🔨 Your Guide to Community in June

Have Your Voice Heard | Get Involved & Volunteer | Community Events | June 20 is a Big Day | The Civic Week Ahead

Who is ready for the summer, Framingham? 

There is a lot happening in Framingham this month, so I am doing something a bit different in this issue. I’m going to break down all of the events, meetings and hearings, and volunteer opportunities in the city. Consider this your guide to getting more involved and celebrate all things Framingham in June. 

Ready? Let’s go!

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Your Guide to Community in June

Have Your Voice Heard

• Women, Children & Families Commission Survey: Deadline Thursday, June 20. Help the Commission evaluate where it should focus its attention on the needs and priorities of our community. Take the survey here.

• Take a Stand Against Gun Violence: Tuesday, June 11 at 6:00pm at the Memorial Building. June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month. Wear orange and join your fellow neighbors on the steps of the Memorial Building to advocate for the safety of all when it comes to guns, including promoting responsible gun ownership, proper storage, and comprehensive education on gun safety. The goal of National Gun Violence Awareness Month is to draw attention to the impact of gun violence in the United States and advocate for life-saving change.

• Planning Board Hearing on MBTA Communities Act: Tuesday, June 11 at 7:00pm, in the Blumer Room at the Memorial Building. The Planning Board holds another hearing and information session about possible zoning changes to comply with the new MBTA Communities Act. Share your thoughts on housing, development and zoning - What should Framingham look like in the future? For more information and Zoom link click here.

• Council on Aging Listening Session: Thursday, June 13 from 2:00pm - 3:0pm. Framingham Residents 55+ are invited to share their thoughts and concerns about resources and services.

  • To attend in person at the Callahan Center (535 Union Ave., Framingham) call 508-532-5980 to register.

  • To attend by Zoom register now with this link.

• Redesigning Waushakum Beach: Thursday, June 13 from 6:00-8:00pm. Be a part of reimagining Waushakum Beach. Review the first draft of ideas and give feedback. People from the city will be on hand to discuss the status on the ADA dock and monitoring lake bacteria.

• Your Ideas for Community Preservation Funds: Monday, June 24 at 7:00pm, Blumer Room in the Memorial Building. The Community Preservation Committee wants your ideas on projects for CPA funding. Projects must fall under the one of the following categories: community housing, open space and open recreation, and historical preservation.

Get Involved & Volunteer

• June Jumpstart 3.0 with Keep Framingham Beautiful!: All month long.

  Keep Framingham Beautiful is enthusiastically hosting our third annual June Jumpstart with a goal of having 125+ folks pick up 600+ bags of trash in the next month!

  • Participation is as easy:

    1. Do a litter cleanup on your own or in a small group

    2. Don't just look down, look around & capture the beauty with a picture!

    3. Post your beautiful pictures and and bag total to our Facebook group

• Serve on the Disability Commission: The Sisitsky Administration is seeking applicants for the Disability Commission. The Disability Commission is comprised of a majority of people with various disabilities. The Commission works with City Officials, in particular, the ADA Coordinator and the Access Compliance Inspector, to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life.

  • There are two seats for 3-year terms through June 30, 2027.

  • The deadline to apply is Sunday, June 30, at 11:59 p.m. For more information and how to apply, click here.

• Apply for the Framingham Youth Police Academy: Open to Framingham residents, students within the Framingham & Keefe Tech School Districts, and immediate family members of the Framingham Police Department. 

  • The 2024 Framingham Youth Police Academy is scheduled for the week of July 29th – August 2.

  • Students will be eligible if they enter grades 9-12 in Fall 2024 and will not turn 18 before August 3, 2024.

  • Admission will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no cost for the program. Many families take vacations during the summer months, and applicants must be available for the entire week.

  • Click here to apply.

• Apply to serve on the Police Advisory Committee: The Police Advisory Committee acts in an advisory capacity to the Police Department by bringing to their attention feedback from the community concerning public safety issues. The Police Advisory Committee is devoted to facilitating the flow of ideas relative to police services for the Framingham community.

  • The role of the Advisory Committee, according to the ordinance that created it, is to:

    • Assist in community outreach efforts between the Police Department and the Community

    • Promote public awareness of the City's police services, activities, programs, and public safety issues.

    • Solicit public input regarding police services, programs, and issues of public safety

    • Provide community feedback and recommendations of police programs and activity

    • Review and make recommendations concerning other matters as maybe referred to the Committee, from time to time, via the Chief of Police, Mayor, or City Council. 

  • The deadline to apply is June 22 at 11:59 p.m. Click here to apply.

Community Events

• Electronics Recycling Day: Wednesday, June 12, Noon - 8:00pm, Recycling Drop-Off Center. Clean out your closet and get rid of those old electronics!

  Bring any electronic device with a power cord or button to the Recycling Drop-Off Center on Mount Wayte Avenue. The best part? It's FREE for all Framingham residents with a Recycling Center permit.

• Flag Day Parade: Saturday. June 15 at 10:00am. Join your fellow neighbors on at Cushing Park on Dudley Road for a parade and ceremony. This is a long standing great family community event!

