Hopkinton Independent Nov10

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HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 22 | No. 23 | November 10, 2021

Cavanaugh: ‘Super’ start to new mask policy

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

T

PHOTO/CHRISTINE STRICKLAND

he Hopkinton School Committee’s 3-2 vote to become the first Massachusetts community to lift the mask requirement for COVID-19 vaccinated students and staff for a three-week trial period in November has brought forth a range of opinions from both inside and outside the community.

Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh recommended to the School Committee at its Oct. 21 meeting that a trial period at Hopkinton High School be instituted before the holiday season, lifting the indoor school mask requirement from Nov. 1-19, with a return to the previous policy resuming on Nov. 22.

“It’s so interesting where people are,” Cavanaugh said in an interview with The Independent. “They’re all over the place.”

While she said that some people are “vehemently opposed” to the new policy, others are “really supportive of this, and some people are tentative about it.”

PINK VS. PANTHERS

Hopkinton High School senior Kate Powers goes up for the spike during an Oct. 20 victory over the visiting Holliston Panthers. The Hillers, who wore pink uniforms as part of their Dig Pink fundraiser for cancer research, took an undefeated record into the state tournament.

Masks | 15

Town provides update, answers questions about PFAs in water

INSIDE

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

NEWS

Parks & Rec talks new turf; dog park gets final touches

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PFAs | 7

4

BOSTON MARATHON Timing of race was special for resident with Indigenous ties

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SCHOOLS

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

he level of PFAs — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — in the town’s water supply is at a higher-thanmaximum contaminant level allowed for the third straight month, putting Hopkinton in violation of the state drinking water regulations.

Department of Public Works Director John Westerling hosted an hour-long public information meeting Oct. 26 with officials from the town and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to explain the situation, how the PFAs content could affect vulnerable populations, and the steps that will be taken next.

One of the wells at the town’s Fruit Street facility continues to test for PFAs at a higher rate than the state allows.

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2 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021

Hopkinton Independent

Girl Scouts focus on ‘bee kindness’ A team of Hopkinton Girl Scouts created the Bee Kindness Garden on the Center Trail in 2018, and a younger group of Girl Scouts now maintains the garden.

The Hopkinton Independent is published by Hopkinton Independent, LLC, 32 South St., Westborough, MA 01581. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of the ad that was in error if notified in writing within three business days of the publication date. All material is the property of the Hopkinton Independent. Permission must be obtained in writing before reproducing any material. The Hopkinton Independent is delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to 100 percent of the homes and businesses in Hopkinton, reaching more than 7,200 addresses. It’s also available at Price Chopper and Hopkinton Drug as well as at many other local businesses.

STAFF

Publisher: David Bagdon Dir. of Business Development: Susanne Odell Farber Founder: Sarah Lothrop Duckett Managing Editor: Jerry Spar Social Media director: David Bagdon

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Editorial contributors: Lyn Calkins, Michelle Sanford, Chris Villani, Deborah Burke Henderson, Tricia LaCascia, John Cardillo, John Buday, Sandy Quadros Bowles, Christine Strickland, Mary Ellen Gambon, Christie Vogt

contact us

FOR ADVERTISING: Contact Susanne Odell Farber Cell: 508-954-8148 or Email: Sales@HopkintonIndependent.com FOR MAILED SUBSCRIPTIONS, Contact the Hopkinton Independent Office: 508 435-5188 or Email: Sales@HopkintonIndependent.com EDITORIAL COMMENTS AND INQUIRIES, including Letters to the Editor should be emailed to Editor@HopkintonIndependent.com

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.

here has been a lot of publicity in the last few years regarding the threats to our ecosystem due to a decline in the bee population.

Hopkinton Girl Scouts want to make sure that message is front and center. And it is, at the trailhead on Hopkinton’s Center Trail (just off Main Street).

The Bee Kindness Garden was created in the spring of 2018 by seventh-graders in Girl Scout Troop 65040. For their Silver Award project, the Cadettes took on a series of activities to raise awareness of the issue. The troop worked with town committees (Select Board, Upper Charles Trail Committee), civic organizations (Hopkinton Garden Club) and private businesses (McIntyre Loam, Woodville Lawn & Garden Service) to establish the garden with bee-friendly plants.

During the pandemic in 2020, with more people enjoying outside activities, the troop organized younger Girl Scouts to paint rocks with positive and encouraging messages and placed them in the garden.

According to troop leaders, the Bee Kindness Garden “is both a celebration of nature as well as the kindness exhibited through the inspirational words painted on rocks placed in the garden that reflect the overall theme of Girl Scouts as an inclusive organization.”

The girls who started the garden are now juniors in high school, and this year a younger troop answered their call to mainINDEPENDENT tain the garden. Troop 62495, led by Lina Gill and Alexis Murphy, THOUGHTS added new plants (donated by the Hopkinton Garden Club and Lowe’s of Milford), mulch (donated by Angel’s Garden Center), JERRY SPAR bee “hotels” and a bench next to the garden.

Meanwhile, first-grade Daisy Troop 83125, led by Rebecca Bacon and Katie Pierce, kept the garden watered and weeded over the summer.

“We are thrilled that Troop 65040 has passed the baton over to us!” Gill shared.

“Over the years they hosted events to encourage kindness in our community, teaching others about the importance of bees, and their mission still continues today through care of the garden, its pollinators (bees and birds) and the addition of kindness rocks that people contribute and share words of encouragement and support for others who come to enjoy the trail. My hope is that our girls can add their own additions to this trail and garden over the years and continue to contribute to this mission.”

Hopkinton Girl Scouts boasts 175 girls in 25 troops, from kindergarten to Grade 12. For more information on the program, visit hopkintongirlscouts.org or email hopsucoordinator@gmail.com.

Hiller Block 5K Friday The Hopkinton Middle School’s annual Hiller Block 5K is this Friday, and it will feature the biggest group of eighth-graders ever, reports Stephanie Whelan of the 26.2 Foundation, which sponsors the event.

Some 150 students have been learning how to properly train to run a 5K during the past few weeks in their elective physical education class. A number of teachers and administrators also are expected to run, with 25-30 parent volunteers monitoring the course.

The race begins at 1:15 p.m. at Field 1 (behind Doyle Gym). The course takes the participants around the turf fields and then two trips around Loop Road before finishing on the school track, in front of the bleachers.

PJB offers holiday help The Hopkinton-based food pantry Project Just Because is looking to get out the word that it wants to help any families in need during the holiday season. PJB is providing holiday meals as well as gifts to ages 18 and under.

These programs are available now to anyone in need, from Hopkinton or anywhere in the state. No appointment is needed. Individuals can walk into the PJB facility at 109 South Street and sign up for a Thanksgiving meal and holiday gifts.

The office is open Mondays through Thursdays from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., with extended hours to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Information also can be obtained at the PJB website: projectjustbecause.org.

Palmer runs for Dougie’s Team Former Hopkinton resident Mike Palmer was slated to run the New York City Marathon this past Sunday as a captain of Dougie’s Team, supporting the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. Palmer has been raising money to help the Flutie Independent Thoughts | 3

HopkintonIndependent.com

The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021 • 3 Independent Thoughts | from page 2

When it comes to Real Estate it takes more than a village…

Foundation continue to fund programs that help people and families affected by autism live life to the fullest.

Palmer, who grew up in Hopkinton and now lives in Brighton, is an autism self-advocate who recently completed his third Boston Marathon as part of Dougie’s Team.

“The Flutie Foundation has helped me to come into my role as a leader, runner and autism self-advocate,” Palmer stated. “I used to be very shy growing up, but when I started running I was able to break out of my shell and come into my own.

I have been so lucky to raise funds and awareness for autism through my love of running!”

It Takes a TEAM!

DPW: Don’t touch wires

The Hopkinton DPW shared this photo of a fallen tree blocking a road following the storm on Oct. 26.

The Oct. 26 storm — featuring heavy winds and rain — was another in an increasing number of damaging bad-weather events to hit Hopkinton. The Department of Public Works reported that it was out all night cleaning up storm damage, and the Hopkinton Police Department’s call log includes numerous reports of downed trees and wires.

The DPW wants to remind residents to never approach wires on the ground. Always assume they are electrically charged and stay clear for your safety.

Scouting for Food event underway

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am writing to spread the awareness and instructions of the upcoming Scouting For Food event. As part of a national Boy Scouts of America program, Scouting for Food in Hopkinton is organized by the Hopkinton Scout Leaders Association and includes the Hopkinton Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts.

The effort supports the Project Just Because Hopkinton Food Pantry. The mission of this project is to collect food and cleaning supplies to provide to people who can’t afford them and need help. The event is split between two parts, the first being the drop-off, which [was] on Saturday, November 6th, where Scouts [went] around town putting plastic bags with instructional fliers onto people’s mailboxes.

The second step is the pickup, which is going to be on Saturday, November 13th.

This is where scouts will collect bags of food placed at the bases of people’s mailboxes, sort the food at the Town Common and deliver filled bins to the Project Just Because Hopkinton Food Pantry at 109 South Street. There is one exception for what Project Just Because will take — no products with expiration dates prior to January 2022 can be accepted by the pantry.

Last year, despite COVID, the event managed to accumulate 10 tons of food and household supplies, at the top of our average of six to 10 tons over the past decade. With the drive’s help, Project Just Because has been able to feed and help more than 300 Hopkinton families. Thanks in advance to everyone who is able to give!

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Chuck Joseph 508-509-6169

Mike Auen

508-951-4951

Ann Clark

508-439-2728

Play it cool

— Harrison Bograd, Troop 1, Hopkinton

Turtles take off for winter Fall is in the air and, hopefully, turtles have by now gone to a suitable location for their long winter’s nap. You may notice some empty signposts that previously held “turtle crossing” signs. The signs (and the turtles) will be back come spring.

Road-crossing turtles are typically females off to lay eggs, or hatchlings, heading for the relative safety of a pond. Thanks to the following for their part in helping alert drivers to the presence of turtles on Hopkinton roads.

— The Hopkinton Conservation Commission purchased 10 signs this spring.

— The Hopkinton DPW installed the posts under the watchful eye of Phil Schiloski.

— Additional aid in first installing the signs, or in their just completed removal, was provided by Sarah Minsk, Morrie Gasser, Duarte Eduardo and Craig Nation, who was accompanied by two of his worthy support staff.

Thank you!

— Ed Harrow, Hopkinton

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

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4 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021

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At its Oct. 27 meeting, the Parks & Recreation Commission continued discussions on the Fruit Street fields replacement. The commission discussed the results of a startup meeting with Gale Associates. Kathy Hervol of Gale Associates estimated that by 2022, the cost of materials will go up by 5-7 percent and likely will rise again in the first quarter. This forecast gives the commission “more impetus to do this quicker rather than later,” Parks & Recreation Department Director Jay Guelfi said.

Gale Associates will provide firm numbers and a more detailed proposal in early December. As mentioned in previous meetings, project scheduling is an additional concern. “There’s a long list of folks who want to replace their turf right now,” Guelfi said. “The sooner we get in the queue, the better off we are.”

If the project proceeds, construction might take place in mid- to late 2022.

Meanwhile the dog park, just down the access road from the turf fields, is nearing completion.

“We are inching up to the finish line,” Guelfi said. “The only thing we’re waiting for are the gates to the fence and a couple other minor things.” As previously reported, the gazebo will not be installed until January, but the park will open to the public prior to the gazebo’s arrival.

NEWS BRIEFS

Veterans Day festivities planned Hopkinton’s annual Veterans Day ceremony will he held on Thursday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Hopkinton Senior Center. The Senior Center will open at 10 a.m. for the event.

At 5:30 that evening, the annual Hopkinton Veterans Dinner, sponsored by the Hopkinton Veterans Celebration Committee, will be held at the Woodville Rod and Gun Club.

Open Space Commission works on Whitehall The Open Space Preservation Commission announced that efforts continued late last month to remove invasive plants — notably bittersweet, Japanese knotweed, multiflora rose, barberry and glossy buckthorn from the meadow area of the Whitehall Conservation Area.

