Town Manager Weekly Update - February 12, 2026
Elaine Lazarus
Are you thinking about a home renovation, addition, or other building project? The Town’s Director of Municipal Inspections/Building Commissioner has new open office hours on Tuesdays from 4 pm to 7 pm and Fridays from 9 am to noon at Town Hall. Drop in or call 508-497-9745. The Inspectional Services web page also has a lot of information on permitting, and answers to frequently asked questions. Hopkinton Inspectional Services
HOP Holds Strategic Planning Session to Guide Future Prevention Efforts
On Wednesday, February 11, Hopkinton Organizing for Prevention (HOP) convened a strategic planning session at Town Hall to review current data and assess local conditions related to youth substance use and mental health. Grounded in evidence, coalition members engaged in a guided planning process to identify priorities that will shape HOP’s work in the coming years.
The session brought together leadership from across Hopkinton, including representatives from Hopkinton Youth & Family Services, the Health Department, Police Department, Fire Department, Hopkinton Public Schools, Main Street Pediatrics, Vineyard Church, and the Senior Center. The coalition will also include parents, youth, and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts in the planning process.
The outcomes will directly inform HOP’s upcoming Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant application to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Current DFC funding will end in September 2026, making this planning effort critical to sustaining and strengthening prevention initiatives in Hopkinton. Thank you to all who dedicated their time to the planning process.
Guided Trail Walk - Sunday, February 15
The Hopkinton Trails Club will hold a guided trail walk in Hopkinton on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 1 pm at the Whitehall Conservation Area & Laurel Ridge. This is a beautiful area at Lake Whitehall, with woodland and shoreline trails. It will take you through the Whitehall Conservation Area and some of the new Laurel Ridge property. Meet at the Lake Whitehall boat ramp parking area on Wood Street. Hopkinton Trails Club website: Hopkinton Trails Club
Artful Connections - Tuesday, February 17
Musician Ben Keyes and Poet Amy Asherah will host the event on Feb. 17 at 6:30 pm at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts (98 Hayden Rowe). Refreshments are available; the event is free and open to all.
This series is a collaboration between the Hopkinton Freedom Team and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, with support from Riverside Properties, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Hopkinton Cultural Council, and Hopkinton Youth and Family Services. For more information, see the flyer below or the Hopkinton Center for the Arts website: hopartscenter.org
Summer Job Opportunities and Spring/Summer Parks and Recreation Programs
Looking for a great summer job? Check out Parks and Recreation open positions by going to the Town website Human Resources Page: Job Postings - Town of Hopkinton
The Spring and Summer Parks & Recreation Activity Guide is at this link: SpringSummerAG_1.25.26.pdf Within these pages, you’ll discover a variety of recreational opportunities designed to inspire, engage, and bring the community together. Whether you are looking for outdoor adventures, sports leagues, fitness classes, STEM, or cultural programs, there is something for everyone. Registration for Spring and Summer programs is open.
Recent Mental Health Training
On February 4th, Hopkinton Youth & Family Services brought in trainers Michele Bredice Craemer, M.Ed., and Alyssa Johnson, LICSW, from the Mental Health Collaborative for a train-the-trainer program that shared two models: Mental Health Essentials for Teens and Mental Health Essentials Beyond High School. This training spanned five disciplines and involved 12 town staff, including select staff from the Hopkinton Public Library, Town of Hopkinton Human Resources, Hopkinton High School, Hopkinton Police, and the whole Hopkinton Youth & Family Services team. This team will form dyads to train the entire class of 2026 in Mental Health Literacy through their English classes before they graduate, in preparation for the journey ahead.
Save the Date - Community Recycling and Reuse Day - Saturday, April 4
Saturday, April 4, 2026 10am-1pm
Marathon School
Rain or Shine
Questions: hopgr...@gmail.com
Save the Date - Annual Town Meeting - Saturday, May 2
Public Library February Newsletter: Library Newsletter
Senior Services Newsletters: Senior Services Newsletter
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