PRST-STD U.S. Postage PAID Hopkinton, MA 01748 Permit No. 109 ECRWSS Postal Patron
HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 26 | No. 17 | August 20, 2025
Public hearing planned for Hillers Pizza By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer
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PHOTO/JERRY SPAR
BACK TO SCHOOL
Work continues on the Hopkins School addition/ renovation project.
Masters’ plan: Elite sports academy By Chris Villani Contributing Writer
he Select Board at its meeting Aug. 5 voted 4-0 to schedule a public hearing regarding the status of Hillers Pizza’s common victualer’s license, which may lead to license revocation or suspension. A common victualer’s license is required in Massachusetts for any establishment that has the necessary equipment for cooking, preparing and serving food for public consumption on the premises. Calls for action regarding this license stemmed from the June conviction of owner Petros “Peter” Sismanis on charges related to a 2023 incident. He was accused of hugging and kissing a 16-year-old employee in the restaurant’s basement. Sismanis is serving six months of a total 2 1/2-year sentence in prison, with the remaining time suspended, for indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 years of age. He also was found guilty of two counts of witness intimidation and sentenced Public hearing | 4
INSIDE BUSINESS
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opkinton resident and School Committee member Chris Masters and his brother, Peter, for years have been trying to bring to life their vision of creating an elite, multi-sport private sports academy. The dream is becoming a reality after the brothers announced that Masters Academy International soon will break ground on an 82-acre campus in Stow. “It has been an incredibly long and windy road the last eight years,” Chris Masters said. “I am a believer in, ‘Everything happens for a reason.’ While we came close two other times, I am glad those fell through.” Sports academy | 9
New vegan bakery plans fall opening
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POLICE
Trio convicted for area burglaries
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MAIN STREET Hopkinton’s Chris Masters poses next to a sign touting Masters Academy International.
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Verizon to expedite pole rewiring work
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