Friday, September 30, 2011

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Franklin, MA: Town Council Attendance


The Town Council is an elected position. It is a volunteer position. Despite some who persist in saying they get paid to do this, they don't. At least not in a formal salary or stipend etc. from the Town.*
* updated 5:40 PM - in trying to nail the item that the Council does not get compensated, I guess I left open a door for other compensation. Clearly, that was not my intent. I guess the hammer hit my thumb. Ouch!

The performance of the current Town Council since being elected in November 2009 is shown below:


Note: The spreadsheet that drives this chart is publicly available and has been since November 2009. You can view it but not edit it. If you find something that should be corrected, please let me know.


The spreadsheet also records the School Committee attendance. There is significantly less variability among the School Committee members.


"more crafters, more entertainers and more businesses involved than ever before"

Franklin’s Harvest Festival to be Largest Ever

Sandy Chaplin has been readying her hand-crafted bracelets and earrings since last spring in anticipation of the Franklin Downtown Partnership’s Harvest Festival. For a fifth year the jewelry artist and owner of Chappy Girls Studios will set up her customary booth on Main Street.

“My customers come to me with an idea in mind and I make their jewelry while they wait,” she says. “They get a really unique piece of jewelry they’ve helped create. My customers inspire me to come up with new designs all the time.” Chaplin, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, recently designed a bracelet she will sell at the upcoming festival with the profits going to the American Cancer Society.

Chaplin will be one of more than 100 crafters participating in this year’s event on Sunday, October 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year the Franklin Downtown Partnership sold out booth space to crafters and community groups who wanted to be part of Franklin’s largest festival.

Organizers expect 5,000 visitors to this year’s ninth annual Harvest Festival, which will feature an expanded entertainment lineup, crafts, kids’ activities and games, food booths, an antique car show, Historical Museum tours, a farmers’ market, a fire station open house, and local businesses’ specials and promotions.

“This year’s festival has surpassed our expectations,” says FDP President Nicole Fortier. “We have more crafters, more entertainers and more businesses involved than ever before. We are excited to show the residents and visitors what a vibrant community we have here.”

Demand for booth space was high, and crafter booths will span all three main streets. Some vendors are participating for the first time this year, such as The Lace Man, who sells every type of lace possible, from doilies to unique, handmade lace pieces. Other crafters have returned year after year because the festival draws so many visitors.

To help everyone navigate the event this year, the Partnership has created the Harvest Festival Passport, which visitors can pick up at the FDP and major sponsors’ booths. Using the passport in combination with the map, visitors will seek out destination booths scattered throughout the festival to get their passport stamped. Once every destination has been validated, the passports will be entered into a drawing to win prizes. Passport drawing winners will be announced on the FDP website.

Jazz combo TKLS Perspective will play their blend of swing, hip hop, funk and bossa nova on the center island all day. The main stage in front of gold sponsor Rockland Trust Bank will feature professional DJ Domenic Cotoia of Music Odyssey Productions, Franklin High School ensemble Sustain, singer/songwriter Jamie Barrett, 2011 “Franklin Idol” winner Kaylee Finley, and 2011 “Franklin’s Got Talent” winner Dominic Salzillo.  Magician Chris Bolter will entertain the crowds with his special brand of magic.

On a separate stage in front of the Franklin School for the Performing Arts, FSPA will present an abbreviated version of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, accompanied by a professional band.

The Children’s Area in the Depot Street parking lot will feature some old favorite games and activities, and some new ones as well, like the obstacle course. Stop by the Cub Scout Pack 126 booth and drop off nonperishable food items to be donated to the Franklin Food Pantry.  

Food can be found in abundance at the festival. The food tent on Main Street will serve up burgers, sausages and peppers, chicken, lemonade and more. The FDP food tent in front of Dean Bank will have hot dogs, drinks, slushies and snacks. Several downtown restaurants are also serving food outside their establishments. Fresh, local produce can be found at the Farmer’s Market in the Berry Insurance parking lot.

The fire station will host an open house in observance of Fire Safety Week. Kids are invited to “Touch a Truck,” and firefighters will be on hand to answer questions and provide fire safety tips.  Down the street, the Historical Museum will be open for tours and will host the popular antique car show.

