FBRTC - Spring Trial Cleanup - April 17 is Cancelled

Spring Trail Cleanup

Due to the weather the cleanup has been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date.  

FBRTC - Spring Trial Cleanup - April 17 is Cancelled

“We’re used to it so we don’t think much of it"

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

"As most work places shut their doors, employees adjust to working from home and consumers get used to once-weekly shopping trips with face coverings and gloves, one South Shore business is working overtime to make sure airplanes, grocery stores and other essential spaces are still safe for the public: Clean Harbors.

“As it hit hot spots, so did we,” Clean Harbors Senior Vice President Chuck Geer said. “Our movements really did mimic the COVID-19 spread and our responses have spiked almost simultaneously with the virus cases.”

Clean Harbors is one of the nation’s leaders in decontamination, and has been for decades. The Norwell-based business has responded after major events such as the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the Gulf Oil Spill, as well as the swine flu spread and H1N1 scare, but as is true for most businesses, a pandemic is new territory.

“It’s completely new to us, America hasn’t seen a true pandemic like this and neither have we,” Geer said Tuesday. “But really, there are a lot of similarities between this kind of clean up and any type of infectious waste. . . The chemicals we use to destroy the virus may change up, but really it’s the same principal.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200422/massachusetts-company-clean-harbors-leads-decontamination-response-nationwide-during-coronavirus-pandemic

https://www.cleanharbors.com/

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day

The Town of Franklin Recreation Department and the DPW are organizing an Earth Day clean clean up this week! We have modified our traditional approach to Earth Day, and are asking volunteers to help pick up trash in key areas across town, on their own.

See Earth Day 2020 map here
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/2020_earth_day.pdf

When: 

• Thursday, April 23, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• Saturday, April 25, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM 

(no bags available on Friday, April 24th due to weather forecast)

Where: 

• Pick up bags and gloves at Franklin Recreation Department at 275 Beaver Street in the parking lot.

We ask all volunteers to practice social distancing and wear protective masks and gloves when picking up bags and collecting trash. 

Please only take 2 per family to ensure we have enough for all participants. 

Once bags are filled with trash, we ask that you tie them up and leave on the side of the curb in a visible location. 

DPW workers will be picking up bags on Monday, April 27. 

Let's help clean up Franklin safely and responsibly. For more information or to contact us, please email: franklinrecreation@franklinma.gov

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pvG-VZZfAbBa5GJOWLwb3-SItQEMg2Ng/view?usp=sharing

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day

Earth day clean up at DelCarte - April 25 - Canceled

"It is with mixed emotion I announce the cancellation of the Earth Day Clean Up at DelCarte scheduled for Saturday, April 25.  

The Conservation Commission fully understands the current situation with COVID-19 and the effect it is having on all in Franklin and around the world.

We will not place any resident at risk for the sake of any event.

We hope to celebrate Earth Day next year and will make best efforts in the meantime to keep DelCarte one of the Town's Crown Jewels.

We wish you all good health.


William Batchelor

Chairman
Conservation Commission

Shared from the Facebook post:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1551606135109407/permalink/2566887723581238/

the floating walkway at DelCarte recently

"We really want to make sure people do not panic, wash their hands and do the simple things they can do”

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

"Although nobody in the community has been reported ill with the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, the town is looking to allay any concerns -- and take preventative action -- by wiping its municipal spaces clean.

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen said Franklin has engaged the services of an independent vendor to sanitize the town’s public buildings over this weekend as a precaution.

From the municipal building to the senior center and library, to public spaces of the police and fire departments, officials want to ensure that residents feel confident when they need to stop in at town buildings amidst concerns about COVID-19.

