December 14, 2016 - This is the small Village of Tyringham in western MA under that new fallen Snow! ~photo by John Collins

YOUR HOME           YOUR HOME

December 13, 2016 -- Fay School in Southborough, MA is pleased to announce its role as an “anchor” off-taker for the Barrett Street Community Solar Array project in Oxford, Massachusetts. This project, BlueWave Capital’s largest solar project to date, will provide clean power and energy savings to over 121 homes and small businesses as well as two schools, Fay School and Phillips Academy in Andover, MA.
 
As an anchor for the Barrett Street project, Fay has contracted for approximately 1.625 MW DC of solar net metering credits, enabling the school to further its sustainability goals, reduce electricity costs, and enable access to clean, locally generated electricity at a savings to Massachusetts residents and small businesses. “Fay School is delighted to be part of this green energy initiative,” said Rob Gustavson, Head of School at Fay School. “Our partnership with BlueWave Solar has helped us broaden our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability.”

One of the largest community solar project in the northeast, the Barrett Street project will protect 300 acres of farmland from more intensive use and enable future agricultural use; reduce carbon emissions by 15,000 tons annually; expand access to solar for residents and small businesses; generate local tax revenue for the Town of Oxford; and create and support the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ clean energy and climate goals.

Mary Ann Norton, 79

Mary Ann Norton, 79, died Sunday, December 11, 2016 in Holliston after a period of declining health. Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Natalie (Caruso) Norton.

She was a 1956 graduate of Hopkinton High School and a 1960 graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music. She went on to earn her doctorate in music from Boston University and was head of music education for Boston University School of Fine Arts for over 20 years. She was the author of a music education series and a well-known piano teacher in the Hopkinton area.

She is survived by her sister, Natalie Norton of Bradenton, FL and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visiting hours will be held Thursday, December 15, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, 34 Church Street. A funeral service will take place in the funeral home at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Hopkinton.

YOUR HOME           YOUR HOME

YOUR HOME           YOUR HOME

YOUR HOME           YOUR HOME

YOUR HOME           YOUR HOME

State Police Investigating Double-Fatal Crash in Templeton

December 10, 2016 -- This morning at about 1:20 a.m., State Police from the Athol barracks responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash on Route 2 in Templeton at the Otter River Road overpass which resulted in the death of two women.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Emily Todisco indicates that a 2010 Mercedes was traveling on Route 2 eastbound when, for reasons still under investigation, the vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a bridge abutment at the Otter River Road overpass. The vehicle then rolled over before becoming fully engulfed in flames.  Upon fire suppression by members of the Templeton Fire Department, it was determined that the vehicle contained two occupants, both adult females, who were pronounced deceased at the scene.

The cause of this crash remains under investigation with assistance from the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and State Police Crime Scene Services Section.

State Police were also assisted on scene by Templeton EMS, Templeton Police, and Mass DOT.

The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending family notification. No further information is available at this time.  Please do not contact the barracks for media inquiries.

New Supporters

The Callanan Cronin Funeral Home has now joined the family of HopNews advertising supporters. Established in 1889, the funeral home, located at 34 Church Street, is Hopkinton’s oldest operating business. Currently managed by Funeral Director Tom Cronin, the business was originally started by Tom’s maternal grandfather, Thomas F. Callanan.

Back in 1889, Thomas Callanan, then 22, started the business on Main Street in the Park House Block, which is now the site of Middlesex Savings Bank. Callanan initially used horse-drawn hearses to transport the deceased. Arrangements for Ashland's first soldier killed in the Spanish-American War were handled by Callanan in 1898.

Callanan passed away in 1960 at the age of 92. He was the oldest funeral director in Massachusetts and the oldest businessman in Hopkinton at the time.

Upon his passing, his children, T. Francis Callanan and Mary V. Callanan Cronin began managing the business, which operated from the current site at 34 Church Street. In 1978, the current director, Tom Cronin, joined the business and he assumed ownership after his mother Mary’s passing in 2003. He was assisted for many years by Jack Morrissey, husband of Tom’s sister Mary.