Many businesses are offering special promotions during the festival. Vallee Jewelers on Main Street will buy old, broken, outdated or mismatched gold items. Silver sponsor Green Mountain Chocolates will showcase its chocolate-dipped potato chips.

“We have more businesses and vendors involved this year than ever before,” says Partnership Executive Director Lisa Piana. “Our sponsors have been exceptional and stepped up to make this all possible. We are proud to be associated with these local businesses who take such an active role in making Franklin the livable, viable town that it is.”

The Gold Sponsor for this festival is Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation. Silver Sponsors are DCU,  Green Mountain Chocolates and Middlesex Savings Bank. Bronze Sponsors are Dean Bank,  Chestnut Dental Associates, Byrne Financial Freedom, LLC., Mike Dunsky/Guaranteed Rate and NHS Print.

Friends of the Festival sponsors are D.G. Ranieri Supply Company, Ferguson Enterprises, Ten Key, Inc., Keefe Insurance, Fenton Financial Group and Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation, Franklin.  

The event will take place rain or shine and span Main Street and East and West Central Streets. Main Street will be closed at 9 a.m., reopening at 4 p.m. Visitor parking is available at designated lots along West Central Street, Main Street and Summer Street.


The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization made up of businesses, community leaders and residents working to revitalize downtown Franklin. The Partnership relies on donations and sponsorship to fund events like the Harvest Festival as well as downtown improvement projects like beautification efforts and streetscape design. For more information please contact the Executive Director Lisa Piana at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com or visit the FDP website at franklindowntownpartnership.org.   
        


Community Awareness Meetings: on child sexual abuse

Dear Members of the Franklin Community,

Please accept this invitation to join community leaders at a Community Awareness Meeting designed to bring members of the community together to discuss the issues of child sexual abuse, to learn about its human and economic impact and what together as a community we can do to prevent it.  
These meetings will take place on Wednesday October 19, 2011 at 12:00 noon at the School Department training room at Town Hall and Thursday, October 27th at 7:00 PM at Horace Mann School auditorium.  These meetings will last approximately 60 – 90 minutes and are being facilitated by the Hockomock Area YMCA.  This presentation has the full support of community leaders in education, public safety and park and recreation, and the Town Administrator.

The Hockomock Area YMCA is partnering with Darkness to Light, a national non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of child sexual abuse.  Darkness to Light has developed an award winning prevention training, Stewards of Children.  Stewards of Children is the first training ever developed that is designed for adults and focuses on prevention.  It is an evidenced based training proven to change beliefs, actions and attitudes toward child sexual abuse.

This meeting will demonstrate that child sexual abuse is an issue that affects everyone, not just those that were abused and their family members.  It will reinforce that the cost, both human and economic, is high but that the solution of prevention is inexpensive and effective.  This meeting will clearly illustrate that child sexual abuse can be prevented in real-time and ultimately these meetings will show that by participating in the solution every adult in a community can be a part of a cultural change.

These presentations are an opportunity to demonstrate to community leaders the magnitude of the issue of child sexual abuse, its economic and emotional costs to our community and what we can do about it.  It is vital that parents, teachers, coaches and all citizens reinforce the message that because children our or future we must protect their childhoods. 

Please join us in helping to strengthen our Franklin community.  We encourage you to invite others whom you think would be interested in this important cause.    

Please respond by email if you will be able to make one of these meetings.  Thank you.

Sincerely,
 
Bartt Pinchuck
Branch Director
Hockomock Area YMCA
Bernon Family Branch
45 Forge Hill Road. Franklin, MA 02038

Franklin Fire plans open house, Oct. 2

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 9/29/11

The Franklin Fire Department is holding a Fire Safety Open House at Franklin Fire headquarters, 40 W Central St., on Sunday, Oct. 2, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with free pizza from Papa Gino's.

Things you can do from here:

Sisters at Mount Saint Mary’s plan open houses for candy facility

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 9/29/11

The sisters at Mount Saint Mary's Abbey, 300 Arnold St., Wrentham, will hold open houses to celebrate the completion of their new candy making facility on Saturday, Oct. 1 and Saturday, Oct. 8.

