3300 miles non-stop from LA to
Boston via Hopkinton
The One Run For Boston cross-country relay,
which last year raised $91,000 for the One Fund Boston to help the
victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, is gearing up for a re-run
from Los Angeles to Boston starting March 16th. The
record-breaking non-stop running relay is expected to reach Hopkinton
on April 13, 2014,and there are plenty of opportunities for local
runners and supporters to get involved.
The 3,300 mile route is
divided into 336 stages across fourteen different states. Most
stages are around ten miles with some as long as 22 miles. Each
stage can accommodate up to 25 runners. Group stages in some of the
major cities along the route are five miles or less and designed to
encourage mass participation of 100+ runners.
Local runner
Ann-Michele Dragsbaek(Photo from last year's Boston Marathon) from
Hopkinton has signed up to run Stage 332
of the relay from Hopkinton to Framingham
on April 13, 2014..
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YOUR HOME
Next Stop, Louisville
March 4, 2014 —
Hopkinton High School and Senior Cross Country and Track
Stand-out Melissa Lodge signs her National Letter of
Intent to attend Louisville University for track today in the
Hopkinton High School Main Office. HopNews photo by Michael
Mace.
Reprinted from HHSPRESS.ORG -
Hopkinton High School's STUDENT ONLINE NEWS
The date of this year’s Relay for Life is June 13th at the HHS
track. All funds raised for the event go toward cancer research
and patient care, including rides to and from treatments andHope
Lodgecare and
housing. Sign
upfor the
Hopkinton Relay for Life.
The next mandatory team captain meeting is on March 10th from
6:30 to 7:30 in the HS auditorium. <---------- Corrected Location.
Relay for Life is looking for more adult committee members to
replace some adults who have retired. Volunteers are needed to
help on the registration sub-committee. This involves work
before and during the event itself.
There are also meetings on April 14th and May 19th. Turn in any
money raised for the event and get the participant t-shirts at
Bank Night on June 9th from 6:30-8 in the HHS cafeteria.
W E L L N E S S
New Addition to HopNews Community Page
The HPLF ( Hopkinton public Library Foundation) is now linked
from the HopNews Community Page, which can always be found by
choosing the "Hopkinton" category in the blue menu bar in the
top section. Please check out their page now to see some
innovative fundraisers that emphasize the "fun" part. Is yours
one of the 1,000 Homes? See what that means, too.
SERVICE
GUIDE
PolyArts Scholarship Application
for 2014
This year, the Hopkinton
Polyarts Committee will give a $1,000.00 scholarship to two
graduating high school seniors going on to major in fine
or applied arts (ie. painting, ceramics, sculpting, drama, music,
creative writing, fashion/interior design...) at a college or
university. The applicant needs to adhere to the
guidelines. Please keep the essay short. The
student must be a Hopkinton resident. The deadline is April 1, 2014.
Don Lehman and Patti Zepf were among the 160 plus guests to come and
support the Hiller Competitive Cheer Recreational Program!
It was standing room only at Western Nurseries for a wine and beer
tasting event, Saturday March 1, 2014, in support of Hiller
Competitive Cheer Recreational Program. This is a new program that
is dedicated to supporting cheerleading in Hopkinton and providing
assistance in all facets related to cheerleading. The night proved
to be a great success; the program committee achieved their
fundraising goal and I’m certain a good time was had by all.
by John Cardillo,
Hiller Cheer Booster Club member
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Mike
Cronin to Run Boston Marathon for Tedy’s Team
I’ll
be running the Boston Marathon this year with Tedy’s Team, an
organization started by former Patriots linebacker and stroke
survivor Tedy Bruschi with a mission to raise awareness and fight
stroke.
Some of you may know that my Uncle Jack
Morrissey died of complications from stroke. However, you may
not be aware of these stroke statistics:
1. Every 45 seconds someone suffers a
stroke.
2. Every 3.1 minutes someone dies from a
stroke.
3. There are 4.4 million stroke survivors
in the US.
4. 29% of people who have strokes are
under the age of 65.
I feel compelled to run the Boston
Marathon this year to honor the memory of my Uncle Jack. He
lived next door to me when I was growing up and he and I were very
close. I spent a lot of time with him going on walks, throwing
the football, and watching baseball. Everything changed in
March of 2004. I was 10 years old and my uncle was rushed to
the hospital. I learned the next day that he had suffered a
severe stroke and was on life support. There were many days
that we weren’t sure if he was going to make it. After three
months in the hospital and rehabilitation, he came home. The stroke
left him paralyzed on his left side. I’ll never forget the
first time I saw him. He looked like a broken man, both
physically and mentally. Though small and frail, he was ready
to continue his battle. He gained a lot of his strength back
and was able to resume a close-to-normal life. In March of
2009, five years after his stroke, Uncle Jack passed away.
