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HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 23 | No. 11 | May 18, 2022

Town Meeting backs budget, water connection

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

T

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

he voters who showed up to Town Meeting May 2-4 at the Hopkinton High School Athletic Center were an agreeable sort, helping move through the 53 articles quickly and efficiently — despite multiple delays due to the lack of a quorum that extended Town Meeting to three nights.

The town’s $104 million budget passed unanimously. Following some discussion, the town’s plan to connect to the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority water supply as part of the remedy for the PFAS issue received strong support. The Lykan tax increment financing (TIF) agreement passed unanimously.

A replacement turf for the Fruit Street fields passed with little objection; it also required approval at the May 16 Town Election. (The election occurred after this paper went to print; check HopkintonIndependent.com for updates as well as for a complete list of the Town Meeting articles and voting results.)

WELCOME BACK

Posing next to the refurbished Welcome to Hopkinton sign on West Main Street are (from left) Hopkinton Garden Club representative Kris MacPherson, Hopkinton Garden Club president Ann Hussey Hogaboom, 26.2 Foundation Executive Director Tim Kilduff, Scott Richardson of Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects, former Hopkinton Women’s Club President Nancy Tarsi and current Hopkinton Women’s Club President Doris Early.

See Page 3 for more about the sign.

Town Meeting | 8

INSIDE

Sokol gets shot at NFL

NEWS

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

Town again deals with surge in COVID cases

T

SPORTS

PHOTO/SACRED HEART ATHLETICS

he NFL Draft had come to an end April 30 when Josh Sokol received a call from his agent asking whether he would be interested in signing with the Minnesota Vikings. The 2016 Hopkinton High School graduate thought he might be getting an opportunity to go to Minnesota’s rookie minicamp, and said he would be interested.

About a half-hour later, Sokol’s cell phone rang again. “[A team representative] called me and said, ‘Do you want to be a Viking?’ ” he recalled. “I said, ‘Absolutely,’ and that was about it.”

Sokol described the entire moment as “surreal,” and his head was so in the clouds that he still can’t quite remember who it was on the other

Hopkinton’s Josh Sokol (75) is trying out for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings after a standout college career as an offensive lineman at Sacred Heart University.

f Hf Sokol | 15

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2 • The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022

Has time come to change Town Meeting format?

Hopkinton Independent

STAFF

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

Town Meeting lasted three days and was delayed multiple times due to the lack of a quorum.

Editorial contributors: Lyn Calkins, Michelle Sanford, Chris Villani, John Cardillo, Christine Strickland, Christie Vogt, Jane Bigda, Walter Bird Jr., Susan Gonsalves, Courtney Cornelius

contact us

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

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

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F

irst the positive: This month’s Town Meeting ran very smoothly. Voters moved through the 53 articles on the warrant quickly. Take out the budget, which — deservedly so — took about an hour to review and discuss, and the other articles averaged about five minutes each from start to finish.

Now, the bad news: Town Meeting took three nights to complete and was delayed multiple times due to the fact that there were not enough voters in attendance at the Hopkinton High School Athletic Center.

The struggles to reach and maintain a quorum — 128, just 1 percent of the town’s registered voters — is not a new problem, of course. And with no controversial articles on the warrant, it was obvious to anyone who has been through this process that the numbers would be low.

Perhaps it’s time to switch to a representative Town Meeting, where each precinct elects a limited number of residents, who then are the only ones who vote. Residents still could attend Town Meeting and express their opinions during public comment, and some articles would require additional support at Town Election, INDEPENDENT as was the case this year, so residents would not be completely shut out from the process.

THOUGHTS Town Clerk Connor Degan said this would require a change of JERRY SPAR the town’s charter, either via a normal charter review (set to occur next in 2026) or via a citizen’s petition if a town board — in this case the Select Board — did not carry it forward.

“Personally, I like open Town Meeting because I know I can go to it and make my opinion known and vote on it,” Degan said when asked for his thoughts. “But that only works if people show up. So I get it. I don’t really have a strong opinion.

I like open Town Meeting. I know people who said when they experience one that they prefer the other — on both sides of it.”

Select Board Member Muriel Kramer said this year’s event might have been affected by people feeling uncomfortable attending a large indoor meeting due to COVID concerns. She also said moving Town Meeting to the weekend might be worth consideration.

“We have often sort of wrestled with ways to make it more accessible,” Kramer said. “I know I fielded a few questions this year from parents of young children. I think it might be time to talk and engage with the town generally. Perhaps trying different meeting times. We have tried the weekend before — we did that during COVID as well, when we were all outside. It’s always difficult for parents of young children, and it’s often difficult for seniors and those who don’t like to drive at night.

And it’s late. So I think it’s worth having a conversation.

“There are towns that hold it on Saturdays, and sometimes those towns also support Town Meeting by not having sporting events on those Saturdays. Because, as we know, Saturdays would be difficult for more parents during the playing season as well. But yes, it would be very nice to see more participation or explore ways to increase participation, of course.”

The lack of a hot-button issue also diminished interest. Normally there is at least one topic — a new school, a sports field, an environmental concern — that draws in voters.

“People do come out when there is something of particular importance for them,” Kramer acknowledged. “But there was nothing particularly controversial [this year]. Sometimes people come out in force and then, unfortunately, as soon as their article is addressed, they very often leave.”

Also worth noting is the fact that the town still has numerous openings on boards and committees, awaiting volunteers to step up and become more involved.

It’s not to say we are worse off than any other community, and there are plenty of people who have committed their time and energy to help run the town.

“I think that we actually have a pretty engaged public,” Kramer said. “We have an awful lot of volunteers. If we still have openings it’s certainly something that any one of us [on the Select Board] would be happy to engage with and encourage people to consider the different openings. We’re better for all of the volunteers that we enjoy in this town, for sure.”

Garden Club blossoms As would be expected, spring is an especially busy time of year for the Hopkinton Garden Club.

The club’s annual Spring Plant Sale was held at the Town Common on May 7.

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The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022 • 3

Garden Club blossoms

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Customers unload their purchases to be rung up at the Hopkinton Garden Club’s Spring Plant Sale on May 7 at the Town Common.

“Many thanks to those who perused a fabulous selection on such a chilly and blustery day and purchased plants!” HGC President Ann Hussey Hogaboom shared.

“We truly love to talk about and share our love of gardening with our community.”

Purchases and donations help support the club’s community service programs, including planting sites around town, presentations, scholarships and more.

Hogaboom also extended thanks to small businesses that generously donated plant materials for the sale, including Angel’s Garden Center, Hopkinton Stone and Garden, and Weston Nurseries.

The Garden Club (hopkintongardenclub.org) normally has meetings on the third Tuesday of the month but now is off until September, when it will start a new Speaker Series, which is free and open to the public.

The club also debuted a new Welcome to Hopkinton sign on West Main Street (see photo on Page 1). The original wooden sign had rotted and collapsed in December. The new sign was completed last month, just in time for the Boston Marathon.

Project donors included Hopkinton Garden Club’s members and supporters of the club’s plant and greens sales, the Hopkinton Women’s Club, Tim Kilduff and the 26.2 Foundation, Scott Richardson of Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects, and former Hopkinton resident and lifetime Hopkinton Garden Club member Diane Bullock.

“We also extend thanks to Sign Right of Marlborough for constructing the sign so quickly, Peter Mezitt of Weston Nurseries for two beautiful mountain laurel shrubs, and Scott Dryden of Scott’s Landscaping for time and materials to replace the soil in the planting area,” added Hogaboom. “Thanks, too, to Hopkinton Garden Club member Kris MacPherson, who seamlessly coordinated the efforts to ensure the sign was up in time for the Marathon.”

K of C food drive delivers The Bishop Rice Council (Ashland/Hopkinton) of the Knights of Columbus collected a ton of food during its recent Food for Families Food Drive.

That’s not hyperbole. The organization noted that the 90-plus bags of food, when totaled, weighed more than 2,000 pounds, which is, by definition, one ton.

The drive also netted $2,350 in donations. The money and food were delivered to the Hopkinton Food Pantry at Project Just Because.

The council offered thanks to the Hopkinton community for its “kindness and generosity.”

RE/MAX comedy fundraiser a hit

RE/MAX Executive Realty Charitable Foundation President Sandy Lucchesi talks to the crowd while standing alongside comedian Paul Nardizzi during the organization’s fundraising event at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts on May 5.

The RE/MAX Executive Realty Charitable Foundation held a fundraiser comedy show May 5 at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. The event was called Comedy for a Cause and was headlined by Bostonbased comedian Paul Nardizzi.

“It was an incredibly fun and successful evening,” foundation President (and local real estate agent) Sandy Lucchesi shared. “We raised close to $18,000, which will allow us to continue our mission of ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors’ — helping families within our local communities.”

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4 • The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022

Editor’s note: For Town Election candidates, we are limiting letters to one per issue for each candidate due to space limitations. Additional letters are posted on our website.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Town Meeting turnout needs to improve This year’s Town Meeting had problems getting and keeping a quorum of 128 voters. Let’s review the usual reasons.

It’s inconvenient: Multiple weeknight meetings are indeed a problem for some. Some other towns hold their town meetings on a single Saturday each year.

Yes, this will cause problems for some folks as well, but in balance it might be better for more people.

It’s too long: Hopkinton has more articles than other towns. This year there were 53 articles. Over the past 10 years (excluding 2020, which had an ab-

breviated warrant), we’ve averaged 54 articles each year, with a high of 68 in 2013. In contrast, the average for eight towns around us was 29 (Ashland only had 10!). Why does Hopkinton consistently have so many articles?

It’s boring: While there have been occasions where things have gotten, well, interesting, indeed much of Town Meeting can be rather dry. Perhaps the long budget presentations at the beginning could be prerecorded and made available prior to the meeting, allowing the gathering to move quickly to questions and a vote.

Democracy isn’t always exciting, but it is always important. I hope we have more participation next year.

— John Ritz, Hopkinton

How can Town Meeting increase attendance?

I attended all three nights of Hopkinton’s Annual Town Meeting from

beginning to end. The first two nights ended early and the third night started late because we could not maintain a quorum of 128 people. For months, Town Hall staff and various volunteer board and committee members work to prepare and present important articles for Town Meeting. They give up tons of time away from their families to make Hopkinton a wonderful place for our families. The least we can do is show up and vote.

