Here are the Projects Requesting CPA $$$
Daniel’s Table Goes to the White House | SafetyNet Program Launched | Crisis Pregnancy Centers | Landfills are Going to be Filled When?! | Early Voting | To the Wayback Machine | The Week Ahead
Nothing says the holiday season is right around the corner like signing up for the Framingham Turkey Trot. Registration is open. It is a great way to stretch your legs before stuffing yourself with all that yummy Thanksgiving turkey. The event is sponsored by the Framingham Fire Department Local 1652 and Framingham Police Association. All proceeds go to Veteran’s Outreach Center - MetroWest and other local causes.
Mayor Sisitsky announced this week is Devin Suau Week in the City of Framingham. Devin touched all of our hearts during his heroic fight against Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare form of pediatric cancer. Devin passed away at the age of 6 in 2017. During Devin Suau Week, the Memorial Building lights are green and residents are asked to remember Devin by performing acts of kindness.
We see your light, Devin.
Here are the Projects Requesting CPA $$$
After months of discussion, debate and a dash of drama, eligibility applications for Community Preservation Act funding have been filed with the Community Preservation Committee. 21 applications were received, however only 13 proposals were deemed eligible.
Background: Back in the November 2020 election, Framingham voters approved the Community Preservation Act ballot question by 59%. The CPA adds a 2% surcharge on our property taxes. The surcharge went into effect on July 1, 2021. The goal of the funding is to support open space and recreation, historical preservation and community housing projects.
The Community Preservation Committee was formed last year and has spent the last year meeting, drafting guidelines, applications and outreach. They announced opening the applications a few months ago.
What are the projects? Here are the 21 projects with their sponsor.
Eligible projects:
Adaptive Boat Dock at Lake Waushakum - Framingham Disability Commission
Carol Getchell Trail ADA Boardwalk - Ron Chick/Framingham Planning & Community Development
Arlington Street Park Renovations - Division of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs
Chris Walsh Memorial Trail Planning Study - Division of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs
Athenaeum & Firehouse Renovations - Framingham Planning & Community Development
103 Guild Road Acquisition - Framingham Planning & Community Development
Edgell Grove Cemetery - Roof Repair - Edgell Grove Cemetery Trustees
43-45 Nixon Road Acquisition - Framingham Planning & Community Development
Framingham History Center Academy Accessibility Ramp - Framingham History Center
Framingham History Center Edgell Memorial Library Restoration - Framingham History Center
Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Acquisition of 3.5 miles - Framingham Planning & Community Development
Temple Street Park Improvements Design Study - Division of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs
Community Gardens Design Study - Transition Framingham, Agricultural Committee
Not Eligible:
City Canvases: City Wide Art Projects - Ronald Harvey
Edgell Grove Cemetery - Preservation of Documents - Edgell Grove Cemetery Trustees
Edgell Grove Cemetery - Master Plan - Edgell Grove Cemetery Trustees
Winch Park Title IX Compliance Study - Division of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs
Cushing Memorial Park Land Acquisition - Division of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs
Hollis Court Housing Feasibility Study - Framingham Planning & Community Development
Pearl Street Housing Feasibility Study - Framingham Planning & Community Development
Deadlines, deadlines…To apply for CPA funding, an individual/group must file an eligibility screening application by September 26. If they made it through that round, they can file a full application. The full applications are due Monday, October 31. However, according to the CPC agenda for tonight’s meeting, they are considering moving that deadline to allow applicants more time to finish and submit their applications.
Stay tuned for who will make the final cut… Once the applications are filed, the CPC begins their work of evaluating each project and awarding money. On a personal note, it is wonderful to see applications making our public facilities more accessible to all, land for trails and community gardens.
Daniel’s Table Goes to the White House
The Biden-Harris Administration hosted the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health on Wednesday, September 28.
Framingham’s seat at the table: David Blais, founder of Daniel’s Table, attended the conference in Washington, D.C. Daniel’s Table’s mission is to provide food security services to Framingham’s neighbors in need with dignity and respect.
The mission is to “end hunger and increase healthy eating and physical activity by 2030, so that fewer Americans experience diet-related diseases like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension,” according to the White House release.
It is great to see Framingham in important conversations about critical issues facing our city and the country.
New SafetyNet Program Launched
The Framingham Police Department has launched a new safety program for seniors and children with disabilities thanks to SafetyNet. SafetyNet builds smart wristwatches that can be tracked by drones to find individuals who have gone missing. Officer Ryan Porter applied for the grant from the United State Bureau of Justice Assistance. The $123,000 grant enabled FPD to purchase 70 SafetyNet watches. Thanks to this program, there is no cost to families. The watches are for seniors with dementia or Alzheimers, and children with disabilities.
Why smart watches? According to an article in the Framingham Source, 6 in 10 seniors with dementia will wander at least once. 50% of those individuals are found within 1 mile of their homes, while 75% are found within 5 miles.
How does this work? Individuals wearing the watch are not tracked 24/7. The radio frequency is turned on when the person is reported missing to the SafetyNet network. SafetyNet, not the FPD, activates the watch. The signal from the watch helps FPD and the State Police, who also use this technology, find the missing person.
How do I get a watch for a loved one? Anyone interested in this program and obtaining a watch, please contact Officer Ryan Porter.
