Tag: McAuliffe Library

  • Library Foundation’s Fermentable Fundraiser

    Library Foundation’s Fermentable Fundraiser

    Jack's Abby Brewing (2012) Jack, Eric and Sam Hendler
    Brothers Jack, Eric and Sam Hendler of Jack’s Abby Brewing to host Framingham (Library) Fermentable Fundraiser December 1st, 2012.

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Award-winning Framingham craft brewery Jack’s Abby Brewing is teaming up with the Framingham Public Library Foundation for a fermentable fundraiser.

    On Saturday, December 1st, 2012 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, the brewery, located at 81 Morton Street, will host a guided tasting of its beers and a private tour of the facility.

    The event is to help the Foundation raise money to offset the cost of building a new McAuliffe Branch Library and create an endowment fund for other library projects.

    The evening will feature talks about beer styles and the brewing process by head brewer and co-owner Jack Hendler along with local newspaper writer Norman Miller who is (more…)

  • Common Ground Rocked the Common

    Common Ground Rocked the Common

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Hometown band “Common Ground” played to a huge audience last night at the Framingham Centre Common.

    “Common Ground” plays the Allman Brothers’ classic “One Way Out” at Concert on the Green, Framingham, MA, July 15, 2011

    Drawing a diverse mix the crowd included families with small children, teens, “twenty-somethings”, baby-boomers, empty nesters, retirees and seniors — all peacefully co-existing for a few hours to enjoy the open-air Concert on the Common“.

    Covering tunes from Pink Floyd, Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, The Allman Brothers, Traffic and (more…)

  • Special Town Meeting Called for January

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – The town of Framingham will hold a Special Town Meeting, Wednesday January 12, 2011 for the purpose of voting on the following (4) Articles:

    Article #1 asks Town Meeting to vote to allow the transfer of handicap parking receipts to the Disability Commission. The article is sponsored by Town’s Chief Financial Officer, (CFO).

    Article #2 asks Town Meeting to vote to appropriate $1,020,000 for window and door replacement at the Mary E. Stapelton School.  According the the materials provided, the Town would pay $431,562 and  would obtain the $588,438 balance needed in a grant from MSBA for the balance. This article was sponsored by School Committee.

    Article #3 asks Town Meeting to approve a preliminary design for a new McAuliffe Library. This article is related to the next, Article #4,  which asks Town Meeting to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire 5 parcels of land next to and behind Nobscot Shopping Center on Water Street for a new library at a cost of $739,800. These two articles, (#3 and #4), are sponsored by the Framingham Library Trustees.

    The Special Town Meeting will commence at 7:30PM, Wednesday, January 12, 2010 in Nevins Hall.

    Prior to the Special Town Meeting, at  7:15PM the Town Clerk will hold precinct meetings to fill vacancies.

    The January 12, 2011 Special Town Meeting Warrant and accompanying background information can be downloaded from the Town website at:

    http://www.framinghamma.gov/Weblink8/ElectronicFile.aspx?docid=17155&dbid=0

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  • Summer 2009 Library Hours

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – As in summer’s past, the Framingham Public Library and the McAuliffe Branch are modifying their hours during July and August.

    McAuliffe Library is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and is closed Saturdays and Sundays. NOTE: McAuliffe is never open on Sundays during the school year.

    The main library is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon. Closed on Sundays until October 4th, 2009.

    This is not the first time that the main library has curtailed the Saturday hours during the summer. Some patrons may remember summers when the library closed at 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Usually the main library reopens on Sundays after Labor Day, but due to budget restraints, Saturday hours were reduced and the date for resumption of Sunday afternoon hours was pushed back.

    On Friday, August 7th, both libraries will be open from 9 a.m. to 12:3 p.m. They are closing early for staff development. Visit www.framinghamlibrary.org for more info.

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  • MERCHANTS OF PINEFIELD PRESENT THE 3RD ANNUAL JINGLE BELL DAY

    MERCHANTS OF PINEFIELD PRESENT THE 3RD ANNUAL JINGLE BELL DAY

    FRAMINGHAM, MA — Bring the family to Pinefield Shopping Center, located at the intersection of Water Street and Nicholas Road, in Saxonville, for the third annual Jingle Bell Day full of family activities, specials, and giveaways on Saturday, December 8th.

    Pinefield Shopping Center Jingle Bell Days 2007

    The free fun starts with a Treasure Hunt for kids from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. McAuliffe Library will feature drop-in storytelling and crafts 10 – 11 a.m. and 3-4 p.m. Face painting and fun at Always Golden Tanning from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m and arts & crafts at Liberty’s Famous Pizza from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

    (more…)
  • McAuliffe Branch Library to Close for Alterations

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – The McAuliffe Branch of the Framingham Library will be closed Friday, December 9 at 3:00 p.m. through Friday, December 16th to complete alterations necessary to improve access for those with disabilities.

