HI 5.31.23

Residents offer input, get answers about PFAS filtration plan

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

Town Manager Norman Khumalo hosted a 90-minute public forum May 16 to receive input on potentially spending $1,187,000 of American Rescue Plan Act grant funds on a $1.7 million water filtration system to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS, from the municipal water supply.

Khumalo, who will administer the grant funding, proposed using the money to add two filtration vessels at Well 6 on Fruit Street to bring PFAS levels below current detection levels and into current state and federal draft compliance levels. It would supplement $600,000 previously appropriated by Town Meeting last year to address the rising concern over elevated PFAS levels over the past 19 months. He noted that the cost of the filtration system now is “substantially higher” than expected because of inflation and the need for a larger filtration system.

HMS robotics team wins world championship award

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

KryptoKnights, a team of eighth graders from Hopkinton Middle School, beat thousands of robotics teams from around the world to win the Excellence Award at the VEX IQ Robotics Competition World Championships earlier this month in Dallas.

The winning team is comprised of Agam Bhatia, Sai Shrivardhan (Shri) Dasari, Rudra Pachori, Suhani Patni, Prannav Raja and Pahlaj Sharma.

In addition to bragging rights, the team received a banner, trophy and gold medals. Patricia Allen, RoboHiller Robotics coach and HMS media literacy and guidance seminar teacher, described the experience this way: “It really is surreal!”

She is in the process of trying to purchase a replica

Hopkinton Middle School’s KryptoKnights team won the Excellence Award at the VEX IQ Robotics Competition World Championships.

Members of the Hopkinton High School unified track and field team celebrate after winning the Division 2 state championship on May 24 at Natick High School. It was the team’s second straight title.

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

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OSPC chair grateful for town’s land purchase

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Iwrite to thank Town Manager Norman Khumalo, Ken Weismantel and the Community Preservation Committee, Morrie Gasser and the Hopkinton Area Land Trust, the other members of the Hopkinton Open Space Preservation Commission, all those who supported the acquisition of the Jenner/ Rice property at Town Meeting, and, very especially, the Jenner family, who made this possible. Thank you!

The OSPC will be hosting a “meet and greet” in the fall for those who would like a guided visit to the Rice property, which I described at Town Meeting as the most remote parcel in town.

— Ed Harrow, chair of Hopkinton’s Open Space Preservation Commission

Protect Center School land

The four seasons of the Center School land:

Spring —We hear the sounds of birds announcing the end of winter as they forage for insects and seeds and build nests. Among them are cardinals, woodpeckers, bluebirds, robins, etc. Salamanders have been spotted emerging from under decaying logs. Even an occasional turtle has been seen near the stream on the property.

Summer — Young children and their friends and families enjoy having a picnic under the shade of the beautiful mature trees of the pine grove, or they play at the safe, age-appropriate playground.

Autumn — The varieties of trees display their beautiful fall colors. Activities on the Town Common add to the enjoyment of the adjacent Center School open, green space. A pickup game of soccer or even an archery lesson sponsored by Parks & Rec takes place here.

Winter — Snow brings the joy of trying to identify the many different animal tracks. Cross country skiers can practice here for longer, more challenging trails than other venues.

The open, green space behind Center School is a downtown treasure. It must be preserved for future generations. We the citizens of Hopkinton own this land! Do not give it to developers for any price or promise.

— 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.

HPD’s Brennan placed on administrative leave

The Hopkinton Police Department confirmed in an email May 19 that Sgt. Tim Brennan had been placed on paid administrative leave. Neither Police Chief Joseph Bennett nor Town Manager Norman Khumalo would provide further details. Bennett initially responded that “the town does not comment on most personnel matters.” However, apparently after being contacted by other media outlets, he confirmed the leave.

Brennan has been on the force since 2005. He was promoted to sergeant in 2014 after serving as detective from 2008-14 and school resource officer from 2005-08.

According to sources in town, the suspension is related to information Brennan knew about former Deputy Chief John Porter, who earlier in the month was arraigned on charges of child rape for allegedly assaulting a Hopkinton High School student while he was working as the town’s school resource officer in 2004 and 2005. At some point — possibly not until the alleged victim was an adult — Brennan was informed of the alleged assault, the sources indicated, but he did not report it.

Kramer elected Select Board chair

During the Select Board’s annual reorganization on May 23, Muriel Kramer was elected chair, with Shahidul Mannan vice chair. Both votes were unanimous.

Kramer has previous experience leading the Select Board. During her first stint on the board from 2005-08, she served as chair for two years. After a 13-year absence, she returned to the Select Board in 2021.

Kramer thanked outgoing chair Amy Ritterbusch for her service. Ritterbusch remains on the board, as does Mary Jo LaFreniere, who had served as vice chair for the past year.

Mosquito spraying scheduled

Personnel from the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project (CMMCP) are scheduled to spray areas of Hopkinton

on May 31 and June 6, 7, 13, 14, 21, 27 and 28.

All dates are subject to change due to weather conditions, mosquito populations, mosquito virus activity and/or special event spraying. The program will shut down when cool nighttime temperatures become predominant in the area.

The detailed spray schedule is updated after 3:30 p.m. each day at the CMMCP website and the department’s phone line at 508-393-3055 (press 0 at the prompt to hear a recorded message).

For a list of products used in the spraying, check the CMMCP website’s Pesticide Information page. For information on how to be excluded from the spraying, check the CMMCP website’s Pesticide Exclusion page or call 508-393-3055.

Cricket pitch to be resurfaced

At its meeting May 17, the Parks & Recreation Commission was presented with a request to resurface a public cricket pitch on Fruit Street, with commission members apparently unaware that Hopkinton Cricket Club members already had purchased resurfacing materials and were going to seek compensation for their purchase and installation at a cost of about $9,000.

The commission voted 4-0 to approve authorizing the director and chair to spend up to $9,000 to repair the cricket pitch, with the contingency that the Hopkinton Cricket Club provide three quotes for materials and installation.

Misc.: Town adds downtown parking lot

The Select Board voted to execute an order of taking for the parking lot at 25-35 Main Street, which will provide a total of 55 spots (some of which only will be available during evenings) for people using the downtown area. …

The board welcomed interim Department of Public Works Director Thomas Temple and interim Parks & Recreation Director Patricia Savage, and confirmed the appointment of Charles Paquette as the town’s assistant treasurer. Town man-

News briefs | page 7

Baypath Adoptable Animal of the Week

Each week, the Independent highlights an animal available for adoption at Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton. This week we feature 1-year-old Chase.

Here is Baypath’s description of Chase:

“This playful pup is looking for a running and zoomy partner. He is the personal trainer you’ve always wanted.

“Chase loves spending time with people and playing, especially with stuffed toys that squeak. He gets along with other dogs and enjoys seeing his friends for play dates, too.

“Chase is very intelligent and loves his training sessions. He is currently working on his sharing skills, particularly with high-value food puzzles. Chase is looking for a home that can help him continue his progress, and we are excited to talk with you about the tools to success!”

For more information on Chase 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.

Public forum focuses on PFAS filtration plan

PFAS are a group of several thousand synthetic chemical compounds that have been produced in the United States since the 1950s. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 97% of Americans have been exposed to PFAS. They are used to make products resistant to heat, water and stains and can be found in clothing, food packaging and cookware. Contaminated drinking water is the most common source of exposure, according to an Association of State and Territorial Health Officials report published in October 2019. Some potential risks from PFAS exposure include potential damage to the liver, kidneys and immune system, as well as complications during pregnancy.

“The object here is to get your input on the use of the ARPA funds to make this project happen,” Khumalo said to about a dozen attendees. He recognized the town’s drought issues and the water volume needed to sustain the community. Although he does not need town approval to spend the money, he stressed that the town’s process is to seek community input on decisions.

Leah Stanton, the vice president and water discipline leader of Weston & Sampson Engineers, explained that PFAS was first identified in a Hopkinton water sample in October 2021 in Well 6, one of the town’s newest and highestproducing wells. It is located near the old DPW building, off the access road to the Fruit Street athletic fields. Wells 1 and 2 on the opposite side of Fruit Street are not heavily pumped because they have higher levels of iron and manganese, she noted, and Well 3 is offline. The remaining four town wells rarely are used. Drinking water usually is combined from different wells.

At the town’s request, Weston & Sampson engineers provided an estimate of $600,000 for immediate PFAS treatment with a single filtration system. Upon further investigation, “a longer-term solution” and a “more robust treatment system” with larger filters were recommended. Because Well 6 produces so much of the town’s water, keeping the well operational is paramount.

“We are chasing time here,” Stanton stressed, noting she has worked with Hopkinton for a decade. “We are trying to do an interim solution for the town to get the PFAS out and meet the safe drinking water standards until the [Massachusetts Water Resources Authority] connection comes in.”

Stanton added that the new system, which will begin implementation this winter, is designed to last 15 to 20 years. It would remove magnesium and iron as well as PFAS and currently is estimated to cost about $20 million to construct.

While skyrocketing supply and construction costs have led to the increased price, Stanton said the changes in the filtration system size also boosted the projected project price. The dual filtration system will use granular activated carbon followed by ion exchange media. Water then will re-enter the well for chlorination and potassium hydroxide adjustment before going out to the public.

In March 2022, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protec-

tion implemented a maximum contaminant level of 20 parts per trillion for the sum of six PFAS compounds, according to Stanton, with each of six PFAS variants at a maximum level of four parts per trillion. Well 6 was the only well with water detected above that level of contamination. The proposed treatment system will treat the water to both state and federal standards. Removing manganese and iron from the water would require the construction of a different type of plant that would extract those minerals at a parts-per-million ratio, Stanton said, as well as PFAS at a partsper-trillion ratio.

Design requirements implemented by MassDEP changed since the initial $600,000 estimate, Stanton said. She noted that the process of backwashing water into the ground no longer is allowed. In addition, she said the state is working to find a place to dispose of PFAS because only one landfill in the state is accepting it.

Khumalo introduced Thomas Temple as the interim Department of Public Works director. Temple worked as the Assistant DPW director in Marlborough and the DPW director for Chatham, where he dealt with PFAS contamination in the tourist community before his retirement.

Said Temple: “Everything that you’ve experienced, I’ve experienced in the Town of Chatham.”

He also noted that there is quarterly water sampling of the wells.

Residents asked about the use of home reverse osmosis filters to extract these chemicals.

“I can assure you that reverse osmosis is the most expensive,” said Stanton, noting that there is no way for the town to monitor it. Governments are reluctant to endorse this process, Khumalo added.

Residents questioned if connecting to the MWRA system was a foregone conclusion at this point.

“PFAS was the trump card for Hopkinton, in my opinion,” Stanton said, noting that the MWRA can deal with a wider variety of potential contaminants.

Khumalo explained that a study was funded to see if an MWRA connection would be appropriate for the town. A survey was conducted last year that recommended that point-of-entry monitoring would be the most efficient for the town, and the water would comply with Safe Drinking Water Act standards. Funds already have been appropriated for the design process to begin for an MWRA connection via Southborough. The design process may take two to three years.

Khumalo clarified that several years ago, Town Meeting approved funding for a connection via Ashland. At a more recent Town Meeting, there was a vote to reallocate that money for the design of an MWRA connection through Southborough.

Said Khumalo: “We have stated clearly we still need to go back to Town Meeting to discuss and — if approved by Town Meeting — appropriate funds for the actual construction to the MWRA.”

Select Board member Muriel Kramer stressed that the filtration system is “an interim solution,” with an MWRA connection as a permanent

Presents

‘A SLICE OF HOPKINTON’

Hopkinton Independent Photo Contest

This issue’s winner is Emily Rainwater for this photo of dogs Ella and Ryker taking a break during a walk in Hopkinton. To enter next issue’s contest, email your photo along with your name, phone number and description of the photo to editor@hopkintonindependent. com. Photos with people or pets in them are encouraged. Photos that are not selected as winners might be posted on our website.

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

Expanded Pride Parade event set for June 11

By Sidhi Dhanda Contributing Writer

Three years ago, Hopkinton High School alumnus Freya Proudman and then-high school student Madison Loos started the first Pride Parade in Hopkinton. Proudman planned the event while in the United Kingdom attending college.

