Flag Retirement Ceremony

The Hopkinton Scout Leaders Association (HSLA) representing all Hopkinton Girl, Boy & Cub Scout Units, The American Legion, The Hopkinton Veteran’s Celebration Committee, and Parks & Rec are teaming up to invite all Hopkinton residents to participate in a Community Flag Retirement Ceremony on Flag Day, Thursday, June 14th starting at 6:00 PM at the Fruit Street Fields at the Fruit Street Athletic Complex. The ceremony should last about 30 minutes.

There will be scouts available before the ceremony to collect flags that you may have in your homes or businesses that are tattered or worn and ready to be properly retired.

Please join us as we come together as a community to honor our flag this coming Flag Day!

  by Dave McGillivray 

Forty years ago today, June 11, 1978, I started off on my 80-day, 3,452 mile run from Medford, OR to Medford, MA. For the first month, I averaged about 43 miles a day and then upped it to over 50 miles a day as I miscalculated the distance using AAA maps and a ruler! Geez, now I am lucky if I can do just one of those days! Every breath seems like a cliff hanger! Guess I should just be happy I’m still waking up every morning. I always thought it would have been more exciting for all of us to be born, go to age 50, then turn around and go back to age zero again – then you get to do every year of your life over again…a second chance at every age instead of just getting older and older!! So cool. Ha.

Looking at a few of these pictures – I started ceremonially in the Kingdome in Seattle during a Red Sox / Seattle Mariners game and then flew down to Medford, OR to begin the run. Here I am with the Mayor of Medford, OR and a few members of the Oregon Sizzlers track club. My crew of Danny Carey, Jeff Donahue, Tom Kinder and Kent Hawley were life savers. At the end of every day, I wrote a postcard (see attached) and mailed it back to some friends at the Boston YMCA. Each card had the date, day on the road, weather and temperature, miles I ran and location I finished for the day, along with a brief message. No computers, no cell phones, no emails, no texting, no GPS, no nothing. Ran from phone booth to phone booth!

This one says: “Started about 1:10pm from Medford, Oregon. The Mayor and a few guys from the area track club ran with me for a while. Was interviewed by area TV and newspapers. Only expected to do 20 miles today – very, very hilly and mountainous! Over 5,000 ft. in elevation. Stayed at a campsite for the night. 80 degrees and sunny.” Dave

Ran 30-miles that day and finished in Tub Springs, Rt. 66, Oregon, my shortest day because I started in the afternoon. I only had 3,422 more miles to go! What was I thinking??

I was 23-years-old and very naïve. That’s what probably got me through all this.

NOTE: Mr. McGillivray is the Race Director of the Boston Marathon.

One More Handgun off of the Streets

June 11, 2018 -- The Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit, working with Taunton Police and Troopers assigned to the State Police Detective Unit for Bristol County, got another illegally-owned loaded firearm out of the hands of a suspected drug trafficker last Wednesday.

On the morning of June 6, State Troopers and Taunton officers assigned to the Southeastern Massachusetts Gang Task Force went to a home at 101 Whittenton Street in Taunton to execute a search warrant. Surveillance of the home had revealed that the target of a narcotics investigation, EDWARD GREEN Jr., 33, of Apartment #1 at that address, was standing on the front porch smoking a cigarette.

Task Force members pulled up in front of the home to engage GREEN, who saw them and ran back into the residence. Troopers and officers announced several times that they had a search warrant as they chased GREEN into the first floor apartment. Simultaneously, other Task Force members made entry through a side door.

Task Force members observed GREEN run into an occupied bathroom in the apartment and try to hide in the shower. GREEN then fled into the kitchen where he violently resisted attempts by Troopers and Officers to subdue him. The suspect repeatedly punched and kicked at the Task Force members while stating that he wasn’t going anywhere. After a lengthy physical confrontation Troopers were able to secure GREEN, who continued to be defiant and resistant and tried unsuccessfully several times to flee the kitchen.

Because of GREEN’s ongoing physical tirade, four police detectives had to carry him to a cruiser, the backseat window of which he tried to kick out during the transport to the State Police Barracks in Middleboro.