I encourage the Select Board and Town Hall to survey residents to learn why people are not attending. Instead of major changes to our bylaws, are there small adjustments that would make it easier for more people to attend? Are there ways to streamline the meeting and allow for an appropriate amount of deliberation? How can we ensure we’ll have 128 people at 7 p.m.?

In the meantime, I want to help people understand their importance at Town Meeting and will do whatever I can to encourage my friends and neighbors to attend in 2023. An easy way to get involved or interested in attending

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Town Meeting is to simply pay attention to the happenings in town. I do this by reading the Hopkinton Independent when it arrives in the mailbox, following @HopkintonMA on Twitter and subscribing to eHop’s weekly newsletter (ehop.org). I hope through conversation, creative thinking and decisive action we can have a successful and well-attended Town Meeting in 2023.

— Janice Barry, Hopkinton

When will Main Street Corridor Project end?

The Main Street Corridor Project, which was sold to residents as a “two construction season” project, has now entered its second construction season.

The project is apparently already delayed by one year, as the project specialist recently advised that the project is “on schedule” with an October 2023 end date.

Per a Sept. 26, 2019, HopNews. com article: “Also at issue is a five-year length of time on the easements, leading some people to conclude wrongly that the construction will last five years.

Chair Brendan Tedstone clarified. He explained that the plan called for the work to be completed in two construction seasons, beginning next year. Mr. Tedstone explained that the remaining years were for the warranty period.”

Per an Oct. 2, 2019, Hopkinton Independent article: “We’ve been apprised that this will cover two construction seasons,” Khumalo stated. ... It also was noted that construction season generally runs from April through November, depending on weather conditions.”

Per a June 1, 2020, MetroWest Daily News article: “Design plans have been completed and the project is scheduled to go out to bid in the next four to six weeks, with bids likely due back in September or October. The bid process will likely determine the actual start of the work, said Herr. Construction is expected to take about two years.”

Per a Dec. 2, 2020, MetroWest Daily News article: “ ‘We’ll be working in earnest in the corridor,’ said Herr. … Construction is slated to take about two years.”

Per March 15, 2022, communication with town engineer: “The Town’s response has always been to questions related to the anticipated project duration … I recollect the general response from the Town always being that for a project this size it would be a two- to three-year project.”

If the town “always” knew that this would be a two- to three-year project, why did Norman Khumalo, Brian Herr and others make the above statements to the press and residents?

How can a two construction season project be “on schedule” when the estimated completion date is three construction seasons after the project started?

— Sandra Ward, Hopkinton

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Who will be paying for the third year of the two-year downtown project? “Free” money from the state started this project, which will not alleviate downtown traffic congestion. It will not beautify downtown. The overhead wires will only be buried from the Police Station to Ash Street. The Historic District Letters | 6

The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022 • 5

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Town deals with latest COVID surge

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he town is going through a surge of COVID cases, Hopkinton Health Director Shaun McAuliffe told the Board of Health on May 9.

“All of our metrics are going upward,” NEWS McAuliffe said. “The BRIEFS state’s reporting that our positivity rate is above 8.4 [percent positive of those tested]. I would argue it’s a lot higher.”

McAuliffe said at least 39 people wrote to him notifying that someone in their family had tested positive over the previous few days, and Public Health Nurse Simone Carter noted that additional notifications continued to arrive.

McAuliffe categorized Hopkinton High School’s recent junior prom as a “superspreader.” The senior prom was scheduled for May 13.

“What I’ve been doing is working with the DPH [Department of Public Health] and DESE [Department of Elementary and Secondary Education], and it looks like they are going to start providing new guidance on Omicron, regarding guidance on how do you safely operate a prom, or how do you manage final exams in the time of Omicron BA.2 or its sub-variants,” he said. “If they do that and follow through, that will take a load off of the department.”

Added McAuliffe: “The only other thing to really note is Fairview Estates

is in ‘corporate lockdown’ because they have so many cases there.”

“But we continue to move forward,” Board of Health Chair Lisa Whittemore interjected. “It’s a little scary, but we’re continuing to move forward. It’s more about the management than the shutting down.”

McAuliffe noted that it’s the state’s job to provide the guidance, and the whole region is in the same boat.

“We are just working with all of our different partners in town to help navigate this moving forward,” he said.

“Little League is still open. They are a great partner. We communicate weekly.

We put together simple strategies to help them continue to move forward and provide kids that release, parents that release.”

On a related note, McAuliffe indicated there also has been a spike in flu cases.

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Town Manager Norman Khumalo took part in a public forum in Watertown on May 9 as part of his application for the city manager position there.

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Khumalo seeks job in Watertown

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News briefs | from page 5

not address his reasoning for considering leaving Hopkinton after 13 years at Town Hall, but he explained what appeals to him about Watertown.

Khumalo pointed to Watertown’s financial health, highlighting its AAA bond rating (similar to Hopkinton) and its fully funded pension system. He also indicated the town is forward-thinking and is focused on issues that appeal to him.

Khumalo took questions from residents and noted his roots, sharing that he served as a planner for the City of Bulawayo in his home country of Zimbabwe. Since emigrating to America, he has worked in a few communities in Massachusetts.

“I’m not coming in here saying — if I’m hired — that I have all the answers,” Khumalo said. “I have never believed that. I never take myself seriously. I want to be part of a larger team, be fortunate to be the facilitator and also share my experiences that I have earned over my career here in the U.S. and globally.”

Another round of interviews — this time with the City Council — was scheduled for May 12.

The other finalists are John Curran, who is Billerica’s town manager, and George Proakis, who is the executive director of Somerville’s Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development.

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Memorial Day events planned

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Hopkinton’s Veterans Celebration Committee recently announced plans for Memorial Day observances on Monday, May 30.

The day’s events will begin at Evergreen Cemetery in Woodville at 9:45 a.m. with the placing of a wreath by American Legion and Scouts representatives, followed by the reading of the Gettysburg Address and a gun salute from the Old Guard New England.

At 10:15 a.m. at the King Flagpole on Mayhew Street, there will be a placing of a wreath followed by the Gettysburg Address. At 10:30, the group will walk over to St. John’s Cemetery for the placing of a wreath, a prayer and a

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The collection and maintenance of current and accurate property information is a critical element in the development of fair and uniform market values, the town noted.

Residents should be aware that Mayflower representatives might show up at their property for an inspection. The representatives will identify themselves with a business card and ask to conduct a complete exterior and interior inspection of the property, which will include exterior photographs, exterior measurements of the building and all other structures, and an interior inspection.

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gun salute.

At 10:45 a.m. the ceremonies will move to the neighboring Mt. Auburn Cemetery. There will be a salute to the flag by the Scouts, the placing of a wreath by American Legion and Scouts representatives, a prayer and a gun salute.

The ceremony will shift to the Town Common at 11:15 a.m. Events there will include an invocation, the placing of a wreath by American Legion and Scouts representatives, remarks from speakers, and another gun salute from the Old Guard New England. There also will be music from the Hopkinton High School band, under the direction of Craig Hay. Taps and the raising of the flag will take place at noon.

A collation will be held at St. John’s Church following the services.

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will be destroyed with more asphalt, less usable green space and a plethora of statemandated signage. The downtown project is a disaster for Hopkinton.

— Beth and Rick Kelly, 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.

The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022 • 7

Resident switches careers to run paper company L

ongtime resident Karen Armstrong left her high-tech job last year and purchased LCI Paper, an e-commerce fine paper and printing company in Hudson.

Purchasing any company during a panBUSINESS demic might be conBRIEFS sidered risky, but there was good news on the horizon.

Because so many weddings and similar events were postponed to avoid large gatherings, now there is a rush on these events, and many of them are seeking printed invitations.

“We have had an incredible boom,” Armstrong said. “This is supposed to be the busiest wedding year since 1984. The backlog of weddings and proposals between now and the next two or three years is tremendous.

“I bought the company at the perfect time, because they did have a downturn during the pandemic,” she added. “I bought it last May just when a lot of COVID restrictions were lifting, and people really want to have their weddings because they were putting the dates off. Summers are usually quieter, but last summer was very busy.”

Armstrong said printing in general is having a resurgence, and she has added staff and machinery to keep up with the demand. Her company sells to “printers, do-it-yourselfers, highend wedding designers, restaurants, anyone who wants to print their own menus, the special occasion industry.”

Orders are placed online (lcipaper. com), although customers can make an in-person appointment.

“In a lot of ways, with digital, people are a little overwhelmed,” she explained. “Where it used to be, once upon a time, ‘Yay, I got an email.’

Now it’s, ‘Yay, I got something in the mail that wasn’t advertising.’ Just having something luxurious, quality paper coming in the mail, starts the mood of a wedding off right, versus going to digital.”

Armstrong, who has a master’s degree in electro-optic engineering from Tufts University, previously worked in the optical industry for many years, specializing in manufacturing optical components and systems.

“I was just ready for a change,” she said. “I was interested in getting out of a highly regulated industry. It was a lot with government work, and quality is obviously very big, because some of it goes into medical equipment. My specialty within that was working with small companies and positioning them for growth. So, I found this company that was for sale online and worked through the SBA [Small Business Administration] and SCORE, which is kind of a mentoring group.

“I kind of am going on the ‘buy then build’ theory. So many small companies don’t make it, but you can find one that has made it. LCI Paper’s been around for 25 years. While paper is new to me, running a company is not. My goal is to take the company to the next level and position it for growth. And that’s what I’ve been working on. I bought it on May 21st of 2021, so our one-year anniversary is coming up. And we’ve grown significantly in this time.”

Pepka honored by NAAP Hopkinton’s Carol Pepka recently received the National Activity Professional of the Year award through the National Association of Activity Professionals (NAAP), an organization that supports professionals who provide activities in longterm care.

In her nomination letter, Pepka received praise for her work with nursing home residents.

“Carla has her master’s, but deserves a doctorate in compassion, because she truly brightens up a room with her presence,” the letter reads.

Pepka also served on the Massachusetts Council of Activity Professionals, including a stint as president.

application process due to financial uncertainty and a lack of guidance during the pandemic, Chapman and Yun founded the College Axis Project (thecollegeaxisproject.org) in May 2021. Their goal was to leverage their knowledge and experience to provide resources to all students, regardless of their socio-economic status.

The organization supports students through a combination of free services, curricular resources and fee-based virtual and in-person programming.

“The virtual classes make it possible for us to reach students anywhere,” Chapman stated. “College advising and application support shouldn’t be exclusive.”

