Saturday, July 7, 2012

"bring more people to downtown"

In a follow up to the Public Hearing held on Jun 28th, the Milford Daily News writes:
One piece of the project business owners seem to collectively approve is the one-way traffic on Main Street and West Central Street being converted to two-way. Most agreed the change is one of its most notable, and appealing, aspects. 
Michael Espinosa, owner of Fitness Together on Main Street, said he and some of the other business owners see the one-way traffic on Main Street as uninviting. 
“If you miss the business you’re looking for, you have to loop back around again,” Espinosa said. “That’s very frustrating to people.” 
“I think the change to two-way, it will be a good thing,” said Virginia Kon, owner of Maguro House, a Japanese-style restaurant on East Central Street. “I think it will help the (the flow) of traffic, help people driving to 495.”

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x345286605/Franklin-business-owners-hope-downtown-construction-project-doesn-t-cause-problems#ixzz1zvnE0CwN


My reporting on the public hearing can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/06/live-reporting-public-hearing-downtown.html


Design documents on the downtown project can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/dtimprovement


Mass. highway projects in line for federal funds

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 7/6/12

 Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray is scheduled to be at the White House this afternoon when President Barack Obama signs the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, a $105 billion federal highway and transit funding bill that will send roughly $1.9 billion back to Massachusetts over the next two years for numerous projects, including work in Franklin, Wellesley and Needham.

Things you can do from here:

Friday, July 6, 2012

Franklin, MA: Farmers Market


The Farmers Market is open today on the Town Common from noon to 6:00 PM.

Grateful Farm

Franklin, MA: fireworks - 2012 (video)


Did you miss the fireworks on Tuesday night? I did manage to capture some video of the fireworks with my phone. I was impressed with the quality (not great but generally pretty good). This is the last 14 minutes of the fireworks.



Enjoy!

FBI recommends check to prevent loss of Internet access on Monday

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 7/5/12

Hundreds of thousands of Internet users may lose their online access on July 9, 2012, and Better Business Bureau is urging all consumers and businesses to run a quick and easy diagnostic test to see if their computers are infected.

Things you can do from here:

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Franklin, MA: Committee openings

There are committee openings available at the beginning of this new fiscal year. The Finance Committee (FinCom) Council on Aging, and Design Review Committee all have openings.

Review this page for additional info and the application form:
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/0190401F-000F8513


Franklin Library: Jamie Barrett Family Music Show - July 11

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 7/3/12



Things you can do from here:

What is in the Legislature's Budget Proposal



MassBudget    Information.
   Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy.
The Legislature's Budget Proposal
Last week, the House and Senate approved a budget for FY 2013. Though the Governor may still veto parts of the proposal, this budget includes most of the provisions that will make up the final budget.

There will be no revenue from new taxes in the FY 2013 budget. Instead, as MassBudget's Budget Monitor shows, Massachusetts will fill its roughly $1.3 billion budget gap through a combination of temporary revenue, cuts, and savings. This includes:
  • $615 million in temporary revenue, $350 million of which comes from the "rainy day" fund
  • Significant cuts and savings in Health Care, Homelessness Prevention, Early Education, and elsewhere
Our Budget Monitor shows how the Legislature's budget would affect each major area of state government, from health care and education to public safety and the environment--including information on tax revenues.

Read The Legislature's Budget for FY 2013
The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income people, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER
15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700
BOSTON, MA 02108
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This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by nberger@massbudget.org |  


Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Blood donations desperately needed

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff on 7/4/12

The American Red Cross has launched an emergency call for blood donations, as blood supplies are dangerously low. At the national level, the organization in June received 50,000 fewer donations than expected, and there is half the amount of blood available now than there was this time last year.

Things you can do from here:

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

We, the people


On this 4th of July, let's take a moment to reflect on the words that formed our government.



