Town Manager Weekly Update - September 11, 2025
Elaine Lazarus
Saturday, September 13 - Family Day and Ash-Hop Porchfest!
Volunteer Recognition - Chuck Dauchy and Mavis O’Leary
At its meeting this week, the Select Board recognized community volunteers Chuck Dauchy and Mavis O’Leary.
Mavis O’Leary was nominated in recognition of her many years of service to the Town through roles including the Zoning Advisory Committee, Hopkinton Area Land Trust, Trails Committee, Emergency Preparedness Committee, Land Use Study Committee, as a Scout first aid instructor, substitute school nurse, and she was one of the founding parents of the Hopkinton Hornets youth hockey team. She was nominated for recognition by Alison O’Leary, who noted that through these and other volunteer roles, spread over her 65 year residency, reflect her concern for the health and well being of Hopkinton residents, particularly the youth, and her significant volunteer hours have elevated the quality of life in town. The depth of her caring and commitment to the Town is extraordinary!
Charles (Chuck) Dauchy was nominated for his service on the Trail Coordination and Management Committee (TCMC), including serving as Vice Chair. He was nominated by Linda Chuss who cited his invaluable experience in trail building and natural resources that he brought to the TCMC, which is based on a lifetime of related experience. His many hours working on the Town’s trails including mapping new routes, building bridges across streams, clearing weeds, and leading trail walks has benefitted the entire community. It was noted that odds are, if you have walked one of Hopkinton’s trails, Chuck has been involved with it somehow. His passion for trails and the natural environment, hard work, and willingness to contribute, all with a big smile, are inspirational to other volunteers.
Nominate a community volunteer here: Volunteer Recognition Form
Upcoming Events:
- September 13 - Hopkinton Family Day, 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm, High School athletic fields. Rain date Sept. 20. Food, Fun, Fireworks!
- September 13 - Ash Hop Porchfest, Hopkinton and Ashland 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm. There will be musicians in front of the Library and Town Hall, plus other locations in the area. See the website for map & up-to-date schedule: ashhopporchfest.org.
- September 16 - PFAS Community Forum, 6:30 pm at the Library, 13 Main St. Representatives of the Hopkinton Board of Health and Dept. of Public Works will present information and discuss issues pertaining to PFAS and related substances.
- September 16 - Artful Connections, a Panel Discussion of The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan featuring Eman Khadra Ansari M.D., and Noam Shoresh, Ph.D, 6:30 pm at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, 98 Hayden Rowe. See flyer below.
- September 16 - virtual public information meeting on planned construction and traffic milestones for the I-495/I-90 Interchange Improvement Project. During the meeting, the project team will present information related to the progress and schedule of construction, after which attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments. See more information below.
- September 20 - Hopkinton Trails Club Old Town Road guided walk at 10:00 am. This ancient path on the hillside east of Lake Maspenock has stone walls, cellar holes, and acres of forest. The author of the article in the link will be showing the way. Meet/park at 66 Pine Island Rd (additional parking is at the intersection at 55 Pine Island by the mailboxes).
- September 21 - 2nd Act Performance: “I’ll Never Do That”, 7:00 pm, Hopkinton Center for the Arts, 98 Hayden Rowe, Free. See flyer below.
- September 22 thru 26 - Spirit Week at the Senior Center!
- September 24 - CarFit, 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm at the Senior Center, 28 Mayhew St. A free, interactive and educational program designed to improve older driver safety. Appointment required, please call 508-497-9730 to sign up.
- September 27 - Repair Fair, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Senior Center. See flyer below for more information.
- September 27 - Sudbury River Cleanup - Join Scout Troop 4 and the Hopkinton DPW for the annual OARS 3 Rivers Cleanup. See more information below.
You can find more information about the Interchange project on the webpage here.
Hopkinton Organizing for Prevention (HOP) hosted its first of two Recovery Month events at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts on Thursday, September 4th, with a screening of Recovery City. The documentary, created by local filmmaker Lisa Olivieri, featured the stories of four Worcester women in recovery. Following the film, the director and women took part in a moving panel discussion where audience members were able to share their own experiences and reflect on the importance of compassionate care. Forty community members were in attendance.
September is Recovery Month, a time to celebrate recovery and break down the stigma surrounding substance use disorders. For the past decade, HOP has hosted Celebration of Recovery events. On Sunday, September 21st at 4:00 PM, HOP welcomes the 2nd Act Theater Company to the Hopkinton Center for the Arts for a performance of I’ll Never Do That, a prevention play that tells the story of one family’s struggle with substance misuse. All of the actors are in recovery themselves and will join the audience for a talk-back discussion following the show. This performance is appropriate for ages 12+, and HOP invites community members interested in the arts, prevention, and recovery to join us for this special evening. hopartscenter.org/event-details/ill-never-do-that-a-recovery-month-event
Sudbury River Cleanup - September 27
Volunteers from across the community will roll up their sleeves to pull trash, debris, and tires from the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers. For 39 years, the Annual OARS 3 Rivers Cleanup has been a cornerstone of community stewardship in our watershed. Each cleanup is about more than hauling trash, it’s about neighbors coming together to restore wildlife habitat and give our rivers a chance to thrive. By pitching in for just one morning, you’ll be part of an effort that echoes through the watershed.
Hopkinton Cleanup—Sudbury River
When: Saturday, September 27th, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Where: 10 River Road, Southborough, MA
Host: Scout Troop 4, Hopkinton DPW, and OARS
Cleanup type: Land-based Cleanup
Come be part of something that makes a real difference for our rivers! Join Scout Troop 4, along with the Hopkinton DPW and OARS, for a cleanup at Aikens Park along the Sudbury River. This is more than just picking up trash. It’s about protecting our waterways, supporting the next generation of environmental stewards, and making our community a healthier, more beautiful place. The Scouts, as tomorrow’s leaders, are stepping up to take care of our rivers! Grab a friend, roll up your sleeves, and help us keep the Sudbury River clean. Volunteers of all ages are welcome (youth under 16 must bring an adult). Cleanup runs from 9–11 AM.
Come ready to make a positive impact!
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Last week I noted that on Sept. 5, DPW employees would be wearing t-shirts with yellow ribbon designs, and encouraged others to join in and wear yellow on that day and throughout September to support the families who fight against childhood cancer. Town Hall employees have been all in, see the photos below. Stop by Town Hall for wearable yellow ribbons!
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