Troopers and Officers then searched the residence and located the following items:

•  

• In the toilet in the bathroom in which GREEN had fled, a Coca-Cola can with a false top and hidden compartment, which contained plastic twists holding approximately 25 grams of a hard white substance believed to be cocaine and 13 red pills believed to be Ecstasy;

•  

• In a living room coffee table, a baggie containing nearly 5 grams of a substance also believed to be cocaine and $732 in US currency;

•  

• Under a cushion of the living room couch, another plastic twist holding nearly 3.5 grams of a substance believed to be cocaine;

•  

• In the kitchen, a powder suspected of being a cutting agent to mix with drugs prior to sale; and

•  

• On a rafter in the basement ceiling, a purple sock containing a Ruger LCP .380 pistol loaded with six rounds, one in the chamber.

GREEN was booked at State Police-Middleboro on the following offenses:

• Unlawful possession of a firearm, second offense;

• Unlawful possession of ammunition;

• Commission of a firearm violation while having committed three prior violent or drug crimes;

• Trafficking in cocaine;

• Possession of a Class B substance, cocaine, with intent to distribute, subsequent offense;

• Possession of a Class B substance, Ecstasy, with intent to distribute;

• Assault and battery on a police officer; and

• Resisting arrest.

He was expected to be arraigned in Taunton District Court last week.

Working hard for Hopkinton Homeowners

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Working hard for Hopkinton Homeowners

and the surrounding Communities.

Angelo J. Spinosa, 67

Angelo J. Spinosa, 67, died December 24, 2017 in Boston after a brief illness. Born in Somerville, he was the son of the late Angelo and Angela Spinosa. Angelo lived in Cambridge, Somerville and Hopkinton.

Anjo was a child of music, culture and American history; finding tranquility in academic halls, teaching and playing viola, cello, flute, recorder and of course the loudest tuba he could carry in the Northeastern Band. He attended Lehigh University for his post graduate studies.

He would play where passers-by would stop and engage with the music, on MBTA, bus lines, concerts and parks. He reveled in opera and classical music of the great masters. He immersed himself in revolutionary American history, teaching classes in multiple colleges, secondary schools and Boston school system venues. The MBTA was his magic carpet, rain, snow or shine. He was out there making friends and sharing his life, his loves and willingness to debate any “miss-interpretation” of Boston history.

He was kind and gentle with no biases. On occasion, the education system became strident so that he could not see the benefits to the children. He had the courage to say what he had to say and walk away from confrontation. He cared for profound knowledge, the children’s learning and the legacy of lessons learned to better our lives.

He is survived by his brother Ray D. Spinosa and wife Susan of Phoenix, AZ, his nephew Daniel Spinosa and his niece Christine Spinosa. He also leaves Barbara Zino, partner of his late brother Eugene (Geno) Spinosa of Woodville.

Visitation will be held Thursday, June 14, 2018 from 9:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, 34 Church Street. A celebration of life service will follow at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial of cremains will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.

Dylan Thomas eloquently said: “Do not go into that good night ... Those wise men at their end know dark is right." Requiescat in pace, my younger brother.

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To all planning board members and the Town of Hopkinton. 

I am formally requesting for you to please accept my resignation from the planning board in lieu [sic] of some of my recent life changes. 

Last Tuesday I completely severed my Achilles tendon and I have limited physical mobility as a result. I face extensive physical therapy once the injury is healed.

Many of you are you aware that I am in the process of creating and building a new company. That endeavor is taking a majority of my time and focus. Secondly, the pending sale of my property will also lead me in new directions.

I feel that the board will be better served at this time by filling my position with someone who will be able to attend regular meetings to best suit the needs of our community.

I would like to thank my fellow board members as well as the townspeople for allowing me the opportunity to help create a better Hopkinton.