• Pollinator Friendly Plants: Understanding Nature's Complex Connections: Thursday, June 20, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Framingham Public Library, McAuliffe Branch (746 Water Street)

  • Neela de Zoysa, Botanist and Instructor at Native Plant Trust explains how native plants support pollinators' life cycles in complex ways. Find out about caterpillars that need tree foliage to survive and song birds that depend on caterpillars for their food. Leave with new ideas for your own garden.

  • Sponsored by the Framingham Sustainability and Agricultural Advisory Committees and the Framingham Public Library.

• Wednesday Night Summer Family Track Meet: Every Wednesday through August 14th but there is no track on July 3. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. Meets begin at 6:00 p.m. Fee is $1.00 per participant per week. A season pass may be purchased for $8.00 on the first or second week. 

  • The $1 registration fee entitles participants to compete in as many events as they desire that evening.  Parents of competitors under 18 years of age must sign the waiver of liability form that accompanies every registration. Please remember your participant number (Waiver forms only need to be filled out once per season if the participant number is remembered).

  • Event is sponsored by the Greater Framingham Running Club and Parks & Rec Department.

• Summer Reading Kickoff!: Saturday, June 22 at Hemenway Elementary School. Framingham Public Library kicks off its summer reading program for kids and adults on with a touch-a-truck event. Register for Summer Reading and get your free Summer Reading t-shirt! What is on your summer reading list?

• MassBay Family Fun Fest: Saturday, June 22, from 9:00am -12:30pm. MassBay welcomes families to their first ever Fun Fest. This free event is designed to celebrate MassBay’s new home in Framingham and to welcome visitors to learn more about the College’s program offerings in a festive community setting. Enjoy live music, food, and children’s activities, which will include the chance to sit in brand new cars from McGovern’s Framingham Ford dealership as well as a touch-a-truck with a Framingham Police cruiser and a Framingham Fire truck.

• Concerts on the Common Returns! Fridays starting June 21 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Framingham Center Common, located at 2 Oak Street. Here is this year’s lineup:

  • June 21 – Heartland Radio (Contemporary Country)

  • July 5 – Four on the Floor (Classic Rock)

  • July 12 – Hot Acoustics (Rock and Smooth Classics)

  • July 19 – Dwayne Haggins Band 

  • July 26 -  Mars Motel (Grateful Dead Tribute)

  • August 2 – Z-Company (Blues, Rock, and Country)

  • August 9 – C-Jammers (Blues)

  •  August 16 – Rain Date

• Stars & Stripes over Framingham: Friday, June 28, 2024, at Farm Pond Park.

  Experience Music, Food Trucks, and Fireworks! The entertainment kicks off at 5:30 pm with musical performances by Decades by Dezyne (Motown) and the "Governors Own" 215th U.S. Army Band. Stay for the big show!

June 20 = Big Day for Framingham

3 Major Events are happening in Framingham on the 20th! Mark those calendars:

• All Framingham beaches open for the season with lifeguards.

• Farmers Market Back for another Season: Starting Thursday, June 20 at Framingham Centre Common from 3 to 7 p.m. For more information on vendors and food trucks, join the market’s Facebook group.

• Framingham Night at the WooSox!: Come to Polar Park as we celebrate an evening filled with baseball, fun, and Framingham pride. Game starts at 6:45pm against the Columbus Clippers.

  • Each ticket purchased through the link below and the QR code in the flyers will help the City of Framingham win the 2024 WooSox “Town Takeover” competition.

  • $5 for every ticket purchased will go to the MetroWest YMCA. Each ticket includes $2 in ballpark credit for concessions or merchandise.

  • Buy your tickets now: https://fevo.me/framingham24

The Civic Week Ahead

• Monday, June 10

  • 6:00pm: Council Rules, Ordinances and Ethics Subcommittee Agenda

  • 7:00pm: Community Preservation Committee Agenda

  • 7:00pm: Board of Library Trustees Agenda

• Tuesday, June 11

  • 1:30pm: Council on Aging Agenda

  • 6:00pm: Utility Pole Task Force Agenda

  • 7:00pm: Planning Board Agenda

  • 7:00pm: Parks and Recreation Commission Agenda

  • 7:30pm: Historic District Commission Agenda

• Wednesday, June 12

  • 6:30pm: Capital Projects & Facilities Ad Hoc Committee Agenda

  • 7:00pm: Historical Commission Agenda

  • 7:00pm: Zoning Board of Appeals Agenda

  • 7:00pm: Cultural Council Agenda

  • 7:00pm: Sustainability Committee Agenda

  • 8:00pm: Barbieri School Council Agenda

• Thursday, June 13

  • 7:00pm: Police Advisory Committee Agenda

  • 7:00pm: Charter Review Committee Agenda

In Closing…

Whew. That is quite a list of things to do. There truly is never a dull moment in Framingham!

I hope to see so many of you at various events - say hi if you see me! Also, I am joining State Representative Priscila Sousa in providing witty banter and interviews during the Flag Day Parade on Saturday at Cushing Park. We did this last year, and well, we’re looking forward to celebrating all things Framingham again this year. Look for us on the Government Channel!

See you next week,

Mary Kate