Saturday, April 5, 2008

FHS Lacrosse fund raising


FHS_Lacrosse, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Answered a knock on the front door a few minutes ago. The Franklin High School Lacrosse team is out going door-to-door selling coupon books as a fund raiser.

Good choices, good price!

Support FHS sports!


In the News - Lester Landry at 99

GateHouse News Service
Posted Apr 05, 2008 @ 12:19 AM

FRANKLIN —

Lester Landry has learned a few things in his 99 years, and he doesn't keep those lessons secret.
``Money is secondary - people are number one,'' is Landry's first rule. He also advises, `If you get depressed, exercise - it clears your brain.''
Every day, Landry applies his wisdom and shares it with those around him - and he has made it a point to surround himself with people.
``I'm always very active, I like people, I like being with them,'' Landry said.
Between 7:30 to 8 a.m. each morning for the past 15 years, Landry has volunteered as a greeter at the Benjamin Franklin Bank on Main Street, lending an ear, telling stories and starting workers' days with a smile and a reminder that someone cares.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News

Google on Privacy

Online privacy is something anyone cruising on the web needs to be aware of. Spend a few minutes to review the video tips that Google has put together.

Attention Franklin Line Commuters

I received a series of T-Alerts today piece by piece the told the following story:

The Franklin Line will undergo necessary maintenance involving the installation of 24,000 ties.
Franklin Line Necessary Track Work Beginning Thursday April 10, 2008

We apologize for any inconvenience that may result from this necessary track work and thank you for riding Commuter Rail.

The work period will be between 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Mondays through Fridays. Delays of 20 to 30 minutes are anticipated during the work period.

The first phase of this work will commence at 9:00 AM on Thursday April 10, 2008.

Friday, April 4, 2008

In the News - kids go green

GHS
Posted Apr 03, 2008 @ 10:48 PM

FRANKLIN —

Frightened that an "environmental catastrophe" is looming after conducting research on global warming, Remington Middle School students launched a public awareness campaign yesterday on the benefits of using compact fluorescent lights.

To combat energy waste, Team Titans, a group of 50 sixth-grade Remington students, made arrangements with Franklin stores J.D. Daddario, Stop & Shop, and Aubuchon Hardware to keep recycling bins on the premises.

Now people can drop off their used compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), which are energy-efficient but contain a small amount of mercury, at the same place they purchase replacements.

If every American household replaced one incandescent light bulb with an Energy Star-qualified compact bulb for a year, enough energy would be saved to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Web site.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News

Twitter - a teaching learning tool

From Nottinghamshire (yes, Robin Hood country) Tom Barrett teaches and writes a blog. This post goes into great detail on how he uses Twitter as a teaching and learning tool.
In my experience, and in the short time that I have used it, Twitter has grown quickly to play a major part in the way that I interact with fellow colleagues and professionals from around the world. In my classroom and with the children I teach it has been an exciting tool to utilise and support learning. However it is one of many tools that we have at our disposal. I do not see it replacing any of the others we use nor do I see the positive impact upon learning being exclusive to Twitter.
Read the full posting here.

Cruise around Tom's site. He has video tutorials. He has some wikis.

Do you twitter?

Another Franklin's Goals

A year ago, as Franklin, MA prepared for an operational override, Franklin, WI had just rejected an override for their schools.

Visiting the Franklin, WI school department web site I find their school district goals

Their Franklin Education Foundation is prepared to accept donations online.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Franklin Industry: PLC Systems

PLC Systems, which was in the news in December, has announced an international distribution agreement:

Franklin, MA - PLC Systems Inc., a company focused on innovative cardiac and vascular medical device-based technologies, announced recently that it has entered into a 3-year exclusive agreement with Artech s.r.l., Cavezzo, Italy for distribution of its RenalGuard System into Italy. Artech is one of Italy's leading distributors of interventional cardiology-related medical devices, doing business with most of Italy's major interventional cardiology centers. Artech will target early adopters who recognize the benefits of utilizing the unique fluid balancing capabilities of RenalGuard System in a cath lab setting during cardiovascular imaging procedures for patients at higher risk of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy (CIN).

Read the full announcement here.

Read the December news here.


In the News - Water, Sewer, Rubbish rates; new development

Water, rubbish rates may rise in Franklin

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Water rates and rubbish fees may be going up, while sewer rates could go down, if the Town Council goes along with a proposal by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

Nutting requested councilors raise trash fees $12 a year to cover a potential shortfall and to rebuild the trash reserve account that dropped below $100,000 to $61,000 this year.


