The Conservation Commission at its Tuesday meeting rebuked two projects for allowing violations that caused flooding and instability on their sites. A cease and desist order was filed against The Trails, Hopkinton, a 55-and-over housing development located off Legacy...
Mary Ellen Gambon
Planning Board adds Mannan, discusses proposed developments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olJA7NcMyNA Monday night’s Planning Board meeting began with a joint session that included the Select Board. This was for the appointment of a new member to the Planning Board to replace Muriel Kramer, who vacated her seat when she was...
School Committee roundup: Enrollment numbers continue to rise; mask requirement debated
The School Committee on Thursday night discussed a number of issues at its hybrid meeting from the HCAM studio, including enrollment figures for the upcoming year and the importance of growing the Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC) to help address the...
Parks & Rec roundup: Summer programs gain momentum, dog park progresses
Summer programming through the town’s Parks & Recreation Department is near pre-pandemic levels after its first week, and it is expected to rise, director Jay Guelfi announced at the Parks & Recreation Commission’s meeting Wednesday evening. The boys and girls...
Wilson Street solar project ordered to pause after tribal officials claim disregard for Indigenous artifacts
Two cease and desist orders were filed last week against Grasshopper Energy to stop construction of a 2.4-megawatt solar farm between Wilson Street and Cedar Street after allegations were made by the Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office that...
LaGoy blazes trails, seeks to preserve them
Peter LaGoy has enjoyed the use of trail systems much of his adult life. From his early days growing up in rural Connecticut to his present position as chair of Hopkinton’s Trails Coordination and Management Committee (TCMC), the creation, maintenance and enjoyment of...
‘Still curious’ HHS psychology teacher Sullivan retires
Michael Sullivan, head of the Psychology Department at Hopkinton High School, has had a remarkable career over the past four decades. He is a nationally recognized expert in teaching psychology and wrote the textbook from which he taught his AP Psychology class at...
ConCom OK’s utility work at Laborers Training Center, which seeks to expand
The Conservation Commission at its Tuesday meeting approved by a 5-0 vote a notice of intent (NOI) filed by the Massachusetts Laborers’ Training Trust Fund for utility work, subject to the submitting of paperwork and an order of conditions discussed during the...
Planning Board discusses modifications for subdivision off Hayden Rowe
The Planning Board held two hearings at its Monday meeting, including a lengthy discussion about modifications to the Connelly Farms subdivision at the corner of Hayden Rowe Street and College Street. The hearing eventually was continued with a 5-0 vote because town...
School Committee roundup: Delays continue on high school addition; enrollment numbers jump
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH1NaJLAe-0 The Hopkinton School Committee met Thursday and discussed the progress on the high school addition, which now is expected to be mostly complete by the beginning of the school year after corrections to the work were made. The...
Hopkinton Public Library Foundation donation sponsors ‘library of things’
To celebrate its 10th anniversary of support to the local library, the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation (HPLF) is donating $10,000 to expand library borrowing capabilities by launching a “library of things” scheduled to open this fall. The library of things concept...
School Committee reviews challenging year, adjusts vacation policy
The School Committee met Thursday to review the successes of the year during the pandemic, elect new leadership and discuss the administrator vacation policy. Nancy Cavanaugh was unanimously elected chair. Previous chair Amanda Fargiano was unanimously elected to...
ConCom fines Legacy Farms developer, continues Chamberlain/Whalen discussions
The Conservation Commission at its meeting on Tuesday approved several lots on the Chamberlain/Whalen project and imposed fines on a Legacy Farms housing project. The majority of the projects on the agenda were continued until June 22. Also, the six notice of intent...
Developer introduces Springwood-area subdivision proposals but acknowledges plans actually are for solar
The Planning Board on Monday considered two preliminary subdivision proposals that brought concerns from both the board and the public as a “bait and switch” to preserve the zoning for a potential solar array development. Matt Cote represented the applicant,...
Parks & Rec roundup: Dog park will be rice stone; Common trees a concern
The Parks & Recreation Commission met in person Monday for the first time since the pandemic, although there was a remote option available for those who could not attend. Several topics were discussed, including progress on the dog park, the need for removal of...
As summer begins, new policies in place for Sandy Beach
Memorial Day unofficially kicks off the long-awaited summer season. In Hopkinton, it also marked the start of new policies in effect at Sandy Beach, where a residents-only sticker policy is being implemented. “Prior to last summer, Sandy Beach has always been open to...
Memory of Hopkinton twins inspires playground communication board
Annie and Charlotte Masters were twin sisters from Hopkinton who loved playing outdoors during their brief lives. Despite battling a neuromuscular disease and then epilepsy, the girls communicated their joy through their radiant smiles, according to their speech...
Parks & Rec gains momentum with dog park, skate park
The Parks & Recreation Commission welcomed newly elected commissioner Amy O’Donnell to the team at its meeting Wednesday and discussed projects that are gaining momentum, including the dog park and the EMC skate park. O’Donnell replaces longtime member Bob...
ConCom approves group of Chamberlain/Whalen lots
The Conservation Commission debated a number of projects during a lengthy meeting on Tuesday night. The meeting was shortened because a key project, the renovation of the Massachusetts Laborers Training Facility at 37 East St., had been removed from the agenda because...
School Committee votes to rescind mask policy immediately for outdoor usage
Hopkinton Public Schools students will no longer be required to wear masks outdoors, as the School Committee voted unanimously at Thursday's meeting to rescind the mandatory mask policy after reviewing vaccination data and guidance from both the Department of...