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Adam R. Smith, 33

Adam R. Smith, 33, of Sarasota, FL and formerly of Hopkinton, MA, passed away Monday, January 26, 2015 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at this time and are under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton.

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HMS Assistant Principal Maryellen Grady
to Run 2015 Boston Marathon for
Sky’s the Limit Courtyard Project

 On April 20th 2015 Maryellen Grady will lace up her running shoes to benefit the Sky’s the Limit Courtyard Project.

Grady, the driving force behind the Hopkinton Middle School courtyard project, is doing her part to raise the funds needed to transform the unused courtyard into a vibrant, outdoor learning space.

“This is the perfect opportunity to combine two of my goals,” said Grady. “I’ve had a dream to officially run the Boston Marathon and to see the Sky’s the Limit Courtyard completed. I thought, ‘If I’m going to run the marathon, now’s the perfect time!’”

With the Sky’s the Limit Courtyard Project in its final fundraising push, and her 60th birthday this year, Maryellen is motivated and ready for the challenge. She has been secretly training since July and recently announced that she would like to run for the courtyard.

The Sky’s the Limit Courtyard Committee is thrilled that Grady is their 2015 Marathon runner. “Maryellen embodies what it means to set a goal and work tirelessly to achieve it. Her long term commitment to the courtyard project and subsequent training for the marathon are truly inspirational,” said Kim Pucci, The Sky’s the Limit Courtyard Committee Co-chair.

Maryellen grew up in Framingham where she celebrated Marathon Monday with her family as a major holiday every year. When she was in elementary school she told her girlfriends, that she would run the Boston Marathon one day. They told her she was crazy, because at the time, women were not allowed to run. She trained and ran it twice as a bandit in 1994 and 1995. Her girlfriends were at the finish line cheering her on. Undoubtedly, they will be there again this year again celebrating as she crosses with The Sky’s the Limit bib proudly pinned to her jersey.

Phase One of the The Sky’s the Limit Courtyard, which allows access to the space by installing three sets of doors and all the associated work, is complete. Fundraising for Phase Two, installing the inner courtyard features, is well underway. Ms. Grady’s marathon run will help the Courtyard Project cross the finish line!

Donations to support Maryellen Grady’s run for the Sky’s the Limit Courtyard can be made at:

http://www.dedicatingdollars.com/donate/pc/sky-s-the-limit-f558.htm

March 3, 2015 Town Meeting to Decide Fate of 203 Pond Street Purchase

January 27, 2015 — According to an email from the Town Manager's Office,  the Board opened a special town meeting warrant for a special town meeting to be scheduled on March 3rd, 2015. Approved 2-1. (No: Mr. Palleiko). Note: the special town meeting warrant will close ten (10) business days after publication in a local newspaper.
        "Mr. Cestari and Mr. Coutinho recused themselves from public discussion due to individual conflicts of interest," says the email.

       Editor's Note: The estate of Mr. Coutniho's recently departed mother is a direct abutter to a piece of property offered to the town by the estate of  Ora Cheney, on condition that the town purchase the 203 Pond Street property in its entirety. Below is a map from the town's website (see  live  map) that shows the adjacent Coutinho property and  the proximity of the Cestari property to the Cheney property.

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      Okay, here is what has been happening. The webcam was kicking off every night. People asked why the webcam was not streaming like it used to. We called the internet provider who said, "I don't know what it could be. There have been no outages  in your area." That was two years ago. Fast forward to the present.
      For three days we have been getting an extremely slow upload from our connection as well as an immediate boot off from the web cam, which prompted another call to customer service last night, who ran a test.
     "There was a 10% packet loss," she said after conducting her first test. "A technician needs to go to your location." He was waiting at the door when I arrived this morning, shortly before 9:00 am.

      He confirmed there was a problem, and admitted it was the provider's equipment that was the problem. 

      The webcam now streams without interruption, at least for the time being. To bring attention to this,  we will be having giveaways.

       Here's how today's giveaway worked:

      "If you are watching when I come on the web cam and give a code, you will be prompted to be the first to  email Editor@HopNews.com and win yourself $25

      "Understand that we will soon be providing more content via webcam, and will continue to do our best to get it right before moving forward. Thanks for reading.  And check the webcam sometime this afternoon.

       "Hint: I will not come on unless 8 current viewers are on at once."

       Elise Kiszla was the first to email the code, which gets her a check for $25. Keep your ears and eyes open for more giveaways. 

This is Cathy MacLeod, Superintendent of the Hopkinton Public Schools.

All schools will be closed tomorrow [Tuesday] and all after-school activities and evening activities are cancelled.

There will also be no evening activities after 5:00 pm today, Monday, January 26th.
Thank you

SERVICE GUIDE
   
       

Heidi L. Bobeck, 59

Heidi L. Bobeck, 59, of Hopkinton passed away January 23, 2015 at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Born in Clinton, MA. she was the daughter of the late Marion (Lockhart) and Dr. Charles F. Bobeck.

