Good morning, Hopkinton! Welcome to the daily update we call Hopkinton Today — a quick recap of yesterday’s news, highlights of what’s on tap, and a photo of the day.

Repaired shed to store materials for trail projects

Sean Kimball (left) and Don Keiser work on replacing the roof on a shed at the Hughes Farm property on a recent day. PHOTO/HOPKINTON TRAILS CLUB

The Hopkinton Trails Club and the Trails Committee are coordinating on a repair project at the Hughes Farm property that will help make the area more appealing and set up both groups for future trail projects.

Volunteers from the Trails Club have started repairing and replacing the roof of a shed on the property in order to make it waterproof again, according to co-chair John Ritz. He anticipated the roof will be finished in the next few weeks, then contractors will replace the barn’s sill.

“That involves lifting up the structure, pulling out the current rotten sill and putting in a new sill,” Ritz explained in an email. He added that the Trails Committee would be arranging that work.

The age of the existing structure is unclear, Ritz noted, stating that it had been referred to as “the old goat barn” by others with connections to the Hughes family. Signage on the Hughes Farm Trail indicates the property was a working farm through the late 1900s.

Saving the shed versus tearing it down “protects a town asset related to trails, and supports the town’s commitment to those trails,” Ritz stated. He added that improvements in lumber storage next to the structure will help provide convenient access to tools and materials needed for maintaining the town’s trails.

“It also provides an opportunity for volunteers from the town to be involved,” he shared. “Folks who work on trails tend to feel a sense of ownership and commitment.”

There is a cost savings associated with saving the structure as well. Trails Committee chair Peter LaGoy stated in a brief email that the former Trails Coordination and Management Committee appropriated $3,000 for the roof repair in 2023. Committee member Sean Kimball noted that undertaking this renovation could save one quarter to one half the cost of a new shed.

“This project has been in the works for a while now,” Ritz added. “[It’s] good to get it going now.”

— NICK SCHOFIELD

Latest News

The Trails Committee on Wednesday reviewed its progress since forming 16 months ago and looked ahead to future projects.

This week’s Baypath Adoptable Animal is 9-year-old Daphne, a sweet and affectionate cat with plenty of personality.

Kris Eberlin, 72, formerly of Hopkinton, died July 11.

Photo of the Day

Emma Nguyen, a member of Hopkinton Girl Scout Troop 82358, was recognized as a member of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts’ 500 Club for the fifth year in a row based on her accomplishment of selling 500 packages of cookies in this past year’s fundraising program. Nguyen received special recognition at a recent 500 Club celebration held at New Hampshire’s Canobie Lake Park. “The cookie program has helped me learned important entrepreneurship skills and persevere through many challenges,” she shared. “Even with the coldest winter we’ve experienced in a decade, I was determined to make the 500 Club and help my troop raise funds to support our Silver Award project. I’m very proud that the earnings from my cookie sales will provide my troop with funds to build a garden within our Hopkinton community!”