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Hopkinton High School HONOR ROLL High Honors Grade 12
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December 13, 2006 — Tuesday at about 12:45 p.m., State Police from the Weston Barracks responded to a one-vehicle crash on Route 90 East, one mile west of Exit 19, in Brighton.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Kevin Tenney, indicates that 85 year-old, Patrick J. Bronder of Hopkinton, was operating a 1999 Toyota sedan on Route 90 East, one mile west of Exit 19 in the right lane, when the Toyota traveled across the center and left lanes and struck the median.
Bronder was taken by ambulance in serious condition to Boston Medical Center. He was later pronounced deceased at Boston Medical Center.
This crash remains under investigation. Boston Fire Department, Boston EMS and Massachusetts Turnpike Maintenance personnel assisted troopers at the scene. |
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The results of the poll on the left after about 6 hours is clearly in favor of keeping a competitive nature to children's academic scores. The poll was inspired by Needham High School's Principal Paul Richards' decision to keep the Needham High School Honor Roll off of the pages of the Needham Times. The town had four teen suicides in two years and a double motor vehicle fatality last month. The town is almost twice the size of Hopkinton. The poll results rose fairly evenly all day until the evening, when the page was unattended for four hours, and someone misbehaved by adding hundreds of votes. In the short few minutes it took to prepare this piece, someone added about 80 votes to the "Yes" side. The assumption, and this is from experience with dozens of polls, is that one person is adding the numbers in a way that is not difficult to figure out, but the method will not be repeated in this space. What is certain is that they are not adding numbers to our visit counter, because people who can do that do not get counted; and once again, the details of why will remain unwritten. Another apparent assumption is that the mischief maker lacks a developed sense of integrity, or if an adult, a lack of integrity itself. Please don't mess with the polls. NOTE: The phony "Yes" votes were 230 votes higher than above. |
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Friday, December 15, last day for:
1. Toys for Tots @ Photographic Images, 24 Main Street. Drop off your toys or your check payable to Toys for "Tots."
2.
Win $500 contest. Read rules and then submit
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December 30th
Is it time to critique the contents of your garage or cellar? Time to get rid of those stored bottles and cans? It’s no big surprise that the Lions Club can help. December 30th is the date of the next Lions Club recycling drive at Colella’s Supermarket on Main St. Recyclable donations can be dropped of between 9 am and 2 pm. The group will also be collecting outdated/unused cell phones for the Hopkinton Senior Center during their recycling hours. The Lions Club is a hands-on service organization. |
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Commentary
by Robert Falcione December 12, 2006 — The email last Saturday about John Dennis, special attorney for the Whitehall land purchase, charging the town $325 per hour to read HopNews was hilarious to ponder, but then more than understandable after digesting the implications of it. A similar experience happened earlier this year. As the TV cameras stood sentinel on their tripods in the conference room of Hopkinton Police station, and the photographers and reporters mulled about waiting to hear about what would become Hopkinton's first homicide in eleven years, "...the District Attorney’s Director of Communications looked around to see if all of the major players had arrived, so he could feel comfortable in moving forward. 'Is Channel 7 here? The Herald?' he asked. 'Hopkinton News is here,' I said, provoking a roomful of laughter." [Excerpt from I Saw Neil Entwistle by Robert Falcione] The media people laughed because Hopkinton is such a small town, and they had never heard of the Hopkinton News; and I knew we weren't on his list — not yet anyway. We eventually got on the lists of the people who wanted their message out, and on the lists of people wanting information from us. READ FULL STORY |
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Walter C. Wood
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Walter C. Wood, 87, a lifelong
Hopkinton resident, died Friday, Dec. 8, 2006. |
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On the Stump
December 12, 2006 DPW workers use a stump grinder to make a memory of the 100+ year-old diseased tree that was taken down last week by Joe Regan Tree Work. Here the grinder goes after the large roots after making chips of the trunk of the tree. The blade of the machine is blurred by the intentional use of a relatively slow shutter speed. |
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Menorah Lighting on Friday December 15, 2006 at 5:45 p.m. on Hopkinton Common