You may recall that the US Constitution begins
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
http://billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/constitution/

What does the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts say? In the third paragraph, you'll recognize the key phrase but pay attention to the first two paragraphs!
The end of the institution, maintenance, and administration of government, is to secure the existence of the body politic, to protect it, and to furnish the individuals who compose it with the power of enjoying in safety and tranquility their natural rights, and the blessings of life: and whenever these great objects are not obtained, the people have a right to alter the government, and to take measures necessary for their safety, prosperity and happiness. 
The body politic is formed by a voluntary association of individuals: it is a social compact, by which the whole people covenants with each citizen, and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by certain laws for the common good. It is the duty of the people, therefore, in framing a constitution of government, to provide for an equitable mode of making laws, as well as for an impartial interpretation, and a faithful execution of them; that every man may, at all times, find his security in them. 
We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the universe, in affording us, in the course of His providence, an opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without fraud, violence or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit, and solemn compact with each other; and of forming a new constitution of civil government, for ourselves and posterity; and devoutly imploring His direction in so interesting a design, do agree upon, ordain and establish the following Declaration of Rights, and Frame of Government, as the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/Constitution

And of course, the Franklin Charter, by which we are empowered to govern ourselves begins:
We, the people of the Town of Franklin, Massachusetts, in order to form a more perfect community, reaffirm the customary and traditional liberties of the people with respect to the conduct of our local government and take fullest advantage of the Home Rule Amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth, do ordain and adopt this Home Rule Charter for our Town.

http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_TownCharter/towncharter.pdf


Parts of this was originally posted to Franklin Matters Weekly
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2012/05/week-ending-may-20-2012.html

and Steve's 2 Cents
http://steves2cents.blogspot.com/2012/05/we-people.html

Milford-area towns get road and bridge repair funds

Among the communities listed is Franklin which is scheduled to receive $921,628.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 7/3/12

Some local infrastructure will soon get a facelift after Gov. Deval Patrick today announced that more than $28 million will be available for local road and bridge projects in Worcester County. The Chapter 90 funds – which are part of a $200 million transportation bond bill passed last week by the Legislature – are allocated to cities and towns using a formula based on community road miles, population and employment.

Things you can do from here:

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

"Real time traffic data"

If you are traveling up to NH along i93 or to the Cape, there is additional information now becoming available on current traffic conditions for those areas:
MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey today unveiled new message boards offering real time traffic information along the Interstate 93 corridor from Canton to the New Hampshire border. 
At the same time, MassDOT is also helping Cape Cod travelers by rolling out new traffic resources, including new online cameras showing road conditions on Route 6 Westbound and using message boards to share with drivers the extent of the heavy traffic leaving the Cape on Sundays.

Read more about the real-time traffic updates here
http://transportation.blog.state.ma.us/blog/2012/07/july-4-holiday-traffic.html


TED: The 100,000-student classroom

From TED Talks:
In the fall of 2011 Peter Norvig taught a class with Sebastian Thrun on artificial intelligence at Stanford attended by 175 students in situ -- and over 100,000 via an interactive webcast. He shares what he learned about teaching to a global classroom. 
Peter Norvig is a leading American computer scientist, expert on artificial intelligence and the Director of Research at Google Inc.

In the News: neighbors, finish, holiday



Neighbors to the rescue in Franklin





Franklin family team takes on Finish at the 50





Area towns to hold holiday bashes

Monday, July 2, 2012

TED: Nikola Tesla

From TED Talks:
Combining projection mapping and a pop-up book, Marco Tempest tells the visually arresting story of Nikola Tesla -- called “the greatest geek who ever lived” -- from his triumphant invention of alternating current to his penniless last days. 
A magician and illusionist for the 21st century, Marco Tempest blends cutting-edge technology with the flair and showmanship of Houdini






Sunday, July 1, 2012

Boston and the tall ships for the 4th of July

Boating Local takes a tour of Boston Harbor on Friday as some of the tall ships come in.

If you're heading into Boston, this will give you a taste of what you can see.

If you haven't planned to go, this may be enough enticement to consider it!



Franklin's 4th of July schedule is here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/06/franklin-ma-4th-of-july-schedule.html

Mass transit and parking restrictions to consider if you do venture into Boston
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/06/going-to-boston-parking-mbta-schedules.html



Tip of the hat to the Universal Hub for the link to the video
http://www.universalhub.com/2012/hello-sailors

In the News: children, Emery, OPBA, firefighters, bullying



Children have their day of celebration in Franklin