Sincerely, 

Clifford D. Kistner

Local Firm Redesigns WCVB-TV News Room

June 8, 2018 -- Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects Completes WCVB-TV News Room ReDesign: Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects recently completed an entire redesign of the WCVB-TV & Chronicle newsroom space. The 22,550 square foot channel 5 headquarters are located in Needham, MA and is home to the NewsCenter 5 Team, as well as the evening “insider’s guide” to New England show Chronicle.

GRLA was challenged to create a space that encouraged collaboration and productivity while still living within the existing footprint. They were also tasked with a need for natural daylighting as well as state of the art office systems, conference spaces, editing rooms as well as new and exciting locations to shoot breaking news stories outside of the regular TV studio spaces. This was achieved with sleek fixtures and furniture, flat screens with live feeds of the news broadcast, and open work areas.

It also features large "ribbons" of the Channel's signature red woven throughout the space for visual excitement. The design solution centered on the main newsroom space which was phase one of about 14,000 SF of renovations and provided an open floor plate that had 4 main access routes. The GRLA Team developed these access routes representing the North, South, East and West winds to symbolize the fact that news is garnered from the 4 corners of the world and then focused the center of the space as the main information desk. Gorman Richardson Lewis wanted to give the news team a vibrant, open and inspiring space that would make them excited to come to work and help them be more productive. The most fulfilling comment we heard from news anchor, Maria Stephanos is: “The new space just makes me happy to come to work every day”. To us, this was success right there.

Rear View Mirror

Editor:

Now that Hopkinton Town Meeting is several weeks in the rearview mirror, I thought it would be helpful to express the moderator’s perspective on how it went especially in light of our experiment with electronic voting. First, I’d like to extend thanks to all who participated in our purest form of American democracy. Special thanks to all of our town employees and resident volunteers who spend hundreds of hours in meeting preparation for the benefit of the town. And, of course, thanks to all of the townspeople who committed their time to participate in the meeting auditorium.

While we only held one successful vote using our mobile phones, iPads and vendor provided devices, it did demonstrate that our community is receptive to new approaches and, even with the learning curve, it showed that the process of voting and vote counting can be handled more efficiently and with greater accuracy than our traditional stand and be counted balloting.

There were some glitches. Some were self imposed, and some were vendor related. We conducted a followup session with town officials and the vendor to discuss the problems that arose. We found that there was a technical problem related to the distribution of the wifi signal within the middle school auditorium. If we continue with the same electronic process, we will require that the vendor install hotspots throughout the hall to overcome any building related signal problems. When we attempted to use the system to vote on the replacement of the school turf fields very late on the first night, because of a surge in newly arrived voters, the vendor ran out of ballot cards that were needed to cast electronic votes. And so we reverted to the traditional method of balloting.

We received one comment from a resident who was able to vote from home on the Main Street Corridor article. This resident had been in the auditorium and was home by the time of the balloting. At that point, we had terminated the electronic voting trial but the vendor took down their “geo fence” but didn’t otherwise disable their system until after midnight. Bottom line—all voting occurred within the hall as required by state law.

Finally, we want to assure town residents that the cost to undertake the electronic voting trial was quite reasonable. Our payment to the vendor was $2,000; this is substantially less than the cost other communities bear who have used alternate forms of electronic voting. Town Clerk, Connor Degan, Town Manager, Norman Khumalo, and I will continue to evaluate electronic voting over the course of the next year.

We tackled some very important and controversial issues in the 2018 annual town meeting and did it with a degree of respect and collegiality that is the hallmark of our community. I applaud our community and am open to considering any suggestions that residents would like to offer. My official email address is moderator@hopkintonma.gov.

Respectfully,

Tom Garabedian, Moderator

5 Davenport Lane

June 8, 2018

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Wrong-Way Driver Crashes Head-On Killing Other Driver in Westford

June 8, 2018 -- Early this morning, at approximately 2:10 a.m., troopers from the State Police Barracks in Concord received multiple calls reporting a white Nissan SUV traveling the wrong-way, driving north on I-495 southbound in Westford near exit 31. At approximately 2:13 a.m., calls were received reporting a serious injury crash in that same area.

Upon arrival, Trooper Christopher Lopilato located the crash on I-495 southbound, just south of exit 32 in Westford.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that a 2018 Nissan Rogue, driven by a 45-year-old Westford woman, was for reasons still under investigation, traveling northbound on I-495 southbound in Westford, when she struck a 2017 Honda Civic, driven by a 35-year-old Worcester man. The Worcester man was determined to be deceased at the crash scene, as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. The Westford woman was initially transported by ambulance to Lowell General Hospital, then flown by medical helicopter to Mass General Hospital in Boston, with serious injuries.

The name of the victim will be released later, after notifications have been made.

During the incident, all lanes of I-495 southbound were closed, with traffic detoured off at exit 32 in Westford. All lanes were opened at approximately 4:41 a.m.

The remaining facts and circumstances of the crash are currently under investigation by troopers from the Concord Barracks. Troop A Headquarters, State Police Crime Scene Services Section (CSSS), State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section (CARS), Westford Fire Department, Westford Police Department, Littleton Fire Department, Littleton Police Department, Chelmsford Police Department, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MA DOT), and the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, all assisted on scene.

Middlesex Sheriff’s Office alerts residents to recent increase in jury duty scams

MEDFORD, Mass. – The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) is warning residents today of a new round of scam calls threatening citizens with arrest for failing to appear for jury and/or grand jury service. The MSO has been made aware of dozens of scam calls made to Middlesex County residents over the past week. In one instance, a local resident lost in excess of $1,500 believing the threats made by the scammers were real.

On these calls, scammers pose as members of the MSO or court staff. They falsely inform residents that they have missed jury duty and are subject to arrest unless they pay a fine. Frequently, the scammers will ask that residents pay this fine by purchasing a pre-paid debit or gift card and providing the scammer with the card’s code. This allows them to utilize the funds on the card without a trace.

“Threatening arrest is a tactic used by these perpetrators to scare innocent residents,” said Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. “We want everyone to be aware of these scams in order to better protect themselves. Never, under any circumstances, will law enforcement ask you to pay a fine through gift cards.”

Anyone who may have received similar calls is encouraged to report them to their local police department and the MSO Digital Forensics Unit at 978-932-3292.  They may also file a complaint online with the Federal Communications Commission using their Consumer Complaint Center.

Aptly Named

June 7, 2018 -- This red-winged blackbird darts across a marsh near South Mill Street today, his natural, local, seasonal habitat, and is caught by the camera in mid-flap. It is a territorial bird, which does not share its domain with other males, and protects its young at all costs. We had a shot of it in the same swamp chasing a great blue heron on May 15. The female red-winged blackbird does not have red wings, and is brown, not black.

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Milford Regional Medical Center Receives Award

American Heart Association Award recognizes Milford Regional’s commitment

to quality stroke care

 MILFORD - Milford Regional Medical Center has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines^®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

Milford Regional earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

“Milford Regional is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines-Stroke initiative,” said Jeffrey Hopkins, MD, medical director of the emergency department. “The tools and resources provided help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes.”

“We are pleased to recognize Milford Regional for their commitment to stroke care,” said Eric E. Smith, MD, national chairman of the Get with the Guidelines Steering Committee and an associate professor of neurology at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get with the Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

Contriuted.

State Police arrest five for suspected fentanyl trafficking in Greenfield

On Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at about 2:20 a.m., State Police arrested five people from New York and Vermont for suspected fentanyl trafficking on Route 91 in Greenfield following a traffic stop.

Trooper Anthony Lavigne was on patrol on Route 91 when he observed a Subaru Legacy traveling northbound with a defective plate light and traveling over lane markings. He pulled the vehicle over and, upon making contact with the operator and occupants, made observations of drug related paraphernalia in the vehicle. Trooper Lavigne additionally determined that the operator’s license was suspended in the state of Vermont. Upon further investigation, with assistance from Trooper Michael Garceau, troopers located three balloons in the vehicle containing approximately 83 grams of a substance believed to be fentanyl.