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8 • The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022

No surprises at sparsely attended Town Meeting

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Appropriation Committee Chair Mike Manning discusses the budget May 2 on the first night of Town Meeting at the Hopkinton High School Athletic Center.

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Town Meeting | from page 1

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The only vote that was remotely divisive was the citizen’s petition to instigate the taking of the forest behind 71 Frankland Road by eminent domain in order to prevent the installation of a solar array. It did not receive anything close to the two-thirds majority that was required for it to pass.

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Water connection passes The water issue took some time to review, and a few residents questioned if connecting to the MWRA was the most efficient plan.

Department of Public Works Director John Westerling explained that the town had two options after Well 6 off Fruit Street was found to be in violation of the state’s legally allowed levels of PFAS. “This is an either/or question for us: Either connect to the MWRA or filter our existing sources,” Westerling explained. “Our existing sources are contaminated with iron, manganese and PFAS, so if we connect to the MWRA we will be abandoning or otherwise letting the permitting go for those existing wells.”

According to Westerling, a preliminary estimate for filtration plants for the town’s eight wells (four on Fruit Street, two by Lake Whitehall and two on Alprilla Farm Road) is $44 million. Construction for the connection to the MWRA pipeline (via Southborough) is estimated at $25 million, although Westerling noted there could be additional costs, including the state’s connection fee — which he said the state is considering waiving for towns like Hopkinton that have PFAS issues. There also would be yearly charges from the MWRA for water usage.

Westerling added that the funding source is not yet known, with likely increases in both water rates and taxes. He said the MWRA option should be cheaper in the short term but more expensive in the long run. However, any costs associated with future issues with PFAS or other chemicals would be shared among the MWRA’s 3.1 million users.

Also passing was an article to allocate $600,000 for a PFAS

RE/MAX Executive Realty congratulates award winner

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T

he McBride Team of RE/MAX Executive Realty would like to congratulate Karen Tang on her award for Student of the Month.

Karen is a Junior at Hopkinton High School. She is involved in a variety of activities including Habitat for Humanity and Project 351, where she helps create care packages for servicemen and women overseas and provides blankets for veterans without a home. Also, she’s a member of the Principal’s Cabinet and on the Relay for Life team.

Karen plays on the J.V. lacrosse team, and she managed the girls J.V. basketball team this past winter. Even with all these activities, she is hoping to work part-time this summer.

It’s a bit early to see Karen’s future, but she hopes to become a psychologist which would be her dream job. She is also looking at the STEM pathway because biology has motivated her to learn more about the world around her.

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HopkintonIndependent.com

filtration system for Well 6 off Fruit Street. When the MWRA connection is complete, all of the town’s eight wells will be shut down, according to Westerling, who added that the filtration system then would be auctioned off to recoup some of the expense.

Budget solid — for now While the budget presentation and discussion was relatively uneventful, Appropriation Committee Chair Mike Manning said some noteworthy challenges for future budgets are likely to include the potential construction of an Elmwood School replacement plus further expansion to current schools. He also said that if new residential development slows as expected, future budget shortfalls are likely due to the tax impact.

Resident Ken Weismantel asked if the budget funds public safety appropriately and if it will allow the town to improve in its retention of police officers.

“Hopkinton is committed to funding public safety,” Town Manager Norman Khumalo answered. “In the budget proposed, public safety funding is going up by approximately 4.3 percent. This increase does not account for projected salary increases that are contained in the compensation contingency. Based on discussions with the police chief, I believe the funding provided for public safety does meet our needs going forward.”

Eminent domain not imminent Article 45 related to taking by eminent domain the forest in the rear of 71 Frankland Road, where Seaboard Solar has made plans to clear-cut a large section of the forest and install a commercial solar array.

The Select Board, Appropriation Committee and Capital Improvement Committee all recommended disapproval.

Manning, the Appropriation Committee chair, indicated the cost likely would be far higher than the $700,000 referenced in the article, which was brought forth via citizen petition from resident Ann Karnofsky.

Mary Arnott was among those who spoke in favor of the article.

“I’d ask you to take a step back and think about how many acres we have lost in Hopkinton, mature trees that have just been cleared out,” she said, adding, “I think if we take the long-range view on the quality of life in Hopkinton, I think it’s a good investment to save this very unique property.”

Matthew Kizner, a member of the Capital Improvement Committee, said Town Meeting | 9

The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022 • 9

Eminent domain not imminent

Veterans recall victory Among the veterans at the May 6 Veterans Breakfast at the Senior Center were (standing, from left) Gordon Winston (Air Force) and David Almy, (Army) and (seated, from left) Neil Svendsen, (Army), Barry Rosenbloom (Army), Jim Rose (Air Force) and Neal Swenor (Air Force). Rosenbloom is showing a photo of a Lockheed P-3 Orion, tasked with anti-submarine and marine surveillance, while Rose is holding a representation of the announcement of Hitler’s suicide. Along with the military actions leading to the end of World War II, other historical events discussed at the gathering included the May 1945 sinking of a German U-boat off Block Island.

That topic sparked a review of Hopkinton veterans’ involvement in “submarine chasing” along the eastern shore of the United States.

Town Meeting | from page 8

while he enjoys using the land and would be disappointed to lose it, he worried about the “chilling message” it would send to the business community for the town to take the land after permitting it to be used commercially.

“We must be mindful to what it means to honor our commitment,” he said.

In the end, 87 residents voted against the article, with 26 in support. A two-thirds majority would have been needed for it to pass.

Parks & Rec keeps busy Another article that drew some interest was the allocation of funds to replace the artificial turf at the Fruit Street athletic facility. The work is anticipated to cost $1.7 million, although $400,000 is coming from accumulated user fees.

While the article passed easily, 1687, it also required approval at the May 16 Annual Town Election.

The original field was built in 2012, and Parks & Recreation Commission Chair Dan Terry said it was expected to have a lifespan of 7-12 years.

“Replacing the turf really is to ensure that it’s safe, first of all, and we continue to have a high-performance field for our residents and our guests,” he said.

Terry said there are 1,200 in-town participants who use the field each year, and the facility hosts regional events (such as soccer tournaments) that are revenueproducing.

Parks & Recreation Department Director Jay Guelfi said an environmentally friendly fill — something like silica sand — will be used this time instead of the currently used crushed rubber that has raised concerns about negative environmental and health impacts.

On a related note, the Community Preservation Committee’s motion to approve the projects the CPC agreed to support, including parking at the Town Forest, additional money for a skate park, and funding for pickleball and tennis courts (and parking) at the Fruit Street athletic facility, passed unanimously.

Strong support for Lykan The highlight of the third and final day of Town Meeting was the approval of a tax increment financing (TIF) agreement with Lykan Bioscience, which is planning to expand its footprint in town by constructing a 112,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 105-107 South Street, next door to its current building.

“Lykan is making a significant investment that will increase the base tax rate of the property, create jobs and revitalize an underutilized site,” said Amy Ritterbusch, speaking on behalf of the Select Board.

“The town believes that this investment would not occur without the TIF incentive, and the benefits of this private investment outweigh the forgoing taxes.”

The new facility is anticipated to cost $90 million and is expected to lead to at least 125 new jobs.

“We’ve talked quite a bit here of the now-three nights about some of the revenue and growth challenges facing the town, and now here we are, somebody coming to us with open arms, asking to do business with us,” said Kizner, the Capital Improvement Committee member. “I hope you’re ready.”

The voice vote was unanimous in support of the TIF. For a complete list of all 53 articles and the voting results, check HopkintonIndependent.com.

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10 • The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022 HOUSE WASHING

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La Cantina Italiana owner Lee Mencoboni (left) with daughter and general manager Jen Mencoboni

Pre Summer Quiz 1. Stu and Nancy take their boat out on the lake. They do not have boat insurance since their motor is less than 50 HP. Would their homeowner insurance liability coverage protect them if they damaged someone else’s boat?

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By Christie Vogt Contributing Writer

A

We have good food, good portions and good prices.

Having 76 years in business proves that we have a quality product.

s business picked up at Leo’s Market, the grocery and meat store Leo and Fanny Mencoboni opened in 1946, Mrs. Mencoboni began running out of time to tend to household tasks. So, she resorted to preparing her family’s supper in the back room, methodically stirring the sauce that would envelop their spaghetti.

But as the aroma of tomatoes, onions and garlic wafted to the front of Leo’s Market, the future of their business began to shift. The neighbors said they wanted whatever it was that Mrs. Mencoboni was cooking. It soon became clear that their market was destined to transform into a restaurant: La Cantina Italiana.

For decades now, La Cantina Italiana in Framingham has been dishing up customer favorites like chicken parmigiana, veal parmigiana and pizza — among many other Italian dinner options. The restaurant continues to be family-run and now is owned by Leo and Fanny’s son, Lee Mencoboni.

The restaurant’s motto is “Food is memories,” Lee Mencoboni explains.

“When you’re around as long as we’ve been, you see families growing up,” he says. “There aren’t too many places like this around anymore.” Mencoboni’s daughter, Jen Mencoboni, who also works at the restaurant, adds: “There’s always a customer story. Whether it’s ‘I had my first date here’ or ‘I met my wife here.’ ” The Mencoboni family has strong Hopkinton ties, too. Lee Mencoboni built one of the first houses on Valentine Road, and his children grew up in town.

La Cantina Italiana also has become a popular place for Hopkinton sports teams to host dinners with specially priced allyou-can-eat options.

How has an independent restaurant like theirs lasted so long? “We have good food, good portions and good prices,” Lee Mencoboni explains. “Having 76 years in business proves that we have a

HopkintonIndependent.com

­— Lee Mencoboni

quality product.” La Cantina Italiana also hosts special events like music bingo on Tuesdays and Trivia Night on Thursdays.

Starting May 23, each Monday will be Cruise Night, featuring classic cars and food trucks.

La Cantina’s Sports Tent, an innovation prompted by the pandemic, will open soon. The climate-controlled tent features seven widescreen TVs, a sitdown bar and a full menu. The pandemic also prompted the launch of Fanny’s Lunch Truck, which features an array of sandwiches, salads and take-and-bake meal kits. Fanny’s famous dressings and sauces also are sold in stores across New England. “You’ll become addicted,” Jen Mencoboni raves about her grandmother’s recipes.

The food is key, of course, but Jen Mencoboni says what makes La Cantina Italiana “so wonderful” is the customers.

