"Replacing old and damaged turnout gear is a financial challenge"

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

"Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito today announced $920,000 in grant awards to 174 Massachusetts fire departments for gear and equipment that will reduce firefighters’ exposure to cancer-causing chemicals on the job.

“These grants will help local departments purchase critical gear to support firefighters as they put themselves in harm’s way to protect the Commonwealth’s communities,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Helping to protect them from the physical and occupational hazards of the job is a key way we can show our appreciation for the dedicated service of our first responders.”

“Many fire departments across the Commonwealth are all too familiar with the increased risk of occupational cancers faced by fire service personnel,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “These grant awards will support many ongoing cancer prevention initiatives at the local level by reducing the amount of cancer-causing chemicals thousands of firefighters are exposed to in the coming years.”

“On a daily basis, modern firefighters face countless dangers, but we now know that occupational cancers caused by exposure to smoke and other combustion byproducts are as dangerous to them as knocking down fires and conducting rescue operations,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Thomas A. Turco III. “Fire departments across Massachusetts have made significant changes to the way they work to combat these risks in recent years, and these grant programs will help many to move their cancer prevention efforts forward.”

https://franklin.wickedlocal.com/news/20191210/fire-department-grants-geared-toward-reducing-cancer-risk

Franklin is on the list to receive $2480 from this grant
https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-announces-920000-in-fire-department-grant-awards

This kind of gear and the cleaning equipment for it was part of the capital budget discussion on Tuesday, Dec 10. The Finance Committee will complete their discussion with the DPW next Tuesday, Dec 17 and forward the recommendation to the Town Council for action to vote on to approve all or part of the $1.7M capital currently in the discussion.

The meeting recording is available
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/12/fm-186-finance-committee-capital-budget.html

Franklin Fire Department

"what action, if any, will be taken by humans and when"

"Rising temperatures, eroding coastlines, fearsome storms and disappearing species.

All of these issues are raising alarm among people concerned about the specter of climate change.

“It’s not too late, but we’re not talking the distant future. We’re talking right now,” said Richard Halpern, chairman of the Franklin Democratic Town Committee’s events subcommittee.

Halpern is the force behind planning for an upcoming discussion on the subject the organization is sponsoring.

“Franklin 2050: The Climate Crisis” is set for 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Elks Lodge, 1077 Pond St."

Continue reading the article online
https://franklin.wickedlocal.com/news/20191009/forum-on-climate-crisis-planned-in-franklin/1

"Franklin 2050:The Climate Crisis" is free, but seating is limited. Registration is recommended. 

Pre-registration is available at:  
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/franklin-2050-the-climate-crisis-tickets-65325208457

Franklin 2050:The Climate Crisis

"It’s good economic development”

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

"Local fans of The Chateau will no longer have to contemplate a longish drive to get their toasted ravioli fix, or to satisfy a craving for a plate of chicken Parm blanketed in the restaurant’s signature sauce.

The popular family-style Italian restaurant is making plans to open a new location -- its ninth -- at the corner of King and Union Streets in the building that was, until recently, occupied by Joe’s American Bar and Grill.

Unconfirmed rumors about the impending newcomer to the town’s restaurant scene have been circulating in Franklin’s social media circles for a few weeks. Those rumors are now confirmed with the filing of an application by The Chateau Restaurant of Franklin, Inc. seeking a common victualler’s and all alcoholic beverages license from the town.

The Town Council will hold a hearing on the license application at their next meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 14. The council schedules its public hearings to begin at 7:10 p.m."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://franklin.wickedlocal.com/news/20190807/chateau-coming-to-franklin-license-hearing-set-for-aug-14

https://www.chateaurestaurant.com/

Picture This: Your Great Outdoors Photo Contest 2019

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

"Do you appreciate the outdoors and enjoy taking photographs that celebrate your connection with nature? Then you and Picture This: Your Great Outdoors, Mass Audubon’s annual statewide photo contest, are a picture-perfect fit. 

Picture This welcomes shutterbugs of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience to share the natural beauty of the Bay State through their photography. The competition, which each year attracts hundreds of photographers who submit thousands of images, is now under way and continues through Monday, Sept. 30. 

Participants can enter in either 18-and-older or Under-18 age categories and can focus on six subject areas: People in Nature, Birds, Mammals, Other Animals, Landscapes, and Plants and Fungi. Contestants can submit up to 10 images. 

Photographs can have been taken any time prior to or during the 2019 contest period, but must have been shot in Massachusetts or at Mass Audubon’s Wildwood Camp in Rindge, NH."

Continue reading the article online
https://franklin.wickedlocal.com/news/20190623/picture-this-mass-audubons-statewide-photo-contest-under-way

Additional info can be found at the Mass Audubon page
https://www.massaudubon.org/news-events/photo-contest

Picture This: Your Great Outdoors Photo Contest 2019