framingham.com (*** TEST SITE ***)

Author: Deb Cleveland

  • Robbing the cradle, er, manger

    Predictable news stories around this time of year are:  people falling through the ice on a local pond or river, and someone taking the Baby Jesus statue out of the manger in a nativity scene.

    This week the Framingham area had both.  The kids are OK after being rescued. 

    But the Nativity scene at St. Jeremiah’s is missing both the baby statue and the manger.  At first they thought someone had started to bring in the statues as it is the end of the Christmas season.  Hopefully, the statue will be returned soon.  It was donated and rather expensive. 

    What motivates people to take these statues? 

    Over at sister church, St. George’s, the Nativity Scene is intact, watched over by the large stone statue of who my then four year old son once pointed to and said was “Baby Jesus all grown up!”

  • Chowing Down on Chinese Food

    While people may say, “Not another Chinese Restaurant,” when a new one opens up, many people like us are still looking for one that has consistantly good eat in as well take out food at a reasonable price.

    There is a location in Nobscot that has had several reincarnations as a Chinese/Asian take out place and the Asian Buffet, which advertised extensively, yet we heard weren’t very hospitable to diners as the closing hour approached, closed abruptly.

    Green Tea II, which still has ads on the back of Stop & Shop register tapes, also closed in 2008.

    Red Pepper has had good reports, but felt the need to add Brazilian food.

    Lotus Flower is good, but seems a notch or two above others as far as price.

    Sabrina Wong in Nobscot is good, but their soups vary and it is geared for take out, not relaxed dining.

    There are some places that might be good, but put us off due to the location, or the run-down appearance.

    And nothing has survived in the old Hawaiian Village location on Rt. 30 since it closed several years ago.

  • It’s in the Bag

    Tote bags are in.  The LL Bean durable canvas ones have been around for ages, but in the last few years, totes have popped up for sale in a variety of stores and offered as popular premiums and giveaways.

    But now, more than ever, you see them in use in the grocery stores.  It seems to be a combination of the “green” environmental movement and the 5 cent per bag savings  that the stores give you that is motivating the rise in usage.  Reducing the stash of plastic bags in the house is a blessing too.

    Some closet “tree-huggers” who previously felt self-conscious about using tote bags  when grocery shopping can now be part of the tote bag brigade.  And shoppers mix and match, as you will see Whole Foods  and Stop and Shop and Wildlife Conservacy totes in use at Trader Joes.

    One of our favorite totes is the roomy $ 1 bag available at the Framingham Library.   It holds several plastic bags worth of groceries as it promotes the library.

    It comes with a rigid bottom stiffener and is large enough to replace 2 paper bags or up to 4 plastic bags each time it is used. According to its environmentally conscious manufacturer, it’s designed to be used weekly for two years or more and to replace up to 416 plastic bags over its entire lifetime.

    The bags are also washable and stand up straight on their own for loading and the handles are a convenient length.

    Four or five will handle a cart full of groceries, support the library, and save hundreds of plastic and paper bags over the course of a year.  Not to mention the 5 cents per bag savings.

  • Goodbye, Fabricplace

    Fabricplace was one of those businesses that you took for granted would be there if you needed anything in the way of sewing, window treatments, or uphoulstery.  Oh what a fabric selection, and wouldn’t you like to dress as a bride again when seeing the bridal accessories?

    After recently celebrating its 60th year in business, it was a shock to hear that it was closing.

    When we visited at the end of October, most of the shelves were bare and many of the fixtures were sold. 

    At least some small area businesses may have benefited by being able to buy some display racks at discounted prices.

    Now there is an empty parking lot, locked doors, and “Going Out of Business Signs” in the windows.

  • Shopping Locally

    Back in our prom days, we listened as one girl described her pricey gown and how it had been ordered from New York.  The gown sounded a lot like the one that we had bought at the original Filene’s Basement in Boston for $ 19.98.