“I know nearly everybody who walks through the door,” she says. “You get to know people, and they become like family.”

La Cantina Italiana, which currently has seven family members as employees, appears poised for many more years of success. Running a restaurant can be challenging, Jen Mencoboni acknowledges, “but the good outweighs those things in the long run,” she says. “I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

La Cantina Italiana is located at 911 Waverly Street, Framingham. For more information, visit golacantina.com or call 508-879-7874.

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

The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022 • 11

Sports

KD

Huge Hillers boys track team back on top of TVL

Hopkinton Home Prices are at Historic Highs

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Junior Sean Golembiewski (448) ranks at the top of the league in multiple events.

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

A

We have the largest track team we have ever had. It’s been a challenge, but it’s been fun.

fter a canceled spring track and field season and another one significantly impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Hopkinton High School boys coach Brian Prescott is enjoying being back in the midst of the chaos that comes with leading a 130-athlete team.

“It’s hectic, we have competitions throughout the week and on the weekends and we have the largest track team we have ever had,” Prescott said. “It’s been a challenge, but it’s been fun.”

Part of the enjoyment for the Hillers has been in winning. Hopkinton has at least one athlete in the top 15 in the Tri-Valley League in every single event, and HHS athletes top the league rankings in multiple categories. Hopkinton swept all five of its dual meets to win the TVL Large School Division and looked to stay on top at the May 17 TVL Showcase Meet.

While the meet does not technically determine the league champion, Prescott said the coaches and athletes do not necessarily see it that way.

“Dover-Sherborn won that meet last year and it really felt like we came in second in the league,” he said. “That’s how I viewed it and that’s how I have been preaching it to the kids. We have to get past D-S in the league meet.”

Hopkinton has several top-level athletes who were looking to help the team do just that. Junior Sean Golembiewski has been the program’s top standout this spring. He is first in the TVL in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter events and a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams that are the best in the league.

Golembiewski also is in the top five in the high jump, and Prescott expects he can crack the top 15 in the high and low hurdle events even though he has

­— Coach Brian Prescott

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“He is a pretty special athlete, it’s nice to have him on the team, but I don’t think any of the coaches can take any credit for his talent,” Prescott said. “He is unique in his ability and he also works harder than anybody else. He shows up early, he leaves late, he helps lead the other athletes.”

The junior captain, Prescott added, “is an athlete we can put anywhere.”

Hopkinton also has received significant contributions from twins Drew and Will Bialobrzeski, both of whom have risen to the top of their events.

Wyatt Ruff and Matt Burdulis have helped lead a strong contingent of distance runners. Russell Perryman is near the top of the TVL standings in the javelin.

“We have a smattering of guys in the top 15 in every event,” Prescott said.

Another key for the program’s success this spring, given the sheer number of athletes, has been the leadership of the seniors and captains who Prescott described as “really positive role models.”

Neil Abraham, Colin Davan, Declan Mick and Craig Salois are captains this spring along with Golembiewski.

“With so many athletes on the team, we have really asked the captains and the seniors to do more in the way of coaching and organizing and supporting the younger athletes than they have had to do in the past,” Prescott said. “They have stepped up well, it’s a super fun team to be around.”

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12 • The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022

Hillers girls track back to unbeaten ways in spring

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

H

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

opkinton High School girls track and field coach Jean Cann describes the spring season as a “step up” from where the program was during the indoor season, but she is holding the program to its high bar of never losing a meet.

“We have gotten our act back together,” Cann said. “We got into a funk during indoors and we were not up to our usual standards and we were missing people, as most teams were.”

The Hillers rolled through their five dual meets unbeaten and looked poised to win another Tri-Valley League crown.

The program has not lost a dual meet during the outdoor season since Cann took over, a streak that dates back at least seven years.

The team success has been the product of great individual performances.

Throwing star Kate Powers broke her own program record in the discuss in the first meet of the season. In addition to coming out on top in the throws, she has been regularly placing in the sprinting events.

After playing basketball during the winter, Kiki Fossbender has been competing in the 100- and 200-meter events, along with the long jump, and routinely places in all three.

Hopkinton’s middle distance crew has been yet another strength. Bethel Flanagan is running the 400 and the 800, setting a personal best in the latter event and putting together a near-

Hopkinton High School runners (from left) Avery Sawyer, Elyse Srodawa and Grace Joy head to the line together in the mile race during a May 3 meet vs. Westwood.

People are going for individual times, but we definitely emphasize the team aspect of it, even when we get to the higher levels. ­— Coach Jean Cann undefeated campaign in the former.

Flanagan also has anchored the 4x400 relay team.

Steph Johnson has been another

cog in the middle distance wheel after standing out in both the 1,000 and the 600 during the indoor season.

“She and Flanagan are a really good

one-two punch,” Cann said.

Grace Joy has placed consistently in the mile and the 800 while Katie Callery has been a scorer in the mile and 2-mile. Autumn Tumbleton, Carmen Thomas and Kiley Locke also are reliable contributors.

Freshman Elyse Srodawa has emerged as a top distance runner, and Shelby Jones has been strong all-around.

“Shelby started doing the hurdles in indoor and she has continued to be strong during outdoor in the sprints and in the shot put,” the coach said.

Javelin thrower Sarah Furlong is eclipsing 100 feet and has helped in the success of Elena Davies, who is competing in the event for the first time.

Despite the inherent individual nature of track and field, Cann said the Hillers are eyeing some significant team goals as the season reaches its peak.

“We very much consider this a team sport, we don’t consider it an individual sport at all,” she said. “People are going for individual times, but we definitely emphasize the team aspect of it, even when we get to the higher levels. We are always trying to get the best team finish we can.”

After winning the TVL Large Division title, the Hillers were hoping to capture a victory in the TVL Showcase Meet on May 17. Cann also is hoping for a top-five finish in the state meet.

“We are always trying to peak for the end of the season,” she said. “It’s a more accurate depiction of who the strongest team is when you get to the end of the year.”

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HCA is excited for the return of our 17th annual Arts in Bloom Exhibition.

Out of 155 submissions, Juror Sorin Bica selected 40 for display in this year’s show. Six pieces were identified for an award and will be honored with fresh flower arrangements designed by the Hopkinton Garden Club.

Lissa Banks | Parting Ways

There will be a free artist reception open to the public on May 26 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Thank you to our sponsors Weston Nurseries and Angel’s Garden Center.

Jonathan Fisher | Spring III

98 HAYDEN ROWE STREET, RT. 85, HOPKINTON | WWW.HOPARTSCENTER.ORG HopkintonIndependent.com

The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022 • 13

Rudden has memorable season for Stonehill lacrosse

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

It’s nice to have this whole year be normal to see what it’s like to play college lacrosse.

L

PHOTO/CRYSTAL ANN PHOTOGRAPHY/STONEHILL ATHLETICS

Lydia Rudden led the Stonehill lacrosse team to a top-10 ranking and into the Division 2 NCAA Tournament with a record-setting season.

­— Lydia Rudden

she will be a senior during the start of the program’s transition to the Division 1 level and the Northeast Conference.

“I think that it’s going to be a year to adjust, but this year in particular has prepared us for it because of how competitive our games have been,” she said.

“As a senior, my goal is to be a strong leader and help the team adjust to the new division.”

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ydia Rudden is finally getting the chance to play in a normal college lacrosse season, and the Stonehill junior is making the most of the opportunity. Rudden, a Hopkinton High School graduate, has been nothing short of dominant for the Skyhawks this year, earning a slew of Northeast-10 Conference accolades. But she’s mostly just happy to be playing.

“My freshman and sophomore years for lacrosse were not normal at all,” Rudden said. “I think I only played in three or four games freshman year, and last year we got cut short again.”

Added Rudden: “It’s nice to have this whole year be normal to see what it’s like to play college lacrosse — which is funny to say as a junior.”

Rudden garnered all-Northeast-10 (NE10) honors for the first time in her career after being named to the allconference first team and being recognized as the conference’s Attack of the Year. She won NE10 Player of the Week honors four times this season and was named the IWLCA Division 2 Offensive Player of the Week twice.

Rudden amassed more than 100 points, just the third time that’s happened in Stonehill program history, and led the conference in scoring by 22 points. The eye-popping numbers include 68 assists in 19 games — a program record — and her 41 goals ranked fifth on the Skyhawks this spring. It’s no surprise she was named the winner of Stonehill’s Outstanding Junior Award at the school’s annual athletics awards night.

“It’s been an honor to get those accolades,” Rudden said, “just because the NE10 is such a strong conference and there are so many great players.”

She also has been a standout in the classroom. Rudden earned NE10 Academic All-Conference honors as a sophomore and has twice won the Saint Thomas Aquinas, Patron Saint of Students, Medal for having the highest cumulative grade point average on the team. She has been named to the NE10 Academic honor roll and Athletic Director’s honor roll every semester and received Academic Excellence status from the NE10 for having a 4.0 semester GPA. Rudden’s on-field success has helped the team to a top-10 ranking this year and a sweep of the NE10 regularseason and tournament championship.

“I don’t think we started out the season ranked and now we are eighth in Division 2, which is really amazing,” she said in early May. “We have worked so hard this season and our attack works really well together. Honestly, all of the members of the attack and myself are doing really well.”

The Skyhawks lost just twice in the regular season, and the campaign was highlighted with the program’s first victory over Adelphi in about two decades. Stonehill knocked off the thenNo. 2-ranked program 14-13 in overtime behind a goal and a whopping seven assists from Rudden.

“It was the best feeling in the world to win that game,” Rudden said. “We were looking forward to that all season and it was such a great feeling because they are a really strong team.”

Rudden has her sights set on a deep run in the tournament this year, but she also is thinking about next year when

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14 • The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022

HHS baseball puts together win streak A

fter suffering three close losses in four games, the Hopkinton High School baseball team bounced back with three straight wins, including a 21-0 rout of Millis on May 9, to improve its SPORTS record to 8-5.

ROUNDUP In a 7-2 victory over Norton on May 6, Mike Burney pitched 4 2/3 innings of tworun ball and Nick Paharik tossed 2 1/3 innings without allowing a run.

Joe Scardino led the offense with four RBI on a pair of two-run hits. Dylan Locke added two run-scoring singles, and Charlie Petruney contributed an RBI triple.

One day earlier, HHS won at Bellingham, 11-4. Locke and Scott Pagliuca each collected two hits and three RBI. On April 29, the Hillers enjoyed a memorable experience by playing at Fenway Park, although they were blanked, 2-0, by a strong Medfield team.

