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HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 24 | No. 23 | November 8, 2023

ESBC makes final case for new school

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

T

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

WICKED FAST

Runners take off at the start of the Oct. 29 Wicked 5K road race, which was part of the Hopkinton Center for the Arts’ Wicked Weekend.

The Hopkinton Police Department continues to deal with the fallout from allegations that a former school resource officer committed child rape, and some other officers became aware of the situation at some point but did not immediately report it.

A

report on an external investigation of a Hopkinton Police Department sergeant currently on paid administrative leave showed he had previous knowledge of accusations of child rape against retired Deputy Chief John “Jay” Porter that went unreported to the department.

The firm conducting the investigation found 11 instances in which Sgt. Tim Brennan’s conduct violated the HPD’s rules, regulations, policies, procedures and special orders.

ESBC | 14

INSIDE

Report indicates Brennan violated HPD policy

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

raffic and the cost of a proposed new Elmwood School were among the concerns of residents attending the Oct. 24 public forum with the Elementary School Building Committee.

Special Town Meeting voters on Nov. 13 will be deciding whether to go ahead with construction of a threestory, Grades 2-4 elementary school with a budget of $158,422,394 on Hayden Rowe Street.

It also will need approval at a Special Town Election on Nov. 28.

During the more than two-hour session, a presentation was made by representatives from Vertex and Perkins Eastman as well as Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) members and Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh.

About a dozen residents attending in person at the high school expressed their opinions and asked questions during the second hour of the meeting.

NEWS

State again suspends Golden Pond certification

TOWN MEETING Select Board approves electronic voting

15

COMMUNITY

Student sparks push for food allergen awareness

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2 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023

Hopkinton Independent The Hopkinton Independent is published by Hopkinton Independent, LLC, 32 South St., Westborough, MA 01581. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of the ad that was in error if notified in writing within three business days of the publication date. All material is the property of the Hopkinton Independent.

Permission must be obtained in writing before reproducing any material. The Hopkinton Independent is delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to 100 percent of the homes and businesses in Hopkinton, reaching more than 7,700 addresses.

It’s also available for free pickup at Muffin House Café and Price Chopper as well as at many other local businesses. Hopkinton Independent, LLC is equally co-owned by Bagdon Advertising, Inc. and Susanne Odell Farber.

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Publisher: David Bagdon Dir. of Business Development: Susanne Odell Farber Founder: Sarah Lothrop Duckett Managing Editor: Jerry Spar Social Media director: David Bagdon STAFF WRITER: Mary Ellen Gambon Editorial contributors: Lyn Calkins, Chris Villani, John Cardillo, Christie Vogt, Jane Bigda, Susan Gonsalves, Courtney Cornelius

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

School in session for Elmwood committee W

hichever way you fall on the proposed new elementary school, you have to — or at least you should — respect the work of the Elementary School Building Committee. Anyone who has followed this closely is aware that these volunteers have worked hard to balance the needs of the ever-growing student population while trying not to bankrupt those of us who no longer have children in the system.

Jon Graziano, for one, was happy to assume the role of ESBC chair even though his youngest child will graduate high school the year the new school is scheduled to open.

“This project was sort of a continuation,” he said. “My wife [Erin] and I have been involved in volunteering in Hopkinton, particularly as it relates to the schools, since we got here. Having been on the School Committee and having been on the previous Marathon School Building Committee, I thought that my experience could benefit the project, in terms of connecting both the town and educational benefits.

“So, I just wanted to help. Because I think it’s really important.

The schools have given my family a tremendous amount since we’ve been here, and we’re very interested in giving back.”

Graziano is a management consultant by trade, and some of INDEPENDENT those skills were able to translate to this position.

THOUGHTS “I help companies solve their operational problems, help JERRY SPAR them grow, help them find more efficient ways to do business and satisfy their customers,” he explained. “So I think in many ways, the line of thinking is probably the same. It’s about taking in information, it’s about analyzing it, it’s about getting as creative as possible to find the right solution that can help all constituencies.”

Coincidentally, Graziano’s wife taught at Elmwood in the early 2000s, before his three children went through the school, giving him intimate knowledge of the building — and just how outdated it is.

“It has served the town well, but it has aged,” he said. “It’s an almost 60-yearold building, and it’s just not fit for purpose anymore.”

Having established that — and having ruled out patches and fixes and expansion there — Graziano and the ESBC focused on a new facility, with an additional grade to alleviate overcrowding at the other schools. And while the price tag is huge — $158 million, although after reimbursements and rebates, Hopkinton taxpayers likely will end up with a bill closer to $90 million — Graziano is confident the committee did what it could to keep the cost as reasonable as possible.

That said, he knows that’s going to be the focus of critics leading up to the Nov. 13 Special Town Meeting and Nov. 28 Special Town Election — both of which will require voter support for the project to move forward.

“The project cost is obviously a really big number. And I think when people see it, and their point of reference is the Marathon School project, it obviously looks even bigger,” Graziano said. “So one of the biggest challenges we’ve had is getting across to as many people as possible that … this is largely driven by the environment of construction and inflation. Construction inflation has experienced higher rates than even what we see at the grocery store.”

If voters do not approve the new school, a huge sum of money still will be spent — just on fixing up and adding to an outdated building rather than constructing a new one, Graziano said.

“A lot of people seem to think that there is a solution out there that we either didn’t choose or haven’t explored that would somehow be significantly less expensive,” he said. “And I can confidently say, with the committee having done all of the work we’ve done over the last couple of years, there really isn’t. This is what it costs. There are other options, but they’re all going to cost about the same thing.”

K of C hosts Special Peoples Day

Members of the Hopkinton High School lacrosse team pose for a group photo during the recent Knights of Columbus Special Peoples Field Day.

The Knights of Columbus Bishop Rice Council of Ashland/Hopkinton recently held its Special Peoples Field Day on a gorgeous autumn Sunday afternoon at the Ashland Fish & Game Club, which generously donates its field and facilities for the annual event. Thanks to Alec Levine of the Hopkinton Special Olympics, there were approximately 25 “special” athletes who participated in the day’s activities (tee-ball, cornhole, soccer) with their family members.

Brother Knight Dan Norton, who is a Marathon School physical education Independent thoughts | 3

HopkintonIndependent.com

The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023 • 3

Hayden Rowe group opposes new school

T

here is a Special Town Meeting that is scheduled to be held on Monday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. As stated in a recent newspaper article, the purpose of this Special Town Meeting “is for voters to take action on the proposed Elmwood School replacement plan, a $158 million project endorsed by both the School Committee LETTERS TO and Select Board. If the project is approved at Special Town Meeting, a ballot measure will appear in a subsequent special election, which THE EDITOR will ask voters to authorize the town to raise the funding.”

For those opposed: • who do not want to see their real estate taxes increased by approximately 38% (or more?); • who live on or need to navigate Hayden Rowe Street between the hours of 7-9:30 a.m. and 2-4:30 p.m. when schools are in or out of session; • who oppose schools and other town buildings being built on wetlands when no one else was able to build on these properties; • whose homes/businesses will be adversely impacted by the size, lighting, traffic, noise, water runoff, etc., that this school will produce; • who do not want a traffic light installed at the Marathon School, which will adversely impact traffic on Hayden Rowe Street or anyone trying to exit Chamberlain Street; • who do not want to see excess traffic on Chamberlain Street, Angelo Road, Colella Farm Road, Teresa Road, etc., as vehicles seek an alternate route past this new Elmwood School; • who do not realize that moving street signs, trees and stone walls, adding a turning lane, crosswalks, street lights and a roadway from Marathon School to Elmwood School behind properties on Hayden Rowe, etc., is not part of the proposed $158 million requested for the Elmwood School project, with an additional cost to residents; [Editor’s note: According to the Elementary School Building Committee, the $158 million budget in fact does include these traffic improvements.]

• who think that the PFAS water situation needs resolving, our police/fire departments and other department salaries need to be competitive with other towns, not just our school system; • who think that any project started in Hopkinton hasn’t cost more than originally planned or finished on schedule without any additional funding or without negative impact to residents; Vote ‘no’ at Special Town Meeting, Nov. 13!

— Ellen Holmes, Hopkinton, and the Hayden Rowe Abutters (haydenroweabutters@gmail.com)

New school crucial for town

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I write to express my wholehearted support for the proposed new elementary school. As a dedicated advocate for educational programming, parent of three students and concerned citizen, I believe a “yes” vote on the Elmwood School project is crucial for the continued success of our community. I aim to provide compelling factual information regarding key aspects of this project.

The estimated cost of the project is daunting at $158 million, but it’s essential to understand the breakdown. This figure encompasses both construction ($125 million) and soft costs ($34 million), including the feasibility study, furniture, technology and contingency. The committee that has been working — in public meetings — for two years has identified ways to maximize the contribution from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, totaling approximately $61 million of eligible costs. So, the taxpayer burden is down to under $97 million. Rejecting this project would place the total financial burden on the town, but there is funding

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Letters | 4

K of C hosts Special Peoples Day Independent thoughts | from page 2

instructor as well as the Hopkinton High School lacrosse coach, led the activities with the support of his lacrosse team. There were pony rides, which brought smiles to all the faces of those who saddled up. Deputy Chief Lyn Moraghan of the Ashland Fire Department brought a fire engine for the athletes to tour. There was a barbecue followed by a visit from the ice cream truck before an awards ceremony in which each athlete was presented a medal and a T-shirt by Grand Knight Joe Altman.

“All in all, it was a beautiful day,” shared Knight Bill Muench.

Senior Services recognized Congratulations to Hopkinton Senior Services, which was recognized by the National Institute of Senior Centers for its Repair Fair program. The Repair Fair pairs volunteer professionals and do-it-yourselfers with residents who need something fixed, and it’s co-sponsored by the Hopkinton Lions Club.

The Senior Center hosted its first Repair Fair last fall, drawing 36 people. Another event in April had 61 attendees. At the third event this past Sept. 30, some 35 items were repaired, and more than 100 knives and garden tools were sharpened, the center reports.

The National Institute of Senior Centers designated Hopkinton as a winner of one of its annual Programs of Excellence awards.

“We are thrilled at the success of the Repair Fair over the past year and a half and are very grateful for the recognition by the National Institute of Senior Centers,” said Director of Senior Services Amy Beck. “We look forward to continuing this event moving forward, as it is a great way to bring our community together.”

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4 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023

New school crucial for town Letters | from page 3

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available because of work by school/town administration, the School Committee and the ESBC. MSBA funding has been pursued since 2008 due to space constraints and Elmwood’s assessment of end of life.

Voting against the Elmwood project would lead to significant consequences: renting modular classrooms at over $1 million per school year, per classroom; loss of all art, science and music spaces to be used as classrooms; additions or modular classrooms needed at Hopkins, the middle school and the high school; tighter lunch rooms with lunch starting earlier in the day; heavier used playgrounds in already tight spaces; and possible loss of the teachers who make our schools so successful as working conditions deteriorate.

Approaching November 13th, where we need to be present to vote, it’s essential to make fair, informed decisions about the Elmwood project. I urge those who have not been involved in the evolution of this important town endeavor to read the elmwoodproject.com website, reach out to a member of the ESBC via email at esbc2@hopkintonma.gov, or attend an upcoming community forum (listed on the website, or contact the committee to request an information session).

A “yes” vote signifies support for a larger facility at advantageous cost to our community. Let’s secure Hopkinton’s continued position at the forefront of educational excellence by approving this essential project on November 13th!

Thank you for supporting the continued success of our schools and the success of our children. Strong schools = strong communities.

