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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 *
The Parmenter Run for All Ages 5K Run/Walk and Kids Panda Dash will be held on Sunday, May 31.
The 5K looped course will begin and end at Parmenter Elementary School, 235 Wachusett St. Franklin. Race start time is 10 a.m.; registration begins at 8 a.m.
A free Kids Panda Dash is set for 9 a.m.
The road race will be professionally timed by Spitler Race Systems. This event includes tee-shirts to the first 150 registered participants, awards to the top three to finish in each male/female age division, time splits and water stops. All proceeds will benefit the Parmenter PCC, which funds school-based student activities.
Organizers are seeking volunteers and local businesses/sponsors to support this community family fitness event.
For additional information go to: parmenter5K.weebly.com; contact Karen Mahon @ parmenter5K@gmail.com; call 508-528-1286.
FRANKLIN -
The Franklin public school system is one of the best in the nation. It has always stood high in national and state testing. All of this has not been an accident. It is the solid result of some damned good teaching over the last five decades.
I joined the Franklin school system as a teacher some 43 years ago when I graduated from college. For the next 34 years, I observed some truly dynamic growth both intellectually and in the physical school environment.
The students of Franklin have always been special. They have always had a wonderful sense of community and have always, in my experience, responded to any problem with kindness and understanding. As time passed, I saw each new generation growing in toleration and understanding. It is my considered opinion that the young people of Franklin are very special.
I have seen hundreds of gifted and dedicated people serving as faculty over the past five decades giving of themselves and to their students unselfishly.
Read the remainder of James Johnston's essay here
Jenna L. Pasquino, 20, of Franklin died early this morning when the car she was driving crashed into a telephone pole, police said.
Pasquino was traveling south on North Main Street at about 2:19 a.m. when her 1998 Toyota Avalon crossed the double line, hit a telephone pole on the opposite side of the road, and flipped over, police said.
Read the remainder of the article in the Franklin Gazette here
This year's budget crunch will mean the public library will be closed on Fridays beginning the first week of July, but no staff members will lose their jobs, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting told the Finance Committee last night.
Following the hearing, Library Director Felicia Oti left with a big smile - most likely, Nutting said, due to the fact that the library got a better deal than anyone had expected.
Initially, he and Oti feared the library would have to lay off staff and reduce hours even further - possibly leaving the library open only three or four days a week.
Friday was chosen because it is the library's slowest day, Oti said. Monday, then Saturday, are the busiest days, she said.
The library avoided layoffs because the union volunteered to defer salary increases, one employee asked to reduce her hours from 35 to 18 per week, the assistant director's hours were cut from 35 to 15, and because two people retired, Nutting said. Those positions will not be filled.
Read the full article on the Library budget in the Milford Daily News here
For example, the high school had scheduled a meeting that resulted in a conflict with a district wide meeting.The five meetings originated in the 2001 contract although the need for additional meetings was acknowledged in negotiations prior to this contract.
After a 20-minute executive session, School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy announced the board and teachers union have not yet come to an agreement on wage concessions.
At the behest of Superintendent Wayne Ogden and the School Committee, the Franklin Education Association had agreed to a one-year wage deferment to save jobs on April 13, but attached three conditions. The union also offered to forgo course reimbursements to save the district another $200,000.
The School Committee then made a counter offer, which would give the union some of what it sought.
The union rejected the counter proposal yesterday afternoon and again put forward its original offer, which had three stipulations: The removal of five floating after-school meetings, permanent removal of the need to give a reason for personal days, and the permanent requirement that no meetings be scheduled two weeks prior to the issuing of report cards, according to a copy of the proposal.
Read the full article on the School Committee/teachers dispute in the Milford Daily News here
The Fourth of July Coalition is gearing up for its second five-day Independence Day celebration, and is excited to report it will feature a parade, said group secretary Warren Revell.
The coalition didn't have time or funds to hold a parade or fireworks last year, he said, but there is a slim possibility for both this time around.
"This is a town (where) you can't just put something in front of the people - you gotta put out a quality product," Revell said.
"I'm excited, because the town needs a parade. It draws people into the town; fireworks don't. Hopefully, it'll get businesses to be in the parade," he said.
Most likely, there will not be fireworks, he said, because of the cost.
Read the full article on the 4th of July plans in the Milford Daily News here
Will be appearing at Treesavers Books to sign his new book, The Sweet War Man.
Paul Barcelo completed Army Infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, then rotary wing training at Fort Wolters, Texas and Fort Rucker, Alabama. He flew one tour as a UH-1 pilot in Republic of Vietnam. He resides in Franklin, Massachusetts with his wife and four children. This is his first novel.