Things you can do from here:

Thursday, September 29, 2011

How should we tackle hunger?




The D.C. Central Kitchen is one of the many organizations that is tackling hunger head-on. They turn leftover food into millions of meals, offer culinary job training to once homeless and hungry adults and teach urban kids about healthy foods. Take a look at their website, learn what they do and how similar models can be implemented in your community.

What can you do to help the Franklin Food Pantry?
  1. Volunteer your time
  2. Donate some money or food 
  3. Spread the word about the services we do provide



To find out more about the Franklin Food Pantry 





Hamilton Storage Technologies


The tax increment finance agreement says that if Hamilton Storage leaves before the decade is up, the agreement ends and the next tenant will pay the normal rate. 
"The benefit is that they are going to double their staff size," Councilor Matt Kelly said. "We're going to give them a little break, and those people are going to shop out of our stores, eat at our restaurants and stay at our hotels." 
The deal is part of the town's economic development incentive plan to attract businesses such as Hamilton to the Forge Park area. The tax on the land itself, 3 Forge Park, won't change, but improvements to that land, such as buildings, will be taxed at a lower level initially and gradually rise over the 10 years, at the end of which the company would pay normal taxes. 
"I think it's a good thing for our community," said Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting, noting potential jobs and business brought to area hotels and restaurants through clients of the company. "What we lose in property tax, we hopefully will recover in hotel tax and meals tax."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1499150553/Franklin-approves-tax-break-for-prospective-Forge-Park-business#ixzz1ZKjplI1p

For a complete set of reporting from the Town Council meeting on Weds 9/27, check here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/09/town-council-092811.html


Bats in peril



Program: Bats in peril: The Uncertain Future of North America's Winged Mammals

When: Saturday, October 22nd, 2:00 p.m.

Where: Franklin Public Library

Cost: Free

Info: Kate Langwig is a second year graduate student in the PhD program in Ecology, Behavior, and
Evolution. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Union College, and has worked for the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, The Nature Conservancy, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. For the past three years she has been studying the recently emerged infectious disease of bats,
white-nose syndrome. She is a co-author on three papers on the disease, including an article projecting regional extinction of the little brown myotis which appeared in the journal Science in 2010. Her primary research is focused on investigating white-nose syndrome transmission dynamics in multiple bat species.


2011 Metacomet Annual Meeting Program


More about the Metacomet Land Trust can be found on their website



McGovern talks with Medway farmers about local agriculture needs

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Whitney Clearman/Daily News staff on 9/28/11

phoMDmedcommfarm1_0928.jpg
As U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern looked over orchards and berry fields yesterday, farmers took the chance to pitch ideas about improving local agriculture.

Things you can do from here:

Charles River: 2011 winner of the International Riverprize

An email via contributor David Dobrzynski:


logo-NO-BACKGROUND    Charles River Watershed Association

We have some some very exciting news to share: the Charles River is the 2011 winner of the International Riverprizethe world’s largest and most prestigious environmental award!

The International RiverFoundation’s (IRF) Thiess International Riverprize, is awarded for visionary and sustainable excellence in river management.  In the world of river management, this is akin to winning the World Series and it was made possible through the engagement, cooperation and hard work of hundreds of partners at the federal, state, local and grassroots levels, including: U.S. EPA, US Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Geological Survey, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, the City of Boston, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the Conservation Law Foundation, universities, local boards and conservation commissions, engaged citizens, businesses, land trusts, river users, and all of you!  This is a trophy for all of us who live and work in the communities that comprise the Charles watershed, and for everyone who loves this river. 

RiverPrize_Edited 2
 From left to right: IRF CEO Matthew Reddy, CRWA Director of Projects Kate Bowditch, CRWA Deputy Director Margaret VanDeusen, and CRWA Executive Director, Bob Zimmerman.  
CRWA's Executive Director Bob Zimmerman, Deputy Director Margaret VanDeusen, and Director of Projects Kate Bowditch accepted the award at the 14th International River Symposium in Brisbane, Australia earlier today. CRWA will receive a grant to share its river restoration expertise with a river organization in a developing nation.