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Do you know who runs the Town of Hopkinton? We the residents do. We have a Special Town Meeting coming up Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. with important issues. Will you attend? There are a number of town boards and committees that are responsible for significant contributions in our town. These boards and committees are staffed by your Hopkinton neighbors. At the time of this note, there are over 40 openings across these boards and committees.

We all have opinions about the cost and quality of services within the Town of Hopkinton. We also have an obligation to get involved with governing our town. You can make a difference. There are multiple ways: 1. Vote. Don’t let the few who show up determine our future as a town! At the last election in the spring of 2023, less than 20% of registered voters cast a ballot. There were some competitive contests that were determined by a small number of votes. If you want a voice, please vote.

2. Attend town meetings, including the Nov. 13 Special Town Meeting at Hopkinton Middle School.

Everything of significance in Hopkinton gets discussed at Town Meeting. The turnout at recent meetings has been quite thin. More of us should be participating.

3. Get involved in town committees. There are 45 different boards and committees that cover everything from affordable housing to zoning (literally A to Z). Most of these positions are appointed and not publicly elected! Most residents are unaware of all the boards and committees that are available.

To make things easier, the Hopkinton Republican Town Committee has put together a shared drive that lists every board and committee along with links to their web pages, term lengths, vacancies and roles.

This information is on the Hopkinton Republican Town Committee Facebook site and town webpage.

With these tools, you can have a better understanding of what opportunities exist to get involved and make a difference.

We need your help to make our town a better place! Don’t leave our future up to just a few of our townspeople. A more diverse group of views benefits us all!

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— Jim Mirabile, on behalf of the Hopkinton Republican Town Committee

Party caucuses serve important role I am chair of the Hopkinton Democrats, but I am writing to express a personal opinion. The opinion is that voting at Special Town Meeting to eliminate local caucuses would result in, at most, a minor inconvenience for the Democrats but a significant and regrettable loss for Hopkinton voters.

The last-minute local caucuses get more candidates on the ballot. Almost every year, we see candidates who were not able to turn in 50 signatures on their nomination papers before the deadline. Some of these candidates are unenrolled and switch parties to run at caucus so they can get on the ballot anyway.

The caucuses also enable the town to indicate candidate party affiliation on the ballot through “Dem Caucus Nominee” and “Rep Caucus Nominee” designations. This is the only way that we are allowed to suggest party affiliation on local ballots, although party is always specified on other ballots. Seeing this information helps voters make informed decisions.

I can’t imagine objecting to getting more candidates on the ballot and providing helpful information to voters, especially since passage of the Town Meeting article won’t accomplish what people seem to think it will.

Eliminating caucuses won’t eliminate the local party committees or make them any less active. In fact, their members may want to work even harder to educate the voters about the candidates.

Eliminating caucuses won’t stop people from arguing about politics. People from towns without caucuses argue plenty because they, too, have construction projects, taxes and extremist rhetoric in their daily news. None of that is going to go away because we’ve eliminated caucuses one night a year.

Eliminating caucuses won’t make it any easier for unenrolled candidates to get on the ballot, and may make it more difficult. Unenrolled folks will lose the caucus option just like everyone else will.

And finally, eliminating caucuses won’t make it any less challenging to run a contested race for any candidate, unenrolled or not.

Hopkinton is one of the few towns lucky enough to have local caucuses that give us full, informative ballots. We should keep it that way.

Please vote “no” on Article 2.

— Amy Groves, Hopkinton Editor’s note: The opinions and comments expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Independent. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and must include the writer’s name and contact information for verification. Letters should be relevant and not primarily for the purpose of promoting an organization or event. Letters may be edited by the Independent staff for space, errors or clarification, and the Independent offers no guarantee that every letter will be published.

For a schedule of deadlines for letters and other submissions, check the Hopkinton Independent website (HopkintonIndependent.com) and click on the Contact header, then on Editorial Deadlines.

HopkintonIndependent.com

The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023 • 5

State suspends Golden Pond’s certification again

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

This is not about a blame game. I am a very transparent person, and I will work hand in hand with the state on this situation. We’re going to own what we need to do.

F

or the second time this year, the Communities at Golden Pond has been ordered by the state not to accept new residents after failing an on-site compliance review earlier this month.

On Oct. 3, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs conducted an on-site compliance review at the facility, located at 50 West Main Street, according to an email from EOEA communications and outreach manager Ellie Romano. The assisted living residence “was not in compliance with the Commonwealth’s Certification Procedures and Standards for Assisted Living Residences.”

“Effective October 20, 2023, Golden Pond Assisted Living must cease the enrollment of new residents for a minimum of 30 days,” Romano’s email stated. “Golden Pond Assisted Living may continue to operate but may not accept new residents until the Executive Office of Elder Affairs determines that the residence is in full compliance with the Commonwealth’s Certification Procedures and Standards for Assisted Living Residences.”

On March 23, Golden Pond failed a compliance review, according to a letter dated May 22. This prompted a further investigation on June 19 by employees from the Assisted Living Certification Unit of the EOEA. The facility’s 17-page corrective action plan was accepted by the EOEA, and Golden Pond was recertified on June 28.

— Golden Pond COO Lisa Jacobs

In an interview with the Independent on Oct. 25, Lisa Jacobs, Golden Pond’s chief operating officer, explained the situation. She noted the challenges that this facility and others across the state faced during and since the pandemic in achieving pre-COVID care levels.

“I want to stress that in the original plan of correction, there was the expectation that the EOEA was going to come back and review the site,” she said. “They found that we were just not quite at the level of documenting and processing paperwork that they expected, so they gave us a time extension.”

Jacobs noted that the population of residents being accepted into assisted living facilities during the pandemic is “sicker and more in need of care” than in past years. She also said that the state regulations for assisted living facilities have not been updated since 1994, so they don’t address pandemic challenges.

“The reality is that we just haven’t

caught up with the paperwork yet,” said Jacobs, who has been a nurse for 38 years. “We have been focusing all of our efforts on patient care and providing residents with a good quality of life.”

She noted that because of COVID-19, the state did not conduct inspections for two years.

“They were running about two years behind on their inspections,” Jacobs continued. “So they were actually observing a four-year period.”

Added Jacobs: “The EOEA isn’t a medical model — it’s a social model.”

“This is not about a blame game,” she stressed. “I am a very transparent person, and I will work hand in hand with the state on this situation. We’re going to own what we need to do.”

Golden Pond faced another challenge in September when Jim Noon, a resident who had recently moved in, wandered outside of the facility late at night on Sept. 10. He was rescued a short distance from the property in

a bushy area behind nearby Icehouse Pond and found alive on the morning of Sept. 12, but he died at the age of 84 four days later.

Noon loved to walk, Jacobs said, and had a tendency to wander, which she said the family acknowledged.

“Jim Noon’s family was loving and caring,” she said. “Jim’s family partnered with us in his care. They had worked with a private care company that provided psychiatric and therapeutic care. They wanted to offer him a great quality of life that he would not have had on a secure unit.”

She added that “people in assisted living have the right to come and go.”

In a letter to the editor following the incident, Elizabeth Noon, Jim Noon’s wife, complimented Golden Pond on the quality of care her husband received.

An excerpt stated: “Golden Pond should not be closed down. They should be congratulated and honored for taking people like Jim Noon and others who may be having a very difficult end-of-life situation.”

Asked if a lack of staffing was an issue that may have led to the poor review or Noon’s death, Jacobs stressed that the facility is fully staffed and that the problem was “administrative work.”

“I have been working day in and day out to get things done,” she said.

“I wouldn’t ask a staff member to do something I wouldn’t do myself. But when little things don’t get done, like reports, it becomes a bigger thing.”

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6 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023

HPD joins with library, businesses for Early Release Hangout success

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

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undreds of students enjoyed free pizza, ice cream and video games at the Town Common on Oct. 20 as part of the town’s first Early Release Hangout.

“It turned out to be a great event,” said Detective Sgt. Scott van Raalten, who spearheaded it on behalf of the HPD. “The rain held off just long enough to get it in. It appeared as though everybody had quite a great time, and our officers got to interact with students of all ages.”

The festivities included video game trailers provided by Ultimate Mobile Gaming, impromptu football and Frisbee games, and complimentary snacks and drinks. Event sponsors included Bill’s Pizzeria, Hop-Yo, Muffin House Cafe and Middlesex Savings Bank. The Hopkinton Public Library also hosted its second half-day gaming event of the school year, which attracted 161 patrons of various ages.

Equally important was the opportunity for students, officers and downtown merchants to connect in a relaxed setting.

Over the past year, teens have been accused by some business owners of shoplifting and vandalizing property. When the situation came to a head in the spring, some residents called for a teen center to provide a place for young adults to socialize.

In response, HPD Chief Joseph Bennett brainstormed

Police Chief Joseph Bennett talks with teenagers while awaiting the arrival of more pizza during the Oct. 20 Early Release Hangout at the Town Common.

activities that would engage and entertain young people after school. Partnering with School Resource Officer Matthew Santoro, van Raalten got feedback from school administrators to see if the event was feasible and to determine the best location and activities.

“We ended up choosing the common because that’s where most of the kids were going to end up anyway,” van Raalten said. “We were really looking to incorporate the businesses downtown and also to alleviate the pressure on those businesses.”

At one point, he added, there were about 300 students at the Town Common. Some of them played with Frisbees and footballs donated by Middlesex Savings Bank.

Hosting the event on the Town Common “gave the students the opportunity to spread out” and prevented them

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from overwhelming businesses shortly after the dismissal time. It also encouraged foot traffic on Main Street throughout the afternoon.

“It’s not new for the police department to work with local businesses,” added van Raalten. “I opened it up to all the businesses, even though some of them aren’t really affected by the half-day.”

Van Raalten praised the sponsoring businesses for being “happy to jump on board and assist us” in the first event of its kind in town. He also collaborated with the library, recognizing the importance of its “giving teens an outlet for the few hours after school lets out.”

In addition to middle and high school students, several parents brought younger children to enjoy the day, van Raalten said, creating “a wide age range to the event.”

Many of the students told Santoro they really enjoyed the event.

“I’ve also spoken with the principals at the middle school and some of the elementary schools,” he said. “They’ve gotten really good reviews from the parents. A lot of the parents were very thankful that we were able to do that.”

While van Raalten said this type of event shouldn’t be expected on every early dismissal day, he encouraged local organizations to take the lead in running similar activities.

“We’re going to continue to have discussions to see what we can do in the future to collaborate,” he added. “It worked out well with the weather, with the students and with the business owners downtown. We’re happy everyone had a fun and safe day.”

The one lesson van Raalten said he learned was to anticipate high turnouts during good weather. Hop-Yo gave out 200 ice creams “in about 10 minutes,” he said. About 800 slices of pizza came from Bill’s, with the department ordering more pizza four times.

It is important to note that while the event was a success overall, there were three reports of incidents involving youths causing disturbances on Main Street reported to police during the event’s time frame. According to the police log, Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded to a complaint at 1:07 p.m, where “[t]he owner of a Main Street business reported six youths hanging out in the lobby and interfering with business, and he wanted them removed.” At 1:33 p.m., a manager of a Main Street store “reported out-ofcontrol youths on his property and climbPolice Hangout | page 7

HopkintonIndependent.com

The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023 • 7

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The South Asian Circle of Hopkinton hosted Rhythms and Raagas on Oct. 28 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Westborough to celebrate Diwali and other South Asian festivals. The event was a musical theater “throwing a spotlight on key traditions and rituals surrounding festivals originating from South Asia that are celebrated by many immigrant communities across the globe, creating and leaving behind a rich fabric of subcultures for future generations to observe.” The event was co-funded by Mass Cultural Council through its Festivals and Projects grant.

