FRAMINGHAM, MA – Artists from Fountain Street Studios will hold their 20th Open Studios Weekend, April 4th – 6th, 2014 with open hours on Friday from 5:30pm – 9:00pm and on Saturday & Sunday from 11:00am – 5:00pm.
The art loving public is invited to visit artists in their workspaces as they open their doors for this event. Varied media will be on display including painting, photography, sculpture, prints, watercolor, digital images, hand crafted jewelry, textile arts, and mixed media. Learn more about the art making process. From greeting cards to major pieces of art, there is (more…)
Framingham, MA – Access Framingham, the nonprofit public access corporation for the Town of Framingham, is holding an Orientation Session on Thursday, April 3, 2014 at 7:00pm.
Access Framingham is a membership based organization which provides training with video recording and editing equipment as well as access to our cable television channel to show locally recorded programming. Learn to be a citizen journalist, help document the many interesting events in Framingham, or volunteer your talents to help others with their productions. AF-TV’s local production studio is located in the back of the Fuller Middle School, at 31 Flagg Drive.
Membership is open to anyone who lives, works or goes to school in Framingham, or who is affiliated with a Framingham-based organization. All are welcome at this upcoming Orientation session. Please call to register at 508-875-5434.
AF-TV can be seen in the Town of Framingham on Comcast Channel 9, RCN Channel 3, and Verizon Channel 43. For more information about Access Framingham programming, training, and services, you can also visit us online at www.accessfram.tv.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – On Monday, March 31th at 1:00 p.m. a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the Town of Framingham, Police Department’s new Tripoli Community Police Substation located at 904 Waverly Street. The new substation will enhance communication and create a community-centered method of policing.
Dennis Giombetti, Chair of the Board of Selectmen, stated: “The opening of a community policing station on this site is an important addition to the neighborhood. Since the Tripoli Barbershop moved to their location a few blocks away I have been working with the Police Chief and Lee Mencoboni, the owner of La Cantina and this property to make it a community policing substation. I am very proud that my last official act as a Selectman will be this ceremony. It merges my long standing efforts to invest in public safety and my love for the neighborhood where my father and I grew up. ”
Framingham Chief of Police Kenneth Ferguson commented: “The implementation of this substation is an excellent example of community policing in action, your police collaborating with public and private partners for the betterment of the community.”
Local Jobs at Gatehouse Media’s MetroWest Daily News and Framingham TAB go to Texas.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – On March 25th, 2014, GateHouse Media, parent company of the Metrowest Daily News, Framingham TAB and over 100 other local Massachusetts newspapers announced it will be locating the company’s Center for News & Design in Austin, Texas.
According to a company news article, the Austin, TX facility will handle existing services including centralized copy editing and page design for print and digital versions of the company’s hundreds of publications, and will also support new platforms and initiatives.
The company expects to have approximately 90 employees in Austin by next summer and more than 150 by mid-2015. GateHouse Media owns and operates more than 400 publications across the country.
Hammond Residential Real Estate’s New Framingham location on Route 9 in the Meadows Building, 161 Worcester Rd. (PRNewsFoto / Hammond Residential Real Estate)
FRAMINGHAM, MA – Kathleen Helliwell, manager of Hammond Residential Real Estate’s Framingham office, recently announced that the office has relocated to a new space located directly on Route 9 in The Meadows Office Building at 161 Worcester Road in Framingham.
Hammond’s Framingham office was previously located at 303 Worcester Road. Prior to joining Hammond’s 16 office network, the office served the surrounding communities for over 35 years as Dallamora Realtors and later as Carlson GMAC Real Estate. In 2012, Hammond’s Metrowest presence further expanded with the opening of a satellite office in Southborough located at 3 East Main Street.
Saul Cohen, president and co-founder of Hammond said, “Hammond’s dedicated team of professional agents has experienced multiple market cycles (more…)
The 29th Joe Val Bluegrass Festival will be held Valentines Day Weekend, Fri-Sun, Feb 14th, 15th and 16th, 2014 at the Sheraton, Framingham, MA
FRAMINGHAM, MA – A unique, all-encompassing experience for music lovers of all ages — set to a rollicking, first-rate soundtrack — the 29th Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, presented by the Boston Bluegrass Union (BBU), will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 14th-16th, 2014, at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel, Framingham, MA.
