Blackstone River Theatre - Bike & Blues and Gypsy Star!

Blackstone River Theatre's 5th annual Summer Solstice Festival will feature: Calan (from Wales), Cassie & Maggie MacDonald, RUNA,  The Gothard Sisters, Robbie O'Connell & Dan Milner, The Gnomes, Pendragon, The Vox Hunters with Torrin Ryan, Eastern Medicine Singers, and Will Woods0n & Joey Abarta!    We are now over $2,800 in PRIVATE donations raised for the 2015 Summer Solstice Festival! We now have THREE stage sponsors ... TIR NA NOG IRISH DANCE, NAVIGANT CREDIT UNION, and the BLACKSTONE HERITAGE CORRIDOR, INC.  WE ARE LOOKING FOR   ONE MORE MUSIC STAGE SPONSOR AND ALSO A CHILDREN'S STAGE SPONSOR! We hope YOU can help us too as we strive to make our 5th festival the biggest yet... every small donation adds up!  COMING SOON TO BRT!                    Ongoing   Zumba with April Hilliker on Mondays, 6:30 PM Saturday, May 2, 1-4 PM  BIKE & BLUES THE BLACKSTONE ...Music by Martin Grosswendt, Bertrand Laurence and members of Pendragon Saturday, May 2, 8 PM  GYPSY STAR Saturday, May 9, 8 PM  LONGSHOT VOODOO / CROCODILE RIVER MUSIC DRUM WORKSHOP WITH WEST AFRICAN DRUMMERS 4-5 PM, $10.00  DRUM WORKSHOP AND CONCERT - $18.00 ADVANCE Saturday, May 16, 8 PM  ATWATER-DONNELLY TRIO May 16-May 17, 9 AM to 3 PM  CELTIC STONECARVING CLASS for beginners Friday, May 22, 8 PM    LEGEND TRIPS: An evening of Ghost Stories and New England Legends SOLD OUT!!!  Quick Links... BRT Website     BRT Classes       Directions to BRT BIKE & BLUES THE BLACKSTONE GYPSY STAR Tickets often available at door but to ensure a seat CALL FOR RESERVATIONS 401-725-9272 Please understand that when a show is SOLD OUT, it truly is! We must adhere to fire codes and it truly is not possible to fit "just one more"... especially when we have had several people ask to do the same! If a show at BRT has an advance price & a day-of-show price it means: If you pre-pay OR call in your reservation any time before the show date, you get the advance price. If you show up at the door with no reservations OR call in your reservations on the same day as the show, you will pay the day-of show-price. NOTE for prepaid tickets or if reservations have been made but not pre-paid: If you reduce the number of tickets requested or paid for at the box office on the night of the performance, that ticket must still be paid for! BRT requires 24 hour notice for cancellations or you will be charged for all seats reserved. Dear Steve, Bikes, blues, brews and a Gypsy Star for good measure!   On Saturday, we have a full day as BRT takes part in the 2nd annual Bike and Blues the Blackstone event from 1 to 4 p.m. Then we turn things around for our evening concert featuring the debut of GYPSY STAR from Florida featuring Cumberland native Billy Keen and with Bob Drouin as special guest! Keep your eyes open for Solstice Festival news... the first of which is: The Summer Solstice Festival is June 20 and tickets are on sale at BRT NOW! Please LIKE us on Facebook to get late-breaking news and really expensive gifts. Well, not that last one but definitely the first part... Please share what we do with your friends! www.facebook.com/pages/Blackstone-River-Theatre/165592431396    Hope to see you soon... Russell Gusetti, Executive Director   BIKE AND BLUES THE BLACKSTONE   Grab your helmets and bikes, and get in gear - it's time for the Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc.'s 2nd annual Bike and Blues the Blackstone event! This year's festivities will take place on Saturday, May 2, and is open to bicycle riders of all ages. Join the staff and partners of the Blackstone Heritage Corridor for a fun-filled bike ride through the scenic and historic Blackstone River Valley. Riders can then finish off their afternoon listening to live blues and Celtic artists while tasting regional and craft beers provided by Mendon Wines and More at Blackstone River Theatre. This year participants have three options to enjoy the day. Bicyclists can ride the entire 30-mile course as part of a Craft Brewery Tour and visit three Blackstone Valley breweries along the way: Bucket Brewery, Foolproof Brewing Company and Ravenous Brewing Company. Each brewery will be offering a tour of their facility including a sampling of their own unique brew. If 30 miles and sampling beer is not your thing, bikers can choose to take part in a leisurely ride along the historic Blackstone Canal on the 11-mile Blackstone River Bikeway, enjoying a visit to the Kelley House Museum, viewing the spectacular engineering of the Rt. 116 Viaduct, designed in the 1930s, and also the Pratt Dam where the powerful Blackstone River forges through the "tubes." Either way, at the end of your ride, participants can relax with refreshments, a craft beer tasting, and live music at Blackstone River Theatre performed by blues musicians Martin Grosswendt and Bertrand Laurence and members of the Celtic band Pendragon. Tickets and registration is $30.00 per person; register at www.bikeandbluestheblackstone.org. Check-in begins at 10:30 a.m. at Lonsdale Marsh, 116 John Street, in Lincoln, RI where the course starts. Bike and Blues the Blackstone will end off at Blackstone River Theatre. Music and refreshments at the theatre will go from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Contact Barbara Dixon at bdixon@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org or at 401-765-2211 with any questions about the Bike and Blues event.   EVENT INFO Saturday, May 2, 1-4 P.M.  $30.00 advance reservation  at Blackstone River Theatre 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, R.I. Call 401-765-2211 for reservations  www.bikeandbluestheblackstone.org GYPSY STAR A unique original band from the Tampa Bay area of Florida, Gypsy Star fuses American musical styles of folk, rock, pop and jazz with sounds and rhythms from around the world. Tapping into Latin, Celtic, Renaissance, Mediterranean and Caribbean flavors, Gypsy Star weaves a melodic tapestry of enchanting, uplifting music with acoustic instruments such as classical flamenco guitar and an array of hand percussion and drums. Add to the mix lush strings, dynamic arrangements, haunting vocals and world-beat rhythms complemented by fiery castanets and the percussive footwork of folkloric dance and you've got a cultural feast for the eyes and ears! The mystique behind this American folk-rock band's songs lie at the creative hand of guitarist/composer (and Cumberland native) Billy Keen who combines his own musical roots in rock with an exotic global influence. Vocalist Belinda Brodsky breathes poetry into Keen's tunes with lyrics that capture the essence of ancient tales, modern storytelling and heartfelt sentiments. Along with band members Carol "Corky" Sarao on keyboards, Vail Hayes on drums and dancer Pollyanna Garcia, the result is an inspiring and eclectic experience appealing to both mainstream and world music audiences alike. Join us and follow Gypsy Star as they take you along on a mystical journey to faraway lands through song, rhyme and dance.   EVENT INFO Saturday, May 2, 8 P.M. $13.00 advance / $15.00 day of show  at Blackstone River Theatre 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, R.I. Call 401-725-9272 for reservations  www.riverfolk.org

