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Up-to-date Real Estate Transactions for Hopkinton, Massachusetts

Most recent first - May 21, 2007

Compiled by Eric Montville for HopNews.com

Address	Buyer	Price	Date	Seller
6 Greenwood Road	Bhanu Sareddy, Bhanuprakash Sareddy & Sravanthi Gangula	$921,000	May 21, 2007	Michael Dean Brown & Cathy Brown
15 Highcroft Way	Elizabeth Benack	$363,800	May 18, 2007	Giancarlo O. Tanzi
7 Fenton Street	Roderick M. Klinger	$467,900	May 18, 2007	Stephen Leighton & Elizabeth F. Leighton
8 Huckleberry Road	Brent Skinner	$615,000	May 17, 2007	Richard J. Dinka & Cora G. Dinka
Previous update:
1 Turnbridge Lane	Kevin Levey	$305,000	May 04, 2007	Kristine Cole Palsha
294 Wood Street	Eugene Zanella & Lisa Merloni Zanella	$395,000	May 01, 2007	Loraine R. Walsh
3 Daniel Road	Stephen N. Leighton & Elizabeth Leighton	$640,000	May 01, 2007	John R. Sheldon & Elia T. Sheldon
15 Colella Farm Road	Prasad Narasimhan & Padmini Pangal	$665,000	Apr. 30, 2007	Douglas L. Schuck & Ellen K. Schuck
See Full List back to February 1, 2007

Yard Sale to Benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Saturday, June 2nd

9:00 am. - 2:00 p.m.

4 Hayden Rowe Street

Board of Selectmen Changes ~ Chair Doesn't
Board Refutes O'Leary Conflict Charge

By David Hamacher
May 22, 2007
After a brief introduction of new members Brian Herr and Matthew Zettek by Selectmen Board Chairman Muriel Kramer, to the audience, the board reorganized as is the tradition following an election. Monday’s town elections resulted in the swearing in of both Mr. Herr and Mr. Zettek.
Wasting no time, Vice-Chair Mary Pratt nominated Muriel Kramer for Chairman ,which was seconded by member Mike Shepard. Mrs. Kramer than asked for other nominations and, hearing none, moved for a vote. Mr. Herr asked to be heard.

      “As we start anew, it’s important to share what Matt and I have heard over the past weeks. It’s clear that the voters are looking for a critical change on the board, and I’m looking for a positive debate as we move forward,” he said.
       Mrs. Kramer replied, “I’m delighted to see many new faces on the board, and see a strong focus for positive change.”
      Mr. Shepard said, “It’s important to note that it’s not as important as to who’s in the Chairman’s position, but it’s more important to be able to work together with all the people at the table.”
       Mary Pratt replied, “We probably can work better together.”
       Mr. Zettek added, “I’m looking forward to working together as a team.”

Mrs. Kramer won unanimously, and Mary Pratt won the Vice-Chairman's position

Conflict of Interest:

      Mrs. Kramer read aloud a May 21st letter from Land Use Study Committee (LUSC) member Mavis O’Leary, who was appointed as a Member-at-Large since March of 2005, representing the Curtis Road/Linden Street Neighborhood to give input regarding the concerns of the neighborhood.
      “I have lived in Hopkinton for over 45 years,” Mrs. O’Leary wrote. “I have been a volunteer for many community organizations such as the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Boy and Girls Scouts as well as my church. Being a member of the Land Use Study Committee is another avenue for me to voluntarily contribute my time in the best interests of the community,” she continued.
      Last Friday the LUSC Chairman, Mr. Finley Perry notified Mrs. O’Leary that a question had been raised to him regarding a "possible financial conflict of interest" and, “...my authority to vote on the upcoming recommendation to the Board of Selectmen on the Weston Nursery land sale. Mr. Perry had recommended that the Ethics Commission be contacted regarding the matter," without identifying the source of the question.
      “Today, I spoke with Chris Prospove, attorney for the Massachusetts Ethics Commission about this alleged concern,” and it was recommended to contact and ask for an exemption from any limitations due to the location of her home in this matter, and request a “determination of voting eligibility from the appointing authority/Board of Selectmen. Thank you for your timely consideration and I look forward to receiving your determination and response,” she concluded.
     Both Mr. Shepard and Mary Pratt spoke about their personal involvement as board members concerning the Fruit Street development concerns and how they both step off for substantive discussions of the property, because Mrs. Pratt is an actual abutter as is Mr. Shepard’s daughter. “But that’s different,” Mrs. Pratt said, “We’re actual abutters.”
      Mr. Herr said, “I’m somewhat familiar with abutting issues, and it’s clear that her property does not abut Weston Nurseries, so I see no problem with it.”
      Mr. Shepard moved the board make an endorsement to allow Mrs. O’Leary an exemption from any limitation as requested.

