Reminder: Trivia Extravaganza - Aug 1

On August 1, 2021, the public is invited to join the Franklin Odd Fellows for an afternoon of Trivia, fun and good cheer from 2 to 4:30 PM at the Bellingham Sportsman Club at 360 Lake St., Bellingham, MA 02019.

The event will consist of teams of up to ten players with a registration cost of just $10 per person and $15 at the door.  Team pre-registration and pre-payment is strongly encouraged.

After a long and difficult year in 2020 where four Odd Fellows fundraising events were canceled due to Covid-19, William F. Ray Lodge #71 has remained active and continues with the renovation process of the building and with indoor meetings and cookout gatherings in their quaint pine grove back yard.  

This will be our first social event for this year that will help us to continue the longstanding tradition of giving back to our local community - and have a good time while doing it!  The Bellingham Sportsman Club has worked closely with the Bellingham Board of Health and is now following restaurant guidelines for holding public events.  

Get your team of trivia masters together and register today.  Entries at the door will be integrated into whatever teams have space remaining at their tables.  There will be a cash bar available during the event.

Register and prepay:    http://www.franklinmassoddfellows.org/trivia2021/

Download the flyer as a reminder ->    https://drive.google.com/file/d/133QIpuopY5ohYYMvs3X5TXV-jyrOQUcM/view?usp=sharing  

Franklin Odd Fellows: Trivia Extravaganza - Aug 1

Franklin Odd Fellows - Trivia Extravaganza - Aug 1

On August 1, 2021, the public is invited to join the Franklin Odd Fellows for an afternoon of Trivia, fun and good cheer from 2 to 4:30 PM at the Bellingham Sportsman Club at 360 Lake St., Bellingham, MA 02019.

The event will consist of teams of up to ten players with a registration cost of just $10 per person and $15 at the door.  Team pre-registration and pre-payment is strongly encouraged.

After a long and difficult year in 2020 where four Odd Fellows fundraising events were canceled due to Covid-19, William F. Ray Lodge #71 has remained active and continues with the renovation process of the building and with indoor meetings and cookout gatherings in their quaint pine grove back yard.  

This will be our first social event for this year that will help us to continue the longstanding tradition of giving back to our local community - and have a good time while doing it!  The Bellingham Sportsman Club has worked closely with the Bellingham Board of Health and is now following restaurant guidelines for holding public events.  

Get your team of trivia masters together and register today.  Entries at the door will be integrated into whatever teams have space remaining at their tables.  There will be a cash bar available during the event.

Register and prepay:    http://www.franklinmassoddfellows.org/trivia2021/

Download the flyer as a reminder ->    https://drive.google.com/file/d/133QIpuopY5ohYYMvs3X5TXV-jyrOQUcM/view?usp=sharing  

Franklin Odd Fellows: Trivia Extravaganza - Aug 1

Franklin Odd Fellows: Trivia Extravaganza - Aug 1

On August 1, 2021, the public is invited to join the Franklin Odd Fellows for an afternoon of Trivia, fun and good cheer from 2 to 4:30 PM at the Bellingham Sportsman Club at 360 Lake St., Bellingham, MA 02019.

The event will consist of teams of up to ten players with a registration cost of just $10 per person and $15 at the door.  Team pre-registration and pre-payment is strongly encouraged.

After a long and difficult year in 2020 where four Odd Fellows fundraising events were canceled due to Covid-19, William F. Ray Lodge #71 has remained active and continues with the renovation process of the building and with indoor meetings and cookout gatherings in their quaint pine grove back yard.  

This will be our first social event for this year that will help us to continue the longstanding tradition of giving back to our local community - and have a good time while doing it!  The Bellingham Sportsman Club has worked closely with the Bellingham Board of Health and is now following restaurant guidelines for holding public events.  

Get your team of trivia masters together and register today.  Entries at the door will be integrated into whatever teams have space remaining at their tables.  There will be a cash bar available during the event.

