Hopkinton Independent November 27 2019

PRST-STD U.S. Postage PAID Hopkinton, MA 01748 Permit No. 109 ECRWSS Postal Patron

HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 20 | No. 24 | November 27, 2019

Supporters Rally for Main Street

By Sandy Bowles Contributing Writer

T

PHOTO/CHRISTINE STRICKLAND

he Main Street Corridor Project will bring much needed infrastructure updates to a growing town and should not be rescinded, a new group that has formed to support the project believes.

The group, For The Main Street Corridor Project, organized after the Select Board at its Nov. 5 meeting reluctantly called for a Special Town Meeting to revisit the project that was approved by voters at the May 2018 Town Meeting. The Special Town Meeting, which was prompted by a petition from an opposition group called the Main Street Alliance, is scheduled for Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Hopkinton Middle School auditorium.

“We woke up Wednesday morning and we thought we should do something,” said Joe Markey, spokesperson for the group.

HONOR TO SERVE

At the Veterans Day dinner at the Woodville Rod & Gun Club on Nov. 11, Frank Torento received a citation from State Rep. Carolyn Dykema recognizing his many years of volunteer service for veterans in town.

Main Street | 9

INSIDE

Major changes for Hopkinton schools?

NEWS

Possibility of combining middle, high schools considered

Legacy Farms residents push for town to take street

By Melissa Orff Contributing Writer

10

SPORTS

T

Schools future | 12

FILE PHOTO/STEVE MCGRATH

he town could see a combined middle/high school campus sometime in the next 10 years as school officials get ready to present a plan for the future of the Hopkinton Public Schools.

During the Nov. 14 School Committee meeting, superintendent Dr. Carol Cavanaugh presented a “sneak peek” of the presentation that will be made on Dec. 5, which will reveal a plan developed from the findings of a capacity study done this fall. With the influx of students in the Hopkinton

Under one proposal, Hopkinton Middle School could be joined with the high school to create a combined school for grades 8-12.

Bliss announces retirement after 40 years as golf coach

17

SCHOOLS

Requests for FY21 total almost $16 million

This Thanksgiving, we are thankful for the people of Hopkinton and their support.

19

Thinking of selling? We have buyers looking. Contact us!

Kim Foemmel • (508) 808-1149

FommelFineHomes.com 1 Lumber Street, Hopkinton

2 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019

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

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

STAFF

Publisher: David Bagdon Dir. of Business Development: Susanne Odell Farber Founder: Sarah Lothrop Duckett

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

contact us:

For advertising, contact Susanne Odell Farber at: Cell: 508-954-8148 or email: sue@sodellconsult.com Or you may call the Hopkinton Independent at: 508-435-5188 (office), 508-366-2812 (fax)

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

I

t’s become Hopkinton’s kickoff for the holiday season — a day filled with holiday-themed activities — and it’s almost upon us. Saturday, Dec. 7, is shaping up to be quite a busy day in town. The main attraction is the Holiday Stroll (see story, Page 10), featuring the new Holly Trolley to shuttle shoppers to various businesses in town between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Also that day, the Hopkinton Garden Club has its second annual Holiday Greens Sale from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the John Warren Masonic Lodge.

“Members have been gathering natuplant materials to INDEPENDENT ral enhance our arrangeTHOUGHTS ments, including seeds and pods from perenniJERRY SPAR al gardens, pine cones and acorns,” explained the Garden Club’s Joan Luciano. “We’ll be cutting our own greens for arrangements with freshest greens possible.”

Over at Weston Nurseries, Santa and Mrs. Claus are scheduled to stop by between 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m., and there are a number of activities for children and families to enjoy.

Wrapping up the day is the Holiday on the Common event from 4-5 p.m. Put together by Hopkinton Parks and Recreation and the Hopkinton Girl Scouts, the event begins with caroling at 4 p.m. followed by a tree lighting and visit from Santa. Kids can drop off a letter in Santa’s mailbox, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, and donate toys (safe and unwrapped) to the Toys for Tots program. Local Girl Scout troops will have bake sales and other fundraisers going on as well.

Hopefully all this goodwill will carry over to the Special Town Meeting two days later.

Post office could be extra busy If you’ve got some holiday packages to mail, it would be a good idea to get to the post office early. That’s because the Cedar

Street location (in the center of town) likely will be busier than normal following the indefinite closure of the Ashland Post Office on Nov. 20. All Ashland employees were transferred to the Hopkinton facility, and post office box services were transferred to Hopkinton as well.

In early October, following up on a complaint, it was determined that there was mold in the Ashland office’s basement. At that time, all basement employees were transferred to Hopkinton while the remainder stayed in Ashland.

The announcement in November did not cite a specific reason for the closure, but Ashland employees reportedly had expressed concern about the quality of the air they were breathing in the building, which was constructed in 1939 and has had some basement water issues.

Veterans saluted

PHOTO/CHRISTINE STRICKLAND

Editorial comments and inquiries, including Letters to the Editor should be emailed to: editor@hopkintonindependent.com

Hopkinton kicks off holiday season

State Rep. Carolyn Dykema, who lives in Holliston, was presented with a Hopkinton football jersey (and some eye black) at the Veterans Dinner at the Woodville Rod & Gun Club in Hopkinton on Nov. 11.

As the liaison to the Veterans Committee, Select Board chair Brendan Tedstone gave a brief recap of festivities in town on Veterans Day. “We had a really nice dinner and a good celebration for our veterans at the Woodville Rod & Gun [Club], as well as a wonderful ceremony at the Hopkinton Independent thoughts | 3

Metro West’s Leading

Heating, Plumbing & Cooling Professionals

$50

OFF

No Heat? Don’t Panic!

Call for Service

ANY REPAIR

Valid on repairs only. Cannot be combined with other offers. Call for details.

Coupon never expires.

$75OFF

AIR DUCT CLEANING SERVICE Cannot be combined with other offers.

Expires 3/31/20

PL# 15892 • Corp Lic# 3531

$

Earn up-to $3,150 in rebates on a new heating/cooling system. Call today for your Free estimate.

nicholson-hvac.com

508-210-1030 “The Big Picture in a Small Town”

The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019 • 3 Independent thoughts | from page 2

Senior Center,” Tedstone said at the Nov. 19 Select Board meeting. “[State Rep.] Carolyn Dykema was there, and she was an absolutely wonderful speaker, as always.

“Many of our esteemed and revered veterans in town were there. Working your way through the crowd you get to hear tidbits of some of their stories. For me a bad day is sitting in 20 minutes of traffic getting to where I need to go. These guys were trying to find a way off the beach at Iwo Jima. It puts a lot of things in perspective.”

DPW tweaks trucks Some people have noticed that the DPW has been changing Water Department vehicles to yellow, moving away from the blue that had been standard for some time and instead matching them to the Highway Department.

“The two colors goes back to a time when we had a separate Highway Department and a separate Water and Sewer Department,” DPW director John Westerling said. “So what we’re doing is unifying as the Department of Public Works all under one roof, all the same color trucks.”

Westerling added that there will be

”some sort of water insignia” affixed to the Water Department trucks so that people will be able to distinguish them.

And why yellow?

“The majority of the vehicles are yellow already. And yellow is a more noticeable vehicle,” Westerling said. “So, during emergencies, yellow stands out. Yellow is more symbolic of public works vehicles.”

Rare Commercial Properties Now Available in the Heart of Downtown Hopkinton

Social Security scam hits home Frankland Road resident Bob Foster sent a note suggesting a warning to fellow Hopkintonians about a social security scam being directed at senior citizens. Foster said he received a call on Oct. 30 from what appeared to be a Hopkinton phone number (435 exchange) notifying him of a problem with his social security account and requesting that he press 1 to learn how to resolve the problem (he did not).

Noted Foster: “It was, of course, totally false and an attempt to steal from me.

The Social Security Administration does not contact people this way; several warnings have been sent out, accordingly, by the administration, but apparently there are still people gullible enough to get scammed since the thieves keep trying.”

Woodville opens doors for Thanksgiving meal

25 Main Street $750,000

35 Main Street $650,000

Once in a Generation Opportunity!

At last year’s Woodville Rod & Gun Club Thanksgiving dinner (from left) Kathy Villa, Susan Bush, Tom Pratt and John Villa serve meals to guests.

By Sandy Quadros Bowles Contributing Writer

S

ome will eat traditional turkey. Others will eat the deep-fried version.

But no one will eat alone.

Once again, the Woodville Rod & Gun Club will serve Thanksgiving dinner to anyone in the community looking for a place to go on the holiday. Dinner is served from noon to 3 p.m. at the club (252 Wood St.).

Members of the club arrive before sunrise to prepare the meal, with traditional roasted turkey, deep-fried turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, green vegetables and salad, said Karen Remillard, treasurer of the club and organizer of the Thanksgiving dinner with her husband, Marcel Remillard.

Dessert is made by club members.

The dinner began about 20 years ago by then club president Dennis Smith after the death of his mother.

Originally targeted to senior citizens, the dinner now is served to anyone seeking a hot meal and camaraderie on the holiday.

Last year 170 dinners were served.

Diners range from senior citizens to entire families. “They’re so appreciative,” Karen Remillard said. “What better way to spend Thanksgiving than with people who deeply appreciate it?”

In past years, meals also have been

distributed to police officers, firefighters and others who are serving the town and unable to be home on the holiday.

The meal would not be possible without donations and volunteers, she said.

Volunteers from within the club and beyond help cook, serve and assist with whatever is needed. Some stay an hour, others the entire time, but all provide valuable support.

“We have a huge amount of people that love to come and donate their time,” she said.

“I’ll put you to work, no problem,” she added with a laugh.

The turkeys are donated, primarily by club members. Vegetables also are provided by club members and purchased from local farmers. Cash donations typically cover most of the remaining cost, Remillard explained.

Last year was the first time the meal cost the club money, she noted. But the rewards are priceless, reflecting the day’s theme of gratitude and giving.

Guests enjoy “coming down there and just being with the people that are there, they were so appreciative,’’ she said.

The dinner, she said, “is the most rewarding of all the events we do.”

Anyone interested in making a donation or learning more about the dinner can contact Karen Remillard at karens. remillard@gmail.com.

Please contact me for

More Detailed Information

Chuck Joseph 508-509-6169

ChuckJoseph@remaxexec.com

#1 RE/MAX Agent in

Massachusetts in 2018 RE/MAX Executive Realty 22 South Street, Suite 203 Hopkinton / 508-509-4867

Bill Gassett

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

billgassett@remaxexec.com www.maxrealestateexposure.com www.sellmyhomeinmetrowestma.com

4 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019

Main Street gets new vote it deserves Little did we know back in 2010 that town officials already had a fait accompli in mind with their premature submission of the 25 percent plan in order to establish Hopkinton`s place in the state funding queue for the Downtown Improvement project. The current level of Select Board grumbling over the LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Main Street Alliance`s successful citizens petition for a Special Town Meeting on December 9 reflects their frustration that another side of this story is finally being heard.

The Select Board has accused our Main Street Alliance of “opening up a can of worms” by allegedly setting a precedent in recalling an article following the May 2018 Town Meeting vote. Since evidence has recently surfaced that the general public may have been under-informed at the time, I say bring on the worms. The Board also stated concern over how disruptive this process could be for them, apparently without concern for the extreme disruption the Downtown Corridor Project would unleash on all residents, business owners, and vehicles attempting to pass through town … for at least two years.

Previously stated goals by town officials to partner with local small businesses to keep them informed on a regular basis have failed miserably in many cases. I have spent all but two years of my life living and/or working on Main Street, yet until last month was never approached directly by any project-related official during its nearly 10-year gestation period.

Many of the Alliance members have spent decades and generations contributing to the community that has sustained their

livelihoods. That`s what you do when you can. If this project was reasonable and would result in a decrease of traffic congestion as originally promised, history proves dedicated citizens and property owners like us would accept as a necessary inconvenience/sacrifice whatever ensued. Such is not the case, however, as state and federal mandates have altered the original concept beyond reason, resulting in unacceptable design changes and permanent property rights restrictions for many.

We object to a process that kept most of us in the dark, while members of the Select Board now accuse us of “taking our ball and going home” by sponsoring the upcoming December 9 Special Town Meeting vote. In fact, it`s the local power brokers who have held the ball for nearly 10 years. Concerned residents are finally getting their first opportunity to step up to the plate. Our goal remains to inform Hopkinton`s citizens of what town officials have not deemed significant. If you thought you had no say in this project, here`s your chance to vote.

— Rob Phipps, Hopkinton business owner

Bike lane issues remain I write in response to the Select Board’s press release of 6 November 2019.

With respect to the fifth point of the press release, wherein it states, “In addition, taking bicycles out of the stream of car and truck traffic and putting them in a separated lane improves safety for both bicycles and vehicles.” While, in principle, this could be true, the elephant in the room is the fact of Hopkinton’s terrain, and the exceedingly large quantity of driveways and intersections (approx. 30) over the approximately three-quarters of a mile of

the project. Further, below.

The 11th and final point is that, “Twoway bike lanes along roadways are indeed uncommon in the United States, but they do exist — and they are a fairly new concept.” Further along, “It is not anticipated that a two-way bike lane here would be any more unsafe that the two-way Upper Charles Trail in Milford, for example.”

I’ve ridden many miles of two-way bike lanes. Several times on the Cape from Harwich to Nauset Beach, the Minute Man from Bedford to Chelmsford, and the entirety of the paved portion of Milford’s Upper Charles.

Common to each of them: — They are FLAT for 99-plus percent of their length, because they are predominately on old railroad beds.

— There are very, very few intersections, and fewer, if any, driveway crossings with restricted visibility on any of them.

— The visibility at the few intersections is very good.

With respect only to Upper Charles in Milford, there is a portion where the path is raised, and adjacent to Beach Street, and then Mt. Pleasant Street. Truthfully, while raised, it is a sidewalk, and it is suggested that one walk one’s bike from the crossing at East Main Street. The portion of the Milford bike path that most closely resembles the planned Hopkinton path (but for the fact that this portion of the Milford bike path is much flatter, and has only one curb cut on Mt. Pleasant), is restricted to walking. The vast majority of the Milford bike path is not only “separated” it is utterly isolated from vehicular traffic. In my opinion, there is no way the Milford bike path and the proposal for Hopkinton are remotely equivalent.

I have requested, multiple times, examples of bike lanes similar to the Hopkinton proposal. MassDOT and VHB provided six. The six are in urban areas (1 point), FLAT (0 points), and two examples each featured ONE curb cut (0 points).

Suffice it to say that I anticipate a drastically different “safety” result.

— Ed Harrow, Hopkinton

Downtown upgrade vital for Hopkinton

In Your Neighborhood. A New Location to Serve You Better.

Now accepting new patients with immediate appointments available.

VISIT OUR FULL-SERVICE HOPKINTON OFFICE OFFERING MEDICAL, SURGICAL & COSMETIC SERVICES! Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Jessica Boulavsky

(978) 691-5690 • 22 South Street • Hopkinton

Thankful for your support and business!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

JENNIFER FRENCH 617-997-2207

jenniferfrench.re@gmail.com | www.jenniferfrench.com

Like many residents, I was concerned with the easement issues raised by the Main Street Alliance, and I don’t think a petition of 350 residents can be easily ignored. After conducting my own research on the project, I am as big a supporter of the Downtown Corridor Project as ever, and I’d like to share some highlights from what I have found.

There is only one property in which private land is being taken. It is owned by Crosspoint (CVS) and it is being used to straighten the intersection of Main Street and Grove Street to improve the traffic flow at the intersection. Crosspoint is fully supportive of the project. Based on my research, any other claims of land being taken are false.

The most impacted properties by the project are Crosspoint/CVS, the Sunoco station (additional vehicle lane added), and several properties across from Town Hall.

