Hopkinton High School Music Students

To Perform with Massachusetts’ Top Student Musicians

The following students were accepted to the 2017 Massachusetts Music Educators Association All-State Festival and Concert being held at the Sheraton Boston Hotel and Symphony Hall March 9-11, 2017.

Dan Moreno ‘18, Bass Clarinet, Band

Isabella Komodromos ‘17, Chorus

Rachael Chen ‘18 Flute, Band

Andrew Keeley ‘19, Trombone, Band

Students from around the state auditioned and those selected will gather to perform band, orchestral, jazz, and choral works. For further information: www.massmea.org . Contributed content.

YOUR HOME           YOUR HOME

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One of the Massachusetts State Police Most Wanted Sex Offenders has been captured in Puerto Rico.

February 3, 2017 -- Troopers from the State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS) in recent months tracked LENNY E. SANTIAGO, 35, to Pennsylvania and ultimately to Puerto Rico. VFAS recently developed information indicating a possible location for SANTIAGO in Puerto Rico.

VFAS troopers requested assistance from the United States Marshals Service in Puerto Rico. After a brief investigation, US Marshals located SANTIAGO on Tuesday at the Hogar Cristo Pobre Shelter in the city of Ponce and took him into custody. He was charged as a fugitive from justice and is awaiting extradition.

SANTIAGO, classified as a High Risk Level 3 Sex Offender, was wanted for failure to register as a sex offender. He is required to register as a result of his 2002 conviction on two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person age 14 or older and three counts of open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior. In that case, SANTIAGO assaulted three women, two of them joggers and the third pushing a baby stroller, in Methuen.

State Police added SANTIAGO and five other sex offenders to the department’s Most Wanted Sex Offender list last July. The other five were arrested last year. With SANTIAGO’s capture, all six of the July 2016 additions to the list are now in custody.

Falls Prevention During the Winter: 5 Tips for Seniors

by Richard T. Moore*
February 1, 2017 -- Falls prevention, especially among seniors, is a serious and important topic year round. In a region like New England that is widely known for its beautiful, yet temperamental, winters, proactively taking steps to reduce falls and stay safe is even more crucial. According to the World Health Organization, there is a correlation between pronounced changes in seasonal temperatures, especially colder temperatures during the winter months, and an increased risk of falls, particularly among older women.

Falls can be exceedingly serious, and for older adults they can result in the loss of mobility and in some cases even death. In addition, the fear of falling on icy surfaces may prevent seniors from leaving their homes which can contribute to a feeling of isolation. Because of these potentially restrictive scenarios, it is important for older adults to know the potentials dangers they face during the winter months, and also actively take the steps necessary to stay safe.

Falls prevention is a top priority for the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association (Mass-ALA). Residing in an assisted living community reduces the feelings of isolation that seniors may feel, and assisted living communities’ focus on falls prevention contributes to a sense of safety. However, with another unpredictable season fast approaching, here are five falls prevention tips for seniors in all living environments:

1.       Salt and sand. As we all know, icy sidewalks, stairs, and driveways can be exceedingly treacherous to people of any age, and we’ve all experienced that unsettling feeling of our feet slipping out from under us. Black ice can be especially dangerous as it is often impossible to even see. Using de-icing salt to help melt dangerous patches of ice can help prevent slip and fall injuries, and using sand to increase traction may be the difference between keeping your balance and slipping.

2.       Know your limits. Often times, people of every age THINK they’re capable of tasks that they probably shouldn’t be attempting. Knowing your limits is important to avoid injury, so make sure you’re realistic about how much you can shovel, whether or not you should be walking down the icy driveway, or attempting to carry a heavy bag of sand or salt.

3.       Plan ahead. The best way to avoid a situation where you need to leave your house during inclement weather is to plan ahead and make sure you’re prepared. Make sure to watch the weather forecast, and if there’s even a chance of snow, stock up on necessities beforehand to ensure you have everything you need within your house. Eliminating the need to leave your home significantly reduces the possibility of a fall.

4.       Be careful what gets tracked in. Snow always seems to make its way into our homes no matter how hard we try to keep it out. Whether it gets stuck on the bottom of our shoes, our coats, or on a recently used shovel, it’s easy to track snow inside. It creates a mess, but it can also be dangerous. Inside a warm home, snow melts in a matter of minutes, creating puddles and slippery surfaces. Do your best to ensure that a minimal amount of snow is tracked into your home, and make sure to be on the lookout for water once it melts.

5.       Snow and ice aren’t the only enemies. While snow and ice can pose a danger, other surfaces can create hazards as well. Wet leaves for instance, can be equally slippery and often appear once the initial snow and ice have melted. It is important to always be aware of your surroundings and actively be on the watch to avoid possible risks.

While falls are serious and potentially devastating, they are very preventable. Taking the right steps to stay safe is important at any age, and the more aware we are of the dangers, the more we can do to avoid them. Use your best judgment, and enjoy the beauty of the season.

* Richard T. Moore is the President of the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association.  He is a former Senate Healthcare Financing Chair who sponsored legislation to establish the Massachusetts Falls Prevention Commission at the Department of Public Health.

YOUR HOME           YOUR HOME

YOUR HOME           YOUR HOME

January 29, 2017 --Hopkinton's most recent full time policeman is Officer Brandon Lyver.  He comes to Hopkinton from the U Mass Medical Center police force.  Above, While Hopkinton's Chief of Police Ed Lee looks on at last Tuesday's selectmen meeting, Officer Lyver is pinned by his father, Chief William Lyver,  who is Northboro's Chief of Police.   Contributed

Scott C. Martineau

Scott C. Martineau passed away on January 22, 2017, in Hopkinton, Massachusetts after a long struggle with Wilson’s Disease that caused copper poisoning in his

Everyone who knew Scott always commented on his constant acts of kindness towards them, his sense of humor, and the overwhelming courage that he exhibited as he persevered through his pain and disabilities.

Scott graduated from Holliston High School in Massachusetts, and graduated with high honors in economics and communication from the University of Miami. Scott wrote for the school paper and tutored many athletes while at Miami. Scott worked for Invesco as a quantitative analyst for several years until his disease caused him to change directions. Scott then wrote articles for many sports magazines and collaborated with writers for several television shows and series, including Heartland and Dawson’s Creek.

He will also be missed by his many friends including Brett Parades, Adam Fagiano, James Shanahan, Eddie Daniels, Jeff Falvey, Dan Shea, Kenny and Mandy Phillips. Scott fought courageously until the end. Words cannot express the pain and loss his family is experiencing as they say their final good-bye to Scott.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 4th from 9-10:15 a.m. at the Chesmore Funeral Home, 57 Hayden Rowe St. Hopkinton, MA. Come celebrate his life at a Requiem Mass at St. Matthew Parish, 105 Southville Road, Southborough, MA, on Saturday, February 4, 2017, at 11 AM. Scott will be buried at St. Mary’s in Holliston, MA. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Scott’s name to the Wilson Disease Association, 5572 N Diversey Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53217 www.wilsonsdisease.org, or a charity of their choice.

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Thirteen Year-old Eagle

Above, Hopkinton's latest, outstanding Eagle Scout, Michael Greystone of Troop 4 with his parents, Jo and Steven Greystone.  Michael received his Eagle Scout Award, scouting's highest honor, at the Eagle Scout Court of Honor Ceremony held Jan. 15 at St. John's Parish Center. He also was honored by the Board of Selectmen with a proclamation from the Town of Hopkinton at last week's Selectmen's meeting on Jan. 24. 

Michael's attainment of the rank of Eagle Scout is remarkable in itself, - only 1 out of 4 scouts achieve this,- but Michael has accomplished this at the young age of only 13. Scouts have up until age 18 to earn this  highest rank. 21 merit badges must be earned in the Eagle Scout program, out of a possible of 135 -- but Michael was not content to settle for just 21.  To date, he has earned 117, and plans to complete the entire set of 135!  When this is accomplished, he will be one of only a  few scouts in the State of Massachusetts to have done so, and there are only 300 persons worldwide to ever achieve the entire 135 merit badges. 

For  his wonderful Eagle Scout project,  he reconstructed and reopened a children's playground at his synagogue, which had fallen into such disrepair that it was unusable by the congregation and the preschool.  NOTE: Two town officials contributed to this story and photo.

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State Police Investigating Fatal Crash in Milford

January 27, 2017 -- Yesterday at about 4:36 p.m., State Police from the Millbury Barracks responded to a single-vehicle crash on Route 495 north in Milford which resulted in one fatality.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Stephen McDonald indicates that a 2016 Toyota Tacoma was traveling on Route 495 northbound when, for reasons still under investigation, the truck traveled off the right side of the roadway before striking a rock and rolling over. The operator had to be extracted from the vehicle by the Milford Fire Department.

The driver, a 38-year-old man from Marlborough was transported by ambulance to Milford Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The cause of this crash remains under investigation with assistance from the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, State Police Crime Scene Services Section, Mass DOT, Milford Fire and EMS.

There is no additional information available at this time. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending family notification.

PolyArts Scholarship Application for 2017

This year, the Hopkinton Polyarts Committee will give a $1,000.00 scholarship to at least two graduating high school seniors going on to major in fine or applied arts (ie. painting, ceramics, sculpture, 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, 2017.  Application is here.

Cyclical Inspection Program

The collection and maintenance of current and accurate property information is a critical element in the development of fair and uniform market values in the assessment process. In fact, the Bureau of Local Assessment of the Department of Revenue requires that every community inspect every property in town at least once every nine years. This process is known as the cyclical inspection program. Please note, however, that the Town of Hopkinton tries to inspect every property at least once every five or six years in an effort to maintain fair and equitable values throughout the town.

 The inspections are done by in-house staff that carry an identification badge with their photograph and are usually, but not always, in a Town of Hopkinton municipal vehicle. The assessed value is not revised during the inspection. The inspection is to collect information in order to correct and/or change the information on the property. That information is then entered into our Patriot CAMA System and the changes along with our statistical analysis and market adjustments are used each year to determine the new assessed values.

The staff will initiate the inspection by knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell and asking the homeowner for permission to do a complete exterior and interior inspection of the property. The property inspection will include exterior photographs; exterior measurements of the building and all other structures on the property like a pool or shed; an interior inspection to note items such as the number of rooms and bedrooms and bathrooms, the physical condition/quality of the property, the kitchen, floor coverings, heating/cooling system and basement finish because these and other items do contribute to the value of the property.

If the property owner is not home when the staff person arrives at the property, a door hanger will be left asking the owner to call to schedule an appointment for the interior inspection. Please note that the staff person will photograph the exterior and measure the exterior of the property regardless of whether or not the owner is present.

In conclusion, whether prompted by the cyclical inspection program, a building permit or a sale of the property, a program of regular inspections enables the town to remain in compliance with the requirements of the Department of Revenue and to maintain accurate information on property and to ensure that all taxpayers are assessed equitably and fairly. The property inspections are done during the normal business hours of Town Hall. Please call the Assessor’s Office at 508-497-9720 if you prefer to make an appointment for an inspection or if you have any questions.

Brian F. Greenwood, 60

Brian F. Greenwood, 60, of Milford by way of Jay, ME, Queensbury, NY and Cumming, GA, passed away Monday, January 23, 2017 surrounded by his loving family after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Lewiston, Maine, he was the son of Helen (Stahl) and Frank Greenwood of Jay, Maine. He was the husband of Susan P. (Poulin) Greenwood of Milford.

Brian was a Professional Chemical Engineer who spent his career traveling the world working in the Pulp and Paper Industry. He enjoyed golfing, sailing, hunting, fishing, science fiction, and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Besides his parents and his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Hawthorne and her husband Micah of Framingham, and Kimberly Propert and her husband Matthew of Attleboro; his six beloved grandchildren, Kiersten, Anders, and Felix Hawthorne, and Liliana, Abigail, and Cassandra Propert; his four siblings, Joanne Stern of Lewiston, Maine, Keith Greenwood and his wife Katrina of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Janet O’Brien of Milpitas, CA, and Sarah Havlock and her husband Malcom of Tilton, NH; his “out”-laws, Laurette Poulin, Mark Poulin, Lisa McGrath and her husband Ron, and Kevin Poulin and his wife Cathy and many nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins, and lifelong friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 27th from 4-7p.m. at the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton, 57 Hayden Rowe St.  A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 28th at St. John the Evangelist Church of Hopkinton. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any project on donorschoose.org, but Brian would give preference to a science, technology, engineering, or math need for the Framingham or Attleboro Public Schools.

