HI 2.25.26 LAYOUT_WEB

DRUM LINE

Hillers race to state title Mitchell: Lack of ADHD meds led to altercation

By Jerry Spar Managing Editor

Hopkinton High School boys indoor track coach Mike Donahue saw it coming three years ago. He saw the talent and depth of the then-freshman class and told the athletes they had the potential to do something special if they stuck with it and put in the work.

Three years later, those athletes delivered, winning the Division 2 state championship in thrilling fashion Feb. 11 at The Track at New Balance in Brighton,

hurdles at the Division 2 state meet Feb. 11 in Brighton.

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

The former Marathon School assistant principal accused of assaulting a disabled veteran from West Bridgewater at a Plainville casino two years ago decided to share his side of the story with the Independent the day before the anniversary of the incident.

Eric Mitchell was officially charged with assault and battery on a person over age 60 or with a disability with injury to Bryan Gallagher. Gallagher claimed that Mitchell assaulted him on Feb. 19, 2024, at the Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville by striking his face and pushing his body and head into a slot machine. Mitchell was arraigned on June 5, 2024. He pleaded not guilty and was released on personal recognizance, according to court records.

On May 14, 2025, Thomas L. Finigan, first justice of the Wrentham District Court, ruled “sufficient facts found but continued without a finding until 5/12/27.” According to the state

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STAFF WRITER: Mary Ellen Gambon

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HPD’s new K-9 unit funded through grant

By Nick Schofield Contributing Writer

After months of setup and training, the Hopkinton Police Department’s K-9 unit is up and running once again.

“It’s going well so far,” said HPD officer Nick Walker, who is in charge of 2-yearold Kobe. He has been training with Kobe since August to prepare him for service with the department. The dog received his first certification in December and now is on the job with Walker.

“He’s been to a few calls,” he said. “There’s a lot of tasks he can do right now.” Kobe has been trained to perform article, building and area searches, along with tracking.

According to Walker, the dog came to the HPD through a K-9 academy in Boston. The training school sources dogs from trusted vendors and screens them before pairing them up with police officers, he explained.

“They match you up with a dog you think you can succeed with,” said Walker. He noted that his first few weeks with Kobe were focused on the two getting comfortable with

each other and “learning [Kobe’s] likes and dislikes.”

Walker shared that Kobe will be undergo more training this summer at narcotics school to become a dualpurpose K-9. “He’ll be able to detect illicit drugs in the hopes of getting some of those deadly and dangerous drugs off the street,” Walker explained.

The officer helped bring a K-9 unit back to Hopkinton after seeing a need for Kobe as part of the department’s operations. After convincing the higher-ups, he applied for and received a $32,000 grant from the Stanton K-9 Foundation. The grant covered startup costs, cruiser conversion, training, kenneling and food for Kobe.

“[Everything’s] totally funded by the grant so far,” said Walker.

“Having an asset like this that’s no cost to the town, it’s a no-brainer,” he added.

HPD: Fleeing suspect apprehended

Hopkinton Police helped bring an end to a high-speed pursuit by the Massachusetts State Police on Sunday after the suspect exited the highway into Hopkinton.

At around 3:43 p.m. on Feb. 15, the Hopkinton Police Department was notified about an active pursuit initiated by the state police down Interstate 495 south near Hopkinton. According to a Facebook post by the HPD, the pursuit reached over 120 mph, and spike strips were deployed. However, state troopers lost sight of the vehicle and terminated their pursuit near town. State police “advised local police that the vehicle — a green Mitsubishi sedan bearing Rhode Island registration — had struck stop sticks and was likely disabled in the area of the Hopkinton I-495 exits,” HPD Deputy Chief Scott van Raalten stated in an email to the Independent. HPD Officer Justin Cappuccio

and Sgt. Shannon Beloin responded to the area and searched the parking area around Price Chopper on West Main Street. The suspect’s vehicle, according to van Raalten, was identified in the lot based on the description and confirmation of a flat tire on the front passenger side.

“Upon locating the vehicle, officer Cappuccio observed a male suspect … walking away from the sedan toward the rear of the building,” stated van Raalten.

In its Facebook post, the HPD stated that Cappuccio “ordered the suspect to the ground at gun point given the suspects’ refusal to comply, volatility and unknown risk of the situation.” Van Raalten noted that Beloin and Cappuccio were able to secure the 28-year-old suspect without further incident.

The suspect was placed into Massachusetts State Police custody and transported to the hospital for a minor injury “which was not a result of officer use of force,” per the HPD’s Facebook.

Town Common improvements OK’d

The Historic District Commission gave its approval on the designs for proposed benches and water refill stations at the Town Common following a public hearing Feb. 11.

Parks & Rec Director Jon Lewitus attended the meeting and gave a brief overview of both projects. He noted that one bench is going to be funded by the Hopkinton Garden Club while the other two are being paid for with Community Preservation funds. The design of the benches would match the ones currently there, and at least one would have accessibility features.

“We discussed getting one of the benches without armrests to make it easier for people who are in a wheelchair to transition from the wheelchair to the bench,” Lewitus told the commission.

Nancy “Punky” Drawe, chair of the Commission on Disability, spoke in favor of the accessible bench. Her commission met with Lewitus in December to discuss accessibility improvements at the Town Common.

“Hopefully it will pass and we get more benches so that anybody with a disability may have a place to sit,” said Drawe.

The commission passed its vote on the benches without issue but expressed hesitation over a water fountain meant to replace a non-functioning fountain. The new one, also funded through the Community Preservation Committee, will provide a refillable bottle station.

“In terms of sustainability, we support this,” said Carol Esler, who attended the meeting representing the Sustainable Green Committee. “It’s a good thing for the community.”

“I don’t really like the design, but it’s already purchased,” said member Amy Ritterbusch.

Chair Beth Watson agreed, noting that one of the Historic District Commission’s main goals is to make sure additions or changes to the district match the existing design and aesthetic “as much as possible.”

The primary concern over the new fountain is its green color. “Normally we’d want it to be cast iron, or something like that,” Watson said.

“What kind of other water fountain are we going to find that’s going to provide these newer features and still look that way?” she added. “It’s a valid question.”

After further discussion, the commission voted to approve the fountain’s design. Lewitus agreed to look more into the fountain installation and what could be done with the old one. “We could obviously make every effort to keep it,” he noted.

Herbicides in lake wrong ‘solution’

The most recent article in the Independent concerning our lake sent me to the dictionary to look up the word “collaborate” — a word used by the chairperson of the Sustainable Green Committee [SGC], of which I am a member. One definition was about working jointly on an intellectual endeavor. I can get behind that. Most definitions were about assisting the enemy. This is a problem. Many people confuse collaboration with compromise.

CIG [Citizens Input Group] for Lake Maspenock members have stated that their first preference is to use nontoxic methods of weed management. However, their behavior speaks to a strongly proherbicide stance. The SGC would be more than happy to work with the CIG and LMPA [Lake Maspenock Preservation Association] on increasing nontoxic options and seeking funding for these.

Poisoning our ecosystem, our children and all of us who swim in the lake is not a viable option. There is no compromise on this in the position of the Environmental Committee of the SGC. There is no compromise in the written charge of the SGC. If you are interested in scientific background, I suggest an article in the Guardian on diquat.

I write this to clarify for both journalists and citizens that this is not a “both sides” situation. When something is harmful and wrong, it needs to be dismissed as a “solution.” Can we now work together to make our lake healthier?

— Carol Esler, Hopkinton

Editor’s note: The opinions and comments expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Independent. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and must include the writer’s name and contact information for verification. Letters should be relevant and not primarily for the purpose of promoting an organization or event. Letters may be edited by the Independent staff for space, errors or clarification, and the Independent offers no guarantee that every letter will be published. For a schedule of deadlines for letters and other submissions, check the Hopkinton Independent website (HopkintonIndependent.com) and click on the Contact header, then on Editorial Deadlines.

‘A SLICE OF HOPKINTON’

This issue’s winner is Pamela Mattson for this photo of Barney, a Baypath Humane Society rescue, sitting in a path carved out in the snow after the late-January storm. To enter next issue’s contest, email your photo (put “Photo Contest” in the subject line) along with your name, phone number and description of the photo to editor@hopkintonindependent.com. Photos with people or pets in them are encouraged. Photos that are not selected as winners might be posted on our website.

The Hopkinton Independent presents “A Slice of Hopkinton” photo contest, sponsored by BoMain. Readers are encouraged to submit photos of people, places or things in Hopkinton. The Independent staff will select one winner for each issue. The winner will have their submitted photo published in the paper and will receive a $25 gift certificate to BoMain.

All photos must be submitted by individuals 16 and over. The photo must be high resolution, and not submitted for use by any other media outlet. Winners will pick up their gift certificate at BoMain.

Handyman

Former Marathon assistant principal shares story

Mitchell | from page 1 website, “continuance without a finding” means that “criminal case is continued to a date certain without the formal entry of a guilty finding.” in cases where there is a probation violation following this ruling, the defendant can face revocation of the continuance, entry of a finding of guilty and a sentence imposition, according to mass.gov.

Gallagher shared his story with the Independent in January after Mitchell was placed on administrative leave by the Hopkinton Public Schools. Former Elmwood School principal Anne Carver was hired as a long-term substitute assistant principal at Marathon School in early February to fill the vacancy.

ADHD at heart of issues

Mitchell shared his struggle as a person with ADHD (attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder), and his remorse over the incident in the following statement he emailed to the Independent.

“I would like to begin by doing something publicly that I wish I could have done as early as February, 2024, and that is to apologize for my part in the altercation and subsequent injury to Mr. Bryan Gallagher. Unfortunately, directives from the court to avoid contact with him have been paramount and I have not, nor will I have, the opportunity to do so in person.

“I reacted badly to the stress and frustration I was dealing with that evening as well as the days and weeks leading up.

Regardless of what was happening with me, I could have made some different choices, and I accept that. I only hope that one day Mr. Gallagher can find peace, healing, and forgiveness. That day may never come, and I also have to accept that.

“I also want to apologize to the students, their families, and my colleagues who returned to uncertainty in January. The last thing I have ever wanted was to ever be the cause of people’s stress. I was and continue to be sorry for that.

“While there are discrepancies in what was reported leading up to what was seen, it would serve no purpose to rehash that. Regardless of what happened before the video, there were opportunities on both ends to handle things differently. I would simply like to provide some personal context with what is already on the record with the courts and school district. These will not be excuses, maybe just some answers for those who need some.

“This is information I have openly shared. It is not a secret to those I work with that I was diagnosed in my late 30s with ADHD. I felt it was important to share this information with Marathon Faculty at the first meeting in August, 2023, as people with this diagnosis are often misunderstood.

We would like to extend our deepest and most sincere gratitude to all the Honor Guards for their presence at our dad’s wake and funeral.

Your professionalism, dignity, and respect brought great comfort to our family during an incredibly difficult time. The tribute you provided was not only a beautiful reflection of tradition, but also a powerful reminder of the brotherhood, commitment, and service that meant so much to our dad.