Register and prepay:    http://www.franklinmassoddfellows.org/trivia2021/

Download the flyer as a reminder ->    https://drive.google.com/file/d/133QIpuopY5ohYYMvs3X5TXV-jyrOQUcM/view?usp=sharing  

Franklin Odd Fellows: Trivia Extravaganza - Aug 1

Pantherbook: Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution at FHS

Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution at FHS

"On Wednesday, January 13, Coronavirus vaccinations were officially administered at Franklin High School. The vaccines, the first of a two-session dosage, were given primarily to frontline medical workers – included were various EMTs, nurses, and other healthcare personnel.

The gym, being the largest space in the school, was utilized to maintain social distancing guidelines while vaccinations were being distributed. Miniature “booths” were set at least six feet apart from one another, with plexiglass shields in front of patients and supervisors at all times. A temperature check was required before entry to the building, along with mandatory mask usage to ensure protection for those who came."

Continue reading the article at Pantherbook:  https://t.co/tzE3PkVGAT

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FHSPantherbook/status/1350091281817595906

A view of the Franklin High School gym during Wednesday’s COVID vaccinations.  Siddharth Chandra

The Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee - marks the tunnel opening

The journey to upgrade the abandoned railroad path in Franklin & Bellingham began in December of 2008 when a representative of the Franklin Odd Fellows sat in on a meeting of the Grand Trunk Trailblazers in Thompson, CT and offered to be Franklin’s representative as the most easterly of (6) towns making up the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT) from Franklin to the Connecticut border. 

The towns from East to West are Franklin, Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville, Uxbridge, Douglas.  The grassroots committee that was formed in January of 2009 was called the Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee, but that was later changed to the Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee (FBRTC) when Bellingham members joined the committee and we saw a need to expand.  

By December of 2009, the rail trail committee had secured an Opinion of Probable Cost from Pare Engineering in Lincoln, RI to improve the overgrown railroad right of way into a multipurpose walking and biking trail with a tunnel at the Prospect St. crossing.   For the next 11 years the committee advocated, fundraised and continually worked to obtain grants and petitioned our state government for funds to improve the SNETT.  

Both towns of Franklin & Bellingham have been active participants in the process adding parking lots and signage at road crossings.   The town of Bellingham made a significant contribution by burying a town waterline on the path and getting a significant portion of the Bellingham section completed to a finished grade.  The high point of the committee’s effort has been the funding and construction of the tunnel at Prospect St.  

State Rep. Jeff Roy and State Senators Karen Spilka and Richard Ross signed on to an initial Bond Bill that included the necessary funding for the trail and tunnel.  State Rep. Mike Soter of Bellingham, the Bellingham Planning Committee and Franklin Town Administrators Jeff Nutting and Jamie Hellen of Franklin have also been active participants.  

The committee is also grateful for the thousands of runners who have supported our 9 years of fundraiser road races and the numerous corporate donors who gave us much needed annual financial support and for the Town of Franklin for allowing us to use the Remington School for our Road Race site.  

The committee is also very grateful for all of the advice, support and “boots on the ground” manpower that we received over the years from the Department of Conservation (DCR) and we certainly understand that whatever success we’ve had as a grassroots committee would not have been possible without their full cooperation and support.

**  Written by Dave Labonte, original member of the FBRTC. 

For more about the FBRTC    https://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/

In @TOFranklinMA The new SNETT tunnel was celebrated on Friday. @KarenSpilka @jeffroy @BeccaRauschMA   @Gannett       Look for upcoming  @laurenwhy_ @milforddaily story.  

 

Photo gallery here: https://t.co/f8i5BWGgOZ  

Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/fZnxTQEVLE

Additional photos from Rep Jeff Roy on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/534850033/posts/10164157069840034/

photo from Rep Jeff Roy on Facebook

 

"French Neutrals" - local interest in the French and Indian War - July 20

The Bellingham Historical Commission in partnership with the Bellingham Library will delve into the story of the "French Neutrals" who were relocated to Bellingham and other nearby towns during the French and Indian War (1754 – 1763).

The free presentation, which will be hosted on Zoom, will feature the Bellingham Historical Commission's Vice Chair Steve Joanis and his wife Bronya. The two will, in costume, relate the tale of the Robeshaw and Amerault families - Nova Scotians who were relocated to Wrentham and Bellingham in the late 1750s because the British regarded French speaking Acadians as potential adversaries.

