I am writing in support of Frank Sivo and Kelly Knight as candidates for Hopkinton School Committee.

I am writing as a private citizen, but some of your readers may know that I am one of the School Committee members representing Hopkinton on the board of Keefe Tech Regional High School.  I co-chair the Keefe Tech Building Committee; we are in the process of constructing a new $6M roof which will be reimbursed by the MSBA by over 70% of the cost.  Keefe Tech achieved this by doing the research and applying for the right kind of state funding (which is supported by sales tax that we all pay statewide). Hopkinton needs School Committee members who examine all the angles of a situation, and have the professional aptitude to lead and challenge the School Administration to find better ways of meeting our goals.  I see Frank Sivo and Kelly Knight as being the type of professionals who can understand and push for the right things to be done on the School Committee for the benefit of ALL of the citizens of Hopkinton.  Electing both would make a clean break with past politics of exclusion and provide a true independent voice for all of the town.

I believe that Frank and Kelly would both have a positive and professional working relationship with Dr. Mcloud.

Please vote, and join me in electing Frank Sivo and Kelly Knight for School Committee on Monday, May 19th.

Frank D'Urso

April 29, 2014 — He lured her to the Common for a short walk, which led to candles and other surprises; a ring and a proposal this afternoon. To see a short video of who the happy couple is, choose the photo above.

April 29, 2014 — The Learning Center of Hopkinton, according to owner Trish Miller, will be expanding very soon, in this their 14th year teaching and loving the children of Hopkinton. The building is to be constructed to house 30 school-aged children, and according to Ms. Miller, has a target date of September, 2014 for a grand opening.
       The Learning Center also full and half[-day preschool programs as well as summer programs. Please visit the TLC Hopkinton website to learn much more, and read the great things Hopkinton parents are saying about their experiences.

We Still Need Your Help

Hey Middle School families!

We want you participate in our early release program on May 16th. The Parks and Recreation Department, Hopkinton Youth Commission and the Metrowest YMCA are all partnering up for an amazing afternoon. Your child will participate in all the awesome activities that the Hopkinton Family Outdoor Center has to offer. Including team building games, rock climbing, and a pizza party! Buses will pick up the students from the middle school and drop them off at the YMCA Family Outdoor Center in Hopkinton.

Please sign up for this amazing opportunity HERE!

Join us in the Hopkinton High School Auditorium on May 1 for

Master Class for selected Drama Students
with Broadway and Film Actor
Tony Roberts
2:30 PM

HHS Inside the Actors Studio with Tony Roberts
hosted by Valerie von Rosenvinge
7 Pm

Versatility and ability to portray a variety of characters over four decades on stage, screen, and television have made Tony Roberts one of the busiest actors in America. He is a graduate of the High School of Music and Arts, which merged with the High School of Performing Arts to become LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, where he majored in theater and studied acting with Alvina Krause. Tony is the son of Radio and Television announcer Ken Roberts one of the founding members of AFTRA, and has himself served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Screen Actor's Guild and Actor's Equity Association. Tony has appeared in dozens and dozens of films including Annie Hall, Play it Again Sam, Hannah and her Sisters, Stardust Memories, and Midsummer Sex Comedy with his good friend Woody Allen, as well as appearances in countless Broadway productions including Victor Victoria, They’re Playing our Song,
Arsenic and Old Lace, Follies, and South Pacific.

Both events take place in the high school auditorium and are open to the public thanks to a grant from the HPTA.

Hopkinton Middle School Drama Club to present
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR THIS WEEKEND

Matt Fliegauf (center, in white) leads the cast of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, as Jesus.

HOPKINTON, MA. – The Hopkinton Middle School drama club will present the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR this weekend at the middle school auditorium, 88 Hayden Rowe St., Hopkinton.

Shows will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (May 2-3) and 2 p.m. on Sunday (May 4). Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.

One hundred students are in the show: 70 as performers, 30 as crew, said Director Hallyann Gifford. They have been rehearsing since February for the show, which marks the first time that Hopkinton Middle students have performed a rock opera, she said.

