HI 8.30.23

JUST DESSERTS

Reed dives in as DPW director

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

AsHopkinton’s new director of the Department of Public Works, Kerry Reed brings 20-plus years of experience in environmental engineering and municipal government to the town where she has lived for more than a decade.

Reed, hired last month, spoke with the Independent during her first days on the job about her new position, her love for the environment and her desire to provide educational opportunities for residents to learn about things that impact their daily lives, such as stormwater and

Kerry Reed | 10

New school, with $158M tag, heads to voters

By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer

TheElementary School Building

Committee voted 6-0 on Aug. 22 to approve a budget not to exceed $158,427,494 for a proposed Elmwood School replacement. The figure is inclusive of the $1 million feasibility study previously approved by Town Meeting.

This total will be voted on in early November by Town Meeting and by residents on a ballot question for a debt exclusion.

After the ESBC vote, the School Committee voted 5-0 to endorse the ESBC’s decision. The following evening, the Select Board provided its endorsement via a 4-0-1 vote.

Much of the discussion prior to the ESBC vote involved rebates, reimbursement and other factors that would eventually bring the $158 million figure down. ESBC members also talked about building materials and decisions on “alternates” they made the previous week.

Chris Eberly, Vertex project

Director Kerry Reed stands outside the DPW building on Wood Street.

PHOTO/MARY ELLEN GAMBON

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

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Pets pay price as finances get tight

With high inventory and lower demand, Baypath Humane Society is getting creative in its efforts to adopt out dogs like Kevin.

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The high cost of living across the nation — including Hopkinton, where home prices are soaring — is making things challenging for animal rescue organizations.

During the COVID pandemic, Baypath Humane Society struggled to keep up with the demand for pets. Now, the shelter on Legacy Farms Road North is seeing a high number of owner-surrenders and a low number of adopters.

decided to live in their cars while they sought lower-cost housing, and they realized they couldn’t care for their pets in that situation.”

Lundgren said that while Baypath continues to receive dogs from rescue facilities in the South, local owner-surrenders have jumped from about one per month to 3-5 per week. Baypath adopts out around 20 pets per week, Lundgren said, about a third lower than its recent average.

“We can only take so many,” she said, noting that Baypath is not an openadmission shelter, meaning it has to set a cap. “We do have to turn some away.”

INDEPENDENT THOUGHTS JERRY

SPAR

“I’ve never seen it this bad in my 13 years with Baypath,” Outreach Committee member Kathy Lundgren said. “Two years ago, our kennels were empty, and we couldn’t get dogs fast enough. Now, this year alone, we’ve had 50% more owner-surrenders than last year.

“It seems like the problem is primarily with higher housing costs and inflation. A lot of people aren’t able to afford animals. We just had two families surrender their dogs because they

Compounding the problem, Baypath is seeing more strays and desperate owner-surrenders, including one who recently left a cat in a carrier outside the facility. Despite this, Baypath continues to welcome older and sick pets, which can take longer to re-home.

Baypath (baypathhumane.org) has been running a promotion in August offering to waive the adoption fee for dogs weighing 50 pounds or more, as bigger dogs are among the more challenging to adopt out.

“A lot of apartments have a size

Independent thoughts | 3

Pets pay price as finances get tight

restriction,” Lundgren explained. “And another problem that seems to be cropping up now is more breed restrictions. Some facilities won’t allow pit bulls, huskies, even greyhounds. The list has become so long that apartment owners email it to us [when looking to adopt]. Some are even asking for DNA testing.”

Anyone looking to help could consider becoming a foster, meaning they would take a pet temporarily while a permanent home is sought for the animal.

“People who can foster are a huge help for us, because it gets them out of the shelter and makes room for another dog,” she said.

Baypath helps by covering the costs for leashes, collars, bowls and other items. The organization also is working to post tips on its website for pet owners seeking low-cost medical care and spay/ neuter services. And Baypath is trying to work with local trainers to arrange discount pricing for obedience training.

“Up here in the Northeast, we really haven’t seen anything like this before,” Lundgren said. “Hopefully, it gets better soon.”

Weston Nurseries BBQ fundraiser, PolyArts both Sept. 9

Two of the highlights of the fall season are Weston Nurseries’ annual Blooms, Brews & BBQs fundraiser and the Hopkinton PolyArts Festival.

Both events are scheduled this year for Saturday, Sept. 9.

Blooms, Brews & BBQs runs from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Weston Nurseries (93 East Main Street).

The event, which raises money for the Jimmy Fund at the Dana-Farber

Cancer Institute, is popular among foodies and music fans. Among the vendors on hand will be Hogwash BBQ Company, Greatest BBQ of New England, Uhlman’s Ice Cream and Hopkinton favorite Snappy Dogs. There also will be vegetarian options. Beer and wine

will be supplied by Marty’s Fine Wines and Start Line Brewing, both based in Hopkinton, and non-alcoholic beverages will be available as well.

Music will be provided by The Grateful Teds from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Violingrrl from 1:30-2:30 p.m., Hot Acoustics (fronted by Hopkinton’s Steve Spector) from 3-4 p.m. and Last Call Radio from 5-6:30 p.m.

There also will be raffles, with prizes including Weston Nurseries gift cards and Red Sox tickets.

For more information and to purchase tickets in advance, visit westonnurseries.com.

PolyArts, the traditional arts and crafts event held at the Town Common, runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. It’s organized by the Hopkinton Cultural Council, and proceeds help fund scholarships for Hopkinton graduates studying the arts.

“PolyArts began in 1974 as a demonstration of various arts and crafts to showcase the talents of the local community,” reads a summary at the event website (cozzens.net/polyarts). “Since then, it has grown into a day-long event with many professional craftspeople, performing artists and community groups participating throughout the day. PolyArts is free to attend and is a familyfriendly day with something for everyone, be it food, music, crafts or other entertainment.”

Looking ahead, the popular Hopkinton Family Day is set for Saturday, Sept. 23, at the field behind Hopkinton Middle School. There will be free games and activities, entertainment and food trucks from 2-6 p.m., followed by a fireworks display in the evening. Visit friendsofhopkinton.org for more information.

Main Street intersection a debacle

Whichivory tower engineers revamped the intersection of Hayden Rowe and Main Street, incomprehensibly scooping out a huge semicircle from the corner, forcing cars to veer into the other lane? With now such dangerously tight quarters, get ready to hear the explosions of side walls being blown out. For what? A pointless peninsula jutting out from the Town Common? Maybe we should name it Blowout Corner. And a sign warning “Right turn left lane only.”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

And one demented turn deserves another: a matching design up the road, the same irrational arcing out into the right turn lane from Route 85 to Main Street, encroaching on what had been a comfortable turning lane squeezed into a no-room-for-error maneuver, to create another mystery dead zone by the gas station.

Who are these unmoored masterminds? Oh ya, the same ones who narrowed Main Street to pencil-thin, stretching the sidewalks to 10 abreast and installing the infamous bike lane to nowhere.

The motto of this vaunted corridor project seems to be, “If it ain’t broke, break it! Then get paid to fix it back to its original working state.” Sounds like a pretty good racket to me. Or just plain incompetence.

And the most basic question: Who/what initiated this fiasco? Oh ya, the will of the people who heard the siren call of “free money.”

— Margaret Barton, Hopkinton

Editor’s note: The opinions and comments expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Independent. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and must include the writer’s name and contact information for verification. Letters should be relevant and not primarily for the purpose of promoting an organization or event. Letters may be edited by the Independent staff for space, errors or clarification, and the Independent offers no guarantee that every letter will be published. For a schedule of deadlines for letters and other submissions, check the Hopkinton Independent website (HopkintonIndependent.com) and click on the Contact header, then on Editorial Deadlines.

Chuck Joseph 508-509-6169

Auen 508-951-4951 Ann Clark 508-439-2728

Select Board members share FY24 priorities

At their meeting on Aug. 23, Select Board members outlined their particular areas of focus for fiscal year 2024. In addition, Town Manager Norman Khumalo and Assistant Town Manager Elaine Lazarus stressed their goal of focusing on a townwide strategic plan.

Member Amy Ritterbusch said she would like to work on downtown revitalization after the pandemic and focus on “sustainability, economic development and equity” for businesses along the Main Street Corridor project. She highlighted the potential for a downtown cultural district.

Mary Jo LaFreniere stressed her desire to work on celebrating Hopkinton during the Boston Marathon weekend in April. This will be the 100th year that the Boston Marathon will start in Hopkinton.

She said there weren’t many opportunities for community promotion during this year ’s marathon, which she intends to address with the Boston Athletic Association. Local businesses had been prohibited from using the Town Common as they had in the past.

LaFreniere also will focus on impacting older residents. She proposed asking the state legislature to submit a home rule petition to exempt certain groups of citizens from contributing toward the new school project and the proposed town connection to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority system because of financial hardship.

Shahidul Mannan said he would like to take the lead on economic development to spur commercial opportunities to help alleviate the residential tax burden. He also will work on the strategic plan to address the town’s growth and economic challenges. This work could spur progress on the town master plan.

Irfan Nasrullah said he would like to continue his work on helping to resolve the controversy over the Upper Charles Trail Committee and its reconstitution. He has been serving as the Select Board liaison to the UCTC and drafted a recent community survey along with Ritterbusch. He hoped that the committee could improve transparency and address resident concerns during meetings.

Chair Muriel Kramer said she will be working with the Police Department to help it address its staffing challenges while it works toward addressing community concerns. Retired Holliston Police Chief John Moore has been hired to help address executive tasks, including preparing the department’ s accreditation paperwork that is due in March.

The Select Board and HPD Chief Joseph Bennett will be working with the department on department organizational review, which will include succession planning as well as leadership assessment and department culture and teamwork. Kramer said this review should be completed within “the next one to two months, tops.”