The presentation will use a mix of the historical facts, original documents, and "likely suppositions" to recreate the story of Joseph Robeshaw's life. Joseph was born here as a captive, but stayed to serve in the militia as a citizen soldier during the American revolution.

This is a Zoom event on July 20 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Follow the Facebook event for updates:  https://www.facebook.com/events/268935604314925/

"French Neutrals" - local interest in the French and Indian War

"French Neutrals" - local interest in the French and Indian War (a virtual Zoom event)

The Bellingham Historical Commission in partnership with the Bellingham Library will delve into the story of the "French Neutrals" who were relocated to Bellingham and other nearby towns during the French and Indian War (1754 – 1763).

The free presentation, which will be hosted on Zoom, will feature the Bellingham Historical Commission's Vice Chair Steve Joanis and his wife Bronya. The two will, in costume, relate the tale of the Robeshaw and Amerault families - Nova Scotians who were relocated to Wrentham and Bellingham in the late 1750s because the British regarded French speaking Acadians as potential adversaries.

The presentation will use a mix of the historical facts, original documents, and "likely suppositions" to recreate the story of Joseph Robeshaw's life. Joseph was born here as a captive, but stayed to serve in the militia as a citizen soldier during the American revolution.


This is a Zoom event on July 20 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM.  Follow the Facebook event for updates:  https://www.facebook.com/events/268935604314925/

"French Neutrals" - local interest in the French and Indian War

Urban Air Bellingham - temporarily closed

"Exactly two years ago today, Urban Air Bellingham opened its doors for the very first time.

On that day, we woke up to a couple feet of snow on the ground and a huge line of people wrapped around the building waiting to welcome us to the community. For me and Chad, it was the culmination of nearly two years of work, preparation, anxiety and anticipation. We put our lives on the line for this crazy endeavor and we had no idea what to expect.

But you showed up. You came early and you came often. You jumped on the trampolines and flew on the Sky Rider. You scaled the Climbing Walls and conquered the Warrior Course. You trusted us to host the most important days of the year for your children and watched in awe as they overcame their fears and made it to the top of the wall. You let us know when we were succeeding and how we could improve. You stuck with us and made us better.

The overwhelming support of this community is something I treasure deeply and will never take for granted. The people I have met and the relationships I have created are beyond anything I could have imagined. There’s no better feeling than walking through the park and seeing the wide-eyed faces of our guests as they make lasting memories with their families and friends. It’s something I can’t wait to see again soon.

We have been incredibly fortunate to have a staff of wonderful, caring team members. Many of them have been with us since the doors opened two years ago and have become familiar faces to you. They greeted you when you arrived, hosted your parties, encouraged your children and served your food. They are the lifeblood of Urban Air and we could not survive without them. I love seeing the emails, reviews and recommendations that tell me how terrific our staff is.

This last week has been a big blur. Chad and I were constantly discussing the fast-moving Coronavirus situation and we struggled about how to proceed. Last Friday afternoon - with a full weekend of parties booked - we realized we could no longer guarantee a safe space for you and your family, so we made the difficult decision to close, even though many of our competitors decided to stay open. This decision upset many of our guests, and they told us so! But we are local guys with young families, and we treat you, our guests, the way we would our own family. That means protecting you at all costs. It also meant temporarily closing our family business.

As I’ve said many times over the last week, if you are going to talk the talk, you must walk the walk. It took days for the rest of our competitors to follow our lead, but they did eventually join us by closing down.

One thing I have learned over these last two years is that this community looks out for each other. We will get through this together. We will take care of each other. We will make sure nobody gets left behind. This isn’t what we had in mind when we were thinking about how to celebrate our second anniversary, but this is our reality, and it will make us stronger. We will celebrate together one day soon.

Thank you for coming to Urban Air. Thank you for your smiles, your birthday parties, your special occasions, your family outings. Thank you for being there for us. We are here for you."