In 1965, when CRWA was founded, the Charles was an open sewer: tetanus shots and antibiotics were standard treatment for anyone unfortunate enough to fall in.  Today, the Charles is heralded as the cleanest urban river in the United States by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  The Riverprize recognizes and rewards this rejuvenation.  International River Foundation CEO Matthew Reddy says "Charles River should be congratulated for their achievement; it joins the ranks of iconic rivers like the Thames, Danube and Mekong.”

CRWA will use the prize money to continue to improve and protect the health of the Charles through fisheries restoration, water-sensitive design, and development of tools and practical solutions to watershed problems, including the growing problem of nutrients carried by stormwater to the river.       

Join us to celebrate this achievment and honor John DeVillars this Friday, September 30th at the Champions of the Charles gala at the Harry Parker Boathouse, Community Rowing, Brighton. To purchase tickets click here or call Alexandra Ash at 781-788-0007 x 200.     

The River Current is published monthly (or as needed) by Charles River Watershed Association. CRWA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dependent on philanthropic support.

Editor: Alexandra Ash, aash@crwa.org
Mailing address: CRWA, 190 Park Road, Weston, MA 02493
Phone: 781-788-0007 Fax: 781-788-0057 Web: www.charlesriver.org



Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Town Council 09/28/11

The collected reporting for the Town Council meeting held on Weds Sep 28. I watched and reported on the meeting via the Verizon cable broadcast.








Real time reporting - closing

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Downtown Harvest Festival is this weekend, come on down

Thanks to the Community Garden, they had a wonderful first year, almost all the plots were used, they helped supply the Food Pantry. It was well done, thank you!

Nutting - did you want a new October meeting schedule?

Mason- yes, we'll meet Oct 5 and Oct 26

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS
Powderly - asking for School Committee representation to be at the next meeting to address the teachers contract. No one in the Town got a raise, all the school school department employees effectively got raises. During the budget process, they were asked if there were COLA money in the budget, the answer was no. So aside from the philosophical difference in granting the contract with an increase, where did they come up with the funds. I believe COLA equals layoffs, they cut 14 teachers last year and others got a raise this year. We have higher class sizes... They need to explain why they did what they did.



N. COUNCIL COMMENTS 
Pfeffer - agreed with Powderly's comments, wants to know where they found the money
Kelly - agrees with Powderly's comments
Jones - agrees with Powderly's comments, was at the School Committee meeting and will be interested to see what they have to say.
Mason - I spoke with Chairman Roy and invited him and whomever he would like to bring along with him to the meeting Oct 5th.


Meeting adjourned




The full set of documents for this agenda can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2011tc%20Complete%20With%20Documents/09-28-2011agenda.pdf


Real time reporting - high school building project

2. Resolution 11-50: Additional Appropriation for Comprehensive Feasibility Study of the Franklin High School and Grounds 


Tom Mercer, Chair of the School Building Committee
provide an overview of how the proposal has developed overtime
The committee recently decided to ask the MSBA to modify the 'model school' design to lower the track to the same level. This would allow for a gym at 23,000 sq ft which is comparable to the same size facility we have today. How much of this design change would be covered by a favorable refund remains to be determined.
The proposal tonight is to provide additional funding via bond to allow the design work to continue.  Given the current timeline for an MSBA decision at the end of January, the voters could see the proposal at the election box in a March time frame. Once approved by the MSBA, the town voters do have 120 days to vote and accept the proposal. If we were to deny the proposal, and the renovation or new building were to continue, the full cost would be borne by Franklin. If we accept the MSBA proposal we can get up to 54% reimbursement, significantly reducing the cost to the Franklin tax payers.


motion to accept, seconded, passed 8-0




3. Resolution 11-51: Support for House Bill No. 00869 – An Act relative to the establishment of municipal lighting authorities 


motion to accept, seconded, passed 8-0




The full set of documents for this agenda can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2011tc%20Complete%20With%20Documents/09-28-2011agenda.pdf


Real time reporting - Legislation (part 1)

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS - YMCA – Darkness to Light Program (postponed to future meeting)



J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 11-46: Authorizing Tax Increment Financing Hamilton Storage Technologies Inc, 3 Forge Parkway 



Brief 5 minute presentation by the company about what they do and how they have developed. They are in high technology and particularly in biotech. Novartis and Roche Pharmaceuticals are their top two customers


The Tax Increment Financing (TIF) allows Franklin to collect the normal set of taxes on the base value of the property and then a declining additional portion on the increase in incremental value of the work being done to improve the plot/building.


