It appears that Santa might have gotten a false start this evening.
Where is he now? Press the button below to get the aid of NORAD.
Please enjoy this reprise of the cartoon above by Hopkinton artist Ashley TM Jackson.
Deer Stolen from Memorial Area at TLC
"Nothing Can Dim My Spirit! ~ Trish
Miller
$100 Reward*
Above, three deer figures photographed on December 12, 2010, following
the tree lighting at TLC on Wood Street are now missing.
December 23, 2010 — "I have experienced a terrible loss this week," said
The Learning Center of Hopkinton owner Trish Miller today. "Three
deer were stolen from Janie Wyman's memorial area this past weekend.
"That area was dedicated to a very special person who was a great
teacher, administrator and a friend. I hope whoever took them is
ashamed. The kids are very upset. They said 'Santa won't give them
anything'," as they
met with Santa this afternoon.
"Nothing can dim my spirit," said the usually ebullient
Trish Miller. [NOTE: As always, double-click any word for its meaning].
*Leading to identity of
thief/thieves.
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Out in Force
December 23,
2010 — Today was a busy day for Hopkinton Police as they made traffic stops and
performed other duties non-stop all over town. Above, Officer David
Shane chastises a motorist for an alleged moving violation.
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Starry,
Starry Gazebo
December 23,
2010 — In what might look like a double-exposure at first glance, this
flash photograph of the Veterans Memorial Gazebo during a light snow
last evening, lends a space-like quality to the image.
Weather the
Story
Road conditions the
sequel
December 23,
2010 — A storm passing through the area yesterday created deceptively
slippery conditions that caused many outcomes like the one above, early
this morning on Lumber Street.
Norton 45,
Hopkinton 21
December 23,
2010 — Hopkinton wresters fell to Norton last night 45-21.
The
Mellowtones
Holiday Songs at the Hopkinton Senior Center
December
23, 2010 — Featuring senior citizens from Hopkinton and surrounding
towns, the Mellowtones pulled out holiday favorites, one after another,
from their bag of musical tricks yesterday at the Hopkinton Senior
Center. And like frosting on a cake, Janis McIntyre's fudge, created
from her late mother Sadie Drapeau's recipe, was heavenly. Above is a
few minutes of the performance that brought familiar, classic holiday
music to a very appreciative audience. You may want to listen more than
once. This HopNews HD video at 1080p, as with most HopNews HD videos,
can be viewed in full screen with no loss of quality.
Board of Selectmen Amends Host Community Agreement
with Legacy Farms
"The
document has given us clarity" — Roy MacDowell, Jr.
Legacy hopes for occupants by summer,
2012
by Muriel Kramer
December 22, 2010 — The Board of Selectmen
unanimously agreed to amend the Host Community Agreement with Legacy
Farms at a meeting tonight. The amendment
allows for changes to the rental component of the development as
requested by Roy MacDowell for Legacy Farms. According to Town Counsel
Ray Miyares, the amendment secures the fundamental characteristics of
the project, mitigates for adverse impacts, contains off-setting
benefits for the Town and guards against unexpected changes in the
future.
Reviewing the changes before the selectmen
voted, Miyares outlined that the parties have agreed that there will be
a new housing matrix; the new matrix assigns value to each unit within
the development rather than to the larger development components. Only
the types of housing units that are detailed in the matrix will be
allowed, and the new agreement more specifically controls the number of
bedrooms. Roy MacDowell added, “What Ray [Miyares] and Judi [Barrett]
have done with the matrix is masterful; we won’t have to come back time
and again. The document has given us clarity.”
The amendment also contains a provision
whereby Legacy Farms has agreed to make a negotiated payment to offset
negative revenue impacts once the rental component is built and occupied
if in fact other more revenue positive components have not come on-line
in time to help offset those costs; the overriding focus of the
agreement is to ensure that the development at Legacy Farms is always
revenue positive for Hopkinton no matter how the component pieces are
phased in and constructed.
Additionally, the agreement addresses the
concern that there will no longer be affordable three-bedroom rental
units in the project— an identified priority needs area for housing in
Hopkinton; Legacy Farms has agreed to make a onetime contribution to the
Affordable Housing Trust Fund of $47,000 to mitigate for that
adjustment. Further, it has been decided that a previously negotiated
intersection improvement project at Main, West Main and Wood Streets is
no longer desirable. The effort was estimated to cost $5,000; rather
than make the change at the intersection, Legacy Farms will now instead
contribute the $5,000 towards funding future pedestrian improvements in
town.
The new amendment also addresses the fact
that Legacy Farms has not yet filed a formal notice to proceed as
detailed in the OSMUD zoning passed by Town Meeting and thereby waive
its development rights under the underlying zoning which would allow for
conventional housing development. Once the amendment to the Host
Community Agreement is signed the developer will have 180 days to file
formal notice or file for site plan approval with the Planning Board;
filing with the Planning Board would extend that deadline through the
period until the Planning Board acts on the filing and the appeals
period then expires.
