HI 11.23.22

HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT

Educators decry proposed cuts to special ed positions

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

The School Committee met before a packed room Nov. 10 to discuss proposed cuts in the upcoming special education budget, where administrators stressed that they are already stretched thin because of increases in students and the complexity of their needs.

During the public comment period of the three-hour meeting, Hopkinton Teachers Association President Becky Abate noted that the high needs student population — which encompasses special education (12.4 percent), English Lan guage learners (6.9 percent) and students from low-income families (7.9 percent) — has doubled over the past decade and now encompasses almost 30 percent of Hopkinton’s public school students.

In the proposed special education budget, proposed staffing cuts included a 0.8 full-time employee (FTE) in physi cal therapy, a 0.8 FTE in occupational therapy, and a 0.5 FTE in speech therapy. This would provide funding for adminis trative positions.

By Christopher Tremblay Contributing Writer

Capping a postseason filled with dramatic finishes, the Hopkinton High School boys soccer team had one more thriller Saturday night in the Division 2 state championship game. Unfortunately for the Hillers, this result did not go their way, as top-seeded Oliver Ames scored twice in the final three minutes to grab a 3-2 victory and the championship trophy.

“I’m feeling sorry for the team right now,” Hillers coach Garrett Saw yer said. “They put so much into this game, and I thought they deserved a chance to win.”

Second-seeded Hopkinton (19-22) won its first two tournament games in extra time, followed by a win over Wayland on penalty kicks in the quar terfinals. The semifinal, a 4-3 victory

Hillers players celebrate a second-half goal. The celebration would be short-lived, as Oliver Ames stormed back with two goals in the final three minutes to steal the

Hopkinton High School senior Sean Golembiewski (22) battles Oliver Ames players for the ball during Saturday’s Division 2 state championship game in Walpole.

Hopkinton independent

Friends of Hopkinton pays tribute to Click

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I

n an appearance before the Select Board on Nov. 15, members of the or ganization Friends of Hopkinton started by sharing updates on past and present activities.

But it quickly turned into a tribute to outgoing president Ann Click.

The former town clerk, Click started Friends of Hopkinton after a group of resi dents got together to organize the town’s 300th anniversary cel ebration in 2015.

strongly will continue to be part of this community.”

Added Select Board member Muriel Kramer: “I don’t think there’s a way for this town to thank you enough for the way that you have invested your whole heart and soul and wonderful energy into making something really beautiful hap pen for the town.”

Click said the 300th organizing com mittee had leftover funds, which led to the idea to start Family Day. The most recent edition was held Sept. 17 at the fields behind Hopkinton Middle School and drew an impressive crowd.

INDEPENDENT THOUGHTS JERRY SPAR

“Through her inspiration and her leadership, she carried us on to be successful with these events,” Friends member Pat O’Brien said. “With out Ann’s constant work and inspiration we would not be so successful.”

Town Manager Norman Khumalo called Click a “treasure,” saying, “You have created an institution that I feel

“This year was probably our most successful ever,” O’Brien said. “It started off with a great day from Mother Nature. And we had thousands of residents of Hopkinton enjoying the day. We couldn’t have done it without, of course, the sup port of all town boards, the Select Board, the town manager, the Police Depart ment, the Fire Department, the DPW — everybody chipped in and helped make this a successful day.”

The group also started a spring event, Independent thoughts | 3

Scouting for Food

Hopkinton Independent is published by Hopkinton Independent, LLC,

Westborough, MA

Members of Hopkinton Troop 72361 took part in Scouting for Food on Nov. 12 at St. John the Evangelist Parish, where the Scouts organized the donations.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

‘A SLICE OF HOPKINTON’

Hopkinton Independent Photo Contest

This issue’s win ner is Helga Tate for this photo of Elsa, a cockerpoo puppy, on an early-morning walk at Lake Whitehall. To enter next issue’s con test, email your photo along with your name, phone number and de scription of the photo to editor@hopkin tonindependent.com. Photos with people or pets in them are encouraged. Photos that are not selected as winners might be posted on our website.

Friends of Hopkinton pays tribute to Click

Family Fling, which it plans to again host March 25 on the Town Common.

Colette Cronin, who is taking over as president, encouraged residents to check friendsofhopkinton.org if they are interested in volunteering, saying, “New members are always welcome.”

Holiday Stroll returns Dec. 3

The Hopkinton Chamber of Com merce’s Holiday Stroll is back, set for Dec. 3, starting at 10 a.m. The event is a highlight of the season for local busi nesses, which offer sales, specials and promotions for holiday shoppers.

“It will be a great way to get some of your shopping done, get a chance to win a $300 cash prize and have a fun time doing it!” shared Amanda Faucher, representing the Chamber of Commerce. “This community event in Hopkinton encourages people to visit our chamber businesses and shop local, gather for festivities and celebrate together as a community.”

Patrons who get their Holiday Stroll passport stamped will be entered in a drawing for multiple cash prizes. There is a passport on the Holiday Stroll insert with this paper, and additional passports are available at participating businesses.

Among the events planned are a free horse-drawn carriage rides around the Town Common (12:30-3 p.m.), ice sculpture demonstrations (starting at 2 p.m.) and the Girl Scouts’ annual light ing of the tree on the Town Common in the evening.

Friends of Hopkinton will be in the Lotvin Gallery at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts selling gazebo ornaments, town anniversary coins, stadium blankets and magnets and giving out free seasonal craft kits. Pictures from the Family Day event in September will be on display.

Project Just Because seeks help

Project Just Because Founder/Presi dent Cherylann Lambert Walsh knows all too well how difficult this time of year can be for families with financial strug gles. So she is asking residents to donate what they can to the Hopkinton-based nonprofit that distributes clothes, food and many other items to people in need.

“Please give to help brighten the holi days for children and families in need,” she wrote in her holiday appeal. “With soaring inflation rates, parents are finding it very hard to stay afloat this year. For many families there is simply not enough money to cover bills, and there will be no holiday celebration. Your financial dona tion will help keep a light on and spark hope and joy for our struggling families. With your help, Project Just Because can support families that need it most and help keep their holiday traditions and memo ries beautiful and bright.”

PJB has a food pantry at 77 South Street that is open — no appointment or ID required — Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. For more information and to make a donation, visit projectjustbecause.org.

Bill Gassett

Arena-DeRosa wins election for state representative

There was a strong turnout at the polls at Hopkinton Middle School’s Brown Gym for the Nov. 8 election. A total of 7,821 residents cast ballots (in cluding early and absentee voting).

In the race for state representative for the 8th Middlesex District, Hopkinton voters went for Holliston Democrat

James Arena-DeRosa over Millis Re publican Loring Barnes, 4,814 to 2,733. Arena-DeRosa also carried Holliston, Millis and Sherborn (portions of the latter two towns are in the district), earning the right to take the seat vacated earlier this year by Carolyn Dykema

“I am grateful for the wonderful support from the town of Hopkinton in [the] election and am looking forward to serving as your new state representative,” Arena-DeRosa told the Independent. “Over the next several weeks I intend to spend more time engaging constituents on substantive issues to continue to gather an understanding of where and how I can be helpful as state rep. My priorities will flow in part from those conversations, my eventual committee assignments, and some of my longstand ing work on community development is sues. As I mentioned several times in the campaign, in all my work as a legislator, I am committed to bringing the voices and perspectives of communities like Hopkinton to Beacon Hill.”

Democrat James McGovern cruised to victory in the U.S. House District 2 race. McGovern beat Republican Jef frey Sossa-Paquette 5,127 to 2,488 in Hopkinton and retrained his seat with a

similar percentage district-wide.

Hopkinton backed Democrat Maura Healey for governor, 5,091 to 2,556 for Republican Geoff Diehl. Healy won by a similar percentage statewide.

Regarding the ballot questions, Hopkinton voters opposed the new mil lionaire income tax increase in Question 1, 4,078 to 3,525, although the item passed statewide. Question 2 (dental insurance) was a strong yes (74.7 per cent) in Hopkinton as well as statewide. Question 3 (liquor sales) was a close yes (50.1 percent) for Hopkinton but was a no statewide. Question 4 (driver’s licenses

for immigrants) was a 55.3 percent yes in Hopkinton and won statewide.

Altaeros TIF moves forward

At the Nov. 15 Select Board meet ing, Town Manager Norman Khumalo presented the board with a draft of a tax increment financing agreement intended to encourage Altaeros Energies to relo cate its headquarters to South Street.

The board voted unanimously to move the TIF forward. It eventually will require support from Town Meet ing voters.

Khumalo explained that the pro posed TIF is a three-way agreement between the town, Altaeros and the property owner, Atlantic Oliver 80 South Street, LLC.

Altaeros, which designs and builds aerostats, has proposed renovating an ex isting building to create a 105,000-square foot space that can accommodate the company’s research and development, manufacturing and corporate headquar ters. Altaeros would invest $23.9 million, which would include $5.1 million in renovations and $18.8 million in personal property.

The proposal calls for 181 new, net, permanent, full-time jobs over a six-year period with those positions maintained over the term of the agreement.

In return, the town would grant real estate tax exemptions for 14 years and personal property exemptions for seven years. The exemptions would take effect after all the renovations are completed, Khumalo said.

“I’m very happy that it’s come forward and we’ve come to this point,” Select Board member Mary Jo LaFre niere said. “I was very happy to see how they worked out the personal property. I would want to welcome [Altaeros]. I support this 100 percent right now.”

Economic recovery grant applications available

Hopkinton’s Youth & Family Ser vices is accepting grant applications from

James Arena-DeRosa (second from right) campaigns with supporters (from left) Amy Groves, Sandra Cipriani and son Alessandro Arena-DeRosa outside Hopkinton Middle School during the election on Nov. 8.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

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Legacy Diwali

Hopkinton’s Legacy Farms North neighborhood held its second annual Diwali festival on Nov. 12, with more than 420 people attending the event at Ashland High School.

About 200 individuals took part in singing, dancing and other perfor mances, and the day was capped with a group dinner.

The event raised more than $1,000 that will be donated to Hopkinton Public Schools, according to Falgun Patel, one of the organizers.

Pictured are members of the cultural organizing team (from left): Priya Vasudevan, Lakshmi Devi Sambanthan and Swati Parulekar.

In addition to serving as a celebration of the Indian holiday, the event also was designed to “educate everyone what Diwali is, why we are celebrating it and the history of it,” Patel explained. The neighborhood hosted a couple of other recent celebrations, but “Diwali is the biggest one of them all because everyone comes together for this event annually.”

Patel said there are number of volunteers who help with the planning and logistics, and they hope to “continue it every year and do something good for the community.”

Economic recovery grant applications available

Applications | from page 4

residents disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the town announced.

In 2021, a $4 billion spending pack age was passed at the state level to invest in the commonwealth’s COVID-19 eco nomic recovery. The legislation utilizes $2.55 billion in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and $1.45 billion in funding from the state budget surplus for fiscal year 2021. Hopkinton has been allocated a $90,000 grant by the commonwealth, which will allow the town to help residents who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

“Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been our mission to ensure that our community members are receiv ing support from the town, and with this new grant application, we are pleased to say that we are continuing those efforts,” Town Manager Norman Khumalo said. “We understand that the pandemic took a toll on many families and resulted in financial hardships. With this grant program we hope to provide economic relief to those in need and we encourage anyone who may be eligible to receive grant funds to apply.”

Qualifying COVID-19 pandemic impacts may include job loss, furlough debts, overdue utility bills, education loss, medical expenses (including behav ioral health), cost of fuel/gasoline, costs of basic needs impacted by inflation, inability to address home or car repairs to cover other expenses, or other needs.