The business continues to serve families of all faiths with pre-arrangement, funeral, memorial, burial and cremation services.

YOUR HOME           YOUR HOME

Teenager Charged With, Convicted of ‘Swatting’ Threats

December 7, 2016 -- An investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Computer Crimes Unit, other MSP units, the Essex District Attorney’s Office, and other agencies resulted in a guilty plea late last month by a 17-year-old Andover male in connection with several “swatting” incidents. “Swatting” is the slang term for using the Internet to anonymously make hoax threats, including bomb threats.

The investigation that led to the suspect began in early April following “swatting” phone calls that were received in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and Florida. Massachusetts State Troopers assigned to the Computer Crimes Unit, Bomb Squad, Crime Scene Services Section, and Joint Terrorism Task Force, as well as troopers from the Rhode Island State Police, FBI and Homeland Security agents and Andover Police officers executed a search warrant in furtherance of the investigation.

The suspect’s residence was searched for digital media with the assistance of the MSP Computer Crimes Unit’s K-9 “Winnie,” a dog specially trained in detecting hidden electronic devices. Investigators located an anonabox router – a device that allows a user to anonymously connect to the Internet — in the suspect’s bedroom. Numerous digital devices were seized for forensic examination, which revealed evidence of online messaging between a group of online hackers talking about bomb threats they had conducted.

The investigation determined that the teenager was the leader of a group of online hackers who used anonymous Internet service providers to conduct bomb threats and swatting calls across the United States. Investigators interviewed the teenager, who admitted to destroying evidence just prior to police conducting the search warrant.

Investigators learned that the teenager had made swatting calls on April 15 to Jordan’s IMAX Theaters in Natick and Reading, and had also previously made swatting 911 calls to Florida, New York and Rhode Island. The juvenile also made calls to residents in Wilmington and Woburn. The juvenile was familiar with more than a dozen locations in Massachusetts that received swatting threats, and was also aware of bomb threats made to locations in Little Falls, N.Y., and Spring Valley, N.Y.

The suspect was indicted by the office of Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodget. Faced with the evidence collected during the investigation, the suspect pleaded guilty last month to conspiracy and bomb threat charges. Prosecutors requested a 3- to 5-year state prison sentence. A judge, however, sentenced the teenager to Department of Youth Services custody until his 21st birthday.

Editor's Note: On April 5, 2015, a call was received by Hopkinton Police claiming that people were being held against their will inside the Hopkinton Public Library, and that the caller had a bomb. Police responded immediately, but were called again ordering the police to get away from the library, the inference being that the caller was watching on a webcam. There were actually two on Main Street pointed at the library.

      The police response was massive, cordoning off the Downtown surrounding the library, positioning at least one sniper, and involving multiple agencies, including swat teams (HopNews file photo). HopNews videotaped the police presence, writer Paul McNamara, and an interview with Chief of Police Ed Lee, here. It is unknown if the juvenile in custody was involved with the Hopkinton library incident.

YOUR HOME           YOUR HOME

Janet Ann Greco, 82

Janet Ann Greco, 82, of Ashland passed away on December 3rd at St. Vincent’s Hospital after a long period of declining health. Born and raised in Baltimore, MD; she was the daughter of the late John and Carrie (Wolfsheimer) Miles. Janet was the beloved wife of Salvatore Greco for 55 years. They met at a USO dance in the late 50’s in Baltimore and courted as pen pals for several years before their wedding in her family’s parish St. Mary’s of the Govens in Baltimore.

A proud graduate of St Elizabeth Seton HS (now Seton Kehoe HS) class of 53graduate, a cherished memory was attending her golden reunion. Mrs. Greco worked as an office administrator at Bose Corporation & as a key punch operator for VCAC Inc. for many years during the 70’s & 80’s. She was a member of the American Legion Aux. in Ashland and past member of St. Cecelia’s parish choir. She cherished her visits to Maryland visiting family, time in coastal Maine at their place in Wells, supporting her children’s endeavors and grandchildren’s activities.

