Category: General Interest

  • 2010 Boston Marathon Info

    2010 Boston Marathon Info

    Illustration of Wheelchair racers 101st Boston Marathon, (c)RMH 1997, all rights reserved.

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – The 114th Running of the Boston Marathon will take place on Monday, April 19, 2010.

    Marathoners will leave the Hopkinton starting line in groups and waves starting at 9:00am. With up to 25,000 expected to participate this year, it will take an hour and a half to get all the marathoners over the starting line and headed towards Boston.

    The schedule below lists the groups and starting times: (more…)

  • Pepsi Offers Grant Money for Local Projects

    FRAMINGHAM, MAMoney. In then end, many good ideas comes down to the answer to the simple question, “How will we pay for it?”

    Pepsi to the rescue! Through it’s “Refresh Everything” webiste, Pepsi is offering grants ranging from $5K to $250k each month for projects “which are intended to improve communities through an online, democratic voting process”.

    The basic concept is (more…)

  • Framingham On-street Parking Changes

    Framingham On-street Parking Changes

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – New parking regulations based on findings and recommendations by the Framingham Traffic and Roadway Safety Committee, (TRSC), and approved by the Framingham Board of Selectman have significant implications for those who want to, or need to park “on street” in Framingham.

    Photo of Framingham's new odd/even parking signs, (April 2010)
    Framingham's new parking signs take a bit of reading. This one is at motorist eye-level at the intersection where Speen Street meets Old Connecticut Path.

    Placement of new signs, and the removal of other signs has cleared up confusion about where and when you can park, (and caused confusion in others areas).

    The major points of the new parking regulations are;

    • Overnight on-street parking [of passenger cars] is now allowed, (so long as parking is not prohibited by other parking regulations). Effective January 1, 2010
    • On-street parking is now regulated by a year-round odd/even system.  (Parking is allowed on even numbered side of street in even number years, odd numbered side in odd number years). Effective May 1, 2010.
    • The (2) hour on-street parking restriction is being eliminated townwide; but, in two “zones”, (the Framingham Center/State College area, and the Downtown Framingham / Hospital area), there will now be a  (3) hour parking limit from 6AM to 6PM, (Monday through Friday).  Effective May 1, 2010.

    These new regulations are the outcome of several public meetings where input from residents, from Town departments, as well as input from business owners and other (more…)

  • Flood Pushes Back Income Tax Filing Deadline

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – The rains that soaked the region at the end of March 2010 caused enough damage to have several Massachusetts counties declared Federal Disaster Areas.

    If you live in one of the affected counties, (Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk or Worcester county), and have not filed your 2009 State or Federal Income Tax Returns, the deadline for filing has been extended to May 11, 2010. (more…)

  • Obama in Framingham – April Fools?

    Obama in Framingham – April Fools?

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Ok, it was April 1st, and someone posted the following on their FaceBook wall; “Obama Lands at Marlborough Airport”. Now this is something that would seem strange even if it wasn’t April Fools Day.

    Several “hahaha” replies quickly follow and accusations of, “very funny, April Fools, huh?” start to fly. One friend comments that it wasn’t even possible, claiming the President’s aircraft only land at military air bases.  The original poster followed with details. (more…)

  • Framingham advocate for children to receive 2010 Community Partnership Award

    BOSTON, MA – The Federation for Children with Special Needs announced that Cathryn S. Kaner-Taytslin of Framingham will receive an FCSN 2010 Community Partnership Award for Outstanding Parent Advocate. The Federation will present the award at its Visions of Community conference, on Saturday morning, March 13, 2010 at the World Trade Center in Boston.

    FCSN names Cat Kaner an Outstanding Parent Advocate

    “This conference is always a great day of learning and networking for families of children with special needs and the professionals who serve them,” says FCSN’s Executive Director Richard J. Robison. (more…)

  • Framingham & The Civil War

    Next year is the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War.

    Framingham has many significant connections and contributions to The Civil War, from weaving wool for uniforms and blankets, to sending the most men per capita of any town in Massachusetts.

    The Battle Hymn of the Republic was first publically sung here at Plymouth Church.

    William Lloyd Garrison created a national uproar by burning the Constitution during a anti-slavery rally at Harmony Grove on Farm Pond.

    Dr. “Zab” Adams instituted the first triage “hospital” in the midst of a battlefield at Gettysburg.

    Various Framingham organizations will be planning a year long series of events. The Framingham History Center hosted a meeting to start pulling the organizations together and to create committees. It was great to see such a large turnout and to hear about some of the plans already underway.

    To get involved and find out about future meetings, contact Michelle McElroy at michelle@framinghamhistory.org.

  • Residents Asked to Nominate Favorite Massachusetts Places

    New program gives each community a chance to spotlight its special places

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – “1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts” is a new cultural tourism program that celebrates what is unique about our state, its communities, and its people, and also to stimulate cultural tourism. The program seeks to increase visitation to the state’s wide range of exceptional historic sites, cultural venues, and natural landscapes.

    Nominations will be considered for a final list of 1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts to be announced in May.

    “Framingham is full of special historic sites, cultural landmarks, and natural landscapes”, said Representative Pam Richardson. “I hope residents of Framingham will take advantage of this opportunity to highlight these places, and tell their stories about why these places deserve to be included on the list.”

    The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) has established a website to accept nominations from the public:  www.massvacation.com/1000/
    All Great Places that are nominated must be open and available to the public. Only one nomination per person will be accepted. The nomination period will close April 1, 2010. The Commission will meet later that month to draw up a final list of 1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts, which will be announced in May.

    The 1,000 Great Places Commission was created by the Legislature in 2009. It is chaired by Eric Turkington of Falmouth, a former state representative and first House Chair of the Joint Committee onTourism, Arts, and Cultural Development.


  • Today’s Storm Prediction Means Early School Dismissal

    Snow Emergency in Effect

    FRAMINGHAM, MA — Today, Wednesday, February 10th,2010, will be an early dismissal day. Due to inclement weather,with several inches of snow predicted, students will be released at the school’s early dismissal times. Please call your students’ schools for details.

    The Framingham Police Department has advised residents of a snow emergency in effect through Thursday.

    Parking is prohibited on all major arteries as designated by red and white signage.

    Reminder: The Winter Parking Ban prohibits parking on the odd numbered side of the street.

  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – DVD Release Party

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – The magic of Harry Potter will descend on the BLOCKBUSTER in Framingham, 17 Temple Street, on Monday, Dec. 7 at 8:30p as the store hosts a midnight DVD release party for “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”

    In addition to being the next chapter in the highly popular series of films based on J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” novels, the movie is the highest grossing film of 2009 and is among the top 10 highest grossing films of all time.

    Activities include conjuring and illusions with Boston’s David Hall the Magician and his white rabbit Hocus, fun with Mix 104.1’s Sue Brady and the street team, and a chance to win 52 free DVD rentals ($250 value) and the opportunity for loyal Harry Potter fans to be among the first to rent or purchase the movie on DVD or Blu-ray, while supplies last. Those who can’t stay until the midnight release are invited to reserve a copy for purchase with $5 down.

    In addition to the single-disc DVD, BLOCKBUSTER will be offering several special editions: a two-disc DVD version and a Blu-ray+DVD+Digital Copy Combo Pack, as well as a Harry Potter Years 1-6 Giftset, featuring all six of the Harry Potter movies on DVD or Blu-ray.

    Additional event features include magical trivia tournaments and Quidditch themed games, free Harry Potter themed giveaways (broom shaped pens, lightning bolt tattoos, kids’ crafts), and much more.

    Admission is free and open to all Harry Potter fans and movie buffs.