Hokinton Independent July 1, 2020

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HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 21 | No. 13 | July 1, 2020

Local surge in unemployment fraud cases

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

W

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

hen Hopkinton Police Officer Phil Powers opened his mail and saw that he had a letter confirming his unemployment filing, he knew something was amiss. He had not been laid off from the Police Department and therefore had not filed an unemployment claim.

His is one of dozens of letters that have been sent to Hopkinton residents recently by an apparent fraudster seeking to capitalize on an unemployment system that has been overwhelmed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s fraud, it’s someone taking advantage of the situation,” Powers said.

“I think they are getting so many claims and so many cases that they are not always confirming with the employees.”

Powers said the number of similar reports from residents has slowed recently, but there was a stretch when Hopkinton police were receiving four

LAX AGAINST THE WALL Rising fifth-grader Connor Blinn uses the lacrosse wall that was installed at the Fruit Street fields in mid-June under the supervision of Hopkinton Parks & Recreation.

Fraud | 8

INSIDE

Hopkinton deals with hate

ELECTION

Series of incidents raises concern

Coutinho expresses disgust with social media ‘attacks’

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

2

NEWS

Annual Town Meeting rescheduled to Sept. 21

T

Hate | 5

7

SPORTS PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

he past few weeks have brought out the best and worst in Hopkinton.

While many have banded together in an attempt to become more socially aware and fight bias and racial injustice, seeking to build on the burgeoning Black Lives Matter movement, others have shown this town has a lot of work to do to drive out insensitivity, discrimination and even hate from within its borders.

On June 23, the Hopkinton Public Schools sent an email to schools families addressing “offensive and racist comments on social media” by “a few” students from Hopkinton Middle School and Hopkinton High School.

“The racist posts underscore that anti-racist work

The playground sign at EMC Park shows only faint signs of the expletive that had been spray-painted there last week, as it was cleaned by volunteer Mark Mercer from Under Pressure power washing. The vandalism was discovered the same day racist and homophobic graffiti was found at Sandy Beach.

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2 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020

Election draws drama

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

Permission must be obtained in writing before reproducing any material. The Hopkinton Independent is delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to 100 percent of the homes and businesses in Hopkinton, reaching more than 7,200 addresses. It also is available at Hopkinton Public Library and Town Hall as well as dozens of other sites through town.

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Managing Editor: Jerry Spar Editorial contributors: JEAN CANN, LYN CALKINS, MICHELLE SANFORD, CHRIS VILLANI, DEBORAH BURKE HENDERSON, Tricia LaCascia, John Cardillo, John Buday, Sandy Quadros Bowles, Christine Strickland, Gethin Coolbaugh

contact us:

For advertising, contact Susanne Odell Farber Cell: 508-954-8148 or email: sue@sodellconsult.com For Mailed Subscriptions Contact The Hopkinton Independent 508-435-5188 (office), 508-366-2812 (fax) Editorial comments and inquiries, including Letters to the Editor should be emailed to: editor@hopkintonindependent.com

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

Candidates campaigned in the center of town on June 20, leading up to the June 29 Town Election, which occurred too late for results to be included in this edition of the Independent. Check HopkintonIndependent.com for updates.

Editor’s note: The Town Election on June 29 occurred too late for results to be included in this issue of the Independent. Check HopkintonIndependent.com for results.

Considering the political situation nationally, it shouldn’t be a big surprise that in one of the few Massachusetts towns that holds partisan elections, some of the vitriol seeped into Hopkinton.

It also shouldn’t be a surprise that social media has played a big role in the controversy, although there appears to be differences of opinions about what is considered inappropriate commentary.

INDEPENDENT The Select Board candidates were supposed to have a televised THOUGHTS debate on June 15, but incumbent John Coutinho, upset at what he claimed were “vicious attacks” online from supporters of Amy RitJERRY SPAR terbusch, announced that he was declining to participate.

“Unfortunately, the online activities of some in our community have created a hostile environment for thoughtful and constructive political discourse, as well as vicious attacks not only on my candidacy but members of my family, including my innocent children,” Coutinho, a father of two college-aged daughters, told moderator Tom Nappi from HCAM before withdrawing.

The Independent was unable to verify any specific personal attacks — Coutinho said they were deleted shortly after being posted — although there have been Facebook comments questioning whether Coutinho, chair of the Hopkinton Republican Town Committee, genuinely is interested in social justice considering the support he has shown for Donald Trump, who as president has come under frequent criticism for racist leanings.

Coutinho has described himself as socially liberal and fiscally conservative.

During a separate appearance on HCAM the following week, Coutinho revived his criticism.

“It’s been a difficult year because of the nastiness going on,” he said on the June 24 edition of HCAM’s Hopkinton Hangout Hour. “Hopkinton’s better than what was going on. Certain people were turning a blind eye to some of the nastiness that was occurring.

Hopkinton’s better than that. It’s tough. Facebook pages filled with nasty comments and then dirty deleted [removed quickly so there is no evidence].

“This is neighbors being attacked by neighbors. And others sit back in their campaigns and allow it. They’re complicit. I’ve had enough, and I know that Hopkinton’s had enough.”

Ritterbusch denied being aware of any personal attacks and insisted she would not condone them. She said she had only seen comments about Coutinho’s political stances — most notably his past support for Trump — which she believed was “fair game.”

After Coutinho’s second round of criticism, Ritterbusch issued a statement on June 25 questioning whether he might be missing the bigger picture in town — namely personal attacks residents have faced due to their race or sexual orientation. She also questioned whether Coutinho was willing to address legitimate concerns from those who disagree with his politics.

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“I worry that this has been a distraction and takes the focus away from the very real personal attacks many of our residents receive regularly due to their skin color, race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation,” Ritterbusch wrote. “I commend the brave Hopkinton residents who had been uncomfortable to speak up before, but are now starting to speak up more on social media very specifically about the personal attacks they have experienced in Hopkinton both in person and online. This week a previous Select Board candidate spoke up about specific incidents of bullying his family experienced when they first moved to Hopkinton, and a current School Committee candidate’s name was spray-painted along with a gay slur in graffiti at Sandy Beach. And today it tears at my heart strings to read the real and very specific stories of racial bias and discrimination experienced by Hopkinton students, staff and alumni via a new Instagram account @ bipocathopkinton.

“By avoiding a civil and fair debate moderated by HCAM, I worry that my opponent is unable to talk about difficult subjects in public or to listen to people who do not agree with him. This is an extremely important skill for a leader to have. Not everyone who comes before the Select Board is happy with everything in town, we need leaders who are willing to listen and see others’ perspectives even if they do not agree. A debate would have been the perfect time for my opponent to give his own perspective to the residents and clarify his positions on the issues. I have run a positive and transparent campaign this year and have released all of my campaign finance filings going back to 2017. I deeply regret that we were not able to have the debate on June 15.”

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Maspenock member resigns Jamie Goncalves announced his resignation from the Lake Maspenock Citizens Input Group (CIG) following the Conservation Commission’s decision in May against the application of herbicides to control excessive weed growth in the lake.

Goncalves explained that he was appointed to the CIG in June of 2015 after a contentious Town Meeting, where a number of people made pleas not to use herbicides to combat the weed problem while others insisted it was the safest and surest option.

The town’s new strategy was to use an extended drawdown to address the weed issue. However, an issue with a lake homeowner’s shallow well negated that option over the last two years (it was announced in May that the town was working to purchase the homeowner’s property in order to be able to again do drawdowns). With the drawdown option out (for at least the time being), the CIG went back to work, which included another public hearing and input from town staff.

After four continued hearings, the Conservation Commission voted 4-3 against using herbicides.

“This was the last step in a very long process,” Goncalves wrote in his resignation letter. “I was very disappointed with the commission’s decision after the countless hours investigating and assessing all the alternatives. What I found most disheartening is that the commission denied the use of herbicides that have been used by many municipalities and private organizations around the state to address excessive weed growth. As a result, another season on the lake will be lost.”

Goncalves wrote that after the decision he felt he could no longer be effective as a member of the CIG, although he indicated he will continue to support the group as well as Department of Public Works director John Westerling in their effort to make Lake Maspenock better.

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Slaman, Khumalo receive high marks

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

T

he Select Board, in a June 25 meeting, offered high praise for Fire Chief Steve Slaman and Town Manager Norman Khumalo during their performance evaluations.

Both were given an overall maximum score of 5 — defined as “exceeds expectations regularly” — from the board. Each received three scores of 5 and two of 4 from the members.

“There’s a lot of stuff, all the things that we’ve talked about here, we can’t quantify with a number, but the stuff that Chief Slaman brings to the town, whether it’s going to a charity run and doing CPR and saving somebody, two years in a row, or just his overall presence [especially at meetings],” Select Board chair Brendan Tedstone said, adding: “He’s thorough, and the one thing that you can’t do is you can’t teach someone to care as much about your community or about your profession as you can with Chief Slaman.”

Slaman’s goals for the past year included developing a public safety study, working with Eversource on an emergency response plan for its LNG facility in town, and preparing a Main Street Corridor Project emergency response plan — all of which have been ongoing and are continuing.

The board set three goals for Slaman for the next year but neglected to address them before Slaman left the meeting, so

they won’t be confirmed until a future meeting. The proposed goals are to continue working on a public safety plan, continue to collaborate with Eversource on an emergency plan, and develop a COVID management plan.

Khumalo’s goals for the past year included having the Main Street Corridor Project shovel-ready after the April 2020 Boston Marathon (which was canceled), developing a comprehensive tree management plan (a plan for the town to bring tree management in house this year fell victim to budget cuts during the pandemic), and delivering the Town Hall parking lot (land with a lot has been acquired on neighboring Walcott Street).

Reading from a prepared summary, Tedstone said: “The Select Board is very impressed with everything the town manager has taken on, as well as his ability to shift gears and change priorities, as was clearly displayed by the town’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This appropriate response diverted his attention from other projects and objectives, however they would like to see [him] continue to get those projects pursued when appropriate, considering the pandemic is far from over.”

Goals for the next year are for Khumalo to coordinate and execute construction of the Main Street Corridor Project, with groundbreaking by Oct. 31, 2020; to come up with a revised budget process for FY21 so as not to fragment the community; and to increase and implement additional downtown parking.

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4 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020

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While certainly everyone in Hopkinton needs to continue taking precautions against the current pandemic, I believe we should use our privilege of being a part of the most powerful nation in the world to do more to help others. The current statistics are appalling. Currently children in low-income countries are more than 100 times more likely to die from infectious diseases, and nearly 70 percent of the world’s nations are underprepared to manage or control outbreaks. Bill Gates in 2015 said, “If anything kills millions of people in the next few decades, it is more likely to be a highly infectious virus, rather than a war. Not missiles but microbes.”

With nearly half a billion people potentially being pushed into poverty because of COVID-19, this virus can kill in ways other than LETTERS TO infecting people. I recently met with Ed Markey’s legislative assistant THE EDITOR to discuss the ways that we can help those vulnerable people abroad.

