Emergency, dial 911, Non-emergency, dial 508-497-3401

NOTE: HopNews now summarizes the lesser calls.

November 17, 2014 — The Hopkinton Board of Selectmen honored two Boy Scouts last night for having achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Above are Selectman Vice-chair John Mosher, Selectman Michele Gates, Eagle Scout John Patrick McCabe, Eagle Scout Michael Protas, Selectman Chair Todd Cestari and Selectman John Coutinho.

November 5, 2014 — At first glance on Bloods Pond, words like "anaconda" and "python" come to mind. But after a longer look, the HopNess Monster begins to look more like a discarded inflatable or plush toy giraffe.

Emergency, dial 911, Non-emergency, dial 508-497-3401

NOTE: HopNews now summarizes the lesser calls.

Summary

The Hopkinton Police were involved in the following incidents, which are not included in the detail report below.

3 Times the Police assisted the Fire Department, another department, town, or outside Police agency.

2 Motor Vehicle/Person/Home Checks.

3 Motor Vehicle Accidents without personal injury.

4 Times the Police assisted with an Animal Call.

Arrest Log

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

6:21 am Officer Jacob Campbell arrested Segundo B. Chuma, 27, of Cherry Street, Milford, on West Main Street and charged him with Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Speeding.

Incident Log

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

8:42 pm A caller from Benson Road reported hearing fireworks going off. Three officers checked the area but did not hear any fireworks.

1:45 pm A resident of Yale Road spoke with Officer Stephen Buckley regarding a stolen check.

9:44 am An Ash Street resident reported that he believed his sister was kidnapped. He heard her yell his name and saw a car leave the area. Officer Stephen Buckley responded and advised that her mother came home a short time later and stated that a friend was going to pick her up for an event.

6:21 am Officer Jacob Campbell stopped a motor vehicle on West Main Street and subsequently arrested a 27 year-old male from Milford and charged him with Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Speeding.

Monday, November 3, 2014

3:48 pm A resident of Connelly Hill Road reported that his son lost his cell phone on Halloween.

7:54 am A motorist reported that she was just side swiped by another vehicle on West Main Street and when they pulled over the other operator starting yelling and swearing at her. Officer David Shane responded and wrote a report.

12:55 am A Winter Street resident reported that three guys were outside with blue, red and white lights. Officer John Moran checked the area and advised that the caller just saw a reflector on a rock.

Photo: Officer Philip Powers responded to a rear-end collision at the crosswalk on Main Street at Church between a small dump tuck and a van that was stopped at the crosswalk. The driver of the dump truck was issued a warning for driving with an expired license and for not taking care in stopping.

November 5, 2014 — US Representative Joe Kennedy III and State Rep Carolyn Dykema, both Democrats, share a laugh late afternoon yesterday while the polls were still open. Congressman Kennedy won his seat without an opposing candidate, and Carolyn Dykema won her seat against novice Patricia Vanaria, a Hopkinton resident who had a strong showing in Hopkinton for a first time candidate.

November 4, 2014 — Channel 5 (8:09 pm) has declared Ed Markey the winner in the contest for Senate against Hopkinton's Brian Herr. Above, Election Warden Jack Palitsch declares the polls closed at 8:00 pm, while School Resource Officer Philip Powers looks on.

           Carolyn Dykema, a Holliston resident, won in Hopkinton over Hopkinton resident Patricia Vanaria 3,184 to 2861 in the race for State Representative for the Eighth Middlesex District. She likely won Holliston, too.

             Hometown favorite for US Senate Brian Herr turned out to be just that, winning over sitting Senator Ed Markey 3,677 to 2,474 in Hopkinton. Immediately following the closing of the polls, HopNews received word that Ed Markey had been declared the winner by WCVB.

              Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker came out on top in Hopkinton over Martha Coakley 3,751 to 2,446.

              State Senator Karen Spilka and US Congressman Joe Kennedy, both incumbents, won their seats unopposed. The above are unofficial results.

               The entire town results from the Clerk's office after they are received.

November 4, 2014 — It appears US Congressman Joe Kennedy III is having a serious discuss with Georgio Vasilakeris at Bill's Pizza this afternoon as State Senator Karen Spilka, left in photo, and State Rep Carolyn Dykema look on.

November 11, 2014 — The plan to develop the site of the current Golden Spoon at 85 West Main Street moved forward this evening as the Planning Board worked with the developer to formulate the overall design.

          After receiving comments from BETA Group, the town's peer review engineers, following the previous meeting, the developer's engineers, Bohler Engineering, reduced the size of one of the tenant's floor spaces by 12% to accommodate a future right turn lane from West Main onto Lumber Street.

          "Why don't they just build the lane," asked Planning Board member Francis DeYoung of the Chairman.

          "Because providing the lane is sufficient," replied Chairman Ken Weismantel. The applicant actually provided 12' for the lane, rather than the 10' required, in case traffic engineers at a later date wanted to make it a through-lane, too. The dotted line in the plan below indicates the easement offered for the lane.

           There is currently no sidewalk onto the property, and Mr. Weismantel noted there is one on the plan that goes around the proposed Starbucks, but no further. He asked the proponents to continue it the the southern edge of the property, and they agreed.

            The Planning Board was satisfied that conservation and storm water requirements were met, as well as parking.

            "It is reassuring they have enough spaces," said Mr. Weismantel. 

