Free Ride

June 23, 2013 — Nineteen month-old Kurtis Wall, his camera-shy sister ducking behind him, gets a ride from his Dad today on the common. Little does he know the significance of riding in a John Deere wagon at a farmers market.

Private Place

Gallery of People at the Hopkinton Relay for Life

School Committee Votes 4-1 to Not Return Overage to Town

Getting public records from the School Committee "...is like pulling teeth." ~ Ed Harrow

Kudos to Interim Superintendent Dr. Steven Hiersche

by Muriel Kramer

June 22, 2013 — The School Committee re-organized at its meeting this week, electing Nancy Alvarez Burdick to continue as Chairwoman and Jon Graziano to serve as Vice-Chairman.  Newly elected SC member Ellen Scordino nominated Scott Aghababian and Jean Bertschmann nominated Nancy Alvarez-Burdick; in discussion Aghababian highlighted his desire to see the members of the SC act more as a Board of Directors versus being so actively involved in the day to day business of the administrators in particular.  “I think our town at some of our recent elections has shown us they aren’t necessarily happy with the direction this board takes.  Some are saying we put extra pressure on our administrators the way we are acting.” 

                For her part, Nancy Alvarez Burdick agreed in part, but held that a lot of changes had been put in place this year while also suggesting there is always room for improvement.  In further discussion, Aghababian suggested his level of concern related most to the transition upcoming as the new Superintendent begins her tenure.  “It’s up to all of us to make sure she is successful; at the same time I would be concerned if any of us spent too much time directing her.  Presumably we have hired someone who knows how to do her job.  I agree with Nancy that the Chair has to be a resource for the Committee.”

                Nancy responded, “We don’t need to direct our new Superintendent.  The agreement we have has the ability to ensure success without our directing.”  After discussion, Alvarez-Burdick was elected, with Graziano, Jean Bertschmann and Alvarez-Burdick voting yes, and Scordino and Aghababian voting no. Graziano was unanimously chosen to be Vice-Chairman.  Alvarez-Burdick reported that in its working session held earlier, the SC had decided to have some members focus work on two major initiatives and report back to the committee regularly. Scordino and Bertschmann will focus work on a re-work of the strategic plan, while Graziano and Aghababian will work on budget issues for the committee.

                New Superintendent Cathy MacLeod begins work in July, so the SC took a few minutes to thank Interim Superintendent Steven Hiersche for his contributions this past year at a time of turmoil and uncertainty for the District.  All had words of praise and appreciation with Aghababian offering, “You mended a lot of fences. “  They all offered Hiersche their best wishes for the future.

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Superman Needs Home

     Baypath received a call on Sunday afternoon from Bill Proctor, our Hopkinton Animal Control officer. He received word that a little 30 lb black dog had been found on the side of the road in Hopkinton. He said he thought he might have been hit by a car. He was alert, but had some wounds on him. We told him to bring the little guy by so we could scan him for a chip and check out his wounds. We opened the door of Bill’s truck and found the poor thing, whose only identification was a Superman collar, curled up in the passenger seat.
     It was late Sunday afternoon and the vets’ offices were closed so we decided to bring him into our medical room. Holly Miller, a Hopkinton resident, friend of the shelter and surgical vet tech, came down to help us clean his wounds and bandage him up. He had several spots of road rash on his under side, a few gashes up his legs and a front left paw that was pretty torn up. Although he was obviously in a great deal of pain, the sweetheart tried to show his appreciation by nuzzling us and giving us little licks. He was also not opposed to accepting pieces of rotisserie chicken from us! Feeling right at home, he was eager to take a load off in the comfy bed we made up for him. Over the past few days, we have had members of our local animal care community in to monitor his progress. He continues to heal and bond with the staff and volunteers here. He loves to interact with the people and his ears perk up as soon as he knows he’s headed out on a walk! Superman is a reminder of the good that can come when our community works together to help a dog in need. Please spread the word about our own little survivor that is now looking for a family of his own! For more information please visit our website www.baypathhumane.org.

— Liz Jeffereis

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YMCA Camp Tour Day this Saturday June 22nd from 10:00 am – 1:00PM.
Tour the camp, meet the staff, healthy snacks and a good time for the entire family. 

Celebrating 50 Years of Camping from Davideo Company on Vimeo.

The MetroWest YMCA Summer Day Camp celebrates its 50th year in 2013. Return to the MetroWest YMCA's main website here: http://www.metrowestymca.org/

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BOSTON, MA, June 18, 2013—John Hancock Financial and the Boston Athletic Association today announced that the 2013 Boston Marathon champion, Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia (HopNews file photo 2013 at Start), will gift his championship medal to the City of Boston, on behalf of all Boston Marathon runners, to honor the victims and families affected by the tragic events of April 15, 2013.

Desisa will present his medal to Mayor Thomas M. Menino on June 23, 2013, at 10 a.m. on the Boston Common, near Charles Street. Desisa will make the tribute after competing in the B.A.A. 10K, which begins at 8 a.m.

In a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Ethiopia last month, Desisa announced his intention of returning to Boston to gift his medal to the City.

“Less than two hours after I had crossed the finish line as this year’s champion, my joy turned to sorrow as I learned the tragic news of the death and the injury to so many innocent people. This day brought pain to many families and tremendous sorrow into many homes,” said Desisa. “As a gesture of my solidarity with the victims of this senseless act of violence, I will return to Boston and gift my medal to the people of Boston in honor and in memory of those who suffered and those who died on that day.”

“My message to all of you is that sport should always be a source of pleasure and enjoyment, healthy recreation, and positive competition. Sport holds the power to unite people and to connect people from all over the world with one another, allowing them the opportunity to share in their common humanity and to celebrate the richness of our world’s cultural diversity.”

At the 2013 Boston Marathon, Desisa was among 32 athletes from 11 countries competing on the John Hancock Elite Athlete Team for the 117th running of the race.

“When the world turned its eyes to Boston in the days and weeks following the marathon, the resiliency of our city, the courage of our first responders, and the strength of the many survivors were on full display,” Mayor Menino said. “Since then, countless acts of kindness and generosity have lifted our spirits and inspired us. On behalf of the City of Boston, we thank Lelisa for his thoughtful and moving gesture.”

"Lelisa's return to Boston and his participation in the B.A.A. 10K will mark yet another admirable gesture that we have been witness to in the weeks following this year's Boston Marathon," said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Executive Director. "Lelisa's participation is itself a tribute to all those affected by the events of April 15 and the aftermath, and we look forward to welcoming and thanking him for his compassion."

“Lelisa is a remarkable young man whose symbolic gesture embodies the heartfelt concern of so many people around the globe,” said Rob Friedman, head of Sponsorship and Event Marketing at John Hancock. “We are humbled by his action and join him in respectfully honoring the victims of this senseless tragedy.”

Team Athletics beat the Orioles in an extra inning to win the Triple A Little League Division.  They won the game 10-9.

Team Members included: Quentin Barnes, Mike Burney, Jake Chirco, Matthew Coffman, Colin Davan, Luke Gammal, Aidan Medeiros, Sean McGrail, Nick Paharik, Alex Smith, and Dan Staring. Contributed content.

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