Zipline for kids at King St Memorial Park (video)

A new zipline for kids 5 to 12 years old was installed recently at the King St Memorial Park. On one of my visits to my plot at the Community Garden I captured this video.

Oh to be 11 again! (at least to try this out!)

zipline chair at end of line - more mulch seems to be going to be added at the end of the line

yes, it is restricted to 5-12 year olds with parent supervision

a new climbing rope pyramid was also installed recently

the slide combo was already at the same playground at the King St Memorial Fields

Soccer Shoot - free for all - Oct 1

Fun and Free competition available to ALL children under the age of 14. 

The child does not have to play soccer in Franklin to take part in this event. Stop by and take a chance to shoot on goal!


Sunday, October 1 at 9:30 AM - 11:30 PM
King Street Memorial Park

Soccer Shoot - free for all - Oct 1

For updates, follow the Franklin Elks Facebook event
https://www.facebook.com/events/349068738866618/

Franklin Elks Lodge - FREE Soccer Shoot for kids 13 and under

The Franklin Elks Lodge is hosting a FREE Soccer Shoot for kids 13 and under on October 1st at the King Street Memorial Park in Franklin.

This is an event that every State in the US hosts for the Elks. It starts at a Lodge Level, then winners advance to District, then to State - with a chance to win Nationally! It is a lot of fun and a great way for kids to connect and compete. There are different age groups for the kids. 

The only thing we ask is that parents bring the birth certificates at time of registration to confirm the age. There is no minimum skill levels to participate. Older kids shoot at a grid that is on a goal and are tallied by points made for each section. Young ones are scored on kicking the ball through cones.

Franklin Elks Lodge is hosting a FREE Soccer Shoot for kids 13 and under

There is a Facebook event for this
https://www.facebook.com/events/336187660056941/

Community Garden Committee Annual Report For FY 2016

"The mission of the Community Garden is to provide Franklin residents with a place to meet, learn, and grow, by providing a healthy space in which we can share the joy of growing organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

In partnership with the Town of Franklin, the Recreation Department, and the nonprofit Friends of Franklin Community Gardens,

Your Community Garden Committee:

• Identifies appropriate locations
• Coordinates design and construction of new gardens
• Develops and enforces rules and regulations for the gardens
• Oversees the plot lottery, gardener registration and plot distribution

We pledge to continue:

• Supporting our community in growing local food
• Providing locally harvested food to those in need
• Promoting increased social interaction through gardening within our community
• Developing an educational garden for all ages

The King Street Community Garden continues to thrive in its fifth season! This year we have 52 beds available for planting, all of which are currently leased to community members and local non-profits, including St. Vincent De Paul, HMEA, and the Franklin Food Pantry. Our annual May plant sale was a success as always, and last October’s garlic planting demonstration was well-attended. The Community Garden welcomes interested gardeners of all skill levels.

Over the past fiscal year, the Community Garden Committee has focused on two areas in addition to our typical tasks. First of all, we undertook a review and rewrite of our bylaws, rules, and regulations, in order to incorporate the best practices and experience we have gained over the last five seasons at King Street. This updated “gardener’s handbook” has been made available to all gardeners electronically via Google Docs.

We have also made a concerted effort to recruit new gardeners and new members for the Committee. With the departure of former Chair, Christopher Clay, the Community Garden Committee is in great need of additional Committee members to help us efficiently run the King Street Garden and plan educational programming for the community. Our Chair, Bonnie Kaiden, sent a letter to all of our current gardeners seeking new Committee members, and we are awaiting responses. We have not yet succeeded in finding additional Committee members, but we are continuing our efforts in that direction and hope to have new members soon.

We look forward to many more harvests to come! If you would like to join us for the 2017 season, please visit the Franklin Recreation Department in person or online. For more information about the Community Garden, contact us at franklincommunitygardens@gmail.com or visit our website at www.franklincommunitygardens.com.

The Community Garden Committee meets the First Monday of the month at Town Hall. Check the Town of Franklin Meeting Calendar for details.

If you are interested in serving on the committee, please contact any committee member or visit the Town Clerk’s office."