“It was a dream of hers that she wanted to see come to fruition,” said Cathleen Dinsmore, the Hopkinton Freedom Team’s president and founder.

The Hopkinton Freedom Team, a community organization dedicated to addressing discrimination, bias and social injustice, is planning for this year’s annual Pride Parade along with co-sponsors Hopkinton Youth & Family Services and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts.

The Freedom Team is trying to carry Proudman and Loos’ vision and ensure the Pride Parade stays an annual tradition. Organizers continue to involve students from the high school.

“Students are really the ones who inspire us and put in a lot of effort in our mission,” Dinsmore said.

Entering its third year, this year’s Pride Parade is only getting bigger, with more performances and broader community involvement. The parade will start and end at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts on Sunday, June 11, at 1 p.m.

To foster more inclusivity, the Freedom Team has reached out to organizations in Westborough, Ashland and Southborough, encouraging neighboring towns’ participation in the celebration.

“We want to make it more of a regional celebration rather than just for

Hopkinton,” Dinsmore said.

Beyond making Hopkinton a more welcoming community for all, the Hopkinton Freedom team is trying to bring attention to other communities also having Pride events in June.

The parade will be followed by a celebration at HCA’s outdoor performance area from 2-4 p.m., featuring dancers, singers and musicians. A variety of local groups will contribute to the lively atmosphere, providing a range of activities and crafts for all ages. In addition, there will be food trucks and a bounce house.

The decision to expand the Pride celebrations resulted from feedback after last year’s event.

“We have heard from many people that they want to have fun, celebrate, feel really included and be themselves,” Dinsmore said. “We want to show the love and the inclusion.”

More than just being a large celebration, the Pride Parade is a way to bring more attention and awareness to the LGBTQ+ community — people who often are overlooked or dismissed.

“I think whenever there’s an opportunity to humanize a group of people that have historically not been humanized, it is always a good thing,” Freedom Team vice president Lynn Canty said.

Canty also described a sentiment of gratitude she felt from Pride Parade attendees in the past.

“People are grateful that there is a group making an effort to bring recognition to a marginalized community here in our town and provide the opportunity to celebrate them and encourage other people to join in,” Canty said.

Conservation Commission calls out Leonard Street erosion issues

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

The Conservation Commission at its meeting May 16 approved the request for a home tennis court for an aspiring athlete and discussed violations at a problematic Leonard Street site.

The commission also received updates on two properties where tree cutting was originally permitted by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, including the contentious 60-plus acre site in the Springwood neighborhood off of Kimball Road.

Issues spotted at Leonard Street

The commission engaged in a discussion on violations observed at 8, 10 and 12 Leonard Street. Member Ted Barker-Hook visited the site on April 23 and April 30 and observed that the erosion controls were compromised.

This property previously had been called out by the commission for violating erosion controls during a period of flooding in July of 2021. Developer Lou Petrozzi of Wall Street Development Corporation was not present at this meeting to address concerns about the project.

Conservation Administrator Kim Ciaramicoli said Barker-Hook sent her photos he took of the site, and the ones from April 30 “alarmed” her. They showed that topsoil had been added but had partially washed away.

Ciaramicoli noted that some erosion control silt fences were “basically flapping in the wind” and “in a complete state of disrepair.” Barker-Hook described them as “heavily deteriorated.”

Sediment flowed through the damaged silt fences into a vegetated area and through to the wetlands, according to Ciaramicoli. There were also “several areas of blowouts,” which prompted her to issue a notice of violations to Petrozzi on May 1. A few days later, she observed that another line of erosion controls had been installed in front of the old one.

Barker-Hook described “a fairly significant sediment breakthrough” that he observed on Sunday at the driveway of the easternmost house. It has not been removed from the wetland as of that date. He also noted that the amount of

water running into an abutting property that he videotaped “was astounding.”

Said Barker-Hook: “It looks like a pair of hands could scoop the sand back out and remove it.”

Commission chair Jeff Barnes requested that Petrozzi attend the next meeting on June 6 to explain the situation. He also said that the sediment that seeped into the wetland should be removed by hand.

Forest cutting halted at Springwood site

Ciaramicoli said she received word on May 5 that the tree cutting at the property off of Kimball Road ceased at the request of the property owner.

Barnes noted that the cutting was legal under the DCR’s forest cutting plan, explaining that the state permit superseded the town’s bylaw and did not require the property owner to appear before the commission. This situation was discussed at length at the previous Conservation Commission meeting as well as last Thursday’s Open Space Preservation Commission meeting.

He added that it was “unfortunate” that the town had no recourse.

Commissioner Ed Harrow, who also chairs the OSPC, said that abutters told him at that meeting that they spoke with the property owner, Mike Umina, and that he was “allegedly amenable” to selling the property to the town if an agreement could be reached.

Harrow added that he reached out to Town Manager Norman Khumalo, but he hasn’t received a response yet. At the OSPC meeting, an ad hoc group was proposed to meet with stakeholders. While several people have expressed interest in serving on it, a meeting has not been held to date. The land would need to be appraised to determine fair market value.

In related news, Barnes said that a representative from DCR recently met with himself, Ciaramicoli and commission vice chair Melissa Recos for a site walk of a Teresa Road property in the Charlesview Estates neighborhood. DCR previously issued a forest cutting plan for the site.

Ciaramicoli said they explained there were concerns about the resource areas there. While the town’s bylaws do

Conservation | page 7

The Conservation Commission identified erosion control issues at the new development on Leonard Street.

PHOTO/JERRY

Conservation Commission calls out Leonard Street erosion issues

not supersede the state permit, the town could use the public comment period “to apply some friendly pressure.”

She received an email dated May 11 stating that the forest cutting plan was disapproved by DCR. In an attached letter, DCR explained that some of the considerations mentioned in Hopkinton’s bylaws should be taken into consideration by the applicant, Simone, Danahy & McGrath.

Said Ciaramicoli: “I think that was an outcome that the commission can feel good about.”

Home tennis court approved for Greenwood Road

The commission approved an application in a 6-0 vote for the construction of a tennis court at 42 Greenwood Road so that tennis prodigy Parnaz Kaur, a sixth grader at Hopkinton Middle School, would have a space behind her home to perfect her game.

The major issue discussed was whether an easement granted by the Hopkinton Area Land Trust anticipated

Public forum focuses on PFAS filtration plan

PFAS | from page 4

solution. She also asked if some of the ARPA funding could be set aside to help homeowners with private wells to address and mitigate their PFAS concerns.

Khumalo said that would be “a policy decision” that would need to be reviewed by the town.

The connection of 35% of the town to private wells was another point raised, as well as whether residents with private wells will test for it. Stanton noted that the same volume of water is not used at facilities such as businesses and golf courses as opposed to private homes.

Health Director Shaun McAuliffe said he met with MassDEP officials two weeks ago, and they are working on what the private well standard will be.

Khumalo noted that the town is still in the “early stages” of formulating the town’s annual water rates. This process should be completed “in the coming weeks.”

Town adds downtown parking lot

News briefs | from page 3

ager Norman Khumalo thanked retiring Parks & Rec Director Jay Guelfi for his “exceptional service.” …

The Select Board accepted an anonymous gift of $50,000 to the Hopkinton Police Department “in recognition of the outstanding efforts over the years in providing order and security for the runners of the Boston Marathon.” …

Khumalo shared that local fundraising totals from last month’s Boston Marathon stand at $526,450.55, well more than last year’s total of $390,065.58.

that construction vehicles would be using it to access the proposed site. Harrow raised the question of how vehicles would get to the court area.

“Are we going to have big concrete trucks going in on what HALT has agreed is an easement?” he asked. “Is that what they expected? I have no idea.”

Singh clarified that the court will be asphalt.

Said Singh: “HALT is aware that this is a hard surface court, and they are on the notice of intent as signatories.”

Chuck Dauchy, a HALT board member, said that HALT has granted an access easement. He added that the Conservation Commission also has a conservation restriction on the land, and that the work would require its approval.

“The amount of easement that was provided was not specifically intended to allow construction of a tennis court,”

he said. “I trust that the commission will consider that any equipment access there needs to be sized to stay within the easement, unless some change is made with the commission under their [conservation restriction] or with HALT.”

Kate O’Donnell, a consultant from EcoTech Consulting Services in Worcester, interjected on behalf of the applicant. She said that the erosion control barrier requested by the commission would serve as the limit of work delineation. A 10-foot-wide gravel access way would be installed to allow construction vehicles to access the site, O’Donnell added, and no trees would be removed. When the work is completed, the land “would be revegetated with grass.”

She also noted that the plantings the commission requested will be arranged in a way that looks more like natural growth than the conceptual plan had shown.

Barnes pressed Dauchy several times on whether HALT is willing to grant permission for construction vehicles to travel on the easement.

Said Barnes repeatedly: “I think it’s a yes or no question.”

Dauchy hesitated on a direct response, saying that he did not have the terms of the easement in front of him.

Replied Dauchy: “There is no answer.”

Barnes suggested that HALT needed to “do a little homework” on the easement and make a yes-or-no decision.

Dauchy stressed that if the equipment could stay within the easement, it would be allowed by HALT. He also reiterated that the work would have to abide by the commission’s conservation restriction.

Upon the application approval, Barnes wished Kaur well on her tennis aspirations.

Select Board votes to temporarily suspend UCTC

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

At its meeting May 23, the Select Board decided to suspend the activities of the Upper Charles Trail Committee in response to the non-binding vote at Annual Town Meeting earlier this month to disband the oft-criticized committee.

The vote to suspend the UCTC until at least July 11 passed 3-2.

Select Board members Irfan Nasrullah (who is the board’s liaison to the UCTC) and Amy Ritterbusch were appointed to a subcommittee that will develop a survey so that residents can offer their opinions on the process for moving forward.

“We have to listen to what the Town Meeting vote said,” offered Nasrullah. “We can’t ignore it.”

Nasrullah noted the need for public input and transparency. “We don’t have the answers,” he said. “So we need the answers from everybody.”

New Select Board chair Muriel Kram-

er put together a report suggesting that the Upper Charles Trail Committee (UCTC) and the Trails Coordination and Management Committee (TCMC) be replaced with one nine-member Hopkinton Trails Committee, which would have multiple subcommittees, including one focused on developing the Upper Charles Trail.

That was not well-received by members of the TCMC who spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting. TCMC chair Peter LaGoy noted that the TCMC is heading into its busy season now that the weather is warmer.

Kramer acknowledged her plan was roundly criticized from both sides and was simply a first suggestion. “I’m not sure how a one-committee structure would work, but the two-committee structure hasn’t worked,” she said.

Questions were raised about funding for Segment 1 of the Upper Charles Trail, proposed to run from Hopkinton State Park to East Main Street and approved at Town Meeting, and if suspending the UCTC

might cause a delay. No determination was reached.

UCTC reelects chair, vice chair

The UCTC at its meeting May 17 took another look at its organizational structure and charge after the Town Meeting vote.

In light of the vote that called for new leadership and discussion at the last Select Board meeting on May 9, UCTC chair

Jane Moran decided to hold the annual election of officers more than a month earlier than usual, evoking questions from some members who noted that three members’ committee terms are expiring and that the composition of the board may change with prospective new members joining the committee.

Said Moran: “At this time of the year, it seems like a timely conversation to have.”

Member Eli Post nominated Moran to continue as chair, saying, “Nobody else is as crazy to do that.” Member Jim Ciriello seconded the nomination.

At that point, member Ken Parker nominated treasurer Scott Knous to succeed Moran, and Knous accepted the nomination. Nasrullah, the Select Board’s UCTC liaison, seconded Knous’s nomination.

Vice chair Eric Sonnett stepped in and called for members to vote for one of the two candidates. Moran won the vote by a 5-3 margin, with Parker, Knous and Nasrullah voting for Knous.

Nasrullah, who attended the meeting for the first time in recent memory, explained his vote for Knous resulted from the town’s call for a change in direction for the UCTC.

“It’s basically the Town Meeting vote was loud and clear,” he said. “It’s not that I don’t support Jane; I absolutely do.”