HPD joins with library, businesses for Early Release Hangout success Police hangout | from page 6

ing the building.” McNeil responded to this complaint, in addition to a report at 1:42, where he “removed a group of kids causing a disturbance on Main Street.”

Library holds teen gaming series event The library’s half-day teen gaming series was the brainchild of Jak Miller, the young adult librarian, according to Hopkinton Public Library director Nanci Hill. While they worked to expand programming for teens and tweens at the library during the last school year, Miller observed that the library’s traditional programming of movies, board games and crafting was “missing the mark” with this demographic.

“We noticed an increase of teens in the downtown area,” Miller added via an email, “which was causing some friction between business owners, residents and tweens/teens. This came to a head in the late spring of 2023.”

She decided to reach out to One Up Games, a Plainville-based gaming company, to create a summer program “that focused on in-person events to promote socialization, but also to cater to recreational needs of young people in town.”

The summer series was a success, prompting a discussion about a series for early dismissal days.

The Hopkinton Public Library Foundation was enthusiastic about Miller’s proposed program series, funding it for all upcoming early release days this school year (with one exception the day before Thanksgiving).

While the September kickoff was “a hit” with 84 young children, tweens and

teens enjoying traditional video game systems and virtual reality gaming systems, Miller said nearly twice that many came on Oct. 20.

“Teens had the opportunity to choose the games they wished to play, from single player Minecraft adventures to the latest Madden multiplayer game,” she continued. “Because all games are loaded onto the systems and are not connected to the internet, gaming is controlled in the sense that it is ageappropriate, and a safer alternative to internet-based gaming.”

The library gaming series will resume on Jan. 26, with subsequent events on March 15 and May 10.

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Dogs are supposed to be leashed on trails in town.

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By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

Modification to Scout fitness equipment project proposed

T

The committee heard from Scout Srivar Yerramsetti about the plan he presented in September for installing fitness equipment off of Center Trail just north of the Loop Road intersection.

This equipment will include a sit-up bench, pull-up bars, horizontal bars and a balance beam that will be installed in a 30-foot-by-24-foot area.

LaGoy suggested that the configuration of the area for the fitness equipment be parallel to the trail there because the ground is flatter. It is currently designed to be perpendicular to it. Yerramsetti was amenable to shifting the proposed site.

LaGoy added that the equipment request has been submitted to Town Hall. Installation is expected to begin in the spring.

he Trails Committee at its meeting Oct. 25 discussed having a community forum to educate dog owners about the town’s leash law and get resident feedback on potential areas where dogs may be able to be unleashed.

Chair Peter LaGoy explained that some residents aren’t aware of the town’s leash law. They also might not realize that some people are fearful of dogs, particularly when the dogs are unleashed.

Member Janine LeBlanc disagreed, saying residents should know they are supposed to leash and clean up after their dogs.

Said LeBlanc: “I don’t think that public outreach and education is going to change their behavior.”

LaGoy and member Chuck Dauchy stressed that some people are legitimately afraid of dogs because they were previously attacked. Some dog owners might not recognize this because they perceive their dogs as being friendly.

Signage could be helpful to make everyone more aware.

“Somebody made the point at the last Town Meeting that in the dog park, all those dogs that are off leash are violating the leash law,” LaGoy said.

Member Krisanne Connell suggested that signs that specify both allowable and improper behavior be posted on trails so that the committee “doesn’t become known as the mean trail police.”

At the forum, which is being planned for January, she suggested that a sticky board be used for suggestions so that people feel invested in the process in a non-contentious way. She volunteered to facilitate this activity.

Other ideas included holding a virtual forum in addition to the in-person one and allowing for written comments to be submitted to the Trails Committee.

A survey also was suggested.

Getting town feedback on potential areas where dogs could be unleashed for designated periods of time would be helpful in gauging the town’s response to possible modifications to the leash law. Committee members suggested reaching out to people through the Senior Center, the library and area veterinarians, as well as through the town website and local media.

Enforcement of the law also was discussed. LaGoy noted that the town only has one animal control officer.

HopkintonIndependent.com

Trails Committee approves its CPC funding requests The committee voted unanimously to approve the requests it made to the Community Preservation Committee for funding for its proposed projects.

The Open Space Preservation Commission joined the Trails Committee on a joint application to purchase two properties owned by Eversource located at and to the south of Berry Acres. This would allow for a future trail connection that would link the apartment complex off Lumber Street with Berry Acres and the school area. Eversource has not yet said if the properties are for sale.

The two groups also jointly filed a request to purchase land owned by MetroWest Holdings near the Milford border. LaGoy said there may be an opportunity for the town to take the property because of back taxes owed on it.

Separately, the Trails Committee requested $60,000 from the recreation fund to finish the second phase of the Chamberlain Trail.

Trail accessibility discussed LaGoy also discussed the desire for trail accessibility. He has been involved in discussions with Commission on Disability member Alex Danahy about having Braille markings on trail signage.

He also suggested possibly having a wheelchair available for use through the library of things at the Hopkinton Public Library to use on the trails.

Said LaGoy: “It’s things for us to be thinking about as a team.”

The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023 • 9

Thankful for your Presents

‘A SLICE OF HOPKINTON’ Hopkinton Independent Photo Contest

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DISCOUNT HEATING OIL This issue’s winner is Kip Gerenda for this photo of Evan Gerenda looking out at Lake Whitehall, “taking in a beautiful morning view.” To enter next issue’s contest, email your photo along with your name, phone number and description of the photo to editor@hopkintonindependent.com. Photos with people or pets in them are encouraged. Photos that are not selected as winners might be posted on our website.

The Hopkinton Independent presents “A Slice of Hopkinton” photo contest, sponsored by Bill’s Pizzeria.

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

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Community planning session Nov. 15

T

he town is holding a community input planning session next Wednesday, Nov. 15, to generate ideas on how to revitalize the downtown area and increase connectivity through its shared spaces.

This state-funded forum, which will be held at the HopNEWS kinton Public Library’s lower BRIEFS level as well as virtually from 4:30-7:30 p.m., will focus on programming and infrastructure improvements. One concept that will be stressed is placemaking. Placemaking encourages reinventing public spaces to strengthen the connection between residents and the spaces they share. This collaborative process will focus on designing shared spaces such as parks, open space and sidewalks where people connect, relax and play.

Earlier this year, the Select Board prioritized downtown revitalization as one of its goals.

but particularly for wheelchair users and people with mobility issues,” said chair Holly Morand.

New member Praveen Hariharan added that lighting also should be improved at the front of Town Hall.

The commission hopes to learn more about accessibility concerns like this when it releases its community survey. While its focus is on the needs of people with disabilities, everyone is encouraged to fill it out to help the committee prioritize concerns. Additional language was added to the survey during the meeting to make it more comprehensive.

Said Morand: “The idea is that if you live here, work here or visit here, it’s all relevant.”

Residents to get disability survey

The Conservation Commission on Oct. 24 approved unanimously two notices of intent for a single-family home at 4 Myrtle Avenue — a road to be constructed off Blueberry Lane — as part of a subdivision. Toll Brothers, the applicant, held off on its request for an NOI for a singlefamily home at 11 Fitch Avenue — also to be constructed off Blueberry Lane — but moved forward on an NOI at 13 Fitch Avenue. Toll Brothers also was to appear before the Planning Board to request the removal of Adams Street, which affects the 11 Fitch Avenue site.

The applicant’s representative, Ted Merchant, explained that measures will be put in place to update stormwater management practices to modern standards, even though this is not required, as a good-faith effort.

The Commission on Disability at its Oct. 30 meeting added new language to its draft survey on the needs of people with disabilities in Hopkinton.

The survey will be distributed at the Nov. 13 Special Town Meeting and at other public buildings in town. In addition to printed copies, the survey will be accessible by email and a QR code. People will be able to respond for a couple of weeks.

Members noted one accessibility improvement at Town Hall that occurred since the commission’s previous meeting on Oct. 2. The ramp at the rear entrance now has lighting.

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Investigation: Brennan violated HPD policy by not reporting Porter Brennan was placed on paid administrative leave in May. No details were released about the reason by the town because it is a personnel matter.

Earlier that month, Porter pleaded not guilty to three counts of child rape in Middlesex Superior Court. Porter was accused of assaulting a Hopkinton High School student when she was 14 while he was working as the town’s school resource officer in 2004 and 2005. When Porter was promoted to detective, Brennan assumed the SRO position, where he met the alleged victim.

According to the report, Brennan continued to be in contact with her after he was promoted to detective in January 2008.

The 36-page report was released to the Independent by the Town Manager’s Office on Oct. 27 as the result of a public records request made by the Independent. It was prepared by corporate investigations and risk consulting firm Kroll at the request of law firm Mirick, O’Connell, DeMallie & Lougee, LLP on behalf of the Town of Hopkinton.

An email from Assistant Town Manager Elaine Lazarus accompanying the release stressed that “the content of this report is related both to an ongoing personnel matter for which the Select Board will hold a future hearing and an ongoing criminal investigation and prosecution by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.” It is redacted under Public Records Law because it contains sensitive information about the alleged victim, whose privacy is being protected.

“Brennan stated that every six to nine months, he would speak to the victim either on the phone or in person,” according to the report.

“The SRO works very independent,” Brennan told Linskey in the interview. “SRO is like a detective. They work very independent, don’t have constant supervision, like a patrol sarge on the road or anything like that.”

In 2015, Brennan and the victim met while he and Porter were sergeants. He “claimed that he did not have any immediate concerns when he first learned from the victim” of the alleged assault, but he later “described this incident as an indecent assault and battery.” He said he learned of the assault “14 years later.”

When the position of deputy chief opened, Brennan said he did not come forward with information about Porter’s conduct because they were both competing for the position.

The report stated: “Brennan acknowledged that he was aware he was required to report allegations of any wrongdoing he had become aware of and that such a report could cause an investigation to commence even with an anonymous victim.”

In addition, the report showed that Brennan did not make his concerns known to agencies outside of HPD that could have investigated the allegation, including the District Attorney’s Child Abuse Unit, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office or the FBI.” The only person Brennan told was his wife, Kim, the report stated.

Report seeks to establish timeline

Findings critical of Brennan

According to the report, Chief Joseph Bennett was informed on Aug. 24, 2022, by investigators from the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office that they needed to interview Brennan as part of a criminal investigation into Porter’s conduct. On that day, he did not officially notify anyone in the HPD of what he knew.

Bennett placed Porter on leave the following day pending the outcome of the investigation.

Porter resigned from HPD on April 25, three days before he was charged by the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office with rape of a child dating back to his stint as the SRO. Several months later, while in an equipment storage area, Brennan told the chief “about not wanting to be involved in the Porter case.” Bennett cut off the conversation at that point.

“On January 19, 2023, at approximately 1:19 p.m., Chief Bennett was paged by Brennan and asked to come to the sergeant’s office,” the report stated. “Brennan told the chief that he was concerned about the welfare of the department after the case with Porter was finished. Brennan informed the chief that he was previously aware that Porter was having an affair with the victim student.”

“People are going to wonder how long I knew,” Brennan said to Bennett, according to the report.

Bennett then consulted with legal counsel about his concerns over Brennan not reporting his knowledge of Porter’s alleged conduct. This action prompted the external investigation and the subsequent report.

The report showed that Brennan’s knowledge of Porter’s alleged relationship with the student “evolved over time.” It also noted that because Brennan is a certified sexual assault investigator, he should have known what details to report to the chief.

On Feb. 17, 2023, Kroll investigators Daniel Linskey and Monica Monticello interviewed Brennan at the Hopkinton Town Hall conference room. During this interview, “Brennan stated that he and the victim stayed in touch over the years, speaking on the phone or meeting in person.”

