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

Author: Deb Cleveland

  • International Press Descends on Framingham

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Traffic slowed and snarled and parking was at a premium around the Framingham District Courthouse on Concord St. on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006 as media and curious onlookers descended upon Framingham for the arraignment of Neil Entwistle on charges of the double homicide of his wife and daughter. Entwistle appeared in the Framingham Court because the district court issued the search and arrest warrant.

    Cameramen and their equipment had been camped out on the lawn, and TV satellite trucks staked out the parking lot in the days preceding the expected arrival of Entwistle from England.

    The parents and family of his wife attended the afternoon proceedings, the women carrying flowers. Entwistle barely looked at them.

    Framingham District Court Judge Robert Greco ordered Entwistle held without bail until his next day in court. Entwistle left the court in orange garb of a county jail inmate and faced the jeers of onlookers as well as a barrage of cameras and an International cadre of dozens of reporters as he left the courthouse for the Middlesex County Jail in Cambridge.

    Cameras and TV satellite trucks remained on the courthouse lawn and parking lot well into Thursday evening.

    ###

  • Tickets Now Available for “Salute to Framingham”

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – The 14th Annual Salute to Framingham will take place on March 15, 2006 at the Sheraton Tara Hotel in Framingham

    This year’s honorees are: Jim Carney, Margo Deane and Pam Hulme.

    To place an ad in the program book or buy to tickets go to www.Salutetoframingham.org or call (508) 879-4152.

    ###

  • New Director for Framingham Public Library

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Framingham Public Library staff welcomed new director Mark Contois with a meet and greet reception in the main library staff room on his first day, January 30th.

    Contois succeeds Tom Gilchrist, who worked as assistant, and then director for twenty years. Contois served as director of Palmer Public Library for the past ten years. Under his leadership, Palmer has been recognized as a leader in library services, programs, technology, fiscal support and building construction.

    Prior to being at the helm in Palmer, Contois was assistant director of the West Springfield Public Library for four years. He served as the Vice President of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System, President of the Palmer Downtown Partnership, and has served on the Board of Directors of Quaboag Valley Chamber of Commerce, Palmer Rotary Club, Literacy Volunteers of Quaboag Valley, and other organizations.

    Contois is married with three children, two of whom are now attending college. He received his graduate degree from Simmons College of Library and Information Science in 1989.

    ###

  • Pilot Study Group Forum Thursday Night

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Social Service Pilot and Comparative Impact Study Group Public Forum will be held on Thursday February 2, 2006, 7:00PM in the Public Hearing Room, Memorial Building, 150 Concord Street.

    Forum 1: Public Input

    Topic: “The Impact of Social Service Programs in Framingham”

    Process/Format: Those wishing to speak will sign their name on a sign in sheet at the front table visibly labeled “Sign in Here if You Wish To Speak“.

    Speakers will be asked to come up and speak to the committee by the Chair. The Chair will work within his power to ensure that as broad a range of viewpoints are heard throughout the night.

    Direct questions will be allowed from committee members to the speakers following initial comments, at the discretion of the Chair. Committee members wishing to ask a question of a speaker will do so only after being recognized by the Chair. Questions to the speakers must be relevant to the topic of the evening.

    Each speaker will have a maximum of 3 minutes for their initial comments. Additional time may be granted by the Chair to allow for response to questions/comments by the committee.

    Relevance of Comments: individuals making comments not pertinent to the topic “The Impact of Social Service programs in Framingham” will not be allowed to continue, but will be given an opportunity to get back “on track“.

    ###

  • Framingham Democrats Caucus on Sunday

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Registered Democrats in the Town of Framingham will be holding a caucus on Sunday, February 5, 2006, at the Cameron Middle School, 215 Elm Street, to elect 35 delegates and 3 alternates to the 2006 Massachusetts Democratic Convention. Registration opens at noon, with the caucus to begin at 1:00.

    The 2006 Democratic State Convention will be held on Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3, at the DCU Center in Worcester. At that time Democrats from across the state will gather to nominate candidates for the offices of U.S. Senator, Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Attorney General, Treasurer, and Auditor. The Convention will endorse Massachusetts Democratic Party’s candidate for Governor of the Commonwealth.

    The caucus is open to all registered Democrats in the Town of Framingham.

    All who wish participate in the caucus, either as candidates for delegate or alternate, or to vote for Framingham’s delegates, must be registered as Democrats in Framingham by December 31, 2005. Candidates for delegate and alternate must consent to nomination in writing and must be present at the caucus. All ballots will be written and secret. Those not elected as delegate and alternate, who meet the qualifications, may apply to be add-on delegates in the following categories: youth, minority, and disabled.

    Discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identify, sexual orientation, or economic status in the conduct of the caucus is strictly prohibited. Challenges to the delegate selection process can be filed with the Massachusetts Democratic Party, 56 Roland Street, North Lobby Suite 203, Boston, MA 02129, no later than ten days after the caucus date.

    Visit the Framingham DTC website www.framinghamdems.org for information on running for delegate or alternate. The website has instructions on participating in the caucus, as well as a schedule of Town Committee meetings. Contact Norma Shulman, Chair of the Framingham Town Committee, 508-877-5377, shulman22@rcn.com, for more information.

    Additional information can also be obtained from the Democratic State Committee at (617) 776-2676 or www.framinghamdems.org

    ###

  • Enduring Tributes Campaign Launched

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Over the past few months the concept of a major fundraising project to benefit Fine Arts Education in the Framingham Public Schools has taken shape and the process of communicating and informing the various constituencies in town has begun.