The Board and Legacy Farms representatives
stayed after the meeting tonight to make final corrections to the
document and sign it before leaving Town Hall.
If all goes well, MacDowell hopes to have
shovels in the ground by late summer 2011 and new residents occupying
rental units by late summer 2012. (File photo from left Ray Miyares, Roy
MacDowell )
Yoga,
Healthy It Is
December 22,
2010 — Yoga Instructor Mary Green demonstrates an exercise for the 60 or
so students in Middle School Gym today, one of two groups of students
who elected to take the class, one group from Mrs. Santos' class and one
from Ms. Pinto's.
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INTERESTED
IN NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE?
WANT TO HEAR ABOUT LIFE AS A MISSIONARY IN THE U.S.?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
6:00 PM
Grace United Methodist Church
61 Wood Street, Hopkinton
Jennifer Chickering is a US2
Missionary currently serving in a two year assignment at the Cookson
Hills Center, Cookson
Hills, Oklahoma. Come and hear
her story: where she works, how she serves, whose lives she touches, and
what she
has discovered about
Christianity and herself in the process.
This event is free and
includes a potluck supper. The public is welcome to attend. Please bring
some food to share.
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NEW!
Hopkinton Public Schools Drug and Alcohol Tip Line
1-508-293-1191
< Now in Row Near Top
The
Hopkinton Public Schools would like to inform all parents, guardians
and students about the availability of a new Tip Line that will help
the schools and police to address drug and underage alcohol use.
This Tip Line is monitored 24 hours a day by the School Resource
Officer. All calls go directly to him.
The line
does not provide Caller ID information but the caller’s phone number
will appear and be deleted. Calls will be kept in strict confidence,
but callers may leave their names if they request further discussion
with the School Resource Officer, Phil Powers (File photo).
This
Tip Line does not replace 911 and is not intended for medical or
life threatening emergencies.
For
more information, please contact Officer Phil Powers at 508-497-9820
X
1004 or email
ppowers@hopkinton.k12.ma.us
Hopkinton
67, Holliston 46
December 21,
2010 —This Barrett Hanlon goes under and around the Holliston defender
at Hopkinton Tuesday night.
Senior Moments
A Few of
My Favorite Things
by Nancy Drawe
December 12, 2010 — Jingle Bells, Joy to the
World, Silent Night and Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly! During
this Christmas season, the
SeniorCenter itself is all decked out in
preparation for the holiday. Winter greeneries drape the mantel over the
fireplace, candy canes fill the dish on the front desk, a beautiful
poinsettia sits on the table in the lobby and there’s even a brightly
decorated tree sitting in front of the window. Make sure you check out
the Thrift Shop, it’s filled with all kinds of Christmas items for sale
(at half price now) that will make great gifts. Everyone at the Center
in such a festive mood; there’s jingle bell earrings and necklaces,
Santa hats and Christmas clothing galore. How wonderful it is to
believe in the magic of Christmas!
Just the other day, I was thinking of all
the fun Christmas’ I had when I was a kid and thought, “How nice it
would be to hear other peoples favorite holiday memories.” What a
better place to go than the senior center! Some of the people there
have 25-30 more years of Christmas memories than I do! I would like to
share the responses I got from got my question, “Do you have a favorite
holiday memory?”
When Joan Dwyer and her twin sister were
about four years old, they each got a hand made doll cradle for
Christmas. Joan said it was the best gift she ever got!
Doris Carver’s best memory was when her
first son Philip was about three years old, he wasn’t afraid of Santa
like the other kids were. When Philip first saw Santa Claus in person,
he was so excited that he ran up and hugged him!
Betty Davis got a Shirley Temple doll when
she was six years old. “It was the best present ever, I was so proud of
that doll!” said Betty.
“I was 20 yrs old and in the Marines in 1945
at Christmastime,” said WWII veteran John Cahill. “When we dropped the
atomic bomb on
Japan, I was so happy that I didn’t
have to go in and invade, all I had to do was occupation duty then.
That’s my favorite Christmas memory.”
December
21, 2010 — Massachusetts State Police remain on-scene of a
tractor-trailer rollover on the ramp between Route 495 southbound to
Route 90 in Hopkinton. The 2007 Freightliner tractor owned by
Western Express Inc. of Nashville, Tenn., is off to the side of the roadway; the
ramp is fully open and the plan is to keep it open throughout the
evening commute. Following the rush hour, we anticipate closing a lane
to upright the vehicle. The driver, Archie Moore, 38, of Philadelphia was transported to the University of
Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester with possible minor injuries. The
trailer is loaded with 46,000 pounds of bottled water. Preliminary
investigation indicates the driver was traveling at a speed greater than
reasonable and will likely be cited for that violation. No further
information is available at this time.
