Saturday, March 5, 2016

Roadwork in downtown will likely resume in April

When will two way traffic appear downtown? Looks like in early July according to the current schedule.

"We've been fortunate with the weather," he said. "We're working on the (Main Street) bridge right now, and we'll probably be out there for the next two or three weeks." 
The coming week, he said, would likely see work done on the traffic signal next to the fire station. Efforts are also underway to get all the street lights up and fully functional, he said. 
Actual roadway construction, Tavalone said, would likely start the middle of or at the end of April. 
"We're pretty much on schedule," he said. "Our scheduled completion date is July 9. We may be a little past that, but I don't think it will be by a lot."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160304/franklin-road-project-may-resume-in-april

preparation along Main St for two way traffic later this year
preparation along Main St for two way traffic later this year

Public Forum on the Spectra Pipeline - April 7

The No Sharon Gas Pipeline organization is sponsoring a public forum for anyone in any of the nine affected towns. Anyone can attend this free and informative conference. 
The Franklin officials at the Town Hall have all received a personal invitation by now, but this forum is open to anyone who is concerned or interested in knowing more about it. 
Thanks.
Jim Hill





The flyer can also be downloaded from here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczTFVrUC1fUWNwYi1BQmdTbnF2eDUtSEQyV3RF/view?usp=sharing


For more about the No Sharon Gas Pipeline organization visit their web page
http://nosharongaspipeline.org/


FHS girls basketball end season with loss at Westford Academy, 51-44

Following the tweets on the FHS girls basketball game, they played hard but were unable to top the Westford Academy team on Friday night. They were tied at the half, lead at the end of the 3rd quarter, but the finished on the short end at the final buzzer 51-44.

From the Twitterverse:











3 mins to tipoff.   @fhsgvbasketball vs Westford.  #gopanthers #neverquit
3 mins to tipoff.   @fhsgvbasketball vs Westford.  #gopanthers #neverquit 

"It touched me, not because you loved the book, but because you loved reading."

The "All In" reading program at Horace Mann Middle School had a special day on Thursday, Mar 3.

"Heroism was the theme of the day as the Horace Mann Middle School welcomed the best-selling co-author of "The Finest Hours" and one of the Coast Guard members featured in the book. 
Co-author Casey Sherman and Coast Guard engineer Mel Gouthro spoke to students - who had chosen the book as the school's "All In!" reading campaign selection - in an assembly midday Thursday. The book - and the movie based on it - recounts a 1952 ocean rescue mission off Chatham. The movie, starring Chris Pine, opened in January. 
Sherman, a Massachusetts native, said he had learned of Horace Mann's reading drive - in which many students at the school read and discuss the same book - through social media. 
"I didn't know anything about your school until I was on Twitter and stumbled across a moving video (recommending the book as the drive's selection)," he said. "It touched me, not because you loved the book, but because you loved reading."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160304/franklin-students-hear-from-author-of-the-finest-hours


And from the twitterverse other posts about the visit on Thursday:








A piece of CG36500 will live at #hmmsma to remind us what's possible #ALLIN16
A piece of CG36500 will live at #hmmsma to remind us what's possible #ALLIN16




Kids Yoga Classes - - - Don't Miss Out



















Beginning


March 15









Location


Tranquil Souls

15 E Central St 
Franklin, MA






KIDS YOGA SERIES

Two Fun-Filled Programs 

Tranquil Turtles (Ages 5-7) 
Traditional yoga poses such as Lion, Tree, and Warrior are brought to life to help kids cultivate a deeper understanding of their environment and themselves while developing strength, flexibility, coordination and balance - in both body and mind. Poses are taught in a way that encourages creativity and exploration, helping to develop greater self-confidence and self-awareness. Students practice pose sequences designed to help them to discover greater comfort in their bodies while boosting self-confidence. As this is a very playful age, the class focuses on games, imagination, stories, and simple practices to introduce the healthful benefits of yoga. No previous yoga experience necessary.