Residential irrigation can account for 40% of domestic water consumption in a given municipality. Rain barrels not only store water, they help decrease demand during the sweltering summer months.
Only ¼ inch of rainfall runoff from the average roof will completely fill the typical barrel. A good formula to remember: 1 inch of rain on a 1000 sq ft roof yields 623 gallons of water. Calculate the yield of your roof by multiplying the square footage of your roof by 623 and divide by 1000.
Collection of water from rooftop runoff can provide an ample supply of this free “soft water” containing no chlorine, lime or calcium. Because it tends to have fewer sediments and dissolved salts than municipal water, rain water is ideal for planter beds for a multitude of applications, including biodynamic and organic vegetable gardens, planter beds for botanicals, indoor tropicals like ferns and orchids, automobile washing and cleaning household windows. Saving water in this manner will reduce your demand of treated tap water and save money by lowering your monthly bill.
Rain water diversion also helps decrease the burden on water treatment
Info found on the NE Rain Barrel web site.
Franklin residents can order their rain barrels here. All others can select their community to order here.
Using the parable of the boiled frog to describe the possible trajectory of Franklin services and finances, Doug Hardesty told an audience of about 100 residents the town needs to immediately tackle its recurring fiscal deficit before the damage is irreparable.
When a frog is thrown into a pot of boiling water, it'll immediately jump out, Hardesty said. When it's put in a pot of room temperature water, and the heat is slowly turned up, the change is so slow the frog doesn't notice. The frog dies before it reacts.
"That's very much the kind of thing we're worried about in Franklin," said Hardesty as he began his presentation on the long-term financial committee's plan last night at Horace Mann Middle School.
"Because we're facing this slow structural problem, it creeps up on us. The question is, what and when do we jump," said Hardesty, an auditor and one of two residents-at-large on the committee.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
The School Committee intends to hammer out an agreement on wage concessions with the teachers union to save teachers' jobs today, said Chairman Jeffrey Roy.
The Franklin Education Association had proposed deferring its negotiated 2.5 percent salary increase and course reimbursements until June 30, 2010 - which would save the district $1 million - but with three conditions.
In exchange for the concessions, the union asked for the removal of five floating after-school meetings, permanent removal of the need to give a reason for personal days, and the permanent requirement that no meetings be scheduled two weeks prior to the issuing of report cards, according to a copy of the proposal.
The Franklin Education Association and School Committee are considering counter proposals for wage concessions, and will deliberate in concurrent meetings at 3:30 this afternoon at Horace Mann Middle School, said Roy.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Town councilors say they're not surprised at Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting's recent projection of a $5 to $6 million deficit in 2011, but for the most part, are too focused on getting through this budget cycle to start strategizing.
"It's so far off at this point. In my opinion, it shouldn't even be a topic of conversation. We need to get through this budget and see where we are," said Town Council Chairman Christopher Feeley.
There are many variables - like the possibility of getting revenue from utility pole taxes and local hotels and meals taxes - that could dramatically change Nutting's projection between now and next budget season, Feeley said.
"We need to be concerned about it, but too many things could change," he said.
Councilors Stephen Whalen and Scott Mason both said Nutting's projections are always "extremely accurate."
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Parents of children who will be attending kindergarten in the fall are invited to attend the Kindergarten Information Night at their particular school.
Following are dates and times for sessions (parents only) revised from earlier publications:
J.F.Kennedy Elementary School, Thursday, April 30, 6:30 p.m.
Parmenter Elementary, Thursday, May 14, 6:30 p.m.
Jefferson Elementary, Wednesday, May 20, 6 p.m.
Helen Keller Elementary, Wednesday, May 13, 6:30 p.m.
Davis Thayer Elementary, Thursday, May 14, 6:30 p.m.
Oak Street Elementary , Wednesday, May 27, 6:30 p.m.
Paula Mullen, a Franklin resident and vice chairwoman of the School Committee, was one of 100 women in the state named a 2009 Unsung Heroine by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women.
She will be recognized by the commission for outstanding contributions to her community in a ceremony on May 13 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the State House in Boston.
School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy nominated Mullen.
Roy thought she was "a perfect fit," especially because she hates the limelight, but deserves the recognition for all the volunteer work she does.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.
According to a copy of the proposal, the union demanded the following conditions: the permanent removal of five floating after-school meetings, permanent removal of the need to provide a reason for personal days, and the permanent requirement that no after-school meetings be scheduled two weeks prior to the issuing of report cards.From the Milford Daily News article on the School Committee meeting 4/14/09.