Saturday, January 10, 2015

Representative Roy Host’s Franklin Economic Development Meeting


On Tuesday, January 10, 2015 Massachusetts State Representative Jeffrey Roy (D - Franklin) hosted a Life Sciences Development Meeting in Franklin, MA. Local biotechnology companies, Franklin town officials and members of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center joined the discussion about the opportunities within the Life Sciences Industry, the potential for future development within the region and what Franklin has already done to successfully attract and retain life science companies. 
Cornerstones of Life Sciences Industry range from pharmaceuticals and medical devices to diagnostics and biotechnology. Thanks to its world-class academic institutions and medical centers, its talented and innovated workforce and its industry-sector leading companies, Massachusetts has firmly established itself as a global leader in the Life Sciences and has fully committed the state's economic well-being to the development and advancement of these Industries. 

"Franklin has positioned itself well to attract life science businesses to the area," said Representative Roy "In 2014 its BioReady ranking was elevated from Gold to Platinum signifying Franklin's readiness to work with biotechnology companies interested in locating in the area. On top of that, it has great schools and reasonable housing prices, making it a great place to live, work and raise a family." 
"Franklin has been the perfect community for growing my start up business to the point of having close to a hundred employees," said Dr. Gregory Chiklis, President and CEO of Franklin's ZeptoMetrix Corporation. "It has been due to the support and resources available to me in Franklin that we have been able to grow ZeptoMetrix." 
"The Life Sciences are the fastest growing industry sectors in Massachusetts," said Susan Windham-Bannister, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, the agency charged with implementing the state's ten-year, $1 billion Life Sciences Initiative. 
"All regions across the state and workers at all skill levels are benefiting as the life sciences ecosystem continues to grow and thrive. We are excited about Representative Roy's efforts to bring leaders together to discuss strategies for regional life sciences growth in and around Franklin, and we look forward to a continued partnership in those efforts." 
 "I am very excited that Rep. Roy brought together this group of educators, government officials and industry leaders to shine a light on all that Franklin has to offer to biotech and other businesses," said Attorney Michael Doherty of Doherty, Ciechanowski, Dugan & Cannon, P.C.
"I am hopeful that we will be able to encourage businesses to locate to one of our industrial parks in Franklin."  Doherty, Ciechanowski, Dugan & Cannon, P.C.  is a firm that represents local business in Franklin and surrounding communities." 
"As Chief Medical Officer of a well-established Boston biotechnology company, I believe that Franklin offers all the attributes and ingredients to create a dynamic and vibrant environment for the development of innovative treatments to address unmet medical needs of patients," said Dr. Michael Sabolinski, founder of Sabolinski, LLC.  
"Among these are access to medical centers of excellence, key opinion leaders in multiple therapeutic areas, and experts in clinical research. I look forward to the growth of biotechnology in Franklin, and am excited about the opportunities that the town presents for both start up and well established Companies." 
"It was wonderful that Representative Roy brought the players to the table to help jumpstart Franklin's efforts in economic development and the life sciences," said Jeff Nutting, Franklin Town Administrator. 
"I would like to thank Rep. Roy for putting together the life sciences meeting. He and our Town Administrator Jeff Nutting are doers and put together an excellent program," said Robert Vallee, Franklin Town Council's Chair. "I look forward to getting the entire Town Council involved in the discussion and pursuing this issue as hard as we can." 
"Franklin has done much to attract a higher level of commercial and industrial investment to our industrial areas, including creation of priority development sites and economic development areas, and streamlining of permitting processes for biotechnology uses," said Bryan Taberner, Franklin's Director of Planning and Community Development. "The Town currently contains a cluster of life sciences companies, including bio-storage, robotics, medical devices and instrumentation, and biotechnology.  I look forward to working with Representative Roy to attract additional life science companies to this great community." 
"What sets Franklin apart from many communities is the collaboration and commitment of all stakeholders," said Maureen Sabolinski, Superintendent of Schools "Our elected and town officials work in concert with business and higher education to meet the needs of our community members and always strive to improve all public services. The shared sense of community enables stakeholder to establish a shared vision and mission." 
With Massachusetts as a foundation, Franklin's attractiveness for business development has created a unique opportunity to provide positive economic growth, help advance the development of the Life Sciences and benefit the global community.

Franklin Police: B&E Suspect Looked For


If you recognize this person please call Franklin Police Dept.

screen grab of wanted poster
screen grab of wanted poster







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If you would like to subscribe, follow this link 
http://www.franklin.ma.us/subscriber-news


Benjamin Franklin's Birthday Party - Jan 18th - Historical Museum


Printer, author, scientist, musician, inventor, diplomat and revolutionary.

