November 19,
2010 — Friends, from left, Connor Pelletier, Matt Baer, Ian Murphy and
Mike Somadelis display balancing techniques while longboarding at
Hopkinton State Park.
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Primarily
Potters
November 19,
2010 — Primarily Potters are showing their wares at the CAA Building on
Hayden Rowe Street in Hopkinton. They will return on Saturday 9:00 am -
5:00 pm and Sunday Noon - 3:00 p.m.
Alien Expose
Ch. I
Coverup at
Colella's
Mouse-over image to see reason for cover-up
November 19,
2010 — Colella's Market's expansion included new HVAC units that were
installed on top of the roof. Critics said it
appeared like a spaceship had landed on the roof. They said that on the
HopNews discussion page, Town Talk. Colella's promised to build a
structure around it after meetings with the Planning Board. On
Halloween, a photo was taken of a creature on the roof that resembled an
alien and HopNews shared it with readers. And now, coincidentally,
following the appearance of the alien creature, carpenters have covered
up the unit that many said resembled a spaceship. Is it an Area 51-like
action to hide an alien, or a legitimate structure to hide objectionable
mechanical devices? Discuss on Town Talk. But first, mouse-over the
image to see the alien.
Fundraiser Breakfast to Benefit HHS Drama Ensemble
Cornell's
46th Annual
Pre-game Turkey Day Breakfast $6.00
Thanksgiving morning beginning at 7:00 am
229 Hayden Rowe Street
The entire amount collected will be
going to the Drama Ensemble to help them reach the American High School
Theater festival, part of the world-renown Fringe Festival in
Edinborough, Scotland on August, 2011.
Said, Cathy McLaughlin, Co-fundraising Chair, "We appreciate the support
of Rob Cornell and his staff; we hope the ensemble, their families,
friends and neighbors as well as those who have come every Thanksgiving for
decades, will show their support by stopping by."
Girls Soccer Team
by Coach Gunduz
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Xerox
Appoints Hopkinton Resident Anthony Sci
BOSTON,
Nov. 18, 2010 – Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) has appointed Anthony Sci
Region Vice President and General Manager for New England.
Sci and his team are responsible for
delivering business results through the sales and service of Xerox’s
complete portfolio of offerings – including office multifunction
solutions, production printing systems, and managed print services –
throughout Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and
Vermont. As General Manager for the New England Region, Sci has
responsibility for sales, technical service, professional services, and
managed services operations.
Sci most recently served as the Region
Business Manager for Xerox in New Jersey, where his team grew revenue,
profit and market share. Prior to that role, he was Manager of Sales
Operations for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Before joining
Xerox, Sci spent more than 20 years in the industry, including
supporting Global Imaging Systems, a Xerox Company.
Sci holds a Bachelor’s Degree in management
from St. John’s University. He resides in Hopkinton, MA with his wife
Sarah and three daughters.
School Committee
Enrollment 41 Students
than More Than Forecast, 1.3% Difference
316 Students Being
Educated Elsewhere
Super wants March
Special Town Meeting for New Fruit Street School
by Heather Kelley
November 19, 2010 — At last night’s School
Committee meeting, Superintendent Dr. John Phelan shared the
hot-off-the-press school enrollment update from NESDEC (New England
School Development Council). Hopkinton public schools are educating
3,454 students this year. Last year’s forecast from NESDEC had called
for 3408 students, while the MSBA (Massachusetts School Building
Authority) had called for 3413. These forecasts are meant to help
districts plan and budget for future populations in their schools. The
forecasts are based on measurable statistics such as birth rates, but
are bedeviled by things such as the economy, housing starts, and real
estate turnover. This year, 109 Hopkinton youths are attending charter
and vocational schools, are in special education placements
out-of-district, or are being homeschooled. An additional 207 students
are attending private and parochial schools.
NESDEC has also won the contract to conduct
the search for a new Superintendent for the school district.
Superintendent Phelan announced his decision to retire his position
earlier this year. In a small instance of serendipity, the School
Committee judged NESDEC’s proposal to be the best out of the four firms
that came for interviews, and their bid was also the least expensive,
coming in just shy of $18,000.
The Committee discussed the implications of
the budget message from the Board of Selectmen, which calls for level
funding of the FY12 budget at FY11 levels. “That is going to be
challenging,” said Superintendent Phelan. “Eighty percent of our
operating budget is salaries and other fixed costs,” Phelan said, and
reminded the Committee that the largest employee group deferred their
contractual salary step increases for one year. The piper will have to
be paid this year with those salary increases. Phelan candidly said that
the schools will not be able to provide the same level of services this
year on last year’s budget spending levels.