According to a press release from the commission: “Mike Boelsen did the heavy lifting with his tractor, Chuck Dauchy of the Hopkinton Area Land Trust provided the technical oversight and detail work. Additional assistance was provided by Brian Morrison of Friends of Whitehall and Nancy Peters and Ed Harrow of the Hopkinton Open Space Preservation Commission.”

Added the commission: “Go outside and take a walk.”

Fuel assistance available Applications are being accepted for the home heating fuel assistance program through SMOC (South Middlesex Opportunity Council). The program runs from November to April, and is available to all households in Hopkinton if the total household income falls within certain guidelines. A household of one qualifies for assistance with an income up to $39,105, a household of two qualifies with an income up to $51,137, etc. Those potentially eligible for assistance includes people who heat with natural gas, oil, propane, electricity, wood, coal or pellets, as well as individuals whose heat is included in their rent.

For more information or to receive assistance applying for assistance, call the Senior Center Outreach Department at 508-497-9730 and ask for Kim or Julia (they will help any resident, not just seniors).

Due to health and safety concerns, no walk-ins are accepted — only prescheduled appointments.

HCCCF gala promises roaring good time

By Courtney Cornelius Contributing Writer

G

uests will be grabbing their pearls and pulling out their pinstripes for the Hopkinton Country Club Charitable Foundation Roaring ’20s Evening Gala.

The HCCCF’s 12th annual gala fundraiser will be held Saturday, Nov. 20, from 6:30-11 p.m. at the Hopkinton Country Club. Guests will tap their spats to the jazz, feast at gourmet dinner stations, participate in auctions and swing their fringe with returning act Never in Vegas, a New England rockand-pop cover band favorite.

“We are hosting this gala to raise money to support local organizations that help families in need,” explained HCCCF President Fred Wahlers.

“We will also be celebrating our milestone of $1 million granted to more than 40 nonprofits since our inception in 2010.”

The HCCCF was formed by Hopkinton Country Club owners and members with the mission of raising funds to support charities and causes that empower citizens in MetroWest and surrounding communities. HCCCF has two main focus areas: youth development and economic assistance.

“Our focus in supporting youth development and economic assistance for those most vulnerable has not wavered since our founding, but recent events and the current climate we all face make our mission paramount to supporting local communities,” Wahlers said.

HCCCF awards approximately $100,000 each year, providing assistance to between 10-20 charities annually. Grant applications must be submitted

by September. This year, 15 organizations will receive awards. Additionally, the foundation selects

HopkintonIndependent.com

a spotlight grantee to be recognized at the gala. Past honorees have included Milford Daily Bread Food Pantry and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

This year’s spotlight grantee is Milford-based Children Across America (childrenacrossamerica. org), which offers free programs to underserved kids to build literacy and math skills. Founded by Ray Fellows in 2007, the organization helps more than 400 children annually through book clubs and math sessions and aims to ensure every child leaves elementary school with the literacy tools they need to continue their education.

The foundation also is expanding its reach through a discretionary grant program, supporting events like the Boston Marathon and fundraisers to benefit cystic fibrosis research as well as other causes championed by individual members.

HCCCF grant funds are raised in part through two major events held every year — a golf and tennis tournament in the spring, and the gala in the fall — but in 2020, the coronavirus pandemic and resulting restrictions prevented such gatherings.

Nonetheless, Wahlers noted, the community stepped up, managing to raise and grant $99,000.

“We could not have done this without the generosity of our family and corporate sponsors,” Wahlers emphasized. “We are extremely grateful for their continued support amid the COVID crisis and today’s economic climate.”

November’s speakeasy-style gala event is open to the public, and individuals won’t need an invitation from Gatsby — tickets can be purchased for $150 at hopkintoncccf.org/events. The website also has information on how to become a family or corporate sponsor. For those who can’t find their feathers or fedora and cannot attend, the organizers accepts donations via its website (hopkintoncccf.org/give).

The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021 • 5

Scientific developments subject of local author’s new book A

s the world of science and technology seems to be advancing at warp speed these days, it’s hard not to think about what the world could be like in the years to come.

Could we live on Mars? Will robots become part of our households? Will we have pet dinosaurs? Maybe we’ll teleport from one place to another? These are just some of the possibilities discussed in the new book, “Welcome to the Future,” written

by Hopkinton resident Kathryn Hulick and illustrated by Marcin Wolski.

“I’ve been writing about science and technology for years,” said Hulick, who contributes regularly to the online publication Science News for Students and has published other nonfiction books on artificial intelligence, energy technology and dinosaurs.

“When I was 8 years old, I knew I wanted to be an author, but I never intended to be a science writer. I wanted to write novels.”

Her new book is geared toward curious middle schoolers and compels young readers to consider a very interesting way of life in the future.

“Welcome to the Future” contains 10 chapters, and Hulick likens each to their own individual book. Each chapter ponders a science or technology topic and examines scenarios that could affect our future way of life.

us to do certain things, does that mean we should?

One section discusses living forever and asks if we were to develop the science for eternal life, should we use it?

“There’s a lot of different voices involved in a question like this. Who decides if we should or we shouldn’t?” asked Hulick.

“The book gets into some deep questions.”

“Welcome to the Future” is set to be published in early November and will be available online. Hulick is having a book launch Nov. 15 at the Plainville bookstore An Unlikely Story. Virtual events discussing the book also are planned for Nov. 13 and Nov. 30. For more details, visit KathrynHulick.com.

job or do piles of boring homework. If robots could take on any type of work, people might live life as a never-ending vacation. It sounds amazing?”

The chapter then goes on to discuss some of the negatives associated with having robots in our society.

Chapters also delve into areas such as dinosaurs as pets, artificial intelligence, living forever, cities in space and much more.

Although the author has a science background, she completed extensive research for her book and sought out and interviewed more than 50 experts in the field.

“Welcome to the Future” also interestingly begs the question: Just because future science and technology may allow

By Michelle Sanford Contributing Writer

Hopkinton resident Kathryn Hulick has a new book coming out in November, “Welcome to the Future.”

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Chapter 1, Robots Everywhere, takes a look at how robots might influence our everyday lives someday.

Writes Hulick: “Wouldn’t it be awesome never to wash dishes or fold laundry, ever again? And most people don’t want to work long hours at a stressful or dangerous

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he Planning Board discussed Eversource’s improvement project at the liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility at 52 Wilson Street for the majority of its hour-long meeting Nov. 1.

The main issue was the request for additional tree cuttings at the southern border of the site in the vicinity of a new flare stack, which was unanimously approved. A flare stack is a gas combustion device used in industrial plants such as gas refineries and chemical plants for the safe removal of gaseous waste. There initially was a 50-foot radius, but Eversource requested that it be doubled to 100 feet.

“It’s really for fire safety,” explained Tracy Adamski on behalf of the applicant.

“Eversource wants to make sure that this is a safe environment, so they’ve identified a 100-foot radius in which to remove trees.”

Several of the 55 trees planned for removal are dead or diseased, she noted, making them more prone to catch fire.

The larger trees, which are between 60 and 80 feet tall, will be cut so that the stumps remain to prevent soil disturbance. The exception is for trees with a 4-inch diameter radius, which will be removed by hand.

Phil Paradis of BETA Group, the town’s engineering consultant, said that less than a quarter of an acre of land would be disturbed by the tree removal.

There was less of a concern of erosion because there wouldn’t be exposure of subsoil. Any runoff will go to into the woods to the southwest.

“I don’t think this is a huge lift regarding stormwater management,” he said.

Once the new flare is installed and working, said Jim Blackburn, Eversource’s project manager, the two flares across the street would have very limited

use “or potentially eventually eliminated.” They would only be in use for “a handful of days,” he added.

The new flare is only about 40 feet tall compared with the older ones that are between 90 and 100 feet in height, Blackburn added. The radius of the trees to be removed was determined by the heat flux of the flare to the trunk of the tree.

An issue with the trees is that some of the branches hang near the flare, so it makes more sense to remove the trees during the construction period, particularly those that are dead or diseased.

“Congratulations for thinking ahead for preventative maintenance by ensuring the thought process of the potential danger that could exist,” said new Planning Board member Ron Priefer, who was sworn in last week.

After some discussion, the board determined that the tree removal was insignificant to the stormwater management proposal. Native noninvasive shrubs were requested to replace the diseased and dead trees to prevent erosion and help with water absorption. Blackburn agreed to the request for a minimum of 20 shrubs to be planted in the area of the proposed cutting.

In addition, the board unanimously approved an extension of the stormwater management permit, which will expire in January. Most of the site work should be completed by the end of this year, but this extension would allow for an additional year due to the weather as well as for planting in the spring.

Fox Hollow bond release reduction approved Most of the work on Fox Hollow, an open space land preservation development (OSLPD) subdivision off of Pond Street,

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6 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021

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From the desk of:

BRIAN E. THOMAS, President PHIPPS INSURANCE AGENCY It is with mixed emotions that I announce the upcoming retirement of Joanne Hassett.

Joanne joined the agency in 2001 and has been an instrumental member of our team. Over the last 20 years she has served Joanne Hassett our clients with absolute grace, professionalism and kindness. Her last day in the office is Friday, December 3. I invite you to reach out to her and join us in wishing her the very best.

◆◆◆◆◆ It is my pleasure to introduce Joanne’s replacement, Nicole Thomas. Nicole graduated from Hopkinton High School in 2016.

She attended UMass-Amherst, where she earned a B.A. in economics in 2019. She has Nichole Thomas spent the last two years working for MAPFRE Insurance learning the company side of the business. I am confident that she will embrace our clients with the same honesty, professionalism and kindness that all of our staff strive to achieve. Please join us in welcoming Nicole.

Since 1950

This issue’s winner is Anay Pachori for this photo titled “Walk of Your Life,” taken near Frankland Road. 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.

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on Hey Hopkint

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

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

Planning Board approves tree cuttings at Eversource LNG facility Planning Board | from page 5

has been completed, Principal Planner John Gelcich noted. At this stage, he said that the applicant, Eric Dias, would like to turn over ownership of the road on the property to the town.

Before this can transpire, BETA Group, the town’s engineering consultant, needs to identify any additional work that needs to be completed, Gelcich explained.

“It may make sense to hold on to $5,000 to $10,000 of the bond until the road is actually accepted by the town in case something comes up,” he said, “and then fully release the bond once the road is accepted.”

The current amount of the bond is $134,094, Dias said. He was agreeable to withholding $5,000 of the bond.

“We can have that [work] wrapped up within a week of getting guys to the site,” he added.

The board voted to reduce the bond to a total of $5,000 contingent upon the assessment from BETA.

Turkey Ridge Estates hearing continued

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15 at the applicant’s request. The decision date was rescheduled to Nov. 23. The plan previously was designated an OSLPD.

Two new members appointed to ZAC The Planning Board unanimously approved James Burton and Nisha Nanaware-Kharade as alternate members of the Zoning Advisory Committee (ZAC).

Mannan volunteers to serve on CPC Planning Board chair Gary Trendel announced his decision to resign from the Community Preservation Committee, where he has served for the past two years. He recommended member Shahidul Mannan to serve as his replacement, and Mannan accepted.

“The CPC I think is an interesting committee,” Trendel said. “They have the ability to support a lot of different investments within the community, from affordable housing to various historic properties and features.”

Some CPC projects Trendel mentioned include the restoration of the HCA farmhouse, EMC Park and headstone restoration.

The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021 • 7

Town provides update, answers questions about PFAs in water PFAs | from page 1

PFAs are a group of man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries in the United States and around the world since the 1940s. They are found in products such as furniture wax and hairspray.

PFAs are very persistent both in the environment and in the human body because they do not break down, so they accumulate over time.

Some of the harmful effects include problems with fetal development as well as possible liver, kidney and pancreatic cancer. They also can negatively affect blood and immune system function.

Westerling explained that the town’s water supply comes from eight wells as well as water purchased from Ashland.

All of the wells are interconnected via pipes. The source of the slightly elevated level of PFAs has been found in Well 6, and it has increased, according to testing conducted in September.

“When people ask whether or not they are getting water from the affected Well No. 6, because all of our water becomes one once it becomes part of the system, we can’t tell you definitively whether or not you are receiving water from Well No. 6,” he said.

