The [Feb. 10] edition of the Hopkinton Independent featured some interesting letters, which stimulated me to do a bit of internet research. I searched “countries with highest standard of living,” “happiest countries,” “standard of living by country,” etc. I looked...
Letter to Editor
Letter to the Editor: 5th-graders share facts about Inauguration Day
Editor’s note: The following two letters were written by students at Hopkins School as part of a class project. 20th Amendment has U.S. prepared Inauguration Day takes place in Washington, D.C., and is the day the president comes into office. In the two months between...
Letter to the Editor: More details needed on downtown project
Did you know that construction on the Main Street Corridor Project started on January 19? Neither did I. On January 30, I reached out to Town Manager Norman Khumalo to express concerns and ask questions regarding the Main Street Corridor Project’s two-way bike path....
Letter to the Editor: Capitalism over socialism
I can’t believe my fellow citizens actually want to destroy capitalism for socialism. Socialism has been tried all around the world with zero success. Now you socialist Democrats think you’re smarter than everyone before you and that only you can make it work? Not a...
Letter to the Editor: Right-wing militants pose most serious threat
I was dismayed by Selectman Brendan Tedstone's comment in the January 13 issue of the Independent. While I applaud his condemnation of the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, I beg to differ with his there-are-fine-people-on-both-sides assertion that, “These...
Letter to the Editor: MAPC pledge an important step
I wholeheartedly agree with Richard Germaine’s support for the town adopting the MAPC pledge, as expressed in his January 13th Letter to the Editor. It was the correct affirmation that since racism exists everywhere, our society requires more introspection, education...
Letter to the Editor: What happened to my America?
I am an 80-ish veteran. I served in the Navy right out of high school, 1959-62. I believed in my country and protecting it. I served 30 years as a firefighter/EMT for the town of Hopkinton. When I was growing up, my parents were staunch Republicans and so was I. In...
Letter to the Editor: More transparency in state government
Massachusetts has a long history of being the nation’s leader. Ever since we incited the American Revolution, a tradition of excellence has pervaded the commonwealth. We were the first state to legalize gay marriage. We consistently rank as the top state in the nation...
Letter to the Editor: Support for modified MAPC pledge
I applaud our Select Board adopting the modified MAPC Pledge. As a community we need to work to remove the inequities that exist among us so that everyone is treated with the same respect and equality of opportunity as everyone else. I am pleased that the references...
Letter to the Editor: Fighting racism should be emotional
Working to dismantle the structures that have perpetuated systemic racism in our communities and replacing them with systems that encourage and sustain diversity and equity is hard and emotional work. Anti-racism work is about being human and doing what’s right for...
Letter to the Editor: Select Board should adopt MAPC pledge
This is in support of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) pledge to address systemic racism. This has been on the table for months (I believe since end of June or early July) and a public statement/pledge matters because it shows that town leadership...
Letter to the Editor: Successful mercury recover program ends
On behalf of the button cell battery/mercury recovery rebate program at the Hopkinton Senior Center, I want to thank you for participating in the collecting of button batteries over the past several years. Our goal was twofold: 1, to remove mercury from the municipal...
Letter to the Editor: No solar in forests
I believe in solar power, and I also believe in conservation. My wife and I have driven across the country from Florida to Oakland, California, and back, and taken the train from Boston to Oakland and back. There are hundreds of miles of nothing. There could be any...
Letter to the Editor: Residents concerned about highway work
The I-495/90 Interchange Improvement Project is expected to last six years, potentially exposing more than 100 property owners in the Roosevelt Farms, Huckleberry Road and Hopkinton Meadows neighborhoods and along Fruit Street to myriad temporary and long-term...
Letter to the Editor: Leave yard signs alone
The Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee (HDTC) is deeply concerned about reports of recent yard sign thefts. We believe that whether they support LGBTQ+ Pride, Defend or Defund the Police, or any political candidate, yard signs represent the kind of civic engagement...
Letter to the Editor: Black lives deserve special mention
This is in response to the reactionary hue and outcry over the motto “Black Lives Matter” — “but ALL lives matter!!!” That’s exactly the point. Of course they do, but black ones warrant special mention after having been systematically left out, kicked out and snuffed...
Resident clarifies intent of recent calls to action
Recently I brought calls to action to our Select Board including requesting a statement supporting Black Lives Matter and requesting review of allocation of funds to public service employees. There are many positives happening in Hopkinton. The Police Department...
Letter to the Editor: Select Board should not allow anonymous attacks
Most civilized countries feature, in their legal code, a means enabling an accused to legally step outside of a jail cell by posting bail, of cash or other value. That is then held by the court with the expectation that the accused will return to stand trial. And...
Letter to the Editor: Black Lives Matter not the answer
Good people in small towns across America are not being informed as to the true nature, origins and intentions of Black Lives Matter. Before another innocent child or gullible adult raises another BLM sign in sympathy or solicitation, the truth needs to be shared with...
Letter to the Editor: Support for solar zoning map
Editor's note: After this letter was submitted, at its meeting on Aug. 27 the Planning Board voted to recommend Town Meeting take no action on the article regarding the Commercial Photovoltaic Solar Overlay District map. The move was made in an effort to limit turnout...