Mike Cronin and
Jack Morrisey in 2006
The way Uncle Jack dealt with his stroke
inspired me and it is for this reason that I’m committed to
following a strenuous training program to prepare for the big run on
April 21, 2014. I’m also busy raising $5000 for the American
Stroke Association and thanks to the generous donations from friends
and family, I am two-thirds of the way to that goal.
My donation web site is http://tedysteam2014.kintera.org/cronin. You
can also send donations via mail to Mike Cronin, 38 Church Street,
Hopkinton, MA 01748. Please make checks payable to the
American Stroke Association. Any contribution will be greatly
appreciated and will help me to reach the Tedy’s Team goal.
Thank you.
Mike is a 2012 graduate of Hopkinton
High School and the son of Tom and Liz Cronin. He is a
sophomore at UMass Amherst studying sport management at the Isenberg
School of Management.
YOUR HOME
Fourth Annual Boosters Fundraiser
The Hopkinton High School Athletic Boosters
fourth annual sports fundraiser will be held at the
Hopkinton Country Club on Saturday, March 22, from 7 p.m. to
11:30 p.m. Tickets are $140 per couple or $70/singles.
New this year – Steve Spector’s widely acclaimed “Hot
Acoustics” band will rock the house and there will be
plenty of cool raffle prizes and silent auction items such as
sports memorabilia from the NE Sports Museum, Red Sox tickets
and more – also blackjack table and TV with March Madness games
will be featured.
A casual menu will include display of cheese
and vegie crudité along with dips and crackers, boneless buffalo
tenders, mini burger bar with toppings, pickles & chips, popular
nacho bar with guacamole, assorted gourmet pizzas, turkey club
sandwich pieces, coffee, tea and huge chocolate chip cookies. A
great giveaway also will be handed out. R.S.V.P. by signing up
on-line at www.hopkintonboosters.com
or fill out attached form to pay by check and mail to: HHS
Boosters Fundraiser, c/o Joy Donohue, 41 Blueberry Lane. This
year’s effort will directly support a newly remodeled weight
room and a fun night out is always guaranteed!
W E L L N E S S
Casino Night: Online Bidding is Open!
Do you have your tickets yet for the Education
Foundation's annual Casino Cocktail Night? It's this coming
Saturday, March 8th, at the Warren Conference Center in Ashland.
We will miss you if you can't attend -- but you can still bid online
in our silent auction, on no fewer than 90 items. There are sports
tickets, beer-brewing classes, Disney passes, tons of kids
activities, and much, MUCH more!
Visit
www.biddingforgood.com/HEFGALA for online bidding and
event tickets. The online auction will run until Saturday, March
8th, at 10:30pm.
We need your support! All proceeds support technology and innovation
grants in the Hopkinton Schools.
Shaping Up
March 3, 2014 — Workers continue in
sub-freezing weather today putting up Pulte Homes single family
homes in the shadow of 240 Alta Legacy Farms apartments a few
hundred feet away.
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Breech
March 3, 2014 — This dam, visible from North
Mill Street, has been breached by humans who do not appreciate
the work of beavers, especially when it floods their lands or
their homes.
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Cat in the Hat
March 3, 2014 — The Cat In the Hat, who is very good friends with
Tricia Miller, made a special visit to
The Learning Center of Hopkinton this morning to read to some of
the boys and girls. The Learning Center often has special
events commemorating special holidays and times of year.
2014 SPECIAL DEDICATION
5K race will be held June 21, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. at
Hopkinton High School, rain or shine.
Our
mission is to raise money for medical research
toward a cure for ALS (amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis), while hosting a fun-filled event within
the community of Hopkinton. From day one, 100% of
the proceeds from this event have been donated to
The Angel Fund, a non-profit organization
benefitting the Cecil B. Day Laboratory of
Neurological Research at UMass Medical School.
Since the inception of the Sharon Timlin event in
2003, the town of Hopkinton has embraced our efforts
and supported our cause. We could not have held this
charitable event year after year without the
generous and continued help from the Town of
Hopkinton.
