Framingham-based MetroWest Boot Camp held a Pink Ball Friday night to raise fund for three Framingham women battling breast cancer. ALL proceeds will go directly to 3 selected women, who are bravely surviving breast cancer. "We will proudly give all of the money we raise to their families to enjoy a nightout, to pay bills or just get a pedicure - whatever makes them happy," said Kristen Houlker. The event, which attracted a couple of hundred people, featured a night of food, drinks and dancing.

Wanting to keep Flag Day alive, the Framingham Elks held its second annual Flag Day celebration Saturday. Flag Day celebrates the adoption of the American flag on June 14, 1977. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. Framingham Elks leader Scott Gillis and his fellow Elks organized a good old fashioned BBQ and community picnic complete with ceremony and rock n' roll. At the beginning of the event the crowd and Framingham Girl Scouts recited the pledge of …

The downtown Framingham Farmer's Market is open today, Tuesday, June 11 from noon to 5:30 p.m. The market will be open at the Downtown Framingham Common rain or shine. Free parking is available at the TD Bank parking lot on Park Street. *** Editor's Note: Slideshow was taken at the grand opening of the downtown Framingham Farmer's Market on Tuesday, June 4. Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin and Framingham Downtown Renaissance Director Holli Andrews both made visits to the opening of the market.

Some attendees at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of a Microsoft store in the Natick Mall on Saturday received free tickets to a Weezer concert that celebrated the store's opening.  Browsing a selection of Microsoft products, the event's attendees immersed themselves in the brand at a store that is designed to show shoppers how the devices on display interact with one another said the store's manager Megan Dobson. Microsoft employees volunteered at Natick's Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary to engage the local community in preparation for the opening of the store in the Natick Mall.  Weezer took the …

The Framingham Library's Middle School Homework Center hosted the first-ever town-wide Middle School Spelling Bee Friday night at the main Framingham Library. Twenty teams and 60 middle school students from four Framingham public schools competed in the event. The winner was The Holy Cows team from the Christa McAuliffe Regional Public Charter School. The trio of spellers were sixth graders Payton Daizell, Willow Stoner and Tina Vanslette. Finishing in second place was The Walsh Wonders team of Richa Jain, Eliza Menzel, Erick Oloveira from Walsh Middle School. Finishing in third place was The…

Framingham Downtown Renaissance hosted a pop art show last weekend in the Bullard Building. On Friday night, there was a very successful opening night reception for the ArtPop 2013 Transit show. There was tapas by Foodie Cafe and lager tasting by Jack's Abby Brewing. Artists that participated included: Sorin Bica ZsuZsanna Donnell Paula Estey Nella Lush Steve Maka Stephen Martin Ruth Segaloff Felipe Zamora Framingham Downtown Reniassance called the event the "beginning of a new groove for Downtown Framingham." Thanks to artist Jorie Anderson for the photos in this slideshow.

Hemenway Elementary School held its annual spring fair Sunday. And after the fair, the Hemenway Elementary PTO held its annual golf ball drop fundraiser Sunday. The janitor dropped the balls from the roof of the school, as the Framingham Fire Department was unavailable and out on a call. Thanks to photographer Kevin Cummings of Cummings Photography for the photos in this slideshow. PTO members feel free to add you photos!

During the inaugural season of Major League Ultimate, the Boston Whitecaps competed at their home field in Framingham on Sunday against the DC Current.  Ultimate is a sport similar to soccer during which players try to pass a Frisbee toward end zones to score.  The Whitecaps defeated the Current 24-13, putting the team at 4-0 in their first season.  The next home game for the Boston Whitecaps is May 18 at Bowditch Field.

Framingham High's Junior Cotillion was held Saturday, May 4 at the Sheraton. Please upload your photos! We want to see how beautiful and handsome you looked!