According to Superintendent Phelan, “budget
season is in full swing.” Members Nancy Burdick and Troy Mick voiced
their desire to not ask for any additional capital expenditures at this
year’s Town Meeting, given the financial climate and the large request
already on the table for the new elementary school building. However,
Member Jean Bertschmann astutely pointed out that, “we need to know what
we’re rejecting before we reject it.” Superintendent Phelan agreed that
it would be a good exercise to list out maintenance and other needs, and
make decisions as to how long the work could be deferred, slotting the
work into future budget year requests. Mick inquired as to the condition
of the Elmwood School roof; Phelan responded that the roof has been
limping along, since the thought has been to incorporate the replacement
of it and the windows into a larger, future, Elmwood School renovation
project with potential state reimbursement of part of the cost.
Otherwise, the project would be 100% on the town’s dime.
Mick also noted that residents had been
asking him why the Committee was requesting a Special Town Meeting to
consider the proposed new elementary school building. Superintendent
Phelan shed light on this issue. “We’re not setting timelines and
milestones on our own,” he said. According to Phelan, the MSBA has been
pushing the project along from the beginning. Originally, he said, the
MSBA had requested that Hopkinton make its final presentation in
November. But Phelan and the Elementary School Building Committee
successfully argued for an extension, until January, in order to get the
best value out of the architects and to execute proper due diligence on
the project as a whole. However, this compromise with the MSBA also
included an agreement to hold a Special Town Meeting in March. The MSBA,
Phelan said, is aware of the advantages to be gained by going to bid on
a project before the typical July 1 timeframe, effectively getting an
early start ahead of other towns. Hopkinton stands to benefit in no
small way, he said, by seeking and obtaining approval of the project in
March. In addition, it allows for the project to be completed in time
for a September 2013 opening; waiting until May’s regular Town Meeting
would jeopardize the completion of the project in time for the first day
of school.
The Committee considered a new policy on
School Attendance. According to Massachusetts General Law regarding
truancy and attendance, it is a crime for a parent to not send their
child to school. If seven days in a six month period are missed, “the
supervisor of attendance may file a criminal complaint in court against
the responsible parent/guardian.” The policy provides for the hiring of
an attendance officer.
The Committee agreed with the Superintendent
that they desire some kind of formal feedback on the work of substitute
teachers. While all agreed that time did not permit formal evaluations,
Superintendent Phelan suggested a simple form that teachers could submit
to the office upon their return to school, giving a quick evaluation of
the work of the substitute. Phelan also suggested that feedback from the
students in the classroom would be highly valuable.
The High School Student Council has donated
$15,000 to the High School for the purchase of lap tops. Information on
how the students raised such an impressive sum was unavailable.
Alan Keller, Principal of the Middle School,
appeared before the School Committee to request approval of the annual
spring 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. After explaining to
the Committee that the trip would be “an opportunity for our students to
enrich their lives,” and assuring the Committee that there would be a
10:1 student to chaperone ratio, security in the hotels, and a nurse on
staff, the Committee unanimously approved the trip. The cost is
estimated to be $609 per student, and financial aid is available for
those who can demonstrate need per School Committee policy.
Art beCAUSE
November 18,
2010 — ArtBecause founder Ellie Anbinder is flanked by
Hallmark-Sotheby's agents Trina Macchi on her left and Leslile
Mann-Doyle on her right at 52 Hayden Rowe Street Thursday evening for a
fundraising soiree for
Art beCAUSE
Breast Cancer Foundation. The Italianate mansion, packed with beautiful
women, was turned into a retail gallery of a dozen vendors from which a
portion of the proceeds are to be donated to the cause.
Court of
Honor
November 18,
2010 — Hopkinton Scouts from Troop 4 held a court of honor last night at Elmwood
School. Above, Robert Lahaie shares his accomplishments with the entire
gathering of over 100 people.
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Traffic Stop
November 18,
2010 — Sgt. Michael Sutton conducts an inventory of this vehicle's
contents as Officer Matthew McNeil and a passenger from the vehicle look
on while awaiting the tow truck. The driver was taken into custody at
about 5:25 pm.