Planning Board
Appoints Finley Perry to Design Review Board
December 20,
2010 — Builder Finley Perry was appointed as an alternate member of the
Design Review Board, which is made up of seven members: two alternate
members, Chairman of the Planning Board or its designee, a person
trained in the or experienced in fine arts or landscape design, one
person doing business in town, or a citizen at large, one person
qualified by training or experience in the art of design professionals,
and one member of the Historic District Commission or designee of the
Planning Board.
Mr. Perry is the former Chairman of the Land Use Study Committee that
was instrumental in posturing the town to not exercising its Chapter 61A
option to purchase the 920 acres of former Weston Nurseries land that
had received tax breaks for years under that statute.
November December 20, 2010
Click above for full report
1:00 am Officer Jacob Campbell spoke with two individuals ice
skating off of West Main Street...
7:25 am Several calls came in about a deer stuck on the ice at
the State Park...
9:53 pm Officer Peter Booth checked on a vehicle on Parkwood
Drive and issued 3 narcotics violations.
8:24 am Officer David Shane took a report from a Hayden Rowe
Street resident who came into the station to report
vandalism...
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State
Police and FBI Nab Alleged Bank Robber Before the Robbery
December
20, 2010 — Massachusetts State Police troopers and
FBI agents assigned to the Bank Robbery/Violent Crimes Task Force and
local police this morning arrested a Wakefield man who
allegedly was planning to rob the Cambridge Trust Bank. A State Trooper
and a Somerville police detective tackled the suspect and took him into
custody after a brief struggle as he walked up to the bank shortly
before 11 a.m. GOWELL had been under surveillance for several days after
troopers, agents and officers developed information about him.
The suspect
is identified as PAUL GOWELL, 53, of Wakefield. He was booked at the Cambridge
Police Department on a charge of attempted bank robbery. At the time of
GOWELL’s arrest, he was wearing a baseball cap, hoodie and gloves.
Troopers, agents and officers who had him under surveillance this
morning had watched him change into those clothes after he parked behind
the bank on a side street. After changing his clothes, GOWELL walked
toward the bank. As he got outside the bank’s main entrance, he put on a
mask covering his face, and was immediately tacked by the trooper and
detective. Police found a small trash bag in a pouch on his hoodie.
The Bank
Robbery Task Force is investigating whether GOWELL is connected to
several other bank robberies that occurred in nearby towns. That
investigation is active.
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Hopkinton High School
offers Adult Chinese Course
Hopkinton, MA – December 20, 2010 —
Hopkinton High School will be offering a unique opportunity to learn one
of society’s critical languages through a 10 week adult Chinese course
beginning in January. This course will be taught by Jiling Pan, a
Chinese exchange teacher working at Hopkinton High School, and will
focus on understanding and speaking basic Chinese words and phrases that
would be helpful when traveling in China or building foundational
knowledge of the Chinese language for future study. Photo
reprinted from HHSPress story.
The course will be held on Monday evenings
from 7pm – 9pm at Hopkinton High School. It will start on Monday,
January 10th and continue through the end of March. The fee
for the course is $65 and includes a textbook and CD’s that the
participants can use to practice on their own. The course is open to all
residents of Hopkinton and teachers in the Hopkinton Public Schools.
If you are interested in participating,
please email Leslie Moothart in the high school main office at
lmoothart@hopkinton.k12.ma.us
or call her at 508-497-9820. If you have any questions about the course,
please contact the high school principal Alyson Geary at
ageary@hopkinton.k12.ma.us.
About the instructor:
Jiling Pan is participating in the Teachers of
Critical Languages Program under the direction of the American
Councils for Education. She was chosen as one of 15 exchange teachers
from China for this program out of hundreds of applicants. Ms. Pan is
from Pingxiang, China and graduated from Jiangxi Normal University with
a Bachelor of Arts in English. Currently she teaches English at
Pingxiang High School (3,000 students and 297 teachers), a key school in
Jiangxi Province. Ms. Pan is married with one daughter, and her hobbies
are reading and listening to music. Her goals for participating in the
Teachers of Critical Languages Program are to pass on friendship, peace
and knowledge; to pass on China’s outstanding cultural traditions; and
to deepen mutual understanding between peoples of both countries. You
can read more about the Teachers of Critical Languages program at http://www.americancouncils.org/TCLP/.
Photo by Kayla Sullivan
If you would like more information about
this topic, or would like to schedule an interview with teacher Jiling
Pan or principal Alyson Geary, please contact Alyson Geary, at
508.497.9820.
Happy
Birthday, Teacher Mrs. Cornell; and a Great Performance by Jesse
Fontaine
December 20, 2010 — The first part of the video was dozens of amateurs
singing Happy Birthday at Cornell's Pub to Mary Cornell, who reached a
milestone (39?) birthday There were no professionals involved in singing
that song. But then piano teacher and crooner Jesse Fontaine,
accompanied by guitarist
Mike Finneron, sang
and played favorites of all times to the friends, family and patrons of
Mary and Rob Cornell.