Members of the Framingham Police Athletic League (PALs) defeated members from the New England Patriots in a charity basketball game Monday night 98-95 at Framingham High School. During the opening ceremony, they played Taps for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. Afterwards, they asked those in attendance to sing as loud as they could during the National Anthem. It was a fun and interactive game for the crowd. When the Patriots went to the line for a free throw, they would pick a child out of the crowd to make the throw. (They gave them some free points and extra tries). The game …

Hundreds turned out on a beautiful sunny spring day to celebrate the Third Annual Earth Day Festival Saturday.

The Framingham History Center held a 50s-style sock hop Friday night at Village Hall.

Framingham children met Babs the Bunny, created bunny crafts, played Easter games and looked for eggs during the 3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by Framingham Parks & Recreation Saturday morning at Cushing Memorial Park. Framingham Parks & Recreation staff and volunteer hid more than 1,250 eggs and 8 special, Golden eggs very early Saturday morning. As families arrived to the third annual event, they collected a necklace which indicated which color eggs their child should find. Each child was to find six eggs and try to get one of the special Golden eggs. More than 175 families …

Boy Scout Troop 12 held its 33rd annual pancake breakfast Saturday at Plymouth Church. Thanks to Framingham Patch reader Elizabeth Kohler for this slideshow of photos. If you attended or your son participated, please add your photos too!

Those waiting in line came from three states - Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire - to get a chance to shake the hand of one of the all-time Bruins greats Derek Sanderson and have him sign his newest book. The former Boston Bruin and NHL hockey legend signed copies of his newest book at The Paper Store in Shoppers World Saturday as well as chat with fans and pose for a few photos. Sanderson's new autobiography is Crossing The Line: The Outrageous Story of a Hockey Original. The book is scheduled to become a movie too. For those unfamiliar with Sanderson's story and his legend …

Local celebrities including Jason Varitek and Rob Gronkowski modeled Neiman Marcus clothing on Thursday at an event that benefited the Framingham-based Art beCause Cancer foundation.  "I'm here because my wife is a cancer survivor and once it hits you at home it's totally different," Varitek said.  Unlike many charities that fund cancer research, the Art beCause foundation aims to find the environmental factors that lead to cancer.  "Anytime I am able to support a great cause it's an honor," Gronkowski said during the event. 

Temple Beth Am hosted a Purim Spiel Sunday at 10 a.m., followed by a Purim Carnival. A Purim Spiel is comical Jewish theatrical production, where participatnts wear costumes that depict the characters in the story in the Book of Esther. Cantor Jodi Schechtman and teen and adult members of the Temple participated in the Purim Spiel. *** Thanks to Framingham Patch reader Craig Berkson, who is a Temple Beth Am member, for the slideshow of photos. Please feel free to upload your photos too!

More than 200 people attended the preview opening of Framingham History Center's newest exhibit Shoppers World 1951-1994. Friday night at Edgell Memorial Library. The highlight of Friday's members only party was when Framingham Selectman Chair Charlie Sisitsky helped light up the old neon sign that stood high above Shoppers World. The exhibit will be open this school vacation week Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 adult, free for members and children. The exhibition features images, merchandise, and memorabilia that will be sure to bring you back to …

The Framingham-based Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism held its 10th Annual Flutie Bowl Monday Night at Kings in Dedham. Doug Flutie along with sports, television and radio celebrities bowled to raise money for the foundation. The Foundation, created in 1998 by Flutie and his wife Laurie, was named for their son, Doug, Jr. who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3. He is now 21. Autism is a neurological disorder that impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Autism now affects one in 88 children in the United States. The …

The Framingham Frogs had back-to-back swim meets this weekend. On Saturday morning, the Framingham Parks & Recreation swim team defeated Norwood 466-254. On Sunday afternoon, the Frogs competed in a tri-meet with Natick and Belmont. The Frogs are made up of boy and girl swimmers from age 6 to 18. Both meets were held at Keefe Technical School's pool. *** Thanks to Rob Dupcak for these photos of the Framingham swim team. Parents and swimmers feel free to upload your photos too!