It’s important to understand that a person’s private property typically doesn’t extend all the way to the edge of the street, only to the edge of the “right-of-way.” In some cases, property owners have maintained and/or improved this town-owned land on their own accord. For example, one outspoken opponent of the project on West Main Street has a stone wall that is built in the right-of-way on town owned land. In this situation, our town officials have worked with the property owner to eliminate any permanent easement

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

and have offered to rebuild the wall, approximately two feet back from its current location, at no cost to the homeowner. The town has also worked with other property owners and is paying to reconstruct what was previously built/maintained on town-owned land (e.g. landscaping, lawn irrigation, etc).

This project will reduce traffic congestion, attract businesses and people to our new beautiful town center, and improve access to downtown for pedestrians and cyclists, all in the most financially prudent approach possible (Hopkinton is only paying for approximately 20 percent of the total project cost). This project has been well vetted through the state-mandated design process and multiple public forums and input sessions as well as Town Meeting. The project is critically important for the long-term success of our town center, providing an anchor for small businesses and for people that desire thriving and walkable small towns. I urge you to support it at the Dec. 9 Special Town Meeting.

— Gary Trendel, Hopkinton

Project key for trails The Upper Charles Trail Committee (UCTC) has been charged by the Select Board to plan, design and build a Class 5 (fully developed) trail from Milford to Ashland, and it must include the Center Trail. The UCTC originally wanted to cross Main Street by the Hopkinton Lumber store. However, the State DOT would not allow the flashing warning lights necessary for the trail because it was too close to the existing Wood/Main Street traffic lights. The committee met with various engineers to develop a twodirectional, separated bike lane that met state and federal requirements for safety and funding purposes. Most importantly it makes a safer place for our school children who currently flood the downtown area on early release days.

Some have criticized this plan as unsafe for cyclists who would need to pass in front of existing driveways and business exits. We are expecting the new lanes and signage to increase safety. We must work with what we have, as do other bike paths in Massachusetts, and plan for better, safer routes for all.

I also want to speak to other traffic safety calming measures that are planned for the downtown corridor, similar to what the town accomplished on Hayden Rowe by narrowing the road, which forces the traffic to slow down. At the same time, the plan includes turn lanes that allow for a smoother flow and more volume of traffic to travel through the intersections at a more consistent pace. All of these improvements are made possible by the town’s utilization of the easements. Without the easements, there will be no improvement to the downtown area, as we will not be able to comply with state and federal regulations.

If Article 47 is overturned at Special Town Meeting due to lack of easements, the cost to re-pave Main Street is estimated to be more than $3.4 million. That cost would be the burden of the taxpayers, as without the easements the town would no longer comply with the State DOT regulations. Please also remember that other costs currently included in this project, such as straightening the intersection, drainage, improved pedestrian safety, landscaping and aesthetic enhancement, would all be on the taxpayers.

I urge all residents to attend the Special Town Meeting on Dec. 9 and hear the facts and make an educated decision.

— Jane Moran, Hopkinton Upper Charles Trail Committee chair

The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019 • 5

LIQUOR

WINE

140 Turnpike Rd., Westborough Route 9 at Lyman St. (508) 366-1942 juliosliquors.com

CRAFT BEER

GOURMET

So much more than a liquor store.

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

HOT SAUCES AND BBQ

SMOKE SHOP

6 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019

Holiday Events

Allessio makes sure fellow veterans feel appreciated

at the HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS Nutcracker Sweet

Saturday | December 7 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. Performances Hopkinton Center for the Arts

HOPKINTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS

TICKETS: Tickets to the Nutcracker performances or the Claflin Hill Family Concert are available in person at the HCA or online at www.HopArtsCenter.org 98 Hayden Rowe St. | Hopkinton | 508.435.9222

Do we care for Hopkinton town employees?

We now accept Allways Insurance.

We welcome EVERY Allways Insurance holder to our office

10 Cedar St., Hopkinton (across from Post Office) Dr. Steven Perryman

www.hopkintonvision.com 508.435.4711

OPKINTO •H

E

Saturday, December 14 3:00 p.m.

Editor’s note: This is a feature in the Independent called “Hopkinton High-Five” where we salute a resident who has made contributions to the community.

H - FI V

Join the Claflin Hill Symphony String Quartet and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts for a new Holiday event for the entire family. The 1-hour concert will include: • Traditional classical music and holiday favorites • Instrument petting zoo and face-painting (1/2 hour before and after concert) • Sweet treats & refreshments Sponsored by: Scott’s Landscaping

By Gethin Coolbaugh Contributing Writer

H - FI V

E OPKINTO

Claflin Hill String Quartet Family Concert

Hank Allessio, shown at the Senior Center bocce tournament in September, has made it his mission to preserve memories of his fellow veterans.

H IG

•H

Come and join Clara on this magical journey.

Directed by Jessica Wilson, HCA Director of Dance

N

H IG

Sunday | December 22 12:30 & 4:30 p.m. Performances Ashland High School, Ashland, MA

N

The Nutcracker

FILE PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Enjoy 50-minutes of scenes from The Nutcracker followed by a meet and greet with the cast and a sweet surprise!

Henry “Hank” Allessio never hesitated to shift from serving our country to serving his fellow veterans.

A passing glance at the pictures of young soldiers from Hopkinton in his friend Rosemary Lynch’s old newspaper clipping during a veterans appreciation dinner at the Woodville Rod & Gun Club gave him an idea of how he could best serve them.

“Some years ago, maybe around 10 years ago now, I tripped over the veterans photo gallery,” said Allessio, now 79. “The thought occurred to me, since we were at a veterans appreciation dinner, why couldn’t we do something like that for the veterans? Get some photographs of [Hopkinton] veterans or a G.I. in uniform when he or she was 22 years old [in the service].”

From that moment on, Allessio made it his personal mission to obtain and preserve as many photographs of Hopkinton veterans as he could.

Through the help of HCAM-TV, which hosts the extensive photo gallery on its website (hcam.tv/series/veterans/slideshow.shtml), Allessio’s collection now is available to the public and has swelled into the hundreds.

“With a few minor hiccups, it got off the ground, and as you and I speak, we have over 600 photographs in our town’s veterans photo gallery,” Allessio said. “I think Hopkinton appreciates its veterans more than the typical area in blue Massachusetts.”

Allessio, who has lived in town since the 1980s, quickly came to realize as he first sorted through the pictures that, in a tight-knit town like Hopkinton, there were plenty of familiar faces.

“The locals, the townies really appreciate it because as they do their scrolling, they see so-and-so and such-and-such, and everyone they see is somebody they went to school with or are related [to],” he said. “Of course, [when you’re in town long enough you] realize everyone’s related to everyone else.”

And then Allessio had another idea.

“Gee, we’ve got all these veterans in town, and God bless us some of them are still alive, so why don’t we grab a hold of some of these living veterans and document their military stories for posterity?” he said.

Allessio’s focus then shifted from collecting still images to moving ones as he partnered with HCAM to capture video interviews of about 30 Hopkinton veterans, allowing them to share their own military stories.

Another popular setting for Hopkinton’s veterans to swap tales from their days in the service is the monthly Veterans Breakfast at the Senior Center, which Allessio also has a hand in.

Sometimes, though, those stories can more closely resemble fish tales.

“We get together on the first Friday of the month, have chipped beef, sit around lying to one another,” Allessio joked.

Their discussions often center on military history on that particular date. For their upcoming meeting on Dec. 6, the focus will be on the 78th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

“The fellows look forward to it,” Allessio said. “I feel funny because I’m sitting here on any given day, and I’ll get an email out of the blue from one of the vets explaining to me how he can’t make the breakfast and he’s going to be in Toledo visiting his mother-in-law, or something like that, and they treat me almost as though I’m the school superintendent.”

With advanced age also comes the reality that medical issues can keep some of the veterans from attending the breakfast each month. Allessio said he always makes it a point not to forget about them, and to keep them there in spirit.

“We talk about who among the veterans are probably not feeling so well. We call that ‘sick call,’ ” he said. “We encourage the more able-bodied veterans to call on the sick call folks and visit them, send a card, a note, a letter.”

Allessio’s own military story is worthy of regaling, too.

High five | 7

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019 • 7

Lake Maspenock advisory group pushes for herbicides

FILE PHOTO/STEVE MCGRATH

The Lake Maspenock Citizens Input Group is recommending the use of herbicides to combat weed growth.

By Scott Liftman Contributing Writer

A

fter years of protracted efforts to resolve the invasive weed problem, the Lake Maspenock Citizens Input Group is hopeful that a speedy decision can be made after it officially endorsed the idea of combatting the weed outgrowth by means of herbicides.

The purpose of the Weed Advisory Board, a panel of five members created by the town four years ago, is to look into all possible solutions to eradicate a strain of weed that is mostly affecting the north basin of the lake.

“Their job is to research all options: herbicides, mechanical harvesting and extended draw down,” said Sabine St. Pierre, a member of the executive board of the Lake Maspenock Preservation Association (LMPA).

St. Pierre said that the LMPA, a 250-member group that dedicates itself to maintaining the lake’s health and natural beauty, is not directly involved in the resolution process of the weed issue. She explained that town has been tackling the weed epidemic by “extended draw down,” a process in which the lake’s water level is lowered in order to expose the roots of the weeds to cold weather conditions, which will result in the plants’ ultimate demise.

The process, which had been effective for several years, was halted last year when it was discovered that the draw down was affecting the water supply of one lake resident in particular.

“They don’t want to hinder them from potentially losing water,” St. Pierre said.

“Extended draw down will not continue to happen.”

St. Pierre said that mechanical harvesting was considered but is not a realistic

option due to it being very labor intensive and tending to produce unpleasant odors.

“The [LMPA] board is supporting herbicides as a recommendation,” St. Pierre stated.

Jaime Goncalves, LMPA vice president and a member of the advisory team, also is convinced of the efficacy and viability of the herbicide option. He believes that all other options at this point have been exhausted.

“The morphology of the lake precludes us from using other treatment options,” he said.

Goncalves describes the herbicide option as being completely safe, indicating it will not have adverse effects on the profile of the lake, as weeds will be spot-treated and herbicides applied only to the immediate areas where weeds reside.

Also in support of the herbicide recommendation is a limnologist, or aquatic ecosystem specialist, who was hired by the town to help devise a plan of action.

A public hearing was held Nov. 18 in which the advisory board opened the floor to comments after a brief presentation.

“Overall, the public was in favor of the herbicide solution,” Goncalves said.

“Between 60 and 70 people were in attendance at the meeting. Seventy percent of the comments supported the council’s recommendations.”

Final approval belongs to town officials, and a quick response is paramount since the application of the herbicide is time sensitive.

“The most effective time for the application of the herbicide is in the early growth phase of the weed, which is in the spring,” Goncalves explained.

Should this opportunity be missed, the delay of treatment could potentially be extended to the following year.

Allessio makes sure fellow veterans feel appreciated

Free training starts in December!

54 Hayden Rowe Street, Hopkinton

3 Stagecoach Way, Hopkinton

2 Donna Pass, Hopkinton

19 Redwood Path, Hopkinton

SOLD AT $1,230,000

SOLD AT $785,000

SOLD AT $563,000

3 Wyman, Lane, Hopkinton Represented Buyer

High five | from page 6

He spent nearly a decade in the U.S. Army, including four years in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in college, two years of active duty, and ensuing years in inactive reserves.

Allessio attended basic training at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Following that, he was assigned to temporary duty in Da Nang in the northern part of South Vietnam. For the greater part of a year after that, he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan.

For Allessio, though, preserving the memory of his own service is not what is most important.

“The military makes so many sacrifices and [in] a place like where we live, in large part, it goes unappreciated,” he said. “I saw the narrow part of the wedge when I saw Rosemary’s tattered newspaper to do something to enrich, at least locally, memories or appreciation of the veterans. I feel that in large part we’ve accomplished that.”

If you know of a volunteer in town worthy of recognition in a High-Five feature, email editor@HopkintonIndependent.com.

SOLD AT $1,350,000

SOLD AT $1,140,000

Call Trina to successfully market and sell your home!

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

508.435.8000 HopkintonMoves.com | Trina@TrinaMacchi.com 11 GROVE STREET | HOPKINTON | MA 01748

8 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019

Community

Q&A

Everyone in town has a story to tell and opinions to share. In this feature, we shine the spotlight on one resident to learn more about them and their connection to town.

Hopkinton Independent: What brought you to Hopkinton?

Cappetta: “I came in 2006. I basically found a family house, and that’s what drew me to the town. I was looking for housing in Marlborough, and it just didn’t work out. It turned out there was a house here, and that’s kind of how we ended up here.”

HI: What do you do for a living?

Cappetta: “I’m a pastor — five days a week, I’m doing that. I’m assistant pastor at a church in Framingham. I’ve been doing that since 2006 — right when I moved into Hopkinton, I started that job. On my day off, I started Meet Vinnie Cappetta a 501(c)(3) counseling organization called Check Your Compass. We provide counseling for individuals and couples and groups, group counseling as well for trauma and grief.”

Jill A. Tanzi, DDS

Gina M. Belsito, DMD

COMPREHENSIVE D E N TA L C A R E P E R I O D O N TA L C A R E COSMETIC DENTISTRY IMPLANT DENTISTRY C R O W N I N A DAY FA C I A L ESTHETICS

Maria C. Mesquita, DMD

The Dentist at Hopkinton is a full service dental office serving both adults and children in an elegant, comfortable and relaxed setting.

508-435-6500 77 Main Street Hopkinton, MA

www.hopdent.com

HI: What activities do you enjoy in your free time around town?

Cappetta: “I enjoy fishing. There’s a couple of places in Hopkinton, like [Lake] Whitehall is one of the primary places I have liked to fish over the years. [I] also play basketball with some of the guys in town. Lake Maspenock is another place I like to hang out, and Hopkinton State Park is another great spot I like to go.”

HI: What makes Hopkinton unique in your opinion?

Cappetta: “When we came, it was kind of a small-town atmosphere, and I think we still have that even though we’re growing quite a bit. The other thing that stands out is just the school system and the rigorous studies and providing a good base of education for my children. I didn’t really necessarily come here because of that, but it certainly — as I was looking at a house, it was kind of beat up, but it was in a beautiful area in a town where I knew where my kid would get a good education, and now I’ve had two other children since I’ve been here.”

HI: What is your favorite Hopkinton memory?

Cappetta: “Boston Marathon, pretty much every year that we have been [living] on the Marathon route — so that’s coming on like eight or nine years now — every year we’ve been out there cheering on runners, and also opened our home to our friends and family and anyone who wanted to come and hang out with us on our front yard. So there’s definitely a lot of memories there.”

HI: What is your favorite thing about Hopkinton?

Cappetta: “I like that it is a smaller town and that there is a sense of community that is fostered through, like even the adult basketball league kind of thing. It’s nice whenever [I’m] going to school events that I see the guys that I play basketball with, because they have kids in the school system. That sense of belonging and sense of, ‘I belong here.’

Even though I didn’t live here before, people kind of adopted me into their town.”

Our Holiday Shop is Open!

HI: If you could change one thing about Hopkinton, what would it be?

Cappetta: “[It] was a Town Meeting event that I went to or watched on TV, it just seemed like the political process was a little clunky, I guess. I’m excited that they’re going to look at the downtown configuration and try to make that better, in terms of having some business in Hopkinton. The fact [is] that people have a hard time getting to me on time because of the traffic in the center of town. Obviously, that’s going to get worse before it gets better — there’s construction. But it’s hopeful that maybe a few years from now, maybe we’ll have a better traffic pattern.”

HI: What do you hope the future holds for Hopkinton?

Cappetta: “Yeah, I’m encouraged. I hope that the education will remain strong. I hope the sense of community will remain strong, and I’m also hopeful as a mental health practitioner about some of the initiatives, both public and private, that I see happening in the town to help raise the emotional health of the people that live here.”

— Interview conducted by Gethin Coolbaugh

Local author offers healing advice, from ‘inside-out’

E

Custom Wreaths & Greens | Christmas Trees & Ornaments Christmas Decorations & Gifts | Greenhouse Plants

Visit Santa & Mrs. Claus!