We talked about supporting the Global Health Security Act as well as how he is currently helping to alleviate the harm of this pandemic abroad through funding. As people living cozy and comfortable lives here in Hopkinton, we need to do more to help those who can not help themselves. Especially with all the free time on hand, I believe more people should dedicate themselves in the fight against global poverty. Consider donating to those in need or contacting your representatives to support giving more funding abroad, as currently less than 1 percent of our budget goes to foreign aid.

We have the time, and we have more than enough resources. What we need now is the courage.

— Maz Ahmad, Hopkinton

Protect forest from solar The Liberty Mutual solar project is not the best use of Hopkinton’s precious natural resources. Let me first say that I believe that solar power is very important for our future. I was happy to read that there will be some rules about where it is sited in the future. An acre of mature forest sequesters 30,000 pounds of carbon per year. Woods and trails protect wildlife, provide recreation and contribute to the beauty of our town. These 28 acres of woods which are proposed to be clear cut for the solar project are irreplaceable. Destroying Hopkinton’s forests makes our town less beautiful, livable and healthy. There are many industrial and more appropriate sites for solar farms. We should not be eliminating areas of the natural world. Let’s hope that humans get smarter soon.

— Carol Esler, Hopkinton

Stone dust better choice for trails I’m one of the signers of the petition to keep Hopkinton’s woodland trails softsurfaced. With 210 signatures so far on the online petition and more on the original paper petition, it seems like a lot of trail users agree with me.

I usually make two points about the issue: First, a 10-foot wide paved path is a road, not a trail. If I want to walk on a road, I can find one at the end of my driveway. Second, the only trail activity not supported on a packed stone dust trail (like the Center, Echo and Hughes trails) is rollerblading. Wheelchairs, strollers, runners, walkers, horseback riders and bike riders can all use stone dust trails. I’ve ridden my skinny tire road bike the entire length of the Upper Charles Trail, through Milford (paved) and Holliston (stone dust). There was no difference in performance between the two surfaces.

Stone dust trails are ADA-compliant, cheaper to build and maintain, easier on the body to walk/run, and permeable (better for the land). A paved path may be appropriate for a commuter bike route in an urban setting, used by bike riders moving at high speed rather than leisurely walkers, but not for the walking trails in our suburban town.

I urge the town join me in supporting this initiative.

— John Ritz, Hopkinton

Trails should not be paved Editor’s note: This letter is in reference to the proposal to pave portions of the planned Upper Charles Trail continuation in Hopkinton.

When is a trail not a trail? When it’s a paved paradise. Let’s just massacre the whole trail concept, destroy the ecology, the atmosphere, the whole basis for existence in the first place, to get out in nature AWAY FROM tarmac and man-made environments, and back to what little undeveloped scraps we have left. Why don’t you just put in some sodium vapor street lamps, watch out, here come the snow plows, and oh heck, might as well let in cars, too, what’s the difference? The excuse for this proposed demonic desecration? “Free money” from the state! Hop on the greed highway.

— Margaret Barton, Hopkinton

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On behalf of the families of the Hopkinton High School Class of 2020, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Hopkinton community for making the senior parade on May 30 an event we will never forget.

Thank you Mr. Bishop, Dr. Cavanaugh, Officer Phil Powers, Class of 2020 advisors and officers and the school administration team who made this parade happen. Thank you to the Hopkinton Independent, HCAM and HopNews for help-

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

Letters | 5

The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020 • 5

Hopkinton addresses series of racial incidents Hate | from page 1

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

must be bolstered within our schools and community,” read the HPS statement, which was attributed to superintendent Carol Cavanaugh, HMS principal Alan Keller and HHS principal Evan Bishop.

“Throughout the summer and into the coming school year, we will challenge our school community and the residents of Hopkinton to take an anti-racist stand.

Our hope is that parents and guardians will also choose not to remain silent. The schools and the community must stand together as partners to build a future for every child that is free from oppression, racism and bigotry.”

One day earlier, racist and homophobic graffiti was found at Sandy Beach.

Police Chief Joseph Bennett said that an investigation was ongoing and no charges had been filed as of June 23.

The same day, graffiti was discovered at EMC Park, including an expletive that had been spray-painted on the playground sign.

On June 20, a Hayden Rowe Street resident who had a sign in her yard supporting LGBTQ+ rights reported to police that a note was left outside the front door of her home. While it was not written in a threatening tone, the letter indicated that, as a Christian, the writer took offense to the sign and requested its removal, claiming it “encourages bad things.” The writer included an email address, should the homeowner wish to learn “more about God.” The letter-writer’s strategy apparently backfired, as once word spread on social media more residents ordered LGBTQ+ signs to show their support.

Meanwhile, local residents and businesses have responded to national events to show their support for change.

The owners of Resilience CrossFit on South Street started rebranding the company as Resilience Fitness in an effort to distance themselves from the national CrossFit brand. That’s because national CrossFit founder/owner Greg Glassman faced accusations of racism for insensitive comments he made about George Floyd, the Black man who died while being restrained by Minneapolis police, sparking protests across the nation. The comments prompted a closer look at Glassman, and it revealed a pattern of sexist behavior at company headquarters in Southern California. While Glassman eventually resigned in disgrace as CEO, as of late June he remained the owner of the company.

“It was pretty gross to hear about the culture this guy was fostering,” Resilience co-owner Brooks Farrar said.

Co-owner Brooks Farrar (right), shown with instructor Jamie Weeden, rebranded his company as Resilience Fitness to downplay its affiliation with the CrossFit brand following the revelation that the national owner of CrossFit had demonstrated a pattern of racist and sexist behavior.

“It was kind of devastating, because so many good things are happening as a result of this fitness movement. But the guy at the head of the organization just isn’t a good person. So we needed to take a stand against this guy.”

Farrar said there has been widespread support from the gym’s clientele, many of whom only recently returned to working out as the state has started to ease the restrictions on group gatherings.

“We made the decision [on the rebranding] pretty quickly, like overnight, and we didn’t really talk to our members before it, but it was pretty apparent that everyone agreed with it,” Farrar said.

“We wanted to show support for the Black community, and then when the information about the sexist culture came out, we wanted to be clear where we stood on that.

“Now we’re going to wait and see if any changes are made that we can appreciate and see enough of a change to warrant going back under that name or not.”

There also has been a push to promote programs where residents can hear from people whose experiences have been different from the majority white population in town.

Hopkinton Youth & Family Services and a Hopkinton organization called Mommying Is Hard partnered to sponsor a free Zoom talk on June 25 led by Dr. Kalise D. Warnum, founder and CEO of Diversity Incorporated. The talk was titled “Understanding Implicit Bias.”

According to the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, “Implicit bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions and decisions in an unconscious manner. These biases, which encompass

both favorable and unfavorable assessments, are activated involuntarily and without an individual’s awareness or intentional control. Residing deep in the subconscious, these biases are different from known biases that individuals may choose to conceal for the purposes of social and/or political correctness.”

Dawn Alcott, the director of Youth & Family Services, said she was approached by Mommying is Hard with the idea to start a discussion led by a person of color — and that wasn’t moderated on social media.

“We are grateful that they reached out to us,” Alcott said. “Definitely there is a need for this, to raise the bar on the nature of the conversation so that people are growing. We all have room to grow.

None of us have this down when it comes

to the impact of racism. We all have a lot to learn.”

Alcott said she anticipates — or at least hopes — lessons learned during the presentation will get passed down to children in the community.

“People will come back from this and have conversations at their dinner table and with their kids about how we treat each other and the legacy of what racism has cost us in the country,” she said. “It’s important that these conversations be had with kids so they can see and understand.

“Anytime change comes it stirs a lot,” Alcott added. “We struggle and we strive to do the right thing and do it well.”

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Letters | from page 4

ing to publicize the event and share memories and to local businesses who hung a sign, put out balloons, etc. Thank you to our public safety workers for keeping us all safe. Thank you to junior parents Lee Burns, Kristin Dionne, Sarah Stedt and their volunteer teams for decorating the parade route, contacting businesses and distributing pompoms, and to the sweet family at 15 Ash Street who let us take over their lawn for the day.

Thank you to our amazing Hopkinton residents who made signs, decorated, cheered and showed up for our kids. Your support means more to us than you can imagine. And thank you to the Class of 2020 for setting a wonderful example for future Hillers on how to turn lemons into lemonade. We can’t wait to celebrate with our beloved community again at the Aug. 2 graduation.

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Editor’s note: Letters to the editor should be no more than 400 words. Letters should be relevant and not primarily for the purpose of promoting an organization or event. For a schedule of deadlines for letters and other submissions, check the Hopkinton Independent website (HopkintonIndependent.com) and click on the Contact header, then on Editorial Deadlines.

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6 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020

Coutinho caps college career with Fulbright

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

H

opkinton High graduate Mia Rose Coutinho earned a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship this spring, putting an exclamation point on a stellar collegiate career at Lafayette College. The award will take her to Spain, a place where she has lived and studied in the past.

“I was an au pair in Barcelona during the summer of 2018 and I taught English to a Spanish Catalan family,” Coutinho said. “I loved that experience. I never meant to fall in love with Spain, but I returned there when I studied abroad for five months.”

When Lafayette reached out with a number of scholarship opportunities for exceptional students, Coutinho said the Fulbright English Teaching Award seemed right up her alley. In a senior year replete with upended events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Coutinho said receiving news that she had been awarded the scholarship was a welcome surprise.

“It seemed like every email was something being canceled,” she said. “So it was nice to get something like that.”

The pandemic has altered Coutinho’s plans just a bit. Instead of staying in Spain for a full school year, she will be aiming to leave for Europe in January of 2021. She will be teaching English at the high school level and also teach other subjects to students in English.

As a neuroscience major with a minor in Spanish, Coutinho figured she likely would be teaching science courses.

“At first my interests seem unrelated,” she said. “But the truth is I stuck

working on her neuroscience honors thesis, gathering data over the course of nine months with an eye toward presenting it at the end of the year. Coutinho and her classmates left for spring break, but the virus meant they would not be returning to campus. The buildings were locked, including the lab with the computer containing all of her data.

“I called facilities, I tried everything,” she said. “It’s hard to think back to March, but back then we thought this might pass and I was under the impression I would be returning after a short two-week hiatus.

So I was sort of blindsided by the fact that the data Mia Coutinho won a Fulbright English Teaching Award and is scheduled to teach in Spain next year. would be impossible to reach.”

Coutinho said several with Spanish and loved neuroscience of her classmates had similar capstone so much because it all revolves around projects they were not able to complete education and growth.” due to the sudden closures caused by the Coutinho said she hopes to pursue novel coronavirus. The hope, she said, a Ph.D. in developmental neuroscience, is for a return to campus in the fall in researching language development in order to collect the data and prepare a children. She also wants to apply for the shorter-than-expected report.