Like the school’s acclaimed fall show, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, this rock opera is about faith and hope in the face of oppression and evil, Gifford said. “Together, they create a theme for this whole year: faith, hope and love. I think they complement each other well.”

Gifford, who once portrayed Mary Magdalene, “I’ve always loved the show. It’s an incredibly powerful piece that manages to put electricity into an ancient but timeless story.”

Although JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is about the central figure of Christianity, the show has been performed before in public schools, as it emphasizes historical events, not religion, Gifford said.

“It’s documenting one of the greatest stories in human history and the life of someone pretty much everyone on the planet has heard of, whether or not they are Christian. It’s part of our shared human experience,” she said.

“Thematically, I am hoping that they (the cast and crew) learn about the struggles that these characters faced and how they each reacted to the situations at hand, and how the choices they made influenced not only what happened but what happened then inside each person: the choice Jesus makes to sacrifice himself, the choice Judas makes to betray him, the choice Mary Magdalene makes to stand by him, and all the choices the others make for their own. Ultimately these people as a group made the choice to stand up against a larger oppression -- and to begin a new way of thinking, a new way of living, and all of it based not on hate, but on love,” Gifford said.

Performers include Matt Fliegauf as Jesus, Dan Potapov as Judas, Galen Graham as Pontius Pilate and Brittany Forsmo as Mary Magdalene. Also, AJ Waltzman as Peter, Lucy Medeiros as Peter’s wife, Ian Holmes as Simon Zealotes, Sarah Moschini as Simon’s wife, Zach Ritterbusch as John, and Kaila Goldstein as John’s wife.

The high priests are Matthew Dempsey as Caiaphas, and Lauren Tompkins as Annas. Max Siegfried is Maximilian the Pharisee, and Sam McAuliffe is King Herod.

The show will last approximately two and one-half hours, with intermission.

by Robert Falcione

April 28, 2014 — After tying up some loose ends regarding lighting, grade percentage, curbing and drainage, the Planning Board closed the public hearing for the proposed 14,368 sq. ft. commercial building and development at 42 Main Street, 5 and 7  Walcott Street, and approved the site plan, which is basically an outline of the engineering that will need to be designed in full for the project moving forward.

            The lay of the land slopes downward from Walcott Street, and so the grade at the entrance to one of the parking areas was of concern to the board, but the only solution would have been less pedestrian friendly and less safe, so the board approved it. Lighting was another issue, and Architect Steve Lewis of GRLA assured the board member that the lights would all be the same color temperature.

            The existing retaining wall  is in poor shape and will be torn down, said proponent Greg Mazur, who attended the hearing with his wife Kathy, who will be opening a women's boutique at 5 Walcott Street in an existing office building they purchased, where she has established an office.

            The couple, doing business as MNR Realty, also purchased a home at 7 Walcott Street to use for some of the parking for the project. The home, which is over 75 years old, was imposed a six month demolition delay, something the town can do if it believes there is some intrinsic value to a structure, giving others time to move in and save the structure. No one did. The delay expired earlier this month, and so the next step for that property is to get the utilities certified as shut off, and the permission from the DPW to move forward with the demolition, according to Mr. Mazur.

              With no more boards to get approval from, the next step for the project at large will be to develop finished engineering to present to the Director of Municipal Inspections for a building permit in order to break ground.

              This evening was not without some controversy, however.

             Walcott Street resident Tom Smith led the charge of several of Walcott Street and adjacent-street neighbors who protested the existing traffic flow, and suggested that the one-way aspect of the Walcott and Main Street intersection be made two-way. He even suggested that people not be allowed to turn left out of the proposed businesses and into the neighborhood, but be forced to come out what is currently a one-way. Another neighbor presented a petition with Mr. Smith's signature as well as those of another 50 people.

             The group had previously presented the ideas to the board, which consulted with the engineer for the town as well as for the project. Both engineers said it would be unsafe, according to Board Chairman Ken Weismantel.

             "The traffic engineers confirmed it is the right thing [to keep it the way it is], said member Todd Holbrook.

               Board member Claire Wright, agreeing with the neighbors, gave a speech about elected officials having an obligation to those who elected them.

