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$25K allocated from Marathon Committee for holiday lights

Eddy Silveira from Under Pressure installs holiday lights on the Town Common gazebo last year. FILE PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Funds the Select Board approved for the purchase of holiday lights for the Town Common are meant to help ensure the town can continue the annual tradition, according to Hopkinton Center for the Arts director and Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce representative Kelly Grill.

At its meeting last week, the Select Board approved $25,000 be appropriated from the Marathon Committee for the purchase of the holiday lights. As part of the request — which was made by the Chamber of Commerce and Hopkinton Girl Scouts — local company Under Pressure will store and maintain the lights. In future years, funding for installation will be sought by the groups requesting the money.

“We’ll take the time this year to look for additional, creative ways to fund [the lights],” Grill said.

Grill explained that the request from the Chamber and the Girl Scouts was intended to ensure the tradition of having the holiday lights on the common can continue. She also recognized that the majority of the cost involved with lighting Town Common comes from labor, and was appreciative of Under Pressure CEO Mark Mercer for his work with the town.

“Mark has been incredibly generous with his time over the years and giving an extreme discount to the town to get it done,” said Grill. She noted that Mercer and his team string lights on 30 trees, 32 shrubs, two features trees, the gazebo, lamp posts and the Claflin Fountain.

“It takes a lot of time,” Grill said, adding that some install already has started ahead of the annual Holiday Stroll and tree lighting on Dec. 5.

The holiday lights used to be managed by the Parks & Recreation Department, but budgetary constraints caused it to eliminate the program from its budget. Girl Scout leader and Hopkinton Scout Leaders Association member Juanita Hanson led a successful effort last year to crowdfund the holiday lights.

Grill said she was hopeful the lights could return as a line item in the town’s budget given the program’s importance to residents.

“Everyone really sees it as a sense of pride in our town that we have this lovely display,” she said. She added her hope that people would find creative ways of funding the lights in the future.

Added Grill: “We’re really grateful the Marathon Committee was able to [fund the lights]. I think this year’s going to be more spectacular than ever.”

— NICK SCHOFIELD

Latest News

Special Town Meeting on Monday night voted not to approve an article that would facilitate several private ways becoming public roads before the meeting ended early due to lack of a quorum.

This week’s Real Estate Transactions list features five sales, including one for $2.3 million.

The latest Library Corner features information on a showing of “Over the Garden Wall,” trick or treating and a pajama storytime.

Louise Turner, 90, died Oct. 17.

Town meetings tonight include the Tax Relief Committee (5:30), Parks & Recreation Commission (6) and Conservation Commission (7).

Photo of the Day

A Hopkinton Little League player cheers from the stands while dressed in a costume during a matchup of 10U teams at the fall baseball Halloween games Friday at Carrigan Park.

PHOTO/NICK SCHOFIELD