Applications must be submitted to Hopkinton Youth & Family Services and should be received by Thursday, Dec. 1. Once all applications have been received, grants will be determined by the number

of approved applicants. One grant award will be made per household.

For more information, contact the Outreach/Social Services Department through Hopkinton Senior Services at 508-497-9730, or Hopkinton Youth & Family Services at 508-497-9781.

Misc.: Winter parking ban in effect

The Department of Public Works is sued a reminder about the winter parking ban that goes into effect Nov. 15 and runs until April 1. Vehicles cannot be parked on any street between 1-6 a.m., except for emergencies.

Any vehicle interfering with the DPW’s snow and ice removal efforts is liable to be removed, with the vehicle owner responsible for towing and stor age costs.

Additionally, as per the town’s bylaw, individuals are not allowed to “pile, push, throw, shovel, plow or by any other method or means cause snow to be deposited or placed on any public roadway or sidewalk of the town so as to impede, obstruct or interrupt or otherwise adversely affect the unrestricted flow of traffic or the safe travel of any pedestrian on such roadway or sidewalk.” Violators are subject to a fine of no more than $25 for each violation. …

The Select Board accepted the res ignations of Kevin McCaffrey from the Historical Commission, Kelly Karp from the Youth Commission and Nasiba Mannan from the Hopkinton Cultural Council. Meanwhile, Bruce Palmer was introduced as a new van driver for the Senior Center.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Baypath Adoptable Animal of the Week

Each week, the Indepen dent highlights an animal avail able for adoption at Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton. This week we feature Luna.

Here is Baypath’s descrip tion of Luna:

“Gorgeous Luna traveled to us all the way from Florida after being found 20 feet down in a ravine. This survivor is finally ready to find a comfy, loving home to call her own!

“Luna is blind, which doesn’t slow her down! She will follow your voice and is learning how to navigate her environments. She loves to explore and gets used to her surroundings quickly!

“Since she can’t see you, you have to let her know you are coming to her before pet ting her. She will back away afraid if you do not let her know you are there and coming toward her.

Luna loves people! She gives the best kisses and loves to be with people. She is a laid-back lady who enjoys walks and outside time, comfy beds and naps!”

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

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

Permit in place, plans for 83 East Main development move forward

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

Plans for an open space mixed-use de velopment (OSMUD) at the site of a historic house at 83 East Main Street are moving forward after clarification from town officials that the developer already has a permit noting that the proper infra structure exists for water and sewer to serve it. Developer Roy MacDowell Jr. hopes to begin construction in the late winter or early spring.

Three age-restricted units and the replication of the single-family home were approved by the Planning Board, and zoning allowed for it to be constructed by right. The site, part of the Village Center zoning subdistrict, is a small triangular plot at the corner of East Main Street and Legacy Farms Roads North, just west of Weston Nurseries.

MacDowell noted at Planning Board meetings over the past few months that the Historical Commission approved the razing of the house with the condition that it be replicated on the exterior edge of the property because the home and its founda tion were in a state of deterioration. The Board of Appeals also approved a special permit in August allowing the home to be replicated despite the original building not having adequate frontage. MacDowell also confirmed that the house’s shingles contained asbestos, which he said would be removed properly.

Hopkinton Health Director Shaun McAuliffe earlier this month had raised concerns about the development having appropriate infrastructure to manage water and sewer needs for the development, as well as the ability to connect to the Clinton Street wastewater treatment plant, and said the project would not move forward without the Health Department’s approval.

However, in an interview via Zoom

on Nov. 15, MacDowell noted that the initial permit from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) regarding water and sewer had been issued in July 2012 and that it was renewed in 2020. The Legacy Farms developer stressed the positive relation ship he has had with the town’s boards, commissions and officials over the course of 15 years.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on maintaining a good working relationship with the town” since purchasing the prop erty in 2007, he said. He noted that he has provided millions of dollars to the school system, contributed to road improvements and donated 500 of the property’s 730 acres back to the town for open space — all part of the host community agreement he signed with the town.

He added that he has not had previous interaction with the Health Department, because MassDEP issues the required permits.

“It’s not a local issue — it’s a state issue,” MacDowell said. “We don’t have things such as septic systems that would involve the Board of Health.”

In a letter dated Nov. 9, McAuliffe noted that there had been a meeting that day that included him, MacDowell and Assistant Town Manager Elaine Lazarus, where he said the project indeed had the proper permitting and that it can move forward as planned.

“The Health Services Department is issuing this clarification of the permitting and regulatory status of the 83 East Main Street parcel and the Legacy Farms De velopment in general,” the letter stated.

“The Health Services Department believes that the appropriate water and sewer in frastructure is in place to provide service to the 83 East Main Street parcel. In addi tion, the 83 East Main Street property has Development | page 8

the right to connect to the Clinton Street wastewater treatment plant based on the most recent Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) permit. Furthermore, Legacy Farms LLC, the Health Department, and the MassDEP have communicated regarding this matter.”

McAuliffe also previously noted the presence of asbestos in the historic home.

“[McAuliffe] mentioned the issue of the asbestos siding on the house,” Mac

Dowell said. “Well, I’ve been saying it has asbestos siding for the past few years. It’s no secret.”

“We all know that you need a demo lition permit,” he continued. “If you’re taking out a hazardous material — which asbestos is — you also need a permit from the Board of Health. I told him the reason we haven’t approached him yet is that we’re not ready to ask for a permit.”

“Legacy Farms LLC assured the Health Services Department that it or its

successors would seek all appropriate ap provals for the cesspool abandonment at 83 East Main Street and the asbestos removal associated with building demolition before any demolition work,” McAuliffe wrote in the letter. “We look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship during this process.”

MacDowell also refuted a previous claim by McAuliffe about three parcels on the former site of Weston Nurseries, where there were elevated levels of diel

drin, an insecticide that was widely used in the 1950s through the 1970s but was discontinued in 1974. McAuliffe previ ously said it was his understanding that MacDowell had owned the property when contaminated soil was transported to other properties. However, MacDowell stressed that he did not own that property at the time, and that “the soil had been removed and sold by a site contractor to a couple of homes, unbeknownst to the owner.”

Veterans and guests pay tribute at the annual Vet erans Day dinner on Nov. 11 at the Woodville Rod & Gun Club.

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

The South Asian Circle of Hopkinton (SACH) is continuing the spirit of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, with its DiwHoliday Gala on the evening of Dec. 10, an event highlighting the achievements of 12 women of South Asian diaspora.

The event, SACH’s largest fund raiser of the year, is a family-friendly celebration being cohosted by the Hop kinton Center for the Arts, the event’s venue. Aditya Nadkarni, SACH’s board secretary who helped to organize the event, said the HCA is the perfect venue “because it is the arts and cultural hub for the community.” It was first held in 2019 but was put on pause during the pandemic.

“We love their space,” added Charu smitha Ram, SACH’s communications chair and an event organizer. “They have a nice barn loft upstairs. The main event will take place in the main auditorium and the lobby.”

Even though Diwali’s five-day fes tival of the triumph of light over dark ness occurred in October, the organizers decided to hold the gala at a time when other cultures also are preparing to cel ebrate holidays with the common theme of light.

“Light seemed to be a universal con nector in many of the holidays, beginning with Halloween and the jack-o’lanterns,” Ram said. “Then after Thanksgiving, you have Christmas and Hanukkah celebrated with light. That’s where the name Di wHoliday came from.”

“People are starting to get in the holi day spirit for Christmas, so we decided it was a good time to end our year with a bang,” Nadkarni said. “Diwali also happened when everyone was right in the middle of getting back to school, so it was a bit hectic to have a gala then.”

The event also is an opportunity for SACH to showcase its four organiza tional pillars — culture, civic engage ment, community outreach and creating a circle of support.

“We always focus on cultural aware ness and really sharing that with the community,” said Nadkarni.

The idea for recognizing influential women came about as a reflection of the SACH members, according to Nadkarni.

“The SACH team is huge, and it’s mainly many inspirational women,” he said. “For the longest time, I was the only male.

— DiwHoliday Gala co-organizer Aditya Nadkarni

“We had another male member join recently, so we had a 100 percent growth in our male representation,” he added with a laugh.

In 2019, the gala focused on a jour ney around the South Asian continent to teach people about the different coun tries and the diversity of their cultural traditions, music and dances. It centered around a son learning about this cultural journey through the eyes of his father, according to Ram.

“This time we decided to focus around the inspirational and extraordi nary stories that some of the women of the South Asian continent have contrib uted,” Nadkarni said. It will be emceed by a mother and daughter team.

The theme, Ram said, was inspired by the book “The Dot That Went for a Walk …,” a collection of short stories by Sarada Akkineni, Reema Gupta and Lakshmi Nambiar.

“It mainly celebrates women from India,” Ram explained. “But we expand ed that concept to include the other coun tries in the South Asian subcontinent.”

The 12 women showcased in the theater presentations at the DiwHoliday Gala are South Asian leaders in the fields of science, technology, politics, the arts and movies, according to Nadkarni.

“We call out some of her cultural contributions and how she defied the societal norms or even overcame some of her own limitations or constraints to do something spectacular that all of us can take a learning from,” Nadkarni said of each woman. “We then use that to show case her particular talent or her skill set through a cultural stage performance.”

“I was really excited by this theme because we have a large presence of women on our board,” noted Ram, add ing that Nadkarni also “gave a lot of substance to that agenda and really put together the whole program.”

“We immediately caught onto this theme and started brainstorming a lot of ideas,” she continued. “We each come

from different areas and have different people who have inspired us.”

One example Ram gave is Amrita Sher-Gil, a pioneer in modern Indian art.

“Her art really inspires me, so I wanted to see something about her brought into this performance,” she said.

“This event definitely opens the doors for some deeper discussions,” Nadkarni noted. “There are many more women achievers.”

Local artists, including students and people who are not of South Asian ancestry, will be interpreting the work of these 12 women in their performances.

“I don’t want to reveal too much,” Nadkarni said. “But it’s a yoga-based musical event.”

There will be a reception beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by the performanc es from 7-8:30. A dinner featuring cul tural cuisine will be served, and a dance party will complete the celebration.

For children, there will be arts and craft activities separate from the main event, Ram said.

“What we’ve learned over time is that the parents when they bring their children, they want the kids to do their

own thing while they socialize,” she ex plained. “The kids can come and go when they like. But we’ve organized specific activities to keep them engaged that are centered around the Diwali theme, such as making lamps and games that are usu ally played at Diwali.”

“One thing we found in 2019 is that when it came time for the performances, the kids were really eager to see what was going on in the main room,” Nad karni added. “They were learning, and they were also quiet and maintained decorum.”

Although some cultural traditions are experienced at home, Nadkarni said it was powerful for the children to see their friends performing and wearing tradi tional outfits representing their heritage.

“I was also surprised that some of their friends who are not of South Asian descent also came for the event,” Ram added. “They were excited to learn.”

Ram said that SACH members lent clothing to some kids at the 2019 event so they could experience wearing ethnic clothing.

“To see their friends dressing up the same way as everybody else was very important for them,” she said.

“This is a form of cultural awareness, so it’s not just meant for the community of people of South Asian diaspora,” Nad karni stressed. “The more, the merrier! We’d like to have non-South Asians experience that awareness and hopefully participate in the coming years.”

The organizers also noted that SACH is looking for more local businesses to sponsor the event. To learn more about SACH and the DiwHoliday Gala, visit southasiancircleofhopkinton.org.

MacDowell said that once that re moval was discovered, he was told that the soil was brought back to the original site, as the town requested. He said he had no involvement in this process because it was no longer his property.

