Town Clerk Connor Degan, shown at a past election at Hopkinton Middle School, is hopeful the distractions will be kept to a minimum for the upcoming election. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Early in-person voting for the Nov. 5 election begins this Saturday (Oct. 19) and runs for two weeks (check the town website for specific hours). Correspondingly, the conspiracy theorists are back with unfounded accusations and occasional threats.

On a positive note, Town Clerk Connor Degan said it’s not nearly as bad as the 2022 election — at least so far.

“Two years ago there was a huge effort to cause issues and delays with the midterm elections,” Degan said in a recent interview. “Fortunately, we were able to push some of it off. I haven’t seen as much of it this year to this point. People have been more sane, at least in Hopkinton.”

That said, Degan noted that Homeland Security recently contacted town/city clerks and emergency management in the state because letters containing white powder had been sent to election officials.

“I know other clerks [in Massachusetts] who have received nasty letters from residents saying, ‘Your days are numbered’ if this election goes one way or the other,” Degan said. “Look, it’s fine for us all to disagree on political stuff, but we all have to agree that the system has to work in order to have a fair election.”

For those with questions or concerns, Degan is more than willing to talk and explain how the elections are run to ensure integrity.

“One of the biggest problems is we’re so quick to shut down people we disagree with,” he said. “We’ve had people come in, and we’ll have a conversation at the window [of the Town Clerk’s Office]. I hope they leave the window feeling a little more comfortable.”

Recently, Degan addressed concerns about people in the country illegally registering to vote, while another individual questioned why they were sent applications for mail-in ballots for their adult children who had moved away.

“People were worried when [the state] had the new law allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses that they would register to vote,” Degan said. “But it’s not something new that non-citizens can get driver’s licenses. And they still can’t register to vote.”

As for the mail-in ballots, Degan said even if a parent removed a child from the household census form, “We don’t let people change other people’s voter registration.” If there is evidence the individual had moved, they would be placed on the inactive list and asked to confirm. If they don’t reply and don’t vote locally in a couple of election cycles, they eventually would be removed.

As for anyone thinking they could take advantage of the situation and cast an extra ballot, Degan cautioned that it wouldn’t be a smart strategy. His office hand-checks the signatures on the applications against what is on file (“Quite the exhausting task,” he said), and any suspicions of fraud are forwarded to the Elections Division of the Attorney General’s Office to determine how to proceed.

“At the end of the day, it’s a very high risk for a low reward to do that kind of fraud,” Degan said. “It’s not a high payoff, and it’s fraud on a federal election scale. I don’t see why anyone in their right mind would want to do this.”

Added Degan: “I can’t ever say that fraud is impossible, but we take every step in place to make sure it’s not worth it.”

HCA hosts ‘Portraits in Red’

The Hopkinton Center for the Arts is hosting a national traveling exhibition titled “Portraits in Red: Missing & Murdered Indigenous Peoples Painting Project.”

The MMIP Painting Project began with a single painting by artist Nayana LaFond on May 5, 2020, the day of remembrance for MMIP. After an outpouring of support following her sharing the painting online, she received requests for more. As of this summer, there were 110 completed paintings.

“Portraits in Red” is an exhibition at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts that raises awareness about missing and murdered indigenous people.

The portraits are primarily in black and white, with a red handprint across the subject’s mouth to symbolize being silenced. Additionally, many indigenous groups believe red is the only color spirits can see.

“Every year we do an exhibition with an artist or curator intended to highlight a social justice topic,” explained Sandee Buckley, the HCA’s director of operations, adding, “It’s a real coup for Hopkinton to get an artist of this stature to exhibit here.”

Visitors to the exhibit — which runs through Nov. 21 — are encouraged to leave a message of hope and support for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. Visit hopartscenter.org for hours and more details.

Tween’s generosity notable

Hopkinton 12-year-old Saisha Khanal recently participated in the Acton Children’s Business Fair — a one-day marketplace for children looking to launch and market a startup business — selling candles that she made herself.

According to proud parent Shova Sharma, her daughter made $200 — “a huge achievement for someone her age.”

However, when Saisha returned home, she had only $20 left, and her mother asked what happened to the rest of the money.

