David P. Martin, 52

David P. Martin, 52, of Whitinsville, passed away Friday, January 31, 2014 at the Milford Regional Medical Center, after a long battle with colon cancer. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Susan Martin of Whitinsville.

David served in the United States Coast Guard and had worked at Princeton Instruments. He was a member of the National Horseshoe Pitcher Association and the Central Mass Horseshoe Association. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, and camping.

Besides his wife, he is survived by two children, Carly Martin of Ellington, CT. and Trevor Martin of Whitinsville. He also leaves a brother, William Martin and his wife Jean of North Attleboro, and his sisters, Doreen White of Leicester and Lorna Lurz and her husband Jerry of Orting, Washington as well as many beloved nieces ,nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 4th from 5-8p.m. at the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton, 57 Hayden Rowe St. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, February 6th at 10:00a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church of Hopkinton. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery in Hopkinton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168 Boston, MA 02284 or dana-farber.org

HOPKINTON’S RELAY FOR LIFE CHANGES FOR THE BETTER

By Kora Sileo, reprinted from www.HHSPress.org/
Hopkinton’s Relay for Life Committee, headed by senior Cassandra Boyce, junior Adam Graubart, junior Mary Marquedant, and American Cancer Society representative Monica Nybo, has recently made many changes to this year’s Relay For Life event on June 13, 2014 in hopes of attracting more participants and donors.

In the past, the committee has been led by two Hopkinton High School students, however a third committee chair was added this year in order to more effectively manage the responsibilities of the chairs.

 “There is always more to do, so we thought having a third chair would be best so that responsibilities could be split up better and we have an extra opinion and voice in all matters,” said Boyce, who has just begun her second year as a committee chair.

After applying for the event chair position, Graubart and Marquedant were selected by Boyce, former co-chair Connor Zanini, and former American Cancer Society representative Gillian Baudreau.

Baudreau was recently reassigned to a different Relay For Life community, therefore causing Monica Nybo to become the committee’s new ACS representative.

“[Nybo] provides a lot of great ideas in regards to making the relay event itself exciting and active,” said first-year committee chair Marquedant, “she asks our opinion on every aspect of relay, so it is [very] kids based rather than only adults decisions.”

Because this year’s Relay For Life event occurs after Hopkinton High School’s graduation, chaperone requirements are READ MUCH MORE

This year's event will be held Saturday, June 21, 2014. The 5K race begins at 8:30 am, followed by the ever-popular Kids' 1-Mile Race and the Family Fun Day. Register today for the 11th Annual Sharon Timlin Memorial 5K Race to Cure ALS and help us get one step closer to a cure.
 

According to organizers, this year's event will be dedicated to the memory of Shayne DesRoche and Abbie Benford; two members of our community that are missed greatly. NOTE: Facebook and Twitter followers got an alert about this event. Sign up to get yours next time.

Sandra Darney, 72

Arrangements incomplete

Hopkinton -Sandra Darney, 72, of Hopkinton, passed away Friday, January 31, 2014. She was the wife of the late Frederick B. Darney. Arrangements are incomplete at this time and are under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton.

John (Jack) Fritz, 93

After the meeting, at 11 in the same room . . .

Young Parents Attend School Committee Hearing to Support Free Full-Day Kindergarten

Committee votes budget of 4.91% over last year

by Muriel Kramer
 January 31, 2-14 — The School Committee met last night to vote on its budget recommendation to forward to the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager. The budget supported by a 4 – 1 vote in favor for FY ’15 is $37,332,422 which is a 4.91% increase over last year; SC member Scott Aghababian cast the opposing vote.

            The SC set as its goal for the superintendent, “prepare a fiscally responsible budget that addresses district needs” and the Selectmen had asked departments to “level fund operational expenses, identify strategic initiatives (and their impact), identify incremental contractual labor costs, provide detailed backup, identify additional programs, efficiencies & cost containment measures, and prioritize capital projects.”

            At last night’s brief presentation before the Public Hearing and vote, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Cathy MacLeod outlined her goals in the process. “Prepare a fiscally responsible budget; demand a multi-step, rigorous review of the proposed budget; articulate the budget priorities in a transparent, data-driven manner; [and] promote a PK-12 vision of instructional improvement that impacts learning.”

            There are three programmatic improvements included in the proposed budget – a Kindergarten to grade 8 co-teaching model to better support special education and students in need of services, full implementation of team teaching at the Middle School and Full Day Kindergarten (FDK). Dr. MacLeod made it clear in her presentation that “none of these initiatives are mandated, all provide additional opportunities to meet student needs and that educationally they are the right thing to do.”

            There was a capacity crowd in the Middle School Library once again, most in attendance were there to support tuition free FDK.

            Pam Waxlax, member of the Appropriation Committee, spoke as a parent and voter; she wanted to ask why FDK was not presented as a separate initiative?

            Dana Hall, parent of four made it clear that he is not opposed to FDK and recognizes it as a new initiative; he recommended the SC find cost savings throughout the whole budget to offset the additional expenses of FDK. “If we believe FDK should be in the budget, we should be looking for cost savings in other places in the budget.”

