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 and video of the day.

The Hopkinton Teachers Association organized a rally outside HCAM studios prior to the start of Thursday’s School Committee meeting. The teachers are protesting proposed cuts to the special education (SPED) budget. Check back later this morning for a recap of the meeting.

Hopkinton’s Boy Scouts Troop 4 hosted a 50th anniversary kickoff celebration on Thursday night at St. John the Evangelist Parish. As part of the event, Troop 4 founders Mike Boelsen and Mike Lareau and original Scout Tom Pratt were on hand to share stories about the early days of the troop, which was organized in 1972.

The Hopkinton Center for the Arts will host a free, kid-friendly New Year’s Eve event on Dec. 31 from 4-6 p.m., both inside and outdoors at the HCA. The drop-by event will include a winter craft, wacky hair art, balloon twisting, an ice sculpting demonstration, music, hot chocolate and cookie decorating. There will be a special 10-second countdown to 2023 at 5 p.m. and again at 6 p.m.

Hopkinton Organizing for Prevention (HOP) and Hopkinton Youth & Family Services present a virtual program titled “Intersections of Suicide and Opioid Use: A Gatekeeper Training” on Friday, Jan. 27, from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Attendees will learn to recognize risk and protective factors as well as warning signs and discuss possible interventions to prevent suicide and refer people to appropriate resources for treatment.

This week’s Baypath Adoptable Animal is Layla, who “loves to go for a car ride to a local lake and swim and swim.”

Photo of the Day: In addition to sponsoring the Dec. 2 Veterans Breakfast, the Hopkinton Women’s Club helped serve food at the event, as evidenced by member Nancy Tarsi.

Video of the Day:

Surprising move from the referee..🐶🐾🐈♟️🚩😂😂 pic.twitter.com/GzQHVS5420

— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) December 8, 2022