Monday, October 24, 2016

Early voting opens today

New to Massachusetts - all registered voters may cast early ballots in biennial state elections beginning with the November 8, 2016 Presidential Election.

When? Today, October 24th - Nov 4th

Where? Municipal building – Town Clerk’s Office
355 East Central St


Early Voting Dates and Times:

  • Monday Oct 24, 8 AM – 4 PM
  • Tuesday Oct 25, 8 AM – 4 PM
  • Wednesday Oct 26, 8 AM – 7 PM
  • Thursday Oct 27, 8 AM – 7 PM
  • Friday Oct 28, 8 AM – 1 PM
  • Saturday Oct 29, 8 AM – 1 PM
  • Monday Oct 31, 8 AM – 4 PM
  • Tuesday Nov 1, 8 AM – 4 PM
  • Wednesday Nov 2, 8 AM – 7 PM
  • Thursday Nov 3, 8 AM – 7 PM
  • Friday Nov 4, 8 AM – 1 PM


THE EXTENDED HOURS (BOLD) ARE FOR VOTING ONLY!
(During the normal office hours, all Town Clerk business can be conducted. During the extended hours, voting is the only service supported.


What is the difference between absentee voting and early voting?

  • Absentee ballots are for those who will be out of town on the day of the election and can not make it to the polling place 
  • Early voting is open to all registered voters but must be done at the early voting location (Town Clerk's office) 
  • Absentee ballots can be applied for and sent in via mail. Early voting needs to be done in person
  • Early voting ends on Nov 4th. Absentee ballots are accepted up until noon before the election  day

Sample ballots for Nov 8
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/10/sample-ballots-for-nov-8.html

More on Early Voting from the Secretary of the Comonwealth
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleev/evidx.htm

Information for voters about the election on November 8th
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele16/ballot_questions_16/message16.htm


  • Ballot Question 1
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele16/ballot_questions_16/quest_1.htm


  • Ballot Question 2
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele16/ballot_questions_16/quest_2.htm


  • Ballot Question 3
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele16/ballot_questions_16/quest_3.htm


  • Ballot Question 4
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele16/ballot_questions_16/quest_4.htm


Did you recycle your Voter Information mailing? You can download or view the PDF copy here
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/IFV_2016.pdf

The Large Print version is available here
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/IFV_2016_Large.pdf

voter information was mailed to all MA registered voters
voter information was mailed to all MA registered voters

Help sponsor the Downtown Partnership Gala on Nov 12

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is excited to be celebrating our 15-Year Anniversary at the upcoming Gala (Nov 12).  We hope you will be able to join in the celebration since you have been an important contributor to our successes over these many years!

Below is an opportunity to help the FDP continue our work by being a Gala sponsor or by placing an ad in the program booklet.

Please email the office if you are interested by October 28th so we can make sure you are included in this special one-time opportunity.

And thank you again for all of your continued support! We hope to see you at the Gala!


Download the Gala Sponsorship Letter

Download the Gala Sponsorship Letter
Download the Gala Sponsorship Letter

Download the Gala Sponsorship Form
Download the Gala Sponsorship Form
This was shared from the Franklin Downtown Partnership webpage




Franklin sophomore Annie Walsh has been selected as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Week


"Franklin sophomore Annie Walsh has been selected as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Week for October 16th through October 22nd; the seventh player chosen for the 2016-2017 season. Walsh had a tremendous week, helping the Panthers win three games and get within one point of the division lead with a week to go. 
On Monday, Walsh netted a pair of goals – including the game winner – and added an assist in a big 5-1 win over division rival Oliver Ames that qualified Franklin for the postseason. In Franklin’s ninth win of the season, a 5-0 decision at Beaver Field over Taunton, Walsh was one of five different Panthers to find the back of the cage for a goal. 
“We made the decision to keep Annie, her sister freshman Erin, and sophomore Cassi Ronan together on the same forward line, and it has allowed her to be more consistent and comfortable,” Franklin head coach Lisa Cropper said. “She has been looking for her shot much more aggressively in the circle, and it has paid off in the scoring column with multiple points in several games in a row.”