Fulbright again as well as other overseas Like many, Coutinho has had to scholarships to see if she can continue her make the most of less than ideal situaeducational career abroad. tions amid the crisis. She had planned The future plans follow a challengto run the Boston Marathon this year to ing end to Coutinho’s time at Lafayette benefit the 26.2 Foundation, a Hopkindue to the health crisis. She had been ton-based nonprofit promoting educa-

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tion, fitness and health.

The marathon, originally postponed from April to September, was eventually canceled for the first time in its history.

Coutinho said she will participate in a virtual run over the September weekend when the race had been rescheduled, preferably finding a 6-mile route around town and running it four times-plus to cover the distance.

“I did not run in high school, but I think being from Hopkinton there is this love of marathons ingrained in us and that international experience and being in it for the long haul,” she said. “I was never interested in running anything less than a marathon.”

Coutinho has fond memories of Kenya Day, the annual pre-marathon tradition of having the elite runners visit Elmwood Elementary School students before the race.

“That was my original experience with being a cultural ambassador,” she said, recalling learning Kenyan folk songs and Swahili phrases. “The international runners were just as excited as us to be there, and I became fascinated with learning other languages.”

That experience helped spark a lifelong love of learning and education that has brought the 2016 Hopkinton High School graduate a tremendous amount of success for her young life.

Coutinho credits her teachers, including English teacher Lauren Polansky and Steve Simoes, from whom she learned international politics.

“I had really excellent teachers at Hopkinton,” Coutinho said. “They made me love the subjects I now study.”

Former longtime resident Altamura to receive liver transplant

By John Buday Contributing Writer

S

andy Altamura moved to Cape Cod last year, but she made her mark in Hopkinton, where she lived for many years and was active in the community, especially volunteering on town committees. Lately she has been feeling the love from her friends and former neighbors here.

According to her daughter, Carrie-Lee Touhey, Altamura was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease in 2018. She was placed on the national transplant list last November, a big step toward making her a priority to get a donated liver.

As it turns out, that liver will come from Touhey, who nominated herself as a donor after finding out they share the same blood type. Touhey then passed the battery of tests necessary to donate part of her own liver to her mother.

Touhey and Altamura are scheduled to undergo their surgeries on Aug. 4, Altamura said she expects her daughter will spend eight days in the hospital before moving home to recover, while she likely will spend about 14 days in the hospital, with a much longer recovery period.

Meanwhile, primarily because Touhey anticipates needing to take off eight weeks from work, the family has asked for assistance on the financial side.

Formed June 9, the family’s GoFundMe initiative (gofundme.com/f/bpread-thetouhey-amp-altamura-living-donor-fund) brought in more than $9,400 as of June 23, which includes a number of donations from Hopkintonians.

“We are aware how the virus has put a strain on everyone’s lives, especially financially,” Touhey says on her donation page. “Donations will be used for household bills for both our families during our recovery.”

In the meantime, Altamura and her family stay hunkered down in Cape Cod due to the pandemic.

“I’m doing well,” Altamura said. “Hopefully the surgery will be in-and-out, and we’ll do OK with that, too. But I’m feeling fine.”

Touhey describes the surgery as bigger than a marrow or kidney transplant — “not to ever minimize those but to highlight that this is an extremely serious surgery,” Touhey said. “It takes two teams, one for each of us, months of planning to coordinate this transplantation. They even gather and practice the surgery ahead of time virtually using all of our 3D imaging.”

The process of placing on the national transplant list also features hurdles, namely that reaching the top of the list requires the applicant to be at current risk of death.

As of March 2020, the federal government’s Health Resources & Services Administration estimates that 20 people die per day while waiting to be assigned a donor out of 112,000-plus men, women and children.

Transplant | 7

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020 • 7

Town Meeting set for Sept. 21 A

nnual Town Meeting, already postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was set for Sept. 21.

Town Meeting originally was news BRIEFS set to be held May 4. It was pushed back to June 22 and then postponed indefinitely until the Select Board decided at its June 16 meeting to go with the third Monday in September.

Marathon plans move forward Tim Kilduff, executive director of the 26.2 Foundation, received the support of the Select Board to continue developing plans for a substitute Boston Marathon to be run within Hopkinton in September. The race would be limited to registered runners who are running to raise money for Hopkinton organizations.

Kilduff, speaking before the board at its June 16 meeting, said he expected there would be 100-125 participants, and he requested the go-ahead to work with town safety and health departments to ensure the race could be held safely.

“We as a board stand behind [Kilduff] and hope that this gets taken care of quickly,” Select Board chair Brendan Tedstone said.

Town maintains top credit rating Hopkinton has maintained its AAA rating — the highest level of creditworthiness a municipality can achieve — for the recent issue of $9.5 million in bonds to be used for school construction, the town announced in a press release June 11.

This rating allows the town to borrow money at the lowest commercial interest rates possible.

“It was gratifying to retain Hopkinton’s top-tier AAA bond rating from Standard and Poor’s, even in the midst of a national economic crisis,” chief financial officer Tim O’Leary stated.

“The rating agency specifically noted Hopkinton’s very strong financial management practices and prudent budget management as key factors supporting our AAA rating.”

Added Town Manager Norman

Khumalo: “By earning the top rating of AAA as a borrower, Hopkinton is able to obtain needed funds at the lowest possible interest rates in the market, saving our taxpayers money at a critical time.”

Treasurer Chris Heymanns indicated the rating will save the town between $250,000 and $320,000 in interest expense over the life of the borrowing, as compared to the next lower rating.

The borrowing will support the construction of 16 new classrooms to address school crowding. Town voters supported the project at the December 2019 Special Town Meeting and the ballot vote in February 2020 as well.

Parks & Rec camp at Center only The Parks & Recreation Department announced that registration has opened for the Junior Hillers Playground Group at Center School, which is the only summer camp program Parks & Rec is offering this year due to pandemic restrictions and school availability.

Junior Hillers is for ages 8-12.

There will be a morning and afternoon session. Participants can be registered for either session weekly but not both.

There will be five weekly sessions, starting July 6.

For more information, visit hopkintonma.myrec.com.

Road repaving scheduled A handful of road repaving projects have been scheduled for mid-July, the Department of Public Works announced.

This summer’s projects include Claflin Street (full length), Clydesdale Lane (full length), Elm Street (from Lumber Street Extension to end), Palomino Drive (full length) and Wedgewood Drive (full length).

The DPW advises that once work begins on each project residents should expect delays, seek alternate routes when possible, and avoid parking on the street. Any utility work on the listed streets must be completed by July 6, and as per the town’s road opening permit policy, no permit will be granted for work on the road for five years, except for an emergency.

Altamura to receive liver transplant Transplant | from page 6

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“Often by the time a patient is sick enough to be at the top of the list, they’re too sick to proceed with surgery,” Touhey said. “I decided to try and do whatever was in my power to see that she never reaches that threshold. … Without a liver, I will lose my mother.”

Altamura was placed on the national transplant list last November, Touhey describing it as a huge milestone for them. This meant the family could then try for both a living donor and a deceased one, giving them more options.

“The decision to move forward with living donation became very clear to me on a personal level,” Touhey said on her decision. “I knew in my heart the second she was diagnosed two years ago that I wanted to apply to give her another chance at life.

I just had to see if it was something I was even able to do for her.”

She describes her mother on the donation page as loving, opinionated, fierce and representing the strong “matriarchal force” of the family.

Altamura said she was surprised by the fundraising success, and she referred to her daughter in turn as her love and hero, and a very determined person. On which aspect of her daughter makes her most proud, she replied: “Her giving nature. She gives to her kids, she gives to work, she’s giving to me. She is a giver.”

Altamura also was grateful to those in the Hopkinton community who have offered support.

“I want to thank all my friends who’ve stepped up and helped contribute to this fund,” she said. “It meant the world to me and my family. I was so touched by the people that turned out for me and Carrie-Lee.” “The Big Picture in a Small Town”

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Fraud | from page 1

or five claims of unemployment fraud per day. In the police logs covering a four-week span ending June 22 there were 40 references to residents contacting the police to report suspected cases of unemployment fraud.

The mailing is little more than a form letter indicating how much money a recipient is purportedly going to get per month as a result of his or her claim.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said last month that her office had received nearly 300 calls from state residents claiming to have been targeted by unemployment fraud Officer Phil Powers, shown working at a recent social justice rally at the scams since the pandemic began.

Town Common, not only has dealt with unemployment fraud questions According to Healey’s office, the from residents, he has dealt with it personally. fraudsters are filing false claims through state unemployment agencies nationwide, including the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA).

“We are working with our state and federal partners to determine the sources of these fraudulent claims and take appropriate action,” Healey said in a statement. “In the meantime, if you encounter one of these scams, stay alert, stay calm and report this fraud.”

Powers said he did not fill out an incident report but noted residents can choose to let the police know so the complaint is on record. Because of the widespread nature of the fraud, it should be investigated at the state and federal level, he added.

“If people do report it to us we will give them an incident number so, down the road if something happens, they can say they did report it to the police,” Powers said, urging people to report the fraudulent claim letters to the DUA. Once it is reported to state authorities, they can take the ball on investigating it, Powers said. Healey recommends that victims report the fraud to credit card companies, banks and other financial institutions where they do business. Individuals also should take steps to secure accounts, change passwords, check credit reports and make a record of the fraud, Healey said.

The DUA has implemented additional security measures due to the uptick in reports of these scams.

“Protecting the integrity of the unemployment system and ensuring benefits are going only to valid claimants is the top priority of the Department of Unemployment Assistance,” said Rosalin Acosta, secretary of labor and workforce development. “We are working rapidly to respond to this scheme and urge individuals who may have had a false unemployment claim filed in their name to contact the department.”

Jobless claims have been coming nationwide on an unprecedented scale. An additional 1.5 million people filed for unemployment insurance the week of June 15, which marked 13 straight weeks of having more than 1 million people file for unemployment for the first time. The previous one-week record for jobless claims came back in 1982 and was 695,000.

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Picard named CEO/president at Savers Bank Hopkinton resident Rosemary Picard was named chief executive officer and president of Savers Bank, the company announced.

Picard, who had served as the bank’s chief operating officer and chief financial officer since 2014, succeeds former CEO and Rosemary Picard President Joe Coderre, who recently retired after 35 years with the company. Her promotion became effective May 11.

“Rosemary is eager to BUSINESS BRIEFS build upon the past successes of the bank and lead the company into its next chapter,” said Dr. Dewey J. Tiberii, chair of the bank’s board of directors. “Rosemary has a deep respect for our customers and will make the decisions necessary to deliver on the value of our Simply Better brand. Her forward-thinking ideas to improve the bank efficiencies along with providing leading bank customer financial solutions will insure that Savers Bank is among the top leading community banks in Central Massachusetts.”