Troopers arrested the driver, MORGAN PECK, 32, of Lyndon Center, V.T., and her passengers, NICHOLAS MAIO, 26, of Lyndonville, V.T., CINDY CROOKS, 31, of Westberke, VT., HUBERT SPENCER, 20, and JERMAINE TAYLOR, 43, both of Brooklyn, NY. All five were charged with the following offenses:

1. Trafficking in Fentanyl
2. Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws

MAIO was additionally charged with carrying a dangerous weapon (knife). MORGAN was additionally charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, lights violation, and committing a marked lanes violation.

All five were arraigned in Greenfield District Court that morning. Contributed.

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WHITINSVILLE, MA – UniBank will be hosting an Open House Hiring Event on Friday, June 15, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the bank’s Whitinsville Main Office located at 49 Church Street, Whitinsville.

UniBank is currently seeking qualified candidates to fill open retail banking positions including Relationship Banker and Call Center Representative positions. Interested candidates can visit www.unibank.com/careers  to preview available positions and apply for open positions before attending the Open House. Open House attendees are asked to bring their resume, at least 4 references and are advised to wear professional attire.

UniBank is committed to achieving an equitable balance in the composition of its workforce. UniBank is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, hiring, training and promoting persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, status as a veteran or as an individual with a disability.

UniBank is rooted in the Blackstone Valley with assets of $1.6 billion as of March 31, 2018. A full-service, mutually owned community bank, UniBank has branches in Central Massachusetts and the MetroWest region of Massachusetts. UniBank opened its newest full-service branch at 193 Boston Turnpike (Route 9) in Shrewsbury (at the former site of Spag’s) on September 20, 2017. UniBank is dedicated to contributing to the overall quality of life and economic health of the communities it serves, while maintaining a high level of financial soundness and integrity. UniBank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC and Member DIF. UniBank NMLS #583135. The company website is www.unibank.com .

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Troopers helped a mother in labor deliver a baby girl tonight.

June 5, 2018 -- Troopers helped a mother in labor deliver a baby girl tonight. At around 6:30 p.m., a Malden couple pulled into the Boston Barracks parking lot off Leverett Circle. The couple was on the phone with 911 and was directed to the parking lot when they determined they would not make it to an area Hospital. Troopers Stephen Kavol, Anthony Wosny and Robert Foley met the couple in the Barracks parking lot. Trooper Kavol, with the assistance of Trooper Wosny and Foley, was able to assist with the successful delivery of a baby girl. Boston EMS transported the parents and baby to Massachusetts General Hospital.

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 How Un-Learning Negative Conditioning Releases Potential and Increases Creativity

by Arthur P. Ciaramicoli, Ed.D.,Ph.D.

In a recent group session, several of my clients indicated they had not become as successful personally or professionally as they had hoped. I asked Frank, a noted musician, what his dream was when he started playing.

“To be great, one of the very best, I never got there, so every night I play I know I am just mediocre or I suck, I thought I would be the handsome guy on stage and now I am bald and old."

Mary, a high school teacher, said she understood.

“I always thought I would get a doctorate and teach in a college, I got my masters but never applied beyond, I knew I would never be accepted, I have let my struggle with my weight and my career dominate my life.”

Both Frank and Mary have grown up feeling inadequate. Neither received the love and understanding they needed in childhood and as a result excelling in the world became a fantasy they thought would bring them the self-esteem they had always been missing.

Bad to Great

It is quite common for children who are conditioned to feel inadequate to imagine if they do something great it will compensate for the bad feelings they have lived with since childhood. In reality, neither Frank nor Mary are as bad as they think they are, nor are they as great as they wish to be. This desire to excel results in perfectionistic thinking and creates a false idea of what produces self worth and a sense of calm within. It is critically important to remember whatever is learned can be un-learned. As Frank and Mary begin to realize they are valued for whom they are not just for what they achieve and how they look, both have begun to feel more worthwhile. In group sessions, they are valued for their insight, compassion and unusual range of empathy. Both have suffered, so they understand the importance of empathic listening, as they seldom felt heard, understood or validated.