Forward email to a friend! Blackstone River Theatre | 549 Broad Street | Cumberland | RI | 02864

My wife and I rode on the Blackstone River Park recently. It is a good ride. Nicely flat (along a rail bed) and scenic (along the river and canal)

on the Blackstone River Bike Path near mile 10.5

Tour de Franklin - Saturday's 'reporting by cycling around'

Saturday's 'tour de Franklin' was done via bicycle. So much was happening I could not have walked around in time to catch it all. This was a variation on the theme of 'reporting by walking around'...

I started with the Ladybug 5K at the Kennedy School. Franklin Police had positioned the speed warning sign on Pond St. While stopped to take a couple of photos, it seemed to be an even split between cars meeting the speed limit and those exceeding the speed limit.

Post by Franklin Matters.

Next stop, the yard sale at Franklin Federated Church

Post by Franklin Matters.

Next stop the Library Book Sale

Post by Franklin Matters.

Next stop, not just one Boomer out on the Dean campus, there were two on Saturday

Post by Franklin Matters.

Out to DelCarte to capture some photos and a new video with more sunlight on the autumn colors

Post by Franklin Matters.

Heading out Daniels St, I passed the Hoffman Farm getting ready for hayrides to the pumpkin patch

Post by Franklin Matters.

What wasn't shared with Facebook along the ride you'll get to see first here.