“The essence of community, its
heart and soul, is the non-monetary exchange of
value; things we do and share because we care for
others, and for the good of the place.” ― Dee Hock
2013 was a difficult year for the town of Hopkinton.
It began with the Boston Marathon bombings and then
in fall 2013, Hopkinton lost two of its dear, young
community members: Shayne Desroches & Abbie Benford.
We dedicate this day in our community to the memory
of Shayne and Abbie.
~THEY WILL ALWAYS BE ALIVE IN OUR HEARTS~
— From the Timlin Race page.
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Happy 20th Anniversary
March 2, 2014 — Jerry Caruso was one of three circuit
comedians who entertained at the Dynasty Restaurant's
20th Anniversary celebration last night. Above, not to
spoil things, but he sings a funny song about the brand
of car that gave him such trouble.
Republican John Coutinho Announces
Candidacy for Board of Selectmen
John Coutinho of David Joseph Road
announced today that he is seeking a position on the
Board of Selectmen in the May elections.
“I
am running for the Board of Selectmen because this is a
critical time for Hopkinton given the decisions to be
made during the continued rollout of the Legacy Farm
project and the negotiations that will be needed for The
Mews, Crossroads and the Marathon Center projects”
stated Mr. Coutinho. “I would like to use my experience
as Chair of ZAC and Vice Chair of the Planning Board to
build a consensus on the best approach for dealing with
issues that will come before the Board of Selectmen.We need to work together, be consistent and to
lower the tax burden on the homeowner by increasing the
commercial tax base of the community.”
The one constant in Hopkinton is
change. Hopkinton is struggling to maintain the
character and reasonable taxes that attracted us all to
the town.Providing the additional
services needed by our growing population and the
current economic environment makes it especially
difficult to keep the town affordable. How we
strategically plan for the continued development of
Hopkinton is the key to our town’s financial future.”
John Coutinho has served as Chair on
the Zoning Advisory Committee for several years, he also
the Vice Chair of the Planning Board and serves on other
various sub-committees when needed. He and his family
moved to Hopkinton in 1999.
John has two daughters and is an
active volunteer for many school related projects
including judging the local science fair, Destination
Imagination, and mentoring Hopkinton High School’s
students in the Boston University Robot competition. He
was also very active at The Elmwood School in reading,
art and donating capital equipment.
John graduated from The University
of Bridgeport’s school of Engineering with a BS in
Industrial Design Engineering; his professional career
has included the design and development many medical,
consumer and industrial products.
John’s wife, Brenda, is an
Obstetrician / Gynecologist at Milford Regional Hospital
and is accepting new patients in town here at her office
at 77 West Main Street. John’s sister
Cissy Coutinho had been a long time member of the
Hopkinton School System based out of the Elmwood School.
John’s mother Fran is also an active resident of
Hopkinton and can be frequently be seen downtown or
enjoying the Senior Center.
“I look forward to discussing the
issues facing Hopkinton with the voters. I am asking for
your support during the campaign and your vote at the
May election.I would be honored to
continue to represent the best interests of the
community in a new position as a Selectman”
John Coutinho
1 David Joseph Road
March 1, 2014
W E L L N E S S
Second Candidate Announces for
One of Two Open School Committee Seats
I am excited to announce my
candidacy for the Hopkinton School Committee, and I
would like to take a few minutes to introduce myself to
the community and tell you why I am running for one of
the two open seats.
My husband Alain and I moved to
Hopkinton in 2009 and we have two energetic children –
Colby is in 3rd grade at Elmwood School and
Paige is a 5th grader at Hopkins School.
Both of them are active in Destination Imagination,
soccer, karate and lacrosse, and Colby is a Cub Scout in
Pack 97.
For the past 3 years I have served
on Hopkinton’s Zoning Board of Appeals as an Associate
member responsible for upholding the town’s zoning
bylaws. Professionally I work as a Program Manager at CA
Technologies, where I balance expectations across all
levels of my organization, negotiate contracts, and
manage schedules on a daily basis. As a School
Committee member I fully expect these skill sets to be
put to immediate use as I combine the knowledge I’ve
gained volunteering in our town government with my
strict attention to detail, active listening and
interpersonal skills acquired from a career spent
working for technology companies since graduating from
Wellesley College in 1996.
I am proud of Hopkinton. When I tell
people where I live I almost always hear, “Oh, you have
great schools!” It’s true, we do, and we need to be sure
we keep them that way by balancing sound and clearly
articulated educational goals with fiscal prudence.When we succeed at this, we ensure the strength
of our school district while maintaining a sustainable
tax base for Hopkinton as a whole. A very important
piece of this equation is a strong School Committee, and
that is why I am running.
