Hopkinton Places to Play, Turn, Watch, Prevent, Eat

1. Get Ready To Tickle Your Tummy.

From 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 15, at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center in Framingham, for $25 ($30 at the door), don't miss the First Annual Taste of MetroWest.

There will be food and drinks from Sel de la Terre, Tomasso Trattoria, the Sherborn Inn, Bistro 20, Legal Sea Foods, Pepper’s Fine Foods Catering,  La Cantina, The Aegean,  MetroWest Medical Center, Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center,  Double Dipped Chocolates, Still River Winery, The Crowne Plaza Natick, Heritage at Framingham/Mary Ann Morse Healthcare Corp., British Beer Co.,  Whitney Place Assisted Living, Wachusett Brewing Co., Tastings Caterers, Sodexo, Hogan Brothers Coffee, Margaritas Mexican Restaurant, Roche Brothers, Viva Mexican Grille and Tequileria, Boloco, Atlas Watersystems, Culinary Underground, Craig Sutton Entertainment, Firefly’s, Office Depot, Carmel Terrace/Unidine, Rasoi, The Melting Pot, Agostino’s, Joseph P. Keefe Technical School Culinary Arts, New Century Home Care Services, Pejamajo Cafe,  Kelly’s Roast Beef and Chinese Mirch. 

The Taste of MetroWest is sponsored by MetroWest Medical Center. You can sample food and beverages from all these vendors and vote in the “Best of MetroWest – People’s Choice” competition. 

Sponsors include Middlesex Savings Bank,  Carmel Terrace/Unidine, Genzyme, St. Mary’s Credit Union, Bowditch & Dewey, Fletcher Tilton PC, Staples, Mirick O'Connell and CommCreative. Media sponsor is Gatehouse Media New England.

Call (508) 879-5600 or go to www.tasteofmetrowest.org.

2. Get Ready to Turn Your Clocks Ahead.

Daylight Saving Time starts at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 14. Get an extra hour of sleep or livin' large Saturday night.

3. Get Ready for Two Great Bullying-Prevention Forums.

Monday night, March 14, in Hopkinton High School auditorium at 7, experts will discuss . 

Then on Tuesday, April 12, from 7 to 8 at the Hopkinton Public Library, Judy Giovongelo will present Ben Speaks Louder Than Words, a mother's account of  her teenage son's struggle with bullying, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicide. Giovongelo closes with an inspirational  proposal to support and empower our youth.

The event is hosted by the , and the Hopkinton Public Library. Call (508) 435- 8638.

4. Get Ready for Wizardry.

 The basketball kind. Today (Wednesday) is the last day for advance tickets to the Harlem Wizards vs. Hopkinton Hot Shots, a team of men and women teachers. On Sunday, March 14, from noon to 4 at Hopkinton High, there will be dunks, tricks, scoops, hoops and alley-oops. AND WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE WIZARDS! Watch Center School's Mr. Sanford dunk! (a cookie or a donut, he says).  Go Hot Shots!

Advance Rate Tickets available only through today, March 10:
$12/Adults
$10/Children/Students (through high school)
$10/Seniors

After today, all game tickets are $15 at the door.

Plus, the Hopkinton Parent Teacher Association's first 50/50 raffle.  Only 300 tickets will be sold! Tickets are $100 each.

GRAND PRIZE $12,000
1st Runner up: $2,000
2nd Runner up: $1,000
3rd Runner up: has to pay 2nd Runner up
(just kidding - everybody's the 3rd Runner up)

$15,000 will go directly to the HPTA's Technology Fund for Hopkinton schools, $15,000 to the winners as described above. The winner's name will be drawn at half-time of the Harlem Wizards Family Fun Event. Winner does not need to be present.

5. Get Healthy Tips and Have Family Fun

The Ninth Annual Wellness Fair and Family Fun Day  is free, Saturday, March 11, 10 to 2, at Hopkinton High School.

Free health screenings, free demonstrations, and a free performance by The Vegetable Circus, a balance and juggling act that teaches lessons in health, nutrition, friendship and respect while throwing objects, including each other, in the air. 

Wellness Fair and Family Fun Day showcases more than 30 groups, organizations, and businesses that promote health, safety and fitness. Visit the interactive booths, learn about healthy foods and products, participate in “fit and fun” challenges, and get your health and fitness questions answered.

Bring your family for the moon bounce and a “play around” session with the Vegetable Circus at the HPTA Wellness and Health booth.

6. Root for Your Teams

The Hopkinton girls and boys basketball teams play for the championships of Division 2 South Saturday evening.

The girls play Scituate at 6 p.m. The boys play King Philip (Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham) at 8. Both games are at UMass Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd. Go Hillers!