HI 3.8.23

Local teen found dead after search

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

A19-year-old Hopkinton resident who had gone missing Feb. 27 in Milford was found dead the following day. Daniel Cambourelis-Haskins’s body was discovered late in the afternoon on Feb. 28, authorities said. His death is under investigation.

“The search for the missing 19-yearold in Milford was concluded this evening after he was located by authorities in a wooded area in Milford,” Milford Police Chief James Falvey shared in a statement. “The investigation into his death is ongoing and is being conducted by the Milford Police, the Hopkinton Police and the State Police detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office. This appears to be an isolated incident and there is no danger to the public.” Cambourelis-Haskins had called his mother just after 6 p.m. Monday from the Milford Upper Charles Trail and said his bike had a flat tire and his cellphone was dying, police said. The

Reynolds lands gig with Red Sox

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

Alex Reynolds recently wrapped up his playing career at Babson College, but the Hopkinton High School graduate knew he wanted to make baseball his career. After spending the offseason interning in Florida with Cressey Sports Performance, a company that provides training for athletes at various levels, Reynolds landed a job with his hometown Boston Red Sox.

“It’s been pretty cool and a lot of fun going to spring training on the first day and putting on a Red Sox uniform,” Reynolds said. “There is the fan and the little kid in me that really enjoyed that part of it.”

Reynolds will be working in player development and, after spring training, he’ll be with the team’s

Alex Reynolds, shown catching for Babson College, is starting his coaching career with the Red Sox’ minor league team in Greenville, South Carolina.

PHOTO/AMIT JAGDALE

A mallard steps across ice during a recent sunrise at Hopkinton State Park.

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

STAFF

Fundraiser to benefit earthquake survivors

Whenmultiple earthquakes rattled Turkey and Syria last month, causing more than 50,000 deaths and about $85 billion in damages, it hit home for a number of Hopkinton residents who have connections to the Western Asian nations.

Publisher: David Bagdon

Dir. of Business Development: Susanne Odell Farber

Founder: Sarah Lothrop Duckett

Managing Editor: Jerry Spar

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INDEPENDENT THOUGHTS

Evanya Mathur, president of Hopkinton High School’s South Asian Affinity Group, was inspired to find a way to help. After reaching out to the South Asian Circle of Hopkinton, she helped put together a Chai & Snacks Fundraiser to benefit survivors of the devastation.

member is making the chai and cookies at home. The boxes will be available in early April.

Items can be purchased and donations can be made at southasiancircleofhopkinton.company.site.

“I hope that people will be able to donate, and all the money will go directly to where we say it’s going, we won’t be taking any of the profits,” Mathur said. “All we want to do is help people. It’s a good cause.”

Hopkinton 101 expands, relocates

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EDITORIAL COMMENTS AND INQUIRIES, including Letters to the Editor should be emailed to Editor@HopkintonIndependent.com

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JERRY SPAR

The fundraiser, which started Feb. 24 and runs until March 19, focuses on an integral part of the South Asian culture: afternoon chai. A type of Indian tea, chai can be consumed with both sweet and savory snacks. Individuals can purchase a “sweet ’n’ savory” sampler box or a chai tin with cardamom rose cookies, each for $10, or simply make a donation.

“In our community we are so lucky to have so many wonderful resources at our disposal,” Mathur said. “In our culture we love good snacks and good food, so we thought this would be the best way to go about raising funds.”

A friend of Mathur’s mother who lives in Turkey is helping to coordinate the relief efforts.

“After speaking with her and seeing the effect that it’s had on the people over there, it’s stemmed the drive to do this even more,” Mathur said. “I also know a lot of people with Turkish and Syrian backgrounds who are students at the high school.”

Mathur said most of the proceeds will be used to purchase supplies such as baby formula and diapers and other items for orphaned children and those in the hospital.

Some of the items will be obtained from a local Indian food store and packaged by volunteers, while a SACH board

Danielle Cook, the adult services librarian at the Hopkinton Public Library, is looking to expand Hopkinton 101, an event that was started a couple of years ago to promote town departments and nonprofits. Hopkinton 101, scheduled for Saturday, May 6, will move from the Town Common to the Hopkinton High School Athletic Center both to get more space and to avoid concerns about the weather.

Also this year, businesses are being invited to participate.

“In the past we had kept it to just nonprofits to keep it small and manageable,” Cook said. “But there are so many businesses in town and I think it’s a great opportunity for them to show residents what they are all about.”

Businesses will be asked to make a small donation to help cover costs.

Any organization with an interest in participating should contact Cook at dcook@hopkintonma.gov.

Job Seekers Networking Group seeks members

Maura Shea, a senior library assistant at the Hopkinton Public Library, is looking to boost attendance by local residents in the 50-Plus Job Seekers Networking Group. Independent thoughts | 3

Job Seekers Networking Group seeks members

The program is run in collaboration with about other 60 libraries in Massachusetts.

“If you are unemployed and actively looking, underemployed, seeking a new career direction, re-entering the job market after a long employment gap, or recently retired and looking for your ‘encore career,’ this networking group program is perfect for you,” the program description reads. “Remember, 85 percent of jobs are found through networking.”

The group meets via Zoom on the first and third Wednesday mornings of the month and provides a “safe and comfortable environment conducive to developing new relationships and developing skills and strategies to help in your career transition.”

Each meeting features a new topic and includes a presentation and handson workshop on topics relevant to career transition, guest speakers, access to hiring managers, small group breakout rooms to network, and one-on-one

coaching guidance.

The meetings are facilitated by Deborah Hope, a former Fortune 500 executive, investment banker and entrepreneur who transitioned to executive coaching over 12 years ago.

For more information, visit hopkintonlibrary.org.

Resident competes in Braille Challenge

Congratulations to Hopkinton’s Gesilene Vitoria, who finished second among freshmen in last month’s 23rd annual New England Regional Braille Challenge at the Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton.

The competition, which brings together students from across New England, is dedicated to test the honed braille skills of blind and visually impaired children, which are critical for their success in the sighted world.

Hopkinton home to special sassafras

Based on a measurement by the urban forester for northern Massachusetts, Hopkinton is home to the third-largest sassafras tree (sassafras albidum) in Massachusetts.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Sassafras trees are most commonly seen as small shrubs, or as tall, relatively thin, straight trees with knobby bark; quite a few are located along Echo Trail off of Granite Street. They are a native species best known for having leaves that have one, two (mitten shaped) or three lobes. The leaves have a sweet odor when crushed. The ground leaves of sassafras are used in file powder, a thickening agent in gumbo in Louisiana’s Creole cooking. The roots were formerly used as a main ingredient in root beer.

the state.

Hopkinton’s sassafras is located on private property owned by the Dockstaders at 2 Park Street, a property with its own history as the former home of Lee Claflin. Mr. Claflin helped develop the shoe manufacturing techniques that made Hopkinton a shoemaking capital, and he helped found Boston University. Relevant to Black History Month, Mr. Claflin was a passionate abolitionist and harbored fugitive slaves. He, along with his son William, a former Massachusetts Governor, founded the first college in South Carolina to allow admission regardless of race, Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

I’d walked past the tree for years without giving it much thought, as the tree is relatively unassuming; many trees on the Town Common are larger. In fact, a magnificent American beech that is likely one of the largest of its species in Massachusetts also resides on the property. However, when I realized the tree was a sassafras, I thought that it did seem much larger than other sassafras trees I’d seen. The state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Forestry Division has a Legacy Tree Program, and with the Dockstaders’ permission, I measured the tree’s diameter and submitted the information to the state this past summer. In late January 2023, the urban forester for the DCR’s North District came out and measured the tree. He indicated that the tree has a 132-inch (11-foot) circumference, is 63.8 feet tall and has a 43.6-foot canopy for a score of 207 points on the state scale. In a text, the forester noted that it was the third-largest sassafras in Massachusetts.

— Peter LaGoy, 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.

This sassafras tree at 2 Park Street was measured as the third largest in

PHOTO/PETER LAGOY

Select Board endorses elementary school plan

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IS BACK!

HopSwap is a community-wide tag sale event to reuse children’s clothing and gear. Be green and save money for a great cause!

Saturday, March 18th 9am-12pm Hopkinton High School Cafeteria

WE ACCEPT:

• children’s clothing (NB to size 14)

• maternity clothing

• baby gear

• shoes

• costumes

• toys, games

• sports equipment

• trikes and bikes

• books, DVDs, CDs

• other gently-used children’s items

SHOP THE SALE:

Saturday, March 18th

DROP OFF DONATIONS: Hopkinton High Cafeteria

90 Hayden Rowe

Friday, March 17th 3:00pm-8:00pm

Items must be clean, in good or excellent condition, all parts securely attached. Label bags/boxes with sizes and gender.

Cash and checks accepted. All proceeds fund HPTO and HopMoms selected charities.

Learn more: www.facebook.com/hopswap

Questions? Please email: HopSwapMA@gmail.com

TheSelect Board on Feb. 28 voted unanimously to endorse the plan for a new elementary school on Hayden Rowe Street that would house Grades 2, 3 and 4.

Members of the Elementary School Building Committee presented a brief recap of what led to their decision to select the Hayden Rowe “Village” option.

ESBC member Tiffany Ostrander shared that the new school would have three floors with three wings. Each wing would have about six classrooms along with additional rooms. Each wing also would have availability for expansion if needed in the future.

ESBC chair Jon Graziano addressed what he said were the two primary concerns: cost and traffic

The project is estimated to cost about $174 million, and the Massachusetts School Building Authority is set to contribute around 25 percent, Graziano said.

For comparison, Marathon School, which opened in 2018, cost about $43 million to build. This new school will be significantly bigger and have improved technology, but the biggest reason for the spike in price is the steep rise in construction costs over the past few years, Graziano said, noting that construction costs have essentially doubled since Marathon was built.

The new school would be situated on the eastern portion of the site, which is just south of Marathon School. Graziano said the location makes it a little costlier but allows the school to be placed farther back on the site and help alleviate traffic issues, as cars will queue on the access road instead of backing up on Hayden Rowe.

Alarms raised about budget

During a discussion about the town’s budget at the Feb. 28 Select Board meeting, member Muriel Kramer noted the huge school projects coming up and said the town almost assuredly will lose its Triple-A bond rating due to the large amount of funds the town will be borrowing.

She said the town desperately needs to tighten its belt immediately.

“There are places that we are going to have to trim our requests, because we cannot afford them,” Kramer said. “That’s the bottom line. We can’t spend money we don’t have,”

Chair Amy Ritterbusch questioned what could be cut without sacrificing town services. She noted the large increase in trash pickup, for example.

Kramer suggested the town work on a strategy to address the multi-year spending plan.

“We really have to do something now to save ourselves for five years from now,” concurred member Mary Jo LaFreniere

Guelfi to depart Parks & Rec

Parks & Recreation Director Jay Guelfi will retire later this year, the town announced Feb. 24.

“We are grateful to Jay for his dedica-

tion to Hopkinton Parks and Recreation,” Parks & Rec Commissioner Dan Terry stated via a town press release. “He has had a lasting impact on the progress and growth of the department and has been instrumental to the success of the programs we are able to offer people of all ages.

Guelfi, who has served in his current position since January 2015, will remain through the end of 2023, according to town’s statement, “allowing the town sufficient time to fill his role and to ensure continuity of service for the community during the transition process.”

“We know how much our community values Parks & Recreation programs and events, and we will work to ensure they run without disruption during this transition process,” Town Manager Norman Khumalo said. “Jay was an asset to the town, and we wish him well in his future endeavors.

Tractor-trailer catches fire on I-495

A tractor-trailer burst into flames Feb. 20 on Interstate 495 in Hopkinton, and an explosion could be heard for miles. The incident took place on the southbound side of the highway prior to Exit 54 (West Main Street), according to the Westborough Fire Department, and caused the road to be closed.

Some trees on the side of the road caught fire and were put down by multiple fire crews. The area borders the Patriots Boulevard development in Hopkinton.

According to Hopkinton Fire Chief Bill Miller, the trailer was empty. The sound people heard was from the tires exploding. The driver was not injured. There was a brush fire that was put out within a couple of hours. Multiple towns’ engines responded to the call, and water had to be trucked in.

Issues arise with shingles vaccine

The Board of Health at its Feb. 27 meeting discussed complications with insurance billing for Shingrix that may affect the Health Department’s ability to distribute the shingles vaccine.