Brennan said he did not believe that activities outside of school needed to be reported to supervisors or that he needed to ask permission unless he “was requesting pay.”

In total, Kroll found 11 instances in which Brennan’s conduct violated the HPD’s rules, regulations, policies, procedures and special orders.

One was meeting with a student as an SRO “in a private, off-campus meeting” without supervisor approval.

Several findings showed that Brennan did not report what he learned in 2015 regarding Porter and the alleged victim to the HPD, including alleged rape. “This clearly posed a concern as to the HPD’s liability, potentially resulting in heightened community interest,” the report stated.

“Employees shall not withhold information on criminal activity from the department or other authorized personnel where there is a duty to disclose some information.” Not reporting what he learned to his supervisor was deemed “a serious lack of action on his part.” He also “had a duty to provide support to a victim.”

“To a large degree, the public image of this department is determined by how well it responds to allegations of misconduct against the department or its officers,” the report stated. “All alleged or suspected violations of laws, ordinances, by-laws, department rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and orders (verbal or written) must be investigated according to the procedures outlined for each.”

“Regardless, during all iterations of these allegations, Brennan was a duly sworn member of the HPD and was bound to report these allegations by the department’s rules, regulations, policies and procedures, as well as by special orders,” the report concluded.

Brennan | from page 1

HopkintonIndependent.com

Second sergeant may have had knowledge Sgt. William Burchard served as a witness during the grand jury investigation of Porter, the report noted. Burchard was interviewed by Kroll investigators on May 18. Questions revolved around an investigation of a motor vehicle stop in 2007 that allegedly involved the victim while Burchard was the overnight patrol officer.

Burchard reported that in 2007, he stopped a young female he later determined to be the victim for a possible OUI based on “odor, bloodshot and glassy eyes.” During a field sobriety test, she took off on foot. He caught her and placed her Brennan | page 11

The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023 • 11

BUSINESS PROFILE: AN ADVERTISER FEATURE

Hubley Painting & Remodeling clients ‘fall in love with their homes again’

By Christie Vogt Contributing Writer

L

aunched from the Hopkinton home of Alvah “Bud” Hubley three decades ago, the Hubley family business has been well known for its painting services.

Over the past five years, however, the company has expanded to offer extensive remodeling services, with a particular focus on kitchens.

Jake Hubley, the third-generation owner of Hubley Painting & Remodeling, is excited about his company’s transformation. “We’ve evolved into a custom, niche remodeling busi- Jake Hubley (left) is the co-owner of Hubley Painting & ness,” he says. “We en- Remodeling, along with his father, Steve Hubley. joy helping our clients make their house a home.” home and also offers custom carpentry Kitchen makeovers have become work. True to its origins, the company Hubley’s signature service with a variety continues to provide standalone interior of formats and budget options. “When and exterior painting services, whether we work with clients, we start off with for one room or an entire house. “Our reviewing their ideal kitchen transformateam is perfect for all those projects tion. We then propose various options to on people’s wish lists where they don’t make their kitchen dreams come true,” know who to hire,” Hubley says.

Hubley explains. “One option is havThe quality of Hubley’s staff makes ing your cabinets painted by our expert the company stand out, Hubley says. craftsmen, who have years of specialized “In my professional opinion, we have cabinet experience. Another option is our the best craftsmen. They’re great people new Kitchen Refresh Program, which who are great at what they do, and we includes cabinet painting and preselected wouldn’t be the company we are without design updates. A third option is an a la them,” he says. “They’ve been doing carte kitchen transformation that may their one specific trade or skill for mulinclude repurposing cabinets and buildtiple years because we’ve been lucky to ing new elements to reach homeowners’ have consistent work. This is rare for design goals.” the industry, as painters typically paint Hubley’s Kitchen Refresh Program cabinets, but cabinet painters only paint launched this summer, and “people are cabinets. With this specialization, you loving it,” Hubley says. “The beauty can really see the craftsmanship.” of the program is that it makes things Another benefit to hiring Hubley is simple. Based on the size of your kitchen, that the company is “a one-stop shop” a fixed budget is created so you have a that handles everything for clients, from good understanding of how much money project management to 3D designs to you want to spend ahead of time. Then, vendor communication, Hubley adds. during a visit to our Ashland design stu“Our people deliver excellent customer dio, you choose from a set of high-quality service and high-end products, with the design upgrades. We handle the rest from ultimate goal that our clients come to there.” Design updates may include re-love their spaces.” crown molding, inset/shaker island panTo learn more, visit hubleypainting. els, quartz countertops, Kohler sinks and com or call 508-681-3034. faucets, doors, drawers, tile backsplash, Business Profiles are advertising cabinet hardware and fresh paint. features designed to provide informaIn addition to kitchens, Hubley retion and background about Hopkinton models bathrooms, laundry rooms, famIndependent advertisers. ily rooms and other spaces throughout the

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Investigation: Brennan violated HPD policy by not reporting Porter Brennan | from page 10

in handcuffs.

After he radioed the department about the incident, Porter arrived on the scene.

“Burchard said Porter told him he knew the young woman and that she had experienced various issues in her background,” according to the report.

“I got the impression that she knew him,” Burchard stated in the

report. “How well, I didn’t know.”

The woman was placed in protective custody at that time while she was investigated for operating a vehicle under the influence. This practice, he said, was rarely used, but Burchard said he used his own discretion.

The report found that Burchard did not give preferential treatment to the woman during his investigation by placing her in protective custody.

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12 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023

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

SENIOR SNIPPETS

Senior Center Book Club

First Wednesday of every month, 10:30 a.m.

One of life’s pleasures is a good book. Another is the time to read it. At this meeting, attendees can relax and bring something to drink, all while enjoying book reviews and socializing. The next book club meeting is Dec. 6, and the book is “Where the Forest Meets the Stars” by Glendy Vanderah.

Back to Basics on iPhone/iPad

Thursday, Nov. 9, 1 p.m.

This introductory class introduces new (or hesitant) users to the basics of navigating iPhones and/or iPads. Topics will include the hardware of the iPhone, including the buttons, volume switch, cameras and speakers. Participants will learn how to navigate to important areas of the phone, as well as iPhone applications for calling and messaging. Advance registration is required.

Annual Holiday Sale

Friday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 18, 9 a.m.-noon The Friends of Hopkinton Seniors will host their annual Holiday Sale and silent auction, featuring vintage items, books, holiday decorations, hostess baskets, baked goods and a large variety of handmade items from the center’s quilting and pottery groups. Bidding on silent auction baskets (in the lobby) will open Monday, Nov. 13, and close at noon on Saturday, Nov. 18.

Games and Puzzles Afternoon

Monday, Nov. 20, 1-3 p.m.

National Games and Puzzles Week is Nov. 20-26. The Senior Center will kick off the week with an afternoon dedicated to having guests play one of the center’s many board games or enjoy a crossword or word search.

Aging in Place

Part 2: Thursday, Nov. 30, 1 p.m.

So many seniors today are living longer than generations before. It’s called the Longevity Dividend, as it’s the best gift one can get. This two-part series will have individuals make the most of that gift. The first session explores the attitudes and behaviors that may be holding one back from having a truly fulfilling and happy retirement. The second session helps devise a plan to make that a reality. This is all from information based on the latest research by psychologists and gerontologists.

Attendees will find out not just how to live longer but also how to make these extra years really count.

Baypath Adoptable Animal of the Week Each week, the Independent highlights an animal available for adoption at Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton. This week we feature 10-monthold Millie.

Here is Baypath’s description of Millie: “Millie is a lovely dog with a gentle, sweet and entertaining personality!

While she may be a bit nervous in new situations, she warms up quickly to be quite the love bug. Millie’s dog-friendly nature makes her an excellent candidate for a home with dogs.

“Millie has a medium energy level, making her the ideal companion for both outdoor adventures and cozy nights in. Whether it’s a leisurely walk or a game of fetch in the backyard, Millie is up for it all!

“Millie is a quick learner, eager to please and loves learning new tricks!

Millie isn’t a fan of feline friends, so a cat-free home would be the best fit for her.

“With her sweet and loyal personality, Millie is quite the catch!”

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

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

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The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023 • 13

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS in Hopkinton ADDRESS

SOLD

DATE

4 Bullmoose Run

$970,000

Oct. 19 David Todd, Pamala Todd

SELLER

BUYER Lalit Kumar, Garima Chaudhary

70 Main Street

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Oct. 20 70 Main Street Realty Trust, Mukeshkumar Patel Trust, Neel Patel Trust

Gokdag LLC

14 Wood Street

$450,000

Oct. 20 Derek McSweeney, Lindsay McSweeney, Lindsey Bennett

Kerry Benatti

45 Weston Lane, Unit 45

$914,000

Oct. 23 Trails LLC

D Densmore Shute Hart Marital Trust, William Wood II

36 Rocky Woods Road

$1,210,000

Oct. 25 Kevin McCluskey, Lynn McCluskey

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Costs, traffic among residents’ concerns about new school proposal ESBC | from page 1

Several participants submitted questions through Zoom.

The first half included an overview of the process to date: the decisions made regarding design and materials, site selection and building features; issues around transportation and traffic; HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and energy savings; state reimbursement and the project’s costs.

Robert Bell, Perkins Eastman’s educational programmer/principal, talked about enrollment projections and how the building’s design corresponds to educational needs, as required by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

He also reviewed the site and floor plans, while Vertex’s senior project manager, Chris Eberly, spoke about geothermal energy, noting that through MassSave and Inflation Reduction Act funds, the town could receive a rebate of $5 million to $7 million one to two years after the project is completed.

Costs of ‘no’ vote given ESBC chair Jon Graziano and the superintendent discussed the implications of a ‘no’ vote, including mitigations to be made and their costs.

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Process overview, project components described

The proposed new school would have room for expansion if the student population continues to climb.

“A ‘no’ vote means the project ceases to exist for the MSBA,” Graziano said. To get back in the application line would likely take five years. Work to date on the schematic design would have to be done over without reimbursement the second time, he said.

To renovate the existing Elmwood School would require more modulars ($1 million to $1.75 million per classroom) additions to the gym, media center and technology space, utilities, site work and more.

Temporary accommodations would have to be made while the renovations are ongoing, with a cost up to $83 million, according to Graziano.

Other factors would be larger class sizes, the need for additional lunch shifts and the forfeiting of additional middle school space if Grade 4 stays at Hopkins School, he said.

Tax impact from borrowing explained ESBC member Bill Flannery, also a member of the Appropriations Committee, spoke about rising inflation and square footage costs. He cited the most recent reimbursement figure from the MSBA, totaling $46 million, or 29.5% to 31% of the project.

Special Town Meeting will vote on the $158 million budget, which he said is “without a doubt, a significant investment.”

He said the town’s contribution down the line would be in the $104 million to $106 million range, following incentives, rebates and reimbursements.

The median tax impact would be $1,086 (for a $753,000 valued average home) starting in 2028 and decreasing over the following years, Flannery said.

However, a couple of days after the forum, the MSBA announced that it voted to increase reimbursement by 31%, or $14,743,782. That brings the MSBA total to $61,527,604.

According to Graziano, the boost comes as the result of the state legislature voting for “a one-time $100 million bailout for 30 projects that bid between 2021 and 2022. … So Hopkinton benefited from that vote.”

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Graziano noted that the impact of the higher reimbursement is that the town’s contribution is reduced to $91.2 million.

“This reduces the tax impact on the average home by almost $100 in the peak year,” Graziano said.

