DON'T "MOTHBALL" THE FRAMINGHAM MEMORIAL BUILDING!

“And God said, Let there be light:  and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3)

A front page article in Monday’s (May 5, 2008) MetroWest Daily News really perturbed me.  It was at the bottom left and was entitled, “Pointing out the ‘energy monsters’”.  The article was about the “Greener Framingham Committee’s first report to Town Meeting”.  According to the article the first target of committee Chairman Dawn Harkness was the two chandeliers in Nevins Hall which “do not pass the green grade” because they use 3,500 watts of electricity.  Criticizing the high ceilings and draftiness of the Memorial building as well as its inefficient heating system (but a new heating system is soon to be installed), the Committee is recommending that the Memorial Building just plain NOT EVER be used after 4:30 p.m. and that committee meetings and other functions be held in other facilities around Town.

I think restricting the temperature to no warmer than 60 degrees inside the Memorial Building during the Winter and the air conditioning to no “colder” than 74 degrees in the Summer would make sense.  I suppose moving SOME of the activities out of the Memorial Building might make sense.  I happen to know, however, that there are other key people in Framingham who’d love to see a major restoration done to Nevins Hall and see it become a thriving center for theatrical events, concerts, etc.  That’s NOT a crazy idea at all!  The City of Medford completely renovated their municipal auditorium (The Chevalier Theater) in downtown Medford and it DOES attract such events.  It seems like a shame to let an architectural gem like Nevins Hall just sit and rot because someone thinks the chandeliers are not energy efficient!  

I think it’s GREAT that Town Meeting takes place DOWNTOWN in the Memorial Building.  I think it’s GREAT that Selectman’s meetings, Planning Board meetings, Zoning Board meetings and other events take place at the Memorial Building...not to mention other public events that do take place at Nevins Hall.  Frankly, as long as affluent, well-educated people from the wealthier neighborhoods of Town are having regular meetings at the Memorial Building, no matter how much the heat and light costs, there’s just plain going to be more of a police and public works presence in that immediate neighborhood, and it’s all going to be good.   If the Memorial Building folds up at 4:30 and is used less and less, in time it will look “seedier” and that immediate neighborhood will become less desirable.  

I’m not wealthy.  I realize energy today costs a fortune.  But sometimes the “green” people just plain get ridiculous.  Why don’t we scrap the Presidential inaugurations and and have the President sworn in at a Washington, DC inner-city McDonald’s?  Why don’t we give the cops little hybrid Toyotas to drive around in, instead of Ford Crown Victorias?  Why don’t we close the schools and have everybody home schooled?  Why don’t we close down Route 9 and make it a jogging trail?  Why don’t we all get rid of our refrigerators and get “Ralph Kramden” style iceboxes? As Jay Severin would say, “Why don’t we all live in caves and wear diapers covered in our own urine and live like this is rural Afghanistan?  Because this is America and there’s no reason in the world to live like that!”  I heartily agree!

Keep the Memorial Building open!  Fix it up!  If the Town can’t afford it have a bake sale or something!  I realize it was a “right wing Woodstock” but how many remember “Dan’s Bake Sale” which was held in Ft. Collins, Colorado at the instigation of Rush Limbaugh sometime in the mid-1990s?  It raised thousands and thousands of dollars for charity, and enabled “Dan” to afford a subscription to the Limbaugh Letter.  I realize I sound like a right-wing nut here, but it was BOBBY KENNEDY of all people who said, “Some people see things as they are and ask ‘WHY?’   I see things as they COULD be and ask ‘WHY NOT’?!”  

AMEN, BOBBY KENNEDY!

Keep that Memorial Building open!  Invest in downtown Framingham!  Believe in miracles!