          Amy Cafazzo spoke in support of tuition free FDK, “If we maintain a half-day program as well as an enhanced full day program, we’re creating two groups of students entering first grade. Teachers will then have to spend the first few months working to get all those students on the same page. It only makes sense to ensure that all of the kindergarteners are learning, playing, and socializing at the same pace.”

          Beth Malloy spoke in opposition. “Financially we are not ready. I think it’s [FDK] a good idea, but not right now.” Citing the money already lost to the failed initiative to build a school on Fruit Street, she advocated for addressing the needs of Center School first.

          Darlene Hayes also spoke in opposition. She feels strongly that we cannot risk burdening the tax payers further. She too supports the initiative but not until the elementary building solution has been successfully implemented.

          Laurie Nickerson spoke in favor of the proposed budget. “I am fully in support of your budget. My children, everyone’s children should have the same opportunity for access to the full day program.”

          Speaking in favor of the budget SC member Jon Graziano allowed that, “this hasn’t been a perfect process.” He asserted that this budget made improvements in the delivery of special education, maintained a commitment to small class sizes, completed some work on the Middle School team teaching model and held an equitable approach to FDK.

Kathryn A. Moschini "Moosie", 66

Kathryn A. Moschini "Moosie", 66, of Hopkinton, passed away Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at her home. Born in Framingham, she was the daughter of Theoni Lazar Bryant of Hopkinton and the late Charles Bryant. She was the wife of Fran T. Moschini of Hopkinton.

Kathryn was a 1965 graduate of Hopkinton High School. She was loving mother and grandmother and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

Besides her husband and mother, she leaves behind her children, Michael Degnan Jr. of Winchendon and Steven Moschini of Hopkinton; siblings, James Bryant and his wife Kathleen of Hopkinton, Steven Bryant and his wife Patricia of Hopkinton, Charles Bryant of Bellingham, and Susan Galante and her husband Chris of Northborough. She also leaves behind 5 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her son, Brian Degnan.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 31st from 4-7p.m. at the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton, 57 Hayden Rowe St. 
 A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00a.m. in St. John the Evangelist Church of Hopkinton. Burial will follow in Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Hopkinton.

Hopkinton Selectman Brian Herr Announces Run For Senate - Releases Statement, Below

"We have no leadership in Washington, D.C. Our elected officials simply react; they respond; they panic. Then they have hissy fits with each other. And what does that get us? We find ourselves saddled with debt-ceiling fights, continuing resolutions and government shutdowns.

Elections come and go, yet the problems are only mounting. It is time for a new approach, a new way of doing things, a new voice in Washington. 

I am running for the United States Senate because I believe the key to putting America back on track is to elect leaders that approach problem solving with an open mind and a strong background in the private sector.

We have real problems that need real solutions, not political lip service. We need bold leaders willing to make changes. In the United States Senate I will press for 1) term limits for all newly elected federal office holders, 2) a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution, 3) pro-growth and pro-jobs economic policy, 4) meaningful, respectful immigration reform, and 5) a bipartisan approach that ends the bickering and stalemate in Washington, D.C.

We need to return common sense to the political dialogue. I still believe a reasonable, responsible, respectful Republican can win a statewide race in Massachusetts. I know this is going to be a tough race, but I have run tough races before.

As a Founding Member and former Chairman of the Dana-Farber Boston Marathon Challenge, I have proudly run on their behalf for the past 24 years. This past April, at mile 25.5, race officials stopped us in our tracks. Thirty days later, I ran the last mile. Even though I have crossed the finish line many times before, that one was special! The sadness and anger I felt that afternoon making my way down Boylston Street was quickly replaced by determination and resolve.

It's this same determination and resolve that I bring to the race for United States Senate.  It's time to get back to the business of solving problems. No more excuses. No more bickering. No more finger pointing. 

We are a nation of great resilience, grand dreams and extraordinary achievement. We can transform the way government does business and get Washington working for us again. The time for positive change is now!

NOTE: Mr. Herr is a Republican. Please choose the thumbnail, left, to see a slideshow assembled by thirteen year-old son, Kierin Herr.

State Police Still Seek Driver of Truck That Lost Mattress, Ask Public's Help

The deceased victim in the below crash is identified as Frida Litvak, 56, of Framingham. Ms. Litvak was operating the 2011 Toyota Corolla that was hit from behind after braking heavily to avoid a mattress that had fallen from a truck onto the road.

The surviving victim, who was operating the 2014 Toyota Tundra that struck Ms. Litvak’s vehicle, is identified as Andrew Lawendowski, 43, of Charlton. He suffered minor injuries in the crash. Both operators were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing. The Massachusetts State Police continue to ask the public for information about the vehicle from which the mattress is believed to have fallen. That vehicle is described as a large dump truck with a white cab and possibly black netting or a tarp partially covering the bed.  The bed is reported to be dark in color, with wood along the sides.  At the time of the crash, it was reported to be occupied by two males and carrying multiple additional mattresses.  The media is asked to request that any of their viewers/readers with information on this incident or the vehicle being sought contact the Concord State Police Barracks at 978-369-4100.

Numerous leads have been received thus far, but the public request for information about the truck carrying the mattresses remains in place.