That's the problem in Framingham, lots of people doing a lot of "shaking" but not a lot of making.....Lots of hot hot air.......Need to bring the "shakers" all back to "Terra Firma"

Joe

Joe - quick and easy friendly challenge for you - can you name three good things about Framingham?

Kim....I'll respond too....I like the parks, Northside open space, lots of good people that want to see things get better.
More.....Centrally located near everything. Can't forget Patch....before Patch we really had no fluid news source and some good creative writers. Now we can have open discussions on issues that would of never been heard.
The Frambors email list is a closed list open to a selected few. Not a good thing.
I think the most important thing for a town to have is a place for open discussion, when discussion is prevented then the town as a whole loses out, and this is why Framingham is where it is today.
We lost control of what issues are the most important to the people and the town is now a reflection of what happens when that happens.
All in all, we strive to make things better but to make things better we have to take out the trash.....that is easier said than done. It seems like the "trash" in the so many ways it's here has accumulated for a while. Some people notice some don't.
Hopefully more will notice and try to do something about it.
Jim@ccfiile.com

Nice! Thanks, Jim! How about three good things about the South Side (besides me, of course LOL).

To Kim:
Framingham has some good history. Our town seal really tells a story.

http://www.framingham.com/townseal.htm

We have some nice walking parks, Cushing grounds, lots of history and memories of what formerly was there. I have the last video taken INSIDE of that place before it was bulldozed.

I like the fact that Framingham ACCESS TV allows us to produce a cable show that gives us freedom of speech. It's actually "limited" freedom of speech because the stuff we talk about is usually played at night because the powers to be who really run this town and nation control the media and what is written in the newspapers. Just think of the Movie The Truman show. Everything is great on the set until the light falls from the sky and you start really seeing WHO controls the movie.....when that happens then all the "hate", "Racist" accusations start to fly....PROVING who really controls the media.
There really IS a man behind the curtain....watch my cable show.
http://blip.tv/the-weekly-show/rizoli-tv-6-5923600

I think highly of the Callahan Center it helps the elderly in many ways.

I like the main branch library, even though I don't use it much, I love Library's.
I actually have a Boston Public Library card.

I enjoy being in Town Meeting.

I like the PATCH because Susan is a very dedicated person trying to make available what happens in the town to get people involved. She's doing a superb job.

Joe

I had no idea about the seal - that was a very cool bit of history. Thanks to you both.

Kim...The SouthSide is a tough one....This is where most of the problems are.
Washakum beach is nice...but I wouldn't swim there. There are actually not too many places to hang out on the Southside that I would consider safe. The Bethany property is beautiful but not for the general public.
Of course there is The Cushing property which is one of the gems of the town.
Would love to see that developed with a mini water park for the kids, and ice cream breakfast stop for all the parents and walkers.
That whole area is where things should be focused to be a destination point and NOT downtown. Too many issues there. It's easier to develope open land than trying to fix buildings and deal with parking downtown.
So If we take hold of developing the Farm Pond, Cushing area this town will rebound.
It will take at least ten years but it will be worth it.
Jim@ccfiile.com

Wow, those are good ideas . . . love that about the Cushing property! I wonder what it would take to develop that. I used to take my mom walking the grounds there when she lived here, and it would have been nice to have an ice cream/breakfast place. My husband has always wanted to open a small place to serve good, old-fashioned, traditional American fare.

I agree - Waushakum pond is nice - there's some good fishing there (strictly catch and release, mind you!). Maybe we start with the Cushing/Farm Pond area - the kids are always over there playing hockey and baseball anyway, right? And again, I have gone completely off topic. But thanks for that - it was refreshing.

@Kim - great question!
There are lost of great things on the South Side -- Cushing Memorial Park, Learned Pond in the summer is great to swim (IMO beter than Waushakum), Keefe Tech has open swim at their pool, Loring Arena has skate times for the public, Amazing Things Arts Center, Danforth Museum, the main Framingham library has fabulous programming ranging from lectures, movies, family events and music and Framingham State University offers a lot of programming to residents in town, including best-selling authors and the arts.

People have to be near these resources to enjoy them, that's why some living quarters would be good too. I'm talking Apts for those that are working class people, maybe on the Farm Pond side.
You have to have people who have money to enjoy the things around them.
Kim...opening up a breakfast place in Cushing would be awesome for your husband.
There is Lloyds diner across from the Bus yard but that is off the beaten path.
Jim@ccfiile.com

Hmmm . . . there ARE awesome things on the South Side! I need to get myself to Amazing Things - it is literally walking distance from my house. I helped them clean up the property before they opened, but haven't been back since. And the Library - I used to take my children there when they were young, but haven't been since they grew up! Danforth as well - my daughter took art classes there when she was young, but I haven't been there myself since. Time for me to rediscover the area. And it's certainly a dream of ours to open a breakfast place :)

@Jim -- "Of course there is The Cushing property which is one of the gems of the town.
Would love to see that developed with a mini water park for the kids, and ice cream breakfast stop for all the parents and walkers."

That is a GREAT IDEA! I know a lot of families would love to see a spray park in town!

Jim, thanks for the info. on the Framingham seal. What a rich history depicted in such a small area.

That would be, "Thanks, Joe." Sorry.

