Women's writing class to be held in Ashland
A women's summer writing program will be held this month in Ashland. The Women’s Summer Writing Adventure is a three-session writing class and will take place 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. July 22, 29, and Aug. 5 at The Red Dress at 54 Front St. There will be a bonus/make-up class for participants on August 12.
Writer Giulietta "Julie" Nardone will be leading the class. Her essays and stories have been published in The Christian Science Monitor, the Boston Globe, Skirt! Magazine, Underwired Magazine, Rollins Magazine, Flashquake, and Common Ties, as well as having had her work broadcasted on National Public Radio. In 2011, she started The Off Center for Wild And Disobedient Creativity in Ashland.
The writings may become stepping-stones for essays, memoirs or one-woman plays.
“In this creative writing adventure, you will free the stories that live inside of you, the stories that need to be heard, the stories that will make sense of your own life,” said Giulietta in a press release. “At any early age, we're taught to disengage from the power of our own voices and instead listen to the voices of others. Muffling our own truths can make us feel crazy and alone in the world.”
The program will be limited to eight participants and the fee is $99. Those who register by July 12 will receive a free writing critique after classes end. Refreshments will be provided.
Click here to register, or send a check to Giulietta Nardone, PO Box 360, Ashland, MA 01721. For more information, e-mail giulietta@giuliettathemuse.com or call 508-380-8799.
Contact John Swinconeck at johnswinc@gmail.com. Follow @johnswinc on Twitter.
Natick teen recognized for Alzheimer's charity work
Max Wallack, 17, of Natick, was one of 10 teens from across the country recognized by the Helen Diller Family Foundation as a leader in volunteerism. Wallack was awarded $36,000 as a Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award recipient for his work helping those afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease.
According to a statement released by the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards, Wallack witnessed his great-grandmother’s decline with Alzheimer’s first-hand, and found that puzzles had a therapeutic effect and contributed to her sense of accomplishment. After her death, Wallack launched Puzzles To Remember in 2008, a charitable organization that provides puzzles to nursing homes, veterans facilities, and other facilities that care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients, according to PuzzlesToRemember.org.
Puzzles To Remember has distributed more than 23,000 puzzles to 2,000 nursing facilities around the world, and Wallack has involved hundreds of students in community service according to the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards Awards. He has also partnered with a major puzzle manufacturer to create specialized puzzles tailored to the needs of those with Alzheimer’s.
Those who would like to donate puzzles should email PuzzlesToRemember@gmail.com for more information.
Wallack is now a student at Boston University, and according to theTikkun Olam Awards, Wallack is studying neuroscience.
He is also the co-author–along with Carolyn Given–of "Why Did Grandma Put Her Underwear in the Refrigerator?" a book that explains Alzheimer's Disease for children.
According to the Tikkun Olam Awards website, each of 2013 recipient demonstrated a commitment to "tikkun olam," a central precept of Judaism meaning to repair the world. The teens provided unique solutions to some of our world’s most critical social issues by developing projects that support social justice, equality and education, environmental sustainability and engagement opportunities for their peers.
Contact John Swinconeck at johnswinc@gmail.com. Follow @johnswinc on Twitter.
Framingham-based Advocates opens Ashland center
A Framingham-based organization that provides services to individuals with disabilities has opened a new center in Ashland.
The Advocates Life Skills & Learning Center at 290 Eliot Street in Ashland will offer learning opportunities for adults with disabilities so that they can pursue active and fulfilling lives in the community, Advocates Inc. announced in a press release.
The center will serve as home base for Advocates’ autism services, employment services, and day habilitation program.
Evening and weekend offerings include social activities and skills trainings. The center also hosts educational forums for families. Participants can choose from a range of learning experiences designed to promote success in all aspects of life, including independent living, work, education, volunteerism, among others.
Some features of the new, 23,000 square-foot facility include a training kitchen, laundry, and mailroom, a retail training center, library and media center, fitness center, creative arts center, and a community dining room, among others.
Based in Framingham, Advocates Inc. employs more than 1,000 staff members and serves 20,000 individuals at over 100 sites across Eastern and Central Massachusetts. The organization provides residential supports; day habilitation; employment supports; family supports; outpatient mental health and addiction services; housing, benefits and legal services; and community justice programs.
Contact John Swinconeck at johnswinc@gmail.com. Follow @johnswinc on Twitter.