November 30 & December 1, 7 & 8

PHOTO/SHANNON MATOS PHOTOGRAPHY

By Deborah Burke Henderson Contributing Writer

ven as an introspective young girl, Cheryl Melody Baskin knew she preferred to go deep in a conversation, straight to the heart, encouraging others to believe in themselves, discover their own truths and dare to make their dreams a reality.

In her newest book, “Heart-Dreamer: Stepping into Life, Love, CreativIn her newest book, “Heart-Dreamer,” ity and Dreams — No Matter What,” local author Cheryl Melody Baskin Baskin shares how she transformed the shares powerful stories and life wisdom negative effects of her own childhood that focus on heart-listening, inspiration wounds into a path toward self-healing and hope. by creating projects with purposeful intentions and messages.

“I’ve shared every part of who I am in this book,” Baskin stated, “and offer self-healing approaches that will guide one’s journey towards inner growth and Baskin | 9

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019 • 9

As vote nears, supporters speak up for downtown project Main Street | from page 1

Supporters formed For the Main Street Corridor Project, which has a Facebook page aimed at informing the public about the plan’s benefits.

“We definitely need to invest in our infrastructure,” Markey said. “We’re a growing community. A growing community requires infrastructure investment.”

The project affects Main Street from just west of Wood Street to Ash Street, a total of .83 miles. The project aims to improve traffic flow along with safety of pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists and provide streetscape and aesthetic improvements. A major component of the project involves realigning the Route 135/ Route 85 interaction to almost 100 percent straight configuration.

Markey said the project will bring much-needed improvements.

“The state of the Main Street corridor is pretty poor,” he said, noting that traveling through that area during rush hour can result in mile-long backups.

Since the Town Meeting vote, some residents have raised concerns about the cost of the project, its potential impact on traffic flow and accessibility to businesses during construction, as well as easements, both temporary and permanent, that the work will require, among other issues.

Markey said he feels “a little uneasy” about revisiting an issue that was already approved by Town Meeting voters. He also said the project makes sense for the town and its expanding population.

The Select Board released a fact sheet with responses to some of the most common criticisms of the project.

On the issue of cost, Markey said the $15 million project would cost taxpayers about $3 million. State, federal and other financial contributions account for $8.3 million. Host community agreements will provide $3.25 million and state grants will contribute $500,000 and potentially more, according to the town.

This funding already has been appropriated by the May Town Meeting.

Markey also said that, contrary to what some are saying, the project has not been kept from the public and was not done without careful thought and planning.

The project has been a “front and center issue” for the town since at least the early 2000s, he said, and improving downtown and its infrastructure has been a “top goal” of the Select Board since at least 2003.

Markey served as the Planning Board representative to the Downtown Revitalization Committee as far back as 2009.

Even that far back, he said, the committee

had discussions on how to improve the downtown and reviewed various options.

The issue of easements frequently has been raised by some critics of the project, who have said their business or property would be negatively impacted.

The Select Board responded that about 60 percent of the easements will be temporary until some time after the project is complete.

The permanent easements are required if the proposed project impedes on private property when public access will be required. The property will not be taken outright and property owners will be compensated for easements granted, the town noted.

Critics also have said that the money

would be better spent on the town’s schools. Markey also said he is “well aware of the need to invest in our schools.”

He served as chair of the School Building Committee that led to the opening of Marathon Elementary School in September 2018.

But the project funding would not automatically revert to schools if the project were defeated, the Select Board explained.

School funding would have to be proposed in a separate article.

Funding for both the downtown project and the town schools is crucial to the town’s growth, Markey opined.

“I’d like to see selectmen become more assertive in advocacy for our schools and our downtown,” he said.

NOW OPEN!

Local author offers healing advice, from ‘inside-out’ 28 Main Street, Hopkinton

Baskin | from page 8

transformation, encourage daydreaming and invite you to ponder the more mystical aspects in life and be alert for their clues all around you.”

Baskin’s philosophy is one of inclusion, and she is passionate about offering love, hope and peace to others.

“I love to encourage people to find the music inside them that wants to come out,” she added playfully.

An accomplished performing and recording artist, intuitive life coach and motivational speaker and educator, Baskin is a bright example of what one can do from a place of believing in and valuing self.

“Heart-Dreamer” contains 255 pages of inspiration, encouragement, support and life experiences and wisdom from the author and from people all over the world who are part of her Facebook community, Shift of Heart.

Each chapter provides tips for self-healing, personal growth and self-discovery through experiential activities, heart-listening and love.

“I teach what I need to learn,” she added humbly. “Don’t take ‘no’for an answer. Know that you are more than what people label you as and know that when you get in touch with your true self, you can go for your dreams and keep hope in your heart, no matter what.”

Being a consummate dreamer her whole life, Baskin has a lot to say about listening to one’s intuition, which she calls “wisdom-whispers,” and she invites others to make sacred space in their lives so they may discover their inner voice of wisdom.

Healing from the “inside-out” includes understanding the healing power of visualization, creating “words matter” affirmations, learning to curb the inner critique, diving into experiential exercises in journal writing and uncovering the healing power in being present to each breath and each moment in life. “ ‘Heart-Dreamer’ will teach you how to channel your inner toddler, rediscover your strengths, understand your core values and gain greater self-confidence,” Baskin noted.

She has woven creativity activities throughout that are good for everyone, especially if creativity isn’t one’s strong suit.

“As soon as I saw the sentence ‘Allow your heart to guide you,’ I knew Melody’s words contained the truth about life,” offered Bernie Siegal, M.D., New York Times bestselling author, in his testimonial about “Heart-Dreamer.”

Baskin believes in a balance of quiet contemplation, meaningful social interaction, the healing power of nature, creativity, positive words, heart-opening presence, positive music and walking the path of love. She believes that we are all connected, and that peace is possible, one loving person at a time.

“Most of all, I believe in hope and feel that every small moment of personal healing, compassion, love and forgiveness helps to create a positive resonance that actively vibrates love into our beautiful planet,” she said.

Besides “Heart-Dreamer: Stepping into Life, Love, Creativity and Dreams — No Matter What,” Baskin has authored another personal growth self-help book, “Shift of Heart — Paths to Healing and Love,” and a three-act children’s musical entitled, “Peace Begins with You and Me.” As a musician, she has recorded numerous awardwinning albums with meaningful songs, storytelling and poetry for every age. She also is the founder and moderator of the Facebook global community Shift of Heart and has a website, shiftofheart.com.

“I seek to inspire people to discover, honor and actualize their innermost truth, hopes and dreams,” Baskin said. “My passion is inspiring anyone with a dream to take a leap of faith towards living that dream.”

Upcoming meet and greet events include the Bancroft Memorial Library in Hopedale on Dec. 7 and the Hopkinton Public Library on Dec. 10.

508.589.7889 kingscornerbarbershop.com OPEN Tuesday - Friday: 9am - 7pm, Saturday: 8am - 5pm

Journey The best

brings you

H

ME

Jeannine COBURN

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

Consider it SOLD! EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

508.808.4120 | JeannineCoburn.com

10 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019

Legacy Farms residents push for early street acceptance Residents of Legacy Farms North, frustrated with the lack of progress on the bus stop issue in their community, sought to take advantage of the Dec. 9 Special Town Meeting by pushing to have Legacy Farms Road North approved as a public road via a town-wide vote.

Having the road approved — NEWS BRIEFS from Frankland Road to Wilson Street — would allow school buses to travel into the development to pick up students closer to their homes. Currently residents drive their children — some more than a mile — to the edge of the development, at the corner of Legacy Farms Road North and Frankland Road, clogging the road and creating a potentially unsafe situation, especially for those children who walk to and/ or from the bus stop. The road is used as cut-though for drivers to get from Route 135 to Route 85 headed toward Southborough, and there have been complaints about cars speeding along the nearly 2-mile road.

A number of Legacy Farms North residents spoke during a public hearing at the Select Board meeting on Nov. 19 and encouraged the board to support the plan.

Legacy Farms developer Roy MacDowell also appeared at the meeting and offered his assistance.

“I understand the neighbors’ frustration, and frankly I don’t disagree with it,” he said.

MacDowell explained that his plan is to pave the road in the spring,

ideally before Annual Town Meeting in May. Responding to concerns from the Conservation Commission that the town might get stuck with the bill if it approves the road before it is finished, MacDowell insisted that wouldn’t be the case.

“I have no problem in signing a contractual letter that if there’s anything that needs to be complete we will take the responsibility of that even if the town will approve the road,” he said.

Planning Board chair Muriel Kramer said the road has essentially been treated as a public way since a ribbon-cutting ceremony there more than two years ago.

“I think there is some responsibility on all of us to find a way to increase the safety here on the road,” Kramer said.

Select Board member Brian Herr expressed concern that supporters were not going to be able to meet certain le-

Town confirms new treasurer At its Nov. 19 meeting, the Select Board voted to confirm the town manager’s appointment of Chris Heymanns as treasurer/collector.

Heymanns, a Framingham resident, previously worked a few financial jobs in the private sector.

“His experience in the private sector proved to be what we are looking

for to continue to improve our treasury and collection function in town,” town manager Norman Khumalo said before the board approved Heymanns unanimously.

Regional YMCA seeks input The MetroWest YMCA is seeking input as it makes plans for a new center that will serve the towns of Hopkinton, Holliston and Ashland. The facility will be built on 12.5 acres of land near the Ashland MBTA commuter rail station that was donated to the organization.

The YMCA is asking area residents to share their thoughts on what they would like to see in the new center.

Results from the survey will be shared during community forums in January.

To participate in the survey, go to metrowestymca.org/survey by Dec. 15.

Holiday Stroll continues favorite traditions, adds new ones

By Jean Cann Contributing Writer

W

ith the addition of the Holly Trolleys, community members may roll, as well as stroll, between local businesses at the 2019 Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce Holiday Stroll. The event, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., will offer the opportunity to shop, eat and enjoy a variety of festive activities and entertainment.

The Stroll again will include the

Holiday Stroll Passport Challenge, a contest encouraging Stroll participants to visit multiple locations. Passports will be available as an insert in the Day of Brochures, available at participating locations or on the Hopkinton Chamber website (hopchamber.com). To complete the challenge for the $500 cash prize drawing, individuals will need to visit at least 24 participating business locations, including at least six location visits in each quadrant, on Dec. 7 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., then submit

DISCOUNT HEATING OIL

Mark Underdah Remodeling

Call for price

Kitchens • Baths Additions • Remodels

508.341.1810

gal requirements that would allow the project to move forward.

“Our challenge is we’ve got to find a way to help, but we also have all these laws and rules we have to follow,” he said.

All parties expressed hope in finding a resolution, but, said Herr, “I’m not sure if we can pull that solution off at Special Town Meeting.”

Same Day Delivery Senior Discounts 125 Gallon Minimum

Insured & Licensed

508-620-6251

Lic.# CS071977

WWW.SAMEDAYOIL.COM DISCOUNT HEATING OIL

#1 DENTIST

2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018!

Same Day Delivery Senior Discounts

508-620-6251

Cleaning & Exams Children Welcome Invisalign® Periodontal Care ❖ Root Canals Crown & Bridge ❖ Dentures

2016

2017

2018

Additional location in Hopedale • www.parkplacedentalma.com “The Big Picture in a Small Town”

their passport to info@hopchamber.com before 5 p.m. on the same day. To complete the challenge for the $1,000 cash prize drawing, individuals will need to visit at least 38 business locations from all participating locations and follow the same time and submission guidelines as the $500 drawing.

Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce members, community groups, high school volunteers and nonprofit organizations all are playing a role in the Stroll, which will include charitable drives, traveling carol singers, music and theater performances, food tastings, specialty sales, family activities, an ice sculpture demonstration at 3 p.m. on the Town Common, then Santa arriving via firetruck for the annual tree lighting ceremony.

Two 50-minute “Nutcracker” productions will take place at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts.

“There will be four trolleys traveling three routes throughout town with numerous stops to get event participants the opportunity to visit as many locations as possible,” said Cristina Morrissiey, Chamber of Commerce president and vice president at UniBank. “There is no cost to use the trolleys, thanks to the gracious support of our sponsors.”

Holly Trolleys routes will be: • Center of town along Route 85 to Start Line Brewery; • Center of town up to 110 Plaza/ UniBank and Price Chopper; • Center of town along Main Street to Weston Nurseries.

“With the trolleys this year, participation is expected to be high with a lot of people in and around town,” Morrissiey said. “We are encouraging everyone to plan ahead by picking up the Day of Brochure at participating locations in advance.”

Holiday Stroll major sponsors include event sponsor UniBank for Savings, media sponsor Hopkinton Independent and supporting sponsors Hopkinton Center for the Arts and ABDesigns. Trolley sponsors include American Climbers, Middlesex Savings Bank, Oasis Financial Services, Office of Karen Spilka, Resilience CrossFit, Webster First and Weston Nurseries.

To learn more about the Holiday Stroll, visit the Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce website at hopchamber.com/ holidaystroll2019.

The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019 • 11

✺ Hopkinton Holiday Stroll

Holly Trolleys, Activities & Prizes (4) $500 and (1) $1000 Cash Prizes to be Awarded!

✺

✺ HOPKINTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

HO L I DAY S T RO L L

H December 7th. 10am — 3pm

It’s Holiday time again! Lets celebrate at the 2019 Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce Holiday Stroll. Go from store to store by foot or cover much more mileage by taking our NEW Holly Trolleys from one side of town to the other. There will be 4 Trolleys and 3 routes with designated stops for parking and they will be on a continuous loop to bring you from place to place!

Many local businesses will be participating with sales, specials, contests, treats and promotions to make your holiday shopping easy and fun!

PARTICIPANTS AND SPONSORS ABDesigns American Climbers* Baystate Audiology Bee’s Knees Interior Design, LLC Bills Pizzeria Kitchen + Grille Cabinet Gallery LTD Central Public House Christine Strickland Photography Dynasty Restaurant Education Station Edward Jones eHop Elizabeth Blake Orthodontics Golden Group Construction Goldfish Swim School Milford Guaranteed Rate Hillers Cleaners Hillers Pizza HOP-YO Hopkinton Center for the Arts Hopkinton Drug Hopkinton Independent

* Trolley Sponsor

✺

IM Wireless/Verizon Main Street Pediatrics Middlesex Savings Bank* Muffin House Cafe Oasis Financial* Office of Karen Spilka* Platinum Physical Therapy Razor’s Edge RE/MAX Executive Realty Resilience CrossFit* Simply Orthodontics Start Line Brewing Start Line Pediatrics Stephanie G. Jewelers Swoon LLC The Chefs Kitchen on Main The Dentist at Hopkinton The Spoon The Trails - Hopkinton The Vin Bin UniBank for Savings Webster First FCU* Weston Nurseries* Your College Funding Coach Zenith Mortgage Advisors

✺ ✺

AND there will be amazing prizes to be awarded to community members! Visit the participating business locations and have your Holiday Stroll Passport stamped.

Enter your stamped passport in a random drawing for (4) $500 cash prizes and one $1000 cash prize!!

You can pick up the Itinerary Book with Passports at the participating businesses beginning Nov. 27th.

Look for Hopkinton Holiday Stroll poster/decal in the window.

HOLIDAY STROLL ACTIVITIES The Holly Trolley will have carolers AND Anna and Elsa from Frozen will make an appearance on Trolley leaving the HCA at noon.

Masonic Hall Visit Chamber businesses in the Masonic Hall. Local nonprofit organizations will be there as well.

Non Profits List: • Collaborative Inc • Department of Children and Services • Friends of Hopkinton • Garden Club • HALT • Hopkinton CC Charitable Foundation • Lions Club • Marathon Quilters • Mental Health • South Asian Circle • The Womens Group • YMCA

Chamber Businesses all over town will have activities and treats and more as you get your passport stamped!

The Library will have Family Photos and a Sing-along.

On the Town Common: The Girl Scouts will offer Free crafts for kids, bake sales, and other fundraising sales for Girl Scouts & Collections for Charities. Boy Scout Troop 1 will be selling trees & wreaths behind 61 Main Street from 9:00am to 8:00pm Caroling led by ESL Theater’s adult chorus the Treblemakers starts at 4:00pm with Tree lighting and Santa arriving at about 4:30pm.

