The foundation at 188 King St was being set up 2 weeks ago and posted here
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Reminder: Beaver St closed beginning 8/25/08
The section of Beaver Street from West Central Street to Grove Street will be closed to through traffic from August 25, 2008 to approximately September 12, 2008. The purpose of the road closing is to reconstruct the Mine Brook drainage culvert.
Access up to and including Master Drive will be from West Central Street. Access to the Beaver Street Recycling Center and the Beaver Pond recreational facilities will be from Grove Street.
The original stories appeared here
Wind turbine success
Jiminy Peak, a western Mass. mountain resort, marked the one year anniversary on August 15 of flipping the switch and connecting its 1.5 megawatt GE wind turbine to the grid. The turbine, nicknamed Zephyr, is now generating a full third of the ski resort's power. But getting there wasn't exactly a breeze.
Nestled in the Berkshires, Jiminy Peak claims to be the first privately held company in the nation to have installed a megawatt class turbine. Its Zephyr (named after the Greek god of wind) sits on a 253-ft. tower, with each of its three blades reaching approximately 123 feet into the air, making the wind turbine taller than the Statue of Liberty.
The turbine generates 4.6 million kWh (kilowatt hours) of energy or enough to light up the TVs, DVDs, microwaves and refrigerators in 613 homes for a year. Most of the power is generated in winter, when mountain winds peak, and demand at the resort is at its highest, due to the demands of snowmaking equipment.
Read the full article in InformationWeek here
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Financial Planning Committee Meeting - live reporting
Updated:
Two members present: Rebecca Cameron and Roberta Trahan
Two unofficial members present: Jeff Nutting and Wayne Ogden
One other member was acknowledged as being heard from, he was leaving town for family vacation (Steve Whalen).
In the News - Brick, 704 Washington
Town councilors voted yesterday to accept the Red Brick School from the School Department, with some saying they still hope to have it be used for education by another group.
The school was declared a surplus earlier this month by the School Committee, which sought to transfer ownership of the building to the town.
The motion passed 6-1, with Councilor Robert Vallee casting the opposing vote.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
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The company owned by Councilor Joseph E. McGann and former Police Chief Lawrence Benedetto wants to withdraw its application for a retail development on Washington Street.
Their lawyer, Richard R. Cornetta Jr., made the request in a letter this week to the Zoning Board of Appeals, which votes on the matter tonight at 7:30.
McGann and Benedetto's proposal for a two-story 20,000-square-foot retail building met strong opposition from people living nearby. Mark Seifert, one of the leaders of a group called "It Does Not Fit, Do Not Permit," said he is pleased with the decision.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
704 Washington St Update
To those who have indicated to be notified about updates on the public hearings regarding the development at 704 Washington Street:
On August 18, 2008, Lajero LLC withdrew their application for variances. The application for variances were scheduled to be heard at a public hearing before the Town of Franklin Zoning Board of Appeals on August 21st . That hearing is cancelled. No other hearings are scheduled at this time. You will be notified (via email or by standard mail) in the future of any subsequent developments. Thank you for your interest in the matter. Refer to the website www.home.comcast.net/~
Thank you for your continued interest.
Mark and Julie Seifert
7 Jefferson Rd, Franklin, MA 02038
508.440.5561
www.home.comcast.net/~
Monday, August 18, 2008
FM #9 - Quiet Week & Look ahead
Time: 9 minutes, 18 seconds
MP3 File
Session Notes:
Music intro
My intro
This was a relatively quiet week in Franklin. Many folks out of town enjoying summer vacation. No Town Council meeting. No School Committee meeting.
So what did happen this past week?
• King St/I495 construction announced
• Repairs on the library have started
What do we have coming up this week?
• Town Council meeting on Wednesday the 20th - Agenda posted.