Nearby West Nile leads to mosquito spraying

The Hopkinton Health Department announced Aug. 22 that it decided to spray local ball fields as a precaution after receiving a state arbovirus alert that mosquito pools in Milford tested positive for West Nile virus earlier in the day.

In addition to Milford, mosquito samples in Norton and Quincy tested positive for West Nile virus, according to an email from Health Department Director Shaun McAuliffe. Mosquitoes previously tested positive in Framingham and Northbridge.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. Cases occur during the summer and fall.

While most people who become infected do not experience symptoms, one out of five people will develop a fever or other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. In one out of 150 cases, people can develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system, such as encephalitis or meningitis. In the most severe cases, people can die.

People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension and kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are at greater risk for complications from West Nile virus exposure.

McAuliffe reminded residents to use mosquito repellents with an EPA-registered active ingredient and to observe peak mosquito activity at dusk and dawn. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will continue enhanced surveillance activities in this region.

He added that Hopkinton residents can contact the Central Mass. Mosquito Control Project (cmmcp. org) to request free mosquito spraying at their home. The spraying has been approved by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Public Health and Department of Agricultural Resources, as well as by local health departments.

Residents should click the Request Service Button on the right side of the webpage. The CMMCP sprays beginning at dusk and throughout the night, when human-biting mosquitoes are active. Spraying during the day is not as effective, as the pesticide needs to land on the mosquito to be effective.

CPC project funding applications available

The Community Preservation Committee announced that it is accepting project funding applications for fiscal year 2025. Applications are due by Oct. 12.

Projects allowable under the Community Preservation Act include the creation and preservation of open space, the preservation of historic sites, the creation and preservation of affordable housing, and the creation and preservation of outdoor recreational facilities.

For more information or to obtain an application, contact Shannon Soares at ssoares@hopkintonma.gov or 508-497-9745.

Misc.: Foxhollow Road accepted by town

The Select Board voted unanimously to approve the town’s taking of Foxhollow Road as a town roadway. It also unanimously approved the donation by the Hopkinton Cricket Club of turf that it purchased for the resurfacing of the town cricket pitch at Fruit Street.

Also approved unanimously was an intermunicipal agreement for grant-funded co-response clinicians to deliver services alongside police personnel in Hopkinton, Holliston and Sherborn.

Commission on Disability seeks to educate community, businesses

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

Nancy “Punky”

Drawe is a lifelong Hopkinton resident. She is well known in town because of her outgoing personality and love of volunteering. She is the chair of the Council on Aging, the chair of the board of commissioners of the Hopkinton Housing Authority, and a member of the Senior Center’s Volunteer Advisory Committee. Her dog, Sally, an 11-yearold Morkie — a Maltese and Yorkie blend — is a town celebrity in her own right.

Despite her contributions, she is unable to enjoy all that the town has to offer because many of Hopkinton’s buildings, particularly in the downtown business district, are not accessible to people with mobility impairments such as herself. As a member of the newly formed Commission on Disability, Drawe hopes to change that.

“This is really important to me, because it’s not just me who experiences this,” said Drawe, who was elected to a three-year term. “I want to be an advocate, because there are lots of people with hearing, vision or mobility issues or illnesses like Asperger syndrome.”

Drawe, who uses a transport wheelchair, is one of the six members appointed to the commission at the July 11 Select Board meeting. Members include Drawe, Alex Danahy, Michael DiMascio, Select Board member Amy Ritterbusch and School Committee members Nancy Richards Cavanaugh and Holly Morand. The commission was approved by Town Meeting in 2022.

Drawe spoke with Town Manager Norman Khumalo a couple of years ago about the possibility of creating a commission focused on educating the town on the needs of people with different disabilities and how Hopkinton can be more inclusive in all aspects of community life.

“When I asked Norman about it, he was really cool with it,” she said of the commission. “I told him about all the things I couldn’t do because many of the buildings are not accessible. He said it may take a while because it had to go through an approval process with the state.”

“This is an important step for the community in many ways,” Khumalo said at the Select Board meeting. “In 2022, the town’s commitment to this theme was heightened by the emphasis placed on inclusion, equity and social justice.”

Drawe added that there used to be a town committee on disability, but it hasn’t been active in years.

Said Drawe: “It was only focused on town buildings.”

The state website currently lists Charles Kadlik, the town’s director of municipal inspections, as the commission’s contact person.

“I know they do it all by code,” Drawe said of building design and the number of accessible parking spaces. “But it doesn’t always help people.”

Drawe developed polio, a virus that can lead to paralysis, in 1955. While it

now is largely preventable through vaccination, at the time Drawe contracted polio, it was one of the most feared diseases in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

When she was in her 50s, Drawe, now 68, was diagnosed with post-polio syndrome. This can occur 15 to 40 years after the initial infection and causes deterioration of nerve cells called motor neurons.

“The joint and muscle damage first started with my legs,” she explained. “Four years ago, I was able to walk around the Town Common with my puppy, Sally. Once I started using two canes, I really couldn’t go far. Now I use a wheelchair.”

There are “barely any” accessible parking spots around the Town Common, she pointed out. Some of them are near sidewalks with bricks, which causes balance issues. The new parking lot downtown may help.

There are many restaurants that she would like to visit downtown, she said, but they either have stairs or don’t have push buttons on the doors to open them. She was reluctant to name them because she wants to work with them as a commission member to improve accessibility.

“It’s not that they don’t care,” Drawe explained. “They just may not understand.”

She pointed out that one restaurant has a ramp to its front door, but it is difficult to get into the door. Once in the doorway, there is a second door to open, but there is not enough room to turn a wheelchair to try to open it.

Another restaurant has its accessible parking in the rear while the entrance is in the front. The ramp leads to stairs, which virtually defeats its purpose. Traveling across the broken and uneven sidewalks or high curbs is not an option for her.

“Sometimes my friends will go with me to help me,” Drawe added. “Other times, I have to get takeout. There is one place I would like to go to, but I can’t get in. All it would take is a little cement to make a ramp.”

Some restaurant employees who know Drawe will bring her takeout order outside to her. While she said it is a nice gesture, “It still makes me feel bad.”

Drawe stressed that she is not the only one who is affected by a disability of some type, whether it is a mobility, visual or hearing impairment. Improvements could be made that benefit everyone.

Commission on Disability | page 8

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Nancy “Punky” Drawe was among the six members who were appointed to the town’s new Commission on Disability.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

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Discussion continues on Hayden Rowe office building proposal

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

The Planning Board at its meeting

Aug. 21 continued discussions on a redevelopment proposal for an office building on Hayden Rowe Street as well as a proposed subdivision that triggered the usage of the town’s new inclusionary zoning bylaw.

The board continued a hearing for the major project site plan for a proposed two-story office building at 87 Hayden Rowe Street discussed at the previous meeting. The proposal seeks to redevelop an unoccupied apartment building next to the school administration building and across from the middle school into a two-story office building. The demolition of the apartment building previously was approved by the Historical Commission, and the building’s façade will retain much of the former building’s character.

Daron Kurkjian, the town’s engineering consultant from Weston and Sampson, gave a peer review presentation on the project. He pointed out that there are no area wetlands. In his review, he sought further information on screening for the dumpster area and site equipment as well as the underground utility installation.

A traffic analysis had not been provided. This is a high-traffic area because of the middle school and the school administration building. Kurkjian proposed additional traffic signage during the construction phase as well as restriping the crosswalk at the driveway. The proposed sidewalk and curbing need to be ADA compliant, and the electric vehicle charging station needs to be in keeping with the new electric vehicle bylaw approved earlier in the meeting.

Kurkjian also proposed stronger erosion and sedimentation controls.

“This is going to be a very large redevelopment project with significant earthwork and subsurface disturbance, so we wanted to make sure that those controls are in place,” he said. He noted that the catch basins should be protected, and there is a stabilized construction area at the center of the site.

Because there will be light spillage onto the existing residential property, Kurkjian asked that the applicant consider putting shielding on the lighting. There also should be a confirmed demolition plan and a plan to remove hazardous materials. The proposed lighting is dark sky compliant.

Property owner Ken Driscoll explained that the front and sides of the project would be fenced in during construction because of the proximity to the school. The work on the curb cut and sidewalk will be scheduled so that it will not impact traffic on Hayden Rowe Street.

The primary tenant will be Solect Energy, a company Driscoll owns. It currently is located next door at 89 Hayden Rowe Street. He is hoping to attract a local professional office there, such as a lawyer or real estate agent.

He added that the changes suggested by Kurkjian are “fairly straightforward” and that he is willing to work with Weston and Sampson to ensure that the project moves forward as quickly as possible.

The project will be revisited at the meeting on Sept. 11.

Chestnut Street proposal invokes inclusionary zoning bylaw

Discussion arose concerning a proposed subdivision at 0-24 Chestnut Street. This is the first case where the town’s new inclusionary zoning bylaw is being utilized.

At the previous meeting, Keystone Builders, LLC proposed a seven-lot, market-rate, residential subdivision at 0-24 Chestnut Street. The applicant proposed creating an off-site affordable housing unit. No designs will be completed until the subdivision is approved, according to the developer.

The bylaw requires that an affordable unit be built, but the developer is requesting that it be built off-site. According to the bylaw, this is allowable if there is a significant benefit to the town to build an affordable unit elsewhere, vice chair Rob Benson explained.

Member Vikasith Pratty asked about the criteria to make the off-site

unit a significant benefit.

Benson explained that the town needs to maintain its affordable housing threshold of 10% in order to prevent “unfriendly 40B” development, where a developer can build by right.

“Just to make it crystal clear here, under no circumstances are we going to be constructing an affordable unit on-site,” said Richard Olstein from Keystone. “If that is the finding of the board, we will abandon the project.”

He said the benefit is that there will be an affordable unit as well as a new development. Benson countered that at May’s Annual Town Meeting, members indicated that they hoped the new bylaw would curb development.