Alternate members Jamie Wronka and Tim Ritterbusch were not allowed to vote, as there was a quorum of members in attendance.

Parker questioned the timing of the vote. The terms of three members — Ciriello, Post and Bob Snyder — will expire on June 30. Ciriello is the liaison for the Conservation Commission. Also of note is that longtime board member Cynthia Esthimer, the Parks & Recreation Commission designee, resigned from the UCTC because she is moving out of town. Depending on whether these members are reappointed by the Select Board, or if the board is expanded in light of the Town Meeting vote, Parker said the committee’s dynamic could shift while securing Moran and Sonnet, who was narrowly reelected as vice president, in their posts.

“It seems to me that voting now is to shut that out,” he said. “I don’t know that I think that’s appropriate.”

Moran said she moved up the vote in response to Town Meeting’s call for new leadership “as a balancing act.” While the Select Board appoints the members, those members choose their committee leaders.

Although Ciriello questioned the timing of the vote, he called it “a vote of confidence.” Wronka questioned whether there would be a new vote if new members were appointed and was told by Sonnett and Moran that the vote is annual. Although new members wouldn’t vote for the committee’s leadership, they would have the right to vote against any decisions with which they disagreed, Moran said.

Said Moran: “This is our form of democracy; sometimes it gets messy.”

Nasrullah said he “reinforced” Moran’s decision in response to the Town Meeting mandate, noting the vote was the first item on the agenda. This made the process “about as transparent as it can get.”

He also nominated Knous as vice president, but Knous declined to accept. Knous also declined to accept a treasurer nomination for reelection from Sonnett. Sonnet was narrowly reelected as vice chair by a 5-4 margin, with Ciriello, Knous, Parker and Nasrullah against. Snyder won the treasurer’s seat in a 6-0-1 vote, with Knous abstaining.

Town charter charge analyzed

Members made suggestions to amend the UCTC’s charge after feedback from the May 9 Select Board meeting that some wordsmithing may be needed. Moran suggested a member who is fluent in social Town charter | page 9

Against the Tide charts course toward prevention

By Courtney Cornelius

Contributing Writer

The annual Against the Tide fundraiser to benefit the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition will take place Saturday, June 17, at Hopkinton State Park as well as Saturday, Aug. 12, at Nickerson State Park in Brewster. Virtual events will be held from June 17 through Aug. 12.

Now in its 31st year, Against the Tide is a family-friendly, multi-sport event that “not only raises funds, it raises spirits,” said Cheryl Osimo, breast cancer survivor and MBCC executive director. “Everyone knows they are helping in the battle to eradicate breast cancer.”

Activities can be enjoyed by adults and children of all ages and abilities and include 1-mile recreational and competitive swims, a U.S. Masters Swimming-sanctioned 1-mile swim, a half-mile recreational swim, 5K and 10K runs, and a 3-mile fitness walk. Prizes will be awarded, and all participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt.

WCVB Channel 5 is a media partner and invites viewers and participants to post photos of the event to wcvb.com/upload.

MBCC was founded in 1991 with a mission to prevent environmental causes of breast cancer through community education, research advocacy and changes to public policy. It is now the state’s leading breast cancer organization. Its website (mbcc.org) provides statistics, information on contacting legislators, and community education materials and prevention information.

Funds raised through Against the Tide will help support and amplify MBCC’s community education program, Let’s Talk Prevention: Reducing Toxic Exposures, and the newly expanded youth environmental health program, Let’s Talk Prevention: Actions You Can Take.

media strategies be added to the committee to improve outreach and transparency. She also suggested regular committee reports to the Select Board to update it on activities, although the Select Board does have a liaison in Nasrullah.

Esthimer echoed the need for public outreach as a means of attracting new members. She also added that the phrase “constructive collaboration” be added to the charge.

Ciriello suggested more designated members from other stakeholder committees, noting the TCMC or Community Preservation Committee as potential options. A School Committee liaison was suggested by Sonnett, as well as an increase in committee members.

Knous questioned whether a liaison must be a member of the nominating committee. They could be a voting liaison if they wish to serve as liaisons, although historically they are chosen by the respective body.

Wronka asked for “specific, quantifiable measures” in the charge to prove that their directives are being met, such as a specific number of community surveys.

Ritterbusch suggested changing the language about offering “three or four trail routes” because that number no longer seems feasible. Knous said that segment recommendations should be presented to the Select Board for consideration upon their completion.

Nasrullah said that knowing “the pros and cons” of each segment would be helpful for Select Board members. Post disagreed, calling approving segments without knowing the entire trail’s layout “dangerous.”

Moran said that most of the town’s opposition sprung from the controversial proposed Segment 7 at Hayden Rowe Street. But she clarified that the committee was “quite a way into the Environmental Notification Form” when the pushback arose, so it was never forwarded to the Select Board or the state after public pushback. This is a requirement of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office when reviewing trail systems that can impact wetlands, and it analyzes a trail’s conceptual design. Feedback then would be given back to the town.

Said Moran: “Somehow it got twisted that we weren’t listening.”

Managing editor Jerry Spar contributed to this report.

Let’s Talk Prevention aims to “increase discussions about environmental exposures,” Osimo explained. Available free in 11 languages on the MBCC website, Reducing Toxic Exposures provides research-based tips as well as a list of chemicals of concern. Actions You Can Take student modules, also free on the website, are available for teachers to download, with versions for elementary, middle and high school levels.

Funds also will support the free MBCC Webinar Series in which world-renowned scientists provide updates on a range of important topics on cancer and prevention, such as wireless radiation and cancer risk, environmental justice and women’s health, PFAS in food packaging, and breast cancer–related chemicals in consumer products.

There are steps people can take to reduce their risk of breast cancer, such as avoiding products known to contain toxic chemicals; consuming fresh foods (to avoid food packaging); using cast iron, stainless steel, glass or enamel cookware; getting an activated carbon or reverse osmosis filtration system for drinking water; and using nylon or silk dental floss that is uncoated or coated in natural wax.

However, it would not be adequate to specify any single action people can take, Osimo noted, adding, “The hard truth is that there are many consumer products and everyday items that could potentially be linked to toxic exposure.”

Against the Tide, as implied by its name, seeks to change the direction from responding to environmental consequences and shift the effort toward preventing the disease.

“The work that we are doing at MBCC is important to change the legacy of breast cancer for our children, grandchildren and future generations,” said Osimo. “This is our job, not theirs.”

To learn more about registration options, join or start a team, or donate, visit mbcc.org/swim or call 508-246-3047.

Planning Board reviews Lumber Street office building plan

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

The only hearing during the May 22 Planning Board meeting focused on 28 Lumber Street. Project attorney George Connors noted that the Conservation Commission is expected to have input that may revise the plan. A hearing before the Conservation Commission has not yet been scheduled.

Chair Gary Trendel noted that there had been an initial introduction to the project at a prior meeting and that board members participated in a site walk, which he described as “incredibly helpful.” He asked that the board review concerns raised by Phil Paradis of BETA Group, the town’s engineering consultant.

A medical office of about 10,000 square feet of gross floor area is proposed next to Hopkinton Stone and Garden, Inc. Connors described the parcel of about 3.5 acres owned by Doug DeWolfe, which lies to the south of Scott’s Landscaping and an auto repair shop.

“A particular aspect of this particular site is that we have a front area that’s upland, a middle area that has some wetlands — there’s an old cutout pond where they mined gravel for [Interstate] 495,” he explained. Behind that, there is some “old plant material.”

Since the plan last was viewed, two wetland replication areas have been moved away from abutting properties in response to a BETA suggestion, according to Connors. Lighting was another concern, and Connors said it “was reduced considerably” after lighting consultants requested 14-foot poles rather than 20-foot ones. More landscaping was requested in the parking lot area.

The wetlands permitting process will be filed “within the next few days,” which will trigger a Conservation Commission review.

Paradis confirmed that the Conservation Commission needs to have input on the proposal, and “that the wetlands issues should be addressed first.”

Said Paradis: “We expect some back and forth, and that may change the plans.”

Connors offered to include construction of a sidewalk on Lumber Street if the board recommended it, which generated some discussion. He said there is a “speculative process” underway to build a tennis and swimming facility across the street that could benefit from a sidewalk.

Priefer said it would “make logical sense” to continue the sidewalk on Lumber Street.

Moran questioned if there were wetlands concerns at the proposed tennis and swim club site. Benson recalled previous discussion of potential wetlands issues there.

“But we never got Conservation Commission’s final stance on whether they would allow a sidewalk on that side of the road,” Planning Board member Rob Benson said. “I don’t think any of us know where it stands today.”

Trendel asked Principal Planner John Gelcich to review the tennis club files to see where the Planning Board landed in its discussion of the sidewalk.

Planning Board member Jane Moran noted that a sidewalk would be beneficial given the pedestrian activity she observed there during the site walk.

The hearing was continued until July 24 to allow time for the Conservation Commission review.

Projects’ bond statuses discussed

The Planning Board voted unanimously to release a $102,560 bond for the construction of Box Mill Road. This project was approved at the Annual Town Meeting earlier this month.

The proponent for the Turkey Ridge Estates subdivision development began the bond process for the construction of a road. Gelcich noted that an initial road has been built, “but not to the final standards.” A Form G detailed the remaining work to be completed, which included estimates from developer Shane Perrault and BETA, with BETA’s being the higher of the two. Perrault’s estimate was $334,905, while BETA’s estimate was $538,350.

Paradis explained that his estimate was higher because the prevailing wage would have to be paid. Houses would need to be sold to generate revenue to build the road, Perrault said. The timetable for road construction “wouldn’t exceed 18 months.”

The board voted to approve BETA’s estimate.

Gelcich said Perrault also was seeking approval of a Form K, which would allow the eight subdivision lots to be released for sale. He explained that usually this is not done until the roadwork is completed or a bond is placed on the road.

Perrault appeared again later in the meeting with the Form K, which was endorsed unanimously with the condition that the town hold the release of the document until evidence of the bond being funded has been provided.

The vote on the bond release for Maspenock Woods was delayed at the request of the Conservation Commission, Gelcich said, because additional work needed to be done on a tripartite bond of $298,200. No one appeared on behalf of the applicant.

Trendel reelected chair

During its annual reorganization, Trendel was unanimously reelected to chair, while Benson was tabbed vice chair by a 6-2 margin over fellow board member Ron Priefer.

“I appreciate the vote of confidence this time around,” Trendel said.

The board also welcomed new members who ran unopposed in the Annual Town Election on May 15. Current member Matthew Wronka was elected to a five-year term after being appointed to the board in September 2022. Michael King also was elected to a five-year term. Vikasith Pratty was elected to a three-year position, while Navdeep Arora was voted in to serve a two-year term.

There was a moment of hesitation before the election of the vice chair after Gelcich noted that King had yet to be sworn in, preventing him from voting. Moran nominated Benson, while Wronka nominated Priefer.

Trendel initially said he would like to postpone the vote until the full committee could participate. Moran suggested taking the pulse of the committee to see if a majority of the eight voting members supported either Benson or Priefer and revote at the next meeting if there were a tie. This was determined to be an effective course of action, as Wronka noted he would be unable to attend the next meeting on June 12.

“As I look around, I realize that I’m Planning Board | page 13

What should you expect from your investments?

To help achieve your financial goals, you may need to invest in the financial markets throughout your life. However, at times your investment expectations may differ from actual returns, triggering a variety of emotions. So, what are reasonable expectations to have about your investments?

Ideally, you hope that your investment portfolio will eventually help you meet your goals, both your short-term ones, such as a cross-country vacation, and the long-term ones, such as a comfortable retirement. But your expectations may be affected by several factors, including the following:

recency bias might have concluded it was best to stay out of the markets for a while. But the Dow jumped more than 22% the very next year. Of course, the reverse can also be true: In 2021, the Dow rose almost 19%, so investors who might have been susceptible to recency bias may have thought they were in for more big gains right away — but in 2022, the Dow fell almost 9%. Here’s the bottom line: Recency bias may cloud your expectations about your investments’ performance — and it’s essentially impossible to predict accurately what will happen to the financial markets in any given year.