Seeing him honored in such a meaningful way was something we will never forget. Your support helped us celebrate his life and legacy with the respect he so deeply deserved. Thank you for standing with us and for honoring our father with such grace and distinction.

We also thank the Hopkinton Firefighters Local 3772 for the beautiful flowers.

We would like to extend a special thank you to Scott Jurasek for his time and effort in making everything perfect and professional.

During the funeral procession, we captured this powerful image and felt the cross in the sky symbolized our dad watching over the fire station.

“At this point, I have nothing to gain by putting this information out there for everyone in the community. It is part of who I am and I think a major reason why I approach students, parents, and colleagues with the assumption that people do the best they can with what they have. I’m sure there are some in the community who completely understand and there are others who will not.

“What I can tell you is that postdiagnosis and beginning treatment, I became a different, more compassionate, stronger teacher and person. While a personal choice, the impact of medication and counseling was life-changing.

“Pre-diagnosis, I resigned from my job as a 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teacher due to an inability to deal with what seemed like overwhelming paperwork, planning, grading, etc. I moved into Physical Education to mitigate some of those stressors and still work with students I love.

“Post-diagnosis and treatment, I use the analogy that many are familiar with — putting on glasses for the first time and realizing how poorly I was seeing without knowing it. In large part because of this medical intervention, I was able to

Planning Board sends Hayward Street house proposal to Board of Appeals

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

T

he Planning Board on Feb. 9 voted 8-0 to approve a request allowing the Board of Appeals to reconsider a plan to build a house at 69 Hayward Street, where a fire destroyed the previous house.

At the Jan. 26 meeting, Custom Nest Builders, Inc. requested the board’s consent to submit a renewed/ repetitive petition to the Board of Appeals to develop a home on the property. While the plans did not conform to the zoning code, the previous home near Lake Maspenock was built before the zoning code existed.

On April 9, 2023, an elderly couple and their dog died in a two-alarm fire.

Seldon “Don” MacNeil, a veteran who was active in veterans affairs, and Judith MacNeil perished as a result of the blaze.

The family would have been able to build a home that did not meet current zoning standards if the proposal had been submitted within a year of the tragedy. Last summer, the family requested a variance, which the Board of Appeals denied in a 3-2 vote. In this instance, four votes were needed for the plan to pass, according to principal planner Aneri Patel.

She noted that an applicant cannot present a new proposal for two years unless eight Planning Board members approve of advancing the plan. The Planning Board consists of nine members.

— Planning Board member Parker Happ

At the last meeting, the board voted 6-2 in favor of it, two shy of the supermajority needed. Vice chair Matthew Wronka and member Amna Diwan voted against it. Elyse Mihajloski, the ninth member, joined the meeting too late to vote.

Just after the vote, member Parker Happ made a motion to reconsider the vote, which was approved 8-0. This request was unprecedented. It allowed Mihajloski to review the tape in preparation for this meeting.

Special circumstance moves board to reconsider

At this public hearing, Happ suggested taking a straw poll to see which way the board was leaning. Eight members were present. Diwan was absent.

Before that request was considered, Wronka noted that the Board of Appeals denied the request previously

because two of the members said the lot size was too small. The lot’s dimensions did not change, he stressed. This made him question if four members would vote for the new plan.

Member Lucia Lopez agreed with Wronka.

“My hope is that they have considered what the objections were,” she said of the applicant. “From my point of view, they didn’t make changes to improve upon what was a difficult situation.”

A revised proposal previously reviewed by the Planning Board shaved an 8-foot by 14-foot leg off the prior plan. This allowed the setbacks to be increased from 10 feet to 14 feet.

Chair Rob Benson said the “tragic situation” moved him to consider granting leniency to the applicant. He noted that approving the request would be unlikely to set a precedent because of the unique nature of the case.

stand in the way of their chance to have another opportunity to go before the Board of Appeals,” added Happ. Happ advised the applicant to have a more compelling narrative if the plan is reconsidered.

“What are we gaining as a community by denying them the opportunity just to make that case?” asked Peter Mimmo.

The board ultimately agreed to allow the proposal to advance, with all eight members present voting in favor.

REC Lumber Street plan OK’d

The board voted 8-0 to approve REC Hopkinton’s plans for a proposed one-story office and retail building off Lumber Street without discussion.

Patel told the board that the applicant and the peer review consultant agreed on two minor plan adjustments. REC Hopkinton previously submitted the proposal for the 2,400-squarefoot building. The 3.46-acre site is fully vegetated and undeveloped.

At the Jan. 26 meeting, consultant Emma Yeh from Pare Corporation questioned the location of the stormwater management equipment within the 60-foot setback area. Patel pointed out that the equipment only went “a couple of feet” into this area.

In response to Yeh’s comment about landscaping on a small island, the applicant agreed to plant a tree and additional vegetation to prevent stormwater runoff. I

“I just hope that we as a board don’t

Working with Trina Macchi and her teammates, Nikki and Edith, on the sale of my home in Sutton was truly exceptional. Trina’s deep expertise in real estate was evident at every stage of the process. From the outset, Trina provided insightful guidance and made what was an emotional decision feel manageable and secure. Trina’s ability to navigate complex situations, resolve issues—even those outside a broker’s typical responsibilities—and connect me with trusted vendors showcased a remarkable command of the industry. The open house, expertly orchestrated by Trina, resulted in multiple offers and a sale above asking price. Thanks to Trina’s experience and strategic approach, we found the ideal buyer, and I am confident that I could not have chosen a more knowledgeable or dedicated broker. Robert G. – February 2026

Lake Maspenock herbicide debate continues

By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer

The Lake Maspenock Weed Management & Control Advisory Group on Feb. 11 heard about the results of the lake’s recent extended drawdown as well as varying opinions about the use of herbicides to control invasive species.

Chair Joe Baldiga spoke about how the weather affected the extended drawdown of the lake. An extended drawdown regularly occurs every three years.

“We did have a couple of weeks where the water was very low, which is good,” he said. “On the negative side, we had a couple of weeks of cold weather. But we had a lot of warm weather before that. And after that we had the snow cover.”

Freezing temperatures cause weeds to become dormant, stunting their growth. But Baldiga explained that the snow protects the weeds, insulating them from more frigid temperatures.

Kerry Reed, the Department of Public Works director, said ice emerged before the full drawdown of the lake could be completed. She had hoped to remove about a foot more of water before the freeze.

“There were some safety and ecological concerns,” she explained. “So we didn’t get to the full extended drawdown.”

Sustainable Green Committee (SGC) expressed concerns that the drawdown “seemed to end early.”

Reed said the drawdown did not end early. While the timeline is dictated by the order of conditions, “It’s all dependent on the weather.”

“Ice is definitely our enemy because all the water underneath the ice is too warm to kill anything,” said vice chair Eric Sonnett. “I’m not as optimistic on the drawdown working as I have been in the past.”

Herbicide use debated

Baldiga said the targeted use of two herbicides in the north basin — Tribune (diquat) and Aquathol-K (endothall) — was successful in strongly curtailing the growth of nonnative invasive weeds in 2024. But they returned last summer “in pretty strong presence and in need of some control.”

Donald Sutherland, a member of the Sustainable Green Committee (SGC) and the Water & Sewer Advisory Board (WSAB), has been a vocal opponent of chemical use in the lake. He reiterated his concerns throughout this meeting.

“I hear over and over again that your first choice is a non-chemical choice,” he said.

Replied Baldiga: “I’m glad to hear you acknowledge that.”

“In an ideal situation, both of our groups are sharing that first choice,”

continued Sutherland. “Basically we want to know why the first choice hasn’t been more firmly adhered to. Our committee [SGC] is supporting a nontoxic, holistic plan.”

Baldiga said he received a “pretty comprehensive” list of questions from the SGC as part of an effort to “work collaboratively.”

Secretary Drew Logan said he would like a consultant’s input on the types of weeds that are prevalent. He noted that drawdowns can impact weed species differently. For example, he said there had been “great success” in managing longleaf pondweed with past drawdowns.

Resident Keith Bazinet was one of several residents who advocated for the weed treatment, noting it was “really effective” in stunting weed growth. The weeds came back last summer, impacting the use of his dock by his family.

Corey Macdonald, a 30-year resident at the lake, added that the weed treatment did “significantly help.” As someone who fishes there, he said, “The fishing has been great,” with no adverse effects.

He added: “And the wildlife has been as strong as ever.”

Harvester suggested

Don Keiser, who lives adjacent to Lake Maspenock, was against herbicide use. While he can swim in the weeds,

he said he has limited use of some of his boats.

Keiser suggested using mechanical weed harvesters to remove the invasives. He priced one at $69,000, noting that the trailer for it would cost $6,000. It pulls the weeds out by the roots, he said, making it “much more feasible.”

“I think we need to go there, because putting poisons in is dangerous,” said Keiser. “I’m sorry people don’t want their kids swimming in weeds. Swimming in poison is not good either.”

Baldiga said that harvesters were considered as one tool in the proverbial toolbox. Harvesters present their own issues, such as finding an operator and a place to put the weeds. It would also be difficult to navigate in the north basin, which is rocky.

Sabine St. Pierre, president of the Lake Maspenock Preservation Association (LMPA), said this group does not prefer the use of herbicides, But it may be “a necessity in the meantime to help us reduce what we have.”

Further discussions planned

Baldiga said he hoped to meet with the SGC to address members’ concerns in the near future.

“I think we all share the same goal of keeping the lake healthy and as free of invasive weeds as reasonably possible,” he stressed.

He added that the committee is “trying to be very judicious” about herbicide use, skipping it last year to see what would happen. The committee also has resisted broader treatment of the lake that some residents wanted.

Sutherland clapped back as the meeting ended.

“Basically our committee is against a process that’s killing life, doesn’t do the job and, quite frankly, is fiscally and environmentally irresponsible when there’s alternatives,” he said.

Baldiga shut down his comments, saying his word choice was “just not consistent with what is true.”

Reed said she will be speaking about the herbicide plan in March at Select Board and Conservation Commission meetings. After the budget is approved at the May 2 Annual Town Meeting, the application process is expected to occur in June. There will be a pre-treatment survey with the selected company to target areas.

She stressed that both the Select Board and the Conservation Commission previously approved the vegetation management plan. There will be no more public hearings on the topic. She also said there are no abutter notification or public comment period requirements at this point in the process.

Local business owners: Don’t overlook retirement plans

If you’re a local business owner, you’re juggling many priorities: growing revenue, managing expenses, supporting your team and planning for your own future. What if one tool could help with all these goals?

A workplace retirement plan might be that solution and can, directly or indirectly, offer benefits that extend beyond simple savings.

Double the tax advantages. Starting a retirement plan can deliver immediate tax advantages. For the business, employer contributions are taxdeductible. And as a participant in your company plan, your pretax salary deferrals are excluded from income taxes; your investments within the plan are tax-deferred until distributed. Many plans now offer Roth options that allow tax-free withdrawals in retirement.