Continue reading the article online
https://hockomocksports.com/player-week-annie-walsh-franklin-field-hockey/

Franklin sophomore Annie Walsh has been selected as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Week for October 16th through October 22nd; the seventh player chosen for the 2016-2017 season. Walsh had a tremendous week, helping the Panthers win three games and get within one point of the division lead with a week to go.
Franklin sophomore Annie Walsh has been selected as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Week for October 16th through October 22nd..


Also in the Hockomock League news, the football playoff seeds and matchups were announced for teams in the MIAA playoffs. FHS will travel to play #1 Xaverian on Friday..


D1 South
#8 Franklin (2-5) will travel to #1 Xaverian (6-1) on Friday, 10/28 at 7:00.

For the remainder of the Hocokomock teams in the football playoffs
https://hockomocksports.com/hockomock-football-playoff-seeds-matchups/

Register O'Donnell Stresses Need to File Mortgage Discharges



Norfolk County Registry of Deeds

Register O'Donnell Stresses Need to File Mortgage Discharges

Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell today reminded homeowners about the importance of filing a mortgage discharge in a timely manner after their mortgage has been paid off.

Register O'Donnell stated, "One of the most commonly asked questions I receive on a daily basis from homeowners is whether they have clear title to their property. One way to check on your title is by accessing the Registry's online records and verifying if all mortgages associated with the property have been discharged."

The Register went on to say, "When a mortgage is paid off, a mortgage discharge document needs to be recorded with the Registry of Deeds to clear a homeowner's property title relative to that loan. A discharge is a document (typically one page) issued by the lender, usually with a title such as "Discharge of Mortgage" or "Satisfaction of Mortgage."

In many instances stated O'Donnell, "Discharges are sometimes filed directly by banks or settlement closing attorneys with the Registry as part of a property sale or as a result of a refinancing transaction. In other cases, the mortgage discharge is sent to the property owner who becomes responsible for making sure the document is recorded at the Registry. Whether or not a discharge is recorded by the lending institution or the individual property owner, it is prudent that the property owner make sure that all necessary documents have been recorded at the Registry of Deeds."

The Register further mentioned that there have been cases where no discharge has been recorded against a long paid off mortgage. Unfortunately, some of the lending institutions that provided funds for these mortgages are no longer in existence. In most other cases, financial entities have merged with another lending entity. "You cannot sell your property without having your mortgage discharged," the Register warned.

If a property owner needs to retrieve an original discharge of a mortgage and is unclear which lending institution is now responsible for providing the document, an option is to contact the Massachusetts Division of Banks at 1-800-495-2265. This government agency can assist the consumer in tracking down contact information for the lending institution that is responsible for the mortgage.

When recording a discharge, the original document is required. The Registry of Deeds does not accept photo copies or faxed copies of documents. The filing fee, set by state statute, is $76.00.

In conclusion O'Donnell stated, "After paying off all the mortgages on their property, homeowners want to be assured that they have clear title to their property, especially if they are contemplating selling. Being diligent and aware of what is required will go a long way in giving the homeowner peace of mind. Therefore, I once again urge homeowners to make sure their mortgage discharge has been filed with the Registry of Deeds once their mortgage has been paid off. There is no reason to wait."

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is staffed with a team of customer service representatives who can be reached Monday through Friday, 8:30AM-4:30PM at 781-461-6101. These representatives have been trained in researching documents and are well versed on the subject of mortgage discharges and what, if necessary, needs to done to clear title to a property."

To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds and/or Instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds.

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High Street, Dedham, is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101, or on the web at www.norfolkdeeds.org.


Register William P. O'Donnell

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds


phone: 781-234-3336
Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, 649 High Street, Dedham,, MA 02026-1831

Sent by registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org in collaboration with
Constant Contact
screen grab of Norfolk Deeds webpage
screen grab of Norfolk Deeds webpage




Sample ballots for Nov 8

Whether you go to vote early, starting today (Oct 24), or wait until Tuesday (Nov 8), this is what the ballot will look like for Franklin voters. Note the difference in ballot is dependent upon your precinct. 

