Framingham Town Meeting Warrant Open; 11th Annual Flutie Bowl and Political Speeches

1. Framingham Selectmen have opened the Town Meeting warrant. 
All warrant article requests must be submitted by Feb. 19 at noon.

For additional information on the timelines and requirements for article submission visit the 2014 Annual Town Meeting Memo from Town Manager.

Additional helpful links include: 

Preliminary Article Request Form - Form summarizes a warrant article

Guide for Warrant Article Sponsors - General informational guide to preparing a Town Meeting warrant article and motion along with steps sponsors must take before Town Meeting Members vote on warrant article.

Since Passover and the Framingham Public School spring vacation both occur on April 22, the date during which the Annual Town Meeting should occur as specified by the Town Bylaws, Framingham Selectmen voted to delay the start of the 2014 Annual Town Meeting to Tuesday, April 29, at 7:30 p.m. in Nevins Hall. 

2. Neither the Framingham School Committee nor the Framingham Board of Selectmen is holding  a public meeting tonight.

3. Tonight is the 11th Annual Flutie Bowl at KINGS, located in Legacy Place in Dedham. 

Since its inception, the Flutie Bowl has raised more than $600,000 for Framingham-based The Doug Flutie, Jr., Foundation for Autism, which provides services and supports to local children and families living with autism. Doug and his wife, Laurie, established the Foundation in honor of their son Doug, Jr., who was diagnosed with autism at age 3. 

Before doors open to the public at 6 p.m. for the celebrity bowling tournament, 14 families of children with autism have been chosen to come and bowl (3:30 to 5 p.m.) for free. During that time the venue will create an autism-friendly environment. Tickets are still available.

4. Tonight, the Framingham High wrestling team will host Newton North at 6:30.

5. In Case You Missed It:  A national agency will investigate the commonwealth's embattled Department of Children and Families and make recommendations for changes. Governor Deval Patrick has asked the Child Welfare League to study the Department of Children and Families. Patrick announced the investigation during a Monday morning press conference.

Tonight, Jan. 28, Gov. Patrick will give is rescheduled State of the State address at 7:30. The speech will be Patrick’s final State of the State address, as he is not running for re-election.

Later tonight, President Barack Obama is scheduled to deliver his State of the Union address at 9. 

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren will be in attendance for tonight's State of the Union. Her office announced her guest for the speech will be a Cambridge boy, age 11.

At age nine, Zev Dickstein started volunteering on political campaigns, and has remained active in his community, most recently serving as the campaign manager for a local school committee race.

“I am very pleased to have Zev joining me for the State of the Union," Warren said in a press release. "He understands the importance of public service and getting involved in his community. Zev's passion is inspiring, and he is a glowing example of the impact young people can have on our communities and our country.”