• Bonnie Kaiden, Chair 
• Kiernan Reed, Secretary 
• Amy Acevedo, Member 
• Rich Clauser, Member

Respectfully submitted,
Kiernan Reed Secretary

fresh growth at the Community Garden in August 2016

This was shared from the official Town of Franklin page
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/024A19CA-000F8513

Other related posts on the Community Garden

• 2016

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/05/franklin-community-garden-seedling-sale.html

• 2013

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/07/community-gardens-photo-essay.html

• 2012

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/06/franklin-community-garden-diatomaceous.html

"150 tons of washed beach sand poured to a depth of 12 inches"

There may not be any surf nearby, but there’s certainly plenty of sand at King Memorial Park in Franklin where the town has paired with a local Eagle Scout to construct a regulation-sized beach volleyball court. 

The idea had been talked about for awhile in the Recreation Department office, according to director Ryan Jette, who said Program Director Megan Woodacre, a former collegiate volleyball player and coach, had been looking into what it would take to construct a regulation-size court. 

That’s when local teenager Jack Jenkins approached the town with his idea to construct a beach volleyball court as part of his Eagle Scout project.

Continue reading the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2015/08/21/surf-but-plenty-sand-franklin-beach-volleyball-court/8QGSEjGtVYFmJLlvl2Et4M/story.html

King St Memorial Park - beach volleyball court - 1

King St Memorial Park - beach volleyball court - 2

King St Memorial Park - beach volleyball court - 3

King St Memorial Park - beach volleyball court - 4

The monthly newspaper, Franklin Town News also had an article on this Eagle Scout project  http://franklintownnews.com/

funding for school zone safety lights in Franklin put back in the budget

State funding for traffic signals for additional locations within Franklin was part of the current FY 2015 budget, vetoed by the Governor and re-instated last week. Milford Daily News reports:

The other amendment, which asked for $60,000 to fund the installation and operation of solar-powered school zone safety lights in Franklin, was also vetoed. 

Roy last month said he called the governor’s office asking for an explanation and was told Patrick "was eliminating all earmarks in the budget." 

And with the new Franklin High School set to open this fall, Roy said the town’s "reasonable request" would help mitigate traffic in the school-heavy area. 

"To me, these were two very important issues for both Franklin and Medway," Roy said before he asked the House and Senate to override the vetoes.

Continue reading the full article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140804/NEWS/140809091/1994/NEWS


What kind of traffic signals are these? Similar to the one installed on King St by the Parmenter School.

pedestrian traffic signal on King St

Herbicide - before and after

As noted during June, the herbicide spraying was going to happen. On my regular walks I managed to capture a before and after sequence on King St by Spruce Pond.

Before - weeds growing happily

After - weeds drying up

The notification on the herbicide spraying was posted here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/herbicide-spraying-to-begin.html

Community Garden continues to grow

On my Saturday walk I went by the Community Gardens to see the raised beds and how they were growing. The beds were in various states of growth. I met and talked with a couple who with their young daughter had just gotten a bed this week. They were setting out their plants while their daughter was having a good deal of fun with the dirt.

Photos from a random sample of the beds and their growth.

growing in Franklin -1

growing in Franklin -2

growing in Franklin -3

growing in Franklin -4

growing in Franklin -5

Related posts on the Community Gardens

Annual Report 2013
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/01/annual-report-2013-community-garden.html

Growing - July 2013
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/07/community-gardens-photo-essay.html

Getting ready for 2012
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/01/heralding-in-new-gardening-year.html

Build day - 2011
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/05/community-gardens-build-day.html

More about build day in 2011
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/05/and-then-there-were-gardens.html

Plants for sale - Community Gardens

Starting your garden? A variety of vegetable plants are available at the Community Garden.

a sample of plants for sale

listing of plants and prices

The sale is scheduled Sunday from 9:00 AM to noon.

Where is the Community Garden?  At the King St Memorial Park

Walking Saturday

Saturday gave us a teaser of spring with the temps getting into the 50's in the afternoon. I went for my walk in the morning and caught the following photos to share.

point of view

When you frame a photo, you are setting up a point of view. We all have a point of view. Some times we act and think like we don't but how we frame things definitely affects what we think and do.