    Shelving units will be disassembled and moved and new shelving and doors will be installed. The necessary repairs have been mandated by the state’s Architectural Access Board.

    Library materials that have been checked out from McAuliffe will not be due back during the closure. The bookdrop will be available for those who want to drop off materials.

    The hope is that McAuliffe will reopen no later than 9 a.m. on Sat., December 17th and it is possible that it may reopen sooner.

    Patrons are urged to check the library’s website: www.framinghamlibrary.org or call the Main Library after December 14, for updated information.

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  • MetroWest Radio Reading Day Celebration

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – The MetroWest Radio Reading Service is celebrating ten years of service on Monday, July 11th from noon to 4 p.m. in the Public Hearing Room, Lower Nevins Hall, in the Memorial Building.

    Lunch will be followed by a recognition ceremony at 1 p.m. for 31 volunteers who have participated in the service. Three volunteers will receive five year pins and six will receive ten year pins. Commissioner David Govostes, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for The Blind will be present.

    Three books by local authors that the Radio Reading Service has recorded and broadcast will be donated to the Framingham Public Library’s and Christa McAuliffe Branch’s audio collections. The books are: “A Journal for Christa” by Grace Corrigan, “Just Let the Kids Play,” by Tom Moroney, and “A Woman’s Ways and Means: 24 Wild Years in the Massachusetts House” by Barbara E. Gray and Debra Regan Cleveland.

    “Just Let the Kids Play” and “A Woman’s Ways and Means” were recorded by Doctor Chet Roskey with the appendices, including a history of M.C.I. Framingham recorded by Christine Goodreau. “A Journal for Christa” was recorded by Carolyn Pailler.

    It is particularly fitting that Barbara Gray’s book was recorded by the service as a hallmark of her career in the Massachusetts House was the championship of the disabled.

    The Metro West Radio Reading Service was inaugurated on June 20th, 1995 and began its first broadcast on July 10th, 1995. The Reading Service is an affiliate of the Talking Information Center Massachusetts Reading Network which was established on June 19, 1978, and is primarily funded by the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind.

    Listeners need a special radio to receive uninterrupted radio reading service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also hear the service over WDJM, 91.3 FM, Framingham State College. The service broadcasts Daily Newspapers such as The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, The Metro West Daily News, Natick Bulletin and Framingham Tab, to mention a few local newspapers.

    The Service also broadcasts via the network such magazines as Time Magazine, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, Sports Illustrated, Atlantic Monthly, National Geographic to mention a few. In addition, best seller books are broadcast both locally and over the network. The service also provides special informational talk shows on disability issues including issues of independent living, job listings, etc. and supermarket and retail store sales.

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  • Third Time May Be Charm for Proposed New McAuliffe Building

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Supporters of a new building for the McAuliffe Branch Library have another chance to ask Town Meeting for funding.

    Town Meeting may revisit project during capital budget debate

    Prompted by the state’s extension of a $ 1.6 million grant towards the proposed project until June 30th, Town Meeting Member Audrey Hall says she intends to request funding during debates about the capital budget this week.

    If her motion for funding the library doesn’t pass, it may be six years before Framingham receives another state library grant.

    Framingham made history by being the first city or town to receive a grant for a branch library, a recognition that McAuliffe is one of the busiest libraries in the state.

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  • New McAuliffe Branch Library Building Nixed by Town Meeting

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Article 2 on the March 15th Special Town Meeting Warrant, asking for Town Meeting to vote in favor of funds to build a new McAuliffe Library building in Pinefield Shopping Center failed to receive the two thirds majority required to approve such funding.

    Despite the support of most town committees, and the Board of Selectmen, a $ 1.6 million dollar grant, and funds spent on the plans and feasibility study, and public support, and an aging building in need of significant repair, there weren’t enough town meeting members convinced that the project was to be supported at this time. Unfortunately, the grant will expire May 15th and it is estimated that it will be another 8 years before Framingham might receive another one.

    During the discussion, moderator Ed Noonan collapsed, knocking over the podium. He quickly revived, but handed off the running of the meeting to Joel Winett, and was taken to the hospital by EMT’s. After a brief recess, discussion of the library article continued, but many would-be speakers were disappointed as the stand-in moderator allowed the vote to be called.

    Before the vote on the library funding, a motion by the Standing Committee on Public Works (SCPW) to refer the library article back to sponsor was voted down.

    The Town will be facing significant expenditures to make the current building accessible, as well as replacing the HVAC system and the roof and addressing plumbing problems.

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