Prior to joining Savers Bank, Picard served as chief financial officer and treasurer for Dean Bank. She has over 20 years of banking experience, including stints with Beneficial Finance & Mortgage and State Street Bank & Trust. She is a certified public accountant and worked as a senior accountant for Piccerelli, Gilstein, & Co, LLP, located in Providence.

Picard graduated with honors from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. She is an active member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified “The Big Picture in a Small Town”

Public Accountants as well as the Boston chapter of the Financial Managers Society.

GRLA promotes Khalsa Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects (GRLA) of Hopkinton announced that SiriDevta Khalsa was promoted to associate/director of finance and joined the firm’s management team. Khalsa had been managing finance at GRLA for the past five years and, according to the company, “has proven herself to be an integral part of GRLA’s overall success.”

The company also recently worked with the Worcester County Food Bank to help with the replacement of the roof at the organization’s Shrewsbury headquarters, converting it from rubber to metal.

“The Worcester County Food Bank delivers over 5,000,000 pounds of food to over 70,000 people in the Worcester County area, so ensuring the integrity of their building and especially the roof is of paramount importance,” GRLA stated.

MRMC appoints Martinez chair of anesthesiology Milford Regional Medical Center announced the appointment of Matthew C. Martinez, M.D., as the new chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, where he has been a member since 2009.

Martinez graduated cum laude from Bucknell University and went to medical school at SUNY Business briefs | 9

The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020 • 9

Town renegotiates Legacy Farms HCA After Legacy Farms Road North was paved in mid-June, developer Roy MacDowell’s crews moved on to finishing the sidewalks along East Main Street. When completed, there will be continuous sidewalks from Clinton Street (next to Fairview Estates) into the center of Hopkinton.

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

D

uring its Zoom meeting on June 16, the Select Board approved a renegotiated host community agreement with Legacy Farms developer Roy MacDowell, which will provide an immediate boost to the School Department’s stabilization fund.

Town Manager Norman Khumalo said there were three key reasons why it made sense for the town to renegotiate.

“Number one, the school enrollment impacts were upon us,” Khumalo said.

“They became an immediate and present need that we needed to address. So having this conversation with the developer in terms of agreeing on the schedule that could support our budget processes was the right thing to do.

“The second issue why I felt it was necessary for the town to get into these negotiations was tied to the legal side of host community agreements. There were new developments legally in terms of case law as well as the [Department of Revenue] requirements that we felt we needed to adjust to better protect the community of Hopkinton.

“Last but not least we had also identified the need to address the public safety issues that are coming up sooner rather than later.”

The new plan, officially Amendment No. 7 to the Legacy Farms Host Community Agreement, includes payments totaling approximately $4.7 million from Legacy Farms.

There will be four payments to the town totaling just over $4 million, with the first payment of $831,300 due within three days of the full execution of the amendment. The remaining payments are due on or before July 30, 2020 (approximately $1.2 million), on or before June 30, 2021 ($1.2 million), and on or before Dec. 31, 2021 ($753,050).

Added Khumalo: “The developer will also pay the sum of $13,190 to the town for the use in the town’s discretion as further mitigation for the project. The idea here is to provide funding that will allow the town to continue to document the impact of Legacy Farms.

“The developer will also make a payment in the amount of $500,000 for the purpose of defraying the design cost of a new public safety facility. This payment will be made by June 30, 2021. In our negotiations with the developer we were looking for an accelerated schedule of making this funding available following Town Meeting’s approval of the design funds for the public safety facility.

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

“The developer also has committed to making the final payment of $120,000 as mitigation for the costs incurred by the town in dealing with increased demands on its public safety agencies and infrastructure. And this payment will be made on the date of issuance of the certificate of occupancy for the 90th building unit located within a senior housing development.

“Finally, the amendments affirm the payments that have already been made by the developer towards the development Main Street Corridor Project in the amount of $3 million.

“In summary, those are the provisions that I believe are advantageous to the community.”

Select Board member Brian Herr supported the new plan but said residents should be made to feel comfortable the payments will be made on time.

“It’s important that they know that this $4.7 million, which is a serious chunk of cash, is going to be paid and we can rely on it and count on it as we do our budgets and do other things going forward,” he said. “How do we get some assurance that those dates will be good?”

MacDowell jumped in to ensure that he would deliver.

“We would not have made this agreement with you and Norman if we could not perform on it,” he said, adding: “I think we’ve performed in most things if

WELCOME TO

not all things we’ve agreed to. As many of you have noticed, we’re completing the sidewalk on East Main Street, the footings are going in for the traffic lights as we speak on East Main Street, the North Road at Legacy has been paved, the lines have been put in — a few minor touch-ups to get that done. So we’re completing all our obligations, and I can assure you that the payments will be made in a timely fashion.”

Select Board chair Brendan Tedstone said he was in a number of meetings with town officials as well as MacDowell and was pleased with the results.

“I know that this is for the best for the town, and it’s nice to see that the town and the developer can come to such a nice agreement,” he said before the motion passed unanimously.

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Martinez appointed Business briefs | from page 8

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“Dr. Martinez is that rare find of an incredibly thoughtful and bright physician whose clinical excellence and compassion are universally recognized and respected. He is a natural leader,” stated Leslie G. Selbovitz, M.D., chief medical officer and senior vice president for medical affairs. “We welcome Dr. Martinez to his new role and wish him much success.”

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10 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020

Schools Lego Masters competition debuts in Hopkinton

By Sandy Quadros Bowles Contributing Writer

Y

tion still runs wild, and the most important part about that is you turn that imagination into reality even if it gets hard,” she said.

“But you can only do that if you believe in yourself.”

Participants have until noon July 10 to complete their work. Final creations will be judged by Hopkinton High students who have volunteered their time.

When their work is complete, participants will submit a video showcasing their creations and the thought process behind them. Participants then will receive feedback from the student volunteers who have experience with Lego design.

The entry fee is a $5 minimum donation per child to benefit Hopkinton High School Business Professionals of America and Robotics clubs. Anyone wishing to donate more is welcome to do so, Scott said. A trophy and small Lego kit will be presented to the winner in each category.

Rhodes shares Scott’s viewpoint that this competition can fill time productively and educationally.

“This gives them something to do with their free time, because a lot of people have a lot of free time these days,” Rhodes said.

For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/hopkintonlego.

School addition projects underway T

wo of the three school construction projects that were approved at Town Meeting last year have begun, and the third is expected to start soon.

The town approved modSCHOOLS NOTEBOOK ular classrooms for Elmwood, Hopkins and the high school in an attempt to keep up with the steady increase in student enrollment.

Construction crews began excavation work at Elmwood and Hopkins in midJune. According to superintendent Carol Cavanaugh, installation of the classrooms should start in mid-July, with the projects expected to be completed by mid-August.

The high school construction contract was expected to awarded on July 1, so the timing of the work there — modular classrooms added to the rear of the building — was not yet finalized.

“We are really excited to get the Elmwood and Hopkins classrooms open,” Cavanaugh wrote via email. “We certainly have the students to fill them!”

pursue medical studies in college. One of the recipients was Thrusha Puttaraju of Hopkinton High School. Puttaraju, who plans to become a pediatrician, was one of three recipients of the Milford Regional Auxiliary Scholarship, worth $1,000.

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

oungsters might not be able to visit an amusement park this summer, but they can build one.

For the first time this summer, youngsters can participate in a Hopkinton Lego Masters competition. In this inaugural event, Hopkinton youth and school employees’ children in pre-K through eighth grade are invited to create a Lego amusement park through the Hopkinton Lego Masters Contest.

With opportunities limited for kids who might otherwise attend camp or do other group activities this summer, Doug Scott, engineering and robotics teacher at Hopkinton High School, created this opportunity for students to do a group activity while still at home.

He developed the event as an answer to his own question: “How can I take some of the online experience [they’ve had] and provide an opportunity?” The competition will not replace in-person activity, he said, but provides “something positive for them to do.”

“It’s a nice way for kids to be creative,’’ he said, and an “opportunity for kids to focus on something that’s productive.”

Categories are judged by grade levels: pre-K and kindergarten, Grades 1-2, Grades 3-5 and Grades 6-8. Mentors will provide video response feedback and will judge and select winners for each gradelevel bracket.

Participants are asked not to use kits, although pieces from kits are acceptable, and parental involvement is limited to preK and kindergarten students, Scott said.

One of the student judges, Tyler Rhodes, is a graduating senior who is headed to Virginia Tech University, where he plans to major in aerospace engineering. He jumped at the chance to judge the contest. “If I had had this opportunity as a kid, I would have done it,” he said.

As a judge, Rhodes said he is looking for “attention to detail.” He encourages participants to “add some intriguing as-

pects’’ to their creations, “something that stands out, is unique and catches your eye.”

Fellow judge Jahnavi Prudhivi, who will be a junior at HHS in the fall, chose to become involved “because it’s fascinating to see the products all of the students come up with,” she said. “It’s just amazing to see a person turning a bunch of individual pieces into something they envision.”

When the program ends, “I hope to see kids smile after seeing their final product,” she added.

Prudhivi hopes the competitors will be proud of their accomplishments and realize that “no matter what age you are, imagina-

arships. Ortyashov will study at Boston University while Ye will matriculate to Tufts University.

These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.

MRMC awards scholarships

Hopkinton High School seniors Matvey Ortyashov and Grace Ye were named winners of National Merit Schol-

Milford Regional Medical Center recently awarded multiple scholarships to high school graduates who plan to

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Jessica Franchock earned a $15,000 annual Presidential Scholarship to Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania. A senior at Hopkinton High School, Franchock is interested in studying the Alpha program in college.

Albright College awards Presidential Scholarships, in the amount of $15,000 per year, to students with outstanding academic records. Presidential Scholars generally rank in the top 5 percent of their graduating class and demonstrate strong leadership skills and a commitment to service.

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HHS trio honored for fundraising The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s fourth annual Students of the Year campaign featured 14 candidate teams, comprised of 26 extraordinary high school students, raising $131,847 to help find cancer cures.

Julia Lerner, Nishi Manikandan and Mei Sutherland of Hopkinton High School ran a highly successful fundraising campaign, raising $10,881 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in seven weeks. All students were recognized for their efforts at the organization’s virtual Grand Finale Gala on May 29.

Women’s Club announces scholarships The Hopkinton Women’s Club, in its 100th anniversary year, awarded a total of $6,500 to students from the Hopkinton High School senior class. Scholarship winners were Mihika Abraham, Haley Auslander, Alexis Chason, Linnea Dean, Megan Kalmbach, Emmaline Kent, Rohan Krishnan, Max LaCascia, Tyler Rhodes, Jacob Sullivan, Maria Vasington and Callie-Rose Ronan, who received the Mary McDonough Community Service award.

The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020 • 11

School Committee appoints group to focus on fall reopening

By Sandy Quadros Bowles Contributing Writer

A

s Hopkinton awaits word from the state of how school reopening will be handled, a new committee is being formed to transform the guidance into reality.