“If the purpose of this bylaw is to thwart development, then it will 100% work,” Olstein retorted. “If the purpose of this bylaw is to actually create affordable housing, then I can tell you this is the way to create affordable housing, given the way the bylaw has been adopted.”

Member Matthew Wronka said that it would “set a bad precedent” for the board to “give in to threats.” Olstein

apologized if it came across that way. Because the full board was not present, Olstein and Benson agreed to continue the hearing to the next meeting.

Fruit Street proposal discussed

The board considered a stormwater permit to construct two single-family homes at 188-190 Fruit Street, as proposed by Rebel Hill LLC, near the Hopkinton Country Club.

Phil Paradis, the town’s engineering consultant from BETA Group, gave two recommendations. Soil tests in the areas of the proposed infiltration systems need to be conducted because of the variety of soil types on-site, he said. The second was that a stormwater pollution prevention plan needs to be submitted in order to ensure that it is “robust enough” to prevent soil sedimentation from infiltrating erosion control barriers. This issue has arisen with other developments, including The Trails and a subdivision on Leonard Street.

In previous meetings of the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission, the poor soil quality at the site raised concerns about the disturbance that development would cause there.

Principal Planner John Gelcich recommended that Paradis put these two suggestions into writing so that they could be included in the conditions of approval. The matter was tabled because the applicant was not present during the discussion.

This is going to be a very large redevelopment project with significant earthwork and subsurface disturbance, so we wanted to make sure that those [erosion] controls are in place.

— Daron Kurkjian Town engineering consultant

Commission on Disability seeks to educate community, businesses

“We have thousands of people who come here every year because of the Boston Marathon,” she noted. “They expect to be able to enjoy local businesses.”

While the commission has not yet met, Drawe said she is excited about the energy she and her colleagues will bring to this issue. She hopes to work with businesses and other town committees to bring awareness to challenges and work toward solving them.

“People need to be heard, and they need to be helped,” she said. “Somehow, I hope this commission will make Hopkinton accessible for people with all types of disabilities. That goal is probably far-fetched, but I am sure our commission will have a lot of answers to try.”

One reason Ritterbusch joined the commission was so that she can contribute another perspective on the needs of people with disabilities.

“I am completely deaf in one ear,” she said. “I have that experience that I can bring to the commission.”

She noted that when there is a lot of background noise or several people talking, it is difficult to hear. One thing that helps her is using closed captioning when sound quality on digital platforms is not clear. She was happy to have closed captioning available at May’s Annual Town Meeting for the first time.

As part of her job as a software and web analyst at Wellesley Public Schools, Ritterbusch is making digital content

more accessible. Things like blurry or small text can make understanding documents challenging.

“My focus would really be on the electronic aspect,” she said.

She noted that some committees still submit handwritten notes, which cannot always be translated to be read aloud for those with visual or hearing impairments.

Once the committee begins meeting on Sept. 18, members can begin to tackle challenges.

“The first step is to find out what the community needs and wants,” explained Ritterbusch. “Once we get more information, there may be state grants we can apply for.”

One issue she brought up was how new policies will be enforced. For example, there are some accessible parking spaces in town, but they are sometimes taken by people without special license plates or placards. Making sure that these spaces are

close to building doors is another concern.

Ritterbusch added that a community survey, such as the one she recently helped create on the future of the Upper Charles Trail Committee, may help assess community goals. One thing she was told about that survey was that some people wanted printed copies in larger fonts because they have visual impairments.

“There’s a lot of things that are invisible barriers in navigating the world,” Morand, the School Committee member, told the Select Board during her appointment. In addition to the disabilities mentioned by Drawe and Ritterbusch, she also highlighted the importance of including people who are neurodiverse and may need special accommodations.

Said Morand: “Making this town more inclusive and more welcoming is something that you can never spend too much time on or put too much energy into.”

By Courtney Cornelius Contributing Writer

so much advice as it is information.”

Weston

Nurseries began as a perennial stand on Route 30 in Weston in 1923. One hundred years, four generations and three locations later, the book “For the Love of Gardening” celebrates the legacy seeded by Latvian immigrants Peter and Anna Mezitt with a collection of gardening practices, family anecdotes and treasured recipes. Third-generation owners Wayne Mezitt and his wife, Beth, decided to write the book because “I was noticing that everyone around me was dying, and no one remembered,” he said with a laugh. “I figured I’d better get some things written down before it was lost.”

Beginning with what Wayne described as the garden’s new year, the book is organized by seasons according to nature’s calendar.

“It’s just a different way of looking at it,” he explained. “Forget January 1 — that’s still midwinter. Our year starts when spring is coming; so mid-February, usually around Valentine’s Day, things start to change. That’s when you see the first flowers on witch hazels, and some of the bulbs begin to peek up, snow starts melting and spring starts to come.”

Not intended as an instructional guide, the book presents “observations based upon decades of experience.”

“It sort of follows the plants through their natural life cycle. There’s not a lot on propagation or pest management — though there’s quite a bit on weeds — but we discuss the characteristics of the plants, and why we consider them important, or relevant, to our yard,” he shared. “So it’s really not

“Wayne is extraordinarily well-schooled on the information end of things about plants,” added Beth. “The pieces that I put in had more to do with the effect — the theme of the garden, the effect I was looking for or the reasons the colors were important to me, things like that. That’s my approach to gardening.

“So it’s coming at it from different angles,” she noted. “From someone who’s a horticulturist, and somebody who’s as interested in decorating her garden as she is her living room!”

The couple wanted to capture and preserve stories of all they have grown, and the book also is a tribute to home and family. Included in its pages are fond memories and favorite dishes.

“Some of the recipes are garden based, but there are also some Latvian recipes that have been handed down, and others that were just traditions in our house,” said Beth.

As Weston Nurseries celebrates its 100th anniversary, Wayne and Beth’s son, Peter, is president of the business, which continues to thrive. Per its website, “We remain true to our commitment to providing the best selection of hardy landscapesized plant material in our area along with accurate advice on what will work best for our customers.”

“For the Love of Gardening” is available for purchase online (shop.westonnurseries.com/products/for-the-love-of-gardening-7967.html), but the Mezitts encourage folks to stop by the Hopkinton center or their locations in Chelmsford or Hingham to grab a copy and say hello. (The book is offered at a slightly lower cost in-store.) Information on upcoming book signings can be found on their website at westonnurseries.com.

Beth and Wayne Mezitt have continued the family tradition at Weston Nurseries and now have published a book about their experiences.

ESBC moves $158 million budget forward

ESBC | from page 1 manager, urged committee members not to get bogged down in details about possible changes to building materials and instead focus on the task at hand — the budget.

Eberly noted the design was created after numerous meetings with focus groups that defined what was needed in the classroom. “It was education driven,” Eberly said.

Bill Flannery, an ESBC board member on the Appropriation Committee, expressed concern about the certainty of the numbers being presented for possible MassSave rebates and Inflation Reduction Act funds for energy efficiencies in the design.

This money would become available when the project closes out years down the line. The amounts cited were $2 million in MassSave rebates and IRA funds totaling $5 million, which Vertex project director Jeff D’Amico said is on the conservative side.

Coupled with an expected Massachusetts School Building Authority reimbursement of between $44 million and $46 million, the town’s contribution when the project closes out would be $105.5 million to $108 million, Vertex officials said.

The latter numbers do not include $10 million to $12 million in contingencies, which could make the contribution ultimately under $100 million, Flannery said.

However, D’Amico added about the contingencies, “You will use most of it.”

It is difficult to guarantee how the energy rebates will total exactly because a few more years of history are needed to show trends in other communities adopting efficiencies, D’Amico said.

ESBC chair Jon Graziano said it is not a matter of Hopkinton not getting the rebates. He said the town already is in the MassSave program.

Graziano said the ESBC’s mission is to be economically responsible while not compromising the finished product.

“It’s not like we cut a bunch of stuff” that severely harmed the educational quality of the proposed new school, Graziano said.

Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh agreed with that assessment.

The previous week, the ESBC reached a consensus on some proposed “alternates” and wanted further discussion on others.

Members agreed to downgrade to a stone dust parking lot to save $223,707 and remove an irrigation system at play and physical education fields to save $198,240.

A long discussion ensued about whether to upgrade from FRP (fiberglass-reinforced plastic) paneling to tile for about 20% of the proposed building. The change would cost $144,319 more. Eberly said it is an issue of durability and texture, and either material would be “suitable for this environment.”

He urged the committee to use contingency money down the line rather than add this amount to the budget now.

But some members debated whether that would be the correct approach to take. Ultimately, the ESBC decided to defer it to design development and pay for changes if they are wanted as the project moves along.

If approved, the project would have

the following timeline: December 2023 to April 2024 for design; April 2024 to June 2025 for construction documents; June 2025 to December 2027 for construction; January 2028 for tentative move-in date; 2028 first quarter for construction closeout; and 2030 for Massachusetts School Building Authority closeout.

D’Amico said there is a chance the building could open to students a few months earlier, but he is using a conservative timeline.

During the School Committee meeting following ESBC’s adjournment, members had few questions, having heard the presentations and discussion. But they talked about the life spans of FRP versus tile (20-25 years versus 30-50 years) and the project’s cost per square foot of $714.

School Committee member Adam Munroe spoke about the process to date.

“The folks involved are seeking out every opportunity possible to educate our students but trying to look at ways to do that in the most cost-efficient manner. It’s very eye-opening,” he said.

Member Holly Morand thanked the ESBC for “making it clear what the town is looking at” and expressed gratitude that information on the project is available to the community at large.

During the Select Board meeting, chair Muriel Kramer abstained from voting, saying that she was not comfortable voting on the figure without more detailed information about the town’s capital plan.

Said Kramer: “What I am really struggling with is the specificity of a plan that this community is going to get around in terms of a capital plan.”

