Sen. Karen Spilka

FRAMINGHAM, MA - In an effort to protect municipalities concerned about negative impacts from a bill to expand gaming in the Commonwealth, Senator Karen Spilka, (who represents Framingham and other area towns in the Massachusetts 2nd Middlesex & Norfolk districts), filed amendments today with the Senate Clerk's Office to strengthen safeguards and provide additional protections for surrounding communities.

"The legislature has debated and voted on expanded gambling in Massachusetts for several years now, and this year it looks closer to becoming a reality than ever before," said Spilka. "Throughout this entire process, my main priority has always been to protect and support my district’s residents, communities, neighborhoods, and local businesses. I have filed these amendments to ...[read more]

The GeoCaching event begins at 10:00a.m.  Participants must bring their own cache and GPS units.

According to The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site, (www.geocaching.com), "Geocaching is a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices and then share their experiences online".

The LetterBoxing hunt begins at 10:00a.m., but participants need to arrive at 9:00a.m. to create logbooks.

According to Letter Boxing North America, (www.letterboxing.org), "LetterBoxing involves reading clues to find small weatherproof boxes hidden in public places (like parks). Each box contains a stamp and a visitor book. When a LetterBoxer finds a box they print that box's stamp on their logbook or game card and then imprint their own personal stamp in the letterbox's visitor book to prove they found the box and to let other letterboxers know who has been there already. Letterboxing combine navigational skills and rubber stamp art in a charming treasure hunt style outdoor quest."

The LetterBoxing event is open to children in grades K-5, (friends and family members may participate).

For the LetterBoxing hunt, participants will attempt to use clues and solve riddles that will help them find where the letterboxes are hidden. Each letterbox will contain stickers, and the child will take one and place it into their logbook as evidence that they've found that box.

(Note, the Framingham LetterBoxing event will use stickers instead of  rubber stamps).

The GeoCaching and LetterBoxing events will end at 2:00p.m.

Events will be held RAIN or SHINE! 

Directions: Follow Edgell Road or Water Street to intersection of Edmands/Water/Edgell, (in Nobscot).  Turn onto Edmands Rd. and follow approximately 2 miles, pass Nixon Road (on right) then look for "Callahan State Park" sign and small parking lot on the left.

To register for this event, contact Maeghan Walters, of the Framingham Conservation Commission at (508) 532-5460, or by email to: mnw@framinghamma.gov

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ExtraSpace Storage is located next to the Roxbury Carpet Mill Building at 1590 Concord St., in the Saxonville area of Framingham, MA.

FRAMINGHAM, MA - ExtraSpace Storage will be auctioning off several storage lots, and "the personal goods stored therein", on Friday, September 23, 2011 at 12:30 PM at their 1590 Concord St., Saxonville  location.

Unit Numbers - Owner Names:

• Unit C326 - Herbert Mack
• Unit F103 - Marc Mariano
• Unit G107- Jose Duarte
• Unit H117 - Marjorie Kaplan ...[read more]

Framingham State University RAMS

FRAMINGHAM, MA - The Framingham State University volleyball team rolled to a 3-0 win tonight over Elms College in non-conference action this evening at Framingham's Athletic Center. The Rams won in straight sets by scores of 25-12, 25-13 and 25-16. With the win, the Rams improve to 8-5 on the year, while the Blazers slip to 4-7.

The Rams jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first set on a block by junior Jackie Friel and extended the lead to 7-2 on an ace by freshman Kayla Bertrand. The Rams extended their lead to 17-6 before Elms College junior Christina Martin picked up a pair of kills and ...[read more]

Formerly a Coutryfare Star Market grocery store, the largest retail space in the Nobscot Shopping Center has sat vacant for nearly a decade.

FRAMINGHAM, MA - Since reporting that the owners of the Nobscot Shopping Center had demolished the vintage sign that stood out front for the past half-century, there have been only small bits of news about the property's future.

I had this article almost finished last night, but was waiting for a reply from Steve Sylven, an official spokesperson for SuperValu Inc., (NYSE: SVU)

While most of the complaints about the shopping center have been directed at Centercorp Retail Properties, Inc., the listed agent for the plaza -- it appears Centercorp's hands are literally tied, preventing them from doing anything at the plaza.