Shingles is a painful rash that can occur in people over the age of 50 by the reactivation of the same virus that causes chickenpox, according to the Mayo Clinic website.

Public Health Nurse Simone Carter explained that “there’s a lot of marketing about how Shingrix is covered by Medicare.” But she said that the copay is covered only for those who have Medicare Part D.

“The long and short of it is that if we want to offer Shingrix here for anyone who is over the age of 65 and is retired, do we as the Health Department want to contract a third-party biller to bill all these supplements?” Carter asked. “Or do we want to move forward as a town with a fund of sorts?”

She stressed that if the town wants to encourage residents aged 50 and over to get the shingles vaccine, not everyone between the ages of 50-65 may have health insurance, and those 65 and older may not have a supplemental insurance plan with their Medicare.

Vaccine | page 7

Hopkinton teen found dead near Milford trail

Teen death | from page 1 call then was disconnected.

“He reached out to his mother, and he said he was making his way off the [bike] path,” Milford Deputy Police Chief John Sanchioni told the Metrowest Daily News, adding: “This is very unusual for him. His parents are very concerned, and we share that concern.”

According to the Metrowest Daily News story, Milford Police indicated that Cambourelis-Haskins had an eating disorder and had eaten little to no food in the past eight days. He also had some mental health issues and had made comments to family in the past about living in the woods.

According to the Hopkinton Police Department call log, his mother said after talking to him that Cambourelis-Haskins’s thoughts had been “scrambled.”

The Hopkinton Police put out an alert late Monday night after Cambourelis-Haskins went missing.

“If you hear and see a lot of police activity tonight and early morning, including helicopters, this is the reason,” the HPD advised. “Please know that we and the Hopkinton Fire, the Milford Police and fire departments, CEMLEC Drone and K9 program, MA State Police, as well as other assets are doing all we can to find Daniel.”

The search by state and local police officers included the area near Louisa Lake (which abuts the Upper Charles Trail in Milford), the Milford Quarry and the bike trail.

Cambourelis-Haskins was an Eagle Scout with Troop 1 in Hopkinton. In a

Facebook post on March 1, the Troop wrote, “With a very heavy heart we are sharing that the Milford Police Department has concluded the search and Eagle Scout Daniel CambourelisHaskins has passed away. Daniel’s family is in our thoughts and prayers.”

At the Feb. 28 Hopkinton Select Board meeting at Town Hall, chair Amy Ritterbusch called for a moment of silence “out of respect for the family.”

Cambourelis-Haskins is at least the fourth teenager from Hopkinton to have died since 2020.

Police staked out the Upper Charles Trail in Milford on Feb. 28 in a search for Daniel Cambourelis-Haskins.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Daniel Cambourelis-Haskins

UCTC debates presentation of committee content, chair’s TCMC appearance

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

The Upper Charles Trail Committee at its March 1 meeting debated the content and formatting of committee documents contained on the UCTC page of the town’s website, with some members asking that more details be added.

At the meeting’s opening, chair Jane Moran said the current trail map should be broken down into three segments to provide more clarity. The idea was mentioned in previous meetings that the current map be broken into three sections — north, central and south — to facilitate discussion.

“I think the request for simplification from the public actually arose because we weren’t necessarily presenting segments as alternatives,” said Scott Knous, the committee’s treasurer. “It’s unclear to the public which segments are alternatives to one another and which are not. The confusion, I think, is we’re not presenting things as alternatives, and we’re not connecting segments together to make even larger segments or route alternatives.”

He added that he felt that segments that are considered “non-contended routes” by the public at the sections beginning with Hopkinton State Park to East Main Street at the north would not need alternatives if the community already

It’s unclear to the public which segments are alternatives to one another and which are not. The confusion, I think, is we’re not presenting things as alternatives, and we’re not connecting segments together to make even larger segments or route alternatives.

agreed with their placement. The central section would go from East Main Street to Loop Road, while the south section would continue to the parking lot just over the line in Milford.

Moran said each section would be reviewed by the committee to see which proposed alternatives will be kept on the maps.

The north section will be the first one that the committee will discuss. There was some debate as to whether the public should have access to the map before the public meeting. Knous and Jamie Wronka, the alternate UCTC member, argued that it would be better for transparency to make the map available 48 hours in advance of the meeting for residents to access. Members Eric Sonnett and Bob Snyder disagreed, saying that the map still is under discussion. Member Cynthia Esthimer noted that other boards post documents along with their agendas, such as the Planning Board and the Select Board.

“I think that given the difficulty we’ve had in public engagement, giving them the reference of what we’re going to be talking about with the map makes sense,” said Wronka. “If we don’t offer it until after we’ve had the conversation, that doesn’t offer them the opportunity to come in and offer their feedback.”

Moran approved of the “dissected map” portions being released before public discussion. No vote was taken.

Chair’s TCMC appearance raises questions

On Feb. 23, Moran appeared before the Trails Coordination and Management Committee to discuss the citizens’ petition that Peter LaGoy, the TCMC chair, proposed as a private citizen to disband the UCTC in its current form and make it a TCMC subcommittee. Moran said that she was

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speaking on behalf of the UCTC in her role as chair.

Knous questioned Moran’s statement that the UCTC voted unanimously to support the TCMC’s application for Community Preservation Committee funding for an engineering study of what has been referred to as the western alternative route.

Said Knous: “I looked back, and I don’t see where we voted at all. I know I’ve been vocal against [having another committee address it] because I thought we should keep it.”

Replied Moran: “Why wouldn’t we support any effort of the TCMC to forward their desire to … take this on?”

Wronka asked whether Moran’s statement to the TCMC was meant as a member of the public or on behalf of the UCTC.

“I as the chair can speak for the whole committee,” Moran said. “And I as the chair would hope that we would support any other committee in their effort to look into the western alternative, which has been contentious all along.”

She added that she would check the minutes to verify the vote.

Esthimer said that the UCTC voted “years ago” that the western alternative would not be a viable option from its perspective.

Moran offered to retake the vote but noted that the committee members “verbally supported” the TCMC application, whether or not it had been voted upon. It was not revoted upon because the CPC request is moving forward.

“It’s a circular conversation,” Sonnett said. “It doesn’t make sense.”

Esthimer suggested taking “an extra 60 seconds” to get votes documented in the minutes moving forward.

Public forum comments, FAQs discussed

Moran praised Wronka for collating all of the handwritten and electronic comments submitted by the public on an online feedback form at the UCTC’s public forum last April.

Moran added that the FAQ list that has been compiled by town staff should be posted on the website as well, which prompted a debate.

Knous noted that he requested that the FAQ list be pulled down at a working group session last week, saying that some of the questions listed “had not been frequently asked.” He added that the answers were derived by town staff rather than the UCTC “and not discussed and vetted by us.”

Wronka noted that she “asked a bunch of questions” about some of the responses in the FAQ list that she said have not been answered to date.

Said Wronka: “I don’t think that it actually provides much information, and I think it’s unclear.”

Member Ken Parker said that they could be posted “with the caveat that they are a work in progress,” noting that the Freedom of Information Act was a concern regarding transparency.

Wronka added that there should be a note that town staff compiled the document, not the UCTC.

Sonnett replied that the town staff was charged with this duty by the UCTC.

“They rely on the facts,” Moran added. “We may not agree with the answer, but they are the facts.”

Town Engineer Dave Daltorio said that the FAQ sheets were compiled by several staff members. They received UCTC approval before being posted.

— UCTC member Scott Knous

Senior Center set to host Repair Cafe

By Sidhi Dhanda

Contributing Writer

Repair cafes are becoming increasingly popular in Massachusetts, and Hopkinton is no exception. On April 1, the Hopkinton Lions Club and Hopkinton Senior Center will host the second annual Repair Cafe at the Senior Center.

A Repair Cafe connects people who like to fix things with those who have broken items that need repair. Taking a broken item to a professional can be expensive, even for simple fixes. The Repair Cafe is a community effort to fix items at little or no cost to residents.

“We are keeping items out of the landfills,” Senior Center Assistant Director Jessica Migneault said. “We are keeping items out of the back of the closet and making items actually a usable item again.”

The people fixing items are volunteers. Some have specific skills, while others are general fixers. At the first Repair Cafe in September 2022, there were a dozen volunteers whose skill sets ranged from electrical work to woodworking to knife sharpening. Over 35 items were repaired, with tool sharpening for scissors, knives and garden tools being the most common request.

“Our repair cafe this year is in April so it is kind of the perfect time to get your

garden tools ready to go,” Migneault said.

This year, sewing and mending will be added in addition to woodworking and electrical repair.

“Holes in the knee, seams that are torn, or holes in a shirt take minutes to repair if you’re someone that knows what you are doing, and our volunteer is,” Migneault said.

Volunteers also can repair furniture, rewire lamps and fix bicycles. Items with a small engine, like lawnmowers and snowblowers, likely are not able to be fixed by volunteers, but Migneault recommends contacting the Senior Center or sending a message through the Lions Club website to check. Individuals also are encouraged to send a fix-it request beforehand to allow for the proper people and tools to be arranged. Walk-ins are welcome as well.

The program is free and requires only the purchase of specific replacement parts if necessary. The volunteers will be using their own tools to repair items.

“The repair cafe is a great way to refresh items and reinvigorate things that you had in your closet and thought headed for the trash can through a simple repair,” Migneault said.

The repair cafe will take place Saturday, April 1, from 9 a.m.-noon at the Senior Center, which is located at 28 Mayhew Street.

Issues arise with shingles vaccine

Vaccine | from page 4

Carter suggested a fund to pay for Shingrix doses for those who are not covered by insurance.

HPD to conduct alcohol compliance checks

The Hopkinton Police Department announced Feb. 27 that it would be conducting underage alcohol compliance checks over the next few months. The police will visit each licensed establishment to ensure compliance with all the rules, regulations and policies related to selling or finishing an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21.

The compliance checks are part of the town’s continued efforts to prevent problems related to underage alcohol consumption, curb alcohol abuse and reduce operating under the influence (OUI) incidents involving teenagers, according to an HPD statement. The Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission requires that local authorities notify

the public that they intend to conduct compliance checks prior to doing so.

Misc.: Marathon permit approved

The Select Board on Feb. 28 approved a permit for the 127th Boston Marathon.

Boston Athletic Association President and CEO Jack Fleming said the organization “put greater resources into some elements of the start.” Among the changes are the housing of the professional, adaptive and wheelchair athletes in tents on the Town Common and a public viewing area with stands on the north side of the Town Common.

The board also voted to acknowledge Ashland on the 100th anniversary of the last time Ashland hosted the start of the race. With encouragement from Tim Kilduff, executive director of the 26.2 Foundation, the Hopkinton Center for the Arts will host an event April 6, with officials from both towns invited.

Doug Zaccaro works on a lamp for Pam Crowe during last year’s Repair Cafe at the Senior Center.

Realtor Alan Connell invests in each client relationship for life

By Deborah Burke Henderson Contributing Writer

Buying and selling real estate can be complex and overwhelming. Alan Connell and his team have mastered the process so each client can enjoy their journey home.

He believes in educating home buyers and sellers to empower informed decisions, and he thrives on personally investing in each relationship. As the main point of contact, Connell loves building strong relationships and aspires to become a client’s lifelong realtor.

“I chose this career because I love the personal nature of guiding people on their journey through the exciting and often emotional transitions to and from houses and new phases of life,” he stated.

As a one-stop shop, the Campos Homes RE/MAX team hires and consults with a trained staging manager, provides a list of recommended vendors to meet any client’s needs, and brings in a top-notch marketing company to launch a targeted social media campaign for each property it represents. Connell’s keen interest and experience in cutting-edge technology adds another level of preferred service.

“I love the creative side of the real estate business,” Connell stated, “and as a tech-savvy professional, I specialize in presenting and marketing homes in new and creative ways, including the use of aerial drone and high-definition photography and full video walk-throughs.”

With the support of a transaction manager and a personal assistant, Connell leverages the expertise of the full team to ensure each transaction, from offer to closing, is successful and enjoyable.

Clients are thrilled with the one-on-one, ongoing style of communication and Connell’s weekly check-in calls. Connell is seen as trustworthy, committed, creative and competitive. Repeat customers, many looking to move up or sell their current home and purchase their next home, comprised nearly 40 percent of Connell’s business last year.

