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.

Scouts seek second Bronze Award with community donation box project

Girl Scouts from Hopkinton Troop 64080 are seeking donations for little libraries and donation boxes in town as part of their Bronze Award. PHOTO/COURTESY TATUM BASSICK

Girl Scouts from Troop 64080 are gearing up to earn their second Bronze Award in two years with a project to fill local free libraries and other community drop-off stations.

Troop leader Tatum Bassick explained that the project is meant to raise awareness of these community resources and provide goods at a time when they are needed. Donations the girls collect will go into the little free pantry at St. John the Evangelist Parish and bins around town for Dignity Matters. They are searching for gently used books, nonperishable food items, feminine products, diapers and formula.

Part of the inspiration to take on getting donations for these community resources came after the girls brought some donated items to Dignity Matters’ Westborough headquarters. During that process, they learned that the nonprofit has a box at the Hopkinton Public Library.

“The girls decided it would be important to just bring awareness to the smaller location,” said Bassick.

As part of their campaign, the Scouts are partnering with the MetroWest YMCA to put on a rock painting activity during the organization’s community boating day May 30. The girls will collect donations to distribute to the boxes in town, and rocks painted by participants will be placed in the Center Trail garden.

Bassick explained that her Scouts are undertaking this project to complete their second Bronze Award before they bridge from Juniors to Cadettes later in the year. The award — one of the highest honors in Girl Scouts — encourages Scouts to explore their community and identify a project that will make a difference.

Last year, the troop completed its first Bronze Award by identifying a need for playground enrichment at Hopkins. Bassick explained that the playground for Hopkins was under construction at the time. The girls took action, engaging the school administration and bringing the issue to all the students in a school-wide meeting. They interviewed over 600 students in Grades 4 and 5 and came up with ideas for lawn games and other outdoor equipment students could use while construction on the playground continued.

“Eventually, they did an overall vote, and the administration funded money to the top votes that came in,” Bassick shared. In a separate email, she praised her Scouts for showing their fellow students that their voices and votes matter.

— NICK SCHOFIELD

Latest News

The Select Board on Tuesday agreed that it needed town counsel’s input on a new draft of the town’s common victualer license policy.

At its meeting Tuesday, the Select Board discussed steps it will be taking to hire a new police chief as Joseph Bennett prepares to leave the role June 30.

This week’s Police Log features reports of someone dragging an oven on Main Street, a search for a person who allegedly was operating a stolen vehicle and a bird stuck in a chimney.

Coach Jean Cann is confident the Hopkinton High School girls track and field team has the depth and versatility to be competitive in the Tri-Valley League.

The latest Senior Snippets features information on a driver safety course, mini-golf and a performance by local musicians.

This week’s Business Profile highlights the Hopkinton Center for the Arts’ youth summer programs.

Town meetings tonight include the Open Space Preservation Commission (7) and School Committee (7).

Photo of the Day

Resident Sheryl Harrow (left) shares information about plants during the Resilient Land Initiative neighborhood planting and block party Sunday at Weston Nurseries.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO