November 18, 2014 — According to a Purchase and Sale Agreement delivered to the Town of Hopkinton between John Coolidge  and wife Anne Richards with Diamond Builders, Inc. of Canton, they are selling their 40+ acre lot approved for a 12-home subdivision for $2 million, of which $1 million will be paid upon delivery of 4 lots of the 12-lot subdivision, and the other million taken back as a note by Coolidge/Richards. The note will be paid from the proceeds of the sale of the other 8 lots, as they sell. Mr. Coolidge has been trying to sell the property to the Town, and has at least one conservation group, Sudbury Valley Trustees, in his corner with a pitch to possibly award 7%, $150 k, toward the purchase price. The trustees  do not meet again for a formal vote until February 20, 2015, three weeks before the Town's right of first refusal expires.

           The letter, received by the Town on November 14, 2014, begins the clock ticking on a 120-day window the town has to purchase the land, with its right of first refusal, because it has had the advantage of being taxed as forestry land, at a lower tax rate.

          The property was offered to the town for purchase in 2012, also as a Chapter 61 right of first refusal. Owners of Chapter 61 land who get a valid offer to purchase, must give the town a chance to match the offer. Mr. Coolidge said at a meeting in 2013 that they informed the Town of Hopkinton of the receipt of a Purchase and Sale agreement in 2012. Town Counsel subsequently determined that it was not a valid offer, because it had too many conditions. Then in 2013, the Coolidge/Richards team, working on their own, got a concept plan approved by the Planning Board, and this year had the site plan approved.

          Town Counsel has 30 days in which to determine if the current P&S is a bona fide offer that the Town can match. While Town Counsel determines if it is a valid offer, the 120-day clock continues to tick.

           As a member of the Planning Board, Mr. Coolidge, who has an approved development plan for his property, championed the purchase of the Lake Whitehall property from Bob Shepard to stop the development of homes on the opposite side of Lake Whitehall.

           Advocates of the Town's purchase of the 44-acre property, conservationists, friends and neighbors,  argue that it is valuable land. Others, who would like a development to move forward argue that the Town will get 34 acres of open space as part of the 12-unit development; and so why would the town spend $2 million for the other 10 acres, they ask. To counter that argument, the advocates have then said that the land the Town gets as open space, the 34 acres, has little value, tacitly agreeing that it is the 10 acres with the $2 million cost/value.

            Selectmen have the matter up for discussion at 7:15 pm on this evening's agenda, and note it for discussion as well as ACTION.

November 17, 2014 — Holliston, MA –From L to R, Sergeant Matt Stone, Lieutenant Craig Denman, Representative Carolyn Dykema, Chief John Moore, Lieutenant Dave Gatchell, and Officer Dan Griffith catch up on community issues at Coffee with a Cop this past weekend at Coffee Haven.

The Coffee with a Cop program gives residents a chance to meet the Holliston Police Department and learn about their work in the community in a relaxed environment as a way to build stronger relationships between the police force and residents in Town. Contributed content.

November 17, 2014 — These unfortunate critters are laying on the southbound side of the road on Cedar Street almost directly across from the Hopkinton State Park entrance, and have been for several days. No blood or guts. In fact, they are so clean, they look like plush toy animals. Inasmuch as bicyclists use the part of the roadway on the other side of the fog line, they need be especially cautious in this area, or get thrown for a loop. Photo taken Saturday, November 15. Raccoons were still there at 4:00 pm today.

November 17, 2014 — Above is the Veterans Memorial Gazebo, which was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1988 after a fundraising effort by the late  Ernie Fecteau. The structure was not kept up very well, and was demolished in October of 2008 (See video). A fundraising effort led to the construction and dedication of a new gazebo designed by world renown Gorman Richardson Architects and dedicated on Memorial Day, May 25, 2009 (See video, part II), equipped with a new sound system, also donated. The new Veteran's Memorial Gazebo fits the needs of an aging veterans' population with an integrated handicap ramp, as well as the younger ones, with a state of the art Bose sound system. Hopkinton resident and veteran Don Creswell "Banged every nail..." of the old one himself. The new one was built by Hopkinton resident Chris Nation of 20th Century Homes, builders of Ravenwood, Valleywood, Connelly Hills and other fine Hopkinton neighborhoods. The new gazebo is expected to last 50 years with little or no maintenance.

Emergency, dial 911 • • Non-emergency, PD dial 508-497-3401, FD dial 508-497-2323

Monday, November 17, 2014

Summary

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

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

4 Motor Vehicle/Person/Home Checks.

1 Motor Vehicle Accident without personal injury.

1 Disabled Motor Vehicle.

2 Times the Police assisted with an Animal Call.

1 Time the Police participated in Community Relations or passenger safety.

Incident Log

Sunday, November 16, 2014

9:17 pm A walk-in from Kimball Road spoke with Officer John Corridan regarding signs being taken off of his property.

7:54 pm A 911 caller from Hayden Rowe Street reported that her boyfriend and cousin were on the floor fighting. Officer Gregg DeBoer responded and transported one male to his parent's residence on Lumber Street.

5:30 pm A 911 caller from Thayer Heights Road reported the smell of burning plastic in their house (Photo, below). Officer Gregg DeBoer responded to assist the Fire Department.

4:55 pm The Holliston Police Department requested assistance looking for a man with an ax that fled on foot in the Hanlon Road and Marshall Street area. Officer Matthew McNeil responded to assist in the search.

4:15 pm A resident of First Road reported that there was a dirt bike riding up and down the street. Officer Matthew McNeil checked the area with a negative find.

1:39 pm A 911 caller reported an outside fire on Winter Street. The Southborough Police Department was notified.