I’ve been paying a lot of attention
to the budgeting process this year because it’s a
personal interest of mine. A common theme during budget
discussions centered on needs vs. wants.When making decisions on things like the 1:1
laptop program, full day tuition free kindergarten, or
maintenance items, there are tough choices to be made
and many opinions to consider.To
build a solid foundation for these types of discussions,
over the next few months I plan to get up to speed on
our current policies, review the strategic plan, and
meet with members of the Hopkinton community to identify
issues, and understand suggested solutions.
When it comes to crafting the budget
in general, I would strongly advocate for a zero-based
budgeting approach next year.This
will allow the community to gain visibility into every
line item (not just the incremental proposed percentage
increase), which will ensure transparency.
I have a great deal of confidence in
Dr. MacLeod, and I want to be part of the School
Committee that collaborates with her to grow and
maintain our excellent school district for the benefit
of the entire town.
Thank you in advance for your
support throughout this election process – I look
forward to earning your trust and confidence and ask
that you vote for me on Monday, May 19th.
Kelly Knight
1 Ledgestone Drive
February 28, 2014
NOTE: Politically
unenrolled Kelly Knight is an Associate Member of the
Hopkinton Board of Appeals. HopNews photo, 2/28/2014
YOUR HOME
Hopkinton enters into contract
negotiations with Captain Lee for Police Chief Post
At last night’s scheduled open
meeting, the Board of Selectmen voted to authorize
contract negotiations with Captain Edward Lee, Jr. as
Hopkinton’s next Chief of Police, pending finalization
of successful background check and related tests.
“Thanks to the fine efforts of
the Police Chief Search Committee, chaired by Hopkinton
resident and also Chair of the Personnel Committee, Bob
Levenson, the Selectmen interviewed four (4) highly
qualified candidates last night,” said Board of
Selectmen Chairman, John M. Mosher (Photo, left).
“Captain Lee’s broad experience in a large and diverse
community as well as progressive responsibility made him
an attractive candidate. His collaborative
leadership style and his commitment to the development
of personnel made him a good fit for Hopkinton.
The Board of Selectmen looks forward to welcoming him as
the newest addition to our accomplished Police Force.
He will be an important part of the continued progress
of our law enforcement professionals and a valuable
partner for the citizens of Hopkinton.”
Captain Lee is a 26-year
veteran of the Woonsocket Police Department and a
lifelong Bellingham, MA resident.~ Press
Release. HopNews photo, 2/27/2014..
Personal Services
Candidate for Selectman
Planning Board Vice-Chair, Republican
John Coutinho has taken out nomination papers for
election to a seat on the Hopkinton Board of Selectmen.
We await a candidate's statement.
In addition, Claire Wright has taken out papers to serve
another term as cemetery commissioner. See all of the
candidates to date on the
Election 2014 page.
SERVICE
GUIDE
Wine Tasting is Back at Hopkinton Wine and Spirits
Friday, February 28th,
4-7 PM
A great opportunity to check out our NEW LOWER
PRICES and BIGGER SELECTION!
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Tuition-free Full Day
Kindergarten to be Housed at Center School
by Muriel Kramer
February 28, 2014 —
Plans are being finalized for the tuition free Full Day
Kindergarten (FDK) for next year to be housed in the
existing Center School with no temporary modular
classrooms planned. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Cathy
MacLeod had proposed several alternatives to accommodate
FDK; options had included asking voters to fund
temporary modular classrooms at Center School or
splitting the class and housing some at Elmwood and
others at Center. Last night the School Committee agreed
with Dr. MacLeod, supporting her recommendation to keep
all of the youngest learners together at Center School
and voting to remove the warrant article to request
$350,000 from TM for temporary modular classrooms.
Many factors went into the decision, one that Dr.
MacLeod says the staff and teachers at Center School
fully support; chief among the considerations was the
uncertainty in the process for parents of upcoming
kindergarteners waiting for ATM in May to find out if
the voters would support the additional expense of
modular classrooms. Further, Dr. MacLeod acknowledged
that asking the voters to finance temporary modular
classrooms was problematic given that an elementary
school building project is in the plans for the near
future, and the school department will need voter
support to finance that project. Dr. MacLeod made the
point that while keeping the kindergarten and grade 1
students together was in many ways optimal, there will
be some space constraints next year; importantly
classrooms themselves will not be overcrowded however.