Stay safe and well,
Andy Powell
Owner, Urban Air Bellingham

Andy@UrbanAirBellingham.com

FB.com/UrbanAirBellingham

UrbanAirBellingham.com

3D Park Tour! >>> tinyurl.com/UrbanAir3DTour

 

Urban Air Bellingham - temporarily closed

In the News: Bellingham to decide on a $1.5 million override; Franklin schools budget gap expected to close

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

"Voters will decide in May on a $1.5 million override requested by the School Department for its fiscal 2021 budget. 

Selectmen last Saturday approved the override, meaning the proposal will appear as a ballot question at the annual town election on May 5. The measure requires approval from a simple majority of voters to pass. 

Superintendent of Schools Peter Marano said the school district is seeking the override to help compensate for a lower reimbursement expected from the state on charter school funding, as well as to add positions in areas of increased need. 

For the average homeowner, the $1.5 million override would result in property taxes being increased by about $160 in the next fiscal year, Marano said, based on a home value of about $325,000.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200226/bellingham-override-bid-heads-to-ballot-selectman-oked-15-million-school-budget-override-request

"The School Department anticipates “a budget gap to close” after reviewing its plans for fiscal 2021, requesting an increase of $3.9 million in funding from the town, according to Superintendent of Schools Sara Ahern. 

Reviewed on Tuesday night before the School Committee, the proposed school budget of $68,767,873 represents an increase of $3,909,373 (6%) over the current budget, said Ahern. Fiscal 2021 begins on July 1. 

The town’s total current budget is $129.6 million, with about half of it - $64.8 million - allocated to Franklin Public Schools. 

Even though the school district is requesting a $3.9 million increase for the coming year, Ahern said she doesn’t anticipate the town paying that entire amount."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200227/franklin-superintendent-anticipates-budget-gap-to-close

The live reporting from the School Committee meeting on Tuesday on the budget for FY 2021
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/02/live-reporting-recommended-budget-fy.html

Assume Town of Franklin gets $3m in expected revenue, with schools proposing an increase of $3.9m over last year we have a math problem

Community Forum to Address Preparedness For Climate Impacts And Hazard Mitigation Plan

On March 2, 2020 the Town of Franklin will host a Community Forum to discuss the impacts of climate change on Franklin and actions the town can take to prepare for those impacts. The community forum will be held at 6:00 PM at the Franklin Municipal Building. All Franklin residents, businesses, and civic organizations are invited and encouraged to participate.

The Community Forum will present the results of a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Workshop that was held on November 20, 2019 jointly by the Towns of Franklin and Bellingham. The MVP Workshop brought together Town Board and Committee members, municipal staff, local businesses, institutions, and civic organizations to identify how Franklin and Bellingham may be vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, as well as the towns’ strengths and actions they may take to increase their resilience.

The forum will also summarize the 2020 Update of the Town of Franklin’s Hazard Mitigation Plan which is currently being prepared by Franklin with the assistance of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).

Franklin residents, business owners, civic organizations and institutions are invited to attend the forum and provide their input as part of this on-going effort to plan for the Town’s future.


Monday, March 2, 2020, 6:00 PM 

Franklin Municipal Building, Council Chambers
355 East Central Street Franklin, MA

MAPC is the regional planning agency for 101 communities in the metropolitan Boston area, promoting smart growth and regional collaboration. More information about MAPC is available at www.mapc.org.

Community Forum to Address Preparedness For Climate Impacts And Hazard Mitigation Plan

In the News: ISO rating improved for Franklin; Bellingham cinema exploring alcohol license

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

"Some homeowners will see their insurance rates decrease this spring when the Franklin Fire Department’s new ISO rating takes effect next month.

Previously holding a Class 3 rating since 2018, Chief James McLaughlin recently announced that the department has improved its ISO rating - also referred to as a “fire score,” or Public Protection Classification (PPC) - to Class 2. Determined by the Insurance Services Office Inc. (ISO), the rating indicates how prepared a department is in the case of fire and how quickly it would be able to put it out, he said.

Ratings are issued on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best. Jersey City, New Jersey-based ISO provides statistical and claims-related information to serve insurers, regulators and other risk managers in the property-casualty insurance market.

