Franklin Artist Amy Adams: "I AM HERE - art project opens Saturday, July 31 in Natick

"Hello FAA members. I have created a community interactive display.  If you happen to be near Natick please stop over to visit this very important installation. There will be a short dedication event that will have speakers and a host to help introduce the display. 

It will be on Saturday 7/31 @11am First Congregational Church lawn. Address is : 2 E Central St, Natick. It is also their Farmer's Market day so there will plenty of venders if you decide to walk the common directly across the street."

Please read about the installation below

I AM HERE (2021)
 
Amy Adams (b1979)
 
What would you do, for a loved one who needs you? What would you say to a loved one who has transitioned?". This interactive installation asks you to sit for a moment, read messages of encouragement and explore the resources available to you.
 
I Am Here is a community collaboration that highlights the importance of Mental Health, love, support and treatment. 

This scenario fits with Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Eating Disorders (etc.) and reminds us how easily these can relate to substance use and loss. The overall purpose is to promote awareness /prevention, acknowledge our loss and bring healing to the community. 
 
I Am Here, features non-binary figures created with concrete, a supporter and a person struggling. The seated figure in need of support is wearing a shirt made of material (donated by the families in our community), these represent someone in recovery. Its core is filled with flowers to symbolize the beauty within, often missed by the exterior and what we see. Perched on the edge of the bench, a bird holds tokens (donated by the families in our community) to serve as reminders for the loved ones lost during a mental health crisis or overdose. The open bench is covered in messages, words of encouragement and hope, these were also submitted by our community to show our support for one another.
 
The stigma behind affliction is isolating and thus needs to be a normalized conversation as it affects people from all races. This display will offer the directly impacted resources for support, to assist in preventative measures and hopefully open important discussions. 
 
The display is meant to connect people and amplify that Mental Health connects us all.

For more about Amy, visit her page  https://www.paintingvenus.art/about

"I AM HERE - art project opens Saturday, July 31 in Natick

Amy Adams selected as Artist In Residence for Natick Center Cultural District

Amy Adams was part of a recent Franklin Matters Radio episode. She shares some good news:

"I was selected as the first Artist In Residence for Natick Center Cultural District in Massachusetts. It will be focused on social justice and four interrelated principals: equity, access, participation, and rights. I am overwhelmed with excitement and joy for the opportunity to include the community in using art as a tool to enhance how we share messages in our work. I am grateful and I cannot wait to share in this journey"

Shared from  https://paintingvenus1.wixsite.com/mysite/post/when-words-aren-t-enough

Recent Franklin Matters Radio episode:

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/fm-525-amy-jamele-adams-041521-audio.html

 

https://paintingvenus1.wixsite.com/mysite/post/when-words-aren-t-enough

 

We Did It For You! - Women's Journey Through History - Dec 10

"We Did It For You! Women's Journey Through History tells the story of how women got their rights in the United States. With catchy musical numbers and a dash of comic relief, this highly entertaining and educational musical is a must see for teens and adults. 

In a time when our rights are being questioned, We Did It For You! shines light on how we got to where we are. Q&A with playwright and cast. Reception to follow sponsored by Starbucks. $10 tickets ($5 students). 

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Natick Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency."

"This heartwarming play takes audiences on a profound emotional journey that results in a deepened awareness of, and appreciation for, women in history upon whose shoulders we stand today. I urge you to run, don't walk, to see this magnificent performance!” - Women's Information Network

We Did It For You! Women's Journey Through History - Dec 10

Common Street Spiritual Center

13 Common St, Natick, Massachusetts 01760

Additional info can be found on the Facebook event page
https://www.facebook.com/events/126967471329405/

In the News - principals bemoan budget cuts, Natick override passes

By Heather McCarron/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 26, 2008 @ 12:18 AM

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FRANKLIN —

School Committee members last night got a brief insight into how potential cuts in the fiscal 2009 school budget will translate into the town's classrooms: Most significantly, larger class sizes and, consequently, less individual attention.

Principals from all town schools attended the board's meeting, where officials continued to struggle with a grim budget outlook that, without an infusion of $3.2 million in additional revenue, will mean 45 layoffs - most of them among professional staff, Superintendent Wayne Ogden said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

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Voters approve Natick override

By Erica Noonan Voters in Natick Tuesday approved a $3.9 million Proposition 2 1/2 override by a 55 to 45 percent margin -- a tax increase that is expected to cost the average homeowner an extra $290 annually. The...

Catching up on Override Central

When the Boston Globe incorporated their new web site a few weeks ago, apparently they also changed some of the RSS feeds. I had time to go checking on these today and found several of them had indeed changed.

What is an RSS Feed?
Stay tuned, I have a Common Craft presentation that explains RSS feeds and how they can be used. I'll post it this week.

In the meantime, here are some article previously published on the Globe's Override Central site that were not referenced here. Click on the article headline to read the full story.

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Newton School Committe bets more than $100,000 on a successful override

NEWTON The School Committee is moving forward with plans to build $1.4 million in modular classrooms to address overcrowding at four elementary schools, even though the district can't afford to staff them unless the mayor's proposed tax override passes next...

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Property tax frustration fuels revolt around US

The Wall Street Journal reports that the combination of falling home values and rising property taxes is fueling frustration around the US. An excerpt from WSJ.com: Falling home values and rising property taxes in many parts of the country are...

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Saugus to borrow $10-million to cover its bills

For the second time since June, Saugus will have to borrow money to pay its bills, including payroll and utilities, until winter property tax revenues are collected. Officials expect to have to borrow $10 million in January to cover expenses....

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How Randolph's schools began to fail

Randolph voters have rejected four overrides over the last few years, but political leaders also see other strains on the town. The social compact is broken, one official says in a story in Globe South. Randolph school leaders say they...

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Natick, Newton consider overrides

In Natick, an operational override question on the spring ballot is looking ever more likely as department heads in Natick ponder how to meet a projected $6.5 million budget shortfall. As it stands, the school system could face some of...

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Property taxes rising on North Shore

Property taxes are going up all over, including the cities and towns north of Boston that were surveyed by Globe North this week for this story. "Almost universally across the state, communities have a lack of money to pay for...

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