Read the full article here

-----------------

Developer reviewing cost for office park

An eight-building commercial development on land near the Bellingham line, involving a major extension and paving project for Spring Street, could start before summer - if the developer decides he can afford it, and Franklin officials approve the final plans, and the project meets state environmental measures.

Developer Paul Maggiore has proposed constructing the eight buildings on a 53.4-acre property off Spring Street, south of Route 140 and near the Forge Park industrial complex.

Read the full article in the Boston Globe here

Town Council Mtg Summary 4/2/08

other segments of the meeting will be posted as I have time

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Budget Update FY09 (audio)

a preliminary update on the FY09 budget from Town Administrator Jeff Nutting with Q&A from several of the councilors.

Time: 10 minutes, 17 seconds



MP3 File

Sewer and Water rate discussion (audio)

From the Franklin Town Council meeting 4/2/08

Time: 18 minutes, 17 seconds



MP3 File

Rubbish Rate discussion (audio)

From the Franklin Town Council meeting 4/2/08

Time: 10 minutes, 35 seconds



MP3 File

Citizens Comment (none) and License Transfers (audio)

From the Franklin Town Council meeting of 4/2/08

Time: 2 minutes, 49 seconds



MP3 File

Open House - New Fire Station

Yes, the new station will be open for viewing by anyone in the Town:

April 12th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Where in Franklin? #42


Where in Franklin? #42, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Hmm, big nets... big fish?

The guidelines for playing "Where in Franklin?" can be found here.

Where in Franklin? Answer #41


Where in Franklin? Answer #41, originally uploaded by shersteve.

The correct answer to picture #41 did come in finding this building part of the Hayward Estate property.

Thanks for playing!

Stay tuned for the next opportunity.

In the News - Budget

GHS
Posted Apr 01, 2008 @ 11:36 PM
Last update Apr 02, 2008 @ 12:59 AM

FRANKLIN —

The Finance Committee voted last night to recommend several budgets prepared by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting, including employee benefit line items totaling $7.2 million.

The cost of benefits for town and school staff represents a $400,000 increase over last year's figure of $6.8 million, said Finance Committee Chairman Jim Roche.

Pensions, excluding teachers', will cost the town an extra $588,000 in the coming fiscal year for a total of $3,250,290, Nutting said.

read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Monday, March 31, 2008

Town Council Meeting agenda for 4/2/08

The agenda for this Wednesday's Town Council meeting has been posted to the town website (PDF).

Items likely to be of interest:
  • Shaw's is renovating and moving their wine/liquor area within the store
  • Annie's Market, liquor license transfer
  • FY09 budget is on the agenda with no details in the package
  • Trash or rubbish fee proposed to be increased by $12
  • Sewer fee to be reduced by about $45 dollars
  • Water fee to be increased by $45 dollars so the net between water/sewer is no change

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Where in Franklin? #41


Where in Franklin? #41, originally uploaded by shersteve.

A carriage house from yesteryear. Where in Franklin would you find this one?

The guidelines for playing "Where in Franklin?" can be found here.

Where in Franklin? Answer 40


Where in Franklin? Answer 40, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Yes, the answer to picture #40 was the Best Deli located on East Central St.

Thanks for playing.

Stay tuned for the next opportunity!

Congratulations to Franklin High School's All Stars

The Boston Globe has a special section today to highlight the All-Scholastics for the Winter 2008 season. Amongst those recognized are the following from Franklin High School.

Girls Basketball - Kelly Merideth (All-Scholastic and Hockomock All Star); Siobhan Sullivan (Hockomock All Star)

Boys Basketball - Matt Dean, Matt Palazini, and Ryan Spencer (all Hockomock All Stars)

Boys Hockey - Jeff Kaplan (All-Scholastic and Hockomock All Star), Paul Childers, Kevin Gallagher, Nate Weber (all Hockomock All Stars)

Girls Hockey - Erin Burke, Rachel Porter, Melissa Coughlin and Maura Teehan (all Hockomock All Stars)

Boys Track - Andy Childs, John Dacey, Chris Letorneau (all Hockomock All Stars)

Girls Track - Kathleen Ryan and Leanne Swanson (all Hockomock All Stars)

Wrestling - Nick Colace (All-Scholastic and Hockomock All Star), Peter Gill, Jim Koshivas, Garrett McNeilage, Jamie O'Neil, and Dan Telhada (all Hockomock All Stars)