Tim Wakefield never lived in Hopkinton, but his presence was felt here every spring. The Red Sox legend, who passed away Sunday at the age of 57 after a battle with brain cancer, appeared at the Sharon Timlin Memorial Road Race at Hopkinton High School every June...
Jerry Spar
Independent Thoughts: Bajrami constructs her success story
Greta Bajrami is not afraid of taking on a challenge. As if starting her professional career as “an immigrant, a minority, a woman and a young adult” was not enough, she chose a male-dominated profession — construction — in which it’s difficult to break through and...
Hopkinton schools ranked No. 1 in state
The Hopkinton Public School district was ranked first in Niche’s 2024 Best Schools and Districts rankings for Massachusetts. Hopkinton also is ranked as being the best place to teach, and as having the best teachers. “It’s really nice to have that first ranking across...
Widow of elderly man who died after going missing offers thanks, defends Golden Pond
Elizabeth Noon reached out to the Independent on Sunday to share her thoughts after the passing of her husband. Jim Noon died Sept. 16, four days after being rescued by emergency personnel a short distance from The Communities at Golden Pond assisted living facility....
Man who went missing from Golden Pond last week has died
The 84-year-old man who went missing from The Communities at Golden Pond assisted living last week died Saturday, according to an obituary at the Eaton Funeral Homes website. James Noon, was rescued last Tuesday a short distance from the facility after disappearing...
After controversial delay, Select Board discusses hiring/promotion policy with police chief
The police hiring controversy dominated much of Tuesday’s Select Board meeting, as members held a discussion with Chief Joseph Bennett about the department’s policy and how board members could become more involved. The controversy started at the Sept. 5 meeting, when...
Independent Thoughts: Water Department welcomes heavy rain; crafty residents replace street sign
During a typical year, the Water Department will send out notices each summer, reminding residents about the water restrictions in town. No need in 2023. Hopkinton received a near-record amount of rain — about 12 inches in July alone, which is around four times the...
Fire chief: Missing man likely never went far from Golden Pond but was hidden in bushy area
The elderly man who disappeared from the Golden Pond assisted living facility on Sunday night and was rescued Tuesday morning never strayed that far from the grounds, interim Hopkinton Fire Chief Gary Daugherty believes, but because he was in a “very deep, thick area...
UPDATE: Missing elderly man found ‘conscious and alert’ near Golden Pond
[Editor's note: This story was updated with information from the State Police at 2 p.m.] The elderly man who had been missing since Sunday night was found alive at approximately 10:40 a.m. Tuesday by members of the Massachusetts State Police Special Emergency Response...
Police report elderly man has gone missing in town
The town sent out an emergency dispatch to residents Monday morning after an 84-year-old went missing Sunday night. James "Jim" Noon, a white male who stands 5-foot-7 and weighs 150 pounds, was last seen in the area of 50 West Main Street (which is The Communities at...
With temperatures headed to 90s, superintendent cautions school families
With temperatures in Hopkinton expected to hit 93 degrees Thursday and 89 Friday, Superintendent of Schools Carol Cavanaugh reached out to families to encourage them to be prepared. Cavanaugh noted that the high school and Hopkins School have air conditioning in...
Independent Thoughts: Pets pay price as finances get tight
The high cost of living across the nation — including Hopkinton, where home prices are soaring — is making things challenging for animal rescue organizations. During the COVID pandemic, Baypath Humane Society struggled to keep up with the demand for pets. Now, the...
Independent Thoughts: Local Girl Scouts earn highest honor; teens to appear in Worcester play
Hopkinton’s Elizabeth Schneider and Katie Beauvais recently received the prestigious Gold Award, the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn, from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts. The Gold Award is available to girls in high school who create sustainable...
Independent Thoughts: Library takes stand against censorship
In a recent Hopkinton Public Library newsletter, Director Nanci Milone Hill addressed the issue of book banning. She referenced an American Library Association report that indicated there were 1,269 demands to censor library books in 2022 — a 38% increase from 2021...
Former HPS Wellness leader Elliott dies in bicycle accident
Former Hopkinton Public Schools Health and Wellness Department leader Bruce Elliott died this past Saturday after being struck head-on by an SUV while bicycling in Mentone, California. Elliott, 55, had been living in nearby Redlands, about 60 miles east of Los...
Hopkinton man drowns in Lake Maspenock
The search for a missing swimmer in Lake Maspenock came to a tragic end Saturday morning, as the body of a 21-year-old Hopkinton resident who failed to return from a Friday evening swim off Sandy Beach was pulled from the water by emergency personnel. The victim was...
UPDATE: Emergency crews recover body of missing swimmer at Sandy Beach
UPDATE: Saturday, 9:05 a.m.: Emergency personnel recovered a body at about 8:45 a.m. More information will be posted as it comes available. The beach, which had been closed during the search, was to reopen at noon, according to a Hopkinton Parks & Recreation...
Independent Thoughts: Mui makes mark with rugby champs
When members of the New England Free Jacks professional rugby team needed someone to watch their backs, they sought out Hopkinton resident Karson Mui. Mui, a sports chiropractor, has worked with the team for four years, including this season, when the team went 16-2...
Following online controversy, Hayes resigns seats on town committees
Former Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee chair Darlene Hayes has resigned from her positions on the town’s Housing Authority and Cultural Council effective June 30 following controversy over her online behavior. Under stories in the Hopkinton Independent and HopNews...
Independent Thoughts: Take a hike with Trails Committee
The Hopkinton Trails Coordination & Management Committee’s goal is simple: happy trails to you. The TCMC is making a push to educate residents about the dozens of miles of trails available for use in town. To that end, the committee is sponsoring a child-focused...