The Frame

01/10/2025

Our weekly news podcast, providing news in focus, is live

▶️Watch on Access Framingham's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uJspli3jeI
🌐Watch on our website: https://www.theframe.news/article/the-frame-january-9-2025
☁️Listen on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-frame-framingham/the-frame-january-9-2025
🟢Watch/listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39tUVAPO1nDTsvT9CnQPdO?si=027371e53f4b490c

01/08/2025

01/08/2025

Finance Subcommittee Hears Proposals on Municipal Salary Changes

Read more on our website: https://www.theframe.news/article/finance-subcommittee-hears-proposals-on-municipal-salary-changes

01/07/2025

Framingham State University and MassBay Community College are set to benefit from state funding to boost early college courses for high school students.

Governor Healey announced Tuesday that $8 million in grants is set to be distributed across the state for these programs.

01/03/2025

01/03/2025

Our episode recapping the year that was in news is live

▶️Watch on Access Framingham's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aji5FHp1IU
🌐Watch on our website: https://www.theframe.news/article/the-frame-2024-year-in-review
☁️Listen on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-frame-framingham/the-frame-2024-year-in-review
🟢Watch/listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39tUVAPO1nDTsvT9CnQPdO?si=4a83053291b44d45

12/27/2024

Our weekly news podcast, providing news in focus, is live

▶️Watch on Access Framingham's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwp3J6dXB_s
🌐Watch on our website: https://www.theframe.news/article/the-frame-december-26-2024
☁️Listen on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-frame-framingham
🟢Watch/listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39tUVAPO1nDTsvT9CnQPdO?si=18a1227927724558

12/26/2024

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Mass DOT) is expected to activate the new traffic signal at Edgell Road and Central Street before the end of 2024.

MassDOT did the road improvement project in conjunction with the City of Framingham.

The project scope was centered around improving vehicle operations and safety by relieving congestion issues on Central Street and addressing existing sight distance deficiencies.

The new traffic signal will control all traffic movements and include an exclusive pedestrian phase.



BENEFITS & IMPACTS
Based on the proposed geometric changes and results of the capacity analysis, the following benefits and impacts were identified:

Improved pedestrian mobility and safety by providing ADA/AAB compliant sidewalks along both sides of all roadways, crosswalks across all approaches, and exclusive pedestrian phasing.

Improved bicycle accommodation with consistent five-foot shoulders through the project area.

12/26/2024

In an effort to enhance transparency and interactivity with residents, the City of Framingham launched a new map showcasing the projects of the Framingham Community Preservation Committee, utilizing software from the international company MapMe.

Public Information Officer Susan Scully Petroni said the Community Preservation Act project map is the inaugural launch utilizing the new MapMe software.

The interactive Community Preservation Project map can be viewed at this link - https://www.framinghamma.gov/3944/Interactive-Project-Map

“This user-friendly MapMe feature empowers City staff to easily update and maintain the maps, ensuring that residents always have access to the most current information,” said Mayor Charlie Sisitsky. “With this MapMe tool, Framingham aims to foster a more informed and involved community, bridging the gap between residents and local government initiatives.”

Community Preservation Committee Coordinator Heather O’Donnell worked with Petroni, and the City’s webmaster Renan Pinheiro to launch the CPC project map on the City’s website this month.

“The Framingham Community Preservation Committee is committed to moving forward community housing, outdoor recreation, open space and historic preservation projects that benefit residents throughout the entire City. This new interact map will enable Framingham residents to visualize the location of approved Community Preservation Act projects and easily understand the impact these projects will have on the community,” said O’Donnell.

For each CPA project on the map, there is an icon that identifies the type of project - open space, historic preservation, affordable housing, and outdoor recreation.

Each project has a photo, a project description, CPA funds approved for the project and a link to the project status, explained Pinheiro.

The MapMe software enables the City to develop vibrant, interactive maps without the need for coding.

“I think this map is a great addition to the website. It allows the public to see where the approved projects are located. Additionally, it indicates that the projects are spread across the entire community and not concentrated in any one area of the City,” said Community Preservation Committee Chair Tom Mahoney.

Residents approved the Community Preservation Act via a ballot initiative in November of 2020.

As of July 1, 2021, a 1% surcharge on property taxes was set aside to fund community preservation projects.

A 9-member Committee oversees the fund and votes on projects to submit to City Council for final review. The first projects were approved in Fiscal Year 2023.

The MapMe software has multiple uses, said Petroni, who said the City has plans for additional interactive maps.

“The City is already utilizing software to map recreational sites and parks,” said Petroni. “The project began this summer and is expected to launch in 2025.”

Future uses, said Petroni of the MapMe software, “is to create a comprehensive map highlighting veterans' memorials and historical markers throughout the City of Framingham.”

“It could serve to identify road construction projects, showcase holiday decorations throughout the city, or mark local businesses within the community,” said the Public Information Officer for the City of Framingham.

The MapMe software allows the City to create a map with a dozen location or more than 10,000 locations

12/20/2024

WATCH: History of Shoppers World

By now, you may–or may not–have started your holiday shopping. One of the major places to visit in the city during this time of year is Shoppers World.

For this holiday season, though, we wanted to take a step back: to learn more about the innovative shopping center’s history, and what it was like to shop, visit, and gather at Shoppers World back in the day.

We were lucky enough to collaborate with the Framingham History Center to provide research and footage of Shoppers World in years’ past to you this week. We spoke with Executive Director of the History Center Anna Tucker to learn more about the unique offerings Shoppers World had during the holidays.

Watch the full video on our website: https://www.theframe.news/article/watch-history-of-shoppers-world

12/20/2024

Our weekly news podcast, providing news in focus, is live

▶️Watch on Access Framingham's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w_afk-aIGI
🌐Watch on our website: https://www.theframe.news/article/the-frame-december-19-2024
☁️Listen on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-frame-framingham/the-frame-december-19-2024
🟢Watch/listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39tUVAPO1nDTsvT9CnQPdO?si=440ef84c538048e8

12/18/2024

City Council Tables MBTA Act Discussion to February

With guidelines pointing to a Dec. 31 deadline for compliance, Framingham legislators voted to readdress the zoning act in the new year amid legal battles at the state level.

Read more on our website: https://www.theframe.news/article/city-council-tables-mbta-act-discussion-to-february

12/17/2024

ALERT:
On Thursday, December 19 and Friday, December 20, Singletary Lane will be closed between Salem End Road and Hickory Hill Lane between 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. due to Eversource Gas road work.

Northbound Traffic will be detoured up Hickory Ln to Cahill Park, Louis Farley to Badger, and back to Salem End.

Southbound Traffic will be detoured via Winter St to Fountain St. and onto Jodi Rd.

Signs will be in place to guide motorists and police details will also be on site, and the road will be passable to emergency vehicles.

Eversource received approval from the police safety officer. This detour will also be intermittently in place after the first of the year.