Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
The Red Brick Schoolhouse has called Franklin home for nearly two centuries and will continue to do so for many years to come thanks to the CPA! -> https://t.co/cMKYUjZ5Ap
FM #1131 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1131x in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my conversation with FIRST Alarm Robotics held in the Franklin TV & radio studio Jan 4, 2024. Steve Dunbar, Business Manager and Pallavi Naravane, one of the group’s mentors.
Our conversation touched on the following:
So what is 4H Alarm Robotics 2079 all about?
How did you get involved and what is your current role?
How many members do you have and where are they from?
What the team has done over the past year.
What else can you tell us that could get folks to check out 4H Alarm Robotics?
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
4H Alarm Robotics does more than keep education alive at the Brick School (audio)
39 kids in the age group of 3rd to 8th grade gathered together in the huge community room to program projects in Scratch on a rainy afternoon. The theme of the event was Halloween. Participants were grouped in teams of 3.
Participants showed up with their laptops and settled down on the rug with their planning sheets. Teams designed video games, animations and interactive projects using Scratch 3.0, a block based programming language developed by MIT Media Labs. There were 8 middle school teams and 5 elementary school teams. Volunteer judges judged the projects after 3 hours of project time.
ALARM Robotics hosts a Hackathon at the Franklin Public Library
There were projects with ghost jump-scares, games where you had to avoid skeletons, trick or treat candy games, Jack-o-lantern animations and many such creative projects. For many students this was their very first Hackathon experience. All hands went up when asked if they had fun and learned something new!
The ALARM Robotics team organized and hosted the event with help from the Franklin Public Library. 4H ALARM Robotics, is a community FRC team (FRC stands for FIRST Robotics Competition) from Franklin. ALARM Robotics is a non-profit robotics education club set up at the historic Brick School. ALARM Participation medals were given to all participants and Awards were given to 1st-2nd-3rd place teams in both elementary and middle school divisions.
Food was donated by the local Piezoni's and Dunkin Donuts (West Central St).
Ms. Felicia Oti, the Director of Franklin Public Library, addressed the young programmers and urged them to keep learning technology and programming and give back to the community by volunteering.
ALARM Robotics has been conducting community robotics events at the Franklin Public Library, they conducted the Robo-Racer Workshop in September, where participants challenged themselves to build racers without wheels.
Up next they will be coaching 2 FIRST LEGO League Explore teams beginning Wednesday, Oct 25th. The session is 12 weeks and for kids in 2nd to 4th grade.
Friday the 13th was a good day for the brief outdoor ceremony to acknowledge completion of the Brick School exterior renovations. The renovations were funded by the Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds approved by the Franklin voters in 2020.
This is the first of the historical preservation projects to be completed with this funding. The Historical Museum cupola is also scheduled to be funded with CPA. Much has also been made of the 200 acres of open space purchased through the CPA funds.
the front view as newly renovated
the original sign was restored by "Signs by Cam
banner of the Alarm Robotics group renting the facility
sign acknowledging the use of CPA funding
Councilor Debbie Pellegri & Chair Tom Mercer share a laugh
the ribbon cutting moment
Additional photos can be found in the album online ->
On Friday, October 13 beginning at 10:00 AM all are welcome to attend a ceremonial ribbon cutting at Franklin's Red Brick Schoolhouse located at 2 Lincoln Street, to celebrate the restoration of the building's exterior.
Built in 1833, the Red Brick Schoolhouse is one of the oldest one-room schoolhouses in the United States, and a cornerstone of Franklin's history.
Committee: Chair C Feeley, M Doyle, J Livingstone, P Malcolm,W Simarian, R Power (remote), L Oxford - [D McNeill, M Giardino absent]
Town Administration: J Hellen, A Alleyne,
The committee approved the minutes of the prior meeting via roll call vote (7-0-2; 7 for, 0 against, 2 absent).
Motion to accept the proposed meeting scheduled for 2023, seconded, passes via voice vote (7 for, 0 against, 2 absent)
Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provides project updates on work underway
Red Brick School exterior renovation - doors and windows backordered
Nason St Tot lot site prep work being done now in advance of renovation in the spring
King St Memorial Field estimate and draft depiction of the field layout and work proposed. Timeline and funding remains TBD. Would be adding pickleball courts, would be including a paved path all around the park, would also be adding parking; questioned on if handicap access for the community garden is considered? I added that when the garden opened in 2010, it did have a stonedust entrance and among the first four beds on each side of the main gate. It was covered with mulch a few years ago. The base likely could be restored.
