[Residents] Winter Weather 1/19/19

Hello,

As you now know, we are expecting our first major winter storm of 2019 beginning this evening. Over the last several days we have been in constant contact with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service.

Based on this information, we believe we may experience scattered to numerous power outages due to ice accumulation.  Ice, combine with high wind gusts, may cause numerous and long term power outages.  Therefore, we urge everyone to make preparations for the possibility of power outage at your home.

Also, please note that the Town's Transfer Station will be closed on Sunday and a Parking Ban will be in effect as of 10 PM on tonight.

We will keep you updated with emergency information as the situation warrants. You can also find emergency information by visiting the Town's web site at www.franklinma.gov.  Thank you and have a safe and warm weekend.

Thank you,
The Town of Franklin, Police, Fire and DPW

Franklin Municipal Building

Town of Franklin looking for "expressions of interest" for the Red Brick School House

The Town of Franklin invites any interested parties to submit an expression of interest to the Town of Franklin for the lease of the Town Building located at 2 Lincoln St, Franklin, MA 02038 known as the “Red Brick School House,” and adjacent property.



Get a copy of the instructions here 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EkxdTCzUuDB9lfnTwotWRvXbSzX5l25F/view?usp=sharing

or on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/red_schoolhouse_rfpei_final.pdf

Town of Franklin looking for "expressions of interest" for the Red Brick School House

FHS girls and boys basketball and swim teams all post wins on Friday

Via HockomockSports and Twitter, we share the results of the FHS sports action on Friday, Jan 18, 2019

Boys Basketball = Franklin, 61 @ Oliver Ames, 40 – Final
– Franklin limited Oliver Ames to just 16 points in the second half, turning a six-point halftime advantage in a double-digit win. The Panthers led 16-12 after one and 30-24 at half but didn’t allow the Tigers to score double digits in either the third (14-9) or the fourth (17-7). Senior Jalen Samuels led the Panthers with 15 points, including eight in the fourth quarter while classmate Jake Macchi added a career-high 14 points (five in the fourth), connecting on four three pointers. Senior Ethan Eckstrom and sophomore Amari Brown each had eight points for the Tigers.

Girls Basketball = Oliver Ames, 36 @ Franklin, 62 – Final
– OA led by three after one quarter, but Franklin rallied to grab the lead by halftime. In the third quarter, the Panthers broke the game wide open, going on a 24-6 run that put them in front for good. Megan O’Connell had a big game for the hosts, scoring 18 points, to help Franklin stay unbeaten in the league and remain two games ahead of Mansfield in the title race. Bea Bondhus had 15 points, on five three-pointers, and Ali Brigham had 13 in the win. Hailey Bourne was the top scorer for OA with nine points.

Boys Swimming = Franklin, 86 @ Westwood, 57 – Final

Girls Swimming = Franklin, 89.5 @ Westwood, 80.5 – Final

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-01-18-19/

FHS Panthers

Beat a good OA team with a balanced effort from @megan_oconnelll 18, @bbondhus7 15 and @ali_brigham 13. Blue Collar award goes to @elizabeth_w17 #PantherPride

— Franklin Girls Basketball (@fhsgvbasketball) January 19, 2019

End of three quarters of play OA Boys Basketball trails by 11 to Franklin 44-33 pic.twitter.com/kJAPgi3CTD

— Wes Paul (@OAHSTigers) January 19, 2019

Swimming: First time winners Jr. Mike Newton
Sr. Arun Kavishwar
Double winners:
Roy Wang and Chris Carey Girls double winners
Katie Cashin
First time swimming the 500 AND the win..
Alyssa LaPuma #PantherPride

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) January 18, 2019

CONGRATS SWIMMERS! DOUBLE win over Westwood.
G: 89.5-80.5
B:86-57

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) January 18, 2019

First W's for Fr. LaPuma, So. Newton & Sr. Kavishwar 🔥
Sectional cuts for So. Chew & Boys Medley and 4freelay 🔥🔥
STATE CUT for Fr. Tang! 🔥🔥🔥
And one more W for both @FHSBVSWIM & @fhsgvswim1 🐾#proudcoach pic.twitter.com/dteiJWOuoC

