Saturday, July 16, 2011

Two red tail hawks down

Animal control officers, one of whom was also attacked, then shot and killed two hawks, which Tom French, an assistant director of MassWildlife, later identified as an adult and a juvenile that was learning to fly. 
French confirmed that state environmental police and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are investigating. 
He said the state does not typically second-guess town officers who act in the interest of public safety. 
"Unfortunately, there are some concerns," said Marion Larson, an information and education biologist for MassWildlife, "because it is illegal to shoot hawks and owls, and it's a federal issue as well as a state problem."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x633527252/Shooting-of-two-hawks-in-Franklin-questioned-by-MassWildlife-officials#ixzz1SGeGATLj


Franklin Downtown Partnership: Next General Meeting

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Franklin Downtown Partnership by noreply@blogger.com (Franklin Downtown Partnership) on 7/15/11

Please join us for our next General Meeting!

Thursday, July 21, 8:30 a.m.
Dean College Campus Center Board Room
1st floor across from the dining hall

Coffee will be served.
New Members Welcome!

Things you can do from here:

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School to destroy some records

I assume the destruction will be a controlled and secure process.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 7/15/11

In compliance with the Student Records Regulations, Chapter 71 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth, notification of the destruction of the temporary school records is given to all students who received special education services and who transferred, terminated, withdrew, were released from these services, or graduated from Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School during the 1995 – 2004 school years.

Things you can do from here:

In the News: there was a market for this

Franklin detectives saw the men exchange something with someone in a second car, police said, and then followed the second car and stopped a man who, by that time, had a baggie of what was later identified as cocaine in his mouth. 
The detectives then returned to the parking lot and saw a second exchange within an hour and a half involving the same green car, the police report said. 
Detectives interrupted that deal, which this time was heroin, and arrested Dejesus-Escbales and Delossantos, according to court documents. 
The two people who bought the drugs were not arrested and instead were summoned to court on possession charges, police said. 
Police found 13 small bags of heroin, one large bag of heroin, and a bag of cocaine in the Honda, along with $2,158 in cash. Officers also found five cellphones, which rang repeatedly during the arrests, according to court reports.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x633527250/Two-charged-with-dealing-heroin-in-Franklin#ixzz1SGg9TAYX


Friday, July 15, 2011

Farmers Market Open Today !


Franklin Farmers Market,  Friday,  12:00pm to 6:00pm


Franklin: Farmers Market


United Regional Young Professionals Organization announces website and membership opportunities


The United Regional Young Professionals Organization (YPO) announced the launch of their website at unitedregionalypo.org and is accepting new members. The YPO consists of a diverse group of young professionals who have an interest in social and business networking, community involvement and professional development.
 
The YPO was organized in 2010 by the United Regional Chamber of Commerce in direct response to the challenges in attracting and retaining diverse young professionals and to develop the next generation of leadership. The annual membership fee of $50 is waived for the first year for United Regional Chamber of Commerce members. 
The YPO is co-hosting a “Christmas in July” networking event with the Hampton Inn in Franklin on July 28. “The hotel will be decorated inside and out for Christmas – Trees, lights, holiday music, movies, the works!” says Amanda Gentile, Director of Sales at the Hampton Inn Franklin/Milford and Board Member of the YPO. The festivities will include pictures with Santa, Christmas ornaments, cookies, hot apple cider and coco buffet, and a hotel hunt for fabulous gifts. You may register for this event on the YPO’s website or by contacting 508-488-YPO1 (9761).

1-08-06 christmas tree 011


"The end product is very much their own"

In another movie, a dozen characters fight for the title of Greatest Warrior. 
But the class is more than goofing off with gruesome fight scenes. Kids learn how to use a plethora of gadgets, from cameras to tripods, to USB cables, to memory cards. They learn how to make a better picture with or without the flash, edit audio and video clips, and download data to the computer program they used. 
Bisbee said she also incorporates some creative writing in having the kids plan out their characters, plot and settings on paper and storyboards before acting the script out. More than the technical and academic skills, though, the kids learn teamwork. 
"They definitely get a feel for what it's like to work cooperatively and be creative. They play off each other's strengths," said Bisbee, noting that the teams have to plan together and come to a consensus throughout the week. "It's a cooperative project from beginning to end."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x633527054/Putting-summer-fun-in-motion-in-Franklin#ixzz1SAGfernJ

Thousands needed for tornado cleanup July 30-31

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 7/14/11

Severe Weather_3851301.jpg
Thousands of volunteers are needed for a cleanup drive on Saturday and Sunday, July 30-31, in the communities affected by the June 1 tornadoes that struck western and central Massachusetts.

