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"The News Starts Here!"

24 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748

Editor@HopNews.com  508-435-5534

Updated: March 18, 2013 02:53:23 PM

Pick Up at Sun Down

March 7, 2010 — These silhouetted young men playing pick-up basketball at the courts on Hayden Rowe Street are temporarily detached from their very long shadows, caused by a sun that is falling toward the horizon.

Getting Prepared

March 7, 2010 — Anthony DiMare performs maintenance on boats and trailers at the boat house at Hopkinton Reservoir on Sunday, in preparation for a grand opening in a few weeks.

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Symphony in the Afternoon

March 7, 2010 — It was an afternoon for the young at heart as the MetroWest Symphony Orchestra presented its Young Artists Concert at Hopkinton High School on Sunday.

 

 

Clips from ESL Live

 

Editor's Picks

Please enjoy a reprise of some of the Editor's favorite staff photos from February, 2010.

Click on a thumbnail to enlarge.

Mayor Memeemo

March 7, 2010 — Long hours and hard work paid off this evening for Enter Stage Left Theater, as an SRO crowd packed Woodville Rod and Gun Club for "ESL Live," an irreverent and adult comedic perspective of Hopkinton, its people, and themselves. Above, Boston's "Mayor Menino" gets helped to his feet after a pratfall.

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Things are starting to Move!!!

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Children's Gallery

March 7, 2010 — The kids had the Children's Gallery at the HPTA Silent Auction all to themselves for two hours on Saturday for face painting, balloons, Art from Sparks, and much more. Above, Isabella Theodorou, 5, enjoys her first look at a balloon animal made for her.

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Slow Shutter

March 6, 2010 — A slow shutter speed (1/12 of a second) gives the falling water and spray a chance to paint the image, like brushstrokes on a canvas, at Hopkinton Reservoir Dam overflow today.

 

 

Former Bank

March 7, 2010 — Colella's Supermarket has moved their main entrance area into the former Strata Bank, where the entire liquor department will be located.

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Not-So-Dry Docks

March 7, 2010 — While these docks at Hopkinton State Park await further melting before they can be transported to their seasonal location, Vincente Dammeri, 6, has found a good use for them.

State Police locate missing person

 

Today at 6:20 p.m., the Arlington Police Department contacted Troop A of the Massachusetts State Police and requested a check of the Breakheart Reservation in Saugus, based on information they had developed regarding a distraught 39-year-old male resident of their town.

 

Subsequent to that request, state troopers located the person’s vehicle in the parking lot and the State Police Air Wing, K-9 units, and additional Troop A personnel were brought in to continue to search for the man.

 

A State Police Air Wing helicopter, using a combination of FLIR (Forward Looking InFrared) technology and night vision goggles, located the person in the heavily wooded area of the reservation known as Eagle Rock. The Air Wing was able to guide responding EMS personnel and ground support units to the person’s location to render aid and remove him to a hospital.

The HPTA Online Auction ended last night at midnight and brought in $15,343


The Silent Auction main event is today at the Doubletree Hotel in Westborough. The free Children's Gallery Preview is from 1-3 pm. The evening event begins at 7 pm. Tickets are $25 at the door. Details and directions at www.hptaonline.com.

Cookie Booth Sale

Presented by Girl Scout Troop 72975

Colella's Supermarket

March 6th, 2010

From 11am to 1pm

 

Please help us sell 150 boxes!!!

Bowling Fundraiser

 

Hopkinton Youth Hockey is holding a fundraiser at PINZ in Milford on Friday, March 12th from noon to 8 p.m.  The program will receive 20% of anything you spend on bowling, laser tag and food.  There is NO school in Hopkinton on March 12th, so this is a great option to keep your kids busy!  You must bring a coupon with you to PINZ.  To get your coupon go to www.demonsyouthhockey.com.  For more information about PINZ, their website address is www.pinzbowl.com. Questions about this fundraiser can be directed to Debbie Amorelli at secondvp@demonsyouthhockey.com.

Hopkinton Youth Soccer

 

is still accepting enrollments for the Pre-K "Kick Start" soccer programs. Come experience our enhanced program with a longer season! 

 

To participate in Kick Start, players should be 4 years old by Aug. 31, 2009.  

 

Registration is closing soon, so visit www.hopkintonsoccer.org to register! No late fee will be charged to this age groups for the spring season.