A good deal for Franklin as we tax revenue, they get an incentive to come here (from Hopkinton and Milford). Their incentive is a declining additional tax over a ten year period.


motion to accept, seconded, passed 8-0




The full set of documents for this agenda can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2011tc%20Complete%20With%20Documents/09-28-2011agenda.pdf


Real time reporting - Town Council - 9/28/11

Present:  Kelly, Jones, Vallee, Whalen, Mason, Pfeffer, McGann, Powderly
Absent: Zollo

(missed opening minutes, can catch them later via the on-demand video)

E. APPOINTMENTS
Cultural Council 

Mary Beth Fraser
Janet Norman
Judith Needell
Judith Prueitt-Prentice
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

Design Review 

Nancy Coleman
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

School Building Committee 

Paula Mullen
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0


The full set of documents for this agenda can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2011tc%20Complete%20With%20Documents/09-28-2011agenda.pdf


"we approach education collaboratively"


Following a salary freeze two years ago, raises for last year remained at zero, while raises for this year go up 1 percent at the beginning and 0.5 percent on the last day of the contract. 
Negotiations for a new contract will have to begin soon, school officials said, but School Committee members say they are upbeat. Union leadership, they said, seems committed to a less confrontational approach than in the past. 
"There is agreement by both sides to review the salary structure," School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy said. 
"It represents closure for me and a move away from the negotiation table," committee member William Glynn said of the brief hiatus between negotiations. "We don't often talk about the deep-seated problems, the systemic problems."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1656493025/Deal-gives-small-raises-to-Franklin-teachers#ixzz1ZEnaMLdk

In the News: fire, fraud, culture, time



$30K in damage estimated after Franklin house catches fire

Franklin man arraigned in prescription fraud case

Franklin Cultural Council accepting applications

GUEST SPEAKER: Not the Right Time for a New Franklin High

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

"we're at the point where that's no longer possible"


But the budget cuts that took effect July 1 caused the department to drop from 10 on-duty firefighters to nine. Three firefighters are left in the King Street station on a fire engine, but everyone else has been moved into the downtown station, which, Allen said, has caused problems already. 
"Am I concerned? Absolutely. I continue to advocate the best system is an ambulance and an engine in each fire station," Fire Chief Gary McCarraher said at the Sept. 14 Town Council meeting. "We can't afford that right now, and we're doing the best we can with what we've got." 
At that meeting, McCarraher said response times could be delayed, but he does not have conclusive evidence yet after going through less than two months of data. 
"The simple, brass tacks are we have been cut year after year," Allen said. "We need the public to know that we are having a difficult time helping them."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1656492907/Franklin-Fire-Department-says-cuts-hurting-response-time#ixzz1Z92lJpVR



How hungry are you?




How much do you know about hunger in America? Take Feeding America's hunger quiz to get more information on the issue.



"We will put those numbers out to the public as soon as they're available"


"I think it's a really well thought-out and efficient design," said Sabolinski, adding that the building will also save money in heating bills and other operational costs. "We're not building something just for today. I think it's very utilitarian and it ... will also stand the test of time." 
The first suggestion the School Building Committee gave was that space, including larger classrooms, be added throughout the design, since Whitman-Hanson has 1,350 students, and Franklin has 1,650. 
The School Building Committee-approved modification that received the most discussion was the gymnasium, which would replace the current field house. The field house is 30,000 square feet, Ai3 principal architect Scott Dunlap said, although it has only 22,000 square feet of usable space. The gymnasium in the proposed new school could have 23,000 square feet of usable space.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1656492899/Franklin-committee-makes-new-high-school-design-its-own#ixzz1Z90wD2rA



Franklin, Marlborough charter schools earn MCAS kudos


"Benjamin Franklin Classical in Franklin was noted for its Grade 8 English scores."

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Staff reports on 9/26/11

Franklin and Marlborough charter schools are among the 15 charter public schools ranked Number 1 in the state on various 2011 MCAS tests, according to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education data released today.