Eberly said that if the project is approved, construction for the school would begin “well into 2025,” with the construction design phase, third-party reviews and permitting process from town boards in the years prior.

Q&A features array of issues A couple of residents asked about the state mandating 750 affordable housing units. Graziano said that possibility was not factored in enrollment projections because there are unanswered questions.

He expressed confidence that the design left room to expand, if necessary, around classroom wings.

Several people asked about specifics regarding traffic. One resident said it had been stated at a previous meeting that the traffic work was not included in the $158 million total.

Graziano said that was not the case, and he would show the line items in the budget. “I apologize if that was misstated,” he said. “It’s 100% in the budget. I’m not saying we’ll go forward with all of the aspects … but the money is in there if we do.”

Other residents asked about different building design scenarios, such as putting all the common spaces on the first floor or having a fourth floor.

Another worried about safety and small children having to rush downstairs in case of an emergency. Bell noted that the number and size of the floors and passageways provided for extra, safe egress, and the design includes a fire protection sprinkler system.

ESBC member Mike Shepard reiterated that the proposed school would adhere to required building codes.

Another resident expressed concern about drainage, noting excess water ran onto his property because of the Marathon project. Dan Colli, project manager of Perkins Eastman, said there is a stormwater management plan in place to capture runoff on-site and they would do whatever is necessary to minimize problems as required by law.

In response to questions about added staffing costs, Cavanaugh said whether or not there is a new building, it’s time to add additional assistant principals and adjustment counselors who still would have a ratio of 400 students to one.

In answer to a question about the Hopkins addition project, Cavanaugh said it would cost $40 million, appear as a capital item on the May Town Meeting ESBC | page 15

HopkintonIndependent.com

The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023 • 15

Electronic voting approved for Town Meeting

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

T

he Select Board at its meeting Oct. 26 approved the warrant for the Nov. 13 Special Town Meeting, where electronic voting will be implemented for the first time.

Town Clerk Connor Degan addressed the joint meeting of the Select Board and the School Committee regarding electronic voting at the upcoming STM. The article that is expected to draw the most attendees will be on the proposed new school building to replace Elmwood.

Degan had introduced the idea of potentially using an electronic clicker voting system at the last Select Board meeting. The estimated cost for renting the clickers is $14,500.

“This is a method that is very effective and tried and true,” he explained, noting that it is used by the U.S. House of Representatives as well as cities and towns throughout the state.

He added that it is a secure system that is “simple to use for the voter.” Degan got to see an electronic voting system in action at Natick’s Fall Town Meeting last month.

Voters will receive a clicker and a lanyard when they check in. There is a window of time during which voters can cast their vote, and they can change their minds up until that time frame closes and their last vote is counted.

Meridia has supplied the country with electronic voting systems since 1970. A company representative explained that there are only three colored buttons to use for a yes vote, for a no vote or to abstain.

He added that some advantages to electronic voting are that it speeds up the process and allows for anonymity. Vote counts are clear and virtually instantaneous. Attendance tends to increase as well. To prevent herd mentality, the direction of the voting is not shown — only the final result.

An example Degan gave where electronic voting would have been helpful was at the last Town Meeting during a two-thirds majority vote situation.

“A voice vote was close,” he said.

“The moderator can declare it, but it

was an uncomfortable situation. … This would avoid the frustration voters get when we really should bet a solid count on this vote.”

Member Amy Ritterbusch asked if an amendment to an article can be added on the floor and was told that it can. Once the amendment passes, the new article will go forward as amended.

Select Board chair Muriel Kramer stressed that voters should arrive early so that they can familiarize themselves with the clickers. She said she expects a higher than usual turnout.

Vice chair Shahidul Mannan asked if there was a contingency plan. Degan said a standing vote could be used if there is a failure. Counters will be assigned at the discretion of the moderator. Technical assistance will be offered as well.

School Committee member and Commission on Disability chair Holly Morand questioned if there would be assistance available for people with accessibility issues to ensure equal access.

Degan said that if reasonable accommodation requests are made in advance, Braille clickers can be ordered. The deadline to request any accommodations is Nov. 10, but Kramer stressed to make them “sooner rather than later.”

Town Manager Norman Khumalo said open office hours will be scheduled at Town Hall for anyone who has questions about electronic voting. The deadline to register to vote for the STM is Nov. 3, and the Town Clerk’s office will remain open until 5 p.m.

Said Degan: “We want people to feel confident that this works as a method of increasing attendance and increasing the productivity of the meeting.”

The Select Board unanimously approved four articles for the STM. The first is on the Elmwood School building replacement project. The second one is to approve a legislative petition to eliminate political caucuses and remove printed political affiliation for town-elected officers from local election ballots. The third is to adopt a municipal opt-in specialized stretch energy code. The fourth is in regard to purchasing land for municipal parking in the vicinity of Town Hall.

An article regarding open space acquisition was removed in a unanimous vote.

Costs, traffic among residents’ concerns about new school proposal ESBC | from page 14

warrant and occur “concurrently” with the Elmwood project, with the same opening dates.

Existing assistant principals would move to the new school, with an additional two needed at around $105,000 each. Similarly, existing counselors would move, but there would be a need for two additional at $75,000 each, the superintendent said.

Over the years, a dozen more teachers will have to be added to accommodate the growing number of classrooms, she said.

Graziano suggested people calling for a more comprehensive, town-wide traffic study contact the town manager and Select Board about that possibility.

Other residents talked about being “taxed out of town,” and one said people move into the town for the schools and

then out again when their kids graduate, leaving the remaining people to bear the burden of taxes, which is “a hard pill to swallow.”

Graziano said the ESBC is composed of town residents and taxpayers, almost all of whom do not have children going to the proposed new school.

“We’re facing a problem. The buildings are not able to accommodate the numbers. This is ultimately what it costs to solve the problem,” he noted.

Graziano said he often hears from people that it is the teachers, not the building, that make a school great.

“We want to remain a situation where the building provides the environment for the phenomenal educators and administrators to be able to deliver that education for the students … while being as costeffective as possible,” Graziano said.

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16 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023

Schools Student initiative leads to food allergen awareness campaign Hopkinton High School freshman Reese Robledo stands next to one of the new food allergen signs at a town playground.

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W

hat started as a fourth-grade school project for Reese Robledo more than five years ago has blossomed into a public awareness signage campaign at school playgrounds about the dangers of exposure to food allergens.

For Robledo, exposure to even the smallest particles of food that she is allergic to can lead to hives or — in the worst-case scenario — anaphylaxis, Health & Safety Matters which could be fatal. Some of her many allergies include peanuts, eggs, wheat Most To Us and chicken. The particles can be airborne or spread by surface contact.

For example, Robledo could be in danger if someone ate peanuts at a ballgame a few rows away from her if Health & Safety Matters Most To Us the discarded shells happened to touch her or anything with which she came into contact.

“We did a project where we had to talk about something we were passionate about,” she explained. “Food allergies was the first thing I thought of, because I have to manage them carefully every day.”

Robledo credited Maribeth Tremblay, her former teacher at Hopkins Elementary School, for helping her brainstorm ideas to bring her allergy awareness project to fruition.

“She really wanted to empower Reese,” said Mareesa Robledo, her mother.

“I don’t think this idea would have gone as far as it has without her.”

Tremblay connected Robledo with Health Department Director Shaun McAuliffe, who took a keen interest in the project.

“As allergen awareness and safety are a significant part of our food safety, school and camp inspections, Reese’s project highlighted an educational opportunity that existed within the community that the department could work with her on,” McAuliffe said. “We invited her to present her project to the Board of Health.” amily Family Owned Family Owned & Owned Operated & Operated & Operated Serving Serving MetroWest Serving MetroWest MetroWest Boston Boston Since Boston Since 1968 Since 1968 1968 Family Owned & Operated Serving MetroWest Boston Since 1968 Shortly after that presentation on Feb. 10, 2020, McAuliffe designed and printed signage that he hoped to post at

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all of Hopkinton’s public playgrounds.

But the effort stalled with the onset of the pandemic.

Said McAuliffe: “The pandemic hit, but I had made a promise to Reese.”

Over the next three years, the state’s Department of Public Health created an Academic Public Health Corps to assist local public health departments with COVID-related programming. Its mission expanded to assisting public health departments with implementing innovative public health initiatives. McAuliffe pitched the playground signage idea to the DPH and the APHC. Both agreed about the merit of a statewide playground signage campaign, which is in the works.

Signs have been placed at several Hopkinton school playgrounds this fall.

Dangers of exposure serious According to foodallergy.org, each year, 200,000 people in the United States require emergency medical care for allergic reactions to food. One in 10 adults and one in 13 children are among the 33 million Americans affected.

“It’s so difficult because you just think food is sustenance,” Mareesa said.

“You wouldn’t think it could be such a danger to your body.”

Mareesa discovered that her daughter had food allergies when Reese was only 4 months old. Reese broke into full-body hives after being exposed to supplemental cow’s milk formula.

Originally, Mareesa and her husband, Rob, thought Reese had colic. Within two months, Reese began treatment at the Food Allergy Center at Mass General for Children, where she continues to receive care.

As a young child, everyday experiences such as going to the playground or riding the school bus posed potential life-threatening dangers for her.

“I couldn’t just go with my friends and play freely,” said Reese. “I had to be careful of everything I was touching and making sure that I was always washing my hands and not touching my face.”

Her mother explained that when Allergens | page 17

The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023 • 17

Schools HHS Drama Ensemble presents ‘Mean Girls’ Nov. 16-19 T

he Hopkinton High School Drama Ensemble is performing “Mean Girls” at the HHS auditorium from Nov. 16-19.

Show times are: Nov. 16 at 4 p.m., Nov. 17 and SCHOOLS 18 at 7 p.m., and Nov. 19 NOTEBOOK at 3 p.m.

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For more information and to purchase tickets, visit hopkinton.k12.ma.us/ extracurricular/performing-arts.

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The Hopkinton Fire Department is looking for high school students to help design challenge coins — souvenir medallions that typically acknowledge members of an organization. Files are due by Dec. 1. For more information, email cgianino@ hopkinton.k12.ma.us.

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Student initiative leads to food allergen awareness campaign Allergens | from page 16

Reese was in the first grade, she would receive calls almost daily that her daughter had broken out into hives.

“We were always on alert for allergy bombs,” said Mareesa. “We felt like firemen waiting for the fire. We had to watch everyone and what they were eating, what they were touching.”

When Reese was in preschool, her parents provided allergen-free snacks for the entire class to limit allergen exposure. In the third grade, the class had a “nut and dairy aware” table at lunch.

“My classmates have been really supportive of me,” Reese said. “They understand that I have allergies, so if they have been eating something I’m allergic to, they will wipe their hands.”

“Where most children use the playground after lunch, picnicking or snacking,” McAuliffe added, “to reduce the potential exposure to allergens transferred from the hands to playground equipment, it is important for children to wash or wet wipe their hands after handling common foods containing the eight most common food allergens, including peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, shellfish, soy, wheat and fish.”

Allergen studies continue Reese has been able to reduce the number of her allergens by going through “allergen challenges” at the allergy center. She is monitored while being exposed to small amounts of foods to see if her tolerance has increased. She also has participated in a clinical trial.

This summer, she had to use EpiPens three times during the allergen chal-

lenges.

Mareesa noted that she was afraid of letting Reese take an airplane flight because of what she could inhale or ingest. She began buying masks for airplane trips before the pandemic.

Said Mareesa: “So we were doing masks before it was cool.”

Reese has to carry two EpiPens with her at all times in case an exposure leads to anaphylactic shock.

Said Rob: “We practiced at home on a lot of oranges.”

Both Mareesa and Rob complimented their daughter on her composure in navigating her health challenges.

