DelCarte Ponds - Treatment Notification - Friday, July 7th

Treatment of the invasive plants at the DelCarte Ponds will be 7/7/17 subject to the weather. (It can't be a rainy day.) 

The pond will be closed for fishing, canoeing etc. for 24 hours, but the rest of the area for hiking etc. will be open.

Read more: http://www.franklinma.gov/node/132853

DelCarte pond recently in the rain with the surface covered with vegetation

Given the current forecast of 60% chance for rain tonight and 75% chance of rain on Friday, this is likely to be rescheduled   https://weather.com/weather/today/l/42.07,-71.39

"the work is in the best interests of preserving it"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The town is set to begin herbicide treatment of the ponds at the DelCarte Conservation Property next week as part of an ongoing effort to fight invasive species there. 

According to a town release, the treatment will take place on June 13, depending on weather conditions; rain would delay the process. 

Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen said it is the beginning of a multi-year process to remove invasive species from the property. 

“We’re excited to finally get going,” he said. “What’s happening is invasive species - mostly plants, but some fish as well - are suffocating the ecosystem there.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170606/franklin-to-remove-invasive-plants-at-delcarte

the floating walk way at DelCarte in the rain recently

Note: the treatment had been scheduled for June 7 but the weather forecast likely changed the date and could change it again.


The prior notification can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/05/delcarte-invasive-plant-treatment.html

Herbicide Treatment of Invasive Plants in DelCarte Ponds is set for June 13th

The date for the first treatment of the invasive plants in the DelCarte Ponds will be 6/13/17, subject to the weather. (It can't be a rainy day.) 

The pond will be closed for fishing, canoeing etc. for 24 hours, but the rest of the area for hiking etc. will be open.

This was shared from the Town of Franklin page http://www.franklinma.gov/node/126313

Note: the treatment had been scheduled for June 7 but the weather forecast likely changed the date.
The prior notification can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/05/delcarte-invasive-plant-treatment.html

the floating walkway at DelCarte

Mindfulness in Nature: a Guided Meditation Walk

a free mindful walk at the DelCarte Conservation Area on June 7 at 6:00 PM

Shared from the Franklin Cultural Council Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/FranklinCulturalCouncil/photos/a.399579373729229.1073741828.399575860396247/452894465064386/?type=3&theater

Reporting by Walking Around - Saturday, May 13

After spending most of the week out of Franklin on business, my Saturday morning walk got me caught up on some of what was happening or had happened while I was away. 

Join me as I walk downtown and then out Pleasant St to DelCarte. Starting with some close up photos of the new Horace Mann statue. 

Horace Mann 1

Horace Mann 2

Horace Mann 3

Horace Mann 4

I am impressed by the level of detail shown in the statue. The coat has texture and folds just like a real coat. Amazing work!

the exterior stonework is being applied to the Library addition

mystery dinner theater event coming to Franklin Federated June 10

volunteers from the Franklin Garden Club were hard at work on the grounds
at the Town Common with help from some of the Newcomers Club

new pavement on a section of Pleasant St was completed during the week

the reinstalled playground at DelCarte is open as of Saturday,
so when the rain decides to end it can be used again

while we have been getting a lot of rain, the water level at DelCarte is still way below normal

"they can be successfully managed through multi-year efforts"

With treatment of the invasive species at DelCarte scheduled for June 7 (assuming good weather), this article from the Milford Daily News on the work of other communities battling invasive species is timely.

"Keith Gazaille makes a living putting chemicals exactly where it seems most unnerving for them to be: water. 

On Wednesday, Gazaille and his team from Shrewsbury-based SOLitude Lake Management loaded up an airboat with a couple dozen containers each filled with 20 pounds of the aquatic herbicide SonarOne. 

The chemical pellets SOLitude dropped in the Norton Reservoir that morning will be absorbed by two non-native plants that are invading the 580-acre ecosystem, eventually leaving them bleached and dead at the roots. 

