In the News: Franklin author at Library; MDN editor at Library

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

"The Franklin Public Library, 118 Main St., will host local author Arlyn Halpern on Tuesday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m. 

Halpern, a psychotherapist and writer, will give a talk about her new memoir, “Dancing into the Light.” It’s a heartwarming tale of her journey from a challenging childhood in suburban Chicago to self-discovery and greater wisdom through dance, living in three countries, and intensively studying mindfulness and meditation in India and the U.S. with a Buddhist master. It’s a compelling tale of love, loss, adventure, humor, and personal and spiritual growth. 

“There are many joyful and funny experiences (in the book) - dancing in a carnival at age 15 and falling in love to name a few,” says Halpern."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180604/franklin-author-to-talk-about-memoir-at-library-june-5

In the News: Franklin author at Library; MDN editor at Library

"We value our readers and those connected with the communities we cover; that’s why we would like to hear from you in person. 

Come share your thoughts and story tips at Coffee With The Editor events planned for Milford and Franklin this month. 

Milford Daily News Editor-In-Chief Anne Brennan and Multimedia Journalist Scott Calzolaio will be at the Franklin Public Library, 118 Main St., from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, June 6. 

The Milford Daily News staff will be on hand from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, June 13 at the Daily News office, 197 Main St. for a second Coffee With The Editor event."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180604/join-us-for-coffee-with-daily-news-editor-in-june

Community Coffee - May 11

The next Franklin School Committee - Community Relations Coffee Hour will be held on Friday, May 11 from 9 AM - 10 AM.

The coffee will be held at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill St, Franklin, Massachusetts 02038

We welcome you to join us at our Community Coffees! Each Community Coffee will have a topic or theme focus as well as an opportunity to share your thoughts and feedback about Franklin Public Schools. 

On Friday May 11, our topic is High School - an opportunity for caregivers of high school students to discuss their experiences, share feedback and ask questions.

Community Coffee - May 11

The schedule and topics for these Community Coffee sessions can be found on the Franklin School District page
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinCom_News/025E1547-000F8513.0/Community%20Relations%20Community%20Coffee%20Calendar.docx

In the News: FHS students advocate for Tobacco21; more info on Acrylamide

From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin

"One group of Franklin High School girls is a leading youth voice in state government’s decision to raise the tobacco age to 21. 

The pending Tobacco21 bill would raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21, an issue that a group of Franklin students has been lobbying for since last year. Currently, about 180 municipalities across Massachusetts have already made this change. The legislation will force all 351 cities and towns on board. 

The students returned to the Statehouse again on Wednesday, but with a much more active role. They filmed and showed a video of their testimonies, before a formal ceremony in front of a large audience at the bottom of the grand staircase in the Statehouse. 

Advocates, legislators, senators, and others gathered to hear the Franklin High Students plead their case for this bill."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180330/franklin-students-lobby-for-raising-tobacco-age

FHS students with Rep Jeff Roy at the State House (Facebook photo via Catherine Moran)

"Trouble is brewing for coffee lovers in California, where a judge ruled that sellers must post scary warnings about cancer risks. But how frightened should we be of a daily cup of joe? Not very, some scientists and available evidence seem to suggest. 

Scientific concerns about coffee have eased in recent years, and many studies even suggest it can help health. 

“At the minimum, coffee is neutral. If anything, there is fairly good evidence of the benefit of coffee on cancer,” said Dr. Edward Giovannucci, a nutrition expert at the Harvard School of Public Health. 

The World Health Organization’s cancer agency moved coffee off the “possible carcinogen” list two years ago, though it says evidence is insufficient to rule out any possible role."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20180330/coffee-and-cancer-risk-what-you-should-know

"epidemiology studies presented were inadequate to evaluate that risk"

From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin coffee drinkers. Something may eventually come of this as it works its way through the California courts:

"A Los Angeles judge has ruled that California law requires coffee companies to carry an ominous cancer warning label because of a chemical produced in the roasting process. 

Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle wrote in a proposed ruling Wednesday that Starbucks and other coffee companies failed to show that the threat from a chemical compound produced in the roasting process was insignificant. 

A nonprofit group had sued coffee roasters, distributors and retailers under a state law that requires warnings on a wide range of chemicals that can cause cancer. One of those chemicals is acrylamide, a carcinogen present in coffee. 

