Good morning, Hopkinton! Welcome to the daily update we call Hopkinton Today — a quick recap of yesterday’s news, highlights of what’s on tap, and a photo of the day.

Hopkinton partners with Sherborn, Holliston to hire new jail diversion clinician

As a result of a joint effort between multiple towns, Hopkinton will be working with a new jail diversion clinician.

Town Manager Elaine Lazarus announced to residents in her weekly newsletter that Hopkinton, along with Sherborn and Holliston, has brought on Jail Diversion Program (JDP) co-response clinician Lyan Albino to better assist community members experiencing mental health crises.

The diversion program is intended to help individuals in crisis “get the assistance they need rather than directing them into the criminal justice system,” according to Lazarus’ newsletter. The clinician will work alongside the Hopkinton Police Department in responding to calls for service and provide on-scene crisis response.

Hopkinton has worked with jail diversion clinicians in the past. The town joined a regional JDP program in 2015 and worked with Sherborn and Holliston to restructure it in 2021.

The impact of jail diversion programs is tangible. According to a report from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, jail diversion saved the state over $27 million in fiscal year 2023. Over 6,500 individuals were diverted from arrests, incarceration and emergency departments and provided alternate care options.

In her newsletter, Lazarus noted that Sgt. Aaron O’Neill will be the contact for the diversion program and that the HPD soon would introduce Albino to the community.

Latest News

A team from Hopkinton High School is set to square off against students from across Massachusetts in GBH2’s “High School Quiz Show,” which premieres Feb. 8.

This week’s Baypath Adoptable Animal is Chewy, a 7-year-old dog described as a “happy-go-lucky guy” who enjoys the company of other dogs and loves to play or chill.

The latest Professional Insights from Edward Jones financial advisor Mark Freeman touches on the benefits of a Roth IRA and the process for converting a traditional IRA over to a Roth IRA.

Photo of the Day

Footprints track across one of the concrete barriers at the Hopkinton Reservoir boat ramp.

PHOTO/AMIT JAGDALE