“I don’t think anybody goes in and takes any of the approaches lightly,” said Gazaille, SOLitude’s regional director and senior biologist. “All of the techniques have some level of non-target impact.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170514/with-invasive-species-metrowest-milford-area-towns-use-whole-toolbox


In case you missed the earlier posting (May 11) with the schedule for the herbicide treatments for DelCarte, I have provided it here:


The tentative date for the first treatment of the invasive plants in the DelCarte Ponds will be 6/7/17, subject to the weather. (It can't be a rainy day.) 

The pond will be closed for fishing, canoeing etc. for 24 hours, but the rest of the area for hiking etc. will be open.


This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/first-treatment-invasive-plants-delcarte-ponds-tentatively-set-june-7-2017

----------

During 2017 and 2018, herbicide treatments will be applied to the DelCarte Ponds as part of the restoration and preservation of this important recreation area. The treatments are designed to eliminate the invasive plant species which are proliferating rapidly and threaten to completely “take over” the waterbodies unless action is taken to stop their spread.

The time frame for this work is as follows:

• Prepare and File MA DEP License to Apply Chemicals Permit - APRIL
• Pre-Treatment Survey – MAY
• Variable Milfoil Treatment – EARLY JUNE
• Initial Water Chestnut Treatment – EARLY JUNE
• Interim Survey – LATE JUNE
• Follow-Up Water Chestnut Treatment – EARLY JULY
• Final Post-Treatment Survey – AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
• Year-End Report – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

Signs will be posted at the ponds concerning this work it is important to bear in mind that ON THE DAY OF THE TREATMENTS, USE OF THE PONDS WILL BE RESTRICTED.

Any questions on this project should be directed to the Conservation office at 508-520-4929.

invasive species in the water at DelCarte

The ecological study performed to show the need for these herbicide treatments can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/02/ecological-and-management-study-of.html


The reminder on the treatments was shared from the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/get-rid-those-invasive-weeds-delcarte-pond-herbicide-treatment-begins-2017-stay-tuned-more

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/05/delcarte-invasive-plant-treatment.html

DelCarte invasive plant treatment scheduled for June 7

The tentative date for the first treatment of the invasive plants in the DelCarte Ponds will be 6/7/17, subject to the weather. (It can't be a rainy day.) 

The pond will be closed for fishing, canoeing etc. for 24 hours, but the rest of the area for hiking etc. will be open.


This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/first-treatment-invasive-plants-delcarte-ponds-tentatively-set-june-7-2017

----------

During 2017 and 2018, herbicide treatments will be applied to the DelCarte Ponds as part of the restoration and preservation of this important recreation area. The treatments are designed to eliminate the invasive plant species which are proliferating rapidly and threaten to completely “take over” the waterbodies unless action is taken to stop their spread.

The time frame for this work is as follows:

• Prepare and File MA DEP License to Apply Chemicals Permit - APRIL
• Pre-Treatment Survey – MAY
• Variable Milfoil Treatment – EARLY JUNE
• Initial Water Chestnut Treatment – EARLY JUNE
• Interim Survey – LATE JUNE
• Follow-Up Water Chestnut Treatment – EARLY JULY
• Final Post-Treatment Survey – AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
• Year-End Report – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

Signs will be posted at the ponds concerning this work it is important to bear in mind that ON THE DAY OF THE TREATMENTS, USE OF THE PONDS WILL BE RESTRICTED.

Any questions on this project should be directed to the Conservation office at 508-520-4929.

invasive species in the water at DelCarte

The ecological study performed to show the need for these herbicide treatments can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/02/ecological-and-management-study-of.html


The reminder on the treatments was shared from the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/get-rid-those-invasive-weeds-delcarte-pond-herbicide-treatment-begins-2017-stay-tuned-more

In the News: sexting bill introduced; cleanups scheduled for Saturday

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"A local lawmaker has spoken out in favor of a new effort to address the issue of “sexting” - sending sexually explicit photos - among teens. 

State Rep. Jeffrey Roy, D-Franklin, and Franklin Police Sgt. Jason Reilly were part of a ceremony in Tuesday in which Gov. Charlie Baker introduced a bill - An Act Relative to the Harmful Distribution of Sexually Explicit Visual Material - meant to give law enforcement more options to deal with sexting. 