Things you can do from here:

Senate Adopts Spilka's Amendments to Protect Local Communities


SENATE ADOPTS SPILKA'S AMENDMENTS TO PROTECT LOCAL COMMUNITIES

(BOSTON) – The Senate began debating the bill to expand gaming in the Commonwealth and during today's session, two of Senator Karen Spilka's (D-Ashland) amendments aimed at strengthening safeguards and providing additional protections for surrounding communities were adopted.


"I have filed these amendments to make sure the needs of surrounding communities are better addressed and understood so we can have the best possible outcome for our towns, our residents, and the Commonwealth as a whole," said Spilka. "And as the debate continues, I will continue to fight to protect and support my district's residents, communities, neighborhoods, and local businesses."


The first amendment adopted makes clear that the initial studies an applicant is required to provide to the Gaming Commission would not be deemed to prevent the need for corresponding studies and reports prepared for host or surrounding communities. Host and surrounding communities will be significantly impacted and this amendment ensures that a municipality has the ability to receive additional studies on these impacts from the Commission or gaming applicant that they need to fairly negotiate agreements.


The second amendment adopted authorizes the Commission to provide for reasonable costs of negotiating agreements between municipalities and applicants – the Commission may require applicants to pay these costs. Since the negotiation process can be burdensome, complex, and expensive for host and surrounding communities, this will give them the tools they need to ensure effective and fair representation.


Spilka has already fought hard to include protections for communities that find themselves impacted by another community's choice to host a gambling facility in the current version of the bill. After hearing from and discussing this issue with many of her constituents and local officials, Spilka submitted amendments to strengthen these community safeguards and ensure that surrounding communities and the public are involved in the entire process.
Highlights of Additional Amendments filed by Senator Spilka:


·         Changing the definition of "surrounding communities" to ensure fairness to all impacted communities and to give them a seat at the table during the process;
·         Giving surrounding communities and substantially impacted communities the ability to vote – not just host communities;
·         Ensuring public sentiment is taken into consideration by requiring the Gaming Commission to consider the public support or opposition in the host and surrounding communities;
·         Increasing surrounding community involvement in the long term mitigation process by allowing each Local Community Mitigation Advisory Committee to appoint one member to the Subcommittee on Community Mitigation – which currently only has representatives from the host communities;


"Working on my constituents' behalf to further strengthen our communities is the reason I get up in the morning and their priorities come first," said Spilka. "These amendments were submitted with the needs and concerns of my constituents foremost in my mind."


The Senate will resume debate Tuesday, September 27th in the afternoon.

Franklin to be sprayed for mosquitoes tomorrow

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Staff reports on 9/26/11

Areas of Franklin, Dedham and Milton will be sprayed for mosquitoes tomorrow, the Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project has announced.

Things you can do from here:

Monday, September 26, 2011

Franklin's Express Line

The Franklin, MA "Express Line" has updates on the high school building project, the election races for Nov 8th, and the DPW recycling program:


Express Line Volume 2, Issue 5 - 9/22/11


Note: Email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document

Franklin Food Pantry - Fall Update



Fall is here and we have many invitations to share with you…

Whole Foods Market in Bellingham will be having its last Farmers Market of the season on Monday, September 26th from 4pm – 7pm.  Whole Foods has generously offered to donate all of the proceeds from the outdoor grill station to the Franklin Community Garden!  So please consider grabbing dinner at the Farmers Market grill outside Whole Foods in Bellingham on Monday night.

Visit us at our booth at the Franklin Downtown Partnership Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 2nd from 11am - 4pm.  Our booth will be located in the Berry Insurance lot.  The Harvest Festival is a fun community event filled with great music, over 100 crafters, farmers market, children's activities and more.

Food donations for the Franklin Food Pantry will be accepted at the Franklin Library's semi-annual book sale held on Friday, October 14th from 4pm – 7pm and Saturday, October 15th from 9am – 4pm at the Franklin DPW Garage, Public Service Way off Hayward Street. Please consider donating from our current needs list below.

