Artifical vs. real turf

In the updates from Town Administrator Jeff Nutting, and confirmed by School Building Committee Chair Tom Mercer, the bids for the new practice field at FHS came at at about $800K. This was less than the expected $1 - 1.1M budgeted for.

Saving money is always a good thing. Since the discussion started last year, the Franklin Matters Twitter account has been copied on some tweets about the issue with crumb rubber as we have reported on the discussion.

For example:

#dangerous #fields tonight at 11PM on @cbsboston investigates #crumbrubber infill on #syntheticturf CC: @FranklinMatters @jeffroy
— Turf Grass Forum (@turfgrassforum) March 19, 2015

screen grab of CBS Boston video report on health concerns with artificial turf fields

Last Wednesday night's I-Team report can be viewed here:




While it is important to note that of the 51 studies cited not one proves a connection, there is also the issue that the studies did not look at the long term effects. So while it is good that we will save money spring sports teams can play on the limited turf fields now (Beaver St and the high school field) rather than waiting for the snow to melt, we should also recognize that our kids are participating in a study of the long term effects.

The current turf fields were cleared with the help of funding provided by the local lacrosse and soccer leagues. It is okay to plow the artificial turf fields but not to do so on real turf fields.

The 'practice field' on the grounds of the new FHS had been budgeted for as regular grass and changed during the Town Council meeting in November
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/11/the-town-council-reorganizes-sort-of.html

Last Wednesday nights brief update
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/03/live-reporting-legislation-through-to.html

If the embedded video doesn't work properly, you can also follow this link to view it on the CBS Boston website here
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/03/18/i-team-health-concerns-raised-over-artificial-turf-fields/

In the News: artificial turf, wood carving, Vallee, earmarks

By Gabriel Leiner/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Apr 26, 2008 @ 11:46 PM

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When synthetic turf fields soak up sunlight and reach high temperatures, some area officials and local residents believe there is a danger the fields can release chemicals into the air.

Weston Public Health Director Wendy Diotalevi said she has measured temperatures on the surface of Weston's artificial turf field on Wellesley Street at 122 degrees.

Last fall, Wayland resident Tom Sciacca said he measured a temperature of 142 degrees at the Wayland turf field surface.

Those reports prompted officials like Diotalevi, Franklin Facilities Director Mike D'Angelo and Wayland Health Director Steve Calichman to post warning signs at turf fields or consider running more tests on synthetic fields in their towns to see if chemicals are released when the turf heats.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.

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By Heather McCarron

GateHouse News Service

Posted Apr 26, 2008 @ 07:42 PM

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Franklin —

In the eyes of Basil LeBlanc, a piece of wood is never simply a piece of wood.

It’s a native warrior sitting with proud posture atop a strong horse.

It’s a majestic buck standing sentinel.

It’s a graceful bird, or a walking cane with butterflies fluttering about the staff.

For LeBlanc, wood is like a blank canvas that requires only his vision, and application of his various hand tools, to realize its artistic potential.

For more than 50 years, says the Franklin resident, woodcarving has been a passion.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

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By Matt Kakley/Daily News correspondent

GHS

Posted Apr 26, 2008 @ 10:00 AM

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BOSTON —

One local legislator is campaigning on Beacon Hill to bring money back to his district that would lead to new technology for a fire department, the completion of a senior center addition, and a memorial for veterans who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The items are among the nine earmarks state Rep. James Vallee, D-Franklin, filed to the House's budget proposal last week. Earmarks are a common way for legislators to bring state money back to their districts to pay for local projects.

"This is money that cities and towns don't have when they are struggling to meet expenses," he said. "These aren't things that I come up with, they're things that the towns have come up with."

Vallee has put in an earmark of $100,000 to bring new digital and wireless technology to the Franklin Fire Department. Fire Chief Gary McCarraher said it would allow the department to enter the modern era.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here