Large Quantity of Donations Stolen From Toys for Tots Storage Container
December
19, 2010 — Massachusetts State Police and Burlington Police are
investigating the theft early yesterday morning of a large quantity of
toys from a storage container holding donations to the Toys for Tots
program. The toys were stored in a POD container at a Burlington facility and
were awaiting sorting and distribution to charities that serve families
in need.
Evidence suggests the toys were stolen
between 2:30-6 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18. The stolen toys were in a POD
holding donations from a nearby community. Police found signs of forced
enry into the locked POD, with evidence suggesting that a tool or other
implement was used. A Toys for Tots program coordinator, who discovered
the theft, estimates that approximately 1,500 toys, with a total value
of about $15,000, were taken. Preliminary investigation suggests the
suspect or suspects sorted through the toys in the POD and only took
toys roughly valued at $15-$30 each and for children ages 8 and up.
A second POD, containing toys collected from
donors by the State Police, showed signs of an attempted but
unsuccessful burglary. The PODs were stored outside a warehouse facility
in a well-lit lot. Both PODS have been secured and will be processed
for potential physical evidence by State and Burlington Police.
This holiday season marked the 26th year in
which the Massachusetts State Police have assisted the United States
Marine Corps in collecting toys in the state. The donated toys and
cash donations are distributed to area non-profits and churches who
provide them to needy families whose children might otherwise not
have holiday gifts.
"This is not just a crime against the PODs company or the Massachusetts
State Police or the United States Marine Corps or even the
administrators of this wonderful program who have worked so hard to
collect these toys," said Colonel Marian J. McGovern, superintendent of
the Massachusetts State Police. "More importantly, this is a despicable
crime against the generous people who donated these toys and against
the hundreds of children in need who would have received these gifts and
who now will not. The State Police and the Burlington Police will do
everything we can to find who did this and try to recover these toys."
File photo.
The Toys for Tots program donation period
technically concluded Friday, Dec. 17. Program organizers say because of
the time it takes to collect, sort and distribute toys to area
charities, and for the charities to then distribute them to families,
even new donations in the coming week to replace the stolen toys may not
make it to families by Christmas. Still, donations would be gratefully
accepted and may be brought to any State Police Barracks. Monetary
donations in the form of checks made payable to Toys for Tots may also
be dropped off.
Anyone with any information about the theft
or who has suspicions about a sudden presence of a large quantity of
toys is asked is asked to contact Burlington Police Department at (781)
270-1914 or Massachusetts State Police at (508) 820-2121.
Ye Olde
Gazebo
December 19,
2010 — Hat to the back, woolen cap, shirts outside the pants and hoodies
are all evidence that this faux sepia-toned image is modern. It was
photographed today.
Milestone at
Cornell's
December 19,
2010 — Mary Cornell walked into a packed Cornell's Pub this afternoon to
the refrain of "Happy Birthday" from relatives, friends and patrons.
When asked, "How old are you now?" Mrs. Cornell, a teacher, replied that
she just turned 39. Above, she laughs with a friend.
Carol D. Spengler, 70
HOPKINTON - Carol
D. Spengler, 70, died December 18, 2010 after a six year
courageous battle with Breast cancer. She was the wife of David S.
Spengler, to whom she was married for 36 years. Born in Brooklyn, NY,
she was the daughter of the late Frederick and Lois (Hollely) Dodson.
She graduated as valedictorian of the
Hopkinton High School class of 1958. She was also a 1962 graduate of
Barnard College, as a religion major. She also studied the organ in New
York City with Seth Bingham at Julliard. She worked as a music teacher
in the Hopkinton Public School system where she directed many high
school musical productions. She also taught at Fay School, where she
was head of the lower school. She was a founding member of the
Hopkinton Chamber Orchestra and served as organist at both the Hopkinton
Congregational and St. Paul's Episcopal Churches. She was involved with
the Healing Garden in Harvard, MA for Breast Cancer survivors.
In addition to her husband, she is survived
by her daughter Christine Graham Taylor of Hopkinton and her brothers
Peter Dodson and his wife Deborah Tabor of Wellesley, and Bruce Dodson
and his wife Nancy of CT. She also leaves many nieces and nephews.
A Eucharistic service will be held Thursday,
December 23, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 61 Wood
St, Hopkinton. Burial will follow at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Hopkinton.
Calling hours are Wednesday, December 22, 2010 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at
the Callanan-Cronin Funeral Home, 34 Church St.
Performances March 25, 26, April 1, 2
Rehearsals will take place Monday and Thursday evenings,
some Fridays - Roles for 4 women and
13 men
$50 participation fee for those cast
St. John the Evangelist Volunteer Appreciation Night 2005
Hear and see Mary Scarlata-Rowe, Carol Cheney and
Bernadette Keane sing like angels
in this reprise of a fun and funny performance by
three very talented performers.
And kudos to the fantastic drummer and
keyboard player who are off-camera.
