Author: Deb Cleveland

  • Ugliest Tomato Contest

    FRAMINGHAM, MACan you grow the ugliest tomato in Framingham? Bring your fresh picked “Ugliest Tomato” to the Framingham Farmers’ Market on Thursday, August 24th, 2006. Enter your homely homegrown for a chance to win a full basket of fresh farmer’s market products.

    The winner will be selected by market-goers’ popular vote. So, if you don’t have a tomato, come anyway to vote and buy fresh produce, bakery, and maple products from 12:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    The Framingham Farmers’ Market is held every Thursday afternoon, 12:30 – 5:30 p.m., on the Edgell Rd side of the Framingham Centre Common through October.

    For information about the market and about the Ugliest Tomato Contest, speak to Elizabeth Aurelio, the market manager, or email her at: framinghammarket@comcast.net.

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  • Annual Fall Bulb and Perennial Sale

    FRAMINGHAM, MA –The Middlesex Conservation District will be holding its annual Fall Bulb and Perennial Sale on Friday September 22 from 3-6 pm, and Saturday September 23 from 8am – 12 noon.

    Pre-order through August 26

    The Sale will be held at the 4H Fairgrounds on South Chelmsford Road in Westford, MA. All items can be pre-ordered through August 26 and picked up on the sale days – we encourage early ordering as all items are sold on a first come, first served basis. To place an order, you can download an order form from our website at www.middlesexconservation.org, or call 978-692-9395 to request a brochure. Offerings will include daffodils, tulips, specialty bulbs, perennials, and hardgoods such as deer repellent, kitchen scrap buckets, and fertilizers. We will also be selling excess first quality stock on the days listed above.

    The Middlesex Conservation District is a not-for-profit environmental agency whose purpose is conservation of natural resources in Middlesex County. Proceeds from our biannual plant sales provide programs to improve water quality and quantity, for preservation of open space and erosion control and provide environmental education. For more information about our sale or programs please visit www.middlesexconservation.org.

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  • NASCAR #99 at Office Depot, Shoppers World – July 13, 2006

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – The Office Depot #99 Ford Fusion driven by NASCAR superstar Carl Edwards will be at Office Depot, Shoppers World on Thursday, July 13th, from 3 – 7 p.m.

    Racing games, photos, raffles, more!

    Come and have your picture taken with the Office Depot # 99 Ford Fusion racecar. Test your skills with electronic racing games. Race remote controlled cars. You could win Office Depot racing prizes, and enter for a chance to win a Richard Petty Driving Experience.

    All are welcome to this free event at Shoppers World, 1 Worcester Rd., Rt. 9 W, Framingham.

    For more information about Carl Edwards and NASCAR, visit www.officedepotracing.com. For event information, call 508-620-5570.

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  • Godzilla Returns to Framingham

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Godzilla returns to Framingham July 1st – August 31st.

    After the success of last years “Celebrating 50 Years of Godzilla” Exhibit at the Framingham Public Libary, Godzilla fan and graphic artist Andrew Wong is back to share his passion for Godzilla & Japanese Special Effects series with fellow Fans and the Framingham Community.

    Wong is presenting not only extensive exhibits of his Godzilla collection, but also organizing a film festival and a free event with a costume contest and video game competition.

    This will be the first Ultra G-Con event held in MA. The event is free, non profit and designed to share and expose the Kaiju Eiga (Monster Movie) & Tokusatsu(Special Effects) genre to future generations of fans.

    Wong has created a website dedicated to his collection and exhibition at: http://www.people.umass.edu/awong1/gcon/info.htm.

    Visit his website for information about the exhibit, convention, and other Godzilla related happenings at the Framingham Public Library this summer.

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  • FHS GIRLS LACROSSE ARE CHAMPS!

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – The Framingham High School Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team won the State Championship on Friday, June 16 in a squeaker overtime game. The final score was 13 – 12 in the MIAA State Final Division 1 Game versus East Longmeadow at Bowditch Field.

    The team’s bus was escorted through Framingham with a siren blasting police and fire truck escort. Concerts on the Green concertgoers on Framingham Centre gave the team waves and cheers.

    Congratulations!

  • Discover Saxonville on June 10th & 11th

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Discover Saxonville on the weekend of June 10th and 11th. This year the Friends of Saxonville are inviting you to re-discover the restored Danforth St. Bridge, the Sudbury River, and historic Saxonville as part of National Parks Service’s Regional Riverfest!

    On Sunday, June 11, Friends of Saxonville joins in the Celebration with its annual Discover Saxonville event. The day begins with a 7:00 am. Bird Walk along the Carol Getchell Nature Trail hosted by Michele Grzenda of the Framingham Conservation Commission. At 9:00 a canoe and kayak trip leaves Kellogg Street and travels the Sudbury River to Centennial Place. At 10:30 inside the historic Athenaeum, guests may see the presentation “Stormwater Matters”,then at 11 a.m. take a guided walking tour through Saxonville’s Historic District, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

    The walking tour finishes with a lunch party, complete with balloons, hot dogs, chips and drinks…plus free ice cream social, raffle, student art exhibit and storm drain activities from 12-2 upon the newly restored Old Danforth Street Bridge.

    At 2:00 pm, there will be an official dedication of a newly installed kiosk, designed by Framingham landscape architect Julie Ferrari and built by Keefe Tech, displaying interpretive panels and offering a water/storage resource for the Nature Trail and planned park surrounding the bridge and trail area.