Food donations for the Franklin Food Pantry will also be accepted at the Franklin Newcomers Craft Fair on Saturday, November 12th from 9am – 4pm at Tri-County High School, 147 Pond Street. Please consider donating from our current needs list below.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, we distributed more than 12,000 bags to more than 850 neighbors this past year, an increase of 26 percent. We received more than 83,000 lbs of donations from our community and picked up over 48,000 lbs from the Greater Boston Food Bank to help fill our shelves this past year. We distributed over 115,000 lbs during more than 6,300 visits, averaging 42 new clients each month. We are grateful for the 300+ volunteers who joined us to help us sort, check dates and stock our shelves with these community donations. 

Good food nourishes the body and the spirit. With regular, nutritious meals, we are free to grow, to think, to smile, to live. We aim to provide our clients with a wide range of opportunities for gaining access to local, fresh, nutritious food choices. Our first annual phone-a-thon successfully generated over $11,000 to help us increase our nutritious offerings. A Big Thank You to all of our Franklin neighbors for your support! 

We purchased 10 CSA Shares from Grateful Farm in Franklin and distributed free, fresh, local produce to clients every Saturday morning at the Pantry from 8am – 9am. 

Our Giving Garden located at the King Street Memorial Park Community Gardens is growing strong thanks to a wonderful team of volunteers. 

We are inviting all backyard gardeners to share any excess backyard produce with the Franklin Food Pantry through our Plant a Row program. Produce can be dropped off at the Pantry Tuesday thru Friday 9am – 1pm or Saturday mornings between 7:30 – 8am. 

Thanks to a grant received from the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation, we launched our Produce Points program at the Franklin Farmers Market on the Town Common every Friday from 12noon – 6pm through October 28th. If you know anyone who is receiving food stamps, please spread the word that we are doubling their money to spend at the Franklin Farmers Market every Friday. (i.e. if they want to spend $5 of SNAP benefits, we give them $10 to spend at the Market). Visit the Produce Points table at the Franklin Farmers Market to learn more.

Consider donating an item from our Fall Needs list below.  Donations can be dropped off at the Food Pantry (in Rockland Trust parking lot) Tuesdays - Fridays between 9am and 1pm or placed in our collection bin on our front porch anytime.  
If you prefer to write a check or donate online, remember our relationship with the Greater Boston Food Bank stretches monetary donations much further; $20 can provide up to 100 meals!  Every tax deductible donation helps us support more than 850 neighbors throughout the year.

Health and Beauty Products - Shampoo, Soap, Deodorant, Razors etc.
Cleaning Products - Laundry, Dishwasher, All Purpose etc.
Paper Products - Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels, Feminine etc.
Baked Beans / Dry Beans
Baking Mixes / Flour / Sugar
Canned Meat / Fish
Canned Pasta (chef boyardeeish)
Cereal
Coffee / Tea
Flavored Rice and/or Pasta Side mixes
Potatoes
Soups / Stews / Broths
Spices / Seasonings
Fresh and Frozen Produce always welcome

September and October Volunteer opportunities:
Friday, Sept 23rd     3pm - 6pm (@ Franklin Farmers Market on Town Common)
Friday, Sept 30th     3pm - 6pm (@ Franklin Farmers Market on Town Common)
Wednesday, Oct 5th   1pm - 2pm (@ Food Pantry)
Friday, Oct 7th     3pm - 6pm (@ Franklin Farmers Market on Town Common)
Friday, Oct 14th    3pm - 6pm (@ Franklin Farmers Market on Town Common)
Wednesday, Oct 19th    11am - 12noon  (@ Food Pantry)
Friday, Oct 21st    3pm - 6pm (@ Franklin Farmers Market on Town Common)
Friday, Oct 28th    3pm - 6pm (@ Franklin Farmers Market on Town Common)
Saturday, Oct 29th     9:30am - 10:30am (@ Food Pantry)


Thank you for making a difference! 

Please forward to any friends or family who may be interested.

--
Anne Marie Bellavance
Franklin Food Pantry
43 West Central Street
PO Box 116
Franklin, MA  02038
(508) 528-3115
www.franklinfoodpantry.org





Note: for those who did receive the email version of this, I did remove the first three paragraphs as I am posting the letter too late for those to be of a help.