Town Manager Weekly Update - August 7, 2025
Lance DelPriore
From Lance DelPriore, Assistant Town Manager - August 7, 2025
Adventure Passes
https://hopkintonlibrary.org/what-we-offer/our-services/adventure-passes/
For over ten years, Friends of the Hopkinton Public Library (FOL) has given our community adventure passes. Adventure passes provide reduced or free admission to museums and outdoor facilities in the area. A library patron might use a pass to visit the New England Aquarium, American Heritage Museum, Museum of Science, and the New England Botanical Garden. Last year, nearly 1,000 passes were used by members of our community.
FOL would like to make the community more aware of this program. We are asking for your support. If you use a pass, would you be willing to send them feedback in the form of a short story or a photo, or both?
Tell them about your adventure by either putting a photo and comments on their Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #adventureswithHPL. Or, if you prefer, you can send your photos and stories with permission to share them to hoplibra...@gmail.com
Parks & Recreation fall registration is now live!
Here is a link to our program activity guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AcHk-FBZOErEe-LK0OGsOCKRC_gSXIMd/view
Air Quality Impacts from Canadian Wildfires
Until the Canadian wildfires are controlled or the path of the Jet Stream shifts, the Canadian wildfire smoke may negatively impact the air quality in Central Massachusetts. Residents are encouraged to monitor Hopkinton's Purple Air PM2.5 air quality monitors for real time air quality information. Hopkinton's air sensors can be viewed at the link below.
Shaun McAuliffe made Chair of Metro Region Preparedness Coalition
Shaun McAuliffe, Health Director in Hopkinton, was recently nominated to Chair / Co-Chair the Region 4AB Metro Region Preparedness Coalition. The Region 4AB PHEP Coalition Chair and Executive Committee provide oversight for the PHEP program goals, objectives, and funding priorities.
Hopkinton Organizing for Prevention Hosts Summer Leadership Program for HHS Students
On July 30 and 31, Hopkinton Organizing for Prevention (HOP) hosted a two-day Summer Leadership Program for Hopkinton High School students. The program offered students an opportunity to deepen their understanding of prevention, build leadership skills, and connect with peers.
The first day focused on the science of prevention and an introduction to the coalition’s work. Students also explored HOP’s youth-led vaping prevention program and learned how to deliver a peer-to-peer presentation given annually to 7th-grade students at Hopkinton Middle School. The engaging presentation includes a BINGO game highlighting the harmful ingredients in vapes, the health risks of vaping, how the tobacco industry targets youth, and strategies for resisting social pressure. The second day took place at the MetroWest YMCA Outdoor Center and was centered on leadership development and team-building. Students participated in hands-on activities, reflecting on their skills.
Get Involved with HOP Youth!
HOP Youth is always looking for new members to join! The group focuses on mental health and substance use prevention through engaging, student-driven programs. Activities planned for this school year include fun substance-free events, continued vaping prevention work, youth advocacy at the State House, and the Green Bandana Project, a suicide prevention initiative aimed at supporting mental health awareness in schools.
In collaboration with the HCA, Hopkinton Organizing for Prevention has the following events planned for Recovery Month! Everyone is welcome.
Recovery City - Thursday, 9/4 at 6:30 PM, Location - HCA
2nd Act Performance: “I’ll Never Do That” - Sunday, 9/21 at 4:00 PM, Location - HCA
Upcoming Events: Information on upcoming events is below.
August 10 - Concert on the Town Common - Knock on Wood. 5:00 pm, Free.
August 17 - Hopkinton Trails Club Walk - Berry Acres, 1:00 pm - see information below
August 17 - Concert on the Town Common - Studio Two. 5:00 pm, Free.
August 24 - Concert on the Town Common - Din Check. 5:00 pm, Free.
In case of inclement weather, check the Parks & Recreation website for cancellation notices for the outdoor movies and concerts: Hopkinton Parks and Recreation
Trails Club Walk - Sunday, August 17 at 1 pm
The Hopkinton Trails Club will hold a trail tour of the Berry Acres area. This often overlooked area has a lot to offer. Trails, streams, beaver activity, and some new bridges! Meet at the Ice House Pond parking area on West Main St. by the old Trail Depot. A map of the parcel and trails is here: https://www.hopkintontrailsclub.com/images/maps/berryterry.png
Summer Concerts on the Common:
Bring the whole family for an afternoon of music, dancing, and fun. This is a free event open to everyone! Concerts will begin at 5:00 PM.
August 10th Knock on Wood
Knock on Wood is a high-energy acoustic folk-rock duo, featuring singer-songwriter Howie Newman on guitar, lead vocals and harmonica. He is joined by one of the top fiddler players in the area.
August 17th Studio Two
Studio Two is a headlining Beatles band that pays tribute to the early Beatles years, choosing songs from the pre-Sgt. Pepper era.
August 24th Din Check
Din Check is New England’s premier Bollywood band. Din Check – or noise check – is also the phonetic sound of the “tabla,” an Indian percussion instrument. It’s a fitting name for a band that consistently brings audiences to their feet with their lively and rhythmic performances. Touching upon all genres, popular singers, and eras, the band appeals to people of all ages. Din Check's repertoire also spans multiple languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Gujarati, as well as unique fusions or "mashups" of popular American rock music and Indian music.
Porchfest is Coming Back!
Porchfest is coming back to Ashland and Hopkinton for the third year! Ash Hop Porchfest is an outdoor music event that will be held on Saturday, September 13th from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm with a rain date of Sunday, September 14th.
Come spend the day in our beautiful towns while listening to live music. Musicians and bands of all genres will be performing on porches and patios throughout the two town centers. This walkable event is also the perfect opportunity to check out our local shops and restaurants.
If you would like to host a band or performer on your Porch or if you have a band or are a performer and would be interested in performing at AshHop PorchFest, click the tab up top “Band Signup” and register for the event. All the information you need to register is on the website: http://www.ashhopporchfest.org.
Ash Hop PorchFest is made possible with investment funds granted from the Mass Cultural Council through the Ashland and Hopkinton chapters, Kim Foemmel Fine Homes and more. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Save the date! We look forward to seeing you September 13th, 2025!
Also on September 13 is Hopkinton Family Day!
Hopkinton Farmers Market - Every Sunday, June 1st to October 5th, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM on the Hopkinton Town Common. Check out the weekly schedule of vendors on their website: Hopkinton Farmers Market
Town Board and Committee Meetings Next Week:
Monday, August 11 - Board of Health (5:30 pm)
Tuesday, August 12 - Select Board (6:00 pm)
Wednesday, August 13- Board of Appeals (7:00 pm)
Thursday, August 14- School Committee (6:30 pm)
More meetings may be posted as we get closer, just check the online calendar on the Town website: https://www.hopkintonma.gov/ Scroll down to the Events Calendar.
The calendar listing for the meeting will also have the agenda (posted at least 48 hours in advance), and will indicate whether the meeting is in person, virtual, or hybrid. If there is a virtual component to a meeting, the link will be on the calendar and/or on the agenda itself. No one needs a reason to attend a meeting, curiosity is enough! Feel free to check one out.
If you can’t attend a live meeting, some are also available to stream anytime on YouTube, thanks to HCAM: HCAM.tv