Year in and year out, Campos Homes is positioned in the top five for RE/MAX as far as sales volume and families served. Personally, Connell ranks as one of the Top 40 Agents Under 40 for RE/

MAX in the entire Northeast and was inducted into the RE/MAX Hall of Fame in 2021.

For the foreseeable future, Connell sees an overall more balanced market. He observes home prices leveling out from their high last spring, a stabilized mortgage market and increased opportunity for buyers. Indeed, experts corroborate that mortgage rates most likely have peaked and will continue to go down some within the next two years and that home values should hold strong.

“We love that our customers become part of our extended family,” Connell added, “enjoying several fun events we organize annually. I think that’s part of what sets us apart. We want to help each client enjoy their journey home and cultivate a relationship that outlasts the sale transaction.”

A family man and caring neighbor, Connell prides himself in giving back. He volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, serves with the local Chamber of Commerce and offers a community spotlight video series to help showcase other local businesses. As part of the local business network (BNI Pacesetters), he is seen as a community builder. Discover more by visiting AlanConnellRealtor. com or call/text 508-544-0519.

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Fines against Turkey Ridge developer held in abeyance

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

The Conservation Commission at its meeting Feb. 28 unanimously decided after some debate to hold two instances of fines in abeyance for violations of erosion controls regarding the proposed Turkey Ridge Estates development, noting that substantial progress has been made to stabilize the site since the last hearing three weeks ago.

The project, located at 52 Cedar Street Extension, near the Southborough border, has encountered several issues over the past two months, with heavy rains and challenging topography contributing to sedimentation flowing into the riverfront area at the Sudbury River.

Conservation Administrator Kim Ciaramicoli initially ordered a partial cease and desist order on construction for violations of erosion controls she witnessed on Dec. 29 after a large rainstorm. Although the developer took measures to remediate the situation, including installing hay bales and mulch, a significant rainstorm on Jan. 26 led to subsequent violations being cited because there was still a large amount of unsecured soil on the site, some of which seeped past the barriers.

Ciaramicoli determined the fine for the Jan. 26 violation for one day to be $2,700.

“Fortunately it wasn’t more than a day,” said chair Jeff Barnes, “and it was caught fairly quickly.”

The previous fines for the Dec. 29 violation totaled $29,900, Ciaramicoli said.

She added that she visited the site one day earlier to assess its current conditions, and she found that improvements had been made.

“The contractor has brought in lots of mulch to be able to provide some temporary cover,” said Ciaramicoli.

Retaining walls have been “90 percent installed” around the area where two water retention basins are being constructed. Those areas have been rough graded, she explained, and a silt fence was installed. A swale also has been rough graded since the last hearing with some stone check dams, and a berm was constructed.

Unsecured soil piles mentioned at the Feb. 7 hearing have been covered with mulch and surrounded with erosion control measures, Ciaramicoli added.

While Ciaramicoli noted that substantial progress has been made, she said it was only at about “70-80 percent” of what she ultimately would like to see done. The snow also prevented her from giving her final approval to remove the cease and desist order.

Member Ted Barker-Hook suggested that the secTurkey Ridge | page 9

Family man and neighbor Alan Connell heads up the Campos Homes RE/MAX team and strives to build lifelong relationships with every client.

Presents

‘A SLICE OF HOPKINTON’

Hopkinton Independent Photo Contest

This issue’s winner is Anay Pachori for this photo of a fiery sky over homes in the Legacy Farms North development. To enter next issue’s contest, email your photo along with your name, phone number and description of the photo to editor@hopkintonindependent.com. Photos with people or pets in them are encouraged. Photos that are not selected as winners might be posted on our website.

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

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

Fines against Turkey Ridge developer held in abeyance

ond fine of $2,700 be assessed at this time.

“I think the hammer that we hold is the [$29,000], keeping that in abeyance,” he said. “I would be 100 percent in favor of assessing the $2,700 fine, particularly since it was a violation that came after whatever word you want to put in for not assessing the $29,000.”

Member Janine LeBlanc initially took the opposite view, explaining that she thought that the second violation where “things didn’t get buttoned up” would trigger the enforcement of the first fine. Both LeBlanc and Barker-Hook saw merit in each other’s opinions. Barker-Hook said he thought the $2,700 fine should be assessed “at an absolute minimum.”

Barnes pushed for the abeyance of the fines because the contractor has been cooperating with Ciaramicoli’s requests.

Said Barnes: “Things maybe haven’t been moving as quickly as Kim and the commission would like, but they are moving forward.”

Developer Shane Perrault explained that the work on the basins would be completed within two weeks and that there have been “incredible strides” made. The four retaining walls around the basins were completed on Saturday.

He added that this was “the hardest part of the project” because the land had to be clear cut in order to do the work. The process of installing the walls while removing the trees “required some surgical construction.”

“If we get a lot of rain, it is very difficult to manage that,” Perrault added.

The second violation was addressed by building a secondary overflow pond, according to Perrault. But that night, there had been “an insane amount of rain,”

which presented another challenge to the project. There is a stockpile of hay bales in case of any future incidents.

“As a contractor, I just wanted you to take into consideration that we did everything we could while this was going on,” he added, noting that Goddard Consulting was hired immediately after the Dec. 29 violation as a consultant. “We were all over it. … I don’t want people to think that we were neglecting the site.”

Four thousand yards of mulch were used on the site, he added. The areas that currently are unsecured are under construction.

Barnes said that the fines can be reconsidered if progress is not demonstrated by the next meeting in two weeks. Board members agreed but expressed concerns.

Member Kerry Reed said she was not pleased about the use of mulch for stabilization, “but an active approach is better than a passive approach.” If progress is not made, the fines should be enforced.

Said Reed: “I have absolutely no tolerance for any additional problems at this site.”

“This is an extremely difficult site and a very sensitive area,” added member Ed Harrow. “I’m very disappointed, and I’ll leave it at that.”

Multiple hearings continued

The other major hearings scheduled for the meeting on two long-term projects were continued until the next meeting. They included two hearings on The Trails, the 55-and-over housing development located off Legacy Farms North Road, and the notice of intent hearing on the pond to be constructed at the Mass. Laborers Training facility at 37 East Street.

Turkey Ridge | from page 8

Proposed gun club amendment sparks debate

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

During a public information session about the five proposed general bylaw amendments at the Feb. 28 Select Board meeting, questions were raised about an amendment seeking to ban gun clubs from shooting outside.

A citizens’ petition proposed that gun clubs move indoors to protect “we the people, babies, animals and birds” from noise pollution.

Resident Peggy Barton spoke in support of the measure, saying the Hopkinton Sportsmen’s Association gun club off Lumber Street has been “the bane of my existence.” She said it prevents her from resting and relaxing at her home.

Bob Draper, president of the Hopkinton Sportsmen’s Association — one of four gun clubs in town — said the proposed amendment would violate an agreement the facility has had with the town since 1931 as well as state law.

“Basically, in the essence of the law, what the people are asking for cannot be done,” Draper said.

Chair Amy Ritterbusch noted that

while it appeared the existing gun clubs likely would not be affected by any new amendment, any new club might be subjected to the new rules.

Former Select Board chair Brendan Tedstone said he was aware of a similar situation in Wayland in which an amendment was passed limiting gun clubs, but the state threw it out. He acknowledged that the Select Board could not prevent the amendment from going to Town Meeting but said it would not stand even if passed.

Another proposed amendment that drew some interest deals with short-term rentals. Residents of Pike Street, after dealing with an issue with irresponsible behavior at a short-term rental on their street, brought the idea forward. The amendment calls for the adoption of licensing requirements for rentals of between 2-30 days (rentals of less than two days would not be permitted).

Board member Irfan Nasrullah questioned the need for the amendment, saying it was his understanding that neighbors have the ability to complain to short-term rental companies if someone is not following rules and have it Gun club | page 11

Open the (back) door to a Roth IRA

There aren’t many drawbacks to having a high income — but being unable to invest in a Roth IRA might be one of them. Are there strategies that allow high-income earners to contribute to this valuable retirement account?

Before we delve into that question, let’s consider the rules. In 2023, you can contribute the full amount to a Roth IRA — $6,500, or $7,500 if you’re 50 or older — if your modified adjusted gross income is less than $138,000 (if you’re single) or $218,000 (if you’re married and filing jointly). If you earn more than these amounts, the amount you can contribute decreases until it’s phased out completely if your income exceeds $153,000 (single) or $228,000 (married, filing jointly).

A Roth IRA is attractive because its earnings and withdrawals are tax free, provided you’ve had the account at least five years and you don’t start taking money out until you’re

59½. Furthermore, when you own a Roth IRA, you’re not required to take withdrawals from it when you turn 72, as you would with a traditional IRA, so you’ll have more flexibility in your retirement income planning and your money will have the chance to potentially keep growing. But given your income, how can you contribute to a Roth?

You may want to consider what’s known as a “backdoor Roth” strategy. Essentially, this involves contributing money to a new traditional IRA, or taking money from an existing one, and then converting the funds to a Roth IRA. But while this backdoor strategy sounds simple, it involves some serious considerations.

Specifically, you need to evaluate how much of your traditional IRA is in pretax or after-tax dollars. When you contribute pretax dollars to a traditional IRA, your contributions lower your annual taxable income. However, if your income is high enough to disqualify you from contributing directly to a Roth IRA, you may also earn too much to make deductible (pretax) contributions to a traditional IRA. Consequently, you might have contributed after-tax dollars to your traditional IRA, on top of the pretax ones you may have put in when your income was lower. (Earnings on after-tax contributions will be treated as pretax amounts.)

In any case, if you convert pretax assets from your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, the amount converted will be fully taxable in the year of the conversion. So, if you were to convert a large amount of these assets, you could face a hefty tax bill. And since you probably don’t want to take funds from the converted IRA itself to pay for the taxes, you’d need another source of funding, possibly from your savings and other investments.

Ultimately, then, a backdoor Roth IRA strategy may make the most sense if you have few or no pretax assets in any traditional IRA, including a SEP-IRA and a SIMPLE IRA. If you do have a sizable amount of pretax dollars in your IRA, and you’d still like to convert it to a Roth IRA, you could consider spreading the conversion over a period of years, potentially diluting your tax burden.

Consult with your tax advisor when considering a backdoor Roth strategy. But if it’s appropriate for your situation, it could play a role in your financial strategy, so give it some thought.

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

Mark

Freeman

Edward Jones Financial Advisor

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

Mark.Freeman@edwardjones.com

Experienced employees welcome Colonial ChemDry’s new owner

By Linda Chuss Contributing Writer

WhenMichael Halliday decided to run a business as his next career step, there were two requirements: It had to be in a Massachusetts town, and it had to serve the community. Originally from Western Massachusetts, Halliday spent most of his adult life in the south, first as a Navy submariner and later as a government engineer working on Navy projects. Returning north would put him near his family. Operating a business that served the community would be a natural extension of what he saw as his role in the military, serving people.

Halliday chose Colonial ChemDry, in part “because of its 40-year presence in Upton. I wanted to build on that,” he said. “ChemDry is a franchise-based company known for unique, specialized cleaning tools and patented agents to clean carpets in homes and businesses. They use little water and leave minimal residue, so rugs dry faster and stay clean longer.”

Halliday did his research and, as part of that, found it reassuring the cleaning ingredients are safe for people, rugs and the environment. He explains that with ChemDry, agitating the rug as part of the cleaning means it doesn’t need strong chemicals that other processes might.

“There’s been a lot to learn, but I’m enjoying it,” he said. “And my tinkering engineer side likes maintaining the equipment.”

Halliday has been grateful to learn from the experienced technicians already on board. Colonial ChemDry employees average over 20 years at the company. The parent firm provides extensive training, and more importantly, the veteran employees have gained invaluable experience from working for clients.

“They’ve seen all kinds of problem spots and know what to do” Halliday said. “Plus, they go the extra mile when needed. They’re proud of the results they achieve, and I am too.”

Employees have warmly welcomed him on board his new “ship.” Said office manager Stacy Boulanger: “Everyone here is very happy to be working under Mike. He offers full support to the staff, shows his appreciation and makes the workday enjoyable. He’s made many positive changes so far.”

Customers also appreciate Colonial

Proposed gun club amendment sparks debate

addressed.