December 12, 2006 — On Tuesday morning, David Auslander, his eight year-old Stephen, and Barry Gold put up the Menorah on the Hopkinton Common. For the last 13 years Barry a collaboration of several families got together to build and care for the Menorah. Now the torch (or the candle as it was) has been passed to my family to carry on this tradition for the Jewish families in the town of Hopkinton. There will be a Menorah lighting ceremony at 5:45 p.m. on Friday, December15th, which is first night of Hanukkah. Mr. Auslander would like to invite members of the community to share in their tradition. According to the Free Dictionary,
Ha·nuk·kah
or Ha·nu·kah also Cha·nu·kah
( |
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Planning Board to recommend passage of Article
December 11, 2006 — Attorney Tom Nealon pled the case for Jerry Lazzaro, owner of Hopkinton Exxon, to continue to sell propane, a use that is specifically denied by his Special Permit that was issued in 1971. He later received a permit from the Selectmen, but irregardless, the Exxon was issued a Cease and Desist order by the Zoning Enforcement Officer, on orders from the Board of Appeals, last year. Mr. Lazzaro successfully completed a citizens' petition to place an Article on the upcoming special Town Meeting Warrant that will make the sale of propane an allowed accessory use of a gas station or repair garage. The Zoning Advisory Committee has recommended passage of the Article, which the Planning Board endorsed this evening by 7 votes, with one abstention. |
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Selectmen, Appropriations solve funding for Town Manager School, Police, Fire and DPW budgets not affected
Committee
votes down dam insurance funding
The Committee also voted unanimously to allow $32,115 of the shortfall to be used from "Free Cash" account to make up the difference. Photo right, Chairman of the appropriations Committee, Stewart Cowart. Selectmen Chair Muriel Kramer and Selectman Mike Shepard were sent packing at last Thursday's School Committee when they appeared before them to ask them to fund 84% of the share of the upcoming money items, which was their share of last May's override. However, this evening the Selectmen left the School, Fire, Police, and DPW budgets intact as they used money becoming available, or currently available, from various accounts in Town Hall, as well as the help from Appropriations. The Senior Center will be paying the town back for $50,000 of the Facilities Director's pay, and the CPC is expected to kick in around $30,000 for legal bills incurred over the Whitehall land purchase. Mrs. Kramer said that one day in court to oppose a Restraining Order brought by 20 residents, including some public officials, itself cost $20,000. The legal expenses were high on the agenda. "Someone has to be looking at these numbers every week to see what is accrued," said Appropriations member, Ron Eldridge to Mrs. Kramer. "This legal area has totally gotten out of control," he said. "We all have to be alert that the attorneys charge by the hour," said Mr. Cowart. "We really have to get into litigation management," he said. "This is the first year I've seen it so far out of sync." The Whitehall land purchase, as well as attorneys' work on the Weston Nurseries impending sale were largely the reason. The new Town manager, Anthony Troiano (Photo, above, left), said after the meeting, "I am hoping to provide the leadership this town is looking for. "I hope to provide the information and coordination when the Selectmen go into these meetings. "I am excited," he said.
Maspenock Dam Approval for Article VI, funding for $25,000 for insurance for the Maspenock Dam, which is largely located in Milford and owned by the Milford Water Company, was shot down. Town Meeting voted to purchase the dam for $1 in May of 2006, but has yet to seal the deal. Committee member Charles O’Leary asked, "There is one thing to vote $25,000, but will you vote the hundreds of thousands of dollars the DPW will need to maintain it?" "I am the only one at this table who has pulled people out downstream from dams," he added. The sense of the Committee was that the dam was not owned yet by the town, so there is no sense in funding it at this time. The vote was 7 to dismiss the Article, with Ron Eldridge voting not to. Recommendations of the Appropriations Committee at Town Meeting are not binding. Votes by the residents attending and voting are binding. |
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Fiber Arts
December 11, 2006 — Christine Meyers and Susan Tata showed off their handiwork at the CAA (Cultural Arts Alliance last weekend. |
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Enjoy this incredible Radio City Christmas Rockettes Spectacular for this sold out Thursday night at the Wang Center in Boston. These 13th row Orchestra tickets are available at original value. $75.00 each. First come, first serve. Call 508.523.9901 or e-mail davidham@comcast.net. |
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Today, December 11, 2006
8:21 pm A resident from East Street reported hearing voices in the woods behind their backyard...