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Washington, D.C. – January 24, 2017 -- As energy consumers across Massachusetts face proposed rate increases, Congressman Joe Kennedy III today applauded bipartisan passage of his Fair RATES Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. By providing a technical fix to the Federal Power Act, the Fair Ratepayer Accountability, Transparency, and Efficiency Standards (Fair RATES) Act will increase transparency and accountability in the regulatory process by ensuring consumers can legally challenge proposed rate increases.

Passage of Kennedy’s bill comes as New England prepares for its annual energy price-setting auction in two weeks. Kennedy has voiced concerns that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which is charged with approving the new rates, is now missing two commissioners.

“For decades, a flawed system for pricing energy has left consumers, families and businesses across New England holding the bag,” said Kennedy. “In just two weeks we face another energy auction to determine future prices and, once again, we have a regulatory body – FERC – unequipped to fairly oversee the process. This bill would address an unjust flaw in existing law that has silenced consumer voices in the past and threatens to silence them again. I look forward to continuing to partner with Senator Markey as he advocates for this legislation in the Senate and as we work together to bring it to the President’s desk.”

“We need to ensure that consumers in New England are fully protected from potential unjust increases in energy rates,” said Senator Edward J. Markey. “The Fair RATES Act would help guarantee that consumers always have the ability to challenge proposals to increase their energy rates. I look forward to continuing to work with Congressman Kennedy to enact this legislation into law and fight to protect ratepayers in Massachusetts and our region.”

In New England, a portion of energy prices are set several years in advance through a process known as a ‘forward capacity auction,’ with the goal to guarantee there will be enough supply to meet projected demand. The results of these auctions require approval from FERC. Over the past three years, these ‘capacity payments,’ payments from ratepayers to generation companies to guarantee supply of the necessary electricity, have risen dramatically. These increased capacity payments will further saddle families and businesses across the region in the coming years. Kennedy’s bill would fix a technical flaw in the current regulatory process that denies consumers both an administrative and legal avenue to dispute rate increases in certain circumstances. Senator Edward J. Markey will introduce a companion version of the bill in the United States Senate.

Congressman Kennedy has been a vocal critic of New England’s energy auctions since taking office. After the FERC deadlocked when reviewing the rates from FCA8 which tripled the capacity rates consumers will begin paying this year, Kennedy and Markey led their New England colleagues in urging the Commission to carefully examine the capacity shortfall. They also wrote a letter to President Obama highlighting the vacancy at FERC that limits the commission’s ability to rule whether rates are just and reasonable.

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New Advertiser:
Mad Rush for Mount RushHour!

See uncropped version at www.MountRushHour.com/

As The Patriots are devouring their post season rivals, and fans and superfans are feeling SuperBowl fever, a local artist is offering a great Boston sports collectable. You can now purchase prints, tee-shirts and mugs of Mount Rush Hour directly from the artist, Hopkinton resident Roger Kabler.

Sportscaster Steve Burton introduced it on his WBZ telecast, and it appeared at last year's Boston Marathon. There has been a growing interest in the image as it has started appearing in sports bars, man-caves, and businesses around New England. As more people are buying this "fun new image" it  has started to become a fad. Mr. Burton showed Mount RushHour to Big Papi and "...he absolutely loved it."

Mr. Kabler, who is also known as a television actor and comedian. calls it a love song to Boston sports. The original painting lived in Hopkinton Town Hall last year. It is now in the hands of someone close to the Patriots.

To own Mount RushHour collectables, you can contact Mr. Kabler directly (310 591 4711) for a signing , or purchase on MountRushHour.com .