Town Manager Weekly Update - September 25, 2025
Elaine Lazarus
Upcoming Events:
- 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.
- October 8 - Heat Pump Pizza Party sponsored by Hopkinton Sustainable Green Committee and Energize Ashland. At the Ashland Community Center, 6:30 pm. Registration link in the flyer below.
- October 11 - The Hopkinton Area Land Trust is sponsoring a free mushroom walk starting at 10 a.m. at the Fruit Street fields, 66 Fruit Street. Space is limited to 30 people. More information and registration is available at hopkintonlandtrust.org.
- October 18 - Friends of Whitehall fall lake and trail cleanup, from 9:00 am to Noon. Meet at the boat landing parking lot at Whitehall State Park on Wood Street. Gloves, trash bags, tools, bug spray and water will be provided, plus coffee and donuts for volunteers. More information is here: friendsofwhitehall.org
- October 19 - Fire Department Open House, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Fire Station, 73 Main St.
Community Preservation Committee News
Applications for Community Preservation Committee (CPC) project funding are due by October 9. Projects allowable under the Community Preservation Act include the creation and preservation of open space, the preservation of historic sites, the creation and preservation of affordable housing, and the creation and preservation of outdoor recreational facilities. The process involves an application to the CPC, a public hearing, CPC review and recommendations for funding, and then a vote at the Annual Town Meeting to award the funding for fiscal year 2027. The public hearing on the applications will be held on October 16.
For an application and more information about the Community Preservation Act and the CPC, visit the Town website here: Community Preservation Committee
Hopkinton Organizing for Prevention
Hopkinton Organizing for Prevention (HOP) wrapped up Recovery Month with a performance of I’ll Never Do That by 2nd Act Theater at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. The play told the story of one family’s struggle with addiction, showing the impact on family dynamics, the challenges of recovery, and the reality that addiction is a “family disease.” More than 30 community members attended and joined a discussion with the actors about personal experiences and the role of the arts in supporting recovery.
HYFS and HOP has once again organized the Garden of Hope on the Town Common, a memorial honoring those we have lost, those working toward recovery, and those in active recovery. Each flag carries meaning: White for remembrance; Purple for recovery; Yellow for support. Community support is an integral part of recovery. You are not alone. Together, we can make a difference. Resources are always available on the HYFS Resource center or contac...@hopkintonma.gov.
Interactive Foliage Map
It’s fall! The Mass. Dept. of Conservation & Recreation has a new interactive Fall Foliage Map. It shows the predicted foliage at different times, and includes some photos at DCR properties. It looks like Hopkinton’s foliage is predicted to peak around late October. Visit the webpage here for information and a link to the map.
DCR Unveils 2025 Interactive Fall Foliage Map Ahead of Fall Season | Mass.gov
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.
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
Register here: Hopkinton Cleanup—Sudbury River – OARS
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