Tuesdays, March 15  to May 10      
3:15 to 4:00 pm
$100


Yoga for Girls (ages 7-14) 

This introduction to yoga is designed specifically for adolescent girls. Class will explore many yoga poses which build strength and flexibility but will go beyond the physical practice of yoga to cover to the basic tenants of yogic mindfulness. Students will be exposed to the concepts of non-violence, truthfulness, gratitude, moderation, and the cultivation of compassion and joy. The girls will also work on building self-esteem and confidence through a playful mix of heart- opening poses, thoughtful discussion, meditation and breath work. This class is appropriate for girls ages 7-14, though exceptions can be made with prior consent of the teacher.  
 Tuesdays, March 15 to May 10  

4pm - 5:00 pm 
$100
 

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FPS- Life Long Learning | 355 East Central Street | Franklin | MA | 02038

Friday, March 4, 2016

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 3/4/16 - THU 3/10/16

FRIDAY 3/4/16
1-2:30pm   Hop into Spring at the Franklin Public Library (egg hunt, face painting, arts, games, cotton candy)
6:30pm   Art Night Uncorked at the Franklin Art Center
7pm   Culinary Cabaret at The Black Box

SATURDAY 3/5/16
9:30am   Scrapbooking and Paper Crafts for Adults at the Franklin Public Library

SUNDAY 3/6/16
7:30-10:30am   Sunday Morning Breakfast at Franklin Rod and Gun Club
9-11:30am  20th Annual Spring Baseball Clinic - Session 1 (ages 7-13), registration required at FHS
11:30am   Kenny Hadley’s Big Band Brunch at The Black Box
12-2:30pm   20th Annual Spring Baseball Clinic - Session 1 (ages 7-13) at FHS, registration required.
1-4pm   Celebrate 238th Birthday of Franklin, MA at the Historical Museum (cake and coffee at the Museum’s Library)

TUESDAY 3/8/16
1:30pm   Knitting Circle for Adults at the Franklin Public Library
6-7pm   Pajama Story Time at Franklin Children's School. Community welcome, RSVP.
7:30pm   Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Meeting, Franklin YMCA, open to public

WEDNESDAY 3/9/16
7:30pm   Franklin Newcomers Club Meeting at "3" Restaurant. Residents welcome.

THURSDAY 3/10/16
6-8pm   FHS Family Science Night, K-8 students and parents invited

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

“Talk about big plays by the seniors”

Ryan Lanigan, Editor in Chief of Hockomock Sports, provides the write up for the FHS boys basketball game against Westford Academy at Franklin.

"For the third time this season, Gill was to go-to guy in crunch time and on Thursday night, his strong take to the basket with 15 seconds to play gave the Panthers a 62-60 win over Westford Academy. 
“I get the ball and it just feels right,” Gill said about late game situations. “I heard coach yelling for one shot but I just saw the lane and I just took it.” 
While the layup broke a tie game, it was nearly a basket that brought Franklin back from a deficit. With just over a minute to play with the game tied a 60, Franklin had an inbounds play in the offensive half, right in the corner. 
The play went awry and senior Tim Prunier’s inbounds pass went straight into the hands of Westford Academy’s Nicholas Fiorillo. Fiorillo took off, racing out into a breakaway all alone on his way for a layup. What looked like a certain basket for the Grey Ghosts quickly turned into one of the best hustle plays you’ll see. 
Prunier got on his horse and sprinted back on defense, getting back in time to knock the ball free from the dribble just before Fiorillo went up with it. As the ball bounced towards the baseline, Prunier lounged and dove, getting a hand to the ball and whipping it back in bounds. Gill was able to get a hand to it, deflecting it on and the Panthers were able to keep possession. 
Westford Academy did not score again."
Continue reading about the Franklin victory over Westford Academy online
http://www.hockomocksports.com/prunier-gill-help-franklin-boys-basketball-hold-off-westford-academy/

Franklin’s Tim Prunier goes airborne after splitting two defenders in the first half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
Franklin’s Tim Prunier goes airborne after splitting two defenders in the first half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club - Mar 9

The Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club is pleased to invite you to our March Meeting. We gather monthly to make new friends and connections while learning about our community.

Franklin Newcomers and Friends
Franklin Newcomers and Friends
We will be meeting at the "3" Restaurant in Franklin on Wednesday, March 9th at 7:30pm. Come join us upstairs for complimentary appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks. We always begin our events with ample time to socialize . . . we welcome all residents; whether you are new to town or if you have lived here for years. We look forward to meeting you!

Regarding our April Meeting, we typically meet the 2nd Wednesday of the Month. In April, the Newcomers and Friends will be participating in the FEF Trivia Bee fundraiser on Wed. April 13. So instead, our April Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 20th.


Best Buddies Online Silent Auction – Opens March 3rd

Team GT for KT is hosting an online silent auction to raise funds for Best Buddies. Online bidding opens on Thursday, March 3, 2016 and will close on Thursday, March 31, 2016. Please support our auction by bidding and sharing our auction information with your friends. Some of the items in our auction include:


  • Tom Brady Signed NFL Football
  • Red Sox Tickets (bidding closes 3/13)
  • Bose SoundTouch WiFi Music System
  • Golf for 4 at Maplegate Country Club
  • Restaurants, Jewelry, Spa/Salon and much more!


To bid go to https://www.32auctions.com/GT4KT2016
Best Buddies
Best Buddies

Best Buddies International is a non-profit organization that provides friendship and integrated employment opportunities to children and adults with developmental disabilities. Best Buddies has a number of active chapters serving students enrolled in the Franklin Public Schools.

Special thanks to all our 2016 donors!

Franklin Schools - half day Friday Mar 4

Franklin schools have a half day Friday, March 4 for teacher professional development.

Parmenter sign on half day, Mar 4; PCC Mtg Mar 10
Parmenter sign on half day, Mar 4; PCC Mtg Mar 10

Friendly reminder that the calendar for the 2016-2017 school year was approved by the School Committee a few weeks ago. It is posted online

http://franklindistrict.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinDistrict_News/02308424-000F8513.0/16-17%20Calendar.pdf

The School Committee has a subcommittee looking at the calendar for the 2017-2018 school year with the idea that if there was a change to combine the Feb and April break into one MArch break, the decision and calendar would be available in June 2016

Thursday, March 3, 2016

FPAC presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid

Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) presents the under-the-sea spectacular, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, on March 12, 13, 19 and 20 at THE BLACK BOX, 15 West Central Street, in downtown Franklin. Be a VIP Under the Sea following the March 13th matinee performance with a package experience that includes an exclusive reception featuring a photo opportunity with Ariel and her friends.

Based on the beloved fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen and the classic animated film, the enchanting blockbuster musical brings audiences into a magical ocean kingdom – home to mermaid Ariel, King Triton and a host of memorable characters, including Flounder the fish and Sebastian the crab. When the beautiful and curious young mermaid falls for a handsome human, Prince Eric, in the world above, she bargains with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and book by Doug Wright, Disney’s The Little Mermaid features the irresistible songs “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl,” and “Part of Your World.” 

Franklin’s Madi Asgeirsson plays Ariel (Phil Fox Photography)
Franklin’s Madi Asgeirsson plays Ariel (Phil Fox Photography)


Under the direction of Nick Paone and Raye Lynn Mercer, FPAC’s production of the family favorite musical imaginatively uses THE BLACK BOX’s flexible space. The intimacy of the venue and the show’s clever staging bring audiences right up close to all the action and into The Little Mermaid’s fantasy world. 

The theater’s 360-degree catwalk provides a dramatic platform to feature the production’s professional orchestra, conducted by Musical Director Hallie Wetzell. FPAC’s costumer, Merrie Whitney, who is building the entire show, has fashioned designs that are true to the spirit of the movie, but reflect her creativity in supporting the show’s direction and choreography by Paone, Mercer and Kellie Stamp. 

Sea creatures are anthropomorphized and given human qualities to bring the underwater scenes to life. Spotlighting the talents of more than 40 area performers, FPAC’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid is presented as part of the company’s 25th anniversary season.

Performances are on March 12 and 19 at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. on March 13 and 20. For tickets and more information, visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or call (508) 528-3370. Disney’s The Little Mermaid is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

Franklin Downtown Partnership GENERAL Meeting Agenda - March 3 - 8:00 AM

Franklin Downtown Partnership GENERAL Meeting Agenda
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Dean College Campus Center @ 8:00 a.m.
Golder Room



  • Open Meeting
  • Adoption of Agenda
  • Introductions
  • Streetscape Project and Town Update - Lisa Piana
- Jamie Hellen - Deputy Town Administrator
- Anthony Tavalone- MA DOT
- Bryan Taberner-Planning Director
  • Update from Executive Director - Lisa Piana
- 2016 events, membership, sponsorship
  • Progressive Dinner - Jane Curran, Joel Carrara
  • Networking Committee - Matt Lechter, Gary Donelan
  • Economic Dev Committee-Lisa Piana, Bryan Taberner
- Dean College Discount Program - Matt Lechter- Ideas for new retail in downtown - handout- Downtown PR project
  • New Business
  • Adjourn


Franklin Downtown Partnership

Upcoming Events:


  • Networking Luncheon - March 11
  • Progressive Dinner - May TBD
  • General Meeting - May 5
  • Beautification Day - May 21
  • Strawberry Stroll - June

FHS boys hockey top Wellesley 2-1 to advance in playoffs

Josh Perry, Managing Editor of Hockomock Sports, provides a detail write up for the Franklin - Wellesley boys hickey game on Wednesday, March 2:

"With Franklin leading 2-0 in the second period, sophomore Jeremy Miller skated past three Wellesley defensemen in the zone and unleashed a rocket that appeared to hit the bar in the back of the net and ricocheted out. 
Wellesley fans at that end of the ice were waiting for the officials to stop play for the goal, but instead it was ruled that the shot hit the crossbar and the Panthers’ lead stayed at two goals. 
Just seconds later that lead was cut in half and for the final 23 minutes of the game Wellesley became the aggressor and put Franklin back on its heels. Despite the Raiders’ pressure, Franklin held on, thanks in part to 20 saves from senior goalie Nick Jasinski, for a 2-1 victory in the Div. 1 South opener at Loring Ice Arena in Framingham. 
“We’ve just got to learn how to put teams away,” said a relieved Franklin coach Chris Spillane after the game. “We seem to have a problem; we keep teams around all the time and I can’t take many more of these games.”
Continue reading the article online
http://www.hockomocksports.com/after-strong-start-panthers-hang-on-for-playoff-win/

Franklin held on for a 2-1 victory over Wellesley in the Div. 1 South first round at Loring Arena. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
Franklin held on for a 2-1 victory over Wellesley in the Div. 1 South first round at Loring Arena. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)


For additional photos from the game
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/20152016/Winter-201516/Franklin-Wellesley-hockey-3-2/

Senator Ross: February 2016 State House Update

The contents of this newsletter were shortened for publication here. You can view the full newsletter by following this link 


Senator Richard J. Ross, State House Update, February 2016
View this email in your browser
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State Senator Richard J. Ross (R-Wrentham) proudly serving the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District.

State House
Room 419
Boston, MA 02133

Ph: 617-722-1555
Fax: 617-722-1054
Email:richard.ross@masenate.gov
Dear Friends,

This month, besides my legislative duties, I have crisscrossed my district visiting new businesses, meeting with students, and listening to the needs of our seniors. One thing is for certain: the people and communities I represent are truly remarkable and I am humbled to serve you.

My February newsletter is filled with Beacon Hill updates as well as a celebration of this district and my constituents.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.


Sincerely,
RECOGNIZING MILLIS AS A GREEN COMMUNITY
I was honored to join Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton, Commissioner of the Department of Energy Resources Judith Judson, and Rep. David Linsky in recognizing the town of Millis as a Green Community earlier this month. Representing the town was Town Administrator Charles Aspinwall, Vice Chair James Neville, and Energy Manager Robert Weiss.

Millis received a grant of $151,325 aimed to advance clean energy solutions and strengthen the local economy by reducing long-term energy costs. I am very excited for my constituents as this funding will go a long way to improve energy efficiency in public buildings, facilities, and schools.

We are fortunate that the Baker-Polito Administration prioritizes the needs of our cities and towns and is actively working towards the long-term stability of our communities. To learn more about Green Communities, please click here.
SECRETARY ASH VISITS NORTH ATTLEBORO

Thank you to the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash for taking the time to visit North Attleboro this month and discuss upgrades to the downtown area with town officials, Rep. Betty Poirier, and myself.

Secretary Ash toured the abandoned Balfour building site on East Street which is set to be redeveloped to include new apartments, restaurant and retail space, as well as a GATRA bus terminal.

North Attleboro secured grants through MassWorks and MassDevelopment for these projects and if completed it could bring a substantial amount of revenue for the town.

The town cares about this project very much and we are very fortunate to have an administration that is invested in the progress and success of our cities and towns.
CLOTHING DRIVE IN FRANKLIN

We have some truly amazing students in our district. In February, the Jefferson Elementary Student Government in Franklin conducted a pajama and sock drive to benefit the Friends of Foster Care and Comfort Cases for Kids.

Representative Jeffrey Roy and I visited Jefferson Elementary School to present the thoughtful students with citations from both the House of Representatives and Senate congratulating them on this selfless act of kindness.

Entering a new foster home can be hard, but a new set of clothes can go a long way to truly change someone's life for the better. These students are an inspiration for our community and I am so proud of the work they put into this.

If you would like to learn more about Friends of Foster Care or contribute, you can visit their website here.