This is the reason that public information materials about PFAs went out to the entire town, he noted. Information also is available on the town website.

Water is being blended at the Fruit Street water testing facility to reduce the amount of PFAs in Well 6.

Mary Jude Pigsley, the regional director of the MassDEP Central Regional Office, gave a presentation on PFAs and their effects, as well as Hopkinton’s sample results.

“They are man-made chemicals with an incredibly strong bond between carbon and chlorine molecules,” she said, noting they must be burned at 900 degrees Celsius in order to disintegrate them. “This is one of the strongest chemical bonds that you can have.”

Sensitive populations include infants, pregnant women, nursing mothers and people who are immunocompromised and who are drinking and cooking with this water in a residential setting, Pigsley said. People can reduce their risk of exposure by using bottled water.

“There is no home water treatment system that is certified to meet the DEP standard yet,” she added.

In October 2020, MassDEP adopted a strict drinking water standard, limiting the quantities of six specific PFA chemicals to no more than 20 parts per trillion.

The Environmental Protection Agency, however, set the federal limit at 70 parts per trillion.

Samples from Well 6 collected in July detected PFA levels at 20.9 parts per trillion, while a follow-up test in August showed 20.5 parts per trillion, according to the presentation. The average of 20.7 is slightly above MassDEP’s standards.

A sample taken on Sept. 21 at the Fruit Street pump station showed 24.7 parts per trillion, triggering the process of public notification. If the sample is over 20 parts per trillion for three consecutive months, that technically puts the town in violation of the drinking water standard.

Pigsley added that the level at Well 6 was 37.2 parts per trillion in the last test.

A public notice will be sent out shortly notifying residents of the violation.

Sometimes PFAs are found near manufacturing facilities or after fires, Pigsley explained.

“If we can find the source, we can talk about cleaning it up,” she said. If

Well No. 6 is one of our greatest producing wells. If we were to take that offline totally, we wouldn’t be able to meet the daily demands of the community.

— DPW Director John Westerling

the party that caused the contamination can be verified, that entity can be held responsible for the cost of the cleanup and possibly the cost of the water treatment.

She added that Massachusetts is one of the first states to have a drinking water standard. Although there is no federally enforceable drinking water standard yet, she said the EPA hopes to have one by 2023.

Zoom participant Paul Bonaceto asked if there were any possible sources that caused the contamination at the Fruit

Street site.

Pigsley said that MassDEP relies on the knowledge of residents who may know of past facilities that may have contaminated the site. The Fruit Street facility is located near the highway.

Resident Dave Roberts asked if Well No. 6 could be taken offline because of the high amount of PFAs. “Well No. 6 is one of our greatest producing wells,” Westerling explained.

“If we were to take that offline totally, we wouldn’t be able to meet the daily

demands of the community.”

The blending facility combines the water from Wells 1, 2 and 6 to lower the concentration of manganese, he added.

A question was raised about reverse osmosis systems. Pigsley advised against them, noting that they waste three times as much water as they clean and then redistribute that water back into the septic system. Carbon units can take out some PFAs, but not up to the 20 parts per trillion.

Westerling said now that the town is considered in violation, it must come up with a plan within 30 days to either reimburse some people for bottled water or deduct money from their water bills.

Pigsley said that a short-term plan needs to be developed within 30 days of the notice to protect sensitive populations. After that, there is a 30-day window to develop a long-term plan. That may include treatment, a new well, or obtaining water from somewhere else, which would be a lengthy process.

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Marathon on Indigenous Peoples Day adds meaning for local family Runner Ted Resnikoff is smudged with the smoke of sage and sweet grass by Hopkinton’s Daniel Eastman prior to last month’s Boston Marathon.

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ust before Roxbury’s Ted Resnikoff embarked on his 11th consecutive Boston Marathon run, Hopkinton’s Daniel Eastman smudged him with the smoke of sage and sweet grass.

The action is in the Native American tradition, and the Boston Marathon, due to the pandemic rescheduling, fell on Oct. 11, Indigenous Peoples Day. For more than a decade, Resnikoff has run in honor of the Native American who inspired him to take up the sport, Emmett “His Many Lightnings” Eastman. This year’s run took place just one week after Emmett Eastman died at the age of 89.

Daniel Eastman said he first met his cousin in 2007 after being put in touch by the screenwriter of “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee,” which was released as a television movie that year. Eastman found out that his connection to the Dakota

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stretched back to Charles Eastman, a Boston University-educated doctor who became the first Native American to be certified in Western medicine when he graduated from BU in 1890.

“At that point, I didn’t even know I had Dakota relatives, so it was a surprise,” Eastman said. “Through that we developed a bond and got to know Emmett. When he heard we were from Hopkinton he threw out the idea of running in the marathon again.”

An accomplished ultra distance runner, Emmett Eastman had run Boston in 1972 and returned in 2008 at the age of 76. Resnikoff, a videographer, followed Eastman along the route and was so inspired that he decided to take up running himself.

Emmett Eastman began running after losing his wife and their eighth child, who both died when their son was born and Eastman was 40 years old. Over the next several decades, he ran thousands of miles, participating in marathons and sacred walks and runs around the world.

“He was a member of the group Sacred Run International,” Daniel Eastman said. “They ran ultramarathons around the world to raise awareness about Native American rights and to spread the culture.”

Running took Emmett Eastman to all parts of the world, including Australia, Japan, Russia and all throughout Europe. In 2012, Eastman met Queen Elizabeth II in England during the monarch’s Jubilee celebration.

“He was the one from his delegation invited to go meet the queen,” Daniel Eastman said. “So he got to meet the queen and say hello to her dressed in the full Native American regalia.”

Emmett Eastman also wore his Boston Athletic Association medal that he had earned four years earlier by completing the marathon. Daniel Eastman said running the race shortly after Emmett’s passing on Indigenous Peoples day added significance to the day.

“We went out to South Dakota for years and they always had Indigenous Peoples Day, so we had celebrated it with Emmett there,” he said. “It was always a big powwow and cultural event.”

Daniel Eastman described Emmett as a very “traditional” Dakota. He said the people who were in South Dakota mourning his passing had their spirits lifted by Resnikoff’s run. Daniel Eastman said that, with Emmett’s passing, a chapter of his life has come to a close.

“It was a special connection,” he said.

The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021 • 9 For more information on any of the following programs or other activities at the library, visit hopkintonlibrary. org. The library also can be found on Facebook, @hopkintonlibrary, and on Twitter, @HopkintonPLMA.

LIBRARY CORNER

New Young Adult Librarian The Hopkinton Public Library is pleased to announce the hiring of Jak Miller as Hopkinton’s next young adult librarian. A resident of Hopkinton, Jak has worked as a reference substitute for the library since July. Jak brings a strong background in library service for young adults through a master’s in library and information science from Simmons University specializing in youth services, as well as superb leadership skills gleaned from 13 years of management experience with the U.S. Army. The library is excited for Jak to join the team and looks forward to seeing the great work she will do for our young adults in Hopkinton.

Baptiste Power Yoga Class Mondays, Nov. 15, 22 and 29, noon (Zoom) Natasha Linton from Nourish Power Yoga & Ayurveda in Hopkinton will lead a weekly 30-minute Baptiste Power Yoga class. Register via the library’s website calendar.

Conversation Circle at the Library Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m.-noon; Thursdays, 6:30-8 p.m.

This program will provide an opportunity for English as a second language (ESL) learners to practice vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar in a fun, comfortable, laid-back environment. Register at the library’s website calendar.

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America Tuesday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m. (Zoom) In this virtual discussion, acclaimed author Richard Rothstein demonstrates that residential segregation was created by racially explicit and unconstitutional government policy in the mid-20th century that openly subsidized whites-only suburbanization in which AfricanAmericans were prohibited from participating.

Chat ’n’ Chew Book Group Wednesday, Nov. 17, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Instead of assigning a book for all participants to read, each person reviews something they have read.

Check the library’s website calendar for details.

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.

Women’s Club centerpiece workshop Nov. 13 The Hopkinton Women’s Club will host a floral centerpiece workshop, presented by Marie Smith, on Saturday, Nov. 13, from 1-3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church hall (61 Wood Street).

The fee is $50 per person, which includes all materials and instructions on how to make a 14-inch fresh flower holiday centerpiece. Masks and proof of vaccination required.

Proceeds benefit the Hopkinton Women’s Club’s charitable work. For more information or to reserve a spot (by Nov. 1), visit the club’s website at hopkintonwomensclub.org.

HCCCF annual gala Nov. 20 The Hopkinton Country Club Charitable Foundation’s 12th annual gala will be held Saturday, Nov. 20, at 6:30 p.m. the Hopkinton Country Club. This year’s theme is the Roaring ’20s. The event includes live jazz music, dancing, dinner and exclusive auctions. For more information or to buy tickets, visit hopkintoncccf.org/ events.

Al-Anon weekly meetings Thursdays Anyone affected by someone else’s drinking is welcome to attend a confidential Al-Anon meeting, which

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takes place every Thursday from 7:30-9 p.m. at the meeting room in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (61 Wood Street). For more information, visit al-anon.org or call 888-4AL-ANON.

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. Volunteers are needed to help with general trail maintenance throughout the year, and a specific trail will be selected each month for targeted maintenance. 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 the

HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS Primarily Potters | Nov. 19 & 20 The annual Primarily Potters Exhibition and Sale returns to the HCA. The public is invited to view the exhibit and to purchase handcrafted gifts and ceramic wares from the artists for themselves or as unique gifts for friends and family. Items for sale will include mugs, platters, vases, and other decorative items. Show is open Nov. 19, 9:30am to 7:00pm | Nov. 20, 9:30am to 6:00pm.

There will be an Artists reception on Nov. 19 from 5:00 to 7:00pm.

Cheryl Arena Concert | Nov. 19 One of only 30 artists featured in the book “Masters of the Harmonica,” Cheryl Arena has been bringing the sound of authentic American blues music to audiences around the US and Europe for over 30 years! Whether you want to hit the dance floor and shake your hips or sway in your seat while you tap your feet, Cheryl and her topnotch band always deliver powerful, undeniable blues with a feeling! Tickets on sale www.HopArtsCenter.org

Festival of Wreaths Show and Auction | Nov. 23–Dec. 9 A variety of festive holiday wreaths will be on display in the HCA Lotvin Family Gallery. Created by local artists, wreaths will be available to bid on in a silent auction. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

Ayla Brown Christmas | Dec. 17 The HCA is excited to welcome back country music singer and Country 102.5 morning show co-host Ayla Brown to our stage for a special holiday concert.

Ayla will perform your favorite Christmas classics and sing a special original Christmas song. Tap your feet and sing along to fun cover songs and ones that Ayla has written. Join us for a magical evening of music and storytelling!

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Antiques Town Hall Q&A: Town Clerk Purchased Connor Degan

Connor Degan (left) runs the town’s elections, among his many duties.

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Football, Wings and Tailgates 1. While at the park, Dre throws a football to Everett when he is not looking and breaks his nose.

Would Dre’s apartment insurance policy pay for Everett’s medical injuries?

2. Eric and Lexie make 200 chicken wings for a tailgate. While heading to the game in Lexie’s car, the wings spill out of their container and stain Lexie’s seats. Would Lexie’s car insurance help pay for any of the stains?

3. Bryan’s business hosts a tailgate party away from his office. During the event, an attendee trips and falls over a cornhole board Bryan set up. Would Bryan’s general liability pay for the injuries even though he is not at his office?

Answers: 1. Yes, apartment insurance includes liability and medical payment coverage. 2.Yes, if Lexie has comprehensive coverage.

However, she would be subject to her deductible. 3. Yes, general liability insurance would provide coverage away from the office and business location.

Editor’s note: This story is part of an occasional series focusing on town employees.

Connor Degan has spent most of his life in Hopkinton, attending the public schools and graduating from Hopkinton High School. He graduated from Roger Williams University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

“Even when I was in school, I was involved in a number of campaigns and used the knowledge of my major to help people run for office, particularly at the state level,” he said.

He decided to take a step back from this aspect of government around 2016 because “we started to see a real uptick in extreme partisanship.”

