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Author: Randy Harris

Occupy Framingham

Part of a poster for an Occupy Wall Street presentation at Framingham State University, Hemenway Hall, Thursday, November 3, 2011 from 4:30p.m.-5:30p.m.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – On Thursday, November 3rd, 2011 from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30p.m. students and professors who have been the Boston protests will hold a “A Campus Speak-out and Discussion“ and engage in an “exciting dialog about the growing movement to empower the non-wealthy 99% of Americans (including you)!” at Hemenway Hall, Room G32, Framingham State University, 100 State St., Framingham, MA.

The Framingham State University HRAC, (Human Rights Action Committee), is inviting anyone interested in hearing about and discussing the “Occupy” demonstrations which started with Occupy Wall Street, spread to Occupy Boston — and have since resulted in occupations in hundreds of other locations in the US and abroad.

On September 17, 2011, the occupy movement, spurred by discontent with how (more…)

October 28, 2011
Season’s First Snow Falls on Framingham

Employee's working evening shifts in Framingham area retail stores find their cars covered with wet snow from the year's first snowfall, Oct. 27, 2011.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – After raining all day, when temperatures dropped after sunset the rain first turned to sleet, then to snow, accumulating on unpaved surfaces across the town.

By 9:00pm a light coating of wet snow covered lawns, cars, shrubbery, rooftops and powerlines.

With weather reports predicting overnight temperatures would fall below freezing, the Town of Framingham sent out highway department vehicles to salt and sand the town’s roads.

Having to treat roads in October is doubly worrisome as a recent $1.5 million dollar budget calculation error has the Town’s Chief Financial Officer asking Town Meeting to approve removing $287k from this year’s snow and ice removal budget.

Snow on shrubbery, an unusual sight for October in Framingham.

Meteorologists are watching a low pressure air mass and precipitation which are moving up the United States’ east coast and could bring more snow to Framingham in the next few days if the weather arrives during the overnight when temperatures are low.

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October 27, 2011
Board of Health Not Chicken to Issue Permit

After arguing his own case before the Framingham Board of Health, Peter Jacobson proudly displays the permit he was granted to keep six chickens at his Maple Street home. (October 25, 2011)

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Some might think a Board of Health meeting would not draw much of a crowd, but the Tuesday October 25th, 2011 meeting of the Framingham Board of Health overflowed into the hallway outside the 2nd Floor Conference Room of Town Hall, (the Memorial Building).

Among other issues before the board, an application for a permit to keep chickens was on the agenda.

After a somewhat contentious debate, Peter Jacobson, a Framingham High School Junior was issued a permit keep six chickens at his Maple Street home.

While that would not be any news at all in many parts of the United States, it was a landmark decision of sorts — and an example of how the average citizen in Framingham — regardless of age, can be heard and have government address their needs and desires.

In Framingham, the BOH must issue a permit for anyone to keep even one chicken. Jacobson had submitted an application for a permit to keep six, and included a drawing of coop he plans to build himself.

Although he was accompanied by (more…)

October 26, 2011
A Bad Week of Bad Government

Framingham Town Hall, The Memorial Building

FRAMINGHAM, MA – This week Framingham residents witnessed a series of town government related issues that can’t be described as anything other than a train wreck that was waiting to happen.

Days before the Special Fall Town Meeting, with seven articles she had sponsored or co-sponsored on the Warrant, and several others that had monetary implications, Framingham Chief Financial Officer, (CFO), Mary Ellen Kelley announced she had made a $1.5 million dollar mistake calculating the Town’s operating budget.

While the majority of the Articles sponsored by the CFO had absolutely no supporting background material, a half dozen pages of extremely detailed figures were provided for a 1% COLA, (Cost Of Living Adjustment), pay raise for non-union municipal workers and department heads, followed by a one page “note” which explained how (more…)

October 23, 2011
Board of Selectmen Plan to Skirt Open Meeting Law

Framingham Board of Selectmen, (left to right) Laurie Lee, Charlie Sisitsky, Jason Smith, Ginger Esty and Dennis Giombetti.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – In an effort to skirt the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, (MG.L. Ch. 30A, Sec. 18-25), the Framingham Board of Selectman have decided to hold two sessions of a meeting with an out-of-town developer, where two Selectmen will first meet with representatives of the Nobscot Shopping Center, and then two more Selectmen will meet with the same party for the same purpose.

Selectmen are specifically working around the intent of the very definition of when a meeting with government officials should be open.

Section 18 (a) of the Open Meeting Law defines, “a session of a town meeting convened under section 9 of chapter 39 which would include the attendance by a quorum of a public body at any such session.”