On the Town Common, members of the Franklin Garden Club were caught in the act of their fall clean up. They graciously spent a minute or two away from their hard work to let me capture the photo.

members of the Franklin Garden Club fall cleaning on the flowers around the monuments

The back door to the Guru Restaurant was open. I peeked in to catch a brief confirmation from the carpenter doing some work that Guru is planning to open again. The owner and menu would remain the same. He couldn't provide a timeline on when. So that is good news for those that miss the Indian fare served here.

the back door at Guru

The parking lot behind the Post Office is now paved and parking spot striped. The lot is privately owned and the spaces are to be rented/leased by the Post Office for their vehicles.

parking lot behind the Post Office downtown

There will be additional photos (and the DelCarte video)  to share this week.

Explore MA bike trails and paths

Summer is here, and for cyclists, it’s time to get ready to ride. Cyclists love Massachusetts because of the beautiful scenery and variety of terrain available across the state. 

If you’re new to Massachusetts or to cycling, you’re in luck. The Commonwealth has plenty of great trails and paths to ride.

explore MA bike trails and paths

Follow the link to find a selection of bike trails around MA.
http://blog.mass.gov/blog/recreation/explore-massachusetts-bike-trails-and-paths/

PMC Kids 8th Annual ride - June 15th

Our 8th Annual Kids Ride will be held on Sunday, June 15th at Remington/Jefferson School in Franklin from 8am-Noon. 

Kids ages 3-14 can participate in this bike ride to raise money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. 

Choose your ride: 3, 6 or 10 miles. Children 6 and under can ride on our Tikes and Trikes supervised course.

Register today at http://www.kids.pmc.org/franklin.aspx

PMC Kids ride - June 15th

Rescheduled: Bike Tour of the SNETT

Please note: Due to a scheduling conflict, the Bike Tour of the SNETT has been rescheduled to Saturday, August 24, 2013 from 8:30 to noon.  If you would like to join the tour, please use the registration link below.

+++++++++

The Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee (FBRTC) will host a Guided Bike Tour of the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT).  The tour will begin at the Grove Street trailhead in Franklin, and travel west 7.5 miles to Blackstone to learn about the work being done on the trail.  In Blackstone, you will have a chance to see the bridge rehab construction taking place, including a temporary ramp from Church St down to the RR grade, which will give you an idea of the Purchase Street ramp.  The tour will be led by Mr. Bill DeSantis, Corporate Director Bicycle Pedestrian Transportation of  Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB Engineering).

This event is free, but we ask that you register in advance. Also, parking is available across the street from the trailhead at Grove St.

Register for this event now: www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/calendar/aug-bike-tour

Like Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail on Facebook

Recycling event - May 25

At the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School on Pleasant St in Franklin, MA

recycling event - May 25

Electronic and bicycles

recycle your bicycle

A similar recycling event was held in October 2011
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/10/recycle-electronics-and-bikes-today.html

In the News: Cycling, casino

Cycling is on the rise, but is Mass. serious about sharing the road?

Gas prices are sky high and it beats idling in gridlock. Both the planet and our bodies deserve better than motoring from every Point A to every Point B. Last but not least, it’s fun. Cyclists offer all these reasons and more to explain why their ranks are growing steadily in Massachusetts.

Casino timeline concerns persist in Milford

After receiving an update from the attorney representing the town with the casino proposal, selectmen are still worried whether whether the town will have enough time to adequately examine the impacts.

“When you build it, they come"

In advance of Bay State Bike Week which begins on Saturday, May 11 the Milford Daily News has this article on this transportation area.

Bay State Bike Week

... the state Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced last fall it aims to triple travel by biking, walking and public transit by 2030. It’s not about just accommodating people who bicycle for fun, but recognizing bikes as a form of transportation, said Catherine Cagle, manager of sustainable transportation at MassDOT. 

“We want more of them,” she said. 

But to get more people cycling on a larger scale across eastern Massachusetts, it could take time, more infrastructure and more concentrated efforts to educate people about rules of the road, say transportation advocates and planners. 

Advocates credit the recent expansion of bike lanes, paths and places to lock up bikes in part for the growth of cycling, making it more convenient and safer for more people to hop behind the handlebars.

Read more: http://www.wickedlocal.com/homepage/news/x1213312379/Cycling-is-on-the-rise-but-is-Mass-serious-about-sharing-the-road#ixzz2SPg8MsbY

If the commute to work is more than 30 miles, the amount of time involved would effectively make it not practical for a daily trip. I would like to increase my recreational biking but commuting by bike is really not practical.