She added that the tax burden “changes the game” both for people who want to stay in Hopkinton and for those hoping to move here.

Select Board member Mary Jo LaFreniere said the figures look “very promising.” She asked that public feedback be sought for the best ways to utilize the old building so that it will not remain dormant after the new one opens. Select Board member Amy Ritterbusch explained that the Permanent Building Committee is looking into that.

Kramer asked when the Special Town Meeting would be scheduled. Town Manager Norman Khumalo estimated that the STM warrant would be opened on Sept. 19 and close on Oct. 2. The Select Board would vote to sign the warrant on Oct. 20. The special election will be held either a week or two after the STM.

Kramer asked to have a “constructive presentation and plan” to present to the public before Sept. 19 that would show “the complete package” of the financial impact on taxpayers.

(Staff writer Mary Ellen Gambon contributed to this report.)

What I am really struggling with is the specificity of a plan that this community is going to get around in terms of a capital plan.

— Select Board chair Muriel Kramer

Reed brings knowledge, experience to role as DPW director

roadway maintenance.

The Army veteran served for more than six years as an engineering officer in the Army Corps of Engineers after graduating from West Point with a degree in environmental engineering.

“I grew up in New Jersey, very close to West Point,” she explained. “I actually fell in love with West Point before I fell in love with the Army. We used to go there as kids as a tourist place.”

Despite this early influence, Reed said when she was young, her dream was to become an author.

“I wanted to be the next Judy Blume,” she shared. “Then in seventh grade, I had this earth science class, and everything just clicked. I remember that distinctly, because up until then, science was just space and magnets and robotics — nothing that I was interested in at all.”

An in-class experiment on water filtration led to her fascination with dirt, rocks and water, a curiosity that would propel her toward her environmental engineering career. Another science teacher encouraged her to take part in a summer program sponsored by a local utility company, where she explored water treatment facilities, a landfill and a pump station.

“I never thought of myself as an engineer,” Reed confessed. “Going to school, I wanted to be an environmental scientist because I thought I was going to save the world. But at West Point, everybody has to take an engineering minor, so I kind of

The thing I love to say about public works specifically is that public works touches your life every day and impacts your quality of life every day. You’re either driving on a road or you’re putting on your faucet to get clean water or you’re having your trash picked up. And if we do our job well, no one really notices.

— New DPW Director Kerry Reed

fell into it.

“Even when I started my career as an engineer, I didn’t think of myself as one,” she continued. “I still had the stereotype in my head that every engineer had to like math and mechanics and had to build bridges. In the Army, I realized that engineering just means problem-solving. People come to us to get things done, and in the Army, we take a lot of pride in that.”

During her time with the Army, she was awarded an Army Achievement Medal for project management for base realignment and closure. That is also where she met her husband.

“We have a long family history of military service,” said Reed, noting that her grandfather was in the Army and her father was in the Marines.

“It was challenging being a woman in the Army,” she added, noting that the first graduating class from West Point that included women was 1980 — only 20 years before hers. “You kind of rise to the occasion. You have to prove yourself more, even if you have the same skills.”

After leaving the Army, Reed began a career in consulting in North Carolina. But it failed to satisfy her love of the environment because she said it was a more profit- and metrics-driven job.

“I realized that the projects that I enjoyed working on were municipal projects, specifically stormwater projects,” she explained. “The people who I enjoyed working with most were public works supervisors. I just really liked working at the municipal level because there’s such a connection with the community. And when you do the work, you can see the impacts right away.”

Missing the changing seasons and her family, Reed relocated to Massachusetts to be closer to her mother and sister, as well as for Hopkinton’s public schools for her two sons. She described herself as a devoted wife and mother in addition to an environmental engineer.

She became the City of Framingham’s senior engineer in 2014, a position she held for more than eight years, before being promoted to her two-year assistant city engineer role in 2021. Before being appointed as Hopkinton’s DPW director, she served for a year as Worcester’s assistant commissioner for the Department of Public Works and Parks, heading the Engineering Department.

“When this opportunity came up in my home community, I became really excited about it,” said Reed. “I knew it would be very fulfilling but also extremely challenging.”

As the former co-vice chair of the Hopkinton Conservation

Commission, Reed was one of the stormwater management experts. Her familiarity with development projects there will assist her in her new role.

Said Reed: “The Conservation Commission really does a great job in making sure we meet the regulations and understanding what the town wants to do in terms of development and protecting resources.”

“There’s a plus and a minus to this job, because everything impacts your neighbors in good or bad ways,” she explained. “One of the hardest parts about being in the director’s role is that everything impacts people personally. For them, that is the most important thing in their lives. It’s hard for them to understand that we have constraints, budgets and priorities. We only have so many hours in the day and so many qualified people.”

For example, some solutions to public roadway issues may involve going onto private property, she noted. There are also sometimes laws that constrain what the town can do.

“Most people don’t understand all that, and they shouldn’t have to,” she said. “What they understand is that it used to take them five minutes to get to work, and now it’s taking them 15.”

Creating that balance of providing needed services and addressing resident concerns will be one of Reed’s priorities in her role. Another is providing public education resources.

“Most people don’t realize how important stormwater management is,” Reed explained. “In Massachusetts, it’s the primary source of water pollution, but everyone thinks it’s a big, bad industry.”

Also challenging is that the average citizen doesn’t always realize the difference between municipal, state and federal roads, bringing all their complaints to her department.

“In our modern world, people want more and more information,” she added. “And you have to be able to deliver it in different ways.”

Since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the need for transparency and breaking down the mistrust in government that some people have. Reed wants to increase the department’s public outreach. Reed is looking forward to working with her staff. She commended the department for retaining many of its workers for decades, and she is enjoying her new work environment.

“They really do an amazing job here,” she said. “My primary goal is supporting them. I want to value that knowledge, that commitment, that professionalism. They want to see public works succeed, and I want that, too.”

Another priority of hers is making sure that the town has reliable, safe drinking water. Concerns have emerged over the past two years about PFAS levels in the water, the need for a PFAS water filtration system, and the town eventually connecting to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.

“Hopkinton is really in a state of transition right now,” she said. “It creates a huge challenge for municipal services in terms of demand. We’re always keeping up with these evolving needs.

“The thing I love to say about public works specifically is that public works touches your life every day and impacts your quality of life every day,” Reed explained. “You’re either driving on a road or you’re putting on your faucet to get clean water or you’re having your trash picked up. And if we do our job well, no one really notices.”

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS in Hopkinton

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Listing sponsored by ...

Baypath Adoptable Animal of the Week

Each week, the Independent highlights an animal available for adoption at Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton. This week we feature 2-year-old Tod.

Here is Baypath’s description of Tod:

“Introducing Tod! He’s the sweetest pup with the most striking appearance (have you taken a look at his eyes!?).

“Tod has made many friends here at Baypath, including doggy friends and with staff and volunteers. Tod savors every moment he can have with people, curling up in their laps, and gives the sweetest kisses. (Shh, he doesn’t know he’s not a lap dog). He loves belly rubs, chin scratches and basically any form of affection.

“In addition to affection, Tod loves to play, run around and learn! His favorite toy is a stuffed squeaky. Tod is so smart and loves his training time. He is very eager to please, food motivated and really enjoys learning new tricks. He has already learned basic commands and loves showing off his ‘sit’ and ‘paw!’ Tod would love to continue consistent training with his new family and hopes to find a pal to teach him new tricks and skills.”

As part of Baypath’s “Dogust” large dog promotion, Tod’s adoption fee is completely waived.

For more information on Tod and any of the other available pets at Baypath, email adopt@baypathhumane.org or visit baypathhumane.org/adopt.

For more Adoptable Animals of the Week, check the Hopkinton Independent website at HopkintonIndependent.com.

Not Working?

Parks & Rec chooses Lewitus as new director

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

TheParks & Recreation Commission voted unanimously for Jonathan Lewitus as the new department director at its nearly three-hour meeting Monday night.

While members felt both Lewitus and fellow finalist Mark Kelly would be successful in the role, chair Dan Terry said it came down to an “onion-skin thin” edge for Lewitus because of his budgetary experience as the assistant recreation director for the town of Brookline.

Lewitus’ approval is contingent upon a completion of a background check and salary agreement.

Terry noted that there were nearly 30 candidates for the

with Hopkinton Parks & Recreation

position. That pool was whittled down to seven contenders. Four semifinalists were interviewed at a meeting two weeks ago, which led to Lewitus and Kelly advancing to the final round of consideration.

Several commissioners noted that Lewitus seemed more “polished” during his interview two weeks ago. Interim director Pat Savage agreed, adding that he also expressed more energy than the other three candidates. Terry said both candidates had “excellent and glowing references” and were seen as problem solvers.

Commissioner Seth Kenney said the deciding factor was about who would be the best fit for the town. Commissioner Amy O’Donnell said she leaned toward Lewitus because he could better improve and expand its programming as Hopkinton grows based on his experience in a larger town.

Vice chair Laura Hanson said the decision presented a “conundrum” for her. While both candidates would be valuable in the role, she pointed out that Kelly has specialized experience in running programming for people with disabilities and complimented the Hopkinton resident on his “warmness” and knowledge of the town. On the other hand, she was impressed with Lewitus’ resume and enthusiasm.

Said Terry: “It’s a little bit about fit and a little bit about what we think the priorities should be.”

While Kelly has a strength in identifying community needs, connecting with local partners and creating a road race and camp expansion, Lewitus would be a better fit for taking Hopkinton’s current programming “up a level” because of his “attention to detail,” according to Terry. He also has experience in diversity, equity and inclusion policy.

Commissioner Ravi Dasari said Lewitus appealed to him because he believed he could implement projects quickly.

School facility use fees a concern

In other department news, a major issue confronting the committee is the School Department’s decision to raise its facility use fees. Because it generates revenue, the Parks & Recreation Department is classified in the third-highest tier of users out of four tiers, which will lead to its fees tripling to $45 per hour.