              "Are you saying you would go against what the consultants say is not safe?" asked member Deb Thomas. 

              "It depends," answered Mrs. Wright. 

              Many in the neighborhood argued that sending more traffic down Walcott Street would make it unsafe, especially for children.

              B Street resident Peter Hebert asked Mr. Weismantel to be sure and show their concerns as part of the minutes.

             This writer, who has had a business at 24 Main Street since 1992, argued that  to let people come out the part that is currently one-way and onto Main Street would create a hazardous situation and cause the need to remove  several parking spaces for line of site for emerging vehicles.

              The board refused to support the proposed change in the existing traffic pattern.

              In another matter, Legacy Farms, wants to trade 200,000 sq. ft. of commercial space for 200 active adult, age-restricted homes on the Wilson Street end of the property.  This evening, the Planning Board voted unanimously to send the necessary zoning changes to Town Meeting for a vote. The Board of Selectmen will continue a review Tuesday evening of the change in zoning and an accompanying amendment to the Host Community Agreement between the Town of Hopkinton and Legacy Farms.

              And speaking of moving forward in the Downtown, Baker Hope Hellberg has her own ideas for 28 Main Street and wants to put them to use soon. To see a larger version of the poster in the window, mouse-over  the image below.     

              In addition, at 30 Main Street, the former Mangia Pizza owner plans to reopen as Vinny's New York Style Pizza sometime soon.

  

April 27, 2014 — The forsythia shrub leaves bloom early, but never look as brilliant on film (or screen) as they do with the naked eye. Wedding colors can be tricky, too. Of the hundreds this writer has photographed, the bride's gown, whether pure white, ivory, cream, a hint of pink, etc., always comes back from our lab printed exactly true to color. Bridesmaids gowns are a different story. So many are a velvety iridescence that is difficult to duplicate, even after sending the lab a swatch for reference.
    The photo of the  forsythia above is displaying electronically added saturation of yellow to attempt to duplicate what the human eye sees naturally. Photo contributed by Alan Sung.

April 26, 2014 — An individual called (6:20 p.m.) to say that an area in Berry Acres where his son had a fire yesterday was now the scene of a tree on fire. From the sound of radio transmissions, just one tree was burning. Above, a crew enters the woods led by one of the subjects as other firefighters strategized to transport men and equipment to the scene. At this moment, 6:52 p.m., firefighters on the scene called for the Tree Warden to respond with a large chain saw.

April 26, 2014 — School Committee candidate Lori Nickerson and her entourage had the main intersection in town all to themselves on Saturday, and stayed past 2:00 pm, waving to passersby and speaking with others who walked by.

One week ago Elmwood School students were treated to a cultural exchange with Kenyan athletes, a rally, lectures, and for some, a run around the school parking lot with the elite Kenyan Boston Marathon runners, including the eventual female winner, Rita Jeptoo. In the video, see some of the students react to the excitement, and see all of the elite runners introduced. Then see the joint run.

Click above to go to HopNews/SmugMug and view the video and option to download. P.S. You can view full screen, too.

April 25, 2014 — According to Director of Land Use and Planning Elaine Lazarus, in the first three months of 2013 only 5 building permits were issued for non-apartment dwellings, but so far this year, 26 have been issued. What is notable about this slice of history is that of number, 15 were for Pulte homes at Legacy Farms.

ABSENTEE BALLOT NOTICE
Annual Town Election
May 19, 2014

The May 19, 2014 Town Election Absentee Ballots are now available at the Town Clerk’s Office. Please call 508-497-9710 for more information or email Geri Holland, Town Clerk, at geri@hopkintonma.gov  or Brenda McCann, Assistant Town Clerk, at bmccann@hopkintonma.gov .

Absentee ballots are for those registered voters will be unable to vote at the polls on election day due to: (1) absence from town during normal polling hours; or (2) physical disability preventing you from going to the polling place; or (3) religious belief.

April 25, 2014 — All occupants got out okay, and some time later, Building Inspector Michael Shepard rescued a cat from the building before it was fully boarded up. Some people are seeking to help the family who has been displaced. More on that later.