I think the most interesting items on the agenda:
Hearing
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-625: Chapter 185-5, Town Code: Zoning Map – Business to Commercial II – 7:10 PM - Knights of Columbus building and land
Presentations
• Fuel Efficiency –Jeff Nutting, Town Administrator
• Disaster Mitigation Plan- Gary McCarraher
Legislation for action
- Resolution 08-53 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking Newell Drive, Dover Circle, Cohasset Way, Sherborn Lane and Related Easements
- Resolution 08-54 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking of Hancock Road, Winthrop Road, Corey Way and Lantern Road and Related Easements
- Resolution 05-55 – Transfer of Care, Custody, Management and Control of Red Brick School From Franklin School Committee to Franklin Town Council
- Bylaw Amendment 08-627: Chapter 4, Public Notice and Advertising of Public Hearings – 2nd Reading
Financial Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on 8/21/08
This committee has their meeting schedule available on the new town web site but I don’t find anything else for them, meeting agendas, meeting minutes, etc.
Community section takes you off the new virtual Town Hall pages to a new portal provided by American Towns. Nice layout, seems to have all the prior community links moved over. In a future podcast, I’ll spend some time looking through those pages. In the meantime, go exploring. If you find something there of interest, let me know. If you find something missing, that should be there, let me know
Ben Franklin would say: "Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today."
-----------This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music
in the News - Center Commons, Sgt Pirelli
Franklin Center Commons moves forward
By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff
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Pirelli scholarship fundraiser to be held in September
By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff
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Father reflects on fallen Green Beret
By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff
Town Council - Agenda - 8/20/08
August 20, 2008
7:00 PM
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - None
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS – Historical Commission –Regular Member
Associate Member
F. HEARINGS – Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-625: Chapter 185-5, Town Code: Zoning Map – Business to Commercial II – 7:10 PM
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS – Franklin Country Club- Change or manager/directors
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
- Fuel Efficiency –Town Administrator
- Disaster Mitigation Plan- Gary McCarraher
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
- Resolution 08-53 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking Newell Drive, Dover Circle, Cohasset Way, Sherborn Lane and Related Easements
- Resolution 08-54 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking of Hancock Road, Winthrop Road, Corey Way and Lantern Road and Related Easements
- Resolution 05-55 – Transfer of Care, Custody, Management and Control of Red Brick School From Franklin School Committee to Franklin Town Council
- Bylaw Amendment 08-627: Chapter 4, Public Notice and Advertising of Public Hearings – 2nd Reading
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
L. OLD BUSINESS
M. NEW BUSINESS
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
P. ADJOURN
Sunday, August 17, 2008
In the news - King St/I495 construction, storyteller at library
By Rachel Lebeaux
Globe Correspondent / August 17, 2008
A long-awaited overhaul for busy King Street in Franklin has received an injection of state funds that will allow the project - offering improved traffic flow, better signals, and enhanced vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle safety - to move forward next spring.
The state Transportation Improvement Program has allotted $3.8 million in state and federal funds toward the project, which focuses on upgrades to the Interstate 495 ramps at King Street. Work will extend along King Street from Union Street to Upper Union Street, and include construction on Upper Union Street from King Street to Constitution Boulevard.
The project is slated to go out for bid this fall, with construction starting next spring. Robert "Brutus" Cantoreggi, director of Franklin's Department of Public Works, said he expects construction will last 18 months. While there are likely to be delays, the roads involved in the project will remain open, he said.
The project is aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving safety measures at several bustling intersections along King Street and at Interstate 495.
Read the full article in the Boston Globe here
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On Tuesday, Aug. 26, the Franklin Public Library is hosting Carolyn Martino, professional storyteller, actress, writer and educator at 7 p.m. in the Meeting Room.
"Enjoy the musical rhythms and joyous logic of all that is Italian in a Bella Notte of Italian storytelling as Martino captures you with her humor, warmth and style,'' says Margaret Ellis, the library's literacy coordinator.
This program is funded by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners with funds from the LSTA, a Federal source of library funding provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Originally published in the Franklin Gazette on Friday August 15, 2008.