4. Todaro property, another 20+ acres on Hayden Rowe, just south of Irvine and abutting Water fresh farm.

January 4, 2015 — These boats at Hopkinton State Park eagerly await the next season, when the colors of Spring will compete with theirs. The colors in the photo above have been  saturated electronically for richer color, as photographers did with filters and chemicals in the darkroom prior to digital imaging.

January 4, 2015 — At first glance, it appears someone may have violated the sign on the pole, but these officers were waiting for a trooper with a canine to arrive, and inspected the vehicle while they waited. The driver was keeping warm in a cruiser as police looked over his car, which appears to be a Ford Crown Victoria, the first choice for years of not only police departments, but drug runners and police impersonators as well. Three State Police cruisers and three Hopkinton Police cruisers were on scene.

January 4, 2015 — Alina,  a stray cat so-named by the good people at BayPath Humane society, belongs in a one-cat household, says BayPath manager Liz Jefferis. The cat is very friendly and affectionate, but strayed from her home. She is spayed, has her shots and is in good health, says Ms. Jefferis. The 5-7 year-old may be adopted by calling 508-435-6938 and passing muster with the fussy BayPath staff. BayPath was the subject of CBS-4 Boston this morning. See the video below:

January 3, 2015 — BayPath Humane Society, 203 Pond Street and the Pratt Farm (above) are on the Selectmen's executive session agenda for Tuesday night.
On Tuesday, the Selectmen will be informing the public about the Elementary School Building Committee's public workshop on January 24, 2015, where they will discuss four locations and several options for those locations as a replacement/expansion for Center School as it currently exists.

BOSTON – Friday, January 2nd, 2015 – Governor Deval Patrick’s political committee today announced that he will host a celebratory open house reception at the State House this Sunday as his term comes to a close. The event is free and open to the public but tickets are required. It will be an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the past 8 years of the Patrick Administration. 
 
The evening’s open house will also include the unveiling of the Governor’s official portrait, that was painted by renowned artist Simmie Knox. The portrait will join those of other recent Governors in the entryway to the Governor’s office. 
 
The General Hooker entrance at the State House will open at 4:00PM, and the portrait will be unveiled during the event, which will begin at 5:00PM at the bottom of the Grand Staircase. This event is open to the press. 

WHAT: Governor Patrick welcomes public for open house celebration and portrait unveiling

WHERE: State House, Boston

WHEN: Sunday, January 4th, 2015 - General Hooker Entrance Opens to the Public at 4:00PM

January 2, 2015 — New Outdoor Rink will be OPEN for skating on Tuesday, January 6th, if the weather forecast stays the same. Please check HopNews as well as Hopkinton Parks and Rec Facebook page. The rink has been constructed on top of the basketball courts in front of the Middle School.

January 2, 2014 — On Friday January 2, 2015 at approximately 3:34 pm, the Hopkinton Police, as a result of a 911 call from a party walking their dog, responded to a report of a possible gunshot victim in the Hopkinton State Park. Upon arrival Officers found a male party suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The subject, age 55, was administered first aid by the Officers as well as the Hopkinton Fire Department Paramedics. The male party was transported to UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester. The original caller had no connections to the victim.

Detectives from Hopkinton, Ashland and the Massachusetts State Police are investigating the incident. The subject's name is being withheld.

NOTE: Below, Hopkinton Police Sgt. John Porter leads the  hurried group assisting the injured patient to the ambulance. HopNews photo.

January 2, 2014 — According to an individual walking a dog that began acting cautiously on a trail, it was because they would come upon a man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the heart. The dog, she said, was reacting to the overwhelming scent of blood.
         She called out to a man walking nearby to use his cellphone — both are Hopkinton residents who use the resources of the park  — and he called police who dispatched cruisers at 3:36 pm and informed the Hopkinton Fire Department, who dispatched emergency personnel immediately..
         He told a reporter that the man, who was alive, had a gunshot wound to the heart and was covered in blood.
         Hopkinton emergency personnel, police and fire, were first on the scene, followed by Ashland Police and State Police.

         Above, police assist fire department personnel, who stabilized their patient and left for UMass Worcester trauma center at 3:53 pm. They arrived at 4:16 pm. 

        The incident occurred west of the boat rental in an area that is often confusing to jurisdictions — most of Hopkinton State Park is actually in Ashland — but the Town of Hopkinton website features among its offerings property lookups, with a shift to Google. And this area, according to a Google overhead with town line included as shown below (North to South), is undoubtedly in Hopkinton. The blue X in the clearing on the Hopkinton side of the line marks the area where the incident occurred.

         The investigation continues,  but authorities are not saying whether or not it was accidental. Facebook and Twitter followers received alerts.

January 1, 2015 — At 11:17 a.m. today, Trooper Christopher Keyes, assigned to the State Police Barracks in Millbury, responded to calls for a two-car crash on Route 495 northbound in Milford. When Trooper Keyes arrived at the scene of the crash he located a male subject attempting to stop vehicles and enter them, in what appeared to be an attempt to flee the scene of a crash. Trooper Keyes attempted to first get the man out of the roadway, but when the man failed to comply with his instructions he attempted to arrest the man.

A violent struggle ensued as Trooper Keyes attempted to place the man, later identified as CHRISTOPHER DUNBAR, a 24-year-old from Manchester Connecticut, under arrest. Once Trooper Keyes was able to handcuff Mr. DUNBAR he placed him in the rear of his State Police cruiser. DUNBAR proceeded to kick the rear window of the cruiser out, and during the course of another struggle, kicked Trooper Keyes.

Trooper Keyes investigation indicates that DUNBAR struck a pickup truck from behind and then fled into the woods before reemerging and making attempts to force his way into vehicles slowing for the crash. No injuries were reported by the driver of the vehicle that was struck. DUNBAR was transported to the State Police Barracks in Millbury where he was booked.

DUNBAR was charged with the following: Operating Under the Influence of Drugs, Assault and Battery on a Police Officer, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon – Shod Foot, Carjacking, Malicious Destruction of Property Over $250, Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident, Disorderly Conduct, and Following Too Close. There was also a warrant for his arrest. MSP Press Release

December 31, 2014 — Just after 2:00 p.m. today, State Police from the Charlton Barracks responded to a crash involving a tractor-trailer rollover on Route 90 in Charlton near the Auburn town line. Information collected in the investigation by Trooper Ronald Ramos indicates that 43-year-old Lee Finkley of Fayetteville, North Carolina was traveling on Route 90 westbound in a 2014 Freightliner tractor-trailer when he lost control of the vehicle, causing it to rollover the median guardrail. The tractor came to rest in the left travel lane of the westbound side, while the trailer came to rest on the eastbound side, blocking the two left travel lanes. As a result of the crash, one of the saddle tanks ruptured on the tractor, leaking approximately 100 gallons of diesel fuel on the ground.

Finkley was transported to UMass Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. The cause of this crash remains under investigation with assistance from the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section. Also assisting on scene were Charlton Fire and Rescue, Mass DOT, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

December 29, 2014 — Hopkinton native Josh Hanna, a Hopkinton High School graduate who is now an Assistant Principal at that very school, would like to honor other HHS grads who have achieved notable accomplishments.  He is leading the endeavor with the support of the Hopkinton Education Foundation, the HPTA, and the 300th Anniversary Committee. The criteria for nominations is:

     • Graduated from the High School 10 or more years ago.

     • Demonstrated a high level of achievement, made significant contributions to work, home, community, and volunteer efforts.

      • Exhibited leadership, character and service.

      Please visit the website to nominate your selection for this special honor. 

      Nominate your HHS Grad here before April 30, 2015.