Roy had filed a bill on the issue in 2015 - and put forth another in January of this year - noting that, under the state’s current laws, teens who engage in sexting could be brought up on child pornography charges. 

“When lawmakers wrote the (child pornography) law 20 years ago, they weren’t thinking of teenagers engaging in this behavior,” he said. “Law enforcement officers were put in the terrible position of either charging a kid with a felony or doing nothing.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170425/franklin-officials-back-new-sexting-bill

"The town will host two cleanups Saturday in an effort to remove litter from from local parks, playgrounds, ball fields and roadsides. 

One cleanup, sponsored by the town’s Conservation Commission, will focus on the DelCarte Conservation Property, while the other, sponsored in part by the Recreation Department and kicking off from Beaver Pond, will send volunteers to various sites around town. Both are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. 

Recreation Department Director Ryan Jette said his department’s annual Earth Day cleanup starts from the Beaver Pond parking lot, where volunteers are given trash bags and gloves. 

“We have 26 areas around town that need to be cleaned up,” he said.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170425/cleanups-slated-for-saturday-in-franklin

the large pond at DelCarte

DelCarte Cleanup - Saturday, April 29

Please join us in getting Delcarte Recreation

and Conservation area ready for Spring!

Saturday April 29th

9am-11am

Volunteers are needed to help with trash pick up and trail maintenance. Please sign up to volunteer by emailing conservation@franklin.ma.us

DelCarte - the northern pond Saturday, April 22

Take the Story Walk at DelCarte

The Story Walk should be a good way to stretch your legs today and explore a book and the open space. Yes, the playground is closed for now. It should re-open in June but in the meantime, the trails are still open and the short green trail is used for the Story Walk.

A collaboration between the Library and Recreation Dept the Story Walk spreads a children's book along a trail.

Exercise, read and explore as you go.

I captured the story walk in photos on Saturday to share here.

The story is "The Friend Ship" by Kat Yeh

"the contractor has agreed to cover the costs associated with the replacement"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The town removed the equipment at the popular DelCarte playground this week, with hopes of replacing it shortly. 

Local officials announced in early March that they would be removing the playground equipment at the 136-acre DelCarte Recreation & Conservation Area because of continued integrity problems with the fiberglass-reinforced structure. 

Recreation Director Ryan Jette said the contractor, GameTime, completed the equipment removal on Wednesday, and completed excavations in preparation for installing the new playground."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170419/franklin-to-replace-delcarte-playground-soon

Work to remove the troubled unit was underway when the photo was captured this past weekend

April vacation programs with the Franklin Recreation Department

The Town of Franklin Recreation Department has a variety of programs and activities panned for the April vacation. Check out the brochure shown below for details on each one. 







Registration can be processed through the Town of Franklin webpage

did you know there was a disc golf course at Dacey Fields?

DelCarte Open Space: Story Walk today, bring guide book to help explore

The Franklin Public Library is partnering up with the Franklin Parks and Recreation Department to bring you a fun unique blend of story time and physical activity in the great outdoors! 

A Story Walk is a fun, educational activity that places a children’s story (literally a book taken apart) along a popular walking route, in this case, at DelCarte Park! 

The Story Walk is scheduled for 10:30 AM Saturday. It will be available after.

• http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/04/story-walk-at-delcarte-park-saturday.html

Bring along the guide book to explore DelCarte after you do the Story Walk, or use it the next time you go. 

If you haven't been, I encourage you to make a visit. It is well worth it. 

Yes, the playground is temporarily out of service but there are paths and real trees to play in and around.

The guidebook was put together by the Conservation Commission which has oversight responsibility for the area.




Videos that I have recorded over time give a sense of the natural and changing views at DelCarte
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/11/delcarte-open-space-111216-video.html

even on a grey day in March, there is a quiet beauty at DelCarte

Story Walk - At DelCarte Park - Saturday April 15, 10:30 AM.

The Franklin Public Library is partnering up with the Franklin Parks and Recreation Department to bring you a fun unique blend of story time and physical activity in the great outdoors! 

A Story Walk is a fun, educational activity that places a children’s story (literally a book taken apart) along a popular walking route, in this case, at DelCarte Park!