On Sunday, January 18th the museum will be celebrating the birthday of our town's namesake, Benjamin Franklin, born January 17, 1706.

The town of Franklin was originally to be named Exeter. As our forefathers made their way to Dedham to establish the charter of incorporation, word of Ben's success in establishing the French alliance with Louis XVI had made it's way to the Colonies. 

And, as noted in the History of Franklin by Mortimer Blake, a last minute decision was made, '... and it was with graceful tribute to the successful diplomatist, Franklin, that the town, just at that date applying for incorporation, should bear his name.'

As a special treat, Vera Meyer will return to the museum to perform on the glass harmonica, a unique instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin.

Vera Meyer and Town Clerk Debbie Pellegri in 2011
Vera Meyer and Town Clerk Debbie Pellegri in 2011

About the instrument:


The glass harmonica was invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761. The instrument enjoyed wide popularity in Europe (where Franklin was living at the time) for about 40 years until it was banned by German police around 1830. 
It was feared by people and thought to cause insanity, nervous disorders, convulsions in dogs and cats, marital disputes, and even wake people from the dead. 
It is possible that the lead in the glasses used at the time caused a neurological problem for people. However, maybe it was the haunting tones of the instrument, or maybe it was because Anton Mesmer used the instrument to hypnotize his patients. 
We have discovered about 300 compositions originally written for glass harmonica, including works by Mozart and Beethoven.


Prior posts:


Ben's birthday in 2013
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/01/the-glass-harmonica.html

in 2012
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/01/historical-museum-photo-essay-jan-29.html

in 2011
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/01/vera-meyer-glass-harmonica.html


Five issues that will shape the news of 2015 - The Climate Minute Podcast




New post on Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN)

Five issues that will shape the news of 2015- The Climate Minute Podcast

by massclimateaction
What are the underlying issues that will drive climate progress in 2015? We discuss a Congress that denies global warming, low oil prices, the Trans-Pacific partnership, upcoming negotiations in Paris, and the impact of the Pope's views on global warming.
First, we note that Cape Wind is in jeopardy. There seems to be enough momentum behind the wind industry the progress in other areas is likely.
Congress is targeting the Keystone pipeline. Read Dave Roberts who says about the whole controversy that "This is the first time since cap-and-trade that the movement defined a clear fight specifically about climate. They picked something Obama could block and then set out making the case that he should block it. It was something that could could have passed without a blink from anyone, and they charged it with meaning. They marched, protested, organized, wrote, and marched some more. They got big money to enter political races behind the issue. They got key allies to speak out against it. They've managed to delay and delay it. They even got Obama to say that he'll reject it if it has any impact on greenhouse gases. (Imagine that standard applied to all future infrastructure projects!)"
It seems the President will veto the bill, but this is just the beginning of a long fight. Bill McKibben said "This is a tribute to the millions of people who have made this one of the center pieces of a fast growing climate movement. So far their desire to protect the land and climate have been a match for the fountains of dirty money that constitute the oil industry's only real argument." If you want to find your rep's phone number, click here, for your Senator, click here.
Robert Reich says this about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) "Even better for global companies, the tribunal can order compensation for any lost profits found to result from a nation's regulations. Philip Morris is using a similar provision against Uruguay (the provision appears in a bilateral trade treaty between Uruguay and Switzerland), claiming that Uruguay's strong anti-smoking regulations unfairly diminish the company's profits.
What does the acronym INDC mean? "Intended Nationally Determined Contributions." Say that three times fast! It is a statement of how much carbon each country will promise to cut in the preparation for negotiations in Paris at COP21 next December.
Pope Francis is said to be preparing an important statement on climate next year, but will likely anger some conservatives.
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre
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Mass Climate Action Network
Mass Climate Action Network

You can listen to the podcast here or download it to your mobile device



One Simple Solution for Medication Safety (video)

New year, new year's resolutions, may be you do that. May be you don't.

Our individual health is important and this brief video has a good tip that everyone should follow.

Easy to do....