According to Steve, "SuperValu", the parent company of ...[read more]

Framingham State University, home of the RAMS!

FRAMINGHAM, MA - FSU Junior Taylor Ezold (Westfield, MA) tallied a pair of goals and classmate Hannah Jerdee (Marlborough, MA) picked up a goal and a pair of assists to lead the Framingham State University women's soccer team to a 9-0 victory today over Wheelock College at Maple Street Field.

With the win, the Rams even their season record at 3-3, while the Wildcats fall to 0-4 with the loss.

Sophomore midfielder Kayla Austin (Winchester, MA) scored the game-winner just under four minutes into the game as she collected a rebound at the twenty and sent a high shot on net that ...[read more]

FPAC-TV rebrands itself as ''Access Framingham'' and will use new logo (above) and new website address: www.accessfram.tv

FRAMINGHAM, MA - At Monday night's Annual Meeting of Framingham Public Access Corporation, FPAC members heard about the successes of the past year and challenges to come for Framingham's Community Media Center. Then the board and staff added a surprise announcement.

Beginning this week, FPAC will operate with a new name and logo, one that FPAC officials believe will reflect the organization's mission to engage, serve, and enrich the community by developing programming by and for the people of Framingham, providing educational opportunities, and facilitating the exchange of information through traditional and new media.

The new name for the five-year-old organization will be "Access Framingham".

Access Framingham will remain committed to the promise of ...[read more]

The East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project will resume spraying in Framingham, Wednesday, September 21, 2011

FRAMINGHAM, MA - The East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project will again be spraying for mosquitoes in areas of Framingham beginning Wednesday, September 21, 2011 between dusk and 11:30 PM.

Spraying is scheduled for neighborhoods in the vicinity of Elm Street, Griffin Road, Pinewood Drive, Danforth Street, Lake Street, Old Connecticut Path and Lowther Road.

Spraying will also be done in areas near Irving Street, Arlington Street, Hollis Street, Winthrop Street, Bethany Road, Fay Road, Mt. Wayte Avenue and Dr. Harvey Cushing Way.

The Project uses a spray formulation that contains the pesticide product, Anvil, to control mosquitoes. Anvil contains the pesticide, Sumithrin, which is a pryethroid that is classified as slightly toxic by the EPA. Mosquito control applications of Sumithrin do not ...[read more]

Hebrew SeniorLife awarded awarded $117k by Tufts Health Plan Foundation

FRAMINGHAM, MA - In a press release, Hebrew SeniorLife announced it has received a two-year grant from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation to expand and implement healthy aging programs in Massachusetts and to develop two pilot "healthy aging program communities" in Framingham, and in Lawrence, MA. HSL was awarded $117,000 in funding for the first year of the grant.

"The nation’s rapidly growing senior population is currently confronting an array of debilitating and life-threatening diseases and disabilities," says Robert J. Schreiber, M.D., HSL’s chief medical officer. "Our goal is to help seniors continue to maintain their independence and improve their quality of life through increased exercise, improved nutrition, enhanced social engagement, and increased motivation to self-manage chronic illness."

With the Tufts grant, HSL will work with community agencies and ...[read more]

Nobscot Shopping Center's Countryfare Star Market has been vacant for most of the past decade. Mall owner Centercorp Retail Properties, Inc. recently announced plans to refurbish the property and hire a new leasing agent to attempt to revitalize the strip mall. (Photo taken September 3, 2011)

FRAMINGHAM, MA - After we ran an article on September 13, 2011, "Centercorp to make Nobscot anouncement October 1st", Framingham resident Beth Escobar, (who had been in contact with Centercorp Retail Properties, Inc. Property Manager Terri Desjardins), leaked the news that the company now intends to fix up the Nobscot Shopping Center property and hire a new leasing agent in hopes of getting new tenants to lease the now mostly vacant strip mall.

The news was then leaked to the Nobscot Neighbors group, and to the Metrowest Daily News, and since then ideas and suggestions have been swirling around on a Nobscot email list about what types of stores local residents would like to see in the plaza.

After reading several of the ideas -- which consisted mostly of thoughts about what chain or specialty  grocery store may lease the vacant former Countryfare / Star market, (which is the largest retail space on the property), and hopes that CVS would ...[read more]