What about your situation?  Is the commute to work less than 30 miles? Have you taken your bike?

Save the Date! Bay State Bike Week: May 11-19

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Save the Date! Bay State Bike Week: May 11-19

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 2/27/13

Community groups and bicycling supporters in 2012 hosted more than 150 bicycling events across Massachusetts to celebrate Bay State Bike Week. These diverse, community-based events to show that bicycling can be fun, safe and healthy included organized bike rides, bike breakfasts and even a race to see which mode of transportation can provide the fastest work commute! The challenge pitted a bicycle against a car and transit, spanning a distance of three miles from Davis Square to Kendall Square. Which mode was the quickest? The bicycle of course!

This year, Bay State Bike Week will take place from Saturday, May 11^th thru Sunday, May 19^th.  For the first time, this celebratory week of bicycle friendly activities will include two weekends to extend the opportunity for even more bicycling events.

After last year's Bay State Bike Week, Massachusetts was recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as the 3^rd most "bicycle friendly" state. Ranked 19^th in 2009, this was a significant accomplishment for Massachusetts!

Bay State Bike Week also plays a central role in MassDOT's mode shift goals to triple the levels of bicycling, walking and transit users throughout the Commonwealth by 2030.
Bay Sate Bike Week Sponsors, MassDOT, MassBike and MassRIDES look forward to celebrating another successful Bay State Bike Week across the Commonwealth this May!

Specific event participation and registration information will be posted on the Bay State Bike Week website leading up to May 11^th.For more information, contact Becca Cyr at Rebecca.Cyr@state.ma.us

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Safe Routes to School: Bicycle Poster Contest

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Safe Routes to School: Bicycle Poster Contest

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 2/26/13

MassDOT's Massachusetts Safe Routes to School program is providing the opportunity for 5th grade students across the Commonwealth to participate in a national Bikes Make Life Better poster contest.

The contest supports MassDOT and Safe Routes to School goals by encouraging students to recognize biking as an active and sustainable transportation option that benefits their physical health and community. Saris Cycling Group, a manufacturer of bicycle racks and cycling training products, hosts the contest annually.

Participating schools will submit entries to the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School program by April 1.  A first place winner will be selected to represent the Commonwealth in the national contest and receive a new bike provided by Saris Cycling Group. Second and Third Place winners will receive gear to make their bike ride safer and fun. The Massachusetts first place winner will then compete for the national prize - a chance to attend the 2014 National Bike Summit in Washington DC and an exclusive bicycle parking and tracking system known as The Hub for their school!

Tips & Tools to Participate

• Every entry must be original artwork created by a student who is currently in the 5th grade at a Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Partner location. 
• Poster entries must be related to the contest theme: Bikes Make Life Better. The themed title must also appear on the poster. All words must be spelled correctly.
• Be sure to adhere to the contest's very specific rules for poster design and layout found on the Saris website.
• Invite your SRTS Outreach Coordinator to host a bike safety assembly for your school's 5th grade class. Students can then create posters based on what they learned about bicycling.
• Create buzz about the contest in your classroom by hanging up flyers to promote this exciting opportunity to your 5th grade students!
• A completed permission slip must accompany all entries to be considered for the three state prizes.

Contact Massachusetts Safe Routes to School for more information!

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MassDOT Goal: Triple Bicycling, Transit, Walking

I was curious to see what the percentages worked out to be as the numbers shown in the table below were quite large. The percents don't really change a great deal.

            Biking %      Transit %       Walking %
2010       7.2%           87.9%            4.9%
2020       7.3%           87.8%            4.9%
2030       7.6%           87.5%            4.9%

Granted that even a tiny percentage change requires a change in habit, I was surprised to see that the program would NOT increase the overall amount of walking being done.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

MassDOT Goal: Triple Bicycling, Transit, Walking

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 12/17/12

Secretary and CEO Richard Davey in October announced MassDOTs mode shift goal to triple the distance traveled by our customers through bicycling, transit and walking.  That goal now joins other goals incorporated into MassDOTs GreenDOT Implementation Plan with tasks and indicators.   

MassDOT established the goal to build a more efficient transportation system where fewer of our customers depend on driving alone to get where they are going.  We want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation system and support better public health outcomes by working to give our customers more healthy travel options.