“She explained that she had noticed some of the other young entrepreneurs hadn’t had much success and, seeing how sad they looked, she felt compelled to buy from them,” Sharma shared. “Her kindness didn’t stop there. She donated her last $20 to a fundraiser supporting children with cancer. I was speechless. On the one hand, I was incredibly proud of her. At just 12 years old, she had already learned one of the most valuable lessons in life: the joy of giving. Saisha felt good because she made others happy. She didn’t hesitate to help those who were struggling, and that generosity came naturally to her.

“However, as her mother, I also found myself wondering how to teach her about balance — how to give back while also being sustainable for her own efforts. Saisha’s actions were driven by her heart, and I wouldn’t want to stifle that compassion. But I also feel it’s important for her to understand that sustainability in her business would allow her to continue giving without depleting her own resources entirely. In today’s world, it’s easy to forget that being kind and generous can coexist with being thoughtful and practical. I want her to know that she can inspire others and make a difference, but also that she doesn’t always have to give everything away at once. After all, even the most charitable people learn how to balance their giving with self-care and growth.”

Saisha Khanal (right) sells candles at the Acton Children’s Business Fair last month.

Sharma noted that Saisha has been volunteering since she was 7, when she helped with her mother’s Sewa mask project during the COVID pandemic. Saisha raised money via painting, custom jewelry, face painting and candles. She also recently raised funds for a local nonprofit called DIEWC, which stands for Diversity and Inclusion Empowerment for Women and Children, which her mother founded and runs.

Sharma noted that children like her daughter “can often teach us the greatest lessons.”

“Saisha’s kindness is something I never want her to lose, and I believe her story will inspire others, too,” Sharma continued. “At the same time, I am excited to guide her toward understanding how to give sustainably so she can continue making the world a better place for years to come.”

Wicked 5K road race makes tweaks

The Hopkinton Center for the Arts’ Wicked Weekend is fast approaching. One of the events as part of the weekend is the Wicked 5K road race and Wee Wicked Dash for kids, set for Sunday, Oct. 27.

Race organizer Ilana Casady said there have been some changes this year. Most notably, the start time has been pushed back to 1 p.m. so that it flows into the Wicked Family Fun Fest (cosponsored by the Hopkinton Moms Club) that afternoon.

“We changed the time to make it more post-celebration friendly,” Casady said. “In the past, it started at 10 a.m., and most people left afterward.”

The race starts and finishes at the HCA, with the whole course contained within Loop Road and the Center Trail.

The race traditionally features some creatively dressed runners and walkers.

“Costumes are not required but highly encouraged,” Casady said. “There will be a prize for the best costume.”

The first 150 registrants will get a commemorative race T-shirt. Casady is hoping for more than 200 entrants this year, so those who want a shirt should register ASAP.

In an effort to lure the area’s fastest runners, the race will offer a total of $1,000 in prize money to the top finishers.

Meanwhile, children who complete the Wee Wicked Dash will get a mini-pumpkin.

Proceeds from the event support the HCA, so people can have an enjoyable time while benefiting a local nonprofit.

“It’s a nice, fun, family-friendly, all-ages Halloween event,” Casady said. “It can be fun if you’re a teenager, 4-year-old, grandparent — everyone is welcome.”

Random thoughts

You might be aware that the Hopkinton Trails Club hosts a trail walk each month, open for all to enjoy. This month’s walk — which is this Saturday at 1 p.m. — takes place at College Rock (off College Street, near the border with Milford and Holliston), and it celebrates the Trails Club’s 20-year anniversary with the location where the first walk was held. Visit hopkintontrailsclub.com for more information. …

The Friends of Whitehall’s annual fall cleanup also is scheduled for this Saturday, from 9 a.m.-noon, starting at the Whitehall State Park boat landing off Wood Street. Due to concerns about the threat of mosquito-borne West Nile virus or Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), organizers are encouraging volunteers to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and the cleanup might be canceled if the threat level rises. Check the FOW website at friendsofwhiteball.org for updates. …

It was nice to see the return of the hand-held shopping baskets at Price Chopper. They were gone earlier this year, and an employee told me so many people were walking off with them that the store decided not to replace them. However, a new supply arrived in late summer. Price Chopper also is collecting food for Project Just Because and pet food for Baypath Humane Society. Look for the white collection bins in the store on West Main Street. …

The Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce’s annual Holiday Stroll is set for Saturday, Dec. 7. As part of the event, there will be 10 raffle drawings, with each winner getting a $300 cash prize. The day will wrap up with Santa Claus arriving via fire truck at the Town Common for caroling and the town tree lighting.