Library and Community News
Framingham to Open Additional Facilities Monday, June 15, 2020
The following City facilities will be open to the public next week:
- Framingham Public Library Accepting Walk-up Contactless Returns, Main Library, 49 Lexington Street, Mon.-Tues., 1-4 p.m. and Wed.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-12 p.m., and McAuliffe Branch Library, 746 Water Street, Mon.-Tues. 9 a.m.-12 p.m., and Wed.-Thurs., 1-4 p.m.
- City Tennis Courts, open daily until dusk, lighted courts open until 10 p.m. (Courts limited to single matches with family members.)
- Bowditch Track, 475 Union Avenue, open daily from dawn to 10 p.m. (Users of track expected to abide by proper social distancing. Track to be closed if overcrowding is observed or social distancing ignored.)
- Bocce Courts, Farm Pond on Dudley Road, open from dawn to dusk.
- Pratt Street Community Garden, 48 Pratt Street, open from dawn to dusk.
- Skate Park, Farm Pond Park on Dudley Road, open from dawn to dusk.
- Parks and Recreation Summer Programs, please visit www.framinghamrec.com for updates.
Zoom Community Hour Focused on Shifting the Paradigm, Moving from Marches to Action
Zoom Community Hour, Tuesday, June 9, at 5 p.m.
Mayor Yvonne M. Spicer will be joined by Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Chief of the Framingham Police Department Steven Trask, and President of Framingham High School’s Black Student Union Mira Donaldson to discuss how to shift the paradigm and move from marches to action. Attendees will be able to pose questions during the hour via Zoom's Chat function. If people cannot attend and have questions, please email kmcfalls@framinghamma.gov with the subject line: June 9 Community Hour. Go here for information on how to join. A video recording of the Zoom will be available following for those who cannot attend.
New Online Resource, Reopening the City of Framingham
The City has launched a new section of its website called Reopening the City of Framingham to provide information on how businesses can reopen safely and healthily. Based on the State's reopening guidelines and the evolution of City processes, the new Framingham site will be updated.
Homework Center News
The Framingham School Committee has presented the Outstanding School Partners Award to the Homework Center Program. This award is presented to outstanding out-of-school programs that help students thrive academically. The Homework Center currently provides remote tutoring, homework and school project help to students K-12, in all subjects and plans to remain open, offering tutoring and remote enrichment programming throughout the summer! To be matched with a tutor, contact Judy Gatlin at jgatlin@minlib.net.
Catching up with Anatoly, Team Framingham Runner
Team Framingham runner Anatoly Prekrasnyy planned to run the April 20th Boston Marathon for the Friends of the Framingham Library. We contacted him recently to ask how he is doing. Here is his letter:
Hi everyone! I’ve been doing ok, just spending most of the time at home like all of us. I’ve been more relaxed about my training and have been mostly just going on easy runs. I also don’t plan on starting any specific training for September until it’s more or less clear that the race is actually happening. Going on casual runs will definitely help me not lose fitness and I will be able to quickly ramp up training to get ready for a race day. I also just recently got myself a road bike, so I am very excited for the summer and to spend more time doing something different but still getting a decent aerobic exercise out of it. Hope you are staying safe. Anatoly
Anatoly has raised $10K for us so far—doubling his goal!
NOTE: Since this letter was sent, the 2020 Boston Marathon has been canceled, but we’re sure Anatoly will continue to stay active, be safe and hopefully run the Marathon in 2021.
Looking For A Book Recommendation?
Looking to read something new? Try our personalized book recommendation service. Answer a few questions on our form and we’ll send 4-6 titles for you to enjoy. You can access the form here or by going to the Framingham Public Library website and selecting the “NEW: Recommend a Book to Me” menu item under the “Browse” or “How do I” drop-down menus.
City of Framingham Information Line
For questions regarding COVID-19, food resources, testing sites, ways to slow the spread of the virus, City operations:
Call 508-532-5411. A person will answer Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 3:30pm. Leave a message after hours, and your call will be returned the next business day.
As of May 26, Framingham’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been replaced by a new City informational phone line. Framingham activates its EOC during Citywide or large scale emergency incidents. On March 28, the City opened its EOC in response to the pandemic. As resident calls have begun to subside, it was decided to transfer operations to a City Informational phone line to be manned by library staff. The people operating the line will be informed with daily updated frequently asked questions. The new line, which is (508) 532-5411, will be answered by a person Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Like the EOC, residents will be able to get answers related to Framingham COVID-19, food resources, testing sites, and ways to slow the spread of the virus,such as social distancing and hygiene. When the Informational Line is not staffed (after 3:30 p.m.on weekdays and over the weekend), residents will receive a detailed message with information about City functions and where they can find additional information, as well as a request to leave their name, phone number and question. All messages will be returned the next business day.