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Cub Scout
Holiday Wreath Sale
Purchase a
Holiday Wreath and Help Support
Hopkinton Cub
Scout Pack 4
Colella’s
Market
Saturday,
November 20th 2:00 to 5:00 pm
Sunday,
November 21st 11:00 to 5:00 pm
(While
supplies last)
12” with a
6-loop red velvet bow: $12 18” with an 8-loop red velvet bow: $16
Turkey Drive
November 18,
2010 — Middle School and High School students at Colella's wrap up the
2010 Turkey Drive, organized by Drew Johnson, third from left.
Hopkinton High School Drama Club
“Star for the Day Theater Camp”
Saturday, Dec. 4th
10am-3pm for 1st
-5th
graders
November
16, 2010 --- The Hopkinton High School Drama Department, looking to
raise funds for its upcoming trip to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is
offering “Star for the Day Theater Camp” for children in grades 1-5. The
camp will take place on Saturday, December 4th from 10am-3pm at the
Hopkinton High School auditorium and art wing. Under the direction
of HHS drama department head, Valerine von Rosenvinge and the ensemble
of high school drama students, children will explore theater and
experience the high school stage. Children will partake in a variety of
theater disciplines including acting, singing, dancing and set/costume
design.
This is a wonderful opportunity for parents
to tackle their holiday to-do list while their children are engaged in a
unique one-day activity. A healthy snack will be provided, Children
should bring a bag lunch and dress for some mess!
Cost for the day is $25 in advance (before
November 27th) and $35 after. Space is limited. For more information
email
hopkintondrama@gmail.com
with star in the subject line
Governor Deval Patrick SAYS MASS is stronger with jobs creation
BOSTON
–Thursday, November 18, 2010 – Governor Deval Patrick issued the
following statement regarding the Executive Office of Labor and
Workforce Development’s report showing the Massachusetts economy added 10,000 jobs last
month, and the statewide unemployment rate dropped from 8.4 percent to
8.1 percent, well below the 9.6 percent national average. This is the
steepest two-month consecutive drop in the unemployment rate since 1976.
“Today, we have more promising economic news. Since September, the
unemployment rate has experienced its steepest decline in more than 30
years and just last month we added 10,000 jobs. Job creation has been
priority number one since day one and that strategy is propelling Massachusetts out of this recession faster and
stronger than other states. Putting people to work will remain at the
top of my agenda because, despite these positive developments, we have
more to do. I will not rest until everyone who is looking for a job can
find one.” File photo
Hopkinton
Prof. Wins Austrian Cultural Forum New York’s 2010 Translation Prize
WORCESTER,
Mass.—Nov.
18, 2010—Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Professor of German
David Dollenmayer is the winner of the Austrian Cultural Forum New
York’s (ACFNY) 2010 Translation Prize for his translation-in-progress of
Michael Köhlmeier’s Idyll With Drowning Dog (Idylle mit
ertrinkendem Hund), first published in 2008. Renowned critic Daniela
Strigl from Vienna will present Dollenmayer with the award at a Dec. 6
ACFNY ceremony in New York City. Köhlmeier is a major Austrian writer
whose works have never been translated into English.
This is Professor Dollenmayer’s second translation award
in two years. In 2008, he was honored by the German cultural
organization Goethe-Institut with the prestigious annual Helen and Kurt
Wolff Translator’s Prize for his German-to-English translation of the
poet Moses Rosenkranz’ Childhood: An Autobiographical Fragment (Kindheit.
Fragment einer Autobiographie). He has also translated works as
varied as Dearest Georg by Elias Canetti (2010), Crossing the
Hudson by Peter Stephan Jungk (2009), and House of Childhood
by Anna Mitgutsch (2006).
In collaboration with the Dietrich W. Botstiber
Foundation and Words Without Borders, the ACFNY Translation Prize
supports translations of contemporary Austrian fiction, poetry, and
drama which have not previously appeared in English, with a € 3,000
grant. The award will be disbursed upon the formal acceptance of the
manuscript by a publishing house, which must occur within a three years.
The trophy for the winner is sponsored by SWAROVSKI GEMS™.
A
Hopkinton, Mass., resident, Dollenmayer’s primary research interests are
the
translation of contemporary German authors’ works; and 18th,
19th, and 20th century German literature and
culture. “I
think my work is typical of the kinds of things being done by my other
colleagues in WPI’s Humanities and Arts Department,” he says. “My
experience has always been that WPI students approach the humanities and
arts with the same openness, curiosity, and enthusiasm they display in
their science and engineering courses and in their research projects.”
Professor Dollenmayer is the author of The Berlin
Novels of Alfred Döblin (University of California Press, 1988) and
co-author with Thomas Hansen of Neue Horizonte: A First Course in
German Language and Culture (Houghton Mifflin, 7th edition, 2008).