Local businesses may also qualify for federal tax credits that help offset startup costs, employee education expenses and plan administration fees. Additional credits may be available for auto-enrollment features and employer contributions made during the plan’s first five years.

A competitive edge in hiring. In today’s labor market, offering a retirement plan can differentiate your business from competitors and help improve employee retention.

Many plans also provide access to financial education tools and resources, helping your employees make informed decisions about saving, investing and planning for retirement. This support can lead to greater employee satisfaction and productivity, contributing to a positive work environment for your business.

More flexible than state-sponsored options. If you live in a state requiring an employee retirement program, you might be considering a state-sponsored plan. While these programs can provide a starting point, they typically offer fewer

investment options, lower contribution limits and limited design flexibility.

Establishing your own workplace retirement plan lets you customize features for your business needs to control administrative costs, set contribution limits and offer employees a wide range of investment options. This added control in plan design can lead to better outcomes for your business and your employees.

Reducing a hidden risk in your own retirement planning. Business owners often have as much as 80% of their net worth tied up in their businesses, according to the Exit Planning Institute. While that demonstrates commitment to success, it also creates significant financial risk to the owner.

Relying solely on a future business sale to fund your retirement can be precarious. Market shifts, timing challenges or limited buyer interest could derail those plans. By building personal assets through your employer-sponsored retirement plan, you can gain financial flexibility and reduce the risk of having your retirement lifestyle depend entirely on one event.

Getting started. With various retirement plan options available, determining which one fits your business best can feel overwhelming.

A qualified financial advisor can help you navigate these decisions, explaining the trade-offs between different plan types and identifying which option best suits your unique situation. They can also help you understand eligibility requirements and ensure the plan you choose aligns with your business goals and personal financial objectives.

Starting a workplace retirement plan represents an investment in your future, your employees and the long-term success of your business.

Mark Freeman, CEPA

Edward Jones Financial Advisor 77 W. Main Street, Hopkinton, MA (508) 293-4017

Mark.Freeman@edwardjones.com

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

THE ADVERTISER IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF THIS COLUMN.

Baypath Adoptable Animal of the Week

Each week, the Independent highlights an animal available for adoption at Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton. This week, we feature 4-year-old Benji.

Here is Baypath’s description of Benji:

“Benji is the kind of dog who truly shines when he’s with people. He loves being nearby — whether that means snuggled close to his humans, playing with his toys or simply settling in for a snooze.

“One of Benji’s favorite things is getting out of the shelter for field trips, and he’s great on the go. He rides calmly in the car, enjoys being out and about and walks nicely on leash. Once he’s in a home setting, he settles beautifully and shows off his affectionate, easygoing side.

“On a recent adventure with his volunteer pal Amanda, Benji got to meet her family and impressed everyone with his very good-boy manners. He even enjoyed a bath (followed by the sweetest post-spa zoomies)!

“Benji is dreaming of a home (or a foster home!) where he can trade the kennel for a couch while he searches for his perfect match. Can you be Benji’s soft place to land?”

For more information about Benji and any of the other available pets at Baypath, email adopt@baypathhumane.org or visit baypathhumane.org/adopt.

For more Adoptable Animals of the Week, check the Hopkinton Independent website at HopkintonIndependent.com.

the

Eighth grade student Chloe Demirbilek has a strong sense of herself as an artist. “Chloe is a thoughtful and confident young artist with a clear sense of her own creative voice,” said Hopkinton Middle School visual arts teacher Samantha Condon Demirbilek likes to express herself through art and channel her passion of music by finding creative ways of visually expressing those ideas Apart from drawing, Demirbilek also engages in textile arts “She knows what she likes and isn’t afraid to explore it,” said Condon

Chloe is a thoughtful and confident young artist with a clear sense of her own creative voice

FREE HOME BUYER WORKSHOPS

Former Hillers Pizza employee says she went to police about Sismanis

By Nick Schofield Contributing Writer

Awomanwho worked at the former Hillers Pizza restaurant in Hopkinton has come forward to share an experience she had with Petros “Peter” Sismanis that her to filing a police report against the business owner years before his 2025 conviction for sexual assault, accusing him of inappropriately touching her and other female employees.

It was very difficult. I was going through a lot in my life, and that was the last thing I needed. But I wanted justice for myself and all the other girls who had to deal with that kind of thing.

Christina Cuevas began working at Hillers Pizza in 2016. She told NBC10 Boston that Sismanis allegedly hugged her and appeared like he was trying to kiss her one evening after her shift had ended. According to NBC, Sismanis had told the then-24-year-old he wanted to show her where the dumpster was behind the restaurant prior to the incident.

“I felt terrified,” Cuevas recounted. “He was a grown man, and he smelled of alcohol. I didn’t know what he was capable of, and I was just hoping and praying he would let me go back inside.”

Cuevas claimed that Sismanis also spanked her and other female employees repeatedly and attempted to get underage female employees to drink with him. At one point, she alleged Sismanis asked what she would do to repay him if he offered her $1,000.

“I took it as he was hinting at a sexual favor,” Cuevas told NBC10.

Police involved

Cuevas took her concerns to the Hopkinton Police Department in December of 2016. Her report, which the Independent obtained, is heavily redacted. A follow-up police report states that in January 2017, Middlesex Assistant District Attorney Maggie Patuszak told the HPD that the only two charges her office could follow up on were furnishing alcohol to a minor and an assault charge.

The complaint made against Sismanis appears to have led toward his appearance before the Select Board in 2017. During an executive session, Sismanis stated that the complaints against him were untrue and denied any involvement. The board took no action against the pizza shop owner but stated to him that “the behavior alleged is unacceptable.”

Cuevas’ interview comes as the town is dealing with a lawsuit filed by a victim in a more recent case against Sismanis. The victim was a 16-year-old employee who Sismanis grabbed around the waist and kissed on the mouth in the basement of Hillers Pizza.

Cuevas said when she learned of that accusation, she was dismayed.

“I was extremely disappointed with the Hopkinton Police Department,” Cuevas said. “I think it was complete negligence on their part.”

While the police report shows that Cuevas was able to obtain a restraining order against Sismanis, she said she did not hear from police after that, and she questioned why.

“It was very difficult,” Cuevas said.

Christina Cuevas

“I was going through a lot in my life, and that was the last thing I needed. But I wanted justice for myself and all the other girls who had to deal with that kind of thing.”

Cuevas also said Sismanis, who donated to police-led charitable causes, appeared to be in tight with members of the department.

“It seemed like they had a very close relationship,” Cuevas said. “Police would come through the back door and Petros would give them free food.”

Town faces lawsuit

The other former employee’s lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of the town and the HPD in allowing Sismanis to continue operating his business in Hopkinton despite a prior conviction for sexual assault. Residents and groups who say they are seeking justice for the victim have continued to press the town on why complaints against Sismanis were never disclosed during any common victualer’s license renewals and why the town did not conduct Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Registration Information (SORI) checks into Sismanis.

The town and the HPD have defended themselves against these questions, noting that domestic violence laws prevented the police department from disclosing certain information to the public. Town Manager Elaine Lazarus admitted in a prior interview that a CORI check was not performed when Sismanis applied for an entertainment license in 2018, even though the license policy requires one. The Select Board does have the capacity to waive the requirement, but it is unclear if a waiver actually was given.

NBC10 reported that Douglas Louison, an attorney representing the town, said town officials are not responsible for Sismanis’ behavior, and he filed a motion for them to be dismissed as defendants in the case.

Sismanis was convicted in June 2025 on indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 years of age and witness intimidation charges. After serving prison time, the Greece native was remanded into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. The ICE detainee locator database shows Sismanis is being held at the Imperial Regional Adult Detention Facility in Calexico, California.

Sismanis’ family closed the restaurant last September. A different pizza restaurant now owns the space.

Parks & Rec reconsiders Pyne Field, evaluates other locations for athletic fields

By Nick Schofield Contributing Writer

The Parks & Recreation Commission on Feb. 10 evaluated alternate sites for a cricket pitch and baseball field in town as it continues to reconsider the future of the Pyne Field renovation project.

Parks & Rec Director Jon Lewitus presented three geographic information system (GIS) maps of Pyne Field and two alternate locations to the commission. He noted Gale Associates, the design firm working on the Pyne Field project, mapped out field arrangements for sports fields at the Carbone’s property on Cedar Street and behind Center School.

The two alternate sites were considered because of ongoing projects and land acquisitions occurring at each property. The town has expressed interest in purchasing the Carbone’s Restaurant property — and an adjoining parcel in Ashland — for open space and town use. The Community Preservation Committee and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts are spearheading a project to rehabilitate Center School into a mixed-use facility for the town and the nonprofit.

Both Lewitus and chair Dan Terry noted problems with the Carbone’s map and the fields’ proximity to wetlands on the property.

“Two fields wouldn’t work, but having one field there would potentially work,” said Terry. He encouraged the commission to be open to utilizing some of the Carbone’s property if it were available to Parks & Rec. Lewitus added that the land had been considered as a potential location for a splash pad previously.

Terry also shared concerns over the timeline of the Center School project but expressed optimism over the site’s potential. “If it goes really well, it’s a good five-plus years away,” he said. “Since the teardown of that building is less than five years away, I think there’s an opportunity to get back there.”

Member Amy O’Donnell voiced her support for the plan that would keep the cricket and baseball fields at Pyne Field. “This is the best location,” she said.

A new plan for Pyne Field would put the cricket pitch, baseball diamond and parking on the same side of the property. The Planning Board in December voiced safety concerns about a previous plan that would put parking across an easement used by JB Sawmill. Parks & Rec pulled its CPC request for additional funds for the project after receiving the Planning Board’s feedback.

O’Donnell brought up cost concerns for the Pyne Field option, reminding the commission that the Planning Board would not budge on a requirement to have electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at the field’s parking lot.

Lewitus shared that Gale Associates provided a rough cost estimate of $1.044 million for cricket pitch parking — a number that did not include irrigation, wells or EV charging.

“My original estimate of $3 millionplus [for the project] probably still stands,” Lewitus said.

Terry offered thoughts on an additional location the commission could consider as it evaluates the future of both athletic fields.

“The thing we haven’t looked at yet that I think is viable is Elmwood,” said Terry. “I think the town and Parks & Rec needs to keep looking at the Elmwood School property.”

The thing we haven’t looked at yet that I think is viable is Elmwood. I think the town and Parks & Rec needs to keep looking at the Elmwood School property.

— Parks & Rec Commission chair Dan Terry

Security cameras planned

Security cameras soon will be in place at EMC Park, while a camera is up and running at the Fruit Street athletic fields, according to Lewitus.

Lewitus announced that he had been working with the town’s IT Department to finalize camera installation at Fruit Street. Installed on the building at the athletic complex, the camera will be able to record the license plate of any vehicle driving in.

“Once the snow melts, two additional cameras will be put at Fruit Street,” Lewitus added.