Christopher Stevenson

Professional insights

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

• Misunderstanding – Various factors in the economy and the financial markets trigger different reactions in different types of investments — so you should expect different results. When you own stocks, you can generally expect greater price volatility in the short term. Over time, though, the “up” and “down” years tend to average out. When you own bonds, you can expect less volatility than individual stocks, but that’s not to say that bond prices never change. Generally, when interest rates rise, you can anticipate that the value of your existing, lower-paying bonds may decrease, and when rates fall, the value of your bonds may increase.

• Recency bias – Investors exhibit “recency bias” when they place too much emphasis on recent events in the financial markets, expecting that those same events will happen again. But these expectations can lead to negative behavior. For example, in 2018, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell almost 6% – so investors subject to

Schedule update

The library will be closed on Tuesday, June 13, due to a town employee professional development day.

Red Cross Blood Drive

Thursday, June 1, 2-7 p.m.

Registration is available at the Red Cross website at rcblood.org/3AmuYsP.

Native Americans of New England

Thursday, June 1, 7-8 p.m.

In this Zoom program, participants will explore the history of Native Americans in New England. While not turning a blind eye to the impact that colonization, dispossession and racism had on the story of Indigenous peoples in the region, the presentation will explore Native American resistance, adaptation and survival under often harsh and unfavorable circumstances. Moreover, some of the colonial legacies that still shape the views and (mis)perceptions about Indigenous peoples to this day

• Anchoring – Another type of investment behavior is known as “anchoring” — an excessive reliance on your original conviction in an investment. So, for instance, if you bought stock in a company you thought had great prospects, you might want to keep your shares year after year, even after evidence emerges that the company has real risks — for example, poor management, or its products could become outdated, or it could be part of an industry that’s in decline. But if you stick with your initial belief that the company will inevitably do well, and you’re not open to new sources of information about this investment, your expectations may never be met.

In many areas of life, reality may differ from our expectations — and that can certainly be true for our investments. Being familiar with the factors that can shape your expectations can help you maintain a realistic outlook about your investments.

If you would like to discuss your investment goals with a financial advisor contact:

Christopher Stevenson

Edward Jones Financial Advisor

77 W. Main Street, Hopkinton, MA (774) 991-0781

Christopher.Stevenson@edwardjones.com

“Sandy just helped my husband and I buy our dream home in a town we never thought we could get into, especially in this market. We beat out 12 other offers and we couldn’t have done it without Sandy! This is our 6th transaction with Sandy and we’ve been extremely happy with her services each time. Could not recommend her enough, especially in this competitive market — it makes all the difference in the world working with an agent who has lots of experience and knows her stuff!” ~ Amy & Brian M. - buyers

will be explored.

Brain Health with Cherie Tripp

Tuesday, June 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

This workshop will feature a discussion about the essentials of better brain health to help nurture, protect and improve one’s mind. Participants will learn how taking better care of their brain can improve self-esteem, boost confidence, make an individual feel like the best version of themself, and ultimately make them more successful in school, work, relationships and life.

The Fun Habit:

Author Talk with Mike Rucker

Wednesday, June 7, 4-5 p.m.

It might seem like the more an individual seeks happiness, the more elusive it becomes. However, there is an easy fix, hiding in plain sight. Fun is an action one can take here and now, practically

For more information on any of the following programs or other activities at the library, visit hopkintonlibrary.org. Many programs require registration. Visit the library’s website calendar for event registration information. The library also can be found on Facebook, @hopkintonlibrary, and on Twitter, @HopkintonPLMA. Library Corner |

Inspirational Boston Marathon figure Rick Hoyt dies at 61

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

Boston Marathon legend Rick Hoyt passed away May 22 due to complications with his respiratory system, his family announced.

“It is with profound sadness that the Hoyt family announce the passing of our beloved brother and uncle, Rick Hoyt,” the family stated. “Rick was 61 years old. Rick passed away due to complications with his respiratory system. As so many knew, Rick along with our father, Dick, were icons in the road race and triathlon worlds for over 40 years and inspired millions of people with disabilities to believe in themselves, set goals and accomplish extraordinary things. Rick was also a pioneer in education. His mother, Judy Hoyt, changed the laws, allowing her son to be educated alongside his non-disabled peers. His family is heartbroken and requests time to grieve and will share details as they become available.”

A quadriplegic since birth, Rick, who had cerebral palsy, had battled health issues the last few years and had retired from participating in the Boston Marathon.

Pushed in a wheelchair by his father, Dick, Rick competed in marathons, triathlons and other endurance events for decades. Dick Hoyt died in 2021.

Known for inspiring millions, Rick made an appearance at Hopkinton’s Marathon School with his brother, Russ Hoyt, on

May 18. A statue of Rick and Dick Hoyt stands in front of the former Center School on Ash Street.

The Hoyt Foundation decided to move ahead with the inaugural Dick Hoyt Yes You Can Run Together Road Race in Hopkinton on May 27.

“Although we are saddened about the recent passing of Rick Hoyt, the family believes Rick would want the race to continue to honor his father,” the family announced one day after Rick’s passing. “Rick was named the race director of the event and put his heart and soul into planning it over the past 5-6 months. Participating in this race is a unique opportunity to honor Dick and Rick and celebrating all their courageous and inspiring accomplishments over the past 40-plus years.”

Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray, a longtime friend and sometimes manager for Team Hoyt, called Rick “one of the most inspirational heroes this world has ever known.”

“We all will truly miss Rick as we have missed his father, but we will never, ever forget the gift they both left all of us — that we all can overcome obstacles and we can accomplish special things in our lives that have positive impacts on other people’s lives, too,” McGillivray shared. “As their famous motto stated, ‘Yes You Can.’ We will always be grateful, Rick, for your courage, determination, tenacity and willingness to give of yourself so that others, too, could believe in themselves, set goals and make a difference in this world as you have.”

The Boston Athletic Association extended its condolences

via a statement.

“Rick Hoyt will always be remembered as a Boston Marathon icon and for personifying the ‘Yes You Can’ mentality that defined Team Hoyt,” the organization shared. “We are fortunate to have been able to call Rick a friend, mentor, pioneer and Boston Marathon finisher. His legacy will live on through the Rick & Dick Hoyt Award, which is presented each April around the Boston Marathon to someone who exhibits the spirit of Team Hoyt through advocacy and inclusion.”

anywhere, anytime. Through research and science, it’s been determined that fun is enormously beneficial to physical and psychological well-being, yet fun’s absence from modern lives is striking. This is a virtual program.

Hidden Heroines with Anne Mattina

Thursday, June 8, 5-7:30 p.m.

The history of Hopkinton includes a treasure trove of unexplored lives, especially those of women. In this presentation, attendees will meet a variety of women who have been here right from the beginning and have contributed significantly to the growth and development of Hopkinton.

Hopkinton SEPAC Coffee Hour: Dyslexia

Friday, June 9, 10-11:30 a.m.

Hopkinton Special Education Parent Advisory Council will host a Parent and Caregiver Coffee Hour in partnership with Hopkinton Parents of Dyslexic Students (HPODS). All parents, caregivers and allies with an interest in discussing dyslexia are invited.

Women’s Financial Roundtable

Wednesday, June 14, 1-2 p.m.

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

Frayed Knot Fiber Arts Circle

Wednesday, June 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

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

The Fun Habit: Author Talk with Mike Rucker Library Corner | from page 11

Rick Hoyt (right) appeared with his brother, Russ, at Marathon School on May 18, four days before he died.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS in Hopkinton

Town Election: Murnoe, Stephenson win School Committee seats

Spar Managing Editor

Hopkinton voters chose Adam Munroe and Susan Stephenson to fill the two vacant spots on the School Committee in the May 15 Annual Town Election, while supporting all six ballot questions. In the unofficial results announced by Town Clerk Connor Degan, Munroe led all candidates with 998 votes, followed by Stephenson with 934. Both are Democrats. Ashley Fogg, who is unenrolled, was third

Planning Board reviews Lumber Street office building plan

Planning Board | from page 10 the second-most tenured on the board after Gary,” Benson said upon accepting the nomination. A resident of Hopkinton for nearly 40 years, he noted that he previously served as vice chair and has a deep community connection with residents who reach out to him with Planning Board questions.

In his statement, Priefer said he would “fully support” either outcome, calling Benson “a fantastic colleague.”

with 616 votes.

Following the election, Fogg expressed frustration with the state of town politics. She directed most of her ire at Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee chair Darlene Hayes and Hopkinton Teachers Association president Becky Abate, accusing both of them of bullying and spreading misinformation.

The uncontested races included Select Board (Amy Ritterbusch), Board of Assessors (Adam Munroe), Board of Health (Nasiba Mannan), Board of Library Trustees (Jessica McCaffrey and Warren Carter), Commissioners of Trust Funds (Mary Duggan), Constable (John Cardillo), Housing Authority (Ilana Casady), Commissioners of Parks & Recreation (Laura Hanson and Ravi Dasari), Planning Board 5-year term (Michael King and Matthew Wronka), Planning Board 3-year term (Vikasith Pratty) and Planning Board 2-year term (Navdeep Arora).

Degan expressed gratitude to residents for turning out to vote.

“Thank you for another fantastic year of elections,” he said.

Question 1, which asked about paying for a new sidewalk on Chestnut Street from Wild Road to Smith Road, passed with 877 for and 531 against.

Question 2, which asked about paying

for a new sidewalk between EMC Park and Fitch Avenue (a nonexistent street proposed to be built behind Blueberry Lane) passed 858 to 543.

Question 3, which asked about paying for the architectural and engineering design for Fire Station 2, passed 940 to 464.

Question 4, which asked about paying for school HVAC renewal work, passed

1,086 to 328.

Question 5, which asked about paying for the Hopkins School addition project, passed 1,007 to 407.

Question 6, which asked about paying for the reconstruction and paving of Pratt Way and the roadways within Evergreen and Mount Auburn Cemeteries, passed 836 to 562.

Ayden is a senior at Hopkinton High School. Having started his high school career at Keefe Tech, he transferred back to Hopkinton High School and has absolutely thrived since the transition. He has a tremendous work ethic and is welcoming and inclusive by nature. Ayden consistently advocates for himself and works until he’s achieved the result he has intended in his studies.

Ayden loves hanging out with his friends and doing “nerd” things! In the next 10 years, he sees himself moving out of state to somewhere nice and warm!

Congratulations, Ayden!

508-277-9600 katie@mcbrideteam.com

Zeta Fencing teaches unique sport with lifelong benefits

By Linda Chuss Contributing Writer

Somego after seeing the dashing imagery in movies or Olympic Games broadcasts. Others want to explore the sport because a friend taking classes has become passionate about it. A few are just curious about the stylish Zeta Fencing sign at the historic Clock Tower building in Ashland and they end up enrolling.

“Everyone has a unique story about how they got started,” said Annette Pein, Zeta Fencing’s executive director. “My daughter began when she was 8 after I read an article about Zeta Fencing, and she continued for many years. You don’t need a particular ability or talent to learn fencing — dedication and hard work can take you far. It’s a sport people can practice throughout their lives, too.”

Benefits include fitness and agility — both physical and mental — as well as camaraderie and fun. Fencing develops quick thinking and confidence as the athletes need to exercise creativity and strategy. One parent said of the impact on his son, “He enjoys the structure and mutual respect that is created, the great coaches and the friendships he has formed.”

Pein explained the organization’s programs: “We offer beginner classes for kids starting at age 8. Our beginner summer programs are for students with no prior experience. It’s full days

from Monday through Friday, and many participants enroll for multiple weeks. In the fall through spring, we have evening and weekend beginner classes for youth and adults.”

The goal in saber fencing, which is the discipline taught at Zeta, is to make contact with the opponent’s upper body while avoiding being touched by their fencing blade. Zeta provides all the protective gear to prevent injuries. Zeta’s highly skilled coaches break down the moves and teach them step by step. Learning takes much repetition, yet by the end of their first set of classes, a student has the sense they are a fencer.

“Quite a few novices continue beyond their initial introduction,” said Pein. “After the beginner level, they can take the more advanced programs we offer, up through and including elite training for competitors at the NCAA and Olympic level.”