    Come the night of the prom, and yes, the dresses were similar, except that the New York version had three quarter length sleeves, while ours were full-length.

    She (or rather her parents) paid a lot more for the mystique of buying from a distant source.   For the price of her gown, we had money left over for shoes, nylons, a wrap, and the tickets.

    Shopping locally can not only cost less, but also help the local economy.

    Buying locally from a locally owner business helps in multiple ways.  You can save money long term as well as immediately and also help your local businesses be there for you.  While not everything will be less, supporting local businesses can pay off in the long run, because you are helping the Framingham business community stay viable.  Not only is Framingham the richer for having a variety of shops and service providers,  the businesses are shouldering the larger tax burden.

    A number of studies have shown that even shifting 10% of purchases from large corporations to local businesses can create new economic activity and new jobs.

    Stacy Mitchell, researcher for the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, says “At study that we did found that for every $ 100 spent in a chain store, $ 14 went back into the local economy.  For a locally owned business, it was $ 45.  Locally owned businesses buy a lot of services from other local businesses.  So by buying from one local business, you’re not only supporting that business, you’re supporting other local businesses.”

    In many cases the service is better, and you can park closer, too. 

    Who knows, you may walk in and discover that a neighbor, or someone you know from church or in another context, works there or runs the business.

  • Recycling Drop-Off Center

    The MetroWest Daily News published an Associated Press article about a method for bureaucracies to become more efficient.  The process, from Japan, is called kaizen, and is about working on continuous improvement.

    Kaisen involves the workers and looks at why things are done a certain way, mapping and breaking down each step, and eliminating and reducing as much as possible to streamline processes.  Kaisen helps to save time, increase task turnaround time, use resources wisely, and reduce government waste.  It engages employees and empowers them to make suggestions to improve their workplace and efficiency.

    The article put us in mind of the Town of Framingham Recycling Drop-Off Center, which has been evolving and showing continuous improvement.  It seems as though the DPW folks have taken the time to analyze what needs to be done to handle waste and keep tweeking the process.

    A few weeks ago a friendly greeter told us we could buy our 2009 permit stickers early as well as directed us into the best line for our drop-offs.

    At the December 2008 meeting of the Framingham Downtown Renaissance group, mention was made of a new permit that would be available for businesses as well as individuals.  Many small businesses will be glad to make use of that.

    The Framingham DPW may not know what “kaizen” is, but they seem to be practicing it.

    One thing we would like to see is a “put and take” or swap center so that usable items can be passed along to new owners instead of being scrapped.  In these tight times, it might really help residents as well as reducing waste removal costs.

  • Clara Barton and Framingham

    Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, who was known as “The Angel of the Battlefield” due to her extraordinary work in providing medical supplies to wounded Civil War soldiers, has Framingham connections. 

    As Massachusetts celebrates “Clara Barton Days” from December 25 – 31th, Framingham can claim Clara as a local heroine, even though she was born in Oxford, Mass.

    Clara was the daughter of Samuel Barton and Hannah Clayes Barton who moved from Framingham to North Oxford.  Hannah was the daughter of Sarah Clayes, one of the lucky women who escaped execution during the Salem Witch Trials.  Sarah’s story has been dramatized in the film “Three Sovereigns for Sarah.” 

    As a result of the witch hysteria and perhaps some undocumented help from Thomas Danforth, who was a judge in the witch trials and owned the land that they settled on, several families from Salem relocated to what became known as “Salem End” and then Salem End Road.  (The Clayes House stands in disrepair on Salem End Road in Framingham.)

    As a result of Clara’s work to help Civil War soldiers, in 1883 she was invited by the Governor Butler of Massachusetts, a former Union Army General, to return to Massachusetts and head up the Massachusetts Reformatory Prison for Women (now MCI-Framingham), the nation’s first women’s prison.

    She accepted a temporary assignment of six months and stayed for nine, making a very positive impact and proving that females could run the institution.

    There is a Clara Barton Museum, located on Barton Road, off Rt 12, in N. Oxford.  She is also honored with a plaque next to the statue of the Civil War Nurse in the Nurses Hall at the Massachusetts State House.

  • Global Warming “Town Meeting” at Framingham State College

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Framingham State College Professor Lisa Eck invites all interested members of the community to attend and participate in a Town Meeting on Global Warming that will take place Monday, April 30th, 2007 at 7 pm in the Athletic Center on the FSC campus.

    You’ve seen the Documentary, ” An Inconvenient Truth”, What Next ?

    Framingham State College invites all interested members of the community to participate in our campus wide initiative to educate ourselves on global warming, with an eye towards informed action. The Town meeting will be run as a question and answer session with Climate Activists Keith Bergman and Donna Kramer Merritt of the Climate Project and members of the FSC faculty – from Biology, Geography, Sociology and Philosophy.

    Everyone is welcome to attend.

    For more information, email Dr. Lisa Eck at leck@frc.mass.edu

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  • FREE LIFT Bus Service During Peak Shopping Days

    FRAMINGHAM, MA — Once Again the LIFT Public Transit System will be offering free bus service on select days during the holiday season. This year’s days are: Friday and Saturday, November 24 and 25, and Friday December 22, 2006. Shoppers can avoid parking lot headaches by using the Lift bus, especially the Lift 9 bus.

    The LIFT 9 bus provides direct service between the West Natick Commuter Rail station and the retail, residential, and employment hubs along Route 9 in Framingham, including Framingham State College, Shoppers World, the Natick Mall, Technology Park, and the 9/90 Corporate Center. LIFT 9 operates between 6:10 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

    With funding from the MBTA, the Executive Office of Transportation, and appropriations from the Town of Framingham, the LIFT Public Transit System has been undergoing constant enhancements to better serve its customers. Visit website for updates, promotions, schedule changes, maps, and other information.

    The LIFT office is located in Framingham’s Town Hall and is staffed by several customer service representatives. LIFT Office hours are: 8.30am – 5.00pm Monday – Friday, and the phone number is (508) 532-5459.

    If you have any questions or concerns and outside of office hours, please call: 1.800.649.6096 of visit the lift website at www.framinghamma.gov/lift

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  • State Rep. Debby Blumer Passes Away

    State Rep. Debby Blumer Passes Away

    Debby Blumer, MA State Rep
    MA State Rep. Debby Blumer, dies of apparent heart attack while driving, Friday, October 13, 2006.

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – On Friday, October 13th, fresh from one meeting and on her way to the next, State Rep. Debby Blumer apparently suffered a heart attack while at the wheel of her car, which rolled into a guard rail on Dudley Road.

    A police officer working a detail nearby ran to the car and administered CPR. A second officer left a nearby funeral procession and used a defibrillator but was unable to revive her. Blumer had had a mild heart attack some years ago and was taking medication and regular stress tests, and was under a doctor’s care.

    On Monday, October 16 at 10:30 a.m. family and friends will gather for services at Temple Beth Am, 300 Pleasant St., Framingham. The Blumer family home will have a memorial observance from Monday after the burial through Wednesday from noon to 9 p.m.

    Massachusetts State Representative Debby Blumer Donations in Blumer’s memory can be made to the Angel Fund at 649 Main St., Wakefield, MA 01880; Danforth Museum of Art at 123 Union Ave., Framingham, MA, 01702-8291; or the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.

    Blumer was elected as one of Framingham’s two state representatives in 2000 and was running unopposed for re-election this year. According to Secretary of State William Galvini’s office, it is too late to put a replacement name on the ballot and Blumer’s seat could be won by anyone eligible and willing to serve who gets the most votes on election day through a write-in campaign.

    Blumer was a full-time representative, always available to help her constituents. She was an active, valuable participant in several Framingham organizations and committees and a familiar face at area events. She leaves a big hole in the community and legislature and will be missed for her smiling, positive presence as well as her contributions.

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