Softball scores big Senior pitcher Charlotte Cann recorded 13 strikeouts in leading the HHS softball team to an 8-3 victory over Millis on May 9, putting the Hillers’ record at 7-5. Caroline DeSimone led the offense with three hits, while Julianna Ceddia, Bailey Harrigan and Cami Trendel recorded hits in the seventh inning to secure the win.

Hopkinton has put together some

Members of the Hopkinton High School baseball team pose in front of Fenway Park’s Green Monster before their April 29 game against Medfield at the iconic ballpark.

high-scoring games, including a 21-4 victory over Ashland and a 31-5 rout of Dover-Sherborn, and was averaging just under 10 runs per game as of mid-May. In a 4-3 victory at Bellingham on May 5, DeSimone hit two home runs, including a two-run shot in the seventh inning to put her team in front. Holly Paharik also hit a home run, while Cann shined on the mound, fanning 12.

In a 13-10 loss to Dedham on May 2, the Hillers rallied to close an 11-run deficit to three before falling short.

Paharik hit a grand slam and Ashley Callery added a home run in the seventh inning.

Tennis teams roll on Using a makeshift lineup due to COVID-related absences, girls tennis nonetheless posted a 5-0 victory over Millis on May 9 to improve to 9-1. At No. 1 singles, Victoria Allen pulled out a win in an exciting match that went to a third-set tiebreaker. Roma Tewari and Prachi Meyer won their singles matches in straight sets, as did the doubles teams of Aarushi Kamra-Romy Zinman and Brooke Best-Ashleigh Pepin.

On May 2, the girls blanked Dedham, 5-0. Paula Sendele, Riley Krattenmaker and Allen were the singles

winners. Hailey Kessler and Zinman won at first doubles, and Kamra and Tewari won at second doubles. …

Boys tennis knocked off Norton, 5-0, on May 6 to improve to 8-1. Adam Glace, Spencer Smith and Andrew Palacios collected wins at singles, and the doubles pairings of Barry WangRishit Shekhar and Ilian Glace-Anay Pachori also posted straight-set wins.

In a 5-0 victory over Dedham on May 3, the boys won all five matches in straight sets. Adam Glace, Pranav Kapur and Wang won singles matches.

Palacios and Ilian Glace won at first Roundup | 15

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The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022 • 15

Sokol takes shot at NFL after signing with Vikings Sokol | from page 1

end of the phone. It didn’t matter, all he knew was that he was going to have a shot to achieve a lifelong goal.

“It was the call I had been waiting for for the past 12-14 years,” Sokol said. “Everyone dreams of having the opportunity to play in the NFL. But for me, being an undrafted guy, nothing is solidified.”

Sokol didn’t have to wait long for his phone to start buzzing after word got out that he was going to sign as an undrafted free agent. He jokingly said it was a little obnoxious that night and he could barely use his phone because it buzzed repeatedly. He estimated that he received about 350 calls or text messages congratulating him.

“It was insane,” Sokol said. “I was on the phone with the team at 9:30 and

Tennis teams roll on

It was the call I had been waiting for for the past 12-14 years. Everyone dreams of having the opportunity to play in the NFL. — Josh Sokol

people kept calling me, and I almost hung up on the team because I couldn’t decline the calls fast enough.”

Last fall, as a graduate student at Sacred Heart University, his third year as a team captain, Sokol was a standout on the offensive line. He helped Sacred Heart establish a dominant rushing attack that ranked 11th in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) at 211.1 yards per game.

The Pioneers won their second straight conference championship and advanced to the FCS playoffs.

“When Sokol gets into camp with the Vikings, he is going to turn some heads,” Sacred Heart coach Mark Nofri said. “You’re not going to find a smarter football player who is dedicated to winning and getting better every day.”

A 6-foot-2, 309-pounder, Sokol was named to the FCS Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team. He carried a 4.0 grade point average while studying criminal justice.

He earned a pair of Tri-Valley League All-Star nods during his time with the Hillers.

“We were very successful, we produced three championships in six years and I don’t think that has been done before in school history,” Sokol said, adding that being an FCS player competing for a spot in the NFL puts a “target on his back.”

“Fans and analysts and anyone who follows their professional team, they want to know, ‘Why are we giving this kid a shot?’ ” he said. “But the FCS can play.”

Sokol was to report to rookie minicamp May 13 at the Vikings’ practice facility in Eagan, Minnesota, to begin the work of trying to earn a spot on the roster. He planned to bring that small school mentality to the highest level.

“That’s what makes us who we are,” he said. “I am going to continue to do the work and show up every day and be consistent. It’s tough, anyone can get cut at any time, that’s how the NFL works. I’m going to try to stay healthy and compete. That’s all I can do.”

Roundup | from page 14

doubles, while Srikar Ravi and Dan D’Alleva won at second doubles.

Lacrosse sweeps Bellingham The Hopkinton High School girls and boys lacrosse teams posted victories over Bellingham on May 3.

While the girls cruised to an 18-1 rout, the boys pulled out a 10-9 road victory. Logan DelPonte recorded a hat trick and two assists, and he scored the game-winning goal as the Hillers improved to 3-7.

The girls went on a three-game winning streak after opening the season with seven straight losses. Included in the streak was a 19-10 victory over Norton on May 5 as Emily Hayward netted a whopping eight goals. In a 14-2 victory over Dedham one week earlier, Emma Dacey and Jaymie Arena each scored four times, while Bella Silva recorded her first two varsity goals. …

At the May 9 unified track and field sectional meet, the HHS team finished second. John Murray took first in the 100 meters and the long jump, while the relay team took first with a school-record time of 59.44 seconds.

Simoes, McKenzie shine at Bowdoin Former HHS baseball standouts Stephen Simoes and Ben McKenzie had memorable seasons as teammates at Bowdoin College.

Simoes led the team with a .407 batting average and .505 on-base percentage and was second with a .568 slugging percentage. He also had nine steals in 10 attempts, tops on the team. Unfortunately, his season ended early (after 23 games) due to a leg injury.

McKenzie hit .315 with team highs in doubles (9), triples (3), home runs (5) and walks (17). He set a program record with six hits in a 17-4 victory over rival Bates on April 30.

Both players are sophomores after taking a year off during the pandemic.

Bowdoin posted a record of 16-19 this season but went 8-4 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference and won the East Division for the first time since 2006.

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At a luncheon April 27, the Hopkinton Women’s Club honored Junior Endeavor Award recipient Arianna Schaefer (left) and Mary McDonough Service Award recipient Saibhaskar Gudempati (second from right). They are pictured with HWC representatives Doris Early (second from left) and Nancy Tarsi.

Schools ask students to pack lunches during COVID surge T he Hopkinton School Nutrition Department emailed schools families on May 10 requesting that students pack lunches the next two weeks “due to an influx of positive COVID-19 cases among the school nutrition staff.”

There has been a surge in COVID-19 cases SCHOOLS in town, and especially NOTEBOOK within the schools, over the past few weeks.

“We are facing staffing shortages, resulting in too few employees to properly produce and serve hot meals for our students,” the email reads. “A modified menu will be available for students. We apologize for any inconvenience but thank you in advance for your patience and understanding while we navigate these incredibly difficult times.”

Night for the Arts May 19 The Hopkinton Public Schools Visual Arts Department will host the annual A Night for the Arts on Thursday, May 19, starting at 6 p.m. The event — featuring hundreds of pieces from photography, ceramics, studio art, digital art, fab lab and more — will be held in the Hopkinton High School atrium and art wing as well as the Brown Gym entrance of Hopkinton Middle School.

In addition to Grade 6-12 artwork, select pieces from Hopkins, Elmwood and Marathon elementary schools will be on display at the high school.

There also will be a few performances from the One Act Play Festival in the HHS auditorium starting at 6:30.

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The art will remain on display until May 26.

‘Frozen Jr.’ at HMS auditorium May 20-21 The Hopkinton Middle School Drama Club will present Disney’s “Frozen Jr.” at the HMS auditorium. Performances are Friday, May 20, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, May 21, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets, only available at the door, are $10 for students and $15 for adults.

Young “Frozen” fans are invited to meet their favorite characters — photos and autographs — and sing along to their favorite songs at the Saturday matinee.

For more information, visit facebook.com/hmsdrama.

Local collegians honored Hopkinton’s Amanda Gollaher earned the dean’s award with distinction for the fall 2021 semester at Colgate University. Gollaher is majoring in international relations and Russian & Eurasian studies.

Also at Colgate, Katherine Woelflein received the dean’s award for academic excellence. Woelflein is a neuroscience major. …

University of Illinois student Pramod Kumar and University of Delaware student Raymond Lucas recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022 • 17

Destination Imagination team heads to Global Finals The Dolphin Girls, a fourth-grade Destination Imagination team, celebrate a successful project as manager Chris Benning tests its strength.

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

A

five-member team of Hopkinton fourth-graders qualified to compete at the Global Finals for Destination Imagination, to be held in Kansas City from May 21-24.

Founded in 1999, Destination Imagination is a volunteer-led, educational nonprofit organization that teaches 21stcentury skills and STEAM principles to kindergarten through university level students through creative and collaborative problem-solving challenges.

In their second year together, Dolphin Girls, comprised of Naeva Benning, Julia Wu, Srinika Katta, Ruthie Philip and Nikita Nadgir, tied for first place at the state level in the Roll with It challenge along with an additional Instant Challenge.

Team manager Chris Benning explained that the girls spent months researching, planning, testing and rehearsing for the event without any interference from grownups. As manager, he said, he can help keep the team on track but is not allowed to assist with the solution.

The group had to build a structure that is as light as possible using only wood and glue. It has to roll down a ramp, hit a pole and then hold as much weight as possible. The challenge also involved creating and performing a skit that describes how a character becomes a legend. The testing of the structure is integrated into the story, as is a rotating object designed and built by the team.

Benning said it has been rewarding to witness the Dolphin Girls in action, especially considering some of them didn’t know each other before teaming up. DI is not a school activity. The kids meet once per week for 90 minutes and many more hours as the competition gets closer.

“It was a wonderful chemistry,” he said. “They are very supportive of each other and know how to laugh together but also get work done.”

His daughter, Naeva, agreed. “I liked putting all the brains together to make the team work,” she said. In addition to teamwork being a key element, she said research is “super important so that you can understand all the details.”