“The staff is willing to do whatever they need to do to
make this work; they are just relieved to be staying
together,” added Dr. MacLeod. She concluded, “I assessed
all options and feel this is the best solution for our
students, this is the best solution for the teachers and
staff, and this is the best solution for our town.”
School Committee member Scott Aghababian formally
announced that he will not seek re-election next year;
two School Committee seats are open for May Town
Election. At this writing, Republican Frank Sivo is the
only announced candidate for the open seats.
The School Calendar for next year has been drafted with
the first day of school set to be Thursday September 4th.
Some considerations for future years include removing
some religious holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Good Friday
were cited as examples by Dr. MacLeod as possibilities.
Additionally Dr. MacLeod favors working with other
superintendents in the area to target one vacation week
in March to eliminate breaks in both February and April,
a move she says has been made in other parts of the
state. For this to work for teachers and students, it
would have to be done in coordination with surrounding
school districts; many teachers live in surrounding
towns making vacation week coordination important for
them and their families especially.
The transportation policy has been finalized, and
parents should receive letters in March. The deadline
for payment and bus arrangements will be in May. For
families paying bus fees, the fee will be $170 for the
first and second child; a family cap of $340 then
applies. If the fee is not received by the deadline, a
ten day grace period is in place whereby parents would
still be guaranteed a spot on the bus for their child(ren)
but the fee increases to $260 for the first two
children with a cap of $520. If the fee is not received
or postmarked within that 10 day grace period, the fee
penalty will stay the same but no guarantees are made
for a spot on the bus at the start of the school year.
The School Department continues to keep a close eye on
the impact on enrollment from the development at Legacy
Farms. Twenty-seven students now live in the
development, fourteen are new to town and thirteen have
moved in from a different address in town. The Host
Community Agreement negotiated with the developers at
Legacy Farms includes mitigation to the town in the
event that more than 250 students live in the
development within six years of issuing the first
occupancy permit.
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New Police Chief Voted for Hopkinton
February 28, 2014 — The Board of
Selectmen held interviews this evening with four
candidates for the position of Chief of Police for
Hopkinton: Current Interim Hopkinton Chief Charles
Wallace, Hopkinton Sgt. Joseph Bennett (Photo,
left), Franklin Police Dept. Lt. Thomas Lynch and
Woonsocket Capt. Edward Lee (Photo, above).
Following a 5:30 pm meet and greet with the public,
the board met privately with the group of candidates
for a relatively brief time. Shortly
before
midnight, after interviewing each candidate
separately and at length, the full board voted unanimously, 5-0, for
forty-five year-old Captain Lee, but not after strongly
considering Sgt. Bennett for the top job. The
board also seriously discussed creating a second
position of Lieutenant for Sgt. Bennett to move his
career along.
The board was unanimous in congratulating
Personnel Committee Chair Robert Levenson for
chairing the Police Chief Search Committee and
giving them four excellent candidates. The board had
a series of the same questions for each candidate in
the formal interview session that followed the meet
and greet.
The candidates responded similarly to questions
about problems facing the youth, citing abuse of
prescription drugs and bullying as the most
troubling.
All candidates reflected similar styles, such as the
need for community engagement, to keep selectmen
informed and strong youth services.
On the question of gun permits, all candidates said
that as chief they would have no trouble denying an
individual that right, if he felt the individual was
unfit, either for something said in the interview,
or because of the chief's experience or knowledge of
the individual.
None were hesitant about moving forward with the
civil forfeiture of a drug dealer's assets, but none
said they would use it as revenue enhancement.
Capt. Lee said forfeiture did enhance the Woonsocket
Police Department's budget, and that dealers were not targeted because of their
assets, but because they were dealing drugs.
Asked about the notion that the automatic license
plate readers on some cruisers were an invasion of
privacy, Capt. Lee said that people driving stolen
cars should have no expectation of privacy. But he
said it would be up to the community to decide if
that was what they wanted. He was asked what
leadership qualities he has.
"My personality has gone a long way in my career,"
he said.
"I had a knack for communicating with drug
dealers, gaining their confidence, and then
arresting them," he said.
"Everyone has a gift," said one selectman to
laughter.
Capt. Lee promised to provide strong leadership,
build trust, set the bar high for the officers in
the department, and provide ongoing training.
Selectmen agreed that Capt. Lee's breadth of
experience with a larger department would infuse new
ideas into Hopkinton's department that would be
absorbed by others.
The town will now enter into salary negotiations
with Capt. Lee.