Heidi was a 1973 graduate of Hopkinton High School and a 1977 graduate of the University of Vermont. She was formerly employed by Boston Children's Hospital, where she was a well respected medical researcher specializing in molecular genetics and cancer research.

She is survived by her sister Heather Munroe and her husband Adam and nephew Aidan of Hopkinton, her aunts Mrs. Robert Bobeck of Framingham, Mrs. Mildred Alzapiedi of Sterling, Mrs. Nancy Williams of Atwater Ohio, and her aunt & uncle Mr. and Mrs. Albert Innamorati of Stowe, Vermont. She also leaves behind several cousins and step niece and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 29 from 4-6pm at the Chesmore  Funeral Home of Hopkinton, 57 Hayden Rowe St. A private, graveside burial will take place at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Clinton on Friday, January 30th. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Epilepsy Foundation
of New England, EFNE, 540 Gallivan Blvd., 2nd floor Boston, Ma. 02124 or to The Medical Intensive Care Fund at Brigham & Women's Hospital 116 Huntington Ave, Boston Ma. 02116.

This is Fire Chief / Emergency Management Director Ken Clark. A quick message related to the impending winter blizzard severe weather event. The Hopkinton Emergency Management Group has met and plans are in place to deal with the anticipated effects of this event. With the potential of more than two feet of snow and winds gusting to 60 MPH we ask all residents to take the appropriate steps to ready themselves. Your Public Safety Agencies request your assistance in the following area(s); during the event avoid non essential travel, insure vehicles are secured off the roadways to facilitate snow removal operations, vehicles parked on any public way that impedes snow removal operations may be ticketed and towed. In case of any power outages keep you cell phone charged to receive additional event related CodeRed alerts. Insure all heating appliance vents are clear of snow and be sure to run all fuel powered equipment in well ventilated area to alleviate any potential carbon monoxide emergencies. An emergency sheltering facility is available on an as needed basis for Hopkinton residents. Please call 911 for any emergency assistance you may require during this severe weather event. Additional emergency preparedness information is available at www.hopkintonma.gov/emergency .

Please Help To Keep Hydrants Clear

The Water and Fire Department requests your assistance, in maintaining accessibility to the town's fire hydrants, for the safety and protection of everyone. During the winter hydrants can become buried by snow during a storm. If you have a fire hydrant that that is near your home, please help us make it visible and accessible to the Fire Department for use in an emergency. Precious seconds can be lost, searching for the hydrant or removing snow to gain access to it. Talk with your neighbors about taking turns shoveling around the hydrant in winter. Help make your neighborhood safe for everyone!

Please be aware that it poses a major fire safety hazard to bury a fire hydrant by shoveling, plowing or snow blowing. It is also prohibited by Chapter 148 Section 27B of The Mass. General Law and can incur a fine of $100.

The Water and Fire department would like to thank you for your cooperation in helping to maintain fire safety. Eric Carty, Water/SewerManager

HopNews file photo.

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Winter Weather Advisory

With the potential for significant snowfall to hit parts of the state, the Massachusetts State Police remind motorists of several basic strategies to stay safe in snowy weather. Please remember the following tips throughout the storm in the coming days:

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• Follow us on Social Media for Updates: Follow the Massachusetts State Police on Twitter & Facebook. We post road closures and traffic advisories on Twitter frequently, @MassStatePolice. In addition, follow Colonel Timothy Alben @TimAlben, Lieutenant Daniel Richard @DGR2564, and Trooper Dustin Fitch @DustinGFitch for informative updates. We also encourage you to follow our partners, Massachusetts Department of Transportation @MassDOT and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency@MassEMA. State and some local agencies are also using the hashtag #MAsnow and #MAwx while posting weather related updates.

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• Stay Informed: Anytime there is a possibility of power outages, make sure your devices are fully charged. Download the State Police smartphone app, “Mass SP” to stay up to date from all of our digital media, including real-time alerts. You can also find links to our smartphone application here: MSPnews.org/smartphone-application/

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• Take Note of the Local Forecast: The State Police encourage motorists to take note of local forecasts and plan accordingly for adverse weather conditions.  Motorists are reminded that they can dial 511 on their cell phones for current traffic and road conditions on Massachusetts Highways.

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• Vehicle Preparation:  With a forecast of inclement weather, motorists should ensure that their vehicles are well maintained and properly equipped for winter driving.  Motorists should check the fluid levels of their vehicles, particularly washer fluid and anti-freeze, to make sure that they are at adequate levels.  Tires should be inspected to ensure that they are properly inflated and have sufficient tread depth.  Motorists should equip their vehicles with a snow shovel, ice scraper, jumper cables, flares, a flashlight and some warm clothing and blankets.  Additionally, motorists are reminded to completely clear their vehicles of snow and ice prior to driving, including all lights, for visibility.  Clearing vehicles of snow and ice enhances the safety of all motorists by providing an unobstructed view to the operator and prevents snow and ice from flying off vehicles at high speeds and posing a hazard to others on the road. Motorists should also carry a charged cellular phone.