The meeting(s), which will host Tom P. Geissler, Real Estate Asset Manager for SuperValu Inc., (NYSE: SVU), the Eden Prairie, Minnesota based company (more…)

October 22, 2011
Nobscot Shopping Center Progress Continues

New sign advertising that Nobscot Shopping Center is now actively attempting to lease out vacant stores. (photo courtesy of Rick McKenna)

FRAMINGHAM, MA – I have been lucky enough to be involved with the various parties interested in seeing the Nobscot Shopping Center revitalized, and today had a chance to discuss the center’s future with the point-man from the newly hired property management company.

Jeff Bruk of Boylston Realty Advisors has been tasked with leasing out the vacant stores in the shopping center.

Jeff has just planted his “FOR LEASE” sign in the shopping center’s parking lot, and has designed a Nobscot Shopping Center leasing information brochure to market the property, (it’s in PDF format, Adobe Acrobat reader is needed to view file)

I specifically asked Jeff about the former Texaco Gas Station which is part of the property, (located at the Edgell Rd. entrance to the plaza), and although they, (more…)

October 20, 2011
MWRTA Bus Collides with Car on Flutie Pass

Passenger side of compact car crushed from impact of MWRTA bus.

NATICK, MA – At approximately 4:20pm yesterday afternoon, (Tuesday, October 18, 2011), a bus operated by Framingham based MetroWest Regional Transit Authority, (MWRTA), collided with a BMW sedan behind the Natick Sears store.

The bus, (MWRTA #2), which was headed east on Flutie Pass struck the car as it was taking a left turn into Sears rear parking lot seriously injuring the car’s driver and also injuring at least three others.

Ambulances from Framingham and Wayland, Natick Police, Natick Fire & Rescue, MWRTA supervisory personnel and Natick Mall security staff quickly responded to the scene.

The entire passenger side of the car was (more…)

October 19, 2011
Pies On The Common Adds a Bit of Cheescake

Judy Jackson gets her copy of the ''CELEBRATION 2012'' calendar autographed by Mr. February at the First Parish in Framingham's annual ''Pies On The Common'' fair on Saturday, October 15, 2011

FRAMINGHAM, MA – It was a perfect fall afternoon to wander down to Framingham Centre for the 21st Annual Pies the Common craft show and pie sale — a fundraising event sponsored by First Parish in Framingham Unitarian Universalist Church.

Along with the pies, this year’s event featured a bit of cheesecake — the naked old guys from the First Parish in Framingham were there, (with their clothes on), autographing their now world-famous “CELEBRATION 2012” photo calendar.

Twelve gentleman from the First Parish, all between the ages of 64 and 87, posed au natural, (yup — that means “naked”), for a fund raising calendar which, “boldly proclaims the joys of being an older man whether 64 or 87 with whimsy and humor“.

News of the calendar has spread literally around the world, making headlines from (more…)

October 15, 2011
Callahan Senior Center Happenings for October 2011

Located at 535 Union Avenue, the Callahan Center is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Mon – Fri

FRAMINGHAM, MA – The following information is about activities and services at the Callahan Senior Center for the month of October, 2011.

NOTICE: Most of the activities, special programs and events listed below require signing up or advance reservation, (unless otherwise noted). Please do so in advance so activities can be scheduled effectively and in the appropriate space.

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New Member Orientation Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of every month. If you have just joined Callahan you might want to attend one of these meetings as we enjoy coffee and pastry, answer your questions and seek your input on activities. Please join us on October 11th from 9:30 – 10:00 AM.

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Come Say “So Long” to Mary Parcher

Mary Parcher will retire from the Callahan Center on Friday, October 14, 2011. In order to give all the seniors a chance to wish her well, there will be coffee and refreshments on Wednesday, October 12th from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. If you would (more…)

October 14, 2011
Dinner Dance to Benefit Curtis Family Thanksgiving

November 5th, 2011 – Dinner / Dance to benefit the Curtis Family Thanksgiving at The Eagles

FRAMINGHAM, MA – For the past 22 years, Mark and Karen Curtis who run The Eagles Grill on Park Street in Downtown Framingham have provided a free Thanksgiving meal to all who need or want one.

After several local churches, the Salvation Army and other civic organizations canceled their free Thanksgiving dinners for the needy the number of people depending on the Curtis Family Thanksgiving grew considerably.

Last year well over 1200 free dinners were served at The Eagles — and hundreds more meals were delivered to local elderly, disabled and shut-ins.

Until 2010, Mark and Karen never solicited donations, but faced with a growing number of people to feed, when the word went out that needs were growing, several individuals and organizations stepped up to support their efforts.

One way they raise money to feed so many people is by (more…)

October 4, 2011