“While plaintiff offered evidence that consumption of coffee increases the risk of harm to the fetus, to infants, to children and to adults, defendants’ medical and epidemiology experts testified that they had no opinion on causation,” Berle wrote. “Defendants failed to satisfy their burden of proving by a preponderance of evidence that consumption of coffee confers a benefit to human health.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20180329/california-judge-coffee-needs-cancer-warnings


The wikipedia entry on acrylamide https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylamide

School Committee: Community Coffee - Feb 15

The Franklin School Committee community relations sub-committee is continuing our Community “Coffees” in 2018 with themes for each of our gatherings. Please join us for a conversation about diversity and inclusion in Franklin Public Schools on February 15.

Our topics over the course of 2018 will include school budget, school start times, homework policy, social emotional learning and sessions focused on elementary, middle and high school.

For questions, please email zubv@franklinps.net (Gigi Zub)

When:
Thursday, February 15, 2018 6:30 PM

Where:
Franklin Public Library

School Committee: Coffee Hour - Feb 15

Download the flyer for this event:

In the News: students sent kindness letters; Hopkinton opens outdoor ice rink ; Marlboro business opens brewing coffee and beer

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

"A simple reading assignment turned into a one-hundred-fold act of kindness for a local group of young students. 

Fifth-grade students at Oak Street Elementary School decided last fall to send words of encouragement to lawmakers who work at the Statehouse. 

Each of the 100 “kindness letters” contains an inspiring quote hand-written by a student. 

“In this political climate, so many adults could benefit from these messages about listening, understanding, and accepting,” said teacher Heather Adams. “The impact it had on our state representatives is much bigger than what I imagined it would be.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180118/franklin-students-send-kindness-letters-to-statehouse

"Just before sunset Thursday, Mark Rhodes helped his 10-year-old son, Neil, lace up his skates at the town’s outdoor skating rink at Carrigan Park. 

“As soon as I get home from work he says, “Dad let’s go,’” Rhodes said. Word of the rink opening is spreading around town. 

Neil brought a hockey stick that he got about a year ago. 

“It’s really good ice and the rink is nice and big,” the fourth-grader at Hopkins school said. “You can play hockey on it.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180118/hopkintons-outdoor-skating-rink-now-open

"J.P. and Melynda Gallagher are brewing up something special for downtown.
Lost Shoe Brewing and Roasting Company is expected to open this summer in the former Speakers nightclub at 19 Weed St., J.P. Gallagher said on Thursday. 

“We always wanted to be in Marlborough, both my wife and I were born and raised in Marlborough,” said Gallagher. 

Lost Shoe will be more than a brewery. It will also be a coffee roaster and coffee shop. J.P. Gallagher has been a long time homebrewer and recently graduated from the American Brewers Guild in Vermont. His wife Melynda recently completed a coffee roasting course at the Coffee Lab International School of Coffee, also in Vermont. 

The idea is to be an all-day business – Lost Shoe will open at 8 a.m. to serve coffee and the brewery will begin serving beer later in the day."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180118/lost-shoe-to-brew-beer-roast-coffee-in-marlborough

Marlboro business opens brewing coffee and beer

Meet with School Committee members at the Harvest Festival and Farmers Market

The Franklin School Committee will have a booth at the Franklin Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 14.

• The Facebook event can be found

https://www.facebook.com/events/287165945132492

image from Facebook event

The Community Relations SubCommittee has also rescheduled the rained out visit to the Farmers Market for Friday, Oct 20

• The Facebook event can be found

https://www.facebook.com/events/120421205315359/

Community Relations "Coffee" at the Franklin Farmers Market

The School Committee Community Relations Subcommittee will hold their next "Coffee" today at the Franklin Farmers Market on the Town Common. 12 PM - 6 PM

"Join the Community Relations subcommittee as we bring our coffee conversations into the community. We are unable to offer good or beverages, so please bring your own (or obtain them at one or more of the farmer market booths)."