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• Reduce Speed:  Anticipate delays.  Most snow- and ice-related crashes are caused by spin-outs and vehicles sliding off the road because they are traveling at speeds too great for the road and weather conditions.  Posted speed limits are set for driving under optimal, dry conditions.  If road and weather conditions are adverse, motorists should operate at a speed well below the posted limit.

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• Leave Extra Space Between Vehicles: Under optimal driving conditions, motorists should leave at least one car length for every ten miles per hour between them and the vehicle in front of them.  If the road and weather conditions are adverse, that distance should be significantly increased in order to afford for increased stopping distances.

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• Black Ice:  Transparent ice may form on the roadway.  If you notice ice forming on any objects, assume that it is forming on the road surface as well. Bridges are usually the first surfaces to freeze. Drive slowly and, if possible, avoid driving on iced-over surfaces.

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• Buckle Up:  Ensuring everyone in your vehicle is properly restrained is the single most effective thing that motorists can do to keep themselves and their loved ones safe on the roads.

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• Dial 911 in Roadway Emergencies:  In any weather conditions, motorists who become disabled or encounter an emergency on the roadways should dial 911 on their cellular phones to immediately be connected to a State Police Communications Center. Motorists should always be aware of their location, noting the route they are traveling on and the number of the exit they most recently passed

SERVICE GUIDE
   
       

Scholarship Application for 2015

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, 2015.

Open the Application Here.

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Fatality on Route 495 in Hopkinton

January 24, 2015 — This afternoon, at approximately 1:40 p.m., troopers from the State Police Barracks in Millbury responded to reports of a serious injury crash involving a tractor-trailer and car on Interstate 495 Northbound, North of Exit 21 in Hopkinton. Upon arrival, troopers discovered that a 2008 Hyundai sedan had been traveling in the middle travel lane, when it lost control, striking both left side and right side guardrails. Traveling behind the Hyundai was a 2015 Freightliner tractor-trailer. As the Hyundai lost control, the driver of the tractor-trailer attempted to slow and avoid striking the car, but collided with the vehicle.

     The driver of the Hyundai, a 24-year-old man from Cranston, Rhode Island sustained serious, life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash. The man was transported to UMass Medical Center – Lakeside in Worcester where he was determined to be deceased as a result of injuries sustained from the crash. The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 33-year-old man from Northborough was not injured.

     The left two lanes of Interstate 495 were closed at the time of the crash and continue to be closed while accident reconstruction is completed.   The remaining facts and circumstances of the crash are currently under investigation by troopers from the Millbury Barracks. Troop C Headquarters, State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section (CARS), State Police Crime Scene Services Section (CSSS), Hopkinton Police, Fire and EMS Departments, and Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Mass DOT), all assisted on scene. Contributed content.

STATEMENT FROM MIDDLESEX DA MARIAN RYAN:

WOBURN - Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan has announced that a man from Rhode Island has died from injuries suffered in a two vehicle crash this afternoon on Interstate 495 in Hopkinton.

Makthra Men, 23, of Cranston, Rhode Island, was injured when the vehicle he was driving reportedly spun out of control on Interstate 495 northbound in Hopkinton.  He was transported to UMass Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

"The loss of life on our roadways continues to be a serious issue," said District Attorney Ryan.  "For the most recent year on record, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security's Highway Safety Division says that 349 individuals died in motor vehicle crashes.  In that same year, more than 108,000 people received injuries in motor vehicle crashes in Massachusetts.  All drivers need to be reminded that safe driving practices include traveling slower when roads are wet or snow-covered, keeping both hands on the wheel at all times, and placing cell phones, GPS, and other devices out of reach."

Authorities say Makthra Men was alone in the car traveling northbound in Hopkinton at approximately 1:45 p.m.  The vehicle Men was driving spun out of control and then was struck by a tractor trailer truck traveling northbound.

The driver of the truck, Daniel Matthews, 33, of Northborough, was not injured.  A passenger traveling with Matthews in the truck was not injured.

Imagine...
that it is the middle of December and you await the first snow with eager anticipation. Let that enigmatic
Hopkinton recluse Clayton Willoughby sing "Let it Snow" in this reprise of five years ago,
while you spark up the wood stove or fireplace.
Next stop, Willoughby.
 

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Hopkinton's 300th Anniversary Kickoff Event

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REMINDER: Tonight

You are cordially invited to attend the Opening Ceremony for Hopkinton's 300th Anniversary Celebration. Join us to learn more about the exciting events planned throughout the coming year as we celebrate Hopkinton's tercentennial! The event will be held on Friday, January 23, 2015 at 7 pm at Hopkinton High School, 98 Hayden Rowe, Hopkinton, MA 01748.

Speakers include Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Senator Karen Spilka, State Rep. Carolyn Dykema and various town officials. Hopkinton's First Baby and Oldest Resident will also be recognized. Refreshments will be served.

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"The News Starts Here!"
24 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748  508.435.5534
Editor@HopNews.com
Updated: February 27, 2018 08:39:13 AM