In the News - rain gardens

Garden to clean stormwater in Franklin

by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff


Additional information on the Charles River clean up can be found here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/06/costs-of-charles-river-cleanup.html


Franklin, MA

The costs of Charles River cleanup

“If the EPA moves forward with this plan, it will devastate the businesses in Milford, Franklin and Bellingham,’’ said Jack Lank, president of the United Regional Chamber of Commerce, which includes Franklin and Bellingham. “The cost is going to kill small businesses.’’

The EPA is calling for local businesses to cut the levels of phosphorus in runoff by 65 percent in five years.

The agency is holding a public hearing on its proposal Tuesday at the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School in Franklin. Officials will summarize the program from 6 to 7 p.m., and at 7:30 p.m. will take testimony from audience members, according to an EPA announcement.

Read the full article in the Boston Globe West edition here:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2010/06/20/anxiety_rises_over_costs_of_river_cleanup/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Globe+West

Additional information on the EPA proposal can be found here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/06/epa-storm-water-proposal-information.html

Cost to businesses:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/04/cost-to-businesses-estimated-71-million.html

The EPA Charles River website:
http://www.epa.gov/region1/charles/index.html


Franklin, MA

Spruce Pond - Building Blue (presentation doc)

The presentation document used on Monday May 24, 2010 is available here:

CRWA Pres 20100524

View more presentations from Franklin Matters.

Franklin, MA

Spruce Pond - Building Blue

The Charles River Watershed Association presentation on Monday evening (May 24) covered a study of the Spruce Pond area in Franklin. Spruce Pond is visible along King St and runs above ground behind Parmenter and portions eventually run in an underground culvert through the Fletcher St fields on their way to Mine Brook and eventually to the Charles River.

Background information on the project can be found on the CRWA page here
http://www.crwa.org/projects/blue_franklin.html

The map above outlines in the yellowish lines the area of the study along Spruce Pond and related streams.

Some of the work scheduled to be done this summer as Wachusetts St is rebuilt will include some waste water treatment on the grounds of the Parmenter School. Some of the run off from the street will flow into a rain garden on the grassy area in front of the school.

-------
Yes, the meeting was broadcast but the recording failed so it is not available for review. The presentation document is available here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/06/spruce-pond-building-blue-presentation.html


Franklin, MA

Charles River Watershed Assoc - Live broadcast

The live broadcast of the presentation and discussion began at 7:00 PM and ended a little after 8:00 PM. Unfortunately due to some technical difficulty, it is not available for rebroadcast.

Free live streaming by Ustream


Franklin, MA

Tough choices

Water, the essence of life versus Downtown, where some go to live it up

1 - On May 12 you get to make a choice.

a - The EPA is holding a public information session at Tri-County to help businesses understand the new proposed requirements for treating storm water. Franklin, Bellingham and Milford are part of a pilot process that is estimated to cost $70 million dollars. The amount would be shared by businesses large and small, as well as the town governments.

b - Also that night, the plans for the Downtown Revitalization Project will be presented and open for discussion at the Franklin Municipal Bldg.

2 - On May 24th you get to make another choice between water and money

a - Monday night, the open forum on the Franklin override vote for $3 million dollars will be held at the Horace Mann/Thomas Mercer Auditorium at 7:00 PM. Members of Town Council, School Committee amongst others will be available for questions and discussion on the budget details.

b - Also that same night at the same time in the Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of the Municipal Bldg, the Charles River Watershed Association will make a presentation on a storm water management plan to reduce phosphorus from the Spruce Pond Brook sub-basin.


It is a fact that you can live longer without food than you can without water.

Clean water requires money.

In this tough economy, forcing businesses in Franklin (Bellingham, Milford) to compete at a disadvantage against the communities in the rest of the state just doesn't seem fair.

Yet the money discussion on the override is important.

Where should our priorities be?

Couldn't the calendar have been better managed to avoid a conflict?


Franklin, MA

There be tires!

It starts with one person. Dave Dobrzynski, local coordinator for the Charles River Watershed Cleanup activities. Dave is at the Whole Foods Market in Bellingham, handing out t-shirts, coordinating assignments for the 300 plus volunteers working to clean the junk along the Charles.

He gets off the phone and says, I have a story for you. The BSA Venture Crew 22 has just pulled 125 tires from along Mine Brook to fill a dumpster at the VFW Post on Pond St. Dave had talked with Brutus Cantoreggi earlier to get a dumpster positioned there and to have a Bobcat clear out some of the prickly underbrush to enable volunteers to get in close to the brook. All that was successful! Dave adds: "A special thanks also to Ken Gormley in the Highway Division of the Franklin DPW for handling all the logistics of getting me the dumpster and clearing out the brush for us."

I headed to the VFW Post 3402 on Pond St.

As I approach, the parking lot has a bunch of cars, a full dumpster, and there is a group of folks with the Charles River clean up blue t-shirts.

Linda Rafuse, leads the Venture Crew. This group was founded about four years ago, has had up to 28 members and currently has 12, half of whom should up to do the volunteer work today.