I used to do a history show on the town back in the 90's called Framingham Historical Video Memories.. I did some neat shows about Framingham History. I interviewed the at then town historian Steve Herring, since then he has moved to Florida. My Interview had to do with the Town Seal. Very good informative interview. I review that show in another show dealing with the Salem Witch Trials in the first few minutes.
This interview is about an hour long about that topic.
Yikes, I don't look like that now......

http://blip.tv/the-weekly-show/framingham-town-seal-5958279

Did you know that the Salem Witch Trials brought a good many "refuges" to live on Salem End Rd which threw the town census off balance a bit resulting to the center of the town being put where the Old Burial Ground is today. Thus, the First Meeting house ended up there BECAUSE of the Salem Witch Trials and those who escaped to Framingham.

Old Burial Ground
http://historicframingham.blogspot.com/2009/09/old-burying-ground-and-first.html

Joe Rizoli

Joe! That's amazing! I love the pictures of Mt. Wayte in the second link - my mother lived in that neighborhood until she moved to a retirement community in Connecticut a few years ago (she actually misses Framingham very much). And the train station from the '50's and '60's - what a beautiful building. I wish there were a way to find a suitable use for it - other than a nightclub or restaurant, I mean. Nice work!

And the video! I hope everyone takes a look at this - I have to know, in the interest of history (wink wink) - how old is the vdeo?

Kim...the video was done around 1994 or close to it.
I actually just put it online for all to see.
jim@ccfiile.com

Jim - I'm so glad you did that, and I hope everyone who reads this takes the time to view. I especially like the closeups of the historical documents. The history of Framingham is actually really fascinating. I stopped the video to post, but going back to it now. Thanks for sharing - I'm having a great time watching!

Very awesome for panache!
also because my girlfriend and I took the photographs that are currently being displayed at panache. see: doom and gloom http://dmgm.tumblr.com

I read the Steve Herring book when I first moved to Framingham. Will check out your link, Joe. Thanks.

Steve Herring wrote a great book called South Middlesex, A New England Heritage. A real nice book. Might be able to purchase it at the History Center for those interested.
It's books like this that makes one proud of the town. Of course . I watched the video again of the connection of the Salem Witch trials to Framingham. Dang, I forgot about the interview I had with Mr Harrington in the show. I hope others can watch it. Where did all my hair go..heheheh
We have other history shows we would like to put up. Be patient.

Joe

Joe - would LOVE to see those other shows!

Ok, For you history buffs, I found the Town Seal interview. It literally starts 42 seconds into the play time so be a bit patient. This was taken off a video that had to have black for play time in the beginning of the tape. Now everything is digital so we don't need that extra few seconds for the tape to get up to speed. Anyway, lots of good information here to make you proud of the town.

Framingham Town Seal Interview: 1991?
http://blip.tv/the-weekly-show/framingham-town-seal-5959924

Joe Rizoli

James and Joseph, if the two of you could always be so civil and, dare I say, genteel, your commentaries would be far more welcomed AND valued. Thank you for your contributions to this discussion!

Actually Brenda, my brother are very nice people. The problem is most don't see what good we have done for the town, my history interviews proves we have a real love for the town. That is probably why we are so upset by what has been allowed in the town. Today my brother and I went to Salem End Rd to see the Sarah Clayes house. It is in a shambles, totally rotted, windows broken, a huge tree fallen next to the house. The house will probably have to be demolished, I I don't know how it can be fixed. The house goes back to the late 1600's.
I am angry that the people that owned that house let it go .
I am angry that the town let it go and get to this point.
Anyway, we do have opinions about the towns problems but nobody is listening . We do care about the town.

We went to the Town hall after and saw the huge flag on the stage in Nevins hall. Did you know that a certain "immigrant" community when they rented out that hall wanted the flag covered or hidden from their party goers?. Not a good feeling from that.....

Joe

Joseph, I have no doubt that you and James care about the town - that has never been a question in my mind. However, most of the time the WAY in which you both make your assertions - intended or not - comes across as being hateful, prejudicial and offensive. Again, that may or may not be your intention, but for the reader or recipient of your statements, perception is reality and MY intention in my statement was to let you both know that I recognize your care and concern and only wish that you could always be so civil.

Years ago, my husband and I looked into whether or not we could afford to purchase the house of which you spoke with the intention of turning it into a bed and breakfast. Unfortunately, the property was so tied up in a messy probate/divorce/foreclosure that we couldn't even figure out who was the rightful owner! I believe that is the issue with the people who believed that they had purchased the house several years ago only to find out that the title could not be transferred, or some such legal morass.

That house has absolutely lovely bones - or did - and I feel as sad for it as I would for any grande dame who lost her faculties and slid into a state of decrepitude. And I was so looking forward to serving hot fresh muffins...............

Now that you mention that I do remember that, about the house and you.
Now the house is fit for destruction.....Has the big red X on it now.
Jim@ccfiile.com

I just read through this thread of comments and was so happy to read such a wonderful exchange of ideas for the town and more importantly so happy to see this exchange of ideas occur without it turning into personal attacks. Some fabulous ideas for the Cushing Park area as well as others were mentioned here. Would be great to keep this conversation flowing, but more importantly to expand on it and really find a way to get some of this in progress. Just wanted to pass along a thank you to all of you for throwing out all these great ideas in such a positive way. These are the things I love to read on Patch!!!

Kim, Brenda....Ok....When you want to make this a go...I'll invest into it, I'm sure this will turn into another Facebook miracle and I want to be on the bottom floor of it.
Jim@ccfiile.com