Modifying their diets and preparing food at home has brought them, along with Reese’s brother, Mack, closer as a family.

Said Mareesa: “Reese had to mature quicker than any other kid who didn’t have allergies just to be able to manage herself.”

Reese has refused to let her condition stop her, playing basketball and field hockey while contemplating a career in interior design. She also enjoys studying the sciences, motivated in part by her condition. She is proud that her advocacy has turned into something that can educate families statewide.

“Like most public health projects, Reese’s should allow all children to safely and confidently utilize the playground without the fear of life-threatening allergic reactions,” said McAuliffe.

“With the assistance of the MDPH and Academic Public Health Corps, Reese’s efforts will make playgrounds across the commonwealth safer.”

HopkintonIndependent.com

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18 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023

Schools School Committee discusses budget requests, Hopkins addition

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

B

udget presentations before the School Committee continued Nov. 2, with student services and technology taking center stage.

Director of Student Services Abigail Hanscom spoke about the fiscal year 2025 preliminary budget for that department, noting the $15,319,189 reflects a 4.88% increase from last year.

The change is comprised of contractual salary increases totaling $688,630, she said, while total expenses are “holding steady” because of a larger circuit breaker reimbursement last year following a 14% increase in out-of-district tuitions.

Hanscom explained that the preschool revolving fund and the IDEA grants would fund positions approved last fiscal year such as a .5 (full-time equivalent) intensive special education teacher and 1.0 ABA (applied behavior analysis) paraprofessional at Elmwood, a 1.0 paraprofessional at Hopkins and 3.0 ABA paraprofessionals at Marathon. These positions carry over into FY25.

Additionally, she said new positions requested are a 1.0 severe/intensive special education teacher at the high school and the same position at the middle school; a 1.0 moderate special education teacher at the middle school; and a .3 clerical position.

The proposed budget shows an increase of $99,249 in transportation.

Hanscom said the SPED reserve fund covered $1,094,024 in tuition in FY24, and the same amount is planned in FY25. The tuition amount will be offset by the state circuit breaker program in the amount of $1.7 million, an increase of $612,933 from last year.

Hanscom said she would like to see certification training in safety care for 50 personnel moved from the fall to the summer of 2024 so that trained personnel will be available at the start of the school year.

Projected cost is $12,500.

She asked to create a teacher training intern program with a local university to address the hiring environment for special educators and potentially provide a bachelor’s degree path for paraprofessionals.

Technology requests explained Director of Technology Ashoke Ghosh spoke on technology, saying his proposed budget has a $334,257 increase (13.9%) over FY24.

He said the technology budget’s priorities include maintaining core operating systems and infrastructure, rebuilding staff needs in data services and technical support, and supporting instructional technology and software needs so that teachers and students have access to digital resources to improve differentiated instruction and strengthen engagement.

The increase in the first area is because of increased enrollment, inflationary costs and security improvements, said Ghosh.

The largest increase in FY25 is in the contracted services account, which supports systems like PowerSchool, he added.

Over the past five years, the Technology Department has been cut by 3.4 full-time tech integration teachers and a webmaster. (At the last meeting, the board approved the return of that position, according to Ghosh.)

He said the department requested a full-time technician and a .4 data support/ system administration position that were not recommended for funding because of town-wide budget constraints.

In addition to maintaining core equipment in classrooms like LCD projectors, document cameras and student devices, the proposed budget also includes additional software licenses to support new students and classrooms that require digital curriculum.

The requested budget’s largest increase would cover new leases for elementary-level teachers and Chromebooks for the middle school, he said.

Capital plan moves forward With a deadline of midnight, the committee voted to approve a capital plan for FY25 and send it on to the town manager for review.

The plan, totaling $46,170,000, in-

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cludes the Hopkins School addition ticket item that had a concept budget of $43,940,000, the amount that is listed.

However, Director of Finance/Assistant Superintendent Susan Rothermich said an initial project cost estimate came in at $46,226,723 — reflecting an increase in scope for things like geothermal energy, Loop Road paving close to the building, a walking track around playing fields and more.

Rothermich said the figure excludes $3 million approved at Annual Town Meeting for the current design phase. It does not include potential rebates from MassSave or the Inflation Reduction Act, she noted.

The higher figure has not been discussed yet in detail with the designers and owner’s project manager to see where changes were made between the concept number and new estimate, she said.

“I get nervous bringing another $46 million to the town,” said member Holly Morand. “It’s going to be difficult.” She added that the plan items are all “important and necessary.”

Unlike the proposed Elmwood School replacement project, the Hopkins addition project is not eligible for any reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

With that in mind, chair Nancy Cavanaugh said she hoped that rebates and other decisions could reduce the number.

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The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023 • 19

Sports Hopkinton’s return to youth tackle football a success H

opkinton’s youth tackle football program returned in style this season, with a team of players in Grades 3 and 4 holding their own in the Eastern Massachusetts American Youth Football League fourth grade division.

SPORTS season ended ROUNDUP Nov.The 1 with a loss to topseeded King Philip in the first round of the playoffs.

Highlights included qualifying for the postseason with a 3-5 record and beating Holliston for the first victory of the season.

The team, which played home games at the Fruit Street turf field, also enjoyed visits from Hopkinton High School varsity players, who helped run drills at some practices.

Coach Matt Pantera, who helps Bryan Brown run the program, said he’s hopeful this is the start of something big.

“This was an amazing experience and a great opportunity to bring tackle football back to the youth level in Hopkinton,” he said. “We look forward to building this program so that we have tackle teams at every level, from third grade through middle school.”

Hopkinton used to have a big tackle program (combined with Ashland), but it was paused when the pandemic hit and never revived. Tackle players from Hopkinton since have been playing with the Holliston program, while others moved to the popular flag football program in town.

“We’d like to have tackle teams in each grade and continue to integrate with the middle school and high school coaches,” Pantera said. “The future looks bright.”

HHS teams start postseason play After a stellar regular season, Hopkinton High School’s fall sports teams began postseason play last week.

Field hockey is the seventh seed in Division 2 and hosted No. 26 Middleborough on Nov. 3.

Volleyball is seeded seventh in Division 2 and hosted 26th-seeded

Hopkinton’s Grade 3/4 youth tackle football team, the town’s first tackle team in four years, wrapped up its season early this month.

Westwood on Nov. 3.

Boys soccer is the No. 8 seed in Division 2 and is looking for a return to the state final. The Tri-Valley League Large champions started their journey when they welcomed No. 25 Duxbury on Nov. 5.

Girls soccer, with a record of 170-1, is the No. 3 seed in Division 1.

The winner of a preliminary-round game between Plymouth North and Cambridge Rindge & Latin was to visit Hopkinton on Nov. 5.

Meanwhile, boys cross country won the TVL title at the championship meet on Oct. 28. Girls cross country was second in the TVL, two points behind Holliston.

Parker Winn competed in the Division 1 State Golf Tournament on Oct. 31, shooting an 84 (16 strokes behind the winner). Winn had tied for first at the Division 1 Central Cham-

pionship at Sutton’s Pleasant Valley Country Club on Oct. 23 with a 71.

Football fell to Sharon, 22-16, on Nov. 2 in a consolation-round game.

HHS boys VB program approved At its Nov. 2 meeting, the School Committee approved the addition of a dedicated junior varsity wrestling coach, because the number of participants created a need for a JV team.

Coach Corey Mills spoke about the need for this position.

The committee also approved a pilot boys volleyball program to take place this spring. The athletic department put out a survey and found out there is enough interest (34 students in Grades 9-12) to start a team. Coaches

will be paid from the user fees.

Athletic director Rick Andrade noted in his request he was looking to cover the cost of a head coach and assistant coach. He said studentathletes’ families will cover transportation, and team members would use basketball uniforms in the short term.

Andrade expects the number of participants to increase if the program gets started this year. In his request, he noted equipment costs including net systems, balls, a scorers table, scorebooks, and more, and these items would be usable in programs for both boys and girls.

School committee member Susan Stephenson asked about liability should something happen when parents or students transport themselves to events. Andrade said parents sign a waiver form/permission slip that has been reviewed by a lawyer.

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20 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023

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

Jack Dean Jack Dean, 53, a 26-year-resident of Hopkinton, passed away peacefully at his home on Oct. 17 after a short illness. He was listening to his favorite music and surrounded by his loving family. Born in Malden, Jack was raised in Reading by Ed and Bunny. He and his older brother, Tom, had an almost idyllic childhood, filled with love and laughter, family adventures, plenty of shenanigans, and what Jack described as the best after-school snacks in town.

Jack is predeceased by his adoring mother, Berenice “Bunny” (Buckett, March 2023) and his fabulous cousin, Jeanne Fullerton (January 2022). He is survived by his beloved wife, Renee (Einbinder), and smart and beautiful daughter, Linnea; his father, Ed of Litchfield, New Hampshire; his big brother, Tom, and sister-in-law, Brita (Sorli) Dean, of Chelmsford; nephew Duncan and niece Lilia; aunt Joanne Bulla of Harrison, Maine; cousin Marianne Dudek and husband Martin of Concord, New Hampshire; cousin Rob Bulla and partner Joyce Carp of Harrison, Maine; adored brother-in-law Erik Einbinder and sisterin-law Jamie of Arlington, Virginia; and father-in-law Robert Einbinder and partner Gail Hendrikson of Boynton Beach, Florida. Jack also leaves behind many beloved friends and work colleagues, all of whom provided unwavering support to Renee and Linnea these last difficult months.

After graduating from Emerson College in 1992, Jack spent his career working in retail, then banking. He was adored and respected by his colleagues and supervisors across many companies, and it’s no secret that he was the person you went to when you needed a problem solved.

Jack was a loving, beloved and doting father, husband, son, brother and friend.

His quiet and sometimes reserved nature belied a sharp wit, and he was known for coming up with the perfect phrase or made-up word to perfectly describe an absurd situation. Jack loved music in all its forms: live, on vinyl, carefully arranged on a mixtape, or a well-curated Spotify playlist. Over the past several years, Jack had renewed his passion for Lego creations, spending hours collecting, building and cataloging sets. It was a beautiful benefit that Linnea shared his excitement for the “brick.”

Jack was the ultimate dog lover and couldn’t go long without a dog living in the house. The three mutts that he and Renee adopted over their 26 years of marriage lived or are living their very best lives.

Visitation was held Oct. 21 at the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton, followed by words of remembrance. In lieu of flowers, please consider mak-

ing a donation to Pawfect Life Rescue, 195 Old Millville Road, Uxbridge, MA 01569, the American Cancer Society (cancer.org), or Salmon Home Care (hospice), 37 Birch Street, Milford, MA 01757.

Benjamin Tomlin Benjamin P. Tomlin, 79, of Hopkinton passed away at his home after a long illness on Oct. 18. He was the son of the late Eva (Paul) and George A. Tomlin. He was the beloved husband of 50 years to the late Frances Ann (McGrath) Tomlin.

Ben grew up in Hopkinton. He was a graduate of Hopkinton High School in 1962 and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Korea as a construction engineer. After his discharge from Korea, he moved to the U.S. Air Force base.

Upon his return to the U.S., he continued to work as a civil engineer in the reserves.

He retired as a chief after 32 years. He worked for Bose Corporation for 23 years. His hobbies included woodworking, fishing, gardening, and hunting.

Ben is survived by four siblings, Barbara Lombard, Paul Tomlin, Agnes Torento and Margaret Hayes. He leaves behind many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his son, Benjamin James “BJ” Tomlin, his brother, Clement Tomlin, and his godson, Brad Canty.