10:58 am A walk-in spoke with Officer Stephen Buckley regarding an issue that they had with an attendant of a West Main Street gas station. They stated that the attendant refused to pump the gas after giving him two dollars for gas.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

10:53 pm A motorists reported an erratic operator on Main Street. Officer Arthur Schofield checked the area with a negative find on the vehicle.

9:30 pm A resident of Meadowland Drive reported that a vehicle was parked in the cul-de-sac with its lights on. Officer William Burchard responded and advised that no one was in the vehicle and it appeared that a residence was hosting a get together.

6:37 pm An Oakhurst Road resident reported that she could see a fire on Downey Street and it looked like an entire yard was on fire. Two officers responded to assist the Fire Department and advised that it was determined to be a brush/camp fire.

3:51 pm A walk-in reported finding a wallet and giving it to the owner's mother.

12:52 pm A caller from Yale Road reported an issue with the use of his vehicle. Officer Philip Powers responded and spoke with him.

12:31 pm The Ashland Police Department reported a hit and run in their town and the vehicle involved came back to a resident of East Main Street. Officer Stephen Buckley responded to the residence but was unable to make contact with anyone because no one was home.

10:22 am A caller reported that someone tore up the grass at the cemetery on Mount Auburn Street sometime between 2:00pm yesterday and 10:00am today. Officer Stephen Buckley responded and advised that the damage was caused by someone doing “donuts” but was unable to identify the tire tracks.

9:18 am A motorist stated that while he was dropping off his daughter for cheerleading practice on Hayden Rowe Street he saw a Chevy sedan parked at the end of the bus loop. Officer Stephen Buckley advised that there was a Special Olympics event at the school.

Friday, November 14, 2014

8:52 pm Officer Arthur Schofield checked and secured a Church Street business that had a door left open.

8:44 pm Officer Arthur Schofield checked and secured a building on Main Street that had an open door.

8:17 pm A caller from South Street reported that his passenger side window was broken and his laptop along with his iPad was stolen. Officer William Burchard responded and wrote a report.

10:03 am Three 911 callers reported that a motor vehicle hit a tree on School Street due to a deer running into the roadway. Officer Stephen Buckley responded to assist and advised that the operator was transported to the hospital.

November 15, 2014 — The low late afternoon sun carves out three dimensions of light and shadow out  of  the southern side of Hopkinton Reservoir, while the evergreens, as well as the oaks, ever reluctant to give up their leaves, peek out over the canopy.

November 15, 2014 — The Hopkinton Public Library will have one more day of selling used books to the pubic. On Sunday, November 16, 2014 between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, pick up a grocery bag (empty one provided) full of used books of your own choosing for only $5.

November 15, 2014 — Above, the Girls Volleyball Team hoots and hollers out the windows of their bus proclaiming victory while getting a Police and Fire Department escort from Route 495 through Downtown Hopkinton on the way to the High School to disembark. The score was 3-0 in Hopkinton's favor. Anyone with a decent photo is welcome to email it to Editor@HopNews.com .

November 15, 2014 — For decades, thieves have broken into vehicles parked in lots on South Street at one eatery or another. Many of the vehicle owners apparently work on South Street, because their laptop computers, GPS devices and tablets are the things taken in what can be described as a smash and grab robbery. A thief or two hits the window with a tool made to shatter it in less than a second, and they take what is on or behind the seat, or on the floor. Because victims are parking in the shadows, and even with tinted windows, they apparently believe that thieves cannot see into their vehicles. Flashlights! The thieves apparently light the interior to determine if valuables are in plain view, and then smash the glass and grab the goods, because in all cases, the vehicles broken into suffered the loss of a computer or other electronic device. The operation takes seconds.
       And so the unsolicited HopNews advice to readers, and be sure family members and friends know, is to not only lock the vehicles, but before leaving the work parking lot, put the computer, tablet and GPS in the trunk, and then go have a nice meal or after work get-together. Above, Hopkinton Police investigate a vehicle break-in on South Street early last night.

November 14, 2014 —Christine Snow shares this photo of a pair of mute swans in a mirror image point of view taken from her special vantage point on Lake Maspenock.

Emergency, dial 911 • • Non-emergency, PD dial 508-497-3401, FD dial 508-497-2323

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Arrests

9:17 pm Officer William Burchard Placed Edwyn R Sanchez, 35, of Franklin Street, Milford in custody on Main Street and charged him with Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License.

 

Incidents

1:41 pm Officer Patrick O'Brien checked vehicles parked the wrong way, but determined it was okay.

1:36 pm An individual found an iPhone on Wood Street.

12:58 pm Detective Timothy Brennan began an investigation of a Larceny by Check that occurred at a business on West Main Street.

12:13 pm A woman called to complain she was passed by a vehicle that crossed over the double yellow line. No accident occurred.

12:08 pm Officer O'Brien looked for a dog reported to be stuck in a chain link fence, but the dog was gone upon arrival.

11:06 am Officer Gregg DeBoer transported an individual to Milford Court as a courtesy.

9:41 am An individual received a call at work answered by someone in his office that threatened him. A quick investigation revealed it was an extortion scam, claiming the man's father had been kidnapped. He was not.

7:14 am A caller reported hitting a deer and and injuring its legs. Officer DeBoer was dispatched to dispatch the deer, and a nearby resident took the carcass.(Editor's Note: The Police Department has a call list with names of people who want the meat.).

6:33 am Officer Linda Higgins, responding the the report of a man slumped over his steering wheel on Main Street did not find the vehicle.

1:25 am Officer John Moran checked on an unoccupied  vehicle on Rafferty Road.