Pike Street resident Amy Comcowich, who said she owns a short-term rental of her own in the Berkshires, said that’s not the case. “These companies are in the business of making money,” she said, adding, ‘There is no mechanism” in place to get solutions to problems such as the one on Pike Street.

Added Pike Street resident Brent McKenzie: “I think the language of this bylaw is not onerous at all. It’s very reasonable. I would think any law-abiding, rule-following citizen of Hopkinton

would think it would be reasonable.”

Another proposed bylaw change would require dogs to be leashed all 24 hours (excepting certain dogs, such as guide dogs and police dogs). The current law does not include overnight hours.

The other two proposals deal with a housekeeping item to fix the wording related to the name change of the Select Board (from Board of Selectmen) and bring Hopkinton within compliance with a state law requiring town meeting minutes to be released within 30 days.

The amendments will face a vote at the May 1 Annual Town Meeting.

ChemDry for its high degree of expertise.

“Many clients have used us before,” Halliday said. “In Hopkinton, we’ve served over 1,500 accounts, with 600 currently active. They can’t believe the kinds of stains we get out, especially pet odors. People with allergies also like the results.”

Halliday is adding equipment for cleaning area rugs at a humidity-controlled room in his facility. That will allow the work to be completed in about a week, less than half the time needed now. The business focuses mostly on residential carpets and area rugs but also cleans granite, wood and more, at homes

as well as businesses.

Halliday is also giving back to the community, like handing out candy at the Upton Trunk or Treat event last fall.

“When I was in the service, we’d help with the Special Olympics and build homes for people,” he said. “I want to do more like that as part of our contribution to the community.”

Colonial ChemDry services towns across the region. To find out more, visit carpetcleaningcd.com or call 508-529-4115.

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

Colonial ChemDry’s Michael Halliday shows off the powerhead star tool that sprays and agitates to extract dirt from carpets.

ScHoolS

Carver set to retire as Elmwood principal ‘on a high note’

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

Whenasked what advice she would give to her successor, retiring Elmwood School Principal Anne Carver said, “Be true to yourself, and when you make decisions, keep kids at the forefront. If you make a decision that is right for kids, then it is the right one and you can sleep soundly at night.”

Carver is retiring this year because she says she’s been at the job for a long time and it’s time to give it to someone else. She noted that she could have left during the pandemic, but she wanted to stay on and help educators face the challenges it presented.

“It was a pretty icky time,” Carver recalled. “Everyone was scared and stressed.” She said that after periods of lockdown, remote and hybrid learning, the school community now is back on track.

“There’s a lot of joy and appreciation in school again,” Carver said. “I feel we’re back to where we were before with regular routines, and I can go out on a high note.”

Carver came to the Hopkinton district in 2013 as an assistant principal at Elmwood, becoming an interim and then permanent principal three years later. Prior to that, she was an elementary school teacher in Worcester for nearly 27 years at four schools.

She received a master’s degree from Worcester State University in educational leadership and administration, a master’s from Cambridge College in elementary education and teaching, and an undergraduate degree from Wheelock College.

Becoming a teacher was something she aspired to from the time she was a little girl. She recalled admiring two of her aunts who were teachers. At the time, they were not allowed to get married or have families.

She played school with friends and pets, thinking, “It’s magical what happens” standing in front of a chalkboard. She went around marking “property of” the name of her favorite teacher in books.

Carver said she doesn’t anticipate leaving education completely when she retires. There is the possibility at Worcester State University of a role supervising student teachers that she is considering.

She also hopes to kick back and relax more and read for fun as well as spend time with family, including a six-monthold granddaughter. Mostly, she wants to enjoy a schedule over which she has

more control.

As for what she will miss most, Carver said it’s the one-on-one time with students or when they are interacting with her in small groups.

She noted that kids are sent to the principal’s office “when they make a bad choice.” What she loves most, Carver said, is building rapport with those students and talking about their decision-making and how they can make better choices.

Carver also pointed out that students are then sent back to her office when they make good choices. They are given a reward and play a two-minute game with her called Toss Up.

She likes building a positive relationship with kids but also will miss having an impact on teachers, particularly in the area of classroom management, and interacting with parents even when conversations can be “tricky.”

“The relationships with people are what will stick with me,” Carver said.

Assistant Principal Michelle Tynan came to the district this year and shares an office with the principal. She said that she has learned a lot about Carver’s leadership style.

“She is a positive, reflective, thoughtful person and she has the amazing ability to sprinkle in a little humor when it is needed,” Tynan said.

Elmwood administrative assistant Joanne Lipocky said that during the pan-

demic, the staff put together appreciation videos for Carver. Each member of the office team put on a hat: “A firefighter hat symbolizing the fires she was putting out each day, a construction hat to let her know we appreciated the way she built up her team, and a captain’s hat illustrating her incredible leadership steering the Elmwood ship through the COVID-19 storm,” Lipocky said.

Having worked in education for several decades, Carver said students are essentially the same and “want a happy place to take a risk and try to reach their potential.”

“Kids are kids,” Carver said. “I’ve always worked with this age group, and it is a joyful way to spend the day.”

Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh praised Carver’s relationships and rapport with the 7- and 8-year-olds at Elmwood.

“She calls them `little people’ and `kiddos,’ and they love her. Sometimes she tells them their behaviors are `unexpected’ — translation, the behaviors are naughty,” Cavanaugh noted. “Nevertheless, the kids know she both cares for them and means business at the same time, and the kids straighten up and fly right, as my grandmother used to say.”

The superintendent also shared several anecdotes that she feels exemplify the principal’s personality and work.

Pre-February vacation, for example, Carver | page 13

Anne Carver

School Committee endorses ESBC site, adds paraprofessionals

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

OnFeb. 16, the Hopkinton School Committee endorsed the Elementary School Building Committee’s choice of a site on Hayden Rowe Street and a design called “Village East,” for the proposed new Elmwood School.

ESBC Chair Jon Graziano and Vice Chair Tiffany Ostrander shared presentation duties, highlighting the process and what led to that choice.

Ostrander said the academic program could thrive in this “neighborhood style” model that feels “safe, comfortable and connecting.”

The ESBC representatives said they evaluated criteria set forth by a visioning team of community members and other stakeholders and rated categories from least to most advantageous on a colorcoded matrix.

Graziano noted that site constraints were a major reason why an Elm Street site was not chosen for the proposed school.

He said nearly all the options ranged in price from an estimated $160 million to $170 million with the high cost of net zero efficiencies and inflation making an impact.

He added the numbers would change and “get tighter as we try to get this as under control as we can.”

The presentation also included talk about traffic with Graziano pointing out that a traffic engineer was engaged earlier than normal in the process and he felt like a Hayden Rowe site would be “doable,” without affecting traffic in a major way. The engineer estimated an addition of about 170 cars going to the proposed new school.

The site is further back in the lot, which means that buses and cars can be taken off the road and line up on the property instead. Eliminating trips from Elmwood School to the other schools could also cut down on traffic, Graziano said.

Ostrander noted that there is a pos-

sibility of walking paths to make “walkability,” better and potentially take some cars off the road as well.

School Committee member Lya Batlle-Rafferty, who is also on the ESBC, said that input from educators is being taken very seriously. She said that separating the gym and cafeteria was the result of talking to Hopkins School teachers, for example.

Going forward, suggestions from educators would continue to be important, Graziano said.

School Committee members praised the ESBC for its efforts to date, with Vice Chair Amanda Fargiano saying, “We couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.” Having served on the visioning team, she added they did a great job incorporating what the community wanted into the design so far.

Board approves three paraprofessionals

Lauren Dubeau, principal at the PreSchool and Marathon Elementary School, requested the addition of three paraprofessionals to support the “significant special needs,” of students moving into the school. The School Committee approved the request.

She noted there are now 710 students in pre-K through Grade 1 and 602 children in just K-1. Of those students, about three percent, or 19 kids, have special needs. These could range from limited verbal and motor skills to a variety of disabilities like Down’s Syndrome, visual and/or hearing impairments, autism and more.

“We have to respond to our students and what they need,” Dubeau said.

Director of Finance Susan Rothermich said the positions could be funded by increasing the revolving account offsets by $255,000. The cost in FY24 would be $112,692 for the three positions. An amendment could be made to the proposed budget, reflecting that change to the revolving offset account.

Elmwood

Elmwood had a vacation spirit day and the kids were asked to dress like they were going on vacation.

“First thing in the morning a kid comes in and he’s walking down the hallway decked out in tourist gear,” Cavanaugh relayed. “Mrs. Carver, also in her vacation wear, says to the kid, ‘Nice outfit.’

“He shouts, `Mrs. Carver, are we at the airport?’ She laughs. ‘I think we are,’ she replies, and then asks him, `Where are you going?’ ‘Paris.’ He heads off, and Anne confided in me: ‘Carol, I was only going to the Cape.’ She shared that story as if that little guy was the first student who had ever made her laugh — an indication of the joy she derives from her work every day.”

The superintendent applauded Carver for leading Elmwood through the pandemic and keeping a smile on her face, taking other things in stride — everything from standing under dripping ceiling tiles on rainy days to finding a live snake in her office or having a skunk in a burrow in front of the building.

Cavanaugh talked about other Carver-led initiatives like a campaign on re-

High school adds, eliminates courses

In other business, the committee approved additions and subtractions of courses at the high school as presented by Principal Evan Bishop.

Bishop explained that in developing the program of studies, the priority is to put students first and offer courses they want to take in areas that interest them. Also, he likes to think the offerings are innovative and “ahead of the curve.”

He added that no funding is needed for the changes and the school has the educators in place to teach the courses.

The new courses include “Introduction to Architecture,” “ AP (Advanced

Placement) Pre-Calculus,”” The Physics of Sports” and “Topics in Biology.”

Changes to the science fair were made as a result to the growth of the program and a desire to help “more sophisticated” projects. Corresponding courses would be “Introduction to Chemistry with Research Methods,” for freshmen; and “Advanced Research Methods I,” for sophomores.

“Advanced Research Methods II and III” for juniors and seniors remain unchanged, Bishop said.

The following classes are being removed either because of lack of interest or revamping into something else: “Fab Lab (visual arts),” “HHSTV-II,” “Conceptual Physics—Mechanics, Electro Magnetism” and “Understanding the Earth.”

sponsible bathroom use and Elmwood’s version of March Madness that involves students reading works of nonfiction and voting on them. A school assembly is held at the end of voting where the winning book is unveiled.

“The kids get so crazy motivated about reading these books that when the day of the whole school assembly comes, the children are buzzing like bees talking about which book they think will win,” Cavanaugh said. Last year’s reveal featured balloons bursting out of a huge box.

“It’s amazing and speaks to an instructional aspect of Anne’s work,” the superintendent added.

Noting her replacement will have big shoes to fill, Cavanaugh indicated there were eight candidates for the principal’s position, with seven of them currently holding the role of elementary principal or having inhabited that position in the past.

The superintendent said they hope to conclude interviews by mid-March with a meet-the-candidates public forum on March 23. The announcement of a selection of the new Elmwood principal is expected on April 6.

Carver set to retire as

principal ‘on a high note’

Carver | from page 12

HHS travel requests approved

HHS Drama Ensemble presents ‘Lockerbie’

Local collegians thrive

SCHOOLS

NOTEBOOK

Atits Feb. 2 meeting, the School Committee postponed voting on a request for up to 14 high school students to participate in a Global Leadership Summit from July 3-15, 2024. The study tour program in Iceland, Denmark and Germany centers around the theme, “The Impact of Water on Society.”

Member Lya Batlle-Rafferty raised concerns about the approximate cost of $7,000 per student, fearing it would prohibit many students from going whose families cannot afford to send them, creating inequity.

She noted at the Feb. 16 meeting that she would not vote against the measure but didn’t want the matter to just “get lost,” after a few conversations are had about it.

Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh spoke with other administrators in other districts who offered suggestions like setting caps on the amounts, putting earlier timelines in place for families to raise money, establishing an account in the district for this purpose, using vouchers or just not having those types of trips anymore.

The board decided to put it in the financial aid policy when it is revisited at the end of the year.

“We want this to feel accessible for students,” Batlle-Rafferty said. She added it would be important to come up with ways to make it a possibility for students from all financial circumstances.