            Member Claire Wright was aghast that the lighting might be tall enough for someone to look up and see the actual light source, but the proponent presented a good case for keeping them as planned, and the other members of the board agreed in a straw poll.

            The board decided to send a letter to the Board of Appeals, which is hearing concurrent pleas for relief from some zoning requirements, saying that the revised plan is acceptable to the Planning Board.

             The board continued the Public hearing until December 1, 2014 at 9:15 pm.

             

Planning Board Member Resigns,
Prepares Lawsuit Against Town of Hopkinton

November 3,  2014 — In a telephone interview this morning, Planning Board member Todd Holbrook confirmed that he has submitted a letter of resignation to the town, effective last Friday, and made known his intention to file suit against the Town of Hopkinton over the designation of Rice Street, where he resides, as a private road that will no longer be plowed and maintained.
       "They [Selectmen] came up with a policy for [road] ways that are not accepted,: he said. "They classified Rice Street as a private way."
        "We'd been fighting over Rice Street for 18 months now, and it came to a head with Selectmen. They treat it as a public way when it suits their purposes. Before a neighbor moved in, the former DPW Director issued a statement to the bank saying, 'We are maintaining the road'."

          "They have also used the road as a detour when work was being done on [connecting] roads. They even forced residents to remove speed bumps that were installed."

           Mr. Holbrook said he is looking for a declaratory judgment, one in which the court would confirm that the road is in fact a public way, because it has been treated as such.

          He said that once his document is ready to file, he will give the Selectmen  another shot at it, because he doesn't want to cost the town any money. But why resign?

           "The Mass conflict of interest laws do not allow me to be an elected official and sue the town at the same time," he said. Mr. Holbrook (File Photo) was elected to the Planning Board at the 2013 election.

           Mr. Holbrook is an attorney licensed to practice in Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

NOTE Facebook and Twitter followers received alerts for this story.

Winter Parking Ban

The DPW wishes to remind all Hopkinton residents of By-Laws pertaining to the parking of motor vehicles during the winter months.

Traffic Rules and Orders, Town of Hopkinton, Article lV, Section 8 “It shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle, other than for an emergency, to park said vehicle on any street between the hours of 1:00am to 6:00am from November 15 through April 1.

Article X, Section 1 By-Laws Town of Hopkinton
The Highway Manager, for the purpose of removing or plowing snow, or removing the ice from any way shall be authorized to remove or cause to be removed to some convenient place, including in such term a public garage, any vehicle interfering with such work. The owner of any vehicle so removed shall be liable for the cost of such removal, and for the storage charges, if any, resulting therefrom. The Highway Manager, whenever any vehicle is so removed, shall notify the Police Department and said Department shall render all necessary assistance to the Highway Manager in enforcing this by-law.

Article 3
No person shall pile, push, throw, shovel, plow or by any other method or means cause snow to be deposited or placed on any public roadway or sidewalk of the Town so as to impede, obstruct or interrupt or otherwise adversely affect the unrestricted flow of traffic or the safe travel of any pedestrian on such roadway or sidewalk. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to any person in the employ of the Town, or in the employ of an independent contractor, which has been hired by the Town for the purpose of snow removal. Whoever violates this section shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding twenty-five dollars for each such violation. Each instance of such conduct shall constitute a separate violation of this By-Law.

The DPW would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

Mike Mansir
Highway Manager

November 2, 2014 — This politician on Halloween in Colella's rear lot made sure his message about voting on Tuesday was loud and clear. He commandeered the photographer for a publicity photo, and was certain to shake his hand and encourage him to vote before, we believe, he set out looking for babies to kiss. The Vineyard Church held a tailgate-style Halloween trick or treat in the lot. This boy was part of it, as was the tailgate crowd below.     The cashier at Colella's, left inset below, is dressed as a character from an Anime movie, Attack on Titan.


 

November 2, 2015 — These cormorants on Pout Rock in Lake Maspenock last week are undoubtedly aware of the lowering water level, even without needing to see the high water mark on the rock or the shore.

POLITICAL LETTERS CUT-OFF    

As HopNews does each election cycle on the weekend before an election, we now declare a random cut off of political Letters to the Editor. Unfortunately, we have seen a one-sided opinion on the candidates and the issues in the Letters Department. It is a little less so on Quality Conversations, but nonetheless, a lackluster campaign regardless.

 

As usual, the Editor may express an opinion or two as an individual on Quality Conversations, but endorsements of candidates or opinions on issues are seldom if ever expressed in the main body of HopNews. We leave that to the readers,  who were few in sending letters this election.

 

It is often true that letters are sent in by people connected to a candidate or party — Hopkinton is one of the few towns with party designations on the ballot — but even the usual crowd has not made its opinions known.

October 31, 2014 — These various costumed tykes from Building Blocks Academy had a great time trick or treating at Golden Pond Assisted Living this morning.

October 31, 2014 — Above, Peter LaGoy, Project manager for Hopkinton's newest portion of the Upper Charles Rail Trail speaks to a gathering of dignitaries and volunteers prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony across from Hopkinton Lumber. Below, volunteer Brian Sulfaro, who Mr. LaGoy singled out for the most lavish praise among a dozen people he named, cuts the ribbon this morning. Prior to the ceremony, Mr. LaGoy's wife, Amanda Maffei sang her own version, "This Trail is Your Trail," of a familiar song by Woody Guthrie. Choose thumbnail for a screenshot of the trail map.