The director went on to detail progress on getting security cameras up at EMC Park. During a meeting in January, the Parks & Rec Commission discussed problems with installing a hard-line connection at the park and reduced video quality from connecting cameras there to a cellular network.

Lewitus told commission mem -

bers that the IT Department is going to install a camera similar to that at Fruit Street on the doghouse at EMC Park. It will be “cellular-based” and face the Hank Fredette Skate Park. Another camera, recycled from the Main Street Corridor Project, will be turned toward the parking lot.

The security cameras at both parks are funded through the Community Preservation Committee. Camera installation was delayed last June due to other projects, and no cameras were operational when the skate park was graffitied in November.

“We’ll at least have better coverage, but it’s not going to be as detailed,” Lewitus noted. “We’re hoping that installation will come along soon.”

Terry questioned why the IT Department had ruled out a hard-line connection from nearby schools. Lewitus said he was not sure, but lack of infrastructure might have played a role in the decision to use a cellular connection.

Hopkinton Water Department has VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MANGANESE IN YOUR DRINKING WATER

Translate it or speak with someone who understands it

What happened?

Water samples collected from the Town’s Alprilla Wells show an average manganese level of 0.39 milligrams per liter (mg/L) in the drinking water which is in excess of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) advisory level. Manganese levels ranged between 0.33 and 0.49 mg/L. While manganese is necessary for proper nutrition, an excess could adversely affect health. The location where elevated manganese levels were reported is Wells 7 & 8. Manganese levels are below the MassDEP advisory level at the other locations that supply drinking water to our system.

What should I do?

• Infant formula should be prepared with bottled water or made with water from an alternate source with manganese levels below 0.3 mg/L.

• Use bottled water for infants less than 1 year of age or water from a source with a manganese level below 0.3 mg/L.

• Bottled water should only be used if it has been tested. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires companies licensed to sell or distribute bottled water or carbonated non-alcoholic beverages to test their water.

See https://www.mass.gov/info-details/ water-quality-standards-for-bottled-water-inmassachusetts#list-of-bottlers-

• The general population may continue to use the water since it is anticipated that this issue will be resolved before long-term exposures occur.

• If you have health related concerns about manganese, contact your health care provider.

• For more information on manganese see the MassDEP Manganese Consumer FAQ: https:// www.mass.gov/doc/manganese-in-drinkingwater-typical-questions-and-answers-forconsumers-0/download

What does this mean?

Drinking water may naturally have manganese which is necessary for proper nutrition, but an excess could adversely affect health. MassDEP advises that people drink water with manganese levels less than 0.3 mg/L over a lifetime and also advises that people limit their consumption of water with levels over 1 mg/L, primarily to decrease the possibility of adverse neurological effects. Infants up to 1 year of age should not be given water with manganese over 0.3 mg/L, nor should formula for infants be made with that water for more than a total of 10 days throughout the year. The general population water concentration exposure limits of 0.3 and 1 mg/L have been set based upon typical daily dietary manganese intake levels not known to be associated with adverse health effects. This does not imply that intakes above these levels will necessarily cause health problems. Individual requirements for, as well as adverse effects from manganese can be highly variable.

What is being done?

We will continue to monitor for manganese, work to lower the manganese concentrations and work with the MassDEP to keep you informed of all current information on this issue. The Water Department conducted intensive cleaning of Wells 7 & 8 in February 2026 and will complete flushing in the spring. As a long-term solution, the Town intends to connect to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) to address drinking water issues.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses)

If you have questions, contact the Hopkinton Water Department, https://www. hopkintonma.gov/departments/department_of_public_works/water_and_sewer/ index.phpat (508) 497-9765 or water@hopkintonma.gov. This advisory is being sent to you by Hopkinton Water Department | PWS ID# 2139000 | Date distributed: [2/25/2026]

Business

BUSINESS PROFILE: AN ADVERTISER FEATURE

Financial advisor Mark Freeman focuses on clients’ success

Financial advisor Mark Freeman enjoys getting to know his clients. His aim is to help them clarify their objectives and then, working as partners, create a financial plan that achieves their goals.

“I love this career because I love helping people,” said Freeman. “I work for my clients because I care about them.”

A certified exit planning advisor (CEPA) working for Edward Jones at his 77 West Main Street office in Hopkinton, Freeman offers financial advice to business owners and individuals.

“I spend a lot of time getting to know my clients. We talk about their financial challenges, and their proposed solutions. Many times I find people are focused on the wrong problem,” Freeman said.

A frequent problem is taxes. He notes many clients, while saving for retirement, inadvertently create “a tax time bomb.” Freeman explained, “If you invest in a diversified portfolio year after year and don’t deal with taxes while saving, it could come back to bite you in retirement” in the form of large tax bills. For other clients, “Once you establish some type of wealth, taxes become an important part of the discussion, since the best way to increase wealth is to keep more of it,” said Freeman. “Helping people avoid tax issues is a primary focus. I work hard to keep my clients money in their pockets and out of Uncle Sam’s.”

Another issue faced by many of Freeman’s clients is being in a “job prison” — working in a position they dislike. “But after reviewing their finances, we often find they can change careers or do something else,” he said.

Freeman added, “I also try to make sure my clients’ money outlasts them.” When meeting with a new client, he runs a financial analysis to make sure their funds will support them for their lifetime.

With a mechanical engineering degree from UMass Lowell, Freeman worked in two other industries before establishing his finance career in 2017. Even though his first two jobs were outside his training, Freeman said he was hired by Edward Jones “one, because I have the ability to analyze data quickly and, two, because I always try to figure out a better way to do things. I bring those skills to my finance clients.”

Freeman also tries to understand his clients’ motivations. “When I propose a plan, I ask, ‘How do you feel about it?’ If there is something bothering you, I need to fix that,” he said.

Much as he partners with clients, Freeman has developed relationships with the Hopkinton community supporting local organizations and nonprofits. A Holliston resident since 2005, he volunteers as a business advisor for the high school’s DECA Club, an international nonprofit preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.

Summing up his work objective, Freeman said, “My job is to understand what is important to you and figure out how to make it happen.”

Anyone interested in more information can call 508-293-4017 or email Mark.Freeman@EdwardJones.com.

Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Hopkinton Independent advertisers.

Former Marathon assistant principal shares story

Mitchell | from page 4

mitigate the struggles of ADHD, focus more on the strengths that come with the condition, and move into a successful 13 year career as a school administrator.

“Unfortunately, at the time of the documented altercation, I was having difficulty acquiring the medication I had taken for the last 15 years due to a national shortage from November 2023 through May 2024. Additionally, I did not have the support services in place that I had prior to my return to the state in the summer of 2023.

“When being on this medication for so long, the recommendation is a gradual decline in dosage, not an immediate cessation. I was struggling with this on-again, off-again status, and some of the effects of sudden cessation, such as extreme exhaustion, slowed thinking (brain fog), migraine-like headaches, irritability, and mood swings to name a few. The frustration of returning to some of the issues I had thought were normal for years, before realizing they

weren’t, was tough on me.

“Thankfully, for the last 21 months, the situation has stabilized and I again have consistent support in place. It is a life-long fight which is why early intervention is always the best course.

“Again, this is all on the record with the courts and the school district.

“There is no arguing what was seen on video. By agreeing to a continuance without finding, I gave up my right to tell my side of what was taking place prior to what was seen. I do not regret that decision because what happened should not have gotten to the level that it did.

“Since May 2025, I can only do what has been asked of me by the Commonwealth along with the additional actions I took to again get the help I needed. I can assuredly tell you that I received no preferential treatment by the courts. In the end, the District Attorney’s Office and judge used the information in front of them. Including the information above, 56 years of no

Science fair winners announced

SCHOOLS NOTEBOOK

Y ulhee Kwon, Rudra Pachori and Jacob Wu took first place in the Hopkinton High School Science & Engineering Fair, which was held Feb. 4 at the HHS cafeteria.

The winners’ project was titled “Noninvasive Inference of Presymptomatic Plant Stress from Latent Electrophysiological Dynamics via Action Potential-Based Logistic Regression.”

Taking second place was Pahlaj Sharma for “Kinetic Energy Harvester to Power Small Devices,” while third place went to Devon Striek, Sreenisha Rajesh and Hari Lingam for “Sense and Defense.”

The Valerie Lechtanski Prize for Perseverance was awarded to Siya Agrawal, Navya Gupta, and Preesha Panchamia for “Nutrient Gaps, Neural Maps!”

In addition to the four projects above, regional qualifiers also included “Simulating Coastal Ecosystems: The Impact of pH, Salinity, and Nutrients on Calcium Carbonate Dissolution” by Hareesh Krishnasamy, Lindsay Xie and Lumen Zhang; “Stay or Stray: Can AI + Genes = Clues to Breast Cancer Metastasis?” by Jaya Sakkari and Vanya Bharadwaj; “The Effect of Preservatives on the Fruit Fly Microbiome and Mental Health” by Jackson Cafazzo, Ananya Goswamy and Kenley Silva; “Recovery of Dialysis Tubing Filtration after Heat Stress” by Samanvitha Vangala, Swara Patkar and Nitya Sunku; “How Does Applying a Weak Electrical Force to the Blood Brain Barrier System Make Drug Delivery More Efficient and Sufficient?” by Arjun Mehta and Sahaj Pogula; “Does the Protein to Carbohydrate Ratio in Diet Accelerate Planarian Tail Regeneration?” by Sana Kandasamy and Parnika Rai; “The Effects of Common Synthetic Food Dyes on Freshwater Ecosystems” by Pranay Sindhwani and Jonathan Yan; and “BioPLEASE” by Thomas Qingxu Pan.

Local collegians recognized

The University of Rhode Island announced its dean’s list recipients for the fall semester, and it includes Hopkinton residents Trinity Birtwistle, Sydney Capello, Anthony Cherubim, Julia Dever, Gwennyth Dyer, Neha Kunam, Cait Sansonetti, Jordis Vogel and Josie Zeigler. …

Earning spots on the dean’s list at Fairfield University were Nathalie Bates, Tyler Bois, Emma Canestrari, Nicholas Dieter, Charlotte Dowd, Gregory Kovacs, Camille Perlov and Luke Scanlon. … Megan Midkiff, a freshman psychology major, was named to the president’s list at Merrimack College. … Senior Olivia Jaye (cell biology/biochemistry major) and juniors Drew Behrens (computer engineering) and Dante Pavone (management & organizations) were named to the dean’s list at Bucknell University. … Jaden Miller earned a spot on the president’s list at Framingham State University. …

At Quinnipiac University, Brady Barros, Hailey Cox, Zachary Marlowe, Emily Peterson, Cristina Porzio, Sabrina Russo, Paige Sanderson, Ashlyn Sullivan and Henry Wailgum were named to the dean’s list. …

Lex Kaye, a kinesiology major, was named to the dean’s list at St. Olaf College.