For more Dr Mike videos you can visit him on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/docmikeevans

or his webpage  http://www.evanshealthlab.com/



"we shouldn’t have to feel like we are being judged"


Those who attended the first public hearing for the change Wednesday and a few who watched from home felt the council came across as flippant in listening to their thoughts on the measure. 
If approved, the new zoning would authorize multi-family homes at the property, located off Interstate 495; hotels and office buildings are permitted there now. 
Councilors who support the measure say expanding the zoning will attract more developers, improving the town's chances of finally making much-needed revenue - in the sale of the land and from taxes - off the former sewer beds. 
But Wednesday, dozens of residents who live on or near Pond Street expressed concerns over the measure as it is written now. 
Most of the comments were about the prospect of increasing traffic on a roadway that is already nightmarish during rush hour. Residents also sought assurances from councilors that only a certain number of apartments or condominiums be allowed.
Continue reading the article at the Milford Daily News (subscription may be required): http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150110/NEWS/150119699/1994/NEWS#sthash.oKoKsM99.dpuf


My summary of the full Town Council meeting including audio recordings of the Pond St and Emmons St discussions can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/questions-were-raised-answers-sought.html


Friday, January 9, 2015

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 1/9/15 - THU 1/15/15

FRI 1/9   3:30pm   Science Friday “World of Engineering” - at Franklin Public Library. Registration required.
FRI 1/9   6:30pm   Art Night Uncorked at Franklin Art Center: Snowman

SAT 1/10   1pm-3pm   Zentangle Workshop at Franklin Art Center
SAT 1/10   7pm   Electric Youth at The Black Box
SAT 1/10   8pm   Brother Sun at Circle of Friends Coffeehouse, First Universalist Society Meetinghouse Franklin
SAT 1/10   9:30pm   Electric Youth at The Black Box (see link above)

SUN 1/11   1pm    Jazz4Kids, a free family concert at The Black Box Theater featuring Mark Poniatowski and Friends

MON 1/12   7pm   Candle Light Remembrance for Lexi and Sean Munroe at the Franklin Town Common. Donation boxes for Franklin Food Pantry will be set up.

TUE 1/13   7:30pm   Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee public meeting at Franklin YMCA.

WED 1/14   6:30pm   Winter Fundraiser for Franklin Downtown Partnership at Pour Richard’s

THU 1/15   4pm   Lego Club (ages 3-12) at Franklin Public Library

For all the Town of Franklin Public Meetings click HERE.

For event details click HERE.

*If you have any suggestions or events for the calendar, please email Renata@BetterLivingRE.com

Candle Light Remembrance For Lexi and Sean Munroe

From Facebook, via Gillian Monroe, I find this event scheduled for Monday night Jan 12th:

Lexi & Sean
Lexi & Sean
We will be having a candlelight remembrance for our daughter and son, Lexi & Sean Munroe. 
We will have candles, although you are welcome to bring your own. 
We'll also be releasing lanterns and balloons in memory of Lexi and Sean. 
Donation boxes for the Franklin Food Pantry will be set up. They are in need of toiletry items, peanut butter, tuna, chicken soup and shampoo. 
Thank you all.

This remembrance is scheduled for the Franklin Town Common at 7:00 PM


FM #108 - Emmons St RFP Discussion (audio)

The audio recording (podcast) for the Emmons St RFP discussion from Wednesday (Jan 7, 2015) night's Town Council meeting is available.

The run time is about 34 minutes.





You can also subscribe and listen to the audio on iTunes = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes
subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes


My notes from the meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/live-reporting.html


Note: If you have any suggestions/corrections to make, please feel free to let me know.




Norfolk Library: Trivets/Hot Plates Exhibit


On view in the Library foyer for the month of January will be a special exhibit of over 50 wooden Trivets/Hot Plates designed and built by Peter Mulliken of Franklin. 
Mr. Mulliken taught basic woodworking at the Dexter School in Brookline, MA for 41 years, retiring in 2012.

The trivets were an "end-of-term" project for those students who completed their major woodworking project ahead of schedule. They could choose from a wide selection of designs Peter had on hand or could make up one of their own. 
Project plans and drawings for some of the trivets will be on display in addition to basic woodworking reference books Peter found helpful while teaching the students.

Parents, grandparents, teachers, scout and 4-H leaders (and kids!) should plan on stopping by to view this fun exhibit.
screen grab of Norfolk Library home page
screen grab of Norfolk Library home page


The Norfolk Library is located at 139 Main Street, Norfolk, MA 02056




FM #107 - Pond St Zoning Bylaw Discussion (audio)


The audio recording (podcast) is available for the Pond St zoning bylaw discussion from Wednesday's (Jan 7, 2015) Town Council meeting.

The run time is about 1 hour and 20 minutes.





You can also subscribe and listen to the audio on iTunes = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes
subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes


My notes from the meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/live-reporting-public-hearing-pond-st.html

Note: If you have any suggestions/corrections to make, please feel free to let me know.


A double Panther basketball win over KP

Hockomock Sports provides the scores for the double win by the Panthers over rivals KP. Both games were played in the new Franklin High School gymnasium.