“It feels like a step to take when you can say we have a new baseline,” Hellen said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200307/franklin-to-sanitize-public-buildings-over-weekend

The audio of the recent Board of Health meeting can be found here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/03/fm-216-board-of-health-meeting-march-4.html

Coronavirus Information Portal
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/03/attention-franklin-coronavirus.html 

"We really want to make sure people do not panic, wash their hands and do the simple things they can do”

Franklin Public Library Closed Monday, December 16 Through Wednesday, December 18

Franklin Public Library Closed Monday, December 16 Through Wednesday, December 18

The Franklin Public Library will be closed on Monday, December 16 through Wednesday, December 18, 2019 for the cleaning of its brick hallways on the first floor. 

All fines will be waived on materials returned during that week. Items on the hold shelf will be made available for pickup for an additional three days. Museum passes reserved for those dates may be picked up by Sunday, December 15. 

For more information, please contact Library Director Felicia Oti at 508-520-4941 or foti@franklinma.gov


You might be asking "Why close now?"
This period is actually a slower period. Folks are busy preparing for the holidays. Once on school break, the Library will be a busy place so they want to get the work done now.

Why close the Library to clean the floors?
Two of the entrances have brick walkways. Even if they shut both those doors, that would only leave one door open. Not good for safety sake. As part of the cleaning process they also need ventilation and while the library has windows, they don't open. So the doors, fans, and tubes need to be used to ventilate and it would be nosier and inconvenient.

cleaning of its brick hallways

cleaning of its brick hallways 2

Earth Day - Beaver Pond - Sat, Apr 27 - 9 AM

For over 10 years, the Town of Franklin has conducted this event in an effort to educate the public on recycling, beautification, and general clean up of the town.

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd throughout the United States. Franklin will host our own Earth Day on Saturday April 27th at Beaver Pond from 9:00 AM - Noon.

We'll start at 9 AM with bagels and coffee and assigning clean up locations to all the volunteers. We have some kid friendly locations that are at parks and playgrounds. We also have some adult friendly locations along the edge of streets (Washington/Grove) that could really use a clean up. Not sure who litters anymore? But, we'll do our best to pick it all up. 

We will hand out trash bags and gloves to all the volunteers and ask that they leave them curbside for our DPW to pick up after the event. 

At 12:00 PM, we'll ask everyone to return back to Beaver Pond for a volunteer appreciation pizza lunch. We'll hand out community service certificates to all the HS kids that need them. Lets all pitch in to clean up Franklin!

Earth Day - Beaver Pond - Sat, Apr 27 - 9 AM

Franklin dog park cleanup canceled due to weather

Franklin dog park clean up for this Saturday, October 27 has been canceled due to weather. As of now, no new date has been decided.

Franklin dog park at Dacey Field

The Furry Friends of the Franklin Dog Park can use your help

The volunteer committee of the Furry Friends of the Franklin Dog Park are having a major clean up on October 27 from 8 AM to noon. Franklin DPW will be there with equipment to upgrade the surface of the dog park. 

"Dog park will be closed from 8 AM to Noon"

Volunteers needed to help spread the new wool chips. Students bring your paper work to receive your credit for community service. 

We need wheel barrows, shovels and rakes. 
Refreshments will be there for anyone that helps. 
We are a volunteer dog park group.

The Franklin dog park at Dacey Field on a sunny summer day

Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee - October Events

View this email in your browser Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee October Events There is plenty going on this month with the FBRTC. Check out the events below for more information. We hope to see you this month at one of the events or on the trail! FBRTC Monthly Meeting Tuesday, October 9th 7:30pm - 9:00pm Franklin YMCA Our monthly will be held on Tuesday, October 9  from 7:30-9:00 PM at the Franklin YMCA. The meeting is open to all as we are always looking for new members and fresh ideas. More info Pop-Up StoryWalk® October 11th - 16th 200 Center St, Bellingham Visit the SNETT from October 11th - 16th for the Pop-Up StoryWalk® featuring the book Amelia Bedelia Hits The Trail! More info Franklin Downtown Partnership Harvest Festival Saturday, October 13th 11 AM - 4 PM Visit our booth in downtown Franklin and learn more about our efforts and events. See you there! More info Fall SNETT Clean Up Saturday, October 27th 9 AM - Noon Help us keep our trail clean! Please join us for the fall SNETT Clean Up. More info Copyright © 2018 Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have opted in to stay informed about the Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Our mailing address is: Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee PO Box 68 Franklin, Ma 02038