Ice sculpture carving live at the Town Common from 1pm to 3pm!

For more info: www.hopchamber.com

Event Sponsor Supporting Sponsors Marketing Sponsor

designs AB

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

12 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019

Schools consider various options to handle growth Schools future | from page 1

Public Schools over the past few years, and enrollment predictions continuing to rise over the next decade, space has become a huge concern for the district.

Although more details will be presented during the Dec. 5 meeting, Cavanaugh said that based on a number of factors, her department plans to explore the possibility of creating a large campus on Hayden Rowe. One of the projects would be to link the high school and middle school buildings to create one large school for grades 8-12.

“That would afford you a little more of the kinds of things that parents have asked for,” said Cavanaugh, referencing parents who have asked for higher level course offerings for their eighth-grade students.

Cavanaugh also mentioned the possibility of constructing a school building to house grades 2-5 while keeping grades 2-3 and 4-5 as separate “schools within a school.”

“But if all of those students [cur-

You have to have a town constituency that says we value this and is something that we believe in and want to do. I believe we could build something amazing here in Hopkinton.

— Superintendent Dr. Carol Cavanaugh rently] in two separate schools exist under one roof, you could save a lot of money [on special education and English learner programs],” she noted.

Having a larger group of grades in one school also would save money on transportation expenses, said Cavanaugh, as the district would only have to pay for two tiers of busing instead of three.

Although a large undertaking, building a big school complex in one area could mean significant reimbursement from the state, and reconfiguring the remaining school buildings could help accommodate the predicted 1,000

additional students that will be coming into Hopkinton over the next 10 years.

“In an ideal world you might be able to have a 6-12 campus on this [west] side of [Hayden Rowe],” Cavanaugh said.

For those concerned about traffic on Hayden Rowe, Cavanaugh said that the architects have a plan to build a driveway that would take cars off of the main road to access the school campus.

“That would alleviate a lot of the traffic that is already there,” she said.

A project of this magnitude would not come to fruition in the near future, cautioned Cavanaugh, who stated a lot of

R

free $ 10 gift card! with each purchase of $50 or more* INCLUDING GIFT CARD PURCHASES!

gift car d Westboro u 508•366 ... where A

gh Shopp ing

•4959

LL books

Come and explore...

There’s so much in store!

Hopkin10K road race Dec. 7

By Will Kraus Contributing Writer

Spread the

Spend $50 - Receive $10 Spend $100 - Receive $20 Spend $150 - Receive $30

pieces would have to come together first.

“You have to have a town constituency that says we value this and is something that we believe in and want to do,” she said. “I believe we could build something amazing here in Hopkinton.”

Several School Committee members voiced their support of the preliminary plan and thanked Cavanaugh for bringing it forward to a larger audience in December.

“I think this would be wonderful to at least entertain this notion as we go forward,” said member Meg Tyler.

Cavanaugh encouraged the community to attend the public forum on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium to learn more about construction options for the future of the Hopkinton Public Schools.

C

www.tatn enter uck.com

are discou nt

ed ALL th

e time.

* Gift cards cannot be redeemed before Monday, Dec. 2, 2019.

Cannot be combined with any other discount or offer

3 DAYS bar code spa ONLY ce

fri • sat • sun NOV 29•NOV 30•DEC 1

Westborough Shopping Center • Route 9 & Lyman Street Mon-Sat 9-9, Sun 10-6 • 508-366-4959 • www.tatnuck.com

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

unners at the third annual Hopkin10K will enjoy a scenic course that circles Lake Whitehall as they traverse 6.2 miles on Saturday, Dec. 7.

It won’t take too long before runners return to Victory Field for the race’s finish. But their impact will last a long time.

The race is held in memory of Andy Welzel, a lifelong Hopkinton resident and runner who died of cancer in 2006 at the age of 49, and proceeds support a scholarship in his name.

“Andy was a big coach, a big mentor in the town,” said Kathleen Karpe, a Hopkinton Running Club founder and Hopkin10K race committee member.

“He coached everybody’s kids. He was a great guy who was always giving back to the community and was a member of the [Hopkinton Running Club].”

Karpe and fellow HRC founder Laura McKenzie started the Hopkin10K in Welzel’s honor, and the event is special for the Welzel family.

“Andy’s wife and his children are always at the race,” McKenzie said.

“This year Andy’s brother will be there.

So there’s that family side of it and it’s important for them.”

The race committee uses all of the Hopkin10K’s proceeds for the Andy Welzel Pay It Forward Scholarship Fund. The organization awards five scholarships to local high school seniors pursuing higher education.

Scholarship winners are chosen in part by showing how they were impacted by someone like Andy Welzel.

“We ask the seniors to write an essay, and the essay is about somebody who has made a difference in their lives, has changed their lives, or mentored them.” Karpe explained. “They’re about coaches, teachers, friends, family members, somebody who has made a difference in their life, and then they in turn have chosen to pay it forward in some way.”

The race entry fee is $45, which includes a technical race shirt, prizes to the top finishers in a variety of age divisions, and refreshments, including drinks from lead sponsor Start Line Brewing Company of Hopkinton.

For more information or to register for the Hopkin10K, go to racemenu. com/hopkin10k.

The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019 • 13

Sports Hillers football bounces back after playoff loss HHS takes modest win streak into T-Day showdown Quarterback Robby Bernardin (left) and running back Cam Mulvaney have the Hillers on a two-game winning streak heading into their Thanksgiving Day showdown vs. undefeated Ashland.

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

T

he Hopkinton High School football team put its resilient nature on display after being eliminated from the postseason, earning back-to-back wins to build momentum heading into the final game of the season against Ashland.

The Hillers are 4-6 heading into the Thanksgiving Day showdown, with a relatively new roster battling a gauntlet of a schedule.

“We knew we were going to have some inexperience and it showed at times,” first-year head coach Dan MacLean said. “The schedule we played is one of the toughest I have ever been a part of. It was brutal and we were in almost every game this year, we had a chance to win nearly every time.”

The one game MacLean said he wished he could have back is the postseason loss to Plymouth South that brought the Hillers’ tournament run to an end. But Hopkinton rebounded to knock off Milford the following week, beating Milford in the Hillers’ only home game under the lights. The team followed that up with a win over North Quincy.

“I was super proud of the kids,”

PHOTO TRICIA LACASCIA PHOTOGRAPHY

MacLean said. “When you lose a playoff game, it’s tough to get back. I didn’t have to do much though, the kids did it all.”

Senior Robby Bernardin stepped into the starting quarterback role this fall after two years as the backup. He threw for more than 1,800 yards through the first 10 games and MacLean praised his signal caller for his leadership ability.

“I was really excited to finally be in this role,” Bernardin said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

RESILIENCE

Running back Cam Mulvaney has added over 800 rushing yards this fall behind a strong offensive line. David Quinones, Aidan Stewart, Aidan Morin, Reece Griffiths and Luke MacDonald have consistently opened up holes in front of Mulvaney.

“Our offensive line really came though,” MacLean said. “We were not sure about them going in and they have responded.”

“It’s been so much fun, this is by far the most fun football season I have

been a part of,” MacDonald said. “Just the camaraderie on this team, people say ‘family,’ but I have truly felt like our team has been a family. Especially this senior year, everyone has stepped up.”

On the defensive side of the ball, Andrew Saporoschetz has totaled more than 120 tackles to lead the way.

“He has been a phenomenal football player this year on both sides of the ball,” MacLean said.

Max Lacascia, Zachary Levy and Cole Salyards have all been solid defensively, the coach added.

MacLean said he was proud of the fact that his team has been able to compete against strong opponents. In the season opener, Hopkinton had a chance to beat Wayland but could not punch it into the end zone to beat a team that ended up in the sectional semifinals.

Hopkinton let a first-half lead slip away against perennial power Holliston and battled undefeated Ashland in a game that was tight into the second half.

The Hillers have weathered some tough road trips and finally turned the corner with a winning streak heading into Thanksgiving.

“I think the kids have played better than I thought,” MacLean said. “They have battled all season.”

CELEBRATING 7+ YEARS OF

JUMPSTART

FAMILY, FITNESS, & FUN

New to fitness or ready to jump back in?

This 2020 JumpStart Program is for you!

CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR PROGRAM OFFERINGS:

IGNITE YOUR FITNESS JOURNEY

HOME OF THE HOPKINTON RESILIENT

• JUMPSTART

(6 WEEK INTRODUCTORY PROGRAM)

Start Date:

• RUSH CLASSES

January 13th for 6 weeks

(45 MIN HIIT-STYLE GENERAL PROGRAM)

Class Times:

• CROSSFIT CLASSES

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays 7am or 7:30pm (all 3 days)

(60 MIN ALL-ENCOMPASSING FITNESS)

Program Cost: $300

• KIDS CLASSES • TEEN CLASSES • TEAM TRAINING • NUTRITION COACHING • 1-ON-1 & SEMI-PRIVATE

Don’t know where to start?

For more information or to sign up, go to: www.crossfitresilience.com/jumpstart Registration Deadline: January 6, 2020

Schedule a 15 min No Sweat Intro here: www.crossfitresilience.com/no-sweat-intro

45R South St. Hopkinton, MA 01748 www.crossfitresilience.com

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

14 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019

THANKSGIVIN 2019 HOPKINTON HILLERS FOOTBALL NO.

NAME

3 4 6 7 8 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 23 25 26 27 28 29 34 42 43 45 50 51 52 54 55 58 60 62 64 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 76 79 88

Cole Salyards 11 Max LaCascia* 12 Brian Keefe 11 John Wauters 10 Tommy Hamblet 11 Robby Bernardin* 12 Tommy Bernardin 11 Spencer Horgan 10 Nick Lecesse 11 Ryan D’Amour 10 Aiden Kelley 10 Garret Morrissiey 11 James Muzzy 10 Declan Herr 11 Owen Flanagan 10 Jacob Sokol 11 Michael Burney 10 Zach Levy* 12 Callum Greenwood 10 Cam Mulvaney 11 Eric Davis 12 Elias Pereira 11 Andrew Saporoschetz 12 Liam Buckley 12 Riley Finnegan 10 Jack Levy 10 Joe Arena 11 Daniel Greenleaf 11 Ethan Champlin 11 Luke MacDonald* 12 Brady Auslander 10 Parker Black 11 Eldon Rozy 10 Cyrus Hanson 10 Hunter Bertucci-Bissonette 10 David Quinones 12 Reece Griffiths 12 Harrison Bograd 10 Jonathan Dicken 10 Hayes Pearson-Woodruff 11 Aidan Morin 11 Ryan Franklin 10 Keifer Norton 11 Samuel Lozeau 12 Aidan Stewart 12 Shubhanjay Khanal 10

* Captains

GRADE

POSITION WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB QB/DB WR/DL WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB QB/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/LB WR/LB WR/DB RB/LB WR/DB RB/DB OL/DL WR/DB RB/LB OL/DL WR/LB RB/LB OL/DL OL/DL WR/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DL

HT/WT 5-11/165 5-9/155 5-9/155 5-11/170 6-2/165 6-2/170 6-2/165 5-10/165 5-11/145 5-8/145 5-7/155 5-11/155 5-10/160 5-9/155 5-10/150 5-11/177 5-6/150 5-7/165 5-6/122 5-8/160 5-11/175 5-9/155 6-0/175 6-0/175 5-10/150 5-3/160 5-8/174 5-6/160 6-0/177 5-11/185 6-1/170 6-2/180 6-0/185 6-0/168 5-10/175 6-0/250 5-6/180 5-5/160 5-7/220 6-1/220 6-1/205 6-0/280 5-10/216 6-0/320 6-2/335 N/A

2019 HILLERS COACHES AND STAFF VARSITY STAFF

ATHLETIC TRAINER

ASSISTANT COACHES

EQUIPMENT

Dan MacLean, head coach

Chris Baker Dave Swanton Jack Flynn Mark Sanborn Joe MacLean Joe Flynn

FRESHMEN STAFF

Will Collins, head coach Kyler Colella

Amanda Magier

Ed Flannery

TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER Tricia LaCascia

TEAM VIDEOGRAPHER Mike MacDonald

BAND DIRECTOR Craig Hay

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019 • 15

NG DAY GAME Hillers seek revenge against Ashland on Thanksgiving

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

F

or the second straight year, the Hopkinton High School football team will be playing a Thanksgiving Day rematch against Ashland, and the Hillers are hoping recent history repeats.

A season ago, Hopkinton bounced back from a loss earlier in the season and won on Turkey Day to come into this year’s tilt with a 52-385 record in one of the longest-running holiday rivalries in the state. The dynamic of the rivalry has been different under the new playoff format, which has led to Hopkinton and Ashland playing each other before Thanksgiving during the regular season, but Hillers coach Dan MacLean said this is still a special game.

“I am different than most people who say Thanksgiving is not the same because you have to play them twice,” he said. “I think this rivalry is phenomenal. Being part of it the last few years as the defensive coordinator, when Hopkinton and Ashland get together, both teams want to win and it’s going to be a great football game.”

Two of the last four years, the game has come down to the final play of the game. Last season the two teams were locked up in a tight game before the Hillers pulled away in the fourth quarter.

“The kids love it,” MacLean said. “It’s the town next door and it’s such a special rivalry.”

MacLean said he has not seen any dip in the quality of play since the Thanksgiving game became a rematch.

“This year it was a battle and now we get

2019 HOPKINTON HILLERS CHEERLEADERS NAME

GRADE NAME

Madeline Strickland* Linnea Dean* Beatrice Amelio Pooja Iyer Julia Lerner Adrina Arakelian Allison Rossillo Ashley Thomas Kara Duine Maeve Watson

12 12 12 11 11 11 11 10 10 10

Mackenzie Holmes Hannah Hutchens Marrissa Walsh Elizabeth Schneider Jayna Madden

GRADE 10 10 10 10 9

another shot at them,” he said. “You’ve seen them once, so preparing for them might be a little easier, but it ramps up when you get to Thanksgiving.

Seeing the people there, it’s always a big crowd and it’s going to be a great football game.”

The game is particularly important for the seniors on both sides. This fall, Hopkinton will get to play the year’s final game at home.

“This is a big one,” Hillers senior lineman Luke MacDonald said, noting the fact that some players on both sides played together as kids with the Hopkinton-Ashland Fighting Irish. “This is a game we are all looking forward to.”

“The past few years it’s been a really good game,” added senior quarterback Robby Bernardin “There are always a ton of fans and a big crowd.

I know I am going to have a lot of family there.”

MacDonald said the fact that his high school football career is coming to an end is already staring to set in. He added that while both teams have a great deal of respect for one another, the rivalry is intense.

The Hillers come into the game riding the high tide of a two-game winning streak, the first time winning back-to-back games all year.

Winning a third in a row — especially against an Ashland team that heads into the game undefeated — would be the perfect end to the season, but knowing it’s the last time they will don the green and orange makes the holiday tradition bittersweet.

“It’s going to be really special and it’s going to be sad no matter the outcome,” Bernardin said.

“I am excited to play four more quarters with my teammates and end the season on a high note.”

CHEER PHOTO

* Captains

HEAD COACH Ashley Poillucci “The Big Picture in a Small Town”

16 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019

Jones defends D3 cross country title

Girls, boys runners finish season in impressive fashion

H

willing to run any event the team needs her in. She really shines in the relays where teamwork is essential. Providence is lucky to have her.”

Other Hillers making their commitments official were Olivia O’Connor, who will play lacrosse at the University of New Hampshire, and Matt Epstein, who will play golf at William & Mary.

Student signs with Va. Tech lax PHOTO/HHS ATHLETICS

opkinton High School junior Olivia Jones successfully defended her title in the Eastern Mass. Division 3 championship meet on Nov. 9 at Wrentham Developmental Center. Jones won in a time of 18 minutes, 36.79 seconds for the challenging 5K course, a good 25 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor.