— Coach Balliro (@coachB_fhs) January 18, 2019

OUTSTANDING meet against Westwood tonight. Big week for us next week! And don’t forget, practice on Monday. You MUST be there (talk to Coach P if you cannot attend)! pic.twitter.com/m4sUP1GB5s

— FHSGVSWIM! (@fhsgvswim1) January 18, 2019

...one more shoutout to Sophomore Katie Chew Sectional qualifying time in 100 backstroke

— CoachP_FHS_Swim (@CoachP_FHSswim) January 18, 2019

Shoutouts to Mike Newton, Arun Kavishwar, and Alyssa LaPuma for their FIRST wins tonight!
Elizabeth Tang our newest STATE qualifier.
Boys 200 Medley AND 400 free relay qualified for Sectionals!

— CoachP_FHS_Swim (@CoachP_FHSswim) January 18, 2019

JV Wrestling Tournament on Monday at Redding has been cancelled. @FHSPantherbook @FHSWrestle

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) January 18, 2019

Cancellation: Due to travel concerns on Saturday morning, our Wrestling team will not be attending the tournament in Chicopee. @FHSPantherbook @FHSWrestle

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) January 18, 2019

Parent/Guardian Sleep Education Forum - Jan 30

Dear Franklin Families,

The School Start Times Advisory Committee is hosting a parent/guardian education forum on Sleep Research and Adolescents on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at 7 PM at Franklin High School. 

Please see the attachment for more information and to kindly RSVP for planning purposes.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQsD-YfvOb0bGABqWK1GrLkFU6Ccsl56o-X7EnPREIJdENMw/viewform

Kind regards,
Franklin Public Schools

--
Sara E. Ahern, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Franklin Public Schools
355 East Central Street
Suite 3
Franklin, MA 02038
508-553-4819

Follow Us on Twitter: @FranklinPSNews


https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczMTdfNUp1N2RmeHJ5cTUwSERWU0ZpcXN3dVVj/view?usp=sharing

Parmenter School sign - reminder no school on Monday, Jan 21

"local aid will increase each year apace with state tax revenue"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The annual spending bill Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration will file next week will increase general local aid by $30 million this year, the lieutenant governor told a conference of municipal officials Friday morning. 

Administration officials said they will proposed $75 million in spending to protect communities from impacts of climate change, with the spending supported by an increase in the excise tax paid on real estate transfers. 

The administration this year will also seek a $200 million authorization for the Chapter 90 road and bridge repair program. City and town officials have sought larger and multi-year authorizations, saying road conditions warrant more spending."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190118/gov-baker-proposes-30m-increase-to-local-aid

The MA budget process kicks of in earnest when the Governor delivers his proposal by the 4th Wednesday of January.

Franklin depends upon State funding for its budget. Funding for schools, local aid and roads account for approx 30% of the total Franklin budget. Getting a reasonable estimate of this funding from the State enables Franklin to start its own budget cycle for FY 2020.

The State budget cycle for FY 2019 (the current budget) is shown here. The steps are the same for the new budget cycle for FY 2020.

State budget cycle for FY 2019

The Franklin budget cycle is shown here

Franklin budget cycle

For more info on the Franklin budget cycle or process
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget

The MA Budget timeline can be found
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/budget-process-timeline

Franklin Food Pantry offers help to Federal Employees

January 18, 2019 Special Announcement  Pantry Opens Doors to Federal Employees    Dear Friends, We are opening our doors to offer food assistance to federal employees impacted by the government shutdown.  Special food shopping hours will be held for government workers from 5 - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 22 and Thursday, January 24.  After next week we will offer shopping appointments during regular Pantry hours of operation for those in need. If you or someone you know is in need, the Pantry is here to help. Please visit our website for more information, and share with others you know who might be impacted by the government shutdown.  Please Like our Facebook page  to receive future updates so that you can help us get the word out to others in our community who might need assistance. Thank you! Franklin Food Pantry       www.franklinfoodpantry.org Our facility is generously donated by Rockland Trust. We are located at 43 West Central Street, Franklin, MA, on Route 140 in the Rockland Trust parking lot,  across the street from the fire station.