McAuliffe school announces new leadership structure
Christa McAuliffe Regional Charter Public School is restructuring its leadership positions with a new Dean of Culture.
Kim Ferguson will serve in the position at the Framingham-based Expeditionary Learning school, working to engage McAuliffe teachers in professional growth, and to support curriculum development, assessment and instruction, the school announced in a press release.
Ferguson and school’s executive director will share responsibilities held by a traditional principal.
“McAuliffe’s Board of Trustees believe that this leadership structure will guide the school to effectively implement its long-term goal to become a nationally recognized Expeditionary Learning school,” stated Executive Director Kristin Harrison.
Two new hires, Alison Rheingold and Christina Morello, will be joining the school as Instructional Coaches. Rheingold and Morello will support teachers on curriculum development and instruction a model in tandem with Expeditionary Learning schools nationwide.
Harrison said that increasing staff allows for more “time spent guiding students in their own path to learning.”
McAuliffe students are admitted by lottery. Students live in Framingham, Natick, Ashland, Holliston, Sudbury, Southborough, Hopkinton, and Marlborough. Founded in 2002, Christa McAuliffe is a Charter Public School, educating at full capacity with 306 students in grades 6 through 8. McAuliffe is one of 15 Expeditionary Learning schools in Massachusetts.
Contact John Swinconeck at johnswinc@gmail.com. Follow @johnswinc on Twitter.
Framingham library looking for focus group panelists
Framingham Public Library is looking for members of the community to participate in a series of focus groups to share ideas on how to improve the library.
The library wants the public input as it forms its 5-year strategic plan.
Focus group dates are: June 18 at 8 p.m., June 28 at 2 p.m., and July 8 at 5 p.m.
Call Jane Peck at 508-532-5570 x4357 to register, or email jpeck@minlib.net.
Those who want to partcipate but can't make one of the dates can still help by taking an online survey at www.framinghamlibrary.org.
Contact John Swinconeck at johnswinc@gmail.com. Follow @johnswinc on Twitter.
Framingham to host recycling day
The Town of Framingham will host electronics recycling on June 26 from noon to 8 p.m. at the Framingham Recycling Center at 255 Mt. Wayte Ave.
Recycling is free with a $10 recycling center permit, which will be waived in exchange for a non-perishable food item.
For more information, call (508)-532-6001 or email recycling@framinghamma.gov.
Hearing on Marist property in Framingham postponed
A hearing on the future of the former Marist Retreat Center property has been postponed. The Zoning Board of Appeals was originally going to hold the hearing Tuesday, June 18. It has been rescheduled until July 9 at 8 p.m. at the Memorial Building.
Walden Behavioral Care LLC wants to move its corporate headquarters and much of its treatment facility from Waltham to the former Marist Retreat Center at 518 Pleasant St. Walden has signed a purchase-and-sale agreement to acquire the sprawling property from the Marist Fathers of Boston, pending approval of its plans.
The Marist property is in a residential zone, and as a result, Walden would need to obtain a special permit from Framingham’s Zoning Board of Appeals to open its clinic there.
Many abutters and residents of the surrounding area have voiced concerns over the impact on traffic and public safety.
Doyle Circle resident Paula Jacobs said neighbors do not want to see commercial property of any kind at the Marist site, and that includes the for-profit Walden Behavioral Care.
"What Walden is proposing is not in harmony with the neighborhood," she said. "People are concerned, because all of a sudden an outsider has come in. … We don't want commercial property here."
Jacobs said that whatever tax revenue Walden would generate "is not worth the impact on town services."
Walden President and CEP Stuart Koman said Walden's proposal will keep "the integrity of the neighborhood."
"In terms of the nature of the activities that we do, yes, we are a company, but we are providing medical services. The town's bylaw anticipated that might be a good use for that spot. Patients will be doing a lot of reflection and healing, and that's very consistent of what was going on when it was under the control of the Marists," Koman said.
Koman added that Walden would be willing to accept any ruling by the ZBA to limit the facility to the 80 beds it has already proposed.
Many residents, including those that attended a June 11 forum on the proposal, said they would prefer a residential development in its place. Jacobs said she preferred cluster housing and senior development, and said that she "doesn't buy" the argument that residential development would generate more traffic than what Walden is proposing.
