In the wake of a surprise 4-1 vote to delay the promotion request for two Hopkinton Police Department officers to the rank of sergeant at the Select Board meeting on Sept. 5, one Select Board member explained his rationale for his decision to the Hopkinton...
Mary Ellen Gambon
Resident tip leads to cease-and-desist letters to illegal food operations in town
Health Director Shaun McAuliffe told the Board of Health at its meeting Wednesday that an email he received led to his investigation that uncovered five illegal food operations in town. “We had received a complaint about a food service establishment that was operating...
Conservation Commission focuses on violations at The Trails, Leonard Street
Editor's note: In a previous version of this article, the Edgewood at Hopkinton development was misidentified as a subdivision off Blueberry Lane. The Conservation Commission at its meeting Tuesday night reviewed violations incurred by several ongoing development...
Project Empathy production explores depth of human connection
According to an old adage, a person can never completely understand another until walking in their shoes. Project Empathy takes that concept further, using theater as a vehicle for sharing personal experiences. Eight people from different walks of life have been...
Health Department to offer drive-through flu vaccine clinics in October
The Hopkinton Health Department announced two drive-through flu clinics in October. The first is for older adults. It will be held Friday, Oct. 13, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Senior Center (28 Mayhew Street). Nursing staff from the Health Department will be at the...
Planning Board roundup: Strength of inclusionary zoning bylaw tested by Keystone proposal; Whisper Way hearings continued
The Planning Board met for nearly four hours Monday night in a marathon session where two contentious cases dominated the meeting. Several hearings were continued, including three regarding a Whisper Way development where land was slated to be conveyed as open space....
Library event featuring doctor who created homeless healthcare program postponed
Health Department DIrector Shaun McAuliffe announced that author Dr. Jim O'Connell, the founding physician of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, will be unable to attend as the guest speaker at an event at the Hopkinton Public Library on Monday night...
Hopkinton Police Department warns public about scam calls from person pretending to be an officer
The Hopkinton Police Department issued a warning to the public after residents reported scam phone calls from someone purporting to be a Hopkinton police officer. According to an HPD post on Facebook, the residents who reported the calls noted that "the number the...
Hopkinton Youth Soccer scrambles to get new equipment in time for season opener after nets vandalized
As Hopkinton Youth Soccer prepares to kick off its season this Saturday, the organization faced an unexpected and concerning challenge after discovering that all of its nets and a goal frame were damaged by apparent vandalism last month. Hopkinton Youth Soccer present...
Town shares information regarding state’s MBTA Communities zoning law
Town Manager Norman Khumalo and Principal Planner John Gelcich on Wednesday shared information regarding the state’s MBTA Communities Multi-Family zoning requirements. As of the passing of the economic bond bill, signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in January 2021, 175 MBTA...
Beach season ends, along with risk of algal blooms
The official beach season concluded on Labor Day weekend, along with the risk of algal blooms that hampered enjoyment this summer of the upper and main beaches at Hopkinton State Park. On Tuesday, the Parks & Recreation Department and Hopkinton Health Department...
Select Board puts police promotion requests on hold, discusses timeline for Special Town Meeting
The Select Board at its meeting Tuesday night voted 4-1 to delay consideration of the promotion of two Hopkinton police officers to the rank of sergeant until a departmental review is complete, provoking angry outbursts from some audience members. Detective Gregg...
I-495 southbound off-ramps to close overnight Tuesday, Wednesday for construction work
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation on Friday announced overnight closures for the off-ramps from I-495 southbound to the Route 85 connector in Marlborough (Exit 65A) and West Main Street in Hopkinton (Exit 54A) on Tuesday, Sept. 5, and Wednesday, Sept. 6,...
First case of EEE virus detected in Massachusetts mosquitoes this year found in neighboring county
As residents enjoy the unofficial end to summer this Labor Day weekend, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Friday announced that the eastern equine encephalitis virus, known as EEE, has been detected for the first time this year in the state in...
Police urge caution on trails after dog snatched by coyote on Whisper Way
The Hopkinton Police Department on Friday urged trail walkers, particularly those with dogs or children, to exercise caution when encountering animals after a dog was snatched by a coyote Thursday afternoon. According to the police report issued Friday morning, the...
Upper, main beaches remain unsafe for swimming as Labor Day weekend approaches
As the Labor Day holiday weekend approaches, the water quality at the upper and main beaches at Hopkinton State Park remains unsafe for swimming due to an increase in enterococci bacteria over the past week, according to water sample test results released Wednesday....
Conservation Commission discusses violations at The Trails, subdivision off Blueberry Lane
The Conservation Commission at its three-hour in-person meeting Tuesday night noted that while erosion control improvements recently were made on the fourth phase of The Trails, continuing sedimentation overflow issues prompted the commission to consider levying...
Reed brings knowledge, experience to role as DPW director
As Hopkinton’s new director of the Department of Public Works, Kerry Reed brings 20-plus years of experience in environmental engineering and municipal government to the town where she has lived for more than a decade. Reed, hired last month, spoke with the...
Hopkinton Fire Department to receive Assistance to Firefighters Grant funding from FEMA
Interim Chief Gary Daugherty announced Tuesday that the Hopkinton Fire Department will purchase new equipment after receiving funding from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The $921,943 grant was...
Amid string of regional home burglaries, police, DA offer safety tips
In the wake of several MetroWest home burglaries that appeared to target homes where the occupants were on vacation — often in South Asia — the Hopkinton Police Department and the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office provided safety tips for homeowners. In a...