    A twilight fundraiser, “A Sunset Celebration in Saxonville”, featuring music by Late Night Radio, wine, hors d’oevres, student art exhibit and desserts, will take place from 6-8 pm upon the Old Danforth Street Bridge, a unique location where preserved history meets with a nationally recognized “Wild and Scenic” river environment.

    Schedule of Events:

    Saturday June 10:

    • 1-3 p.m. River Kayak Scavenger Hunt

    Sunday June 11:

    • 7:00 a.m. Bird Watch – Carol Getchell Nature Trail
    • 9:00 a.m. Canoe Kayak Trip from Central Street at Kellogg Street
    • 10:30 a.m. “Stormwater Matters” presentation at the Athenaeum
    • 11:00 a.m. Historic Walking Tour – departs from Athenaeum
    • 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Lunch Party on the Old Danforth Street Bridge, including an Ice Cream Social, Raffle, and Storm Drain Activities
    • 2:00 p.m. Dedication of the new Information Kiosk at the bridge
    • 6-8 p.m.Twilight Wine & Cheese Fundraiser – Old Danforth Street Bridge

    All event proceeds benefit Friends of Saxonville.

    For more information and/or for fundraiser tickets ($25/evening) phone Charlene at 508-330-3252 or visit www.saxonville.org

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  • Friday Night Summer Concerts a Go

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – The popular summer “Concerts on the Green” on the Centre Common on Edgell Road are now funded due to last minute donations by large and smaller businesses and individuals.

    According to Jim Egan, Director of Building Services for the Town of Framingham, who orchestrates the concerts, Whole Foods Markets came forward with a $ 5000 donation, matching one from The Middlesex Savings Bank. Individuals and businesses, including Kathy Foran, of Realty Executives, Mark Galante, of Exit Realty, and framingham.com, also pledged donations to make this year’s series possible.

    Adesa-Boston, Bernardi Motor Group, TD BankNorth, MetroWest Daily News made initial contributions, but the recent donations helped Egan meet the $ 20,000 required to fund the program.

    The concerts will run from June through the end of August. The first concert is Friday, June 2, featuring the perennial favorite band, Tailspin. Watch for the full schedule on framingham.com soon.

    The Downtown Concerts, on the Common opposite The Fabric Place will be on Thursday nights starting in mid-June. Schedule will also be posted on framingham.com. The shorter Downtown series is funded separately with support from the Framingham Rotary Club.

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  • Business Planning Workshop

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – The Town of Framingham Planning and Economic Development Division is holding a free workshop on May 25, 2006 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. entitled Business Planning I Getting Started in the Costin Room of the Framingham Public Library, 49 Lexington Street Framingham. This workshop is being held as part of the Town’s efforts to assist small businesses in Framingham.

    The workshop will be led by Peter Allen, Raul Banerjea, and Ken Harvey of the Worcester branch of Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). SCORE is an organization which provides free counseling on a wide variety of topics targeting smaller businesses. This is the second in a series of workshops that the Framingham Planning and Economic Development Division is offering to assist small businesses.

    This free workshop is open to Framingham residents and business owners.

    Please contact Karen Hayes of the Framingham Planning and Economic Development Division, by phone (508-532-5455) or E-mail (kjh@framinghamma.gov) for additional information.

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  • Free Homebuyer Fair at Nevins Hall

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – A free Homebuyer Fair will be held Monday, May 22nd, 2006 6:30-8:30 PM, Nevins Hall, in the Memorial Building, 150 Concord St, Framingham.

    The Framingham Fair Housing Committee, in conjunction with the Metrowest Daily News, is inviting all interested prospective homebuyers to a free informational event presenting information that will walk you through home-buying basics. Area resource businesses and services will be on hand to assist you with questions, and help you begin or continue the process of preparing for a home purchase. One-on-one consultations are available.

    There will be basic information for first time homebuyers, links to additional resources, and information in Spanish and Portuguese. Resources will include: Banks, Credit Unions, Realtors, Home Inspection Services, Moving Companies, Pest Control Services, Legal Advice, and Public Financing. Considering buying a house and need help or advice? They’ll give you information that will help you get started, and get you into your own place.

    For more information, contact Framingham Fair Housing 150 Concord Street Memorial Building, Framingham MA (617) 889-7781, ask for Cindy Higgins OR (508) 620-4852, ask for Beverly Kaplan.

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  • Popular Summer Concerts in Jeopardy

    FRAMINGHAM, MA — Today, Jim Egan, Director of Buildings for the Town of Framingham, announced the popular Friday night summer “Concerts on the Green” are in jeopardy of cancellation.

    The concert series, scheduled to commerce on Friday, June 2 and run through September 1, 2006 is seriously underfunded and the department is taking a hard look at cancelling it.

    The schedule of musical artists and groups has been booked for the fourteen week season, but there is not enough money pledged to fund them. Like the Framingham Flag Day Parade, funding for musical groups comes from private sources, not from town funds.

    Letters requesting funding have gone out to area businesses, but to date only Adesa-Boston, Bernardi Motor Group, TD BankNorth, MetroWest Daily News, and framingham.com have committed to sponsorship with cash or in-kind services. The series is managed through the Building Services Department and requires approximately $ 20,000 annually.

    Egan is hopeful that businesses will step up to the plate for this free series enjoyed by hundreds of families and seniors each summer Friday.

    For information on sponsorships, call Jim Egan at Building Services, 508-532-5485.

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