The Trails Committee revised drafts of its charge and the one it proposed for the beleaguered Upper Charles Trail Committee at its meeting Wednesday night. The committee made some edits to the new version of its charge as well as its proposed recommendation of changes...
Mary Ellen Gambon
New Parks & Rec director takes helm; temporary skate park concept introduced
The Parks & Recreation Commission at its Wednesday meeting welcomed new department director Jon Lewitus to the department. Lewitus, the former assistant recreation director for the town of Brookline, has been in his new role for five days and has been building...
Pedestrian bridge proposals dominate Conservation Commission meeting
The Conservation Commission at its meeting Tuesday night focused its attention on separate proposals for pedestrian footbridges. The commission approved 6-0 the request of an Eagle Scout to construct a pedestrian footbridge at Berry Acres Trail. Projects of this type...
Lake Maspenock advocates push for limited use of herbicides to control weeds
Thickening invasive weeds in Lake Maspenock have some residents calling for a potential limited use of herbicides to contain the growing problem that threatens to choke off the aquatic life there. “The problem has been going on for years,” explained Sabine St. Pierre,...
Zoning Advisory Committee seeks public input on MBTA Communities zoning as deadline looms
The Zoning Advisory Committee at its meeting Monday night sought community feedback as the town formulates its response to the state’s MBTA Communities Act. The state adopted the MBTA Communities Law in 2021 to spur the development of multifamily housing by right in...
Commission on Disability holds first meeting, sets goals for community engagement
The Commission on Disability held its first meeting Monday night, electing officers and outlining goals for community engagement and awareness of accessibility issues in town. Holly Morand, also a School Committee member, was elected chair in a 4-0 vote. Alex Danahy...
Inaugural Ash-Hop Porchfest brings music into neighborhoods Sept. 30
Area musicians and aficionados will share their passion for song at the first Ash-Hop Porchfest grassroots music festival, which is taking place in Hopkinton and Ashland on Saturday, Sept. 30. “It’s like a scavenger hunt for music,” explained Porchfest Organizing...
OSPC approves open space land donation off Whisper Way
The Open Space Preservation Commission at its meeting Thursday night approved the donation of open space to the town at a Whisper Way subdivision after a contentious Planning Board meeting showed that the process should have taken place before building permits were...
Select Board members respond to criticism after vote to delay police promotions
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...
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...