Emeritus at 656 King St opening in May 2014

 A new senior living center is opening on King St in May. The Emeritus website is full of information on the approach they take for this time of life and the special needs associated with it.

Emeritus entrance on King St

The Emeritus blog has good articles. Recent articles include one on how to live to be 100
http://www.theseniorcareblog.com/post/how-live-be-100

and one on how to make exercise fun
http://www.theseniorcareblog.com/post/how-make-exercise-fun

King St Memorial Park sign

 I need to do some research on this person. Can anyone help provide me some insight on who William A Somerby Jr. was? He is recognized with this sign and a memorial in the park.Other than that he was a Colonel in the US Air Force the signs don't provide additional detail.

ready for March madness?

 The basketball court looks too wet to play today but give it another day or two of this good spring weather and there'll be some folks gathering to play hoops

Community gardens in their snow blanket

stream flows under King St

lucky to catch a melting drop of water

Sometimes the right amount of being there and patience brings a reward. I was able to catch this drop of melting snow! Did you get to take a walk on Saturday? Where did you go? What did you see?

Would you be interested in joining me for a walk some Saturday morning? If so, please leave a comment or send me an email. If there is interest, I'll schedule some time for a group walk and talk.

slowing down on King St

In my brief observation on Monday afternoon the signs appear to be slowing traffic down. The sign facing traffic coming from i495/Union St did not have the flashing lights going. Vehicles as they approached were hitting 45 plus MPH and then slowing as they realized what the sign meant. One vehicle slowed quickly and so much, the vehicle behind it started tooting.

The sign facing traffic coming from RT140/Summer St did have the lights blinking and for the most part was also slowing traffic.Traffic in this direction seemed to hit 40 as a max and then slow down.

King St speed sign

I cropped the photo exclude the vehicles and license plates. My survey was purely unofficial.

Getting ready to slow down on King St

The meetings around the safety of the school crossing on King St at Wachusett St for the students going to the Parmenter Elementary School made promises that are about to be delivered.

Construction on the past couple of days have resulted in some tree branches trimmed back

note: tree branches trimmed

one tree removed

note: stump and sawdust remains where tree was

poles installed for better marking of the crossing

new sign pole on corner

speed warning signs have been installed. This one shown is on King St heading to i495. There is a similar one on King St heading towards Wachusett St.

new speed sign

With school opening on Tuesday, the work to finish the installation seems like it can be completed on Monday.


From the archives
the meeting at Parmenter with Franklin officials was mentioned during the January Town Council meeting
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/01/live-reporting-closing.html

the plan to prepare for this installation was voted on and approved by the Finance Committee in March and then by the Town Council
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/03/delcarte-recreation-proposal.html
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/03/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-mar-27.html

In the News: King St, casino standards, softball clinic, Republican scholarships

Speed still a problem on Franklin's King Street

The town is considering placing two traffic-calming devices at the corner of Wachusett and King streets to help curb rampant speeding in the Gerald M. Parmenter Elementary School zone.

State to set casino application standards

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission met Monday afternoon in Boston to discuss how it would judge casino applications, including the one for the proposed project in Milford.

Lady Panthers Softball Clinic will be held April 6

Franklin High School Lady Panthers Softball Clinic will be held Saturday, April 6 – rain or shine – from 9 a.m. to noon at Franklin High School Field House for grades one through six.

Franklin Republicans offering scholarships

Once again, the Franklin Republican Town Committee is providing a scholarship opportunity for students.

New roof on King St

The fire damage from September 2012 is getting repaired. Robert Catalano's residence at 12-14 King St.

14 King St under repair

and a second view

14 King St under repair - 2nd view

The Sep 2012 story
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/09/franklin-police-officer-saves-man-in.html

Butterfly on King St

Walking back home with coffee from Cafe Dolce on Saturday morning, spotted this butterfly flitting from flower to flower along King St.

King St/i495 (Exit 16) Paving Update

The King St i495 (Exit 16) interchange is getting paved. According to a friendly worker as I ran by this morning to snap this photo, they should only need tonight (Weds) and then Thursday to finish the paving.