Franklin Food Pantry, 43 West Central Street, PO Box 116, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by erin@franklinfoodpantry.org in collaboration with Try it free today

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI Jan 18 - THU Jan 24

Friday, January 18

 Book sale setup

10:00am

 Knitting Group

1:00pm

 Library Book Sale (new time)

Saturday, January 19

9:00am

 Book Sale

9:00am

 Book Sale - New Time

10:00am

 Franklin Historical Museum (Always free)

10:00am

 Franklin Library: Adult Programs Survey

11:00am

 Franklin Library: Staff available to talk Survey

1:00pm

 Library Bag Sale (new time)

3:00pm

 Franklin Library: Staff available to talk survey

Sunday, January 20

1:00pm

 Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

Monday, January 21

 Library Closed - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

 Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Tuesday, January 22

9:30am

 Cool Cruisers

10:30am

 Get Ready for Kindergarten

6:30pm

 Jazz Quintet

7:00pm

 School Committee

7:00pm

 Franklin Public Library Book Club

Wednesday, January 23

10:30am

 Terrific Toddlers

11:00am

 Toddler Playgroup

4:00pm

 Construction Junction

7:00pm

 FHS Winter Jazz Concert

Thursday, January 24

9:30am

 Baby Tummy Time

10:30am

 Story & Craft

4:00pm

 Fandom Thursdays

For the interactive version, please visit

http://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

For the Town of Franklin Public Meeting Calendar

http://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

Submit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this link

https://goo.gl/forms/7Pr1iBuAiIna7cUo2

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI Jan 18 - THU Jan 24

Town Of Franklin Awarded Cultural District Status By State Of Massachusetts

In a unanimous vote on Tuesday (Jan 15, 2019), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through the offices of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, approved an official Cultural District in Franklin. The vote came after a multi-year effort by the Town of Franklin and a group of its citizens, making Franklin the 46th Cultural District in the state.

“I’m delighted to announce the designation of the Franklin Cultural District,” said Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Anita Walker. “We look forward to supporting Franklin’s commitment to incorporating the arts and culture into the daily life of their residents and making the town a tourist destination for visitors. Home of the first Public Library in America, the Franklin Cultural District has the potential to enrich their community with innovative ways to preserve and reuse their many historic buildings like the Red Brick School, Franklin Historical Museum, and the Ray Memorial Building.”

The Franklin Cultural District (FCD) will be a demarcated region within the town that encompasses the cultural facilities, activities, and assets that lie in a compact, walkable area. Along with having the first public library, Franklin’s vibrant cultural atmosphere is already home to the Dean College School of the Arts, Franklin Historical Museum, the Franklin Public Schools (a district well known for its strong music and art programs, including FHS' Arts Academy), over 25 other cultural, performing, visual arts and dance studios and associations, and a variety of restaurants and cafes. Establishment of the FCD will likely attract additional arts and cultural organizations in the future, driving economic development.

Cultural District status makes the FCD eligible for a variety of state grant programs, state economic development opportunities and monies, strategic planning and historic preservation assistance, and marketing through the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.

Philip Regan, Chair of the Franklin Cultural District Committee, was thrilled with the vote. He went on to say, “I want to thank the original steering committee, the current committee members, the District’s Partners, the Town administration, Rep. Jeff Roy, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council for their dedication, encouragement, and support in seeing our application through to certification. Everyone has done a fabulous job, and we should all be proud of this achievement for the Town of Franklin. We have a lot of exciting and beneficial work ahead of us, and we are well positioned to make the best of our new Cultural District.”