When Chris Benning was a youngster, he competed in an earlier version of Destination Imagination and also helped with his older son’s team a few years ago.

Having to step back as a manager and be hands-off can be “nerve-wracking” he said, although he can show the kids how to use power tools and offer safety tips, for example. Otherwise, it is up to the team, through trial and error and experimentation, to figure out why something is not working and devise other ways to achieve success.

“As a parent, it’s so cool to watch,” Benning said. “This team had each other’s backs when things weren’t working” and didn’t give up when the structure failed and didn’t do what it needed to do.

“We get to be ourselves and enjoy the process of our creations being built together,” noted team member Philip.

Part of the competition also involved two team choice elements. Benning said his team likes to make props and costumes and created their own cell phone, microphone and cards when performing a skit about COVID-19.

Wu said she learned how “building and acting” can go together and said that “creativity” along with working

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Of the legend skit, Nadgir said, “I learned that everyone can be a legend even if you are not a super famous person.”

The last quarter of the score is based on the Instant Challenge where the team members walk into a room with no idea of what they will be asked to build or asked to improvise a performance, Benning said.

Hopkinton DI coordinator Anne Vergnon said her role includes managing team registrations to DI, promoting the program via Facebook (Hopkinton-Destination-Imagination-308642499290034) and at other activities in town and regularly interacting with other coordinators across the state.

She said that DI is “a fun, creative and safe activity.” Because there is no adult interference, kids are allowed to “freely experience the creative process, improve their critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving.”

Vergnon noted that Massachusetts is one of the most active DI states, with more than 400 teams and 2,500 participants. DI attracts about 150,000 participants and 38,000 volunteers worldwide, representing 45-plus states and 30 countries.

In Hopkinton, there typically are 12-15 teams, with four or five teams qualifying for the state tournament and one or two qualifying for the global event, she said. (Anyone seeking more

information can contact her at annelittlev@yahoo.com.)

Katta encouraged other kids to give the activity a try, especially if they like STEAM areas — science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. “It’s a great way to make friends,” she added.

In addition to the competition, Benning said the children are looking forward to watching fellow participants in action, meeting kids from around the world, attending a style show of products and costumes and enjoying a movie night.

There also will be learning sessions and an opportunity to trade pins from their state with competitors from all over the world.

Members of Dolphin Girls (“We all like dolphins and we’re girls, hence the name,” said Katta) took away more than STEAM knowledge from their participation.

Philip said she always strived to make everything perfect but this project taught her it’s OK to “Let it go,” when things are not.

“Sometimes, you just have to go with the flow and be content that you have given it your best,” she said.

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18 • The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022

Superintendent receives high praise from School Committee

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he School Committee on May 5 rated Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh as “exemplary” in many areas of performance and noted that she exceeded expectations in achieving established goals.

School Committee Member Amanda Fargiano said the superintendent did an “exceptional amount of work” to assess where the district was when students returned after having been homeschooled during the height of the pandemic.

She said Cavanaugh captured the data that some students struggled while others were on course when they arrived back at school and used that information to drive student learning.

Regarding adoption of greater diversity, social justice and anti-bias measures, School Committee Member Lya Batlle-Rafferty said she felt torn because the middle school experienced “incidents of bias” despite the strides the administration is making.

She said there needs to be more training and education in that area.

Chair Nancy Cavanaugh said it is “painful to know” that bias and hate exists in the community as well as across the country. She believes the emotional maturity of kids is lower than it used to be.

Fargiano added that the superintendent is willing to face uncomfortable situations “head on” by meeting with parents and attending professional training. “It’s so uncomfortable and easier not to have those conversations. Without you, we’d be further behind.”

“Your commitment is real and comes from an authentic place,” Nancy Cavanaugh told the superintendent.

“It’s work that never ends,” said the superintendent.

The way Cavanaugh is addressing enrollment growth and building projects won raves from the committee. The board highlighted some measures that have been taken, such as the addition to the high school, modular classrooms at Hopkins and Elmwood and the Marathon addition project.

In addition, they spoke about the current feasibility process with the School Building Authority and a possible new Elmwood School, changes in grade configurations or renovations.

Batlle-Rafferty said the superintendent “exceeded” expectations in this area. “I don’t worry about this, or that a ball is going to be dropped.”

The superintendent acknowledged that the process can seem long but it is moving along through the set phases of the state.

Additionally, Cavanaugh was praised for her work growing an administrative team, improving communication and unity, and “ultimately the student learning experience.”

Nancy Cavanaugh said that stability with the team since the superintendent’s appointment in 2018 has been an asset, because previously there was a lot of turnover in the district.

In the area of emotional learning capacities and tending to the “whole” child, Batlle-Rafferty said Hopkinton has been “sort of unique.” She explained that the district has a lot of focus on high achievement, and with that usually comes stress and pressure.

However, the fact that students receive “positive emotional support” and still have high achievement pleases her. “It is so fantastic and so unique that they have both tied together,” she said.

In the face of COVID and all its ramifications, Batlle-Rafferty said the superintendent deserves high marks across the board.

“It has been a hellish two years. We have navigated it with our superintendent at the helm in a way we can’t deny it’s running smoothly now,” she said.

The superintendent also received “exemplary,” ratings for guidance and feedback to staff, making data-informed decisions, human resources

HopkintonIndependent.com

management and development as well as sharing best practices.

Also getting high ratings were the superintendent’s ability to manage the budget as well as engage with families, the community and other town leaders.

“This is kind of overwhelming, so thank you,” the superintendent said of the evaluation.

Cavanaugh praised everyone in the school community — teachers, administrators, custodians, cafeteria workers, etc., saying that she doesn’t operate alone.

Dyslexia under discussion At the April 28 School Committee meeting, more than half of the three-hour meeting was devoted to the issue of dyslexia and the various programs the district offers to address it and other learning disabilities.

During the public comment period, several mothers spoke about the problems and frustrations their children are having with reading and called for the schools to provide more thorough training for teachers as well as structured instruction.

Andrea Benson expressed disappointment that her child was not identified earlier as having dyslexia. During the pandemic and remote learning, she and her husband witnessed how much her child was struggling, she noted.

Benson said she wanted the committee to take a more “aggressive and progressive” approach to ensure students get the appropriate education they need in order to learn to read.

Now a third-grader diagnosed with dyslexia, Benson’s daughter still is learning how to read, she added. She said she wished 1 1/2 years hadn’t been wasted. Benson said that Hopkinton should be “leading the transformational wave” sweeping across the country and state for “modern, sciencebased, structured” literacy programs.

“We have the knowledge, the will … nothing is holding us back,” she said.

Sabine St. Pierre said the “emotional toll” dyslexia places on kids needs to be recognized.

She relayed incidents when her second-grader refused to go to school and talked about being overwhelmed because he was surrounded by too many words.

She noted that it takes five times the effort for a child with dyslexia to process language and stressed the importance of keeping track of these kids and ensuring they get proper services.

The superintendent and a team of administrators led a presentation where they highlighted the tools they are using for kids struggling with reading.

“Our hearts are in the same place as yours are,” Cavanaugh told the parents.

She said meeting the goal of every child reading at their grade level is something educators do on a daily basis.

The superintendent defined dyslexia as a “language-based difference with a neurobiological basis.” She said it is not related to intelligence or motivation, is lifelong and “lives on a continuum.”

The presenters talked about the STAR Early Literacy tool they use as a first-level screener and said they would be implementing a program called Early Bird next fall.

Lunch prices to rise In other business, the committee approved an increase in lunch prices to meet the requirements of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, whereby the average price must meet or exceed the difference between the federal reimbursement rate for a free lunch and paid lunch.

The cost for elementary school lunches will rise by 50 cents to $3.25. The prices for secondary school and adults will increase by 25 cents to $3.50 and $4.00, respectively.

The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022 • 19

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

Cub Scouts fishing/info session May 18 Hopkinton Cub Scouts will host a fishing event/information session on Wednesday, May 18, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Sandy Beach on Lake Maspenock. Attendees can bring their own rod or one will be provided. Instructors will teach fishing basics from 6:30-6:45 p.m., then participants can fish for the rest of the evening. While the kids are fishing, parents can learn more about Hopkinton’s Cub Scout program (Pack 4 and Pack 97) for the coming year. For more information, visit facebook. com/events/664506387979803/ or email tannenbaumb@gmail.com.

Spring yard cleaning to benefit PJB A group of Hopkinton High School students is volunteering to perform spring yard cleanings in exchange for donations to Project Just Because. The last cleaning appointment is June 4. Sign up at signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4faba829aafec07spring. For more information, visit projectjustbecause.org or email studentboardpresidents@projectjustbecause.org.

Girl Scouts host sneaker donation drive Hopkinton High School Girl Scout Troop 65294 is holding an athletic shoe drive through the summer. New and used sneakers are being collected and sent to GotSneakers, an organization that repurposes footwear that otherwise would be thrown away. Donation bins in Hopkinton can be found at Resilience Fitness, located at 45 South Street, as well in front of homes at 8 Price Street, 1 Ledgestone Drive and 31 Valleywood Drive. Donations also will be accepted at the Timlin 5K on June 18. For more information, email carolynajohnson68@gmail.com.

Timlin Event at HHS June 18 Registration is open for the 19th annual Sharon Timlin Memorial Event, which is returning in person to Hopkinton High School on June 18. The event, also called A Race to Cure ALS, will retain a virtual component this year. The 5K road race and family fun day is a fundraiser for The Angel Fund for ALS Research. The 5K race begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by the family fun day activities with live music, food, games, raffles, a silent auction and other activities until noon. For more information or to register, visit sharontimlinrace.org.

MBCC Against the Tide at State Park June 18 The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) will host its annual Against the Tide event on Saturday, June 18, 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 from June 11-18. Proceeds benefit MBCC’s work toward breast cancer prevention, locally and nationally. For more information and to register, visit mbcc.org/swim.

Freedom Team Pride Parade June 19 The second annual LGBTQ+ Pride Parade, sponsored by the Hopkinton Freedom Team and in collaboration with Hopkinton Youth & Family Services and the Hopkinton Youth Commission, is scheduled for Sunday, June 19, from 2-5:30 p.m.

Participants will parade one lap of Loop Road around the schools from 3-4 p.m. and then gather on Field 1 behind Hopkinton Middle School for a celebration from 4-5:30 p.m. For more information, visit hopkintonfreedomteam.org.

