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.

Select Board among contested seats in this year’s Town Election

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

As the deadline to submit nomination papers draws closer, races for a range of open town positions are beginning to take shape.

Over a dozen positions for local office are open for candidates in this year’s Annual Town Election. The positions range from the Hopkinton Housing Authority to the Select Board. According to Town Clerk Connor Degan, most of the positions already have interested candidates.

“So far, we have at least someone who has pulled [papers] for everything,” said Degan.

Most of the races are uncontested this year, save for the Select Board. Shahidul Mannan is running as an incumbent, while Matthew Kizner and Jeffrey Doyle also have entered the race. 

The three candidates will be vying for two open seats on the Select Board this year. Both Mannan and vice chair Mary Jo LaFreniere’s current terms on the board end this May. LaFreniere, who is facing DUI charges following an incident in December, has decided not to seek reelection.

Another contested race may be that for the Board of Assessors. Incumbent Peter Mimmo and Frederick Mayer have pulled nomination papers, according to the Town Clerk’s office.

While most of the races appear set at this point, Degan said “there’s still plenty of time” for those interested in running for a position to obtain and submit a nomination form.

Candidates are required to request nomination papers directly from the Town Clerk’s office and return them with the signatures of 50 registered Hopkinton voters. The deadline to submit paperwork is March 31. 

The town will vote on the positions during the Annual Town Election on May 19. More election information can be found on the Town Clerk’s website.

Latest News

A suspension on the Communities at Golden Pond was lifted in February after a corrective action plan to meet state requirements was approved by the Executive Office of Aging & Independence.

The latest Real Estate Transactions list shows two homes sold in the past week, one for over $1 million.

This week’s Senior Snippets features information on women’s history programs, a presentation on native plants and this month’s book club.

Dolores Connolly, 89, of Hopkinton died on March 19. She was a resident of Fairview Estates since 2017.

The Friends of Whitehall annual meeting will be held April 2 at the Sanctuary at Woodville.

Town meetings tonight include the Board of Assessors (5:30), the Tax Relief Committee (6) and the Conservation Commission (7).

Photo of the Day

For the past three months, residents and associates from The Residence at Natick South, an LCB Senior Living Community in Natick, have collected donations for items to support Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton. On Saturday, Susan Moore (left), director of sales and marketing, and Anders Svendsen (right), residence engagement director, met with Baypath’s executive director, Liz Jefferis, to deliver the items to the shelter.