Mr.Zettek abstained from voting because, ironically, he is a direct abutter to a parcel of Weston Nurseries. It is not known if he has received guidance from the Ethics Commission.

Mrs. Pratt then requested that Ms. Kramer get with the Clerk to the Board of Selectmen, Geri Holland, after the meeting to make sure the letter affirming the vote went right out to the interested parties.

Youth Recognized

      Acting on a letter written by Boy Scout Troop 1 Eagle Mentor, Barbara Wilson, the new board issued a proclamation for Sean Patrick Donahue in recognition of his completing all of the requirements for the highest rank in Boy Scouting, Eagle Scout. Since joining the scouts in 1995, the proclamation noted that Sean has taken primarily honors and advanced placement classes in his two years at Hopkinton High, plays the oboe in the school’s band, as well as running on the winter track team, and placing second in a school engineering competition.
     Eagle Scout candidate, Brian Anderson, announced that he would conduct a community-wide blood drive. He said, “I decided that my project would not only obtain needed blood through a drive, but it would publicize the constant and varied need for blood throughout the community.”
     Brian’s blood drive takes place this Saturday, May 26th from 9:00am to 2:00pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 61 Wood Street. All community members aged 17 and older are urged to participate not only ‘because someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds, but because only 5% of eligible donors, give blood.

Other proclamations were issued by the new board to High School Seniors, Maddie Aronson and Mary Racenis, Junior, Colleen Sullivan, and Sophomore Laura Cook-Brisson who were all selected to the Music Educators National Association All-Eastern Honors Concert Band. Additionally, Ms. Aronson won the Gold Medal award at the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) Festival.

NSTAR Offers $1.5 Million for

Conservation Restriction on Weston Nurseries Land

May 23, 2007 — NSTAR, which is the owner of property abutting the northern parcel of Weston Nurseries, has offered to purchase a conservation restriction from whoever purchases the property, and turn the conservation restriction over to the Town of Hopkinton. The letter went out Tuesday to Boulder Capital, TPL (Trust for Public Land), and Hopkinton LUSC (Land Use Study Committee), apparently making the same offer to all involved parties.

The figure is more conservative than the $3.5 million figure that had been touted by others as their likely contribution, a figure that some had said not to count on.

The 50 acre parcel includes the area of the proposed extension of Rafferty Road, something that the company has agreed to allow.

Although the document is a memorandum, and so not binding, the company offered to to sign an agreement within 60 days of the long anticipated transfer of the land.

A conservation restriction would limit activity on a piece of property, and presumably prohibit residences from being built there. This would give NSTAR, which has a natural gas transmission facility abutting the land, a buffer zone from its business, and hopefully limit complaints of its operations from future neighbors.

Read the Memo here.

Town-wide Meeting on

Weston Nurseries on Wednesday, May 23:

Presentations by Boulder Capital and TPL-Taurus

(High School Gym @ 7:30 p.m.)