Terry noted that he attempted to meet with School Committee chair Nancy Richards Cavanaugh, but the two could not confirm a time to discuss the fee hike, which will be implemented on Sept. 1.

Savage was concerned that the department would have to raise its fees for participants. Most of the programming expenses go toward the facilities.

What also troubled her is that the decision was made without any outreach to Parks & Rec by the School Department.

fall fun

Said Savage: “There should have been a relationship with the schools.”

Terry said it “doesn’t make sense to have interdepartmental charges,” unless it is at cost for expenses like additional custodial staff.

O’Donnell stressed that youth partner groups “are looking to move outside of our town” because of the anticipated fee hikes. She mentioned that the baseball and lacrosse programs are concerned.

“We are assuming that all of our youth partners can afford this, and they can’t,” she said, adding that some programs currently use both the school and department fields. “I think the schools need to understand that you’re going to start to see that folks can choose other programs. I don’t know that they understand the impact of this change, whatever motivated them around money or the coverage of the fields … has directly impacted a huge portion of our town.”

Terry said he intends to meet with the School Committee chair to see if the department can be moved into the second tier at $25 per hour because the increase would be “more palatable.” He also stressed that while Parks & Rec does generate some revenue, that revenue is mainly used to pay for the use of school facilities.

Misc.: Waste disposal an issue at dog park

Savage requested that the commission approve the hiring of Poop Away, a Brockton contractor, to remove dog waste from the Fruit Street dog park, which the commission unanimously approved.

Problems have occurred because dog owners either have not been picking up after their dogs or disposing of dog poop bags in a regular trash barrel rather than in a specially marked container. This has caused an odor issue.

The commission also discussed moving the trash barrel closer to the entrance so that the Department of Public Works would be able to remove the trash there. The commission discussed potentially creating a friends group for the dog park that would help with maintenance there. …

Hanson, who organizes the town’s Sunday Concerts on the Common series, brought up a concern that two of the three accessible parking spaces at the Town Common have been removed during the Main Street construction project. This caused an issue when a bus provided by the Senior Center filled with older residents did not have access

to an accessible parking space. Some residents complained to her.

Savage questioned why the driver could not unload the people safely at the Town Common, park farther away and then pick up the guests at the concert’s end. The police also could have been called to ensure their safety, she said.

Terry said parking is not under the

purview of Parks & Rec. …

Construction of the skate park at EMC Park has been delayed until the spring, Savage explained, due to a drainage issue discovered on a site visit. Trees need to be removed, which requires a public tree hearing. This will be discussed at the next Parks & Rec meeting on Sept. 6.

Hopkinton Cultural Council impacts town through arts fall fun

By Jane Bigda Contributing Writer

Ilana Casady joined the Hopkinton Cultural Council because she is “proud to live in Hopkinton and wanted to get more involved. I come from a family of artists, so I was going back to my roots.”

She added, “This has really been a wonderful experience. I enjoy being able to come up with an idea that makes a positive impact on the town and see it become a reality. That’s what this group does; it allows its members to spread their wings. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it.”

Now in her second term, Casady, the HCC chair, is looking for five individuals who want an experience similar to hers. “We have two openings right now and will have three more by December when terms expire,” she said. “We are a super group of people who like being involved. HCC is a fun way to be part of the town by encouraging projects in the humanities, arts and culture.”

The group holds about six hybrid meetings, in person and via Zoom, during the year. The meetings focus on ongoing projects and awarding the $7,000-$8,000 earmarked each fall for artistic and cultural projects in Hopkinton by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. HCC terms are three years. Interested applicants may visit the Cultural Council page at Hopkinton-

MA.gov for an application. Appointments are made by the Select Board.

Among the ongoing HCC projects is the Celebration of Diversity Mural. Begun in 2020, the project annually invites artists of all genres to create a mural on one of the panels of the wooden fence leading from Hayden Rowe Street to EMC Park.

“The purpose of the project is to unite townspeople by celebrating what makes us different,” said Casady.

This year’s additions will be unveiled in September.

“I am very proud of this project, which is done in collaboration with the Hopkinton Parks & Recreation Department,” said

Spring Season

BASEBALL & SOFTBALL EVALUATIONS 2024

Hopkinton Little League will be holding evaluations for placement on Spring 2024 Baseball and Softball teams. Come to any one of the listed times for an age group. Evaluations are required for baseball players born on or before 8/31/16 and for softball players born on or before 12/31/14. Evaluations help us match players to the best team-playing experience. For more information visit www.hopkintonlittleleague.org

Friday, September 15 - Carrigan Park

Casady. “Every time I drive by it, the mural brings me joy. It reflects the differences in our town and the diversity of our artists.”

HCC also is working on its annual Arts on the Trail installation. This year, under the direction of HCC member Christine Enos, artists and groups will be asked to create weatherproof art on provided 24-by-48-inch canvas panels, which will be hung via cables along the Center Trail in October. Any artist or group interested in participating should contact Enos in August by visiting Hop-Culture.org. Projects are installed in October.

Another project started this spring is the Free Little Art Gallery, a community-

run installation hosted by the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, which encourages everyone to create and share art. Participants are invited to drop off their tiny art pieces, no larger than 4-by-4 inches, and take home a creation made by another.

New projects sponsored by the group include a plan to decorate the utility boxes at four traffic lights in town with various media.

“We just need some volunteers interested in helping with the project,” said Casady.

A more long-term project is to have Hopkinton named a Massachusetts CulHCC | page 15

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Saturday, September 16 -

or

–

Park

–

Sunday, September 17 - EMC Park

11:30 – 12:00

12:00 – 12:45

12U Softball

8/9-Year-Old Baseball

12:45 – 1:30 10/11/12-Year-Old Baseball

Make-up Date: Friday, September 29 – Carrigan Park 5 – 7 pm 10U/12U Softball and 8-12-year-old Baseball

The HLL Annual Board Meeting (open to the public) will be held on September 14 at 7:00 pm at St. John’s Church parish hall. E-mail hopkintonlittleleague@gmail.com with questions.

One of the ongoing projects sponsored by the Hopkinton Cultural Council is the Celebration of Diversity Mural on the wooden fence leading into EMC Park on Hayden Rowe Street.

PHOTO/JANE BIGDA

BUSINESS PROFILE: AN ADVERTISER FEATURE

By Christie Vogt Contributing Writer

Asthe son of a longtime Hopkinton builder, Bill Gassett isn’t surprised he ended up in real estate — even if he resisted his dad’s nudging in the beginning.

“It was 1986, and my father suggested I get a real estate license. I was a freshman at Northeastern, and the last thing I wanted to do was more schooling in the summer,” he shares, “but I ended up taking the course, and I loved it.”

Today, Gassett is one of the top RE/MAX agents in Massachusetts, serving Hopkinton and communities across the MetroWest area. “Here I am 37 years later, and I still enjoy it,” he says.

Although he works with both resi-

dential buyers and sellers, Gassett says selling is his specialty, given his affinity for the marketing side of real estate. He’s also passionate about educating the public on the ins and outs of home buying and selling, which he does through

Estella joins Foundation for MetroWest board

TheFoundation for MetroWest announced the appointment of Susie Estella of Hopkinton to its Board of Trustees, noting that with her vast experience in advertising and marketing, as well as her commitment to community service, Estella will play a pivotal role in advancing the foundation’s mission to strengthen the MetroWest community.

Baldiga named to Best Lawyers

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Estella has more than 14 years of experience in advertising and marketing, having worked at firms such as Arnold Worldwide, Putnam Investments, and Partners & Simons.

In recent years, Estella has shifted her focus to philanthropic efforts within her community. She has actively contributed to organizations such as the Hopkinton Education Foundation and HPTA. Additionally, she has been a longstanding volunteer and committee chair at Horizons for Homeless Children in Boston.

Estella has actively participated in various committees at The Foundation for MetroWest. For the past two years, she has been a member of the Spring Inspiration Breakfast Committee (SIB), as well as serving on the Human Services Distribution Committee.

Estella has lived in Hopkinton almost 30 years, raising three children with her husband, Tim

“We are thrilled to welcome Susie Estella to our Board of Directors,” said Jay Kim , executive director of the Foundation for MetroWest. “Her wealth of experience in strategic communications and her dedication to community service make her an invaluable addition to our team. We are confident that Susie’s insights and passion will help us further our mission and create a meaningful impact in MetroWest.”

Hopkinton resident Joseph Baldiga recently was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2024 edition in the fields of bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/ insolvency and reorganization law, and litigation-bankruptcy. Baldiga is a partner and co-chair of the Creditors’ Rights, Bankruptcy and Reorganization Group at Mirick O’Connell. He has been recognized in Best Lawyers since 2006. Baldiga has extensive experience in the areas of creditor and debtor rights, bankruptcy proceedings, out-of-court loan restructurings, and the purchase and sale of distressed businesses, including extensive litigation experience and practice in bankruptcy courts throughout the United States.

UniBank’s Sampson recognized

David Sampson, UniBank’s senior vice president in charge of residential lending for the Hopkinton branch, was ranked as the top loan originator by volume for banks in Central Massachusetts, as recently listed in the Banker and Tradesman Report.

“The bank’s commitment for assisting people to achieve their home ownership dreams, our technological advancements, our reputation in the community and David’s experience in making the mortgage process seamless have all contributed to his top ranking in Central Massachusetts,” said UniBank CEO Michael Welch. “Through all economic trends within the housing market, our team works tirelessly to reach people where they are personally and financially to keep our Central Massachusetts region thriving with prosperity.”

Bill Gassett has been one of Massachusetts’ top RE/ MAX real estate agents for the past 20 years.

Bill Gassett | page 17

Failure to plan: Is it planning to fail?

Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” But as you chart your financial course, what steps should you take to help you keep moving forward to where you want to go?