“Mr. Roy MacDowell Jr. reminded me that Baystone Development/Legacy Farms LLC had already sold the parcels within Legacy Farms from which soils were removed to a third party,” McAuliffe stated in the letter. “Therefore, neither Mr. MacDowell nor Baystone Development/ Legacy Farms LLC had any involvement with the removal of these soils.”

MacDowell added that he reached out to McAuliffe “a few times” over the past week to clear up any misconceptions

he may have had about the situation, but that his calls and emails had not been re turned. This prompted him to reach out to the Town Manager’s office and led to the meeting on Nov. 9 to clear the air.

Asked why he sought to develop the 83 East Main Street property, MacDowell ex plained that it is the last open parcel at Leg acy Farms, so developing it would fill in the remaining piece of the puzzle, so to speak.

He also noted an affinity he had for the site since the 1970s when it was part of Weston Nurseries and purchased it when it came up for sale.

“Weston Nurseries was a pristine, stel lar nursery,” he said, noting that tours were held to admire topiary gardens. “It was like Disneyland almost. It was a beautiful, beautiful place, and I really admired it.”

This is a form of cultural awareness, so it’s not just meant for the community of people of South Asian diaspora. The more, the merrier! We’d like to have non-South Asians experience that awareness and hopefully participate in the coming years.

Planning Board approves Box Mill Road development plan

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

The Planning Board at its meeting Nov. 7 reviewed a couple of relatively un usual cases regarding subdivision plans.

The first item discussed involved an approval not required (ANR) for a subdivi sion on Box Mill Road, off Leonard Street. An ANR allows for the division of land into lots with frontage on existing public or private roads. Neither the applicant, Rick Barbieri, nor project manager Dave Marquedant appeared at the hearing.

Principal Planner John Gelcich ex plained that the request was to allow two lots on Box Mill Road to be deemed build able. The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) previously approved Barbieri’s request that Box Mill Road be considered a right of way, he said. It would serve as frontage for the lots.

“All we have to establish is that it is not a subdivision, that it meets the frontage requirements of zoning, and that it meets the lot area of zoning,” he said, noting that the applicant is not building a new road, so it would not be considered a subdivision.

Chair Gary Trendel confirmed with Gelcich that Barbieri has a right to build a road on the right of way; however, the applicant thought it would be in the best interest of the neighborhood to leave the right of way as is. Gelcich noted that the owner of the right of way is unknown. The right of way had been shown on a previous subdivision plan, which made it a right of way in existence, according to state law.

The ZBA determined that this is a right of way off which the applicant could access frontage, Gelcich pointed out.

Asked Trendel: “So I guess my question is then, if the right of way was established as a subdivision, then why aren’t these two lots considered part of the subdivision?”

Replied Gelcich: “Subdivisions don’t necessarily have to show lots; subdivisions essentially just show roads.”

While Box Mill Road is a subdivision, the lots built off it are not, he clarified. All of the existing lots were approved through the same ANR process and gained front age off of Box Mill Road when it was originally constructed.

The lots meet the frontage require

ment because they are on the right of way, Gelcich continued, and they also meet the lot area requirements. No new road is being built.

He added, “It’s a very complicated situation. It’s not normal.”

“The threat was, ‘If you don’t give me these two lots, I’m going to build this road,’ ” Gelcich continued, which brought the situation into sharper focus.

After this discussion, the board unani mously approved the request.

The board also voted unanimously to endorse a proposed subdivision plan. Gelcich explained that the applicant did not need to be present for the proceedings to move forward. Since the last time the plan was reviewed, the applicant provided miss ing information that had been requested by engineering consultant BETA Group, which was approved.

Morse Lane family subdivision proposal continued

The other somewhat unusual subdivi sion hearing focused on the Capobianco family subdivision on Morse Lane.

Attorney Timothy Nealon represented the applicant. He requested that a condi tion be removed from a plan approved in February 1992 that prevented the subdivi sion from exceeding four lots. The new proposal sought to allow for the creation of a fifth lot on the existing road.

This brought up a discussion of family lots, which is not a commonly used term. However, several abutters who supported the plan said that this concept previously was done in Hopkinton so that parents could divide their land among their chil dren.

“There’s no real distinction between a family subdivision and a conventional subdivision in the regulations,” Gelcich explained. He noted that sometimes waiv ers would be granted in family subdivi sions if provisions were that no further development would take place.

Trendel requested that the board do a site walk before voting on the proposal. It was to take place on Nov. 19. The request was be reconsidered at the next meeting on Nov. 21.

Capital funding requests move forward

Trendel presented a recap of the pedestrian connectivity survey that previ ously was conducted by a Planning Board working group so that the board could gain perspective on a capital funding request that he submitted via the Planning Depart ment in order for it to be eligible for this budget cycle. The goal was to implement the results of the survey into a phased ap proach that would allow for improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and runners via a capital funding request.

One survey finding Trendel high lighted was that 85 percent of the survey’s 360 or so respondents believed that more sidewalks and trails would improve resi dents’ physical and mental health.

Loop trails of 2-4 miles were consid ered to be desirable for those who used trails for more active recreation.

Investing in paved infrastructure would increase pedestrian activity, particularly from downtown and around the schools.

Also, safety features are important for ma jor roads to improve safety and visibility.

Trendel added that he hoped members would consider joining the working group to revitalize this effort. Elyse Barrett Miha jloski decided to join Trendel and member Jane Moran as part of the working group. The working group will prioritize goals and eventually seek funding to implement initiatives.

Member Mary Larson-Marlowe said that she was glad to see sidewalks presented as part of an overall plan for pedestrian safety. They tend to get turned down at Town Meeting, she said, when funding gets tight. Trendel noted that the sidewalks not only benefit the abutters but also get people to use streets more actively.

One funding request the board unani mously approved was for sidewalks for a section of Chestnut Street from Wild Road to Smith Road to provide better connectiv ity to the Connolly Hill neighborhood at a cost of $514,240. The other request was for a sidewalk or stone dust trail for the Blueberry Lane subdivision to connect with EMC Park for $187,000.

Parks & Rec roundup: Pickleball court plans under review

By Christie Vogt Contributing Writer

At its meeting on Nov. 9, the Parks & Recreation Commission discussed the designs for public pickleball courts, the town’s “all-hands meeting” as well as current and upcoming projects.

Consultant Andrew Leonard attended the meeting to present a design for public pickleball courts. The proposed design did not include a tennis court, which would be required based on the parameters approved at Town Meeting. Leonard will create an additional plan that includes four perma nent pickleball courts and four temporary courts that can be converted into a tennis court. The original design also included 25 parking spots and required the relocation of trails to accommodate the layout.

As the commission discussed the proj ect, concerns arose about the design as well as costs, particularly due to the unknowns

associated with inflation. There also were concerns about the logistical management associated with a hybrid court as it shifts between pickleball and tennis usage. In the coming weeks, Parks & Recreation Director Jay Guelfi will convene pickleball leaders in the community to review plans and share additional input.

Department discusses goals

Last Wednesday, Guelfi attended the town’s virtual forum, also known as the “all-hands meeting,” to share the department’s vision and goals. The goals discussed included building a cricket pitch, engaging older adult residents and engaging the community at large to partner in the improvement and design of Parks & Rec programs.

Regarding older adults, Guelfi de scribed a partnership with the Hopkinton Senior Center in which a “puzzle-paloo za” will be held in February. Teams of three to four people will compete to finish a puzzle, with the fastest team earning a prize. If successful, the department hopes to organize puzzle events throughout the year.

Additional updates shared

Guelfi reported on the lacrosse wall progress, Pyne Field study, Sandy Beach boat dock proposal and EMC Park amenities building study. He anticipates the lacrosse wall renovation will be completed by next week. The Pyne Field reconfiguration study to accommodate a Little League field and cricket pitch is in progress, while a study for the EMC Park amenities building project has not yet received bids, a delay that has pre vented the department from requesting funds from the Community Preservation Committee. …

Guelfi is working with a Conservation Committee agent to develop drawings for the Sandy Beach boat dock, which ideally would be installed next spring. …

Guelfi noted that winter programming has gone “gangbusters,” with high registra tion numbers and wait lists for programs including in-town basketball and skiing.

COVID, budget among Board of Health topics

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

The Board of Health at its meeting Nov 14 discussed how COVID-19 has become a more normalized part of existence after two years of coping with the pandemic, as well as how Hopkinton might be eligible for national recognition for how it has responded to the pandemic.

Public Health Nurse Simone Carter explained that the number of reported cases of COVID-19, while very low, do not reflect the actual number of cases be cause people are less likely to report the results of at-home tests.

The vaccination clinics that Carter runs on an almost daily basis offer the bivalent vaccine and continue to be suc cessful, she noted. She expects to operate smaller regular clinics “for the foreseeable future” rather than a large-scale clinic that was more common in the earlier stages of the pandemic because people have received vaccines at different times. There have been targeted vaccination clinics for police, fire and emergency personnel as well as seniors and town employees.

Health Department Director Shaun McAuliffe announced that the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) has asked Hopkinton to describe some its best practices for managing the pandemic for consideration for national awards.

“We’re definitely going to talk to them and submit on our vaccination and our pandemic response,” he said, noting that the application is due before Christ mas.

Health Services agent Kelechi Obika said he has observed “a progressive de cline” in reported COVID-19 cases after analyzing biweekly COVID-19 reports over the past several weeks. This would not pertain to rapid or PCR testing. He at tributed that to the success of the vaccina tion clinics and public awareness. COVID rates have been comparable, if not lower than, neighboring communities, he noted.

“One thing that it would be helpful if people would report so that we could get a more accurate picture of what’s going on,” Board of Health chair Lisa Whittemore said. “And I will also say that the lack of reporting, for me, is more reflective of the fact that this has become much more normalized in our world than it was two years ago.”

Whittemore also noted that the de mand for vaccines in town appears to have increased recently.

“We’re one of the few towns, I would argue, that’s been allowed to go back to getting more flu shots,” McAuliffe added.

Child vaccinations generally are cov ered by the family’s pediatrician, Carter explained. However, Hopkinton is part of a collaborative with eight other towns that will offer vaccines to families in need.

Budget on track

McAuliffe said that there should be enough money in the Health Department budget reserve to cover the strategic plan cost. There also is about $65,000 in grant funding that has yet to be spent.

“The grant money will go to cover a lot of our medical expenses,” he ex plained. This would include running clin ics and providing more comprehensive programming around mental health and welfare.

Regarding the strategic plan, McAu liffe shared that Town Manager Norman Khumalo requested that a separate line item for public comment for the strategic

plan be included. McAuliffe previously met with representatives from the Edward J. Collins Center for Public Management Publications based at the University of Massachusetts Boston, a group with expertise in helping health and finance departments develop strategic plans. The Collins Center also would help in per forming a community health assessment. The board previously decided to move for ward with a partnership with the Collins Foundation pending funding approval, with the cost of strategic plan develop ment expected to be around $35,000.

McAuliffe said he received a revised proposal from the Collins Center about the strategic plan development that will be reviewed at the next meeting. The extra meetings and survey work will raise the cost by about $4,000, he said.

What needs to be done, he explained, is to “figure out a final mechanism for pay” to determine whether the town will pay the costs up front and be reimbursed

or not.

He also said the department was able to get refrigeration supplies for the food pantry’s new space so that 400 turkeys could be provided to residents in need for the holidays.

Director shares updates

McAuliffe said that the Massachu setts Department of Public Health would like him to become a lead-based paint determinator, which would involve some additional training. He added that he is partnering with the Department of Public Works and the Town Manager’s office to publicize the new regulations regarding mattresses and clothing, which no longer can be thrown away.

He said there have been conversa tions regarding the towns of Hopkinton, Natick, Northborough, Southborough, Ashland, Millis and Bellingham forming a partnership to develop comprehensive and

unified septic regulations, which he said would be similar to tobacco regulations. This would aid septic specialists because of uniformity and would allow towns to provide mutual aid when needed.