“That wasn’t part of my career goal,” Degan explained. “I really wanted to help people in some more direct manner.”

Hopkinton Independent: How did you come into your current position?

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Connor Degan: “I heard from a neighbor that Geri Holland, my predecessor, was looking for some help in the office back in 2015. She didn’t have any money in the budget, so I decided to volunteer to learn more about local government. I worked with her from March to November, when she announced that she would be retiring in December. I decided to go for it after receiving support from my family and people in the community. At the time, I was also serving on the Housing Authority, where I was elected as a write-in candidate. I’ve always had a passion for history and government, so the town clerk position was a perfect fit for me.”

HI: What inspired you to become interested in government?

Degan: “I have to give credit to my parents. I remember when I was young, watching my first Select Board meeting on HCAM. My mother had gone to talk about street names because they were considering renaming the street that we lived on. My mother was saying that we shouldn’t erase the history of the street, so the Select Board came up with a compromise. Also, when I was in high school there was a local government project. We had to go and research a local town board, committee or official. By the luck of the draw, I got the Select Board, so I went to a meeting and wrote a report on it. I would like to say that those two experiences are what got me interested in the nuts and bolts and gears of government.”

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Degan: “Some people like to colloquially say that the town clerk is the face of Town Hall. I like to think I am the point-of-contact person for the community, because I am the only person who works full-time at Town Hall who’s also an elected official. I might not always have the answer for you, but I always know the person you can talk to. I like to focus on the customer service aspect. Others think that all we do is issue dog licenses, but the job encompasses so much more than that. I help people in their brightest and darkest moments, from issuing birth and marriage and death certificates. It’s a way to make someone’s day a little better and make my job even more fulfilling. We get people from start to finish and everywhere in between in their lives. The job also encompasses running elections, voter registration, permitting for utility poles and all types of registrations, among other duties.”

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Degan: “I would have to say one thing I am particularly proud of has been the implementation of election reforms as chief election official of the town. We had very dated equipment that wasn’t even produced anymore, so we had to rely on other towns to turn in their old equipment to get the spare parts. But 2016 was a Town Hall Q&A | 12

HopkintonIndependent.com

The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021 • 11

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12 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021

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 2-yearold Owen.

Here is Baypath’s description of Owen: “Have you been missing a giant fluffball in your life? If so, then Owen is the man for you!

This gentleman came from Texas all the way to Massachusetts. He loves to play, especially with toys that squeak. Owen is a gentle boy who is smart and eager to please. He can take a second to warm up, so for this reason we think kids over 15 would suit him best. If you think this giant fluffball is for you, reach out for more information on him, his medical needs and our adoption process.”

For more information on Owen 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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Town Hall Q&A: Town Clerk Connor Degan Town Hall Q&A | from page 10

great way to pivot into the federal government’s push that election equipment was deemed critical infrastructure and needed to be entirely foolproof and not able to be tampered with. They have an extremely low margin of error and do a fantastic job. We had to do a lot of additional training with election officials to make sure that it came out effectively. Another thing I have been trying to do is digitize more records and make them more accessible. We have so many really ancient records in the Town Hall that so many people don’t get to see. Since I’ve started, we’ve probably spent about $75,000 just restoring old records. It’s part of the role of the Town Clerk as a town historian to make sure that those are there for generations to come and will impact people long after I’m gone. I’ve also worked really hard to encourage young people to vote through early voter registration efforts.”

HI: What was your biggest challenge?

Degan: “Within a week of my coming into office, we received a recount petition. I very quickly had to read up on all the recount procedures and laws and contact people on other towns’ boards of registrars. On our Board of Registrars at that time one person had resigned and another had been an election worker. That left it with me and one other person, so I had to go to the Select Board to get them to appoint a Republican as a temporary member because I am an independent and the other member was a Democrat.

If there had been a tie, it would have to go to the courts. We were lucky that the recount was dead on. But there were a lot of letters to the editor about that.

But I always thought you learn more from the adversity phase. The 2020 election was another challenge because of the pandemic and the push — for good reason — for early voting. We had a whole bunch of election workers wearing masks and social distancing trying to stuff envelopes with ballots.

My assistant and I were probably working 80 hours a week from last August through November. But both of us feel that we were just so glad that people could vote, and about 6,000 or 7,000 voted by mail.”

HI: What are your favorite aspects of your job?

Degan: “I’m also a justice of the peace, so I get to perform marriage ceremonies. I love doing them. I also enjoy serving as the clerk at Town Meeting. I just love the concept that if you’re a voter in town, you get to be a legislator for the day. The thing I really love about the job is that it’s never the same day twice. It forces me to think critically and to keep in mind all of the various regulations. I am always busy with something interesting. I’m fortunate to live in a community that is so supportive of me personally and of the office. I grew up here, and I like to think of all my constituents as my neighbors. I’m really lucky to serve people who are so dedicated to their community.”

HopkintonIndependent.com

The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021 • 13

Senior Snippets

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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 check Ourseniorcenter.com/find/Hopkinton-council-on-aging or 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.

Thrift Store The thrift store is open Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Transportation Options for Seniors The Senior Center recently hired an additional van driver, which means it now is offering transportation to and from the Senior Center as well as local shopping Tuesdays through Fridays for Hopkinton residents.

The Senior Center can help residents find transportation assistance for medical appointments and essential shopping, utilizing grants and MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) programs. Individuals aged 60 and older, veterans or those homebound due to a disability should call the Outreach Department at the Senior Center at least three business days in advance of the desired day of travel at 508-497-9730, ext. 1615, for assistance in scheduling a ride Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

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Certified laughter yoga master trainer Linda Hamaker of Let’s Laugh Today will show participants how to bring more laughter into their lives without using comedy, jokes or humor. This unique exercise of laughter and clapping combined with gentle breathing brings more oxygen to the body’s cells. This oxygen boost gives enhanced vitality, energy and a feeling of real well-being. Any age and any level of physical ability can participate in this uplifting experience. Participants can sit or stand — there are no fancy poses.

Friends of Senior Center Annual Christmas Sale Friday, Nov. 19, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 20, 9 a.m.-noon Those looking to get a jump on their holiday shopping can stop by the Senior Center and check out silent auction items, handmade goods and much more. Proceeds go to the Friends of Hopkinton Seniors, an organization that helps support nutrition, transportation and other programming needs for the Senior Center.

Our Time Memory Cafe Call for dates Our Time Memory Cafe is a welcoming gathering for those experiencing forgetfulness, mild cognitive impairment or living with dementia, and their care partner, family and friends. The cafe is a place to socialize, share experiences with others going through similar changes, and form friendships. A care partner must accompany anyone who requires assistance. The program is a joint venture between the Hopkinton Senior Center and Hopkinton Public Library. For more information or to register, call 508-497-0108 or email info@ourtimememorycafe.org.

TED Talks Mondays, 12:30 p.m. (offered live and virtual) In 1984, TED Talks were created to bring technology, entertainment and design information to the curious and open-minded public. These videos cover a wide array of subjects and always lead to lively discussion and conversation. The Outreach Program at the Senior Center will have casual TED Talks group meetings over Zoom for one hour every Monday at 12:30 p.m. The meeting will consist of viewing a video and then discussing it. The program is free. Register by calling the Senior Center at 508-497-9730.

‘Keep Movin’ with the Senior Center Second and fourth Friday of each month, 10 a.m. (HCAM) This half-hour show features a wide variety of community resources and upto-date information on what’s happening at the Senior Center.

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14 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021

BUSINESS PROFILE: AN ADVERTISER FEATURE

UniBank launches $2M charitable foundation

By Christie Vogt Contributing Writer

O

n Oct. 13, UniBank, which has 13 locations across Central Massachusetts, announced the founding of UniBank Charitable Foundation, an endowment of $2 million. The foundation will support local nonprofits and organizations.

CEO Michael Welch says establishing a foundation is a way to “recommit ourselves to being a mutual bank” and to ensure UniBank’s charitable giving in perpetuity. The long-established bank celebrated its 150th birthday last year, but Welch says the company still is eager to introduce itself to the community and explain what makes UniBank different from other banks.

As a mutual bank, Welch explains, UniBank does not have shareholders and stockholders to whom it must pay dividends, “so that gives us a great deal of freedom. We can take the long view on different situations. It provides us an opportunity to give back to the community a larger proportion than most stock banks are able to.”

At the event announcing the foundation, each attendee

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At the ceremony announcing UniBank’s new charitable foundation were (from left) Frank Carroll, Timothy Wickstrom, Michael Welch, Jim Coughlin and James Kenary IV.

was asked to choose a charity to which UniBank would donate $1,000. Peter Waisgerber said he chose the YMCA Family Outdoor Center in Hopkinton “in support of scholarships for summer camp, after-school care and the Y’s work to address food insecurity for families in need.”

Another attendee, Susanne Odell Farber (Hopkinton Independent’s director of business development) said she

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chose the Mental Health Collaborative of Hopkinton “because of the impact they are making in educating all members of communities about mental health and decreasing the stigma so that nobody suffers in silence.”

While envisioning the company’s future, Welch said UniBank has been considering the following question: “How are we positioning ourselves in the community? Not for the last 150 years but for the next 150 years.” The answer: “We’re leading with giving.”

It is community members themselves who enable UniBank to give back to its neighborhoods, Welch says: “Because they bank with us, we are able to give.” For those who aren’t yet customers, Welch adds, “If you would like to join us, we’re going to do even more. This is just a warm-up act.”

In addition to the new endowment, UniBank will continue to give $750,000 in annual contributions to community organizations. Over the last three years, the bank has donated more than $4 million. “The more money we make,” Welch says, “the more we’re going to give away. That’s the driving force of UniBank.”

Welch says this mission motivates his team members across the company.

“We’re all searching in our lives for something more, to be part of something bigger than ourselves,” he says.

“We all have to work for a living, but I think we’re longing to be part of institutions that mean something.”

Historically, true community banks helped and engaged with local residents, Welch reflects. “As we emerge out of the pandemic,” he says, “I think people are going to be looking for those institutions that we can embrace, that have been part of our life, and I would like UniBank to be one of those.”

UniBank’s Hopkinton branch is located at 87 West Main Street and can be reached at 508-435-0005 or online at unibank.com/Hopkinton.

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

The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021 • 15

Schools Superintendent hears from all sides on mask issue Masks | from page 1

Cavanaugh said she thought about considering a trial period when one of the School Committee members mentioned it to her after the previous School Committee meeting, when lifting the mask requirement first was discussed.

“That’s what got me thinking about it,” she explained. “It just felt like the period before the holiday was a nice, quiet time to try it. I feel like it was a nice, cautious approach, and the timing was a cautious approach.

Said Cavanaugh: “When I originally applied for the off-ramping waiver, it really was just to give us latitude.”

New policy debuts without issues On Nov. 1, the first day the mask mandate was lifted, Cavanaugh said about half the HHS students kept their masks.

Before the implementation of the mask-optional policy, Cavanaugh said that parents were asked to upload a copy of the proof of vaccination as well as a permission slip.

“It’s been super, in all honesty,” she said in an interview that day. “At this point in time, we have about 651 kids who have submitted paperwork out of 1,200.”

Concerns had been raised at prior School Committee meetings and by the Hopkinton Teachers Association about whether students with masks might face bullying, but that had not materialized at Hopkinton High School, she noted.

“It’s funny when you walk into a classroom right now and some kids have them and some kids don’t,” Cavanaugh said. “But you know what I like about it? I like that kids are making decisions where they don’t feel pressured to take their masks off. If it’s a 50/50 split, people can feel really comfortable about it.”

Added Cavanaugh: “One thing that I want to make clear is that lifting a mask mandate is different from unmasking. When you lift a mask mandate, people have options. I think that language clarification is very important for people.”

She also made clear that the School Committee, in its vote, has the option to reverse the policy change should there be a spike in cases.

Holidays present concern Timing was a key factor in her decision, Cavanaugh noted, because it is before the Thanksgiving holiday but after most of the fall sports seasons have concluded. Last year during the holiday season, people began traveling, which brought forth concerns about people contracting COVID-19 in places considered hot spots and having to quarantine. A trial period before the holiday season would allow for observation and data collection to see if any cases are contracted during that window.