He has also published translations of works by Bertolt Brecht (Flüchtlingsgespräche),
Perikles Monioudis (Im Äther), and Michael Kleeberg (Der König
von Korsika).
Dollenmayer earned his B.A. and Ph.D. degrees from
Princeton University, and began teaching at WPI in 1988. Contributed
content
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Car vs. Bull - Both Killed
LANCASTER
- November 18, 2010 — Troopers from the Massachusetts State Police
Barracks in
Leominster responded to a crash in Lancaster last night that
involved a car striking a bull that wandered into the road. The man
driving the car was killed in the crash.
Trooper Timothy Doyle located the crash
while patrolling Route 190. Steven Hamilton, 22, of Lunenburg was
operating a 1997 Mitsubishi sedan on the northbound side of Route 190,
near Exit 7, in Lancaster. Preliminary
investigation indicates that the car hit a bull that was in the roadway,
then veered off the road into the median strip. The vehicle sustained
extensive damage.
Hamilton
was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The bull was fatally injured. Three other
cows that had also wandered onto the road were captured.
The facts and circumstances of the crash,
including where the cows came from and how they escaped, remain under
investigation by Troop C of the Massachusetts State Police, with the
assistance of the State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section
and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section. Troopers were
assisted at the scene by the Lunenburg Police Department and Leominster
Police and Fire Departments.
During the rescue response and crash
investigation and cleanup, Route 190 northbound was closed for
approximately one hour.
Malden
Man Arraigned On Charges Of Attempting To Kill Girlfriend By Poisoning
And Strangling
WOBURN-
November 17, 2010 — A Malden man has been arraigned on charges in
connection to allegedly poisoning and strangling his girlfriend,
Middlesex
District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public yesterday.
Wilbert Gabriel, 35, of Malden, was arraigned in
Middlesex Superior Court on charges of assault to murder, attempted
murder (2 counts), and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (2
counts). Middlesex Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan held
the defendant on $50,000 cash bail with the conditions that he has no
contact with the victim or any witnesses.
His next court date is December
9 for a pretrial conference.
According to authorities, on July 25th, a neighbor called 911
after he heard a woman screaming for help from the apartment building
located at 68 Washington Street
in Malden.
Malden police
and Cataldo Ambulance arrived to find the defendant lying on the floor
vomiting blood in the hallway outside the victim’s apartment. The
female victim, 30, was found in her apartment suffering injuries
resulting from the defendant’s attempts to poison and strangle her to
death. The defendant and the victim were transported to
Massachusetts GeneralHospital for medical treatment.
Further investigation determined the
defendant allegedly strangled the victim with a ligature, bit her on the
face and back, and poured a toxic substance into her mouth after she had
told him their relationship was over. It is alleged that the defendant
then swallowed the same toxic substance. Both the victim and defendant
were treated for life-threatening burn injuries.
The defendant was arrested and arraigned
on August 11th at Massachusetts GeneralHospital by Malden District
Court Judge Lee Johnson and ordered held without bail pending a 58A
dangerousness hearing. He was indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury on
September 23.
Friends of the Hopkinton Seniors
CHRISTMAS &
JEWELRY SALE
Fri., Nov. 19 4-8
Sat., Nov. 20 9-2
Hopkinton Senior
Center
Holiday décor and ornaments for
inside and out, beautiful costume & silver jewelry, books, Thrift Shop
open for gifts and stocking stuffers.
AND...
The annual holiday dinner for our
seniors living at the Hopkinton Housing Authority is fast
approaching. Due to lack of funds, we ask for small gifts or gift
certificates from our local community to be given to our residents
at the dinner party. If any business or individual would like to
donate a gift or gift certificate, please contact Linda Donahue,
Executive Director, of the Hopkinton Housing Authority at
508-435-6022 or you may drop off a gift at 100 Davis Road. Thank
you."
As always, if you have any questions,
please contact me by return email or call me at 508-435-5542.
Senior
Moments
by Nancy L. Drawe
(Punky)
November 17, 2010 — My Thanksgiving
tradition—re-running the column I wrote about Thanksgiving dinner at the
Woodville Rod and Gun Club. For those of you who may remember it, I
hope you enjoy it all over again. For those of you who have never read
it, I hope you enjoy it for the first time.