On Dec. 12, 2022, the Libyan intelligence operative suspected of making the bomb that blew up a Pan Am passenger jet over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988 was arrested and extradited to the United States to stand trial. For many of the Hopkinton High School drama students, it was the first they had heard of the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, but it provided a bit of context for the play they were planning to audition for a few weeks later.

“The Women of Lockerbie,” an award-winning play written by Deborah Brevoort, takes the audience to the hills of Lockerbie seven years after the bombing and tells the story of a group of women fighting U.S. government bureaucracy to accomplish a stunningly simple, humane goal: washing and returning the clothes of the crash victims to their families. Cast and crew have been hard at work since Jan. 4 to bring this story to life.

Performances are March 9 at 4 p.m. and March 10 and 11 at 7 p.m. in the HHS auditorium. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors and can be purchased at the door or online (showtix4u.com/eventdetails/71641).

Note that this play is not recommended for young children as some of the language is graphic.

Hopkinton residents earning spots on the dean’s list for the fall 2022 semester at UMass Amherst were: Morgan Allen, Molly Andrews, Julia Annenberg, Kendal August, Julian Bianchi, Angela Bonnell, Tess Bouvier , Shivali Chandrasekar , Alan Chen, Jordyn Cheverie, Jake Chirco , Fletcher Clark , Olivia Coelho , Melanie Cole , Sabine Collinson , Ciara Cross , Julia diBenedetto , Anish Doki, Camran Fattahy, Anne

Feather, Nathan Foster, Eva Franks, Jessica Franks, Lauren Gelbwachs, Hayley Glassburn , Natalia Gomez

Donate , Yusra Habib , Kamron

Haghighi , Tyler Holbrow , Zachary Horgan , Ellora Hoyt , An-Chi

Huang, Devansh Jain, Megan Joyce, Amanda Kelley, Devin Kelly, Shanzay Khan, Victoria Kray, Maxwell

Levy, Tobin Lock, Alex Mack, Justin Mak, Julia Markey, Parthaneel

Medhi, Ben Morey-Beale, Rachael

Nordling, Robert Pagliuca, Bianca

Pal , Mirabella Paolucci , Taylor

Parduhn , Meera Parthasarathy , William Quinlan , Jack Rodgers , Aaditya Saini, Danielle Sullivan, Li

Sutherland, Parth Tare, Sean Thapa, Evan Theodorou , Alexis Trendel , Madeline Ullman, Maya Vumbaca, Caroline Wauters , Emily Whelan , Megan White , Lillian York and Grace Young

Emmaline Kent was named to the

president’s list at Husson University. …

Mia Carboni was named to the dean’s list at William & Mary. …

At Roger Williams University, Linnea Dean, Korbin Johnson, Alex Mickanin , Lauren Pantazes and Amelia Pickard were named to the dean’s list. …

Charles Nealon was named to the president’s list at College of Charleston. …

Ethan Student was named to the dean’s list at Rochester Institute of Technology, where he studies in the applied arts and sciences program. …

At Emerson College, senior Eugenia Camacho (who is majoring in business creative enterprises), sophomore Olivia Gladu (political communication), freshman Kara Diune (media arts production) and freshman Spencer Horgan (media arts production) were named to the dean’s list. …

Connor Grady was named to the dean’s list at the University of Illinois, where he is studying industrial design in the College of Fine and Applied Arts. …

Casey McClean was named to the dean’s list at the University of Hartford.

Editor’s note: Information for college honors is provided by the schools. Those interested in being included in this section should forward the official notification or request for the school to email it to editor@hopkintonindependent.com.

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS in Hopkinton

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Residents asked to discuss walkability at March 21 meeting

By Mary Ellen Gambon Contributing Writer

One of the Planning Board’s goals for this year is to increase safe and inviting ways for allowing pedestrians to travel through Hopkinton, and it is seeking the community’s input at a virtual public forum on Tuesday, March 21, at 7 p.m.

Planning Board chair Gary Trendel explained in a phone interview that the idea for this initiative came about because of comments the board received from the community.

“We have consistently been hearing from residents that they want more walkability and what I would call more pedestrian connectivity,” he said. “We thought that we could maybe apply some planning principles to increase access. Like all things like this, we wanted to bring in the public and hear

what they had to say.”

In response to the comments, the Planning Board conducted “an extensive pedestrian connectivity survey” last year, Trendel noted. The board will use the survey data as well as information gleaned from the public forum to create a multiyear plan for new sidewalks and trails.

“The majority of respondents said they want to have more trails and sidewalks,” Trendel said of the survey results. “These are the people who get out three, four, five or six days a week.

“We were pleasantly surprised by how many people want to be able to happily and safely walk downtown,” he continued. “We want to better understand how people use sidewalks and trails through their feedback.”

In addition to travel, he stressed the physical, mental and health benefits that recreational walking promotes.

Five Star Painting

508-479-8040

“I know firsthand the health benefits of walking and biking,” Trendel said.

The pandemic also increased the public’s awareness of the social and physical benefits of being outdoors.

“For me, Hopkinton has some amazing assets,” Trendel explained, noting the popularity of the trails. “We have three lakes and two beautiful state parks in Whitehall and Hopkinton State Park. But for some places, right now you need a car to get there.”

Increased safety measures such as sidewalks and trails will promote “good traffic” to the trails and other town resources, he said. The public input session will help the Planning Board determine the best locations to increase access.

The Planning Board is taking some initial steps to increase pedestrian connectivity, according to Trendel. There are two articles for new sidewalks that

will be voted upon at the Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 1. He called these articles “low-hanging fruit” that could be addressed now.

One proposed sidewalk would connect Chestnut Street with Wild Road and Smith Road. This would increase pedestrian access to the downtown area for residents in the Connelly Hill and Ravenwood areas. He noted that a young person was struck by a car in that area several years ago, which prompted the discussion about sidewalks.

The second article proposed sidewalks that would connect Blueberry Lane to EMC Park.

“The idea is that we can create really nice 2- or 3-mile loops,” he said. Visit the events calendar at hopkintonma.gov for more information on the upcoming meeting, including the link.

BOOKED BY 5/15/23

The above are all property sales posted by the state in the last two weeks. Note: Last issue, an address was incorrect. It should have read 2 Whisper Way.

SportS

Golembiewski wins state track titles

Coming off his first-place finish in the state Division 2 meet a week earlier, Hopkinton High School senior Sean Golembiewski won the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.60 seconds at the state Meet of Champions on Feb. 25 at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston.

“He didn’t even get a great start, but he finished very strong and won comfortably,” HHS coach Jean Cann said of Golembiewski, noting that he is believed to be Hopkinton’s first male champion in the competition formerly known as the all-state meet.

Senior Luke Boothroyd almost made it two champions for the Hillers as he finished second in the 600, rallying in the homestretch to finish in 1:23.38. He won the event at the Division 2 meet, setting a school record with a time of 1:22.8.

Also competing for Hopkinton at the Meet of Champions was junior Drew Bialobrzeski, who finished second to Golembiewski in the 55 hurdles in the Division 2 meet.

Additionally, the boys 4x400 relay team of Boothroyd, Paul Litscher , Ruben Noroian and Golembiewski put together a school-record performance (3:26.69) and finished second at the Meet of Champions, one week after taking third at the Division 2 meet.

Golembiewski, who also finished third in the high jump at the Division 2 meet, then competed in the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association indoor pentathlon meet March 1 in Boston and finished first with a schoolrecord 3,404 points. The pentathlon includes the 55-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and 1,000.

Golembiewski also combined with Declan Mick and Andrew Budden to finish second in the team competition.

On the girls side, Elyse Srodawa earned a medal at the Meet of Champions by finishing eighth in the 2-mile.

“Elyse was with the leaders for a good part, then she fell off but finished strong, setting a personal best with a time of 11:16, which is really impressive for a sophomore,” Cann said.

Srodawa was second in the event at the Division 2 meet.

Also for Hopkinton, senior Autumn Tumbleton competed in the 2-mile as well, and junior Loryn Canty just missed reaching the finals in the shot put.

Wrestling: Sokol competes in New Englands

In the state wrestling championships, senior Justin Sokol finished fourth in the 285-pound division, earning a spot in the New England meet.

In the Division 2 state meet the previous week, Sokol took second place, while John Carlson was sixth and Adam Distasio finished eighth.

HHS coach Tim Nelson was honored for recording his 200th career victory.

Boys hockey wins tourney opener

The HHS boys hockey team made quick work of North Attleboro in its Round of 32 Division 2 state tournament game, posting a 9-0 rout.

Drew Morse and Charlie Purpura scored in the opening period. The Hillers blew open the game with five goals in the second, including a pair each from Joe Carrazza and Pavit Mehra James Hayward made it 8-0 in the third, and Purpura scored the final tally with just over a second remaining. Jack Lang picked up the win in the HHS goal.

Eighth-seeded Hopkinton (17-4) advanced to play Tri-Valley League rival Westwood on March 5.

Girls hockey reaches postseason

The HHS girls hockey co-op team posted a regular-season record of 6-12-2 and earned the 28th seed in the Division 1 tournament. The Hillers were to play fifth-seeded Winthrop on March 2 in the Round of 32.

The team recently won the Kelly O’Leary Tournament in Auburn, routing Burrilville (Rhode Island) 7-2 in the title game. Goalie Riley Collura (a Nipmuc freshman) earned tournament MVP honors.

Boys basketball bows out

The HHS boys basketball team saw its season come to an end with a 71-67 loss at Brookline in a Division 1 preliminary round game March 1.

The game was tied at 36 at the half, but the 36th-seeded Hillers could not overcome the 29th-seeded hosts down the stretch.

The Hillers take solace in a strong season that ended with a 14-7 record. “Sad to think I’ll never be stepping on the court again, but I couldn’t have asked for a better group of guys and season to end it off,” senior guard Zach Hyman shared.

Skiers advance to state meet

Senior captain Libby Herlihy, junior Klara Niss, sophomore Lila Mato and sophomore Annaleigh Crantz advanced to the girls Division 1 state championship meet, which was held March 1 at Berkshire East Ski Resort. Herlihy, Niss and Mato all made their second appearance in the meet.

On the boys side, junior JB Flynn represented the Hillers at the state meet.

Cheer finishes strong

The HHS cheer team won the sportsmanship award at the Shepherd Hill Winter Invitational on Feb. 24. The Hillers then competed in the TVL Showcase Meet at Bellingham the following day.

Karner blazes her own coaching path

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

Jessie Karner has established herself as a multipart coach in Hopkinton, and much of her success has been in sports that are traditionally male-dominated. Karner is coaching football and wrestling at the middle school level and recently began coaching softball as well.

An English teacher at Hopkinton High School, Karner managed the high school wrestling team when she was a student at HHS and began coaching when she started teaching.

“It’s been a really cool experience,” she said. “I’ve spent a lot of time learning about sports. I have been a humongous football fan, but I had a huge learning curve and I still have a huge learning curve.”

Coaching wrestling has come a bit more naturally to Karner, since she has been around the sport for so many years. Karner said she has watched as much wrestling as anyone in the community, with the possible exception of Tim Nelson and Corey Mills, the high school coaches who she said are big influences on her coaching career.

“I feel like I knew a lot about what to do,” she said. “I knew the moves and what they looked like, but I had to learn how to slow the moves down so I could teach them. It’s been a really fun challenge and a really rewarding experience.”

Karner said her favorite part of coaching is making connections with her athletes, especially coaching at the middle school level. She focuses on helping them build the skills to be strong athletes, but also qualities such as leadership, self-advocacy and confidence.

While wrestling and football have been great learning experiences, Karner said softball comes more naturally because she played the sport in high school.

“I can see a swing from 100 feet away and see something I would tweak,” she said. “I love the sport so much, and I still play and enjoy it. It’s very natural for me to coach.”

But coaching in roles that are traditionally male dominated is something that Karner said is a “really important trend,” citing the increase in female coaches at the professional level in sports like baseball, football and men’s basketball.

“It’s really important to have female coaches,” Karner said, adding that having varying viewpoints can only benefit athletes. She referenced Hopkinton coach Steve Simoes, who switched from baseball to softball and coached Karner when she was in school.

“I thought it was cool that he came across from baseball and offered a different perspective,” she said. “As we see women taking positions in men’s sports, I think it only helps us to be better and work together to help athletes thrive.”

Simoes, also a teacher at HHS, remembers Karner as a leader for the softball team.

