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Tag: Greg Mortenson

  • RECENT FRAMINGHAM NEWS OF NOTE

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – After two years under the worthy, yet temporary guidance of Dr. Gene Thayer, the Framingham schools will again have a superintendent. Watertown Superintendent Dr. Steven Hiersche will take over from Thayer on July 1st, 2009.

    Framingham has a new fire chief, Gary Daugherty, who took over from Ollie Gadson, who retired last year. Daugherty is the former Hopkinton Fire Chief.

    Monsignor Francis Strahan, of St. Bridget’s Church, celebrated his 50th year of service to the Catholic Church, 25 of which were at St. Bridget’s.

    Dr. Arthur Caplan, whose father ran the Pinefield Pharmacy in Saxonville, was dubbed one of “The 10 Most Influential People in Science,” by Discover Magazine. Dr. Caplan has been doing some ground-breaking work in bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania.

    Framingham Public Library’s “Framingham Reads Together” program with guest speaker Greg Mortenson attracted a record crowd of an estimated 1900 people to Nevins Hall. This key event for the first-ever townwide reading initiative was an outstanding success.

    And another success was accorded to John Harvard’s Brew House, Shoppers World, who took home two medals in the Beverage Tasting Institute’s World Beer Championship, a gold for its “Mabay Stout” and a bronze for its “Atomic Espresso Stout.” Head brewer Maria Poulinas developed the recipes for the two medal winners.

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  • Three Cups of Tea Author Draws Crowd

    FRAMINGHAM, MA — Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, the book chosen for the Framingham Reads Together initiative, spoke to a packed crowd of an estimated 1000 people at Nevins Hall on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.

    Mortenson, a humble and sincere speaker, shared insightful commentary and stunning photography from his extraordinary journeys through a region that is now front and center on the world stage and in the war on terror. He explained how schools and education, especially of girls, can be more effective in fighting the Taliban than weapons. He has succeeded where government programs have failed.

    Local schools and the library are collecting donations to his “Pennies for Peace” program. Look for the jars to make a donation.

    Mortenson’s program was broadcast through the Government Access Channel and will be re-broadcast several times. For the schedule, see http://framinghamtv.com/schedule.htm

    Framingham Reads Programs continue this week. Check the Framingham Public Library web site for more information. www.framinghamlibrary.org

    One of this weeks highlights takes place on Tuesday, February 10th at 7 p.m. at the Main Library: The Impact of Location and Landscape on Pakistan’s Short (and Turbulent) History- Panel Discussion with Professor Adil Najam, Director, Pardee Center, Boston University; Moeed Yusuf, Boston University doctoral candidate and Parwez Wahid discussion leader.

    Professor Najam was one of the Lead Authors of the Third and Fourth Assessment Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. He is the winner of teaching awards at MIT and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and the author of several books and articles. He also is the founding editor of the blog Pakistaniat: “All Things Pakistan.”

    Related Link: <http://www.framinghamlibrary.org>

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  • FRAMINGHAM READS TOGETHER DEBUTS

    FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham Public Library is inviting the entire community to participate in the first annual Framingham Reads Together program. In similar programs across the country, this type of One Book, One Community initiative promotes reading and helps build community. The selected book is Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

    Start Reading Now for February Events

    Three Cups of Tea describes Mortenson’s near-fatal attempt to scale the treacherous K2, one of the world’s deadliest mountain peaks, and his rescue by Pakistani villagers. A grateful Mortenson accepts the villagers’ challenge to return with the resources to build a school for girls. His ten-year struggle to live up to his promise makes for a spellbinding story. He battles poverty and ignorance and survives kidnapping, fatwas, and family separations. He’s built 55 schools serving Pakistan and Afghanistan’s poorest communities.

    The book is a combination adventure story, travelogue, and case study of how one person can positively change lives.

    In February 2009, the library, local schools, and other organizations will offer special programs connected with the book selection, including a presentation by the author, Greg Mortenson, on Saturday, February 7, at Nevins Hall.

    The special events planned for this program will appeal to all ages. A schedule of events is available on the Framingham Reads Together Events page, including release forms for the REI Climbing Wall program and the details of Greg Mortenson’s visit.

    Copies of Three Cups of Tea, in book and audio form, are available at both the main library and at McAuliffe so if you have limited sitdown reading time, you can listen to the book while in your car or doing activities around the house.

    Check the library’s website or call 508-532-5570 for updates.

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