Next Steps to clean up BJAT, LLC on Fisher St

From the US EPA:

Site Description:
The BJAT, LLC (BJAT) Site located at 300 Fisher Street in Franklin, MA was historically used for industrial operations including the manufacture of rubber and plastic products. The property has not been active since 1985. Investigations have found contaminants in soil, groundwater, sediment, and surface water. The Site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL), often referred to as the EPA Superfund list, in September 2015, making it eligible for long-term cleanup action under the federal Superfund program.

Next Steps:
In June, with oversight from EPA’s On-Scene Coordinator (OSC), BJAT is expected to begin a Removal Action which will address hazardous substances present in soil and drum waste for the purpose of reducing risk to human health and the environment. Concurrently, EPA’s Remedial Project Manager will begin a study known as a Remedial Investigation (RI). The RI will identify the nature and extent of Site contamination and the potential human health and environmental risks that the Site may pose. 

The results of this study will be used to develop a Feasibility Study (FS) which will identify what long-term cleanup measures may be appropriate to address human health and ecological risk at the Site. The RI/FS is expected to be completed in three or more years and the findings of the RI will be presented in the Proposed Plan for cleanup. In addition, EPA will determine if any additional immediate response actions need to be conducted to address any imminent hazards that are identified by sample collection efforts.

The short-term work that will be conducted during the Removal Action includes: excavation, sampling, staging and covering of drums and other containers, waste and approximately 2,114 tons of contaminated soil; treatment of excavated soil on-site if appropriate; excavation of a limited number of test pits; air monitoring; and off-site shipment of waste, excavated soil, and other contaminated items that may be encountered for disposal, treatment, re-use or recycling.

BJAT will generally work during daylight hours. The Removal Action is expected to take 3 to 6 months. Throughout the work day, BJAT will be monitoring air at the Site for the safety of site workers and the surrounding community. One may expect to see heavy equipment, workers in white suits, and trucks occasionally which may have a slight effect on traffic. Vehicle and truck traffic to and from the site will be limited to Fisher Street and the primary road, West Central Street (i.e., Route 140). Some hazardous materials will be secured on site temporarily while awaiting shipment offsite to an EPA-approved facility.



You can download the full copy from the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/bjat_final_pdf_removal_fact_sheet_june_2018.pdf





Learn More about the Latest EPA News & Events in New England(https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-1-new-england)

Follow EPA New England on Twitter (http://twitter.com/epanewengland)

Connect with EPA New England on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EPARegion1)

Related links from the Franklin Matters archives

• Live reporting from the Town Council meeting July 2014

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/live-reporting-epa-300-fisher-st.html

• DEP and EPA presentation to Town Council, July 2014

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/300-fisher-st-ma-dep-epa-presentation.html

• Map showing property location within Franklin

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/300-fisher-st-map.html

http://twitter.com/epanewengland

Photos from the SNETT trail clean up - Saturday, Apr 21

A group of volunteers gathered to walk along the SNETT and trim back the tree fall from the winter storms on Saturday. Some of the low spots were filled in and trash was picked up along the way.

My wife and I love walking the SNETT so this was a good way to help give back!

trail head for the SNETT on Grove St

puddle was shrunken as part of the work done Saturday

the clean up crew

The portion cut through the rocks 

puddle reflection

the trail with bare trees

Haven't been to the SNETT yet? 
Check it out. From the Grove St parking lot, it is about 2.5 miles round trip to Prospect St and back. Cross Prospect St and go to Center St in Bellingham and it is about 6 miles round trip.






For additional information on the SNETT visit the Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee page  http://franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/

Plan now for the Earth Day Celebration - Apr 28

Join the Town of Franklin for our annual Earth Day Celebration and Cleanup! The event will be held at Beaver Pond on Saturday, April 28th 2018, from 9 - noon. 