Boys Basketball
King Philip, 43 @ Franklin, 58Final - Marcus Giese had another double-double, this time notching 21 points and 16 rebounds while senior Markus Bohmiller dropped a career-high 16 points off the bench. James O'Brien had 13 points for King Philip and Ryan Layman added 10 points.
Franklin's Marcus Giese (42) drives to the hoop against King Philip's Erich Ryan (44). (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
Franklin's Marcus Giese (42) drives to the hoop against King Philip's Erich Ryan (44). (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
Hockomock Sports provides a more indepth report on the boys game here

http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/defensive-effort-in-middle-quarters-propels-panthers


Girls Basketball

King Philip, 35 @ Franklin, 65Final - Franklin's Jillian Spolidoro led all scorers with 15 points while Lexi Martin added 13 points and Aubrie Kutil chipped in with 10 points. Emily Sullivan led King Philip with 14 points.

Franklin's Jillian Spolidoro takes the ball to the hoop in the second quarter. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
Franklin's Jillian Spolidoro takes the ball to the hoop in the second quarter. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)


Hockomock Sports provides a more indepth report on the girls game here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/spolidoro-gives-panthers-triple-threat-against-kp


For all the results across the Hockomock League on Thursday you can find it here  http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-010815



The latest from Mass Poetry



Festival update, The Writers House, Common Threads,                                                   View in your browser
Poem of the Moment, U35 on Jan 20, and more

Mass Poetry Festival Update


We are in the process of finalizing the programming for the 2015 Massachusetts Poetry Festival, May 1-3 in historic downtown Salem, and the schedule will be up soon! In the meantime, learn more about one of our featured poets, Denise Duhamel.
Denise Duhamel's most recent book of poetry Blowout (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2013) was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and winner of a 2014 Paterson Poetry Prize. Her other books include Ka-Ching! (Pittsburgh, 2009), Two and Two (Pittsburgh, 2005), Queen for a Day: Selected and New Poems (Pittsburgh, 2001), The Star-Spangled Banner (winner of the Crab Orchard Award, Southern Illinois University Press, 1999) and Kinky (Orchises Press, 1997.) She is the recipient of awards including fellowships from the Guggenhiem Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. The guest editor for The Best American Poetry 2013, she is a professor at Florida International University in Miami.

The Writers House at Merrimack College

An installment in our Poetry Communities series


Since opening its doors in September of 2013, the Writers House has become a creative community for writers, filmmakers, playwrights and poets in North Andover, Massachusetts. As a part of Merrimack College, the Writers House creates a niche space for students to write, read and create. It is the "president of the college's investment of the imagination," says Andrea Cohen, poet and director of the program. The Writers House fosters imagination and ingenuity across several mediums. In order to reach out to  as many students as possible, the Writers House offers a variety of programs and workshops. Read more.

Join us for 2015's first U35!

Tuesday, Jan 20, 7 p.m.

The Marliave Restaurant, Boston

 

Featuring Alyssa Mazzarella, Matt Parker, and Victoria Thompson


RSVP & share the event via Facebook
Alyssa Mazzarella is an MFA candidate in poetry and a creative writing instructor at UMass Boston. In 2013, she received an Academy of American Poets Prize and a Mary Doyle Curran Creative Writing scholarship. She's previously taught at Baystate Correctional Center and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and holds a BFA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College. Her poems have appeared in Freshwater and Common Ground Review.
Matt Parker has been an avid fan of poetry since his childhood, and used it as a life saver during his tumultuous adolescence. Matt began to share his poetry and encourage others to use it as a coping tool in his career field as a youth development professional; he is still learning and teaching poetry to students in schools & community settings, co-facilitating the Boston S.O.U.P. (society of urban poetry) project, and supporting community causes everywhere.
Victoria Thompson studied in the MFA poetry program at the University of New Hampshire. She currently teaches 4th and 5th grade English as a Second Language in Boston Public Schools and lives in Arlington, MA.

Poem of the Moment

Jennifer Markell: Montebello Road


How quickly they shut it down—
three men, a garbage truck,
cars backed up, leaves blowing wild.
A gust sends stink: pork rind, coffee
grounds, ferment of rotting pumpkins.
The men haul bags, heave bales,
bassinette, oven door.
They laugh and shrug, step up, jump down
Continue reading.

Common Threads has arrived!


We are thrilled to release Common Threads 2015, guest edited by Alice Kociemba, contributed to by Robert Pinsky, and graced with eight stunning poems by Massachusetts poets! It includes discussion questions, writing prompts and more, and boasts a complementary media package and a host of exciting events throughout 2015. Check out yesterday's official launch announcement for all the details.

This week is a good one to curl up with our updated list of favorite poems for winter nights, wouldn't you say? Happy new year and warm thoughts to you and yours!


 
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