 

Questions? Contact Foundations Director Amy Mick amymick@verizon.net

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Lois Gets Her Certificate 

Below, Austin awards Lois a $100.00 Gift Certificate

from The Marathon Restaurant at North Pond

 

 

Zettek NOT Seeking Re-Election

 

March 5, 2010 — Matt Zettek announced today he will not be seeking re-election to the Hopkinton Board of Selectmen. Zettek cited family and professional considerations as the primary reasons for his decision. He is the second generation of Zetteks to serve in town as his parents were involved for years on numerous committees and boards.

 

Zettek said, “I have appreciated both the faith voters placed in me three years ago and the opportunity to work with many volunteers and professional staff dedicated to the Town.

 

“For reasons far beyond the control of any of us here in Hopkinton, it has been a challenging time to serve in the public sector”, said Zettek. He added, “We have been taking a one town approach to local government and, considering the circumstances, a note of thanks is due to the many folks involved in moving forward together”.

 

Zettek mentioned that primary focuses of the Board of Selectmen achieved during the past few years include maintaining services in a fiscally sound manner, implementing the Town Charter passed in 2006 and hiring new fire and police chiefs, along with Town Manager Norman Khumalo. Zettek said, “I have appreciated working in a civil and productive fashion with my current and past colleagues on the Board of Selectmen, along with the Town Manager and staff.

 

“Overall, the sense of community is alive and well and the future of the town looks bright.” he added.

Contributed content.

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Metrowest Symphony Orchestra
Young Artist Concert



Hopkinton Middle School Auditorium
Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 3:00PM


Egyptian March
Johann Strauss

“Triumphal March” from Aida
Giuseppe Verdi

Piano Concerto #3
featuring Kadar Qian, MSO Young Artist Competition Winner
Serge Prokofiev

Symphony # 5
Ludwig Van Beethoven

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Things are starting to Move!!!

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Dr. Phelan Names Alyson Geary as Hopkinton High School Principal

Three neighborhood Elementary Schools, grades K-5,  preferred

 

by Heather Kelley

March 5, 2010 — At Thursday night's School Committee meeting, Superintendent John Phelan announced that Interim High School Principal Alyson Geary will be the next Principal of the High School.  Giving high praise to the two finalists, Phelan said that in all areas, Geary “rose to the top” and was the candidate of choice.  Phelan said that when he announced Geary’s appointment to the staff, “her entire faculty gave her a big round of applause and a standing ovation.”

 

Phelan also revealed that the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation, in honor of its 10th anniversary, is giving ten one-time $10,000 grants to area organizations.  The Hopkinton School System’s beFree! substance abuse prevention program will be one of these recipients.

 

David Finney and Bob Vogel, of Design Partnership of Cambridge, came to the School Committee meeting to discuss the different options currently under consideration for the town’s elementary school building project.  Among the myriad possibilities is a renovated Center School; also on the table is the retirement of Center School in favor of the building of a new neighborhood elementary school on the town’s Fruit Street property.

 

While these options will continue to be discussed and debated during future meetings, at tonight’s gathering, Design Partnership sought direction with a few specific areas of the project.  The School Committee unanimously agreed that the project should support full-day kindergarten.  They also agreed that the project should support a projected future town-wide enrollment of 1,485 K-5 students (according to the Committee, this number includes the future potential build-out of Legacy Farms, as well as a generally diminishing population of school-aged children in the rest of the town).  The Committee stated that, all things including cost being equal, they preferred a configuration of three neighborhood K-5 elementary schools, as opposed to a centralized pre-K and K building with neighborhood elementary schools containing only grades 1-5.

 

Cost will, of course, play a role in which configuration is eventually picked.  Design Partnership confirmed that choosing three neighborhood schools would likely enable Hopkinton to reduce the current three-tiered bus system by one run, resulting in lower fuel costs, and making the commute shorter for students attending their home schools.

 

Finally, Middle School Principal Dr. William Lynch came before the Committee requesting approval of next year’s 6th grade trip to Nature’s Classroom, which the Committee granted.  Among the changes Lynch proposed for next year is the inclusion of at least one teacher as well as one parent chaperone in each cabin.  In addition, Lynch requested that School Resource Officer Phil Powers accompany the group on the week-long trip.

State Police MV Stop in Worcester Results In Narcotics Arrests

 

March 4, 2010 — Today at approximately 4:45 p.m., Trooper Michael McCammon and Trooper Jeff Johnson of the State Police Troop C Community Action Team conducted a motor vehicle stop of a 2002 Acura MDX SUV on Route 290 West in the City of Worcester for a window tint violation.

 

As a result of the stop, the troopers discovered approximately 266 grams of a Class A controlled substance (Heroin) within the vehicle.  The two occupants of the Acura were subsequently placed under arrest and transported to the State Police Barracks in Holden. 

