The Sustainable Green Committee’s effort to make Hopkinton a more environmentally friendly community continues Sunday, April 28, with its annual Recycling and Reuse Day. The drive-in event, run in partnership with Green Team Junk Removal and Eversource, will be held...
Independent Thoughts
Independent Thoughts: Suspended veterinarian lashes out at state board
A story in this newspaper in January detailed Hopkinton veterinarian Margo Roman’s latest battles with the Massachusetts Veterinary Board, which suspended her license last year. In past emails to her clients, Roman had advised people to use ozone therapy —...
Independent Thoughts: Doughnuts, deli, pizza — new offerings hit town
Earlier this month, we learned of the plans for the building that previously housed Hopkinton Drug — a mixed-use development including retail and residential units. And proposals have emerged for the redevelopment of the Center School property. While we wait to see...
Independent Thoughts: Passing of Allessio, Phipps leaves void among veterans
With the passing last month of Hank Allessio and Russ Phipps, the town lost two of its most distinguished military veterans. Allessio, an Army veteran who died Feb. 16 at the age of 83 after a long battle with cancer, was devoted to recognizing fellow veterans in...
Independent Thoughts: Town clerk can’t recall situation so divisive
Town Clerk Connor Degan has seen quite a bit during his eight years in office. After all, Degan started in 2016, when Donald Trump was elected president and started aggressively pushing conspiracy theories, which trickled down to local election offices. But the...
Independent Thoughts: Downtown crosswalk beacons stay dark due to project delay; PJB auction upcoming
Peter LaGoy, best known for his work on the town’s trails, lately has turned some of his focus to downtown streets. He recently reached out to town officials to express his dismay with the removal of the flashing pedestrian crossing beacon at the Main Street crosswalk...
Independent Thoughts: Boston meets not ideal for HHS indoor track
A recent Boston Globe article highlighted the fact that track and field athletes in Boston have limited access to the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center, even though the facility is located in the city. The Reggie Lewis Center (situated next to Roxbury Community...
Independent Thoughts: HFD initiative aims to prevent falls in winter
The Hopkinton Fire Department’s latest safety initiative, called Sand & Socks for Seniors, has a simple goal, according to Fire Prevention Officer Tom Poirier: “Try not to slip in the house, and try not to slip outside.” Expounded Poirier: “We have grippy socks so...
Independent Thoughts: Understanding local history important for town’s future
Chuck Joseph has given a number of talks about the history of Hopkinton. His latest talk should have more appeal to current residents, as he discusses how Hopkinton grew from a rural farming town to a thriving suburban community. Past talks have focused on Hopkinton...
Independent Thoughts: Local sisters treat troops with Halloween haul
For most kids, raking in nearly 500 pounds of Halloween candy would be a dream. Two Hopkinton sisters did just that — amassing 487 pounds of goodies this Halloween — but it wasn’t for their consumption (much to their dentist’s relief, undoubtedly). This marked the...
Independent Thoughts: School in session for Elmwood committee
Whichever way you fall on the proposed new elementary school, you have to — or at least you should — respect the work of the Elementary School Building Committee. Anyone who has followed this closely is aware that these volunteers have worked hard to balance the needs...
Independent Thoughts: Cultural Council brings art to masses this week; Climate Action Event at Senior Center
It’s a busy month for the Hopkinton Cultural Council, which has two signature events. The first was the unveiling of the newest additions to the Celebration of Diversity Mural Project, which was held Monday. There are five new murals this year on the fence leading to...
Independent Thoughts: Bajrami constructs her success story
Greta Bajrami is not afraid of taking on a challenge. As if starting her professional career as “an immigrant, a minority, a woman and a young adult” was not enough, she chose a male-dominated profession — construction — in which it’s difficult to break through and...
Independent Thoughts: Water Department welcomes heavy rain; crafty residents replace street sign
During a typical year, the Water Department will send out notices each summer, reminding residents about the water restrictions in town. No need in 2023. Hopkinton received a near-record amount of rain — about 12 inches in July alone, which is around four times the...
Independent Thoughts: Pets pay price as finances get tight
The high cost of living across the nation — including Hopkinton, where home prices are soaring — is making things challenging for animal rescue organizations. During the COVID pandemic, Baypath Humane Society struggled to keep up with the demand for pets. Now, the...
Independent Thoughts: Mui makes mark with rugby champs
When members of the New England Free Jacks professional rugby team needed someone to watch their backs, they sought out Hopkinton resident Karson Mui. Mui, a sports chiropractor, has worked with the team for four years, including this season, when the team went 16-2...
Independent Thoughts: Take a hike with Trails Committee
The Hopkinton Trails Coordination & Management Committee’s goal is simple: happy trails to you. The TCMC is making a push to educate residents about the dozens of miles of trails available for use in town. To that end, the committee is sponsoring a child-focused...
Independent Thoughts: Monumental accomplishment to highlight Memorial Day
This year’s Memorial Day ceremonies on Monday, May 29, will have a special touch with the unveiling of a granite monument honoring residents who served in World War II. A similar memorial made of wood was installed in 1943, midway through the war, and updated with the...
Independent Thoughts: May 5-14 Restaurant Week aims to be ‘bigger and better’
The Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce’s annual Restaurant Week is set to run from May 5-14 — from Cinco de Mayo until Mother’s Day. The event is designed to encourage residents and visitors to explore the town’s restaurants, many of whom will be offering special meals and...
Independent Thoughts: Self-sufficiency goal of growing family farm
People responded to the pandemic in different ways. Some rode it out as best they could, while others saw an opportunity for change. For David Kraus and his family, it was a chance to take the next step in the transformation of their property on Pond Street and become...