In honor of International Women’s Day, the Boston Globe has published an interesting collection of “notable women and events in Massachusetts history“. It includes the teacher Christa McAuliffe, who grew up in Framingham.
Category Archives: Local Information
Free Health Fair – Saturday March 10th
On Saturday, March 10th, there will be a Free health fair at the Latino Health Insurance Program from 9am to 4pm at 88 Waverly Street in Framingham… A great day for taking care of yourself, especially for caregivers and seniors.
More Info: (508) 875-1237 or their Facebook page.
- Free tax preparation advice
- Flu shots
- Find out if you are at risk for
- Blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Breast and cervical cancer
- Learn about
- Health insurance
- Dental coverage
- Food stamps
- Preventing fall risks in older people
- Information for women on how to get a mammography for cervical cancer screening
- Caregiver support- help for people who are helping others
Maple Sugaring Season
With cold nights and warmer days, late February is the beginning of maple sugaring season in Massachusetts. Maple syrup is made in many sugar houses in and near MetroWest. You can visit a sugar house and get a tour explaining how maple syrup is made – and usually taste/buy some fresh delicious maple syrup or other maple products.
Places to visit:
- Here is lots of information about maple sugaring season in Massachusetts – places to visit and maple recipes to try
- And a map of sugar houses
- Here are some special Maple Sugaring Events
- Natick Community Organic Farm – Mon-Sat now through March 23rd
One-hour tours – Tree-tapping, and seeing how maple syrup is made ($8 per person – Reserve in advance)
Special Maple Magic Day on Saturday March 3rd with pancake breakfast, more demonstrations, music - Sap-to-Syrup Farmer’s Breakfast at Drumlin Farm in Lincoln – Saturday/Sunday March 10th/11th
Pancake breakfast, tours and demonstrations. Drumlin Farm is a great place to take kids. They have a variety of animals to see, and good walking trails. - MapleFest at Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough – Saturday March 24th 11:00 to 2:00
Taste maple syrup and candies; crafts and games; nice place to walk - Maple Days at Old Sturbridge Village – Saturdays and Sundays in March
Quite expensive ($28 per adult), but Old Sturbridge Village is a large place – recreating life here in the 1830s – with lots to see and do. The Maple Days (see video) are a special event at the village. - And More Events and Sugar Houses around Boston including places in Hopkinton and Mendon
- Natick Community Organic Farm – Mon-Sat now through March 23rd
New Support Organization Opens in Framingham
The Recovery Learning Center (RLC) has opened in Framingham at 855 Worcester Rd (Trolley Square on Route 9). They want to help support people who are under too much stress, or having other emotional/mental health issues.
There are regular support meetings and classes. In support meetings people share experiences and together provide hope and support for each other. Every Thursday in Framingham (4-5pm), there is a support meeting – in Portuguese.
(Uma opprtunidade para compartilhar e ouvrir experiências e juntos fornecer esperança e apoio mútuo)
There is also a morning support group every Thursday morning (10:30-11:30) in Marlborough – in English and Portuguese.
See the RLC Website for more information.
What’s New in Framingham – January 1, 2018
Today, January 1, 2018, the Framingham government changed and some new rules began…
- Framingham changed from a town to a city. One difference between a town and a city is that a city has a mayor – a person elected to lead the city government
- The new mayor, Yvonne Spicer, was inaugurated, along with 11 new city councillors and 9 new school committee members
- Here are the names of all the people on the city council and school committee, plus which Framingham district they represent
- If you live in Framingham, you can use this map to see which district you live in
- Here is a video of the Inauguration Ceremony
- Also today, the on-street parking rule changed. Because 2018 is an even number, cars may only park on the even side of streets in Framingham this year, unless there is a sign posted on the street with a different rule.
And beginning today, retail and grocery stores in Framingham are not allowed to give you thin plastic bags at checkout. They can still give you paper bags, and most stores can sell you inexpensive reusable bags. They encourage you to bring your own reusable bags.
New Year’s Weekend in Boston
This weekend, there will be a large number of special events in Boston to celebrate the new year. Most of them are part of First Night Boston. Here’s a Full Schedule
- Blink light and music show – every 30 minutes from 4:30-10pm, every night through Jan 1st
- Ice sculptures – at Quincy Market, Copley Square, and a few other places
- Sunday afternoon Dec 31st
- Afternoon Dance Party – 2-4PM at Faneuil Hall Marketplace (Quincy Market)
outside, for the whole family - Free Puppet Shows at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square (1:15, 2:00, 2:45, 3:30, 4:15)
- Afternoon Dance Party – 2-4PM at Faneuil Hall Marketplace (Quincy Market)
- New Year’s Eve – Sunday Dec 31st
- Light and Music show in Copley Square
- Fireworks over Boston Harbor (good viewing from Christopher Columbus Park and Fan Pier Park )
- New Year’s Day – Monday Jan 1st
- Science on the Street – Copley Square Noon – 3pm
Science-related demos and activities - First Day Hike at Walden Pond – Noon-2pm
GPS: 915 Walden St, Concord
- Science on the Street – Copley Square Noon – 3pm
Vacation Week Ideas
If you have kids out of school this week, or just have extra time for yourself, here are some places to go – to see more of Boston and MetroWest, have some family fun, and practice your English:
- Charlotte’s Web – at Harvard University in Cambridge (Loeb Drama Center)
Performances every day through Jan 7th ($15-20)
Special sensory friendly performance on Dec. 29th - Kids skate in their socks
- SnowMazing – – at the Boston Children’s Museum – through Jan 28th
- At Discovery Museum in Acton Dec 26-30
- Boston Winter – now open for the winter at Boston City Hall Plaza
Ice Skating Path; Holiday Market; more
See video - Ice Skating– at the Frog Pond on the Boston Common – now open (Video)
- Holiday Lights
- Tower Hill Gardens
After 4pm, Now through Jan 7th
GPS: 11 French Drive in Boylston - Greenway Carousel Light Shows – every night 4:45 to 7pm (except Dec 25) until Jan 1st
Walk around Boston, and then ride the carousel and watch the light show
GPS: near 191 Atlantic Ave, Boston - ZooLights at the Stoneham Zoo – Dec 26 – 31, 5-9pm
- Best places to see Christmas lights in New England
- Tower Hill Gardens
- Places to go sledding in MetroWest
- Places to go skiing near MetroWest/Boston
- Places to go for a winter hike
- In MetroWest, there’s Callahan Park – and many others
- Some other good winter hiking places in Massachusetts
- Lots more to find on…
Could You Become a Medical Interpreter?
Have you considered becoming a medical interpreter? It’s a valuable and rewarding job for people who can speak two (or more) languages.
Medical interpreters:
- Make sure that the doctor and patient understand each other, during discussions about medical diagnosis and treatment
- Can help with cultural as well as language issues in communication
- Explain how health care and services work
- Advise patients of their rights
More Information:
- Take a look at some available jobs for medical interpreters in Massachusetts
- MassBay Community College is one of many schools in the area that offers training for becoming a medical interpreter
- Here’s another private school in Boston – with an article that explains more about this career
- There’s a non-profit organization in Boston, called Found in Translation, which offers a medical interpreter training program for free – to women with a low income. Here’s a recent article about this organization.