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

Author: Deb Cleveland

  • Backpacking

    So the first day of school we looked out the window to see our neighbor’s daughter walking to school.  Well, struggling to stay upright.  She is slightly built and had a messenger bag on her hip that she was trying to balance.

    Soon after we saw other students on their way, with what looked like full backpacks.

    We have to wonder what was weighing they down?  Did they have every single thing that was on their teacher’s lists in the backpacks?  Where would they have room for their books in the backpacks?

    The teachers surely wouldn’t want them to bring in everything all at once?  They wouldn’t have time to use every binder and folder and gluestick on the first day.

    Somehow back to school has turned into pack to school.

  • Going Postal

    We went down to the Rt. 30 Post Office to get a passport for our son.  It was not the best of experiences.

    There was a poster with information about which forms to use, but no one manning the passport counter.   A gentleman in the line mentioned to the person behind him that he was going to step out of line to go ask where to go to get a passport.

    He was told to just get in the line.  It evolved that if you wanted a passport, or passport photo, you had to get in the regular line and get processed and pay, then the clerk would come out and take the photo.  This meant leaving one of the windows empty, to the frustration of those who needed regular service.  And there were only two clerks on duty at the time, although a third dropped in.

    It also meant a lot of extra questioning as the signage wasn’t there to explain the process.   Some of the clerks’ tones were a touch impatient, but customers can’t read minds, and getting a passport is an infrequent task.

    There has to be a better way.

  • BRUCE FREEMAN RAIL TRAIL SET TO OPEN SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2009

    FRAMINGHAM,MA — On Saturday, August 29, after more than 24 years of planning,working, and waiting, the 6.8-mile section of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail from Cross Point Towers in Lowell to Route 225 in Westford will officially open! This is the first completed section of the 25-mile rail trail that is planned to extend southward through Acton, Concord and Sudbury into Framingham.

    The MassHighway ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 10:00 am at Old Town Hall in Chelmsford Center, followed by a gala celebration sponsored by the Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail on the Chelmsford Town Common with music, balloons, and refreshments.

    The 6.8 miles of trail will be open, with activities suitable for children and adults scheduled from the ribbon cutting to 2:00 pm. Join the activities by using any non-motorized form of transportation, and enjoy this new trail. A barbecue with hot dogs, hamburgers, and soft drinks, for $1 each, will be available at Agway on Maple Road in Chelmsford from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm.

    This section of the planned 25-mile multi-use rail trail has been under construction for two years. The trail will be accessible to users of all ages and abilities. It traverses woods, wetlands,open fields, and shopping areas and also features an artwalk with renderings of historic Chelmsford buildings painted by local artists.

    The ceremony will be held rain or shine. We encourage you to take part in this day of celebration and fun!

    For further information please visit www.brucefreemanrailtrail.org

  • Many Happy Returns

    We admit it.  We do a fair amount of returning merchandise we changed our minds about keeping.  But we work within the return policies and deadlines, and always have our receipt ready.

    Lately, probably due to the economy, we have seen more people returning things when we are shopping.  From the looks of some things, we guess people looked around the house for things that they might be able to cash in to stretch their resources.

    We have waited in line while a woman looked through a half inch thick pile of receipts in her wallet for the one she needed.  We have waited while a cashier explains to customers, that without a receipt, they only receive credit if the item is still sold in stores, and at the lowest price within a specified period.

    We have waited while a cashier explains that without a receipt, and/or without a box or packaging, the store can’t take back an item.

    And we have heard customers rant that they never even opened the box, that its sat in their car for six months, so why shouldn’t they get some credit?  Would you want to buy a printer, or electronic device that had been in a car in this hot weather for days on end?

    By and large businesses around here are great about giving credit, or refunds for returns, even the grocery stores.   Receipts, prompt returns, and packaging make for smooth sailing and happier people behind you in line.

  • Teachers Appreciation Week at Office Depot August 16 – 22, 2009

    FRAMINGHAM, MA — Office Depot, Shoppers World, Rt. 9 W, celebrates teachers the week of August 16-22, 2009 by offering them 10 percent off school supplies. On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon there will be breakfast treats by Bruegger’s Bagels,and John Harvard’s Brew House. There will also be free gifts and coupons while supplies last.

    Teacher Breakfast with treats, gifts, and coupons on Sat, August 22

    Teachers who sign up for the free Office Depot STAR teacher program also receive 15 percent off in the copy and print center throughout the year. They will also be enrolled in the Worklife Rewards program, which gives them 10 percent credits on ink, toner, paper and 1 percent back in credits on other qualifying purchases.

    On Saturday, August 22, 2009 only, they will receive 50 percent back in rewards on products made by selected manufacturers, including Crayola, Expo, Papermate, Five Star, Sharpie, and Meade. See www.mystarteacher.com/tab or the local Office Depot store for details.

    Teachers and the general public can also help out their local schools by mentioning a pre-K – 12 grade school at the checkout. The school will receive 5 percent credit towards school supplies on qualifying purchases through the Office Depot 5% Back to Schools program.

    Teachers need to enroll in the free STAR Teacher program in order to receive the 10 percent discount. Enrollment is in-store and only takes a few minutes.

    Office Depot in Shoppers World is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The store’s phone number is: 508-620-5570.

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  • Neighborhood Landscapes

    Slowly but surely we have had to have our old maple trees cut down before they fell over in a storm, or dropped a heavy  branch on a car.  They sheltered so many of our life events. 