 

The two arrested men, who are both residents of 112 Camden Street in Methuen are:

 

RODRIGUEZ, Wilfredo, 33

APONTE, Pedro, 26

 

Both men are charged with Trafficking a Class A Controlled Substance (Heroin) and Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substances Act.  The heroin has an estimated street value of $100,000.

Save the Date

6th annual $10,000 Draw and Silent Auction

Friday, May 14, 2010  • 7 pm - 12:30 am

Milford Portuguese Club

$100 per ticket - admits 2 (Only 300 will be sold)
Includes buffet catered by Olivia's • Beer, wine, soda through 10:00 pm

Cash Raffle • Silent Auction

 

What is it?

Your ticket number will be entered for the Grand Prize.

When ticket numbers are selected, they are disqualified. There will be a number of disqualification prizes given.  When there are 10 tickets left, participants will be asked if they want to split the $10,000 or continue.  If any of the 10 left want to continue, we will disqualify 5 more.  The 5 will then be asked if they want to split or continue.  If any of the 5 left want to take a chance, 4 will be disqualified to determine the lucky $10,000 winner.

 

You do not have to be present to win!

Please contact Maura Stanley – maurastanley@verizon.net or 508-981-0089

if you are interested in sponsoring the event, donating a prize, buying a ticket or helping with the event (we still need lots of help!!!!!)

 

PICK YOUR NUMBER NIGHT AT CORNELLS • (MARCH 25, 2009 from 7-9 PM)

 

Come to Cornell's on Thursday, March 25, 2010 from 7-9 PM and pick your lucky number for the $10,000 Draw! This will be the only time that you will have an opportunity to request a certain number. After this date ALL REMAINING NUMBERS will be assigned. At the end of the evening all the ticket numbers purchased that night will be placed in a hat. One number will be drawn out and that person will get their $100 back.

 

 

Friday Night at Cornell's 3/5/10

Pierre's Baked Haddock w/ Cole Slaw & French Fries

$7.50

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State Police make significant Narcotics Arrests in Springfield

 

March 4, 2010 — Today at approximately 1:25 a.m., Trooper Daniel Kelly, assigned to the State Police Barracks in Springfield, was conducting patrol duties on route 291 in Springfield.  Tpr Kelly stopped a Subaru Impreza for speeding and, during subsequent investigation, he located a large quantity of a Class A controlled Substance (Heroin) within the motor-vehicle. 

 

There were three occupants in the vehicle and none were properly licensed to operate.  During the investigation, approximately 1,000 individually packaged bags of Heroin (with an approximate street value of $10,000.) were located along with a hypodermic needle. 

 

The three arrested men, who are all residents of Pittsfield, MA, are:

MATHEWS, Joseph, 21, of 140 Memorial Dr

MEYETTE, John, 27, of 56 Brooks Av

PARKER, Lyle D, 23, of 88 Scalise Dr

 

Each of the arrestees was charged with Trafficking a Class A Controlled Substance (Heroin).  MEYETTE was additionally charged with Operating after Suspension and speeding.

 

Tpr Kelly was assisted at the scene by Trooper Jonathan Nickles.

 

Registration for the 2010 Hopkinton Babe Ruth Pre Season and Regular Season is now available on line at www.HopkintonBabeRuth.com

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 SUPPORT YOUR

 HOPKINTON CHEERLEADERS

JOURNEY TO THE HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADING NATIONALS

 WITH ALL YOU CAN EAT PANCAKES

 Saturday, March 6th

8:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Applebee’s, Milford

 Cost: $7.00

 Which includes all the pancakes you can eat, a beverage and a great wait staff!!

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Things are starting to Move!!!

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Citizens' Petition Reaches Town Hall

Some neighbors, Golden Pond seek rezoning

Public Hearing April 12, 2010

 

Left, tan area is proposed for rezoning. Above, Golden Pond facility. Photo below, area of homes for proposed rezoning

 

March 4, 2010 — According to West Main Street neighbor Catherine M. Rhodes, a group neighbors of the Golden Pond nursing facility, which recently got approved for an expansion that nearly doubles their capacity, have joined the facility in their desire to change the zoning of their homes to not only allow a change of zoning from Residence B to Rural Business, but to change the definitions of use. They have done this by generating and submitting two Citizen's Petitions.

      According to Land Use Planning Director Elaine Lazarus,  the changes in use would allow the new listed uses by Special Permit. Many of them, she said, are currently allowed for the Golden Pond Facility as pre-existing, non-conforming uses.