Things you can do from here:

Drop off unused drugs at Franklin PD

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 7/14/11

A drug take-back container is now in the Franklin police station lobby at 911 Panther Way.

Things you can do from here:

Thursday, July 14, 2011

"amendments were approved unanimously and without discussion"

The downtown district will now be labeled a mixed-use, transit-oriented area, with specific emphasis on restaurants and retail. 
The amendments are stricter on residential use than commercial. 
Apartments are restricted to upper floors, with no more than 1 dwelling per 2,000 square feet of a lot area downtown. 
While there was previously no parking restriction, each residential unit must now provide 1.5 parking spaces. There is still no parking restriction for businesses.
The 20-foot setback from the street or sidewalk originally required for buildings now starts at a minimum of 5 feet, with 15 feet for four-story buildings. Upper floors are allowed to overhang that minimum requirement.
 
The new rules only apply to buildings that are three stories or lower, and proposals for taller structures would still have to get special permit.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1850043867/Franklin-OKs-changes-to-downtown-zoning#ixzz1S4RhOeuc


"food service programs' nutrition standards are 'uneven' "

Ryan's remarks came after the Massachusetts Public Health Council yesterday adopted new school nutrition regulations giving students healthier eating options. 
The new guidelines, which take effect in the 2012-13 school year, will require schools to make fresh produce, healthy beverages, and low-fat dairy and whole grain offerings available wherever food is sold. The rules also get rid of products loaded with sugars and trans fat, including sugar-sweetened beverages like soda. 
The regulations apply to food in vending machines, at snack booths or at school-sponsored events. They won't affect schools' meal programs, nor do they apply to foods sold more than a half-hour before or after the school day.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1850043855/State-passes-stricter-school-lunch-rules#ixzz1S4ShI5MY

Note: Franklin just went with an outside firm to provide the food service partly for this reason.
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/06/theres-lot-of-efficiencies-here.html


In the News - Rep Vallee, Youth baseball


Rep. Vallee holds office hours in Franklin, Medway



Get involved with Franklin Youth Baseball




Wednesday, July 13, 2011

The summer of ______ (fill in the blank)

What will you have called this summer? Scott Stratton in this TEDx Talk called this his 'summer of Owen'.




Before the summer is over. Before you forget the heat. Before it gets to September.

Will you take time to stop?


Cash-strapped MBTA aims to sell station naming rights

Gee, I wonder if that means Dean College could loose the place they currently have (Franklin/Dean) or would now have to pay for it? It could get real confusing associating a business name with a station location.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:


Next stop: State Street Bank Station? Or, how does TD Bank North Station sound? No? Harvard Pilgrim Station has a nice ring to it. The fiscally troubled Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is gearing up to sell naming rights to its stations, transit lines, and even the authority's Charlie Card payment system. According to a request for proposals published on the website of MBTA real estate arm Transit Realty, the T is accepting bids for "naming rights consulting services" - a two-year contract "to assist in the monetization of the Naming Rights potential of the MBTA's...

Things you can do from here:

"We're going to have some class size issues"

"We don't like to build a budget on attrition," said Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski, adding that she looks for savings wherever she can. "It's really hard to predict what the attrition number could be." 
Attrition money is gained through replacing retiring teachers, often at the higher end of the pay scale, with new hires who start with much lower salaries. 
The federal money, $850,939, is left over from last year's Education Jobs Fund program, a stimulus program similar to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The School Committee voted last year to save about half of the $1.4 million federal allotment for the fiscal '12 budget. 
Sabolinski and the School Committee members were quick to point out to one another that both sources of funding are unsteady - the Jobs Fund money won't be available next year and the superintendent cannot count on consistent retirements of highly paid teachers.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1850043587/Franklin-schools-use-saved-funds-to-bridge-budget-gap#ixzz1RyX6E8b7

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

History Mystery

Yes, indeed, inside the cover of a book there are worlds to explore!