McAuliffe explained that he is wait ing on the Department of Environmental Protection to come up with new PFAS regulations, since PFAS has been an issue of concern in Hopkinton. The reportable threshold may be dropped to four parts per quadrillion, whereas now it is two parts per trillion.

“The average American carries 10 to 15 parts per billion,” he explained, adding that it comes from the food supply and then moves into the septic system.

“It’s probably the only issue where I’ve seen every branch of the DEP has a representative at the table trying to figure out how they wrap their heads around this,” McAuliffe said. “I think that’s going to be the hottest topic over the winter.”

HopkintonIndependent.com

ScHoolS

Educators decry proposed FY24 budget cuts to

education positions

“But this doesn’t tell you the real story of those students who can’t be measured based on numbers alone,” Abate said. “You also have to look at the significance of their needs, which has, due to the pandemic, increased exponentially.”

Some students with special needs have experienced learning loss due to the lack of classroom time. This has been coupled with an increase in “serious social and emotional challenges,” according to Abate, and trying to help control behavioral issues has taken up more of teachers’ time.

“These have been the most challenging years that teachers have ever faced,” she continued. “Our students need a lot. And they deserve a lot. But unfortunately our current staffing situation does not set them or our educators up for success.”

She stressed that teachers are not asking for salary increases but “more boots in the classroom.”

Janet Constantine, a teacher at the preschool for the past 20 years, explained that while the proposed budget will fund a 0.9 FTE position for an ABA (applied behavior analysis) paraprofes sional, that person already is part of the staff, currently funded through a grant.

That staffer is “not enough,” as needs have “dramatically in creased,” Constantine said. As of November, the pre-kindergarten program has qualified an additional 18 students, with many more evaluations pending — the third straight year that pre-K has seen a 50 percent increase in students needing specialized services. While administrative positions may be needed, she said they should not come “at the expense of student-facing positions.”

These needs were reflected by teachers and specialists at every school. At Marathon School, teachers “have been forced to func tion from a place of prioritizing safety over student learning,” said specialist Kristen Pearson.

Four learning specialists there were surveyed about their situ

ations, she said. Each specialist said they have students who exhibit challenging be havioral issues such as bolting and aggres sion that require physical management on a weekly basis, and they at times have had to evacuate classrooms for safety reasons.

Three new director positions “are exactly the opposite” of what her school needs now, she stressed.

Comments from all educators drew loud clapping from the audience.

School Committee chair Nancy Richards Cavanaugh added that she has received about 20 emails mostly regard ing the proposed cuts to the positions mentioned. She noted that the operational budget will not be voted upon until Janu ary, giving stakeholders time to interact with the School Committee. She added that she was encouraged to see so many people involved in the budget process early.

Budget presentations made

Budget presentations were presented on special education, technology and buildings and grounds.

Director of Student Services Karen Zaleski noted that there has been a contrac tual increase in salaries of $258,949. Posi tions that previously were grant funded this school year, as well as new requests, total $446,275.

The positions requested are a pre-K di rector and two special education directors, one for grades K-5 and the other for grades 6-12. There also is a 0.8 clerical position request. She said these positions were re quested after three years of data collection and analysis with Athena Consultancy.

She thanked the educators who at tended and expressed “both passion and concern” about the proposed cuts.

“How I came to the recommendation for the reduction was based on a triangu lation of data,” Zaleski explained. This included caseload data, evaluation data and year-end reporting. She said students still will get the services they need, but she is obligated to present a “morally and ethically responsible budget that’s fiscally sound.”

Schedules will be looked at to see what can be modified. Regarding the director positions, there is a “great need to oversee the instructional process.” She said the proposal is “not an either/or” that sacrifices therapists over directors.

She also noted that transportation expenses have increased 61 percent in the proposed budget, by $615,876. There also is an out-of-district budget tuition increase of $76,950.

School Committee member Holly Morand, a parent of a student with special needs, said that this “sends a mixed mes sage to the community.” She said there should be a teacher forum as part of the budget process. She also questioned spend ing $6 million on a new athletic field when there are cuts in specialized staff.

There has been a Community Preser vation Committee request for the athletic field funding that has been submitted for $5,801,530. The track is at the end of its useful life, and there is not enough seating for events. It was approved unanimously.

Devlin added that the data was from last year, which didn’t take into account the increases experienced since September.

Budget presentations made

Zaleski said she did get data in September on the previous school year.

For technology, there was a 4 per cent budget increase requested that totals $98,479. This includes operating systems and infrastructure, staffing and instruction al hardware and software. The full-time website manager position will be cut, and staff will take on that responsibility.

The budget for the Buildings and Grounds Department reflected a 10.5 percent increase of $374,800.71, and the total proposed budget for fiscal year 2024 is $3,952,231.50. The increase will be di rected to maintenance personnel, including a floating custodial position, as well as for electric and gas expenses. Custodial supply expenses for trash bags and paper products also have increased.

MCAS scores explained

Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey LaBroad gave a report on the district’s MCAS test results, noting that there are some reasons to celebrate.

He noted that 10th-graders had not taken an MCAS test since they were in the seventh grade due to the pandemic, as the test could not be administered in the traditional manner. He called the 2022 test a new baseline to judge achievements.

The MCAS is “only one piece of our progress monitoring puzzle,” LaBroad added. There also are several assessments by educators.

Compared to the state average, Hop kinton’s English language arts (ELA) scores dropped only slightly while the statewide average dropped more steeply. In math, state scores for Grades 3-8 increased by 6 percent but Hopkinton “beat them by one,” LaBroad noted.

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

Schedule update

The library will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday from Thursday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 27. There also might be an early closure on Wednes day, Nov. 23.

The Camp David Accords

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2-3 p.m.

This virtual program contextualizes the diplomatic, economic, cultural and military interactions between empires, na tions and peoples in the 20th century that shaped America’s increasingly important role in the world and set the stage for the Camp David Accords.

Freedom Team Book Club

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Each month, members of the Freedom Team Book Club read a book about bias, discrimination or inequity. Check the library’s website calendar for more infor mation. This program is recommended for ages 16 and older.

Conversation Circles

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2-3 p.m.

Conversation Circles will focus on learning basic English language skills. Learners will practice vocabulary, pronun ciation and grammar in a fun, comfortable, laid-back environment. Each class will use guided conversations and real-life situa tions to build language confidence.

Hopkinton outpaced the state average in every metric, including Grade 5 and 8 science and Grade 10 math and science.

There were “bounce-backs,” LaBroad said, particularly in ELA at the high school and Grade 5 science, technology and engineering. Vocabulary proficiency for elementary school students also increased.

“I think it’s encouraging to see that the kids are doing OK,” said School Commit tee member Jennifer Devlin.

Member Lya Batlle-Rafferty coun tered that there were some areas where there was not growth or negative growth, which LaBroad called “a fair statement.” She added that the MCAS “judges the schools, not the kids.”

Member Amanda Fargiano asked LaBroad to come back with a subgroup analysis to do a deeper dive into the needs of groups such as high-needs students and those who come from economically dis advantaged backgrounds, where deficits were seen.

Construction underway on Marathon addition

Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh an nounced that work has begun at Marathon School to add four classrooms.

She also noted that there is a need with K-1 playground structures because of increased demand. For example, there are only four swings for 600 students. To supplement equipment, basketball hoops were funded by a grant. Teachers have been creative by drawing lines for hopscotch and allowing students to walk along the rock wall.

There has been a Community Pres ervation Act application submitted for $1 million for playground additions. The com mittee voted unanimously to approve this.

ELL for the Advanced Learner-Zoom Thursday, Dec. 1, 6-7 p.m.

ELL for the Advanced Learner-at the library Friday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m.-noon

ELL for the Advanced Learner will focus on creating greater fluency through casual conversation, focused discussion and cultural experiences. The atmosphere is relaxed and allows the learner to prog ress at their own comfort level.

Democracy Talks: Russia’s Invasion, Ukraine’s Resistance, Prospects for Peace Tuesday, Dec. 6, 7-8 p.m.

This virtual program will focus on a discussion of the reasons behind Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine’s determined resistance and how the war might end.

Author Talk: Geraldine Brooks Tuesday, Dec. 6, 7-8 p.m.

This virtual/hybrid program will include an online chat with the highly acclaimed and award-winning novelist Geraldine Brooks in conversation about her most recent New York Times bestsell ing novel, “Horse.”

Classical Music 101

Coming in January

For anyone who enjoys classical music and would like to learn more about it, Friends of the Library is sponsoring Classical Music 101, a free, eight-week, online class starting in January. Registra tion begins Dec. 5 on the library website. For more details visit hopkintonlibrary friends.org.

Personalized Approach to Achieving Your Educational Goals

HopkintonIndependent.com

THANKSGIVING

Hillers riding high heading into Thanksgiving rivalry game

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

The 2022 football season has been marked by a strong turnaround for Hopkinton High School, and the Hillers are hoping their 180 continues in the an nual Thanksgiving Day showdown with neighboring Ashland.

Hopkinton won just three games a year ago but enters the holiday clash with a 7-3 record and comes in off a three-score victory over Stoughton.

“Our kids really bought in this off season,” coach Mark Sanborn said. “We had some good success and we won a lot of games. We lost some close ones, but overall I am very happy with the effort and how they came together as a group.”

The Hillers’ three losses came by a total of just 18 points, including a twopoint setback against Holliston that kept Hopkinton from the Tri-Valley League crown. The team has been littered with standout performers on both sides of the ball. Senior captain Robert Litscher has come into his own at quarterback over the past couple of contests, Sanborn said, taking his game to a new level.

The defensive front, anchored by senior captain Justin Sokol and classmate Devin Canty, also has been a strength.

“They have put pressure on quarter backs all season,” Sanborn said.

Returning TVL all-star Seamus Mur phy put together a strong season at wide receiver while senior running back Joey Carrazza has been a bright spot on offense. Seniors Paul Litscher and Braden Hicks have been two more defensive standouts for Sanborn in a deep senior class.

“We were always going to go as far as the seniors take us,” the coach said. “They have all done a great job.”

And they are looking to wrap up their careers with a victory and earn a measure of revenge after a lopsided loss a season ago to the Clockers, who enter Thursday’s game at 5-5. Last year’s game, Robert Litscher said, “wasn’t a lot of fun.”

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Hillers riding high heading into Thanksgiving rivalry game

The quarterback’s fond memories of one of the state’s oldest rivalries date back to his younger days.

“I remember going to the games when I was young, but I never thought the day would come when I would be out there in the environment of Thanks giving,” Litscher said. “Everyone is in a good mood, no one has to go to work or school the next day, it’s just a great environment.”

Sokol said he’s been looking forward to the Ashland game and a chance for payback all season.

“The atmosphere is always great,” he said. “You have everyone come back from past years to watch us play, and the stands are packed.”

Sanborn is a veteran of the rivalry, having played in it as a member of the Hillers and having experienced it as an assistant and now head coach over the past several years. From a loss to Ashland during his senior season to a late field goal in the snow to earn a victory, the Thanksgiving game memories are etched in his mind.

“It’s been a good back and forth over the past couple of years,” Sanborn said. “It’s two good programs and it’s almost always a good game. I think it’s been close to 50/50 over the past 10 years.”

Last year’s 43-0 Ashland win is sure to energize a Hopkinton team that has been playing with a chip on its shoulder all season.

“We were motivated after last year,” Litscher said. “There were a lot more people in the weight room and at the fields running routes during the offseason. Our relationship from last year to this year is different, too, we are in sync and guys are playing for one another, not for them selves, so we don’t quit or get lazy.”