      When asked why she would be interested in writing a petition to change the use of a neighboring facility, Mrs. Rhodes said that she did not write it, but that Attorney Wayne Davies wrote the draft legal language. Atty. Davies prepared an initial draft for all 9 lots recommended for rezoning by the Zoning Advisory Committee and on February 2nd forwarded the draft to the Town Manager for his review and approval.  The Town Manager responded on February 12th with language changes recommended by Elaine Lazarus.  Mrs. Rhodes agreed to serve as the primary sponsor of the petition for all 9 lots. Mr. Davies represents the Golden Pond facility, and successfully represented them in getting Special Permits approved by the Board of Appeals, a board he served on for 10 years.

     Mrs. Rhodes said that although the rezoning is the first step, she feels that the changes in use would help the Golden Pond, the most likely buyer for her property.

     "This zone is not well-suited for residences anymore, and we want to protect our values.

     "We approached them [Golden Pond] quite some time ago when we read they made some kind of offer to  the people next door.

      "We decided to open a dialogue with them, because then they would become our neighbor.

      "Their driveway would be 8 feet from our living room [If they purchased the house next door and expanded].

      Opponent of the changes, Planning Board and ZAC (Zoning Advisory Commission) member Sandy Altamura, owns property that directly abuts the property owned by the facility.

       "It hasn't been properly vetted," she said.

       "It was discussed in the ZAC meeting, maybe for 15 or 20 minutes.

       ZAC advised to the Planning Board that the changes to the zoning be made, but the Planning Board denied their request.

       "The neighbors that back up to this property were never notified.

       "They have not looked at the geometry of the site to see if anything would fit unless they buy all 5 or 6 of these homes," she said.    

       "They haven't looked at what the traffic impact would be. We have spent no time as a committee honestly looking at this and interviewing other people that would be affected. That's number one.

        "Number two is, that when it was originally presented to me verbally, it was going to be from Golden Pond up to the  corner, going up towards 495. The property line now is on the other side of the Ice House Pond, which starts to creep the commercial/industrial up West Main Street [toward the Downtown]. And I know there's a lot of people on West Main Street are very much opposed to commercial/industrial going up West Main Street.

          "Commercial values are at a low, but I understand why they want this. That is a very busy street, and some of those people have been there 40 or 50 years, and the street has greatly changed, and I understand them wanting that.

         "But there's a lot of other things to consider, such as Voices for Vision we've done, all of the information cards we've sent out; group studies we've done.

          "We want our zoning to maintain a rural feel, which historically keeps the prices... our real estate values higher.

          Ms. Lazarus said today that a Citizen's Petition automatically goes on the Warrant for Town Meeting, and that there would be a Public Hearing on the matter on April 12, 2010.

          The Public Hearing will give abutters and others a chance to weigh on the matter, after which the Planning Board could vote to give a thumbs up or thumbs down at Town Meeting when the Articles come up.

Hopkinton High School Drama Dept. Presents...

"You Can't Take It With You"

Hopkinton High School Auditorium

March 4, @ 4:00 pm

March 5 & 6 @ 7:30 pm

Tickets are $8 & $10 at the door.

March 3, 2010 — Above is a shot of today's full dress rehearsal of  "You Can't Take it With You" in the High School Auditorium. What is it about? How many kids have rehearsed? What does it mean to the actors? Why see it? What could it mean to you? Check out the video below with a narrative by Director Valerie von Rosenvinge, as reported by Andrew Sweeney, and then mark your calendar.

 

To match your download speed — or even the YouTube speed at the moment you are viewing  — please choose the proper resolution (380p - 1080p) with the pop-up controls near the bottom on the right of the viewer after pressing play.

Keep the Easter Lilies Away from the Cat

Human food can be poison for pets, too

by Elizabeth Eidlitz

 

March 3, 2010 — Our pets are part of the family, snuggling on our beds and enjoying being slipped human food-- a big piece of turkey skin, a handful of chips with dip, a few slices of salami.

 

Yet, for some animals, rich, fatty or spicy treats can trigger a life-threatening illness.

 

"Most pet owners simply do not know that small amounts of chocolate can be dangerous," comments Dr. Steve Hansen, Senior Vice President of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Yet chocolate can contain high amounts of fat and caffeine-like stimulants. 

 

The darker the chocolate, the higher the potential for clinical problems from methylxanthine poisoning.  20 ounces of milk chocolate—or only two ounces of baking chocolate—can cause serious problems in a 10-pound dog.

 

"Many cats are poisoned in the spring from plants including daffodils and lilies,” Hansen adds. “A cat that eats an Easter lily will die without prompt medical attention.”