Davis Thayer sign

What book are you reading this summer?


Preliminary Analysis: The Governor's Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Vetoes





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Preliminary Analysis:
The Governor's Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Vetoes 


July 11, 2011 

Presented with a budget that implemented a fourth year of budget cuts across state government, Governor Patrick today signed that document without using his line-item veto authority to impose any additional cuts.   

In signing the budget, the Governor highlighted several reform initiatives in the budget, including: changes in the indigent defense system that aim to save money by shifting some cases from privately contracted lawyers to public defenders; an initiative to try to place homeless families more quickly in permanent housing rather than shelter; and the creation of a new office of Performance, Accountability and Transparency.

The Governor vetoed several outside sections and returned a number of them with proposed amendments.  Outside sections are parts of the budget that don't appropriate money.  This preliminary analysis of the Governor's vetoes briefly describes outside sections the Governor vetoed and amendments he proposed to other outside sections.

The report is available at www.massbudget.org or by clicking here.    



See MassBudget's Budget Browser to explore Massachusetts state budgets from Fiscal Year 2001 to the present, as well as budget proposals for the next fiscal year as they are offered by the Governor and the Legislature.    

MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies, as well as economic issues, with particular attention to the effects on low- and moderate-income people.


This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by info@massbudget.org |  
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

New Look Locomotives

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 7/11/11

MBTA Locomotive Design option1 As the manufacturing and production of 20 new locomotives gets underway, the MBTA is asking the public to help choose a design scheme that reflects a new era in the delivery of MBTA Locomotive Design option2
Commuter Rail service.  Beginning Tuesday, visitors to www.mbta.com will be presented with three options from which to choose, seen at left.  The on-line preference poll will be available for two weeks.  The design options will also be on display at North and South Stations.
MBTA Locomotive Design option3
The MBTA is purchasing a new fleet of twenty diesel-electric passenger locomotives from Motive-Power Incorporated of Boise, Idaho.  The $114 million investment represents the MBTA's first major locomotive procurement in more than 20 years. Employing the industry's newest technological advances, the locomotives are being designed and built to operate more efficiently, reducing fuel use and emissions while significantly improving performance and reliability.  The new locomotives will be in service by 2013.

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"asked for a waiver on two restrictions"

This plan eliminated a second drive-through proposed earlier, but asked for a waiver on two restrictions: one that prohibited left turns out of the property, and another that prohibited the restaurants being open during breakfast hours. It also asked for permission for, but didn't commit to building, increased square footage for one of the buildings, from 2,360 square feet to 5,280 square feet. 
"Doubling the size of a building doesn't come under a limited site plan, in my opinion," said Planning Board member Joseph Halligan, before the board took a vote that would have forced Daddario to create a full site plan, instead of push his project forward with a limited plan. 
An initial vote to require a whole new plan came out in a tie. 
After vehement disapproval from the applicant and Ballarino, and a suggestion of compromise from the Town Planner Beth Dahlstrom, the board reconsidered the decision. 
The board then voted to use the limited site plan, but not approve it until a further traffic study was examined and to limit the building size for now. 
The hearing was continued until July 25, when the board will vote on reconsidering the restriction on left turns.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1498054749/Franklin-board-hears-changes-to-development-plan#ixzz1Rsl9DT4O


Monday, July 11, 2011

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a twelve-week small group program designed for adult cancer survivors who have become de-conditioned or chronically fatigued from their treatment and/or disease. The program is offered without cost to the participants. Our goal is to help patients build muscle mass and muscle strength, increase flexibility and endurance, and improve functional ability. Certified Hockomock Area YMCA health and wellness instructors give personal individualized instruction to the participants. The instructors are trained in the elements of cancer, post rehab exercise, nutrition, and supportive cancer care.


Why is LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Important?
This program fulfills the important need of the increasing number of cancer survivors who find themselves in the transitional period between completing their cancer treatment and the shift to feeling physically and emotionally strong enough to attempt to return to their normal life. The fact that the program is outside a medical facility and integrated into the community serves to emphasize that LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is about health, not about disease. The positive and enthusiastic feedback that we receive from individuals who have gone through the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program convinces us that this is a significant community program that fills an important, and previously unaddressed, need of cancer patients and survivors.