Consider these suggestions:

• Establish and quantify your goals

Throughout your life, you’ll have shortterm goals, such as an overseas vacation or a home renovation, and longterm goals, the most important of which may be a comfortable retirement. You’ll want to identify all your goals and put a “price tag” on them. Of course, it’s not always possible to know exactly how much it will cost to achieve each goal, but you can develop reasonably good estimates, revising them as needed.

• Create an investment strategy to achieve your goals . Once you know how much your goals will cost, you can create the appropriate savings and investment strategies to potentially help you reach the needed amounts. For your retirement goal, you will likely need to contribute regularly to your IRA and 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan. But for shorter-term goals, you may need to explore other types of investments. For all your investment moves, though, you’ll need to consider your risk tolerance. You won’t want your portfolio to have such a high-risk level that you’re constantly uncomfortable with the inevitable fluctuations of the financial markets. On the other hand, you won’t want to invest so conservatively that you jeopardize your chances of achieving the growth you need to reach your goals.

• Control your debts. We live in an expensive world, so it’s not easy to live debt-free. And some debts, such as your mortgage, obviously have value. But if you can control other debts, especially those that carry high interest rates, you can possibly free up money you can use to boost your savings and investments.

• Prepare for obstacles. No matter how carefully you follow the strategies you’ve created to achieve your goals, you will, sooner or later, run into obstacles, or at least temporary challenges. What if you incur a large, unexpected expense, such as the sudden need for a new car or a major home repair? If you aren’t prepared for these costs, you might be forced to dip into your longterm investments – and every time you do that, you might slow your progress toward achieving your goals. To help prevent this, you should build an emergency fund containing several months’ worth of living expenses.

• Review your strategy. When you first created your financial strategy, you might have planned to retire at a certain age. But what if you eventually decide to retire earlier or later? Such a choice can have a big impact on what you need from your investment portfolio — and when. And your circumstances may change in other ways, too. That’s why it’s a good idea to review your strategy periodically to make sure it still aligns with your up-to-date objectives.

None of us can guarantee that our carefully laid plans will always yield the results we want. But by taking the right steps at the right times, you can greatly improve your chances.

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

Mark Freeman

Edward Jones Financial Advisor 77 W. Main Street, Hopkinton, MA (508) 293-4017

Mark.Freeman@edwardjones.com

THE ADVERTISER IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF THIS COLUMN

Bill Gassett generates maximum exposure for home sellers

his blog and as a guest writer for national websites. “I started my blog, and it really took off,” Gassett shares. “My site is one of the most visited real estate websites in Massachusetts, averaging a little over 120,000 visits a month. I’ve also got quite a following across all the major social networks.”

Gassett’s marketing skills have been an asset not only for his brand but also for meeting his clients’ goals. “Sellers don’t have to worry about a lack of exposure when they list their property with me,” he says. “I set up strategies to put clients’ houses in the best position to get the most money.”

One of Gassett’s strategies is to arrange “deferred showings,” which is “absolutely the number one thing that any seller should consider doing in a market like this,” he says. Most agents start showings immediately after listing a property, Gassett says, which is “a big mistake.”

In the current environment, a house could be on the market in the morning and have showings and offers by the afternoon. “Most sellers, not understanding how good the market is,” Gassett

explains, “could look at the offer and say, ‘OK, well, they offered over asking price; that’s pretty much what I thought I was going to get,’ and they accept the offer — not realizing that there could be other buyers with much better terms.”

Instead, Gassett defers showings on every listing, meaning that if he lists a house on Monday, for example, showings might not start until Thursday, and the seller will not consider an offer until the following Monday. “It dramatically increases the odds that there are going to be a lot more offers,” he says. “More offers equals better terms — not only in price but with buyers waiving inspections, paying in cash and being flexible on move-in dates.”

The results speak for themselves: “Of the houses I’ve listed over the past five to six years, probably 99% of them have had multiple offers and sold way over the asking price,” Gassett says.

To learn more, call 508-509-4867, email billgassett@remaxexec.com or visit maxrealestateexposure.com.

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

Bill Gassett | from page 16

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

Hopkinton PolyArts Festival at Town Common Sept. 9

The 48th annual Hopkinton PolyArts Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 9, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Town Common. Proceeds fund multiple scholarships for Hopkinton graduates majoring

or minoring in the arts. For details, visit cozzens.net/polyarts.

Blooms, Brews & BBQs at Weston Nurseries Sept. 9

The annual Blooms, Brews & BBQs event will be held Saturday, Sept. 9, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at Weston Nurseries (93 East Main Street), raising money for the Jimmy Fund at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. There will be local bands, craft beers, ciders, barbecue and vegetarian food. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit westonnurseries.com.

Women’s Club Monthly Meeting Sept. 11

The Hopkinton Women’s Club will hold its next monthly meeting on Monday, Sept. 11, at 9:30 a.m. at the Hopkinton Public Library. There will be a social gathering followed by a business meeting. Prospective new members interested in learning about the organization’s charity work, educational programs and social gatherings are welcome to attend. For more information, visit hopkintonwomensclub.org or email HopWCMembership@gmail.com.

HEF/HWC Charity Golf Event Sept. 23

The Hopkinton Charity Golf Event, sponsored by the Hopkinton Emergency Fund and the Hopkinton Women’s Club, will be held Monday, Sept. 18, starting at 8:30 a.m., at Shining Rock Golf Club in Northbridge. The fee is $150 per golfer, or $45 for lunch only. Sponsorships are available as well. For more information, visit hopgolfcharity.com.

Hopkinton Family Day at HHS fields Sept. 23

Hopkinton Family Day, a community event featuring live entertainment, games, activities and food trucks, and

topped off with a fireworks display, is set to return Sept. 23 on the field behind Hopkinton Middle School. The event, which runs from 2-9 p.m., is sponsored by many generous local businesses. Town organizations, nonprofits, clubs and businesses located in town offer activities for everyone. All activities (not including the food trucks) are free for the whole family. For more information, including how to participate as a sponsor or town organization, visit the Friends of Hopkinton website at friendsofhopkinton.org.

Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk

Oct. 1

Registration is open for the 35th annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, which is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 1. Funds raised are donated to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Jimmy Fund Walk features four distances, from the full marathon (starting in Hopkinton) to a 5K. To register or to support a walker, visit JimmyFundWalk. org or call 866-531-9255. Registrants can enter the promo code NEWS for a $5 discount off the registration fee. All registered participants will receive a bib, medal and T-shirt.

Mental Health Collaborative Golf Tournament Oct. 23

The Mental Health Collaborative Fall Classic will be held Monday, Oct. 23, at Hopkinton Country Club, starting at 9 a.m. Activities include continental breakfast, golf, boxed lunch, cocktail reception, silent auction, awards dinner and live auction. Participants provide an opportunity to support the critical cause of mental health literacy for teens and young adults, and allows MHC to educate more teachers, students, parents, coaches, young adults, organizations and communities. For more information about participating or becoming a sponsor, visit mentalhealthcollaborative.org.

Our Labor Day weekend concerts will take place at our outdoor amphitheater. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and snacks. In the event of rain, the band will move indoors and theater seating will be available.

Neal & The Vipers

Sept. 1 | Music starts at 6:30 p.m.

Neal & The Vipers are a Rhode Islandbased band who play American roots music encompassing blues, rock & roll, rockabilly, and surf that will get you up out of your chair to dance all night long!

The Gary Backstrom Band

Sept. 2 | 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Led by guitarist and frontman Gary Backstrom, who is often considered “one of the most underrated, fluid, and melodic players in the Northeast.” The band’s unique sound is interwoven with exciting, unpredictable improvisation that can only be heard in the best live acts on the scene today.

Lights Out Blues Band with Gary Bernath | Sept. 3 | 1 to 3 p.m.

The Lights Out Blues Band is a four-piece traditional blues band that was formed 12 years ago to honor the “Chess Records” masters of the ‘50s and ‘60s while creating its own unique style of traditional blues.

The Weeklings

Sept. 23 | 8 p.m.

America’s most unique celebration of the music and inspiration of The Beatles, The Weeklings features former members of Styx, Dave Mason, the original Beatlemania on Broadway, Jon Bon Jovi & The Kings of Suburbia, Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, Springsteen drummer Max Weinberg’s Jukebox and BeatleFest house band Liverpool. The band performs and records explosive renditions of The Beatles albums and Top 40 classics, uniquely arranged nuggets such as “Paperback Writer,” “Baby You’re a Rich Man,” “I Am the Walrus,” “The Word,” and “I’ve Just Seen A Face.” “3,” the title track from their 2020 album, was chosen as the #1 Coolest Song in the World for the year 2020 on Sirius/XM’s Little Steven’s Underground Garage. The Weeklings bring their music to life through their extraordinary energy and musicianship, exceptional vocals, and charming stage presence.

Summer champs

Hopkinton’s rising Grade 6 (above) and Grade 7 teams won titles in the Mass Premier Summer Basketball League earlier this month.

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

Schedule Update

The library will be closed Saturday, Sept. 2, through Monday, Sept. 4 for Labor Day weekend.

Red Cross Blood Drive

Friday, Sept. 1, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

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

50-Plus Job Seekers

Networking Group

Wednesday, Sept. 6, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 6-8 p.m.

This Zoom program is a professional forum for networking with peers in a safe and comfortable environment conducive to developing new relationships and developing skills and strategies to help with a career transition. These sessions will focus on artificial intelligence, applications and cover letters.

Our Time Memory Cafe at Senior Center

Thursday, Sept. 7, 1-2:15 p.m.

Sponsored by Hopkinton Senior Services and the Hopkinton Public Library, Our Time Memory Cafe invites those with forgetfulness, mild cognitive impairment or dementia and their care partner, family and friends to attend. Our

Time Memory Cafe takes place on the first Thursday of each month.