The Advertising of Crisis Pregnancy Centers
With the Supreme Court striking down Roe v Wade this summer, local community activists sprung into action to ensure women know they have the right to choose when it comes to reproductive health here in Massachusetts. Attorney General Maura Healey released an advisory regarding crisis pregnancy centers and advertising.
What is a crisis pregnancy center? A crisis pregnancy center is not a licensed medical clinic and does not offer comprehensive reproductive care. They offer testing and ultrasounds.
How does this relate to Framingham? There is one crisis pregnancy center in Framingham - Birthright. Members of the We Dissent - Framingham Coalition for Bodily Autonomy have petitioned the Council requesting an ordinance that would regulate CPC advertising and make it clear they are not a comprehensive clinic. The request was made in July to Chair Phil Ottaviani and Vice Chair Janet Leombruno. The Council voted to send it to the Rules & Ordinance Subcommittee.
What is next? The Rules and Ordinance Subcommittee Chair John Stefanini is drafting that prohibits future and current crisis pregnancy centers from deception advertising in Framingham. The subcommittee meets on Thursday to discuss the ordinance and next steps.
Landfills are Going to be Filled When?!
Did you know that all active landfills in Massachusetts will be filled by 2030? This looming fact has caused more and more households to find ways to reduce household waste. Composting is one way to reduce kitchen waste.
What are composting opportunities in the city? More than 200 households in Framingham participate in home composting with Black Earth Composting. I recently went to an informational session to learn more about the program and how Framingham residents can get involved.
How does it work? You can schedule weekly or every other week curbside pickups. Once 300 subscribers join the program, the cost goes down for everyone. It will go down again once 1000 subscribers join. This is not a city-sponsored program. Every subscriber receives a voucher for compost in the spring for gardening, or you can donate your voucher to a community garden. There are a few local locations where you can trade in your voucher for compost, like Eastleigh Farm (you might have seen the green bags by the Moo Bus.).
Transition Framingham, a local organization focused on promoting sustainability and a greener Framingham, is working to increase the number of subscribers in the city in an effort to reduce our waste city-wide.
To learn more or to sign-up, visit their website.
(Note: this is not a paid ad. As I said I attended an info session and thought the information would be useful to Ham’er readers. We all can do more to make our community a greener place.)
Early Voting has Begun
The General Election is right around the corner on Tuesday, November 8. Not available that day? Cannot wait any longer to vote?
Well, you are in luck - Early Voting has begun!
Early Voting takes place at the Memorial Building (150 Concord Street).
Dates and times:
Tuesday, October 25: 8:30am - 7:00pm
Wednesday, October 26: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Thursday, October 27: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Friday, October 28: 8:30am - 2:00pm
Saturday, October 29: 9:00am -3:00pm
Sunday, October 30: 9:00am - 3:00pm
Monday, October 31: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Tuesday, November 1: 8:30am - 7:00pm
Wednesday, November 2: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Thursday, November 3: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Friday, November 4: 8:30am - 2:00pm
For more information on Early In Person Voting, click here: https://framinghamma.gov/3048/Vote-Early-In-Person
To the Wayback Machine!
The WGBH Archives are a wonderful time capsule of all things Bay State. Last week they posted a short video of a random day in Downtown Framingham. If you have Facebook, take a look at this snippet of the late 1980s in the ‘ham. Certainly brings me back to the days of Woolworths and Katie Joe’s Bakery.
The Week Ahead
Here are this week’s government meetings with some agenda items:
Public Health, Safety & Transportation Council Subcommittee - Monday, October 24 6:00pm
Voices Against Violence Director Rachel Baltazar is on the agenda
Economic Development & Housing Council Subcommittee - Monday, October 24 6:00pm
Reviewing and recommendation about affordable housing rents for Mill Creek, Bancroft Lofts and Union House
Update on Downtown Framingham, Inc.
Community Preservation Committee - Monday, October 24 7:00pm
Reviewing application evaluation process
Agricultural Advisory Committee - Monday, October 24 7:00pm
Discussion on “Keeping of Animals” policies, procedures and forms
Framingham Council - Tuesday, October 25 7:00pm
Update from the Framingham Sustainability Committee
Update on Union Avenue construction project
Referral to Rules and Ordinance Subcommittee relative to appointed officials concurrently serving in elected office
Traffic Commission - Tuesday, October 25 7:00pm
Discussions on Salem End Road, Pleasant Street at Temple Street and Woodmere Road
Veterans Council - Wednesday, October 26 10:30am
Update on cleaning of headstones at cemeteries
Trustees of Edgell Grove Cemetery - Wednesday, October 26 2:00pm
Guest from the Veterans Council to discuss the cleaning of headstones
Sustainability Committee - Wednesday, October 26 7:00pm
Rotary and Framingham State presentation planning
Disability Commission - Wednesday, October 26 7:00pm
SafetyNet program overview and presentation from MWRTA
Ordinance & Rules Council Subcommittee - Thursday, October 27 6:00 pm
Crisis Pregnancy Centers and an amendment to CPA ordinance
There is a lot going on this week!
If you have any comments or suggestions on what to write about, please send me an email! I’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to forward and share The Ham’er with your neighbors, family and friends.
Have a great last full week of October. 🎃