The district is organizing a Reentry Advisory Group tasked with helping to ensure the fall reopening goes smoothly, Superintendent of Schools Carol Cavanaugh told members of the Hopkinton School Committee at their June 18 meeting.

The group, in an advisory capacity, will recommend to the superintendent what school and its related functions should look like in September. The group will meet once Jeff Riley, the state’s commissioner of education, makes his final determination for how schools should reopen.

“It doesn’t make sense” to take steps to set schedules and other logistical plans until then, Cavanaugh said, adding that she suspects he will fall somewhere in the middle of having complete virtual learning and opening schools to operate as they previously did.

“We can’t give a hard and fast determination” of how things will look like until then, she said.

She said she knows people are eager to hear his decision, but it was not known when he would deliver it. She said there is a “very good argument” that the longer he waits to decide, the more information will be available on

the status and trajectory of the virus.

Membership will include CavaOnce the decision is made, the naugh, assistant superintendent Jenadvisory group will tackle a number nifer Parson, director of finance Susan of issues, including: Rothermich; director of facilities Tim — Developing and implementing Persson, director of human resources town-wide surveys to determine needs Kim Pulnik, building principals at around transportation, child care and Marathon, Elmwood and Hopkinton scheduling of school days; High School, an educator from each — Taking guidance from town building, the HTA and paraprofespublic health officials and adhering to sionals organization presidents, one the guidance of the Massachusetts Deadministrative assistant from Hopkins, partment of Secondary and Elementary Hopkinton director of public health Education; Shaun McAuliffe, head nurse Kathy — Creating school schedules Bain, School Committee member Meg that maximize instructional time and Tyler (Amanda Fargiano alternate), address the unique learning needs of around 8-10 parents and two Hopkinton all students, whether instruction is inHigh School students. person, remote or a hybrid of the two; More than 100 parents expressed — Ensuring that the district is interest in joining the group, but poised to reestablish remote learning, membership must be limited to keep if the need for a second shutdown the meetings from being unwieldy, should arise; Cavanaugh said.

— Determining what courses can In other business, the extended be taught safely and what services can school year, also known as ESY, will be provided safely on all Hopkinton start July 6 at Marathon and Hopkinton school campuses; High School. The program offers ser— Making certain that staff and vices beyond the traditional academic students have access to personal proyear for students receiving special tective equipment and ensuring that education and related services. adult and child health care needs can Enrollment will be split to ensure be met; a two-days-off/two-days-on schedule; — Reviewing maintenance, cusmasks and shields will be provided for todial and nursing needs to ensure all students, and cleaning procedures healthy physical buildings; will be established based on recom— Working closely with the Hopmended processes. kinton Teachers Association to estabAlthough 100 student enrollment lish a memorandum of understanding falls far short of the entire district in the event that teaching and learning population, committee members enneeds extend outside the parameters of thusiastically responded to having / Creativein#1at(Surgery) theMilford currentRegional contract./ Re-Opening Campaignstudents least twoCreated of the6/17/20 build-

Hopkinton Independent / Half-Page

(10.25 x 7.5) CMYK

ings again. “It makes me ridiculously happy to think of students back in our schools,” committee member Nancy Cavanaugh said.

Also at the meeting, Dr. Cavanaugh discussed a tentative plan to work on diversity, inclusion, equity, social justice and anti-racism. Steps include: — Finding entry points in all curricula at every grade level where teachers can engage students in diversity, equity, inclusion, social media and anti-racism.

— Assessing texts being chosen to use in classrooms. “While we may have moved the needle a bit, we acknowledge we haven’t moved it far enough,” she said.

— Take on the same Bright Spots project the Boston Public Schools have done, which acknowledges positive efforts in these areas.

— Explore ways to integrate the schools with a Hopkinton Freedom Team.

Cavanaugh said there have been many meetings with the administrative team, with speakers brought in on relevant topics. “We’re very aware of our implicit biases” and “far more comfortable having these kinds of conversations that are typically difficult for white educators to engage in,” she said.

Now the work begins in the “insides of our schools” by “going deeper in terms of our interrogation of our curriculum.”

The meeting was the last for committee chair Meena Bharath and member Jen Devlin, who decided not to seek reelection to their positions.

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12 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020

Local students honored for college success Hopkinton’s Jonathan DeMarco recently received a 21st Century Leaders award from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The award recognizes stuCOLLEGE HONORS dents who have demonstrated exemplary standards of achievement, initiative and social awareness. Recipients have contributed to the university through exceptional accomplishments in research, leadership and outstanding creative and athletic talents that enhance the reputation of the campus.

DeMarco is a civil/environmental engineering major who will begin work as an environmental engineer in New York City

upon graduation. He plans on studying for a master’s degree from UMass Amherst as well. DeMarco has worked as a student ambassador in the dean’s office of the College of Engineering and worked as an engineering study abroad essentials coordinator with the International Programs Office (IPO) at UMass to implement a longterm IPO program that will assist engineers to engage in study abroad. He was involved in the Engineers Without Borders chapter on campus and traveled to Kenya and Ghana to assist communities by implementing various water-related infrastructure. …

Azilee Curl received the Bruce S. Kapp Award at the University of Vermont.

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This award is given annually to a graduating senior in neuroscience who has conducted outstanding independent research in neuroscience, while maintaining high scholastic standards overall. …

Caroline Sullivan was named the recipient of The Senior Prize in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, awarded to the outstanding concentrator in biochemistry/ molecular biology, at Hamilton College’s annual Class & Charter Day. Sullivan also received a Bachelor of Arts degree in May. She graduated summa cum laude and was the class valedictorian. She prepped at Phillips Exeter Academy.

Dean’s list/president’s list Three Hopkinton residents were named to the president’s list at Clemson University for the spring semester:

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Elizabeth Braunstein, who majors in pre-business, Kayla Patrick, who majors in architecture, and Jacob Simmer, who majors in pre-business. …

Zachary Schiffman was named to the dean’s list at the College of William & Mary. …

At Worcester Polytechnic Institute, five Hopkinton residents were named to the dean’s list: senior Abigail Gilbert (majoring in mechanical engineering), juniors Parima Sharma (biomedical engineering), Isaac Stilwell (civil engineering) and Rajkumar Dandekar (mechanical engineering), and freshman Ryan Hawkins (mechanical engineering). …

James Desmond was named to the dean’s commendation list at Gettysburg College. …

At Siena College, Scott Babigian was named to the president’s list and Kyle Canty was named to the dean’s list. …

At the University of Wisconsin, Bella Onsi and Maya Zent, both of whom are in the College of Letters and Science, were named to the dean’s list. …

Named to the dean’s list at Clarkson University were Philip Hubbe, a junior majoring in electrical engineering, and Nicholas Mirabile, a junior majoring in aeronautical engineering. …

At the College of Charleston, Jessica Beck (majoring in international studies and political science) was named to the president’s list, while Caitlin Dean (psychology), Louis Dentiste (finance) and Casey Palmer (public health) were named to the dean’s list. …

At the University of Vermont, Mad-

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Photos with people or pets in them are encouraged. Photos that are not selected as winners might be posted on our website.

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

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

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020 • 13 eleine Holden, Landon York, Anna Schonhorn and Emma Wright were named to the dean’s list. …

Amanda Gollaher, a member of the Colgate University Class of 2022, earned a fall 2019 dean’s award for academic excellence. …

A number of Hopkintonians made the dean’s list at the University of New Hampshire. Brittany Forsmo, Ivy Gogolin, Galen Graham, Michelle Horrigan, Isabella Houley, Alexandra Lee, Jessica Mellor and Susanna Schroeder received highest honors; Lia Brossi, Jeffrey Foster, Jonathan Goldberg, Leanna Klein, Alexander Kosheff, Jacqueline Lupinski, Emily Marculitis, Peter Mitchell, Kayla Murphy and Cole Stukel received high honors; and Elizabeth Liberta received honors. …

The following local students were named to the dean’s list at Endicott College: Amanda Gilbert (who is majoring in exercise science), John McGuire (business management), Emma Murphy (liberal studies/education) and Selia Potas (studio art). …

Tatyana Markovich was named to the dean’s list at the University of New England. …

Katherine Litchfield received dean’s list honors for the fall 2019 semester at Fairfield University. …

At Emerson College, three Hopkinton residents were named to the dean’s list: senior Declan Curry, who is majoring in media arts production, junior Brianna Maloney, who also is majoring in media arts production, and sophomore Eugenia Camacho, who is majoring in business creative enterprises. …

Sarah Durr, who is majoring in health science/occupational therapy, was named to the dean’s list at Springfield College. …

Molly Rancourt was named to the dean’s list at Lesley University for the fall 2019 semester. …

Emma Barker, who majors in athletic training, was named to the dean’s list at Cedarville University in Ohio. …

At the University of Rhode Island, Meghan Anderson, Erin Blodgett, Alyssa Carbone, Grace Darkow, Samuel Darkow, Kailey Keohane, Maddie Marques, Josh Martel, Will Pawela, John Simes and Brianna Tocco were named to the dean’s list. …

Erin Winsor, who majors in communication, was named to the dean’s list at Eastern Connecticut State University. …

At Dean College in Franklin, Nicholas Lallier, William Scannell and Tobias White were named to the dean’s list.

Honor society inductions At Curry College, Riley Strickland was inducted into Sigma Beta Delta, the International Honor Society in Business, Management and Administration, as well as the Alexander Graham Bell Honor Society, which promotes and recognizes academic excellence. Also at Curry, Julie Tarantino was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society. Both students were named to the dean’s list for the spring semester. …

Eastern Connecticut State University’s Communication Department inducted 39 students into the Lambda Pi Eta national honor society and awarded students for excellence in radio, research, television, leadership, journalism and photography.

Among those honored was Erin Winsor, a senior who majors in Communication.

Winsor was awarded Excellence in Photography. …

At Auburn University, Isla Stewart was initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, which bills itself as the nation’s

oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. …

Megan Donovan was one of 56 Hofstra University students inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in an online ceremony in May. Donovan is majoring in drama and English.

Graduating students The following students from Hopkinton graduated from the University of New Hampshire on May 16 during a virtual celebration: Emily Marculitis (who received a B.A. in political science), Jeffrey Foster (B.S. in business administration: marketing), Michelle Horrigan (cum laude with a B.A. in history), Connor Czerepuszko (B.S. in business administration: marketing), Alexander Kosheff (B.S. in business administration: marketing) and Leanna Klein (cum laude with a B.S. in business administration: finance). …

Saint Anselm College celebrated its 483 graduating seniors on May 16 with a livestream event from the Abbey Church.

