PRST-STD U.S. Postage PAID Hopkinton, MA 01748 Permit No. 109 ECRWSS Postal Patron
HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 26 | No. 15 | July 23, 2025
Fundraisers seek to help local teen who was hit by car By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer
C
PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
HORRIBLE FUN
A few dedicated individuals gathered at the Town Common on July 4 to hold an unofficial, one-float Horribles parade. Pictured (from left) are Ed Harrow, Colleen Roy (on float), Kia Doyle with daughter Colbie, Jeff Doyle, Aubrey Doyle and Dan McIntyre.
Town, residents at odds over beaver removal at Bloods Pond By Nick Schofield Contributing Writer
R
Beavers | 9
Tax-Free Weekend makes big purchases easier — so does the right lender. Available on weekends!
Student injured | 5
INSIDE NEWS
Residents cautioned after multiple bear sightings
3
COMMUNITY PHOTO/NICK SCHOFIELD
esidents are expressing frustration with what they believe are “inhumane practices” after beavers were removed from Bloods Pond last month. Between June 3-15, the Department of Public Works applied for an emergency permit and contracted a problem animal control agent to set traps at Bloods Pond. A number of beavers subsequently were removed from the pond and euthanized. The trapping and removal of the beavers was initiated to maintain the integrity of the dam in Bloods Pond, according to DPW Director Kerry Reed. She explained that her department had
A sign put in a walking area near Bloods Pond questions the beaver situation there.
ommunity members have organized fundraisers to aid the family of rising Hopkinton High School junior Raphaela “Rafa” Cristeli, who was seriously injured after being struck by a car on July 4. HHS junior Isla Clarke set up a GoFundMe page (gofund.me/ce334a38) for Cristeli, whom she identified as her best friend. She described the extent of Cristeli’s injuries in her fundraising request. “At about 3:00 on Friday, July 4th, my best friend, Raphaela Cristeli, was hit by a speeding car on the highway,” it stated. “As our Fourth of July started off strong, none of us thought that this was how our day would end. “After being hit, Rafa encountered many severe injuries like head trauma, internal brain bleeding, a ruptured spleen, and fractured hips,” Clarke continued. “She was rushed to a hospital nearby, and then she was transferred
Hopkinton Little League warns about Venmo scam
13
SCHOOLS
Charleswood project now $31M below estimates
15
Bryan Brown Branch Manager O: (978) 870-7138 bryan.brown@rate.com Rate.com/BryanBrown
Equal Housing Lender Bryan Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will be approved for financing. Receipt of application does not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee. Restrictions may apply, contact Guaranteed Rate for current rates and for more information. Brown NMLS ID #89425; MA - MLO89425 - MC2611, NH - NH89425 - 13931-MB, RI - Licensed | GR NMLS ID 2611 (National Mortgage Licensing System, www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) • MA - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. - Mortgage Lender & Mortgage Broker License MC 2611• NH - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. dba Guaranteed Rate of Delaware, licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department - Lic # 13931-MB • NH - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. dba Guaranteed Rate of Delaware, licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department - Lic # 13931-MB • RI - Rhode Island Licensed Lender Lic # 20102682LL, RI - Rhode Island Licensed Loan Broker Lic # 20102681LB