Hopkinton finished third as SPORTS ROUNDUP a team with 138 points, behind first-place Milton (68) and runner-up Walpole (95), keyed by the efforts of Schuyler Gooley (15th, 20:07.16), Greta Field (23rd, 20:33.11), Ali Luce (49th, 21:05.5) and Autumn Tumbleton (50th, 21:05.73).

Jones went on to finish fourth at the Division 1 All-State meet on Nov. 16. It marked the best-ever finish by a Hopkinton runner, regardless of division.

“Olivia always seems to find an extra gear when she gets to championship season,” HHS coach Jean Cann said.

“At the D3 meet she went in as defending champ, so she knew she belonged at least near the front. Once she took off, I was confident she would hold the lead.

She looked comfortable and strong. At the All-State championship, she set a goal of top 10 and crushed that with a fourth-place finish.”

Meanwhile, the HHS boys became the first boys team in school history to qualify as a team for all-states. The Hillers’ top five runners finished the EMass D3 meet in under 17:20. Alex

Providence College-bound runner Delaney Mick (left) and UNH-bound lacrosse player Olivia O’Connor were all smiles as they signed their National Letters of Intent at Hopkinton High School on Nov. 15.

Brown led the way by finishing eighth in 16:21.72. He was followed by Ian Cann (13th, 16:34.81), Nick Brown (28th, 16:56.01), Cody Ottinger (31st, 16:58.60) and Patrick Barnes (50th, 17:19.87).

The Hillers took third with 130 points, behind first-place Milton (82) and runner-up Walpole (120).

At the Division 1 All-State meet the boys finished a respectable 15th, with Alex Brown’s 17th-place individual finish the highlight.

Go Hopkinton Hillers!

Beat Ashland Clockers!

JOYCE

Volleyball bows out in sectional final The HHS volleyball team appeared poised to knock off top-seeded Needham in the Central/West sectional final on Nov. 9. Hopkinton captured the first two sets, 25-21 and 25-19. However, undefeated Needham stormed back to win the next three sets, 25-19, 25-22 and 15-8.

The loss ended a memorable season for the Hillers at 20-1.

“This team went farther, played harder, and did more than anyone expected them to,” HHS coach Margie Grabmeier told the media after the loss. “Credit to Needham. They were well-coached and came back from a 2-0 deficit. That’s why it hurts. But my girls did a great job and I’m just really proud of them.”

Walsh helps Vermont Academy win title Hopkinton’s Riley Walsh, a sophomore at Vermont Academy, helped the school’s girls soccer team win the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class D championship tournament.

The Wildcats beat Trumbull’s Christian Heritage School, 1-0, in the final. Walsh, a midfielder/striker, picked up an assist in the quarterfinals, a 3-1 victory over Hamden Hall.

Vermont Academy finished the regular season 12-5-2 and was seeded second in the NEPSAC tournament.

Walsh scored one goal on the season, coming in a 2-1 victory over Cushing Academy on Oct. 26.

Walsh also is an ice hockey player for the Wildcats.

Trio of Hillers sign NLIs

PLUMBING • AIR CONDITIONING • HEATING Residential and Commercial

508-497-6344

joyceplumbingandheating.com

Sophie Student, a Hopkinton resident who is a senior at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, signed a National Letter of Intent to play lacrosse at Virginia Tech.

The 2019 Independent School League Most Valuable Player, Student is a three-time All-ISL selection. She helped lead St. Mark’s to its fourth league championship in five years this past spring. The co-captain tallied 102 draws, 61 goals, 21 assists and 28 caused turnovers.

“Sophie is a phenomenal lacrosse player and athlete,” said St. Mark’s coach Channing Warner. “She is fast, smart and dynamic on the field. This year, amidst a powerful attacking group with many collegiate-level players, Sophie led the team in scoring, which speaks volumes to her talent level. She balances being a strong leader and a selfless teammate perfectly. We are so excited we get one more year with her.”

Delaney Mick was one of three Hillers who signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) this month, committing to run track at Providence College next year.

“Delaney is a hard-worker who has really thrived working with Coach [Brian] Prescott in the weight room and on the track,” HHS coach Jean Cann said. “She has a positive attitude and is

to the

Hopkinton High School Varsity Football Team

o G ! s r e l l i H

508.435.0021 77 West Main St., Hopkinton www.hillerspizzeria.com “The Big Picture in a Small Town”

The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019 • 17

Bliss retires after 4 decades as HHS golf coach

LEARN TO DRIVE

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Dick Bliss (at left, alongside the 2019 seniors) is stepping down after 40 years leading the golf team at Hopkinton High School.

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

L

Donovan, who played golf at Duke.

The Hillers advanced to the state title. Bradley won the individual crown with a 3-under-par 69. Curran shot 70 and Donovan 71. Hopkinton’s team total was 2-under par.

“That is a record that will never be broken,” Bliss said. “I think we won by 45 shots.”

Even with Bradley leaving the next year, Curran and Donovan led the Hillers to a second straight state championship in 2004.

“That’s when we really started rolling,” Bliss said.

Hopkinton amassed 11 Tri-Valley League titles under Bliss and just missed out on the state tournament three times during the career of Jimmy Hervol, another professional tutored by Bliss who is joining the pro ranks after an All-American career at UConn.

Bliss finished his career in fine fashion, losing just once in a league meet over his final three years en route to a trio of TVL titles and back-to-back state crowns in 2017 and 2018 before a top-five finish this fall.

He was able to claim one more D1 talent as well, with Matt Epstein slated to play at William & Mary next year.

Bliss, who also coached basketball for many years, said he knew this would be his final year. Leading a team is not a part-time job for him. He follows his players in the offseason and checks in on the tournaments they compete in between suiting up for the Hillers. He said he plans to continue to do that next year, but in an informal capacity. Bliss said he plans to stay close to the program he built and make sure it continues to meet the high bar set over the past two decades.

“It’s always been a labor of love,” he said. “I love doing it, but it’s time to let somebody come in and hopefully help the winning tradition we have.”

ongtime Hopkinton High School golf coach Dick Bliss announced his retirement after 40 years of leading a program that has grown into one of the most successful in the state, capping off a career that includes four state championships and five Division 1 collegiate players.

“It’s been a great run,” Bliss said. “I have no regrets. Looking back to where it started in 1979, up to 2019, there are so many kids whose lives I have been a part of. Some of them have turned pro, and a lot of them are still golfing.”

Bliss made the announcement at the team banquet earlier this month. The program he helped grow into a powerhouse began humbly in his first year. Back then, Hopkinton played at Saddle Hill Country Club, before it became Hopkinton Country Club. While this year’s team has nearly 30 players and 22 golfers set to come back next fall, that first team barely had enough to compete.

“We had eight players, it wasn’t a thing to do to play golf in Hopkinton,” he said. “During the ’80s and halfway through the ’90s, we were just trying to get enough people to play. We had tough times getting enough people.”

Golf was a spring sport at that time and had to compete with baseball for players. But Bliss put a lot into the program.

During his tenure as athletic director in the early ’90s, he made sure the golf team had an assistant coach.

The the demographics of the town began to chance. EMC came in and, with it, an influx of residents from a high socioeconomic class more predisposed to play golf. Saddle Hill became Hopkinton Country Club, and the numbers for the program started to grow. Hopkinton High School went from graduating classes of fewer than 100 students to graduating more than 300 kids per class.

2003 was a breakthrough year ENTIRE GIFT for the program. FuSHOP ON SALE! ture PGA Tour star and major champion Includes Boyd’s Bears, Keegan Bradley Crafts, Prints SALE E D I W E joined a team that R & Limited Editions STO included John CurStore stock only. Thru December 24, 2019 ran, who would go 290 ELIOT STREET, (LEDGEMERE PLAZA) • ASHLAND on to Vanderbilt and WWW.PREMIER-IMAGE.COM a professional career (508) 881-4730 of his own, and Kim

Sign Up with a Friend and Both Receive

HOPKINTON TRAINING CENTER

$50 Off $790*

Opening Soon!

Sign Up Online or Call Us Today!

Trish Miller, former owner of The Learning Center, is joining the CDA team!

WINTER SPECIAL

“Great driving school, very professional and great vehicles.

Highly recommend!”

B. Nasios

Program Includes:

• Free Life Skills Class – first of it’s kind • Lowest Cost Driving School in the Area • Lessons in RAV4 SUV, 50% Safer than a Sedan • Schedule Driving Lessons Anytime, Anywhere, from any Device • 99% of Students Pass Road Test on the First Try *Good for classes Nov ’19 –Mar ’20

(508) 217-4447 • CenterpointDrivingAcademy.com

P R E M I E R I M A G E GA L LE RY

F F O % 40

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

18 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019

Schools HHS TALENT SHOW PHOTOS/CHRISTINE STRICKLAND

Among the performers at the Hopkinton High School Talent Show on Nov. 7 were Bobby McGuire (playing the saxophone), Emilia Bashy (singing) and Nipun Kisari (solving a Rubik’s Cube).

The McBride Team of RE/MAX Executive Realty would like to congratulate Valeria Azofeifa on her award for Student of the Month.

V

alle’s education has been split between her home country of Costa Rica and at Hopkinton High School. Her teachers describe her as a model student who believes in herself, and someone who takes pride in her academic and personal successes. Teachers also say this kindhearted student would win hands-down if there was a vote on “greatest growth.”

Valeria likes to set boundaries and goals for herself. She loves traveling, cooking, music, dancing and having good conversations with her friends.

She is looking forward to college where she hopes to be a nurse or a doctor.

Congratulations, Valle!

Debbie Brosseau Katie McBride 508-277-9600 katie@mcbrideteam.com

The McBride Team

4 22 South Street, Suite 203 Hopkinton www.mcbrideteam.com

HPS anticipates 1,000 new students over next decade

By Melissa Orff Contributing Writer

O

ver the next 10 years, the Hopkinton Public Schools could see an additional 1,000 students enrolled, according to a recent capacity study report that was commissioned by the district.

The capacity study has been in process over the past few months to look at the district’s buildings to help determine a plan of action for the ever-increasing student enrollment in Hopkinton.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carol Cavanaugh presented a preview of a capacity study during the Nov. 14 School Committee meeting, informing the committee that the full report would be presented at a future meeting.

Over the past five years, close to 500 students have joined the Hopkinton Public Schools, and those numbers will continue to increase, according to the study’s projections.

“Based on the rate of new residential construction, an active real estate market, in-migration of new students, a stable birth rate and the quality of the school system, we have to prepare for a future that is going to be differ-

Help us celebrate!

TH

Four-Year Anniversary Community Giving Program UniBank will be donating $10,000 to the Hopkinton community and you decide where the donations will go! Stop in to UniBank’s Hopkinton branch to cast your vote today! Poll closes on November 29, 2019.

UniBank’s Hopkinton Branch 87 West Main Street Hopkinton, MA 01748

unibank.com

1.800.578.4270

Member FDIC/Member DIF

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

ent from the past,” Cavanaugh said.

In the past, the district has relied on estimates from the New England School Development Council (NESDEC), but after the actual numbers of students far surpassed the expected numbers for the past few years, the district started to think about enrollment predictions differently. In the past, Cavanaugh told the committee, estimates were created using birth rate data to make a determination on the number of students for the following year. But birth rate data underestimated the actual student enrollment for the past few years.

Another area that indicates an increasing enrollment estimate is the amount of new construction in the town. In 2007 and 2008 only 27 building permits were issued each of the two years. In 2016, 385 building permits were issued. Realtors contacted for the capacity study also reported that 80 percent of the home sales are due to people interested in moving into the town because of the schools.

“They found that people are really willing to pay to live in Hopkinton,” Cavanaugh said.

This is a trend that began several years ago, with the district adding approximately 500 new students in the past five years.

“We have 500 new kids and have not added a single classroom,” Cavanaugh added. “We have a huge space issue.”

If the projections are correct and the district gets an additional 1,000 students over the next 10 years, the district could be looking at a very difficult situation if more space isn’t added.

“How are we going to accommodate an additional 1,500 kids that have arrived in the last several years and will arrive in the next 10?” she said. “We need to act, and we need to act swiftly.

Our schools are already too small. We need to come up with a 10-year plan.”

Cavanaugh encouraged the community to attend a public forum on Dec. 5 at 6p.m. to hear more about the immediate and future space needs of the district.

The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019 • 19

School Committee approves capital plan Requests for FY21 total nearly $16M

By Melissa Orff Contributing Writer

T

he Hopkinton School Committee approved the 10-year capital plan during its Nov. 14 meeting, an approval that included a request for close to $16 million in capital requests for FY21.

Some of the requests were being submitted for inclusion on warrants that were to be up for vote during the Special Town Meeting scheduled for Dec. 9.

Director of finance and operations Susan Rothermich spoke about each of the capital projects that were included in the FY21 budget in turn.

With the unprecedented enrollment increases in the district over the past few years (an increase of 500 students in the past three years alone), space in the buildings has become significantly constrained.

With the buildings already over capacity, and predictions of an additional 1,000 students coming into the district over the next 10 years, the district is looking to increase the number of classrooms as soon as next school year.

The FY21 capital plan includes $4 million to construct six additional permanent classrooms at the high school, $3 million for two portable classrooms units at Hopkins Elementary School and $2 million for four portable classroom units at Elmwood Elementary School.

Although Elmwood will be getting portable classrooms if the budget is approved, the district still needs to go forward on a feasibility study to “generate an initial space summary, document existing conditions, establish design parameters, develop and evaluate alternatives” for Elmwood to present to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). The MSBA then would determine if Elmwood would qualify for MSBA reimbursement for a refurbishment or complete rebuild of the

school building. The $700,000 cost for the feasibility study may be reimbursed if Elmwood is invited into the MSBA process.

“Even if we get accepted into the MSBA for Elmwood we are five years away from a new school,” said Rothermich, explaining the need for the portable classrooms now.

Other major capital expenses for next year will be $4 million worth of roof replacements at Hopkins and the middle school, two HVAC unit replacements — one at the high school and one at the middle school — at $250,000, a boiler replacement at the middle school at $160,000, and systemwide technology upgrades at $100,000 bring the total ask to nearly $16 million for capital expenses next year.

After thanking her for the presentation, School Committee chair Meena Bharath asked Rothermich if the town partners were aware of the requests that would be coming from the school district.

“Is there an appetite for this kind of borrowing?” she asked.

Rothermich replied that the department has been communicating with the CFO and town manager and that they were aware of the capital needs for the district.

The School Committee unanimously approved a number of town articles to be included in the warrant for the Dec. 9 Special Town Meeting. The articles were for the approval of the additional classrooms at the high school, Hopkins and Elmwood.

Although on the FY21 plan, getting an early approval will allow the district to get a jumpstart on the projects.

“This is especially important for the high school,” said Rothermich. “If we can break ground in June, we can open the classrooms before the second semester next year. Given where we are in terms of enrollment, it makes sense to get the project under way.”

With a Wi-FI garage door opener, you’ll always know your little ones are protected. You can check if the garage door was left open - and close it - right from your smartphone.

LiftMaster© 8550W Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener

JOLICOEUR OVERHEAD DOORS

745 South Main St., Bellingham, MA 02019 508-883-4522 • www.mygaragedoor.com ©

2018 LiftMaster All Rights Reserved. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance. Apple® and iPhone® are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.

Whitcomb House... an Assisted Living and Memory Care with twenty years of caring for seniors brings stability, satisfaction & smiles. Call today to schedule a complimentary lunch and tour.

We look forward to meeting you!

Be sure to ask about our limited-time special pricing incentives!

Visit us online for more information!

WHITCOMB HOUSE

245 West Street Milford, MA 01757 tel 508-634-2440

whitcombhouse.com WHITADAssisted and Memory care 250-350 ppI (5x3.625) bw.indd 1

2020

HHS winter concerts Dec. 10-11 T

he Hopkinton High School jazz ensemble, jazz band, symphonic band and concert band present their annual Winter Concert on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m., while the HHS chorus and orchestra perform their Winter Concert the following evening, also at 7.