One of the greatest accomplishments we can achieve interpersonally is to give what we never received. As a result of their giving natures, they are receiving positive feedback from others in group consistently. They are essentially un-learning what they had initially come to believe about themselves, and realizing they have worth that has been undiscovered for many years. Achievement and appearance have value, but neither can make up for the hurts we suffered earlier in life.

Un-Covering vs. Criticizing

People who come to see me often think I am going to tell them what is wrong with them. In fact I am far more interested in un-covering what has always been right with them, hidden by negative conditioning. When we lift the veil of distorted conditioning and distorted beliefs we are free to release our inherent abilities. So often in my practice people tell me what they can’t do and so often, after old conditioning is replaced by truthful feedback, they realize their conclusions were based on looking into the mirrors of early authority figures. These were people who could not provide them with an accurate view of themselves.

Emotional Freedom

The process I am highlighting takes time and patience. Our hurts are recorded in a deep part of the brain to protect us from future injury. Unfortunately when we record these hurts they are accompanied by false ideas about ourselves. We cannot untangle these beliefs alone. We need feedback from those who can provide objective feedback. Thus, the value of having reasonable people in your life who will enter into reciprocal, truthful relationships with you. We get what we give. Remember, good friends tell us what we need to hear not what we want to hear.

Arthur P. Ciaramicoli, Ed.D.,Ph.D.

Author of The Stress Solution: Using Empathy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Anxiety and Develop Resilience.

The Michael Lisnow Respite Center Receives Grant to Expand Programs at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts
    

(June 4, 2018 – Hopkinton, MA) - The Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center is pleased to announce it has been awarded a grant from the Cummings Foundation. The foundation’s “$100K for 100 Grants”, which supports education, health care, human services, and social justice in Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties, annually make this generous gift to 100 nonprofit organizations. The Respite Center’s programs for individuals with disabilities and their families include overnight and weekend respite, infant and toddler respite day programs, after-school care, an adult day program, twenty four hour residential care and employment support for adults.

The Cummings Grant will support the expansion of the Respite Center’s art education program at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts (HCA) through 2022. In 2013 the HCA developed the first art class for the Center, teaching acrylic painting. This grant will support new classes in ceramics, dance and music. Art classes will grow to include off-site experiences as well as more classes. This will open the experience up to many more individuals. In 2017, 19 individuals from the Respite Center participated in HCA classes. By 2019 that number is expected to increase to over 100. The art work they’ve produced has been exhibited at the Boston Public Market, at Bittersweet Café in Hopkinton, and in HCA’s Lotvin Family Gallery.

“The work we’ve done with the Respite Center is among the most inspirational and rewarding that I’ve experienced,” HCA director Kris Waldman said. “The adult students have produced truly remarkable work. Broadening and deepening our programs for them advances our mission of providing meaningful art experiences to people of all abilities.

Katie Myer, of Westborough, said she really enjoys taking classes at HCA, calling them “spectacular!” “The art show made me so happy,” she added. “I am famous. Thank you to the Center for the Arts. We love it!”

“We have seen the individuals who have participated in the art program flourish in so many ways,” Respite Center Cofounder and Director Mary McQueeney said. “Of course their artistic talents have grown, but so have their self esteem, their confidence and their genuine sense of pride. The art program challenges their fine motor skills as well as their critical thinking and problem solving abilities. We are so grateful to the Cummings Foundation for giving so many more individuals this wonderful opportunity.” Contributed Content

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A New Career for Dave McGillivray?

by Dave McGillivray

June 3, 2018 -- It was a fun and inspiring week talking to students in Falmouth, Medford and North Andover. It was so surreal talking to the kids at the McGlynn Elementary and Middle Schools in Medford, MA since I grew up in Medford myself and ran in track meets at Hormel Stadium right next to the school.

Then, speaking at my daughter Chloe’s school, the Franklin School in North Andover was very special, too. It was Fun Run Day at the school where all the kids ran laps around the playground in the morning and I spoke to the entire school, 450 students, later in the afternoon. I was able to donate my book Dream Big to all the kids at each of these schools, distributing over 1,000 donated books with thanks to the Joseph Middlemiss Big Heart Foundation!

