The Franklin Solar Challenge can help you!

Dear Franklin Residents,

Now is the time to go solar!

The Franklin Solar Challenge is in Tier 4 pricing, and only needs a couple more signed contracts to hit the lowest pricing tier, Tier 5!

Franklin Solar Challenge

SolarFlair Energy, the selected installer for the Franklin Solar Challenge, will be holding open houses over the next couple of months, food and soft drinks will be provided, as well as SolarFlair representatives on hand to answer your questions. The Open House dates and times are listed below.

• Feldman Residence 
• June 7th 10AM-2PM 
• 37 Meadowbrook Rd. 
• Franklin, MA 

• Patel Residence 
• June 20th 11AM-3PM 
• 476 Maple St. 
• Franklin, MA 

• D'Attilio Residence 
• July 12th 11AM-3PM 
• 55 Gallison St. 
• Franklin, MA 

• Prewitt Residence 
• July 18th 11AM-3PM 
• 17 Sunset Rd. 
• Franklin, MA

Although it has been a tough winter, SolarFlair has been installing systems on the homes of the first customers that signed up in the Franklin Solar Challenge. Four residents of Franklin have been so kind and agreed to let other residents come by and check out their solar installation!

This is a great importunity for those of you who have a proposal, to witness first hand the high quality workmanship that SolarFlair provides, and speak to the homeowners about their experience with SolarFlair.

For those who have a signed contract under the Franklin Solar Challenge, you are welcome to come and see what your new system will look like!

Franklin Public Schools: Upcoming Events

A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

FHS Curriculum Night on September 30 

Follow your FHS students' schedule and experience HS all over again

Remington / Jefferson Challenge

2K or 5K road race and complete SPARTAN Obstacle CourseSunday 10/5 at 10:45  at Remington/Jefferson       Races begin at 11:00Two Obstacle Courses ( 1 for adults and 1 for children)Great snacks and food available
See Remington/Jefferson web site and click onto PCC

 

Downtown Harvest Festival Sunday October 5^th 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Food, entertainment and fun- see Downtown Partnership web site for event schedule and sponsor list

JFK Ladybug Race

Kennedy School fun run on October 27^th  at 9:30 a.m.See JFK PCC web site for details

 

This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message.

To save searching for the sites mentioned here they are:

Remington Jefferson Challenge

Visit this page for more info and to register
http://teacherweb.com/MA/RemingtonMiddleSchoolPCC/RemingtonPCC/apt19.aspx

Ladybug 5K Road Race

Visit this page for more info and to register
http://www.ladybug5k.com/

The Franklin Downtown Partnership has more info about the Harvest Festival on their page here
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/

Franklin Solar Challenge - meeting documents

The flyer available for those attending the Franklin Solar Challenge meeting on Wednesday, Sep 10 is available here:





The presentation used by SolarFlair can be viewed here




My notes from the meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/09/franklin-solar-challenge-solarflair.html

and here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/09/franklin-solar-challenge-next-step.html

The solar farm under construction at Mount St Mary's Abbey in 2013

If you would like to explore joining the Franklin Solar Challenge, you can find out more with the Franklin Planning and Community Development Dept.
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/initiatives/solarize.pdf

Reminder: Franklin Solar Challenge update - Sep 10 - vendor to be announced

Friendly reminder:

All:  The Town has received proposals from six Solar Panel Installation Companies for the Franklin Solar Challenge project.  I am working with a Proposal Review Committee made up of four Town residents who volunteered to review the proposals and interview the solar installation companies. Interviews took place today (September 3rd) and the Proposal Review Committee has identified two finalist. The Committee will conduct further review of the two finalists to assure the Town chooses the solar installation company that is right for the Franklin Solar Challenge project.  Both companies are well qualified and have implemented similar projects in other Massachusetts communities.

Which ever solar installation company is chosen for the Franklin Solar Challenge they will be in attendance at a meeting on September 10th at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 355 East Central Street. The company will provide specifics about their company and general information on solar panel installation costs and the different options available.

I hope all interested residents and small businesses are able to attend next week's meeting.  If not able to attend next week there will be many other opportunities in the near future to obtain the same information, including at the Harvest Festival on October 5th. Either way, the solar installation company chosen by the Town will begin contacting all individuals that previously provided the Town with contact information.   

In addition to the solar installation company chosen for the Franklin Solar Challenge, a partnering energy audit company will be in attendance at next week's meeting.  It is not required, but strongly recommended that all property owners considering solar panels first have a free energy audit performed. Additional information will be provided at next week's meeting. 

I look forward to working with the Town's residents and small businesses on the Franklin Solar Challenge project.  

