a vehicle, leaving scene of property damage, negligent operation of motor vehicle, and OUI liquor. Officer Saletnik followed the ambulance to Milford Hospital. A tow truck removed the vehicle.

December 16

9:15 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle struck a telephone pole on Fruit Street. The vehicle was unoccupied when the reporting person called. Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Brennan Grimley and Matthew LaTour responded and arrested a 44-year-old Fruit Street resident and charged her with leaving the scene of property damage and OUI liquor. An ambulance transported the prisoner to the hospital with Officer LaTour’s assistance.

December 17 1:42 a.m. On West Main Street, Sergeant

Arthur Schofield and Officers Brennan Grimley and Alexander Stewart conducted field sobriety tests on a motorist and subsequently arrested a 28-year-old from Northbridge and charged him with marked lanes violation and OUI liquor.

December 18

12:24 a.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident on Hayden Rowe Street with a female occupant and a smoking car. Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Brennan Grimley and Alexander Stewart responded along with a tow truck. Verizon was notified of pole damage. A 22-year-old from Upton was arrested and charged with OUI liquor.

December 22

10:21 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident on Cedar Street. Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Matthew LaTour and Cody Normandin responded along with the Fire Department and reported airbag deployment and no personal injuries. A 63-year-old Weston Lane resident was arrested and charged with marked lane violation and OUI liquor.

January 1

5:58 a.m. On DiCarlo Road, Officer Robert Ekross arrested a 61-year-old from Upton and charged him with miscellaneous motor vehicle equipment violation, number plate violation and OUI liquor. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Augusto Diaz and Cody Normandin assisted, and a tow truck removed the vehicle and trailer.

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.

December 6

10:28 a.m. A caller reported a truck was stuck under the bridge at the Southborough town line. Sergeant Timothy Brennan responded and reported the truck was gone upon his arrival.

11:06 a.m. A Downey Street caller reported a past incident of a suspicious female walking house to house and moving her vehicle. The incident was logged. Sergeant Timothy Brennan was to investigate.

December 7

10:03 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan responded to a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. No personal injuries were reported.

1:33 p.m. Officer Robert Ekross responded to a motor vehicle accident on Clinton Street and took a crash report.

December 8

7:30 a.m. A walk-in reported his lost phone was pinging at the police station. His phone was with a prisoner, a friend of his. The dispatcher assisted.

12:59 p.m. Officer Sean McKeon responded to a civil dispute on West Main Street, where the owner of a property shut off the power in his tenant’s residence. The owner refused to turn the power back on. The tenant was advised to contact Eversource.

3:02 p.m. A West Main Street resident reported someone was on his property and he did not want them there. Officers Robert Ekross and Cody Normandin responded and took a report of a disturbance.

6:35 p.m. An Aspen Way caller reported he locked himself out of the house and his 2-year-old son was inside. Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded along with the Fire Department and gained access.

7:13 p.m. A motorist reported hitting a parked car on Constitution Court. Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded and took a report.

HopkintonIndependent.com

December 9

7:38 a.m. A caller reported a vehicle rear-ended another vehicle on Wood Street. Officer Alexander Stewart responded and took a report.

11:44 a.m. Officer Alexander Stewart responded to a motor vehicle crash on Pleasant Street. No personal injuries were reported.

5:54 p.m. A caller reported an erratic red pickup truck exited the highway and drove over grass onto West Main Street. The vehicle had front-end damage and sped into the Price Chopper parking lot. Officers Shannon Beloin and Cody Normandin responded. The truck was gone upon their arrival.

8:32 p.m. Officers Cody Normandin and Shannon Beloin responded to a motor vehicle accident on East Main Street. No personal injuries were reported.

December 10

3:43 p.m. A walk-in from Revolutionary Way reported his vehicle was hit overnight while parked in the parking lot. Officer Alexander Stewart took a report.

6:05 p.m. Multiple callers reported a vehicle struck a deer on West Main Street. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Cody Normandin responded and dispatched the animal.