Though the audit process to review a department’s ranking takes place every five years, McLaughlin called the ISO to question why the department’s rating was a 3 when he joined the department last July. A few months later, he was informed that its rating was improved upon further review, he said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200219/franklin-fire-dept-secures-improved-safety-rating

"Franklin’s water supply was a factor in improving the Fire Department’s rating"

"The serving of alcohol and a $6 million renovation could be coming to Bellingham’s Regal Cinema.

The news comes from recently released Bellingham selectmen minutes from the board’s Jan. 21 meeting. Regal Bellingham General Manager Josh Ferriera and attorney Andrew Upton discussed “the possibility of obtaining an All Alcohol Restaurant license,” according to the minutes.

Management at Regal Bellingham, in the Charles River Center shopping plaza near Interstate 495, directed comment to the company’s media inquiries line. Messages left at that number and at Upton’s Boston office and email address were not returned by the Daily News’ deadline.

“Regal in Bellingham is in the process of a $6M update to the cinema and would like to offer the option of purchasing an alcoholic beverage,” the minutes read."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200219/bellinghams-regal-theater-considers-6m-update-serving-alcohol

“no different shape than any other community”

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

"In an effort to reduce the number of staff cuts while adding new positions to areas of increased need, the School Committee voted Tuesday in favor of a $1.5 million override to its proposed fiscal 2021 budget.

A major factor, according to Superintendent Peter Marano, is a “staggering” decrease in the amount of money reimbursed by the state for what the district pays toward charter school education at the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School in Franklin.

“The reason why this year is different (than the last five years) is because we’ve basically taken a $2 million hit from the increase in the charter school, and that steep decrease in funding ... is basically just the straw that broke the camel’s back,” said committee member Mark Flannery.

As part of a $29.8 million proposed budget, the School Committee unanimously approved the $1.5 million override, which would cost the average homeowner about $160 a year, said Marano. That equals to $40 per quarter, said committee Chairman Michael J. Reed Jr., based on the average home value of about $325,000."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200205/bellingham-school-committee-oks-15m-override-for-budget

 

Healthy Weight and Your Child Program Sign Ups Happening for Families and to be Held at Stall Brook Elementary School in Bellingham

Healthy Weight & Your Child empowers 7-13 year olds, with the support of their families, to reach a healthy weight while achieving a healthier lifestyle. Since 2007, which marked the start of the Y’s Healthy Futures Initiative–designed to create healthier communities–the Hockomock Area YMCA has been actively working to increase physical activity and improve nutrition for kids in the area.

Healthy Weight and Your Child is a 25-session program, which includes 20 sessions delivered two times per week, followed by five weekly sessions. Sessions are two hours in length with the first hour delivered in a classroom setting and the second hour focused on physical activity.

The program emphasizes three elements: healthy eating, regular physical activity and behavior change, and engages the whole family, so together they can understand how the home environment and other factors influence the choices that lead to a healthy weight.

Made up of groups of eight to 15 children and their parents/caregivers, the program creates a safe, fun, and active environment for children and their families to explore and adopt proven methods to living a healthier lifestyle.

To be eligible for the program, each child must be between the ages of 7 and 13, have a body mass index greater than or equal to the 95th percentile, be cleared for physical activity by a health care provider or school nurse, and be accompanied by a parent or caregiver at every session.

each child must be between the ages of 7 and 13

Classes will take place at Stall Brook Elementary School (342 Hartford Ave, Bellingham) and will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00-8:00pm. Please join us for an information session to have your questions answered on February 11 at Stall Brook at 6:00pm. Cost: free for first 10 families, thanks to generous support from Stop & Shop’s Our Family Foundation. Included is a Hockomock Area YMCA family membership for the duration of the program (runs: February 25 - June 11; no meeting during the week of April 19).

Questions may be directed to Marykate Bergen, Director of Health Innovation, at phl@hockymca.org or call 508-339-4053

About the Hockomock Area YMCA:
Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.