Editor’s note: Information for college honors is provided by the schools. Those interested in being included in this section should forward the official notification or request for the school to email it to editor@ hopkintonindependent.com.

prior history, and positive impact testimonials from previous parents, students, and colleagues were shared, the court made a decision based on the law.

“I have never tried to hide anything. When applying for an extension of my administrators license with DESE in the summer of 2024, I was up-front with all that was going on with the courts. After investigation, I received an email stating that my license had been approved and I no longer had to respond affirmatively to the affidavit question. My license was again extended in December 2025 and recently upgraded to a Provisional License in January, 2026, in part due to my meeting the four professional standards and receiving exceeding ratings for Standard 3, Family and Community Engagement, and Standard 4, Professional Culture.

“My regret in all of this is that Mr. Gallagher was injured the way he was and that I will no longer work with the educators, students, and their families in Hopkinton. Obviously, my goal is not to get my job back, but to potentially be a voice for those who have struggled with similar experiences to my medical journey.

“Whether it is someone who has lived in the shadows with their own struggles, a student who consistently comes to school wanting to have a good day but soon finds themselves consistently in trouble, or maybe understanding a spouse isn’t really trying to ignore you and annoy you every day, if my story can help in some small way, mission accomplished.

“While one has to be held accountable for their actions, I feel that I have been held in account as any citizen with no prior history and consistent, positive contributions in the community would be. My only hope is that I can one day continue to do what the court had intended, and that was to be given the opportunity to redeem myself and continue with the important work of supporting students, their families, and fellow educators. I have been told that one mistake can not define you. Only time will tell if that is the case.”

sports

HHS boys win D2 state track title

edging Concord-Carlisle by a half-point, 69.5-69. It marked the program’s first state title in more than 20 years.

“They had their eyes on the prize from a very early time,” Donahue said. “As freshmen, they were the strongest group of freshmen we ever had. We saw that we had the building blocks, and we told them that. We said, ‘It’s on you, you have to do the work, and you have to recruit more athletes to join us.’ And they did, they brought in guys, and they took it seriously.

“As it started to come together this year, they proved to be exactly what we thought they could be. And that was because of them. It was the work they put in — and it was a lot of work that went into it. This is a group of guys that worked hard. They changed their bodies and went from boys to young men.”

Hopkinton was coming off wins in the Division 2 Relays (Jan. 18) and the Tri-Valley League Showcase (Jan. 31) and was projected as the thirdbest team in Division 2, behind Concord-Carlisle and Catholic Memorial.

Donahue didn’t have an issue with that, but Hopkinton had showcased its depth throughout the season.

“It’s an exceedingly balanced team, with strengths in a lot of different areas,” Donahue said. “We have hurdlers, jumpers, throwers, distance, middle distance — at the relay meet we scored in every relay but one. We didn’t have an event where we didn’t have a guy who could compete. We had a really balanced approach of all the teams who were competing.”

Hopkinton got off to a terrific start, garnering 20 points in the 55-meter hurdles as Harry Millar took first, Jacob Logan finished second and Braden Lu captured seventh.

“We were out in front of everybody from the beginning,” Donahue said. “We stayed in first place as a team almost throughout the meet.”

Sean Finnegan scored 16 points by himself, with second-place finishes in the mile and 2-mile. In the 300 meters, Ian Weilding took second and Iago Ferreira was third. Ryan Morin contributed a fourth-place finish in the shot put.

In the high jump, Mason Barros cleared 6 feet and tied for eighth, which was worth a half-point.

“He came over and was disappointed,” Donahue recalled. “He said he wanted to score more points for our team, but I said that was a tremendous performance. He’s only jumped 6 feet a few times.

“Then I turned to [athletic director] Ricky Andrade and said, ‘This meet is going to come down to a half-point.’ ”

Donahue was dead on.

“We kept on scoring points throughout the meet, but so was Concord-Carlisle,” Donahue said.

“When they won the 4x800 relay, that put them 2 1/2 points ahead of us going into the 4x400.”

Heading into the 4x400, the meet’s final event, Donahue was confident his quartet of Ferreira, Weilding, Jason O’Connell and John Knutson would do well. But that wasn’t necessarily going to be enough. C-C raced in an earlier heat and won it with a time of 3 minutes, 31.97 seconds. Not only did Hopkinton have to beat that time, at least one other team needed to finish between Hopkinton and C-C in order for the Hillers to have enough points to win the meet.

“When they got first in their heat, I was like, ‘Good, this is way it should happen, we should have to perform well to win.’ But we also needed another team in our heat to run faster than Concord-Carlisle did,” Donahue said. “So there were a lot of factors going on, and it was going to come down to hundredths of a second.”

Midway through Hopkinton’s heat, Donahue was concerned, as the Hillers and their competitors seemed to be “lagging a little” — not a shock, considering many of the runners were in their third race of the evening.

Then a Bridgewater-Raynham runner used a burst of speed to pull ahead. In the process, the runners from Hopkinton and King Philip responded with their own bursts.

B-R went on to win the race, but Ferreira, running the anchor leg, held on for second. King Philip was close behind and finished 0.61 of a second better than C-C’s time. That meant eight points for Hopkinton for second place and five points for C-C in fourth — just enough for the Hillers to win the meet by a half-point. Catholic Memorial took third with 50 points.

While the results were coming in almost instantaneously, Donahue still wasn’t sure Hopkinton had won. Seconds later, however, it was clear what happened, and the Hillers were jumping up and down and celebrating on the rail that lines the track.

The team bus received a police escort once it entered Hopkinton, and the athletes celebrated with a team dinner the following night.

“They really enjoyed it,” said Donahue, who credited the captains for their leadership. “I’m really proud of them.”

HHS girls finish 9th

The HHS girls indoor track team finished ninth at the Division 2 state meet.

Emily Miller finished second in the high jump, Kaelyn Faeber was third in the shot put, Isabel Walker was fourth in the long jump, Callie Owens was eighth in the 55 meters, and Hopkinton also scored points in the seventh-place 4x200 relay (Abby Burke, Owens, Kaelyn Geremia and Bella Walkiewicz).

sports

Young HHS girls skiing shows promise

Butkus upset top seed Jack Sauer of Franklin in the championship match at the MIAA Division 1 West/Central sectional Feb. 15, pulling off a two-point escape and reversal in the closing seconds for a 2-1 victory, and became the first Hiller in school history to be named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler, according to coach Corey Mills. “Aaron was very confident, very poised,” Mills said. “I felt pretty confident Aaron was going to get the escape. But the thrilling, shocking part was he was able to get a reversal and then ride him out for the win.” With the win, Butkus earned a spot in the Feb. 20-21 state tournament.

The Hillers co-op team held its Senior Night on Feb. 13. “It was a mustwin game for us to get into the state tournament vs. a very good Norwood team,” coach Chuck Costello recalled. “Lucey came up big that game, scoring four goals en route to a 8-1 win. She has been doing that type of stuff all year for us, and at times we rely heavily on her to get our offense going.” Jean completed the regular season with 40 points (25 goals, 15 assists). “We are looking forward to making some noise in the state tournament and need everyone to play the way we know they can,” Costello added.

O’Brien, Meehan lead HHS boys skiing

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

Hopkinton’s High School boys alpine ski team saw its season buoyed by strong performances by its two captains, Barry O’Brien and Patrick Meehan, both of whom skied well enough to earn spots in the state meet.

O’Brien finished fourth overall in the league meet to cap off a stellar senior campaign. He also posted multiple secondplace finishes during the Hillers’ five-meet regular season schedule.

“He was just a rock star,” coach Andrew Carlucci said. “He brought a lot of leadership and he brought a lot of knowhow. He helped coach some of the younger racers. He just took it to a different level this year.”

Meehan, a junior, posted a top-five finish in the league. Carlucci said he helped “bridge the gap” between the two seniors on the roster and the rest of the younger athletes.

“With such a young team, Barry and Patrick did a good job communicating throughout the year and doing what they needed to do as leaders,” the coach said.

Hopkinton boasted several other

standout performances, including from freshman Maxwell Shaw.

“He was coming from a free ride background, and he really learned how to race this winter,” Carlucci said. “He was really enthusiastic. He would count how many runs he took, and he would try to get as many training runs as he possibly could.”

Juniors Ethan Faber and Ryan Dow were consistent skiers all year, Carlucci said, with Dow finishing just outside the top 20 at the league meet. The performance was good enough to put him on the cusp of being an alternate for the state meet.

In addition to O’Brien, the program will graduate senior Logan Minka.

“He only skied with us for one year, but he loved it,” Carlucci said. “He came to us from the hockey team. He did it for fun, and he was great.”

Speaking of the state meet, which was scheduled for Feb. 24, Carlucci said that both O’Brien and Meehan had their sights set on finishing the season as strong as possible.

“For me, finishing two runs in the states is a big achievement, but I know both of them will want better than that,” he said. “My job is not to place any expectations on them, because I know they have huge expectations for themselves.”

By Chris Villani Contributing Writer

The Hopkinton High School girls alpine ski team is small and relatively young, but the Hillers brought enthusiasm to the slopes this winter and a level of experience that belies their ages.

“It was a team of seven, and they were mostly from ninth and 10th grade, but they had a lot of previous skiing and racing experience,” said coach Andrew Carlucci. “They honestly did really well.”

Freshman Caitlin Leary earned an alternate spot at the state meet by virtue of a top-20 finish at the league meet. Alexandra Cohen, another freshman, finished just outside the top 20 and showed exceptional promise.

“They had a really strong, building season,” Carlucci said. “They were competitive and always wanting to ski, always wanting to get better. From the get-go, they were ready to do it.”

Carlucci said that both Leary and Cohen have a good chance to qualify for the state meet outright next season. In addition to the pair of freshmen, the Hillers also received quality contributions from sophomore Ryan Cunningham.

“She was a mogul skier, so she brought a different style of racing background, and she did really well,” her coach said. “It’s a different discipline and skill set to go from mogul skiing to ski racing.”

Rounding out the HHS roster this winter were freshman Hannah Borzumato, sophomore Ella Turnbull and juniors Paula Kroymann and Miyu Imai.

“They were just energetic, enthusiastic and always trying to get better every day,” Carlucci said.

All four girls were skiing competitively for the first time, he added.

“They showed a ton of improvement,” Carlucci said. “Even though it was their first time racing, they gained more and more confidence as every single race went through.”

Hopkinton’s ski season consisted of five competitive meets and one “fun” race at the end of the year. While the team is on the smaller side, all but Kroymann and Imai, who are exchange students, figure to be returning next year. Carlucci said that the five returning skiers will try to encourage other Hopkinton students to join the program next winter. The fact that this is an Olympic year could help, as large audiences watched the world’s best compete in Italy this month.

“I think having the Olympics exposes people to understanding the basics of the sport,” Carlucci said. “The more they see it, the more people want to do it.”

Regardless of whether the team is bigger next season, the roster is guaranteed to feature skiers with considerable competitive runs under their belt.

“I have pretty high expectations for how they will do,” Carlucci said.