It has been so rewarding to speak to over 3,000 kids at areas schools and hospitals since my book came out in March. I may give up my day job and just do this for the rest of my life…ha! My objective is to encourage kids to believe in themselves, “dream big”, set goals and accomplishment things in life. This will give them the critical self-confidence they need which is the foundation by which they will accomplish everything else in their lives.

http://www.mpsadvantage.education/2018/05/31/mhs-alum-dave-mcgillivray-speaks-at-mcglynn-school/

Car Strikes Wrecker in Breakdown Lane, Killing Driver of Car in Attleboro

June 3, 2018 -- Early this morning, at approximately 2:06 a.m., a Attleboro Police officer was assisting with a disabled vehicle on I-95 southbound near mile-marker 0.6 in Attleboro. The officer had called for a tow truck to remove the disabled vehicle it was assisting. After the wrecker arrived, it was parked in the breakdown lane, unoccupied, when it was struck by a passing motor vehicle.

Troopers from the State Police Foxboro Barracks responded to reports of the crash. Upon arrival, Trooper Kenneth Downey discovered that a 1994 Honda Civic, driven by Michael A. Avelar, 26, of Stoughton, was traveling southbound on I-95, when for reasons still under investigation, drove into the breakdown lane and struck the rear of the 2016 Freightliner wrecker. Mr. Avelar was determined to be deceased on scene, as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

No other injuries were reported. Debris from the crash damaged the Attleboro Police cruiser. All vehicles were towed from the scene.

The remaining facts and circumstances of the crash are currently under investigation by troopers from the Foxboro Barracks. Troop H Headquarters, State Police Detective Unit assigned to Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, State Police Crime Scene Services Section (CSSS), State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section (CARS), Attleboro Fire Department, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner all assisted on scene.

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Tewksbury Man Arraigned on Elder Abuse Charges

TEWKSBURY – District Attorney Marian Ryan has announced that Steven Gordon, 55, of Tewksbury, was arraigned Thursday  in Middlesex Superior Court and charged with caretaker abuse of an elder causing serious bodily injury and caretaker abuse of an elder permitting bodily injury in connection with the alleged abuse of an elderly woman of whom the defendant was the sole caretaker.

Clerk Magistrate Matthew Day released the defendant on personal recognizance, ordered the defendant to continue to receive mental health treatment, to sign a waiver with the Probation Department to allow them to monitor his compliance with prescription medication, and to not manage the care of or work with the elderly. The next scheduled hearing in this case is June 22.

“The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office is determined to ensure that seniors, one of our most vulnerable populations, are protected from abuse and that those who harm them are prosecuted,” said District Attorney Ryan. “The defendant in this case allegedly abused a woman who was solely in his care and entirely dependent upon him. The defendant’s alleged actions are indicative of a pattern of behavior that undermines the quality of life that all seniors are entitled to.”

On May 4, 2017, the defendant dialed 911 to report that an 85-year-old woman with whom the defendant resided was having a heart attack. When emergency personnel arrived they observed the residence to be in disarray and with the victim living unsanitary conditions. The victim was transported to an area hospital where medical staff determined she was malnourished and exhibiting signs of neglect including a large bedsore. The victim died on May 5, 2017. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be natural causes.

Through their investigation authorities learned that the defendant had allegedly isolated the victim from her family. The defendant was directly indicted on May 8, 2018. These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Heidi Gosule. The Victim Witness Advocate is Lori Riccio.

District Attorney Marian Ryan and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office are deeply committed to protecting seniors within the community through innovative public private partnerships including the Middlesex Senior Health and Safety Initiative, a comprehensive training program for EMS, police, and fire personnel designed to provide first responders with the necessary tools to identify the less conspicuous signs of abuse or neglect and, upon doing so, to activate a rapid response intervention.

Additionally, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office’s Senior Protection Program partners with local police departments, elder services and community-based banks to educate seniors on how to stay safe, avoid scams and theft and report abuse.

