5 Things You Need To Know Today in Framingham: Thursday, June 25, 2020

[broadstreet zone=”58610″]

1 Framingham schools are out for the summer.

Today, Gov. Charlie Baker and Education Commissioner James Riley will announce guidelines for what the 2020-21 school year will look like, post the pandemic. Press conference at noon.

2. City of Framingham meetings (all meetings will be held remotely unless noted):

• Framingham Parks & Recreation Commission at 7 p.m.
• Framingham Board of Health at 7 p.m.
• Framingham Library Trustees at 7 p.m.
• Team Framingham at 7 p.m.

[broadstreet zone=”59948″]

3. This week is National Mosquito Control Awareness Week

The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) has tips to help you declare independence from those pesky blood-suckers.

Pools are open and grills are going, but are you cooking up a breeding ground for mosquitoes?

Standing water and dark clothing are two things that attract them.

AMCA recommends people follow the three D’s to keep mosquitoes away:

• Drain: Empty out water containers at least once per week

• Dress: Wear long sleeves, long pants, and light-colored, loose-fitting clothing

• Defend: Properly apply an approved repellent such as DEET, picaridin, IR 3535 or oil of lemon-eucalyptus

Make your yard a mosquito-free zone by: disposing of any tires — tires can breed thousands of mosquitoes; drilling holes in the bottom of recycling containers; clearing roof gutters of debris; cleaning pet water dishes regularly; checking and emptying children’s toys; repairing leaky outdoor faucets; and changing the water in bird baths at least once a week.

Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance. Their bites can spread diseases such as Zika and West Nile Virus.

“We already have the mosquitoes. We are continually importing the diseases they carry,” said Joseph Conlon, AMCA Technical Advisor. “We must be prepared to prevent their spread throughout our public health landscape – and this requires safe, effective, sustained mosquito control and awareness in the community.”

AMCA stresses mosquito-borne diseases do not only affect humans – they also kill countless birds, reptiles, dogs, horses and endangered species each year. Awareness of these parasites – including canine heartworm, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and Western Equine Encephalitis – is another important component of mosquito control the general public must
embrace.

4. The City of Framingham announced its basketball courts will re-open on Monday, June 29. Athletic Fields will also open on June 29.

Beaches will open on July 1.

5. According to the Mayor’s public schedule, Mayor Yvonne Spicer has no public events today.