December 18, 2010 — Mary Scarlata-Rowe, Carol Cheney and Bernadette
Keane sing like angels during this reprise of a 2005 St. John's
Appreciation Night that was thrown for volunteers. The video/audio sync
got a little corrupted during the original rendering process, but be
assured, these angels are signing live.
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Walking...
After Daylight
December 18, 2010 — Hopkinton Common, which is overseen by the Parks and
Recreation Department, has a new set of lights along the interior
walkways. The colorful horizontal streaks and the ghostly vehicle were
intentionally created by the photographer who waited for vehicles to
pass the focal plane while the camera's shutter was open for a long
fifth of a second.
Carol (Dodson) Spengler, 70
HOPKINTON - Carol (Dodson) Spengler, 70,
died Saturday, December 18, 2010 in Boston. Funeral arrangements,
entrusted to the Callanan-Cronin Funeral Home (http://www.callanancronin.com),
are incomplete at this time.
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Hawkeye
December 18,
2010 — John Daley not only got a great Christmas tree behind Colella's
this afternoon, but a great shot of this hawk at the perimeter of the
parking lot.
Made for
Speed
December 18,
2010 — Evan Tetreault gets this Christmas tree secure for a customer at
Angel's Garden Center today. Although this tree is pointing in the right
direction for minimum drag, unlike this evergreen, a deciduous tree's
leaves need protection when transporting over 35 mph.
Cat Wants to go Home
I am a
pretty female indoor cat who was at the Golden Pond area Wednesday night
when someone took me with them because I was cold. I am in their home
now, and they have tried to reunite me with my regular home.
Please call
Robert at 508-435-5534 and he will tell you where I am.
Draft School Dept. Budget Increase of $871,885
by Heather Kelley
December 17, 2010 — At Thursday night’s
meeting of the School Committee, Superintendent Jack Phelan presented a
preliminary FY12 budget to the members. A significant challenge to this
year’s budget, Phelan said, was making up a $700,00 hole left by outside
sources of funding received last year but not available this year.
While attempting to fill that hole with cuts totaling $580,688 in
expenses (including $368,103 from special education, $92,227 from
building and grounds, and $55,298 from the central office), it was not
enough to level the gap left from, among other things, $421,333 in
increased contractual obligations. Of special interest to parents of
rising Kindergartners is the need to make up $134,267 due to less
revenue from the Full Day Kindergarten program. Due to lack of
sufficient classroom space at Center School because of increased student
enrollments, the school department is projecting to only be able to
offer 2 classrooms of full-day Kindergarten in FY12, down from 4 this
year. All told, there is an increase of $720,479 in payroll increases,
and $151,406 in expense increases, resulting in a draft budget that
weighs in at $33,189,883 (up $871,885, or 2.7%, from FY 11). This
budget, Phelan said, maintains reasonable class sizes, maintains special
education services, and introduces no new fees. The slide presentation
of the budget will be available on the school website on Friday, Phelan
said.
Committee Member Jean Bertschmann presented
a draft schedule of forums, office hours, and tours for the residents in
town to attend to learn more about the proposed new elementary school.
Bertschmann noted that she tried to have one opportunity available each
week, starting in January. The schedule will be available in January on
the School Committee website. “We want people to have informed trust,”
said Phelan. The thick binder containing the Feasibility Study will be
made available; another reporter noted that a CD containing the Study is
available at Action Copy for $5. Phelan suggested purchasing several
copies of the CD and having them available at the library for interested
readers. “The whole educational program plan is in there,” Phelan said.
The preliminary budget for the Fruit Street
school has come in at $37.9 million. “That number represents the number
for final design and construction of the school,” noted Phelan. Unlike
the old process, where the final dollar amount came out in separate
chunks of the design and then the construction, this new procedure can
seem more expensive as compared to projects done under the old system,
said Bertschmann. Owner’s Project Manager Brian Main commented that
since schematic designs were completed first, the budget was more likely
to be accurate.
The School Committee voted to request to
retain Main as the Owner’s Project Manager for the duration of the
school building project. Normally, the Massachusetts School Building
Authority (MSBA) would expect Hopkinton to hire a firm to fill this
position, which serves as a liaison with the architects and the
construction firm, and generally oversees the project. However, Member
Troy Mick gave three compelling reasons for keeping Main in the role.
First, he said, “Brian has very unique knowledge of this town and this
project.” Mick added that Main has “a proven track record and history,”
and he has the further advantage of “the ability to start soon.”
Committee Chair Rebecca Robak recited a list of town projects with which
Brian has been involved, including the High School and the Police
Station. Even with hiring one full time and one part time assistant to
manage the work load, Members Robak and Bertschmann both pointed out
that retaining Main in the position would cost $650,000 instead of
paying a firm an estimated $1 million. The MSBA will need to approve
this decision.