Story Walk - At DelCarte Park - Saturday April 15, 10:30 AM.

The Parmenter Elementary School had a story walk in October 2010. You can visit the photo archive here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157625155278049/with/5131423045/

DelCarte - herbicide treatments scheduled for 2017 and 2018

During 2017 and 2018, herbicide treatments will be applied to the DelCarte Ponds as part of the restoration and preservation of this important recreation area. The treatments are designed to eliminate the invasive plant species which are proliferating rapidly and threaten to completely “take over” the waterbodies unless action is taken to stop their spread.

The time frame for this work is as follows:

• Prepare and File MA DEP License to Apply Chemicals Permit - APRIL
• Pre-Treatment Survey – MAY
• Variable Milfoil Treatment – EARLY JUNE
• Initial Water Chestnut Treatment – EARLY JUNE
• Interim Survey – LATE JUNE
• Follow-Up Water Chestnut Treatment – EARLY JULY
• Final Post-Treatment Survey – AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
• Year-End Report – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

Signs will be posted at the ponds concerning this work it is important to bear in mind that ON THE DAY OF THE TREATMENTS, USE OF THE PONDS WILL BE RESTRICTED.

Any questions on this project should be directed to the Conservation office at 508-520-4929.

invasive species in the water at DelCarte

The ecological study performed to show the need for these herbicide treatments can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/02/ecological-and-management-study-of.html


The reminder on the treatments was shared from the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/get-rid-those-invasive-weeds-delcarte-pond-herbicide-treatment-begins-2017-stay-tuned-more

Town Council recap - capital money spent, DelCarte playground to be replaced (again)

Much of the Town Council business actions on Wednesday were of the 'standard' type. Approval for a new appointment to the Cultural Council. Liquor license transfer from Annie's Market to BJ's (marking the end of an era for Franklin). Acceptance of the reorganization at Alumni Restaurant as the mother passes the license to her daughter.

The money side of the business saw the Council approve of capital expenses. 

$115,000 toward the purchase of a new fire truck. This is part of the 5 year rotation of vehicles. Some money is set aside each year. This was added to the $485,000 saved already for the expected $600,000 total.

A total of $1,681,000 was authorized for a variety of capital needs across the Town and School departments. The full listing of items can be found here
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/resolution_capital_17_-10_revised.pdf

$665,000 was approved to be spent on capital from the Water Enterprise account. The enterprise account set of water receives the fee from our water use and pays for its services from the fees to be self sustaining. The fee will occasionally be set for an increase to cover expenses.
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/resolution_17-11_wtr_enterprise_capital.pdf

$610,000 was approved to be spent from the Sewer Enterprise account. Also an enterprise account, the sewer fees are set aside to cover the sewer related expenses.
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/resolution_17-12_swr_enterprise_capital.pdf

In the Town Administrator summary of the meeting it was announced that the playground at DelCarte had seen additional problems over the winter event though it was covered. Franklin has worked with the manufacturer to get a full replacement of the unit. This time they will use a more standard material set (steel and plastic) rather than the concrete mix which, although it is reported to be working well in other installations, has not been successful here. The removal and replacement of the playground unit will likely keep the playground from being used for several weeks. It is anticipated to be available for June 1. There is no cost to Franklin for this work.

The Franklin TV video of the meeting is available for replay on demand here
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=438

The official actions taken listing can be viewed here:

• Live reporting: Closing, etc.
• Live reporting: Town Council - March 1, 2017

playground at DelCarte will be removed and replaced with a new unit of more standard materials

"the playground problems are unfortunate"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The town will replace the popular DelCarte playground because of continuing problems with the equipment's structural integrity, officials announced this week. 

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting raised the matter at Wednesday's Town Council meeting, saying a recent check of the playground equipment revealed new cracks. That discovery, he said, prompted the Recreation Department to call in the contractor that installed the equipment. 

"We asked them to replace the entire playground with something more traditional - something we can use throughout the year," he said. 