December 11

1:13 a.m. Officers Brennan Grimley and Cody Normandin assisted the State Police on Oakhurst Road with taking a person into custody.

12:45 p.m. The State Police requested assistance with a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 495. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Tyler Staback responded and assisted. Personal injuries were reported.

4:18 p.m. Office Cody Normandin responded to a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident on East Main Street and took a report.

4:42 p.m. Officer Matthew LaTour reported a vehicle hit the curb on Main Street and got a flat tire. Officer LaTour assisted the disabled vehicle.

5:14 p.m. Multiple callers reported vehicles stuck on Wood Street and a possible accident. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and assisted.

5:40 p.m. A caller reported several cars stuck on Canterbury Lane. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and assisted.

5:44 p.m. A motorist reported a vehicle rearended him on Chestnut Street. No personal injuries were reported.

5:55 p.m. A caller reported a truck hit a cable line on Cedar Street. Sergeant William Burchard responded along with Eversource.

6:03 p.m. The DPW reported a vehicle was struck multiple times on Cedar Street. Officer Cody Normandin responded. The vehicle was gone upon his arrival.

6:53 p.m. A motorist on Stoney Brook Road requested help, as her vehicle was skidding. Officer Cody Normandin responded. The vehicle was gone upon his arrival.

December 12

12:36 p.m. Officer Sean McKeon responded to a minor motor vehicle accident on Main Street and took a report.

December 13

7:05 a.m. Sergeant Joseph Bennett and Officer Sean McKeon responded to a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. No personal injuries were reported.

4:58 p.m. A caller complained of erratic behavior and speeding on Pond Street between 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The complaint was logged.

December 14

4:00 a.m. A manager at Cumberland Farms on West Main Street reported hearing what sounded like a woman screaming and saw a person walking the fence line next door. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Brennan Grimley responded and checked the area with a negative find. Employees at nearby businesses were asked and said they did not hear or see anything. The officers were to reach out to UniBank for camera footage.

8:03 a.m. Officer Tyler Staback responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on West Main Street. One child was evaluated. A tow tuck was requested.

10:07 a.m. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Tyler Staback responded to a report of a vehicle hitting a telephone pole on Ash Street. No personal injuries were reported. Verizon was contacted.

3:01 p.m. Officer Cody Normandin responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Granite Street. No personal injuries were reported.

5:30 p.m. A caller reported a deer flailing in the roadway of Ash Street. Officer Alexander Stewart responded. The animal was gone upon his arrival.

December 15

5:04 a.m. A caller at a West Main Street gas station reported a vehicle had been parked at one of the pumps since the night before, and the driver seemed lost. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Alexander Stewart responded and checked on the individual. The Grafton Police Department had further information on the person.

10:59 a.m. Officer Tyler Staback responded to a motor vehicle accident on Mayhew Court involving two cars and took a report.

December 16

2:57 a.m. A Davis Road resident reported someone trying to open her door. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Alexander Stewart responded and checked the area. All checked out OK.

December 17

12:50 p.m. A Pinecrest Village landlord reported a tenant dropped off a deposit and left his dog there. Officer Tyler Staback responded and took a report.

1:40 p.m. A caller reported a loose dog bit her while she was jogging on Alprilla Farm Road. A message was left for the animal control officer.

6:04 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle struck a deer on Whisper Way. Sergeant William Burchard responded and reported minor vehicle damage and no personal injuries.

December 18

12:43 a.m. Sergeant William Burchard reported a vehicle backed into a police cruiser on Hayden Rowe Street. No personal injuries were reported.

1:49 p.m. A caller reported a deceased deer on the side of the roadway of Whisper Way. A message was left with the animal control officer for removal.

7:27 p.m. Sergeants Timothy Brennan and William Burchard attempted to serve a warrant on Rosewood Lane but were unable to make contact.

December 19

8:45 a.m. A concerned caller reported an owl next to the roadway of Granite Street. The animal control officer was contacted.

December 20

7:33 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan reported a water main break on Main Street and notified the Water Department.