The Committee also voted to use Construction
Management at Risk as the project delivery method. In this model, a
Construction Management at Risk firm is hired to direct the project,
with the Owner’s Project Manager serving as the liaison and the owner’s
representative. Main said that using this model offers a “guaranteed
maximum price” for the project. If project costs run over budget, the
financial risk is borne by the hired firm. However, any cost savings
will be passed on to the town. While this model does come with an
initially higher price tag, the Committee believes that the benefits
outweigh this, and that the additional cost can potentially be made
back. The MSBA offers an additional percentage point reimbursement when
towns use this model. Additionally, according to Main, industry-wide it
is thought that this model enables projects to “get a better quality
contractor.” Member Mick reiterated this point, additionally noting
that better firms have been known to not bid on projects not using the
Construction Management at Risk model. The Elementary School Building
Committee had also voted to support using this model.
Former
Shirley Town Administrator Indicted On Wiretap Violations
Accused of placing device above stall in
women's bathroom in Shirley Town Hall
SHIRLEY– The former Town
Administrator for the Town of Shirley has been indicted on charges of wiretap
violations, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public
today.
Kyle Keady, 46, of Shirley was
indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury on charges of breaking and entering
(4 counts), larceny under $250, illegal recording, illegal possession of
an interception device (7 counts), wiretap violations (5 counts), and
video recording a person in a state of nudity (10 counts).
An arraignment date has not yet
been set.
According to authorities, the
Middlesex District Attorney’s Office was informed of possible illegal
recording/wiretap violations committed by the defendant at the ShirleyTown Hall.
On June 14, at approximately 4:35 pm, Massachusetts State Police
assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office executed a search
warrant at the ShirleyTown Hall,
specifically at the defendant’s office.
The investigation revealed that
the defendant was illegally recording conversations and taking illegal
photographs of other town employees by using recording devices that
included video cameras and a baby monitor. These devices were hidden in
pens and a plant in various offices and rooms in Town Hall. Authorities
also discovered that the defendant had taken a pen that contained a
video camera and hid it in the ceiling directly above a bathroom stall
in the women’s bathroom in Town Hall.
The defendant was arrested at
his home on the evening of June 14. He was arraigned the following day
in Ayer District Court where Judge Peter Kilmartin ordered the defendant
to be held on $2500 cash bail with the condition that he stays away from
Town Hall and has no contact with victims or witnesses.
These charges are
allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The
prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Doug
Nagengast. The Victim Witness Advocate assigned to the case is Katie
Keefe.
Former TSA Employee Arraigned On Child
Pornography Charges
LOWELL
– A former TSA employee has been arraigned on child pornography charges,
Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public
today.
Andrew Cheever, 33, of
Lowell, was
arraigned today in Lowell District Court on the charge of possession of
child pornography (2 counts). Judge James Barretto held the defendant on
$15,000 cash bail with the conditions that he has no contact with
children under the age of 18, no employment or volunteer work with
children under the age of 18, and does not use the computer and/or
internet.
His next court date is January 13, 2011 for
a pretrial conference.
According to authorities, on October
8, Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the
Massachusetts Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force
conducted an investigation into the use of file-sharing programs for the
possession and distribution of child pornographic images and videos.
During the investigation, investigators observed a computer on the
network which was sharing suspected child pornography files.
Investigators were able to connect to the host computer and view
multiple files of child pornography that were being made available to
share.
On October 15, a search warrant was
executed at the defendant’s home, where the suspected computer was
registered. As a result of the search warrant, multiple computers, hard
drives and multiple pieces of external digital media were confiscated
from the defendant’s home. An onsite preview of the computer and two
external hard drives confirmed that the defendant was storing over ten
thousand child pornographic videos and images in multiple folders.
The defendant was arrested at his home and
transported to the Massachusetts State Police Barracks in Andover where
he was booked and held pending his arraignment today.
These charges are allegations,
and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
By Kellie Lodge
Now more then ever, high school seniors
preparing for college are giving more thought to
the high cost of tuition. This new found focus
on cost is due primarily to the poor economy,
which is expected to continue for the next few
years. As a result, students’ decisions about
college and their future goals have become more
complicated
.
The number of
applications to state schools have increased
tremendously over the past couple of years.
There are many reasons students apply to state
schools, but one reason is cost. Kristen
Boissonneault, a senior at Hopkinton High
School, said, “I’m applying to a state school as
a back up in case the other schools financial
packages aren’t as promising.” Students are
trying to save money on tuition costs, and since
it costs less to go to an in-state school it
makes state colleges and universities more
appealing. Travel also becomes an issue due to
the high cost of traveling to and from school
for holidays when selecting a school far from
home.
The volume of
applications have caused many state schools to
be able to be more competitive in selecting
students. The standards and reputations of some
state and community colleges have not yet caught
up with the level of rigor and competitiveness
of the admission processes at private schools.
The legislature and governor have committed to
improving the quality and support of the
Massachusetts higher education system.
