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...
Jerry Spar
Fogg: Hayes’ apology a start, but it’s not nearly enough
Ashley Fogg, who ran for School Committee as an independent in the last two elections but did not win a seat, wants to see changes from the Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee. Fogg was the target of critical comments left under election-related stories at the...
Former HDTC chair Hayes issues apology for online controversy, takes ‘full responsibility’
Former Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee chair Darlene Hayes on Monday released an apology for the controversy she caused with her online posting. Under stories in the Hopkinton Independent and HopNews websites, Hayes had posted comments numerous times under various...
State Rep. Arena-DeRosa to host office hours at Town Hall June 12
State Rep. James Arena-DeRosa will host office hours on Monday, June 12, from 10 a.m.-noon. The session will take place at Hopkinton Town Hall, in the lower level. Residents are invited to stop by to ask questions of Arena-DeRosa, who represents Hopkinton, Holliston...
Hayes resigns as HDTC chair after online controversy
According to a statement from members of the Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee’s Executive Committee, longtime HDTC chair Darlene Hayes resigned Monday after being exposed for posting comments on news websites in town under various aliases. HopNews posted a story...
Hopkinton Wellness/Hopkinton Card & Gift to close; Main Street building available for lease
Hopkinton Wellness and Hopkinton Card & Gift have existed in some form for almost seven decades in the center of town. That’s about to change. Husband-and-wife owners Dennis Katz and Terry Anthony are planning to close the businesses at 52 Main Street — on the...
Select Board roundup: Members vote to suspend UCTC; Kramer elected chair
At its meeting Tuesday night, the Select Board decided to suspend the activities of the Upper Charles Trail Committee in response to the non-binding vote at Annual Town Meeting earlier this month to disband the oft-criticized committee. The vote to suspend the UCTC...
Inspirational Boston Marathon figure Rick Hoyt dies at 61
Boston Marathon legend Rick Hoyt passed away Monday morning due to complications with his respiratory system, his family announced. "It is with profound sadness that the Hoyt family announce the passing of our beloved brother and uncle, Rick Hoyt this morning," the...
Hopkinton Police Sgt. Brennan placed on administrative leave
The Hopkinton Police Department confirmed in an email Friday morning that Sgt. Tim Brennan has been placed on paid administrative leave. Neither Police Chief Joseph Bennett nor Town Manager Norman Khumalo would provide further details. Bennett, contacted earlier in...
Independent Thoughts: Monumental accomplishment to highlight Memorial Day
This year’s Memorial Day ceremonies on Monday, May 29, will have a special touch with the unveiling of a granite monument honoring residents who served in World War II. A similar memorial made of wood was installed in 1943, midway through the war, and updated with the...
Town Election: Munroe, Stephenson win School Committee race; all ballot questions pass
Hopkinton voters chose Adam Munroe and Susan Stephenson to fill the two vacant spots on the School Committee in Monday’s Annual Town Election, while supporting all six ballot questions. In the unofficial results announced by Town Clerk Connor Degan, Munroe led all...
Video: High-speed police pursuit along Main Street ends with crash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKQ5b0r5Q5U When constructions crews installed high curbing on the sidewalks along the western portion of Main Street last summer as part of the Main Street Construction Project, it generally was not well received. On Wednesday morning,...
Select Board roundup: Fire chief to depart June 11; LNG drill ‘excellent,’ but residents express concerns
During Tuesday's Select Board meeting, Fire Chief Bill Miller shared that his last day with the department will be June 11. After 22 years in Hopkinton, including the last two as chief, he has accepted a position as chief in Bellingham. “I don’t want to see you leave,...
Select Board discusses future of Upper Charles Trail Committee
At Tuesday’s Select Board meeting, board members discussed the future of the Upper Charles Trail Committee following the May 2 Town Meeting non-binding vote to disband the committee. Select Board chair Amy Ritterbusch said she felt a “need to take a major action” —...
Khumalo: Town had no choice but to accept Porter’s resignation from HPD
Former Deputy Police Chief John "Jay" Porter resigned from the Hopkinton Police Department last Friday, three days before he was charged by the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office with rape of a child dating back to his stint as school resource officer in...
Independent Thoughts: May 5-14 Restaurant Week aims to be ‘bigger and better’
The Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce’s annual Restaurant Week is set to run from May 5-14 — from Cinco de Mayo until Mother’s Day. The event is designed to encourage residents and visitors to explore the town’s restaurants, many of whom will be offering special meals and...
Voters make statement to UCTC by calling for committee to be abolished
The Hopkinton Upper Charles Trail Committee was sent a strong message by Town Meeting on Tuesday, with passage of a non-binding article calling for the committee’s abolishment as well as an article to withhold spending on the controversial proposed Segment 7 along...
Former Deputy Police Chief Porter charged with raping student during time as Hopkinton’s school resource officer
Former Hopkinton Deputy Police Chief John “Jay” Porter, who was placed on administrative leave last year, has been charged with raping a student during his time as a school resource officer in town, the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday....
Select Board roundup: Emergency response test at Eversource LNG plant May 4; PFAS plan in works
During Tuesday night’s Select Board meeting, representatives from the town’s emergency services and Eversource discussed plans for an emergency response test for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility on Wilson Street. The test is scheduled for Thursday, May 4,...
Independent Thoughts: Self-sufficiency goal of growing family farm
People responded to the pandemic in different ways. Some rode it out as best they could, while others saw an opportunity for change. For David Kraus and his family, it was a chance to take the next step in the transformation of their property on Pond Street and become...