Jamie also provided a financial update, it had a minor error and would be further enhanced to better reflect what was approved vs allocated vs. spent, etc.
Committee entered executive session via roll call vote not to return to open meeting (7 for, 0 against, 2 absent)
depiction of proposed King St Memorial park improvements
Community Garden opening day, 2011 shows the stone dust (grey) around the first 8 garden beds at the entrance
In the regular meeting, Wednesday, Oct 19 the Town Council witnessed the swearing in of two firefighter/paramedics, spent time with the Franklin State delegation: Senate President Karen Spilka, Senator Becca Rausch, and State Representative Jeff Roy, before getting into the legislation portion of the meeting.
The Council made two unanimous votes to approve and authorize CPA funding for the purchase of Schmidt's Farm via the first right of approval. The Community Preservation Committee had recommended the purchase in their meeting (10/4) and the Finance Committee had also unanimously approved in their meeting on Tuesday (10/18).
Additional funds ($50K) for the exterior renovation of the Red Brick school were also approved during the session. $200K had been initially budgeted for the repairs but the actual work has shown to be increased due to inflation hence, the additional funds required. $250,000 is the total for the exterior.
With the recent 2020 census results, the resulting redistricting has shifted the Senate districts so Senator Rausch's district covers all of Franklin where previously 3 precincts had been covered by Spilka. The session was the 'final' official visit of all three and the Council recognized Spilka with a proclamation for her service over the years. Both Rausch and Roy have contested elections this November.
FM #860 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 860 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Community Preservation Committee meeting held in Council Chambers on Tuesday, October 4, 2022.
Chair: C Feeley, D McNeill, M Doyle, J Livingstone, P Malcolm, M Giardino, R Power, L Oxford [W Simarian, absent]
Town Administration: J Hellen, A Alleyne, K Bertone
The meeting approved the minutes of the prior meeting via voice vote (8-0-1; 8 for, 0 against, 1 absent).
Town Administrator Jamie Hellen walked through the right of first refusal option on the Schmidt Farm property. After discussion and clarification questions, the Committee voted to recommend use of CPA funds for the purchase with an 8-0-1 vote (8 for, 0 against, 1 absent).
Jamie also provided some project updates on work underway (Red Brick School exterior renovation) and work being held (Nason St tot lot, Historical Msueum cupola).
The recording runs about 27 minutes, so let’s listen to the Community Preservation Committee discussion on Oct 4, 2022.
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
Community Preservation Committee recommends CPA funds for purchase of Schmidt's Farm (audio)
The Community Preservation Committee meeting was held on Tuesday, Oct 4, 2022. The meeting recording is now available for replay and review from Franklin TV. Video link -> https://youtu.be/htBcHT9SCp8
Note: The Schmidt's Farm presentation document will be posted to the Town pages in advance of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday at 7 PM. Photos of almost all of the slides shared were captured and can be found in one album. -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/At7CqqHSEMYzG3Ah8
Community Preservation Committee recommends purchase of Schmidt Farm with CPA funds (video)
2. Chapter 61, Town’s Right of First Refusal to Purchase Approx. 113 Acres of Land off 215 Prospect Street. Discussion and vote on recommending use of CPA funding for purchase to the Town Council.
3. Community Preservation Master Plan v. 2
a. Request for Appropriation: $50,000 for the Red Brick Schoolhouse
The Finance Committee met and did their business in about thirty minutes before the Town Council came into the Council Chambers for their meeting to start at 7 PM on Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
The Finance meeting did start a little after 6, so you get to listen to the intro of my radio show interview with Health Director Cathleen Liberty before the live stream of the meeting jumps into YouTube. If you want to continue listening to the health episode follow this link -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/09/conversation-with-town-of-franklin-ma.htmlor find Franklin Matters on your favorite podcast app.
FM #821 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 821 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Town Council Quarterbacking session with Council Chair Tom Mercer on Thursday morning, June 23, 2022. The Town Council meeting was held on Wednesday, June 22.
·ok, what just happened?
·What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?
4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS
a. Proclamation and Performance: Electric Youth
b. Proclamation: LGBTQIA+ Pride Month Recognition
5. APPOINTMENTS
a. Richard Salve - New Hire, Firefighter/Paramedic - Fire Department
b. Timothy Sweeney - New Hire, Firefighter/Paramedic - Fire Department
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
cupola at the Franklin Historical Museum, an approved project for CPA funds