    Our kids enjoyed a hammock hung from its branches, and its shade while playing in the sandbox and running through the sprinkler.  Many a family meal cooked on the grill was enjoyed on a picnic table under a tree.  Our bunny’s hutch was shaded by a tree.  The trees also provided natural air conditioning for the west side of the house.

    Now, our previously cool kitchen is one of the hottest rooms in the house thanks to the sun beating in and we have less shade to relax under.

    We also cut down our hedges in the last few years and now have less privacy and more noise from the street.  But the lawn is easier to maintain, and the yard looks bigger.

    As we walk the neighborhood, we note that we can barely see some houses due to the overgrown trees.  On the other hand one house looks as though someone had called a tree company, and said, take them, take them all.

    Every single bush, shrub, and tree in front of the house, lining the boundary with the neighbor, and what we could see of the backyard was removed.   Only large areas of dirt where the trees were remain.  The house looks naked and now we can finally see it.

    What a difference a tree or vegetation makes. 

    There’s one house in Saxonville, very well kept, lawn always mowed, but there are no flowers, shrubs, or trees near the house or in most of the yard.  We itch to at least see a pot of flowers on the steps or something.  It is easy to maintain, but seems like an “i” without a dot, as though something is missing.

  • Planning Board Accepting Associate Member Applications

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – The Planning Board and Board of Selectmen are accepting letters of interest and qualifications from residents who would like to be considered for appointment as the Planning Board’s Associate Member. The term for this appointment is from the date of the appointment until July 1, 2010. This is a volunteer position.

    The Associate Member of the Planning Board serves in cases where the Planning Board acts as the Special Permit Granting Authority under the Framingham Zoning By-Law. These Public Hearings are generally held twice per month in the evening from 7:30 p.m. to approximately 10 p.m.

    The Chairperson of the Planning Board may require such Associate Member to be in attendance at special permit hearings, and may designate such Associate Member to sit on the Board for the purpose of acting on a special permit application in the case of absence, inability to act, or conflict of interest, on the part of any member of the Planning Board, or in the event of a vacancy on the Board.

    Desirable qualifications include, but are not limited to, an understanding, awareness and/or experience with the Framingham Zoning By-Law and the variety of development proposals that come before the Framingham Planning Board as well as insight into the land use issues that are of concern to town residents.

    Application forms are available online at www.framinghamma.gov

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  • Rack It Up

    The empty store front in Shoppers World on Rt. 9 W where Linens N Things was has signs announcing that Nordstrom Rack will be opening there.

    Nordstrom Rack is the company’s off-price retail division offering discounts on products from their mainline stores, Nordstrom.com, and special purchase items.  A big focus is name brand shoes.  Sounds a bit like what Filene’s Basement started out as, an outlet for the upstairs, upscale store.

    According to their website, and press releases appearing in various business news outlets, Nordstrom Rack will open in the spring of 2010 in the Shoppers World location.

    With so many large retail spaces vacant, this is a boon to Framingham, and to Developers Diversified Realty which owns the Shoppers World property.

    This store will provide jobs and will probably attract more shoppers from the wealthier communities, especially to the east of Framingham.

    For those curious about the store, this is the second Nordstrom Rack in Massachusetts.  You check it out in the Liberty Mall in Danvers.

  • Browsing for Bargains

    We have been cleaning and purging clutter and things that we just don’t need anymore.  We loaded up the pickup and took the useful items and clothes off to the St. Vincent de Paul store on Franklin St.

    After dropping off our donations, we wondered around.  A woman was talking to anyone who would listen about the miscellaneous fine china and glassware that she just found.  She said that she has made money on reselling things that she has found at shops like St. Vincent de Paul.  Other things she arranges on several shelves at home.

    She said that her children are just beginning to realize that her accumulation has value.  But, she said, if they don’t want to deal with it, she declared that they could bury it all with her, for future generations to discover and learn about life in our time from her collection.

    We didn’t find any china to interest us, although during one visit, a while back, we picked up some souvenir glasses from a Framingham High prom.

    We usually skip flipping through the racks, but today many of the items looked fresh and we did find some designer ties, including Oleg Cassini, for $ 1.39, and several pairs of better maker slacks in excellent condition, many with the dry cleaning tag still on them.   We also spied a department head doing a quick, brisk look through the racks, probably making the most of  her lunch hour.

    With more dedication, we probably could have found more items, but we are trying to have wiggle room in our closets.   It is also time-consuming to have to check each garment’s label for sizes, as the racks don’t seem to be arranged by sizes, just by category and gender.

    If anyone has some secrets to shopping at St. Vincent’s and the Salvation Army Store, please share.  We usually just donate and scoot as plowing through racks of faded clothing in search of the hidden gem takes time that we don’t have much of.

  • Pizza Picks

    Within the last week or so we went back to two restaurants that we hadn’t been to in a while, Bertucci’s and California Pizza Kitchen.

    Bertucci’s still has those great Tuscan rolls.  The small house salad was fresh and generous.  The Sporki was as good as we remembered it.

    California Pizza Kitchen was OK.  The Chipolte Chicken Pizza was new to us and interesting, and the White Pizza was fine.  We’ve enjoyed other places pizza more for a bit less money.  The Field Green Salad was generous and fresh and delish.

    We’ve become fans of The Villa in Wayland’s bacon pizza and we think there is a difference between take out and sit-down restaurant pizzas.

    What are your favorite places to eat pizza?  And your favorite take-out pizzas?  Recommendations?