FREE 6-pack of annuals to the first 50 volunteers and FREE T-shirt for the first 300 volunteers!

This is a great opportunity for students looking for community service hours!

Plan now for the Earth Day Celebration - Apr 28

Meet at Beaver Pond parking lot and volunteer to clean up targeted areas around Franklin.

• Please bring your own gloves and rakes.
• Community service certificates will be issued.
• Free pizza and beverages for volunteers at 12:00 noon at Beaver.
• Free T-shirts to the first 300 volunteers!
• Free 6-pack of annuals to the first 50 volunteers!

Furry Friends of The Franklin Dog Park - Work Day - Sep 9

Hello dog lovers, Furry Friends of The Franklin Dog Park Committee have scheduled a clean up and to spread wood chips on September 9th at 8 AM.

Volunteers are needed and students who need credit for community service. We need wheelbarrows, spade shovels, rakes and bring your own work gloves. 

Refreshments and snacks will be there for all the volunteers. 

Rain date is September 16th at 8am. thanks, Furry Friends of The Franklin Dog Park Committee. 

Woof! Woof!!

https://www.facebook.com/FranklinDogPark/

Furry Friends of Franklin Dog Park says "Thank you!"

I like to thank all the volunteers that came to help out on August 12th, at the Franklin Dog Park clean up.

Sincerely,

Gennarino D'Onofrio
Furry Friends of The Franklin Dog Park

https://www.facebook.com/FranklinDogPark/

Franklin Dog Park: Clean up day - Aug 12

Hello Dog Lovers, 

We have scheduled a clean up on August12h at 8am to spread wood chips and clean up the park. Volunteers needed. 

We need about 8 wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes. Refreshments and snacks will be there for all the volunteers. 

Rain date is August 19th at 8am. 

Thanks, Furry Friends of Franklin Dog Park Committee.. 

WOOF! WOOF!!

dog park at Dacey Field on a sunny summer day

DelCarte Cleanup - Saturday, April 29

Please join us in getting Delcarte Recreation

and Conservation area ready for Spring!

Saturday April 29th

9am-11am

Volunteers are needed to help with trash pick up and trail maintenance. Please sign up to volunteer by emailing conservation@franklin.ma.us

DelCarte - the northern pond Saturday, April 22

Earth Day Cleanup at Beaver Pond - Apr 29

Saturday, April 29, 2017

9 am– 12 pm

Meet at Beaver Pond parking lot and volunteer to clean up targeted areas around Franklin.

• Please bring your own gloves and rakes.
• Community service certificates will be issued.
• Free pizza and beverages for volunteers at 12:00pm at Beaver.
• Free T-shirts to the first 300 volunteers!
• Free dogwood and rose of sharon saplings to first 100 volunteers!

Earth Day Celebration at Beaver Pond on April 29

Mark your calendars for the Earth Day Celebration at Beaver Pond on April 29

Saturday, April 29, 2017

9 am– 12 pm

Meet at Beaver Pond parking lot and volunteer to clean up targeted areas around Franklin.

• Please bring your own gloves and rakes.
• Community service certificates will be issued.
• Free pizza and beverages for volunteers at 12:00pm at Beaver.
• Free T-shirts to the first 300 volunteers!
• Free dogwood and rose of sharon saplings to first 100 volunteers!

Earth Day Celebration at Beaver Pond on April 29

Furry Friends of Franklin Dog Park Committee - Cleanup Saturday, Oct 15

Just a reminder, maintenance and cleanup on Saturday October 15, at 8am at the Franklin Dog Park. 

Refreshments for the people that help. 

We need wheelbarrows, shovels and rakes.

Franklin dog park at Dacey Field

Note this was rescheduled from earlier in the month due to the weather!

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/09/franklin-dog-park-clean-up-scheduled.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/09/dacey-dog-park-clean-up-has-been.html