Framingham State or Worcester State, for
example, tend to be viewed as easier colleges to
get into, but this has dramatically changed due
to the economy and the increase in number of
applications.
In the College Hopes
and Worries Survey by Princeton Review, nine out
of ten respondents said that financial aid will
be necessary in order to attend college. Even
though Hopkinton is considered to be a more
affluent community, “The attendance at our
recent Financial Aid Night was way up; we ran
out of handouts,” stated Ms. Greco, the guidance
director at Hopkinton High School.
Even with the
increase in applicants for financial aid,
schools try to keep college as affordable as
possible. Colleges with large endowments are
using them to keep their accepted students from
having to borrow exorbitant amounts over their
four years attending the college.
According to the
College Hopes and Worries survey, 67% of
students claimed that the economy has affected
their decision about applying to or attending
college. ”I think that parents and students are
having realistic conversations now about the
cost of attendance and how much debt to
reasonably account for undergraduate study,”
said Ms. Greco. The final decision of where
they will attend college is often also
determined by comparing the aid packages that
students receive from the college they have
applied to. Also, students are pursuing
scholarships available to them more seriously
than before.
Although Hopkinton
High students are not receiving more academic or
athletic scholarships, the competition for them
has increased. State colleges and community
colleges are easier to handle financially, and
well worth it to those who may struggle through
the hardships due to the economy. Ms. Greco
believes, “Where there is a will, there is a
way.”
Reprinted with permission from Hopkinton High
School Press. Button always near top of page.
Rollover in Needham — Unbelted Driver Ejected, Dies
December
15, 2010 — Today at 4:05 p.m., troopers assigned to the State Police
Barracks in Framingham responded to a
single-vehicle rollover on Route 128 southbound, south of exit 19 in Needham. The unbelted
driver was ejected and suffered fatal injuries.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Robert
Farraro indicates that a 1997 Ford Explorer was traveling southbound in
the far left lane when the vehicle veered to the right and struck the
guardrail adjacent to the breakdown lane. The vehicle then rolled over,
ejecting the driver.
The driver, Matthew M. Cox, 33, of Westwood
was transported to BethIsraelGloverHospital in Needham, where he was
pronounced deceased.
The investigation into the facts and
circumstances surrounding the crash is being conducted by Troop H of the
Massachusetts State Police with the assistance from the State Police
Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State Police Crime
Scene Services Section.
State Police were also assisted at the scene
by the Needham Fire Department and the Highway Division of the
Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
During the crash investigation, two lanes
were allowed south on Route 128 and the remaining traffic was diverted
off at Highland Avenue and
allowed back on at Great
Plain Avenue. The scene took approximately
three hours to clear.
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ATTORNEY GENERAL MARTHA COAKLEY AND 48
OTHER STATES OBTAIN $13.2 MILLION JUDGMENT AGAINST SATELLITE TV PROVIDER
DIRECTV
As a Lead State, Massachusetts to Receive
Over $600,000 Plus Restitution for Affected Consumers
BOSTON
– Attorney General Martha Coakley (File photo)
and the Attorneys General of 48 other states have reached a settlement
with DirecTV, Inc. resolving allegations that the satellite television
provider engaged in unfair and deceptive marketing and advertising
practices. DirecTV has agreed to pay the states a total of $13.25
million. DirecTV also agreed to pay restitution to consumers and to
alter its business practices in the future to ensure that consumers have
clear disclosures of all material terms of their contracts. Of the
$13.25 million payment to the states, Massachusetts, one of the eight
states leading the multistate investigation, will receive $605,000.
“When choosing a telecommunications
provider, consumers should be able to trust that the company is
providing all pertinent information upfront,” said AG Coakley. “This
settlement requires that DirecTV’s marketing provides consumers with all
of the necessary information so that consumers can make informed
choices.”
Over 800 customers have complained to the
Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office since 2007 of various unfair
practices by the satellite provider, including that DirecTV: did not
clearly disclose limitations on getting a certain price; enrolled
consumers in additional contracts or contract terms without clearly
disclosing the terms to the consumer, on occasions such as at the time
of replacing defective equipment, and then charged early cancellation
fees when the consumer discontinued service; did not clearly disclose to
consumers that they would automatically renew a seasonal sports package;
and promised “cash back” to consumers as part of a promotion but then
actually provided bill credits to the consumer. AG Coakley noted these
allegations in a complaint filed in Massachusetts Superior Court today,
and also alleged that DirecTV had run advertisements which failed to
clearly and conspicuously disclose terms of its offers.
As the Attorney General’s Office has
received consumer complaints it has brought them to the attention of
DirecTV, which has represented that it has taken steps in the great
majority of cases to rectify the problem.