§ Planning Board (facilitators)
§ Appropriation Committee
§ Land Use Study Committee
§ Capital Improvement Committee
§ School Committee
§ Conservation Commission
§ Board of Selectmen
§ Open Space Preservation Committee
§ Board of Health
§ Housing Committee
§ Design Review Committee
§ Parks and Recreation Commission

Read Full Revised Meting Timeline

Rehearsals at ESL Studio, 30 Main Street

Diary of Anne Frank

May 23, 2007, 7:00 p.m.

Parts for 5 Men, 5 women

Script available for perusal

Rehearsals Monday and Wednesday nights plus added rehearsals during week

before show and at director's discretion (mutually scheduled)

Audition consists of cold readings from the script
Performance dates:

July 19, 20, 21, 28 and 29

Back to Africa

Hopkinton woman to help victims

May 22, 2007 — One local young woman spent her college Christmas break ministering to young children in Zimbabwe; the children there face desperate poverty having lost their parents to the AIDS epidemic and malnutrition in most cases. Victoria Crosby hopes to return to Africa for the summer on another mission trip to work again with some of the world’s most desperately poor population.
     Victoria is a 2006 Hopkinton High School graduate who recently completed her freshman year in college and is motivated to make her mark helping the world’s poor. As a high school student, she traveled to India to work in an AIDS orphanage; it was her first international trip of its kind. She recently found her way to Africa in December to work with AIDS orphans again. Calling the experience “life changing”, Victoria hopes to be able to return to continue the work; this will be her fifth international mission trip.
   Participants in this ministry have to do a lot of work fundraising to cover the cost of their trip and to buy necessary supplies for the work they will do when they get there. Victoria needs to raise $4,000 to be able to go on June 2nd; donations are tax deductible made out to the “DO Missions”. She faces a tight timetable to complete her fundraising; money needs to be in by May 28th.
   Victoria will travel to Colenso, South Africa to work at an orphanage that cares for 100 AIDS orphans. There are few year round workers and very limited resources. The team, made up of ten college students from around the country and one adult leader, will stay at the orphanage. They will care for the orphans and work for the couple that run the orphanage.
   The team intends to build more rooms, renovate and repaint the existing structure, as well as work with and care for the youngsters; they will share cooking and laundry duties for the orphanage. For two weeks of the trip, the team will run a camp in the village for all the youngsters there as well.
   The cost of Victoria’s trip is $4,000; this covers airfare, food, transportation on the ground in Africa, and supplies to donate to the orphanage. All donations are tax deductible and should be made out to “DO Missions”; the donations should be mailed to Victoria Crosby at 407 Wood Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748.
Victoria has big dreams for helping the poorest citizens of the world with hands on love and care; her overriding goal is to love and care for the people of the world that might feel forgotten in their struggle to survive. Please help her help them.

Final Hopkinton Idol Show on May 31
Live Event to Announce Winner and Feature Past Contestants

Photo by Kathleen Culler

May 22, 2007 – “And the Hopkinton Idol is…” On Thursday, May 31, the winner of the first Hopkinton Idol competition will be announced. Who will be the winner? To find out, tune into HCAM-TV Channel 8 at 7:00 p.m. or come to the HCAM studios at 77 Main Street in Hopkinton.

The show’s finale, which will include performances by the finalists as well as past contestants, wraps up a six-week competition co-sponsored by HCAM-TV and Enter Stage Left Theater, Inc. in which 16 contestants competed for the title of Hopkinton Idol. After the live Hopkinton Idol show each week viewers were asked to email their votes to determine which contestants continued on to the next round. In addition to “fame and fortune,” the victorious “Idol” announced on May 31 will also win a professionally recorded demo tape.

“We have been overwhelmed and impressed with the level of talent that has been demonstrated at this show every week,” said Kelly Grill, co-founder or Enter Stage Left Theater and host of the show. “This competition has been a thrilling ride, and I personally think all 16 contestants are winners! Unfortunately, however, only one person can be selected as the Hopkinton Idol, and we are all excited to find out who that person will be.”

