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.

Leading off Independent Thoughts, the high cost of living across the nation — including Hopkinton, where home prices are soaring — is making things challenging for animal rescue organizations, including Hopkinton-based Baypath Humane Society.

At Tuesday night’s Elementary School Building Committee meeting, members talked about permitting matters with the Zoning Board of Appeals and Conservation Commission as well as plans to start outreach about the proposed Elmwood School replacement.

As the Labor Day holiday weekend approaches, the water quality at the upper and main beaches at Hopkinton State Park remains unsafe for swimming due to an increase in enterococci bacteria over the past week, according to water sample test results released Wednesday.

The newest Business Briefs includes The Foundation for MetroWest announcing the appointment of Hopkinton’s Susie Estella to its Board of Trustees.

This week’s Baypath Adoptable Animal is Tod, a 2-year-old who “loves to play, run around and learn.”

Our latest Business Profile highlights Bill Gassett, one of the top RE/MAX real estate agents in Massachusetts, serving Hopkinton and communities across the MetroWest area.

Photo of the Day: Taken from an airplane, this photo shows Hopkinton from about 25,000 feet. The big body of water is the State Park reservoir, with the Legacy Farms North neighborhood above it. The top right corner shows the downtown area and the schools complex.

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR