FRAMINGHAM, MA – In 1992, the Salute to Framingham was created to honor individuals for their outstanding commitment and service to Framingham’s youth. Since then, the Salute to Framingham has become one of Framingham’s most celebrated annual events. This year’s honorees join a select group of people who have made a real difference in the lives of the children of Framingham.
On Thursday, March 24th, Salute to Framingham will honor Michael Grilli and Joey Sementelli.
In addition to these honorees, the Salute program also recognizes Framingham teachers and staff who make each day “special” in our public schools. We also acknowledge graduating FHS students who positively impact the school community.
This year, the Salute to Framingham will present the Jim O’Connor Community Service Award to F-SEPAC (Framingham Special Education Parent Advisory Council). Named for former FHS Athletic Director and founder of the Salute to Framingham, this award honors an organization whose work benefits the youth of Framingham. Framingham Special Education Parent Advisory Council is co-chaired by Cheryl Caira and Susan Arndt.
The Salute to Framingham Dinner will take place on Thursday, March 24th at the Sheraton Framingham Ballroom. Complete details and ticket information are available at:
Proceeds from the Salute to Framingham benefit the Framingham High School Foundation. All proceeds from the event are used to benefit FHS students by supporting activities, the arts, and athletics at the school.
The Framingham Planning Board is running an online "Master Plan Survey".
FRAMINGHAM, MA – The Town of Framingham Planning Board has been working on updating the Town’s Master Plan for nearly a year.
The Master Plan is laid out on a map which takes into account local long range planning efforts, (and is influenced by initiatives undertaken by State and regional planners).
After reviewing the Town’s Master Plan last summer, the Planning Board hosted a series of public forums; an “Open Space, Conservation and Recreation” forum, one regarding Economic Development and others to get input from individual neighborhoods.
In November (2010) a draft of an updated Master Plan was drawn based on that input along with past planning initiatives, current land use, proposed and in-progress capital (more…)
Framingham Neighbor Brigade – ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors’ Network Provides Helping Hand for Local Residents in Crisis
FRAMINGHAM, MA – Tapping into the nation’s growing spirit of volunteerism, Neighbor Brigade, today announced the launch of its Framingham chapter, adding to its proven “neighbors helping neighbors” network.
With chapters throughout New England, Neighbor Brigade is a non-profit organization that transforms local communities into caring centers where volunteers are mobilized to help their neighbors during times of crisis.
Unlike existing for-profit family support services, Framingham Neighbor Brigade is made up of neighborhood volunteers and is completely free of charge. Using the most current Web-based community-building tools, Neighbor Brigade helps supplement where immediate family and friends cannot cover the day-to-day household needs of those experiencing a sudden family tragedy, trauma or critical illness, such as providing local rides, preparing meals and running small errands. Neighbor Brigade services are (more…)
The Meals on Wheels program in Framingham is administered by Baypath Edler Services, Inc.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – Meals on Wheels urgently needs volunteer drivers for Framingham area routes!
Meals on Wheels, (the oldest and largest senior nutrition program in the USA), is administered locally by Baypath Elder Services, Inc, of Marlborough.
Meals on Wheels provides and delivers hot lunches Monday through Friday to home-bound seniors in Framingham and surrounding communities.
The Framingham routes are part of a four town area, (Framingham, Ashland, Holliston and Hopkinton). Drivers for these towns all pickup the hot meals at the Ashland Senior Center, then deliver them to (more…)
FRAMINGHAM, MA – The Town of Framingham’s automated emergency phone system dialed town residents twice today.
The first call was to announce that the National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for today — from noon on Sunday, December 26, 2010 until Monday, December 27 at 6:00pm, and the town could expect 15″ to 20″ snow.
Residents were advised that there would be no parking on all artierial roads, (which are posted with red and white signs). Also, the call advised that although standard odd/even parking was in effect for all non-arterial roads, that residents were advised to seek off street parking as vehicles will be towed if they interfere with plowing operations.
A second call came advising residents that no trash pickup would occur on Monday December 27, 2010, and reminding residents not to place trash or recycling recepticles on the curb (as snow cleanup will likely still be taking place).
Monday would have been a heavy trash day as it will be the first scheduled trash pickup day after Christmas. In past years, before the phone alert system was in place and used for such notices some residents would put trash out that would not get picked up, and it would either hinder snow plowing — or barrels were hit by plows causing a mess, (needless to say, the barrels did not fare well).
Trash and recycle schedules are moved up by one day, (e.g.- if your trash was to go out Monday, it should be put out Tuesday instead — if your regular day is Tuesday, put it out Wednesday, etc).
If you have questions or problems regarding either snow removal or trash pickup, contact the Framingham Department of Public Works, (Highway Division or Solid Waste Division), at (508) 532-6030.
For (non-emergency) issues related to parking during the storm, (vehicle blocking a street, parking questions, etc), contact the Framingham Police at (508) 872-1212.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – It will probably be several hours before Santa makes it to Framingham, or even to the New England coast.
Luckily with the help of NORAD, (The North American Aerospace Defense Command), you can track Santa’s progress and see him fly in and out of suburban cities, country towns and rural villages as he makes his way around the world for Christmas 2010.
When we last checked he was in Bignona, Senegal and headed for Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands.
We zoomed in on the map to see how many stops Santa had to make and saw (more…)
Ice sculptures are one of the First Night Boston crowd favorites and are display throughout the city. Larger carvings can be found in Copley near the Boston Library, and along Boston Common, the Frog Pond and other locations around the city. This massive creation was a life size Arctic Wonderland with carved Walrus, Narwhales, Polar Bears, Penguins and huge ice-bergs floating in a sea of ice in front of Boston Public Library.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – Below are just some of the events being held on New Year’s Eve, Friday, December 31, 2010 in Framingham and other local towns as well as Boston and Worcester “First Night” info.
If you plan to attend one of the dances, parties or other events which require reservations — be aware that some of these events sell out quickly and you should confirm your plans as early as possible.
For those planning on heading into Boston or Worcester for First Night 2011 celebrations we’ve posted info about Framingham Commuter Rail and “T” service for New Year’s Eve.
~ New Year’s Eve 2011 ~
~ Events in Framingham ~
New Year’s Eve at Nobscot’s Café – New Years Eve featuring (more…)
The Christa McAuliffe Branch of the Framingham Public Library is located on the corner of Water St. and Nicholas Rd. in Saxonville.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – I got my first library card at the Saxonville Branch Library when I was about 8 years old. That was in the late 1960’s.
In 1988 the library was rededicated as the Christa McAuliffe Branch, after Christa, who grew up in Framingham, graduated from Marian High School in 1966 and from Framingham State College in 1970 was killed in the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle explosion and after beating out every other applicant for the honor of becoming the “First Teacher in Space”.
I’m probably prejudiced by the fact that I’ve been going to that library for over 40 years now — but I don’t think Framingham should move the McAuliffe Library to Nobscot.
For several years the Framingham Library Trustees have been trying to convince the Town to spend millions of dollars to build a new McAuliffe library.
The arguments for a new library have all been made; the current building was designed for 1/5 of the patrons it serves and books it holds; the building is not ADA compliant; the parking is across the street; and generally that it’s just too small.
The idea that the State and Federal Government keep offering millions of dollars in matching funds grants for the construction of libraries drives local bibliophiles crazy. “Matching funds” are the operative words.
In 2004, after years of being on a waiting list for construction money, the McAuliffe Branch was awarded $1.65 Million as a provisional Library Construction Grant
There was a hitch though — the community had to come up with the rest of the $5 Million to retain the grant and build the library.
In a Special Town Meeting, March 15th, 2005 , Article 2 on the Warrant asked Town Meeting Members to vote in favor of the funds, (to build a new library on the Pinefield Shopping Center property).
The article failed to get the required two-thirds of TMM votes. The grant expired in May of 2005, but the idea of building a new library didn’t.
Formerly called the Saxonville Branch, the building which currently houses the Christa McAuliffe Branch of the Framingham Public Library may close when and if a new library is built in Nobscot.
In December 2005, improvements were made to the McAuliffe Branch for handicapped accessibility.
Recently the sidewalks were redone, the front entrance was expanded and a raised, textured walkway connecting the library to the parking lot across the street was added.
Library Trustees are now asking for even more money to build a $6.5 Million dollars library in Nobscot.
The old arguments and new plans are being bolstered by the fact that a larger grant is now available, but with the caveat that the Town will need to spend more to get it.
The logic reminds me of shoppers who fall for advertising that claims; “The More You Spend The More You Save!“. The truth is, the more you spend — the more you spend.
With that said, it may seem strange that I am 100% in agreement with the plan to build a library in Nobscot. But, even if money was not an issue, (which it is), I just don’t like the idea of closing the Saxonville / McAuliffe Branch when Nobscot gets back its library, (Nobscot used to have a library — I’ll get to that in a minute).
The latest plan is to build a 17,000 square foot library in Nobscot to replace the 5000 sq. ft. one now in use in Saxonville.The new library is slated to be built on land next to the Nobscot Shopping Center.
In November 2010, the Library trustees put out an “RFP”, (Request for Proposals). Only two proposals came in. One from the owner of Pinefield Shopping Center offering to sell the Town 2 acres at double its current value, and a second much more generous offer from the Rousseau family.
The Rousseaus are offering to sell the Town five parcels of land located next to the Nobscot Shopping Center. The parcels total 3.7 acres of land, and in such a prime location, the deal is practically a give-away. The Rousseau’s are asking $739,800 — which is only the assessed value of the property.
Five parcels of land owned by the Rousseau family are the site of a proposed new Nobscot library. The properties, located along Water Street abut the Nobscot Shopping Center and railroad property.
Newcomers to Framingham may not recognize the Rousseau name. The family has been involved with business and development in Framingham for almost a century. The 1950’s Albie’s Oil truck with its distinctive brown paint — which is now only seen in parades and car shows — is probably the most recognizable icon of the Rousseau family’s Framingham legacy.
Albie’s Oil was established in 1932 and operated along with a gas station on the corner of School St. and Concord St. in Saxonville until the year 2000. The family trust also owns several other Framingham properties strategically purchased decades ago next to railroad lines and other major intersections of transportation and commerce.
This home located at 746 Water St., in Framingham sits on the proposed site for new Nobscot Library.
The main house sitting on the 746 Water Street (front) lot with it’s Mansard style roof could be renovated into a very suitable temporary library for far less than the millions now being proposed for a new building.
The Town should take to opportunity to buy the Nobscot land — personally, I think the site is an excellent location for a library — and so did earlier inhabitants of Framingham.
Back in the late 1990’s, Bill Dyan, a local history buff, discovered a small building that looked like an oversized chicken coop sitting near the railroad tracks about 50 feet back from Water Street on the Rousseau property.
Bill’s research uncovered facts that it was much more than a chicken coop — it was (and is) an irreplaceable piece of Framingham history.
Restored Nobscot Post Office (c.1878), which also served as a Library and Railroad Ticket Office.
The multi-use building had once served as Framingham’s oldest Post Office, and from 1905 to 1953, half of the building’s 12’x24′ space was used as a library, (called the “Nobscot Depository).
Aside from postal and library duty, the 300 square foot building also served as a railroad office, with a ticket window in back facing the railroad tracks.
In June of 2000, in time for the Town of Framingham Tercentennial, and thanks to Bill Dyan’s and other’s efforts and donations, the building was restored and moved across Water Street, where it sits opposite the proposed site for a new Nobscot Library.
Framingham’s north side has gotten by with a branch in just Saxonville for the past 50 years, and one in just Nobscot for 50 years before that — wouldn’t it be nice if both villages had their own libraries?
My proposal, one I believe which has a better chance passing a Town Meeting vote, is for the Town to buy the entire piece of Nobscot land, but build a smaller library — about 10,000 square feet, and leave the Saxonville Branch open. The old Nobscot Post Office / Library could be moved back across the street to its original location (next to the railroad tracks) as a historic feature on the new library grounds.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – After months of planning, casting, rehearsing and finally performing the play — “The Laramie Project” closed after its second sellout night at Framingham High School.
I didn’t see the play. I’ll admit to never going to a play unless my kid was in it. What I did see and hear were an incredible amount of civil rights “in action” and discussed and debated in the schools and on the streets of Framingham.
The photo of Matthew Shepard on this page is so nobody forgets that the The Laramie Project is about a murder. A 21 year old kid was killed by two cowards. The murderers attempted to use the fact that Matthew Shepard was gay as an excuse for how their planned robbery went very wrong.
The killers were Meth-heads. They were too lazy to work for a living. The robbery was all about “getting money for drugs“. They singled out (more…)
Early a.m. police barricade at A St. and Concord St. as police control traffic near Framingham High School.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – Under the cover of darkness T.V. news trucks quietly pulled into the old State Lumber parking lot at the corner of School Street and Concord Street.
It was still before dawn as reporters fixed their hair, straightened their jackets and ties, and cameramen readied their equipment.
The Assignment: Get some film of the Westboro Baptist Church members who are in town to protest the play, “The Laramie Project“.
The controversial play is about the murder of a gay 21 year old University of Wyoming student, Matthew Shepard, who was beaten and left to die in 1998 and how the community dealt with the issue.
The Westboro Baptist group travels around the country protesting the play, but are perhaps even better known for protesting at the funerals of US Soldiers who were killed in war.
The play will be performed at Framingham High School tonight and (more…)