During the first two months of this school year, only two HHS students contracted the coronavirus, and those were breakthrough cases in vaccinated

It’s so interesting where people are. They’re all over the place.

— Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh, on the wide range of opinions regarding the mask mandate students, Cavanaugh said.

At the Oct. 21 School Committee meeting, it was announced that the town’s vaccination rate was over 95 percent, and the rate for individuals between age 16-19 was 98 percent.

“I had a conversation with one of the School Committee members [recently],” she said, “and we are in agreement that we’ll probably never ever have a vaccination rate this high again. I think that right now, because of this amazing response to the virus, we’ve got a vaccination rate that is off the charts. DESE was astounded when they saw 98 percent.”

There also are three days off in November during the trial period: a professional development day on Election Day (Nov. 2), the town’s first recognition of Diwali (Nov. 4) and Veterans Day (Nov. 11). These would limit in-school exposure, she added.

Cavanaugh also noted the input of the student council members on the School Committee, who indicated that they “felt like they did the right thing in response to the virus” by getting vaccinated.

“The kids, if we ask them to do something, they just typically do it,” she said. “They’re just good kids. I think our kids just know the rules.”

Cavanaugh also responded to a press release from the Hopkinton Teachers Association criticizing the decision being made without first seeking the input of educators. She said there is a memorandum of agreement with the HTA. “That agreement said that if we were thinking about taking advantage of the off-ramping, we would certainly let them know,” she explained. “And we have done that. We had a meeting with them in anticipation with the decision last week, and we [had] a meeting with them [Oct. 26]. We have an ongoing dialogue with them.”

HTA expresses displeasure Becky Abate, the head of the Hopkinton Teachers Association, clarified that the administration and School Committee members did meet with the HTA before the School Committee meeting. However, she said that she was told that this was “an educational policy, rather than a health and safety issue.”

“If it is considered an educational policy, they said that they don’t have to negotiate with us,” she said, noting that the HTA currently has 350 members.

“They did tell us what they planned on doing but said that they didn’t have to negotiate with us.”

Since that time, there were multiple meetings during the last week of October to iron out teachers’ lingering

issues.

“First and foremost, we want to be sure that teachers who have medical conditions that would require additional precautions in the classroom, that those precautions be required,” Abate said. “There are some people whose doctors have told them they need to be around people who are masked, or to avoid being around people who are unmasked. There are some teachers in the high school who have some conditions that would make it difficult for them to be around unmasked students — especially 100 unmasked students on a daily basis.”

Her hope was that students would wear masks in classrooms where teachers have health risks, because teachers work in close proximity to their students.

An enforcement policy for nonvaccinated students was another issue.

Abate added that a big concern of the HTA is the feeling that the trial period was rushed.

“There were really no parameters set,” she said regarding the number of COVID-19 cases contracted during the trial period that would lead to its being rescinded. “Is it five cases? Is that enough? Or does it need to be 20 or 100? Those things have not really been hammered out. And when HTA asked, we never really got any clear response.”

Timing was crucial because the new policy went into effect Nov 1.

“The School Committee’s vote was not unanimous,” Abate said, noting the 3-2 split that occurred after much civil but emotional debate. “It’s not like it’s a very large governing body. Their decision is going to impact 1,000 people or more. And it’s really not just the high school community; it’s the Hopkinton community and the school community as well.”

She added that there is an assumption that kids want to remove their masks. Also, unvaccinated students could also succumb to “implicit peer pressure” and remove their masks.

“If they are the only person who wants to wear a mask, they are likely not to wear the mask,” she explained.

Abate said that “both sides are trying, and we’re making headway.”

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16 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021

Schools School system impacted by staffing shortages

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

M

any school districts across the nation have experienced staff and supply shortages, and Hopkinton has been no exception.

Schools Finance Director Susan Rothermich said there are three areas where employment needs are the greatest: bus drivers, cafeteria workers and crossing guards.

“I think those are the areas where we struggle trying to fill positions,” she said, noting that hiring for cafeteria staff is an issue that arises every year. “And they have very direct student impact, obviously. But I do think that where we are in this economy has exacerbated the struggle to hire food service workers.”

Crossing guard positions also are difficult to fill, she said, “because of the limitation on the hours.”

“It’s not a full-time job,” she explained. “It’s a couple of hours in the morning and a couple of hours in the afternoon. It’s not a convenient time frame for somebody who is trying to have a normal day.”

However, Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh added that it may be the perfect opportunity for retirees or people with more flexible schedules who would like to earn some additional money, especially with the approaching holiday season.

“We had someone once who applied for a crossing guard position who said he was working on a novel,” she said.

He told her that he would be able to be a crossing guard in the morning and work on his writing at the library before his afternoon shift.

“He was able to earn a little bit of money while pursuing his passion,” Cavanaugh added. “Those are the types of things that maybe people don’t think about when being a crossing guard.

But they do have to be out in the rain and the snow. It’s hard work, and we recognize that.”

Filling school bus driver positions presents its own challenges because of the responsibilities involved.

“That’s a national issue,” Rothermich stressed. “The licensing requirements that go into a school bus driver position are enormous, and rightfully so.

They have a huge responsibility driving an enormous vehicle with a tremendous number of kids.”

There are annual requirements for testing and professional development to maintain licenses, she added, which involve an investment of time for an applicant.

The lack of drivers has had some effect on the athletic programs, although Rothermich said no events were canceled.

“The driver shortage impacts everything obviously,” she said. “A couple of times, the team was late or an event had to be rescheduled.”

Because of the lack of school bus drivers statewide, Gov. Charlie Baker on Sept. 15 called in up to 250 members of the National Guard to alleviate the shortfall in some communities, although this did not affect Hopkinton.

Food supply shortages, which has become a national issue, have impacted the cafeteria staff as well.

“I just recently put together a blog where we were saying we would have cheese pizza,” Cavanaugh said. “And then there’s no cheese. You just have to go with the flow. Our food service managers and cafeteria workers just have to be very creative.”

Rothermich added that the staff has adapted with food substitutions while making sure that the nutritional needs of the students are met.

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board,” she explained. “You have to be aware of the requirements, and you have to think of allergen requirements.

It’s not as simple as substituting broccoli and carrots.”

Cavanaugh and Rothermich complimented the food service staff members on their flexibility during a challenging time.

Another need brought about by the pandemic is for part-time nurses. The state’s Test and Stay program requires that students who experience COVID-19 symptoms receive rapid antigen tests to determine if they are negative for the coronavirus, which would allow them to remain in school.

“We haven’t had cases in a couple of weeks now, so we haven’t been having

School Committee chair: ‘Not an easy decision’ on unmasking

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

S

chool Committee Chair Nancy Cavanaugh has received mixed feedback on the new policy allowing vaccinated individuals the choice to remove their masks at Hopkinton High School, although there was more public input before the decision was made.

“With regard to [the Oct. 21] vote, we received more correspondence about the masking vote (both in favor and against) ahead of the vote than we did following the vote,” she shared. “There were also two petitions, one in favor of allowing vaccinated individuals to remove masks and one opposed that we received ahead of the meeting.”

Since the vote, the chair said she has received several emails from outside of Hopkinton. She noted that some people

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a lot of Test and Stay cases right now,” Cavanaugh said. “But every test takes the nurses about 15 minutes to do.”

At some points, it had taken up to 90 minutes to administer the tests, which led to the principals and assistant principals lending a hand.

“It’s really all hands on deck,” she added. “In the absence of professional nurses, the principals and the assistant principals are the support staff.”

While the staff is supportive, Cavanaugh joked that there are limits.

“The principals joke that, ‘You’re not going to make me drive the bus,’ ” she said.

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“were angry that we are not allowing unvaccinated students to remove masks (which would violate the state mandate allowing off-ramping), some of whom wanted to commend us for the vote, and some of whom were School Committee members in other districts with questions about logistics.”

She added that she “received one email which I would describe as having a vaguely threatening tone to it from a person who I don’t believe resides in our community,” as well as several media inquiries.

From Hopkinton residents, there were emails “regarding specific comments made in the meeting which I would categorize as supportive,” she noted.

“We did receive some communication from people representing different opinions,” the chair said. “In general, people in Hopkinton have been very respectful and understanding that this was not an easy decision and not one we took lightly, even if they did not agree with outcome of the vote. We also received one anonymous email expressing concern that unvaccinated students would be subject to discrimination.”

She explained that the 3-2 vote, as well as the discussion that spanned two meetings, “is reflective not just of the different opinions on the School Committee but of the different opinions in the community as a whole.”

“We made a commitment to the community in August to revisit masking and COVID-related safety measures on a regular basis this year as the situation evolves, and we will continue to do so throughout this year,” said Cavanaugh, who was one of the two votes in opposition to the policy change, along with Vice Chair Amanda Fargiano.

Regarding the Hopkinton Teachers Association’s stance on the policy, Cavanaugh confirmed that there was a meeting with the HTA before the vote.

There were two meetings during the last week of October as well, just before the new policy went into effect Nov. 1.

Said Cavanaugh: “Also of importance in all of this is that we are committed to working with our teachers.”

The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021 • 17

Schools HHS Drama Ensemble back ‘Together Now’

By Jane Bigda Contributing Writer

“C

PHOTO/GABRIELLE LAMBERT

urtain up, light the lights,” the Hopkinton High Drama Ensemble is back offering its latest musical production, “All Together Now!” Nov. 12-14. Although the cast will not be performing “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” the source of the quote, the actors will be performing songs from 15 Broadway musical hits.

Besides being the first production of the 2021-22 school year, “All Together Now!” is the first performance by the ensemble since COVID-19 closed down the school system in 2020.

“We were in final rehearsals for “Almost, Maine” by John Cariani,” recalled Valerie von Rosenvinge, director of the Hopkinton High School Drama Ensemble, when she heard that the district might be closing school in the next few days due to the pandemic. “I told the kids that anyone in their family who wanted to see the show should come to our dress rehearsal because I was unsure if we would be able to do the full production.”

They never got that chance, since the district closed down March 10. “It was heartbreaking,” said von Rosenvinge.

“Some seniors were going to tape their performances for their college applications. If I had known, I would have filmed our early rehearsals.”

She noted most students participate in the ensemble’s production all four years of high school, so losing this defining aspect of their high school experience hit them hard.

“I watched as students began the grieving process of losing the safety net they had become so dependent upon, just when it was needed the most,” said von Rosenvinge.

And while everyone soon realized that the 2020 seniors would not get to perform in the spring play, it took longer to realize that the juniors, who would graduate in 2021, would never again perform at Hopkinton High.

Although the students did not get to perform “Almost, Maine,” they took advantage of an opportunity offered by Cariani to talk with him via Zoom about their production. They described how they had changed a scene in the play, which so impressed Cariani that he mentioned it in an article done by his alma mater, Amherst College.

That was the last activity in the Drama Department until late last spring, when von Rosenvinge and Isaac Brody, the school musical director, learned that Music Theater International was offering schools and community theater groups worldwide that were impacted by the pandemic the opportunity to do “All Together Now!” free of charge if it was performed between Nov. 12 and 15. They decided it was the show for Hopkinton High since it provided many solo opportunities like “I Dreamed a Dream” (from “Les Miserables”) and “Take a Chance on Me” (“Mamma Mia”) plus ensemble numbers such as “Be Our Guest” (“Beauty and the Beast”) and “Seize the Day (“Newsies”). The pro-

Following the lead of seniors (left to right) Annalise Curl, Caitlin Dempsey and Olivia Sward, students rehearse a song and dance number for “All Together Now!” which will be performed this weekend in the Hopkinton Middle School auditorium.

duction was announced in the spring and work began over the summer.

“When I came back in the summer, it was as if time stood still,” said von Rosenvinge. “Props were still on the stage, costumes and scripts

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“When we had our first rehearsal in early September, I was meeting the freshman and sophomore participants for the first time,” said von Rosenvinge. “The juniors and seniors, who had watched 18 months of potential theater experiences slip away, were frothing at the bit to restart their creative energy.”

With the musical now drawing near, von Rosenvinge is excited, saying, “There is a rebirth occurring right before my eyes. And after 20 months of being dark, the Hopkinton High School Drama Ensemble will be back, hopefully singing and dancing their way into the hearts of a grateful audience.”