Baypath Fore Paws Golf Tournament June 10 Baypath Humane Society’s ninth annual Fore Paws Golf Tournament will be held Friday, June 10, at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club in Boylston. The tournament will be a four-person scramble format, beginning with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. After golf, guests will gather for a night of live auction, delicious cuisine, an awards ceremony and an update on Baypath’s mission. Sponsorship opportunities also are available.

For more information, visit baypathhumane.org.

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HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS The Secret Door: Hopkinton’s Mind Reading and Magic Experience | May 20, 8:00 p.m.

The Secret Doorway is an astonishing evening of mind-reading with comedian, hypnotist, and sleight-of-hand artist Peter Gross. Peter uses the quick hands of a card shark, the improvisational skills of a stand-up, and a con man’s command of human psychology. Peter has performed at the White House, The Kennedy Center, Canada’s National Theater, and on National Television.

Arts In Bloom Exhibition and Reception | May 22 to June 15 We are excited for the return of our 17th annual Arts in Bloom show. Out of 155 pieces, Juror Sorin Bica selected 40 for display in this year’s exhibition. Six pieces were identified for an award and will be honored with fresh flower arrangements designed by the Hopkinton Garden Club members that will be on display May 26–May 29. There will be a free artist reception open to the public on May 26 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Treblemakers Spring Concert | May 21, 7:30 p.m.

Enter Stage Left Theater’s (ESL) adult community chorus, the Treblemakers, are back ready to entertain you with their first live performance in two years! Under the direction of Eric Miller, this spring concert, Treblemakers At The Tonys, will include classic Broadway musical hits.

Light refreshments will be served.

First Friday Open Mic | June 3 with Feature Scott Damgaard

Calling all singers (and people who love to listen to people sing)! Open Mic is a great way for singers to put themselves in front of a very supportive and fun crowd and to learn by watching other singers. Our host is the talented Jack Byrne. Socializing and sign-up start at 7:30 p.m. and the music begins at 8:00 p.m.

Did you know that HCA Members get 10% off of performances and FREE entry to open mics and jazz jams? Become a member today! www.HopArtsCenter.org

Your Arts Center | Tickets & Details at HopArtsCenter.org HopkintonIndependent.com

20 • The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022

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

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

Transportation Programs for Seniors

The Senior Center offers transportation to and from the Senior Center as well as local shopping Tuesdays through Fridays for Hopkinton residents. The Senior Center also can help residents find transportation assistance for medical appointments and essential shopping. Anyone interested should call the Senior Center to learn more.

Help Make Hopkinton Dementia Friendly

Wednesday May 18, 4-5:30 p.m., at Hopkinton Public Library Wednesday, June 1, 3:30-5 p.m., at Fairview Estates Participants can turn their new understanding of dementia into practical action that can help someone with dementia living in the community. Actions can be as big or as small as one chooses, because every action counts. This Dementia Friends Information Session is suitable for all ages. Participants will learn the five key messages, the different types and a bit about what it’s like to live with dementia. Everybody can help make Hopkinton a safer and supportive community for people with dementia. Reserve a seat by calling the Hopkinton Senior Center.

Plant and Book Sale

Friday, May 20, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Saturday, May 21, 9 a.m.-noon T h e F r i e n d s o f H o p k i n t o n S e n i o r s a r e e xcited to host their annual Plant and Book Sale.

A large variety of vegetables, flowers and plants grown and donated by greenhouse volunteers will be available at rock-bottom prices. Seeds have been started for over a dozen varieties of tomato plants including heirlooms. There also will be a wide selection of gardening books as well as cookbooks, children’s books, antique books, DVDs, CDs and so much more.

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Wednesday, May 25, 10-11 a.m. (virtual) Welcome to Mount Moriah! Attendees will see the Western Wall from an unusual angle, Al-Aqsa mosque, the Golden Dome and the Golden Gate (Gate of Mercy), where Jesus entered the city on multiple occasions. The discussion will center on Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions on the mountain and see the strong connection between the three Abrahamic faiths.

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May 1 to Oct. 31 and is open to community members 5 years and older. Each participant chooses from one of four predetermined walking challenges based on distance or frequency. Individuals who complete the challenge receive raffle prizes for themselves and their Council on Aging. Participants can choose their challenge based on their walking abilities, or challenge themselves to reach a higher goal. To learn more, call the Senior Center or sign up directly at: walkmachallenge.com.

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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.

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Library closed on Memorial Day weekend The library will be closed on Saturday, May 28, and Monday, May 30, in recognition of Memorial Day.

Chat ’n’ Chew Book Group Wednesday, May 25, 12:30-2 p.m.

Instead of assigning a book for all participants to read, each person reviews something they read in the past month.

All reviews of the books will be posted to Facebook to share with the Hopkinton reading community. All are welcome. For more information, contact aspeicher@ hopkintonma.gov or the library.

Frayed Knot Fiber Arts Circle Wednesday, May 25, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Participants in the Frayed Knot Fiber Arts Circle are invited to bring their current project or pattern. This group is open to teens and adults of all skill levels. All fiber arts crafts (knitting, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, needle felting, etc.) are welcome. Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month. Anyone who has questions or needs knitting materials should email Jak Miller at jmiller@hopkintonma.gov.

Freedom Team Book Club Tuesday, May 31, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Each month, members of the Freedom Team Book Club read a book about bias, discrimination or inequity. Participants are asked to bring their empathy and a willingness to listen. This month’s book is “The Making of Asian America: A History,” by Erika Lee. Copies are available at the front desk, as are bookmarks with the rest of 2022’s book schedule. This event is in-person. Masks are encouraged but not required. Registration is not required, but those who do register will receive a reminder email the day before the event.

Red Cross Blood Drive Thursday, June 2, 2-7 p.m.

Those interested can register at the Red Cross website (rcblood.org/3AmuYsP) or call 508-497-9777 and the Reference Desk can help schedule an appointment.

HPLF Touch-a-Truck Saturday, June 11, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Hopkinton Public Library Foundation is hosting the Touch-a-Truck event at the Hopkinton High School parking lot.

Service vehicles, hot rods and constructions vehicles will be among those on site.

For more information, visit hopkintonpubliclibraryfoundation.org.

The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022 • 21

Obituaries Obituaries are submissions, typically from funeral homes, that are not subject to the same level of editorial oversight as the rest of the Hopkinton Independent.

Obituaries may be edited for grammatical and factual mistakes and clarifications and shortened for space considerations.

Sharon Sannicandro

Claire Donnelly Claire M. Donnelly (Murphy), 84, of Hopkinton passed away April 25 after a short period of declining health. She was the daughter of the late William and Catherine (Loughman) Murphy and wife of the late Merlin Joseph Donnelly, who died in 1996. Claire worked for Verizon Corporation for 27 years, retiring in 1989. She was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America and the Castle Island Association in South Boston.

Claire was an avid sports fan and especially loved the Patriots and Red Sox. She enjoyed playing bingo, going to the casino, skiing, cruising and traveling with her late husband, family and friends, spending many winters in Naples, Florida, with “her Joe”and his siblings and their spouses.

Mrs. Donnelly is survived by numerous nieces and nephews, their children and grandchildren, her sister-in-law, Lorraine Noland of Weymouth, as well as many dear friends and her close friends at Fairview Estates in Hopkinton. She was the sister of the late Marion A. Burke, Dr. John J. Murphy, William P. Murphy, Evelyn R. Harmon and Robert P. Murphy.

A funeral service was held May 7 in the chapel of the Matarese Funeral Home, Ashland, followed by an urn burial in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Natick. If desired, donations in Claire’s memory may be made to St. Jude’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

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Sharon M. Sannicandro, a longtime resident of Northborough, passed away peacefully in her home in the early morning hours of April 24. She was 81 years old. Sharon was born in Milford and raised in Hopkinton, one of six children to the late Kenneth and Lois (Philpot) Casey. She was a 1959 graduate of Hopkinton High School.

As fate would have it, Sharon and a handsome young man named John A. Sannicandro III met while he was driving through town. In 1960 they married; this was the beginning of a wonderful life together. In February of this year Sharon and John celebrated their 62nd year of marriage. The young couple resided in Hopkinton for a short while prior to relocating to Northborough in 1973.

Sharon focused her life on caring for her husband, their children and her home.

She took great pride in her houseplants and in her spare time enjoyed needlepoint.

Her humor was legendary and her smile was contagious. Sharon looked forward to taking the time to talk with friends and strangers alike. As a strong and independent woman and as an avid New England sports fan, Sharon looked forward to discussing the teams with all who would listen.

Sharon was the devoted wife of 62 years to John A. Sannicandro III and beloved mother of their two daughters, Lisa Kane (Mark) and Paula Desmarais (Marc). She leaves four grandchildren, Matthew (Lupita) Kane, Jonathan Kane, Robert Desmarais and Catherine Desmarais (Rodney Cross), and two great-granddaughters, Victoria and Galia Kane, all of whom she loved dearly. They will all fondly cherish the many memories of her Italian cookies, chocolate chip pie and other wonderful baked goods she would lovingly prepare for the family holidays. They will also remember the many trips to the ocean, which Sharon loved to visit. With a smile, they will recall Ipswich fried clams and perhaps to a drive to Booth Bay for a lobster.

At Sharon’s request, all services are private. The Sannicandro family respectfully requests in lieu of flowers that memorial donations be directed to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute dana-farber.org or Metrowest Hospice Care, 200 Nickerson Road, Suite 110, Marlborough, MA 01752. Arrangements were under the care of Hays Funeral Home, Northborough.

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Jane Rathburn Jane von Bauer Rathburn, 93, of Hopkinton passed away at her home on May 5. Born in East Brookfield, she was the daughter of the late Ellen (Ellstrom) and Waldo Simpson. She was the wife of 51 years to the late Harold Rathburn.

Jane enjoyed doing cryptograms, solving crosswords, gardening and cooking. She loved traveling with her family and had many enjoyable trips to Ireland and Hawaii as well as Caribbean cruises and visits to the beaches of Cape Cod. Most of all, Jane enjoyed Sunday dinners around her kitchen

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Jane is survived by her three daughters, Sally Rathburn of Hopkinton, Sherry Kuring and husband Steven of Ballston Spa, New York, and Jane Rathburn Goodman and husband David of Hopkinton. She also leaves behind two brothers, John and Waldo Simpson, both of North Grafton, and five grandchildren, Shelby and Eric Kuring, and Charlotte, Cooper and Carter Goodman. She is predeceased by her sisters, Cloris Simpson, Lola Connaugthton and Jessie Larter.