Tickets for the finale show are $5 at the door and reservations are strongly suggested.
Enter Stage Left Theater Workshop, Inc. is a performing arts center in Hopkinton offering theater education, training and performances for students of all ages. For more information or to make reservations call 508-435-2114 or visit www.enterstagelefttheater.com

POLITICAL NOTICE
HOPKINTON TOWN CLERK
Attention New Residents
May 29, 2007 is Last Date to Register for June 18th Special Election
June 1, 2007 is Last Date to Register for June 11th Special Town Meeting
May 29th and June 1st
Office Hours 8:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.

Town Talk is back online

JUNE 9 Household Hazardous Waste Collection 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

@ the Highway garage, 83 Wood Street

WHAT TO BRING ~ WHAT NOT TO BRING

Merzel back on top as Hillers knock off Holliston 5-1 in Tri-Valley league Baseball.

May 22, 2007 — The Hopkinton High-School Baseball team behind the 3 hit pitching of Adam Merzel won their eleventh game last night before a huge crowd in Holliston. Merzel (Emory bound) did not give up an earned run and walked only one batter; and at one time retired 11 straight panther batters.

He eventually retired 13 of the last 14 Panther batters. Adam had help as Mike Preite and sophomore Cooper hit tape measure homeruns en route to the victory. The Hillers will now try to improve on their overall record to get a good seed in next months state playoffs. Merzel who has been coming around battling an arm injury appears to be on his way back to a full recovery. He will join the Emory Baseball team in the fall. The Stickney Nine have been winning some great games of late and Mark has them playing heads up baseball. - Peter Marso

Wise Voters Will Prevail on Weston Nurseries

Dear Editor:

Regarding the development of Weston Nurseries, please be advised that Liisa Jackson does not speak on behalf of the Hopkinton Land Use Study Committee, and information she provides may or may not be accurate. Though Ms. Jackson is a member of the Committee, she is choosing a course of public advocacy that is entirely her own. She, like other proponents of each of three positions, will be trying hard to influence the Town's decision over the next two weeks prior to a June 11th Special Town Meeting.

The Land Use Study Committee has worked hard for almost thirty months to provide Hopkinton with good workable options in the eventual disposition and development of Weston Nurseries property. At the present, the town has the following choices:

FULL LETTER

Campaign Day

May 22, 2007 — The HopNews camera was at the entrance to the Middle School yesterday during the election. To see who was there, choose the video.

Water Quality Report Online

The Water Department has completed the annual drinking water quality report. This consumer confidence report is a requirement of the EPA and will be distributed by July 1^st for the previous calendar year reporting period. The State of Massachusetts has waived the mailing requirement for systems that serve fewer than 10,000 people. The report will be made available on the Water Department web page, www.hopkinton.org, www.hopnews.com and at the Water Department office, 85 Wood Street from 7:00am to 3:30pm. Additional copies can be obtained from the Town hall and the Library. READ THE REPORT HERE If you have any questions please feel free to give us a call @ 508-497-9765.

Eric J. Carty

Water-Sewer Manager, Hopkinton DPW, 85 Wood St., PO BOX 171, Hopkinton, MA 01748

www.hopkinton.org 508-497-9765 P 508-497-9767 F

NOTE: Both links below are updated and now work.

Who won? Check this. Ballot questions? Check this.

Voters Give Thumbs-down to Most Ballot Questions

May 22, 2007 —The voters, all 3,611 of them, voted for their favorite candidates and handed a defeat to 10 of 13 ballot questions at the polls yesterday.

Question #1, dismissed at Town Meeting, was for a Fire Department truck; but it passed on the ballot. It may be a moot point due to its Town Meeting status.

The $3.5 million athletic fields got shot down for the second year in a row, and reportedly by a greater a margin this year, even though the dollar amount was not detailed in the question. Town Meeting had passed the appropriation.

Question #4 was for the so-called Stadium at the High School that was supposed to be funded privately, but the town had to borrow the money ahead of time. It got defeated.