MassDOT will measure our progress on this ambitious mode shift goal using Personal Miles Traveled-distances traveled by all our customers for bicycling, driving, transit and walking in a one year period.  It also measures all the trips taken by our customers, not just work trips which are often the focus in transportation planning.  Measuring the distance traveled by each mode allows MassDOT to see strategic opportunities to improve the travel options for our customers, strengthen the relationship between land use and transportation planning, and draw a link to greenhouse gas emissions.  Goal numbers are listed below.

Year                    Bicycling PMT    Transit PMT    Walking PMT    Total
2010 (baseline)         150.4m                1.83b                101.1m            2.08b
2020 (benchmark)    330.0m                3.99b                223.9m            4.55b
2030 (goal year)        516.m                 5.93b                333.6m            6.78b

Personal Miles Traveled as the goal measurement is effective and maximizes resources available to MassDOT by using data that is already collected from the Federal Highway Administration's Highway Performance Management System, Federal Transit Administration's National Transit Database, and an estimation of bicycling and walking using data from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 
Check out MassDOT's GreenDOT web page for the Implementation Plan and more information.

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St Mary's - Bike collection - Dec 15

St. Mary's Church in Franklin is sponsoring Bikes for Africa on Saturday, December 15th. They are collecting old bikes in the charter school parking lot from 9-2. If you are like us and have all those old bikes nobody rides anymore, this is a perfect opportunity to get rid of them at no cost and help others.

Thanks to Marianne Lonati for sharing this via Facebook!

Good news for the SNETT!

Rail trails or bike trails are trending recently and this article brings more good news. A section of the Southern New England TrunkLine Trail (SNETT) which begins in Franklin and runs west to Palmer, MA will be upgraded as part of this north-south trail between Providence and Worcester!

“The bike trail will be a two-state transportation network between Worcester and Providence,” she said. “Much of the trail in Rhode Island has already been built.” 

According to DiPrete, though, progress on the Massachusetts half of the project, which will eventually run 28 miles, has been slower. The Rhode Island trail is 10 miles long. 

“The Massachusetts end has languished a bit because of environmental challenges along the route,” she said. “We’re hoping we’ll eventually see a bike trail between Worcester and Providence, two of the largest cities in New England.”

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x233634188/Groundbreaking-set-for-Blackstone-River-bike-trail-work#ixzz28t1JJYUS

The Franklin bellingham Citizens Rail Trail Committee is working on the Franklin and Bellingham section of the SNETT. http://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/

The Rhode Island segment mentioned here runs from Woonsocket through Cumberland and Lincoln to Central Falls. This segment runs along the Blackstone River canal and is a very good ride. You can start in Woonsocket at the River Edge athletic fields, or at the rest area on northbound i295 and have a choice of connecting to the trail to ride north or south.

More about the Blackstone River Bikeway can be found on their website
http://www.blackstoneriverbikeway.com/

Bay State Bike Week May 14-20

The bikers among us!

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Bay State Bike Week May 14-20

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 4/5/12

MassDOT invites you to join the 3rd annual Bay State Bike Week set for May 14-20, a week of celebrating bicycle transportation across the Commonwealth.  The MassDOT and MassBike partnership makes Bay State Bike Week a statewide celebration that is unique in the nation. 

Building on the previous two statewide Bike Weeks, MassDOT, MassBike, and MassRIDES, our statewide travel options program, are again collaborating to raise awareness and to encourage bicycling transportation.  Biking is safe, economical, healthy, environmentally friendly, fast, and fun!

Event organizers are asked to submit your event for the website's statewide calendar and can join as a partner to be eligible to receive materials to support your event, including t-shirts, bike bells, reflectors and posters while supplies last.   Last year, Bay State Bike Week included more than 180 events statewide with participation from Orleans to Pittsfield.

May is fast approaching, so start planning now and mark May 14th to May 20th on your calendar for Bay State Bike Week.  Check out the Bay State Bike Week website at baystatebikeweek.org to find information for event organizers and participants.

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In the News - Charles River Trail

For the bicyclists who may use the Upper Charles River Trail in Milford, there is a section closed due to some contamination cleanup. The section will be closed through January, 2012.

Contamination cleanup to close Charles River Trail in Milford

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

REcycle: helping Bikes Not Bombs

There was order and process to the REcycle Club event yesterday at Franklin High School. The end result was 65 bikes and over $200 collected for Bikes Not Bombs!

Bikes that were donated were lined up.