Zeta Fencing founder Zoran Tulum has won national championships, coached award-winning college teams and served as coach of the U.S. men’s Olympic teams in 2016 and 2021. Under the leadership of Zeta head coach Dima Boyko, fencers excel at the highest levels, earning medals in regional, national and international competitions.

Tulum founded Zeta Fencing in Natick over 20 years ago with the belief that the future of the sport depends on strong youth programs. In 2022, the need for more space led to a move to the Ashland facility. “We have participants from all over the greater MetroWest region,” said Pein. “Lately, we’ve also been getting more teens and high school students. While some have aspirations to compete here or in college, others come just for fun, and we encourage that because there are very positive benefits either way.”

For schedules and more information about the programs at Zeta Fencing, 200 Homer Avenue, Building 3, in Ashland, visit ZetaFencing.net, call 508-655-6480, or email ZetaFencing@ gmail.com.

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

Beginner students at Zeta Fencing’s summer program in Ashland practice with their sabers.

The McBride team congratulates award winner Ayden Paglicco

Katie McBride • Debbie Brosseau

The McBride Team of RE/MAX Executive Realty would like to congratulate Ayden Paglicco on his award for Student of the Month.

girls tennis focuses

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

TheHopkinton High School girls tennis team is tournament bound this spring even with a relatively young lineup leading the way, and coach Lyn Calkins said her squad’s mental fortitude has been crucial to its success.

“We have another young team, and my entire singles lineup graduated last year, so we have all new players in those roles,” Calkins said.

Freshman May Chen has been a huge find for the Hillers this spring. She has been playing in the No. 1 singles spot and is one of the hardest hitters on the team. Calkins said Chen’s improvement through the season has been palpable.

“She is really learning how to man-

age her tennis matches and how to control the match against her opponent,” Calkins said. “We are thrilled to have her on the roster and looking forward to having her playing for us for three more years.”

Senior captain Hailey Kessler is in the No. 2 singles spot. Calkins called Kessler a “scrappy player,” and said her performance has greatly improved after she was a doubles player for the past two seasons.

Senior-heavy HHS boys tennis among state’s best

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

With eight seniors on this year’s roster and a wealth of experience up and down the lineup, Hopkinton High School boys tennis coach Mike Miller had the sense that this could be one of his better teams. Through the regular season, the Hillers lived up to the billing, winning 15 of their first 16 matches and earning a top-10 ranking in the state with the playoffs on deck.

“[Going] 15-1 overall, undefeated in the Tri-Valley League, for sure this is one of the best years we have had yet,” Miller said just before the final week of the regular season. “We lost a couple of key guys from last year, but we felt like we had the depth to fill those spots.”

Depth has been crucial to Hopkinton’s success this spring. The Hillers’ ability to put a number of players on the court who can compete has led to intense battles in practice and challenge matches to earn court time.

“It just makes our practices very competitive day in and day out,” Miller said.

In fact, Miller only recently settled on his doubles teams late in the season, even as Hopkinton was piling up win after win.

“They were all consistently getting better and getting each other better,” he said. “It was just about finding the right combination.”

Senior Lex Kaye earned the No. 1 singles spot and won his first 16 matches, including tough nonleague victories over the best players from Brookline, Wayland, Algonquin and Wachusett, in addition to the TVL slate.

In the team’s only loss against Brookline, Kaye still earned a victory, which was a lift for both him and the team as a whole.

“We didn’t win that match, but it was good to see the kids loosen up and

start realizing that they can play with the top-echelon teams,” Miller said.

Seniors Adam Glace and Pranav Kapur have been the second and third singles players through most of the season, and both racked up double-digit win totals.

The doubles teams heading into the tournament will be anchored by sophomore Rishit Shekhar and senior Barry Wang along with senior Andrew Palacios and sophomore Ilian Glace (Adam’s brother). Senior Roberto Rossi also could figure into the mix, but he has been battling an injury, Miller said. Hopkinton will enter the tournament as one of the top teams in Division 2, and while Miller said there are some talented squads ranked ahead of his, it will come down to who is playing their best tennis at the right time.

“These guys are looking forward to getting there, and they have battled some of the best teams already,” Miller said. “It’s going to be a tough tournament, and we just have to stay as focused and engaged as possible. I know they are hungry and they want to play more tennis.”

In the third singles spot, junior Roma Tewari has been a mainstay despite being relatively inexperienced.

“She has only been playing tennis for four years and she earned a singles spot in the lineup,” Calkins said, adding that Tewari has won more than a dozen matches. “She has really helped us get a lot of points.”

Hopkinton’s first doubles spot has been occupied by the team of Evanya Mathur, a junior captain, and Aarushi Kamara, a sophomore. The pair played second doubles last spring.

“They have faced some strong opponents, but they have really, really good chemistry together and they both love the sport of tennis,” Calkins said. “They are huge tennis fans, and they are very dedicated to the team.”

The second doubles team of sophomores Caitlin Mangan and Avery Michaud has made a sizable leap forward to the varsity level after playing on junior varsity in 2022.

“They improved on their net game and their strategy,” Calkins said. “They also have good chemistry. They jell really well together and they have a lot of fun playing together.”

Even though hers is a young team, Calkins said the players have brought a tremendous enthusiasm to the court.

“They are great teammates to each other, and we have been working on our mental toughness as a team,” the coach said.

Calkins said the team has been meeting with Namrata Mathur, Evanya’s mother, a certified life and leadership coach.

“She has been helping the girls with trying to deal with adversity during a match,” Calkins said. “Tennis is so much of a mental game, and we have been working on trying to deal with some of our fears during a match and to conquer those fears.”

Calkins said the focus for the girls has been making sure they do not get down on themselves if things go south while they are on the court.

“We want them to raise themselves up and win,” she said.

The Hopkinton High School girls tennis team is young but talented.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

HMS robotics team wins world championship award

of the trophy for each team member.

As to why the program is so popular with kids, Allen replied, “Who doesn’t like to play with robots? Who doesn’t love a puzzle?”

Every year, the VEX robotics challenge is different, or as Allen describes it, “an ever-changing puzzle.”

Students need to use the engineering design process to identify the problem such as how to get a robot from here to there and devise possible solutions. They design, build and code a new robot each year.

At HMS, Allen explained, robotics is a team. “For many students, this is their team sport,” she said.

The teams of six to eight members can take on various roles including coding, building, designing, researching, documenting, driving or a combination of any of those tasks.

“For students interested in STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics], it is a great opportunity to learn, grow, compete and have fun with your friends,” Allen said.

The program has a student-centered model, so Allen’s job is to ask questions, give students access to resources, help them see the learning through their failures and “cheer the loudest for

each of them regardless of outcome.”

A total of 15 students on three teams competed at the event sponsored by the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation.

With the win, KryptoKnights also received an invitation to next year’s middle school worlds competition, but because they are eighth graders, they will not be attending, Allen explained.

Prior to the worlds, several teams attempted online challenges, with KryptoKnights winning in the Poster Design Challenge and the Mind Hackers achieving finalist status in the Career Readiness category.

To win the overall Excellence Award, the team not only had to incorporate criteria of the design award but had the added component of its on-play performance at the event, held April 30-May 2.

Ranking high in qualifying matches as well as judged interviews were other factors, as was a display of good sportsmanship and professionalism.

Members of the winning team all cited teamwork as contributing to their success.

Suhani Patni said, “We were never afraid to ask questions or share ideas even when they weren’t the best ones. … We worked together, practiced,

prepared and never gave up.”

“We found a working dynamic with everyone on the team,” agreed Prannav Raja. “Even though we had our differences, we always came together in the end. We made sure to have set responsibilities in order to work efficiently.”

Allen described the students as “six of the hardest working, diligent, articulate and talented students” she’s ever come across.

She said she felt proud to see Patni, the only girl on the team, acting as a role model for girls at HMS interested in STEM.

The coach noted gender never played a role in the group’s dynamic.

“The KryptoKnights respected each other and the strengths they each brought to the team, so kudos to Suhani for excelling in this group of boys, but kudos to the boys for treating her as an equal,” Allen said. “They all listened to each other, worked through their challenges and kept their focus on what they wanted.”

As for the winning moment, Agam Bhatia recalled hearing the first three digits of the team’s identification (1715) and members all jumping to their feet and running down toward the stage.

After slowing down, Bhatia said

walking on the stage in front of so many people was “probably the most heart-shaking moment.”

Patni noted the team members ran to the stage with “loads of excitement,” and she saw herself standing there with them listening to the cheers and applause in the arena. “It made me realize we had done it,” she said. “It was an amazing and inspiring experience to be at worlds.”

Raja remembered feeling “overwhelmed and overjoyed that all our hard work paid off.”

He said it took a few hours to fully realize their achievement. “We were in a state of euphoria for the whole day.”

Allen’s initial reaction was to put her hands on her head and stand in “utter shock … for what seemed like forever.” After snapping out of it, she ran to take a photo of the students, lost her voice and “smiled from ear to ear all night.”

“I hugged, high-fived and fistbumped each of them multiple times as we all tried to comprehend what had happened.”

But she added that she is equally proud of all of the teams who hit milestones throughout the year, including 1715G and 1715V, who also earned spots at Worlds.

School Committee recommends new director of student services

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

OnMay 25, the Hopkinton School Committee voted 4-0 for the superintendent to enter negotiations with Abigail Hanscom, a Hopkinton resident, for the position of director of student services.

If negotiations are successful, Hanscom, currently director of student services in Westwood, will replace Karen Zaleski, who left the district to become interim superintendent in Weston.

Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh noted that 12 applicants were narrowed down to eight, then five and ultimately two, Hanscom and Jennifer Toth, currently director of pupil services in Harvard.

Board members spoke to the strengths of both candidates but gave the edge to Hanscom based on her direct experience in special education and the good relationship she has established with the SPED parent advisory group in Westwood.

Prior to her 11 years of experience in Westwood, Hanscom served as special education administrator in Newton Public Schools for nearly 13 years.

Her work experience also includes four years as a learning center teacher for Framingham Public Schools.

She earned a certificate of advanced graduate study in educational administration and supervision from the University of Massachusetts Boston Graduate School of Education.

Hanscom also has a master’s degree in social work from Boston University and a master’s in special education and teaching from BU’s Wheelock College of Education and Human Development.

Her undergraduate degree in elementary education and teaching is from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Overview on computer science given

In other business, Assistant Superintendent Jeff LaBroad and Hopkinton High School teacher Doug Scott gave a presentation about computer science and its evolution in Grades K-12.

LaBroad said 15,000 to 20,000 jobs open daily in that industry with a starting salary of $105,000, so the district owes it to students to prepare them for that line of work if it interests them.

He noted that computer science “lives” in several areas of curriculum, including business/technology/engineering, library/ media, visual art, science, literacy/English and social/emotional learning.

Scott said he has seen a lot of growth in computer science since 2017. At the elementary level, he explained, students have three to six lessons at each grade level through the library focusing on digital citizenship, computing systems and computational thinking.

At the middle school, computer science is embedded in media arts, media literacy and technology and engineering.

The program at HHS in business/ technology/engineering now has a senior capstone project option, Scott said.

The visual arts program and extracurricular activities also expose students to the field through activities like robotics, the Girls Who Code Club, Business Professionals of America, Science Fair, Inventors Club and more.

“There’s opportunities for students all over the place if students would like to jump in and engage in them,” Scott said.

LaBroad noted the addition in this year’s budget for a 0.4 FTE (full-time equivalent) educator to offer one introductory and one advanced placement course in computer science.

The courses will be offered each semester, with 24 seats available in each of the four sessions. Those 96 seats filled up quickly for the program’s rollout this coming school year, LaBroad said.

In 2022, 5.8% of students in the state enrolled in a high school computer science class. That compares with 13.4 percent in Hopkinton, the presenters noted.

Interest from female students has increased from 7 percent in 2015 to 35 percent in 2022. Scott said he would like that percentage at 50/50 someday.

HMS robotics team recognized

The committee congratulated the Hopkinton Middle School KryptoKnights robotics team, which won the Excellence Award at the VEX IQ Robotics Competition in Dallas earlier this month.

“Just for clarity, you are the best middle school [robotics team] in the world,” Nancy Cavanaugh said to the students, who were present.