Both concerts will be held in the high school auditorium. There is an admission charge of $5 for individuals with a $10 family cap. There is free admisfor seniors as well as Hopkinton music students, faculty SCHOOLS NOTEBOOK sion and staff. All proceeds benefit graduating senior scholarships and student lesson scholarships.

Continuing an annual tradition, the HHS Music Department invites community members to join the performers on stage with their own instrument and join in the performance of Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” at the Dec. 10 concert. Even if someone hasn’t played in years, young or old, they are welcome to sit in with the students.

Other Hopkinton Public Schools winter concerts include: • Hopkins School concert, Dec. 5, 7 p.m., HHS athletic center; • Hopkinton Middle School Grade 6 concert, Dec. 12, 7 p.m., HMS auditorium; • HMS Grade 7 band and chorus concert, Dec. 17, 7 p.m., HMS auditorium; • HMS Grade 8 band and chorus with Grade 7/8 orchestra, Dec. 18, 7 p.m., HMS auditorium.

HPS implements new security system

1/28/16 10:30 AM

FTBALL BASEBALL & SO

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! Registration closes December 31 After that date, any registrations will be assessed a $50 late fee

Girls softball (ages 5-14) Boys baseball (ages 5-12) www.hopkintonlittleleague.org

Earlier this month Hopkinton Public Schools announced an update to the district’s visitor management systems, the final stage of a multi-step security initiative that started five years ago. Each school now has a self-service kiosk in its main entrance to guide parents and guests through the visitor process.

All visitors are required to print a diver’s license or government-issued photo ID for entry into one of the school buildings during school hours. The new system, which went into effect Nov. 18, will leverage the driver’s license number to check the visitor’s name against the national sex offender registry prior to issuing a visitor badge.

Ashoke Ghosh, the HPS director of technology, warned that from time to time there might be false positives due to a person’a name aligning closely with another person in the registry. If this occurs, administration and school resource officers will work with the visitor to resolve the issue. Visitors are asked to show patience as the schools adjust to the change and be aware that they might be asked to wait in the office while issues of any kind are being resolved.

Click on REGISTER NOW

MAKE UP Evaluations MANDATORY for boys born 8/31/12 or earlier, and for girls born 12/31/10 or earlier; and for girls born 1/1/11 - 12/31/11 interested in playing 10U

Friday, January 24th • 7 to 8 pm Metro West Sportscenter 270 Eliot Street, Ashland

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

20 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019

Senior Snippets All activities unless otherwise noted are at the Hopkinton Senior Center, 28 Mayhew St. The Senior Center is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday from 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m., and Friday from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Call 508497-9730 for more information or to register for a program. For a more extensive listing of programs check Ourseniorcenter.com/find/Hopkinton-council-on-aging or www.hopkintonseniorcenter.com.

50-plus Job-Seekers Networking Group

Monday, Dec. 2, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

If you are 50-plus and unemployed, underemployed, returning to the workforce or seeking employment, you are eligible for this program. Learn the skills needed to obtain employment in the current job market, including resume writing that works, creating an elevator pitch, confronting ageism, managing stress and locating senior friendly employers. Ed Lawrence, a career coach, will facilitate each meeting.

There will be time for networking as well.

The multi-month series takes place the first

and third Monday of the month. For more information or to register, contact Ashley Shaheen, co-facilitator, at 508-497-9730 or visit the website at www.mcoaonline. com/50plusregistration. This program is free thanks to a grant from MCOA.

Zentangle Ornament Class

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 1-2:30 p.m.

Bring some Zentangle sparkle to holiday decorations by creating tangled art that looks like it’s floating in an ornament.

Decorate both sides or leave one side blank for a favorite photo. The instructor is Elisa Murphy. Cost is $5.

CHRISTINE’S NAILS of Hopkinton

Thank you for voting for us!

Conversation Cafe

Fridays, Dec. 6 and Dec. 20, 10-11 a.m.

Do you like to laugh? Do you like to discuss current events? Do you like to talk with people or do you prefer to sit back and listen? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions then the Conversation Cafe is for you. Conversations help us think differently, and the Senior Center challenge residents to think differently with D’Eon, outreach coordinator and facilitator of this new program. Light refreshments served.

Tabletop Grinch Tree

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1 p.m.

This is a fun and easy way to add a little whimsy to the holiday. This tree is about 24 inches tall and explodes with happiness. The class is taught by Tina Bemis of Bemis Nursery Farms located

ASHLAND MOTORS Integrity. Reliability. Customer Service.

Foreign & Domestic Cars Complete Repair Service Specializing on Volvo

Christine’s owner Anna and long time manager Brian

Dipping Powder Tr y o u r i n c r e d i b l e n a i l te c h n i c i a n s !

Full Service Waxing

Our Time Memory Café at the Hopkinton Public Library

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1-3 p.m.

Our Time Memory Café, which meets every second Tuesday of the month at Hopkinton Public Library, is a welcoming gathering for those experiencing forgetfulness, mild cognitive impairment or living with dementia, and their care partner, family and friends.

The monthly events are free, offering conversation and refreshments in a relaxing atmosphere. A care partner must accompany anyone who requires assistance. Registration is requested but not required. For more information, call 508-497-0108 or email info@ ourtimememorycafe.org. Our Time Memory Café is a joint venture between the Hopkinton Senior Center and the Hopkinton Public Library.

Pound Class

Wednesdays, 5 p.m.

Instructor Rebecca Tredeau leads the world’s first class jam session inspired by the infectious, energizing and sweat-dripping playing of the drums.

Designed for all fitness levels and any age. Pound sticks are available for 25 people, and some yoga mats will be available. Class size is limited. Seniors 55-plus take precedence. Sign up in advance. The cost $3 per class (paid monthly). No child care services are provided.

Yoga: Slow Flow

Now Offering

C u sto m e r S e r v i ce is our priority!

in Spencer. Pre-registration is required, and the class limit is 40.

Appointments & Walk-Ins Welcome

508-435-0222 22 South Street, Hopkinton Complimentary beverages served

508-435-7776

Master Technician – Dean James

84 Wood Street, Hopkinton

MAIN STREET SERVICE CENTER Complete Auto Service

Attention

Dancers

Looking for rehab with professionals who understand the movement demands of your sport?

Let us help you get back to the sport you love sooner!

Wednesdays, 6 p.m.

This class is suitable for all levels of yoga practitioners, with or without yoga experience, looking to explore the asanas (l poses) through slow and clear alignment-based practice. The focus is on building strength and stability through fundamental poses from the ground up. Fundamental standing poses, sun salutations, seated poses and twists, pranayama (breath control) and meditation will be taught in each practice. The instructor is Crystal Lee. The first class is free, then it’s $5 per class for dropins or $3 per class if paid monthly. Call to register.

Chi Gong

Fridays, 10:30 a.m.

Chi Gong combines deep breathing with whole body movements to harmonize mind and body to promote energy, prevent illness and accelerate healing.

The instructor is Linda Bellefeuille. The cost is $5 per class for drop-ins or $3 per class paid monthly.

Volunteer at Senior Center Computerized Diagnostics Foreign & American . Wheel Alignment Complete Air Conditioning Service Road Service . Towing Tune-ups . Brakes . Tires Massachusetts State Inspection Station

508-435-9038 96 MAIN STREET, Hopkinton (Rte 135) 36 years in business 1982-2019

Call to schedule an appointment today:

508-544-1540

1 Lumber Street, Suite 201, Hopkinton 196 E. Main Street (in Gold’s Gym), Milford 15 West Union Street, Ashland www.platinumptma.com “The Big Picture in a Small Town”

Many volunteer opportunities are available at the Senior Center, in particular prep cooks who assist the cook in preparing salads and sandwiches for daily lunch. There also is a need for lunch waitstaff, computer room tutors and greenhouse workers. Volunteers have the choice to help once a month, every week or every day. For more information, stop by the Senior Center (28 Mayhew Street) or contact volunteer coordinator Sue Stewart at 508-497-9730, ext. 1618, or sstewart@ hopkintonma.gov.

The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019 • 21

, n o t n i k p o Hey H

Presents

‘A SLICE OF HOPKINTON’

Get out ! s a r e m a c your

Hopkinton Independent Photo Contest

This issue’s winner is Fiona Lyons, for her photo of Rick Odell fishing at Pratt’s Pond with his dog, Dakota. To enter next issue’s contest, email your photo along with your name, phone number and description of the photo to editor@hopkinton independent.com.

The Hopkinton Independent presents “A Slice of Hopkinton” photo contest, sponsored by Bill’s Pizzeria.

Readers are encouraged to submit photos of people, places or things in Hopkinton.

The Independent staff will select one winner for each issue. The winner will have their submitted photo published in the paper and will receive a $25 gift certificate to Bill’s Pizzeria.

Milford Regional / Leapfrog Safety Grade Created 11/11/19 Hopkinton Independent (Half-Page - 10.25 x 7.5) CMYK

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

Recognized as one of the nation’s safest hospitals...

three times in a row!

As a nationally recognized healthcare leader, Milford Regional has just been awarded - for the third time in a row - the country’s top grade for hospital safety. Our commitment to quality care is stronger than ever, with new investments to enhance and support our team of dedicated nurses, physicians, and hospital staff in their mission to deliver the very best healthcare in our region.

While national recognitions are important, continuing to deliver quality healthcare to each patient is our real reward.

14 Prospect Street • Milford, MA • milfordregional.org

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

22 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019

Calendar Festival of Wreaths Nov. 27-Dec. 8

The popular Festival of Wreaths returns to the Hopkinton Center for the Arts from Nov. 27-Dec. 8. Created by local crafters, the wreaths on display in the gallery are available as part of a silent auction. Proceeds benefit the artists and the HCA. Winners may pick up their wreaths after Dec. 9. For more information, visit hopartscenter.org.

Santa at Weston Nurseries Nov. 30-Dec. 8

Weston Nurseries welcomes visitors to explore the Magical Winter Forest and watch the Weston Nurseries Express wind its way along its tracks. Children can write a letter to the North Pole and post it in the Magic Mailbox. Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit on Nov. 30, Dec. 1, Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 (10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.

each day). The event is free and requires no registration, but the line fills up quickly so plan to arrive early. Attendees should bring their own camera for pictures. For more information, visit westonnurseries. com.

Shopping for a Cause at HCA Dec. 1

With gift-giving season in full swing, visit the Hopkinton Center for the Arts for this fun event, presented by the Real Housewives of Hopkinton. Enjoy small bites and wine while shopping to support local artisans and small business — and raising money for the HCA. Child watch services are available (while parents are in the building). There is a $5 suggested donation per child to benefit the local Girls Scouts. For more information, visit hopartscenter.org.

BOOK NOW!

Hopkinton Holiday Stroll Dec. 7

The annual Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce Holiday Stroll is Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Local businesses will have sales, specials, contests, treats and promotions to make holiday shopping easy and fun. The Holly Trolley will shuttle shoppers around town. For more information, visit hopchamber.com.

Hopkinton Garden Club holiday sale Dec. 7

The Hopkinton Garden Club will host its second annual Holiday Greens Sale at the John Warren Masonic Lodge (6 Main St.) on Saturday, Dec. 7, the same day as the Holiday Stroll. Club members will create beautiful greens to adorn homes or be used as gifts. Proceeds benefit the Garden Club’s community service programs. For more informa-

Helping every child achieve in school

Are bigger classes getting you down?

Does your child need some extra attention?

WE CAN HELP!

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH US! Holiday Packages Include But Not Limited to: Choice of Canvas / Wood / Ceramics Paint, All Supplies and Instructions Use of 2000 SQ For 3 Hours 2 Alcoholic Drinks (Beer or Wine)

• Homework Academy – Grades 1 - 5 • Math Study Sessions – Grades 7 & 8 • Math & Writing Centers – Grades 6 - 12 • ACT/SAT Test Prep • College Process Programs • Study Skill Workshops Ask us about single class, class packs and NEW (limited) membership purchase options.

Call today! 508-381-2360

Gift Cards Available Online at CanvasnCup.com 189 Main Street, Milford

77 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Hopkinton, MA 01748 508.625.1663 educationstationhopkinton.com

Mass Fat Loss presents Being Thankful…

Bring in a non-persiable item to donate to the Hopkinton Food Pantry and receive

20% OFF Any Service

THE GREEN NEW DIET Now Boost Metabolism with Natural Green Energy!

Valid thru 12/31/19

Full Service Studio for Men, Women & Children WALK-INS WELCOME Serving Hopkinton for over 30 years!

508.435.9350 / razorsedgehopkinton.com 42 Main Street Hopkinton • Parking lot on Walcott

tion, visit hopkintongardenclub.org or check out the group’s Facebook page.

Hopkinton Running Club 10K race Dec. 7

The Hopkin10K Road Race, organized by the Hopkinton Running Club and held in memory of Andy Welzel, will take place Saturday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m.

The race starts at Victory Field on Fruit Street and the course takes runners on a scenic journey around Lake Whitehall.

The race is in memory of Andy Welzel, a lifelong Hopkinton resident, father and beloved coach who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in 2006. All proceeds fund the Andy Welzel “Pay it Forward” Scholarship. For more information or to register, visit racemenu.com/Hopkin10k.

Nutcracker Sweet at HCA Dec. 7

Children will enjoy a 50-minute performance of scenes from “The Nutcracker” followed by a meet and greet with the cast and a sweet treat. There will be two performances on Dec. 7, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for kids and seniors. For more information, visit hopartscenter.org.

Treblemakers holiday concert Dec. 11-12

The community chorus in residence at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts presents its winter concert, an evening of holiday favorites. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 and 12. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for kids and seniors (children under 5 are free). For more information, visit hopartscenter.org.

Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt Dec. 14

The Hopkinton Community Partnership presents the Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The event, for prekindergarten through Grade 5, starts at Hopkinton Town Common and travels throughout the downtown, where elves will be hidden among local businesses.

All participants get a prize. All proceeds go to the Hopkinton Community Partnership. For more information and to register, visit hopkintoncommunitypartnership.com.

Classical holiday family concert at HCA Dec. 14

Join the Claflin Hill Symphony String Quartet and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts for a new holiday event for the entire family. Enjoy traditional classical music and holiday favorites, including music from “The Nutcracker.” Festivities include an instrument petting zoo, face painting and refreshments. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for children and seniors. For more information, visit hopartscenter.org.

Live Nativity Dec. 21 No harmful drugs. No exercise.

No prepackaged foods. All natural.

Clinically Supervised Weight Loss

Go to MassFatLoss.com 508-881-1002 274 Union Street, Ashland

Experience the real meaning of Christmas at a Live Nativity at Hopkinton’s Community Covenant Church (2 W. Elm St.) on Saturday, Dec. 21, from 5-7 p.m.

The event features real people, real animals and an outdoor creche display. Warm up afterward with hot drinks and goodies.

The event is free, although donations are welcomed for Habitat for Humanity. For more information, visit comcovhop.org.

Calendar | 23

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019 • 23

Clinical Skin Care HOLIDAY GIFT Before Plasma Pen

PHOTO/CHRISTINE STRICKLAND

TOUCH OF GLASS

Marie Smith checks out a winter-themed goblet during the Hopkinton Women’s Club wine glass painting fundraiser on Nov. 16 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Calendar | from page 22

Menorah lighting Dec. 22

The annual Hannukah celebration and menorah lighting will take place on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 5 p.m. at the Hopkinton Town Common. All are welcome to attend.

Hopkinton Night at the Celtics Dec. 27

The Hopkinton Basketball Association is sponsoring its fourth annual Hopkinton Night at the Celtics on Friday, Dec. 27. Some Hopkinton travel basketball players will be selected to have a short scrimmage on the parquet floor before the Celtics-Cavaliers game as well as at halftime, and other kids will have the chance to participate in additional oncourt activities. All Hopkinton residents and their families/friends (even if they are

from outside Hopkinton) are welcome to attend. For more information and to order tickets ($75 each), go to hopkintonbasketball.org.