Gobble! Gobble! It’s that time of year
again; the time when people of all races and religions get together to
celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family alike. It’s
a wonderful time of year, when the air is brisk and there’s that
possibility of snow falling. It’s a holiday that seems to come too
quickly though; right smack in the middle of Halloween and Christmas.
When I was a kid, once Halloween was over, the excitement of
Thanksgiving took precedent over the long forgotten sack full of candy
shoved in the cabinet. It was the sight of that big huge turkey sitting
in the middle of the table, watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV,
getting all dressed up to go over Grandma’s house after dinner for
homemade pies and playing with all the cousins. My favorite part of the
day was cracking walnuts with my father and brother while my mother got
the turkey ready in the kitchen. I don’t even think we ate many of the
nuts; it was just the fun of the ‘crackin!’ Nowadays, Christmas seems
to overpower the Thanksgiving holiday. I’m not whining too much about
it, but there’s a time for that holiday after Thanksgiving. Not
before Halloween when the shelves in all the stores are displaying
Christmas trees and commercials on TV are already crying out, “Buy this,
buy that!” What happened to all the wonderful Thanksgiving decorations
that people used to scotch tape to their windows? How about the song,
“Over the River and Through the Woods?” Just the other day, I turned on
my favorite radio station in the car only to hear Christmas music—and
that is going to be continuous 24 hours a day for the next month and a
half. I’m not saying that Thanksgiving is a forgotten holiday, because
it’s certainly not—it’s one of the biggest family holidays of all. It’s
just that it needs more time to itself before Christmas comes rushing
in. That’s okay though, all is well; A Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving
will be on ABC on Thanksgiving night at 8 pm.
I didn’t get a chance to ask the seniors
what their favorite part of Thanksgiving is, but I’m pretty sure that I
would have gotten a lot of the same responses such as “the smell of
turkey cooking in the oven,” “watching football games,” “cranberry
sauce,” “stuffing and gravy,” “pumpkin pies,” “taking a nap after
dinner,” “turkey sandwiches later that night,” and of course, one of the
most important--“spending the time with my family and friends.”
Hopkinton Elders Need Help Shoveling and Cleaning
Cars
by Donna McGuire
We
often tell ourselves we’d love to do something worthwhile for others, if
only we knew what it was or if only we knew there was a need. Well,
there’s an opportunity to help right here in Hopkinton during the winter
months.
For some of our senior citizens living at
the Hopkinton Housing Authority (subsidized housing for the elderly
located on Davis Road, behind the Police Station), these are especially
tough months. Many elderly residents have cars and rely on them to get
out and about and wish to keep their cars on the road for as long as is
safely possible. The parking at the Housing Authority is ample enough,
it’s just that the parking spots are not covered. So, when a snowstorm
is over and the road and walkways have been cleared, residents are
required to clean off their vehicle and move it to a designated spot on
the Housing Authority grounds so the parking areas can be plowed. Many
of these residents do not have family in the area on whom they can call
to perform this very exhausting task, especially if they’re in their
70’s or 80’s. It would be wonderful if we could have a name (family or
individual) and tele number to give to each resident who needs
assistance with cleaning off their vehicle to call upon to see if
someone can come to give them a hand with this task. For a younger
person, this might take 15 minutes to half an hour, depending on the
size of the storm. For an elderly person, it might take 45 minutes or
longer if they need to stop frequently for rests.
So, here’s your opportunity,
fellow Hopkinton residents. Please contact me if you’d like to be one of
the volunteers who can “do a good deed” right here in town this winter
by helping an elderly resident at the Hopkinton Housing Authority in
this manner. Believe me, they will be most appreciative. (And, a belated
THANK YOU to last year’s volunteers!) We will coordinate this
effort and assign volunteers to a particular elder in need. Consider
this the gift that keeps on giving! ~ Hopkinton Housing
Authority Board of Commissioners
If you cannot commit
to an individual resident, perhaps you can help by driving to the HHA
after a snowstorm to help clean off cars or shovel behind a vehicle so
elderly residents can move their cars. Thank you!
FDA Warning Letters
issued to four makers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages These beverages present a public health
concern
November 17, 2010 — The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration today warned four companies that the
caffeine added to their malt alcoholic beverages is an
“unsafe food additive” and said that further action,
including seizure of their products, is possible under
federal law.
The companies receiving Warning Letters and their
products are:
• Charge Beverages Corp.: Core High Gravity HG, Core
High Gravity HG Orange, and Lemon Lime Core Spiked
• New Century Brewing Co., LLC: Moonshot
• Phusion Projects, LLC (doing business as Drink Four
Brewing Co.): Four Loko
• United Brands Company Inc.: Joose and Max
FDA’s action follows a scientific review by the Agency.