The Hopkinton Senior Center is open Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and Fridays from 8:30 a.m.2 p.m. For a more extensive listing of programs and services, including lunch program menus as well as a newsletter, check hopkintonseniorcenter.com. Anyone with questions can call 508497-9730. The Senior Center also has a Facebook page that provides updates on resources, programs and events.

Winter Weather Policy

The Senior Center is closed to the public when the Hopkinton Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather. Those interested in visiting should play it safe — watching the news and checking for school closings. Individuals also can call the Senior Center or check out the Facebook page for closing updates. Transportation assistance could be impacted by inclement weather as well.

AARP Income Tax Assistance

Tuesdays in February and March

AARP Foundation tax-aide volunteers (IRS certified) will help individuals prepare and file their returns for free. While this program is focused on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low to moderate income, it is open to anyone of any age. Appointments begin Feb. 10 and continue each Tuesday through the end of March. Anyone interested in more information or scheduling an appointment can call the Senior

Center at 508-497-9730. Individuals can begin signing up for appointments on Jan. 20.

Bridge Group

Mondays, 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Bridge enthusiasts are welcomed to join the Senior Center’s new group. This is a social, non-instructional gathering for players familiar with the basics who are looking to enjoy the game with fellow enthusiasts.

Springwell Presentation

Thursday, Feb. 26, 1 p.m.

Larry Poirier, outreach manager for Springwell, will provide an overview of the agency and all the services that it provides. Springwell is the local area agency on aging appointed by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence for the residents of Hopkinton. The agency’s goal is to provide information, services and support to assist elders in securing and maintaining independent living in a home environment.

Land Use Director

Listening Hours

Monday, March 2, 9:30-11 a.m.

John Gelcich, Hopkinton’s director of land use, planning and permitting, will hold office hours at the Senior Center the first Monday of every month. Gelcich will be available to answer residents’ questions about projects and initiatives being moved forward by the Land Use Department and other related land conservation, development or zoning concerns.

Our Time Memory Cafe

at the Senior Center

Thursday, March 5, 1 p.m.

This is a welcoming gathering for those experiencing forgetfulness or mild cognitive impairment, or living with dementia, and their care partner, family and friends. The cafe is a place to socialize, share experiences and form friendships. This month’s activity features the musical stylings of The Rob Show. This is a joint venture between Senior Services and the Hopkinton Public Library. For more information, call the Senior Center.

Tax Assessor Info Session

Monday, March 9, 1 p.m.

Members of the Assessor’s Office will hold a presentation on tax exemptions and programs available to residents. Participants will learn about eligibility, deadlines and what paperwork should be submitted.

Painting with Venus

Thursday, March 12, 1 p.m.

Everyone is invited to a mingle and

paint event led by artist and instructor Amy Adams. This event will provide an opportunity to connect with others through the use of art. All experience levels are welcome. This program is supported by a grant from the Hopkinton Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Advance registration is required, and space is limited.

Hopkinton High School Quartet

Friday, March 13, 1 p.m.

The Hopkinton High School String Quartet invites community members to its next performance at the Senior Center. The quartet — juniors Yulhee Kwon (violin), Jacob Wu (violin), Aritro Chatterjee (viola) and Jackson Chen (cello) — was formed more than four years ago. Each member now has several years of orchestral and solo experience as members of the Hopkinton Public Schools orchestras, New England Conservatory Prep program, Rivers Conservatory, Groton Hill Music School and various local and international music competitions.

For more information on any of the following programs or other activities at the library, visit hopkintonlibrary.org. Visit the library’s website calendar for event registration information. The library also can be found on Facebook, @hopkintonlibrary.

SCHEDULE UPDATES

The Library Board of Trustees will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. on March 17.

ALL AGES PROGRAMS

Odissi: Sculptures, Paintings and Poetry in Motion

Saturday, Feb. 28, 2-3 p.m.

Performer Mouli Pal will lead an interactive, multimedia session that provides a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of India. In the performance, Pal presents cultural pieces and connects them to works of Indian literature, paintings and temple sculpture that come alive through the storytelling and demonstration. Pal’s choreography is based on work by Indian poets Kalidasa, Jayadeva and Noble Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore.

ADULT PROGRAMS

Planning for Medicare

Thursday, Feb. 26, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Representatives from Blue Cross Blue Shield will lead an informational seminar about planning for Medicare to help participants be confident in making the right health coverage decisions. The event is strictly informational; Blue Cross Blue Shield will not solicit contact information or go over product information, nor will the library share patron information. Attendance is both virtual and in-person, and registration for the in-person session is encouraged.

CONVERSATION CIRCLES

ELL Conversation Group: Intermediate Wednesday, March 4, 10-11 a.m.

This English Language Learners (ELL) group is for those who have mastered basic vocabulary and simple grammar. The group prioritizes components of grammar, vocabulary expansion, reading comprehension and group discussion. Reading together helps to expand vocabulary and provides a focus for group discussion and increased understanding of the complexities of language.

ELL Conversation Group: Conversation and Culture

Thursday, March 5, 6:30-7:45 p.m.

Under the direction of a leader, participants focus on English fluency. Topics of interest will be identified for discussion, which often is led by local community experts. This group will help participants to enrich vocabulary, practice communication skills and learn about the local community.

ELL Conversation Group: Beginning Learners

Friday, March 6, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

This group is appropriate for individuals with limited experience with the English language. It provides an opportunity to build English vocabulary and practice grammar and reading in a supportive setting. Meetings emphasize new vocabulary, common idioms and basic rules of grammar, along with improving conversation skills.

To submit an item for the Hopkinton Independent calendar section, email the information to editor@HopkintonIndependent.com. Submissions should be limited to 100 words and are subject to editing by the HI staff.

HopSwap at HHS March 7

HopSwap, an annual communitywide tag sale event to reuse children’s clothing and items, will be held Saturday, March 7, from 9 a.m.-noon at Hopkinton High School. Donated items will be accepted on Friday, March 6, from 3-8 p.m. at HHS. Proceeds benefit the HPTO and Hopkinton Moms Group. For more information, visit the HopSwap Facebook page.

Trail Volunteer Day at Hughes Farm March 7

The Hopkinton Trails Committee and the Hopkinton Trails Club have created a monthly trail volunteer day on the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m.-noon. The next workday is March 7 and will focus on clearing invasive at the Hughes Farm Trail. Participants will meet at the Hughes trailhead at 192 Hayden Rowe Street. For more information, visit hopkintontrailsclub.com.

Women’s Club Monthly Meeting March 9

The Hopkinton Women’s Club will host its next monthly meeting/program Monday, March 9, at 9:30 a.m. at the Hopkinton Public Library. The program will include a video about the Michael Lisnow Respite Center followed by a tour of the facility. For more information, check the club’s website at hopkintonwomensclub.org or contact Judith Weinthaler at 508-435-3287 or HopWCMembership@gmail.com.

Trails Club Monthly Meeting March 11

The Hopkinton Trails Club holds its monthly meeting on the second Wednesday of each month to plan activities and discuss trails-related matters. The next meeting is Wednesday, March 11, at 6:30 p.m. at the Hopkinton Public Library. The meetings are open to all, and anyone with an interest is encouraged to attend. For more information, visit hopkintontrailsclub.com.

Mary Korbey 3v3 Basketball Tournament March 15

Registration is underway for the Mary Korbey 3v3 Basketball Tournament, which will be held Sunday, March 15, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Hopkinton High School and Hopkinton Middle School. There are male and female divisions for Grade 3 and up, including high school and adult/over40 divisions. Proceeds benefit the Mary Korbey Scholarship Fund. For more details and to register, visit the Hopkinton Basketball Association website at hopkintonbasketball.org.

Trails Club Walk at State Park March 15

The Hopkinton Trails Club will host its next monthly walk on Sunday, March 15, at 1 p.m. This walk will explore the Hopkinton State Park trails on the other side of Route 85. The main path runs from the DCR ranger station over to Duck Pond, through woods with many stories, including Daniel Shays, a pipeline from Lake Whitehall, stone quarrying, and more. Participants will meet at the parking area by the ranger station. For more information, visit hopkintontrailsclub.com.

Baypath Humane Society Fur Ball March 27

Baypath Humane Society’s 14th annual Fur Ball Gala will be held Friday, March 27, from 6:30-11 p.m. at the Verve Hotel in Natick. This year’s fundraiser has a theme of fire and ice, which also is the dress code — fiery hues, cool tones or a dramatic blend of both; reds, golds, blues, silvers, sparkle and shimmer. The event will include a number of auction items in a wide price range. Tickets are $175 and include food, entertainment and dancing. For

more information or to purchase tickets, visit baypathhumane.org.

Team Hoyt Taper Road Race/Walk April 11

The Team Hoyt Taper is a 5-mile road race and 2-mile walk that will start at Marathon Elementary School and finish at EMC Park. There also will be a Team Hoyt Tot Trot for kids at EMC Park. The race is Saturday, April 11, with a 10 a.m. start (11:30 for the kids race). For more information and to register, visit TeamHoyt.com.

Obituaries are submissions, typically from funeral homes, that are not subject to the same level of editorial oversight as the rest of the Hopkinton Independent. Obituaries may be edited for grammatical and factual mistakes and clarifications and shortened for space considerations.

Cynthia Brigham

Cynthia Brigham, 71, of Hopkinton passed away after a short illness on Feb. 1.

Cyd was predeceased by her loving husband, Stephen Brigham. She was the daughter of the late William J. and Grace J. Clinton, and the beloved sister of Richard F. (Barbara), Gael Keough (Richard) and Michael K Clinton, as well as sister in-law Dorothy Clinton. She was predeceased by her much-missed siblings William (Billy) and Robert (Bob) Clinton and sister in-law Tracey Clinton.

Cyd was a wonderful aunt/great aunt to her many cherished nieces and nephews.

She was a 1973 graduate of Framingham South High School. She worked for many years at Shipley Company/ Rohm and Haas in Marlborough, where she formed lasting friendships.

Cyd spent most of her summers at the family home on Ossipee Lake in New Hampshire, where she loved family time, having fun watching her cherished nieces and nephews on the beach and participating in water sports.

Cyd will be remembered by many family members and friends for her kind spirit and quick wit.

Under the trusted care of Brezniak Funeral Directors, there was a visitation Feb. 11 at Cushing Memorial Chapel, Framingham, followed by a funeral service celebrating Cyd’s Life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice in her name.

Jean Kindstedt

Jean Elizabeth (Owens) Kindstedt, 75, of Rye, New Hampshire, passed away peacefully on Jan. 10 at Spring Village in Dover, New Hampshire, after several years living with dementia.

Born on Sept. 21, 1950, in Phoenix, Jean was the youngest child of Melvin and Agnes “Beth” Owens (Krhut). She had two older brothers, Gary and Richard. She graduated from Palm Springs High School and went to the College of the Desert in Palm Springs, California. As a young woman, she moved to Wheaton, Illinois, where she met her husband, Carl Edward Kindstedt. The two were married on Aug. 23, 1975. They had two sons, Jason Edward and Christopher Michael. After living in Illinois, they spent time living in Hopkinton as well as Derry, New Hampshire,

and Kingston, New York, before moving to Rye, New Hampshire, where she lived for over 35 years.