Brittany Power earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing, and Julia Thissell graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in education studies and elementary education. …

Some 3,183 students were awarded degrees during the University of Vermont’s 220th commencement ceremonies, held online in May. Hopkinton residents earning degrees were Azilee Curl, Carly Mangan and Emma Wright. …

Julia Joshi, Katherine Litchfield, Brigid Marquedant and Kate Welzel graduated from Fairfield University in May. …

Kayla Patrick graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Arts in architecture. Patrick was among more than 4,007 students who received degrees awarded in May. …

Zachary Schiffman graduated from the College of William & Mary with a Bachelor of Science degree. …

Paul Windheuser was one of 522 individuals to earn a degree from Assumption, as he received a bachelor’s degree in marketing. …

Zain Ali received a Bachelor of Arts in IDS curriculum and instruction while Gabrielle Boyce received a Bachelor of Science in entrepreneurship at Lasell University in Newton. Both students also were named to the dean’s list for their final semester. …

Casey Palmer graduated with a Bachelor of Science in public health from College of Charleston. Palmer was among the more than 1,500 students who received degrees in May. …

Katherine Cook, James Huasheng Lu, Trevor Learned Perkins, Nicole Marie Thomas and Emma June Zack earned a degree in February from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. …

Harrison Parsons graduated from Union College with a Bachelor of Science in economics and mathematics. …

Kathryn Greiner-Ferris, a coastal marine and wetland studies major, graduated from Coastal Carolina University. …

Grace McLaughlin is among 1,088 students who recently graduated from Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. McLaughlin received a degree in musical theatre. …

Matthew Manzella graduated in May from Nazareth College in Rochester, New York, with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in physical therapy.

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

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14 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020

Sports Uncertainty abounds in preparing for post-pandemic sports season

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

H

opkinton athletic director Rich Cormier is not entirely certain what high school sports will look like when they return in the fall — assuming they do — but he’s confident there will be significant changes compared to when the last HHS teams suited up this past winter.

Cormier and his fellow ADs in both the Tri-Valley League and Southeastern Massachusetts have been meeting regularly to try to tackle the many questions surrounding what precautions might need to be put in place in order to keep athletes, coaches, officials and spectators safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first step, he said, will be getting more guidance from the state about

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the rules and regulations for students returning to school.

“I think based on what the state provides to schools for what students returning to the building may or may not look like, we can gain some insight on what sports might look like,” Cormier said.

But some of the most common means of limiting the virus’s spread in everyday life do not translate to the field or court.

“To truly play our fall slate of sports we cannot expect students to be wearing masks when they play,” Cormier said, “and there is no way to social distance in any sport other than golf.”

One edge Massachusetts may have is the fact that the state sends students back to school and therefore starts the fall sports season later than many other states around the country. Cormier said it will allow the Bay State to observe what works, and what doesn’t, when it comes to education in a COVID-19 world. Some youth sports leagues in the state are going to attempt to play modi-

fied seasons this summer if the phased reopening continues and social distancing guidelines are relaxed enough to allow for it.

“I think that will also provide some lessons,” Cormier said.

The fields at Hopkinton High School officially opened after the last day of school on June 17.

“Our coaches and our students are chomping at the bit to get out there, without question,” Cormier said. “They want to just be outside and be with their teammates and be playing something.”

But the eagerness to get on the field is coupled with anxiety, the AD added, saying, “There is a real concern about what the fall might look like, and beyond that.

“Even if we are able to start a fall season, there is going to be that voice wondering whether the hammer of a second wave is going to drop and whether we may need to take a pause or cancel sports once again,” he said. “That Uncertainty | 15

HHS athletic awards announced Hopkinton High School recently announced its athletic award recipients.

Cami McDonald, who lettered in field hockey, basketball and lacrosse, and Drew Rancatore, a member of the basketball and baseball teams, were named Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

Schuyler Gooley and Alex Brown, both of whom starred in cross country and track, were named Athletes of the Year.

SPORTS ROUNDUP Angie Grabmeier, a standout in volleyball and track, and Steven Maffiore, a member of the soccer, basketball and lacrosse teams, won the Marines Distinguished Athlete awards.

Hillers earn lax honors Four Hopkinton High School players received awards from the Eastern Massachusetts Girls Lacrosse Coaches Association (EMGLCA). Olivia O’Connor won the Community Service Award, Hannah Ianelli won the Leadership Award, Cami McDonald won the Scholar-Athlete Award and Maria Vasington won the Sportsmanship Award.

According to the announcement from the EMGLCA, the awards “were created as a way to recognize members of the Class of 2020 for their remarkable contributions to their programs over the last four years. In spite of the disruption to their senior years and the cancellation of the spring season, we know that seniors have continued to motivate and inspire their teammates with leadership and positivity. … We will always be indebted to the Class of 2020 for their resiliency, inspiration, and unwavering commitment during the most challenging of times.”

McDonald also won the inaugural Hopkinton Girls Youth Lacrosse Scholarship.

Bowdoin honors Finnerty Kara Finnerty, who grew up in Hopkinton and attended high school at St. Mark’s in Southborough, won the Sidney J. Watson Award as Bowdoin College’s outstanding multi-sport athlete for 2019-20.

A four-year starter for both the field hockey and lacrosse teams, she was an All-American in both sports.

“What a fantastic four years you’ve had, and it started the moment that you stepped on campus,” field hockey coach Nicky Pearson coach said in a video tribute. “You will be remembered as one of the most decorated players in the history of our program. But what really sets you apart is the influence that you’ve had on your teammates and the outstanding leadership qualities that you brought to our program for the last two years. This is what makes you such a special person that we all love to be around.”

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“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020 • 15

Hopkinton baseball plans summer return HHS players form Senior Babe Ruth League team

Recent Hopkinton High School graduates Ethan DeYoung (3) and Tommy Ambrosone (10) will play on the new Hopkinton Senior Babe Ruth League team that will be led by HHS coach Steve Simoes.

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

T

FILE PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

he senior-laden Hopkinton High School baseball team never had the chance to take the field this spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so when coach Steve Simoes saw an opportunity to get the group one more opportunity to play together, he took it.

“I never get involved with summer baseball, I let the kids get away from me,” Simoes said. “But I think this group has a lot they wanted to prove. It was an exciting year to coach because there were 11 seniors and only two had interest in playing beyond high school. … The others just love being around the game and around each other.”

Hopkinton will join the Central Mass. Senior Babe Ruth League, a wooden bat summer league for high school-age players. The start date and many of the details surrounding how the league will play amid a pandemic, even one on the wane for Massachusetts, remained unclear as of last week.

In order for games to take place, Massachusetts would need to move into the third phase of its reopening plan, which initially was slated for June 29.

However, Gov. Charlie Baker recently said the start date will be no earlier than July 6 to allow for health officials to see whether two weeks of indoor dining and the lifting of other restrictions has an effect on the number of cases.

The guidelines for getting on fields and how many players will be allowed in the dugout, among other things, can vary from municipality to municipality, Simons said. One team, Framingham, will not be allowed to host games for two weeks, throwing a wrench into scheduling before the first pitch is thrown.

Nine of the 11 HHS seniors who would have been on this year’s varsity team will play for the Senior Ruth squad.

“We have plenty of interest,” Simoes said. “Now it’s just a matter of

Post-pandemic sports season

get breaking news alerts and daily updates

Uncertainty | from page 14

is a fear for myself, for coaches, for students, families, everyone involved.”

Cormier said schools likely will see a drop in participation as a result of the pandemic and an uptick on home schooling. Registration for fall sports is open and the tentative plan is still to have football practice begin Aug. 21 and the rest of the fall sports start Aug. 24. While the game schedules are set, Cormier has not put together a schedule for tryouts and practices or held informational meetings because, at this stage, there is far too much uncertainty.

While some things seem certain, like increased cleaning measures or a halt to the sharing of water bottles and equipment, other issues like whether spectators will have to stay 6 feet apart — if they are allowed at all — remain unanswered. For any sports to happen, in the summer or the fall, Massachusetts would have to advance to at least Phase 3 of its four-phase reopening plan.

Recent numbers showing the virus may be waning in Massachusetts provide Cormier with some optimism that milestone will be reached well before the fall season.

“That’s what’s keeping me positive, things are trending in the right direction and I’m hopeful we can return to school and return to athletic participation,” he said. “I don’t think there is any chance we return as we left in the winter, though. There are going to be restrictions and changes and we need to make sure we are emphasizing the safety and well-being of everyone involved.”

logistics.

All players had to sign a COVID-19 waiver, and the town of Hopkinton is involved in setting protocols for social distancing and other health-related measures. Simoes said the league likely would have games without fans. Even the start date, July 6, was tentative since the state could further delay implementing the third phase.

But that hasn’t stopped the players from getting together in small groups to play catch, hit in the cage, or see some live pitching.

“It’s all very exciting,” Hopkinton High 2020 graduate Drew Rancatore said shortly after one such informal practice session. “When I heard that Coach Simoes was going to be able to do this, I couldn’t believe what an opportunity this was. Missing out on the regular season was a bummer, but this makes up for it. We get to have a final go.”

Simoes said practices should begin this month ahead of the planned start date for games. The team will be donning old green uniforms from the athletic department that Rancatore described as “throwbacks with a nice, retro fit.”

The Hillers will head into the summer season as the defending Tri-Valley League champions from 2019, but the Senior Babe Ruth League includes teams from a footprint stretching beyond the TVL. Simoes said the Hillers have been able to do some workouts and hold team meetings via video conference during the spring.

“A lot of these kids had worked hard to prepare for their senior season,” he said.

Jack Breslin, another HHS 2020 graduate, said the energy and anticipation ahead of the summer season is palpable.

“These are the guys I grew up with and I love them to death,” Breslin said.

“To get an opportunity to get some closure and put an end to my baseball career and my high school road with these guys would mean the world.”

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16 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020

Police Log 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.

ARRESTS June 13

2:16 a.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officers Stephen Buckley and Robert Ekross conducted a motor vehicle check on West Main Street and subsequently conducted field sobriety tests on an individual. Jose Antonio Loja-Paguay, 27, of 69 Harvard St., Brockton, was arrested and charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and OUI liquor. A tow truck was requested.

June 9

8:18 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan assisted a disabled motor vehicle on West Main Street.

8:52 a.m. Officer Matthew Santoro took a report of unemployment fraud on Main Street.

10:37 a.m. A caller reported losing a pair of black Oakley sunglasses and wanted the incident logged.

11:38 a.m. Officer Ryan Polselli spoke with a Blueberry Lane resident about unemployment fraud.

1:56 p.m. A caller complained of someone riding a motorized bike through the Davis Road complex. Officer Jay Deiana responded and spoke with a group of youths and informed them of the complaint.

3:23 p.m. A Mayhew Street caller

complained of youths riding a motorized bike in the neighborhood. Officers Benjamin Stickney and Jessica Ferreira responded and spoke with the youths.

4:09 p.m. A caller reported an erratic operator on West Main Street. Officers Tyler Brabham, Jessica Ferreira and Benjamin Stickney responded and issued a notice of trespass to the involved party. A report was to follow.

6:03 p.m. A Donna Pass resident reported graffiti on her property. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded to view the vandalism and took a report.