Year after year, this nationally acclaimed celebration of bluegrass music and its fans continues to win new converts while delighting seasoned veterans. The region’s top wintertime roots music festival features three days of national and regional artists on the Main Stage, the next generation of rising stars on the Showcase Stage, and an extensive lineup of education programs including Master Classes, Workshops, instructor-led Jam Sessions, and the renowned Joe Val Bluegrass Academy for Kids.
The Festival features all this, plusinstrument vendors, luthiers, and of course, picking around the clock. If you’re new to bluegrass, you’ll enjoy a veritable primer in nearly all facets of this original American art form — while longtime fans will appreciate the wide range of talent on display. Festival favorites The Gibson Brothers, perhaps the most decorated band in bluegrass today, will demonstrate just why they walked away with four awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) in 2013 including the coveted Entertainers of the Year.
Junior Sisk the IBMA’s 2013 Male Vocalist of the Year will be on hand as well, fronting his hard-driving, traditional band Ramblers Choice. The dynamic IIIrd Tyme Out will be unveiling a strong new lineup in support of lead singer and powerhouse Russell Moore. Blue Highway, perhaps one of the most esteemed and influential bands in contemporary bluegrass will be featuring new original material from their album The Game, to be released this January.
Popular songwriter and Sirius-XM radio personality Chris Jones and his band the Night Drivers will also be on hand to showcase some of today’s finest newly composed bluegrass songs during their set.
Fans of country music — both modern and traditional — will not want to miss a special acoustic reunion performance by the three co-founders of the Desert Rose Band: Chris Hillman (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, formerly with the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers), Herb Pedersen (the Dillards, Laurel Canyon Ramblers, Old and in the Way, Emmylou Harris), and John Jorgenson (Elton John, Bob Dylan, John Jorgenson Quintet). During the late-’80s, this versatile ensemble chalked up seven top-ten country hits while never losing sight of their roots in bluegrass, folk, and honky-tonk traditions.
The festival will also feature debut performances from Detour, Balsam Range, the Hillbenders, as well as some old friends in new configurations. Sister Sadie features past IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year Dale Ann Bradley along with friends Gina Britt, Tina Adair, Beth Lawrence and Deanie Richardson. Sideline features Steve Dilling, Darryl Webb, Jason Moore, Jimmy VanCleve, and Skip Cherryholmes.
Dedicated to preserving the past and nurturing the future, the Boston Bluegrass Union continues its commitment to education with daylong Master Classes kicking off the festival on Friday. On Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday there will be over fifty Workshops and Directed Jams for festival patrons of all ages that examine the instrumental and vocal techniques unique to bluegrass, as well as the music’s history and culture.
The BBU helps train the next generation of musicians with the Joe Val Bluegrass Academy for Kids, now in its 12th year, presenting a free, intensive three-day program that teaches children (ages 5 – 17) how to play, sing, and perform bluegrass music. Visit the festival website for further details on the extensive education offerings, schedules and registration details.
Established in 1985, the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival celebrates the legacy of the late Joe Val, a pioneering Massachusetts-based vocalist, musician, and bandleader, whose riveting performances, recordings, and generous nature did so much to spread the popularity of bluegrass in the Northeast.
From its humble beginnings as a local tribute to Joe and the regional bluegrass scene, the festival has grown to become one of the most celebrated bluegrass events in the country. In 2006, the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival won the prestigious Event of the Year award from the IBMA. And in 2012, the festival was listed by USA TODAY as one of the Ten Great Places to Go to Bluegrass Festivals.
Weekend tickets are now on sale and single day tickets will go on sale beginning January 15th. Note Saturday tickets will be in short supply so we strongly encourage early weekend ticket purchases. The festival has sold out in past years.