The early voting schedule can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/10/early-voting-opens-today.html

The Election Collection can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/10/election-collection-2016.html







You can also find a copy on the Official Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/nov_8th_state_election_specimen_ballots_0.pdf

screen grab of Franklin Town Clerk new webpage
screen grab of Franklin Town Clerk new webpage

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Oct 25, 2016

Vision Statement
The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

AGENDA
"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which
may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed
and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent
permitted by law."

1. Routine Business

Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the September 27, 2016 School Committee Meeting and the October 11, 2016 Worksession.
Payment of Bills Dr. O’Malley
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives

  • Nicolas Gnaman
  • Alexander Chitarra

Correspondence:
1. Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman
2. FEA – Open negotiations with EA Unit


2. Guests/Presentations

a. Math Program Overview


3. Discussion Only Items

Policy – First Reading
o JKAA – Physical Restraint of Students



Charter Schools


Action Items

a. I recommend acceptance of a check for $4,500.00 from the Jefferson PCC for field trips.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $375.00 from the Remington PCC for field trips.
c. I recommend acceptance of three checks totaling $2,521.51 from Parmenter PCC for field trips and in-house enrichment.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $296.99 from the Davis Thayer PCC for supplemental supplies.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $300.00 from the Keller PCC for field trips.
f. I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $1,275.00 from Franklin Music Parents for in-house enrichment.
g. I recommend approval of the Student Activity Accounts as listed.
h. I recommend moving Policy JKAA – Physical Restraint of Students to a second reading.
i. I recommend approval of the request to take MS Chorus students to NY City on May 13, 2017 to see a Broadway show as detailed.


5. Information Matters

Superintendent’s Report
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
a. Policy Sub Committee – MaryJane Scofield
School Committee Liaison Reports
a. PCC – Dr. Anne Bergen


6. New Business

To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.


7. Motion to Adjourn – Dr. O’Malley


The full agenda document can be found here


recent autumn glory at the entrance to Franklin High School
recent autumn glory at the entrance to Franklin High School

Halloween Party at Library October 27

The Franklin Public Library will hold a Halloween party on Thursday, Oct 27 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM with games, crafts, prizes and pizza. 

Franklin Public Library will hold a Halloween party on Thursday, Oct 27
Franklin Public Library will hold a Halloween party on Thursday, Oct 27

This was shared from the Library webpage
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2016/10/halloween-party-thursday-october-27-400.html

November Colors 2016 Art Exhibition

The Franklin Art Association welcomes you to view their fall member exhibition titled "November Colors 2016 Art Exhibit". The show will be on display from October 29th through November 29th at the Norfolk Library, 139 Main Street in Norfolk, MA. The library is open Mon-Thurs. from 10AM -7:30PM, Friday and Saturday 10AM to 4PM

A Cheese and Cider Reception will take place on Saturday, November 5, 2016 from 4PM until 7PM. Works in oil, water media, acrylic, pastel, photography, pottery, collage, charcoal, drawing, calligraphy and mixed media will be available for sale. This event is free and open to the public.
Franklin Art Association - November Colors 2016 Art Exhibit
Franklin Art Association - November Colors 2016 Art Exhibit

FHS football tops Attleboro 41-27 for homecoming win

While Hockomock Sports provides the score, on this day they provide nothing more. As this was the Franklin High School Homecoming game, the Twitterverse provides some additional details.



  • Football = Attleboro, 27 @ Franklin, 41 – Final












https://twitter.com/FHSSports
FHS Panthers


TUESDAY 10/25 Sen Spilka Visits Franklin Seniors, Students, Community Organizations

Senator Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland) will join state and local officials and community leaders on Tuesday, October 25th to visit local organizations and discuss issues impacting the Franklin community. Senator Spilka's district tour includes the Franklin Senior Center, Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School's manufacturing lab, the ongoing renovation at Franklin Public Library, the new Little Library at the Franklin Housing Authority and the Downtown Improvement Project streetscape.