10:10 p.m. Officers Jessica Ferreira and Benjamin Stickney checked on multiple vehicles parked on Rafferty Road and subsequently found people fishing.

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June 10

6:04 a.m. A caller reported a deceased deer on the side of the roadway of Cedar Street Extension. The animal control officer was notified.

10:50 a.m. A Greystone Lane resident reported unemployment fraud. Officer Matthew Santoro assisted.

1:28 p.m. A caller reported her friend and child were being harassed by a group of people on Lakeshore Drive. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Ryan Polselli responded, and a report was to follow.

1:34 p.m. An Old Town Road caller reported her neighbor threatened her the previous day. Officer Jay Deiana responded and took a report.

3:52 p.m. A caller reported someone stole a sign on East Main Street and there was a witness. Officer Tyler Brabham responded and took a report.

5:10 p.m. A caller reported a turtle in a West Main Street parking lot. The animal control officer was notified.

8:15 p.m. A caller reported a group of kids drinking in a Mayhew Street parking lot. Officers Benjamin Stickney and Tyler Brabham responded and all checked out OK. 9:46 p.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil checked on a person in a motor vehicle on Fruit Street and moved him along.

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12:02 a.m. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Brendon Lyver checked on people in a parked car on Lumber Street and found a male and a female breaking up.

8:16 a.m. A caller reported a turtle in the roadway of Freedom Way. The animal control officer was notified.

11:07 a.m. A Pond Street caller reported an argument with a neighbor, who had threatened to destroy a fence. Officers Jay Deiana and Benjamin Stickney responded and confirmed the property line dispute and spoke with both parties.

1:19 p.m. Officer Benjamin Stickney spoke with a caller about unemployment fraud.

2:02 p.m. A caller reported unemployment fraud. Officer Philip Powers assisted.

5:16 p.m. A Chestnut Street resident reported a transformer blew and her house had lost power. Officer Derek Morton responded and contacted Eversource.

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“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

1:33 a.m. Officer Robert Ekross checked on individuals riding mopeds on Wilson Street, and a father subsequently picked them up.

7:48 a.m. A Spring Street caller reported a snapping turtle near her fence.

The animal control officer was notified.

10:09 a.m. A caller reported an erratic operator on Ledgestone Drive harassing a driver of another vehicle. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded, and a report was to follow.

11:49 a.m. A caller reported a case of unemployment fraud. Officer Benjamin Stickney assisted.

1:24 p.m. A caller reported finding a German shepherd on Chestnut Street. The animal control officer was contacted and responded.

7:09 p.m. A Dell security guard on South Street reported a suspicious male on the property. Officer Derek Morton responded and spoke with the guard.

8:23 p.m. A caller reported a suspi-

The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020 • 17

Police Log cious van parked on the side of the roadway on Granite Street. Officer Preston Mucciarone responded and checked on the vehicle, and all was OK.

June 13

9:10 a.m. A Hidden Brick Road resident reported a case of unemployment fraud. Officer Philip Powers assisted.

11:32 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan discovered a Thayer Heights Road sign missing and notified the Highway Department.

12:06 p.m. The Environmental Police called to report they were shutting down Lake Whitehall because of overcrowding.

Officer Philip Powers responded to assist.

2:08 p.m. A concerned caller reported chickens tied up with string and unable to reach their water on Walcott Street. The caller also reported four baby chicks walk-

ing down the street, which the caller had taken in. The animal control officer was contacted and attempted to locate the owner.

3:32 p.m. A caller reported a hawk fell from a nest on Valentine Road. The animal control officer was notified.

5:38 p.m. A Robbern Road caller reported a burning smell coming from an outlet. Officer Tyler Brabham responded along with the Fire Department. After the house was evacuated, a breaker was turned off and the homeowner was advised to replace the outlet.

June 14

6:46 a.m. An Ash Street caller reported someone shot out her window. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded to view the vandalism. A report was to follow.

9:45 a.m. A walk-in reported unemployment fraud.

Senior Snippets The Hopkinton Senior Center remains closed to the public, but the staff remains available to assist residents. Call (508) 497-9730 if in need of assistance, with questions or just to say hi. For a more extensive listing of programs check Ourseniorcenter. com/find/Hopkinton-council-on-aging or hopkintonseniorcenter.com.

The Senior Center will be closed on July 3.

The Hopkinton Senior Center Outreach Department continues to be available to seniors and residents in town during the pandemic. The department is working with many organizations in town, including the Knights of Columbus, to facilitate food shopping and medical rides. Outreach can be reached by phoning the Senior Center at (508) 497-9730 and leaving a message.

Durable medical equipment (walkers, bath seats, canes, crutches — but no longer commodes), for Hopkinton residents’ use only, is available to be loaned out free of charge. Wheelchairs, both standard and transport, require a $25 refundable deposit and are limited to two months.

2:37 p.m. A caller reported two kayaks fell off a car roof on Grove Street. Officer Tyler Brabham responded, and they were gone upon his arrival.

2:54 p.m. A caller reported unemployment fraud and wanted it logged.

4:14 p.m. A caller reported the erratic operation of a WaveRunner on Lake Maspenock. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and requested the Environmental Police, who subsequently responded to assist.

8:48 p.m. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded along with the Fire Department to a report of an illegal burn on Wood Street.

The fire was subsequently extinguished.

June 15

9:41 a.m. A caller reported unemployment fraud. Officer Matthew Santoro took a report.

9:51 a.m. A Stagecoach Way caller reported a case of unemployment fraud.

The incident was logged.

4:08 p.m. Police Chief Joseph Bennett took a report of fraud.

9:04 p.m. A Whalen Road resident reported a case of unemployment fraud.

9:08 p.m. Officer Tyler Brabham took a report of unemployment fraud on Alprilla Farm Road.

10:05 p.m. Officers Benjamin Stickney and Jessica Ferreira checked on a motor vehicle and operator at the boat ramp on Legacy Farms North. All was OK.

June 16

6:26 a.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident on Wood Street. Officer

Brendon Lyver responded. No personal injuries were reported. A tow truck was requested.

11:39 a.m. Officer Jay Deiana took a report of a hit and run motor vehicle accident including property damage on Hayden Rowe Street.

1:07 p.m. A Teresa Road caller reported unemployment fraud.

1:59 p.m. An Equestrian Drive caller reported unemployment fraud.

7:45 p.m. A Wood Street resident reported his house had been robbed. Officers Jessica Ferreira and Benjamin Stickney responded, and a report was to follow.

10:26 p.m. A caller reported a strong odor of smoke on Main Street. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded along with the Fire Department and they discovered an illegal burn. The fire was extinguished.

June 17

6:53 a.m. A caller reported an abandoned vehicle with fresh heavy damage at the lower beach in the State Park on Cedar Street. The Ashland Police Department was notified and was to handle the incident.

8:20 a.m. Officer Benjamin Stickney came upon a motor vehicle accident with no personal injury on West Main Street.

A portable breath test was requested.

Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Jay Deiana responded to assist. A vehicle was towed, and a report was to follow.

10:00 a.m. Multiple officers assisted with traffic flow and community relations Police log | 18

Lunch Program The Senior Center, partially funded by a grant from the MetroWest Health Foundation, has begun a limited takeout lunch program (Tuesday-Friday) for Hopkinton seniors, particularly those who are homebound and/or have relied on the center for their daily main meal in the past. While there are limited quantities, anyone who knows of a senior who might benefit from this program can call the Senior Center at 508-497-9730. Cost is $2 per meal.

Caregiver Virtual Support Group Fridays, July 10 and 24, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Are you caring for a parent, spouse or partner or a close friend? Are you overwhelmed and isolated? The Caregiver Support Group provides an opportunity for learning and a space for sharing your concerns with others who face similar challenges.

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

Non-Financial Planning for Retirement Post Coronavirus Friday, July 10, 12:30 p.m.

Your non-financial retirement plan must incorporate lessons learned from our coronavirus experiences, such as how to deal with uncertainty, how to improve social networking skills, questions to ask while making travel plans, plus much more.

Presented by Henry Quinlan, author of an upcoming book titled “How to Build Your Emotional Pension in a Post-Coronavirus Era.” He is a semi-retired book publisher.

Pre-registration is required. This program will be offered live through Zoom.

Recipe Swap Friday, July 24, 12:30 p.m.

Grab your favorite recipes to share with your friends. During quarantine we are all looking for recipes to spice up our daily meals. This program is facilitated

by Marlene Troupes, outreach coordinator for the Senior Center. Pre-registration is required. This presentation will be offered live through Zoom.

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18 • The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020

Police Log Police log | from page 17

from the middle school graduation on Hayden Rowe Street. Detail officers also assisted.

11:10 a.m. A caller complained of two youths on pocket bikes speeding up and down Leon’s Way. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Jay Deiana responded and advised the youths not to ride their pocket bikes on a public road.

3:16 p.m. A Main Street employee reported some threats were made over the phone. Officer Derek Morton responded and advised the reporting person to call back if that person appears.

3:50 p.m. A Davis Road resident reported someone knocked on her door at 3 a.m. She was advised to call in the moment of the occurrence.

4:01 p.m. A North Mill Street resident reported a bike was stolen from her yard and wanted the incident logged. Officer Brendon Lyver spoke with the caller.

June 18

12:07 a.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield notified the animal control officer about a deceased deer on the side of the roadway of West Main Street.

9:40 a.m. A caller reported a fallen tree blocking Lumber Street. Officer Jay Deiana responded and reported the tree had been moved and there was debris in the roadway. The Highway Department was notified.

11:22 a.m. A Pheasant Hill Road caller reported unemployment fraud.

3:30 p.m. Officer Ryan Polselli checked on a vehicle on the side of the

roadway of South Street and found the driver entering an address into their GPS. All was OK. 5:30 p.m. A Chestnut Street caller reported losing a black iPhone and wanted it logged.

6:16 p.m. A passerby reported it appeared a canoe was sinking in the Hopkinton reservoir on Cedar Street. Officers Derek Morton and Ryan Polselli responded and assisted the individuals to their residence.

6:33 p.m. A caller reported two kids riding their bikes toward her on Ash Street and “messing” with her. Officer Preston Mucciarone responded and advised the kids of the complaint.

8:05 p.m. A Woodview Way caller reported a past incident in which his neighbor knocked on the door when his wife was home alone. Officer Derek Morton responded and spoke to the reporting person.

June 19

3:53 a.m. Officer Stephen Buckley checked on a person in a motor vehicle on West Main Street and subsequently requested backup. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Robert Ekross responded with a portable breath test. One person was picked up by a responsible adult. A report was to follow.

9:04 a.m. Officer Moira McGaffigan came upon a loose dog on Walcott Street and reported the owners were out. A neighbor took the dog in for the meantime.

12:24 p.m. A caller reported vehicles parked along Granite Street and trespassing by people who were swimming in

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quarries in Milford and Echo Lake. A caller also reported a gate that is to be closed was open. Officers Matthew Santoro and Brendon Lyver responded and spoke with employees on the property regarding the concerns. No trespassers were located.