10:05 a.m. A Hayden Rowe Street resident reported someone vandalized her mailbox. Officer Cody Normandin responded and took a report.

12:00 p.m. Officer Sean McKeon responded to a motor vehicle accident on Wood Street and took a report.

2:07 p.m. A Cedar Street caller reported a contractor working for Eversource was going to shut off her power if she didn’t pay her bill. The caller reported it to Evesource. Officer Cody Normandin followed up with the caller and took a report of fraud.

11:54 p.m. A Pinecrest Village caller reported a man knocking on his door and asking random questions. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Alexander Stewart responded and spoke with the reporting person.

December 21

3:44 a.m. A Davis Road resident reported loud banging outside her door. Officers Nicholas Saletnik and Alexander Stewart responded and checked the area with a negative find.

7:46 a.m. Officer Cody Normandin responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on West Main Street. No personal injuries were reported.

9:11 a.m. A Spring Street resident reported a deer hanging from her fence. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officers Sean McKeon and Cody Normandin responded and dispatched the deer. The fence was damaged.

11:12 a.m. A Connelly Hill Road caller reported her dog was missing. Officer Alexander Stewart responded and checked the neighborhood with a negative find.

11:33 a.m. A caller reported a kitten stuck in a vent on Hayden Rowe Street. Officer Alexander Stewart responded along with the Fire Department.

December 22

1:08 p.m. Officer Cody Normandin spoke with a tow company about a parking complaint at Pinecrest Village. The tow company reported it was to tow a vehicle per the condo association.

December 23

4:49 a.m. A caller reported a tree fell on wires and was blocking Saddle Hill Road. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded and contacted Eversource.

5:09 a.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Brennan Grimley removed a fallen tree that blocked the roadway on School Street.

6:02 a.m. Officer Brennan Grimley removed a tree from the roadway on Chestnut Street.

6:37 a.m. A caller reported wires fell on a vehicle on West Elm Street. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded along with the Fire Department.

7:04 a.m. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded to a report of a tree in the roadway on Ash Street.

7:33 a.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Alexander Stewart removed a tree that was blocking the roadway on Cedar Street.

8:27 a.m. The Ashland Police Department reported a complaint about a school bus on Main Street. The bus driver was subsequently contacted and was to speak with the bus driver.

8:43 a.m. A caller reported a tree in the roadway

on College Street. Officer Alexander Stewart responded and contacted the DPW, which removed the tree.

9:56 a.m. A caller reported someone took his dog and put it up for adoption. Sergeant Matthew McNeil assisted and reported that person was to return the dog. A report was to follow.

10:02 a.m. A caller reported a low-hanging wire on Colonnade Drive. Verizon was notified.

10:53 a.m. A Nicholas Road resident reported receiving threats. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and took a report.

4:12 p.m. A caller on West Main Street reported a large tree limb fell on her vehicle, causing damage. Officer Cody Normandin responded and reported debris in the roadway. The caller left the scene, and Officer Normandin was to check in with her. The DPW responded for cleanup.

4:12 p.m. Officer Matthew LaTour came upon a tree blocking half the roadway on Elm Street. The DPW was contacted.

4:55 p.m. Officer Cody Normandin responded to a report of multiple fallen trees on Saddle Hill Road. The DPW was notified.

5:45 p.m. A caller reported hearing a crash on Granite Street. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and took a report. A written warning was issued and a tow truck was requested.

6:04 p.m. a caller reported multiple transformers were on fire on Exchange Street. Officer Cody Normandin responded along with the Fire Department.

6:54 p.m. A caller reported a fallen tree was partially blocking the roadway on Wood Street. Officer Cody Normandin responded and contacted the DPW.

9:29 p.m. A motorist reported a tree fell on East Street and the roadway was blocked. The DPW was contacted.

December 24

6:31 a.m. Officer Brennan Grimley reported a fallen tree and power and cable line on Parker Point Road. Evesource already was aware of the issue.

9:14 a.m. A Valleywood Road resident reported a dead owl outside, near her mailbox. The animal control officer was notified.

