For the first day of the lifting of the mask mandate, about half of the students attended Hopkinton High School with their masks on, according to Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh in an interview Monday afternoon. Before the implementation of the mask-optional policy for...
Mary Ellen Gambon
Superintendent explains what led to mask-optional trial period at HHS; teachers union still has concerns
The Hopkinton School Committee’s 3-2 vote to become the first Massachusetts community to lift the mask requirement for COVID-19 vaccinated students and staff for a three-week trial period in November has brought forth a range of opinions from both inside and outside...
Officials provide update, answers questions about PFAs in water
The level of PFAs — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — in the town’s water supply is at a higher-than-maximum contaminant level allowed for the third straight month, putting Hopkinton in violation of the state drinking water regulations. Department of Public Works...
School Committee roundup: Students share survey results; enrollment data updated
Thursday night’s School Committee decision in a 3-2 vote to lift the mask requirement for a trial period for COVID-19 vaccinated students and staff at Hopkinton High School from Nov. 1-19 was big news for Hopkinton and the state. Hopkinton became the first community...
Conservation Commission discusses Connelly Farms, Leonard Street projects
The Conservation Commission met for nearly four hours Tuesday night and approved modifications to projects previously before the commission, including a lot on the Connelly Farms project as well as and the Leonard Street development. Scott Goddard, representing...
Planning Board roundup: Development off Blueberry Lane moves forward
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6OIeYrioLw The Planning Board met Monday night to review a number of projects, including the long-dormant but recently revived proposed subdivision that would be situated between Blueberry Lane and Marathon School/EMC Park. Robert...
School Committee not ready to vote on rescinding mask mandate at HHS
Following an hour-long discussion Thursday night, the School Committee decided to hold off on a vote to rescind the mask requirement at Hopkinton High School at least until its Oct. 21 meeting. Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh outlined the updated mask policy from the...
HMS principal runs Boston to support school’s Desire to Inspire program
Principal Alan Keller has been running Hopkinton Middle School for the past 12 years. Now he is running — literally — in the Boston Marathon to support his school’s Desire to Inspire program. Keller first ran the race in 2012, the year before the marathon bombing. He...
Upalekar grateful for new passion of running, raises funds for native India
Ruta Upalekar has a drive for helping others, both at home and abroad. Her volunteer work with two India-based charities spurred her desire to begin running in 2015, an activity she uses as a vehicle for fundraising. The Hopkinton resident and will interlace her twin...
ConCom addresses ongoing issues with Leonard Street, The Trails projects
The Conservation Commission at its Tuesday night meeting continued the hearing on the Leonard Street three-lot subdivision project because of ongoing drainage and erosion control issues. Lou Petrozzi of Wall Street Development Corporation told the commission that...
Planning Board discusses Turkey Ridge development, OK’s 17 Main rebuild
The Planning Board at its Monday night meeting mainly discussed the Turkey Ridge Estates eight-lot subdivision, which would be situated off Cedar Street Extension and at the end of Lincoln Street, at the border with Southborough. After a lengthy discussion about...
School Committee roundup: Enrollment numbers updated; HHS addition still not finished; additional food staff requested
The School Committee met on Thursday night to discuss several issues, including progress on the high school addition, the need for more staff to prepare school lunches, and the implementation of the test and stay program at the district’s schools. In her...
Select Board roundup: Options for Center School discussed; anonymous donations welcomed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SRrCDVzTnI The Select Board at its meeting Tuesday night considered several issues, including future uses for the Center School property. Dan McIntyre of the Permanent Building Committee gave a presentation on behalf of the Center...
Parks & Rec roundup: Turf fields might last 2 more years; Town Common trees in rough shape; dog park nearly complete
At its meeting Wednesday, the Parks & Recreation Commission discussed progress made on several ongoing issues, including the Fruit Street turf fields assessment, some decaying Town Common trees and the nearly completed dog park. Ian Lacy, the lead project advisor...
ConCom focuses on Leonard Street project’s flooding issues
The Conservation Commission at its Tuesday meeting issued an enforcement order on violations at the Leonard Street subdivision project, which over the past two months has been chastised for poor erosion control measures that allowed flooding on the site. The order was...
Planning Board expresses concerns about parking for 17 Main St. expansion
The Planning Board at its meeting Monday decided in an 8-0 vote to continue the hearing for 17 Main Street after concerns arose about the parking layout and the ability of emergency vehicles to have enough space to access the building. This was the first hearing...
School Committee approves all school improvement plans, teachers union contract
The School Committee at its meeting Thursday night unanimously approved the student improvement plans for each of the district’s five schools. The common thread among all the presentations was weaving a focus on social and emotional learning (SEL) with education on...
Census shows town needs to add voting precinct
Hopkinton’s population has increased over the past 10 years, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data. And with that may come growing pains, including the creation of a new voting precinct. Town Clerk Connor Degan explained that Hopkinton has grown by just under 4,000...
Conservation Commission roundup: Chamberlain-Whalen hearing continued; Leonard Street ordered to have more inspections
The Conservation Commission on Tuesday night approved a request for reconsideration for the final lot of the Chamberlain Street-Whelan Road project and continued the hearing until Oct. 19. The proposal to build a house Lot 12 was rejected by a 3-2 vote at the July 13...
Planning Board: Stormwater conditions a growing concern; Eversource granted permits for LNG project
The Planning Board on Monday night granted two permits for Eversource’s facility improvement project at the liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility at 52 Wilson St. after a two-hour discussion that encompassed a growing concern about stormwater mitigation in the area...