Care was taken to not damage the seat as the peddles were removed and the handle bars turned to make the bikes more compact for shipping



When the bikes were complete they were lined up ready to board the truck



The truck from Bikes Not Bombs arrived and was ready to be loaded



And part of the crew processing the bikes paused briefly from their work for a photo:



From Left to right: Zak Borelli, Cody Williamson, Michael Williams and club leader - Eamon Earls

For more about BikesNotBombs visit their website: http://bikesnotbombs.org/

Community turns out to clean up Milford trail

For those following the development efforts of the Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee, this from neighboring Milford catches the eye. They had the clean up this Saturday in advance of the ribbon cutting to formally open the new section on Sat, Sep 24.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Community turns out to clean up Milford trail

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Brian Benson/Daily News staff on 9/17/11

Armed with brooms, garbage bags and rakes, more than a dozen volunteers descended on the Milford Upper Charles Trail yesterday, adding beauty to the recreational resource.

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Related posts covering the Milford Trail
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/08/upper-charles-trail-milford-section.html

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2009/09/in-new-milford-rail-trail-update.html

Reminder: Bike Recycling

On Saturday, September 17th there will be a used bicycle collection at the Franklin High School parking lot, 218 Oak Street, to benefit charity. The collection runs from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and is sponsored by the Franklin High School RE:Cycles Club to benefit a Boston based charity that provides used bicycles to people in need, in the US and overseas. We are looking for used bike donations as well as money donations to defray the cost of shipping overseas. Bikes Not Bombs, the beneficiaries of the drive, are a 501(c)3 charity, and donors can request a receipt for tax purposes. We are especially in need of adult bikes in reasonable or easily reparable condition. The event will be held, rain or shine.

For more information contact Eamon McCarthy Earls at re_cycles@yahoo.com.

Franklin Citizens Rail Trail - mission statement

An email to members of the Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee:

At the last meeting, we discussed reviewing the FCRTC mission statement and a possible name change for the committee. In advance of our meeting, below is the current FCRTC mission statement for your review. The mission is also posted on the web site at www.franklinrailtrail.org. Also below are sample mission statements from two other area trail groups, and attached is a brief article on the importance of a mission statement.

Hope you can all attend on Sept 13 (7:30 pm at the YMCA in Franklin)
Please let me or Dave know if you have any questions or comments.

Thank you.
Marc 

-------------- 

The Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee (FCRTC) is a non-profit, community based organization that is dedicated to the development of the Southern New England Trunk Trail into a multi-use, recreational path that will link communities and businesses in a safe, healthy and aesthetically pleasing manner. Members of the FCRTC are committed to exploring all private, state and federal funding avenues, to implement all necessary design plans and studies and to develop our multi-use path for non-motorized bikers, joggers, strollers, horse riders and the handicapped. 

Other Sample Statements

Friends of the Bruce Freeman Trail (lowell, sudbury, framingham): 

The Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is a group of citizens working in partnership with state and local governments toward the completion of the proposed rail trail. This is a volunteer group which is active in moving forward the state and federal issues required for the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of the rail trail, fundraising activities and support for rail trail issues at local town meetings. The Friends work to ensure that all the questions, concerns and other issues are addressed by working in concert with neighborhood associations, each town government, and the citizens of the towns. 

Grand Trunk Trailblazers 

The Grand Trunk Trail Blazers is a non-profit 501(c)(3) chartered in 1992. Our goal is to collaborate with local trail groups to establish a non-motorized 60-80 mile East-West trail linking the Blackstone with the Pioneer Valley names "The Titanic Rail Trail".

The Mission Statement article -

FCRTC - Article


The Mission Statement worksheet -

FCRTC - Worksheet

Collecting used bikes

On Saturday, September 17th there will be a used bicycle collection at the Franklin High School parking lot, 218 Oak Street, to benefit charity. The collection runs from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and is sponsored by the Franklin High School RE:Cycles Club to benefit a Boston based charity that provides used bicycles to people in need, in the US and overseas. We are looking for used bike donations as well as money donations to defray the cost of shipping overseas. Bikes Not Bombs, the beneficiaries of the drive, are a 501(c)3 charity, and donors can request a receipt for tax purposes. We are especially in need of adult bikes in reasonable or easily reparable condition. The event will be held, rain or shine.

For more information contact Eamon McCarthy Earls at re_cycles@yahoo.com.