With Hopkinton currently carrying a medium risk designation for COVID-19, Hopkinton Health Director Shaun McAuliffe is urging residents not to let their guard down. He said attendance at the department’s most recent vaccine clinics was “terrible,” leading to concerns...
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Main Street Corridor Project update: Detour continues this week
As part of the Main Street Corridor Project, roadway reconstruction will continue this week on Main Street from the Fire Station and the Wood Street intersection. A single lane of alternating traffic will be used as needed, and eastbound traffic will be detoured from...
Town works to minimize traffic impact due to Main Street Corridor Project
Following recent issues with major backups in the center of town due to the Main Street Corridor Project, local officials announced Wednesday that measures would be put in place in an attempt to minimize the delays. The announcement came after a meeting between town...
Big jump in water rates on tap as town prepares for move to MWRA connection
Clean water is a valuable — often underappreciated — commodity, and it’s about to become a lot more expensive in Hopkinton. At the June 21 Select Board meeting, the board approved a 9.5 percent increase in water use fees for fiscal year 2023. And town officials...
Select Board roundup: Members mourn Hoffman; water rates to rise substantially
At Tuesday’s Select Board meeting, members took a moment to express condolences following the passing of Rebeka Hoffman, who had served on multiple town committees and was a substitute teacher in the local schools. Hoffman, 68, died June 11 after a one-year battle...
Community rallies support for LGBTQIA+ at Pride Parade
On Sunday afternoon, a vibrant crowd of about 250 people of all ages gathered behind Hopkinton High School for the town's second LGBTQIA+ Pride Parade. The Hopkinton Freedom Team, the Hopkinton Youth Commission and Hopkinton Youth & Family Services hosted the...
Upper Charles Trail Committee discusses next steps, including public outreach
With efforts continuing to bring the Upper Charles Trail extension to fruition, members of the Upper Charles Trail Committee are turning their attention to a different section of the trail as well as public outreach efforts. Meeting one week after Chair Jane Moran...
Parks & Rec roundup: Cricket Club proposes pitch at Reed Park amid resident concerns
At its meeting on Monday, the Parks & Recreation Commission invited the Hopkinton Cricket Club and neighborhood residents to discuss a proposal to install a cricket pitch at Reed Park. Ravi Dasari and Rajanagan Rasan, representatives from the Hopkinton Cricket...
Start Line Brewing will remain open after minor fire in garage
The Hopkinton Fire Department responded to a small fire at Start Line Brewing on Hayden Rowe Street Tuesday morning. The fire was in a utility building in the back of the facility. Update, Tuesday, 5 p.m.: Start Line owner Ted Twinney reports that the fire was...
Police Chief Bennett: ‘We will address any threat to our schools wherever they are, very quickly’
During Tuesday's Select Board meeting, the board discussed setting goals for the police chief, among others. Toward the end of the discussion with Police Chief Joseph Bennett, the issue of school safety came up — with last month's school shooting in Texas still fresh...
Select Board roundup: Center School, Upper Charles Trail updates presented
The former Center School at 11 Ash Street currently sits vacant, but there are discussions taking place about the future of the property across from the Town Common. On Tuesday night, Dan McIntyre, chair of the Permanent Building Committee, provided the Select Board...
Health Department encourages more mask use as COVID rate continues to soar
The recent spike in COVID cases has shown no letup. In fact, it continues to get worse. The good news is the illnesses have not been as severe. The bad news is the absences caused by COVID have put a major strain on town services — especially the schools. “All of our...
Parks & Rec roundup: Turf field removal to begin end of June
At its meeting on Thursday, the Parks & Recreation Commission discussed updates on the Fruit Street fields replacement project, the Hopkinton Cricket Club, EMC Park murals and summer programming. The commissioners also reelected Dan Terry as chair and voted Liisa...
Residents share shock, dismay at vigil following school shooting
The Texas town of Uvalde is some 2,000 miles from Hopkinton, but the issue of school safety hit home for many residents this week. In the wake of Tuesday’s mass shooting at Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School, a small group of Hopkinton residents gathered on the Town...
Former Hopkinton resident among casualties in Worcester apartment fire
A former Hopkinton resident was among the casualties of a fire that tore through a multi-family home in Worcester on May 14. Christopher Lozeau died on his 53rd birthday. According to his obituary, a celebration of life Mass will be held June 25 at Hopkinton's St....
Select Board roundup: Ritterbusch new chair; fire stations’ future discussed
Amy Ritterbusch was unanimously elected chair of the Select Board at Tuesday’s meeting, with Mary Jo LaFreniere unanimously chosen as vice chair. Ritterbusch was elected to the board in 2020. LaFreniere was reelected to serve a third term in Monday’s Town Election....
Town Election: Mannan, LaFreniere elected to Select Board; Cavanaugh, Morand, Devlin win School Committee seats
Shahidul Mannan was the top vote-getter for the two open Select Board seats in Monday’s Town Election, while incumbent Mary Jo LaFreniere finished second and will retain her position. In unofficial results released Monday night by Town Clerk Connor Degan, Mannan...
Town recommends face coverings during COVID spike
The Town of Hopkinton is "strongly recommending" residents wear face coverings indoors in order to prevent further spread of COVID-19. The town is in the midst of a "recent uptick," with the local schools especially being affected. The advisory is for when individuals...
Khumalo appears unlikely to be offered position in Watertown
At its meeting Thursday night, the Watertown City Council again interviewed the three finalists for the city manager position, including Hopkinton Town Manager Norman Khumalo. At the conclusion of the meeting, during a general discussion, six of the nine council...
Ballot questions explained for Monday’s Town Election
Following are the 2022 Annual Town Election ballot questions with explanations, as distributed by Town Hall. For information on the candidates in Monday's election, click here. Polls are open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday at Hopkinton Middle School's Brown Gym. Question...