February 4, 2015 — The remaining three members of the Board of Selectmen voted to put the purchase 203 Pond Street on a Special Town Meeting warrant last night after two of the five, Chairman Todd Cestari, left, and member John Coutinho, right, recused themselves. They stepped from the board as a result of the offer of a gift of land from the estate of Ora Cheney being tied to the purchase of the property known as 203 Pond Street, aka the Coolidge property. But the entire parcel is not part of the consideration for purchase, only the 12 lots approved in the Open Space Landcape Preservation Development approved by the Planning Board last year. The property is taxed under the guidelines of Chapter 61 of Mass General Laws, which allows farm and forestry land to be taxed at a lower rate. When that property changes use or has received a bona fide offer to purchase, the town must be given a chance to match it in a right of first refusal.

        Mr. Cestari invited Finance Director Chris Howell to speak on funding possibilities,  which included an outright cash purchase that would raise taxes for a year. That, they agreed, would raise taxes by 4%.

       "We need to determine the funding source," said Mr. Cestari prior to stepping off.

       Another way  to fund the  purchase would be with a debt exclusion, which would bond the purchase over a period of time, ten or twenty years. The third way was through grants, although they were not specific on which grants. 

        "The middle is what's being sold," said Selectman Ben Palleiko. "On the outside is not being sold. It is sort of being conveyed in a separate transaction potentially. Which goes to the pragmatics of the transaction. We need to be sure we get the whole thing, and not just the center."

 The Board directed the Town Clerk to cause the following question to appear on the ballot for the March 10, 2015 Special Town Election:

“Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to acquire a fee interest in a parcel of land shown as Lots 1 through 12 inclusive on a plan of land entitled Definitive Subdivision Plan, Open Space and Landscape Preservation Development, prepared by Tunison Dias, Inc., and approved by the Hopkinton Planning Board on September 25, 2104, being a portion of the land shown on Hopkinton Assessors Map R21 Block 12 Lot 0 and commonly known as “203 Pond Street” in Hopkinton?” Approved 3-0. 

          According to Town Manager's Operations Assistant Jamie Hellen, there may be a need for more than one article on the warrant that was approved last evening, for the Special Town Meeting scheduled for March 3, 2015. The town must exercise its right of first refusal by March 14, 2015, in order to purchase the property.

         Mr. Hellen said that the selectmen ordered the Town Manager to make sure that all of the variables are considered before crafting the article; which pieces are to be conveyed to the town, and which to the Sudbury Valley Trustees.

         According to the Purchase and Sale agreement between the sellers and Diamond Builders, Inc. of Canton, only the lots, which total 8+ acres, are being conveyed to the purchaser for a total of $2 million, and the other 32.43 acres of open space will be conveyed to Sudbury Valley Trustees, although the document does not provide a mechanism to do that. 

          The town is being offered a chance to match the offer from the developer of $2 million, which would convey only the 12 lots, the 8+ acres, to the town.

February 3, 2015 — Kent State University alum Timothy Kilduff is a proud graduate showing off a gift from his son, who acquired it at Kent State. For those who do not read backwards, the back of the jersey says, "Edelman," for New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman, who also attended Kent State. It doesn't stop there.

         According to a Kent State news site, alumnus Josh Kline attended the school at the same time as Edelman, and is now a right guard for the Pats. Yes, there is even more!

         Patriots cornerback coach Josh Boyer was an assistant in Kent State's football program in 2002 and 2003.

         Thanks to Mr. Kilduff for sharing his New England Patriots story; and the broad Kent State connection.

February 2, 2015 — The gateway to Hopkinton from Route 495 approaching the gas stations was a near white-out this morning toward the lights at Lumber Street.

January 31, 2015 — Christine Snow found some kindred spirits bounding through the snow as she snow-shoed in East Hopkinton. It might take a second look to see the second deer peeking over the snow bank.

January 31, 2015 — This is not a barren and frozen area of Alaska, but the parking area of the middle school today as gusts of wind created snow drifts all over town.

January 31, 2015 — A police officer speaks with the driver of a delivery van  — whose role in this crash, if any, is unknown — while four young men gather next to the vehicle in which they were apparent occupants. The vehicle went off of the road and into soft and light snow that was pushed there following the recent blizzard. Because the snow is soft, the vehicle plowed into it and became stuck. Oftentimes, "old" snow that has been on the side of the road for much longer, hardens from melting and freezing cycles, and from sublimating, turning a snow bank into a treacherous mass that can cause a vehicle in the same situation to flip over onto its side or roof, instead of sink in.

January 31, 2015 — Anyone following the trucks dumping their loads at the snow dump on Cedar Street today, would have found them loading at the school complex to remove the mounds of snow to increase safety.

For nearly two centuries, orchids have aroused great passions and provoked extravagant acts on the part of their admirers. Elaine England, gardening expert from New England Nurseries will share her extensive expertise regarding tips and strategies on how to grow these elegant and fascinating plants. Those of you who do not grow orchids should be warned that you may discover this addiction surprisingly accessible – even without a greenhouse. Please call (508) 435-3414 to save a spot! No fee.

Saturdays at Fay is a series of free Saturday morning programs designed for children ages 2-8 along with their parents. This month’s program will feature Pumpernickel Puppets and their Frog Prince Puppet Show. A demonstration period will follow the performance to give the audience some insight into what happens behind the scenes.

Space is limited so please register online at www.fayschool.org/saturdays .

Saturday, February 14, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Fay's Primary School, 25 Middle Road in Southborough

January 29, 2015 — Early humankind might have seen these marks on the Hopkinton Reservoir today as evidence of the movement of a herd of Wooly Mammoths. Instead, they are the apparent effect of the recent blizzard, but how and why the wind formed them in the shape of crescent moons is unknown.

Newton, MA – Congressman Joe Kennedy III today re-launched his office's successful 'Tour 34' initiative by announcing constituent office hours in Hopkinton and Hopedale on Saturday, January 31. Originally launched during his first year in office, ‘Tour 34’ reflects Congressman Kennedy's commitment to bring office hours to all 34 cities and towns in the 4th Congressional District by the end of his second term.

“Throughout our first term, ‘Tour 34’ allowed us to hear the stories, priorities and concerns of constituents in every community in the 4th District,” said Congressman Kennedy. “By relaunching the initiative this term, we can build on the conversations that have helped guide my work in Washington and ensure all of our constituents are utilizing the resources our office can provide.”

The schedule for regional office hours on Saturday, January 31 is as follows:

12:00PM – 1:30PM
Hopkinton High School
88 Hayden Rowe Street
Hopkinton, MA

2:15PM – 3:45PM
Hopedale Fire Department
40 Dutcher Street
Hopedale, MA

Congressman Kennedy’s local office hours are open to constituents across the 4th District. No appointment is necessary. For questions or additional information please call (617) 332-3333 or visit the Congressman’s website at http://kennedy.house.gov .