“All Together Now!” will be performed in the Hopkinton Middle School auditorium this weekend.

Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m and the Sunday matinee is at 3 p.m. Tickets ($20 for adults, $15 for students/senior citizens) are available by visiting ShowTix4u.com/eventdetails/57088. Complimentary passes for Hopkinton school employees and local senior citizens along with any remaining tickets will be available at the box office prior to each performance. For more information, visit sites.google.com/a/hopkinton. k12.ma.us/hhsdramaensemble/home.

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18 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021

Schools Superintendent shares updated enrollment numbers A

t the Oct. 21 School Committee meeting, Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh presented enrollment data outside of the disSCHOOLS trict provided by the School NOTEBOOK Massachusetts Building Authority (MSBA). Twenty-four students attend Keefe Tech, four go to Norfolk Aggie, and another stu-

dent attends Assabet Valley. Eight students attend charter schools, while another 25 receive their education elsewhere outside the district. The MSBA also captured data on preschool students not usually included in standard K-12 surveys, showing that 81 youth attend preschool.

Cavanaugh said she believed

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that preschool enrollment would continue to increase, necessitating a sixth class at the Marathon School.

She also told the committee that the projected enrollment numbers for the school year are close to being met. Now there are 4,014 students enrolled out of an anticipated 4,024 for the end of the school year.

The superintendent explained that enrollment is expected to continually increase. There are 4,148 students projected for next year. By 2032, that number is anticipated to explode to 5,892 students.

School Committee listening series a success School Committee Chair Nancy Cavanaugh said the recent committee listening tour held over the summer was a success, bringing forward voices from traditionally marginalized populations in addressing issues about diversity, equity and inclusion.

“We also heard from a lot of people who just appreciated that there was the opportunity and the interest in the School Committee for hearing from people directly,” she said. Their input will influence upcoming policy and budget goals.

Overlapping needs were raised, such as financial needs and language access. Bullying and restorative justice also arose as issues.

“What I heard over and over again was a longing for a sense of community,” said Meg Tyler, who was the only member to attend all of the listening sessions. “I hope going forward that we will be able to reach out to these groups in a way that doesn’t necessarily involve Zoom. Human contact is very much longed for.”

Member Joe Markey added: “People just want to be understood and recognized for who they are.”

Trail proposal discussed At an earlier School Committee meeting, the Upper Charles Trail Committee (UCTC) requested support to go forward with a grant proposal for a pre-engineering study for a proposed continuation of the Upper Charles Trail from Milford to Hopkinton State Park. It could potentially be on the buffer of the Marathon School property.

The superintendent expressed reservations about this stretch of the trail.

“I am just a little worried that we would be having people walking behind the Marathon School while we are educating some of our youngest learners,” she said. “My second concern with it is that I’m not exactly

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sure where it goes through that other piece of property. But I wouldn’t want to be in a position where we would be competing with the trail, should that become a location for the new Elmwood School.”

She questioned whether the UCTC could apply without the committee’s endorsement.

Tyler asked if supporting the study was “subconsciously giving them an agreement” to proceed with the trail once the engineering study is completed.

“I think it does,” the superintendent replied. She noted that if grant money is used to complete the study and the trail is proved to be feasible, denying the project at that point would make it appear as if the study’s work was being undone.

The chair said she was in favor of the project as a whole but asked if the boundary could be pulled away from the school property.

The matter was not on the agenda for a vote. It was suggested that questions be addressed to the UCTC before the next meeting.

ESBC discusses plan for Elmwood’s future The Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC), tasked with finding a solution to the constraints of the Elmwood School building, met Oct. 27 to receive progress updates on the partnership between the district and the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

According to a press release from the committee, the superintendent presented the 10-year enrollment projections for the district as calculated by the MSBA. She noted that the projections showed significant student population growth, consistent with the district’s own projections.

“The enrollment projections are a key step in this process because they guide the size of the building that the MSBA will support,” ESBC Chair Jon Graziano commented.

“It’s a very positive sign that their projections are consistent with our own. We know that our student population is continuing to grow, and we need a solution that will accommodate that.”

The MSBA Board of Directors will meet Dec. 14. If the Elmwood project is considered to move to the next phase of the process — feasibility — studies will commence in January to review all of the district’s current facilities and the anticipated needs due to population growth, as well as a specific study looking at options for replacing or renovating Elmwood. Both studies were approved for funding at the May 2021 Town Meeting.

The ESBC is scheduled to meet again on Jan. 5 at the School Administration Building.

The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021 • 19

Sports HHS volleyball starts title chase

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Hopkinton High School’s Mikayla Grady (right) meets a Holliston player at the net during the Oct. 20 Dig Pink game, a 3-0 HHS victory.

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he Hopkinton High School volleyball team was looking to write a happy ending to its storybook season — and to the career of retiring coach Margie Grabmeier — as the Hillers headed into the state tournament late last week with a 20-0 record.

Hopkinton, seeded third in Division 2, opened the postseason with a home game Friday against Danvers.

The Tri-Valley League Large School Division champions closed out the regular season Oct. 27 with a sweep of visiting Westwood (25-22, 25-15, 25-15). On Oct. 25, the Hillers posted a 3-1 non-league victory over LincolnSudbury.

On Oct. 22, Grabmeier recorded her 300th victory as HHS coach with a 3-0 decision over Ashland. Two days earlier, the Hillers helped raise $8,000 for the Side-Out as part of its Dig Pink game, which was a 3-0 SPORTS ROUNDUP Foundation victory over visiting Holliston.

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The HHS boys soccer team advanced to the second round of the Division 2 tournament with a 2-1 victory over visiting Nashoba last Thursday. Sam Vasington headed in the first goal for the Hillers off a pass from Peter DeMichele. Owen Schnur tapped in a Sean Golembiewski pass for the winner in the 65th minute.

Hopkinton finished the regular season 13-4-1, closing out the Tri-Valley League slate with a 3-1 victory over visiting Westwood on Oct. 29. Golembiewski, Aryan Shah and Schnur scored the Hopkinton goals. …

Girls soccer was seeded 20th in Division 1 and played a first-round tournament game Saturday at No. 13 Brookline. The Hillers ended the regular season 10-8.

On Senior Day, Oct. 25, the Hillers cruised in their final home game, beating Ashland 4-0 behind goals from Jo DuPont (2), Ashley Butler and Nina Tzouganatos. Goalie Libby Herlihy recorded the shutout — and also sang the national anthem.

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Gridders top Westwood

The HHS football team struggled with turnovers in a 42-10 loss at Holliston on Oct. 29. Highlights included a touchdown pass from Robbie Litscher to Seamus Murphy and a 30-yard field goal from Avery Ravech.

A week earlier, Paul Litscher made a game-saving interception in a 15-12 victory over visiting Westwood. Joey Carazza and Robbie Litscher had touchdown runs for the Hillers, while Sam Pantera caught a two-point conversion pass. …

At the cross country Tri-Valley League Showcase on Oct. 23, Craig Salois won the boys race and led the Hillers to the team title. The girls placed seven runners in the top 17 and finished second as a team. …

The HHS field hockey team closed out its season on a high note with a 2-1 victory over Medfield on Oct. 29. …

The Hillers cheer team finished third of eight teams in its division at the Shepherd Hill Invitational on Oct. 31. …

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20 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021

Obituaries Ann Ethier Ann E. E t h i e r, 8 5 , of Yarmouth and formerly of Hopkinton and Holliston, passed away at Maplewood at Mayflower in West Yarmouth on Oct. 24. Born in Somerville, she was the daughter of the late Lucy (Ladd) and Arthur W. Coverly. She was the wife of the late Ronald Ethier.

Ann was a 1955 graduate of Holliston High School. She married her husband, Ronald, in 1968 at Saint Mary’s Church in Holliston. She had been a resident of Holliston, then Hopkinton, and spent her last several years in Yarmouth. She enjoyed taking senior trips with the Hopkinton Senior Center. She was a Eucharistic Minister at St. Pius Church in Yarmouth, was a member of the Red Hat Club and enjoyed reading.

Ann is survived by her siblings, Arthur Coverly Jr. and his wife, Carol, of Southport, North Caroline, Estelle Gaudette of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and Gloria Coverly of The Villages, Florida. She was predeceased by her sister, Grace Haracles.

Funeral arrangements were being held privately, under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Holliston.

Eleanor Cunis Eleanor E. Cunis, known as Jean, passed away peacefully Oct. 22 at the age of 103.

Born in 1918 in Natick, Jean grew up in Framingham and graduated from Framingham High School in 1936. She attended Framingham Business College and worked briefly at Telechron before marrying Anthony Cunis of Ashland in 1938. The couple enjoyed 64 years of faithful marriage, raising five children and welcoming eight grandchildren before Tony’s death in 2002.

Jean’s working life included years as homemaker, co-owner with Tony of the Tastee Treat in Ashland, and a long and happy career as medical office receptionist. She was a faithful communicant at St. Cecilia Church in Ashland and St. Bridget Church in Framingham, serving as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, bringing communion to the homebound and hospitalized until well into her 90s.

Her love of travel brought her from a gondola ride in Venice, to crossing the Panama Canal, to riding an elephant in Thailand. Live theater and music, playing bridge, and celebrations of all kinds filled her with delight. She and Tony embraced a wide circle of friends in Ashland and beyond, and gave con-

tinual support to family members near and far. All will remember Jean as a devout Catholic who rejoiced each day in the gift of life.

Jean was predeceased by husband Anthony Joseph, brother Walter E. Young Jr., sister Mary Young Luby, daughter Kathleen Mary and son William Leonard. She is survived by sons Peter Anthony of Hopkinton and Brian Walter and David Jude of New Hampshire, along with eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Oct. 26 in St. Bridget Church, Framingham, followed by burial in Wildwood Cemetery, Ashland. Services were under the care of the Matarese Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Bridget Parish Food Pantry in Jean’s name.

Esther McLellan Esther Charlotte ( S m i t h ) McLellan, age 81, passed away peacefully on Oct. 15 at Whitney Place in Sharon, surrounded by love. Born in North Stratford, New Hampshire, on April 28, 1940, she was the daughter of the late Selma K. (Keenan) Smith. She was raised surrounded by her extended family in Berlin, New Hampshire. Esther graduated from Saint Joseph’s Academy in Portland, Maine, with the Class of 1958 and went on to graduate from Catherine Laboure School of Nursing with the Class of 1960. Upon graduation, Esther accepted a position in the operating room at Carney Hospital in Boston.

Esther married her beloved husband, Paul E. McLellan, on Feb. 24, 1962. The young couple made their home together in Quincy before settling in Natick. In 1976, Esther and Paul made their home in Hopkinton, where she returned to nursing in the Hopkinton Public School system and then at Marian High School in Framingham. Esther officially entered retirement in 2003, but anyone who knew her knows that she never retired from nursing. After settling into her new community at Cookingham Greene in Ashland, Esther continued volunteering with both the Hopkinton and Ashland boards of health for townsponsored flu clinics, blood pressure checks and other activities.

She was the beloved wife of the late Paul E. McLellan, who passed away suddenly in 1994, and the loving mother of Katharine E. McLellan of Germantown, Maryland, Donna M. McLellan of Weymouth, and Helenanne Hughes and husband Sean of Walpole. She was the cherished grandmother of Christopher of New Haven, Connecticut, and Alexander, Catriona, Shane and Jonathan, all of Walpole. She was the sister of the late

Hon. Peter Smith and his late wife, Betty (Buffi).

She also is survived by dear family friend Joseph Brooks and his wife, Sandy, of Braintree and their son, Michael Brooks of Boston, as well as her loving sisters-in-law and their families, nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Sharon, on Oct. 22. Interment was to take place privately at the Lakeview Cemetery in Freedom, New Hampshire. Services were under the care of the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, Walpole.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Old Colony Hospice, 321 Manley Street, West Bridgewater, MA 02379.

Harold Stevens Harold Ray Stevens, 85, formerly a resident of Westminster, Maryland, died on Oct. 30 at his residence in Hopkinton with family by his side.