W E L L N E S S
Personal Services
Police
Incident Log
- Updated February 27, 2014
Sign up for weather, traffic and crime alerts
Incident Log
Wednesday,
February 26, 2014
11:46 pmA
resident of Washington Lane reported a suspicious
incident involving her house phone. Officer Jacob
Campbell checked the area but did not find anything
suspicious.
10:28 pmA
walk-in reported that she was followed by two
vehicles on her way home so she stopped at the
police station.
9:31 pmA
motorist reported a disabled motor vehicle on Route
495. The State Police were notified.
5:40 pmA
caller from Wood Street reported that two youths
were riding their bicycles on the ice. Sgt. John
Porter responded and spoke with the youths who were
fine.
1:21 pmOfficer
Stephen Buckley assisted with traffic while the
Highway Department repaired several pot holes on
South Street.
2:29 amThree
officers assisted the State Police and Fire
Department with a motor vehicle accident with
personal injury on Route 495.
1:02 amOfficer
John Moran checked an unoccupied motor vehicle on
Hayden Rowe Street.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
9:42 pmA
911 caller reported an erratic operator on Hayden
Rowe Street. Two officers responded, spoke with the
operator and advised that there was no impairment.
9:29 pmA
911 caller reported that a vehicle on Wood Street
was possibly on fire. Sgt. John Porter responded and
advised that the vehicle was overheating and the car
tires were smoking because they were spinning on
ice.
11:10 amDetective
Timothy Brennan checked on what appeared to be
garbage on the side of Wood Street. A resident took
care of the bags of trash.
6:40 amTwo
officers responded to a five car motor vehicle
accident without personal injury on West Main
Street.
Monday, February 24, 2014
10:27 pmOfficer
Peter Booth advised that a telephone companies box
was knocked off of a pole on Main Street. The
company was notified and sent someone out to fix it.
10:03 pmA
motorist reported an erratic operator on Hayden Rowe
Street. Officer Peter Booth located the vehicle and
spoke with the operator.
9:44 pmA
911 caller from Hayden Rowe Street reported that she
just saw someone on her porch. Three officers
responded and checked the area with a negative find
on anything suspicious.
8:47 pmOfficer
Peter Booth checked and spoke with the operator of a
motor vehicle on Hayden Rowe Street.
7:31 pmOfficer
William Burchard removed a tree branch that fell
into the roadway on Lumber Street.
3:54 pmA
walk-in from Ash Street reported that her twelve
year-old daughter was missing. Four officers
responded and advised that she was located in a
woodshed across town.
12:01 pmOfficer
David Shane requested assistance at Elmwood School.
11:04 amOfficer
Stephen Buckley assisted with traffic while the DPW
removed a snow bank on West Main Street.
10:21 amOfficer
David Shane assisted the DPW while they removed a
snow bank on Wood Street.
8:04 amSix
officers responded to Hayden Rowe Street for a
school in Lock-In-Place mode. A short time later it
was determined that all was fine and the
Lock-In-Place was canceled.
7:15 amA
caller reported a deceased black cat on the side of
Hayden Rowe Street. The Animal Control Officer was
notified.
7:08 amA
resident of Hayden Rowe Street reported black smoke
with a chemical odor coming from a chimney across
the street from him. The Fire Department responded
and advised that they had an oil burner problem and
were handling it.
3:53 amA
motorist reported a possible motor vehicle accident
involving a tractor trailer unit on Route 495.
Officer Robert Bielecki responded and located a
tractor trailer that slid off the roadway and was
partly blocking a lane of travel.
YOUR HOME
New Framingham/Worcester Line
Commuter Rail Schedule Boosts Service in MetroWest
BOSTON
(February 27, 2014) – Yesterday afternoon, the MBTA
announced a new Framingham/Worcester line commuter rail
schedule, boosting service on the entire line, including
the addition of trains and stops in Ashland, Framingham
and Natick. The schedule will go into effect on March
10.
“Public transportation must be
dependable, reliable and consistent for all commuters,”
said Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “I am thrilled
that the new Framingham/Worcester line schedule now best
reflects the needs of MetroWest commuters, our local
businesses and our community.”
Earlier proposed changes to
the schedule eliminated important rush hour express
train stops in Natick and Framingham, resulting in
significant gaps in service during critical commuting
times. Senator Spilka heard from many constituents who
rely on the commuter rail for transportation to and from
Boston and have chosen to live in these areas based on
their close proximity to commuter rail stops. In
response to these concerns, Senator Spilka worked
closely with the MBTA to maintain the beneficial
increases in service for Ashland and restore the cut
express train stops in Framingham and Natick.