Author Talk: Lidia Bastianich

Thursday, Sept. 7, 7-8 p.m.

This virtual program is an intimate evening with award-winning television host and bestselling author Lidia Bastianich, who will talk about her memoir “My American Dream: A Life of Love, Family and Food.”

Rough Sleepers: An Evening with Dr. Jim O’Connell

Monday, Sept. 11, 6-8 p.m.

This special evening is with Dr. Jim O’Connell, the doctor at the heart of Tracy Kidder’s book “Rough Sleepers.”

A New York Times bestseller, “Rough Sleepers” is the powerful story of an inspiring doctor who made a difference by helping to create a program to care for Boston’s homeless community. This program is co-sponsored by the Hopkinton Board of Health.

Narcan Training and Community Harm Reduction

Tuesday, Sept. 12, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Narcan, the brand name of the generic drug naloxone, is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids. This free training from the Hopkinton Health Department will provide participants with brief instruction on how to recognize an opioid overdose, when and how to use Narcan, and a free kit to take home.

Back to School Organization

Tuesday, Sept. 12, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

This fun and informative workshop will provide new ways to approach the

clutter and commitments that school days can bring into the home. Jenna Elliot of The Naked Flower will share tips on combating overcommitted schedules, entry and exit strategies, delegating to kids, and fun and helpful resources.

Broadway Musicals: The Golden Age, 1927-64

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 10-11 a.m.

This virtual class is presented by Friends of the Hopkinton Public Library as part of the Life Long Learner program and is offered at no charge to the community. With the opening of “Show Boat” in 1927, a new style of musical was born. Referred to as the “book” musical, it would become the standard of shows on Broadway, especially in the 1940s and 1950s, with great shows by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Presenter Fran Lautenberger will discuss the development of this new musical form and show clips of the best and brightest Broadway has to offer.

Women’s Financial Roundtable

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 1-2 p.m.

This virtual program is for any -

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

The Day After Yesterday: Portrait of Dementia Exhibit

Aug. 29-Sept. 29, at Hopkinton Center for the Arts

The Day After Yesterday is a powerful collection of portraits and personal stories that destigmatizes dementia and humanizes the millions of people living with the disease. It deftly combines narrative and portraiture, breaking the taboo around dementia, and replacing the fear, futility and despair that so often are associated with the disease with empathy, nuance and complexity. For details, visit hopartscenter.org.

Senior Center Book Club

Wednesday, Sept. 6, 10:30 a.m.

One of life’s pleasures is a good book. Another is the time to read it. At this meeting, attendees can relax and bring something to drink, all while enjoying book reviews and socializing. The September book is “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman.

Our Time Memory Cafe

Thursday, Sept. 7, 1 p.m.

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

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

Frayed Knot Fiber Arts Circle

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

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

Open Video Game Play by One Up Games

Friday, Sept. 15, 1-4 p.m.

One Up Games will bring a variety of next-gen consoles and gaming monitors, including virtual reality devices, to the library for free open game play. It will include all the popular games along with a mixture of classic and retro games.

Annual Police/Fire Bocce Tournament

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 3 p.m.

The Senior Center will take on the HPD and HFD in the ultimate bocce showdown. Anyone interested in joining the Senior Center team should call the receptionist. Names will be selected from a hat if there is enough interest. Refreshments will be available throughout the challenge. Rain date is Thursday, Sept. 14.

Senior Spirit Week

Sept. 18-22

September is National Senior Center Month, and Hopkinton will show its Senior Center pride with its second annual Spirit Week. Individuals can stop in all week for fun activities and lunches, all arranged around a daily theme.

Monday: Sports Fanatic — Favorite jersey or sports paraphernalia.

Tuesday: Comfy Cozy — Favorite pajamas, sweats or whatever one’s most comfortable clothes are.

Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday — Crazy hair, mismatched socks, clothes inside-out, tie-dye or whatever fun and funky clothing choice can be found.

Thursday: Luau — Floral shirts, tropical leis and grass skirts are encouraged.

Friday: Hopkinton Pride — Favorite HSC gear, or rock the Hopkinton colors of green and orange.

Aging in Place

Part 1: Thursday, Sept. 28, 1 p.m. Part 2: Thursday, Oct. 19, 1 p.m.

So many seniors today are living longer than generations before. It’s called the Longevity Dividend, as it’s the best gift one can get. This two-part series will have individuals make the most of that gift. The first session explores the attitudes and behaviors that may be holding one back from having a truly fulfilling and happy retirement. The second session helps devise a plan to make that a reality. This is all from information based on the latest research by psychologists and gerontologists. Attendees will find out not just how to live longer but also how to make these extra years really count.

SENIOR SNIPPETS

ARRESTS

August 17

12:26 a.m. Officer Augusto

Diaz conducted a motor vehicle stop on Hayden Rowe Street, and Officer Shannon Beloin and Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded as backup. A 47-year-old Holliston resident was arrested and charged with marked lanes violation, OUI drugs, possession of Class B drug, and possession of Class C drug.

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.

August 8

8:15 a.m. Multiple callers reported a fallen tree blocking half the roadway of Wood Street. Officer Tyler Staback responded and notified the DPW.

11:43 a.m. A caller reported receiving a fraudulent phone call in which her voice was recorded. Officer Matthew Santoro assisted and took a report of fraud.

11:53 a.m. A caller reported wild turkeys have been attacking people in their neighborhood, and no one was doing anything about it. A message was left for the animal control officer.

12:17 p.m. A concerned Sanctuary Lane resident reported her husband hadn’t returned from an appointment in Westborough. Officer Robert Ekross responded to the Westborough address. The husband returned home.

1:03 p.m. A caller reported a case of identity theft. Officer Matthew Santoro assisted and took a report.

3:24 p.m. A caller reported he installed carpets at a Barbara Road house for a resident, and the resident blocked him in her driveway and wouldn’t let him out. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Matthew LaTour responded and took a report.

August 9

12:14 a.m. A Connelly Hill Road resident reported someone rang her doorbell, and then she noticed a white object on her front lawn. Officer Nicholas Walker responded and spoke with the caller, and youths were believed to be the culprits. Officer Walker checked the neighborhood with a negative find.

11:48 a.m. Sergeant Matthew McNeil reported a large tree limb fell in the roadway of Fruit Street. The DPW was contacted.

3:18 p.m. A Leonard Street resident reported a garden snake was in her house. Officer Matthew LaTour assisted and notified the animal control officer.

5:35 p.m. Officers Matthew LaTour and Brennan Grimley responded to a motor vehicle accident on Front Street where a vehicle struck a tree. Officers reported two men with facial injuries.

August 10

7:34 a.m. A Spring Street caller reported a large animal went through her pool cover and was unable to get out. The caller stated she did not care if someone had to rip the whole cover off in order to release the animal. Officer

Sean McKeon and Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded along with the Fire Department. The animal was out of the pool.

10:33 a.m. A caller reported a Penske truck backed into his vehicle on West Main Street. Officer Sean McKeon responded and took a report.

1:10 p.m. A Peppercorn Road resident reported someone was attempting to break into her house while she was in her basement office. Police Chief Joseph Bennett, Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officers Shannon Beloin and Sean McKeon responded and found a person who serves legal papers in the driveway attempting to serve the homeowner. She was to go upstairs to speak with officers.

1:16 p.m. A Mechanic Street caller reported someone broke into his excavator and damaged it. Officer Shannon Beloin responded and took a report of vandalism.

3:04 p.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Matthew LaTour responded to a motor vehicle accident on Legacy Farms North and took a report.

3:12 p.m. A caller reported a trash truck was stuck in cable wires on Saddle Hill Road. Officer Cody Normandin responded and notified Verizon, and the truck subsequently was released from the wires.

August 11

8:33 a.m. Eversource reported water spraying from the ground on Clinton Street. Officer Tyler Staback responded, notified the Water Department and assisted with traffic until a detail officer arrived.

1:57 p.m. A walk-in reported someone took a trip using her airline miles. Officer Tyler Staback took a report of fraud.

2:10 p.m. A caller reported a green Lamborghini speeding on Pond Street. Officer Sean McKeon responded, and the vehicle was gone upon his arrival.

August 12

1:59 a.m. A McKay Road caller reported his 17-year-old daughter had not returned home. Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Augusto Diaz, Nicholas Walker and Nathan Wright responded and assisted. The teen subsequently was transported home.

3:05 p.m. A caller reported finding two dogs on Spring Street. The animal control officer was contacted.

3:52 p.m. A caller reported water bubbling up from the ground at the ball field on Main Street. Officer Robert Ekross responded and reported a water pipe in left field was bubbling up through the ground. The Water Department was contacted.

4:48 p.m. A motorist reported an erratic operator swerving on Main Street, turning onto Mount Auburn Street and nearly hitting mailboxes. Officers Robert Ekross and Tyler Staback responded and located the vehicle in a Mayhew Street driveway and spoke with the driver, who showed no signs of impairment and stated he was swerving around all the potholes and manhole covers.

poliCe log

Police log | from page 21

10:18 p.m. The Medway Police Department reported finding a running and abandoned pickup truck in Medway registered to a Lakeshore Drive resident. Officers Robert Ekross and Cody Normandin responded to Lakeshore Drive and spoke with the registered owner of the truck and put him on the phone with Medway police. Arrangements were made to retrieve the vehicle.

August 13

11:30 a.m. A Fawn Ridge Road walk-in reported a person keeps parking in front of her house and apparently takes walks for hours at a time. Officer Matthew Santoro spoke with the walk-in and answered questions.

7:04 p.m. A caller reported seeing a male stop and go to the bathroom outside on Main Street. Officer Robert Ekross responded and checked the area with a negative find.

11:49 p.m. A Bridgeton Way resident reported loud banging on his door and windows and people running. Officer Nathan Wright responded and spoke to the reporting person, who directed him to another house on the street. Officer Wright took a report.