The boiler for Center School passed as did the repairs at the Middle School. See all of the numbers for the candidates and the ballot questions by choosing the links above.

Number One!

Above, Brian Herr and wife Mary Murphy at the post-party at The Preserve.

May 22, 2007 — Republican Brian Herr was the top vote getter in the Selectmen's three-way race for two seats on the board.

Two's comfortable, three's a crowd

Above, Matt Zettek and wife, Cindy at the post-party at Eva and Charlie Beede's house.

May 22, 2007 — Democrat Matt Zettek came in second in the vote tally for Selectmen in a three-way race.

Ed Thompson News Tip

Anthony Troiano to be charged with Motor Vehicle Homicide

May 21, 2007 — According to Ed Thompson, News Director of WMRC- 1490 AM in Milford, Hopkinton Town Manager Anthony Troiano will be charged with motor vehicle homicide due to negligent operation, speeding, a marked lanes violation and failing to use care when passing, as a result of a two-car accident on May 15, 2007 in Bourne that took the life of 69 year-old, Lilija Berents of East Falmouth, who was pronounced deceased at the scene.

According to Massachusetts State Police, 51-year-old Anthony J. Troiano (Hopkinton Town Manager) of East Sandwich was operating a 2004 Hyundai sedan on Sandwich Road eastbound when he struck a 1999 Toyota sedan head-on while passing another vehicle. He was on his way home after a Selectmen's meeting that ended relatively early.

Mr. Troiano is still hospitalized in critical condition after hours-long surgery for a tear of the aorta. He also suffered a broken pelvis, orthopedic injuries as well as two collapsed lungs.

Joe Tucci Taps Into The "Virtuous Information Cycle"

for 7,000 EMC World 2007 Attendees

Predicts individuals will create 85% of World's information

Above, EMC Chairman, President and CEO Joe Tucci discusses the massive growth of digital information at EMC World in Orlando, Florida today—before 7,000 attendees.

Orlando, Fla - May 21, 2007 — A record gathering of more than 7,000 EMC customers, partners, technologists and members of the news media and analyst communities joined EMC today in Orlando for the annual EMC World conference. In his opening keynote address, Joe Tucci, EMC Chairman, President and CEO described how the world has crossed over into what he termed the "Virtuous Cycle of Information" in which the massive information scale-up across creators and consumers, combined with ubiquitous network bandwidth, information processing and storage capacity, has resulted in an information explosion of unprecedented proportion.

"We all share a passion for information in our lives; the self-perpetuating nature of information creation is now a constant," Tucci said. "We all want complete information access, no matter where we are or what time of day or night. As information grows, the virtuous cycle starts again – users become creators."

Tucci added, "By 2010, nearly three quarters of the world's digital information will be created by individuals, not corporations. About 85% of that information will live under the watch and care of large enterprises and their information infrastructures for managing availability, security, privacy and compliance. To make it happen, we're going to need the skills of everyone in this room."

"The fate of the world's great information treasures rests in the hands of professionals who rely on technology to do their jobs and the organizations that fuel those technology innovations," said Daniel S. Morrow, Chief Historian Emeritus, and founding Executive Director, Computerworld Smithsonian Awards and Computerworld Honors Programs. "It's inspiring to see how EMC's role in helping the world preserve and protect information has grown. Its dedication to the stewardship of the world's yet-to-be-digitized cultural treasures and its dedication to empower others engaged in that great work are core traits to be admired."

Today, May 21, 2007

6:20 am A caller from Phipps Street reported that money, slips and checks were taken over the weekend...

10:55 pm A Jordan Road resident complained about a possible under age drinking party and about beer cans that were all over the neighborhood...

6:48 pm The State Police reported that they got a call for a road rage incident. One of the operators showed the other operator a firearm...

READ FULL REPORT

R.A.D.

