🔨 Tomorrow = Election Day!
Polls are open from 7am-8pm.
Yes, tomorrow is Election Day, Framingham.
It's been a sleepy election season, but there are several competitive races that need our attention. There are Council races in Districts 2, 8 and 9. The Board of Library Trustees race has eight people running for six seats. There are no competitive races for School Committee or Cemetery Trustee.
Miss my three week series on the candidates? Here you go:
Please share these questions and answers with your neighbors. I have seen people asking for information online. Giving the candidates my platform for these issues is really one of the only places you can read about all of the candidates in one place.
For those of you who live in District 2, you can also check out the Q&A on Sharon Machlis Gartenberg’s D2 site.
Ways to Vote and Where
Election Day: Tuesday, November 7. Polls are open from 7:00am - 8:00pm
Where do I vote?: Due to redistricting, where you voted at the last municipal election in 2021 may not be where you vote this year. The Clerk’s website features a helpful map and guide to help you find your polling location. Check it out here.
More questions? Need more information? The City Clerk’s website is a wealth of information, please check it out.
Do you have a plan to vote?
Even if your district is a snooze, go and vote. Voting is your voice. It is too easy to sit on Facebook and complain. Tomorrow is going to be a beautiful day in the 60s - perfect weather for voting! It doesn’t matter who you are voting for or where you live, please vote.
Have a comment or question? I’d love to hear from you. Email me at mkfeeney@gmail.com
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Community Events
Charter Review Committee to host three “Drop-In” Focus Groups and survey the community about ideas for Charter Changes
The Charter Review Committee is launching two additional ways for the community to give feedback about our government structure and hopes to engage people from across the community.
First, the Charter Review Committee has created a new survey form. In this survey, the committee returned to the hopes and goals the original Charter Commission had in 2017 and asks community members to weigh in on our progress toward those. Like their first form, there is also room for people to make specific suggestions for changes or add related comments. The form can be accessed here.
The Charter Review Committee has also partnered with the Framingham Public Schools to host three “Drop-In” Focus Group opportunities. In the “Drop Ins” people can come for just a few minutes or stay as long as they’d like to share things they like or dislike about our new City form of government structure and/or suggest changes. There will be Spanish and Portuguese translation services available at each.
The Dates for the drop-in forums are as follows:
Thursday, November 9th at Brophy School from 6:00 to 7:30
Monday, November 13th at Stapleton School from 6:00 to 7:30
Tuesday, December 5th at Harmony Grove School from 6:00- 7:30
The Charter Review Committee wants to thank the Framingham Public Schools for being such a great partner on this work. If you cannot attend one of the drop-in meetings, you can also attend their regularly scheduled meetings on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.
Honor our Veterans this Veterans Day
The City of Framingham will hold a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 11 at Nevins Hall inside the Memorial Building (150 Concord Street).
Prior to Framingham’s official Ceremony, there will be a tour of Veterans' squares & memorials on Saturday morning. The public is invited to attend both events. The schedule for the tour is above.
Keep Framingham Beautiful Presents: Neaten Up November!
Let's Neaten Up Framingham before winter!
Our goal is 500+ bags picked up this month by 100+ participants
Participation is SIMPLE:
Do a small cleanup with friends/neighbors or on your own
Post your bag total to our Facebook Group with a "nature" photo. Dogs and pets are also always a fan favorite!
Can you pick up at least one bag of trash this month and share your results?
Framingham Business Association Meeting on Wednesday
The Framingham Business Association welcomes Senate President Karen Spilka to their November meeting this Wednesday, November 8 at La Cantina (911 Waverly Street). The event is at noon and lunch is provided.
This is a great opportunity for local business owners to network and hear from the Senate President. Membership is open to Framingham business owners.
The Framingham Business Association was created to promote and protect the value, importance and significance of a thriving business community in the City of Framingham, and to ensure that local businesses’ needs are being considered, understood and supported by the residents and government officials.
Friends of Framingham Trails Meeting on Saturday
The Friends of Framingham Trails is having their annual meeting on Saturday, November 11 at 10am in the Loring Arena Conference Room (2nd floor).
There is a lot of news to share about the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, the Chris Walsh Trail and our exciting New Year’s Eve event on the Cochituate Rail Trail!
We're looking for volunteers to serve on the NYE CRT Committee, to work with Friends of Natick Trails, local organizations and small businesses, Framingham city agencies, and volunteers, to put on an awesome celebration to ring in 2024. If you cannot attend the meeting, but would like to participate in planning please email the Friends.
The Civic Week Ahead
Monday, November 6
Tuesday, November 7
4:30pm: School Committee Policy Subcommittee Agenda
Wednesday, November 8
Short issue this week, folks. The most important thing happening this week is tomorrow’s Election. I’ll be back next week reviewing the results with my take on this election season. We’ll also catch up with some of the stories we missed in October.
Thank you again for reading and sharing The Ham’er.
Have a great week,
Mary Kate