The work wasn't easy. The tires and other junk has accumulated over the years. Some of the tires actually has small trees growing around or in them.

The photo on the left is deceptive but there is a slope down from the area on the parking lot to the wet lands long Mine Brook.

The work was dirty as evidenced by this close up of Laura Rafuse's jeans.

They used to be a nice clean blue. Not now, after moving the tires and junk up they are filthy!

Yes, there be tires. 125 of them by their count.


I'll validate that the dumpster is indeed full.


Great work folks!



Here is the happy group: (from left to right, front row: David Johnson, Linda Rafuse, Larry Bederian - VPW Post Comander; from left to right, back row: Laura Rafuse, Eric Harden, Robert Marini, Erica Pollock, Nadia Johnson, and Chris Johnson)

Great work folks, Mine Brook thanks you!


If you are between 14 and 20 and would like to join the BSA Venture Crew, you can find additional information on their activities on Facebook here
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15419337901

and here
http://www.americantowns.com/ma/franklin/organization/bsa-venture-crew-22

"Unfortunately it's the nature of the society we live in"

Q: How did it feel to win the award?

A: I was kind of surprised when I got the phone call because I know they've had some volunteers for many years ... I was very pleased, surprised and honored.

Read the full article here:

Q&A with Charles River volunteer David Dobrzynski

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News correspondent 

Related posts:


http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/03/david-dobrzynski-of-franklin-recognized.html


http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/04/charles-river-watershed-cleanup-42410.html

Charles River Watershed Cleanup - 4/24/10

Are you looking to make a real difference in your community? If so, join a group or form your own to clean up trash throughout the Charles River Upper Watershed. You will be helping us improve the appearance and health of the waterways in our region.

If you live in the Upper Watershed please consider volunteering a few hours of your time to help us protect this unique and valuable natural resource. The large majority of our the cleanup sites are land-based, but we have a few on-water sites for experienced paddlers who can supply their own canoe or kayak. 

Did you know? The Charles River stretches for more than 80 miles from Hopkinton to Boston. It originates and flows for nearly 37 miles here in the Upper Watershed. In our region alone the Charles is fed by 45+ miles of waterways including seven major tributary rivers, brooks, and streams.

WHEN: Saturday, April 24, 2010
TIME:  9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon


WHERE: Charles River Upper Watershed - Ashland, Bellingham, Dover, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Medfield, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millis, Norfolk, Sherborn, Wrentham.


The volunteer check-in site will be located in front of Whole Foods Market in Bellingham, MA. Stop by to get directions to your assigned site, collect your cleanup supplies and receive a free t-shirt. We encourage you to sign up in advance by using the contact information below.


CONTACT: David Dobrzynski
Upper Watershed Volunteer Coordinator


EMAIL: CRWAvolunteer@gmail.com

You can view the flyer for this event here:

Hold the date for the Charles River Watershed Cleanup!

Are you looking to make a real difference in your community? If so, join a group or form your own to clean up trash throughout the Charles River Upper Watershed. You will be helping us improve the appearance and health of the waterways in our region.

If you live in the Upper Watershed please consider volunteering a few hours of your time to help us protect this unique and valuable natural resource. The large majority of our the cleanup sites are land-based, but we have a few on-water sites for experienced paddlers who can supply their own canoe or kayak. 

Did you know? The Charles River stretches for more than 80 miles from Hopkinton to Boston. It originates and flows for nearly 37 miles here in the Upper Watershed. In our region alone the Charles is fed by 45+ miles of waterways including seven major tributary rivers, brooks, and streams.

WHEN: Saturday, April 24, 2010
TIME:  9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon


WHERE: Charles River Upper Watershed - Ashland, Bellingham, Dover, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Medfield, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millis, Norfolk, Sherborn, Wrentham.


The volunteer check-in site will be located in front of Whole Foods Market in Bellingham, MA. Stop by to get directions to your assigned site, collect your cleanup supplies and receive a free t-shirt. We encourage you to sign up in advance by using the contact information below.


CONTACT: David Dobrzynski
Upper Watershed Volunteer Coordinator


EMAIL: CRWAvolunteer@gmail.com

You can view the flyer for this event here:

David Dobrzynski of Franklin - recognized by CRWA

The 2009 CRWA Stewarship Award recipients are Ken Moraff, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Mary Griffin, MA Department of Fish & Game; Richard Claytor, Horsley Witten Group; volunteer David Dobrzynski of Franklin ; and volunteer Maureen Febiger of Wellesley

I'll second the motion!

David has been a good volunteer and advocate for the Charles River Watershed Assoc. I met him last year at Whole Foods in Bellingham as he coordinated the efforts of the volunteers to cleanup. He has provided the early alert on the clean up day this year.

Way to go David!

Read the full article on the Charles River Watershed Assoc event planned for Mar 31, 2010 here.

Hold the date for the Charles River Watershed Cleanup!

Are you looking to make a real difference in your community? If so, join a group or form your own to clean up trash throughout the Charles River Upper Watershed. You will be helping us improve the appearance and health of the waterways in our region.