August 14

3:08 a.m. Officer Nathan Wright checked on a vehicle parked on South Street and found an employee sleeping before work.

10:52 a.m. A Hayden Rowe Street

caller reported her father lost a gold necklace with a black onyx pendant a few weeks ago and wanted it logged.

11:06 a.m. A caller reported an unknown animal in the roadway of West Main Street causing a road hazard. Officer Tyler Staback responded and the animal was gone upon his arrival.

3:53 p.m. A caller reported finding a black dog in the middle of the roadway on Clinton Street. The animal control officer was notified.

August 15

12:00 a.m. Sergeant Arthur Schofield checked on a boat on a trailer that appeared to be abandoned on Legacy Farms North. A tow truck was requested, and it removed the vehicle.

6:34 a.m. A caller reported a wire in the roadway of Ash Street. Officers Shannon Beloin and Nicholas Walker responded, contacted Verizon and stood by while the wires were removed.

8:08 a.m. A motorist reported a truck drove through a red light on South Street and was weaving around traffic. Officer Matthew Santoro responded and checked the area with a negative find on the truck.

12:06 p.m. Officer Shannon Beloin responded to a report of an injured deer on North Mill Street and found it on the edge of the woods.

12:29 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle struck his garage and took off. Officer Shannon Beloin responded, spoke with all parties involved and took

a crash report.

3:25 p.m. Officer Cody Normandin took a report of fraud on Pendulum Pass.

5:17 p.m. A Wood Street caller reported a black Lab got loose. Officers Matthew LaTour and Cody Normandin assisted in searching for the dog.

August 16

11:35 a.m. Officer Matthew LaTour responded to a report of a fallen tree creating a road hazard on Cunningham Street. It was not a hazard, and the homeowner stated a tree company was on its way.

August 17

6:46 a.m. Officer Shannon Beloin notified the DPW of a trash bag and debris in the left turning lane on Lumber Street.

1:24 p.m. A Pleasant Street caller reported a missing small gray cat. The animal control officer was notified.

5:16 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on College Street. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Matthew Santoro responded and requested emergency medical services. A crash report was taken.

5:25 p.m. A caller complained of two vehicles operating on the wrong side of the road on Fenton Street. Officer Cody Normandin responded and spoke with both drivers and advised them of the complaint.

10:22 p.m. A caller reported a white husky with a pink collar was on the

loose on Elizabeth Road. Officer Cody Normandin responded and checked the area with a negative find.

August 18

8:59 a.m. A Blackthorne Circle resident reported a breaking and entering of his shed at around 1:24 a.m. A subject entered the shed but did not appear to steal anything. Officer Sean McKeon responded and took a report.

10:01 a.m. A caller reported flooding on Wood Street. Officer Tyler Staback responded and notified the DPW, and the water was subsequently drained.

1:53 p.m. A caller reported a tractortrailer was stuck on Sylvan Way and attempted to turn around. Officer Tyler Staback responded and reported a mailbox was struck, and he took a report.

4:00 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Legacy Farms North. Sergeants Aaron O’Neil and Matthew McNeil responded and reported no personal injuries. A manhole cover was found displaced and water was flowing. The Water Department was notified. A crash report was taken.

4:33 p.m. A West Main Street caller reported his house was broken into. He noticed his front door was open and broken, and he found the house ransacked. He saw a vehicle on his security camera that was there for about five minutes. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Cody Normandin responded and reported the break-in likely occurred at 10:30 a.m., and a firearm was stolen. A report was taken.

9:19 p.m. Multiple callers reported a vehicle struck a tree on Hill Street. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Cody Normandin and Nicholas Walker responded and found a male was ambulatory and bleeding from the arm. He refused medical attention and was picked up by his girlfriend. A tow truck removed a vehicle that was leaking fluid. A crash report was taken.

August 19

1:18 a.m. Officer Nicholas Walker reported more than 40 vehicles entering an EMC parking lot on South Street. The vehicles started to scatter, and Officer Augusto Diaz reported a few at Alltown on West Main Street. The Westborough Police Department reported that they chased the same group out of an industrial park in their town earlier.

6:01 a.m. A caller reported an abandoned motorcycle lying in the grass on West Main Street and what appeared to be a small campfire in the mulch with no one around. Officers Augusto Diaz and Nicholas Walker responded and took a report. A tow truck removed the motorcycle.

2:03 p.m. Multiple callers reported a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Oakhurst Drive. Sergeants Arthur Schofield and Matthew McNeil responded and reported no personal injuries

11:08 p.m. A Nazneen Circle caller reported she was away for a couple of days and returned to find shattered glass on her front steps. She believed someone threw a rock inside. Officer Nicholas Walker responded and reported the front door was smashed. Officer Walker looked for other signs of vandalism and took a report.

Police log | page 23

log

Police log | from page 22

August 20

12:01 a.m. A Lumber Street resident reported a group of kids banging on his door. Officer Nicholas Walker responded and checked the area with a negative find.

1:08 p.m. A caller reported a disturbance on Elm Street, where a person was evicted from the property but was still there. The caller was concerned for the other person living in the house. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Shannon Beloin responded and took a report.

4:58 p.m. An Elm Street caller reported a verbal argument between two parties on Elm Street. Sergeant William Burchard and Officer Matthew LaTour responded and helped restore the peace.

7:30 p.m. The Upton Police Department reported a vehicle failed to stop on School Street and subsequently crashed on West Main Street and School Street, damaging a front lawn. Sergeant William Burchard and Officers Matthew LaTour and Shannon Beloin responded and took a report.

August 21

8:06 a.m. A Chamberlain Street resident reported a vehicle passed her daughter at a high rate of speed and was weaving around traffic. Officer Matthew Santoro responded. The vehicle was gone upon his arrival.

1:40 p.m. A caller reported a lowhanging wire on Clinton Street. Officer Sean McKeon responded and reported a service wire snapped but was not an immediate hazard. Verizon was contacted.

3:43 p.m. A caller reported a truck driving on East Main Street was dropping big coils off the back of the truck and into the roadway. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and advised the owner that plastic tubing was found in the roadway, and he returned to pick it up.

7:09 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle accident involving two cars on Legacy Farms North. Officers Matthew LaTour and Cody Normandin responded and reported no personal injuries.

7:30 p.m. A motorist reported his windshield was hit with two paintballs while he was driving on Hayden Rowe Street. One was blue and the other was turquoise. Officer Matthew LaTour responded and checked the area with a negative find of the culprit.

7:32 p.m. Three young female walk-ins asked for rides home, as it was raining hard and they did not have rides. Officer Cody Normandin spoke with them, and they walked home on their own.

9:22 p.m. A caller reported she saw two dogs run across the Town Common and into the roadway of Main Street. She was able to get them in her vehicle, and she met the animal control officer at the police station.

oBituaries

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

Robert Whalen

Robert “Bo” Whalen, 70, a longtime Hopkinton resident, died Aug. 20 at his home after a lengthy illness. He is survived by his wife, Mandy Savage, and brothers, Mike Whalen of Hopkinton, and Jack Whalen and wife Vita of Houston. Bo also is survived by Mike’s daughters, Suzy and Sarah, and Jack’s daughters, Jill and Josephine.

Born in 1953, Bo was the son of Theresa (Hardy) Whalen and Richard “Bud” Whalen. He graduated from Hopkinton High School, where he enjoyed playing on the baseball and football teams. He went on to graduate from Salem State University and later from New England College of Law.

Bo leaves many close friends with whom he remained in touch over the years. He was an avid Boston sports fan and loved following the local teams, especially the Red Sox. Bo enjoyed

spending time with his family, reading and his cats. Bo and Mandy’s home was the gathering place for family functions and many memorable celebrations.

The funeral was held Aug. 28 from the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home. funeral Mass was celebrated in St. John the Evangelist Parish, followed by burial in St. John’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bo’s memory may be made to Spaulding Re habilitation Hospital (spauldingrehab. org/giving). Checks can be mailed to Spaulding Rehabilitation, Development Office, 300 First Avenue, Charlestown, MA 02129.

Dorothy McLellan

Dorothy (Scott) McLellan, 94, of Hopkinton passed away Aug. 5. She was the wife of the late Joseph E. McLel lan Sr. of Framingham. Mrs. McLellen worked as a visit ing nurse in the Metrowest area for many years.

Dorothy is survived by two sons, Joseph E McLellan Jr. of Franklin and James McLellan of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and one brother, Robert Scott of California.

Mrs. McLellan was to be cremated and buried with her husband in Wildwood Cemetery in Ashland in a private ceremony.

HSPIRITS HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

HBEER HHHHHH

HWINE HHHHHHHHHHH

Vouvray Brut NV • 750ml $17.98

Day Wines Lemonade Rosé of Pinot Noir • 750ml $17.98

Château l’Escarelle Côteaux Varois en Provence Rosé • 750ml $19.98

Wölffer Summer in a Bottle Long Island Rosé • 750ml $19.98

Mooiplaas The Strawberry Pinotage Rosé • 750ml $11.98

Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay • 750ml $12.98

J Vineyards Russian River Valley Chardonnay • 750ml $29.98

Sonoma-Cutrer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay • 750ml $21.98

Alois Lageder Terra Alpina Pinot Grigio • 750ml $12.98

Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc • 750ml $10.98

Wither Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc • 750ml $11.98

Domaine René Malleron Sancerre • 750ml $22.98

Umani Ronchi Casal di Serra Verdicchio Classico Superiore • 750ml $15.98

Katherine Goldschmidt Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon • 750ml $19.98

Beaulieu Vineyards Napa Cabernet Sauvignon • 750ml $26.98

Francis Coppola Claret Red Blend • 750ml $13.98

Domaine de la Bastide Côtes du Rhône Rouge • 750ml $11.98

Quinta de Saes Dão Tinto • 750ml $15.98