While in Rye, she enjoyed her time as a school bus driver, substitute teacher and paraprofessional at Cooperative Middle School in Stratham. In 2006, she earned her degree in sign language interpretation from Northern Essex Community College and enjoyed providing sign language interpretation for church services and schools.

She was a strong woman of faith and an active member of Bethany Church in Greenland and Kittery. She also was part of the Durham Evangelical Church community for many years. She enjoyed many years helping with church youth group programs and left a lasting impact on many lives. She will be remembered by many for her delicious pumpkin bread and cards of encouragement.

She is survived by her husband, Carl, and two sons, Jason (Susan) of Rye, New Hampshire, and his children Amy, Thatcher and Hunter; and Christopher (Laura) of Jefferson, Massachusetts, and his sons, Tucker and Cody. Her parents and brothers predeceased her.

A service of remembrance was held Feb. 20 at Bethany Church in Greenland, New Hampshire.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jean’s memory to Make-AWish New Hampshire (wish.org/nh).

Cheryl Soucy

Cheryl Soucy, 77, of Hopkinton passed away on Feb. 5 in Gilbert, Arizona, surrounded by family. She was the daughter of the late Norman and Catherine (Welch) Cote. She was the loving wife of 49 years to Roger Soucy of Hopkinton.

Cheryl grew up in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and graduated from Rhode Island College. She was lucky to meet a group of friends in kindergarten who became lifelong confidants, along with college friends with whom she remained close with until her passing. She and Roger met while she was working at a veterinary hospital in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and later married in 1976. They moved into their forever home in Hopkinton in 1978. Cheryl was very involved in the community. She worked for almost 30 years at a family doctor’s office in town and later at Milford Hospital. After retiring, she devoted much of her time volunteering at the Hopkinton Senior Center and the local charity Project Just Because. She was known fondly to family and friends as a music lover, an avid dancer, a historian, and for her love of animals, particularly dogs, chimpanzees and sloths.

Besides her husband, Cheryl is survived by her two sons, Matthew Soucy and wife Lauren of Hingham, and Mark Soucy of Gilbert, Arizona. She had four grandchildren whom she loved dearly and was so proud of: Ayla, Camden, Ryan and Bennett. She also leaves behind her brother, Norman Cote and wife Joyce of Portsmouth, Rhode Island,

her sister-in-law, Leslie Cote, and many loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews from Denver to Boston. She is predeceased by brother Richard “Rick” Cote.

Visitation was held Feb. 17 at Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton. A burial will follow in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Project Just Because (projectjustbecause. org). A Mass in Cheryl’s name will be said at 10 a.m. on May 31 at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Hopkinton.

James Kurzontkowski

James R. Kurzontkowski, 80, passed away peacefully on Feb. 2 in Dover, Delaware, with family by his side. Born April 12, 1945, in Framingham, James lived a full and meaningful life marked by dedication to his family, his work and his country.

James grew up in Hopkinton with his parents and four siblings. He attended Hopkinton High School, where he met the love of his life, Carol. They later married and moved to Severn, Maryland, where they enjoyed their life together until her passing in 2004. James’ later years were spent at his campsite in Chincoteague, Virginia, or at the homes of his son in Wilson, North Carolina, and his daughter in Dover, Delaware.

James proudly served as a Marine during the Vietnam War, demonstrating courage and commitment that would continue to define him throughout his life. After his military service, he built a long and respected career as a mechanic and shop foreman at Academy Ford in Laurel, Maryland. For over four decades, he was known for his skillful hands and steady leadership-qualities that earned him the respect of colleagues and customers alike.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, James was deeply devoted to his family. He was the beloved husband of the late Carol Kurzontkowski and the cherished father of Alan Kurzontkowski and Sara Pritchett. He took great pride in his grandchildren — Nicholas and Matthew Kurzontkowski, and Paige, Taylor and Jordan Pritchett — who brought him endless joy.

James also shared close bonds with his sisters, Joanne Gouin and Mary Byrnes, brother-in-law Bob Byrnes, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Gene and Lynne Goodlett, sister-in-law Diane Wilson and many nieces and nephews who will remember him fondly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rita and Ludwig Kurzontkowski, as well as his brothers, John and David Kurzontkowski, and brother-inlaw William Gouin.

A man of simple pleasures and deep connections, James found happiness in spending time with family, working on cars — a lifelong passion — and relaxing at the beach or at his campers in later years. His sense of humor, caring nature and genuine kindness made him well liked by all who knew him. Though age may have slowed his body and mind in recent years, Jame’s spirit remained

youthful and vibrant to the end. He will be missed greatly. May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him. A funeral service honoring James’ life was set for Feb. 25 at the funeral home of Michael J. Ambruso in Dover, Delaware, followed by burial at Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in James’ honor to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).

Barbara Smith

Barbara A. (Morris) Smith, of Westborough passed away peacefully on Feb. 1 surrounded by loved ones after a long battle with illness.

Born Aug. 12, 1936, in Worcester, daughter of the late G. Ernest and Jacqueline (Burnett) Morris, she lived in Manchester, Connecticut, in her early life. She attended Milton elementary schools and high school until her family moved to Hopkinton — a town where her family had summered at Lake Whitehall for three generations, including her great grandmother, Mae A. Hill, of American Indian heritage — and she graduated from high school there.

As a young girl, Ms. Smith was a Rainbow Girl, a Brownie and Girl Scout, a member of her high school field hockey team in Milton and of the glee club at Hopkinton High School. She enjoyed camping, swimming, boating, reading, traveling and gardening as well as activities with her grandchildren, including motor sports as a spectator. After high school, she worked at Dennison Manufacturing Co. in Framingham, in the office and as a store clerk in several stores in the Framingham and Westborough area.

After settling in Westborough in 1957 and raising her two sons, Barbara truly rooted herself in the heart of the community. Since 1969, she owned and operated the Community News Service, eventually breathing new life into the century-old Westborough Chronotype in 1987. She was a fixture of the town’s social and political life, attending annual meetings with a keen eye and a sharp pen. While she was a tireless advocate for the community, she was equally relentless with the truth — reporting local news with a directness that left no stone unturned and, occasionally, no ego unbruised. She loved her town immensely and was never afraid to ask the right questions. She finally stepped back from her tireless, solo stewardship of the paper at age 69.

Though a dedicated resident of Westborough, Barbara’s life was enriched by her time spent elsewhere. She was a seasonal fixture of both the Rhode Island coastline and the Florida Gulf, spending her summers in South County, Hope Valley and Hopkinton, and her winters in Naples.

Ms. Smith is survived by her life partner since 1966, John F. Keefe of Westborough; son Michael W. Smith of Reno, Nevada; five grandchildren,

oBituaries

Eric M. Smith (Alise Bartolini) of Dudley, Thomas E. Smith (Ashley Smith) of South Lake Tahoe, California, Jacqueline A. Petrell (Nick Petrell) of South Lake Tahoe, California, and Brianne E. Patterson (Chris Patterson) of Auburn; and many beloved friends.

Barbara was blessed with seven great-grandchildren: Evey, Emerie and Elohn Smith (California), Gavin and Conor Patterson (Massachusetts) and Alex and Addi Petrell (California).

Barbara was lovingly reunited with those who passed before her: son Eric R. Smith (died 2001), grandson Timothy M. Smith (died 2008, U.S. Army KIA), and former husband Warren D. Smith (died 1997).

A celebration of Barbara’s life will be scheduled at a later date. The family is so thankful for the kindness shown to them To honor Barbara’s legacy of giving, the family invites gifts to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in lieu of flowers.

Allan Stark

Allan Edward Stark was born in Fitchburg on July 4, 1939, to parents Walter William Stark and Edith M. Vaananen. He passed away peacefully on Feb. 16 in Milford after a period of declining health. He was 86.

Allan spent most of his childhood in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, and attended high school at Appleton Academy, graduating in 1957. At New Hampshire Tech, he learned welding as a trade. Allan began his career at General Electric (GE) in Fitchburg on June 20, 1960, as a pipe welder, and retired from GE on Oct. 31, 1997. He served briefly in the Army and the New Hampshire Army National Guard. He married Joan Louise Connors on July 10, 1965, in Wilton, New Hampshire. Together they had two children. Allan resided in New Ipswich until his marriage, when he became a resident of the Massachusetts town of Sterling. In 1985 he returned to New Ipswich and lived there until 2017, when he moved to Golden Pond Assisted Living in Hopkinton. He resided there until 2025.

Allan is predeceased by his two siblings, Robert David Stark and Ilona Thyden, and his ex-wife, Joan (Connors) Stark. He is survived by his daughter, Kimberly Louise Stark of California, his son, Robert Allan Stark of Massachusetts, his daughter-in-law, Jean, and his grandson, Benjamin.

Allan was an avid gardener who loved to share his bounty with his neighbors and friends. In his later years he enjoyed trips to Florida to escape the harsh New Hampshire winters. He enjoyed his sauna and outings to the casino. He collected coins as a hobby. He loved steamed clams and pizza with the works, including anchovies. His uncanny knack of remembering birthdays was delightful to all who challenged him. He loved his greyhound rescue dog, The Colonel. Allan’s gentle nature and sense of humor allowed him to make friends wherever he went.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Golden Pond Assisted Living. Their care and friendship did indeed provide Allan with

some treasured and quality golden years. The family also wishes to acknowledge the kind and caring staff at Milford Regional Medical Center, who tended to Allan in his final days.

Allan’s urn will be interred in Smithville Cemetery, New Ipswich, New Hampshire, in the spring, following a celebration of life. Details will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a greyhound rescue or local animal shelter.

Patricia Snow

Patricia (Pat) Ann Snow (Lyons), 92, most recently of Hopkinton, died peacefully at her daughter’s home on Feb. 2. Her husband of 53 years, James C. Snow, predeceased her in 2010. She is survived by her daughters, Lynne A. Peters of Hopkinton and Karen J. Snow of Spencer; her sons, Michael J. Snow and wife Karen of Webster, Jeffrey D. Snow and partner Piyaporn Kemp of Charlton; as well as her beloved granddaughter, Jaime L. Snow and husband Steve of Hopkinton. Additionally, grandchildren Jennifer Schneider, Benjamin Snow and wife Kirsten, Tucker Snow-Girard, Kellyn Genest and husband Tylor, Luke Snow-Girard, and Jamison Snow, as well as nine greatgrandchildren. Pat’s brother James F. Lyons Jr. predeceased her in 2016.

Pat was born in Worcester to James F. and Grace M. (Sullivan) Lyons. She spent her childhood there before graduating from the former Commerce High School in 1951. Upon marrying Jim in 1957, she ventured out to the “country,” settling in his hometown of Spencer. There she spent the next five decades raising her family, keeping up with the extended Snow clan and visiting quaint back road B&B’s with Jim.

