Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: April 30

Add your pictures of the cleaned-up Hopkinton to our gallery and find out where your high school athletes are playing today.

1. Did you participate in the Green-Up Hopkinton event on Saturday? Members of Hopkinton’s Sustainable Green Committee were out in force joined by Rep. Carolyn Dykema and a Girl Scout troop. If you helped clean up town add your pictures to our pics & clips section of the site or email them to sean.odonnell@patch.com 2. Today's Hillers sports matches include: 3:30PM B V Spring Track vs. Millis at the Hopkinton High School, 3:30PM G V Spring Track vs. Millis, 3:45PM B V Baseball @ Westwood High School, 3:45PM B JV Baseball vs. Westwood, 3:45PM B FR Baseball vs. Westwood, 3:45PM G V Softball @ Westwood, 3:45PM G JV Softball vs. Westwood, 3:45PM B V Tennis @ Westwood, 3:45PM G V Tennis vs. Westwood, 4:00PM B V Lacrosse @ King Phillip in …

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Residents Win Battle Against Bullard Farm Solar Plant

A solar panel facility, proposed for the Bullard Street farmland, was voted down by Holliston's Planning Board.

Holliston's Planning Board voted unanimously Thursday night against installing a solar energy plant on Bullard Street amid a fervor of public opposition to the proposed facility. With possible risks to the health of area residents due to factors including toxic chemicals in the panels and the output of electromagnetic frequency, board members voted 5-0 to have the town's lawyers draft a denial of the project.  Stop Bullard Farm Power Plant, a group started on the web by concerned residents, brought organized opposition against building a facility in the residential Bullard Street neighborhood. Tom Gilbert, an organizer of the Stop Bullard movement, said his past several months of researching solar panels and attending the group's meetings …

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Rachel Kagno

8:52 am on Friday, March 23, 2012

Great news for Holliston!   more ›

Final Vote in Bullard Solar Plant Hearing Expected Tomorrow

The location of Thursday's hearing on the Bullard Farm solar plant has been changed.

The expected final hearing on the Bullard Farm Solar Plant, scheduled for Thursday at 7:30 p.m., has been moved to the Holliston Senior Center. The change comes amid a fervor of public opposition that has brought dozens of residents to the Planning Board's cramped meeting room in recent months to sound off against the proposed plant. Since January, board members have weighed site plans presented by developer Renewable Energy Massachusetts against the concern of area residents who advocate for the aesthetics of the neighborhood and worry about potential heath risks.  Among the concerned residents at last week's hearing was Stacey McGovern, an area resident with a cochlear implant, a device that helps her hear. "I cant walk with my three …

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Ken Weismantel Announces Re-election Campaign

Ken Weismantel took out nomination papers from the Town Clerk’s office Wednesday and began the process of campaigning for his Planning Board seat.

Press release submitted by Ken Weismantel “I am running for re-election to continue the permitting process of Legacy Farms and continue the efforts to attract new businesses to Hopkinton,” A release from Wesimantel said. “The purpose is to increase the commercial tax base while maintaining our town’s Character. As the Planning Board chairman I have first-hand knowledge of the town’s zoning and permitting procedure. This experience is essential to attainment of the town’s master plan goals and financial stability.” “As a long term resident, I have seen Hopkinton’s population grow significantly since my family moved here in 1981. During that time we have met the challenge to improve our schools and town services while maintaining the town’s …

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Holliston Pushes Back Against Bullard Farm Solar Plant

Residents spoke out at against the proposed Bullard Street solar facility at a Planning Board hearing on the issue.

When all the seats were filled at Thursday's Planning Board meeting, residents lined the walls. They came in opposition to a proposal from Renewable Energy Massachusetts, a solar construction firm that intends to build a two-megawatt photovoltaic plant on Bullard Farmstead, a facility that one resident called an attack on his town.  "They are asking us to change the nature of our town," Wingate Street resident, Marty Lamb said. "I think this is a precedent that the [Planning] Board must set against a for-profit company." The Stop Bullard Farm organization had encouraged locals in recent weeks to come to the hearing, which was attended by over 30 area residents. Presenter Brian Kopperl fielded questions after outlining how the 7,500 panels …

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5 Things You Need to Know Today: July 25

What's happening in Hopkinton today?

1. The Planning Board will meet tonight at 7:30, 18 Main St. An agenda is available by visiting the Town Hall or on the website. Come and learn what's happening in your town. 2. Looking to associate with other seniors and get some exercise? Golden Pond, 50 W. Main St., is holding an exercise class with Sundance Rehab. at 1 p.m. 3. The town ratified their contracts with all of the public service employees last week. Check back at 2 p.m. today to learn more. 4. Senator Karen Spilka will hold office hours at the Hopkinton Public Library, 13 Main St., from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Come and learn more about the latest news and events from around the district. 5. The Hopkinton Public Library, 13 Main St., has two new museum passes to add to their …

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: June 18

Tell that Doppler radar to giddyup and get that rain gone because Sheriff Sun is coming to town.

1. Sunday from  2 to 4 p.m. (right after Bark in the Park at Hopkinton State Park) the Cultural Arts Alliance, 98 Hayden Rowe St., will come alive with games, raffles, a parade, sing-alongs, crafts AND special guest appearances for its Summer Kickoff. Come dressed as a Seuss or circus character because this summer's theme is Life is a Circus!  2. Monday, the Planning Board meets at the rather unusual time of 7:20 in Town Hall, 18 Main St., Room 211, and will talk about site-plan review submission requirements and procedures. The discussion may include altering fees charged to applicants and how much it's proper to designate a Planning Board member or member of the Land Use Department to informally discuss process with applicants beforehand…

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Christian Ollenborger Runs for Hopkinton Planning Board

Sees great opportunity for businesses that see Hopkinton as the townspeople see it.

Christian Ollenborger of Duffield Road  is seeking a seat on the Hopkinton Planning Board. “I am running for Planning Board because I think that we are at a crossroads as a community," Ollenborger said.  "The Legacy Farms construction and our efforts to revitalize our downtown area can provide great opportunities, but we also must balance change with maintaining Hopkinton’s character. “I think there are great opportunities for responsible businesses − businesses that see what we see in Hopkinton and wish to fit into that vision,"  Ollenborger said. "They should be able to come here and prosper with us.” Christian and his wife Wendy recently moved to town.  “We chose Hopkinton for the beautiful landscape, great school system and proximity …

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