The contractor agreed to replace the playground and provide credit toward a future project, he said. Nutting said the contractor could not determine the problem - installations using the same material had worked well in other locations."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170303/franklins-delcarte-playground

the white bundle will be uncovered and removed. The process of replacement will take several weeks

Additional info from my live reporting of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/03/live-reporting-closing-etc.html

Live reporting: Closing, etc.

K. Town Administrator's Report	(updates provided during meeting) DelCarte playground still having a problem even after coverage did a deal with the company to get a total replacement with a new one and coverage for another unit if needed Company will replace at their expense, no cost to Franklin concern about the timing of the replacement given their record the current tree was formed from a special concrete and just not lasting
L. Future Agenda Items	would like opportunity to revisit wording of the online training section of the TIp training
M. Council Comments	when I made my comments on the COrnetta's application, it was a nice clean job, very complete purchase of property on Union and Cottage St Vallee curious on how this came up again? the propoerty is apparently under a purchase agreement before it was a five acre lot, and now it is less could not do much with it if we got it anyway Jones Franklin Almanac episode 3 all poles to be installed at PIsani Field, lights were donated to and they are coming high school fields are on schedule, will be ready to go April 1 ' compliments on the hard work to get all the work done and ready for Spring Dellorco great job on the fields Bissanti great job on the Senior Center inspired by the attendence and turn out Pfefffer had an article the day before, but missed the day of wonderful programs, blood pressure, games, chair exercises new parking lot, furnature and colors are bright and cheerful Kelly Secretary of Elders Affairs appeared acknowledged everyone wants a senior center like ours, how do we do it? we are taking good care of our seniors
N. Executive Session	(not scheduled)
O. Adjourn motion to adjourn, passed 8-0

the cover did not help this winter, as noted in the meeting, the whole playground unit at DelCarte unit is to be removed and
replaced by the vendor with no cost to the Town

DelCarte Pond Herbicide Treatment - Timeline for 2017

During 2017 and 2018, herbicide treatments will be applied to the DelCarte Ponds as part of the restoration and preservation of this important recreation area. The treatments are designed to eliminate the invasive plant species which are proliferating rapidly and threaten to completely “take over” the waterbodies unless action is taken to stop their spread.

The time frame for this work is as follows:

• Prepare and File MA DEP License to Apply Chemicals Permit - APRIL
• Pre-Treatment Survey – MAY
• Variable Milfoil Treatment – EARLY JUNE
• Initial Water Chestnut Treatment – EARLY JUNE
• Interim Survey – LATE JUNE
• Follow-Up Water Chestnut Treatment – EARLY JULY
• Final Post-Treatment Survey – AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
• Year-End Report – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

Signs will be posted at the ponds concerning this work it is important to bear in mind that ON THE DAY OF THE TREATMENTS, USE OF THE PONDS WILL BE RESTRICTED.

Any questions on this project should be directed to the Conservation office at 508-520-4929.

The northern pond at DelCarte in winter

This was shared from the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/delcarte_pond_herbicide_treatment_notice_0.pdf

In the News: Milford schools exploring panic button; Master Plan progress noted

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"School officials are targeting a February date to debut a smart phone panic button program to better alert faculty, staff, students and families in the event of an emergency. 

The Rave Mobile Safety program will be implemented sometime in late winter, said Superintendent Kevin McIntyre at Thursday's School Committee meeting. 

IT Director Matthew Joseph has taken on the rollout of the program, working "hand-in-hand" with the Police Department and Chief Tom O'Loughlin. 

Joseph, O'Loughlin and school administrators have been working throughout the school year on the program, which is essentially a smart phone app that allows a faculty member to alert authorities with the click of a button."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170105/milford-schools-smart-phone-panic-button-program-coming-in-february

"Town officials said Franklin has made good progress over the past year toward its master plan goals, but the town still needs less costly housing. 

The Town Council considered the matter at its Wednesday night meeting as part of a yearly review. 

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said one of the highlights of the town's 2016 efforts involved improving the DelCarte Conservation Property, which helps fulfill a goal that the town protect natural resources. 

"A management study for the DelCarte property is out," he said, adding that the town was beginning its efforts to combat invasive weeds in the ponds there."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170105/franklin-council-reviews-master-plan-progress

frozen pond at DelCarte