“She was definitely an easy person to coach,” Simoes said. “I’m pretty certain I gave her the Coaches Award, which I give to the player who most represents the values of the program. So that’s an indication of the role she took on. I kind of refer to the Coaches Award winner as a player I consider to be ‘coach-free,’ because I think they would have the same attitude and work ethic and adherence to the responsibilities whether or not the coaches were present. And Jessie was always that way.”

Karner said her coaching passion always will be tied to helping her athletes succeed and find their own passion on the field or on the mat.

“I just want to help students find their way,” she said. “I want to look back and have them say that I was a positive influence in their lives.”

Jessie Karner coaches boys in football and wrestling, as well as girls in softball.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

I can see a swing from 100 feet away and see something I would tweak. I love the sport so much, and I still play and enjoy it. It’s very natural for me to coach.

— Jessie Karner

Reynolds starts coaching career in Red Sox organization

The Hopkinton Housing Authority, the Awarding Authority, invites sealed bids from Contractors for the 667-1 Security Cameras, #139060 in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, in accordance with the documents prepared by OWL Engineers and all incidental work necessary to complete the Project. The Project consists of: New security system including NVR (network video recorder), (5) wired cameras, (2) wireless cameras, new wp inuse receptacles, underground wiring, testing and training.

The work is estimated to cost $30,000

Bids are subject to M.G.L. c.149§44A(2)(B) and to minimum wage rates as required by M.G.L. c.l49 §§26 to 27H inclusive.

THIS PROJECT IS BEING ELECTRONICALLY BID AND HARD COPY BIDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Please review the instructions in the bid documents on how to register as an electronic bidder. The bids are to be prepared and submitted at www.biddocsonline.com . Tutorials and instructions on how to complete the electronic bid documents are available online (click on the “Tutorial” tab at the bottom footer).

Sealed Bids will be received until 11:00 AM on Thursday, 23 March 2023 and publicly opened online, forthwith.

All Bids should be submitted online at www.biddocsonline.com and received no later than the date and time specified above.

Bid Deposit – Not required.

Bid Forms and Contract Documents will be available for pick-up at www.biddocsonline.com (may be viewed electronically) or hardcopy purchased at Nashoba Blue, Inc. at 433 Main Street, Hudson, MA 01749 (978-568-1167).

There is a plan deposit of $25.00 per set payable to BidDocs ONLINE Inc.

Plan deposits may be electronically paid or by check. This deposit will be refunded upon return of the sets in good condition within thirty (30) days of receipt of general bids. Otherwise the deposit shall be the property of the Awarding Authority.

Additional sets may be purchased for $25.00

Bidders requesting Contract Documents to be mailed to them shall include a separate check for $40.00 per set for UPS Ground (or $65.00 per set for UPS overnight), non- refundable, payable to the BidDocs

Inc., to cover mail handling costs.

Davis Road, Hopkinton

be seen, but not removed at:

minor league affiliate in Greenville, South Carolina. While with the Single-A Greenville Drive, Reynolds will work with the coaching staff on crunching data, providing pregame reports, scouting the opposition and employing other means of technology to aid the players.

“I will be a helping hand to all of the coaches,” Reynolds said. “I’ll be running a lot of the technology.”

Technology has become a huge part of professional baseball in recent years. This year, the Red Sox and the rest of Major League Baseball will have new technology to get used to in the form of a pitch clock, which is meant to keep the game moving at a crisp pace. Amid the influx of numbers and data available, Reynolds said that when preparing scouting reports for pitchers and hitters, the goal will be to keep things simple.

“We are going to find ways to play to our players’ strengths and give them an edge,” he said. “We are looking for trends with opposing pitchers or hitters and we will figure out how we can use our players’ strengths to help us win baseball games.”

Reynolds said spring training has been going well so far, and the energy picked up once the major league club started playing exhibition games. He’s been meeting many of the players and coaches at all levels, but his focus has been on working with the minor league players who are hoping to one day work their way up to the big club.

Reynolds is coming off a career as a catcher at Babson that showed promise early but was derailed by an injury dur-

ing his sophomore year that led to arm surgery. As a graduate student in 2022, he appeared in 17 games, starting 12, and batted .245 with a double, a home run and six RBIs.

His ascendancy to the coaching ranks at such an early age comes as little surprise to his Hopkinton High School coach, Steve Simoes, who also coached Reynolds many years in youth baseball.

“Alex, I would have been surprised if he didn’t coach,” Simoes said. “I would suggest and joke around that he was going to be a coach when he was 14 years old, because — not even hyperbolic — I’ve never met anyone who loves the game more than he does and got the most out of his ability. He was so receptive to coaching and such a player/coach on the field. It was absolutely effortless to coach him, because he was always in a positive frame of mind, always team-first.”

Reynolds said player development has become a passion for him, and he wants to continue doing that work as his career develops.

“I like working with guys and seeing things come to fruition on the field,” he said. “I was doing that with pros at Cressey for four or five months, and we were able to see a lot of strides in guys. I have a lot of fun doing that.”

Reynolds said his goal is to have a career in baseball. His immediate focus, however, is helping his hometown team win another World Series.

“I want to help the Red Sox win baseball games and bring up the next crop of big leaguers,” he said. “Hopefully, sooner rather than later, there is another banner at Fenway.”

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 3-year-old Big Baby.

Here is Baypath’s description of Big Baby:

“Big Baby is a young, active boy who is looking for a buddy to throw his ball for life! Big Baby is very adventurous and adaptable. He came all the way from Florida to find a family to call his own. Big Baby absolutely loves playing with toys and playing fetch! He is a tennis ball fanatic and enjoys carrying one with him wherever he goes. This sweet boy also takes very good care of his tennis balls and will drop them in his water to clean them off while he drinks!

Big Baby would love a home with many dog toys all to himself, and would do best as an only dog.

He’d also like teenagers or older (just like a baby, he doesn’t know his size).

For more information on Big Baby 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.

Reynolds | from page 1

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.

Reading Marathon

March 1 through April 21

On your mark, get set … read! The Hopkinton Public Library’s Reading Marathon will take participants from Hopkinton to Boston in 26 hours of reading. Best of all, readers won’t have to get blisters on their feet, soak their sneakers, get a sunburn on their spine, or even so much as leave their comfy reading chair (except to grab the next book on the stack). Like Summer Reading, this program rewards individuals for reading. Participants will use the library’s new reading website, called ReadSquared, to track their reading time in order to progress along the Boston Marathon route. Over the course of 26 hours of reading, individuals will unlock badges, win prizes and get messages of encouragement from town leadership. All ages are invited to join.

Hidden Figures and Other Women of NASA

Thursday, March 9, 7-8 p.m.

Even before the space age in 1957, women worked at NASA, although many were excluded from the early days of the astronaut corps. This Zoom program celebrates Women’s History Month and explores the lives of the many women who made their dreams of careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics come true at NASA and who have been an essential part of the space program since its inception. Register through the library’s website.

Author Talk with David Epstein

Monday, March 13, 1-2 p.m.

In this Zoom program, New York Times bestselling author David Epstein, who wrote “Range” and “The Sports Gene” will chat about his most recent book, “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.” Register through the library’s website.

Movie and Director Q&A: ‘Being Robin’ by Roger Kabler

Tuesday, March 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Local filmmaker and performer Roger Kabler will present a viewing and discussion of his film “Being Robin” (beingrobinthemovie.com). A man believes he is possessed by the spirit of Robin Williams. Whether he is truly at the center of a spiritual event or he is delusional, he mounts a hysterical and touching stage tribute that becomes a hit around America. Based on true events.

Film Screening and Filmmaker Q&A: ‘Cycle of Memory’

Saturday, March 18, 2-4:15 p.m.

The Hopkinton Public Library and Hopkinton’s AgeFriendly and Dementia-Friendly Community initiative present a special intergenerational screening of “Cycle of Memory” on Saturday, March 18, from 2-4:15 p.m. at the Hopkinton Public Library. “Cycle of Memory” is a new award-winning documentary about two brothers’ bicycle adventure to find the memories their grandfather lost to Alzheimer’s. The film will be followed by a live Q&A session with filmmaker Alex Leff. To watch a trailer for the film, visit cycleofmemory.com/about. For more information and to register, visit hopkintonlibrary.org/calendar.asp or call 508-497-9777.

‘Southern Inspired’: Author Talk with Celebrity Chef Jernard A. Wells

Tuesday, March 21, 4-5 p.m.

This Zoom program features a chat with celebrity chef Jernard Wells about his newest cookbook, “Southern Inspired: More Than 100 Delicious Dishes from My American Table to Yours.” Register through the library’s website calendar.

Adult Program: Romance Authors Maya Rodale and Caroline Linden

Wednesday, March 22, 7-8 p.m.

SENIOR SNIPPETS

The Hopkinton Senior Center is open Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and Fridays from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. For a more extensive listing of programs and services, including lunch program menus as well as a newsletter, check hopkintonseniorcenter. com. Anyone with questions can call 508497-9730. The Senior Center also has a Facebook page that provides updates on resources, programs and events.

Cultural Conversations: Budapest’s City Center and Parliament Square

Wednesday, March 28, 11:30 a.m.

Participants will enjoy a virtual walk around the surroundings of the Hungarian Parliament, with a discussion of important events in Hungary’s history. From construction in the late 1800s to the current day, attendees will learn how this building still is an important part of Hungarian life today. Then there will be visits to memorials honoring the memories of those lost during World War I and World War II. There also will be a view of the Danube and the Castle District to gain a true appreciation for the city of Budapest. Call the Senior Center for the Zoom link.

Fraud Protection Seminar with the FBI

Thursday, March 30, 1 p.m.

This special presentation, hosted by the FBI’s Boston Division, will include important tips to protect individuals from fraud and theft, along with the most common scams happening today and how to avoid becoming a victim. Advance registration is requested by calling the Senior Center.

Repair Cafe with Hopkinton Lions Club

Saturday, April 1, 9 a.m.-noon

Repair Cafe is a community event where people bring their items that are not quite working right but still too good to throw away, and other community members help repair them. There is no charge unless replacement parts are needed. Similar events have been held in more than two dozen towns across Massachusetts in recent years, including Hopkinton last year. Anyone with an item in need of repair or who enjoys fixing things and is

interested in being a volunteer should contact the Senior Center. Volunteers are being sought to help with knife sharpening, general furniture repair, lamp rewiring, mending and small appliance repair, to name a few things.

Our Time Memory Cafe

Thursday, April 6, 1 p.m.

Our Time Memory Cafe is a welcoming gathering for those experiencing forgetfulness or mild cognitive impairment or living with dementia, along with their care partner, family and friends. The cafe is a place to socialize, have social experiences with others going through similar changes and form friendships. A care partner must accompany anyone who requires assistance. The program is a joint venture between the Hopkinton Senior Center and Hopkinton Public Library. For more information or to register, call 508-4970108 or email info@ourtimememorycafe.org.

Six Pillars of Brain Health

Wednesday, April 19, 1 p.m.

Participants will learn about the six pillars of a brain-healthy lifestyle, share brain-boosting activities and be inspired by others. This session is a good overview for anyone interested in improving their brain health and will provide actionable steps people can take along with resources to learn more. Advance registration is requested by calling the Senior Center.

In this Zoom conversation, friends and romance authors Maya Rodale and Caroline Linden will discuss Rodale’s re-release and expanded edition of “Dangerous Books For Girls: The Bad Reputation of Romance Novels Explained.” Register via the library’s website calendar.

Friends of the Library Pop-up Book Sale

Friday, March 10, and Saturday, March 11, 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m.

The Friends of the Library pop-up book sale will feature some great reads at low prices —and support library events at the same time.

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 monthly program March 13

The Hopkinton Women’s Club will host its next monthly meeting/program Monday, March 13, at 11 a.m. at the Hopkinton Public Library. The Hopkintonbased Mental Health Collaborative will present a program on four components: decreasing stigma; understanding mental illnesses; knowing when, where and how to get treatment; and maintaining good mental health. New members from Hopkinton and the surrounding communities are always welcome. For more information, check the club’s website at hopkintonwomensclub.org or contact Judith Weinthaler at 508-435-3287 or HopkintonWC@gmail.com.