Professor emeritus of English at McDaniel College, he was born May 20, 1936, in Macon, Georgia, the son of Sudie MacManus and Manuel Eugene Stevens, later of Elkton, Maryland. He received his bachelor’s degree at Western Maryland College and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and taught at Butler University and Western Maryland (now McDaniel) College.

He was predeceased by Ruth Ann (Wilson ’59) Stevens, his wife of 52 years. He is survived by two sons, David James Stevens, Joel Ray Stevens and wife Michelle Fredette Stevens of Hopkinton; two grandchildren, Carly and Wyatt Stevens of Hopkinton; and a brother, David Stevens and wife Betty of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. An older brother, Paul Stevens, died in 2019.

The past president of the Mencken Society was a life member of the Joseph Conrad Society and a 60-year life member of the Modern Language Association, serving on its Delegate Assembly. In addition, the bibliographer, textual editor and member of several editorial boards also was active in the Byron Society and other literary associations. At McDaniel College he was voted Distinguished Professor in 1975, served as the president of its Phi Beta Kappa chapter, received faculty awards for creative writing as well as scholarly periodical and book publications, and originated the college’s study tours of the United Kingdom, Ireland and The Culture of New Orleans. Stevens’ lifetime study of the literary influence of the King James Bible led to a series of essays and presentations at Conference on Christianity and Literature events, an interest that began while he was a local preacher in the Methodist Church

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in the 1950s. His publications include editing books on John Galsworthy and the “Last Essays” volume in the Cambridge University Press Edition of the Works of Joseph Conrad, which received the Modern Language Association’s Approved Edition award, and essays in various volumes and journals on the King James Bible, Lord Byron, H. L. Mencken, the Scopes Monkey Trial, and additional literary topics, such as the edition of Conrad’s “Congo Diary” in the London Folio Society’s “Conrad’s Congo.”

Interest in Mencken led to occasional contributions to the op-ed page of the Baltimore Evening Sun. Speaking at university conference venues led him from Vancouver to Cape Town, contributing along the way at universities in Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, New Orleans, Lubbock, Dublin, London, Canterbury, Lublin, Krakow, Lvov, Haifa and Potchefstroom. His life as scholar continued as an octogenarian, having published essays in two volumes published in 2018 by the Maria Curie-Sklodowska/Columbia University Press in Conrad’s native land of Poland. A final essay will be published in 2021, in Joseph Conrad and Ethics, also in Poland.

Community activities ranged from playing trombone in the Rhythmmasters big band (Elkton, Maryland), serving for several years as a local preacher and supply pastor in the Methodist Church (Peninsula Conference, Maryland), participating on a local American Red Cross Board of Directors (Westminster, Maryland), sponsoring a young adult service club (Indianapolis), managing baseball teams in the Finksburg (Maryland) Little League and soccer teams for Deer Park (Maryland), and chairing the Carroll County (Maryland) Department of Recreation and Parks (1982-84).

A private service for friends and family was held Nov. 5 at the Conowingo Baptist Church cemetery in Conowingo, Maryland. Instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the annual fund of McDaniel College, 2 College Hill, Westminster, MD 21157 or the First United Methodist Church, 120 E. Main St., Westborough, MA 01581. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, Hopkinton.

Jay Brown Jay M. Brown, 88, of Hopkinton, formerly of Hamden, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on Oct. 20. Jay was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 26, 1933. He was the son of the late Sidney and Bertha (Bert) Brown. He was the beloved husband for 65 years of Merle (Kaminsky), father of Ellen (Mark) Factor of Hopkinton and the late Sidney Brown, brother of Michael (Greta) Brown of Monroe Township, New Jersey, and loving grandfather of Joshua, Eric and Samuel Factor.

Jay was a proud graduate of Erasmus High School, Brooklyn, New York. He held Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees from New

The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021 • 21

Obituaries York University in journalism and history. He received his Certificate in Education Administration from Southern Connecticut University. He was a passionate sports enthusiast who cheered for all New York teams despite his family’s attempts to convert him to a Patriots/Red Sox fan.

Jay was a history teacher in the New Haven school system for 23 years and was highly involved in various community organizations. He was a former Connecticut director of B’nai B’rith youth organization. He was a longtime member of Mishkan Israel synagogue in Hamden, Connecticut, where he served many years on the brotherhood board. He was an avid reader, a Holocaust scholar and collector of stamps, coins and political and sports memorabilia. He was president of the Connecticut NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) chapter and was passionate about improving the lives of people affected by mental illness. He will be sorely missed by his family and his community.

Funeral Services were held at Mishkan Israel Cemetery, New Haven, on Oct. 22. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Robert E. Shure Funeral Home, New Haven.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Jay’s name to Congregation Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Road, Hamden, CT 06517 or NAMI Connecticut (namict.org).

Joseph Cook Longtime Hopkinton postal carrier Joseph H. Cook, 59, passed on Oct. 19 at MetroWest Hospital in Framingham after being stricken ill. He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Dianne M. (Hill) Cook.

He also is survived by his two children, Kaitlynn M. Muse and husband Stephen of Uxbridge, and Jacob B. Cook and companion Tiffany Daigle of Upton; his mother-in-law, Ruthie Holmberg of Upton; sister-in-law, Kristin Proulx of Worcester; many cousins including his special cousin he considered his sister, Roberta Smart and husband David of Uxbridge; many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews, tons of great friends; his sister-in-law, Sherry L. Briar of Centerlia, Washington; his close family friend, Luke Burgess of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and his cat, Jack. He was very excited to be a “Papa” as his son Jake and companion Tiffany are expecting a baby girl. He was predeceased by his adopted son, Brian Adams, who passed in 1989, his brother, John Cook-Snay, his father-in-law, Andrew Holmberg, and his brother-in-law, David Benoit.

Born in Attleboro on March 7, 1962, he was the son of the late Joseph B. and Virginia (Winchell) Cook.

He was raised in Uxbridge and lived there most of his life. Joe worked as

a postal carrier for the past 25 years in Hopkinton. He was commonly referred to by his friends and family as a “workaholic,” so it’s to no surprise he worked up until the day of his passing. Joe was a super-friendly man and couldn’t walk down a street without either speaking to someone or spotting a distant relative. He enjoyed watching anything supernatural or sci-fi on TV, fishing with his son, or going on “adventure drives” with his wife. They did this for years, and there wasn’t a place in Massachusetts that Joe couldn’t get to while avoiding highways. He and his beloved wife often shared lunches in their car while he was on a work break.

He was an amazing man who was loved by so many. He will be sorely missed.

A celebration of Joe’s life was held from Tancrell-Jackman Funeral Home in Uxbridge on Oct. 29. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joseph’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005.

(Doyle) and James “Del” Ryan. She was the wife of 55 years to Raymond Abbott.

Mary was an avid reader and took pleasure in taking cruises. Most importantly, she was passionate about her family.

Mary is survived by her children, Michael Abbott and wife Jodi of Framingham, and Raymond Abbott and wife Tanya of Hopkinton; her siblings, Margaret “Niki” Link and husband Bernard of Northborough, Francis “Buddy” Ryan and wife Geraldine of Falmouth, and Martin Ryan of Waltham. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Madison and William; her sister-in-law, Joan Ryan; as well as many nieces, nephews and her grand-dog, Sydney.

She is predeceased by her siblings, James “Chub,” Judith and John Ryan.

A funeral service was held Nov. 1 at the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).

Ruth Geveke

Joseph Pyne Joseph V. Pyne Jr., 81, died Nov. 2 following a brief illness.

Joe lived his entire life in Hopkinton, attending the Hopkinton Public Schools and graduating in the class of 1957 as class president. Joe attended Brown University for two years before entering the U.S. Army, completing his service in March 1964. At this time Joe took over as president of the family business for about eight years. He left that position and became a long-haul trucker. which he did for the rest of his work life, retiring in 2020. Joe’s trucking career took him to all 48 continental states and Canada.

In recent years Joe enjoyed volunteering at the Hopkinton Senior Center and providing transportation to anyone in need.

Joe is survived by his wife, Diane (Dail), daughter, Margo of Southborough, brother, Jim of Hopkinton, and sister, Ginny of Connecticut. Joe also leaves many cousins and friends throughout the country.

There will be a memorial Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church in Hopkinton on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 10 a.m. to honor Joe.

Mary Abbott M a r y “Sister” Catherine Abbott, 82, of Northborough and formerly of Framingham, passed away on Oct. 25.

Born in Newton, she was the daughter of the late Margaret “Peg”

Ruth H. Geveke passed away peacefully on Oct. 22 at the age of 93. Born in 1928 in Paterson, New Jersey, Ruth grew up in Wyckoff, New Jersey, and graduated Eastern Christian Academy. In 1950, she married John Geveke of Paterson, New Jersey. Ruth had been living in Hopkinton with her daughter and family for the past 15 years.

Ruth was predeceased by her husband, John Geveke; her brothers, Alan, James and John Ruit, and her sister, Dorothy Vriesma. She has two daughters, Cheryl Geveke of Stockholm, New Jersey, and Gayle and husband James Walker of Hopkinton. She also leaves behind three grandchildren, Bryanna, Jack and Zachary Walker, all of Hopkinton.

Funeral services are being held in Wyckoff, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hopkinton Senior Center. Arrangements are being handled by Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton and Van Plaat Funeral Home in New Jersey.

William Keefe Wi l l i a m John Keefe, 86, of Plymouth and formerly Hopkinton, passed away Oct. 20.

Born in Framingham, he was the son of the late Pauline (Bouret) and William Keefe.

Bill was the beloved husband of 41 years to Judy A. (Johnson) Keefe of Plymouth. Judy and Bill were life partners who had a long, intensely joyous and loving life together. They lived in

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Naples, Florida, and in Charlotte and Sunset Beach, North Carolina. Favorite times were golfing at Round Hill, Sea Trail and White Cliffs.

In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by three daughters, Michele Keefe and husband Robert Sullivan of Franklin, Alison Keefe and husband Steve Cook of Newbury, and Stacy and husband Joseph Flanagan of Upton. He also is survived by his brother, Dennis of Hopkinton and Falls Church, Virginia.

Bill loved and enjoyed his grandchildren, Meg and Amy Sullivan and Joseph and Michel Flanagan. Bill enjoyed spending time with his funloving cousins, nieces, nephews, sisterin-law, Judy Gillete Keefe (Jimmy’s Judy) and his wife’s eight siblings and their families. Bill is predeceased by his sisters, Pauline Desiata and Nancy Benson, and his brother, Jimmy Keefe.

Bill worked in the computer industry during the startup of minicomputers and personal computers. He managed numerous departments for Computer Control and Prime Computer in Framingham, Data General in Westborough and Honeywell in Waltham, and started a marketing firm. Bill believed in giving back to the community.

He served Hopkinton for many years as assessor, was elected selectman, and was involved in building a ballpark and senior housing. In Plymouth, Bill was a member of Cedarville Preservation Committee and an elected Town Meeting member.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Oct. 26 at Saint John the Evangelist Church of Hopkinton, followed by burial in Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Hopkinton.

Services were under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.

Jill Welch Jill L. Welch (Parker), 65, of Hopkinton and formerly of Northbridge, died in Northbridge after an illness.

Jill was born on July 9, 1956, in Whitinsville to the late Angus A. and Gloria W. (Skoog) Parker.

Jill worked for many years at the Picadilly Pub in Westborough, Golden Goose Daycare in Hopkinton and for the Department of Corrections as a dispatcher.

She enjoyed playing bingo, traveling and time on the beach.

Jill is survived by her son, Michael Fitzgerald of Massachusetts; her siblings, Terrill Parker of Florida, Judith Flynn of Westborough, Edward Parker of Monson, and Bonnie Grimala and husband Paul of Uxbridge; her former husband, George Welch; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Jill was predeceased by sisters Linda Kapnik and Penny Parker.

A funeral service was held for Jill on Nov. 5 at Buma Funeral Home, Uxbridge. Interment was private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jill’s name may be made to Omni Healthcare Staffing Agency, 390 Main Street, No. 734, Worcester, MA 01608.

