While the merits of voter ID laws are debated, 36 states have laws on the books requiring some form of identification to vote, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In most cases, Massachusetts voters do not need to show an ID when voting. Given...
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Superintendent: Middle school staff member arrested on child pornography charges
A staff member at Hopkinton Middle School has been arrested on "criminal charges related to child pornography," according to an email Friday from Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh. The email, which was sent to district families, indicated that the individual was a...
School shooting concerns prompt parent to advocate for safety assessment funding
A Hopkinton parent concerned about student safety in the Hopkinton Public Schools is planning on submitting an article for the May 2025 Annual Town Meeting to call for a safety assessment, potentially leading to the use of metal detectors in the schools to deter...
Select Board signs warrant for Nov. 18 STM, questions time frame for public notification about articles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMZcjwXstTQ&ab_channel=HCAM The Select Board at its brief meeting Tuesday night voted unanimously to sign the warrant for the Special Town Meeting, which will be held Nov. 18. Members questioned if there was enough public...
Gas station projects in crosshairs of SGC workgroups
The Climate Action & Building Workgroups of the Sustainable Green Committee on Monday night talked about ways to regulate projects like the proposed gas station at 290 West Main Street in the future. SGC chair Geoff Rowland began the discussion by reviewing the...
‘Pitting neighbors against neighbors’: Residents push back against MBTA Communities zoning proposals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIrEcIma5QU&ab_channel=HCAM The Planning Board at a special hearing Monday received public feedback on the three zoning overlay district proposals that would allow Hopkinton to be in compliance with the MBTA Communities Act. The...
Real Estate Transactions, Oct. 28 edition
New director brings waves of change to Golden Pond
Marc Cohen, the new executive director of The Communities at Golden Pond, hopes to bring his decades of experience to help the assisted living facility overcome a series of challenges from last year. Among the issues were a suspended certification — later resolved...
Trails Committee talks e-bike use on trails, ideas to carry forward to new committee
The Trails Committee met Wednesday night to discuss the role of e-bikes on trails, its ongoing projects and the initiatives members would like to see brought forward to the new iteration of a trails committee that will replace this committee and the former Upper...
Conservation Commission welcomes new conservation administrator, accepts Elmwood Farms III remediation plan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdp6LLCOEPg The Conservation Commission at its meeting Tuesday voted 5-0 to appoint Judy Day as the town’s new conservation administrator. Day’s most recent position has been with the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization,...
Health Department looks for avenues to help with staffing
The Board of Health spent its meeting Monday night focused on the Health Department’s budget for the next fiscal year. Health Director Shaun McAuliffe took the board through his proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 and the changes he hopes to get approved. McAuliffe’s...
Planning Board receives overview of mixed-used development at former Hopkinton Drug property
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WINyMEoR6yM The Planning Board at its meeting Monday night saw an overview of the mixed-use development proposed to replace the former Hopkinton Drug building at 48-52 Main Street and a neighboring home at 6 Cedar Street. The...
Town asks residents to avoid ‘unnecessary water use’ as dry weather continues
The Department of Public Works is asking residents to "refrain from unnecessary water use" due to low groundwater levels. DPW director Kerry Reed informed residents in a notice on Tuesday that a continued lack of rain has caused a decline in available groundwater....
Real Estate Transactions, Oct. 21 edition
Crews repair water main break near Thayer Heights
Water-Sewer manager Eric Carty announced that crews were working to address a water main break in the Thayer Heights area on Saturday. He cautioned that residents may notice some discoloration once water is turned back on. Residents who experience discoloration can...
CPC kicks off application review process for FY 26 funding
The Community Preservation Committee at its meeting Thursday night began its review of applicants for fiscal year 2026 funding with an overview of the proposals received, focusing primarily on the Center School’s rehabilitation and the proposed adaptive playground....
Select Board votes for local meals tax to go before Town Meeting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-g1eBSPhLk The Select Board at its meeting Tuesday evening voted 4-0 for a proposed local option meals excise tax of 0.75% to be put on the warrant for the Nov. 18 Special Town Meeting. [Editor's note: This has been corrected from...
Building inspector takes responsibility for yard sign removal, cites complaint
After a week of confusion regarding the taking of anti-gas station yard signs on multiple streets, the town’s building inspector confirmed that it was his office behind the removal. Christopher McWhite, Hopkinton’s director of municipal inspections, and Town Manager...
Thrift shop volunteers upset that hours no longer count toward senior tax credit
Resident Linda Kimball alerted the Select Board at its Sept. 17 meeting about the ramifications of a provision in the state’s senior tax credit policy on volunteers with the Friends of the Hopkinton Seniors. In her comments, she stressed that the volunteer hours for...