A contingent from Franklin attended the State's meeting where the Cultural District vote was held. The group included not only Regan, but Franklin's Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Director of Planning and Community Development Bryan Taberner, FCD Partnership Subcommittee Chair Nancy Schoen, and Massachusetts State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin).

“It’s a great thrill that after five years of work and dedication, the Franklin Cultural District has been approved by the Cultural Commission. Many thanks to so many committed folks who put in the time, energy, and enthusiasm to make it happen. I think it’s really going to be the next major economic boost for the city known as the Town of Franklin,” said Representative Roy.

The economic impact of the arts is not something to be taken lightly. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, “Arts and cultural production contributed $763.6 billion to the nation’s economy in 2015 [the last year for which data is available]. This represents 4.2 percent of the GDP—a larger share of the economy than transportation, tourism, or construction.” Massachusetts' creative economy generates over $2.2 billion each year, and accounts for 150,000 jobs statewide. Franklin revised their Town Master Plan in 2013, putting greater emphasis on the growth of their natural, cultural and historic resources; formation of the new Cultural District was one piece of this plan for economic development through the arts.

The Franklin Cultural District Committee (FCDC) plans to work closely with the District partner organizations to create and promote a variety of arts and cultural programs in coming years, including unique cooperative events and co-branding offers. The FCDC has already begun holding quarterly Partnership meetings and is in the process of building a new District website, which will include an events calendar that will be a central hub for finding all arts programming in town. 

The FCDC has launched a new social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, the purpose of which is to help spread the word on arts events, cultural articles, and Partner news. They have begun a “Did You Know? ” campaign, sharing interesting facts and information about the official Partners of the District, including the Franklin Public Schools, Dean College, Franklin Downtown Partnership, the Public Library, the Franklin School for the Performing Arts, Franklin Performing Arts Company/THE BLACK BOX, the Franklin Historical Museum, LiveARTS, Circle of Friends Coffeehouse, the Franklin Senior Center, the Franklin Art Association, the Franklin Cultural Council, and many more. Some of the partners were involved in the FCD initiative from the very beginning, others, such as Drummer’s Studio, Encore Music Academy, and Feet in Motion School of Dance, have signed on more recently as the momentum for establishment of the District increased.

“As we all know in Franklin, arts and culture is the heart and soul of the community, ” says Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. “We’re extremely pleased with the certification as a Cultural District, and we look forward to this being the next phase of economic development in the creative economy of Franklin.”

The FCDC has formulated a set of goals for the District, including:

1. Foster collaborations between the District's Partners.
2. Attract artists and cultural enterprises to Franklin and promote their activity.
3. Encourage and collaborate in culturally-related, locally-minded and -based business development by advocating for creation and support of small business incubators, makerspaces, and other cultural economic development resources to stimulate economic activity.
4. Establish the District as a cultural tourist destination in the region.
5. Preserve and reuse historic buildings and other sites.
6. Foster local cultural appreciation and development via active community and school/education engagement.

Franklin Cultural Council Chair Stacey David, a Cultural District partner, said, “The conferring of Cultural District status is just more evidence of the recent boom in Franklin's arts sector. We have seen such tremendous support for cultural programming in recent years, from the community's attendance at Dean College dance and theater performances, to the huge number of ArtWeek events last year, to the school department slowly changing the focus from STEM to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math). We've reached a sort of critical mass, which I think reflects society's recognition that the arts aren't just esoteric, but have a real importance in our lives. ”

Franklin Cultural District

This is a belief held by Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland), who congratulated the Town and the Franklin Cultural District Committee on the State's conferring of the official Cultural District status, and added these words, “The arts are an integral part of our lives and benefit the overall wellbeing of all of our residents. This important recognition will attract new businesses and visitors to the area and will lead to an increase in cultural activities of all kinds. The Cultural District designation will help Franklin expand on arts and culture programs, foster economic development and job growth and enliven the area.”