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11:09 a.m. A caller wanted to file a report about her dog being attacked. Officer Sean McKeon assisted and took a report.

December 25

10:07 p.m. A motorist reported an erratic operator all over the roadway on West Main Street. Officers Robert Ekross and Matthew LaTour stopped the vehicle in Upton and notified the Upton Police Department. One person was placed into protective custody. A tow truck was requested.

December 26

3:09 p.m. A Constitution Court resident reported a threatening dog that resides on the second floor. The animal control officer was notified.

4:26 p.m. A caller reported a trailer struck a wire on Wood Street. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and reported no personal injuries. Verizon was notified.

6:07 p.m. A Forest Lane resident reported a female appeared at her door asking for directions, and it seemed strange. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil responded and checked the area with a negative find on the person.

8:21 p.m. A Pinecrest Village caller reported his vehicle was being towed illegally. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded to the civil dispute and reported the tow company was paid by the owner to not tow his car.

December 27

3:24 p.m. Officers Robert Ekross and Augusto Diaz responded to a motor vehicle accident on Cedar Street and took a crash report.

December 28

3:35 a.m. A caller reported a vehicle struck a deer on South Street. Officer Alexander Stewart responded and took a crash report.

8:50 p.m. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Alexander Stewart assisted the Ashland Police Department in searching for a vehicle that failed to stop on Clinton Street.

11:45 p.m. A caller reported illegal dumping on Main Street. Officer Alexander Stewart responded and found the offending party’s name in the trash. A report was to follow.

December 29

8:29 a.m. An assistant principal reported a student received threats. Officers Matthew LaTour and Alexander Stewart assisted.

9:18 a.m. Officer Shannon Beloin found fallen wires on trees on Cedar Street and notified Eversource.

3:57 p.m. Sergeant William Burchard reported a dog running in the roadway of Main Street.

December 30

2:34 a.m. Officer Brennan Grimley reported three large dogs loose on Cedar Street Extension. When he went to check

their tags, the dogs went to a backyard.

11:11 a.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on South Street. Office Matthew LaTour responded and reported no personal injuries.

1:39 p.m. A caller reported two men hunting on North Street. Officer Shannon Beloin responded and spoke with one individual, who was locked out of his car and was waiting for his girlfriend. Police assistance was declined.

2:18 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident involving two cars and no personal injuries on West Main Street. Officer Matthew Santoro responded and took a crash report.

3:19 p.m. A Sterling Drive resident reported a man in camouflage walked up her driveway and into the woods without receiving permission to hunt on her property. Officer Robert Ekross responded and spoke with the caller and was unable to locate the hunter.

6:46 p.m. A Saddle Hill Road resident reported a suspicious male in a black hoodie approached his residence while an older male was in a dark-colored truck.

Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officers Sean McKeon, Robert Ekross and Augusto Diaz responded. The men were gone upon their arrival.

8:53 p.m. Officers Robert Ekross and Augusto Diaz assisted a sixth-grader who reported being bullied by several other students. The students involved have claimed the statement was false. A report was to follow.

December 31

5:39 p.m. A caller reported she realized that she left her wallet at an Alltown Fresh gas pump on West Main Street, and when she returned for it, it was gone. She asked if a manager could look at camera footage and was told no but that she could return the following day. The incident was logged.

7:34 p.m. An Edge Hill Road caller reported someone banged on his front door, and when he went to answer it, nobody was there and no vehicles were in sight. The caller was concerned due to recent activity in his neighborhood.

Officers Robert Ekross and Augusto Diaz responded and checked the area with a negative find.

January 1

2:20 p.m. A West Main Street caller reported a new crack in the pole outside of his residence and stated he was afraid the pole would fall. Officer Sean McKeon responded and notified Verizon.

5:05 p.m. A caller reported hearing a girl scream for help on Church Street.

Officers Robert Ekross, Cody Normandin and Augusto Diaz responded and checked the area with a negative find.

January 2

10:16 a.m. A motorist reported a large pothole on Granite Street. Officer Tyler Staback responded and confirmed the pothole and contacted the DPW.