New Year’s Eve party at HCA Dec. 31

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY!

kathy@hopkintonskincare.com • hopkintonskincare.com cell/text: 508-272-0168 • 17 Main Street, Hopkinton

Wishing a Warm and Happy Holiday from our Family to yours

Still locally owned and serving your neighbors for over 60 years.

We accept most major credit cards LOWEST PRICES • FULL-SERVICE • 24-HR EXPERT BURNER SERVICE

For more information on any of the following programs or other activities at the library, visit hopkintonlibrary.org. The library also can be found at Facebook, @ hopkintonlibrary, and on Twitter, @HopkintonPLMA. Wednesdays, Dec. 4 and 18, 4-6 p.m.

Schedule a 20-minute appointment with Danielle, the reference and technology librarian, and get personalized one-on-one technology aid to learn basic computer skills or receive assistance with a specific task or problem. To make an appointment, call the library at 508497-9777 and ask for the reference desk, or email dcook@hopkintonma.gov.

Drop-ins are welcome, but scheduled appointments have first priority.

Our Time Memory Cafe

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1-3 p.m.

Our Time Memory Café is a welcoming gathering for those experiencing forgetfulness or mild cognitive impairment, or living with dementia, along with their care partner, family and friends. A care partner must accompany anyone who requires assistance. Registration is requested but not required.

Author Talk: Cheryl Melody Baskin, ‘Heart-Dreamer’

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 7-8:30 p.m.

The author says: “I wrote HeartDreamer to inspire you to reach for the stars no matter what you are going through (or have gone through) in your life. Come to be motivated to dream

KATHY THOMAS Licensed Medical Esthetician

At Al’s We are Thankful for our Loyal Customers

Ring in the new year with a party at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, featuring the music of Signs of Life. Tickets ($40 each) include small bites, a champagne toast at midnight, music and dancing. There will be a cash bar as well. For more information, visit hopartscenter.org.

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.

CERTIFICATES Available online!

• Skin Lifting & Tightening with Plasma Pen • Anti-Aging & Acne Facials • Waxing • Tints • Laser Hair Removal • Miro-Needling & More

Library Corner Technology Help Office Hours

14 Days After Plasma Pen

bigger dreams and to receive my life coaching pep talk and a summary of the self-discovery and self-healing tools in Heart-Dreamer that can help you to achieve your heart’s whispers.”

Basic Computer Class

Thursday, Dec. 12, 6-7:30 p.m.

The library hosts a twice-monthly Basic Computers series. Each class will focus on an aspect of basic computer use, from using a mouse to keyboard shortcuts to email and Google. This month, learn about searching the internet for information. Practice googling, learn how to read a page of search results, and understand the importance of keywords.

Chat ’n’ Chew Lunchtime Book Group

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

The library hosts a lively afternoon book group where participants can have their lunch while discussing a favorite book they’ve recently read (fiction or nonfiction). The group meets the third Tuesday of every month.

The library will be closed on Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 28 through Dec. 1.

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

508-753-7221 • ALSOILSERVICE.com

24 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019

Police Log ARRESTS November 7

2:25 a.m. Officer Brendon Lyver requested assistance for a possible OUI on Cedar Street.

Sergeant Arthur Schofied and Officers Stephen Buckley and Robert Ekross responded and requested a tow truck and an interpreter from Milford. Tiago Mendes Firmo, 29, of 78 Kendall Ave., Framingham, was arrested and charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and OUI liquor.

November 14

9:29 p.m. On West Main Street, Officers John Corridan, Preston Mucciarone and Tyler Brabham arrested Benson M. Hinga, 35, of 8 Otis St., Natick, on two warrant charges.

Waste Removal and Recycling

November 18

Call us for all your waste removal and recycling needs

Milford Regional Physician Group Milford-Hopkinton Obstetrics & Gynecology Publication Hopkinton Independent Size Quarter Page Vert (5”x 7.5”) CMYK Created 11/15/19

E.L. Harvey & Sons, Inc 800-321-3002 • www.elharvey.com A C C E P T I N G N E W PAT I E N T S

Expert OB/GYN Care Close to Home You don’t need to travel far for high quality women’s healthcare.

Brenda Coutinho, MD, FACOG

Dr. Brenda Coutinho and Sharon Ginsberg, CNP have been caring for patients at their Milford and Hopkinton locations for over 10 years and have more than 40 years combined experience! Whether you need a routine exam, contraception advice, fertility consultation, prenatal care or help with a gynecologic issue or menopause, they will treat you with compassion and expertise. The goal of their practice is to provide you with excellent care and personalized attention.

11:26 a.m. Multiple officers responded to assist the Upton Police Department after a suspect from a breaking and entering fled the scene in a vehicle. Roads and parking lots in neighboring towns were checked. Michael T. Ostaski, 38, of 2 Simon Drive, Milford, was found and arrested on Valleywood Road and charged with possession of burglarious instrument, receiving stolen property under $250, receiving stolen property over $250, and use of motor vehicle without authority. Sergeant Timothy Brennan escorted the suspect to the station.

November 6

7:35 a.m. A walk-in reported a deer ran in to his car on Hayden Rowe Street.

Officer Matthew Santoro spoke with the walk-in. A report was to follow.

9:16 a.m. A caller reported a contractor backed in to a parked car on Woody Island Road. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and issued a criminal application to the driver.

3:25 p.m. A walk-in expressed concern over half-completed work done on a telephone pole on Wilson Street. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and reported safety cones were in place and no hazard was found.

HOPKINTON HOME IMPROVEMENT Winter Services

CARPENTRY Snow Plowing & Roof Snow Removal INTERIOR & EXTERIOR Winter Services Snow Plowing & Roof Snow Removal PAINTING CARPENTRY • INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING • Window &• INTERIOR Door Replacement CARPENTRY & EXTERIOR PAINTING • Window Replacement • Kitchen&&Door Bathroom Sharon Ginsberg, RN, MS, CNP

Remodeling • Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling • Wood Flooring • Decks

Two Convenient Locations 221 East Main Street, Suite 100 Milford, MA 01757 508-482-5405

Call today to schedule an appointment at 508-482-5405

• Wood Flooring • Decks

• Siding • Roofs • Masonry

• Siding • Roofs • Masonry

• Power Washing

• Power Washing

• Gutter Repairs & Cleaning

• Gutter Repairs & Cleaning

77 West Main Street, Suite 204 Hopkinton, MA 01748 508-482-5405

• BasementFinishing Finishing • Basement Detailed&&Meticulous Meticulous Detailed ReasonableRates Rates Reasonable

For more information, visit milfordregionalphysicians.org Member of the Milford Regional Healthcare System

Call CallMauricio Mauricio

508.202.8602 508.202.8602

FULLY INSURED

FULLY INSURED

MA HIC.#169427

MA HIC.#169427

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

3:57 p.m. A caller reported people racing go-carts on Hidden Brick Road and nearly causing an accident. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and spoke with a parent.

5:48 p.m. A caller reported hitting a deer on East Main Street. The vehicle was damaged, and the deer ran in to the woods. Sergeant Matthew McNeil responded and provided a courtesy transport to the driver to the Sunoco station.

9:24 p.m. A caller reported a man walking erratically on Cedar Street. Officers Brendon Lyver and Derek Morton responded and checked the area with a negative find.

November 7

6:51 a.m. A Turnbridge Lane resident reported her dog died overnight and she asked whom she should contact for removal. She was advised to contact her veterinarian. The animal control officer also was notified for additional assistance.

8:40 a.m. A walk-in reported she believes someone broke in to her parents’ Frankland Road house. Officer Brian Sanchioni assisted. A report was to follow.

10:37 a.m. A walk-in from Woodview Way reported someone attempted to enter her apartment the prior night. Officer Brian Sanchioni responded and did a walk through. A report was to follow.

2:00 p.m. A Wood Street resident handed in a credit card that she found in her mailbox. It did not belong to her.

7:20 p.m. A manager of a West Main Street store requested assistance with an angry customer. Sergeant Matthew McNeil and Officer Derek Morton responded and advised the person to leave the premises. A clinician was subsequently contacted.

November 8

8:55 a.m. A Woodview Way caller reported her vehicle was hit overnight while parked. Officer Moira McGaffigan responded and took a report.

11:22 a.m. A walk-in handed in a cell phone found on Peppercorn Road.

3:44 p.m. A Lilac Court caller requested assistance after finding her cat dead on the floor. The animal control officer was notified.

3:49 p.m. A Hayward Street caller reported his neighbor was placing free items in the caller’s yard, and he was concerned if the items were not taken he would have to pay for disposal fees.

Sergeant Arthur Schofield responded and requested the DPW to pick up a refrigerator.

4:19 p.m. A Cedar Street caller reported his house was possibly broken into while his wife and children were home.

The front door was found broken. Sergeant Arthur Schofield and Officers John Corridan and Tyler Brabham responded.

A report was to follow.

9:31 p.m. A walk-in handed in a bank card found on West Main Street.

November 9

8:02 a.m. Officers Ryan Polselli and Benjamin Stickney responded to a motor vehicle accident involving a deer on West Main Street. No personal injuries were reported.

11:27 a.m. A walk-in reported a hitand-run motor vehicle accident on East Street. Officer Jay Deiana took a report.

3:18 p.m. The Ashland Police Department requested assistance searching

The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019 • 25 for a missing person from Ashland. Officers Tyler Brabham, John Corridan, Jay Deiana and Preston Mucciarone responded and checked Route 135, gas stations, coffee shops and the rail trail with a negative find.

6:38 p.m. A Breakneck Hill Road caller reported outside pipes that had burst. Officer Jay Deiana responded along with the Fire Department, which shut down a line connected to a broken irrigation system.

7:23 p.m. A caller reported a Wood Street sign in the roadway. Officers Jay Deiana and Tyler Brabham responded and reported it appeared the sign was struck by a vehicle. They moved the sign off the roadway and notified the Highway Department.

7:44 p.m. A Wood Street caller reported he was assaulted and the other party left the area. Officers John Corridan, Jay Deiana, Preston Mucciarone and Tyler Brabham responded and requested an ambulance for a medical evaluation. The individual was transported to the hospital.

November 10

10:36 p.m. A caller reported an erratic operator on West Main Street. No description was given.

Officers Brian Sanchioni and Preston Mucciarone checked the area with a negative find.

November 11

9:12 a.m. A Legacy Farms North resident reported construction taking place in violation of town bylaw. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officer Matthew Santoro responded and shut down the contractors.

11:08 a.m. A walk-in handed in a driver’s license found on Cedar Street.

1:36 p.m. A walk-in handed in a found cell phone.

3:54 p.m. A caller reported a South Street business burning debris in a parking lot. Officer Preston Mucciarone responded along with the Fire Department and extinguished the fire. The person who started the fire was advised of regulations.

5:51 p.m. A walk-in reported she hit a deer on East Main Street. Officer Brian Sanchioni checked the location, and the animal control officer was notified.

November 12

7:37 a.m. A caller complained of the same vehicle going through a bus stop sign every morning on West Main Street. Patrols were advised.

10:11 a.m. A West Main Street caller reported a fire in the kitchen. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officers Ryan Polselli and Brendon Lyver responded along with the Fire Department and reported the fire was caused by burned food. It was extinguished. A representative for Golden Pond was subsequently advised that the access road cannot be blocked.

2:27 p.m. The Holliston Police Department requested K-9 assistance after a breaking and entering.

Officer Brian Sanchioni responded.

6:31 p.m. A Front Street resident reported a person was attempting to enter her home. Sergeants Matthew McNeil and Aaron O’Neil and Office Benjamin Stickney responded and spoke with the caller, who stated the person had left the scene.

November 13

6:15 p.m. A caller reported a black lab running loose on Wood Street. Sergeant Mathew McNeil responded and reported the dog had been hit twice.

It was returned to its owners.

November 14

12:40 a.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil came upon a disabled motor vehicle on West Main Street and provided the operator with a courtesy transport to the gas station. Upon arrival back at the vehicle, Sergeant O’Neil reported a side window was damaged.

11:42 a.m. Officer Brian Sanchioni assisted the Holliston Police Department with K-9 deployment on Johnson Road.

1:14 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle complaint from earlier in the morning on Lumber Street. The caller gave Officer Jay Deiana the license plate number, and he spoke with both the caller and the operator.

2:02 p.m. A caller reported a road rage incident occurred on Interstate 495 and the suspect vehicle exited at the 21A ramp. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officers Moira McGaffigan and Ryan Polselli responded and checked West Main Street with a

negative find.

November 15

11:16 a.m. A caller reported an older couple driving door-to-door on Hayden Rowe Street asking “strange” political questions. Sergeant John Porter responded and checked the area with a negative find on the vehicle and couple.

12:50 p.m. A Hayden Rowe street caller reported her two dogs were lost and wanted it logged.

3:43 p.m. A Spring Street resident reported a dead cat in front of her house. The animal control officer was notified.

6:10 p.m. A caller reported receiving harassing phone calls from a pizza shop owner. Officer John Corridan responded and advised the individual to cease calling the reporting person.

10:24 p.m. A Phipps Street resident complained of headlights from construction vehicles facing in to his bedroom. Officers John Corridan, Tyler Brabham and Brian Sanchioni responded and found the vehicle stuck in dirt and awaiting a tow.

November 16

11:23 a.m. A walk-in handed in a found tablet.

12:50 p.m. An East Main Street business employee reported finding a ring and wanted it logged.

2:45 p.m. Officer Brian Sanchioni reported two vehicles with the same license plate on West Main Street entering Interstate 495. The State Police were notified.

11:41 p.m. A Davis Road walk-in reported a noise complaint in his neighborhood. Officer Brendon Lyver responded and found all quiet.

Sending Warm Thanksgiving Wishes From My Home To Yours.

Sandy

I aim for excellence and you should expect it.

SANDY LUCCHESI 508-380-4405

www.SandyLHomes.com SandyL@remaxexec.com RE/MAX Hall of Fame

November 17

12:07 a.m. A caller reported a vehicle speeding on North Mill Street and youths chasing the car. Officer Brendon Lyver and Sergeant William Burchard responded and checked the area with a negative find.

1:06 a.m. Officer Brendon Lyver found two broken windows at an Ash Street building. Officer Lyver and Sergeant William Burchard checked the building and no one was in the vicinity. A message was left with facilities staff.

3:14 p.m. Officer Tyler Brabham and the Fire Department responded to Constitution Court after a call from an alarm company regarding a stuck elevator. No occupants were in the elevator, and it was working properly.

November 18

ICE MELT DELIVERY

8:03 a.m. A Main Street business manager asked for assistance with an employee problem. Officer Jay Residential & Commercial Deiana assisted.

9:40 a.m. Sergeant Timothy Brennan and Officer Quick & Easy Refill Service Jay Deiana assisted the manager of a Main Street store with terminating an employee. The ex-employee left the property without incident.

CALL TODAY 508.944.6644.

10:05 a.m. On Elm Street, School Resource OfUNDERPRESSUREWASH.COM ficer Philip Powers assisted Elmwood School staff with a student.

1:33 p.m. Multiple calls were received about a motor vehicle accident involving a deer on Wood Street. Officer Brian Sanchioni responded and moved the deceased deer to the side of the road and notified the animal control officer. Officer Sanchioni assisted the driver and took a report.

1:34 p.m. A caller requested assistance in retrieving his possessions from the home of his ex on Woodview Way. Officer Ryan Polselli responded to assist and advised both parties that theirs is a civil matter.

1:58 p.m. A motorist reported a man walking on to the Interstate 495 North ramp from West Main Street. Officers Jay Deiana and Brian Sanchioni responded and returned the man back to his residence on West Main Street.

3:15 p.m. A caller reported a suspicious person looking into windows with a flashlight on Wood The one and only True Dry Cleaner in Hopkinton Street. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil and Officer Benjamin •IfDry Shirt Laundry youCleaning care about your• clothes and the environment Stickney responded and all was OK. • Wet Cleaning 30 years 4:06 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle drove come to Hiller's• Over – a true dryexperience cleaners. through a school bus stop sign on Main Street. Officer • Tailoring & Alterations • All work done on premises Benjamin Stickney responded and checked the area • Dry Cleaning• Eco-Friendly Cleaning• Shirt Laundry with a negative find.