If you live in the Upper Watershed please consider volunteering a few hours of your time to help us protect this unique and valuable natural resource. The large majority of our the cleanup sites are land-based, but we have a few on-water sites for experienced paddlers who can supply their own canoe or kayak. 

Did you know? The Charles River stretches for more than 80 miles from Hopkinton to Boston. It originates and flows for nearly 37 miles here in the Upper Watershed. In our region alone the Charles is fed by 45+ miles of waterways including seven major tributary rivers, brooks, and streams.

WHEN: Saturday, April 24, 2010
TIME:  9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon


WHERE: Charles River Upper Watershed - Ashland, Bellingham, Dover, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Medfield, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millis, Norfolk, Sherborn, Wrentham.


The volunteer check-in site will be located in front of Whole Foods Market in Bellingham, MA. Stop by to get directions to your assigned site, collect your cleanup supplies and receive a free t-shirt. We encourage you to sign up in advance by using the contact information below.


CONTACT: David Dobrzynski
Upper Watershed Volunteer Coordinator


EMAIL: CRWAvolunteer@gmail.com

You can view the flyer for this event here:

In the News - Garelick, Dean

According to a press release issued today by the DEP, a DEP investigation found Garelick operating its wastewater pretreatment system with improper staff coverage.

Additionally, the company discharged pollutants into the Charles River Pollution Control District, a wastewater treatment facility.

DEP fines Franklin's Garelick $15,000

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc.

--------------

Q: When will it be finished?

A: Kelly: This fall. When they return (on Labor Day), we'll be feeding them in the dining room.

Work progresses on new Dean College building

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

Hold the date for the Charles River Watershed Cleanup!

Are you looking to make a real difference in your community? If so, join a group or form your own to clean up trash throughout the Charles River Upper Watershed. You will be helping us improve the appearance and health of the waterways in our region.

If you live in the Upper Watershed please consider volunteering a few hours of your time to help us protect this unique and valuable natural resource. The large majority of our the cleanup sites are land-based, but we have a few on-water sites for experienced paddlers who can supply their own canoe or kayak. 

Did you know? The Charles River stretches for more than 80 miles from Hopkinton to Boston. It originates and flows for nearly 37 miles here in the Upper Watershed. In our region alone the Charles is fed by 45+ miles of waterways including seven major tributary rivers, brooks, and streams.

WHEN: Saturday, April 24, 2010
TIME:  9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon


WHERE: Charles River Upper Watershed - Ashland, Bellingham, Dover, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Medfield, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millis, Norfolk, Sherborn, Wrentham.


The volunteer check-in site will be located in front of Whole Foods Market in Bellingham, MA. Stop by to get directions to your assigned site, collect your cleanup supplies and receive a free t-shirt. We encourage you to sign up in advance by using the contact information below.


CONTACT: David Dobrzynski
Upper Watershed Volunteer Coordinator


EMAIL: CRWAvolunteer@gmail.com

You can view the flyer for this event here:

"won't have to raise money"

State Rep. Jim Vallee, D-Franklin, said he was proud to be an advocate for the grant.

"The Charles River Pollution Control District does a very good job, they're recognized as a cutting edge, state-of-the-art water treatment facility," he said. "But they are in need of upgrading their systems for energy efficiency and keeping up with technology."

Read the full article about the grant just received by the Charles River Pollution District in the Milford Daily News here

This will help Franklin and the other towns that are part of the District. There are major expenses coming for required improvements to reduce the phosphor being discharged into the Charles River. You can review the most recent presentation to the Town Council here.

"one of the most heavily used waterways in the country"

By Heather McCarron/Daily News staff
Milford Daily News
Posted May 31, 2009 @ 10:29 PM
WRENTHAM —

While water quality in the Charles River has improved significantly since the Clean Charles River Initiative began in 1995, there is still work to be done.

State Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham, is part of a new legislative team charged with making recommendations on lingering river issues.

Brown, the assistant minority whip, was recently appointed to the Charles River Water Quality Commission by Senate Minority Leader Richard R. Tisei. The commission will investigate the water quality of the Charles River and determine what further improvements are needed to bring it to a consistently safe level for swimming - particularly in the most heavily populated area on the Boston end of the river.

"It's going to be interesting," Brown said, noting that the Charles River "obviously affects my district."

There are 35 towns within the river's watershed, including Franklin, Millis, Needham, Norfolk, Wellesley, Wrentham, Natick, Sherborn and Wayland in Brown's district. Other area towns in the watershed include Ashland, Bellingham, Foxborough, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Medfield, Medway, Mendon and Milford.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Charles River Cleanup Heros!

This group came back to refresh supplies to clean up the Charles River Watershed, originally uploaded by shersteve.

This group of four came back to refresh their supplies to clean up the Charles River Watershed during the special clean up today.

In green t-shirts left to right (If I have the order correctly) Michelle, Shawn, Alex, and Melisa. David Dobrzynski wore the yellow t-shirt and was coordinating the activities at the Whole Foods in Bellingham.

Thanks for the work you did today!

PS - If I have the order incorrect, please let me know and I can make the change.

Updated to properly identify Shawn and Alex.