FDA examined the published peer-reviewed literature on
the co-consumption of caffeine and alcohol, consulted
with experts in the fields of toxicology,
neuropharmacology, emergency medicine, and epidemiology,
and reviewed information provided by product
manufacturers. FDA also performed its own independent
laboratory analysis of these products.
“FDA does not find support for the claim that the
addition of caffeine to these alcoholic beverages is
‘generally recognized as safe,’ which is the legal
standard,” said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, Principal
Deputy Commissioner. “To the contrary, there is
evidence that the combinations of caffeine and alcohol
in these products pose a public health concern.”
Experts have raised concerns that caffeine can mask some
of the sensory cues individuals might normally rely on
to determine their level of intoxication. The FDA said
peer-reviewed studies suggest that the consumption of
beverages containing added caffeine and alcohol is
associated with risky behaviors that may lead to
hazardous and life-threatening situations.
The agency said the products named in the Warning
Letters are being marketed in violation of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FFDCA). Each Warning
Letter requests that the recipient inform the FDA in
writing within 15 days of the specific steps that will
be taken to remedy the violation and prevent its
recurrence. If a company does not believe its products
are in violation of the FFDCA, it may present its
reasoning and any supporting information as well.
If
the FDA believes that the violation continues to exist,
the agency may pursue an enforcement action that could
include seizure of the products or an injunction to
prevent the firm from continuing to produce the product
until the violation has been corrected.
FDA’s action today follows a November 2009 request to
manufacturers to provide information on the safety of
adding caffeine to their products.
FDA is aware that on November 16, Phusion Projects, LLC,
the maker of Four Loko, announced its intention to
remove caffeine and other stimulants from its drinks.
FDA views this announcement as a positive step. FDA has
not yet heard officially from the company about this
announcement, including how quickly it will remove
present product from circulation and how quickly it will
reformulate its product. FDA intends to work with
Phusion Projects, LLC and the other manufacturers to
assure their products meet safety standards.
~FDA Press Release
STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY
GENERAL MARTHA COAKLEY ON ACTIONS TAKEN TODAY
BOSTON –
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley issued the
following statement today regarding actions taken by the
FDA and other federal agencies against certain Alcoholic
Energy Drink manufacturers:
“Following the FDA’s year-long review, today’s actions
by the FDA, FTC and Alcohol Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau
represents a significant and necessary step forward in
seeking to remove these dangerous Alcoholic Energy
Drinks from the market. We have been concerned about
aggressive youth-targeted marketing, especially given
reports that people as young as 13 years old are gaining
access to and consuming these drinks. By trading on the
popularity of non-alcoholic energy drinks, AEDs attract
young people who wrongly believe that the caffeine will
offset the intoxicating effects of the alcohol. We are
continuing to investigate the marketing of these
dangerous products, and I applaud today’s actions that
reject the manufacturers’ unfounded claims that these
products are safe.” ~ AGO press release
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Hopkinton
Crash Victim Extricated by Firefighters
November 17, 2010 — A
single-car crash occurred at 1:38 p.m. on Route 495 north in Hopkinton,
two miles south of the Mass Pike. Preliminary investigation suggests
that a 2010 Ford Focus driven by a 46-year-old Grafton man went off the
road and crashed. The man, whose name we are not releasing tonight, was
trapped in the vehicle and was extricated by Hopkinton firefighters. He
was transported by ambulance to the University of Massachusetts Medical
Center in Worcester. The
investigation into what caused the man to drive off the roadway is
ongoing. The right and middle travel lanes were closed for a short time
to accommodate EMS and firefighters.
Hopkinton Minute:
New Crosswalk Warning Light at Main and Church
See Michael Gentile
from Bill's Pizza demonstrate its use
Buying? Selling? Call one of our experts.
Things are starting to Move!!!
H
O M E S
H O M E S
H O M E S
H O M E S
Visibility -
Town Hall Makeover
November 16
— This wide-angle photo shows a 90 degree angle from the Town Manager's
door to the Selectmen's office, which is now visible to the public.
However, people interested in knocking on the Town Manager's door are
directed by an arrow to go through the Selectmen's office first.
According to Town Manager Norman Khumalo, the roof is being repaired
through insurance. The leaky roof caused chronic leaks and mold, all the
way to the basement and through the walls, and those repairs are also
covered by insurance.