HopSwap at HHS cafeteria March 18

HopSwap, an annual community-wide tag sale, will be held Saturday, March 18, from 9 a.m.-noon at the Hopkinton High School cafeteria. Donations — children’s clothing up to size 14, maternity clothing, baby gear, shoes, costumes, toys, games, sports equipment, bikes, books, DVDs, CDs and other gently used children’s items — can be dropped off on Friday, March 17, from 3-8 p.m. at the cafeteria. Items must be clean, in good condition, with all parts securely attached. Proceeds benefit HopMoms and HPTO selected charities. For more information, visit the HopSwap Facebook page.

‘Cycle of Memory’ film screening March 18

The Hopkinton Public Library and Hopkinton’s Age-Friendly and DementiaFriendly Community initiative present a special intergenerational screening of “Cycle of Memory” on Saturday, March 18, from 2-4:15 p.m. at the Hopkinton Public Library. “Cycle of Memory” is a new award-winning documentary about two brothers’ bicycle adventure to find the memories their grandfather lost to Alzheimer’s. The film will be followed by a live Q&A session with filmmaker Alex Leff. To watch a trailer for the film, visit cycleofmemory.com/about. For more information and to register, visit hopkintonlibrary.org/calendar.asp or call 508-497-9777.

Baypath Humane Society Fur Ball March 24

Baypath Humane Society’s annual Fur Ball Gala will be held Friday, March 24, from 6-11 p.m. at the Verve Hotel in Natick. This year’s event has a disco theme. The event will include a number of auction items in a wide price range. Tickets are $150 and include food, entertainment and dancing. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit baypathhumane.org/fur-ball-gala.

Family Fling at Town Common March 25

The second annual Family Fling is set for Saturday, March 25, at Hopkinton Town Common. The event, sponsored by the Friends of Hopkinton and the Hopkinton Lions Club, will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and include food, entertainment and activities, including a scavenger hunt. Parking will be available at Center School (11 Ash Street). For more information, visit friendsofhopkinton.org.

BSA Troop 4 Pancake Breakfast April 1

Hopkinton Boy Scouts Troop 4 will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, April 1, from 7:30-11 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church (20 Church Street). The Scouts will serve a variety of pancakes along with sausage, juice, coffee and more. There also will be a silent auction. General admission is $6 via advanced purchase or $8 at the door. Senior citizens pay $4, and veterans eat free. Proceeds will fund high-adventure trips for Troop 4 Scouts, including hiking in national parks as well as camping and outdoor adventure opportunities. For more information, email pancake-breakfast@troop4hopkinton.com.

Couch to 5K training program starts April 2

The Hopkinton Running Club Coach to 5K is a 10-week program designed to train anyone who has ever wanted to run a 5K (3.1-mile) road race. In-person training begins Sunday, April 2, and is held weekly from 8-9 a.m. The goal of the program is to run the Sharon Timlin Memorial 5K on Saturday, June 17. The program costs $50 and includes weekly in-person training sessions, access to club coaches, a Couch to 5K T-shirt and membership in the Hopkinton Running Club. To register, visit runreg.com/hrc-membership-2023. Email questions to hopkintonrunning@gmail.com.

Become a Dementia Friend April 6

Individuals are invited to become a Dementia Friend by attending an informational program at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts on Thursday, April 6, from 7-8:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about the different types of dementia, what it’s like to live with dementia, and small gestures that make a difference. For reservations, call the Hopkinton Senior Center at 508-497-9730. The program, open to residents of any town, is sponsored by the Hopkinton Council on Aging.

MBCC Against the Tide at Hopkinton State Park June 18

The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) will host its annual Against the Tide event on Saturday, June 17, at Hopkinton State Park. The event features multiple competitions and recreational activities, including a half-mile or 1-mile swim, a 5K or 10K run and a 3-mile fitness walk. There also will be a virtual component. Proceeds benefit MBCC’s work toward breast cancer prevention, locally and nationally. For more information and to register, visit mbcc.org/swim.

Veterans Breakfast first Friday of each month

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

Event Calendar Sponsored by HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

March 10 & 11 | 8 p.m.

The HCA is excited to have our friend Bob Malone back for another amazing night of music including his band and the Malonettes! Known for his high-energy piano rock and blues concerts, Malone has traveled the world playing for John Fogerty and has recorded or played with musical icons Ringo Starr, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, and Jimmy Buffet to name a few.

There are two seating options for this performance. General stadium seating is $28.00 (not assigned seats). Cocktail table service is intimate floor seating at a table (seats 4) with service from cash bar during the performance ($32.00).

Tickets On Sale Now! www.HopArtsCenter.org

Presented by Enter Stage Left Theater, this play focuses on 15-year-old Christopher who has an extraordinary brain; he is exceptionally intelligent but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor’s dog, he sets out to identify the true culprit, which leads to an earthshattering discovery and a journey that will change his life forever. Directed by Paul Champlin.

She Grooves: A Collaboration of Berklee College of Music Women March 19 | 4 p.m.

Using our Voices for Positive Change: A Celebration of Empowered Female Musicians. Equal parts performance and presentation, this family-friendly public event will explore how women historically have used their voices for positive change within the world. She Groove’s repertoire currently includes original tunes as well as unique covers of Joni Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, Aretha Franklin, and Dianne Reeves. Their aim

is to inspire and empower communities to celebrate, elevate and respect the female voice. This concert is on a PayWhat-You-Can basis. Registration/ticket purchase is required. This concert is funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

The Art of Conversation: Women Leading the Way (FREE event) March 21 | 7:30 p.m.

In celebration of Women’s Empowerment month, HCA is delighted to host a panel discussion led by Abbie Rosenberg, Allison Iantosca, and Kelli Baldoni. They will share their stories of successes, trials, mistakes and rewards along the way. The trio are leaders in their fields of business and will share their respective journeys. This conversation is for women and men alike. Being an effective ally starts with listening and engaging in thoughtful conversation. Beyond sharing how they got where they are today, our speakers will touch on the measurable positive economic and social impacts that come from investing and supporting businesses guided by female leaders. Sponsored by Atlas Wealth Strategies.

with the NYC Bob Malone Band and the Malonettes

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

Deborah Lundergan

Deborah Ann Lundergan, 65, of Millis passed away unexpectedly at home in early February. Born in Framingham and raised in Hopkinton, she was the daughter of Barbara A. (Flannery) Meisner of Hopkinton and the late Eugene H. Lundergan.

Deborah was a graduate of Hopkinton High School, class of 1975. She later received an associate degree from Endicott College, a bachelor’s degree from Framingham State College and a master’s degree from Northeastern University. She most recently worked at Siemens as a quality assurance specialist. Previously, she was a stability specialist at Sanofi Genzyme.

Deborah loved to travel, particularly cruising to tropical destinations. She always made it a point to send her family postcards and bring them back souvenirs from her many travels. She also enjoyed gardening, spending time with her family and Sunday dinners at her mother’s house.

She will be lovingly remembered and missed by her mother, Barbara A. Meisner; her sister, Kathleen M. Desilet and husband Kenneth; her niece, Elisabeth N. Zawada and husband Mark; her nephew, Ryan J. Lundergan; and her great-niece, Charlotte N. Zawada. She was predeceased by her father, Eugene H. Lundergan; her sister, Barbara J. Lundergan; and her nephew, Noah B. Desilet. Visitation was held Feb. 22 at the Chesmore Funeral Home, Hopkinton. Donations may be made to the Millis Public Library, 961 Main Street, Millis, MA 02054.

Rebecca Mourey

Rebecca Lin Mourey, 59, of Hopkinton passed away at home on Feb. 14 after living courageously with ALS for 2 1/2 years. She was surrounded by her family.

Rebecca, or Becky as she was known to friends and family, was born Jan. 27, 1964, to Mary and Neil Auble in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was their third child out of four. Her family eventually moved to Kentucky for several years before settling in Natick, where she spent most of her childhood and teenage years. After graduating from Natick High School in 1982, she went on to study clarinet performance and business management at the University of Hartford and eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in music. After graduation, she worked for Aetna in Hartford until she had her children.

In 1984, during her sophomore year of college, she met James (Jim) Mourey, and they wed in 1990. They went on to have two children: Tyler, born in 1993, and Ali, born in 1995. Becky, Jim and their two children eventually settled in Hopkinton.

When Becky had her kids, she decided to dedi-

cate her life to being a loving and devoted mother. She was a stay-at-home mom for the early years of both Tyler and Ali’s lives, and she became known as a fierce “mama bear” as well as a gentle, loving and nurturing mother. She became very involved in her kids’ lives, sharing with them her love of music and enthusiasm for life.

Becky was a passionate musician and began teaching clarinet in 2001. She was involved in her local musical communities, performed in various orchestras and became a respected and admired clarinetist. She eventually took on more students and began teaching music at Fay School and St. Mark’s School in Southborough as well as in the Hopkinton Public Schools.

In November of 2020, Becky was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Despite being diagnosed with a terminal illness that lacks a cure, she spent the time she had left tirelessly advocating for people in her situation. She was instrumental in the passing of the ACT for ALS legislation, which was passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in December of 2021. Additionally, she tirelessly pressed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make new ALS treatments more speedily available — an effort that resulted in the FDA last year approving the new drug Relyvrio, only the third-ever ALS treatment to be approved.

Becky was predeceased by her parents, Mary and Neil Auble. She is survived by her husband, Jim Mourey, her children; Tyler and Ali, her sisters, Debra and Susan Auble, and her brother, Thomas Auble.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Compassionate Care ALS, P.O. Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574. Private funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, Hopkinton.

Richard Capalucci

Richard (Richie) Joseph Capalucci, 90, loving husband of the late Donna Capalucci and longtime resident of Ashland, passed away peacefully on Feb. 23.

Born in Framingham, he was the son of late Negrina (Uva) and Oto Capalucci and brother to the late Tony Capalucci and Rena Galluzzo.

After graduation from Framingham High School in 1952, Richie joined the United States Army and served honorably in the Korean War from 1953-55. Upon completion of his service, Richie returned to Framingham and founded Suburban Masonry Corp. with his partner and friend, the late Anton Zwang. Together they served the Metrowest community for over 50 years as master masons.

In 1955, Richie married Dandola Rossetti, an Italian immigrant who stole his heart in high school. They settled on Woodland Road in Ashland, where they resided for over 60 years and raised their seven children: the late Jean Daly (Edward) of Holliston, Maria Rossini (Paul) of Holliston, Richard Capalucci Jr. of Marlborough, Nancy Antonio (Paul) of Framingham, Joan Phillips (Paul) of Nokomis, Florida, Paul Capalucci (Kara) of Upton, and Christine Gillis (Lawrence III) of Ashland. Richie became better known as “Nonno” to his cherished grandchildren Andrea, Elizabeth, Paul, Elyse, Michael, Chelsea, Erica, Jessica, Angela, Jake, Anthony, Samantha, Erin, Jenny, Jackie, Larry, Natalie, Julia and Matthew, and great grandchildren Nora and Emma. Richie and Donna also enjoyed spending time at their vacation home in Brewster, returning to Donna’s birthplace in Cansano, Italy, and family camping with the Zwang family.

In addition to cherishing his family, Richie stayed close with his childhood friend, the late Charlie Lupis. They’d often take joy rides in Charlie’s Cadillac, returning home laughing like mischievous teenagers.

Richie proudly attended the sporting events of his grandchildren, especially those at Ashland High, where the coaches, players and parents spoiled him with front row seating, high-fives, hugs and home-baked treats. Ever the socializer, he eagerly attended Ashland Day, the Farmer’s Market and the Boston Marathon, and often enjoyed good conversation and a cold beer at TJ’s.

A consummate foodie, Richie would spend hours on his trips to Market Basket, strolling the aisles and befriending the deli staff, who would often save the choicest prosciutto cuts for him. He loved a generous sprinkle of hot pepper on his pasta and homemade “ciambotta,” always “getting a kick” out of his children’s lesser stamina. His passion for gardening, mushroom-picking and wine-making became a family affair. Whether planting tomatoes, pressing the Zinfandel grapes or scavenging sometimes-suspect mushrooms, it was always a production that also provided endless belly-laughing Richie stories.

His priorities were simple: family, work and enjoying life. He was so proud of his family and his own achievements as a mason so when his children moved out and bought their own homes, he gifted each of them with brick fireplaces, concrete walkways, stone walls and fieldstone patios, often adding his own signature touch.