We had a successful month of Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit Seminars and you still have a chance to learn how you can benefit from this significant program.

Just a couple dates left in five towns. Check out the schedule below to see when we will be coming to your town, and for information on what the Senior Circuit Breaker tax Credit is, visit my website here.

Friday, March 4th
Wayland Senior Center, 41 Cochituate Road, Wayland
9:30am-10:30am
Wellesley COA, 219 Washington Street, Wellesley
11:00am-12:00pm

In the News: briefs filed for against power plant, court decision stands

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"Intervening parties and Exelon have filed briefs in opposition and in support of the company’s proposal to build a 200-megawatt expansion of an existing power plant on Summer Street. 
The matter has been before the state Energy Facilities Siting Board for approval for almost a year, and hearings took place in December and January. 
Medway, the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), Eversource and Exelon filed initial briefs this week, with two of those groups filing briefs in opposition to the project."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160302/medway-exelon-interveners-file-briefs


"A U.S. District Court judge announced Wednesday that he will not reconsider the dismissal of a local family's civil lawsuit against the town of Franklin and several police officers, though the case remains on appeal. 
Plantiffs Amy and Jeffrey DeLucia had filed suit against the town, Police Chief Stephan Semerjian and five police officers in 2015, claiming several acts of misconduct, including a physical attack that broke several of Jeffrey DeLucia's bones. 
The case was dismissed without prejudice in February, however, after the DeLucias were unable to comply with the town's requests for evidence."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160302/judge-will-not-reconsider-dismissal-of-franklin-police-misconduct-case

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Franklin, MA: Presidential Primary Results - Mar 1. 2016

From Town Clerk Teresa Burr, here are the total voters by party that cast a ballot for Tuesday's Presidential Primary.



Party Voters
Democrat 5348
Republican 4415
Green 3
United Independent 23
9789
Total Registered 21345
Percent Voted 45.9%



Here is the set of all the party results by precinct: 





You can also download a copy here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczOWwybWZZQm83Y3M/view?usp=sharing

the election day sign on the railroad bridge
the election day sign on the railroad bridge

Help celebrate Franklin's 238th birthday at the Historical Museum - March 6

The Franklin Historical Museum will celebrate the town's 238th birthday on Sunday March 6th with cake and coffee in the museum library. Stop by for a slice of cake, have a look around and learn a little bit more about your town's history. 
Did you know that our town was originally to be called Exeter? In the original draft of the town's charter, the name throughout the document was Exeter. But on the day that the town was to be incorporated, our founding fathers with familiar names such as Fisher, Metcalf, Lethbridge, Whiting, Hawes and Boyd were inspired to cross out the name Exeter and claim the name Franklin. But why the change? 
In Blakes' History of Franklin, written at the time of the town's centennial, Blake speculated: "It will be remembered that Benjamin Franklin, with two others, had been sent to France immediately upon the Declaration of Independence in 1776 to negotiate a treaty of recognition and alliance.' The news finally arrived on the shores of this newly formed country that "on the 6th of January Louis XVI entered into a treaty of amity and commerce with the colonies."
The news was welcomed and celebrated and as a tribute to the popular statesman and diplomat the gentlemen from the 'Westerly Precinct of Wrentham' promptly changed the name on the application of incorporation to Franklin. Many other States have since honored Benjamin Franklin in the same way, but we are of course, the first. 
Join us this weekend and be among the first to experience our new monthly feature, the Item of the Month! Each month we will spotlight a different item from our collection that we hope will be interesting, intriguing and will encourage our visitors to learn something new. The March Item of the Month is an 18th century 'calash'. Not sure what it is? Come on in and find out. 
The museum is open Saturdays 10:00AM-1:00PM and Sundays 1:00PM-4:00PM. We are located at 80 West Central Street and we are handicap accessible.

The Franklin Historical Museum ready to party!
The Franklin Historical Museum ready to party!

For more about the Historical Museum visit them on the web at
http://franklinhistoricalmuseum.org/  

or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FHM02038


**In case you are interested, wikipedia lists 50 communities (cities and towns) called Franklin in the USA  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_places_named_for_Benjamin_Franklin

Hop into Spring at the Franklin Library, Friday, Mar 4

A spring celebration event for kids is scheduled for this Friday, Mar 4 from 1:00 to 2:30 at the Library.

Friday, Mar 4 from 1:00 to 2:30 PM

This was shared from the Franklin Library webpage
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2016/03/hop-into-spring.html