Subcommittee members are Denise Schultz, Anne Bergen, and Vanessa Bilello.

two rows of vendors at the Franklin Farmers Market in July

For updates on the event, check out the Facebook event page
https://www.facebook.com/events/1453183668090604/

#ShopFranklin features Elizabeth's Bagels (video)

#shopFranklin - supporting small business speaks with Jen Garcia of Elizabeth's Bagels in Franklin,MA. Elizabeth's Bagels preserved the age old art of perfectly kettle boiled bagels. This delicacy is then augmented with a great selection of in house blended cream cheese options, seasonal offerings, loose leaf teas and an assortment of coffee creations







One of my favorite breakfasts is to walk to Elizabeth's Bagels, grab a bagel breakfast sandwich and coffee, then walk over to the Sculpture Park to enjoy breakfast before continuing the walk around Franklin and home.

Elizabeth's Bagels and the Sculpture Park a breakfast combo

Rail Good Coffee expands the brewing

On the #shopFranklin front, the recent announcement by Rail Good Coffee reminds me that they are now operating in three locations. Folks who use the Franklin/Dean station can stop for coffee in the station shop. Rail Good Coffee also operates the coffee shop at the Walpole Station and recently reached an agreement to operate the Franklin/Forge Park Station coffeeshop. 

Three opportunities to get Rail Good Coffee.

And now this week, Rail Good Coffee is also offered in pound packs to brew at home or the office.

Way to go Randy!

Inside the Rail Good Coffee shop at Franklin Dean (Facebook image)

If you can visit Rail Good Coffee in person, you can visit them on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/RailGoodCoffee/

"I thought this would make me happy”

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

"Not long after completing her four-year active duty service in 2003, Army veteran Lisa Plante landed a job as the director of Bourne’s Veterans Memorial Community Center. 

Plante, a Medway native who now lives in Franklin, oversaw the center and conducted facilities management. A firefighter in the Army Reserve, Plante used that experience to also secure a role as an on-call firefighter in Bourne for a few years. 

“I wore many hats,” said Plante, who served in the reserves from 2003 to 2009. “I have a diverse background.” 

She enjoyed managing the community center and hoped to stay in that position for many years, but lost her job two years ago amid serious financial issues in Bourne. Plante, a single mother, remains unemployed and is struggling to find a job that allows her to care for her young daughter after school."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required). The article continues to talk about the opening of the new coffeehouse in Franklin.
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170604/though-veteran-unemployment-is-declining-thousands-remain-out-of-work

"Customers who don’t use a smart phone at the coffee house will receive a 5 percent discount"

Franklin School Committee: Community Relations Subcommittee - Jun 9

The community is kindly invited to meet with the Community Relations Subcommittee of the Franklin School Committee. Information and updates will be provided on budget, policy, and the superintendent search. 

We welcome your feedback and understand how important community involvement is regarding the education of our young people. 

Join us on:

• Friday, June 9, 9:00 AM at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill St.

Franklin School Committee: Community Relations Subcommittee - Jun 9

Franklin School Committee: Community Relations Subcommittee - May 13

The community is kindly invited to meet with the Community Relations Subcommittee of the Franklin School Committee. Information and updates will be provided on budget, policy, and the superintendent search. 

We welcome your feedback and understand how important community involvement is regarding the education of our young people. 

Join us on:

• Sat, May 13, 9:00 AM at the Franklin Cable Access TV Studio, 23 Hutchinson Street
• Friday, June 9, 9:00 AM at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill St.

Franklin School Committee: Community Relations Subcommittee - May 13

Franklin School Committee: Community Relations Subcommittee - May 13

The community is kindly invited to meet with the Community Relations Subcommittee of the Franklin School Committee. Information and updates will be provided on budget, policy, and the superintendent search. 

We welcome your feedback and understand how important community involvement is regarding the education of our young people. 

Join us on:

• Sat, May 13, 9:00 AM at the Franklin Cable Access TV Studio, 23 Hutchinson Street
• Friday, June 9, 9:00 AM at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill St.

Franklin School Committee: Community Relations Subcommittee - May 13

Franklin School Committee: Community Relations Subcommittee - April 5

The community is kindly invited to meet with the Community Relations Subcommittee of the Franklin School Committee. Information and updates will be provided on budget, policy, and the superintendent search. 

We welcome your feedback and understand how important community involvement is regarding the education of our young people. 