22 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021

Honoring our Veterans

Police Log 12:22 a.m. On West Main Street, Officer Kevin Sager and Sergeant Arthur Schofield arrested a 47-year-old from Peabody and charged him with operating a motor vehicle with license revoked as a habitual traffic offender, number plate violation, and failure to notify the Registry of Motor Vehicles of name/address change.

ing towed and it fell off somewhere. She wanted the incident logged.

1:37 p.m. A caller reported illegal dumping at Pinecrest Village. Officer Jay Deiana responded and spoke with a person, who stated the object was something he purchased for a neighbor in that area.

4:14 p.m. A Wood Street caller reported a male banging on his front door. The caller reported ongoing issues with the individual. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Cody Normandin responded to assist.

11:25 p.m. Officer Stephen Buckley responded to a motor vehicle accident involving a car and a deer on Wood Street.

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11:14 p.m. A caller reported a verbal argument taking place outside on Teresa Road. Officers Brittany Firth and Stephen Buckley and Sergeant William Burchard responded and subsequently arrested a 79-year-old from Virginia and charged him with OUI liquor. His vehicle was towed.

October 31

10:10 p.m. On Hayden Rowe Street, Officer Robert Ekross arrested a 20-yearold Framingham resident and charged him with operation of a motor vehicle with license suspended, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and speeding in violation of special regulation.

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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.

October 19

8:22 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan reported a broken desk was dumped on the side of the roadway of Ash Street. The DPW was contacted.

8:51 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan reported he received a call about a suspicious vehicle on Granite Street. Officer Brendon Lyver responded and reported the person was a flagger working on road paving. All was OK. 11:07 a.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Saddle Hill Road. Officer Brendon Lyver responded and requested a tow truck for a winch-out. A report was to follow.

11:08 a.m. A walk-in reported he was almost hit two hours earlier while crossing Main Street in the crosswalk. No vehicle description was given. The incident was logged.

11:59 a.m. A West Elm Street resident reported her white labradoodle was missing. The incident was logged.

12:00 p.m. A walk-in reported she was meeting her ex-husband’s new girlfriend and wanted the incident logged.

1:46 p.m. A caller reported two aggressive dogs loose on Overlook Road. Officers Moira McGaffigan and Brendon Lyver responded and spoke with the owner, who stated the dogs were contained by an electric fence.

9:20 p.m. A caller reported an erratic operator on Cedar Street driving slowly and making quick stops.

Officer Robert Ekross responded and stopped the vehicle. The operator stated he was just released from the hospital and felt weak.

October 20

11:38 a.m. An employee at the Senior Center on Mayhew Street reported a vehicle in the parking lot all the time. Officer Jay Deiana responded and placed a “no parking” sign on the vehicle.

4:49 p.m. Officer Robert Ekross responded to a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on West Main Street. No personal injuries were reported.

October 21

12:12 p.m. A Woodview Way resident reported she left her phone on top of her car while it was be-

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7:33 a.m. A caller reported a news crew on high school property on Hayden Rowe Street. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and reported the individuals were in the breakdown lane and not blocking any traffic.

1:11 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Rough Rider Ridge. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil responded and was able to make contact with the owner of the second vehicle. A report was to follow.

2:53 p.m. A caller reported suspicious activity and kids loitering on Main Street. Officers Tyler Brabham and Jessica Ferreira responded and spoke with the youths.

3:11 p.m. A caller reported a female refusing to pay for her gas at a Grove Street gas station. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Brian Sanchioni responded and assisted.

6:09 p.m. A Walcott Valley Drive caller complained of a red pickup truck with youths in the bed of the truck driving around the area. Officers Brian Sanchioni and Tyler Brabham responded and checked the area with a negative find.

October 23

10:45 a.m. A caller reported a dead deer on the side of the roadway of Kruger Road. The caller was advised to call the business line. The animal control officer was notified.

11:34 a.m. A caller reported two golden retrievers without collars or tags wandering on Chadwick Way. The owners were found on North Mill Street.

5:46 p.m. A caller complained of a yellow sports car doing doughnuts in a Hayden Rowe Street parking lot and driving erratically. Officer Brian Sanchioni responded and checked the area with a negative find.

10:17 p.m. A Valleywood Road resident reported kids ringing doorbells and running away. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Brendon Lyver responded and checked the area with a negative find.

October 24

8:53 a.m. A caller reported being on the Whitehall path on Pond Street when four unleashed dogs almost attacked her dog. Officer Ryan Polselli spoke with the caller and advised her.

9:25 a.m. A caller complained of noise coming from large construction equipment in violation of town bylaw. Sergeant Timothy Brennan responded and shut down three separate construction crews and was to follow up on Monday with the project supervisor.

11:38 a.m. Officer Brendon Lyver reported the flashing yellow lights between ramps 1 and 8 on West Main Street were struck at some point. The DPW was notified.

12:40 p.m. A Spring Street caller with a noise complaint about her neighbor requested to speak with an officer about her options. Officer Brendon Lyver spoke with the caller.

3:36 p.m. A state trooper requested information on an Ursla Drive resident, whose cousin reported he kept hanging up the phone. Officer Robert Ekross assisted and spoke with the Ursla Drive resident, who stated the person who had been calling was looking for money due to financial issues.

6:25 p.m. A caller reported two kids messing around at the pool at Constitution Court and harassing him by banging on his apartment door after he yelled at them to stop. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Tyler Brabham responded and the youths were gone upon their arrival.

The Hopkinton Independent • November 10, 2021 • 23

October 25

7:45 a.m. Officer Matthew Santoro was flagged down by a Main Street employee reporting a suspicious bag. Officer Santoro reported it was found property and brought it to the station for safekeeping.

10:46 a.m. A caller reported a disturbance on Cedar Street where two people were arguing. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officer Brendon Lyver responded and took a report. Officer Lyver gave the female party a courtesy transport to the train station.

12:20 p.m. A caller reported mud in the roadway of Hayden Rowe Street. The DPW was notified. The DPW reported it was from PJ Hayes Excavating, who was to clean it up.

4:18 p.m. A caller reported someone hit one of his soccer players the previous night. Officer Tyler Brabham took a report.

4:43 p.m. A caller reported an exlandlord on Maple Avenue was selling the caller’s mail that was sent to the old address. Officer Robert Ekross spoke to the caller and took a report.

9:56 p.m. A Davis Road caller needed assistance with her clothing stuck in her wheelchair. Officer Tyler Brabham responded and assisted.

October 26

8:13 a.m. A Constitution Court caller requested assistance getting his cat back from a neighbor, who texted him stating he had the cat and had to pay to get it back.

Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and advised it was most likely a scam.

8:34 a.m. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded to a report of a garbage truck striking a guardrail on Wood Street. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and reported the truck bent part of the guardrail.

The DPW was contacted.

12:12 p.m. The Marlborough Police Department requested a check of a Cedar Street residence for a stolen rental vehicle.

Sergeant John Porter and Officer Robert Ekross responded to the address and the vehicle was not there.

12:22 p.m. Multiple callers reported a tree blocking most of the roadway of West Main Street. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and notified the DPW. In the meantime, a passerby moved the tree out of the way.

3:24 p.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Cody Normandin responded to a motor vehicle crash on Hayden Rowe Street. No personal injuries were reported.

11:15 p.m. A caller reported a large tree branch across Fruit Street. The DPW was notified.

injuries were reported. Officer Jay Deiana responded along with the Fire Department. Slight damage to the roofline was reported.

The building inspector was contacted.

8:13 a.m. Officer Jay Deiana reported a fallen tree was completely blocking Holt Street. The DPW was notified.

9:27 a.m. The Milford Police Department requested assistance shutting down Lumber Street at the town line because of trees on fire. Sergeant Timothy Brennan responded and assisted.

10:14 a.m. Sergeant Matthew McNeil reported the sign at the Lake Whitehall boat ramp had rotted and fallen over. A message was left for the DPW. 11:26 a.m. A walk-in requested his belongings that were found outside of a gas station. Officer Matthew Santoro returned his property from evidence.

12:26 p.m. A caller reported a possible disabled motor vehicle on West Main Street. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and reported an accident. A tow truck was requested for a winchout. No personal injuries were reported.

October 28

8:48 a.m. A Hayden Rowe Street caller reported a person power washing spilled oil onto his property. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil responded and reported it was a civil matter.

8:57 a.m. A caller reported an erratic operator on Wood Street. Sergeant Aaron O‘Neil responded and checked on the individual, who was lost and looking for directions.

9:33 a.m. A caller reported someone might have tampered with a window at an East Street business. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil responded and took a report.

9:36 a.m. A caller reported a deceased deer in the fields of an East Street business. The animal control officer was notified.

10:46 a.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Jay Deiana responded to a motor vehicle accident with airbag deployment on Wood Street. An ambulance and a tow truck were requested.

A person refused medical attention. Officer Deiana took a report.

6:18 p.m. Officer Tyler Brabham responded to a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. No personal injuries were reported.

October 29

8:11 a.m. A caller reported tree limbs were blocking the roadway of Wood Street. Officer Jay Deiana responded and contacted the DPW for removal.

10:15 a.m. A caller walking outside on Constitution Court reported an audible fire alarm in the area, but no smoke or fire was in sight. Officer Jay Deiana responded along with the Fire Department and reported an alarm company was testing without a permit. Officer Deiana shut down the alarm company, which was to obtain a permit.

2:40 p.m. A caller reported her vacuum cleaner was stolen on Freedom Way. Officer Moira McGaffigan responded and took a report.

11:21 p.m. A caller reported a disturbance on Clinton Street with youths possibly setting off fireworks. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Cody Normandin responded. The youths were gone upon their arrival.

October 30

5:49 a.m. A motorist reported a dead deer in the roadway

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October 31

12:53 a.m. A Breakneck Hill Road caller reported her garage door was opening on its own. Officer Brittany Firth and Sergeant William Burchard responded and checked the area and secured the garage.

9:26 a.m. A motorist reported fallen branches were obstructing the roadway of East Street. Officer Ryan Polselli responded and contacted the DPW. 11:42 a.m. A walk-in requested a well-being check of a coworker in New Hampshire who might be suicidal. The Hampton Police Department was contacted and was to handle the incident.

10:45 p.m. Officer Cody Normandin responded along with the Fire Department to an alarm activation on Ursla Drive. Burnt food was determined to be the cause, and the house was vented.

November 1

6:06 a.m. A caller from a West Main Street store reported a male inside the store was afraid to go outside. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Cody Normandin responded and transported the individual to Golden Pond.

8:50 a.m. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded to a minor motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. A report was to follow.

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October 27

2:10 a.m. Officer Stephen Buckley responded along with the Fire Department and Eversource to North Mill Street, where a tree fell on a house. A damaged fence was found.

5:57 a.m. A caller reported fallen wires and a pole next to a house on School Street. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Stephen Buckley responded and notified Eversource. Barricades were set up and the road was closed.

6:18 a.m. A caller reported a tree fell down across Ash Street and the street was impassable. Sergeants Timothy Brennan and Arthur Schofield and Officer Stephen Buckley responded and notified the DPW and Eversource. Barricades were set up.

6:51 a.m. A caller reported fencing on Hayden Rowe Street fell onto the sidewalk, making it impassable. Officer Stephen Buckley responded and placed cones in the area. The DPW was notified.

7:31 a.m. A caller reported a tree fell on a house on College Street. No personal

of West Main Street. Officer Stephen Buckley moved it out of the roadway and notified the animal control officer.

10:52 a.m. While on followup for another incident on Constitution Court, Officer Moira McGaffigan was approached by a person who reported receiving threats. Officer McGaffigan took a report.

11:08 a.m. Officer Ryan Polselli reported fallen wires on Robbern Road and contacted Verizon.

2:46 p.m. A caller reported a deceased deer on the side of the roadway of West Main Street. A message was left for the animal control officer for removal.

3:17 p.m. A Wedgewood Drive resident requested a traffic enforcement sign for the neighborhood for Halloween. The caller explained there are no lights in the neighborhood and people speed there. Officer Tyler Brabham spoke with the caller.

6:39 p.m. A Parker Point Road caller reported brown tap water. Officer Tyler Brabham responded and did not locate any water main breaks in the area. A message was left for the Water Department.

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