In addition, the Verizon gift account, supplemented by a Town Meeting
money transfer, is paying for a nearly complete fiber optic network
upgrade.
The second and third floor renovations were funded through savings in FY
'10 from reorganizing Town Hall. according to Mr. Khumalo. He said the
last piece to hopefully begin soon is the replacement of windows in Town
Hall and re-pointing of brick on the outside of the building,
compliments of a $300,000 Town Meeting vote.
The third floor makeover exposed some brick behind the walls, which Mr.
Khumalo and others decided should stay exposed. To see the thrid
floor, a work in progress, mouse-over the image above.
Positively Hopkinton
Looking for Professional Talent Ready to
Work?
Listen to Gil Krispien, below:
Crosswalk
Lights to be Ready This Afternoon
November 16,
2010 — Bell Traffic Signals Company expects to complete the installation
of a crosswalk light at the main and Church Street intersection today.
When pushed, the yellow light will activate to warn drivers that a
pedestrian wishes to cross. Drivers are not obligated to stop unless the
pedestrian is in the crosswalk. The visual above can present a certain
irony to the reader.
Time for the Annual Turkey Drive
Now in its 12th year, the annual
Turkey Drive hopes to provide needy families with a turkey and some
trimmings for the upcoming Thanksgiving Day holiday. The drive supports
both the Salvation Army in Framingham and Project Just Because here in
Hopkinton. Last year 164 turkeys, canned goods, money & gift cards were
donated. This year the organizers, led by Drew Johnson, HHS 2014, hope
to collect 200 turkeys and some trimmings for needy families.
More and more families are in need as the
holiday approaches; please help if you can. Turkeys, food, and/or cash
donations will be accepted at several locations over the next 3 days.
Tuesday, Nov 16th:
7-7:30 @ the Middle school
8-8:30 @ Elmwood
2-3:30 @ Middle School
2:30-4 @Elmwood
3-4 @ Hopkins
2:30-5 @ Colellas
Wednesday, Nov 17th:
7-7:30 @ Middle School
8-8:30 @ Elmwood
12:15-1 @ Elmwood
1-2 @ Hopkins
2-3:30 @ Middle School
2:30-5@ Colellas
Thursday, Nov 18th:
7-7:30 @ Middle School
8-8:30 @ Elmwood
2-3:30 @ Middle School
2:30-4 @ Elmwood
2:30-5 @ Colellas
3-4 @ Hopkins
This has become an important family
tradition for us, and I hope you will consider making it a tradition
for your family as well.
Happy Thanksgiving! ~ Muriel Kramer
Remember to Click on any ad to
see more.
Happy
Birthday, Gram
November 16,
2010 — The family of Pat "Gram" Irvine threw a bash for her birthday —
has it really been 85 years? — at Luciano's in Wrentahm recently.
Mrs. Irvine, a lifelong Hopkinton resident, is familiar to many people
as a cashier at the Golden Spoon.
Legacy Farms
Seeks to Break Ground on Roadway in 45 Days
~Steven
Zieff, Project Manager
Planning
Board Site Walk, open to the public, Dec 1 & Dec 4 at 9:00 am
November 15, 2010 — Above, Steven Zieff, Project Manager for Legacy
Farms speaks to the Planning Board Monday evening about the main road in
the southern section of the project, Legacy Farms Road South. Combined
with the northern section, the plan has been approved for 940 residences
in total between that section and the Northern Section.
"We are initiating the process of a definitive subdivision plan, which
will allow us to begin the roadway on the south side," Mr. Zieff said
this evening.
"A few neighbors had some righteous concerns this evening," he said
regarding the residents who showed up for the Public Hearing in Room 211
tonight to voice opinions.
Mr. Zieff said he hopes the wastewater disposal, storm water and well
water approvals are in place in forty-five days so the roadway
construction can begin. (Roadway, below, colored in blue by HopNews).
Real Estate
Transactions for Hopkinton, Massachusetts
New Transactions from
November 5, 2010 - November 15, 2010
Address
Buyer
Price
Date
Seller
This Week
41 Saddle Hill Road
Vincent J Vargas, Julie Reed
$595,000
Nov 12, 2010
Brendan L Doyle, Serena M Doyle
5 Honeysuckle Circle
Samuel L Martin, Danika B Martin
$635,000
Nov 12, 2010
Pablo Navarro, Nelly Robles
57 Pleasant Street
James David, Patricia David
$171,000
Nov 12, 2010
Patricia Gately, Linda M Sullivan
4 Gibbon Road
Erik M Beebe, Carolyn B Beebe
$592,500
Nov 12, 2010
David W Ranney, Kelly M Ranney
Last Week
4 Castle Hill Road
Byronn Memmelaar,
Marylou Memmelaar
$385,000.00
Nov 5, 2010
Richard L Mansfield, Marylou Mansfield
26 Falcon Ridge Road
Sara K Minor Trust
$618,000.00
Nov 3, 2010
Marjorie L Stevens, James K Stevens
Buying? Selling? Call one of our experts.