In his later years, Richie was blessed to spend his days enjoying daily family visits while he resided happily at Fairview Senior Living in Hopkinton. He will be hugely missed, but the memories of his love and contagious laughter will sustain all of us in the days to come.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated March 3 in St. Tarcisius Parish, Framingham, followed by burial in St. Tarcisius Cemetery.

Donations in Richard’s name may be made to the Ashland VFW Post 2331, 311 Pleasant Street, Ashland, MA 01721.

police log

ARRESTS

February 27

5:12 p.m. On South Street, Officer Nicholas Walker arrested a 47-year-old from Quincy on a warrant and also charged him with operation of a motor vehicle with registration suspended, uninsured motor vehicle, number plate violation and unregistered motor vehicle.

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.

February 14

7:58 a.m. The Upton Police Department reported an erratic red Dodge headed toward Hopkinton on West Main Street. Officer Robert Ekross responded and checked the area with a negative find.

8:08 a.m. The Water Department reported a fire hydrant on Avenue F was struck by a tractor-trailer, which no longer

INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE

Docket No. MI23P0494EA

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

The Trial Court Probate and Family Court

Middlesex Division

Estate of: Lucille M. Brenna

Also Known As: Mary L. Brenna

Date of Death: November 27, 2022

To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner Ellen G. Carita of Needham MA. A Will has been admitted to informal probate.

Ellen G. Carita of Needham MA has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve without surety on the bond. The estate is being administered under informal procedure by the Personal Representative under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code without supervision by the Court. Inventory and accounts are not required to be filed with the Court, but interested parties are entitled to notice regarding the administration from the Personal Representative and can petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. Interested parties are entitled to petition the Court to institute formal proceedings and to obtain orders terminating or restricting the powers of Personal Representatives appointed under informal procedure. A copy of the Petition and Will, if any, can be obtained from the Petitioner.

was on scene. Officer Robert Ekross responded and viewed the damage and took a report.

10:16 a.m. A motorist reported being struck by a large piece of debris from a tractor-trailer on Interstate 495. The State Police were notified and responded.

11:43 a.m. Officer Tyler Staback responded to a motor vehicle accident on Main Street and took a report.

1:41 p.m. Officer Robert Ekross responded to a past larceny incident on West Main Street, spoke with loss prevention and took a report.

3:27 p.m. A caller reported a dead deer in a ditch on the side of the road on West Main Street. The animal control officer was contacted for removal.

5:37 p.m. A caller requested a check of a suspicious white Jeep parked at the red barn on Clinton Street between 2-4 p.m. every day. The incident was logged.

7:40 p.m. A walk-in spoke with Officer Cody Normandin about someone stealing money from her debit card. Officer Normandin assisted and took a report of fraud.

February 15

12:00 p.m. A Main Street caller reported she keeps finding things in her vehicle. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil took a report of the suspicious activity.

3:19 p.m. A Downey Street caller reported a landscaping company dumped wood chips in the roadway. Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded and spoke with crew members, who stated they would sweep before leaving.

5:09 p.m. A Falcon Ridge Drive resident reported receiving a phone call from the “Hopkinton Police Department” reporting a complaint about her. Officers Cody Normandin and Nicholas Saletnik responded and took a report of the suspicious activity.

6:06 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle struck a deer on Hayden Rowe Street. Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded and reported minimal damage to the vehicle. The deer ran off.

11:41 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle struck a deer on East Main Street. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded and

dispatched the deer. A message was left for the animal control officer to pick it up in the morning.

February 16

9:56 a.m. A concerned caller reported a Chestnut Street house with windows covered up by paper, and “HELP” was written on one paper. Officer Cody Normandin responded and reported the paper and the word “HELP” were part of a decoration.

1:08 p.m. A caller report receiving a phone call from someone pretending to be an investigator from the Hopkinton Police Department and who stated his identity was compromised. No personal information was given to the scammer. The incident was logged.

1:21 p.m. A caller reported her identity was stolen through a fraudulent text message. Officer Sean McKeon spoke with the caller and took a report.

3:52 p.m. A walk-in reported someone hit her vehicle while it was parked in the library back parking lot three days earlier. The involved left his information, and the walk-in requested assistance getting in touch with him. Sergeant William Burchard assisted and took a report.

4:16 p.m. Officer Sean McKeon responded to a motor vehicle accident on Gassett Road. No personal injuries were reported.

February 17

9:32 a.m. A caller reported she was afraid a large hollowed-out tree on Winter Street was going to fall, as it was actively cracking. Officer Sean McKeon responded and notified the DPW.

5:24 p.m. A caller reported two males walking down Ash Street, one with blood on his face. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officers Shannon Beloin and Nicholas Walker responded and spoke with the individual, who did not want assistance.

February 18

1:38 p.m. A Beach Street resident reported a water problem and vandalism. Officer Robert Ekross responded and took a report.

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2:55 p.m. A West Main Street caller reported a strange device with wires on her toilet. Officers Shannon Beloin and Nicholas Walker responded and spoke with the caller. All was OK.

2:59 p.m. A Constitution Court caller requested assistance with finding her lost iPhone, which was being tracked with Apple’s Find My app and in the possession of someone else. Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded and checked the area with a negative find.

9:10 p.m. A caller reported a minor motor vehicle accident in a West Main Street parking lot near Hillers Pizza. Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded and took a report.

February 19

11:37 a.m. A caller reported he found a loose dog at the State Park on Cedar Street. The animal control officer was en route when the dog was reunited with its owner.

February 20

1:09 p.m. An Elizabeth Road resident reported a missing adult with disabilities. Sergeants Arthur Schofield and Aaron O’Neil and Officer Robert Ekross responded. The Fire Department was requested along with a K-9 unit. The State Police, K-9 unit and air wing assisted in

the search. The male was subsequently located. Sergeant O’Neil took a report.

1:59 p.m. A Grove Street caller reported that a person doing business for the caller may have had his vehicle stolen. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Robert Ekross responded and located the vehicle and reported it was just a misunderstanding of where the owner parked his car.

8:26 p.m. A caller reported a tractor-trailer on fire on Interstate 495. Officers Matthew LaTour and Cody Normandin responded and stood by on Patriots Boulevard to make sure the fire did not spread in toward the residential neighborhood of homes.

February 21

11:57 a.m. A caller reported a male hitchhiking for quite some time on Pond Street. Officer Robert Ekross responded and provided a courtesy transport.

1:01 p.m. A caller reported a male hitchhiking again, on Gassett Road. Officer Robert Ekross responded and could not locate the individual.

February 22

6:30 a.m. The Ashland Police Department reported receiving a call about a stop sign on Cross Street that appeared to have been knocked down by a vehicle. Officer Brennan Grimley responded and found the stop sign that was pulled from the concrete.

1:59 p.m. A walk-in with potential information for the Bellingham Police Department and other state and government agencies spoke with Sergeant Matthew McNeil. The individual was referred to the Bellingham Police Department.

2:21 p.m. Officer Matthew LaTour and Matthew Santoro responded to a motor vehicle accident on Greenwood Road and took a crash report.

9:39 p.m. A caller who was dog sitting on Norcross Road reported hearing a crash downstairs. Officers Shannon Beloin, Nicholas Walker and Matthew LaTour responded and checked the area with a negative find.

February 24

4:34 a.m. The DPW reported a vehicle illegally parked on Mayhew Street, preventing crews from clearing snow from sidewalks. Officer Augusto Diaz responded and attempted to make contact at the residence. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded and attempted to contact the owner and subsequently issued a winter parking ban ticket.

9:19 a.m. A caller reported a fallen tree was blocking the roadway of Norcross Street. Officer Tyler Staback responded and notified the DPW. The DPW responded and removed the tree.

9:21 a.m. A caller reported a tree fell on wires on South Mill Street and was blocking half the roadway. Officers Sean McKeon and Matthew Santoro responded with barricades and notified Eversource.

10:21 a.m. Officers Matthew Santoro and Tyler Staback responded to a report of fallen wires on Walker Street. The DPW responded and placed barricades on Walker and Proctor Streets. Eversource was notified, and a tree service company was requested.

10:49 a.m. A caller reported a tree in the roadway of Spring Street. Officer Matthew Santoro responded and notified Eversource and the DPW.

3:18 p.m. A Hillcrest Drive resident reported a delivery driver did damage to his lawn. Officer Shannon Beloin assisted the caller.

3:57 p.m. A caller complained of a vehicle parked on Main Street and blocking her driveway, an ongoing issue. She previously contacted the DPW for solutions. Contact was made with the owner of the vehicle, and it was moved. The caller was advised to continue contacting the DPW as well as the Select Board for a solution.

11:23 p.m. A caller reported she struck a deer on Fawn Ridge Road and damaged her vehicle. The deer ran off. Officer Augusto Diaz responded and took a crash report.

February 25

1:42 a.m. An employee at a Hayden Rowe Street bar reported two males who were involved in an argument inside the bar were outside banging on the windows and door and yelling. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Robert Ekross responded to the disturbance and reported the two men took off on foot, heading towards the center of town.

7:07 a.m. A Turnbridge Lane homeowner reported the smell of gas near the furnace. Of-

ficer Augusto Diaz responded along with the Fire Department.

9:02 a.m. A School Street resident reported her dog found a dead squirrel on her property and requested the animal control officer dispose of the dead rodent. The animal control officer assisted.

11:41 a.m. A motorist reported a road hazard on Ash Street where a worker was on a tall ladder with no cones for safety, and the caller almost hit the ladder. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded and checked the area with a negative find.

12:54 p.m. A caller reported her dog had been missing since the previous night and he requested the number for Baypath Humane Society and the animal control officer. The message was passed on to the animal control officer.

1:04 p.m. A caller reported he had a bin full of tools in the back of his truck, and unbeknownst to his wife, the tailgate was open while she drove to work in the truck. The caller asked if anyone turned in anything. No one had.

2:16 p.m. A Main Street caller reported his driveway was partially blocked by a parked car and wanted the incident logged.

4:55 p.m. A Blueberry Lane caller reported a front door wide open. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded and checked the area and found all in order and secured the door.

10:22 p.m. Officer Nicholas Saletnik reported the left hand turn light heading east on Main Street and Cedar Street had been turned around due to the wind, and motorists were unable to see the light because it was backwards. The DPW was notified.

February 26

2:05 a.m. A Cedar Street caller reported seeing a fire or flame off in the distance near the State Park. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil responded and checked the LNG plant on Wilson Street and found staff venting and lighting the flame. All was OK.

5:55 a.m. Officer Tyler Staback attempted to contact a person who was looking for advice about an incident that happened to her daughter at Northeastern University. Officer Staback was to wait for a return call.

7:22 a.m. A caller reported a wire fell down and was sparking on Ash Street. Officer Tyler Staback responded along with the Fire Department and notified Eversource and diverted traffic until a police detail arrived.

10:43 a.m. Officers Robert Ekross and Tyler Staback responded to a motor vehicle crash on Lumber Street. No personal injuries were reported. A tow truck removed one vehicle.

6:21 p.m. A caller reported a missing female in the State Park on Cedar Street. Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Cody Normandin, Nicholas Walker and Matthew LaTour responded along with the Fire Department. K-9 assistance was requested. A phone ping was in progress, and the individual was subsequently located at her residence in Ashland.

7:22 p.m. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Nichoals Saletnik assisted a disabled motor vehicle on West Main Street.

February 27

7:51 a.m. A caller reported a minor fender bender in a West Main Street parking lot. Officer Robert Ekross responded and took a report.

10:21 a.m. A caller reported a dog running loose in and out of the roadway on Ash Street. The caller took possession of the dog. A message was left for the owner and the animal control officer.

11:47 a.m. A detail officer requested an officer visit his location on Grove Street for property that was left in the roadway. Officer Tyler Staback responded and retrieved the property.

3:10 p.m. Officers Matthew LaTour and Nicholas Saletnik responded to a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident on Hayden Rowe Street involving a school bus. A crash report was taken.

7:25 p.m. An Ash Street resident reported her son was overdue to be home, and he had a flat tire on his bike while on the bike trail in Milford. The caller stated her son’s thoughts had been “scrambled.” Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Nicholas Saletnik and Matthew LaTour responded and checked the Echo Lake area and attempted a phone ping but received nothing. The caller suggested checking a second home on Hayden Rowe Street that was vacant. Officers checked that residence with a negative find.