2:03 pm There was a 911 call from a male on Apple Tree Hill stating "you need to get here, she cut her wrists" and then hung up...
11:12 am There was numerous calls for a horse that was running down Cedar Street...
2:02 pm A resident from Hopkins Road reported that his brother had stolen his guitar and was on his way with their father to pawn it... |
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"The Future of News" Wanted: One Reporter, and one feature story writer. Be a part of what James Bone of the London Times called "The future of news," HopNews.com. Call Robert at 508-435-5534 for more information |
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December 11, 2006 by Demian David Tebaldi, Esq. Email your questions to: dtebaldi@tebaldiesq.com
Dear ITL: When I was in High School, I fell in with what might be considered the “wrong crowd.” At my graduation party, my uncle and I had a talk during which he told me that if I “straightened up and flew right,” went to college and made something of myself, that he would give me $100,000 when I got my degree. After some soul searching, I decided that my uncle’s offer was a fair one, and I did as he suggested. I graduated from college this past year, and, at Thanksgiving, I showed my uncle my college diploma, and reminded him of the conversation we had had four years earlier. He said he remembered the conversation, but that he would not honor his offer of $100,000 because the deal was “for my own good,” and that we didn’t have a written contract. I was counting on that money to help me pay back my student loans which, had I known my uncle wasn’t going to honor his offer, I never would have applied for. Is there anything I can do to get my uncle to pay up? S.R. in Sharon READ FULL COLUMN |
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Ciao Time Catering 6 Winter
Street, Hopkinton, MA Fax: 508-435-4422 Dedicated to cooking food for you as we would for our own family. |
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Amber waves...
December 10, 2006 — The setting sun painted a warm backdrop for the prominent marsh growth on Cedar Street last week. |
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REMINDER
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REMINDER
Annual Senior Dinner
December 3, 2006 — Hopkinton senior citizens get to fill the hall at the sparkling new Senior Center with 200 or more of their peers on December 16, 2006 at 4:30 p.m. for the very first Police Association Dinner held at that new location.
According to organizer, Patrolman Thomas Lemon, who also puts together the Annual Police Association Fishing Derby, the ham and turkey dinner with all of the fixin's, is free to any Hopkinton senior citizen. Officer Lemon would like anyone wishing to attend to call 508-497-3401 by December 12 so the caterer can have a count.
The Hopkinton Police Department members as well as members of their families serve the food in a festive atmosphere that is carried with recorded music and punctuated by a raffle with prizes donated by local merchants. |
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MetroWest Symphony Orchestra at High School auditorium
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Cloth Clown
December 10, 2006 — Tobi Hoffman shows off her clown's head made from fabric at the Fiber Arts Show at the CAA Saturday and Sunday. |
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Concord does Bikes, not Bombs Reuse day one of a kind
by Elizabeth Eidlitz
December 10, 2006 —
“Not until we saw the picture of Earth from the moon [did] we realize
how small and helpless this planet is, something that we must hold in
our arms and care for,” said Margaret Mead at Earth Day Ceremony, almost
30 years ago. |
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE
School Enrollment Down for Next Ten Years Wellness Program Hailed as Best Practices Budget Continues to Be Pared
By David Hamacher
December 9, 2006 (Part II) — School
Committee Chair Rebecca Robak began last Thursday night’s regular
