This Is Framingham

Walking through the downtown library, I saw a nice display of Halloween products made by the old Dennison paper product factory here in Framingham.

I thought it was interesting to see these old designs. ?????   From what I saw the displayed peices were dated from 1918-30’s. ?? ??? ???????? ?? ????????   Just something worth checking out if you’re in the library. ???? ??? ???????

Amazing Things art center is conducting an online auction that is offering a variety of local goods and services.  You can check it out here. http://www.zingspace.org/auction2007/

While waiting at the stoplight by the Salvation Army, I noticed that they placed potted trees at the base of the windows.  The base has a little shelf-like area that was popular for people to hang out on.
Before:

After:

I thought it was interesting because I didn’t think the Salvation Army thought that much about how the outside looked.
I wonder if people will just move the trees and sit there anyway.

I know this is a touchy subject with some people but I’m glad the town has posted a sign about cars and bikes sharing the road.
As a bike rider I have had a few people drive by me and yell out something like “USE THE SIDEWALK!” and “GET OFF THE ROAD!”  I can understand if someone is driving and there are a group of bikers riding in triple file taking over the whole side of the road, that is frustrating and wrong but I’d like to point out that I really try to stay to the very far right, inside any white lines or breakdown lanes when possible.  I WANT to stay out of the way of traffic, I don’t get my thrills out of making any car slow down but I think the people who yell things like this should know a few things before they do so like if I’m not so close to the curb that my pedals are scraping it, there’s a reason.  Some drivers don’t realise the far right can be a debris field of various objects not safe to ride over  like broken glass, large branches, nails, crumbled pavement, road kill etc..
Also, (according to the Mass bike laws) in general, bicycles are not permitted on sidewalks.  Only outside business disctricts and when necessary in the interest of safety.  As a pedestrian, it can be uncomfortable to be taking a walk and getting surprised by someone zooming up behind you or someone coming at you who doesn’t slow down.  Or sometimes you can be faced with a swerving cyclist on the phone and doesn’t seem to care about having a steady path:

I know it might seem silly but when I’m riding in non business disctrics I still stay on the road because 1) there isn’t heavy traffic to avoid and 2) I’ll feel bad if I see someone walking their baby or a dog or just people talking to each other and they feel nervous having a bike come at them, but that’s just because I feel like that as a pedestrian.
My commute to work, is basically through downtown and 135 east to Wellesley.  I’m lucky there is a generous breakdown lane for most of 135 and it slims down in some parts but there are people using the sidewalk by the T stops and in random areas.  I just wanted to say I agree with the sign; just because someone wants to ride their bike doesn’t mean they’re fair game to yell at about getting off the road.

Maybe a little piece of school nostalgia for anyone who went to Marian?

Luke, does this mean you guys are getting a cafeteria makeover? : )

I don’t know why but the words “yes no stop go” always come into my head when I go through the rotary downtown.  It doesn’t make much sense but sometimes neither does the way people drive at this intersection.
It’s the law that drivers in the rotary have the right of way but so many times I will be in the rotary and someone will just sail though coming from Union or Concord St. and I’ll have to stop for them OR I will be waiting to enter the rotary (with smoothly flowing traffic, not gridlock) and someone already in it will stop and motion for me to go which stops traffic behind them.  While I appreciate the gesture (I really do), I hate to condone stopping the flow of the rotary traffic when it’s not necessary.
Then there is the driver who I call “the plug”, they get into the rotary just enough to block the flow of traffic even though they see two exits in is backed up.  People who would be exiting one opening to their right now get to watch them talking on their phone or just ignoring the fact they’re stopping people from getting out.  I know there are those who really didn’t know they were going to that but there are others who just want to secure their spot and pull up when they shouldn’t.

BUT, I kind of like how the rotary looks.  It’s lightly landscaped, compliments the greenery outside the Memorial building and in theory, I think it’s a nice alternative to traffic lights which, as seen at Concord and Lincoln, can be just as frustrating.

Salem End Road in our fair town was listed by Boston Magazine as one of the “Absolute Best Streets” in it’s May issue.  From Boston Magazine/Regan Communications:

“(Boston – May 2, 2007) Boston magazine, in its May 2007 issue, named Salem End Road in Framingham as one of the 15 ‘Absolute Best Streets’ in the West.
 
In Michael Blanding’s article, ‘If You Lived Here You’d Never Want to Leave,’ which hit newsstands May 1, the author composed a real estate connoisseur’s guide to the Hub’s 65 ‘absolute best streets’.  This exclusive guide was based on the results of polls taken by hundreds of real estate brokers in the Boston area and logged over 1200 miles on Greater Boston asphalt to inspect the candidates. pas ivermectinum   Streets were graded on six criteria: aesthetics, environment, amenities, public services, affordability, and transit. ivermectin pet dosage “cats”

Salem End Road was chosen as the 5th best street to live in the West.  Colonials from the 1700’s share Salem End with everything from raised ranches to sleek contemporary boxes, providing diversity in both housing stock and neighbors.”

As a matter of fact, I do get a little jealous when I drive down that road, although I don’t know how affordability really factors in, (I wish I could afford to buy some of those houses!) but good for you, Salem End Road! ivermectin albendazole oral suspension