🔨 Coming Soon to the ‘ham

Coming Soon to the ‘ham | The “Framingham Model” Gains Boston TV Attention | Hugo Resigns | Student Art Show at FPL | What I’m Reading | The Week Ahead

Thank you to everyone who came out to the McAuliffe Library on a slushy Saturday morning to join us for the first meeting of the Friends of Framingham Trails. We had more than 60 people in the room to learn about where we are with trails today, how Framingham is poised to be the Hub of Trails in the future, and how to get involved. The energy was fabulous! To join the group and stay in the loop, please join our Facebook group or email me if you want to be on the mailing list.  More to come!

Packed room for the first Friends of Framingham Trails meeting. Special thanks to Ron Chick and Leora Mallach for helping organize the meeting!

Huge shout out to Framingham High Senior Katie Regan for hitting the 1,000 point career milestone over the weekend. The senior basketball captain became the 11th person in Framingham High history to reach that mark. The Flyers won 53-17 in a MIAA D1 tournament match against Quincy. Go Flyers!

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Coming Soon to the ‘ham 

New Andina Cafe in Downtown Framingham.

Moving and shaking: Travel around Framingham and you get the sense there is a lot of economic movement happening in some of our centers of commerce. Based on my searching through agendas and minutes of the Planning Board and Licensing Commission, reading the news and keeping my ear to the ground, here is a list of who is coming, who is here and who has left.

Coming Soon:

• Amazon Fresh - taking the spots of Barnes and Nobles & Old Navy in Shoppers World

• Barnes and Noble - moving into the Petco location in Sherwood Plaza

• Jersey Mike’s - opening soon in the new development next to Whole Foods 

• Fresh Market - proposed to open in the old location of Bed, Bath & Beyond

• Tavern in the Square - taking over the John Harvard’s location in Shoppers World

• J. Crew Factory - moving into the Joe’s American Bar & Grill spot in Shoppers World 

• Cava and Sleep Number - opening in the new building in Shoppers World where TGIFriday’s once stood

• Yardbird (an eco-friendly furniture store) and Blinds To Go - in the new building at the old Mattress Giant site 

• Lush Beauty Lounge - Nobscot Chapel 

• 111 Speen Street:

  • Office building sold in March 2022 for $13 million will undergo $5 million in renovations to exterior (say goodbye to the pink color!) and landscaping for more outdoor spaces

  • Current HQ for Ameresco

  • Workbar - coworking space - opening in July on the 2nd floor

  • Ai3 Architects - moving into the 3rd floor

Closed: 

• Mini Bites Factory on Union Avenue 

• Centre Pizza - a legend in the Framingham pizza world 

Open: 

• Andina Cafe - Downtown 

• Downtown Creamery - Rt. 135/126 intersection

• Bronzetti’s Pizza and Kitchen - Framingham Eagles, Park Street

That is all I have right now. Did I miss something? Let me know. I will do another update as things change. There are a lot of exciting things happening in Framingham!

The “Framingham Model” Gains Boston TV Attention

NBC10 checks in with the Framingham Police Department about its co-response program pairing FPD officers with mental health professionals. 

What is the “Framingham Model”? The Jail Diversion Program started 20 years ago and brought a huge change in policing in Framingham. Pairing a mental health clinician with a police officer on a call - reducing the number of individuals going to jail, de-escalating situations, and saving lives. 

The program works: According to FPD, 488 people were referred to the co-response program, and in situations where an arrest could be made 94% were not placed in custody, 121 people avoided unnecessary hospitalization by clinicians who offered alternative support on the scene.

International attention: The success of the “Framingham Model” gained the attention of the An Garda Siochana (Irish National Police). In May 2022 Chief Lester Baker and Deputy Chief Sean Riley traveled to Limerick to present the program to Irish police and officials. Irish police officials will visit Framingham this spring to see the program in action. 

Good to see this program receiving the attention it deserves. If more widely adopted, it could change policing around the country. 

Watch the interview on the NBC 10 website. 

Hugo Resigns 

Follow-up to last week’s issue: Mike Hugo, Chair of the Framingham Democratic Committee, announced his resignation on Thursday weeks after he made comments about special education funding during a debate about crisis pregnancy centers. 

Calls for resignation increased: His resignation follows Senate President Karen Spilka’s call for him to step down earlier in the day. 

"As the sister and longtime legal guardian of a sister with Down syndrome, I have dedicated my career to advocating for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, and my life to raising awareness of the challenges they face and the opportunities they deserve. Michael Hugo's comments were egregious and totally unacceptable, and not reflective of our values. It is in the best interest of the community that he steps aside." - Senate President Karen Spilka

Now what? Hugo remains a member of the FDC. Co-Vice Chairs Cesar Stewart-Morales and Rosamond Hooper-Hamersley assume the roles of Co-Chairs. 

Student Art Show at FPL

FPS K-12 Art Show at the Main Branch of the Framingham Public Library.

In non-political news: the Framingham K-12 Visual Art Show kicked off last week. Works representing each of our schools are on display at the Main Branch of the Framingham Public Library until March 30. 

Wonderful display of our artists in residence: I often go to the library to do work; and passed the exhibit today. I recommend everyone go and enjoy the talent and creativity of our students. The show is part of a whole month of FPS celebrations of art, theatre and music.  

What I’m Reading & Watching

• Boston Marathon Countdown: What to know about running Framingham stretch

• Is housing NIMBYism threat to future of Mass.?

• Original Framingham Heart Study participant Agnes DeCenzo celebrates her 105th birthday

• Framingham still hunting for state approval, money for Southside school

• Framingham's Advocates was picked by state to open community behavioral health center

• Challenge the status quo on student mental health

• Where did all these bookstores come from?

The Week Ahead

Links are to meeting agenda.

• Tuesday, March 7

  • 6:00 PM: Council - Executive Session

  • 7:00 PM: Council - Regular Meeting

•  Wednesday, March 8

  • 3:00 PM: Traffic Commission: Traffic Regulation Subcommittee 

  • 4:00 PM: School Committee: Health and Wellness Subcommittee  

  • 4:00 PM: Board of Assessors

  • 7:00 PM: Zoning Board of Appeals 

  • 7:00 PM: Agricultural Advisory Committee 

  • 7:00 PM: Council on Aging  

  • 7:00 PM: Historical Commission 

  • 7:00 PM: Sustainability Committee 

• Thursday, March 9

  • 7:00 PM: Human Relations Commission  

  • 7:00 PM: Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Committee 

Have a great week, everyone! Keep your emails coming - I love to hear from you.

-Mary Kate