In addition to her husband; she is survived by two daughters, Darlene Hayes and her husband Michael of Hopkinton, and Janet Greco-Russo of Ashland; five grandchildren; Andrew and Melissa Hayes, Anthony, Daniel, and Nicholas Russo; two brothers; Francis “Jerry” Miles of Belair, MD; and John “Buddy” Miles Jr. of Baltimore, MD; and one sister Blanche Huemmer Helton of Baltimore, MD plus many nieces & nephews.A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday Dec. 10th at 9:00 am in St. Cecilia’s Church, 54 Esty St. Ashland with burial to follow in Wildwood Cemetery in Ashland. Calling hours will be held Friday from 5:00-7:00 PM in the Matarese Funeral Home, 325 Main St. Ashland.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Ashland Elder Services, 162 West Main St. Ashland, MA 01721 www.mataresefuneral.com .

Hopkinton Garden Club Wreaths for Project Just Because


Volunteers from the Hopkinton Garden Club decorated holiday wreaths for beneficiaries of the Hopkinton based charity Project Just Because. Approximately two dozen wreaths were assembled and donated to Project Just Because for holiday deliveries. This annual wreath making program is one of several community projects sponsored by the Hopkinton Garden Club.

YOUR HOME           YOUR HOME

Charter Review Forum

Dear Editor,

Just a reminder that the last public forum for the Charter Review will take place on Wednesday, Dec 7 at the Senior Center at 7 PM.

The revised Charter is attempting to make the Town Clerk’s position appointed vs. elected. Also, while the revised Charter keeps all town Boards elected, Board appointments must go through Personnel based on recommendations from the Town Manager.

A complete draft of the revised Charter is available on the Town website and in the Town Clerk’s office.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-V8yfbgpalMY2xhVWdtQXM5dUU/view

 
This is a great opportunity to become involved and have a voice in your town government. Hope to see you there.

Sincerely,
Chris Dietz
44 Alexander Road

December 4, 2016

YOUR HOME           YOUR HOME

YOUR HOME           YOUR HOME

Youth Commission Vacancy

The Hopkinton Youth Commission is charged with identifying the emerging and ongoing needs of Hopkinton’s Youth and families. The Commission is responsible for creating community-wide opportunities that support long term well-being of all youth. Programs and activities supported by the Youth Commission shall promote an overall benefit to all youth and families. Members shall be residents of the Town of Hopkinton, who are interested in working with youth and learning about issues facing Hopkinton youth. Members shall seek to improve the health and wellness of youth by responding to community health needs. This vacancy shall be for a three-year term.

Interested residents should apply by 7:00 PM on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 via the online volunteer form at http://www.hopkintonma.gov/home/about/hug . If the board or committee name is not listed on the form, please fill in the name in the space provided. Residents may also apply by submitting a letter of interest to Maria Glynn, Executive Assistant, Town Manager’s Office, 18 Main St., Hopkinton, MA 01748.

John L. Drowne, 61

John L. Drowne, 61, died unexpectedly on his property on November 26, 2016. Born in Natick, he was the son of the late Lewis and Jeannette (Beauchene) Drowne. He was employed for many years with Market Basket of Bellingham, T&M Landscaping of Hopkinton, and Label ID of Hopedale.

He is survived by his daughters Elizabeth Drowne of Hopkinton and Jessica Drowne of Milford. As well as granddaughters Lillian and Ella. He also leaves his siblings Leon Drowne, Carol Guthrie and her husband William, Nancy Mercer and her husband Dan, brother-in-law Rick Taylor, Jim Alexander and his wife Ann, Joann Esser and her husband John, Gloria Petrin and her husband Frank.

Calling hours will be Sunday, December 4, 2016 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, 34 Church Street. A service in the funeral home will take place at 6:00 p.m.

YOUR HOME           YOUR HOME

 Much More on:

Page 2   Page 3   Archives  

 Go Back to Top

"The News Starts Here!"
24 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748  508.435.5534
Editor@HopNews.com
Updated: February 27, 2018 08:40:28 AM

https://www.ustream.tv/broadcaster/7806964