Advisor Patricia Allen noted there were 50 countries represented by 800 teams at the world competition, narrowed down from a preliminary field of 4,500 teams.

Allen noted she had 19 HMS teams this year, with four competing in Dallas. The KrptoKnights also placed third in their division’s Teamwork Champions event.

The team is comprised of eighth graders Agam Bhatia, Sai Shrivardhan (Shri) Dasari, Rudra Pachori, Suhani Patni, Prannav Raja and Pahlaj Sharma.

The students showed the committee the robot they created, explained the challenges of the competition and posed for photos.

Misc.: New school cost discussed

During her superintendent’s report, Carol Cavanaugh addressed concerns expressed about the possible price tag for a proposed Elmwood School replacement.

She said the total cost will not be known until factors like building materials are chosen and tweaks continue to be made in design to reduce the budget.

The $170 million-plus figure people are seeing is based on using all the best materials and features, she said. It also does not factor in the likely 25% reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

She urged members of the public to watch or attend Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) meetings and consult the Elmwood School website to get detailed information.

An ESBC virtual public forum will take place on June 7 at 6:30 p.m. …

The School Committee voted to name Vertex LLT as owner’s project manager (OPM) for the Hopkins School addition project. Town Meeting approved $3 million for the OPM design and engineering piece of that project.

“Vertex has served us well,” vice chair Amanda Fargiano noted, referring to the fact that Vertex also is the OPM for the proposed Elmwood School replacement project. …

Earlier in the meeting, during the committee’s annual reorganization, Nancy Cavanaugh was reelected as chair, but both Holly Morand and Fargiano expressed interest in serving as vice chair. The committee decided to wait until all members were present (Adam Munroe missed the meeting) to have a vote. …

The next regular School Committee meeting will be June 5 at 7 p.m.

Join

CAR PARADE

Parade will leave the HHS at 10 am Saturday June 3rd

No Rain Date

The Parade Route

Turn left out of the HS onto Hayden Rowe Street

Turn right onto Park Street

Turn right onto Ash Street

Turn right onto Ash Street

Turn right onto Chestnut Street

Turn right onto Hayden Rowe

The parade ends at the HS

HHS team wins title at state Science Fair

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

Hopkinton High School sophomore Dylan Striek and juniors Rylee Blair and Disha Mudenur went camping last summer in Nova Scotia and woke up in front of the ocean to beautiful sunrises.

“Being so used to Hopkinton and Boston’s environment, we hadn’t recognized how beautiful nature really was until that trip,” Striek recalled. The trio realized the differences in environment were impacted by excess carbon dioxide, particularly in the water.

That discovery formed the basis of their Science Fair project titled, “Electrolytic Extraction of Dawsonite from Ocean Water: Efficient Saltwater Mineral Recovery through Electrolysis,” which placed first at the school event and second at the regional fair in March.

Those results earned them a spot in the statelevel fair on May 5 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where they placed first and additionally won a special prize — the Pauline Lamarche Special Award for Excellence in Design.

That victory qualified them to compete at the International Science Fair, which was held May 15-19 in Dallas.

Striek and the other students, friends since sixth grade, became interested in learning about ocean acidification and its effects, wanting to help restore Boston waters.

“Solving this problem together became really important to us,” Striek said.

Striek explained the Science Fair project involved creating a method to extract carbon dioxide from the ocean using dawsonite, a naturally occurring mineral.

The main criteria for the experiment, Striek said, was ensuring ample amounts of dawsonite were extracted from the ocean while at the same time ensuring there was minimal pH change.

The student explained, “pH change is a large part of our project’s criteria because various methods previously tested noted that wildlife around the major plants died at rapid rates, and we wanted to ensure that the environment is not negatively impacted by our design.”

Following the research period, the team conducted more than 140 experiments over eight months, each one lasting at least 10 minutes, and compiled eight notebooks full of documentation. The process also involved researching different ways to present the data, which they compiled through Excel.

Striek said the experience taught them about good teamwork.

“We did many different types of experiments and used a lot of cool science equipment, which was all new to us,” Striek said.

While the students thought the science was the best part of the experience, they also had fun presenting to judges, appreciating their interest as well as learning more about careers in science.

Striek said the team initially was intimidated by the “complexsounding names” of projects and the prestigious schools from which their competitors hailed.

“But we still presented what we did with confidence. If the hard work is there, it will show,” he said.

In addition to excelling with science and presentation, Striek believes the teammates having fun with each other solidified their winning project.

“We have spent hundreds of hours together on this, and if we didn’t know how to enjoy each other’s company, we would not have made it as far as we did,” Striek added.

Additional Hopkinton prize winners at the state fair included:

“Utilizing Hypermagnesemia to Understand the Impact of Neuromuscular Blocking Agents on Caenorhabditis Elegans: A Safe Novel Automated Model for Paralytic Drug Testing” by Srilakshmi Venkatesan, third place; “Chlorella vulgaris as a model for photobioreactor use in industrial carbon removal” by Juliet Findlen, honorable mention.

Receiving the Special Award: Mass Life Sciences-Trailblazer Award for Innovation in Life Sciences was “PFAS Pollution and Its Effects on Daphnia Pulex: Implications for the Environment and Human Health” by Necalli VelaGarcia, Surya Raja-Amudhan and Nithu Sridharan.

Five HHS teams won prizes at the regional event — including four that placed in the top 15 — and earned spots in the state competition.

In addition to the team of Striek, Blair and Mudenur taking second place, three HHS individuals received third-place prizes: Sahithi Pogula for “In Silico SALL4 Oncogene Overexpression Correlation to Non-Coding RNA Post-Transcriptional Regulation and Epigenetic Control,” Srilakshmi Venkatesan for “Utilizing Hypermagnesemia to Understand the Impact of Neuromuscular Blocking Agents on Caenorhabditis Elegans: A Safe Novel Automated Model for Paralytic Drug Testing,” and Juliet Findlen for “Chlorella vulgaris as a model for photobioreactor use in industrial carbon removal.”

Additionally, the team of Briana Mallouh, Tomo Oga and Avani Daga received honorable mention for “Next Time-Step Pollution Level Prediction Using Custom Recurrent Neural Networks.”

Kristen Murphy, teacher and director of the program since 2017, said Hopkinton consistently has been one of the top schools in the region and grown into one of the largest programs in the state.

For the past three years, a team from HHS has qualified for the international competition, a feat she said is “pretty unheard of for a public school in Massachusetts.”

Science Fair | page 19

The Hopkinton High School team of (from left) Dylan Striek, Disha Mudenur and Rylee Blair took first place at the state Science Fair on May 5.

Local student musicians earn awards at MICCA festivals

The Hopkinton Public Schools

SCHOOLS

NOTEBOOK

Music Department has had a very busy month. On May 6, 23 students from Hopkinton Middle School and Hopkinton High School participated in the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) Solo and Ensemble Festival held at Concord-Carlisle Regional High School.

The Hopkinton High School vocal ensemble, Noteworthy, won a gold medal at the recent MICCA Festival.

The Jazz Ensemble then performed May 7 at the Hatch Shell in Boston as part of the Massachusetts Association of Jazz Educators (MAJE) Gold Medal Showcase.

The MICCA Solo and Ensemble Festival is offered to school-aged musicians to showcase individual and small-group performances. Each student received an award corresponding to the adjudicator’s evaluation of the performance, consistent with the MICCA Medal Rating System. The students performed in an open recital atmosphere in a classroom. The adjudicators then offered a brief workshop immediately following the performance.

HMS students who participated in the solo performances were Arshia Tharakabhushanam (who won a gold medal), Yulhee Kwon (gold), Jacob Wu (gold), Aritro Chatterjee (silver), Urmi Chowdhuri (gold), Kira Konyk (silver), Olivia Wiedenmann (silver) and Sahasra Charkam (silver). The Middle School String Trio of Yulhee Kwon, Jacob Wu and Aritro Chatterjee performed in the ensemble division, earning a silver medal. Mrs. Katherine O’Toole and Mr. Jesse Alling prepared and accompanied the students in their performances.

At the high school level, students in the Vocal Ensemble, Noteworthy, and the Cello Ensemble, under the direction of Mr. Isaac Brody, performed. The student members of Noteworthy are Tanisha Renjith, Anna Noroian, Aleksandre Japaridze, Aurora Lavigne, Caroline Rowe, Emily Mailloux, Evan Orenstein, Merin Rhodes and Kathryn Connolly They performed the song “On The Pulse of This New Day” by Rollo Dilworth and won a gold medal. The Cello Ensemble performed “Over the Rainbow,” earning a silver medal, and its members are Lillian Gallagher, Emily Kimball, Camryn

Franks , Leah Hong , Margot Kaye and Simrit Kukreja Abigail Baskin, cello, participated in the solo festival and performed the Shostakovich Sonata in D Minor, opus 40, winning gold. Baskin was invited to perform at the Honors Performance on May 20 at Follen Church in Lexington.

The Jazz Ensemble performance at the Hatch Shell in Boston was the culmination of a very successful year. The students, under the direction of Mr. Jeremy Dodge, have consistently earned high ratings and were selected to be one of 19 groups invited to perform. Students in the HHS Jazz Ensemble are Natalie Bouffard, Erik Berlin, Prithvi Venkatesh, Alper Rozy, Camryn August, Brian Gu, Alex Stephan, Jayson DeLong, Sadie Wein, JJ Bahri, Evan Yurewicz, Adi Machiraju, Abhinav Vaddadi, Aman Kumar, Ryan Hwang, Lucas Pereira, Lily Brown, Sidhi Dhanda, Rathish Senthikumar, Alice Potapov, Abigail Baskin and Jordyn Ahlstrom-Hall

HHS students shine at BPA nationals

In addition to the team of Hopkinton High School students who took first place in the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference competition for Network Design team last month in Anaheim, California (as described in the last issue of this paper), other HHS students won awards as well.

Vainavi Malisetty took first and Emily Staff was second in Economic Research, Dhruv Shah was third in Entrepreneurship, and the team of Anya Krishnamony, Odundo Omondi and Emily Skaff took third in UX Design.

HHS team wins title at state Science Fair

Science Fair | from page 18

Murphy said she is most proud of the increase in student participation, with 110 students working on projects this year.

“Even if these students don’t win awards, there is a huge amount of learning and growth that takes place,” Murphy said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for students to challenge themselves and learn a lot about perseverance.”

The program is a hybrid between a class and club, an optional enrichment activity open to all high school students eager to learn research techniques and investigate a topic of interest.

Murphy noted the HPTO provides a

grant to help buy supplies for every project so students can participate at no cost.

Next year, the school is offering an advanced research elective seminar for 10th graders. Murphy said the class involves bringing in weekly expert community members. She urged anyone in town willing to speak to a class about research and applications in science to contact her.

Murphy added, “Asking questions, developing a plan, troubleshooting when things don’t go well, working as a team, teaching others about a topic — these are some of the most important skills students need, no matter what career they eventually choose.”

Hopkinton Youth Soccer

FALL 2023 REGISTRATION & ACADEMY TRYOUTS

Registration for Foundations & Town Programs May 15 - July 1

Registration for Travel Program May 15 - June 10 Academy Tryouts May 22 - May 25

PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING TO COACH WHEN REGISTERING

FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM

• Registration open May 15 - July 1.

• Kick Start Program must be 4 by 8/31/23.

• Kindergarten Program must be 5 by 8/31/23.

• Saturday mornings only.

TRAVEL PROGRAM

• Registration open May 15 - June 10. Late fees applied and placement not guaranteed after 6/10.

• 3rd - 8th grades play in the BAYS League.

• Weeknight practice & Saturday game.

• Attend Evaluations 6/3, 6/4, 6/10 & 6/11.

TOWN PROGRAM

• Registration open May 15 - July 1.

• 1st grade program and 2nd/3rd grade combined programs.

• Weeknight practice & Saturday game.

REVOLUTION ACADEMY PROGRAM

• Academy tryouts for 2023-2024 season run May 22 - 25.

• Year long program for 3rd - 8th grades.

• Winter training and spring season for 9-12th grades.

• Visit HYS website’s Academy section to register for Tryouts.

