🔨 Regional 9-1-1 Given Green Light
Memorial Day Celebration | Soaring Flyers - Good News! | Flag Day Parade Returns | Community Events | The Civic Week Ahead
Hope you had a good long weekend, Framingham.
Monday’s Memorial Day celebration in Nevins Hall of the Memorial Building was a poignant event honoring those Framingham sons and daughters who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Every Memorial Day Medals of Liberty and Medals of Fidelity are given to Gold Star Families with Framingham connections.
What is the Medal of Liberty? Established by the Massachusetts Legislature, the heart shaped medal symbolic of the purple heart with a gold border and a Gold Star at the center, is awarded to to family members of those who were killed in action, died in service while in a combat area in the line of duty or died as a result of wounds received in action.
What is the Medal of Fidelity? Massachusetts Medal of Fidelity is presented to the next of kin of service members or veterans from the Commonwealth who died as the result of either: combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder, condition resulting from a service connected traumatic brain injury or a combat connected disease, condition or injury related to the exposure to harmful toxins, herbicides, agents or materials, where the exposure occurred while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, active or reserve components, or the Massachusetts National Guard.
Medals of Liberty Honorees:
Sergeant Peter Prime
Private Austin Waldron
Medal of Fidelity Honorees:
Specialist Four George J. Barrett
Hospital Corpsman Third Class Barbara Donahue
Lieutenant Phillip D. Herring
Captain Richard L. Natichioni
From McGrath Square to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Blandin Avenue, there are many statues, streets, plaques, and intersections dedicated to those Framingham residents who served our country throughout our history.
May their stories never be forgotten.
Have a question about the goings on in Framingham? Drop me an email and I’ll answer it in the next Ham’er Mailbag.
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Regional 9-1-1 Given Green Light
After years of discussion, a regional emergency dispatch center is one step closer to reality in Framingham.
Where will the center be located? 188 Concord Street was purchased for $2 million last year with the intention of having the top floor be the home for the new dispatch center.
Regional includes who? Natick has come on board. At the Finance Subcommittee on November 22, 2022, Mayor Sisitsky said Wayland, Sudbury and Holliston “all expressed strong interest in joining Framingham.” Holliston ended up joining the Holbrook Regional Dispatch in January 2024. Holbrook is the oldest dispatch center with 21 agencies and 30 dispatchers.
The Mayor said at the last Council meeting that the agreement setting up the regional center is set up to allow more communities to join once the center is operational.
Why is this important? Currently Framingham is operating two dispatch centers - one for police, another for fire. Both centers have limited space and aging equipment. In his presentation last week Fire Chief Michael Dutcher said the FFD needs $8 million to update their equipment. According to Dutcher, bringing both centers together, and making it regional has several benefits: efficiencies, including getting to emergencies faster since the report only goes one place, capital cost savings, standardizing protocols, and better staffing and retention.
Natick Town Manager James Errickson said for Natick the benefits include equipment upgrades and staffing.
Talk about the money: The center is eligible for a grant through the Massachusetts Regional Emergency Communications Center Grant Program. According to Dutcher, the program covers 100% of all costs associated with the dispatch center through 2026.
How will this operate?: An executive director will oversee the center. It will be an independent position not directly under the umbrella of either municipality.
Next steps and timing: The Natick Select Board needs to give their okay to agreement, which they are reviewing soon. Upon that act, the center can apply for the grant. Dutcher says the timeline to get it up and running is between 18-24 months.
Soaring Flyers - Good News!
I’m starting a new section in the newsletter this week. We don’t celebrate the good enough. So, here are some shoutouts to people who are making an impact on our community.
Huge congratulations to the 2024 Senior Award winners: Retired Nurse and Framingham Medical Reserve Corps volunteer Maureen Dickey, Framingham History Center and Friends of Callahan volunteer Carol Lach, retired Framingham High teacher Cynthia Villanueva, and former District 8 City Councilor Judith Grove. Thank you for all you have done for Framingham. Special thank you to the Council on Aging and the organizers for starting this award and putting it together.
Elaine Prue, Framingham’s Superintendent of Recreation of the Division of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs, was elected President of the Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association (MRPA). If you have been at any of Framingham’s great park and rec events, you have most likely seen Elaine! Congratulations Elaine on your election. We know you will make us proud!
The Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association is dedicated to the promotion, advancement, development, and improvement of all recreation and park services within Massachusetts as well as on a national level.
Congratulations to the Classes of 2024 at Framingham High School and Keefe Tech Regional High School! You did it! You have much to be proud of as you graduate and start your next chapter in life. Take this moment, soak it all in, and celebrate your achievements. Bravo!
Know someone who deserves a shoutout? Send your suggestions my way.
Let’s celebrate The Good!
Flag Day Parade Returns
Tradition returns again: The Sisitsky Administration shared the news today that Framingham’s longtime tradition of celebrating Flag Day returns this year.
When: The Flag Day Parade takes place on Saturday, June 15 at 10:00am. A ceremony will follow. Both events take place at Cushing Memorial Park on Dudley Road.
While the parade is not what it was when I was a kid, it is still a great celebration of community with our elected officials, first responders, schools, local organizations, and veterans groups participating and walking around Cushing Park.
All are welcome! See you there!
Community Events
Saxonville/McGrath Square Construction Updates: DPW is holding a meeting on Thursday, May 30 in Saxonville on the upcoming water & sewer project. The meeting starts at 6:30 pm in the Stapleton Elementary School cafeteria (25 Elm Street).
Celebrate National Trails Day: Join the City of Framingham, the Conservation Commission, Friends of Framingham Trails, and the Conservation Department by cleaning up the Arthur-Morency Woods on Saturday, June 1 - National Trails Day - from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Pride Flag Raising: The City of Framingham will raise the Pride Progress Flag at the Memorial Building to mark LGBTQIA+ pride month on Sunday, June 2 from 2:00-4:30pm.
Update on General Chemical Cleanup: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will providing updates on the cleanup of General Chemical, including a discussion of the demolition of a warehouse building, and answering neighborhood questions. The in-person meeting is on Tuesday, June 4 at Harmony Grove Elementary School 7 to 9 p.m. Spanish and Portuguese translators will be available.
The Civic Week Ahead
Wednesday, May 29
Thursday, May 30
Monday, June 3
6:00pm: Council Environment & Sustainability Subcommittee Agenda
Tuesday, June 4
7:00pm: Council Agenda
Thursday, June 6
7:00pm: Planning Board Agenda
In Closing…
June is keying up to being a big month with the Council taking a final vote on the FY 2025 budget and the Charter Review Committee handing in their recommendations. I’ll be writing about those issues, a review of the Mayor’s forums so far, and looking at disability issues in the city. It’ll be an interesting month.
See you Monday,
Mary Kate