As 2012 comes to a close, it's safe to say that it was quite the year in Hopkinton. There were plenty of activities, events and annual traditions, some that have been around for over a decade, that brought the entire community together. Hopkinton also continued to grow this year with the development of Legacy Farms and the grand opening of several businesses in the newly constructed Hopkinton Square.
2012 was also a year of milestones. Sterling Hager was presented with the Golden Cane in February, after officially becoming Hopkinton's oldest resident at the age of 100. Physician Focus, an HCAM produced series which reaches about 2.5 million households nationally, taped its 100th episode in August. And April marked the 40th anniversary of women being allowed to run in the Boston Marathon. Several of the pioneering women joined WBZ Anchor Lisa Hughes in Hopkinton to reflect on their experiences. And as over twenty thousand runners from across the world started their journey in Hopkinton for 116th running of the Boston Marathon on a humid 80 degree day, we were reminded that just because it starts here doesn't mean it ends here. Kenyan Ambassador Elkanah Odembo received a honorary Hopkinton citizenship before joining in on all the festivities at Elmwood for the 20th annual Kenya Day. And Hopkinton artist Dustin Neece honored father and son duo Rick and Dick Hoyt's 30th year running the Marathon with a painting that honored the spirit of their inseparable bond. The Hoyt's were back in Hopkinton a few months later thanks to some ambitious Elmwood third graders. And Neece 's other painting "Honoring the Spirit", which captures the experiences of seven Hopkinton Iwo Jima Veterans, was honored at the State House in February. The Hoyt's message of" yes you can" reverberated throughout town with several teenagers and young adults making a difference in Hopkinton and beyond. We met a Boy Scout looking to earn his Eagle Scout ranking by helping Project Just Because collect clothes for teenagers, an aspiring actress with a message about the effects of bullying, and two Hopkinton High School grads making a difference in Africa.
It was also a big year in High School sports. In March, the Hillers cheerleaders competed in Nationals in Orlando, placing 6th in their division and winning the Sportsmanship Award. The girls also came in first at the TVL championships in October also taking home the Sportsmanship Award. The Boys and Girls Cross Country teams both won TVL titles this year as well and placed in the top fifteen at States. Hopkinton also made its way onto the statewide, national, and even international stage with its many contributions to the community at large. We watched and participated as Fox25 zipped into Hopkinton to take their morning show on the road. And we learned about Anna Gammal's journey to get to the London Olympics as a massage therapist. And as election season heated up, several political candidates were in town, including for a State Representative debate here at HCAM.
To see and read about any of these HCAM News stories in greater detail, plus hundreds more from the year, use the search button on the HCAM website, or vist our photo website Scene in Hopkinton.