The Hockomock Area YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities they are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org

Urban Air Holiday Party - Dec 18

Step out of the cold December air into a Winter Wonderland of fun! On December 18th from 4-8 PM we transform into a park wide Holiday Party for the whole family. 

Those who join us for our party will get:

* $10 off Ultimate and Deluxe passes
* Pictures with Santa Claus
* Shopping with tons of LOCAL vendors to support your community
* There will be fun, games and prizes all night long!

Here's a partial list of vendors to shop with:

* Homemade pickles, jams, salsa and ribs from Confectionery Creations
* Custom glassware, coozies and more from Just Crafting Around
* Candles from Scentsy
* Homemade scarfs, blankets and pillows
* Homemade Christmas ornaments and lighted signs
* Bags from Thirty One
* Hair Straightners
* Color Street nails
* Homemade Wine Bottles from Sher Creates
* Tupperware
* Disney Travel
* Lularoe
* Paparazzi
* Life Expressions Decor
* Homemade baked goods and more!


Urban Air Adventure Park (Bellingham)
189 Mechanic Street, Bellingham, Massachusetts 02019

Follow the Facebook event for updates: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/466060837385243/

Urban Air Holiday Party - Dec 18

PEDC presents the Nutcracker! - four performances on Dec 7-8

With the explosive growth of the arts in the Franklin community, Patti Eisenhauer Dance Center is proud to present the Nutcracker with four performances this holiday season. The performances will take place on Saturday, December 7 at 1:30 and 5:30 PM and Sunday, December 8, at 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM at Bellingham High School.

Dancing the role of Young Clara is Haylee Goguen, Cheyanne Kelley and Abigail Scollins. Mature Clara will be danced by Grace Jerrier, Rachel Barrows, Jackie Dubois and Angelina Rak.

In other lead roles, the Snow Queen will be danced by Emily Conroy, Julia Broll, Nora Hansen and Kaitlyn Auerbach. The Dew Drop Fairy features Larissa Logan, Amanda Mason, Ellie Rodrigues and Dani Bean. The featured dancers for the coveted role of the Sugar Plum Fairy are Andrea Gray, Isabella Lambros, Samantha Robillard and Bridgette Ginley. 

The box office is open and tickets are limited for the performances. Ticket prices are family-friendly at $18. Tickets are available by calling PEDC at 508-520-7873 or emailing pedcnews@gmail.com.

The show is performed at Bellingham High School's auditorium, 60 Blackstone St., Bellingham, MA.

From left to right, first row: Abigail Scollins, Haylee Goguen and Cheyanne Kelley as Ypung Clara; second row: Jackie Dubois, Agelina Rak, Grace Jerrier and Rachel Barros as Mature Clara; third row: Julia Broll, Katelyn Auerback, Isabella Lambros, Ellie Rodriques and Amanda Mason; fourth row: Emily Conroy, Samantha Robillard, Bridgette Ginley, Andrea Gray, Dani Bean and Larissa Logan. Missing: Norah Hansen. Photo credit: Marcos Esteves

For more info on the Patti Eisenhauer Dance Center visit
https://www.pattieisenhauerdancecenter.com/

The Wall That Heals - in Bellinghham, Aug 22 - 25

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

"The Wall That Heals, a 7.5-foot-tall wall featuring the names of 58,276 veterans who died serving in Vietnam, will be coming to Bellingham from August 22-25. Several speakers and events are planned during its monumental visit to the town during its 300th anniversary.

In Paksem, Laos, on Oct. 19, 1972, German-born Sgt. John Peterson, a paramilitary officer for the Central Intelligence Agency boarded a helicopter. By mid-afternoon, he heard shots fired in the distance.

Peterson grew up in Bellingham and attended its high school.

“John knew it was time to get out of there,” said his wife Martha (Marti) Denny, who flew to Laos with him in June 1971 to arm and train the Hmong, a Laotian highland tribe, to fight the Communist Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190819/wall-that-heals-coming-to-bellingham---what-you-need-to-know

screen capture of The Wall that Heals

FHS Baseball Boosters - 2nd Annual Golf Tourney - Fund Raiser - Sep 15, 2019

Franklin HS Baseball Boosters are hosting it's 2nd Annual Golf Tourney-Fund Raiser on Sunday, September 15, 2019 at the New England County Club (NECC) in Bellingham.

