Hometown Barbershop barber Liz Hawkins, who suffered stab wounds on Friday at the Main Street shop after an incident involving a co-worker, shared her account of what happened, saying she was in “total shock and disbelief” at the “unprovoked” attack and that her...
Jerry Spar
Photos: Russ Phipps celebrates 100th birthday
Longtime Winter Street resident Russ Phipps celebrated his 100th birthday Tuesday morning with a surprise drive-by celebration featuring vehicles from the town's Police Department, Fire Department and Department of Public Works. Daughter Marci Caporizzo had made it a...
Planning Board votes to allow Foxhollow developer to eliminate stone wall
At Monday’s Planning Board meeting, the board voted unanimously that a subdivision developer is within their rights to eliminate plans to reconstruct a 400-foot stone wall behind three homes in the Foxhollow Road development off Pond Street. The stone wall was to...
Independent Thoughts: 2021 in a word? It’s complicated
After the mess that was 2020, we had high hopes that 2021 would be easier to navigate. And it was. Except it wasn’t. Looking for a word to describe this past year? It’s complicated. The COVID-19 pandemic raged at the start of 2021, but by November vaccinated students...
Health Director: As Hopkinton’s COVID surge continues, stricter mask policy instituted for town offices
Health Director Shaun McAuliffe said that while the town continues to be one of top vaccinated communities in the commonwealth, there has been an ongoing surge in cases this month. McAuliffe said there have been 99 cases since Dec. 1, and he expects it to be closer to...
Select Board roundup: New restaurant set to open on Main Street; Town Meeting warrant opened
At Tuesday's Select Board meeting, the board approved awarding a common victualer license to Cheryl Kiefer for Lone Wolf BBQ, a new restaurant that will take the spot at 24 Main Street previously occupied by Bittersweet. Kiefer said the establishment hasn’t settled on...
Phipps hits 100th in stride
As he closes in on his 100th birthday, Russ Phipps says there are no secrets to his longevity. “I just take whatever comes,” he says. “You have to roll with the punches. That’s the way it goes.” Phipps, who has lived on Winter Street since 1949 — in a home he built —...
HPD chief: Hopeful for detailed police log soon
The Hopkinton Police Department’s arrest and incident log continues to be unavailable for publication, as the department only has released very basic information. Chief Joseph Bennett said last week that he has had multiple discussions with the department’s new...
Independent Thoughts: Devoted dogs seek new home
During the peak of the pandemic, it was easy for shelters such as Hopkinton’s Baypath Humane Society to get dogs and cats adopted. Many people were stuck at home and had more time on their hands, so they looked for companionship from pets. It’s more difficult now,...
Filtration system will be temporary solution for town’s tainted water
The town’s temporary solution to the issue of potentially harmful chemicals in its water supply will be to rent or purchase a filtration system for the problematic Fruit Street well, the Select Board decided Tuesday. Additionally, residents who have been identified as...
Select Board roundup: Lykan seeks to expand with new TIF; COVID cases rise; new library director welcomed
Representatives from Lykan Bioscience appeared before the Select Board on Tuesday night to share plans for the expansion of the company’s South Street headquarters and ask for discussions to start on a new tax increment financing agreement (TIF) with the town. The...
Fire at Winter Street business damages Hopkinton fire truck
An overnight fire last week at a Winter Street company caused major damage to a Hopkinton Fire Department pumper truck that had been inside the building, Fire Chief Bill Miller said. Hopkinton firefighters responded to a fire alarm at about 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 1 at...
Independent Thoughts: Lots of good things in storage for HHS duo
Hopkinton High School juniors Jack Green and Declan Mick have attended the Ron Burton Training Village for a few summers, and before they head back to the Hubbardston campus for their final session next year, they hope to give back to the program that has helped them...
HHS volleyball wins state title
Westborough middle hitter Christine Li rose with a purpose. The talented senior brought her arm back, swung through and unleashed a powerful strike on the volleyball, driving it with force over the net. And Hopkinton’s Mikayla Grady blocked it, sending it to the...
Eversource passes Dell EMC as top taxpayer in town
During the town’s tax classification hearing Tuesday, the Select Board voted to make no changes to the methods the town uses to assign tax rates, and the board was informed that there is a new No. 1 taxpayer in town. Eversource, which owns the liquefied natural gas...
Select Board roundup: Children flock to get COVID vaccines; Main Street work extended
Hopkinton Health Director Shaun McAuliffe, speaking to the Select Board on Tuesday night, said local children have been turning out in big numbers for their COVID-19 vaccines. McAuliffe told the board that his department had vaccinated 49 children just before he...
DPW director: Town continues to seek solutions to problem of contaminants in water supply
Hopkinton is working on short-term and long-term solutions to address the issue with the town’s water supply following tests that showed higher-than-allowed levels of contaminants, Department of Public Works Director John Westerling told the Select Board at its...
Planning Board approves Turkey Ridge subdivision plan
The Planning Board approved the definitive subdivision plan for Turkey Ridge Estates during its meeting Monday night after the developer shared some changes and the board added some conditions. The proposed eight-lot definitive subdivision, originally known as Deer...
School Committee approves MOA on HHS mask policy with teachers union
Following an executive session Tuesday night, the School Committee voted unanimously to approve a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Hopkinton Teachers Association regarding the new mask-optional policy for vaccinated individuals at Hopkinton High School....
Select Board roundup: Tribute paid to late longtime resident Joe Pyne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urpw4tGt7lM During the public forum portion of Tuesday’s Select Board meeting, Select Board Member Brendan Tedstone called attention to the passing of longtime resident Joe Pyne, who died Nov. 2 at the age of 81. The son of a one-time...