To learn more about the Franklin Cultural District, their partners, and upcoming activities and events, visit their website at www.franklinculturaldistrict.org, or follow them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinCultureMA), Twitter (@FranklinCulture), and Instagram (@franklinculture).

A cultural district is a compact, walkable area of a community with a concentration of cultural facilities, activities, and assets. Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural Districts Initiative grew out of an economic stimulus bill passed by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2010. With 46 Cultural Districts, more than any other state, the Cultural Districts Initiative is designed to help communities attract artists and cultural enterprises, encourage business and job growth, expand tourism, preserve and reuse historic buildings, enhance property values, and foster local cultural development. 

The Mass Cultural Council is a state agency supporting the arts, sciences, and humanities, to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts and its communities. It pursues its mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists.

Tri-County Metal Fabrication Students Build Battering Rams for the Massachusetts State Police

When a hostile situation occurs, speed of entry may be the most important aspect to gain control and ensure optimal safety. Tactical entry equipment, also known as Battering Rams, allow police to quickly gain access to both criminals and to victims during rescue operations. Yesterday, the Massachusetts State Police Special Operations - STOP Team received thirteen one-man Battering Rams designed and fabricated by students in the Metal Fabrication career program at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School.

The initial project was to design a lighter and smaller Battering Ram that could be used by a single police officer and could be easily transferred via a police vehicle. Under the direction of Robert Pierangeli, Tri-County Metal Fabrication Instructor, students Robert Corcoran, a senior from North Attleboro and two juniors, Trevor Walsh of Plainville and Bruce Farrand of Wrentham, were asked to work on the project as they are American Welding Society (AWS) Certified Welders.

“We are pleased to have partnered with the Massachusetts State Police to design and fabricate the Battering Rams,” said Cathie Rebelo, Director of Vocational Programs. “This project has given our metal fabrication students valuable hands-on experience in reinforcing their existing skills while working with new technology with the added value of helping the community.”

Tri-County Metal Fabrication Students Build Battering Rams for the Massachusetts State Police

The students began the project by making an initial prototype according to the specifications and measurements provided. Once it was finished, they sent photos to their contact at the Massachusetts State Police for feedback. Updated specifications were sent back to the students who then made it to the dimensions required including adding special hand guards. 

The students used a CNC Plasma Cutter to cut the half-inch steel plates for the face of the Ram and quarter-inch steel plates for the back of the Ram to seal it off. They had to cut out the hand guards to match the type of handles that were needed. Then they tack welded the prototype. Once approved, the students moved forward with producing the Battering Rams.

“The Tri-County School District would like to thank the Massachusetts State Police for providing our students with such a rich and innovative project,” said Stephen Dockray, Superintendent-Director. “We continue to look for opportunities from our state and municipal agencies that will give students the valuable real-world experience in their curriculum.”

Tri-County RVTHS, located at 147 Pond Street in Franklin, is a recipient of the High Schools That Work Gold Achievement Award and serves the communities of Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole, and Wrentham.

*NEW* Middle School Glee – Grades 6–8 - Registration Open

Lifelong Music Academy - *NEW* Middle School Glee – Grades 6–8

• Weekly music and movement class featuring Pop and Broadway music!
• Mondays from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM at Franklin High School.
• Class begins Monday, February 4, 2019.
• Concert Tuesday, May 14, 2019, 6:00 PM.
• Tuition for the 13-week program is $150.00.

Register Online: www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com Choose “Lifelong Music Academy” then “Chorus School”

*NEW* Middle School Glee – Grades 6–8 - Registration Open

New Times for the Franklin Library's Book Sale!

Important Information Regarding This Weekend's Book Sale at the Franklin Public Library!

Due to the snow storm expected Sunday, the Book Sale will begin Friday, January 18, 1:00-5:00 PM. It will continue on Saturday, January 19, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM The Bag Sale will be 1:00-4:00 PM. 

There will not be a Bag Sale on Sunday, January 20.

New Times for the Franklin Library's Book Sale!