Before becoming District Attorney, Ryan served as Chief of the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office’s Elder and Disabled Unit, where she prosecuted a myriad of crimes involving financial abuse and physical abuse of the most vulnerable victims. In that role, she collaborated with business and community leaders to conduct risk assessments and develop prevention plans for elders and disabled citizens. Ryan continues to host seminars in community settings to provide advice to residents about how to protect themselves.

For more information on ways to protect seniors visit: http://middlesexda.com/prosecution/elder-disabled.php  Contributed content.

State Police arrest three from Ohio for unlawful possession of a firearm in Charlton

June 2, 2018 -- Yesterday at about 2:00 p.m., a motor vehicle stop on Route 90 in Charlton led to the arrest of three Ohio residents for unlawful possession of a firearm, among other charges.

Trooper Scott Shea of the State Police Barracks in Sturbridge observed a 2017 Hyundai Accent on Route 90 Eastbound in Sturbridge traveling in the left lane without passing and causing other vehicles to travel around it on the right. The vehicle then abruptly moved to the middle lane, narrowly avoiding a collision with another vehicle.

Trooper Shea pulled the vehicle over at the Charlton rest area and determined that the operator, MICHAEL MORALE, 36, of Canton, O.H., was unlicensed. He additionally determined that no one in the vehicle could produce a valid rental contract for the vehicle. Upon further investigation, with assistance from Lieutenant Scott Pillsbury, a .38 caliber revolver and five rounds of ammunition were located in the vehicle.

MORALE and the other two occupants of the vehicle, ROBERT HOARD, 27, of Akron, O.H., and ASHLIE BRINSON, 26, of Canton, O.H., were placed under arrest on the following charges:

1. Unlawful possession of a firearm
2. Possession of ammunition without an FID card
3. Improper storage of a firearm

MORALE and HOARD were additionally charged with being felons in possession of a firearm. MORALE was also charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, left lane violation, and marked lanes violation.

MORALE, HOARD, and BRINSON were held pending $5,000, $2,000, and $250 respectively. All three will be arraigned in Dudley District Court on Monday.

Contributed content.

Trooper assaulted by suspected drunk driver in New Bedford

June 2, 2018 -- This morning at about 1:20 a.m., a State Trooper was assaulted by a man on Ashley Boulevard in New Bedford following a motor vehicle stop.

Trooper Joshua Pacheco was on patrol on Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford when he observed a 1997 Dodge Neon traveling in the opposite direction towards his cruiser. The Neon had traveled over the center lane markings and narrowly missed striking the cruiser as it passed by. The vehicle then sped down the street. Trooper Pacheco was able to catch up to the vehicle on Ashley Boulevard, where the operator had pulled into a residential driveway.

Trooper Pacheco observed the operator making suspicious movements inside the vehicle. Additionally, the operator declined to show his hands upon command. Upon approaching the vehicle and making contact with the operator, the trooper made observations which indicated the man might be intoxicated.

While Trooper Pacheco was attempting to communicate with the operator, the man abruptly exited his vehicle and lunged at the trooper. Trooper Pacheco was able to fend off this initial assault and proceeded to attempt to place the man in custody. After a significant struggle with this resistant and combative man, the trooper was eventually able to place him in custody.

The operator, 37-year-old DIEGO TINIGUAR PANJOJ, of New Bedford, was transported to Saint Luke’s Hospital for treatment of minor injuries sustained in the melee. The trooper was uninjured.

Following his treatment at the hospital, PANJOJ was

 then transported to the State Police Barracks in Dartmouth and booked on the following charges:
1. OUI Liquor
2. Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle
3. Possession of an Open Container of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle
4. Assault and Battery on a Police Officer
5. Resisting Arrest
6. Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle
7. Marked Lanes Violation

PANJOJ also had an outstanding warrant out of New Bedford District Court for resisting arrest, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and failure to stop for police. Due to the warrant, PANJOJ was held without bail pending his arraignment in New Bedford District Court on Monday. Contributed content.

Working hard for Hopkinton Homeowners

and the surrounding Communities.

Working hard for Hopkinton Homeowners

and the surrounding Communities.