PRST-STD U.S. Postage PAID Hopkinton, MA 01748 Permit No. 109 ECRWSS Postal Patron
HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 26 | No. 20 | October 15, 2025
Questions raised about Crust’s ties to Hillers Pizza By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer
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PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
he Select Board on Oct. 7 voted unanimously to fine the owner of Crust & Co. $1,000 for opening the restaurant that replaced Hillers Pizza, its controversial predecessor, before all inspection requirements were met for its common victualer license. The board had four options. It could take no action, assess a fine of no more than $1,000, suspend the common victualer (CV) license or revoke the license. Testimony presented during the hearing prompted a wider discussion about alleged possible connections between Crust & Co. owner Ryan Dion, landlord Paul Mastroianni and Petros “Peter” Sismanis. Sismanis, the disgraced former owner of Hillers Pizza, is serving jail time after being convicted of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 years of age and two counts of witness intimidation. Crust & Co. took over its location at 77 West Main Street, keeping basically the same menu and several staff members.
LIGHT WORK
Mike Tarsi (right) works on a lamp for Marc Kutzer during the Sept. 27 Repair Fair at the Hopkinton Senior Center.
Crust & Co. | 12
INSIDE
Local political leaders seek to bridge divides
PLANNING BOARD
By Nick Schofield Contributing Writer
The Trails owner pushes back against road repair
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Political Divide | 11
NEWS
Parks & Rec controversy sparks call for wider audit
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BOARD OF HEALTH
PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
n the wake of the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, some local leaders are hoping to bridge divides and curtail increasing political polarization. “I hope and pray that ‘We the People’ can work toward reducing the extreme rhetoric that has further divided our country and reduce the unconscionable acts that have plagued our country,” Hopkinton Republican Town Committee chair Jim Mirabile wrote in a letter to the editor last month. A podcaster and founder of Turning Point USA, Kirk was speaking at a college campus in Utah on Sept. 10
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Protestors hold signs in front of the Town Common on June 28. Another No Kings Protest is planned for Oct. 18.
Town Hall auditor incident leads to policy discussion
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