Kathleen Buckley

Has the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) blazed a path which puts consumers ahead of banks and lenders? In a unanimous decision, the SJC upheld a Superior Court’s order barring a subprime lender from foreclosing on any structurally unfair loan without court approval. The Court’s logic relies on the Consumer Protection Law and alleges subprime lenders originated loans “without meaningful regard for a borrower’s ability to repay” and thus engaged in unfair or deceptive conduct.

In a press release dated December 9th, 2008, Massachusett’s Attorney General Martha Coakley commits to seeking for borrowers facing foreclosure “significant relief” from lenders who issued loans that “predictably lead to foreclosure”. Further, the injunction initially obtained on February 25, 2008 requires the lender to work with the Attorney General’s Office to “modify or restructure” any loan deemed “presumptively unfair”.

Looks like Massachusetts may be the first in the nation to call to task lenders who sold risky loan products they reasonably should have known were unaffordable for borrowers. For borrowers who may be seeking protection under this breaking ruling, please visit Attorney General Martha Coakley's Foreclosure and Mortgage Lending website.

The Hopkinton Education Foundation (HEF) will be hosting their annual fundraising Gala on February 7th, 2009 at the Lakeside Pavillion in Foxborough. This year's theme is Reach for the Stars and proceeds will benefit HEF's endeavor to implement innovative educational programs through grants awarded to Hopkinton Public School teachers and staff. Tickets go on sale for $85 per person this Saturday, December 6th from 9-11 am at the High School.

STAR REALTY is delighted to sponsor Reach for the Stars to benefit our public schools through the innovative and enriching programs brought to us by the Hopkinton Education Foundation.

For the second year, the Hopkinton Parent Teacher’s Association (HPTA) and the Hopkinton Education Foundation (HEF) teamed up to raise money for the Hopkinton Public Schools. All pencils were at the ready on November 14th as 24 teams competed for bragging rights as the Second Annual Community Spelling Bee Champions (not to mention the promise of being able to take home those great boggle head trophies). Brian Herr, a STAR REALTY client and Hopkinton’s current Chairman of the Board of Selectman, volunteered (with some coaxing) to MC the event. Judges were Dr. Jack Phelan, Superintendant of Schools; Ruth Ann Cote, former HEF President, and Patty Doshier, Co-President of the HPTA. Thanks to the diligent efforts of the organizing committee and the generosity of local businesses and organizations, over $6500 was raised to benefit the Hopkinton Public Schools.

New this year was a mini spelling bee competition for elementary aged childen in the audience. Students from Center, Elmwood, and Hopkins Schools were read a list of age-appropriate words by their respective principals. Winner word lists were entered for a prize drawing.

STAR REALTY is proud to have once again been the “Big Honey” sponsor of this event. It is one of the few in town that welcomes participation from ALL of the organizations and businesses. This year we had teams ranging from the Hopkinton Garden Club to the Senior Center, and the Hopkinton Police to the Youth Commission. The winners were the team put forth by the Hopkinton School Committee. They battled with the HPTA team in the final round and pulled ahead with the correct spelling of LEITMOTIF.

And now, the official word: We at STAR REALTY are delighted to sponsor the Hopkinton Community Spelling Bee to benefit the innovative and enriching programs brought to our public schools by the HEF & the HPTA. Hopkinton: it’s where we live, where we work, and where we give back.

Coming on the heels of being named one of the nations top 500 Public High Schools, the results of the Spring 2008 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests burnish Hopkinton High School's stellar reputation for high achievement. Particularly notable, 76% of last year's sophomores performed at the highest "advanced" level in the math test. In all three subject areas, the Hillers scored over 90% advanced & proficient. A statewide assessment exam, the test is administered only to the 10^th grade.

Newsweek magazine has released their list of America's 1300 Top Public High Schools. They rank the schools according to this formula: "Public schools are ranked according to a ratio devised by Jay Mathews: the number of Advanced Placement, Intl. Baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in 2007 divided by the number of graduating seniors."

Hopkinton High School ranks number 496 which puts it in the top 2% of schools ranked by this method.

For the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), all 10th graders in the state are tested and scored according to their performance: advanced, proficient, needs improvement, or failing. Hopkinton 10th graders scored a combined 84% advanced and proficient in both the English and Math exam (these are the only two subjects tested in 10th grade) with an impressive 58% scoring advanced in Math. See full results of MCAS testing for Hopkinton.

In addition to stellar performance, the school is aesthetically beautiful and offers a state of the art athletic center, fitness, facility, and performing arts stage.