The new schedule includes
additional stops in Ashland and reverses the initially
proposed cuts. Morning and evening rush hour express
trains include a stop in Framingham, and the evening
rush hour commute includes an added stop in Natick.
SERVICE
GUIDE
300 Years For Hopkinton,
1715 - 2015 300th Anniversary Committee
members resign nearly en masse Grassroots "Friends..." still going strong D. T. Bridges and Co.,Boot Manufactory from a
slideshow at the Town's
300th Committee website
February 26, 2014 — Four of five
"at-large" members of Hopkinton's official
300th Anniversary Committee submitted
resignations to the Selectmen, which were made public
at their meeting two weeks ago; but Selectmen asked
Town Manager Norman Khumalo to work to salvage the
time already vested, and see what could be done
about some of the issues raised by three of the
members. One member complained that Town bylaws
prohibited the hanging of banners, when actually,
the 2013 Town Meeting passed an Article sponsored by
Amy Ritterbusch to do just that. Another complaint
is that they were having difficulty attaining
a non-profit status. But they are an official Town
committee, so it is unclear why they needed that.
The resignation of the four members leaves,
according to the town's website, just the Secretary,
Jean Bertschman as the sole remaining member.
Three of the resigning members complained about the
Friends of Hopkinton Anniversary
Celebrations, a grassroots group of native
Hopkintonians contributing to make the celebration a
success, of "creating great confusion among the
people of Hopkinton," because of a
duplication of efforts.
The Selectmen accepted their resignations Tuesday
evening after Town Manager Norman Khumalo said he
got nowhere in his efforts to stem the tide in talks
with one member. But the Friends
are going strong with a website and a gallery of
great items, some of which are listed below.
Remember, the 300th Anniversary Wine is available
only at Colella's Supermarket, and the jacket
available online is also available at Country Plus.
Money made from the sale of the items, as well as
the bottle and can drives, goes toward the marching
bands and other expenses related to the 2015
celebrations. Stay tuned for many events that
HopNews and others will be publicizing, and visit
the website of the
Friends of Hopkinton Anniversary Celebrations to
make a purchase, or to donate.
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FOOD AND BEVERAGE <
BE REMINDED:
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YOUR VEHICLE <
Wine Tasting is Back at Hopkinton Wine and Spirits
Friday, February 28th
4-7 PM
A great opportunity to check out our NEW LOWER
PRICES and BIGGER SELECTION!
SERVICE
GUIDE
Congressman
Joe Kennedy Staff
2014 OFFICE HOURS
HOPKINTON:
District Office Express Wednesday, February 26,
11:00AM-6:00PM Hopkinton Senior Center,28 Mayhew Street,
Hopkinton, MA
Do you work for a
community-oriented company? Do you have access to
unique goods or services? Do you have a special talent
or skill to donate? If you answered yes, HPTA needs
you! By donating to our live and silent auctions at our
upcoming fundraising events, you'll be helping to keep
our schools strong. Keep it going, keep it growing!
For more information, or to get a donation form,
conatct Jenni Schroeder at
jimjenni@comcast.net.
HPTA MARATHON RUNNERS
Congratulations to both Emily
Blake and Rimma Kaufman on winning the HTPA Marathon
Numbers to run the 2014 Boston Marathon! Thank you to
Danielle Keane, who has committed to donating 25% of her
overall marathon fundraising directly to the HPTA!
Please visit hptaonline.com to
learn more about the runners and to visit their donation
page.
Personal Services
Senior
Moments
Time Machine
February 25, 2014 — Two
Hopkinton senior citizens enjoy the "Wayback
Machine" at the Solomon Pond Mall Food Court, after
having taken a break from their weekly walk around
the mall.
W E L L N E S S
Hopkinton's Dr. Ciaramicoli Helps Develop
Anti-Depression APP
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FOOD AND BEVERAGE <
JV Team on Top
The
Hopkinton JV hockey team won the JV championship
Saturday night with a 5-1 Win over Northbridge at the
Northstar rink in Westboro. Members of the team are.:
Spencer Abbott, Kyle Canty, Tim Greizer, TJ Fujiyoshi,
Everett Rolph, Alex Juffras, Dominic Yannino, Mark
McCluskey, Nick Temple, Kyle Schilke, Tim Bloomer, Kyle
Halloran, Jake Neary, Freeman Alfano, and Spencer
Coveney. The team is coached by Mike Messier and Eric
Carty
Photo by Gail
Schilke.