Join us on:

• Wed, April 5, 7:00 PM at the Franklin Cable Access TV Studio, 23 Hutchinson Street
• Sat, May 13, 9:00 AM at the Franklin Cable Access TV Studio, 23 Hutchinson Street
• Friday, June 9, 9:00 AM at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill St.

Franklin School Committee: Community Relations Subcommittee - April 5

Franklin School Committee Coffee Hours: Feb 1 - 7:00 PM

In our goal to engage the community as a partner in improvement of our school system, the Community Relations Subcommittee of the Franklin School Committee will be hosting monthly coffee hours. 

Please join us as we work through the 2017 budget process, discuss policy and bring a new superintendent on board. We welcome your input, ideas and suggestions.

Upcoming meeting dates are:

• Wednesday, February 1 at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, March 4 at 9 a.m.

All meetings are held in the conference room at the Franklin Cable Access TV Studio at 23 Hutchinson Street.

Any questions contact Anne Bergen: bergena@franklin.k12.ma.us

Franklin TV at 23 Hutchinson St at night

Franklin School Committee Coffee Hours: Jan 12, Feb 1, Mar 4

In our goal to engage the community as a partner in improvement of our school system, the Community Relations Subcommittee of the Franklin School Committee will be hosting monthly coffee hours. 

Please join us as we work through the 2017 budget process, discuss policy and bring a new superintendent on board. We welcome your input, ideas and suggestions.

Upcoming meeting dates are:

• Thursday, January 12 at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 1 at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, March 4 at 9 a.m.

All meetings are held in the conference room at the Franklin Cable Access TV Studio at 23 Hutchinson Street.

Any questions contact Anne Bergen: bergena@franklin.k12.ma.us

Franklin TV at 23 Hutchinson St at night

Community Relations Subcommittee: Coffee hour - Dec 3 at 9:00 AM

Reminder that the Community Relations Subcommittee of the Franklin School Committee will be hosting a coffee hour on Saturday morning, December 3 at 9:00. 

Join us at the Franklin Cable Access studio, 23 Hutchinson Street. 

We would greatly appreciate input on budget, policy and the new superintendent search!! 

All citizens welcome!!

Franklin Public Access Studio, 23 Hutchinson Street

Open Forum on school Dress Code and two Coffee Hours scheduled

In line with the Franklin Public Schools School Committee’s mission of improving communication with the citizens of our community, we will be hosting a series of meetings over the next few months:

*** The Policy Subcommittee is hosting an open forum about the Dress Code Policy. Several citizens came forward to express concern and have provided thoughtful points of view for consideration. We welcome your input and hope you will join us on:

• October 29, 9:00 a.m. Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, Third-Floor Training Room

Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street

*** The Community Relations Subcommittee will be hosting two coffee hours at our town’s state- of- the- art new television (and radio) studio. We welcome feedback on the hiring of the new superintendent, budget and policy issues. Issues, concerns brought forth at these meetings are brought to the attention of the superintendent and will often appear as agenda items on upcoming school committee meetings. Please join us on:

• Wednesday, November 9, 6:30 P.M.
• Saturday, December 3, 9:00 A.M.

Franklin Public Access Studio, 23 Hutchinson Street.

Franklin Public Access Studio, 23 Hutchinson Street

All of society benefits when public schools are strong. The interest and support of the community is vital in our effort to provide the very best education we can for all of our students.

In the News: police looking at DUI, School Committee coffee hours

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

"The Police Department has placed a emphasis on a type of impaired driving that is often overlooked: drivers under the influence of drugs. 

The department now has three officers who have undergone Drug Recognition Expert training, meant to help police identify when a driver is under the influence of drugs - both illegal and prescription - and what drugs they may have used. 

Detective Joseph MacLean has been a expert since 2003, and helps train officers in the technique. He said, while officers are trained to recognize impaired driving, there are times when additional expertise is necessary, as there is no Breathalyzer equivalent for most drugs."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160728/franklin-police-step-up-efforts-to-identify-drug-influenced-drivers

Franklin Police, 911 Panther Way

"Coffee hours" encouraging discourse between residents and the School Committee worked well, members said Thursday afternoon when they met to discuss communication with the public. 

The committee has held the series over the past several months, and analyzed the feedback at this week's session. 

Committee member Denise Schultz said participation has been very good."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160728/franklin-school-committee-forges-closer-ties-with-public