April 27, 2016 — Geoff Holler, who pitched the majority of the innings, winds up, keeping the ball behind his head and out of sight of the batter, but lets a few others have a sneak peek, today at home.

April 27, 2016 — The Board of Selectmen issued proclamations for the Hopkinton Destination Imagination for placing second in the state. They will represent Massachusetts in the Global DI tournament in Tennessee on May 25-28, 2016.

LIQUOR LICENSE HOURS

         After much back and forth, the board voted to issue standard liquor license hours of operation as 10:00 am to 1:00 am, pushing the allowable opening time from the current 8:00 am to 10:00 am beginning on January 1, 2017. Cornell's is one of two that opens at 8 am, and they have done that only on Thanksgiving morning every year on behalf of the Hopkinton High School Drama Club, donating the entire till for that purpose.

LICENSE VIOLATION

          Hopkinton Wine and Spirits was stung with a 4-day license suspension, because an allegedly drunk patron was sold a bottle of wine. Attorney Timothy Perry insisted that to be in violation, a patron must exhibit signs of intoxication while in the store. He said the patron did not. He said the video shows that she was steady on her feet while getting a bottle of wine, and exhibited dexterity in moving to allow another patron to walk by.

           The woman was allegedly involved in a hit and run before going to the package store. Then she purchased the wine, drove back home and was found by police on her front steps with the wine still unopened. 

           The selectmen voted to suspend the store's license for 4 consecutive days beginning on a Thursday within the next 30 days. There is an appeal process, but the manager of record had not decided whether or not to appeal.

LIQUOR LICENSE DISCUSSION

            Margaritas, Gin and Tonic, and Sex on the Beach were not what the selectmen felt were appropriate beverages for an arts environment, and declined approving a full liquor license for the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. Concerns over its location in a residential neighborhood and adjacent to the schools, as well as an increased risk with hard liquor, drove the selectmen to take no action.

            Instead, they asked the applicants to come back with an application for a beer and wine license, a circumstance Chuck Joseph (photo) said he was amenable to from the start. 

            And so now, a 14-day notice must be posted, and abutters must be notified again that a public hearing will take place on a beer and wine license.

LAST MEETING

              Tuesday evening was the last meeting for Selectman John Mosher and Selectmen Chair Ben Palleiko. Out of the blue, three selectmen left their chairs and formed a line at the microphone during the public comment item to offer praise and gratitude to Ben Palleiko, while he sat as the sole occupant behind the grand desk of the selectmen. John Mosher arrived later, and so was not part of this apparently planned surprise.

I’m Henry Kunicki and am running for the office of Town Clerk. I am running in full support of changing the Town Clerk’s position to an appointed one rather than an elected position. Town Clerk is an important position that requires someone familiar with how the town government functions and who is able to work with both appointed and elected members of the Town.

Our family moved to Hopkinton in 1982. I soon became involved with town government and have served on several boards where I learned how a volunteer government works. I served on the Appropriations Committee in the 1980s, the Board of Appeals (2000-2005) and on the Community Preservation Commission for the past several years. I currently serve as Chairman of the Community Preservation Commission. My intent has always been “what is best for Hopkinton”.

While on the CPC I have been a strong advocate of supporting programs that benefited both the community and gave us the most for our money. We worked together with the Hopkinton Soccer League and Parks and Recreation to provide funding that was a key factor in developing the soccer fields at Fruit Street and the new concession stands and shelter that are being built to support the fields. We provided funds to assist Parks and Recreation in their renovation of Sandy Beach and with the Hopkinton Center for the Arts to renovate a historic barn into a vibrant Arts Center.

I look to continue my work with the Town of Hopkinton as Town Clerk with the intent of assisting the town as it transitions the Town Clerk position into an appointed one. I ask for your vote on May 16th.

Henry Kunicki

47 Teresa Road

April 26, 2016

April 26, 2016 — A beautiful late-May weekend is the backdrop for Greyhound Friends’ Spring Open House event. The gathering is a reunion of former Greyhound Friends adoptees and an opportunity to visit with wonderful greyhound and hounds awaiting their forever homes.