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YOUR VEHICLE <
Steven R. Aitken,
51
Steven R. Aitken,
51,of
Hopkinton, died peacefully at home surrounded by his
family on Monday, February 24, 2014, after a courageous
battle with brain cancer. He was the beloved husband of
Nancy (Gradie) Aitken and father of Ryan, Kyle, and Tom
Aitken. Steven was born to the late William Aitken and
Carol (Slater) Aitken in Puerto Rico, and grew up in
Hopkinton, MA. He graduated from Hopkinton High School
in 1981 and Wentworth Institute of Technology in 1985.
Steve left a prolific legacy in the Hopkinton community
as a pop warner football coach, cub master for pack 97
and member of the Hopkinton Sportsman club and St. John
the Evangelist Parish. He was an avid outdoorsman who
enjoyed spending time with his family camping, fishing,
and snowmobiling. He enjoyed cooking and winemaking. He
is also survived by his brothers David Aitken of
Bradenton, FL and Gary and his wife, Sue, of Hopkinton.
He was a loving uncle to 15 nieces and nephews, 2
grandnieces and a grandnephew. Calling hours will be at
Matarese Funeral Home in Ashland, MA on Thursday
from 4-8PM. His funeral Mass will be Friday at 10AM, at
St. John the Evangelist Church in Hopkinton. Expressions
of sympathy may be made in his memory to National Brain
Tumor Society.
Frank Sivo Official
Announcement for Seat on School Committee
I
am pleased to announce my candidacy for the Hopkinton
School Committee. My wife Eve Voegeli and I have made
Hopkinton our home for nearly 20 years. We have four
children, all of whom attend Hopkinton public schools.
I am currently a member of the Appropriations Committee,
and have served the community in the past on the SPEAC
Board, Elementary School Criteria Working Group, and as
a youth softball/baseball coach. Professionally, I am
the Vice President of continuous improvement programs at
a global life sciences company. I have previously held
management positions in the management consulting,
software, and high-tech manufacturing industries. I hold
an MBA from Babson College, as well as, BS and MS
degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern
University.
My three primary objectives as a member of the School
Committee will be to:
(1) Continually improve the quality of education for all
children in Hopkinton
(2) Optimize the use of precious tax dollars
(3) Increase transparency, accountability and overall
public confidence in this critical government body
I am not a single issue candidate. I do not have a
pre-conceived agenda to implement. I do not believe
improvement and fiscal responsibility are mutually
exclusive.
For more than 30 years, I have helped corporate and
public sector organizations improve performance while
optimizing the use of financial resources. Deliberate
long-range planning, thoughtful prioritization,
continuous challenge to status quo practices, and
quantification of gains are always amongst the key
elements that drive continuous improvement. I believe my
management experience, independence, and passion for
education will serve our children AND taxpayers well.
If elected to the School Committee, I will apply my
skills to help every child receive a better education,
but not force parents and grandparents to leave
Hopkinton when their families graduate from our schools.
Please contact me atsivoforsc@gmail.com if
you are interested in signing my nomination papers
and/or supporting this campaign in another way. I thank
you in advance for your interest in this critical
election and hope to earn your vote on May 19th.
I’ll
be running the Boston Marathon this year with Tedy’s Team, an
organization started by former Patriots linebacker and stroke
survivor Tedy Bruschi with a mission to raise awareness and fight
stroke. 
“I
am running for the Board of Selectmen because this is a
critical time for Hopkinton given the decisions to be
made during the continued rollout of the Legacy Farm
project and the negotiations that will be needed for The
Mews, Crossroads and the Marathon Center projects”
stated Mr. Coutinho. “I would like to use my experience
as Chair of ZAC and Vice Chair of the Planning Board to
build a consensus on the best approach for dealing with
issues that will come before the Board of Selectmen.
before
midnight, after interviewing each candidate
separately and at length, the full board voted unanimously, 5-0, for
forty-five year-old Captain Lee, but not after strongly
considering Sgt. Bennett for the top job. The
board also seriously discussed creating a second
position of Lieutenant for Sgt. Bennett to move his
career along. 
Congressman
Joe Kennedy Staff
I
am pleased to announce my candidacy for the Hopkinton
School Committee. My wife Eve Voegeli and I have made
Hopkinton our home for nearly 20 years. We have four
children, all of whom attend Hopkinton public schools.