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.

Ecological, health impacts of drones a concern for residents

FILE PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

A proposed Amazon drone hub in Westborough has Hopkinton residents concerned about its impacts on the town and its local ecology.

Amazon, which already has a facility in Westborough, hopes to begin operating delivery drones from the site. The 5-foot-by-5-foot drones, which can travel up to 75 mph, would be capable of delivering products in a 7.5-mile radius within an hour, according to a report from the Community Advocate.

A coalition of residents already is gearing up in Westborough to oppose the plan, which requires approval by the town’s Select Board. Hopkinton residents also are voicing their concern.

Resident Jenna Gavula, who recently submitted a letter to the editor opposing the drone hub, said she had heard from other community members who are against it. She and others planned to show up outside the Westborough Select Board meeting last night to voice their opposition.

Gavula’s primary concerns, she explained, related to human and ecological health, along with privacy.

“If they want to do this, they need to take a step back and invest in research to understand how it would affect our region from an ecological standpoint,” said Gavula. She cited research she had read regarding how the noise and disturbance of drones can cause wildlife to flee or develop chronic stress.

An open access review published in the journal Drones in 2025 stated that the long-term impact of drones on wildlife is not yet known, but short-term effects have been seen. “Repeated disturbances can possibly result in physiological stress build-up, displacement from critical habitats, or energy-allocation shifts that may reduce fitness and influence processes at the population level in the long term,” according to the review.

Gavula had similar concerns for human health, pondering the effect of “hundreds of drones” flying over her house every day. She noted she lives near the Westborough facility.

Cameras attached to the drones also worried Gavula. “We just saw what happened with these Flock cameras,” she said. “We know when data gets into the wrong hands, it can be used in malicious ways.”

Hopkinton leaders have heard from residents about the issue and plan to address it. Select Board chair Shahidul Mannan announced on Facebook last week that the board will address residents’ concerns at its next meeting on Tuesday.

“We have scheduled this topic for an upcoming Select Board meeting so the community can hear what we know, better understand the potential impact on Hopkinton and discuss what options may be available to the town,” Mannan wrote in a statement to the Independent. He added that Amazon was invited to participate but had not yet been confirmed as attending.

Despite the authority to regulate commercial drone use resting with federal and state authorities, Mannan added that “it is important that residents’ concerns about noise, safety, privacy, and quality of life are heard and addressed.”

— NICK SCHOFIELD

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Photo of the Day

Kinjal Patel (right) teaches a core, breath work and pelvic floor class at Angel’s Garden Center on Saturday as part of Black Door Yoga’s Hop/Up Wellness weekend fundraiser. The weekend-long event raised a total of $2,400 to be split between Project Just Because and the United Parish Church of Upton’s food pantry.

PHOTO/BLACK DOOR YOGA