Bryan W. Taberner, AICP

Director of Planning and Community Development

355 East Central Street

Franklin, MA 02038-1352

Phone: 508-520-4907

Fax: 508-520-4906

Email: btaberner@franklin.ma.us

Mt St Mary's solar farm when it was under construction during Aug 2013

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This email is intended for municipal / educational use only and must comply with the Town of Franklin and Franklin Public School's policies and state/federal laws. Under Massachusetts Law, any email created or received by an employee of The Town of or Franklin Public Schools is considered a public record.  All email correspondence is subject to the requirements of M.G.L. Chapter 66. This email may contain confidential and privileged material for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review or distribution by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient please contact the sender and delete all copies.

Are you ready for a photo challenge?

There are lots of gardens in Franklin; both flower and vegetable. 

Take a photo of something growing. Post it or email it to me. Tag with #franklingrows 

I'll collect them and share them all this weekend. Submit the photo by Friday Aug 1 and they'll be shared on Sun Aug 3.

full photo

Instagram cropped version:

Annual "Fight Hunger" Paintball Challenge 2013

Where: FOX 4 Paintball Field - 159 Milford Street, Upton, MA 01568

Email: Dave Painter (dave@fox4paintball.com)

Phone: 508-529-FOX4 (3694)

When: Saturday, September, 21^st 2013

Time: 9:00am to 4:00pm

RAIN OR SHINE!

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!!

A raffle for a Paintball rifle

A portion of the admission price will be donated to the Franklin Food Pantry.

We will be taking contributions of Non-Perishable items and Dry Goods the day of the event.

Donations can also be made directly to the drop off box at:

Franklin Food Pantry
43 West Central Street
P.O. Box 116
Franklin, MA 02038-0116
Telephone: 508-528-3115

Letter from Peter Light, FHS Principal

Greetings:

Today, Franklin High School introduced a program, Rachel's Challenge, to high school students during classes. The introduction was designed to provide students with background information about this program which will be conducted Wednesday during school. The program is sensitive in nature as it deals directly with issues surrounding school violence and how students within a school and community treat each other. Counselors were available today and will be available throughout the week to work with high school students in processing information presented through this program.

I would also like to extend a personal invitation for parents to join Franklin High School and the greater Franklin Community to attend Rachel’s Challenge . A parent/ community program will take place this Wednesday, September 22 at 7:00 p.m. in the Horace Mann Auditorium.

Rachel’s Challenge was founded by Darrell Scott, father of Rachel Scott. Rachel was the first victim to be killed in the Columbine High School tragedy on April 20, 1999. Rachel’s Challenge is a tribute to Rachel Scott and her enduring message that you can change the world by treating others with compassion and kindness.

The development of a positive and safe school culture, one that fosters the acceptance of all students and provides a nurturing environment, is the single greatest responsibility we have to our children. Rachel’s Challenge provides us as a community with tools to combat bullying, prevent school violence and simply create the best environment we can for our youth. The inspirational live presentation lasts approximately one hour and has been viewed by millions throughout the United States, Germany and South America. Rachel’s Challenge has been recognized in numerous national forums and by two United States Presidents for its effectiveness and impact on all who see it. For more information, you may visit the Rachel’s Challenge website at: http://www.rachelschallenge.org

I invite you to join Franklin High School as we embark upon our journey and I hope to see you this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the Horace Mann Auditorium.

Regards,

Peter Light

Principal

Franklin High School

Franklin, MA

"A key challenge is the fundamental structure of the K-12 education establishment."

Continuing to entice you to dive in and read the 2010 Horizon Report: K12 Edition:

• A key challenge is the fundamental structure of the K-12 education establishment. As long as maintaining the basic elements of the existing system remains the focus of efforts to support education, there will be resistance to any profound change in practice. Learners have increasing opportunities to take their education into their own hands, and options like informal education, online education, and home-based learning are attracting students away from traditional educational settings. If the system is to remain relevant it must adapt, but major change comes hard in education.

Many activities related to learning and education take place outside the walls of the classroom — but these experiences are often undervalued or unacknowledged. Beyond the classroom walls, students can take advantage of online resources, explore ideas and practice skills using games and other programs they may have on systems at home, and interact with their extensive — and constantly available — social networks. Within the classroom, learning that incorporates real life experiences like these is not occurring enough and is too often undervalued when it does take place. This challenge is an important one in K-12 schools, because it results in a lack of engagement in learning on the part of students who are seeking some connection between their world, their own lives, and their experience in school.

These trends and challenges are having a profound effect on the way we experiment with, adopt, and use emerging technologies. These aspects of the world that surround and permeate education serve as a frame for considering the probable impacts of the emerging technologies listed in the sections that follow.