Things are starting to Move!!!
H
O M E S
H O M E S
H O M E S
H O M E S
Urging Fiscal Prudence
Dear Editor:
The words “want” and “need” are used interchangeably when referring to
owning or acquiring certain things, which can then be misperceived as
having similar meanings, if not the same meaning. We need to clear up
this misperception.
A “need” is something that is necessary in order to survive. Without
this, a person may be unable to function in society or even fail to
live. Generally speaking, needs are objective, meaning that they are
met through tangible measures, such as food and shelter.
Conversely, a “want” is a desire for something, and these are different
from person to person. Not everyone will “want” the same thing in life,
and these wants can change during a person’s lifetime as well.
But where the problem lies is when a desire for something is so great, a
person may not see this as anything but a “need”, therefore pushing this
into the same important category as food and shelter.
We need to ask ourselves one important question: “Have we survived
without this”? If we can truly answer yes, then what we are seeking is
a “want” and right now, this town cannot afford “wants”.
A new library is a wonderful idea, but let’s face it; we are just
starting to come out of a recession, we are dealing with job losses,
flat home sales, and some are struggling just to buy groceries, and yes,
that is a need. The Town of Hopkinton cannot afford everything on its
wish list at one time. Let’s decide what a real “need” is for now, and
then focus on the other things we would like to have, the “wants”, for
future planning. We do that with our own personal budgets, why should
this be any different?
I understand
there has been much effort in the research for the grant funding of the
proposed library project, and I appreciate that effort, but for now, we
need to be financially and socially responsible. A new library at this
time is a frivolous want. Yes, the grant application may have to be
resubmitted in a few years, but many towns have taken this step and
funding is still available (actually the amount of funds available has
actually increased per the Mass Board of Library Commissioners website,
where the library grant application information is found). There is no
guarantee that the grant award would be the 50% spoken about (if at
all), and we are not absolutely sure we would be awarded that 50%,
anyway. As stated in the grant funding literature, the funds are
awarded on a sliding scale from 35% to 60% with an average of 50%, and
that is an uncertainty we as a community cannot afford at this time. If
everyone recalls, there was an inordinate amount of time and effort
spent trying to convince the residents that the town would receive up to
$1M in Green Community grant monies, but we received only $137,000+/-.
That’s a big difference. The same result could happen with the proposed
library project and if that happens, who pays for the difference?
Additionally, the "need" for a new school at this time is something the
town truly needs to reconsider. It would be great to have a new school,
but we as a town have got to live in a real world. This, too has to be
tabled for a time when our funds are a little more manageable and
realistic. If either of these projects is meant to be, then it'll happen
when it's fiscally right to happen.
Additionally, please keep in mind that if all of these projects come to
vote – the school project, the library project and the DPW project, we
may lose out on each and every one of them by asking for too much. As
we are keenly aware, more “no” votes instead of “yes” votes will prevent
anything from happening. I urge Hopkinton to please choose ONE project
for now. We need to be fiscally prudent for each other as a community
and plan responsibly for our future.
"The
News Starts Here!"
BOSTON,
Nov. 18, 2010 – Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) has appointed Anthony Sci
Region Vice President and General Manager for New England.
November
16, 2010 --- The Hopkinton High School Drama Department, looking to
raise funds for its upcoming trip to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is
offering “Star for the Day Theater Camp” for children in grades 1-5. The
camp will take place on Saturday, December 4th from 10am-3pm at the
Hopkinton High School auditorium and art wing. Under the direction
of HHS drama department head, Valerine von Rosenvinge and the ensemble
of high school drama students, children will explore theater and
experience the high school stage. Children will partake in a variety of
theater disciplines including acting, singing, dancing and set/costume
design. 
BOSTON
WORCESTER,
Mass.
Middlesex
District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public yesterday. 
Senior
Moments
We
often tell ourselves we’d love to do something worthwhile for others, if
only we knew what it was or if only we knew there was a need. Well,
there’s an opportunity to help right here in Hopkinton during the winter
months. 