All Information is on their site at www.franklinpanthersbaseball.com where you can register on-line as an individual or foursome.

All proceeds go back to the FHS Baseball Program. Your Panthers have had back to back Super 8 Appearances with one State Championship and one Hockomock League Title. Please visit the site for more information. 

Looking for all Alumni and Franklin Residents to come out and join in on the fun!

FHS Baseball Boosters - 2nd Annual Golf Tourney - Fund Raiser - Sep 15, 2019

 

Your Panthers have had back to back Super 8 Appearances

Bellingham Community Garden Shares Opportunity for Residents to Grow Their Own Food - limited spots available

The Bellingham Community Garden, which is a collaboration between the Town of Bellingham and the Hockomock Area YMCA, is now accepting registrations for plot rentals. This is a great opportunity to tend your own garden this May through October.

Located at 200 Center Street in Bellingham, the community garden provides 10’ x 20’ plots (roughly), water and some gardening tools, and will run workshops throughout the season. Service learning opportunities can also be arranged for those wishing to volunteer in a community setting. The mission of the Bellingham Community Garden is to promote healthy and active lifestyles by reconnecting individuals to the food they eat and grow.

Plot holders can look forward to a season filled with farm-to-table produce, meeting new neighbors and friends, and engaging in different opportunities for learning.

The plot rental program is open to all community members and offers a gated garden in which members, provided a lock code, will be able to garden from dawn to dusk. The Hockomock YMCA will also facilitate soil testing through UMass Amherst for plot holders interested in optimizing food production.

Interested applicants are asked to fill out a contract, available at www.hockymca.org/garden/, or email communitygarden@hockymca.org to request a contract. Cost for the season is $75 and checks can be made out to Hockomock Area YMCA.

You may also stop by the YMCA at 45 Forge Hill Road, Franklin for details and a contract or call 508-528-8708. Be sure to visit the Bellingham Community Garden on facebook: @bellinghamcommunityfarm.

Bellingham Community Garden Shares Opportunity for
Residents to Grow Their Own Food - limited spots available

About Hockomock Area YMCA: 

Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.

Our YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities we are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not- for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.

“The goal is basically to create a few access points, and a couple of trails off of them”

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

"Another step has been taken in the plans to open a trail system on the Charles River Meadowlands property when representatives from BETA Group Inc. came last week to survey the land. 

Alan Earls, director of the Charles River Meadowlands Initiative, said the survey work marks the beginning of an effort to flesh out what is possible with a $25,000 grant awarded by the state last year. 

“We’re looking for an assessment by a professional, so we can figure out what is practical in this idea of linking these parcels across three towns,” Earls said of the work being done by BETA, a Norwood-based planning, engineering, design, asset management and construction services company. 

The approximately 900-acre parcel is spread over Franklin, Bellingham and Medway, though the group’s trip into the woods last week only covered a small portion. About 465 acres of the affected land is in Franklin, near the Pond Street area."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181218/survey-work-begins-for-meadowlands-trail-proposal

For more about the Charles River Meadowlands
https://www.charlesrivermeadowlands.org/

Mine Brook seen looking toward i495

Bellingham will get its visit Aug. 22-25, 2019

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

"A three-quarter scale replica of the huge and iconic national Vietnam Veterans Memorial will roll into town next August. 

“I’ve been wanting to do this for 20 years,” said Jim Hastings, who filed the application for the visit. 

The wall replica, managed and maintained by the same organization behind the original – the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund – stops in about 30 communities throughout the country each year. 

It’s called The Wall that Heals, and has been to more than 600 communities since its unveiling in 1996. The first version was built to half-scale of its Washington, D.C., counterpart, but the current model is 375 feet long, and 7.5 feet tall at its highest point."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181213/replica-of-vietnam-memorial-to-visit-bellingham

image from The Wall that Heals page

For more info on the wall please visit http://www.vvmf.org/twth