A private graveside service was to be held with family. A celebration of life was held Nov. 1 at the Woodville Rod & Gun Club. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ben’s name may be made to Canty’s Underdog Scholarship Fund, 5 Cunningham Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748.

Arrangements were under the care of Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton.

William Cotter William “Bill” Francis Cotter of Townshend, Vermont, formerly of Wilmington, Vermont, and the Massachusetts towns of South Yarmouth and Hopkinton, passed away peacefully with his daughter by his side on Oct. 14 at West River Valley Cares in Townshend, Vermont. Born in Framingham on Sept. 27, 1932, to John and Irene (Fournier) Cotter, Bill graduated from Framingham High School in 1951 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed at Chicksands radio squadron base near Bedford, England, and was responsible for intelligence communications and Morse code translation. Bedford is where he met the love of his life, Joan, and they enjoyed 57 wonderful years together until her death in 2011, which broke his heart.

Bill worked many years in construction and retired from the Town of Sherborn in 1995. He went back to work part-time at the Cape Cod Times for several years after his retirement.

Joan and Bill enjoyed traveling and took many trips back to England to visit family and friends. They also enjoyed many bus trips together, meeting new friends while traveling to several parts of Florida, the Carolinas, Virginia Beach and Maryland. Bill loved to sing, dance with Joan, work outside in his yard and spend time watching the New York Giants and Boston Red Sox. He was happi-

est when he was spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Bill is survived by his three children, Paul and wife Kerin, Teresa and partner Gerald DeGray, and Philip and wife Janice. He had five grandchildren, William (Kayla), Danielle, Samantha (James), Marc (Lexi) and Alexandria, and five great-grandchildren. Bill also is survived by his sister-in-law, Louise Cotter, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by his brother, John, and his three sisters, Cecelia (Cotter) Brodie, Lorraine (Cotter) Patrician and Doris (Cotter) Hanna.

A celebration of life was to be held at a later date with a private family burial.

The family would like to thank the staff at Valley Cares for the compassionate care given to their father and grandfather. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill’s memory to Valley Cares Assisted Living, P.O. Box 341, Townshend, VT 05353 or Bayada Hospice, 1222 Putney Road, Suite 107, Brattleboro, VT 05301.

Steven Molnar Steven Molnar, 69, passed away at his home in Hopkinton on Oct. 15.

Steven was strongwilled and candid. He also had an enormous heart, a keen intellect and a wonderful sense of humor. He was generous, loyal and full to the brim with knowledge gained through all of his life experiences.

After graduating from UCLA with a major in mathematics, Steven started his career at Hughes Aircraft Company in California, then moved to Massachusetts to work for Raytheon in 1989. Steven liked to say that he was a mathematician who worked as an engineer. After a long and illustrious career as an engineer, Steven retired in 2022. He continued to have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. He was often spending his spare time researching topics of interest or reading books. Steven loved contemporary classical music and cooking. He was also an avid cyclist, riding his bicycle 50 miles a day. Steven lived life fully until the very end.

On Aug. 23, 2002, Steven met Adel at a dog park. They married exactly one year later on Aug. 23, 2003. Steven will be greatly missed by his wife, Adel Peterdi Molnar, daughter, Ramona Molnar, and their canine and feline companions. He truly loved each of them — and if you knew him, you knew it.

There are no services planned. A celebration of life will occur, with details to be determined.

David Sherman David R. Sherman, 76, of Milford and formerly of Woodville, passed away peacefully at home on Sept.

8 after a long-fought battle with brain cancer. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Barbara, his ex-wife, Eileen Emberger, his children, Scott, Kathleen, Andrew and Matthew (Lisa)

HopkintonIndependent.com

Sherman, his brother, James Michael (Lisa) Sherman of Milford, and sister, Linda Stoddard of Fort White, Florida, along with many other relatives and friends.

David is preceded in death by his parents, Florenz (Sherm) and Mary (Alford) Sherman, his stepson, Andrew Kobbs, his nephew, James, and his mother-in-law, Jean Burr.

David founded and worked for many years at TINAH Machine Shop as a CNC machinist and was co-founder of ReFoamIt LLC. His passion was playing golf, and he cherished his time playing in golf leagues at his favorite courses, Blissful Meadows and Millwood, and recently in the Renegades Golf League with his brother, Mike, or taking golfing trips to Myrtle Beach with friends Ron, Jeano and John. He was a member of the Framingham Eagles and Framingham Elks.

Many weekends, you could find Dave at farmers markets, selling fish with his wife or pickles for his brother.

After his retirement, David enjoyed weekend trips with his wife by his side.

He will be remembered for his love of golf, jolly warm smile and willingness to help anyone. He ran a cocker spaniel rescue at his farm in Douglas for many years and always wanted a dog in the house.

Please join his family and friends to celebrate his life on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. at the Framingham Elks, 450 Union Avenue.

Memorial contributions can be made to Project Just Because in Hopkinton, Dana-Farber/Jimmy Fund or a charity of your choice.

Richard Olson Richard L. Olson, 58, of Mattapoisett died Oct. 18 unexpectedly, at home.

Born and raised in Boston, son of Nancy W. (Weirsman) Olson of Boston and the late Thomas E. Olson, Rick was a 1983 graduate of DoverSherborn High School. He received a bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College in 1987. His work in commercial real estate took him to live in Virginia and Connecticut before returning to the Massachusetts towns of Hopkinton, Bourne and then Mattapoisett five years ago.

Being by the water and sailing, when possible, always brought him pleasure.

He enjoyed playing golf with family and friends over many years. He inherited a deep interest in history from his father’s family. He loved his children and took delight and pride in their accomplishments and their presence.

Survivors include his mother; his former wife, Catherine I. (Irons) Olson of Bourne; his four children, Thomas Olson and fiancee Brittany Soucar of Boston, Zachary Olson of Bethesda, Maryland, Samuel Olson and Margaret Olson, both of Bourne; his fiancee, Maureen Burke of Mashpee; and a brother, Andrew Olson of Greenville Junction, Maine. He was predeceased by brothers Thomas E. Olson Jr. and David Thomas Olson.

Funeral arrangements will be private. Contributions in his memory could be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 62 Walnut Street, Suite 5, Wellesley, MA 02481 or the American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 208521.

The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023 • 21 For more information on any of the following programs or other activities at the library, visit hopkintonlibrary.org. Many programs require registration. Visit the library’s website calendar for event registration information. The library also can be found on Facebook, @hopkintonlibrary, and on Twitter, @HopkintonPLMA.

LIBRARY CORNER

Schedule Update

The library will be closed on Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day. The library also will be closed from Thursday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Nov. 26, for the Thanksgiving weekend.

One Book/One Hopkinton Book Discussion

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 6-7 p.m.

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

Frayed Knot Fiber Arts Circle

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

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

Get Good with Money and Reach Your Financial Goals

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2-3 p.m.

Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche, who will lead this online program, was a successful preschool teacher with a healthy nest egg when a recession and advice from a shady advisor put her out of a job and into a huge financial hole. As she began to chart the path to her own financial rescue, the outline of her 10-step formula for attaining both financial security and peace of mind began to take shape.

Narcan Training and Community Harm Reduction

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

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

CALENDAR

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

Monthly Music & Movement

Metrowest Symphony Orchestra at HMS Nov. 12

Women’s Financial Roundtable

Women’s Club Monthly Meeting Nov. 13

Thursday, Nov. 15, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

This children’s concert by performer Julie Stepanek is recommended for ages 0-5. Music & Movement is generously supported by the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation and the Hopkinton Cultural Council.

Wednesday, Nov. 15, 1-2 p.m.

This virtual program is for anyone confused about financial markets, wondering what Bitcoin is all about or staring blankly at retirement statements. Julia Strayer and Liz Maccarone present Women and Money Roundtable: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets. Each session focuses on a different topic.

Why She Writes: An Afternoon Chat with Joy Harjo

Thursday, Nov. 16, 4-5 p.m.

U.S. Poet Laureate and winner of the 2022 Academy of American Poets Leadership Award Joy Harjo will take part in this virtual chat to talk about her most recent memoir, “Catching the Light,” and to discuss her rewarding lifetime as a writer and poet.

A Taste of Korea with KSCPP

Saturday, Nov. 18, 3-4 p.m.

As part of One Book/One Hopkinton, this online cooking lesson with the Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project will focus on how to prepare japchae (potato starch noodles with various vegetables), with step-by-step instructions. In addition to the lesson, KSCPP will explain the health benefits of traditional Korean meals and share a short documentary film on bangjja, traditional Korean bronze ware.

An Evening with Authors Tess Gerritsen and Paul Doiron

Monday, Nov. 20, 7-8 p.m.

Bestselling author Tess Gerritsen will discuss her new book, “The Spy Coast,” in this Zoom conversation with bestselling author Paul Doiron.

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The Metrowest Symphony Orchestra, composed of music-loving volunteers and professionals from the MetroWest region and beyond, performs at the Hopkinton Middle School auditorium on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. The concert, themed Favorite Classics, will benefit MetroWest Veterans Services. It will include a range of popular classical pieces, closing with Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor featuring the internationally renowned Constantine Finehouse on piano. The orchestra welcomes guest conductor Nathaniel Meyer for this performance. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for veterans and seniors, and free for children under 12. For more information, email info@metrowestsymphony.org.

The Hopkinton Women’s Club will hold its next monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 13, at 9:30 a.m. at the Hopkinton Public Library. This meeting will include a program (for pre-paid members only) on flower arranging, led by Marie Smith.

For more information, visit hopkintonwomensclub.org or email HopWCMembership@gmail.com.

Wildfire Presentation at Library Nov. 14

Alex Belote, fire program coordinator for the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry and Fire Control, will present a public education program on fire history, fire towers, prescribed fire, fire mitigation and national strategies for living with fire. It will be held Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Hopkinton Public Library. The program, sponsored by Friends Of Whitehall, is free and open to the public.

Dementia Friends Information Session Dec. 6

Residents are invited to become a Dementia Friend by attending an interactive and engaging Dementia Friends Information Session at St. John the Evangelist Church on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. Attendees will learn the five key dementia messages, the different types of dementia and their impact, what it’s like to live with dementia, how to interact and communicate with people living with dementia, and small gestures that make a difference. For reservations, call the Hopkinton Senior Center at 508-497-9730. The session, open to residents of any town, is suitable for adults and children in middle school and older.

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 required. For more information, contact Amy Beck at the Senior Center, 508-497-9730.

Trails organizations seek monthly volunteers

The Hopkinton Trail Coordination and Management Committee (TCMC) and the Hopkinton Trails Club have created a monthly trail volunteer day on the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m.-noon. Residents also are encouraged to inform these groups of maintenance issues observed on trails (downed trees, trails becoming overgrown, etc.) by emailing TCMCchair@hopkintonma.gov or hopkinton.trails. club@gmail.com. For more information, visit hopkintontrailsclub.com.

Event Calendar Sponsored by

HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS Cinderella and the Substitute Fairy Godmother | Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. | Nov. 11 and 12 at 3 p.m.

It’s the night of the royal ball and Cinderella must get to the palace if she is ever to meet her one true love, Prince Charmfull. But when she calls for her Fairy Godmother, it turns out that some bad potato salad has given all the Fairy Godmothers food poisoning. Enter Lucretia Fossilwart, scented candle saleswoman and substitute fairy godmother. This will not end well.

Or will it? Featuring a cast of 20 students (grades 3rd–5th), this one-hour comedy is sure to delight kids and adults of all ages.

Primarily Potters Sale and Show | Nov. 16 from 5 to 7 p.m | Nov. 17 & 18 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Hey there, fellow pottery enthusiasts!

