This Is Framingham

It’s that lovely spooky time of year again!  My work, The Framingham History Center, is having their annual Haunted Trolley Tour. ?????? ???????
It’s a 45 minute ride through Framingham’s mysterious past! ????? ???????? ?? ?????? 2023    Actors from the Framingham Community Theatre will narrate the spooky legends and ghost stories that abound on the back roads and main thoroughfares of town. ????? ??? ??? ????

After the tour people can come back to the Edgell Memorial Library where we’ll be displaying some fine vintage Dennison Halloween products, playing “old time” seasonal games and offering cider and donuts.
The tour takes place on Saturday, October 30th at the Edgell Memorial Library and trolley’s leave at 5pm and 6pm
$10 for adults, $5 ages 8-12
The ride isn’t suggested for children under 8 years old.
To buy tickets and for more info check out the site: http://www.framinghamhistory.org/events.html#TrolleyTour

Every Thursday on the center common the Farmer’s Market sets up from 12:30-5:30.  I love this time of year anyway but it’s so great to be able to check out the local fall harvest and other treats right outside my work.
This year they have added a couple of new vendors one selling fish and one selling fresh pasta.

An impressive variety of pasta offerings:

Of course here are poduce stands as well as breads and pastries:

I know the hours aren’t good for people who work until 5 in another town (like I used to and would be annoyed I couldn’t go) but if you can swing by, it’s worth checking out.  I’m not sure how many more weeks they’ll be there but you can check out their site for any announcements and links to the vendors’ websites: http://www.framinghamfarmersmarket1.org/

The Framigham based company,  ReFoamIt is teaming up with Grace Congregational Church to hold a Styrofoam collection day.  They will also be collecting plastic flatware so if you have any of these things, bring it on down to 76 Salem End Rd on July 24th from 10am-3pm.  For more information check out http://www.refoamit.com and http://www.gracechurchucc.org

Mass Bay is holding a Massage Marathon at their Framingham Campus to raise money for rebuilding the S.O.S. Enfants D’Haiti School in Haiti. Below is a press release explaining more:

Students from the MassBay Community College Therapeutic Massage Program have organized local Massage Therapists to raise money for rebuilding a school in Haiti. The two-day massage event will take place at MassBay Community College, Framingham Campus, 19 Flagg Drive, Framingham, MA 01702 on Friday June 11 from 12 to 8 PM and Saturday June 12 from 9 AM to 5 PM.

The massage event is open to the public and people may schedule their appointments for 1-hour table massage ($40 suggested minimum donation) and 15-minute seated/clothed massage ($10 suggested minimum donation) by email to MBmassage4Haiti@yahoo.com or call 508-270-4032. Walk-ins will also be welcomed. ?? ????? ??? All massages will be performed at the MassBay Community College Student Massage Clinic at 19 Flagg Drive, Framingham, MA .

The S.O.S. Enfants D’Haiti School, which educates children from kindergarten to 14 years of age, was destroyed in the January, 2010 earthquake and now holds classes and activities outside under the trees.  The earthquake caused major damage to Port-au-Prince, Jacmel and other settlements in the region. As the rainy season approaches, the Rebuilding Haiti Task Force is working hard to raise money to help the school build shelter and procure supplies to provide an adequate and safe education environment for the children. ???? ?????? The Rebuilding Haiti Task Force is hosting a variety of events and fundraisers in order to reach a goal of raising $10,000 by the end of the semester. The MassBay Community College Therapeutic Massage program is a 650-hour certificate program that prepares students to become Massachusetts licensed massage therapists. viparabclub

Ethan and I made a few batches of fish and chips a while ago and didn’t know what to do with all the left over oil.  It was almost a gallon and what do you do with all that? ??? ???? ??????? ????  I just put it back in the bottles and put it aside thinking I’ll figure something out eventually. ??? ?????? ??????   A few weeks later I thought of Dawn Harkness and her green ambulance that she converted into a bio-fuel vehicle so I sent her an email and she was happy to come pick it up. ???? ????   It was interesting for me because even though I knew of  her,  I had never met her before and we had a really nice conversation and she showed me around the ambulance and explained how it worked.

I asked her if she ever runs out of oil sources and she said no because between the restaurants
she knows and people who contact her she does pretty well.  Dawn said she gets a lot of oil donations when people fry turkeys so Thanksgiving and Superbowl season are big for her. 
It was great for everyone, Ethan and I don’t have these bottles of used oil sitting around and Dawn can use it for her ambulance.  So if you have left over cooking oil you want to get rid of you can email her at info@GreatGreenAmbulance.com and check out her site that explains how and why she does this, http://greatgreenambulance.com 
 

The Metrowest chapter of Mothers & More is collecting used purses in great condition as part of their Mothers Day Community Outreach project.   The collection box locations are at Natick and Framingham (main branch) libraries and they’re collecting through April 30th.
 
All purses donated will be distributed to A Suitable Image, Dress for Success, A Place To Turn (Natick) and Natick Service Council.  Empowering and inspiring women as they prepare for an interview that will hopefully change their life. 

For more information on Mothers and More and the Power of a Purse project click here.

I heard about a meeting that will be on Monday night at the main library about possibly setting up a community garden in Framingham.
The people setting this up will talk about a few location options on unused Parks and Rec land who they are currently discussing this idea with. 
I’m going to this because I think it would be great for people like me who have tiny yards but would like to have space to grow vegetables and get to know some neighbors who also like to garden.
Of course I  wonder how you keep people/critters from taking your crop and things like that, but I’m sure it will be discussed.  I think a community garden would be a such a nice thing for Framingham to have.  So if anyone else is interested, here are the details:
Costin Room at the Main Library
Monday, January 4th
6:00-8:00pm
Pot-luck dinner (although it’s optional to bring something)

I lost the phone number to the person setting this up but if you have any questons, I’m sure the library can give you the contact information.