meeting by She then opened the floor for public comments, and Maura Shea, the parent of three past or present Hopkinton school children, read from a two page statement. "A math teacher in the 7th grade has told me that her math students do now know how to do long division, or fractions, or place values," Mrs. Shea stated. "I have tried to get grade information on the GMADE test, and have been told by Mr. Caliri [Mr. Charles Caliri, Director of Math/Science Curriculum for 7-12 Grades] that this is a diagnostic tool used for individual performance data. Mr. Caliri could not provide any data for the current 7th grade as a group when I asked, although he did say that each teacher gets a class breakdown." She continues, "Mr. Caliri sent me an e-mail that says (in part), 'Unlike MCAS data, there are additional limitations in the scoring and reporting software that prevent us from doing a simple analysis of the results in the aggregate. I'm hoping that this latest upgrade in the software will make it easier to provide teachers, students, and parents with the feedback they need in a more expeditious fashion.'" Mrs. Shea then stated, "I have to question why are we giving this test every year if the only purpose is to sift out the high learners but not use it for the students who are having trouble? I am making this assumption, because for the last two years we have had no extra help, even though this test has shown there is consistent weakness in skills. I know the frustration that I feel is not unique. I have spoken with several parents who feel the same way. I am requesting that the administration make changes NOW." When finished with her statement, Mrs. Shea left the table without asking for, nor receiving any feedback. FULL REPORT [Editor's Note: The above has been clarified to correctly identify Mr. Caliri in the report.] |
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St. Paul's Display
December 9, 2006 — St. Paul's held a display of over 40 crèche sets from around the world today. |
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HPTA Holiday Open House
December 9, 2006 — The High School Cafeteria was abuzz with shoppers for the HPTA Holiday Open House. Over 45 vendors selling items such as jewelry, skincare, children’s toys and books, children’s clothing, etc. Handmade items such as pottery, knit-ware, bags and purses were offered for sale. Above, Cariann Steenruggen works on her craft |
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The Perfect Dress
December 9, 2006 MaryJo Hamilton shows off one of the dresses brought into the High School today in the "Perfect Dress" collection. Dresses collected today will be sold at Hopkinton High School on January 27, 2007, 10am – 2pm. |
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A friend in need...
December 8, 2006 — At around 11:30 pm, Hopkinton Firefighters were called to assist Ashland at a "working fire" that started in a wall in a home on Olive Street in that town. Above, Hopkinton Firefighters leave the premises to return to their vehicle. |
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Solicitors are not official December 8, 2006 — According to Hopkinton Police Department Sgt. Charles Wallace, police received complaints from residents today that callers were soliciting money in the name of the Hopkinton Police Association and the Hopkinton Firefighters Association. He said neither organization is currently soliciting. "We are not saying that anyone in particular is not legitimate, but we want residents to know that we are not engaged in soliciting money," he said. "We don't know who these people are." |
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Republican Party has Party
December 8, 2006 — At the Hopkinton Republican Town Committee Christmas party, Former Selectman Dick Gooding puts a dollar in the can brought former Selectman Joe Strazzulla to have a little fun at the expense of the current Selectmen, who are not having the easiest time funding the new Town Manager position. Several dozen people attended the party and enjoyed a generous catered buffet as well fine desserts and warm camaraderie. |
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Top Echelon
December 8, 2006 — Attending the Hopkinton Town Committee Christmas party are, seated from left, Ed McGrath, State Committeeman, Linda Jewell, State Committeewoman and Jim Stauss, HRTC Secretary. Rear, Ken Weismantel, HRTC Chairman and Brian Dodge, Mass GOP Executive Director. |
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MetroWest Symphony Orchestra in Hopkinton Concert on Sunday at 3:00 pm Hopkinton High School Auditorium Tickets at the door: Adults, $15.00, Children and Seniors, $6.00 The performance wil include excerpt from the "Messiah" and the "Nutcracker"
Above, this picture is only a portion of the larger photo by Robert Orr Photography of Boston. The full orchestra may be seen here. Can you pick out Hopkinton's Town Moderator? Are there any other Hopkinton people you recognize? |
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School Committee opposes Selectmen's request Looking to fund Town Manager “We are actively problem solving” ~ Selectmen Chair Muriel Kramer “This is an irresponsible request” ~ School Committee member David Stoldt
By David Hamacher
During her presentation to
provide relevant background information, SC Chair, Rebecca Robak
explained that the amount needed for these unplanned expenses was