WHO:                  Senator Karen Spilka
                                Senator Richard Ross
                                Representative Jeff Roy
                                Judith Pfeffer, Franklin Town Councilor
                                Karen Alves, Franklin Senior Center Director
                                Stephen Dockray, Tri-County Regional Superintendent
                                Lisa Audette, Franklin Housing Authority Director
                                Lisa Piana, Franklin Downtown Partnership Director

WHAT:               Tour of Franklin community organizations and discussion of local issues

WHEN:               Tuesday, October 25, 2016
               
8:45 - 9:30 a.m. Franklin Senior Center Visit
Franklin Senior Center
10 Daniel McCahill Street, Franklin

9:45 - 10:30 a.m. Tri-County Regional Manufacturing & Robotics Open House
Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High School
147 Pond St, Franklin

10:45 - 11:15 a.m. Franklin Public Library Renovation Update
Franklin Public Library  
118 Main Street, Franklin

11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Tour of Franklin Housing Authority Little Free Library
Franklin Housing Authority
1000 Central Park Terrace, Franklin

12:15 - 1 p.m. Tour Downtown Improvement Project Street Scape
Franklin Downtown Partnership
9 East Central Street Suite 1, Franklin


Senator Spilka joined many with many to celebrate the ribbon cutting to open the newly renovated downtown Franklin
Senator Spilka joined many with many to celebrate the ribbon cutting to open the newly renovated downtown Franklin



Saturday, October 22, 2016

Town Council moves plastic bags to EDC, moves rural business to 2nd reading

I missed the Town Council meeting on Thursday and will need to catch up with the Franklin TV replay when it is available. In the meantime, the actions taken as published gives a pretty good summary of what happened. We'll also need to wait for the minutes to be approved to find out the additional details in the conversations around each item.

For example, why did Councilor Pellegri vote against sending the ban on plastic bags to the Economic Development Committee? Rather than speculate, we'll await for the replay and or minutes, whichever is available first. She cast the only no vote when the measure passed 8-1. When the next Economic Development Committee meeting is is unknown. The newly renovated webpage currently shows no meetings for this group for the remainder of the year.

The Council did approve the resolution opposing Question 4 on the statewide ballot. The vote on this measure passed 9-0.

The Council moved all 6 of the bylaw changes to a second reading for the proposed rural business zone on Washington St.

The full set of action taken can be found in the PDF shown below:






The full set of documents released for the meeting can be found in the interactive PDF here
http://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/town-council-agenda-2

(Note the link will take you to the new Town of Franklin webpage)

Or use this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/10/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-oct-19.html

downtown Franklin early on the morning of Oct 16
downtown Franklin early on the morning of Oct 16


Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Matthew Beaton Visiting Franklin’s SNETT Trail - Oct 26

On Wednesday, October 26th, 2016 Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Matthew Beaton, will be participating in a trail ride of Franklin's SNETT trail. The goal is to expand awareness of trail conditions and potential future economic development opportunities relative to trail expansion between the Town of Bellingham and The Town of Franklin's recently rejuvenated, historical downtown.

Secretary Beaton will be joined by State Legislator's, Local officials, community leaders and interested resident's — all are welcome to participate.

"I look forward to riding with Representative Roy and other members of the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT) community to witness, first hand, the beauty of this 22-mile Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) trail," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. "Our ride will raise awareness regarding this regional asset and provide an opportunity to learn from trail stakeholders."

"The Southern New England Trunkline Trail or SNETT runs from Franklin all the way to Douglas virtually unobstructed, except for a large wall right here in Franklin," said Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin) "The Town of Franklin, the Friends of the SNETT, and the Franklin Legislative Delegation have been working together for a number of years to ensure access to Franklin's portion of the trail. This ride will be a great opportunity to illuminate both the trail's shortcomings and unrealized potential to the Commonwealth."

"Well maintained, accessible recreational trails and open space have a significant impact on quality of life in Franklin and across the state," said Senator Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "Improving and expanding access to the SNETT will allow more people to enjoy the beautiful natural resources our region has to offer, be active and connect with the community and local businesses."

"The SNETT Trail of Franklin is an important part of the town's character," said Senator Ross (R-Wrentham). "To continue to develop this stretch of land means we are creating new opportunities and access for residents looking to enjoy the natural beauty of their home town."

There has been a dedicated movement by local groups, such as the Friends of the SNETT, as well as by the Franklin and Bellingham Legislative Delegation to fund path improvements, path expansion and fix a large obstruction at the intersection of the trail and Prospect street.

The Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT) runs approximately 22 miles from the Franklin State Forest on the east, to the Douglas State Forest on the west. It passes through the towns of Douglas, Uxbridge, Millville, Blackstone, Bellingham, and Franklin, and is one of the longest trails in southern Massachusetts.




SNETT_GroveStSign
SNETT trail header at parking lot on Grove St


Additional photos of the SNETT taken in Sep 2013 can be found here

FHS girls soccer, field hockey and volleyball top Mansfield

From Hockomock Sports we share the FHS fall sports results from Friday, Oct 21



Football = Attleboro @ Franklin – Postponed to 10/22 at 3:00.


Boys Soccer = Mansfield, 2 @ Franklin, 0 – Final

– Mansfield’s Jed Tolbert notched his sixth shutout of the season and the Hornets cashed in twice in the second half to beat Franklin. Sam Hyland headed home a corner kick from Sean Lanzillo in the 49th minute for the game-winner. Cullin Anastasia doubled the lead in the 73rd minute, finishing off a direct kick from Lanzillo.

FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers

Girls soccer = Franklin, 1 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final

– Franklin’s Molly Duncan scored early in the second half off of an assist from Halle Atkinson to put the Panthers up but Mansfield found the equalizer in the final 10 minutes. Amanda Mangano converted with just eight minutes to go to keep the Hornets undefeated (13-0-2).


Volleyball = Mansfield, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final

– Franklin used the energy of senior night to sweep Mansfield, 25-20, 25-21, 25-20. “It was a strong performance by the entire team,” Franklin head coach Kate Horsmann said. Senior Erin Skidmore had 14 kills and 11 digs to lead the Panthers while Meaghan Maguire had six kills and three blocks, Lauren McGrath had 22 assists, two aces and a kill and Maddie Kuzio finished with 22 digs and a pair of aces. For Mansfield, Jess Haradon had 20 digs, Meg Hill had 10 kills and Emily Kleber had six kills.

Field hockey = Mansfield, 2 @ Franklin, 3 – Final

– Franklin sophomore Annie Walsh scored a pair of goals with her sister Erin Walsh, a freshman, scoring once to lead Franklin to a 3-2 win. Franklin head coach Lisa Cropper said Cassi Ronan, Caroline Lounsbury and Kayla Marshall also played well for the Panthers.


For the remainder of the results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-102116/

The Kids Count Data Center is a resource for you




MassBudget  Information.
  Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center  Democracy.




Kids Count Data Center is a Resource 

Everyone engaged in public policy debates about improving the lives of children in Massachusetts needs trusted data that can inform analysis of challenges and potential solutions. With so many different tools and resources, it can be hard to find trusted information. That's why we want to make sure our readers know about the Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT Data Center. It contains thousands of child well-being indicators related to education, poverty, health and youth risk factors. By being able to filter by state, city, county and congressional district, users are able to access data that is relevant in their communities and comparable to other places. As part of the KIDS COUNT network, MassBudget manages this national data resource in Massachusetts and incorporates additional local data.


To give an example, the state's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) improves the economic security of working families. The EITC raises the after-tax incomes of over 400,000 low-wage workers and their families, 13 percent of all tax filers in Massachusetts. Those who benefit are mostly working parents. It also helps a smaller number of other low-wage workers. The KIDS COUNT Data Center makes it easy to see how many tax filers benefit from the EITC in each city and town in the Commonwealth. With a few clicks, you can also map the share of filers that received the EITC across the state.


If you haven't done so lately, visit the KIDS COUNT Data Center today and see what it has to offer. You can also Tweet about it, and like it on FaceBook.



Visit the KIDS COUNT Data Center here (LINK).
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 children and adults, 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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Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108

Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with
Constant Contact
I queried the Kids Count Data to see what the reduced lunch price data looked like for Franklin and the neighboring communities. It was easy to do. You can add other school districts to this table or query other types of data.


  • The table view of the data

Kids Count Data for local reduced lunch price data
Kids Count Data for local reduced lunch price data - table



  • The line chart view of the data


Kids Count Data for local reduced lunch price data
Kids Count Data for local reduced lunch price data - line chart