Sokol said he is focused on finish ing his career with a victory, but he has not given much thought to the fact that this will be the last time suiting up in a Hopkinton uniform for him and the other seniors.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet that we only have one game left,” he said.

Hillers cross country teams qualify for all-state meet

The Hopkinton High School boys and girls cross country teams both finished fourth at the Division 1B meet Nov. 11 in Wrentham, earning spots in the Nov. 19 Division 1 all-state meet in Devens.

Sophomore Elyse Srodowa finished second overall in the girls 5K race in 18 minutes, 25 seconds, holding the lead until the final stretch. She was 30th last year. Au tumn Tumbleton finished 10th (18:51).

Craig Salois (12th in 16:17), Lex Kaye (19th in 16:29) and Ben Scott (23rd in 16:35) were the top finishers for the boys, who qualified for the all-state meet for only the third time in program history.

Coach Laura McKenzie credited senior captains Salois, Kaye and Wyatt Ruff (30th in 16:44) for setting the tone all season.

“Without their dedication, hard

work and leadership, qualifying would not have been possible,” McKenzie said. “They are the heart and soul of our team.”

The boys were coming off a firstplace finish in the Tri-Valley League Showcase Meet on Oct. 22.

HHS girls teams bow out of postseason

Girls soccer saw its season come to an end Nov. 10 with a 2-0 loss to Bishop Feehan in Attleboro. The Hillers had opened the postseason with a 1-0 victory over host Lexington. …

Field hockey also ended its season Nov. 10, losing 3-0 to host Longmeadow.

Volleyball dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision to Canton on Nov. 4 in its lone tourney match, losing the final game 23-21.

Senior quarterback Robert Litscher has come on strong in the past couple of games heading into the season finale vs. Ashland.

The HHS boys cross country team shows off some hardware after winning the TriValley League Showcase Meet on Oct. 22.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

HHS boys soccer falls just short

were glad to be here in the first place,” a dejected Nye said. “It is what it is [on the game-winning goal]. I think that we were the better team and should have won. This performance shows that we have what it takes, and in the future we can win one.”

Following the scoreless first half, Hopkinton got on the board 1:35 into the second when Will Bialobrzeski hit Sean Golembiewski with a beautiful pass and the Tri-Valley League MVP deposited the ball in the back of the net like he has done so many times this year.

The Tigers finally managed to beat Nye at the 19-minute mark to tie the game, but it was Golembiewski once again who helped put the Hillers back on top a little over six minutes later. After working the sidelines brilliantly and maneuvering around Oliver Ames defenders, Golembiewski found class mate Peter DeMichele in front of the goal, and DiMichele converted to give Hopkinton the lead once again.

“Sean’s been double- and tripleteamed but always seems to come up with something for us whether it’s an assist or a goal, he’s been strong all year long,” Sawyer said.

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over Bedford, featured a flurry of goals in the final minutes as Hopkinton held on. It made for a memorable postseason, despite the final result.

“There is no particular moment that is going to stand out — just being a part of this experience,” Sawyer said when asked to reflect on the run.

While the Hillers had their oppor

tunities Saturday, in the first half it was the Tigers who controlled the majority of the play. If not for HHS goalkeeper Max Nye, the game could have been a rout. The senior was brilliant, making some phenomenal saves to keep the Tigers off the board and keep the game tied heading into halftime.

However, Nye was victimized twice in the final three minutes of the

hillers thrillers

HHS Athlete Spotlight

contest. Hopkinton had taken a 2-1 lead, but Oliver Ames (20-1-2) knotted the score with 2:49 left on the clock on a header by Hector Bucio. With under two minutes to go, Oliver Ames sophomore Casey Milliken got free about 20 feet in front of the goal and lofted a ball that went over Nye’s head and into the net for the victory.

“It was an unlucky loss, but we

Hopkinton had a few more chances down the stretch, but it just wasn’t to be, and the Tigers held on to win the title.

After making their first-ever state championship appearance, the Hillers are looking to take this game and build on it.

“It says a lot about this team that we were able to get this far,” Sawyer said. “The guys have a lot of talent and

Cavanaugh went from not scoring once last year to scoring in every meet she ran this season. “She never misses any practices, even optional ones, and has participated in all of the team’s community service activities,” coach Jean Cann shared. “Over the summer, she worked on strength training and logged consistent miles. She is also friendly and bubbly to all around her and encourages all her teammates.”

A first-year participant, Miller made an instant impact, cracking the top 10 and becoming a leader as the Hillers went undefeated in dual meets and won the league meet. “He never misses a practice, works hard, and no challenge is too big for him,” coach Laura McKenzie shared. “His enthusi asm and constant positivity are unique and contagious. He has become an important leader on our team.”

Check HopkintonIndependent.com for more about these amazing athletes

Athletes are selected after consultation with HHS coaches.

Soccer

Bridgid Cavanaugh

Girls Cross Country Sophomore

Charlie Miller Boys Cross Country Senior

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

PHOTO/AMY KAYE

Hillers fans show their support during Saturday’s title game in Walpole.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

HHS standout Clarke earns spot with BC soccer

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

Georgie

Clarke has proven herself as an elite finisher and a top high school soccer player over the past three years, a skill set that has landed the Hopkinton High School junior a future spot with the Boston College women’s program.

Clarke said there were a number of things she was looking for in a college program, and the Eagles checked all the boxes.

“I wanted great academics, location, the soccer, the envi ronment, the coaches, and BC had all of that,” she said. “The soccer program is insane, it’s in the ACC [Atlantic Coast Con ference], which is a conference I really wanted to be a part of. And Boston is right around the corner, it’s 45 minutes from Hopkinton, which is perfect.”

Clarke committed to BC after a ju nior season in which she scored 21 goals and added a trio of assists in 15 games, an average of 1.4 goals per game. A whopping 68 percent of her shots ended up on target and one out of every three shots found the back of the net this fall.

The goals came in big spots, too. Clarke scored game-winning goals six times, including the goal that locked up the program’s first-ever Tri-Valley League championship. With Clarke help ing to lead the way, the Hillers advanced to the second round of the state tourna ment before falling to Bishop Feehan.

She earned TVL All-Star recogni tion along with first-team All-State and All-New England honors and was named the TVL’s most valuable player.

“She a great player who works tirelessly to improve herself and gives everything to help her teammates suc ceed,” HHS coach Tom Skiba shared.

Clarke, who in turn offered thanks to Skiba for his coaching, said she first went to BC for a camp in 2019. On her visit, she fell in love with the Chestnut Hill campus, and her first impressions of the team and coaching staff were very positive.

“I really liked the coaches, I feel like they will motivate me and push me to be the best I can be,” Clarke said. “The soccer program is amazing, and the teammates seem amazing, too.”

Clarke said her parents, Simon and Ann, have been a huge help through the college search process. She also said her club team, FC Stars and coach Graeme Blackman, and her personal trainers, who she affectionately calls Coach A.J. and Coach Adel, have been instrumental in her development as a player and as a person.

Now that she knows she will be an Eagle, Clarke said she will have to work hard in order to prepare for playing in the ACC in two years.

“If I train my butt off this year, I will be in a great position,” she said.

Clarke sees herself as a diverse player who could fit in with BC any where on the attacking half of the field. She said she is excited to take her game to the next level, but first she wants to build on the success that Hopkinton saw this fall.

“I am really proud of how we played, we got some really tough wins,” Clarke said. “Next year, I feel like we could do the same thing. I feel like it’s going to be a great year and we could go even further.”

Georgie Clarke, shown in action against Ashland early this season, will play at Boston College in the fall of 2024.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

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 newslet ter, check hopkintonseniorcenter.com. Anyone with questions can call 508497-9730. The Senior Center also has a Facebook page that provides updates on resources, programs and events.

Transportation for seniors

The Senior Center offers transporta tion to and from the center as well as lo cal shopping Tuesdays through Fridays for Hopkinton residents. Those looking for transportation for medical appoint ments or essential shopping should call

to learn about transportation options.

Walking Tour of Ljubljana, The Capital of Slovenia

Wednesday, Nov. 30, 10-11 a.m.

Participants will embark on a virtual guided tour of the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. This is one of the smallest European capitals, with only 300,000 inhabitants. But many young students from all around the world visit to study and learn about the rich history and diverse heritage. Known for its vibrant city life, Ljubljana is excellent for cre ativity and contemporary art. Call the Senior Center for the Zoom link.

Our Time Memory Cafe

Thursday, Dec. 1, 1-2 p.m.

This is a welcoming gathering for

the Hopkinton Independent calendar section, email the information to: editor@HopkintonIndependent.com. Sub missions should be limited to 100 words and are subject to editing by the HI staff.

Blue Christmas small group experience Nov. 28-Dec. 12

Individuals longing for hope, connection and peace in the middle of loss, chaos and confusion, and/or wrestling with chronic pain, broken relationships, shattered dreams, fragile faith or unexpected loses are invited to Faith Community Church to attend a four-week quest for encouragement, hope and strength. These sessions, facilitated by Dr. Vinnie Cappetta, will be held on three Mondays from 7-9 p.m. during the 2022 Advent season: Nov. 28, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12. For more information — including the required registration — visit faithma.org/event/advent-grief-group.

Chamber of Commerce Holiday Stroll Dec. 3

The Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce Holiday Stroll is set for Saturday, Dec. 3. Participants can do their holiday shopping and take advantage of special deals at participating businesses while entering a drawing for $300. Passports and guides are available at participating businesses. For more information, visit hopchamber. com/holidaystroll2022.

Treblemakers holiday concert Dec. 11

The Treblemakers community chorus will present its holiday concert, A Celebra tion of Peace in Harmony, on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 3 p.m. at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. Tickets are on sale via the HCA website (hopartscenter.org).

Veterans Breakfast first Friday of each month

The Veterans Breakfast is held on the first Friday of every month from 9-10 a.m. at the Hopkinton Senior Center. In July, and if the first Friday of the month is a holiday or snow day, the breakfast switches to the second Friday. No registration is re quired. For more information, contact Amy Beck at the Senior Center, 508-497-9730.

Event Calendar Sponsored by HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS

December 2 | 8:00 p.m.

Calling all singers (and people who love to listen to people sing)! Open Mic is a great way for singers to put themselves in front of a very supportive and fun crowd and to learn by watching other singers. Our host is the talented Jack Byrne and this month’s feature is Alex Fam. Socializing and sign-up start at 7:30 p.m. and the music begins at 8:00 p.m. All ages welcome! $5 at the door. HCA members are free.

Concert for Christmas with the Worcester Chamber Music Society

December 4 | 3:00 p.m.

Musicians from the Worcester Chamber Music Society present a classical Concert for Christmas, including the ravishing and romantic Brahms B Major piano trio and selections from the Nutcracker to get you into the holiday spirit. Featuring the talented Ariana Falk on cello, Randy Hodgkinson on piano, and Peter Sulski on violin.

December 10 | 5:30 to 10:00 p.m.

The South Asian Circle of Hopkinton is excited to have our gala after a gap of two years. We can’t wait to see you all. Let’s get together to hug old friends, make new ones and celebrate Diwali as one big community! The cultural performances for the evening will highlight the life and accomplishments of 12 extraordinary South Asian women who are trailblazers in different walks of arts, sciences, and humanities. We also have engaging and fun activities for kids throughout the event with counselors and volunteers to work with them.

Treblemakers Holiday Concert December 11 | 3:00 p.m.

Join HCA’s adult community chorus, the Treblemakers, for their annual winter concert filled with holiday favorites. There will be light refreshments after the concert. Directed by Eric Miller.

those experiencing forgetfulness, mild cognitive impairment or living with dementia, and their care partner, family and friends. Our Time Memory Café is a place to socialize, share experiences and form friendships. This is a joint venture between the Hopkinton Senior Center and Hopkinton Public Library. For more information or to register, call 508-497-9730 or email info@ ourtimememorycafe.org.