Great work guys, this has been a long time coming and will be welcomed when complete!


Franklin, MA

Catch basin does its thing

Coming down Upper Union St to the newly redesigned corner at King St, the catch basin (or rain garden?) is doing its thing along the side of the road.

MassHighway, now a Division of MA DOT is responsible for this construction which won't be completed until Summer of 2010. You can find out project status on the MA DOT website here


Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: Police alert - injured officer status

I saw helicopters circling above i495 earlier today and couldn't find out what was up. Now this Franklin Police alert fills in the details.

-------------

On Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at 11:30 am Franklin Police Officers responded to a report of a police officer that had been struck by a motor vehicle while on paid detail duty at the intersections of King Street and Route 495 in Franklin. The suspect vehicle described by witnesses as a small red car fled the scene leaving the officer, 25 year police veteran Edward Clifford on the roadway. Franklin Firefighters were luckily on scene and immediately rendered first aid to Officer Clifford. Clifford was transported by Franklin Fire to the Milford Whitinsville Regional Hospital for injuries suffered. His condition is good as he was released and is recovering at this time at home.

Witness accounts of the accident and subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of Ari C. Cunard, age 25 of 301 Union Street apartment 220 in Franklin for the offenses of Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident and Operating a Motor Vehicle so as to Endanger the Lives and Safety of the Public. Cunard was located at her home address and subsequent to questioning by Franklin Police Officers admitted to having been the operator of the suspect motor vehicle, a 2006 Red Chevrolet Cobalt Massachusetts registration 698ES6. The suspect vehicle was located in the rear parking area of 301 Union Street where Ari Cunard resides. Ari Cunard was booked for the above listed offenses and held in the Franklin Station until released on bail for appearance in the Wrentham District Court on Wednesday the 4th of August.

Updated: 8/8/10
Boston Herald says Ari has a record:
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20100806alleged_hit-run_driver_busted_twice_at_hotels/

--------

Note: The police officers working on details are working on their own personal time earning extra money and money for Franklin. Franklin charges the contractors for the detail services which covers the cost of the police officers time, plus. This information has been confirmed in prior budget meeting discussions with police and town personnel.


Franklin, MA

Pulaski Blvd - Seek Alternate Route

For those traveling down King St, if you think you have successfully negotiated the construction around the i495 interchange, beginning March 29th, you'll need to consider an alternate route if you want to get to Bellingham, Woonsocket and other points south.

King St turns into Washington St at Cole's Tavern and becomes Pulaski Blvd as you cross the town line into Bellingham. Bellingham received a sizable amount of stimulus money to do the reconstruction of the road down into the intersection of RT 126.

I'll consider bailing out on either Forest St or Spring St to the back roads.

What will you do? Share your short cut here

Franklin, MA

Bellingham's Pulaski Boulevard construction receives funding

King St runs south into Washington St which in turn runs into Pulaski Blvd. Three different names, two towns, one road. For anyone taking this southern route to Woonsocket or RT 146 to Providence beware of construction to resume.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Bellingham's Pulaski Boulevard construction receives funding

via The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Melanie Graham/Daily News staff on 10/12/09

The Pulaski Boulevard road improvement project has received $13 million in state and federal funding. The project was included in the 2010-2013 Traffic Improvement Plan (TIP).

Pulaski Boulevard was one of many plans in eastern Massachusetts considered for state roadway improvement funding, including hundreds of projects in Boston. If Pulaski Boulevard had not been placed on fiscal 2010 list, the town would have had to wait until 2014 for funding.

The $13 million will be in addition to the $4 million already invested by the town.

The estimated two year project plans to rebuild 2.3 miles of Pulaski Boulevard, spanning from the Franklin town line to Orchard Street, including work at the Crooks Corner, Lake Street and Center Street intersections.

Also in the construction plan is road widening, added sidewalks and storm drain improvements.

MassHighway is currently in the bid process for the Pulaski Boulevard projects.
For more details on the project, read tomorrow's Milford Daily News.

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Note: While the article references more information in tomorrows Milford Daily News, that particular tomorrow has not arrived yet. Stay tuned for an update sometime.