August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day.Today Cathy Miles joins me on The Ham’er podcast. Cathy is the chair of Framingham FORCE - Fostering Opioid Recovery, Compassion and Education), which she founded in 2018. Along with her work supporting those in recovery from substance use disorder, Cathy has served the Framingham community on the Committee to Break the Silence for Voices Against Violence, the boards of Framingham Services Coalition, Leadership MetroWest, and Hoops & Homework. 

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In this episode we discuss:

* What is the mission of Framingham FORCE?

* Why words matter when discussing addiction and recovery

* How did FORCE’s mission change during the COVID-19 pandemic?

* What should be done with the settlement funds Framingham received and the Opioid Task Force

* What the purple flags on the Framingham Centre Common mean and why they are important

Show Links:

* Framingham FORCE:

https://framinghamforce.org/

* Framingham Opioid Task Force: https://www.framinghamma.gov/3772/Opioid-Task-Force

* The Ham’er Newsletter: thehamer.substack.com

Thoughts? Questions? Email Mary Kate: [email protected]

Today’s guests are Emily Toombs, Director of Bookmobile Experience, and Lara Vilahomat, Director of Community and Outreach Experience of the Framingham Public Library.

Subscribe to The Ham’er podcast via the Substack app, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

In this episode we discuss:

* Why the bookmobile is important for building community and connecting people

* The role the library played during the COVID 19 pandemic

* The Library of Things… did you know you can reserve a paddle board?

* How today’s libraries have changed to meet growing and changing needs

* What they both think you should experience along with taking out books

Show Links:

* Framingham Public Library:

https://framinghamlibrary.org/

* Bookmobile website with calendar: https://framinghamlibrary.org/bookmobile

* Events calendar: https://framinghamlibrary.org/calendar

* Signup for the library’s newsletter: https://framinghamlibrary.org/news-events/monthly-newsletter/

* The Ham’er Newsletter: thehamer.substack.com

Thoughts? Questions? Email Mary Kate: [email protected]

Today’s guests are Meghan Todd and Sheryl Goldstein of the Framingham Disability Commission.

Sheryl is a longtime education advocate, serving on the Framingham Special Education Parent Advisory Council and a founding advisory board member of the Chris Walsh Center for Educators and Families of MetroWest at Framingham State. She is currently a member of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and chair of the Framingham Disability Commission. 

Meghan Todd has spent her career working in student residence life at Wellesley College. She is a DEI/Disability Rights advocate, and today is Vice Chair of the Framingham Disability Commission.

Subscribe to The Ham’er podcast via the Substack app, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

In this episode we discuss:

* How to define disability and how it can happen to anyone

* What is the mission of the Disability Commission

* How the Disability Commission works with agencies and non-profits in the area

* What project they would both like to see in the city

* Information about the Disability Flag Raising Ceremony on Wednesday, July 26 at the Memorial Building celebrating Disability Pride Month and the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Show Links:

* Framingham Disability Commission: https://www.framinghamma.gov/2543/Disability-Commission

* Framingham ADA Flag Raising Ceremony Facebook Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/757258962797587

* The Ham’er Newsletter: thehamer.substack.com

Thoughts? Questions? Email Mary Kate: [email protected]

Today’s guest is Ron Chick. Ron is one of our biggest advocates for Framingham’s trails. He is always ready to give tours, especially of the Carol Getchell Trail, and talk about the possibilities of our trail network. This past January, Ron joined with Leora Mallach and me to start the group Friends of Framingham Trails. A former elementary school teacher, Ron is a very active member of various trail and waterway non-profits and organizations in Massachusetts working towards a community where trails are accessible to everyone.

Subscribe to The Ham’er podcast via the Substack app, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

In this episode we discuss:

* How Ron got involved with trails

* Why Framingham is poised to be the Hub of Trails in MetroWest

* Why accessible trails are important to a community

* Our big picture future as part of a trail network that runs from Florida to Maine

* How you can get involved with our trails

Show Links:

* Friends of Framingham Trails Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/framinghamtrails/

* Bruce Freeman Rail Trail: https://brucefreemanrailtrail.org/

* Upper Charles Rail Trail: https://www.traillink.com/trail/upper-charles-trail/

* East Coast Greenway: https://www.greenway.org/

* The Ham’er Newsletter: thehamer.substack.com

Thoughts? Questions? Email Mary Kate: [email protected]

Welcome to The Ham'er, the podcast that hammers down on the issues that matter! I'm your host, Mary Kate Feeney, and I'm here to bring you thought-provoking discussions and compelling stories from the heart of our community, Framingham. Each episode, we'll explore the incredible individuals and organizations making a real impact and shedding light on the pressing challenges we face. So grab a seat, tune in, and get ready to be informed and empowered. Let's start the conversation!

Our first ever podcast guest is Judy Grove. Judy is a longtime community activist and ​​worked to improve recreation opportunities for those living in Framingham’s environmental justice neighborhoods. She helped efforts to build our first skatepark, the redesign of Mary Dennison Park, and improvements to Cedar Swamp. She is a former Town meeting member and District 8 Councilor. Today, she is a member of the Community Preservation Committee. 

To learn more about the Community Preservation Committee, visit their website: https://www.framinghamma.gov/3286/Community-Preservation-Committee

Hope you enjoyed this first episode. I have a great line-up of upcoming episodes - so stay tuned! Have an idea or a comment? Email me.

Have a great weekend!