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April 30

9:53 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle all over the road on West Main Street. Officers Robert Ekross, Jessica Ferreira and Cody Normandin responded and subsequently arrested a 28-year-old from Ashland and charged her with OUI liquor and marked lanes violation.

Editor’s note: Due to space limitations, this is an abbreviated version of the Police Log. For the full Police Log visit the Hopkinton Independent website at HopkintonIndependent.com.

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8:32 a.m. A Kimball Road resident reported several mailboxes in the neighborhood were damaged overnight. Officers Moira McGaffigan and Sean McKeon responded and took a report.

9:46 p.m. The Shrewsbury Police Department requested assistance contacting a Commonwealth Avenue resident involved a hit and run. Officer Basit Dennis responded and made contact with the person and advised him to contact the Shrewsbury Police Department.

April 27

3:32 p.m. A caller requested assistance while picking up items at his ex’s house.

Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and stood by.

6:07 p.m. The Ashland Police Department requested assistance locating a student. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and checked Hayden Rowe Street with a negative find.

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12:19 p.m. An Oakhurst Road resident reported a deceased cat on her property.

The animal control officer was contacted.

2:40 p.m. A caller reported a lowhanging wire on Old Farm Road. Officers Sean McKeon and Moira McGaffigan responded and notified Verizon.

6:29 p.m. A Norcross Road caller reported his son’s hockey pads were stolen.

Officer Cody Normandin responded and took a report of larceny.

8:55 p.m. An East Main Street resident reported his mailbox was vandalized within the past two hours, possibly by a baseball bat. Officer Robert Ekross responded and took a report.

11:27 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officers Cody Normandin and Robert Ekross responded and reported no personal injuries.

April 29

8:51 p.m. A walk-in reported a missing person, her granddaughter, whom she could not locate. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil assisted and reported the father called and reported his daughter was home.

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April 30

11:05 a.m. A caller reported multiple traps in an Ash Street yard and believed a live opossum was in one trap and dead animals, including a fox, in other traps. The animal control officer was notified and was to check in with the homeowner.

2:09 p.m. A concerned West Main Street caller reported an open door at a neighboring business, and when she

HopkintonIndependent.com

stepped inside and yelled, no one answered. Detective Gregg DeBoer responded and checked the building and found everything in order. The owner returned as Detective DeBoer was leaving.

All was OK. 4:47 p.m. A walk-in requested a person check after seeing a female who appeared impaired in a red Jeep on Hayden Rowe Street. Officers Jessica Ferreira, Robert Ekross and Cody Normandin responded and checked the area with a negative find.

May 1

12:49 a.m. A motorist reported a truck hit a sign on West Main Street and continued driving. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and checked the area with a negative find and reported the sign was bent but still in place.

9:58 a.m. A caller reported an erratic operator on West Main Street. Officer Cody Normandin responded and checked on the operator and all was OK. 1:05 p.m. An East Main Street resident reported an injured turkey between his house and a neighbor’s house. Detective Gregg Boer responded and humanely euthanized the bird.

4:21 p.m. Multiple callers reported a motor vehicle crash on Chestnut Street.

Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Jessica Ferreira and Robert Ekross responded and followed up with the driver at a Connelly Hill Road residence and issued the driver a civil citation.

May 2

9:58 a.m. Officer Shannon Beloin assisted a disabled motor vehicle with a flat tire on Whisper Way and also removed metal debris from the roadway.

12:06 p.m. A caller complained of a trailer parked on the side of the roadway of Bridgeton Way for several days, preventing two-way traffic. Officer Shannon Beloin responded and spoke with the owner, who was to move the trailer.

2:26 p.m. On Exchange Street, Officers Sean McKeon and Matthew Santoro assisted the State Police with a warrant arrest.

2:27 p.m. A caller reported a person with a face and head covering rummaging through a recycling bin on Holt Street. Officer Shannon Beloin responded and spoke with the individual and all was OK. 3:45 p.m. A caller reported an erratic operator driving the wrong way on Hayden Rowe Street at a high rate of speed. Officer Basit Dennis responded and was unable to locate the operator.

May 3

12:51 a.m. A caller reported a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the roadway of C Street. Sergeants Aaron O’Neil and Arthur Schofield responded and attempted to stop the vehicle. The vehicle eventually stopped on Hayden Rowe Street. The Milford Police Department responded to assist with translating. A complaint application was issued.

8:12 a.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on West Main Street. Officers Shannon Beloin, Sean McKeon and Matthew Santoro responded and assisted. One vehicle was towed and a courtesy transport to the station was provided.

9:27 a.m. A walk-in reported her neighbor cut down her tree without consent. Officers Shannon Beloin and Mat-

The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022 • 23 thew Santoro took a report.

12:42 p.m. A Pendulum Pass resident reported a suspicious male walking around the neighborhood, claiming to work for pest control. Officer Shannon Beloin responded and spoke with the man, a pest control company employee. All was OK. 5:21 p.m. A West Elm Street resident reported a house break-in in progress. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and checked the house and found all secure.

May 4

11:18 a.m. A caller with questions about a possible stalking incident spoke with Officer Matthew Santoro. The caller was to decide whether or not to pursue further action.

4:17 p.m. A caller reported seeing a flame along the tree line near the State Park. No smoke was reported. Officers Robert Ekross and Basit Dennis responded and checked the LNG plant on Wilson Street, and LNG security confirmed they were vetting. No hazards were present.

6:08 p.m. A caller reported a dog was running in and out of traffic on Wood Street, and the caller was unable to get the dog. Officer Cody Normandin responded and checked the area with a negative find.

9:50 p.m. A Bumps Lane resident reported a person with a flashlight at the gas line behind her house. Officers Robert Ekross and Basit Dennis responded and spoke with the person, who was a surveyor.

All was OK. 10:27 p.m. A male walk-in wearing a long jacket and carrying a binder slipped the dispatcher a note stating he would not identify himself and wanted his note back after it was read. The handwritten note detailed a call with cybersecurity and stated Verizon and AT&T were hatching a scheme to hack phone lines and track vital information. The note was returned to the individual after the dispatcher read it, and the individual said “Thank you” and left without incident.

wire on Old Farm Road. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and notified Verizon.

May 7

9:32 a.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on East Main Street. No personal injuries were reported. Officers Cody Normandin and Jessica Ferreira responded and requested a tow truck. A report was taken.

10:22 a.m. Multiple callers reported a male stumbling near the roadway of Main Street. Officers Jessica Ferreira and Cody Normandin responded and checked the area with a negative find.

11:01 a.m. Officer Jessica Ferreira notified the DPW of a fallen tree blocking two-thirds of the roadway on Clinton Street.

5:16 p.m. Officer Jessica Ferreira took a report of stolen property on Woodview Way. 5:53 p.m. A caller reported an open utility box on a telephone pole on West Elm Street. Officer Robert Ekross responded and took a report.

4:11 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident involving two cars and airbag deployment on Main Street. Officer Sean McKeon responded along with an ambulance and took a report.

No personal injuries were reported.

4:36 p.m. A walk-in requested to speak with an officer about removing a person who lives on his property. Officer Sean McKeon assisted and took a report.

May 9

10:46 a.m. A caller reported a road rage incident that took place on Hayward Street. The caller wanted the incident logged and stated he would visit the station later with footage of the incident.

4:34 p.m. A Wood Street caller reported a swan with something attached to its left foot and struggling to move. The animal control officer was notified.

4:42 p.m. Officers Sean McKeon and Jessica Ferreira responded to a report of a two-car motor vehicle accident on West Main Street. A tow truck removed one car. A criminal application was issued to one driver. A report was taken.

9:22 p.m. A Spring Street caller reported an unknown middleaged, blond male on his property three different times during the past three hours. He was wearing a blue polo shirt and holding a dirty tennis ball. Officer Sean McKeon and Jessica Ferreira responded and checked on the man. All was OK.

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May 6

6:27 a.m. A Wilson Street caller reported a sick opossum circling her driveway. The animal control officer was contacted and responded.

12:18 p.m. A caller reported receiving a fraudulent phone call from someone claiming to be from U.S. Border Patrol.

When the caller asked for a badge number and other information, the person hung up.

The incident was logged.

12:49 p.m. A caller reported an electrical box was knocked off a telephone pole on Wood Street and was a potential hazard.

Officer Matthew Santoro responded and placed cones around it.

1:28 p.m. A caller reported the windows of her vehicle were smashed on West Main Street. Officer Cody Normandin responded and checked the cameras of local businesses. A report was to follow.

1:45 p.m. Officer Matthew LaTour helped a male resident get home on Main Street.

3:24 p.m. A caller reported a fallen

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10:14 a.m. A walk-in reported someone left a bicycle at Main Street Service Center a week earlier. Officers Matthew Santoro and Sean McKeon responded and took a report.

3:14 p.m. A walk-in reported he has been followed for a year by the same vehicle. Officer Basit Dennis took a report.

9:27 p.m. A Whirty Circle caller reported suspicious activity of two people walking around a neighbor’s house with lights. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil responded and spoke with the people, who were the homeowners unable to enter their house due to a faulty garage door battery.

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24 • The Hopkinton Independent • May 18, 2022

Baypath Adoptable Animal of the Week

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED DESIGN | CABINETRY | INSTALLATION

Woonsocket, RI | Hopkinton, MA

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Each week, the Independent highlights an animal available for adoption at Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton.

This week we feature Leia.

Here is Baypath’s description of Leia: “Leia is a quiet girl. She is both cratetrained and house-trained and likes to keep her space neat.

She often will burrow in her blankets to get nice and cozy!

Leia has a nice medium-low energy level.

While she enjoys going for walks, she has old injuries to her legs, which make it difficult for her to walk too far. She is content with short walks and playtime/company!

“Due to her previous leg injuries, Leia walks with a limp. We have her on joint tabs and some pain medication to keep her nice and comfy! We are working with our vet team to see if there is anything else we can do for her comfort. Don’t let this steer you away from sweet Leia! She is still the sweetest girl, and never lets anything get her down!

“She enjoys going for walks with her canine friends, and she prefers dogs that are her speed. No crazy puppies for this girl! We are not sure how she would be with a cat.”

For more information on Leia 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.

HopkintonIndependent.com