Town Manager Weekly Update - January 8, 2026
Elaine Lazarus
Happy New Year! I hope you’re doing well in this new year.
We've had some challenging weather recently. Thank you to the Hopkinton Department of Public Works employees for their work in keeping Hopkinton’s roads and sidewalks safe. The DPW’s work has been proactive - anticipating weather conditions, staffing in anticipation of events, pre-treating roads in advance, and it’s also reactive - plowing snow and attending to freeze-thaw-freeze conditions. This is just a small part of what they do. Thank you DPW!
Friday, January 9 - Dry January Mocktail Event – Gallery Night Out
The Hopkinton Organizing for Prevention Dry January Mocktail - Gallery Night Out event is this Friday, January 9, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, 98 Hayden Rowe. Purchase your tickets at the door or online (tiny.cc/477v001).
Sample flights and zero-proof recipes including South Asian inspired signature mocktails with hints of spices, rose and cardamom notes; Enjoy high flavor, no-guilt creations; Model alcohol-free fun; Relish and savor food pairings and small bites to go with your drinks. Live jazz performance by the Dan Drohan Jazz Trio.
Saturday, January 10 - Guided Trail Walk
The Hopkinton Trails Club will host a guided walk on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 10:00 am at the Legacy Farms North trails, connecting to East Main Street. These paths run through the former growing fields of Weston Nurseries, still filled with plantings. Participants will meet at the parking area on Legacy Farms North across from Walnut Way. For more information about the Trails Club, visit their website hopkintontrailsclub.com.
Winter Farmers Market - Sundays from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm at Weston Nurseries, 93 East Main Street.
Veterans Breakfast - First Friday of every month, 9:00 am at the Senior Center, 28 Mayhew Street.
Coffee & Conversation: Youth Substance-Use Prevention - January 14
Hopkinton seniors are invited to join Hopkinton Organizing for Prevention (HOP) and Hopkinton Youth & Family Services, in partnership with the Hopkinton Senior Center, for a morning of coffee and conversation focused on youth substance-use prevention. Learn about current trends affecting young people in Hopkinton, local prevention efforts, and the important role grandparents and caregivers play in supporting healthy choices. Wednesday, January 14 at 9:30 AM at the Hopkinton Senior Center, 28 Mayhew St.
Hopkinton Homeowners Encouraged to Apply for Assistance from Senior & Disabled Tax Relief Fund; Application Deadline Feb. 20, 2026
Hopkinton homeowners who are elderly or disabled are encouraged to apply for assistance with paying their property tax bills. Applicants must be at least 60 years old or have a state-recognized disability, and applicants must own and occupy a single-family home in Hopkinton as their primary residence. The maximum income for a household of one is $57,000, $73,000 for a household of two, $80,000 for a household of three, and $88,000 for a household of four.
The Tax Relief Fund was established in 1999 by residents who wanted a way to help neighbors with very low incomes by easing the burden of property taxes. The Fund is entirely community-driven. Donations from Hopkinton residents, businesses, and civic organizations are its only source of income, and no taxpayer dollars are used to provide assistance. In the past, about two dozen low-income, senior, or disabled homeowners received aid each year.
From the Press Release:
“The cost of homeownership is rising rapidly for everyone, but it is especially hard for those who made Hopkinton their home decades ago and now live on fixed incomes. Many senior and disabled homeowners, even after exhausting other forms of tax relief, still owe an amount that represents a very big portion of their incomes. That’s where we come in,” said Tax Relief Committee Chair Sue Kurys.
“Hopkinton is fortunate to have a way to provide assistance with paying property tax bills, and the need is growing,” said Town Manager Elaine Lazarus. “Hopkinton is equally fortunate to have caring and generous residents who have donated to the Tax Relief Fund. Donating to the Fund is a wonderful way to help a neighbor.”
The typical recipient has a total gross household income of just $38,000 a year and has lived in Hopkinton for about 30 years. Their property tax payments over the decades helped build our community and school system.
“Over the last few years, the town has made some significant and critical investments in the future of our town, but those investments have resulted in a steep increase in taxes for our residents. Combined with the high inflation we've seen over the last year, we have an extremely high cost of living. This is putting tremendous stress on some low-income homeowners who are elderly and/or living with a disability. The tax relief committee provides relief for these residents and support for this initiative is critical to its impact.” Said Hopkinton Select Board Chair, Joe Clark.
Hopkinton homeowners are encouraged to apply for assistance by Feb. 20, 2026.
“It’s about neighbors helping neighbors. Only through the generous support of Hopkinton residents and businesses can we continue to provide meaningful aid, and we are deeply grateful for every donation,” said Kurys.
The application is available online (Hopkinton Tax Relief Application Form .pdf), at Town Hall (18 Main St.), the Senior Center (28 Mayhew St.), the Hopkinton Public Library (13 Main St.), and from Youth and Family Services. The Treasurer’s Office will mail the form to those who call 508-497-9715 to request one. The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, Feb. 20.
If you would like to donate to the fund, donations can be made online (UniPay) or by check, payable to “Town of Hopkinton” and must have “Tax Relief” in the memo line. Mail checks to Tax Relief Fund, Town of Hopkinton, 18 Main St., Hopkinton, MA 01748
Hazard Mitigation Plan
The Town of Hopkinton has hired the Horsley Witten Group, Inc. to assist in updating the Hopkinton Hazard Mitigation Plan. This update is being funded through a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Why is this important?
Hazard mitigation planning helps communities understand risks from natural hazards and develop strategies to protect people, property, and the natural environment. Updating this plan every five years is also required for the Town to remain eligible for FEMA hazard mitigation funding. More information is available on FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Planning page: Hazard Mitigation Planning | FEMA.gov.
As the update process moves forward, the Town will be seeking community input and participation. Opportunities to get involved will be shared as they become available.
Hopkinton Center for the Arts Member Exhibition - January 16
The Hopkinton Center for the Arts (HCA) will present its annual member exhibition reception on Friday, Jan. 16, from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. The public can join the member artists of HCA as they gather to celebrate their annual exhibition. This is a free event. For more information, visit hopartscenter.org/events.
Coffee House - A Place for Us: The Music of Stephen Sondheim - January 29
Thursday, January 29, 6:30 - 7:30 pm, Betty Strong Room (Large Event Room) Hopkinton Public Library, 13 Main Street.
Experience the genius of one of Broadway’s most revered composers in A Place for Us: The Music of Stephen Sondheim. Pianist and vocalist Jay Daniels pays tribute to Sondheim’s extraordinary legacy with heartfelt interpretations of songs from Gypsy, A Little Night Music, and more. The concert also features a special sing-along portion, inviting the audience to join in beloved selections from West Side Story.
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