• Over 30 years 5:17 p.m. A caller reported a three-car motor • Wet Cleaning Quality & Service Always Come First experienc vehicle accident on South Street. Sergeant Aaron #1 Dry – Readers Choice – 2001 to 2018 • Tailoring & Cleaner Alterations • AllAwards work done on premis O’Neil and Officer Derek Morton responded. No 63 Main Street, Hopkinton injuries were reported.

Quality & Service Always Come First 508.435.3880 • Next to CVS 9:56 p.m. Sergeant Aaron O’Neil checked on an 2nd location: 3 Main St., Southboroug h individual on Hayden Rowe Street. All was OK. He 63 Main Street, Hopkinton www.HillersCleaners.com was playing Pokémon Go.

Happy Holidays from

’

Cleaners

Wishes you ECO-FRIENDLY CLEANING

a Happy Thanksgiving An odorless, non-toxic, biodegradable process

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

508.435.3880 ~ Next to Colella’s Market Mon-Fri: 7am – 7pm

Sat: 7am - 5pm

www.HillersCleaners.com

26 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019

Obituaries Charlotte Masters THE NEW GENERATION OF HOME SERVICE REPAIRS

Professionally trained handyman technicians SATISFACTION GUARANTEED If We Can’t Fix It, You Don’t Pay Us!

Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist

Office: 508-305-2055 info@fixit-asap.com www.FIXIT-ASAP.com

Insured coverage up to $1 Million. Licensed - MA-CSL #104953 / MA-HIC #169636

Licensed/Insured MA-HIC #169636 • MA-CSL #104953

Happiness is Toasty Tootsies GREAT REBATES AND GREAT FINANCING, 0% INTEREST FOR 7 YEARS

Charlotte Jean Masters, age 5, of Hopkinton, went to heaven the morning of Nov. 6. She was held lovingly by her parents as she became an angel.

Born in Boston, she was the daughter of Chris and Genny Masters.

Charlotte’s smile would light up any room she was in. She would turn her Dad into a puddle when he would come home from work and she would greet him with her beautiful smile. She loved cuddling with Mom and was most happy when she was in her arms. Charlotte loved to swim, and the beaches of Ocean City, New Jersey, was her favorite place to be. She loved playing in the sand with her brother, sister and cousins but was happiest playing in the waves.

Despite her many medical challenges that took many of her abilities away from her, she lived life to the fullest. She loved being a part of whatever the group was doing and always wanted to join in and be included. She loved going to school and loved her teachers and therapists at both the Hopkinton Integrated Preschool and the Boston College Campus School. She was born a fighter and fought her little heart out right up to her last breath.

Charlotte was loved by so many people, but especially her twin sister, Annie, and her brother, Chase; her maternal grandparents, Jean and Chris Johnson of West Chester, Pennsylvania; her paternal grandparents, the late Peter Masters Sr. and Karolyn Masters of Bedford; her aunts and uncles, Matt Johnson of Lake Tahoe, California, Peter and Amy Masters of Bedford, Kristine Masters of Rome, Italy, and Katy and Kyle O’Connor of Bedford; as well as her cousins, Jackson, Alexa, Landon, Sadie, Bridget, Kierstyn, Paige, Emma and Christian.

A memorial service was held Nov. 12 at Faith Community Church of Hopkinton, followed by a reception to celebrate her life at Hopkinton Country Club. To honor Charlotte, the family asked attendees to wear pink. In lieu of flowers, donations in Charlotte’s memory may be made to The Campus School at Boston College (bc.edu/bc-web/).

Arrangements were under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton (ChesmoreFuneralHome.com).

Gutters Cleaned & Flushed General Repairs • Interior & Exterior Painting • Decks Stained & Repaired • Power Washing & Trim Repair

*Rebates and financing provided by and subject to Mass Save restrictions and limitations.

Joseph C. Paradis

Gas, Oil and AC Sales & Service

508-846-1165 Cell

888-818-2028 www.coanoil.com

2 Hayden Rowe, Hopkinton

774-449-8298 Office

Let Your Car SPARKLE This Christmas!

Eleanor Ularich

Eleanor R. Ularich, 97, died Nov. 6 at her home in Hopkinton. She was the wife of the late Anthony V. Ularich, who died in 2006. Born in Somerville, she was the daughter of the late Lawrence and Rose (Porte) Balboni.

Eleanor worked for many years as a clerk at National Distributors. She enjoyed spending time at the Hopkinton Senior Center and especially loved Hopkinton’s summertime concerts on the common, where she could often be seen dancing to every song.

She is survived by her two brothers, Lawrence Balboni Jr. of Naples, Maine, and Robert Balboni of West Stockbridge, her sister, Ruth Balboni of Arlington, and her good friend Veronica Bilodeau of Hopkinton.

A memorial funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 22 in St. John the Evangelist Church, Hopkinton, followed by a private burial. Arrangements were entrusted to the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home (callanancronin.com).

Jeremy Farrell

Jeremy Michael Farrell, 42, of Hopkinton, passed away Nov. 11 at his home following a valiant battle with drug addiction and mental illness. Born in Framingham, he was the son of Cynthia (White) Farrell of Hopkinton and Michael Farrell and his wife, Diana, of Marlborough, and his aunt, Carol “Cookie” White, who helped raise him.

A 1995 graduate of Keefe Tech in Framingham, Jeremy went on to work in the construction business. He enjoyed fishing and loved his friends and family fiercely.

Besides his parents, Jeremy is survived by five siblings, Lauren Hurley and her husband, Chris, of Hopkinton, Tiffany Farrell and her fiance, Chris Gazard, of Ashland, Jonathan Farrell and his wife, Laurelle, of Marlborough, Sean Farrell and his wife, Carrie, of Boylston, and Meghan Amaral and her husband, Mike, of Hudson, New Hampshire. He also leaves behind his aunts and uncles, Marge Farrell of Marlborough, and David and Sharon White of Cambridge, as well as his nieces, Abigail Farrell, Rebecca Hurley and Hailey Farrell.

KELLY’S FARM Family owned & Operated since 1936

NOW OPEN

Gift Cards

Tunnel Wash

Detailing Services

Perfect for Friends and Family!

• Buy 5 Washes Get 6th Wash FREE!

Platinum – $24 Gold – $18 Silver – $14 Exterior Wash – $11

Complete INTERIOR PACKAGE – $149 Complete EXTERIOR PACKAGE – $149 Deluxe BUMPER TO BUMPER – $249

• Purchase any Dollar Amount Use for Car Wash and Detail Services

• Give the Gift of an Unlimited

Monthly Wash Club Membership

Available online

Unlimited Monthly Wash Clubs Self-Serve Wash Bays & Vacuums

Fresh Cut Christmas Trees Holiday Wreaths Decorative Pots Roping

Best Quality Trees in the Area!

Custom Packages Available

Open 7 days 9:30am – 7:30pm

E-Z Way Car Wash • 508-473-6640 • 189 East Main St., Milford • www.EZWAYCW.com Family owned and operated since 1965

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

Route 140, Upton

508-529-4564

(between Fiske Mill Rd & Hartford Ave)

The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019 • 27 A funeral service was held Nov. 16 at the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton (ChesmoreFuneralHome.com). Burial followed in Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Hopkinton. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jeremy’s name may be made to Herren Project-Jeremy’s Legacy (theherrenproject. networkforgood.com/projects/85419-jeremy-s-legacy). Donations can be mailed to Herren Project, P.O. Box 131, Portsmouth, RI 02871.

Jo-Anne Kinney

Jo-Anne M. (Frieh) Kinney, 81, a longtime Upton resident, passed away peacefully on Nov. 13 at Beaumont Rehab and Skilled Nursing Center in Northbridge.

Born in Hopkinton on July 7, 1938, she was the daughter of the late Francis and Agnes (Pyne) Frieh. She was raised and educated in Hopkinton, a graduate of Hopkinton High School.

Prior to retirement, Ms. Kinney was employed as a campus police officer at the Westboro State Hospital for 26 years. She also was employed as a crossing guard, dispatcher and special police officer in the Upton Police Department for over 20 years.

More than anything, Jo-Anne enjoyed spending time with family and friends, gardening and vacationing on the Cape.

She is survived by her two children, Beth Parkinson and her husband, George, of Douglas, and John “Jack” Kinney of Framingham; five granddaughters, Katelyn and Corey Parkinson, Chelsea MacLean, and Morgan and Sydney Kinney; and two great-grandsons. She is predeceased by her brother, Philip Frieh.

Her funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 19 at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Upton, followed by interment at Lakeview Cemetery in Upton. Funeral services were under the care of the Williams-Pedersen Funeral Home in Upton (uptonfunerals. com). In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be sent to the Upton Senior Center, 2 Farm St., Upton, MA 01568 or to the Upton Fire and EMS Association, P.O. Box 580, Upton, MA 01568.

Joel Rice

Joel V. Rice of Warwick, formerly of Woodville, passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 16. Born in Worcester, he was the son of Alden and Dorenda (Stewart) Rice. Joel graduated with high honors from Keefe Regional Technical School in Framingham and was an avid top-notch machinist. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, four-wheeling, many vacations to Ogunquit Beach, and his dog Jake.

Besides his mother, Joel is survived by his loving wife, Martha (Pratt) Rice, two sons, Jeremy and Daniel, his sister, Ethel (Temple), a nephew, nieces, in-laws and cousins. He was predeceased by his brother, Howard Rice.

A service was scheduled for Nov. 21 at Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton (ChesmoreFuneralHome.com), followed by burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Woodville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society or American Heart Association in Joel’s name.

Joseph Pratt

Joseph William Pratt Jr., 64, of Salisbury and formerly of Hopkinton and Westborough, passed away at his home unexpectedly on Nov. 13. Born in Framingham, he was the son of Mary Catherine (O’Brien) Pratt of Hopkinton and the late Joseph William Pratt.

Joseph was a self-employed auto mechanic who was well known for his keen

ability to quickly diagnose and fix vehicle problems. Joe had a big heart and loved his family dearly. He will be missed by many.

Besides his mother, Joseph is survived by three children, Jessica Lusek and her husband, Jeff, of Westborough, Richard “Ricky” Pratt of Worcester, and Krystal Daniels and her husband, Dave, of Sutton. He also leaves behind his siblings, Daniel Pratt and his wife, Kelly, of Harrison City, Pennsylvania, Maryanne Bilodeau and her husband, Thomas, of Westborough, Thomas Pratt and Susan Bush of Hopkinton, Robert Pratt and his wife, Jennifer, of Hopkinton, and Martha Pratt-Rice and her husband, Joel, of Warwick; as well as four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass was held Nov 18 at St. Matthew’s Parish in Southborough, with burial following in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Natick. Funeral services were under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton (ChesmoreFuneralHome.com). In lieu of flowers, donations in Joseph’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (stjude.org).

Mary Mingace

Maria A. (Giunta) “Mary” Mingace of Belmont, formerly of Waltham, passed away peacefully Nov. 13 at Care One of Lexington at the age of 81. She was the beloved wife of the late Wiliam J. Mingace, the loving mother of Wiliam J. Mingace and Michelle Lee Marie Mingace-Fischer of Hopkinton, the cherished grandmother of Tina Maria Mingace, Kaitlyn Fischer and Christopher Fischer Jr., the adoring great-grandmother of Bodin and Parker, and the dear sister of Paul Giunta. In addition, she was aunt to many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Sacred Heart Church in Waltham on Nov. 19, followed by interment at Mount Feake Cemetery in Waltham. Funeral services were under the care of Brasco & Sons Memorial Funeral Home (BrascoFuneralHome.com).

Happy Holidays from Our Family to Yours!

LET US clean out YOUR unwanted JUNK! We Take Everything!

___

DUMPSTERS AVAILABLE

Mention Hopkinton Independent for these great offers!

$25 off

$299

a full truck or dumpster

15 yard dumpster

not to be combined with other offers

We Beat ALL Competitor Pricing

774-287-1133

TakeAwayJunk.com

affordablejunkremoval@gmail.com

Wendy Tyler

Wendy A. Tyler, 75, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away on Nov. 5. She was born July 10, 1944, in Beverly to the late John and Jane (Callahan) Bruce. A onetime Hopkinton resident, Wendy was a lifetime member of the Waynedale United Methodist Church. She enjoyed devoting her time volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House for 15 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and making snuggles for the animals at the ASPCA. Most of all she loved spending time with her family and baking.

Wendy is survived by her husband of 52 years, Robert Tyler; her daughter, Suzie (James) Rattie; her sons, Jeffrey (Amanda) and Christopher Tyler; her grandchildren, Kyle and Alex Rattie, Ellie and Emily Tyler, and Vanessa Penell; her sister, Barbara Burnham; and her brother in-law, David Tyler. Also proceeding her in death was her granddaughter, Kayla Nicole Tyler.

A funeral service was held Nov. 10 in Fort Wayne. Condolences may be left at the D.O. McComb and Sons Funeral Home website (mccombandsons.com). Memorial contributions may be made to the Ronald McDonald House.

MULCH FIREWOOD PAVERS MULCH LOAM PAVERS

57 Hayden Rowe Street Hopkinton, MA 01748 508-435-6444 854 Washington Street Holliston, MA 01746 508-429-2391 Pre-need Arrangements Family Owned • Cremation Services Handicap Accessible • On-property Parking

www.ChesmoreFuneralHome.com Keefe M. Chesmore

Suburban Lifestyle Real Estate

Seasoned • Screened

HOMES OF THE WEEK New Listing 29 Clarke Street Medway, $450,000

LOAM

Delivery Delivery Available Available

New Listing 29 Clarke Street Medway, $349,000

(508) (508) 634-3300 634-3300

Delivery Available

cookfpi.com

(508) 634-3300

cookfpi.com cookfpi.com

Drop-off location for

As Seen on Boston 25 Morning News Zip Trips every Friday Morning accepting MasterCard, Visa, Discover

252 Milford Street (Rte 140), Upton

accepting accepting MasterCard, MasterCard, Visa, Visa, Discover Discover

“The Big Picture in a Small Town”

Visit www.SellInHopkinton.com for an online home evaluation

Walpole Hopkinton Medfield (508) 668-6300 (508) 435-3100 (508) 359-5300

28 • The Hopkinton Independent • November 27, 2019

JOIN US FOR OUR 31ST ANNUAL

fun f

or al

l age

s!

• Children’s Events • Family Entertainment • Food Tasting - Refreshments - Door Prizes • Raffles to Benefit Project Just Because

DECEMBER 7 & 8 11am-4pm SATURDAY SUNDAY SAT & SUN 11-4

Children’s Crafts with Emma Ages 2 to 12

11-4

Children’s Crafts with Emma Ages 2 to 12

11-12 Amanda Maffei

11-12 Amanda Maffei

1-2

Women of Note

1-2

New Sound Assembly Chorus

2-4

Jo Jo the Magician

2-4

Jo Jo the Magician

2-4

Ash & Andrew

2-4

Ash & Andrew

Local singer & entertainer A capella chorus

Balloon animals & magic show Creating caricatures for all ages

Local singer & entertainer Barbershop harmony

Balloon animals & magic show

Creating caricatures for all ages

Santa

VISIT WITH ALL WEEKEND !

• Meet Hopkinton Drug’s

Wellness Counselors • Sample Natural Products, Meet Representatives & Enter Raffles

20% OFF ENTIRE PURCHASE *

MEN’S, WOMEN’S, CHILDREN’S GIFTS, CARDS & WRAPPING PAPER

Must Present Coupon at Time of Purchase. Valid Through December 15, 2019.

52 Main Street, Hopkinton 508.435.4441 “The Big Picture in a Small Town”

* Excludes sale items, prescriptions, over the counter pharmacy, candy & snacks. Coupon may not be combined with other offers.