Dementia Friends Information Session

Wednesday, Dec. 7, 7-8:30 p.m., St. John’s Parish Center

This 90-minute session is suitable for all adults as well as children in middle school and older. Participants will learn the five key dementia mes

sages, the different types of dementia and their impact, what it’s like to live with dementia, tips on how to interact and communicate with people living with dementia, and the small things people can do that will make a differ ence. Call the center to reserve a spot, or email sdocknevich@gmail.com for more information.

Art Appreciation: Celebrations and Holidays in Art

Thursday, Dec. 15

Local art historian Jill Sanford will present a collection of festive images from medieval times to present day, offering a colorful backdrop to a dis cussion about artists’ creative ways of telling stories.

December 17 | 8:00 p.m.

First Friday Open Mic with feature

Alex Fam

DiwHoliday Gala at HCA

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.

James Rourke

James Francis Rourke of Hopkinton died Oct. 31. He was 68. Jim was born on Sept. 9, 1954, to the late Dr. James A and Virginia Kenny Rourke in Worcester. After graduating Andover High School, he attended Merrimack College in North Andover until mental illness curtailed his formal education.

Jim was vastly intelligent. The breadth of his passions, for poetry and painting, for the sciences, theology, philosophy and religion, for neurology, physics, medicine and art, seemed boundless. He studied the texts voraciously, devouring knowledge and exhibiting a photographic memory. He studied the world’s great religions and scientific works. He recited the writings of Jung, Einstein, Aquinas, Whitman and Laotze. These as he endured a lifetime of challenges. His devotion to the highest levels of human thought provided not only an outlet for, but also sanctuary, necessary to endure his illness. We so loved him.

Jim is survived by his sister, Carol Rourke of Plymouth, and his brothers, Thomas Rourke and wife Terry Rourke of Los Angeles, and Bryan Rourke of Easthampton, as well as nephews Eric and Alexander of Boston, and Austin, Lain and Richard of Los Angeles, Chicago and New Orleans, respectively.

A private family service will be held. In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations be made to the Greater Boston Food Bank (70 South Bay Avenue, Boston, MA 02118) or the Pine Street Inn (444 Har rison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118).

Whitney Crafts

Whitney Philip Crafts, 60, a resident of Springfield, passed away Oct. 30 at Bay State Medical Center. Whitney was born in Pensacola, Florida, on Oct. 16, 1962, the son of Philip W. and Margaret (Whitney) Crafts. He attended Hopkinton High School and was smart as a whip but not much for school. He became an auto mechanic directly out of school and had a strong following of garages who were always look ing for his services. In his early years, he was a motor sports fanatic, including four-wheeling, motocross and snowmobiles. Whitney was very social, with lots of friends.

After a few years he tried his hand at home building and loved carpentry. He used to say that when he gave people a nice place to live, they loved his work and always wanted more. He said when he fixed somebody’s car they were always mad because it cost so much. After framing homes, he apprenticed with his boss and friend Glen Sisco to become an interior trim carpenter. He spent the remaining work years with his own business, trimming high-end homes in the Framingham and Boston area. Whitney’s final job was remodeling his mother’s re tirement home in Springfield. He was the driver and helper for his mother until passing away. Whitney is survived by his mother, Margaret Crafts, brother, Douglas Crafts, daughter, Ananda Anderson, and nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Philip Crafts, partner, Lori Anderson, and sisters, Daryl Iannetteli and Debbie Crafts.

Graveside funeral services for Whitney were held Nov. 12 in Mountain View Cemetery in West Dover, Vermont.

The family has entrusted arrangements to the care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, Wilmington, Vermont.

Ernest Frye

Ernest William Frye, 79, of Ashland passed away Nov. 9. Born in Yarmouth, Maine, he was the son of the late Ernest and Marion (Jacklin) Frye. Ernie was the husband of Randa (Keith) Frye for 57 years.

A graduate of North Yarmouth Academy, he went on to attend North eastern University. He had a successful career for Franklin Life Insurance Co., beginning as a salesman and ending at the executive level. He would leave the corporate world to become the founding pastor of Latter Rain Christian Fellowship, later known as Metrowest Worship Center, and now Connect Church in Ashland. He would serve as the senior pastor for over 25 years. He also founded Metrowest Ministries, through which he began MetroWest Christian Academy, Dream Station and MetroWest Caribbean Mission. Later acquired were the Early Learning Center in Grafton, as well as Wee Folk Learning Center, all of which fall under the umbrella of MetroWest Ministries. Through his years as a pastor and founder, his life has impacted multiple thousands around the world.

Pastor Ernie’s biggest accomplishment, however, was his family. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Randa, along with two children, Deryck Frye and wife Stacy of Hopkinton and Ginelle Payne and husband David of Sutton, seven grand children, Devon Frye and wife Natalia, Mallory and Madison Frye, Morgan Martinez and husband Anthony, Ashton Couchman and husband Curt, and Kelsie and Dakota Payne, along with five great-grandsons. He was the ever-present patriarch of his family, continually influencing each and every member with his confidence, his love, his zest for life and his love of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Ernie was witty, charming, uplifting, inspirational, engaging, dynamic, powerful, present, wise, intelligent, a self-learner, musical, a gifted communicator, a deep laugher, humorous, a leader, a passion ate husband, father, grandfather, preacher and friend, a servant and above all committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. To know him was to love him, to be with him was to be better, and to be loved by him was a gift.

His impact on Earth for the Kingdom’s sake is unparalleled.

“Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your rest.”

A celebration of life service was held Nov. 21 at Connect Church in Ashland. Services were under the care of the Matarese Funeral Home, Ashland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Connect Caribbean Mission (weconnect.cc/missions).

By Christie Vogt Contributing Writer

Cousins Kishan Patel and Mohil Pa tel were looking to try something new when the opportunity to purchase Hopkinton Wine and Spirits emerged in July 2021. “We looked at it as a new beginning for both of us and as a way to enter the industry,” Kishan explains, “and so far it’s been going great.”

“We also both come from a busi ness background,” Mohil adds, as both of their families have been involved in business endeavors for more than 20 years.

Hopkinton Wine and Spirits, located at 77 West Main Street, has had several owners over the past two decades, but the Patels are the first to renovate the space, Mohil says. They have refreshed the store by changing the layout, install ing new flooring, shelving and lighting, and bringing in new inventory. “We gave it a more modern, 21st century look, and customers are coming back and saying they really like what we’ve done with the space,” Kishan says.

As for the shop’s inventory, it now has double the amount of spirits and nearly triple the amount of wines. “Our craft beer collection is insane,” Mohil adds. “Everyone loves it, and we love it, too.”

“We’re also carrying more local craft breweries from Massachusetts,” Kishan says. “Before it was about three to four breweries, and now we have 10 to 15 Massachusetts breweries, and we’ve seen a lot of success with that because our customers like local stuff.” The store also is receptive to customer feedback about other products; if some one comes in asking for a particular wine that the shop doesn’t carry, for example, they can put in a request for the store to add the item.

“Another thing that makes us differ ent from other liquor stores is that most don’t have the owners on-site,” Mohil adds. “We’re here and always trying to help customers make the best selection.”

under new

In addition to Mohil and Kishan, the store’s team includes managers Gail Dunn and Jessica Dunn (Gail’s daughter). “So, everything here is pretty family-oriented, and when customers stop by, they can see that we actually care about their experi ence,” Kishan says.

On most Fridays and Saturdays, Hopkinton Wine and Spirits hosts tastings from 4-7 p.m., which the owners say is a great way to sample new and seasonal products, especially going into the holiday shopping season.

Kishan and Mohil consider their new venture to be a suc cess so far and are proud to note that Hopkinton Wine and Spirits was awarded second place in MyFM 101.3’s 2022 Quest for the Best competition in the Liquor/Wine Store category. “We want to thank the community for their support; we really cater to the local crowd,” Kishan says.

To learn more, visit hopkintonwineandspirits.com or call 508-435-1292.

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

Kishan Patel (left) and Mohil Patel are the new owners of Hopkinton Wine and Spirits.

Hopkinton again shows it is a caring community

More than a dozen residents became Dementia Friends following an information session conducted in late October. They are among the close to 200 Dementia Friends in Hopkinton who, through the Hopkinton Age-Friendly and Dementia-Friendly Initiative, are working to make the community more supportive, inclusive and safe for all residents but especially those who are aging or living with dementia.

By Jane Bigda Contributing Writer

opkinton once again has proven it is a caring community. In the past 11 months, 100 residents have become Dementia Friends, helping the community become an even more welcoming hometown for every citizen but especially those who are aging or have dementia.

“We’re pleased with the response,” said Sam Docknevich, Hopkinton Council on Aging and Hopkinton AgeFriendly and Dementia-Friendly Initia tive Action Team member. He noted the new Dementia Friends were the result of the six information sessions held this year. A seventh session will be held Dec. 7 at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Hopkinton.

“We are in the beginning stages of a marathon to make Hopkinton a dementia-friendly, age-friendly com munity,” said Docknevich. The multiyear initiative aims to make the town more supportive, inclusive and safer for those who are aging and those liv ing with dementia and their caregivers.

Senior Services Director Amy Beck said while the town has reached out to those living with dementia for years with various supports and programs such as Memory Cafe, the specific effort began pre-COVID in late 2019. That’s when about 80 residents, including Hopkinton Senior Center, Hopkinton Public Library and Town Hall staff along with members of the community’s public safety departments became Dementia Friends. The town formed its Action Team last fall and signed a Dementia Friendly Massa chusetts pledge in February. It recently received dementia friendly recognition.

“It’s all about everyone feeling a sense of belonging whether you are living with dementia, have another disability or don’t,” said Beck. “It’s about feeling part of the bigger com munity.” Docknevich added the effort “really aligns well with the town’s initiative of diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging.”

While the Action Team is en couraged by the response so far, the members would like to offer more information sessions to civic, social, business, faith-based and youth groups. “We want to get more community involvement,” said Docknevich. “We

Residents invited to apply for heating assistance

By Courtney Cornelius Contributing Writer

The South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) is accepting ap plications for this year’s Heating and Fuel Assistance Program. The program pays a portion of the cost of one’s pri mary source of heat — including wood, pellets, gas, oil, kerosene, propane, coal and oil — for the winter season, which runs Nov. 1 to April 30.

The Outreach Office at the Hopkin ton Senior Center serves as an intake site for the program and processes fuel assistance applications. Kimberly Car son, the outreach coordinator, wants residents of all ages to know they are there to help.

“We want to make people aware that Outreach exists! Our office is at the Senior Center, but for fuel assistance, we help everyone in town,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what age you are; you don’t have to be a senior, and you don’t have to be a participant at the center.”

Eligibility for fuel assistance is based on gross annual income and fam ily size. Income guidelines are available on the SMOC website and, said Carson, are higher than what many might expect.

“A family of five, for instance, may have a gross income up to $94,610 and still qualify for assistance,” she ex plained. “Also, some residents assume they can’t apply if they have money in a savings account, but this doesn’t nec essarily disqualify one from fuel assis tance; only interest earned from a savings account would be considered income.”

Carson noted additional benefits to the program: People who receive fuel assistance will receive a discount on their electric bill and, at the end of the season, SMOC will distribute any re maining program funds into recipients’ electric accounts.

Applications continue to be ac cepted throughout the duration of the season, but Carson advises that people apply early to allow time for process ing, and to call the Outreach Office immediately if they are facing financial struggles or have received a shutoff notice. While there is a seasonal mora

torium against utility shutoff after Nov. 15, “That doesn’t help people who use oil or propane,” Carson lamented.