$122,916, and the SC was being asked to fund $107,019 of that amount,”
which is now article #1 on the special town meeting warrant scheduled
for December 21st. During the budget crunching that went on
last year leading into the 2006 town meeting, “We were asked to cut back
an additional $300,000” Ms. Robak explained. “When the state aid
provided more money earmarked specifically for our schools than we had
budgeted, we returned $137,677 to the general fund of the town, so
haven’t the schools essentially already paid for this “We are looking for philosophical support, as well as constituency support,” Ms. Kramer explained, “we are actively problem solving. This is about pulling together.” Committee member Phil Totino added to Ms. Robak’s presentation by stating,” I need to express my disappointment with the process. First, the special town meeting (STM) was scheduled during our regularly scheduled meeting; I would’ve expected this discussion to have started weeks ago. Instead we’re blindsided by this request. Last spring we were put under a lot of scrutiny for our budget and I didn’t see any line items for the executive secretary’s severance package, or the town manager salary. It seems to me that every time we experience a general fund shortfall, it’s like you get out your tin cups and go to all the other departments and ask them to reallocate the funds the taxpayers have already approved for their departments. I think this would set a bad precedent.” Mr. Totino continued. FULL STORY |
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Win a Playstation 3 or an Apple iPod or a BOSE SoundDock
Holiday Raffle to Benefit Children's Miracle Network.
Drawing at noon on December 20, 2006 at RE/MAX.
$10.00 tickets available now at RE/MAX Executive Realty, 77 Main Street, Hopkinton.
300 or more tickets to be sold. |
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Senior Moments Full calendar for December
by Ann Di Leo
December 7, 2006 — I just
can't wait...I waited all year, now it's almost here...I just
can't wait 'til Christmas! Our own Brampton Circle Club will be having a special session Monday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. with some festivities and the yearly election of officers. If you are a member, don't forget to get out and vote. The Hopkinton Housing Authority will entertain us with dinner and good times on December 13 at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome for the good food and entertainment, presided over by own Linda Donahue One of my favorite Christmas parties is offered by Mrs. Porter's fifth grade class at Hopkins School, December 14 from 9:30 am to 11 am. They bring cheer, surprises, and goodies for a very gala morning. And we won't forget the great party given to seniors yearly by the local police department. The special treat is offered Dec. 16 at 4:30 pm at the new Senior Center on Mayhew St. Only they know what surprises are in store for the special evening... All around the town, including Davis Road, porches and store fronts are glowing with wreaths, holiday trees, colorful lights, and garlands. It looks so cheerful, Santa will surely approve. And when all is said and done we hope we can stay up to welcome in the New Year, 2007, my goodness...! Happy New Year, Love Annie |
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Hopkinton
man dies in
POLL RESULTS
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Exxon
gets nod for propane sales
approval
December
11, 2006 — The Selectmen met this evening followed by a joint meeting
with the Appropriations Committee, which voted to agree to vote — a sort
of sense of the committee — to transfer money ($90,800 of 122,115
needed), as recommended by the Selectmen, from existing accounts, in
order to fund a contract-mandated severance package for outgoing
Executive Secretary Ted Kozak, and the difference in the newly created
Town Manager's salary, which is Article I of the upcoming Special Town
Meeting on December 21. 
Hopkinton Police Association
recognizing State Senator Karen Spilka for being selected as
‘Legislator of the Year’ by the Massachusetts Association of School
Committees, and congratulating the High School Drama Club for their
recent production of ‘The Pajama Game’.
Scam Alert
Town
of Hopkinton Flu Clinic
December
8, 2006 — During a rare off-agenda, new business item last evening, the
School Committee (SC) was asked by Board of Selectman (BOS) Chair Muriel
Kramer to consider funding 87% of the funds needed for the proposed new
town manager salary and part of the severance package due to current BOS
Executive Secretary, Ted Kozak. 
It's been so quiet, even with Thanksgiving , I'm happy to see a
few parties and special meetings on the December calendar.