Rape Aggression Defense Systems Training

Training for Women ONLY

· R.A.D. is an Internationally taught realistic hands on self defense training class specifically designed for women (12-16 hours)

· The program teaches and emphasizes awareness, avoidance and physical self defense with the tools we possess with us at all times (hands, feet, elbows, knees, head, etc…)

· All ages, sizes and physical capabilities are welcome (under 16; parental waiver will be needed)

· The class is free of charge sponsored by the Hopkinton Police Department and the Hopkinton Police Association

· Manuals are provided as are water and light snacks

· Casual exercise clothing and an aerobic type of sneaker preferred

· To register and enroll in the class simply email tbrennan@hopkinton.k12.ma.us with you name, phone number, email and home address. The first 30 women to enroll will be signed up and notified by email (including location of course). Don’t hesitate; the class can fill up very quickly.

WHERE: TBA (Hopkinton High School or Police Department)

WHEN: 6:00 pm-9:30 pm on June 5^th, 7^th, 12^th, and 14th (must attend all four classes to participate in simulation)

INSTRUCTORS: Officer Linda Higgins and Officer Timothy Brennan

The Gang's All Here

May 21, 2007 — Politicians and their supporters can be seen at the entrance to the Middle School in this composite photo that removed the driveway to fit them on the screen.

A Broad Brush

May 21, 2007 — Michael Hayes, a married father of school-aged children, makes his voting intentions known, with a one-of-a-kind sign at the entrance o the Middle School polling place this morning.

Seeds of the Next Election

May 21, 2007 — HOPE is the first out of the gate for the next election, campaigning at the exit of the Middle School today, promoting their choice of TPL/Taurus to partner with the town for Weston Nurseries, as opposed to Boulder Capital. Above is Liz Eidlitz handing out fliers.

The campaign for Weston Nurseries is heating up with a whirlwind series of presentations, one of which will be at the High School Athletic Center on Wednesday at 7:00 pm:

May 23: Presentations by Boulder Capital and TPL-Taurus (High School Gym @ 7:30 p.m.)
• Planning Board (facilitators)
• Appropriation Committee
• Land Use Study Committee
• Capital Improvement Committee
• School Committee
• Conservation Commission
• Board of Selectmen
• Open Space Preservation Committee
• Board of Health
• Housing Committee
• Design Review Committee
• Parks & Recreation Commission

SEE THE FULL TIMELINE OF PRESENTATIONS AND EVENTS

Boulder Capital Rebuts Liisa Jackson

To the Editor:

We wish to clarify the attached piece which is being distributed around Hopkinton and Ms. Jackson’s letter to the editor:

Per their Letter Agreement and public hearings - Taurus / TPL is proposing 605 dwellings not 550.

Boulder Capital has represented that it will build no more than 940 dwellings, not “up to 1700 units” as stated in the handout and letters to the editor. FULL LETTER

"Playing For Jerry" Committee Thanks Supporters

Dear Editor:

The “Playing for Jerry” Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank all the local companies and people that contributed to the “Playing for Jerry” Benefit on May 6. This event, which was held to benefit Jerry Higgins, a Shrewsbury tennis coach recently paralyzed by a spinal abscess, drew more than 240 people and surpassed the committee’s monetary goal. It was a very rewarding event and Jerry and his family were very touched by the outpouring of support.FULL LETTER

Arts and the Garden: A Garden and Studio Tour of Hopkinton

Come and enjoy an art and garden filled day on June 9 from 10am-4pm with the Hopkinton Garden Club and Cultural Arts Alliance: "Arts and the Garden: A Garden and Studio Tour of Hopkinton". Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of, Seniors $15. Contact the CAA at 435-9222 or HGC at 435-5500 for your ticket purchase or go to the CAA at 98 Hayden Rowe. ~ Hopkinton Garden Club.

Francis George " Frank" Bush, 79, of Westborough, passed away at his home after a short illness on Saturday, May 12, surrounded by his beloved family. Frank was predeceased by his first wife of 47 years, Mary Bridgette (Walsh) Bush who passed away in 1999.