Under the terms of today’s settlement,
DIRECTV is required to modify its business practices. In addition to
clearly disclosing all material terms to consumers, DirecTV will be
required to replace leased equipment that is defective at no cost except
shipping costs, clearly disclose when a consumer is entering into a
contract, clearly notify consumers before a consumer is obligated to pay
for a seasonal sports package, and clearly notify consumers that they
will be charged a cancellation or equipment fee at least 10 days before
charging the fee. In addition, DirecTV may not require consumers to
enter into an additional contract when simply replacing defective
equipment; and may not represent that a consumer will get cash back if
the consumer will actually get a bill credit.
DirecTV customers in Massachusetts who have
complaints may be eligible for restitution as part of this settlement
if:
·The
complaint reflects conduct that occurred after January 1, 2007, related
to issues addressed in the settlement, and if the customer has
previously filed a complaint with DirecTV or with the Attorney General
which has yet to be resolved. OR if the consumer files a complaint with
DirecTV or the
Attorney General’s Office
no later than May 16, 2011.
For information on filing a complaint
against DirecTV with the Attorney General’s Office, consumers can visit
the Attorney General’s website at
www.mass.gov/ago or call
AG Coakley’s Consumer Complaint Hotline at (617) 727-8400
Consumers can send claims for restitution
directly to DirecTV by calling 1-800-DIRECTV, or visiting the DirecTV
website, at
www.directv.com/ag.
Joining Massachusetts in today’s settlement
are; the Attorneys General of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,
Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,
Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska,
Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina,
North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South
Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West
Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the District of Columbia
The case was handled for Massachusetts by
Assistant Attorney General David W. Monahan, Deputy Chief of Attorney
General Coakley’s Consumer Protection Division.
Wendell V. Rice "Windy", 92
Wendell V. Rice "Windy", 92, of Spring
Hill, Florida passed away Sunday, December 12, 2010 at home peacefully.
He was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts where he grew up and moved to
Florida in 1987. He spent summers and fall at "The Camp" in Warwick, Ma.
He was the husband of the late Muriel Rice.
He was raised in the Baptist Faith. Wendell was a United States Army
WWII veteran. He was a welder and a plumber and worked for several
companies in Massachusetts. He was a member of Woodville Rod and Gun
Club, The Elks
in Orange, Massachusetts and Brooksville, Florida and Post 172 American
Legion in Orange, Massachusetts. Wendell had a love for the outdoors and
hunting.
He is survived by his son, Dale Rice of Orange, MA; four grandchildren,
Jason Rice of Petersham, MA, Robert Rice of NY, NY, Jennifer and Marcus
Harden of Orange,MA and Daniel Bickford-Rice of Rutland,Vermont; one
great grandson, Remington Harden of Orange,MA; as well as several nieces
and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 from 4- 7 pm at
the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton, 57 Hayden Rowe St.
www.ChesmoreFuneralHome.com.
A service will take place in the funeral home on Wednesday at 10:00a.m.
followed by burial in the Evergreen Cemetery in Woodville.
"The News Starts Here!"
December
23, 2010 — Featuring senior citizens from Hopkinton and surrounding
towns, the Mellowtones pulled out holiday favorites, one after another,
from their bag of musical tricks yesterday at the Hopkinton Senior
Center. And like frosting on a cake, Janis McIntyre's fudge, created
from her late mother Sadie Drapeau's recipe, was heavenly. Above is a
few minutes of the performance that brought familiar, classic holiday
music to a very appreciative audience. You may want to listen more than
once. This HopNews HD video at 1080p, as with most HopNews HD videos,
can be viewed in full screen with no loss of quality.
allows for changes to the rental component of the development as
requested by Roy MacDowell for Legacy Farms. According to Town Counsel
Ray Miyares, the amendment secures the fundamental characteristics of
the project, mitigates for adverse impacts, contains off-setting
benefits for the Town and guards against unexpected changes in the
future.
INTERESTED
IN NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE?
Hopkinton, MA – December 20, 2010 —
Hopkinton High School will be offering a unique opportunity to learn one
of society’s critical languages through a 10 week adult Chinese course
beginning in January. This course will be taught by Jiling Pan, a
Chinese exchange teacher working at Hopkinton High School, and will
focus on understanding and speaking basic Chinese words and phrases that
would be helpful when traveling in China or building foundational
knowledge of the Chinese language for future study.
December
19, 2010 — Massachusetts State Police and Burlington Police are
investigating the theft early yesterday morning of a large quantity of
toys from a storage container holding donations to the Toys for Tots
program. The toys were stored in a POD container at a 
Enter
Stage Left Theater Auditions!
BOSTON
– Attorney General Martha Coakley (File photo)
and the Attorneys General of 48 other states have reached a settlement
with DirecTV, Inc. resolving allegations that the satellite television
provider engaged in unfair and deceptive marketing and advertising
practices. DirecTV has agreed to pay the states a total of $13.25
million. DirecTV also agreed to pay restitution to consumers and to
alter its business practices in the future to ensure that consumers have
clear disclosures of all material terms of their contracts. Of the
$13.25 million payment to the states, Massachusetts, one of the eight
states leading the multistate investigation, will receive $605,000.