Franklin, MA

"there is little agreement as to what a new model of education might look like"

Continuing to entice you to dive in and read the 2010 Horizon Report: K12 Edition:

• Many policy makers and educators believe that deep reform is needed, but at the same time, there is little agreement as to what a new model of education might look like. It is difficult to envision profound change in a system as firmly established as K-12 education is today. Proponents of change promote more learner-centered approaches; open content; programs for continuing teacher professional development in partnership with higher education institutions; and the use of social networking tools to increase access to peers and professionals for both teachers and students, but not everyone is in agreement. Opinions also differ on how to make (and measure) progress at all and whether it is better to build success slowly, using pilots and small proof-of-concept classrooms, or to push for rapid and radical change on a broader scale.

Franklin, MA

"Students are different, but educational practice and the materials that support it are changing only slowly"

Continuing to entice you to dive in and read the 2010 Horizon Report: K12 Edition:

• Students are different, but educational practice and the materials that support it are changing only slowly. Schools are still using materials developed to teach the students of decades ago, but today’s students are actually very different in the way they think and work. Schools need to adapt to current student needs and identify new learning models that are engaging to younger generations. Many education professionals feel that a shift to a more learner-centered model focused on the development of individual potential instead of the imposition of a body of knowledge would lead to deeper and more sustained learning across the curriculum. To support such a change, both teaching practice and the tools used in the classroom must adapt. Assessment has also not kept pace with new modes of working, and must change along with teaching methods, tools, and materials.

Franklin, MA

"Digital media literacy continues its rise in importance as a key skill in every discipline and profession"

Continuing to entice you to dive into a reading of the 2010 Horizon Report: K12:

Along with current trends, the Advisory Board notes critical challenges that schools face, especially those that are likely to continue to affect education over the five-year time period covered by this report. Like the trends, these are drawn from a careful analysis of current events, papers, articles, and similar sources, as well as from the personal experience of the Advisory Board members in their roles as leaders in education and technology. Those challenges ranked as most significant in terms of their impact on teaching, learning, and creative inquiry in the coming years are listed here, in the order of importance assigned them by the Advisory Board.

• Digital media literacy continues its rise in importance as a key skill in every discipline and profession. The challenge is due to the fact that despite the widespread agreement on its importance, training in digital literacy skills and techniques is rare in teacher education and school district professional development programs. As teachers begin to realize that they are limiting their students by not helping them to develop and use digital media literacy skills across the curriculum, the lack of formal training is being offset through professional development or informal learning, but we are far from seeing digital media literacy as a norm. This challenge is exacerbated by the fact that digital literacy is less about tools and more about thinking, and thus skills and standards based on tools and platforms have proven to be somewhat ephemeral.

Franklin, MA

Time to wake up on obesity

There are a number of problems in this world but many of them pale in comparison with obesity.

Franklin's budget problem is minor. The trash fee is minuscule.

Jamie Oliver gave this talk at TED recently. It is a powerful and yet easy message to take a step on. Today.

Powerful? Wait until you see the wheelbarrow!



What are you going to do?
When are you going to start?

The groups formed "walking school buses"

By Michelle Laczkoski/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted May 07, 2009 @ 12:03 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

Dodging puddles and raindrops yesterday morning, crowds of students took to the streets in the state's third annual Walk to School Day.

Rather than driving down Oak Street yesterday morning, Alexandra Thomas walked her children, Cameron and Lily, to Oak Elementary School.

"It was a little chilly, but we did it, it was a team effort," Thomas said.

The young students seemed to grasp the mission of the event.

"It's good exercise and I wanted to help the Earth," said Cameron, a fifth-grader.

The event is put on by MassRIDES, the state's travel options service under the Executive Office of Transportation, as part of the state's Safe Routes to School program. It emphasizes the importance of increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion and concern for the environment.

Read the full article about this walk to school day in the Milford Daily News here

40% of urban travel is for trips 2 miles or less. 90% of those trips are by car. Consider taking Clif Bar's Two Mile Challenge. Read about this effort to increase exercise and reduce pollution here

Franklin Area Climate Team - Meeting - 6/26/08

The Franklin Area Climate Team will hold its next meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the First Unitarian Society, 262 Chestnut St.

Combining the effort of residents of Franklin, Norfolk, Wrentham, Bellingham, Medway and other towns, the team works to make changes in local towns and homes to stop global warming.

Plans include organizing local actions such as the Environmental Protection Agency's Community Energy Challenge or the Massachusetts Climate Action Network's Low Carbon Living or "LoCal" program, which is being adopted in communities around the Boston area.

For more information on the LoCal team challenge, see massclimateaction.net/low-carbon-living.html.

All are welcome to show enthusiasm and ideas to help stop climate change at the local level.