You won’t want to miss out on the hottest event of the holiday season. This year, eight incredibly talented potters will be showcasing their stunning and functional ceramics that will make the perfect gifts for your loved ones or even yourself — we won’t judge! From delicate vases to sturdy mugs, there’s something for everyone.

Soul Function Boston | Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.

Local and HCA favorite Soul Function Boston is a 9-piece band of veteran musicians who grew up listening to everything from Chicago, Tower of Power, Doobie Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Sam and Dave and just about everything in between. Now it’s their joy to share this music with people of all ages who love to dance as much as they love to play.

The Grab Brothers | Nov. 18 at 8 p.m.

The Grab Brothers are true brothers— Larry and Marc Grab—with music that explodes in a rockstar blend of “retro for today” lead guitar crunching rhythms, mystical-leaning lyrics and arena-filling vocals that pull your heart strings on a whim. But there’s more. These brothers can also strum you a pot-full of acoustical gems and have you singing along to their life-fulfilling stories even when you’ve never heard the songs before.

Your Arts Center | Tickets & Details at HopArtsCenter.org

HopkintonIndependent.com

22 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023

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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.

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2:19 a.m. On East Main Street, Officer Nicholas Walker checked on a vehicle with a missing license plate and spoke with an employee, the owner of the vehicle.

11:04 a.m. A walk-in stopped into the station to be served a trespass order on behalf of the Franklin Police Department.

7:23 p.m. A Greenwood Road caller reported suspicious activity after someone knocked on his door and ran away. Officer Cody Normandin responded and found that someone left a note that read, “You have been booed,” as part of Halloween festivities.

9:15 p.m. A motorist reported she hit a deer on Cedar Street, near Carbone’s Restaurant. The incident was logged.

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October 29 4:55 a.m. A caller reported parties passed out in a vehicle on South Street. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Augusto Diaz responded and arrested a 21-year-old from Northbridge and charged him with marked lanes violation, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and OUI liquor.

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8:34 a.m. Officer Matthew Santoro took a report of a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident on Hayden Rowe Street.

10:11 a.m. A caller reported finding a bike, medication containers and a jar of money on Penny Meadow Lane. The incident was logged.

10:27 a.m. Officer Tyler Staback took a larceny report on Alprilla Farm Road, where packages were stolen.

11:07 a.m. A caller reported swans in the roadway of Downey Street. Officer Tyler Staback responded and checked the area with a negative find.

4:33 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Main Street. Officer Shannon Beloin responded and requested an evaluation for a 2-month-old child. A crash report was taken.

October 19 5:17 a.m. A caller reported an abandoned vehicle on the side of the road on Cedar Street Extension that appeared to have been in an accident. Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded and confirmed that the vehicle had significant damage and was abandoned. He attempted to contact the owner and requested a tow.

8:55 a.m. An Apple Tree Hill Road resident reported people walking in the area and asking about the names of neighbors. Officers Robert Ekross and Noah Buentello responded. The individuals were gone upon their arrival.

12:34 p.m. A caller reported a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. Officers Noah Buentello and Robert Ekross responded and took a report. The other involved party went to the station and was advised to return to the scene.

12:35 p.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield took a crash report on Wedgewood Road.

5:09 p.m. A caller reported credit card fraud.

Officer Shannon Beloin assisted and took a report.

October 20 1:07 p.m. The owner of a Main Street business reported six youths hanging out in the lobby and interfering with business, and he wanted them removed. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded

HopkintonIndependent.com

and removed them.

1:33 p.m. A manager of a Main Street store reported out-of-control youths on his property and climbing the building. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and removed the youths.

1:42 p.m. Sergeant Matthew McNeil removed a group of kids causing a disturbance on Main Street.

5:25 p.m. Wayside reported threats from a juvenile Hopkinton resident. Officer Matthew LaTour took a report.

5:42 p.m. Officers Cody Normandin and Brennan Grimley responded along with the Fire Department to a reported illegal burn on Hayden Rowe Street. The fire was extinguished.

8:08 p.m. Officers Brennan Grimley and Cody Normandin checked on suspicious activity on Pleasant Street and spoke with an uncooperative and aggressive relative of the homeowner.

9:28 p.m. A caller reported identity theft. Officer Cody Normandin assisted and took a report of fraud.

October 21 12:38 p.m. A Franklin detective requested assistance in checking if a missing minor was staying at a Constitution Court residence. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Shannon Beloin responded, located the minor and released her to the Franklin Police Department.

4:47 p.m. Officer Shannon Beloin checked on a vehicle parked on the curves on Cedar Street and found a person taking photos. All was OK.

October 22 7:11 a.m. A motorist reported he was rearended on Hayden Rowe Street and the other vehicle fled. He provided the license plate number. Officers Tyler Staback and Augusto Diaz responded, took a report and contacted the Milford Police Department for assistance in locating the driver who fled.

8:26 a.m. A caller reported a small dog with no collar running around on Granite Street. The animal control officer was contacted.

9:12 a.m. A motorist reported her vehicle was hit on Cedar Street and the other vehicle, a white SUV, drove away. Her driver side mirror was struck. Officer Tyler Staback responded and took a report. The Southborough Police Department was notified.

10:54 a.m. A Poplar Lane caller reported seeing on his security camera at 2:38 a.m. someone approaching his doorbell and then walking away.

The caller’s neighbors saw four individuals walking around in the neighborhood. Officer Tyler Staback spoke with the caller and took a report.

11:48 a.m. A caller reported a tree fell on wires on Newbury Street and the road was not passable. Officer Cody Normandin responded and notified Eversource about the tree on top of primary and secondary wires.

12:29 p.m. A motorist reported while she was driving on West Main Street, someone struck her vehicle and then fled. She pulled over behind the church and contacted AAA. Officers Cody Normandin and Tyler Staback responded and searched for a white sedan with driver side damage with a negative find. A hit-and-run report was taken.

October 23 5:47 p.m. A Constitution Court resident reported someone broke her window with a rock.

Officer Cody Normandin responded and took a report of vandalism.

October 24 7:32 a.m. Officers Noah Buentello, Tyler Staback and Nicholas Walker responded to a motor vehicle crash on Granite Street, where a pole was snapped in half. Eversource was notified. A Verizon emergency crew responded. Two police details were requested. No personal injuries were reported.

The Hopkinton Independent • November 8, 2023 • 23

Police Log 9:09 a.m. Police Chief Joseph Bennett assisted a disabled motor vehicle that ran out of gas on West Main Street and transported the operator to Cumberland Farms.

11:20 a.m. A Wayside Drive caller reported his friend’s laptop was never delivered from Best Buy, but it was not stolen. Officer Tyler Staback assisted, reported a language barrier and advised the caller to have the owner of the laptop contact the Police Department when he returned to the country.

1:57 p.m. A caller reported a black dog with a white stripe and approximately 40 pounds running in and out of traffic on Hayden Rowe Street. Officers Noah Buentello and Tyler Staback checked the area. The dog was gone upon their arrival.

3:57 p.m. A caller reported she and her dog were attacked by a German shepherd on Valentine Circle. A message was left for the animal control officer.

9:47 p.m. Sergeant William Burchard reported a vehicle struck a deer on College Street.

October 25 8:57 a.m. Officer Tyler Staback responded to a motor vehicle crash on Hayden Rowe Street. No personal injuries were reported.

10:07 a.m. A caller complained of speeding vehicles on Wedgewood Drive. Sergeant Matthew McNeil spoke with the caller.

10:42 a.m. A Whalen Road caller reported a suspicious Asian female taking photographs of people in the neighborhood. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and reported the woman was photographing leaves. All was OK. 5:09 p.m. A Colella Farm Road resident reported her 7-year-old son was missing. He had been on Colella Farm Road. Police Chief Joseph Bennett, Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Brennan Grimley and Shannon Beloin responded and found the boy.

6:04 p.m. A caller reported a black SUV on the side of the roadway on Ash Street and a woman sitting on a nearby wall. Officer Shannon Beloin responded and spoke with the woman, who had engine trouble and was waiting for her mechanic from Milford. Officer Beloin stood by until the vehicle was removed.

October 26 11:19 a.m. An Autumn Ridge Drive resident reported seeing the same coyote in the neighborhood the past few days around 5 p.m. The animal control officer was notified.

8:28 p.m. A caller reported a car struck a raccoon on West Main Street and the raccoon was rolling around.

Officers Noah Buentello and Cody Normandin responded, moved the animal to the side of the road and notified the DPW. 10:02 p.m. A Hayden Rowe Street caller reported his neighbor’s house had been vacant, but he saw a basement light on. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Brennan Grimley, Cody Normandin and Noah Buentello responded and found the basement door open. They secured the building.

October 27 1:03 p.m. A caller reported an older-model Chevy with a missing front bumper speeding on Main Street.

Officer Shannon Beloin responded.

The vehicle was gone upon her arrival.

1:15 p.m. A caller called back and reported the speeding vehicle was back in the area. Officer Shannon Beloin and Sergeant William Burchard located the vehicle at State Park headquarters and issued the driver a citation.

5:01 p.m. A minor reported he was accused of stealing from CVS on Main Street. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil spoke to him and assisted.

6:08 p.m. A caller reported a group of kids playing on construction equipment in a rear parking lot on Main Street. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and removed the juveniles.

October 28 1:08 a.m. Officer Augusto Diaz assisted a motorist on Main Street who was looking for a gas station.

1:02 p.m. A walk-in reported identity theft. Officer Sean McKeon assisted and took a report of fraud.

5:03 p.m. A caller reported a man had his dog off leash on South Street and it ran at her, and he was confrontational after the incident. Officer Robert Ekross responded and gave the caller her options.

6:01 p.m. An angry caller reported

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speeding vehicles on Grove Street.

Officers Noah Buentello and Cody Normandin responded. The vehicles were gone upon their arrival.

10:37 p.m. An anonymous caller reported a party with underage drinking on Norcross Road. Multiple officers responded, and parents picked up their children. Reports were taken.

10:48 p.m. A caller reported a disturbance on Fruit Street, where a party was in progress. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Cody Normandin, Augusto Diaz and Noah Buentello responded and reported a group of kids fled into the woods by Roosevelt Lane.

A report was taken.

11:03 p.m. An anonymous caller reported an underage party on Brook Hollow Lane. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Robert Ekross responded and broke up the party.

The homeowners were to ensure the partygoers got home.

11:49 p.m. A caller reported a disturbance on North Mill Street and a party in progress. Officers Augusto Diaz and Cody Normandin responded and found all quiet.

October 29 12:29 a.m. A motorist reported a vehicle swerving on South Street. Sergeant William Burchard responded and checked the area with a negative find.

9:03 a.m. An Elizabeth Road caller reported a large bat was in his house

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the previous night, and he caught it and it was dead, but the bat possibly brushed up against his daughter. He asked if the bat could be tested for rabies. The animal control officer was contacted.

10:05 p.m. Officers Robert Ekross and Noah Buentello checked on a person in a parked vehicle on West Main Street and moved him along.

October 30 11:28 a.m. A Main Street caller reported two aggressive males claiming to be from Verizon. Officer Tyler Staback responded and moved the men along.

8:36 p.m. A caller reported a suspicious SUV parked on College Street and two males running up the street.

Officer Matthew LaTour responded.

The vehicle and individuals were gone upon his arrival.

8:40 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle crashed into a stone wall on Saddle Hill Road. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Brennan Grimley responded and reported no personal injuries.

10:16 p.m. A caller complained of barking dogs on Mount Auburn Street. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and advised the owner of the complaint.

11:28 p.m. Officer Nicholas Walker took a report of stolen property on West Main Street.

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