SUMMER 2023 PROGRAMS

Future Hillers Soccer Clinic

Current Kindergarten - 5th grades, Hopkinton residents only, June 26 - 28, 9 am - 12 pm. Revolution Academy Summer Clinics (including Goalkeepers) Summer Camp 1, June 27 - 29, 4 - 7 pm • Summer Camp 2, August 1 - 3, 9 am - 12 pm. Current Kindergarten - 7th grades.

To register or learn more about our programs, please visit: www.hopkintonsoccer.org

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.

Harry Hamilton

Harry McGregor Hamilton, 78, passed away on May 17 after a brief illness. The son of Douglas and Ruth (Parmenter) Hamilton, Harry was born Oct. 22, 1944. He grew up in Hopkinton along with his older brother, Charlie (or Chuck).

A 1952 graduate of Hopkinton High School, he enlisted in the Army and served for four years in different areas, including Europe. After, he enrolled at Framingham State College, graduating with a B.A. in American history. In addition to working as a substitute teacher, he spent 30 years as a member of the United Auto Workers working for General Motors in both Framingham and Tonawanda, New York. In 1968, Harry married Kathryn “Kay” Fargo, and they had one daughter, Susan. While sometimes strong-willed and opinionated, Harry had an enormous heart and made friends easily. He was gregarious, generous, outgoing and loyal, and people never failed to comment on his charming smile and encompassing sense of humor. He loved a good joke, the Three Stooges and Monty Python. He loved to fish and was an avid fan of Formula 1 racing.

In addition to spending time with his wife and daughter, Harry loved hanging out at his favorite haunt — Cornell’s — and sharing a laugh and a drink with his good friends. An enthusiastic amateur photographer, he almost always had his camera handy and relished sharing pictures he’d captured with everyone.

He is survived by wife Kathryn (Fargo) Hamilton and daughter Susan Hamilton (Jeffrey DePiero), as well as brother Charlie and wife Vicki, and several nieces and nephews: Brian Hamilton, Pamela (Hamilton) O’Toole, Casey Fargo, Sam Fargo, Abigail Fargo and Ryan Fargo.

Calling hours will be held Monday, June 12, from 12-2 p.m. at Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton, 57 Hayden Rowe Street. A memorial service will take place in the funeral home at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Harry’s memory to either the American Heart Association (heart.org) or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (lls.org).

SENIOR SNIPPETS

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

Thursday, June 1, 1 p.m.

Our Time Memory Cafe

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

Senior Center Book Club

Monday, June 5, 10:30 a.m.

The Senior Center Book Club meets the first Monday of every month. At this meeting, participants can relax and bring something to drink, all while enjoying book reviews and socializing. This month’s book is “The Last Thing He Told Me” by Laura Dave.

Cultural Conversations: Historic Sights of Warsaw

Tuesday, June 6, 1-2 p.m.

This virtual tour will visit Krakowskie Przedmieście, one of the most important streets in the city, and make its way to Old Town to take in the spirit of historic Warsaw. Participants will see places related to the life of Marie Curie and Frederic Chopin, learn how many mermaids are in the city, discover where the Round Table meetings were held, and see where Mick Jagger ate cabbage and mushroom pierogies. The tour guide will entertain with stories, anecdotes and curiosities about the capital of Poland.

Become a Dementia Friend

Thursday, June 8, 1-2:30 p.m.

In this 90-minute session, open to residents of all towns, community members will learn about dementia and how to be inclusive and welcoming to those living with cognitive and memory impairments. For more information or to make a reservation, call 508-497-9730 or email sdocknevich@gmail.com.

“Made You Look!”

Single Item to Complete clean-outs YOU POINT. WE REMOVE.

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.

Historical Society Author Talk

June 6

The Hopkinton Historical Society (168 Hayden Rowe Street) will host an author talk on Tuesday, June 6, at 7 p.m. Author Elena Palladino will discuss her book “Lost Towns of the Swift River: Drowned by the Quabbin.” The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit hopkhistsoc.org.

Become a Dementia Friend

June 8

Individuals are invited to become a Dementia Friend by attending an informational program at the Hopkinton Senior Center on Thursday, June 8, from 1-2:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about the different types of dementia, what it’s like to live with dementia, and small gestures that make a difference. To register, call the Hopkinton Senior Center at 508-497-9730. The program, open to residents of any town, is sponsored by the Hopkinton Council on Aging.

Fore Paws Golf Tournament June 9

The 10th annual Fore Paws Golf Tournament to benefit Baypath Humane Society will be held Friday, June 9, at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club in Boylston. The tournament will be a four-person scramble format, beginning with a shotgun start at 1:30 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. For more information about participating as a player or sponsor, visit baypathhumane.org.

Touch-a-Truck and Food Festival June 10

The Hopkinton Public Library Foundation’s annual Touch-A-Truck and Food Truck Festival returns to the Hopkinton High School parking lot on Saturday, June 10, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Children can climb on trucks of all kinds, see a police cruiser and fire truck, take a ride on a railroad, and enjoy lunch and desserts from local food trucks and vendors. Tickets are available online and at the event. For more information, visit hplfinc.org.

MetroWest K95K at Hopkinton YMCA June 11

The annual MetroWest K95K, a dog-friendly trail run/walk for teams and individuals through the woods at the MetroWest YMCA in Hopkinton, will be held Sunday, June 11, at 10 a.m. The event, which includes music, vendors from the human and animal fields, doggy demonstrations and more, is run by the Ashland Sporting Association and the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association Charities. For more information and to register, visit metrowestk95k.com.

Freedom Team Pride Parade at HCA June 11

The Hopkinton Freedom Team, in partnership with Hopkinton Youth & Family Services and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, will host the town’s third annual Pride Parade and Celebration on Sunday, June 11, from 1-4 p.m. The event kicks off with a short parade at 1 p.m., starting at the HCA and going through neighborhood streets. After the parade, the fun and celebration will continue at the HCA with family-friendly performances, food and activities for all. All members of the community are welcome. For more information, visit hopkintonfreedomteam.org or email info@hopkintonfreedomteam.org.

Timlin Event at Hopkinton High School June 17

Registration is open for the 20th annual Sharon Timlin Memorial Event, which

Event Calendar Sponsored by HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Mike Bent’s AbraKIDabra!

June 3 | 3 p.m.

AbraKIDabra is a state-of-the-art magic show that is written specifically for children and combines amazing magic, big laughs, and hilarious surprises for a completely interactive experience. The kids will become part of the show! The only magician to win a “Best of Boston” award from the editors of Boston Magazine! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank.

Dwayne Haggins with Special Guest Ayla Brown in Concert

June 9 | 7 p.m.

Dwayne has been described as the “love child of Hank Williams and Sam Cooke,” the “John Legend of rockabilly,” and even the “’what-took-you-so-long?’ fusion of Elvis Presley and Marvin Gaye.” Ayla Brown is back for a fourth time to our stage! She will be sharing some classic country covers and, of course, her original music. From the 2006 American Idol stage to today, country music is in Ayla Brown’s soul. Not only does she sing about it, but she gets to talk about it every day on “Country Mornings with Ayla Brown” on Country 102.5!

Frank Santos Jr. | Comic, Hypnotist

June 10 | 8 p.m.

Be amazed when you, your friends or strangers across the room become stars of the show, as Frank makes them believe that they are singers, dancers and much, much more. This is a performance where the audience becomes the show. This is a hilarious, energetic and unique show that you will never forget! This show contains mature content and is not recommended for anyone under 21.

Hopkinton Pride Parade

June 11 | 1 to 4 p.m.

The Hopkinton Freedom Team, together with Hopkinton Youth and Family Services and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, is very proud to be hosting Hopkinton’s 3rd Annual Pride Parade & Celebration. Parade participants will gather at the HCA, 98 Hayden Rowe Street, Hopkinton, at 12:30 p.m. on June 11. The short parade will begin at 1:00 p.m. and go around adjacent streets and neighborhoods. From 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., there will be family-friendly performances, activities, information tables of local organizations, food trucks and more for all ages!

will be held at Hopkinton High School on June 17. 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 — including a kids color run — until noon. For more information or to register, visit sharontimlinrace.org.

MBCC Against the Tide at Hopkinton State Park June 17

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

PJB Golf Tournament at Hopkinton Country Club June 19

The Project Just Because Golf Tournament will be held Monday, June 19, at Hopkinton Country Club. The event includes 18 holes of golf, continental breakfast, luncheon, silent auction and raffles, with all proceeds going to the families served by PJB. Registration begins at 8 a.m., with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. For information about participating or becoming a sponsor, visit projectjustbecause.org, email barb@ projectjustbecause.org or call 508-435-6511.

War of 1812 presentation at Senior Center June 22

The Hopkinton Senior Center will host a presentation titled “The War of 1812: Dolley Tells All!” on Thursday, June 22, from 1-2 p.m. Janet Parnes, appearing as first lady Dolley Madison, whose husband President James Madison declared war with England, will share stories of mishaps, miscalculations and triumphs as well as the war’s influence on our nation’s growth. The performance is free and does not require registration. For more information, call the Senior Center at 508-497-9730.

Greyhound Friends 40th Anniversary Gala June 24

Hopkinton-based Greyhound Friends is celebrating 40 years in dog adoption and advocacy with an anniversary gala on Saturday, June 24, from 4-7 p.m. in tents outside the facility at 167 Saddle Hill Road. The event will include dinner, music, special guests and a silent auction. Dogs should be left at home. For more information, visit greyhound.org.

Hopkinton PolyArts Festival at Town Common Sept. 9

The 48th annual Hopkinton PolyArts Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 9, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Town Common. Proceeds fund multiple scholarships for Hopkinton graduates majoring or minoring in the arts. For details, visit cozzens. net/polyarts.

police log

ARRESTS

May 9

5:36 p.m. A caller reported a female in the driver seat possibly passed out and the passenger acting suspiciously in a vehicle on West Main Street. Officers Matthew LaTour and Cody Normandin responded and arrested a 37-year-old Leominster resident on a default warrant arrest and additionally charged her with resisting arrest.

May 11

12:01 a.m. On West Main Street, Sergeant Arthur Schofield ran a license plate that came back as stolen. Sergeant Schofield detained the operator, who claimed to be the

registered owner’s boyfriend. The Hudson dispatcher was called, and a tow was subsequently requested. A 34-year-old from Hudson was arrested and charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, operation of a motor vehicle with license suspended, subsequent offense, and possession of Class B drug.

May 21

1:24 a.m. Officer Shannon Beloin came across a disabled motor vehicle with severe damage on Hayden Rowe Street. Officer Tyler Staback responded as backup. A 54-year-old from Milford was arrested and charged with OUI liquor and miscellaneous motor vehicle equipment 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.

May 9 12:32 p.m. A caller reported ongoing vandalism to a portable toilet on Fruit Street. Officer Robert Ekross spoke with the caller and promised extra checks of the area.

7:16 p.m. A Blackthorne Circle resident reported a verbal altercation with a neighbor. Officers Matthew LaTour and Nicholas Saletnik responded and took a report.

May 10

8:11 a.m. A West Elm Street caller reported a tree company employee damaged her mailbox and was being rude. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officer Robert Ekross responded and reported it was a civil matter. The employee’s supervisor was en route.

9:39 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officers Robert Ekross and Tyler Staback responded to a motor vehicle acci

dent on Cedar Street. No personal injuries were reported.

5:01 p.m. Officers Nicholas Saletnik and Cody Normandin responded to a motor vehicle crash on West Main Street and requested tows for two vehicles. No personal injuries were reported.

5:34 p.m. A teacher on Hayden Rowe Street reported two students would not leave the property. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and removed the youths.

May 11

7:18 a.m. A caller reported two suspicious males hiding under a car on Birchwood Lane. Officers Sean McKeon and Brennan Grimley responded and spoke with all involved parties, who explained they were hiding for a “senior assassin” game. All was OK.

8:38 a.m. The Ashland Police Department reported a stolen vehicle out of Framingham. Multiple officers responded, and Officer Brittany Firth located the vehicle on Main Street. The suspect was pursued on foot by multiple officers and located. K-9 units from Milford, Upton and Westborough responded and assisted with locating the second suspect. One male suspect was turned over to the Framingham Police Department, and a 17-year-old male was turned over to juvenile court. Two walk-ins reported the suspect vehicle struck their vehicles. Their information was taken.