Her most cherished memories were of times spent with Jamie and her great-grandsons Lawson and Welles. She also spoke often of her trip to Ireland, where she went about exploring the birth towns of her grandparents while Jim experienced the local pubs.

Things that come to mind as we think of her: cashmere sweaters, hot fudge sundaes, TJ Maxx, fish & chips, her red hair, sudoku puzzles, English muffins with orange marmalade, cozy pj’s, a glass of chardonnay, the hairstyle she had for 40 years, those questionable one-liners and so much more. Oh Gram, we will miss you …

A Mass will be held in her memory on Saturday, March 14, at 11 a.m. at St. Bernard’s Church, 228 Lincoln Street, Worcester. There are no calling hours. Pat’s burial will be held privately at the convenience of the family. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, Hopkinton.

police log

ARRESTS

Editor’s note: The Hopkinton Independent’s policy for the arrests section is not to include the names of individuals who have been arrested.

Feb. 7

3:31 a.m. Officers Lucille Creedon, Alyssa Fleuette and Jennifer Manning responded to a report of a vehicle off the roadway on Ray Street and possibly smoking. The driver, a 24-year-old man, was arrested on a warrant.

Feb. 8

6:47 p.m. Officers Benjamin Vaz and Jennifer Manning responded to a motor vehicle crash on Hayden Rowe Street. A 61-year-old woman was arrested on a warrant.

Feb. 11

5:47 p.m. Sgt. Shannon Beloin and Sgt. Aaron O’Neil conducted a motor vehicle stop on West Main Street and performed field sobriety tests. A 32-year-old from Saddle Hill Road in Hopkinton was arrested and charged with improper turn and OUI liquor.

Editor’s note: Due to space limitations, this is an abbreviated version of the police log. For the full police log, visit the Hopkinton Independent website at HopkintonIndependent.com.

Feb. 3

5:08 a.m. A Cedar Street caller reported he was locked in his room and needed assistance. He provided the location of the spare key. Officers Robert Ekross and Brian Ziniti responded and assisted.

8:55 a.m. A caller reported traffic lights flashing on Main Street. Officer Augusto Diaz responded and was unable to stop the flashing. Contractor A.F. Amorello was contacted.

10:09 a.m. Officer Augusto Diaz reported a fallen wire in a West Main Street driveway and notified Verizon.

4:39 p.m. A CVS employee on Main Street reported a shoplifting incident a few hours earlier and wanted to file a report per the company’s loss prevention department. Officer Sean McKeon responded and took a report of stolen property.

6:05 p.m. A caller reported a suspicious female in a BMW asking people on West Main Street for bus money. Officers Noah Buentello and Sean McKeon responded and spoke to the woman, who was made aware of her license status. She stated she would get an Uber and leave the area. Officers reported the individual had a history of doing this in various areas across the state.

Feb. 4

2:04 a.m. Sgt. Cody Normandin assisted another agency and used a drone on Hayden Rowe Street to search for an individual with mental health issues. He did not locate the person.

6:15 a.m. Officer Eva Cann reported a motor vehicle crash on West Main Street. No personal injuries were reported.

12:01 p.m. A caller reported a vehicle stuck in a snow bank on West Main Street. Officer Noah Buentello responded and spoke with the driver. The State Police and a tow truck were en route.

12:44 p.m. Officer Nicholas Walker checked on two youths on Claflin Avenue and gave them verbal warnings for harassing a police dog.

7:10 p.m. A caller reported an injured duck on the Fruit Street overpass. The animal control officer was notified.

Feb. 5

10:09 a.m. Officer Benjamin Vaz spoke with a person on West Main Street who reported a stolen vehicle. Officers Noah Buentello and Nicholas Walker checked the area and advised the State Police to be on the lookout. Sgt. Matthew McNeil and Officers Buentello and Walker went to the residence where the owner’s app showed the vehicle’s location. The Upton Police Department also sent an officer to the area. Officer Walker reported the vehicle was located. The owner was provided a courtesy transport to her vehicle.

5:26 p.m. A caller reported finding a toolbox full of tools on North Street. She gave her phone number in case anyone reported tools missing.

Feb. 6

9:54 a.m. Officer Benjamin Vaz completed a welfare check of a dog on Frankland Road and contacted the animal control officer.

12:23 p.m. A Meserve Street resident reported an ongoing issue with a dog in the neighborhood. The caller was referred to the animal control officer.

6:21 p.m. A caller on Main Street reported his vehicle was stolen. Sgt. Cody Normandin and Officer Brian Ziniti responded. The caller subsequently stated that he located his vehicle, which he had parked in a different spot.

9:33 p.m. Sgt. Cody Normandin and Officers Kiley Davis and Nicholas Saletnik responded to a motor vehicle crash on Main Street and took a report.

Feb. 7

10:18 a.m. A walk-in reported a stolen license plate. Officer Benjamin Vaz assisted and took a report.

12:04 p.m. A motorist reported he went off the roadway on West Elm Street and needed assistance. Officer Augusto Diaz responded and contacted a tow company for a winch-out.

1:05 p.m. The DPW reported a vehicle struck a guard rail on South Street. Sgt. William Burchard responded and reported slight damage to the guard rail.

3:22 p.m. A Crispwater Way resident reported suspicious messages involving bullying on social media. Officer Sean McKeon took a report.

5:15 p.m. Officer Kyle Quinzani checked on a vehicle on Fruit Street and assisted in getting it out of the snow.

10:35 p.m. A caller reported he was dropping off an intoxicated friend at a Hayward Street address, and the friend would not get out of the car. Sgt. Cody Normandin and Officers Sean McKeon and Kyke Quinzani responded. The party took off but subsequently was caught and returned home to his guardian. A report followed.

Feb. 8

7:51 a.m. A Claflin Avenue caller reported a fire in her basement. Sgt. Arthur Schofield responded along with the Fire Department.

9:14 a.m. Officer Kiley Davis reported flashing traffic lights on Main Street. The DPW attempted to fix them. A message was left for A.F. Amorello.

Feb. 9

11:18 a.m. The DPW requested assistance clearing snow on Main Street while the traffic lights were malfunctioning. Officer Nicholas Walker assisted.

1:14 p.m. A West Main Street caller reported two people attempted to cash fraudulent checks and then drove off in a white Bronco. Officer Nicholas Walker checked the area for the vehicle with a negative find. A report of fraud was taken.

Feb. 10

8:07 a.m. Officers Noah Buentello and Nicholas Walker responded to a motor vehicle crash on Wood Street and issued a criminal application for unlicensed operation. The operator made arrangements for the vehicle to be picked up and for his own transportation.

4:54 p.m. An asset protection employee at a West Main Street store reported a shoplifter from a couple of days earlier. Officer Kyle Quinzani assisted and took a report.

11:14 p.m. A motorist reported her car slid off the roadway on Whisper Way, and she was stuck. Sgt. Cody Normandin and Officer Jennifer Manning responded. A tow truck removed the vehicle from the snow.

Feb. 11

3:26 p.m. A caller reported a nonverbal male, about 13 years old, looking for help on Smith Road. Officer Kyle Quinzani responded and walked the individual back home.

4:46 p.m. Officers Kyle Quinzani and Brenda Stanley took a motor vehicle crash report on Main Street.

6:17 p.m. A Curtis Road resident reported being scammed of money for an apartment. Officer Kyle Quinzani assisted and took a report of fraud.

10:39 p.m. Sgt. Cody Normandin and Officer Kyle Quinzani completed community relations, escorting the Hopkinton High School boys track team champions back to the school.

Feb. 12

3:36 p.m. A Maple Avenue caller reported he left his firearm at a barber shop in Marlborough. Officer Sean McKeon assisted and coordinated with the Marlborough Police Department, which had the firearm.

Feb. 13

3:53 p.m. A caller reported a past dog bite on Grove Street. Officer Noah Buentello assisted and took a report.

7:18 p.m. A motorist reported an erratic operator driving slowly and all over the roadway on Gassett Road. Officers Kyle Quinzani and Noah Buentello stopped the vehicle on Interstate 495, and the operator checked out OK.

7:21 p.m. A caller reported a mo-

tor vehicle struck a deer on Ash Street. Officer Sean McKeon responded and took a report.

Feb. 14

10:10 a.m. A Stewart Street resident reported a suspicious red car in the neighborhood and a person possibly filming or taking photos of the caller’s residence. Officers Nicholas Saletnik and Augusto Diaz responded, and the vehicle was gone upon their arrival. A report was taken.

12:28 p.m. An Overlook Drive resident reported a van pulled into his driveway at 11:44 a.m., and a man wearing a hat and a green shirt attempted to enter the caller’s residence. He returned to his vehicle and sat in the driveway for a short time before leaving. Sgt. Arthur Schofield and Officers Nicholas Saletnik and Augusto Diaz responded and checked the area with a negative find. No signs of entry were found. A report was taken.

1:38 p.m. A caller complained of a motor vehicle spinning in circles in a Main Street parking lot and getting stuck in a snowbank. Sgt. Arthur Schofield responded, and the vehicle was gone upon his arrival.

4:23 p.m. Officer Justin Cappuccio assisted the Fire Department in responding to a report of a flooded basement on Lakeshore Drive.

4:24 p.m. Sgt. Arthur Schofield, Sgt. Shannon Beloin, Sgt. Cody Normandin, Officer Sean McKeon and Officer Benjamin Vaz responded to a report of threats made at a high school wrestling match on Hayden Rowe Street. A report was taken.

Feb. 15

3:43 p.m. The State Police reported

a high-speed pursuit of a vehicle that got off Interstate 495 in Hopkinton. Officers were requested to assist in locating the suspect vehicle. Sgt. Arthur Schofield, Sgt. Shannon Beloin, Officer Sean McKeon and Officer Justin Cappuccio responded and found the vehicle and driver in the back of Price Chopper. The Fire Department responded to evaluate the suspect for reported back pain. The State Police placed the man in custody and fingerprinted him, as he did not provide any identification.

4:26 p.m. A Main Street caller reported he saw a man on his Ring camera trying to open his door. Officers Brian Ziniti and Sean McKeon responded and checked with businesses in the area to see if anyone recognized the individual seen on camera.

8:11 p.m. A caller reported a dead cat in the middle of the roadway on Chamberlain Street. He moved it to a snowbank on the northbound lane. The animal control officer was notified.

8:28 p.m. The Ashland Police Department requested assistance making contact with a driver involved in a hitand-run incident. Officer Sean McKeon responded to an East Main Street address, but the individual was not home.

9:46 p.m. A caller reported a water main break on West Main Street. Officer Justin Cappuccio responded along with the Water Department.

Feb. 16

11:22 a.m. A caller reported a fallen stop sign on Hill Street. Officer Noah Buentello responded and took a report of a hit-and-run motor vehicle incident.

7:37 p.m. Officer Justin Cappuccio responded along with the Fire Department to a report of a toaster on fire at a Legacy Farms South residence.