Attendees can partake in our expanded silent auction and raffle, and enjoy our “Not Quite Westminster” dog show. Visitors can also tour the spacious Greyhound Friends Adoption Kennel while enjoying the company of greyhounds and other breeds including hound crosses and beagles. Vendors will be on hand and refreshments will be available for both greyhounds and their two-legged friends.

Greyhound Friends depends on the kindness of supporters and anyone interested in greyhound welfare. Those attending the event are welcome to bring donations of dog food, cleaning supplies, bleach, laundry detergent, bedding, blankets, sheets and towels. Financial donations are also appreciated and needed. Greyhound Friends is a 501(c)3 charitable organization and donations are tax deductible. Please call 508-435-5969 or visit www.greyhound.org  for more information.

April 25, 2016 — Yesterday, we addressed the issue of voter apathy, but not predicaments that could develop as a result, in a real-world application. There  is one of note affecting the Planning Board.

To recap, the nine-member Planning Board will have four new members after the election; two have resigned, leaving open seats, and two will be newly elected. Because of that circumstance, there will only be five members who were present during unfinished Special Permit hearings, presentations and discussions, to pass a final vote. A Special Permit from the Planning Board needs six votes to pass, rather than the usual simple majority of five members for other matters. A member may miss one, and only one meeting and still be eligible to  vote,  but only if the member listens to, or views, a recording of that meeting, as imposed by the Mullin Rule, according to Chairman Ken Weismantel.

A solution to the problem would be if Brian Karp, a current member whose term is expiring and who has decided  not to  seek reelection, agrees to be one of the two people to fill vacancies by being appointed back on the board by a joint meeting of the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Karp has attended the all of the hearings, making him an eligible sixth vote.

Mr. Weismantel has said he would like to see Mr. Karp appointed for a duration after the election. Otherwise, the unfinished hearings, especially the laborious Legacy Farms Special Permit hearing, would need to begin anew if not finished by then.

* We have been informed by a Planning Board member that last night Pulte withdrew their application for the north parcel Legacy development that was under PB review. The loss of PB members due to the expiring terms caused them to pull the plug & start over after the new board is seated.

BOSTON (April 22, 2016) – B.A.A. Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray ran his 44nd consecutive Boston Marathon on Monday night, bringing up the rear after directing 26,639 runners to the finish line. He started just before 5 p.m. and ended in darkness four hours and 29 minutes later.

finishing2016.jpgMcGillivray’s Boston Marathon streak ranks him fourth in the event’s Quarter Century Club, which includes all active runners who have completed at least 25 consecutive marathons. McGillivray has run his last 29 Boston Marathons in the evening, following his duties – that began in the pre-dawn hours on Monday - directing the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon.

McGillivray, 61, president of DMSE Sports, was joined on his evening Boston Marathon run by Matt Auger from Mashpee, Mass., and Jason Todd from Newport News, Va. The team was supported along the course by Ron Kramer and McGillivray’s brother Bob McGillivray, who has been with him for every nighttime marathon.

April 21, 2016 — The Spoon owners Bill Morgan and Samantha Prescott said today that they believe they will be opening in the middle of May, 2016, which is not too soon for the customers of the former Golden Spoon, who miss the full breakfast, affordable lunches and specials, and the Friday Night Feast, which will be the only evening meal in the new digs.

        Mr. Morgan said today that the group is seeking to hire an experienced full-time short order cook who is dependable, fast, can keep a clean and neat looking work environment and is personable. Interested individuals may call Bill Morgan at 774-278-4180.

April 20, 2016 — According to Water Fresh Farm co-owner Jeff Barton, Hopkinton hops growing in the hydroponic farm attached to the market, will soon be used for craft beer to be brewed in a craft brewery that has been approved for 1,917 square feet of the current floor space inside the Water Fresh Farm Marketplace.
          "We'll still have the same products, but the shelves will be taller. And the produce section will offer the same goods without taking up as  much space, too," said Mr. Barton. "We'll  make better use of the space."

            The space will be leased by CraftLife Brewing Company, Inc., owned by Edwin Twinney of Hingham, MA.

            Above is a section of the plan submitted to the Land Use Department. The market entrance is shown on the bottom left of the plan, with the tasting room to the immediate right, where there are currently tables and chairs for food service, as well as Alima's Purse, which sells goods made by disadvantaged women in Africa.

             Mr. Barton said today that the walls should go up in the middle of next week.