Hearing scheduled for Gibb statue

The Historic District Commission will hold a public hearing regarding the Bobbi Gibb Marathon Sculpture Project on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Senior Center.

Tom Carey, who owns the building at 1 Main St. in the center of town, has offered to provide space for the live-size bronze sculpture of Gibb, a Boston Marathon women’s pioneer.

The 26.2 Foundation is coordinating the project with Gibb, who, with a background as a painter and sculptor, is creating the sculpture herself.

“For 50 years it has been my dream to sculpt a life-size woman runner to represent all the powerful women who have run Boston since 1966,” Gibb said.

Gibb first ran the Boston Marathon in 1966 despite a ban on female entrants, paving the way for the Boston Athletic Association to open the race to women.

In 2016, on the 50th anniversary of Gibb’s run, she was commissioned to create a sculpture memorializing her contribution to women and sports. The sculpture is be funded through private donations.

Those interested in contributing to the project can donate via the 26.2 Foundation website (26-2.org/initiatives/bobbi-gibb-marathon-sculpture-project1/). Additionally, Hopkinton resident and marathon runner Joy Donohue is helping to raise funds for the statue at crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/thegirlwhoran/joydonohue.

EMC playground work slated to start

The Parks and Recreation Department expects that construction on the new playground at EMC Park will begin in mid-October. The playground area has been closed since late June due to safety concerns over outdated and broken equipment.

Meanwhile, School Resource Officer Phil Powers was encouraging residents interested in the skate park at EMC Park to reach out to Parks and Recreation to voice support, as the skate park has fallen into disrepair. The Parks and Recreation Commission is requesting funding via CPC to construct a new skate park.

Temple introduces new rabbi

Sha’arei Shalom, a member-run Jewish congregation in Ashland that serves Hopkinton, formerly installed Rabbi Eric Gurvis as its new spiritual leader during its Shabbat evening services on Sept. 13.

Gurvis has has served congregations in New York City; Jackson, Mississippi; Teaneck, New Jersey; and most recently in Newton. He has long been deeply involved in youth activities and Jewish camps, interfaith and social justice work, as well as Israel programming and education. He is a past president of the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis, is a past chairperson of the Newton Interfaith Clergy Council, and has served on the Board of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Great Boston. He also is a member of the Newton Human Rights Commission and a member of the faculty for the Hebrew College Open Circles program, which provides adult learning opportunities in communities throughout the Greater Boston area.

Gurvis is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany, with a B.A. in sociology and Judaic studies, and was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York.

Gurvis and his wife, Laura Kizner Gurvis, have four children and a 2-year-old grandson.

Fuel assistance available

Anyone interesting in applying to the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) for fuel assistance this coming heating season should contact the Outreach Department at the Hopkinton Senior Center. The Outreach Department assists individuals and families of all ages in Hopkinton with this application.

The program runs November through April. The income guidelines are set by the state ($37,360 for a household of one, $48,855 for a household of two, etc.). SMOC assists whether a home is heated with oil, natural gas, propane, electricity or wood. Outreach also can also assist those who received assistance last year and are applying for recertification.

For more information call the Senior Center at 508-497-9730 and ask for the Outreach Department.

Mental Health Collaborative survey

The Mental Health Collaborative, in partnership with Hopkinton Youth and Family Services, is conducting an online survey to be better understand the mental health needs in the community. All Hopkinton residents ages 18 and over are encouraged to participate in this brief, anonymous online survey, which will be available through Oct. 5.

The survey can be found here: Survey.gazelleglobal.com/MentalHealthCollaborative.

The survey was developed in conjunction with Boston Research Group, and the results will be made available once the data has been collected and analyzed.

Police conduct public survey

In an effort to evaluate and formalize the vision for the Hopkinton Police Department, Chief Edward Lee has launched the process of developing a strategic plan for the department.

“All you have to do is drive around town and you can see all the change that is happening in town,” Lee said in a press release. “It is a very exciting period of growth and we want to ensure that the police department is poised to continue delivering the highest level of service to our community.”

The first phase of the strategic plan development process is to conduct a community survey in order to understand the community’s expectations. The survey — available online at tinyurl.com/y3mowmnr — will be used to determine what the police do well, what they could do better and what additional services could be provided.

During the survey phase information also will be collected from other sources, including the business community, public officials and HPD members.

The survey will be available through Oct. 31.

Hopkinton Cultural Council seeks funding proposals

The Hopkinton Cultural Council is seeking funding proposals for the fiscal year 202 grant cycle. The council The council looks for grantees in the areas of  community-oriented arts, humanities, and science programs that enhance the Hopkinton community.

The Hopkinton Cultural Council is part of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, as such supports the overall mission that in all its forms, culture is essential to the health and vitality of our community.

The grant application deadline to file is Oct. 15 (postmarked) to be in consideration for a grant from the Hopkinton Cultural Council. The council will hold a meeting in December to make decisions on applications and begin notifying applicants of their funding status by Jan. 15.

According to the council chair Sterling Worrel, these grants can support a variety of artistic projects and activities in Hopkinton, including exhibits, festivals, short-term artist residencies or performances in schools, workshops and lectures.

This year the Hopkinton Cultural Council will distribute $6,300 in grants. Previously funded projects include: The Hopkinton Music Association’s Hopkinton Summer Band, performances and programs at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, Hopkinton Public Library, Hopkinton Senior Center and the Hopkinton Historical Society.

For more information, email Sterling Worrell at culturalchair@hopkintonma.gov. Application forms and more information about the program are available online at mass-culture.org/lcc_public.aspx.