In a letter from Marist Fathers CFO John Harhager to Framingham ZBA Chairman Phil Ottaviani, and posted posted on the project's website last week, Harhager wrote, in part, "It is obvious to us that the property cannot be sold for single-family residential development at a price that will come anywhere close to meeting our financial needs."
Harhager continued: "When we operated the Retreat Center, people came and went with some frequency, but not in huge numbers. They lodged on the premises. They used the property for quiet healing, reflection and recreation. Walden is like us in this regard. … we would encourage the Town and the neighborhood to give Walden a full and fair opportunity to explain their program. We hope that in doing so, the community will conclude that Walden’s proposed use is not only beneficial for society, but also for the Town, and that Walden’s proposed program would be harmonious with the neighborhood."
Contact John Swinconeck at johnswinc@gmail.com. Follow @johnswinc on Twitter.
MetroWest Health Foundation announces $329,000 in grants
The MetroWest Health Foundation announced in a press release on Thursday that it approved $329,000 in grants to local organizations to improve the health of elders and adolescents, and to assess how some school districts are able to handle students' mental health needs.
Four school districts in Holliston, Framingham, Natick, and Needham will conduct mental health capacity assessments that will evaluate the procedures currently in place to identify, prevent and refer students to mental health treatment and intervention services. The schools will receive training from Boston’s Children’s Hospital researchers on how to complete the assessments, interpret the results and identify areas of improvement.
Mental health issues among students are an area of focus for the foundation. The foundation’s 2012 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey found that one in five high school students reported symptoms of depression, and 5 percent of youth had attempted suicide in the past year.
“It’s clear from our health survey and from talking with school officials that more needs to be done to ensure that students have access to appropriate mental health services and supports,” said Martin Cohen, president of the foundation.
In addition to the school mental health capacity assessments, the foundation’s board of trustees approved an additional 13 grants, including:
From the Framingham Union Grants Panel:
Framingham Public Schools – $25,000 grant to help adolescent boys obtain information and skills needed to build healthy relationships and prevent teen pregnancy.
Framingham State University – $10,000 grant to offer the Lifelong Learning Series Program, which provides social support and enrichment to older adults.
Jewish Family Service of MetroWest – $48,266 grant to train volunteers to assist elders with medical appointments.
New England Eye Institute - $6,000 grant to provide eyeglasses to low-income children.
From the Leonard Morse Grants Panel:
Natick Fire Department - $20,000 to train and certify Natick High School students in CPR, cardiac defibrillation and first aid.
Grants from the Distribution Committee:
Ashland Public Schools - $18,515 to reduce marijuana use among Ashland’s adolescents ages 10-19.
Franklin Council on Aging - $12,245 to offer in-home respite care relief for caregivers of elders in Franklin and Bellingham.
Jewish Vocational Service/ReServe Greater Boston - $48,481 to establish a MetroWest hub for ReServe Greater Boston to enhance the lives of older adults.
Millis Public Schools - $6,740 to train counseling staff in dialectical behavioral therapy, resulting in a reduction of self-harming behaviors among middle school students.
Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts - $33,747 to expand sexual health education programs for parents and teens in Milford and Marlborough.
REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, Inc. - $23,511 to address teen dating violence and increase bystander intervention.
Senior Support Foundation/Holliston, Dover and Sherborn COA - $9,775 to offer evidence-based fall prevention programming.
Share Our Strength - $42,056 to educate parents of young children on good nutrition and healthy eating habits.
The MetroWest Health Foundation states that it provides more than $4 million in annual financial support for preventative and responsive health programs. To date, the Foundation has provided more than $37 million in financial support that helps residents and their families lead healthier lives. For more information, visit www.mwhealth.org.
Contact John Swinconeck at johnswinc@gmail.com. Follow @johnswinc on Twitter.
Natick's July 4th parade will pay tribute to Boomtown's Rex Trailer
For a time in January, it looked like Natick's decades-old tradition of a July 4 parade wouldn't happen. But the parade will go on, and this year it will pay tribute to arguably its most famous participant, Rex Trailer, host of the long-running Boston children's show "Boomtown."
Trailer died early this year after spending the holidays with his family in Florida. He was 84.
The Western-themed “Rex Trailer’s Boomtown” premiered on WBZ-TV in Boston in 1956. It ran until 1974. The show included cartoons, educational games, and outdoor adventures. Trailer showed off cowboy tricks he learned when he was growing up in Texas.