Ticket Prices
Weekend Pass – Adult $100, Students (w/ ID) and Youth $35
Single Day Friday – Adult $35, Students (w/ ID) $15, and Youth (16 and under) $10
Single Day Saturday – Adult $60, Students (w/ ID) $30, and Youth $25
Single Day Sunday – Adult $40, Students (w/ ID) $20, and Youth $15
Additional Discounts for BBU Members and for early purchase
Children under 12 and accompanied by adults are free all weekend
Main Stage Lineup
The Gibson Brothers (Sat)
Blue Highway (Fri)
Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out (Sun)
Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice (Sun)
Acoustic Desert Rose Band Reunion (Sat)
Sister Sadie (Sat)
Sideline (Fri)
Special Consensus (Sat)
Chris Jones and the Night Drivers (Fri)
The Spinney Brothers (Sun)
Bluegrass Gospel Project (Sun)
Balsam Range (Sat)
Hillbenders (Sat)
Detour (Sun)
Berklee All-Stars (Fri)
The Feinberg Brothers (Fri)
Dick Bowden’s Flying Circus Tribute to Don Stover (Sat)
The Reunion Band (Sat)
The Lonely Heartstring Band (Sat)
The Sheraton Framingham is located just 18 miles west of Boston, directly adjacent to the Mass Pike (Rt. 90, Exit 12) and Rt. 9. At this time, all hotel rooms are sold out at the Sheraton, but rooms are available nearby at the Marriott Residence Inn (508-370-0001), the Double Tree Hilton (800-222-Tree) and the Natick Courtyard Marriott (508-655-6100).
The Boston Bluegrass Union is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization, dedicated to preserving and promoting this original American music genre. Celebrating our 38th season, the BBU is the premier source for events, education, and information on bluegrass music in the Northeast.
Senator Karen Spilka accepts the Champion for Change award from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change initiative, in recognition of her leadership on a broad range of juvenile justice reforms in Massachusetts. From left to right: Cecely Reardon, Attorney in Charge, Youth Advocacy Division; State Senator Will Brownsberger; Hon. Paula Carey, Chief Justice of the Trial Court; Joel Loitherstein; State Senator Karen Spilka; Ed Kelley, President and CEO, Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps; Tom Grisso, Director of Psychiatry and Director of the Law-Psychiatry Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School; Anthony Benedetti, Chief Counsel, Committee for Public Counsel Services; Naoka Carey, Executive Director, Citizens for Juvenile Justice.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – State Senator Karen Spilka has been named a Champion for Change in juvenile justice reform by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change initiative. She was recognized at the 8th annual Models for Change national conference on Monday, December 16th, 2013 in Washington, D.C. for her leadership on a broad range of juvenile justice reforms in Massachusetts.
The Models for Change Executive Committee selected Senator Spilka from 16 nominees from across the country in the Champion for Change in State Leadership category. Senator Spilka was nominated for the award by a group of Massachusetts advocates, researchers and organizations representing a wide array of stakeholders in the juvenile justice system. In nominating Senator Spilka, they praised (more…)
FRAMINGHAM, MA – The Framingham State University defense forced a pair of turnovers and held Plymouth State to just three field goals on 112 yards of total offense as the Rams defeated the Panthers 41-9 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football match-up at Framingham’s Bowditch Field.
The Rams improve to 6-1 on the season and remain unbeaten in MASCAC action at 5-0, while the Panthers fall to 1-6 overall and are still in search of their first conference victory at 0-5.
The Framingham State defense held the Panthers to 98 yards on the ground and just 14 yards passing with a pair of interceptions. Plymouth State scored a field goal on the opening possession of the second half when they went (more…)
FRAMINGHAM, MA – The Framingham Health Department will be offering influenza (FLU) vaccine to Framingham residents. Flu shots and flu mist will be available. There is no charge for vaccination, but please remember to bring your health insurance and/or Medicare card with you.
FLU Clinics will be held at the following locations, on the following dates:
At the McCarthy School, 8 Flagg Drive, Saturday October 26th, 2013 from 10:00am until 2:00pm for residents ages 6 months and up.
At Town Hall, (The Memorial Building), Room 221, (more…)
Silent era film classic, ”The Kid” (1921), will be featured at Framingham Library’s Friday Night Films, November 8th, 2013.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – In the USA in 1920’s, on any given Friday night there’s a good chance you would have gone out to see a silent movie.
But, the theater would be anything but silent. A pianist played “mood music” along with the films.
On Friday, November 8th, 2013, slip into the past at the Framingham Main Library.
The library’s Friday Night Film will be a Silent Movie Show featuring Richard Hughes, Silent Movies Pianist who will set the mood as black & white films flicker on the screen.
Richard Hughes, Silent Movies Pianist
Hughes, who began classical piano training at age 7, spent over a decade researching and scoring “mood music” pieces to recreate the original period sound of the 1920’s “silent movie” houses.
He writes on his website, “Every time I screen another old silent film and prepare a musical score for it, I feel like a geologist who has just discovered a rare find hidden deep in ancient layers of rock. Many of these films are gems and my mission is to reacquaint, introduce, educate, and entertain audiences of all ages to the silent (more…)
