Health Department director Shaun McAuliffe, in his update to the Select Board at its Tuesday night meeting, reported that there have been 132 cases of COVID-19 in town. One case is active and there have...
Jerry Spar
MassDOT Interchange Improvement Project includes replacement of Fruit Street bridge
In the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) video public hearing on the I-90/I-495 Interchange Improvement Project, which was posted online Thursday, Hopkinton...
HHS pitcher Fischer verbally commits to Fairfield
Hopkinton High School baseball standout Joshua Fischer, who just completed his junior year, announced that he plans to play collegiate baseball at Division 1 Fairfield University. Fischer, a left-handed pitcher, helped the Hillers go 16-6 and reach the Division 2...
Residents push Select Board to address racism
During the public forum portion of Thursday’s Select Board meeting, three residents called attention to current high-profile societal issues and how Hopkinton is dealing with them. Ilana Cassady said she is seeking “improved communication, transparency and action from...
Select Board votes to keep Tedstone as chair; Coutinho receives praise
The Select Board held a brief Zoom meeting Thursday night primarily for the purpose of reorganizing the board following the Town Election on...
Hopkinton deals with hate
The past few weeks have brought out the best and worst in Hopkinton. While many have banded together in an attempt to become more socially aware and fight bias and racial injustice, seeking to build on the burgeoning Black Lives Matter movement, others have shown this...
Town Election results: Ritterbusch wins Select Board seat
Amy Ritterbusch defeated John Coutinho to earn a spot on the Select Board in voting held Monday at Hopkinton Middle School. According to results — which won't be confirmed as official until later in the week — Ritterbusch finished with 1,595 votes to Coutinho's 933....
Maspenock CIG member resigns after vote against herbicides
Jamie Goncalves announced his resignation from the Lake Maspenock Citizens Input Group (CIG) following the Conservation Commission’s decision in May against the application of herbicides to control excessive weed growth in the lake. Goncalves explained that he was...
Khumalo, Slaman receive high praise in Select Board performance evaluations
The Select Board, in a Thursday afternoon meeting, offered high praise for Fire Chief Steve Slaman and Town Manager Norman Khumalo during their performance evaluations. Both were given an overall maximum score of 5 — defined as “exceeds expectations regularly” — from...
Ritterbusch on Select Board race: Coutinho’s accusations distract from ‘real personal attacks’ on residents
During HCAM's Hopkinton Hangout Hour candidate interviews on Wednesday, Select Board vice chair John Coutinho revived his criticism of Amy Ritterbusch and her supporters for what he said were offensive social media posts. On Thursday Ritterbusch issued a statement...
Commissioner of Education shares initial guidance to reopen schools in fall
Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Jeffrey Riley on Thursday delivered his much-anticipated report addressing the possibility of schools reopening in the fall. While Riley noted there will be more updates and that schools should be prepared for the possibility of...
Coutinho on Select Board race: ‘Hopkinton’s had enough’ of social media vitriol
The Select Board candidates took their cases to HCAM viewers on Wednesday via the Hopkinton Hangout Hour taped half-hour segments, and incumbent John Coutinho elaborated on his frustration with comments on social media he felt were unfair. The candidates were to...
Select Board meeting roundup: Legacy Farms HCA amendment passes
During its Zoom meeting Tuesday night, the Hopkinton Select Board approved a renegotiated host community agreement with Legacy Farms developer Roy MacDowell, which will provide an immediate boost to the...
Controversy surrounds Select Board race following accusation of online ‘attacks’
The fallout from Monday night’s Select Board candidates debate continued Tuesday, as John Coutinho questioned why Amy Ritterbusch hasn’t done more to stop what he called “vicious attacks” online, and Ritterbusch denied being aware of any such attacks while questioning...
Seaboard Solar continues to adjust plans for array
Seaboard Solar is moving forward with a plan to build a 28-acre solar array in the woods off 71 Frankland Road, although some abutters are holding out hope they can stop the project. The company has had numerous discussions with the town, including appearances before...
Coutinho, citing ‘hostile environment’ online, pulls out of Select Board debate
Monday's HCAM Select Board debate was a short one, as incumbent John Coutinho announced in his opening remarks that he would not participate due to individuals in the community creating "a hostile...
Independent Thoughts: Special birthdays draw crowds to honor Mackin, Finnegan
It’s become common to see a drive-by birthday celebration during the pandemic. Recently there were two extra-special such events. On June 5 Hopkinton High School senior Liam Finnegan turned 19, and a parade of cars carrying well-wishers made its way through his Rocky...
Select Board approves expanded outdoor seating for 5 local restaurants
At a special Select Board meeting on Thursday afternoon, the members unanimously approved plans by five local restaurants to expand outdoor seating in order to serve more customers while maintaining social distancing. Applications for “temporary outdoor dining for...
Photos: Happy Birthday, Liam Finnegan
Hopkinton High School senior Liam Finnegan celebrated his 19th birthday on Friday with a parade of cars carrying well-wishers through his Rocky Woods Road neighborhood. The Class of 2020 recently dedicated its yearbook to Finnegan, a member of the unified basketball...
Independent Thoughts: Parks & Rec optimistic summer programs pan out
Generations of Hopkinton children have grown up spending parts of their summers at the Parks & Recreation’s Summer Playground Group, the town’s basketball camps and Sandy Beach. It’s not yet clear what forms those activities will take this summer. At its May 19...