A survivor is defined from the point of cancer diagnosis through the balance of his/her life. Are you a cancer survivor or do you know someone who is? Please contact your local Hockomock Area YMCA branch to get involved.


The Hockomock Y is pleased to announce its upcoming summer program and encourages cancer survivors in the community to join. There is no cost to participants.


Bernon Family Branch, Franklin
45 Forge Hill Road
Franklin, MA
508.528.8708


Start Date: week of July 18
Day & Time: Mondays & Thursdays, 6:00pm or Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:30 am
Contact: Vickey Marini


Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee - Meeting 7/12/11 - 7:30 PM

Proposed Agenda for July 12, 2011

Location: Franklin YMCA 45 Forge Hill Road
Start Time: 7:30PM


I. Call to Order / Introductions of New Attendees
A. Review & approve minutes of previous meeting
B. Volunteer to keep minutes of meeting

II. Report from our representative from DCR Comments from Ron Clough

III. Report from Finance Committee Report from Treasurer

IV. Illegal motorized trail usage
A. Dave Denison successful: We will host Sgt. Chris Spillane of the Franklin Police Dept to address this issue

V. Report from Grant Writing Committee
Application for the Tighe & Bond Engineer Services Grant
Application for the DCR Grant by town planning board
Other grant application opportunities


VI. Report on Regional Coalition possibilities
Mary Chaves on Bellingham
Joyce Godsey, Pres., Methuen Rail Trail Alliance
GTTB


VII. Report of the Membership Committee
Dave Denison


VIII. Unfinished Business:
A Still need to meet with the Metacomet Land Trust
A Still need to Meet with EMC

IX. New Business:
A.


X. Set Date & place for Next Meeting and Adjourn


Sunday, July 10, 2011

Downtown Franklin: a flowering showcase

The care and tending to the flowers on the triangle, in the flower pots along the bridge and along the businesses in downtown Franklin are looking good.

Main St: flowers on the RR bridge

Thanks to the Franklin Downtown Partnership for doing this. The time and effort is worth it.

For more information on the Downtown Partnership, please visit the website here



Disclosure: I am a member of the Downtown Partnership


Franklin, MA: School Committee - agenda - 7/12/11

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.

Mission Statement
The Franklin Public Schools, in collaboration with the community, will cultivate each student's intellectual, social, emotional and physical potential through rigorous academic inquiry and informed problem solving skills within a safe, nurturing and respectful environment.


"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 June 28, 2011 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Glynn
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: none

2. Guests/Presentations
a. none

3. Discussion Only Items
Budget Discussion / Adoption of FY12 Budget
Policy – Second Reading

  • JNN – Head Injuries & Concussion in Extracurricular Activities
  • JKG – Educational Services in the home or hospital


4. Action Items
a. I recommend adoption of Policy JNN – Head Injuries & Concussion in Extracurricular Activities
b. I recommend adoption of Policy JKG – Educational Services in the home or hospital
c. I recommend acceptance of the donation of an upright Bass from Christopher Richards valued at $3,400.00 for the FHS.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $501.14 from Stop & Shop for Horace Mann Middle School in-house enrichment.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,000.00 from the Parmenter PCC for supplies for the Parmenter Elementary School.
f. I recommend adoption of the FY11-12 School District budget in the amount of $51,410,000.
g. I recommend acceptance of a check for $250.00 from Middlesex Savings Bank for district-wide enrichment and supplies.

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

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

7. Adjourn



"another tool to allow the officer to be better"

The Milford Daily News has an article about license plate readers that some police departments are now getting to assist in their work.
In Franklin, Lynch said the devices have flagged registration or insurance problems. But police can't check plates against certain types of information yet, such as arrest warrants, and Lynch said he hopes to see that improve. 
"It's still early. We've only had it for about a month," Lynch said. "The technology is great - it's just that the databases it draws off of, as far as I'm concerned, are a little limited."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1249728037/License-plate-readers-help-police-scan-30-plates-a-second#ixzz1RhS7dL54