Editor's note: This story was updated with a statement from Joe Markey. The School Committee met for nearly three hours Thursday night to tackle some longstanding controversial topics, including the mask policy debate and the approval of the school calendar that now...
Mary Ellen Gambon
School Committee duo face open meeting law complaint, criticism from teachers union
Editor's note: This story was updated with a statement from Joe Markey. The School Committee at its Thursday night meeting responded to a complaint by a Hopkinton resident against two School Committee members, Joe Markey and Meg Tyler, saying that they were in...
Laborers’ Training Center presents development details to Planning Board
The Planning Board met for more than three hours Monday night, as representatives from the Massachusetts Laborers’ Training Center gave an overview of their site construction plans, which include a new headquarters building and an updated dormitory. Attorney George...
ConCom approves notice of area resource delineation for Fruit Street property
At its Tuesday night meeting, the Conservation Commission approved area resource delineations for 188 and 190 Fruit Street after the applicant explained that an intermittent stream was found running through the property upon it being surveyed. Fred King, a wetlands...
School Committee roudup: Budget approved; calendar debated; COVID policy questioned
The School Committee at Thursday’s meeting approved the fiscal year 2023 budget of $57,116,438 and discussed a range of topics from updating the school calendar to the decrease in COVID-19 cases in schools over the past week. The committee approved by a 4-0-1 vote the...
Upper Charles Trail Committee hears alternate trail proposal
The Upper Charles Trail Committee held a virtual meeting Wednesday evening with its primary focus to gather information on the presentation of an alternative trail design for the Hopkinton portion of the Upper Charles Trail running from Milford to Ashland. Resident...
School Committee weighs continued COVID precautions against emotional strain from ‘culture of fear’
At Thursday's School Committee meeting, Chair Nancy Cavanaugh welcomed the Board of Health, which requested a joint meeting with the committee to discuss the rise in COVID-19 cases because of the omicron variant, which is considered highly contagious in comparison...
School Committee roundup: No support for trail proposal; budget vote upcoming
The School Committee at its Thursday meeting voted unanimously not to support a current application proposed by the Upper Charles Trail Committee (UCTC) to extend a portion of its trail across the Irvine-Todaro property to Hayden Rowe Street. UCTC Chair Jane Moran in...
Elementary school students learn math concepts through art
“A picture is worth a thousand words” is an adage that explains myriad ideas that can enter people’s minds while looking at art. Shelly Moran, the math coach for the Hopkinton Public Schools, has been figuring out creative ways to engage young learners in arithmetic...
School Committee discusses strategy for dealing with COVID surge: Case numbers ‘are a little bit alarming’
The School Committee held its Thursday night meeting virtually due to the town’s spike in COVID-19 cases, which has led to increased absenteeism in school this week both from cases and parents’ fear that their children could contract the disease. Superintendent Carol...
Planning Board approves bond release for Chamberlain-Whalen subdivision project
The Planning Board at its meeting Monday night approved the bond release for the Chamberlain-Whalen subdivision project after amending the amount due to a discussion about the number of street trees on the site. Vice Chair Mary Larson-Marlowe chaired this portion of...
School Committee roundup: Special education costs soar; Elmwood proposal moves into feasibility period
In addition to re-implementing the mandatory mask policy at Hopkinton High School by a 3-2 vote, the School Committee discussed other issues at its meeting Thursday night. Special education costs rise Karen Zaleski, the student services district director, noted that...
Divided School Committee votes to make masks mandatory at HHS due to surge in COVID-19 cases
The School Committee on Thursday voted 3-2 to re-institute the mandatory mask policy at Hopkinton High School beginning today after a nearly hour-long discussion. “Everyone, I’m sure, has been hearing about the school outbreak,” said Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh....
‘Officer Phil’ heads into final weeks as school resource officer
In an era when police nationwide have faced increased scrutiny, particularly in schools, Officer Phil Powers is a shining example of what a community officer should be. The veteran Hopkinton school resource officer of more than 20 years reflected on his career and his...
Connelly Farms subdivision down to 8 lots, nears Conservation Commission approval
The Conservation Commission at its Tuesday night meeting continued the Connelly Farms subdivision project hearing until Jan. 4 but acknowledged that the process “is at the 5-yard line.” Scott Goddard, representing Ravenwood LLC and developer Ron Nation, said that the...
School Committee discusses budget with town leaders
The School Committee began its hybrid meeting Thursday night with a joint session with the Select Board and the Appropriation Committee to discuss the Fiscal Year 2023 school budget requests. “We really do have a very good idea of where we stand right now,”...
Hopkinton teen makes mark with Dee’s Tees
A Hopkinton High School student’s compassion and his mother’s hobby have combined into an effort to spread messages of inclusivity through a home T-shirt business. Jen Halliday said her 14-year-old son, Dimitri, better known as Dee, began creating shirts with unique...
Planning Board roundup: Fox Hollow wall an issue; LFN tot lot fence OK’d
The Planning Board at its meeting Monday night continued a request to eliminate a requirement for approximately 400 feet of stone wall to be reconstructed across three lots on the Foxhollow Road subdivision that was part of a previously approved plan. Foxhollow is an...
School Committee votes to institute another mask-optional trial period at HHS
Following the success of the mask-optional trial period for COVID-vaccinated students and staff at Hopkinton High School over the first three weeks in November, the School Committee voted 4-0-1 at Thursday’s meeting to implement a second trial period, running Dec....
D’Urso remembered for dedication to community, children
Community leaders reflected on the years of dedication to all facets of Hopkinton displayed by Frank D’Urso Jr., who died unexpectedly Sunday at the age of 57. D’Urso, who lived in town for 22 years, was heavily involved in local government. He might be best known for...