Generally, required documentation includes photo identification (e.g., driv er’s license) for the head of household or primary applicant; a list of all household members; information on heating bills (heating company name and account number); information on housing status (such as an active lease or mortgage statement); and proof of income for 30 days prior to application date (wages, pension, etc.).

Carson is eager to spread the word that Outreach can help with other situ ations as well. She noted that there are various sources of assistance in the local community; for instance, SMOC also offers things like weatherization pro grams and even appliance repair. But, she said, “People often aren’t aware of what’s available to them.” The Outreach Office can help residents identify and apply for services that meet their unique needs and circumstances.

Carson understands resources can be hard to find, and trying to mine through mountains of information can be daunting — particularly for someone already stressed out and worrying about finances ... and that, she said, is what the Outreach Office is there for.

“Outreach is here to help,” she as sured. “We can advise and guide you; we can prescreen; we can help navigate the system and uncover resources for things like food security, water, trans portation. It’s helpful to have some one who can review your individual situation and has enough knowledge of what’s available to figure out, ‘Here’s what can be done.’ ”

Residents wishing to help keep their neighbors warm this winter can mail donations to SMOC Fuel Assistance Program, 7 Bishop Street, Framingham MA 01702-8313.

Information, eligibility require ments and downloadable forms for the Heat and Fuel Assistance Program can be found on the SMOC website at smoc. org/smoc-fuel-assistance. To reach the Outreach Office at the Hopkinton Senior Center, call 508-497-9730.

Hopkinton again shows it is a caring community

Friends | from page 22

want to get more people engaged. … We want them to have their awareness of dementia raised.”

Said Beck: “Engagement doesn’t mean being on a committee. It can mean appreciating where people are, and learning how to respect the differ ences or challenges people are facing.

… If you become a Dementia Friend, that is engagement.” Participation at all levels from becoming aware, being a friend, spreading the word or serving on a committee is welcomed.

As it has raised awareness, the team is discovering what the town is doing well and where it might have some gaps that need to be filled. A tar geted action plan for Hopkinton will be proposed in 2023. “Some issues could be long term and more capital intensive like housing, while others could be short term and done relatively quickly,”

said Docknevich.

“The first step is gaining support within the town of people who are willing to look at and do more on a daily basis. That is the ripple that will eventually spread throughout the com munity,” said Beck.

Added Docknevich, “We’re focus ing on what else we can do to make Hopkinton an even better place to live for everyone.”

To learn more, attend the Demen tia Friends Information Session on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in the St. John’s Parish Center, 20 Church Street. The session, suitable for anyone from middle school students through adults, is open to all area residents. Reserve a seat by calling the Senior Center at 508-497-9730. Any group interested in holding a Dementia Friends Informa tion Session is encouraged to call the Senior Center and speak with Beck.

Conservation Commission continues contentious hearings for Mass. Laborers, The Trails

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

The Conservation Commission at its meeting Nov. 15 continued hearings on two cases it has been considering for several months: the Massachusetts Laborers Training Center property at 37 East Street and The Trails development. These were the two main cases under discussion in a 2 1/2-hour meeting. The hearing room at the Hopkinton Senior Center was packed with at least 20 au dience members, several of whom said they were abutters to the Massachusetts Laborers Training facility who were not clearly notified about a potential gas line proposed near their property lines. The installation of the gas line would involve site work on the Clinton Street right of way from Front Street as well as between 66 and 82 Clinton Street, which the commission discussed at the previous meeting.

Attorney George Connors represent ed the applicant on the four notice of in tent (NOI) hearings regarding the proper ty. The hearing regarding the pond dredg ing near the dormitory was swiftly con tinued when Connors explained that the water quality was determined to be poor.

The gas line hearing was the most contentious and the main focus of debate for more than an hour. Connors said that an alternative gas line proposed that would go down Clinton Street to East Street would be 2,600 additional feet on Clinton Street as compared to the first plan proposed. His preferred plan was to cross a wetland area and continue across the campus around the pond to the dormi tory building. Numerous trees would be cut in the process.

The gas line installation, Connors said, would require an easement for a cor ridor that would be between 20-25 feet wide for the pipe installation, a trench and the staging area. The contractors disagreed, he noted.

“They really want a wider ease ment,” he said. “They want 35 feet. But we’ve talked to them. And we’ve kept it to 25 in the resource areas.”

Connors again repeatedly pushed for the approval of the Clinton Street portion of the work on the original plan because the construction season would be ending with winter approaching. But chair Jeff Barnes said the commission would not be pressured, noting the previous continua tion requests by Connors on the project over nearly a year’s time. This plan submitted two weeks prior was dated in July, and there was not sufficient time for review by the town’s environmental consultant, Lucas Engineering, he said.

“I’m still a little bit frustrated that a 25-foot swath of corridor needs to be installed for the installation of these small utility lines,” Barnes said, noting that “there is plenty of room for staging areas on site.”

“It’s laborers’ training, and this is what you guys do for work all the time,” he continued, noting that it wasn’t a land scaping company. “My comment would be: What’s wrong with Clinton Street?”

Connors cited the cost of directional drilling at that site of between $40,000 and $50,000, making it “economically unfeasible.”

“Unfortunately, you know, the commission doesn’t take into account the financial implications of projects,” Barnes said. “We take into account the resource area disturbance. I think a lot more work needs to be done, in my mind,

to pare back.”

Residents advocated for the gas line installation at Clinton Street and East Street, noting that they would be able to connect to the gas line and discontinue the use of oil. Several commented on losing forest in order for the applicant to save money. Also, wildlife would enter their yards even more so than it does cur rently, they said. They also said they were alerted about the pipeline potentially abutting their properties only when they saw surveyors.

Abutter Bruce Brubaker noted that Connors mentioned that the entire project costs $60 million, while Connors ap peared to object to the additional expense of about $50,000 to have the gas line go down Clinton Street. Connors countered that the number given was “an example” and didn’t include directional drilling and other costs.

If the gas line were to go further down Clinton Street to allow future customers to connect, a 4-inch pipeline might not be adequate, Barnes added.

This hearing was continued until the next meeting on Dec. 6.

More information requested for The Trails

The commission also continued hearings on proposed drainage improve ments at The Trails, a development off Legacy Farms North Road.

Project engineer Peter Bemis ex plained that one hearing involved work to be done in Hopkinton to rectify pre vious drainage issues that impacted the town of Ashland. He noted that “at some point” Ashland did work on a Hopkinton road without realizing that it was within Hopkinton’s boundaries in an emergency situation. A proposed depression would allow the water to be directed into a box culvert.

He said he didn’t expect a decision that evening but wanted to alert the com mission that work would need to be done within the buffer zone to divert the water.

The other hearing involved proposed improvements to the detention basins for the second, third and fourth phases of The Trails, Bemis said. Originally designed for half-inch filtration to contain rooftop runoff, Beamis proposed expanding them for 1-inch filtration.

Barnes asked that the water be directed into dry wells. That wouldn’t work, according to Bemis, because of the impermeable soil there.

“The concern is the runoff from the site,” Barnes explained, “and that it’s not being properly maintained.”

Conservation Administrator Kim Ciaramicoli noted that Bemis has failed to provide requested information to engineer ing consultant BETA Group on watershed plans, riprap and details from a hydro geologist, among other concerns. Some answers provided were vague, she said.

“It just seemed like there were so many items that didn’t get done,” she said.

This placed the project “in a holding pattern,” according to Barnes, until that is done.

Regarding the Ashland situation, Barnes said that he wanted to work with Bemis “in good faith,” but the informa tion needs to be complete.

“This back and forth is killing me, to be honest with you,” Barnes said. “These oversights get frustrating, from our perspective.”

1 study, revisits Segment 6 controversy

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

The Upper Charles Trails Com mittee (UCTC) at its hour-long meeting Nov. 16 discussed the group’s recent activities, including the submis sion of a request for funding to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) for Segment 1 of the Upper Charles Trail.

The committee has been working on a plan that will eventually connect Hopkinton to Milford and Ashland when complete.

Peter LaGoy, chair of Hopkinton’s Trails Coordination and Management Committee (TCMC), continued to question the spending of MassTrails grant funding for an engineering study of Segment 6 of the trail, which has been proposed to go around Marathon School.

“There’s a question to whether the trail will ever even go by that area,” he said, calling the location “certainly controversial.” There has been some public pushback on this segment of the trail because it would link to other pro posed segments that would cross busy Hayden Rowe Street at three locations.

He proposed that the amount for that study be capped at the same amount that has been requested for Segment 1 — $48,000.

The Segment 1 study would focus on the area from the State Park through Legacy Farms North.

“It would seem to me that you wouldn’t do any more detailed analysis of this Segment 6, which may never happen, than you would on Segment 1, which seems to be a segment that people are generally in agreement on,” LaGoy said.

However, UCTC Chair Jane Mo ran explained at the last meeting the $128,000 in grant funding had been allocated for that purpose to see if a trail there would be feasible.

“We have talked at length about this, and it keeps coming up,” she said.

Dave Daltorio, the town engineer and facilities director, said he would research the two proposals and report back to the committee at its next meet ing. Some factors for the different price could include the scope of the work, difference in length and prior knowledge of the area, He said Seg ment 1 is “set pretty much already” as far as location, whereas the Seg ment 6 study is focusing on different alternatives.

He noted that a list of nine fre quently asked questions about the UCTC, most regarding Segment 6, can be found on the town website. Another list unrelated to those ques tions has been compiled, with 36 al ready answered and the remaining 13 that should be completed by the next meeting. After that, the data will be available on the website in a folder, according to Daltorio.

Member Eric Sonnett noted that the CPC has allowed proposals to be submitted in October if they involved land acquisition.

“That went real well, except that three committees have submitted late projects, of which we’re one of the committees,” he said. The CPC had a discussion and allowed them to be considered at its most recent meeting. He said he did not believe that the

practice of allowing late submissions will continue in the future.

Inclusive language proposed for trails

Moran and alternate UCTC mem ber Jamie Wronka said they had been discussing the most appropriate lan guage that would promote inclusivity for people with disabilities for trail references.

“There’s a ton of great resources out there as far as finding ways to uti lize words that can be inclusive and not disparaging to people,” Wronka said. “And so it is recommended not to use ‘special needs’ or ‘handicapped’ or ‘afflicted by’ or ‘suffers from.’ The hope of the committee is to create trails that are accessible for all ages and all abilities.”

She added that “some of the su garcoating and trying to dance around terms can actually be really uncom fortable for folks who actually have disabilities.”

Said Moran: “I really find that that’s really comfortable.”

Working group updated

Treasurer Scott Knous reported that he is working on two PowerPoint presentations to use when performing outreach. He had requested individual feedback from committee members via email, which he said he hopes to receive before Thanksgiving.

Members debated the pros and cons of communicating individually by email and discussing items in a group dynamic.

Knous also said that the town’s Information Technology Department is reaching out to committees and boards so that they can have individual spaces on the town website, which is in the process of being redesigned. He volun teered to complete a basic framework for the committee.

police log

ARRESTS

November 2

2:10 a.m. Sergeant Arthur Scho field and Officer Brennan Grimley conducted a motor vehicle stop on Oliver Lane and requested transla tion assistance from the State Police. A 51-year-old from Lawrence was arrested and charged with marked lanes violation, possession of open container of alcohol in motor ve hicle, failure to stop/yield, negligent operation of motor vehicle, and OUI liquor.

November 14

10:09 p.m. On West Main Street, Officers Robert Ekross and Cody Normandin and Sergeant Aaron O’Neil arrested a 41-year-old Black stone resident on a warrant and also charged her with failure to yield at intersection, unlicensed operation of motor vehicle and no inspection sticker.