12:54 p.m. The State Police requested assistance searching for a stolen vehicle that was involved in a pursuit on Interstate 495 and fled to a parking lot in Hopkinton.

Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officers Brendon Lyver and Matthew Santoro responded and reported the State Police had one person in custody on South Street.

4:35 p.m. A caller reported smoldering mulch on South Street. Officer Derek Morton responded along with the Fire Department and the fire was extinguished.

9:38 p.m. A Woodview Way resident complained of a loud group of kids outside.

Officers Tyler Brabham and Philip Powers responded and advised the youths of the complaint.

June 20

12:09 a.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Robert Ekross checked on two people walking on Sandy Beach on Lakeshore Drive and moved them along.

1:20 a.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officer Robert Ekross checked on a motor vehicle parked on Wood Street and moved the operator along.

1:35 a.m. An Ash Street resident complained of a loud party in the neighborhood. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officers Brendon Lyver, Jessica Ferreira and Robert Ekross responded and advised the party to move inside.

5:04 a.m. A caller reported a dead animal in the roadway of Wood Street. A message was left for the DPW. 7:33 a.m. A caller reported a cat was hit by a vehicle on Wood Street. Officer Jessica Ferreira responded and notified the animal control officer. Officer Ferreira and the owner removed the feline from the roadway.

8:13 a.m. A caller reported graffiti at a Hayden Rowe Street location. Officer Ryan Polselli responded and took a report of vandalism.

12:16 p.m. A Hayden Rowe Street caller reported she received a letter about a sign in her yard. Officer Philip Powers assisted.

1:39 p.m. A caller reported a disturbance at the State Park on Cedar Street where people played loud music and parked illegally. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officers Jessica Ferreira, Tyler Brabham, Ryan Polselli and Philip Powers responded and issued citations.

3:08 p.m. A caller complained of several vehicles parked on Forest Lane and blocking the entrance. Officers Philip Powers and Tyler Brabham responded to the State Park to check on the vehicles.

11:48 p.m. An Oliver Lane resident who was on Cape Cod reported her husband, who went to a party in the Berkshires, was overdue for their 10 p.m. call and she could not get in touch with him or the party hosts. The caller requested a check of their home. Officer Robert Ekross responded and checked the Oliver Lane residence, where no car was in the driveway nor garage and no one answered the door. The Holyoke Police Department was notified and they located the caller’s husband, who was OK and was to be getting a ride home.

June 21

12:24 a.m. On Lakeshore Drive, Officers Robert Ekross and Jessica Ferreira found youths on Sandy Beach and moved

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

them along.

1:41 a.m. Officers Brendon Lyver and Jessica Ferreira found people swimming at Legacy Farms North and moved them along.

9:42 a.m. A Teresa Road resident reported a vehicle struck his mailbox.

Officer Jay Deiana responded and took a report.

1:48 p.m. An Oakhurst Road caller complained of two vehicles parked on his private property. Sergeant William Burchard responded and advised the operators to move the vehicles.

2:24 p.m. A Parker Point Road resident complained of a neighbor playing the guitar too loudly. Sergeant William Burchard responded and spoke with the neighbor having band practice.

2:25 p.m. A Blueberry Lane caller reported his mailbox was vandalized.

Officer Jay Deiana responded and took a report. He also was notified of another damaged mailbox in the neighborhood.

6:54 p.m. Multiple calls were received about two people fighting at the boat rental area in the State Park on Cedar Street. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Benjamin Stickney and Jessica Ferreira responded and reported a miscommunication over lost property was resolved and no physical fight took place.

7:53 p.m. A Grove Street caller reported his neighbor’s motor vehicle possibly was to be operated by an unlicensed operator with two minors inside. Based on a previous incident, the caller was worried about escalating a situation if he were to warn his neighbor. Officers Jessica Ferreira and Tyler Brabham responded and the minors were gone upon their arrival.

9:44 p.m. Officer Benjamin Stickney checked on and spoke with a group of kids out on Hayden Rowe Street.

10:05 p.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Benjamin Stickney checked on two motor vehicles parked on Legacy Farms North and found people hanging out. All was OK. 11:55 p.m. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Stephen Buckley checked on a vehicle parked on Highland Street and found a person sleeping inside.

He was to be heading home.

June 22

8:02 a.m. Officer Matthew Santoro responded along with the Fire Department to a brush fire on School Street.

Eversource also responded.

10:02 a.m. A caller reported finding a kitchen knife while walking on Teresa Road. Officer Jay Deiana responded and retrieved the knife.

10:06 a.m. A caller reported graffiti at EMC Park on Hayden Rowe Street.

The Parks and Recreation Department was notified.

1:20 p.m. A Mayhew Street caller reported a scam. Officer Matthew Santoro spoke with the caller and took a report.

2:09 p.m. A Split Rock Lane resident reported ID theft. Officer Matthew Santoro took a report of fraud.

2:11 p.m. A caller reported a baseball field on Main Street was vandalized. Officer Matthew Santoro logged the incident.

6:25 p.m. A caller reported graffiti and underage drinking at Sandy Beach on Lakeshore Drive. Officer Benjamin Stickney responded.

9:36 p.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Jessica Ferreira and Benjamin Stickney checked on a motor vehicle on Lakeshore Drive and sent the occupants on their way.

The Hopkinton Independent • July 1, 2020 • 19

Obituaries David Spindel David Spindel, 55, a former resident of Blaire House of Milford, passed away at Milford Hospital on June 14 due to complications of COVID-19.

Some of us breeze through life without a care in the world. And some, like Dave, are dealt a very difficult hand in life. Beginning with a brain tumor at age 6 and a subsequent diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis, he dealt with repeated surgeries and extended hospital stays, and was left blind in one eye due to the tumor placement. Despite that, he never complained and was the most polite person you could ever meet, with a “please” and “thank you” always ready.

Dave completed high school, graduating with the Milford High School class of 1983. But once again in his mid-20s that lousy hand was dealt to him in the form of a stroke, leaving him completely blind and without the use of his left side. But still Dave stoically accepted whatever came his way with dignity and grace. With the help of many caring home health aides and his totally devoted parents he was able to walk with assistance on the deck and wheelchair ramp his father built after the stroke.

Dave was a fan of oldies music, old TV shows and good jokes (and bad) and was a whiz at trivia!

After Dave’s mother’s death in 2004 and his own kidney surgery shortly after, the family had to make the gut-wrenching decision to move him to a nursing home. As difficult as that was, his devoted father was by his side every single weekday — all day. His sisters were by his side evenings and weekends tending to his feeding and other care. Our beloved brother was an “old soul,” had the sweetest personality and will live forever in our hearts.

David was predeceased by his mother, Frances Spindel, in 2004 and his father, Richard Spindel, in 2013. He leaves behind two sisters and their husbands — Kathy and Jim Herne and Terri and Joe Spindel of Milford — and many, many cousins, including the McIntyres of Hopkinton.

We wish to thank the doctors and nurses at Milford Hospital for the excellent care they provided and their exceptional kindness and compassion.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home. Due to current conditions, services will be private.

James DeWolfe Educator, sailor, car guy and history buff James DeWolfe died at the age of 76 after a long battle with cancer.

He is survived by his brother, Paul, and sisterin-law, Nancy, of Hopkinton, niece Michelle of Broomfield, Colorado, nephew Scott of Oakland, California, and longtime companion Nina Leblanc of Wellesley.

He was born on May 19, 1944, in Framingham.

His friends called him Jim, and his family called him Uncle Jim. Jim’s journey as a lifelong educator started as a graduate of Boston University with a bachelor’s in education and later a master’s degree in guidance counseling from Northeastern. He began his education career at Dublin Academy in New Hampshire as a history teacher, his most loved academic subject. He also was the skiing coach, baseball coach and sailing instructor. Not only was Jim a sports

Mark Underdah Remodeling coach, but he was a huge football and basketball fan, cheering on the Patriots and Celtics.

Jim last served for 32 years as a guidance counselor in Rehoboth. Jim was very active during his tenure in Rehoboth and was beloved by students and faculty alike. Jim’s commitment to education resonated in everything he did, and it was a common topic of conversation with his family. He always said that his college and graduate school experiences were transformative. He emphasized the importance of education countless times, and he can be remembered very well by his niece and nephew as saying, “Education makes you think differently, that’s the difference it makes, it will help you make good decisions.” His advice still rings true today, and Jim also continued his learning as an avid reader of history and current events. In his last month he was even quizzed about the Civil War by an attending nurse, and for a moment he was stumped but quickly chimed in on the subject matter.

There is no doubt Jim was a real “car guy,” with an impressive repertoire of facts, figures and stories behind countless automobiles. His book and magazine collection certainly proves his car obsession. He owned various sports cars now considered classics and was always ready to talk about cars — and talk, talk, talk he did. His sonin-law, John Abel, another “car guy,” would talk for hours with Jim at holiday dinners and family vacations. Jim, also the family historian with an impeccable memory, would always fill in the gaps of a story with all the details and dialogue. No one remembered details like Jim! Jim picked up golf after he retired from guidance counseling, and as he did with most of his interests, he became a fanatic. In addition to golf, Jim was interested in activities that could be described as very New England, if not very Massachusetts.

He loved the ocean and boating, and of course Cape Cod. His father, Forest, built a cottage down the Cape in the early 1950s, and that sparked a family love affair with the area.

His brother, Paul, is a professionally trained musician, and although Jim himself was not a musician, he was well versed in classical music and jazz, often visiting Symphony Hall and Tanglewood. Jim frequented Paul’s concerts as well in Fruitlands and various auditoriums and venues throughout MetroWest and Boston.

We will all keep Jim’s spirit alive and continue to enjoy the Cape, boating, classic cars and music, as well as extol education and maybe, just maybe, continue to swing those damn golf clubs.

Jim last lived in Hopkinton, where his mother, Lillian, grew up. A graveside service was held June 25 at St. John’s Cemetery. Services were under the care of Callanan Cronin Funeral Home. Please send donations in memory of Jim to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Maureen Aylward Maureen F. Aylward, 76, died June 17 in Boston after a brief illness. Born in Natick, she was the daughter of the late Richard and Mary (Curtin) Aylward.

She was a 1961 graduate of Hopkinton High School and was employed as an administrator for many area banks.

She is survived by her sister, Catherine DiCarolis of Hopkinton, and her brothers, Edward “Bud” Aylward and wife Judith of Florida, and William Aylward and wife Stephanie of Rhode Island. She also leaves her sister-in-law, Michaelina Aylward, and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her siblings Elizabeth Foye, John Aylward and Richard Aylward.

Private graveside services in Evergreen Cemetery will be at the family’s convenience. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home.

Donations may be made to the Hopkinton Senior Center, 28 Mayhew St., Hopkinton, MA 01748.

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