The show was a weekend morning fixture on local TV. Trailer made more than 1,000 episodes. A filmmaker who made a documentary about the show estimated that more than 4 million baby boomers grew up watching it and nearly 250,000 appeared in the show’s live audiences, the Globe reported in 2004.
His young fans once included Jay Leno, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Barry (Jordan’s Furniture) Tatelman, and Jimmy Tingle.
Natick's Maureen Sullivan recalled a day when her Brownie troupe was in Boomtown's studio audience. "You're there, and you're seeing all the sets, and you might be disappointed because it was a bunch of plywood backdrops," she said.
She said her sister, Kathleen, got to introduce that day's cartoon because Kathleen "could yell the loudest." Sullivan said Trailer took time after the show to shake every child's hand. "It was a very nice experience," she said.
In a statement released by Emerson College after Trailer's death, Trailer's business partner Mike Bavaro said, “The key thing about Rex is that, with kids and young people, he never talked down to them. He always treated them with respect as if they were adults, and I think that’s what kids want the most."
Trailer, a Sudbury resident, starred in other shows in the 1970s, including “Earth Lab” and “The Good Time Gang." He also owned a television production studio in Waltham.
Trailer also used to his fame to help charitable causes. According to the Boomtown website Jerry Lewis named Rex as national spokesman for Muscular Dystrophy one year, and encouraged his young audience to run "Backyard Carnivals" to raise funds for a cure. He also led a wagon train throughout Massachusetts in 1961 to raise awareness for children with disabilities.
This year, Natick Friends of the 4th will honor Trailer by naming him "Grand Marshall In Memoriam."
"Rex entertained thousands upon thousands of us when we were kids, without swearing, without drugs. This guy was the genuine article. As adults, we realized what a treasure we have had for so many years," said Sullivan, who is a Natick Friends of the 4th committee member. "To have the committee name Rex Marshal In Memoriam is about the best show of respect we could muster for this wonderful man."
According to Sullivan, Trailer's involvement in the parade started in 1955 and continued into the early 1980s. He returned in the early 1990s and continued with it up until last year. Sullivan said that Trailer would ride his horse, Goldrush, along the parade route.
Natick Friends of the 4th co-chairman Peter Mundy recalled seeing Trailer during the parade, and remembered how adults would be singing the "Boomtown" theme at the tops of their lungs, bewildering their children.
"He was the original Boston legend," Sullivan said. "He was genuine. He was one of the nicest people you could ever meet."
This year's parade almost didn't happen. According to Sullivan, parade organizers were feeling burnt out. When it was announced the parade would be cancelled">cancalled, however, supporters rallied and volunteers began coming out of the woodwork. Sullivan said the planning and logistics for the parade are now divided between several subcommittees.
"We're here. We never went away," Mundy said. "We almost did, but we revitalized."
Natick Friends of the 4th does not use any tax dollars and its programs, including this year's 58th annual parade, are possible through fundraising efforts, Mundy said.
A "Boomtown"-themed fundraiser will be held Tuesday Palettes on 29 Main St. starting at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $35.
Contact John Swinconeck at johnswinc@gmail.com. Follow @johnswinc on Twitter.
Buses to replace trains on part of Framingham-Worcester rail line Saturday
Buses will replace commuter rail service on part of the Framingham-Worcester cmmuter rail line Saturday evening while officials test the line’s signaling system, the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company announced.
On June 15, replacement bus service will run between West Natick, Framingham and Worcester stations for the following inbound trains: P564, from Framingham at 9:45 p.m. to West Natick at 9:49 p.m. to South Station, and P566, from Worcester at 12:50 a.m. to West Natick at 1:33 a.m. to South Station; and for the following outbound trains: P565 from West Natick at 9:15 p.m. to Framingham at 9:21 p.m., and P567 from West Natick at 11:46 p.m. to Worcester at 12:30 a.m.
“Part of the process in the transfer of the train dispatching system from CSX to MBCR requires us to test the signaling system,” the company said in an e-mail. “To minimize the impact of this phase to our customers – this work will take place from Saturday evening into Sunday morning.”
“We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this work,” the e-mail added. “We thank you for your patience during this disruption to the service.”
E-mail Matt Rocheleau at mjrochele@gmail.com.
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