 

All parts of "Easter lily, tiger lily, rubrum, Japanese show lily, some species of day lily can cause kidney failure in cats," says Dr. Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, Veterinary Toxicologist at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. “Consuming even tiny amounts can be life threatening."  READ MORE...

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Where Does the CEO of a Local Top-Tier Travel Agency Take Her Family on Vacation?

 


March 3, 2010 — Elaine Osgood, featured on the February cover of Women’s Business as the CEO of Atlas Travel International, one of the top travel agencies in America, recently discovered a whole new vacation world for her family. Based on the advice of her Vacation Manager Karen McCrink, Osgood took her family on a Disney vacation that had nothing to do with theme parks or Mickey Mouse. The Osgoods, who had been to Disney World before, learned quickly that Adventures by Disney offers an entire world of family vacation opportunities never before imagined. They explored the Southwest on a family adventure that now has them planning their next trip from the vast portfolio of options including: Storybook Castles in Germany, African Safaris, Hollywood Soundstages and Hiking Machu Picchu.

“It was a great surprise,” said Osgood, named Entrepreneur of the Year in Massachusetts for Hospitality, as well as a Top Woman-Owned Business multiple times. “While Disney is always a great vacation, I was hesitant to do another theme park vacation this year...and now we are sold on Adventures by Disney. My husband, daughter and I are looking at several different options for next year, but it’s hard to choose. There are so many great trips. I invite families in Hopkinton to explore this option for travel...there really is a touch that only Disney brings to travel...even when it’s learning to rope cattle or raft down rapids...they just know how to capture the wonder of a place.”

For more on the Osgoods trip, click here
.

Former Malden Treasury Employee Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement of $468,000

 

            WOBURN – A former Malden city employee pled guilty today in connection with the embezzlement of more than $518,000 in Malden Treasury property tax receipts, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today. 

              Gia Marie DeSantis, 27, of Georgetown, a former Malden Treasury employee, pled guilty to one count of larceny over $250 and one count of conspiracy to commit larceny.  DeSantis was sentenced by Middlesex Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Fahey to 2 years in state prison with five years probation with the condition that she makes restitution in the amount of $468,000, which takes into account the amount of restitution ordered that DeSantis’ co-defendants, who previously pled guilty, pay.

             “Gia DeSantis abused her position of trust and stole nearly a half a million dollars from the City of Malden,” District Attorney Leone said.  “She operated a complex financial scheme for well over a year to enrich herself and, today, by pleading guilty, she is admitting responsibility for her actions and will begin the process of repaying the City of Malden for the funds she egregiously stole.  I want to thank the City of Malden, including Mayor Richard Howard, Comptroller Dominic Fermano and Treasurer Frank Vacca, for their complete cooperation during the investigation and for making the initial report to our office of suspected irregularities they discovered in the handling of the tax refund program.”

              According to authorities, the embezzlement scheme involved the funds that were kept in the Malden Treasury from property owners in Malden who had overpaid their property taxes.  In 2006, the city began publishing the list of residents who had overpaid their taxes so that those people could put in a claim to recover their overpayments.  DeSantis, who worked for the Treasurer's Office, oversaw the payment of those funds to the individuals.

             It was determined that DeSantis executed a scheme in which she would arrange for Malden city checks to be issued to people who were not entitled to the refunds, who were not on the city’s list, and who had not overpaid their city property taxes.  Malden checks would then be issued payable to these ‘proxy’ payees, cashed by them, and the bulk of the proceeds returned to DeSantis.

             DeSantis and a co-defendant, Alan Vincent Valdes, were arrested on November 14, 2008, after DeSantis met Valdes and provided him with one of these checks. Valdes was not entitled to receive any monies for the overpayment of property taxes.  Valdes entered a Malden bank, cashed the check, and returned with the proceeds to a car in which DeSantis was waiting.  After he got into the car, Massachusetts State Police surrounded the vehicle, arresting both without incident.  Currency of approximately $3,500, obtained through the cashing of the Malden check by Valdes, was recovered.       

             Both were arraignment in Malden District Court that day and ordered held on $2,500 cash bail. 

             DeSantis was indicted on April 16, 2009 and arraigned on May 20 in Middlesex Superior Court on one count of larceny over $250 and a separate count of conspiracy to commit larceny. 

             Further investigation following the arrests revealed that the eight other defendants also received and cashed the false checks.  In some instances, the defendants also recruited others to also cash some Malden checks.  In total, the investigation shows that as many as one hundred and twenty-five checks were issued during the course of the scheme, from May 2007 to November 13, 2008, in amounts ranging from $2,000 to over $6,000.  Those indicted cashed multiple checks.  The other defendants previously pled guilty.

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