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.

November 1

speeding through the neighborhood in the morning and requested an officer to patrol the area. Officer Shannon Beloin spoke with the reporting person.

9:41 a.m. A caller reported a vehicle backed into his truck on West Main Street and drove off. Officer Shannon Beloin responded and took a crash report.

3:32 p.m. Officer Robert Ekross responded to a motor vehicle accident on Elm Street. No personal injuries were reported.

5:29 p.m. Officers Basit Dennis and Robert Ekross responded to a motor ve hicle accident on West Main Street. No personal injuries were reported.

7:22 p.m. A caller reported a pos sibly intoxicated male swearing and smashing things in a West Main Street store. He then walked across the street to Alltown. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Basit Dennis and Robert Ekross responded. The individual was sent home in an Uber.

11:19 p.m. A caller reported a white utility van operating erratically on Wal cott Street. Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded and found the van parked and unoccupied.

November 2

4:59 a.m. Officer Nicholas Saletnik checked on a large truck carrying con struction equipment that was pulled over on Main Street and blocking traffic. The

10:39 a.m. Officer Matthew Santoro took a report of harassment on Hayden Rowe Street.

November 3

10:47 a.m. Officer Sean McKeon responded along with the Fire Depart ment to Pinecrest Village to a report of the odor of natural gas.

2:54 p.m. Officers Cody Normandin and Robert Ekross responded to a motor vehicle accident on Grove Street and took a crash report. No personal injuries were reported.

4:15 p.m. A caller complained of vehicles constantly speeding downtown. Officer Cody Normandin took a report.

4:34 p.m. A caller reported see ing a white male in his 20s walking with a 5-year-old boy into the woods on Legacy Farms North. Officer Cody Normandin responded and checked the area with a negative find.

9:58 p.m. A motorist reported hit ting a deer on Ash Street. Officer Cody Normandin responded and took a report.

November 4

1:43 a.m. A Revolutionary Way resident reported a vehicle without a placard parked in a handicap spot, which she needed. Officer Alexander Stewart responded and issued tickets to multiple vehicles parked in handicap spots.

9:11 a.m. Officers Tyler Staback and Cody Normandin responded to a motor vehicle crash on Spring Street. No personal injuries were reported. Two vehicles were towed.

10:35 a.m. A caller reported an ongoing issue with a speeding vehicle on Main Street. Officer Brittany Firth responded and took a report.

10:39 a.m. Several callers reported a motor vehicle accident on South Street. Officers Tyler Staback and Cody Nor mandin responded and took a report. No personal injuries were reported.

12:33 p.m. Officers Matthew Santo ro, Cody Normandin and Tyler Staback responded to a motor vehicle accident involving personal injuries. An ambu lance responded. Officer Staback took

3:08 p.m. The school bus company reported two vehicles blocking a bus from moving on Walcott Street. Officer Basit Dennis responded. The bus was gone upon his arrival.

3:33 p.m. A caller reported a male driving erratically in a tow truck with no license plates on DiCarlo Road. Officers Matthew LaTour and Cody Normanin responded and spoke with both parties.

4:27 p.m. A caller reported a white Subaru speeding on School Street. Of ficer Matthew LaTour responded and checked the area with a negative find.

5:54 p.m. The Framingham Police Department requested a person check on South Mill Street for a stolen vehicle out of a Framingham tow yard. Officer Basit Dennis responded and spoke with the owner/operator’s son, who stated his father was homeless and he didn’t know where he was. The Framingham Police Department was advised.

November 5

12:20 a.m. A Lumber Street caller reported three suspicious individuals hanging out outside of his house. They eventually turned down Granite Street. Officers Basit Dennis and Alexander

Stewart responded and searched the area with a negative find.

10:47 a.m. A Greystone Lane resi dent reported an unknown vehicle was parked by his garage. Officer Shannon Beloin was en route when it was learned that the caller’s father allowed the owner of the car to park in their driveway. All was OK.

11:04 a.m. A Fruit Street caller reported illegal dumping of two mat tresses. The DPW was notified.

1:42 p.m. An Old Town Road caller reported an individual was trespass ing in violation of an order. Officers Tyler Staback and Cody Normandin responded and took a report.

2:03 p.m. Officers Tyler Staback and Cody Normandin followed up on a no trespass violation and spoke to a person on Downey Street.

2:26 p.m. A caller reported a deer was dying on a Courtney Circle deck. The animal control officer was con tacted.

3:02 p.m. Several callers reported a lawnmower on fire on Grove Street. Officers Basit Dennis and Cody Nor mandin responded along with the Fire Department.

4:30 p.m. A caller reported a strange paint-like odor on South Street. Officer Matthew LaTour investigated and re ported paint work was taking place in the area.

10:16 p.m. A caller reported a bull on the side of the roadway of East Main Street. Officers Cody Normandin and Basit Dennis responded. The cow was gone upon their arrival.

11:18 p.m. A caller reported a group of teenagers left a party and started vandalizing mailboxes on Spring Street. Officers Basit Dennis and Cody Nor mandin responded. The youths were gone upon their arrival.

November 6

1:04 a.m. A Glen Road caller re ported a couple of kids playing dingdong-ditch and screaming throughout the neighborhood. Officer Alexander Stewart checked the area and did not locate the youths.

3:55 a.m. A caller reported suspi cious activity on School Street. Officer Alexander Stewart responded and spoke with a neighbor, who stated she was raking leaves.

11:08 a.m. A caller reported a tree fell on Lumber Street. Officer Sean McKeon responded and removed it.

12:58 p.m. A caller reported a dis pute with one of the Constitution Court residents at the leasing office. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officer Sean McKeon responded and took a report.

2:21 p.m. A caller reported some one hit his vehicle while he was inside shopping on West Main Street. Officer Sean McKeon responded and took a hit-and-run report.

7:07 p.m. A caller reported an er ratic Chevy sedan on Main Street. Of ficer Matthew LaTour responded and checked the area with a negative find.

9:46 p.m. A caller reported a bull grazing on East Main Street. Officer Matthew LaTour responded. The cow ran into the woods.

November 7

12:31 p.m. Officer Shannon Beloin responded to a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street involving two cars.

No personal injuries were reported.

1:18 p.m. A caller complained of a person not using best COVID practices at an East Main Street facility. The caller was advised to contact building manage ment or the board of health for further assistance.

2:54 p.m. A caller reported she fell in a hole and scraped her leg on Main Street. Officer Matthew LaTour responded.

10:35 p.m. Officer Matthew LaTour checked on a person in a vehicle parked on Hayden Rowe Street. He was playing Pokémon Go and was moved along.

November 8

8:33 a.m. Multiple callers reported a fallen wire on West Main Street. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and notified Verizon.

10:25 a.m. A Palomino Drive resident reported that from 5-5:30 a.m. an Escalade full of people was parked in front of his home. A woman and two small children exited the vehicle and walked toward Sad dle Hill Road. The incident was logged.

2:18 p.m. Officers Matthew Santoro and Tyler Staback responded to a motor vehicle accident on Grove Street. No personal injuries were reported.

November 9

5:21 a.m. A Clinton Street resident reported his car alarm was sounding in his driveway and could not see what caused it.

Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded and checked the surrounding area and did not find a cause for the alarm.

6:42 a.m. Officer Nicholas Saletnik found glass in the roadway of Chestnut Street and advised the DPW of the road hazard.

7:20 a.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Woodview Way. Officer Tyler Staback responded and took a crash report.

4:55 p.m. A caller reported finding a flask filled with suspicious materials. Of ficer Robert Ekross responded and took a report.

7:36 p.m. A caller requested to speak with an officer about people putting drugs in her mailbox. Officer Robert Ekross responded and took a report.

November 10

10:58 a.m. An Auciello Drive resident reported many people dressed in black in the woods by her house. Officer Tyler Staback responded and reported a State Police K-9 training taking place. All was OK.

12:57 p.m. A caller reported two loose dogs on Cedar Street that would not let him pass. The caller was in Ashland. The Ashland Police Department was contacted.

5:08 p.m. Sergeant William Burchard responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Main Street. No personal injuries were reported.

7:16 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle struck a deer on West Main Street. Officers Cody Normandin and Matthew LaTour responded and removed the deer. A tow truck responded and removed the vehicle.

November 11

1:08 p.m. Officer Shannon Beloin responded to a motor vehicle accident on Hayden Rowe Street and took a crash report.

1:34 p.m. A caller reported stolen jewelry and other property missing. Of ficer Shannon Beloin responded and took a report.

7:50 p.m. A Spring Street resident reported a black pickup truck in her driveway with two males making a lot of noise and walking around. Sergeant Arthur Schofield was en route when the caller called back and reported it was just

a delivery driver. All was OK.

9:56 p.m. A motorist reported she hit a deer on Hayden Rowe Street. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and took a report.

November 12

8:56 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan stood by and as sisted Eversource with fallen wires on Newbury Street and notified Verizon.

9:32 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan responded along with the Fire Department to an alarm activation on Bowker Road.

10:29 a.m. A caller reported a large limb fell on top of a propane tank on Lakeshore Drive. Sergeant Timothy Brennan responded along with the Fire Department.

1:18 p.m. A West Main Street caller reported an un wanted person in his house. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officers Shannon Beloin and Sean McKeon responded with all involved parties and took a report.

6:09 p.m. Multiple callers reported a motor vehicle accident on Main Street, where a vehicle struck a pole. Officers Robert Ekross and Nicholas Saletnik responded and conducted field sobriety tests. A courtesy transport was provided and a citation was issued to the driver. No personal injuries were reported.

8:29 p.m. A caller reported two males in their 20s in a gray van were following young females from the Price Chopper plaza on West Main Street toward the Police Sta tion on Main Street. Officers Matthew LaTour and Nicholas Saletnik responded. The vehicle was gone upon their arrival.

November 13

6:10 p.m. A caller complained of a Hiller’s Pizza deliv ery driver operating erratically on West Main Street. Officer Robert Ekross responded and spoke with the driver.

November 14

12:53 a.m. Officer Brennan Grimley checked on a ve hicle on the side of the road on Downey Street and spoke with the operator, who stated he was drowsy and pulled over.

5:24 a.m. Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded along with the Fire Department to a fire alarm activation on Jack son Street.

8:37 a.m. Officer Tyler Staback responded to a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street involving two cars. No

personal injuries were reported.

10:00 a.m. A caller reported an “agent” contacted him and claimed to have an illegal package that was shipped to/ from the caller’s residence. The incident of fraud was logged.

10:49 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officer Mat thew Santoro responded to a disturbance on Alexander Road.

11:36 a.m. A caller reported illegal dumping on Norcross Road. Officer Tyler Staback responded and found a table on town property and contacted the DPW for removal.

3:16 p.m. A caller complained of a detour still going on Church Street (work was supposed to end at 3 p.m.). Officer Robert Ekross responded and reported detail officers were in the process of leaving, and the construction company removed the signs upon Officer Ekross’ arrival.

4:45 p.m. A caller reported a dog was hit by a car on East Main Street and was in the roadway. A message was left for the animal control officer. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Cody Normandin responded. A Baypath Humane Society employee drove to the scene to assist.

6:42 p.m. A walk-in reported a strong odor of gas on Maple Street. Officer Cody Normandin responded along with the Fire Department and Eversource.

8:00 p.m. Officer Robert Ekross responded to a motor vehicle accident on South Street. No personal injuries were reported.

11:31 p.m. A Curtis Road resident reported her aide went outside to her car, then the caller heard screams and the aide did not return. Sergeant William Buchard and Officer Robert Ekross responded and spoke with the caller.