    Since early December, a small planning group has met with School Superintendent Dr. Martes, the Framingham School Committee and most recently with the PTO Presidents Council. The Enduring Tributes Campaign has received widespread and enthusiastic support from everyone. One school committee member even asked, “Can I give you a check tonight!”

    The Enduring Tributes Campaign will benefit all public school students K-12 in Framingham in the area of Fine Arts education. The campaign is designed to raise funds for capital investments and programming resources that will truly add value above and beyond current fine arts department funding levels. As the campaign is introduced, the organizers will be sharing some of the possible ways in which our students and thus our town will benefit. At the heart of the project is the sale of naming rights for each of the seats in the soon to be renovated FHS auditorium and similar facilities at Walsh, Fuller and Cameron Middle Schools. Other naming opportunities will be considered for other Fine Arts related spaces.

    The Town of Hull Massachusetts, one fifth the size of Framingham, recently raised $50,000 for Fine Arts Education through a similar campaign….we can do much more!

    Today the invitation goes out for active support for the Enduring Tributes Campaign organizing committee. In particular, the committee appeals to parents of current and former students in all schools with interest in theater, music and the visual arts, and anyone else with a strong interest in the benefits of Fine Arts education to the creation of a truly outstanding public school system.

    This initial information piece is specifically intended to inform Framingham residents of the Enduring Tributes Campaign project and to invite interested parties to a planning and organizing meeting on Monday February 6 at 7:00PM in the new Studio 100 Theater Room at FHS.

    If you have any questions in advance, please contact either David & Penny Hurwitz (508-877-6424) or Michael & Nancy O’Connell (508-875-3203)

    ###

  • No Afternoon Kindergarten / Preshool due to Snow

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Framingham Public Schools will have no afternoon kindergarten or afternoon preschool today, Monday, January 23, 2006, due to the snowstorm.

    ###

  • Neighborhood Forums

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Framingham Selectmen invite residents to a series of neighborhood forums to be held at local schools. The Board would like to hear from residents about their priorities and concerns. The information can help them in hiring the next town manager.

    Each forum starts at 7 p.m. except for the Callahan Center. The schedule is as follows: Wednesday, January 18th, McCarthy School; Monday, January 30, Stapleton School; Thursday, February 2nd, Callahan Senior Center (10 a.m.); Wednesday, February 8th, Brophy School; Monday, February 13th, Hemenway School.

    ###

  • Framingham Streets: What’s in a Name?

    FRAMINGHAM,MA – The Framingham Historical Society & Museum, (FHSM), invites the public to come and find out how streets in Framingham were named. The program Street Smarts, “What’s in a name?”, will unlock the mysteries of street naming in Framingham on Sunday, January 22, at 2 p.m. at the Edgell Memorial Library.

    Ed Convery, former Framingham teacher and principal and former President of FHSM will particularly explore the history of the Musterfield and how the streets were named. He will answer questions such as: whose field was this, what is the meaning of muster, what is an arsenal, and why were the streets named after WWII battles.

    In conjunction with the program, several retired green and white street signs will be available for purchase for only $10 each in the Edgell Memorial Library gift shop.

    All welcome and refreshments will be served.

    Snow date is Sunday, January 29th.

    For further information call 508-872-3780.

    ###

  • TWO VENERABLE FRAMINGHAM ORGANIZATIONS MERGE

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – On Wednesday evening, January 11, the Framingham Historical Society & Museum (FHSM) and the Framingham Improvement Association (FIA) made history when members unanimously voted to merge the two organizations.

    The intent is to combine operations and resources to enhance the ability to create a restored, historic campus around Framingham Centre Common.

    Both organizations are involved with town-owned historic buildings. Currently the FHSM occupies and leases the Old Academy Building on Vernon St. facing the Centre Common and the Edgell Memorial Library Building on Oak St., also facing the Common. The FIA leases the Village Hall, the stately building with pillars on the south side of the Centre Common.

    The Old Academy once housed an esteemed school, where General George H. Gordon, who served with honor in the Mexican-American War and trained Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, who commanded the 54th Massachusetts Black Regiment of “Glory” fame, was a student. Now the building houses three centuries of Framingham’s history, from Native American artifacts to Civil War items through Christa McAuliffe memorabilia.

    The Edgell Memorial Library was built of local materials as the town’s first public library and a living memorial to the Framingham men who served in the Civil War. It now showcased FHSM exhibits and gift shop.

    The Village Hall was built in 1834 to serve as Framingham’s Town Hall. When the town outgrew it, it fell into disrepair, until the Framingham Improvement Association was formed around the Turn of the last Century and raised funds to renovate it and add the lovely portico facing the Common. Periodically it has fallen onto hard times and citizens have rallied to restore it. It has seen historic debates and events through the years and is currently rented out for weddings, anniversaries, and other celebrations.

    As the Town-Owned Building Task Force recommended that the town entrust the buildings to the FHSM and FIA via long-term leases, the two organizations decided to join forces to come from a position of strength when negotiating with the town and with applying for funding via grants and donations.

    Prior to the vote, discussion touched on concerns about the current condition of the buildings, how much the town would put into the buildings before the organizations would take them on, how much utilities would be for the three buildings, how the upkeep would be funded, how to increase revenue from rentals of the Village Hall and Edgell Library, and engaging the membership and the public in supporting the buildings, whether by private donations and by encouraging town meeting to vote funding towards long overdue repairs.

    Members of the public interested in the preservation of the buildings are urged to join the FHSM and encourage town meeting to vote funding towards the immediate pressing repairs to the buildings before the FHSM can shoulder the responsibility for them. Donations are needed and welcome, as well as help with securing grant dollars.

    ###