11:47 a.m. A caller reported finding a puppy on West Main Street. The animal

of fraud involving $1,500 and a dog. Officer Cody Normandin assisted and took a report.

May 12 12:22 p.m. Officer Sean McKeon responded along with the Fire Department to a mulch fire on Saddle Hill Road.

12:23 p.m. An employee at a Main Street store reported being bombarded by youths. Police Chief Joseph Bennett and Officer Brittany Firth responded and assisted with crowd control.

2:23 p.m. A caller reported a hit-andrun motor vehicle accident on Grove Street. The caller believed the suspect vehicle to be a tan sedan with front-end damage. Police Chief Joseph Bennett and Officer Brittany Firth responded and took a report.

3:41 p.m. A caller reported finding a chocolate Lab on Ash Street. A message was left with the animal control officer.

4:05 p.m. Officer Sean McKeon responded to a report of a road rage incident on Main Street and spoke with the reporting person.

5:41 p.m. An Ash Street walk-in reported her election sign supporting a School Committee candidate was removed again and thrown into the woods. The caller wanted the incident logged and extra checks of the area.

6:06 p.m. A caller complained of youths on motorized scooters on Winter Street being a nuisance. Officer Matthew

11:52 p.m. A Christian Way resident reported being blackmailed online with photographs. Officers Cody Normandin and Nicholas Walker responded and took a report of fraud.

May 13

4:14 p.m. An Oakhurst Road caller reported an injured goose in her yard that appeared to be missing a foot. The animal control officer was contacted and stated he would respond if the goose was still there the next day.

5:57 p.m. A caller reported a group of young kids riding dirt bikes without helmets on Hayward Street with adults walking nearby. Officer Robert Ekross responded and checked the area with a negative find.

May 14 10:55 p.m. A caller complained of kids and adults riding dirt bikes up and down Hayward Street. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and advised the parties of the laws for riding a dirt bike.

12:53 p.m. A Wood Street caller reported her husband was bitten by a dog. Officer Sean McKeon responded and took a report.

May 15

8:50 p.m. A caller reported two people yelling at each other on Front Street. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Nicholas Saletnik responded and found the parties waiting for a tow truck.

10:50 p.m. A Fruit Street caller reported hearing noises in her house. Officers Matthew LaTour and Nicholas Saletnik responded and found a raccoon in the back of the house.

May 16

4:57 p.m. Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Cody Normandin and Nicholas Saletnik responded to an accident between a car and bicycle involving personal injury on Elm Street.

6:46 p.m. Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Gregg DeBoer, Cody Normandin and Tyler Staback responded to a possible breaking and entering of a commercial building on West Main Street and took a report.

7:55 p.m. A caller at a West Main Street facility reported someone was trying to enter his room. Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Nicholas Saletnik and Tyler Staback responded and resolved the issue for the night.

7:58 p.m. A Knoll Road resident complained of a dirt bike speeding up and down the road and doing wheelies. Officer Tyler Staback responded. The driver was gone upon his arrival. He went to the residence of the youth driver to speak with the father and son and issue a final warning.

May 17

12:13 p.m. Officers Sean McKeon and Tyler Staback responded to a motor vehicle crash on West Main Street and took a report. No personal injuries were reported.

1:28 p.m. Officers Shannon Beloin and Sean McKeon responded to a motor vehicle accident on Legacy Farms North and took a report.

4:58 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle struck a pole and damaged it on Fruit Street. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded and contacted Verizon. No personal injuries were reported.

May 18 10:37 a.m. A detail officer reported a truck lost its load on Hayden Rowe Street. Sergeant William Burchard responded and issued a written warning for carrying an unsecured load.

11:50 a.m. A South Street caller reported being scammed out of $146,000.

Officer Sean McKeon assisted and took a report of fraud.

3:58 p.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded along with the Fire Department to a mulch fire on East Street.

3:58 p.m. A Downey Street resident reported someone spat on her son. Officer Shannon Beloin assisted and took a report of an assault.

4:28 a.m. A Nebraska Street resident complained that a UPS truck hit his Comcast wires. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded and spoke with Verizon, which was to take care of the low-hanging wire.

5:45 p.m. A West Main Street caller reported a breaking and entering. Sergeant Matthew McNeil took a report.

6:01 p.m. A caller reported a dog was struck by a white GMC pickup truck with front-end damage on Ash Street, and it took off after hitting the dog. Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded and took a report.

6:06 p.m. Officer Shannon Beloin responded along with the Fire Department in responding to a brush fire on Hayden Rowe Street.

May 19 12:39 p.m. A caller reported four sheep in the middle of the road on Ash Street. Arena & Sons Butcher Shop was contacted. Officer Brittany Firth responded, and the sheep were gone upon her arrival.

4:39 p.m. The Ashland Police Department requested assistance searching for two male solicitors in the area who threatened an Ashland resident via a Ring camera. Officer Shannon Beloin responded and checked the area with a negative find.

5:11 p.m. A caller reported purchasing wood via Facebook Marketplace, then learning that the seller bought it at Hopkinton Lumber using a credit card that was not his own. The owner of the credit card contacted Hopkinton Lumber and reported the fraud. Hopkinton Lumber staff went to 33 Milford Street in Upton and told the workers on site to cease using the lumber, as it was purchased fraudulently. Officer Nicholas Saletnik assisted. The caller was advised to also report the fraud to Venmo, which was used for payment of the lumber.

May 20

1:49 p.m. A Main Street caller reported flooding in front of his property, which has been an ongoing issue. Officer Tyler Staback responded and contacted the DPW.

May 21

6:38 p.m. A caller reported a gray boat near shore on Pond Street that appeared to be sinking. No occupants were in the boat or nearby. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and took a report.

May 22

8:35 a.m. A Lyford Road caller reported a dog had been hit. Officer Robert Ekross responded and checked with the dog’s owner, who stated the dog was just old with bad hips.

9:47 a.m. A walk-in reported check fraud at a Main Street business. Sergeant William Burchard took a report.

9:59 a.m. The State Police requested assistance on Interstate 495 northbound with an individual. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Robert Ekross responded to assist. A taser was deployed.

3:55 p.m. A caller reported a suspicious man in a tan van watching kids play on Tammer Lane. Sergeant William Burchard and Cody Normandin responded. The man was gone upon their arrival.

5:22 p.m. A caller reported a driver followed a car full of students to the basketball courts at the high school following a road rage incident. Officers Cody Normandin and Matthew LaTour responded and took a report.

Megan Abbott

Theodore Abernathy

Neil Abraham

Vihaan Agarwal

Jordyn Ahlstrom-Hall

Marisa Alicandro

Camryn Anderson

Chloe Anderson

Kaitlyn Anderson

Amisi Anjeh

Jaymie Arena

Morgan Arnold

Gabriel Augustin

Annaclaudia Bardelli

Chloe Baril

Ailene Barry

Anjali Batra

Jason Battikha

Luke Beaudet

Erin Belger

Shrika Bellidiga

Eleanor Benge

Erik Berlin

Kyle Bertucci-Bissonnette

Sofia Bilodeau

Priya Bongu

Luke Boothroyd

Hugh Boyle

Salem Bradley

Ryan Brennan

Lily Brown

Alexis Bruce

Salma Bryan

Andrew Budden

Kiera Burke

Morgan Burnie

Eli Calcagni

Gina Camillucci

Emma Canestrari

Devin Canty

Sydney Capello

John Carlson

Tyler Carolino

Joseph Carrazza

Nathan Carson

Kevin Cavanaugh

Emily Champlin

Albert Chen

Allison Chen

Giana Ciriello

Congratulations HHS Class of 2023

Zoe Coelho

Annabelle Coles

Asher Connelly

Kathryn Connolly

Katelyn Cooper

Hailey Cox

Derek Crowe

Daniel D’Alleva

Emma Dacey

Avani Daga

Ryan Darbhanga

Kaylyn Davis

Luis De Leon Flores

Hannah DeBoer

Cole Deisenroth

Jayson DeLong

Emma DeMichele

Peter DeMichele

Caroline DeSimone

Nicholas Dieter

Eva DiGioia

Emma DiNicola

Anna Dionne

Adam Distasio

Aidan Dorcey

Joseph Doyle

Luke Dragsbaek

Eliana Driscoll

Gwennyth Dyer

Alveena Ehsan

Nicholas Ekstrom

Thomas Engel-Chatten

Margaret Fallon

Sarah Farrell

Kourosh Fattahy

Alexa Feldmann

Calvin Feldmann

Owen Fitzpatrick

Raelyn Ford

Camryn Franks

Raine Furlong

Robert Garesche

Vibha Ghadiyaram

Maya Ghosh

Adam Glace

Tyler Goldner

Sean Golembiewski

Gustavo Donate

Emily Graeber

Caitlin Graziano

Jack Green

Alyssa Gronbach

Brian Gu

Alexander Gutierrez

Madison Hadley

Paul Hagberg

Connor Hallenbeck

Erin Halloran

Declan Hanscom

Abigail Hardenbrook

Bailey Harrigan

Jessica Harris

Abby Hassler

Emily Hayward

Elizabeth Herlihy

Sinead Herr

Braden Hicks

Ryan Hicks

Skyler Hird

Christopher Holly

Lindsay Hong

Madison Houser

James Hoyt

Kiley Hunter

Ariana Husain

Ryan Hwang

Zachary Hyman

Frank Incutto

Jack Interrante

Kavya Jeevanantham

Christopher Johnson

Shelby Jones

Grace Joseph

Emerson Joy

Margaret Joyce

Solomon Jun

Braden Kane

Joseph Kane

Pranav Kapur

Lex Kaye

Nolan Kelly

Leontina Kepic

Hailey Kessler

Ishita Khurana

Carolyn Kiszla

Patrick Klinger

Neha Kunam

G Lambert

Aarnav Lamichhane

Jonathan Lang

Margaret McCarthy

Julia McClean

Kelsea McCoy

Brendan McGowan

Katie McLaughlin

Prachi Meher

Bharat Mekala

Kaley Merkle

Anjali Meruva

Dylan Michaud

Declan Mick

Charles Miller

Jaden Miller

Caitlin Minogue

Owen Mitchell

Gabriel Momoi Bosquetti

Clara Morabito

Olivia Morrissey

Andrew Morse

Tyler Mulvaney

Declan Murphy

Keira Murphy

Seamus Murphy

Bianca Musgrave

Atharva Nilapwar

Klara Niss

Mathias Niss

Ruben Noroian

Angus Norton

Max Nye

Bridget O’Connor

Keira O’Connor

Quinn O’Connor Rose O’Loughlin

Taka Oga

Tomo Oga

Alia Ohira

Shawn Oliveira

Lennart Onken

Frank Oppedisano

Olger Orbe Quito

Ayden Paglicco

Andrew Palacios

Charlotte Parrow

Chloe Paul

Sophia Perrelli

Andrew Peters

Izak Peterson

Harrison Petrie

Ithishree Pittala

Ian Plasterer

Sahithi Pogula

Angela Porzio

Cristina Porzio

Alice Potapov

Jakob Potas

Kavin Prasanna

Dylan Prefontaine

Charles Purpura

Stella Rahaim

Ankitha Rajesh

Avery Ravech

Shanzé Raza

Haina Ren

James Restifo

Merin Rhodes

Madeleine Ritterbusch

Vienna Rivard

Raymond Robichaud

Sophia Rodrigues

Eva Roegeberg

Benedetta Romani

Sean Rosalan

Roberto Rossi

Wyatt Ruff

Hana Ruran

Craig Salois

Aryan Samaga

Caitlin Sansonetti

Aditya Sathishkumar

Kayla Sawyer

Isabella Scalora

Luke Scanlon

Michaela Scannevin

Joseph Scardino

Arianna Schaefer

Zachary Schare

Ariana Scheidel

Gabriella Semanduyev

Annabelle Senseney

Dhaneshwar Senthilku-

maran

Zoe Shaffer

Leo Shimmura

Gregory