Franklin Garden Club Features Program on Drought Tolerant Plants - April 4 at 7 PM

The Franklin Garden Club will sponsor a program on “Gardening with Drought Tolerant Plants” on Tuesday, April 4 at 7:00 PM at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street, Franklin, MA.  The program will be presented by Warren P. Leach, co-owner of Tranquil Lake Nursery, Inc.  in Rehoboth, MA.  The program is open to the public at no charge.  

A noted landscape horticulturist, Leach will discuss the types of plants that are most likely to do well in dry, hot summers, as have occurred recently in New England, due to climate change  He will also provide landscaping ideas as well as suggestions for maintaining and caring for these plants.  

Leach is a two-time award winner of the National Landscape Association’s Regional Merit Award for excellence in residential landscape design. Over the years, he has conducted programs for more than 30 organizations, including the Horticulture Magazine and New York Botanic Garden Design Symposium, Worcester County Horticultural Society, and Arnold Arboretum.  

Tranquil Lake Nursery is noted for its bearded iris and daylilies.  Leach has exhibited at the New England Spring Flower Show and earned numerous awards.  Among his published articles is “Some Like It Hot and Dry” that appeared in the June 15, 1996 edition of American Nurseryman.  

The Franklin Garden Club, founded in 1987, became a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts in 2015.       

Franklin Garden Club

"the combined pressure of drought and overconsumption is proving to be more than it can bear"

"Without dramatic cuts to water consumption, Utah’s Great Salt Lake is on track to disappear within five years, a dire new report warns, imperiling ecosystems and exposing millions of people to toxic dust from the drying lake bed.

The report, led by researchers at Brigham Young University and published this week, found that unsustainable water use has shrunk the lake to just 37 percent of its former volume. The West’s ongoing megadrought — a crisis made worse by climate change — has accelerated its decline to rates far faster than scientists had predicted.

But current conservation measures are critically insufficient to replace the roughly 40 billion gallons of water the lake has lost annually since 2020, the scientists said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/01/06/great-salt-lake-utah-drying-up/

Access the report directly at -> https://pws.byu.edu/great-salt-lake   

or this PDF ->  https://pws.byu.edu/GSL%20report%202023

Figure 5. Great Salt Lake water budget, including a breakdown of consumptive water use. The reported numbers represent estimates from 2020-2022, the period of accelerated decline1,3,25,60,62,66,67. Because of inadequate monitoring and data availability, many of these estimates are uncertain.

MAEnergy Environment upgrades drought status - still in drought but better than before

MAEnergy Environment (@MassEEA) tweeted on Fri, Oct 07, 2022:

most regions have been upgraded to lower drought levels, but drought still persists across the state

"With the majority of the state seeing improvements, @EEASecretary declared today (10/07/22) that most regions have been upgraded to lower drought levels, but drought still persists across the state. 

For the current drought status & water conservation tips: https://t.co/YA29WSXNDL   or https://www.mass.gov/news/majority-of-state-received-above-average-rainfall"

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/MassEEA/status/1578504986949885952

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and I get to "Talk Franklin" - 09/09/22 (audio)

FM #842 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 842 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. We had our conversation via conference bridge.  

Topics for this session

• 9/11 thoughts

• Recap of Council meeting

• Drought & water status

• Work underway or pending 

• Economic Development Cmte, 9/21 at 6 PM

The conversation runs about 26 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie. Audio file -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Drought-Status-and-Downtown-Priorities-e1npd7i

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

Franklin for All webpage 

https://www.mapc.org/resource-library/franklin-for-all/

5 year fiscal outlook -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2022-08-15_fy23_to_fy27_town_administartor_fiscal_forecast_1.pdf 

Town budget page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget 

Community & Cultural District calendar https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html 

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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and I get to "Talk Franklin" - 09/09/22 (audio)

Town Council Quarterbacking with Chair Tom Mercer - 09/07/22 meeting (audio)

FM #841 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 841 in the series. 

This shares my conversation with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. This is one of a series of conversations meant to provide a recap of the prior Council meeting. Akin to one of the many sports post-game analysis broadcasts we are familiar with in New England,  this would be a discussion focused on the Franklin Town Council meeting of Sep 7, 2022: 

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

a. Dean College President Kenneth Elmore J.D. and Chancellor Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

b. Discussion: Drought Conditions - Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW Director & Doug Martin, Water/Sewer Superintendent

c. Discussion: Massachusetts State Seal & Motto  ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/8c._state_seal_motto_-_google_docs.pdf

 

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Bylaw Amendment 22-883: Amendment to Water System Map, 2nd Reading (Motion to Approve Bylaw Amendment 22-883 - Majority Roll Call Vote) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9a._bylaw_amendment_22-883_water_map_0.pdf

b. Resolution 22-59: Cable Funds in Support of PEG Service and Programming per MGL Ch. 44, §53F3/4 (Motion to Approve Resolution 22-59 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9b._22-59_peg_verizon.pdf

c. Resolution 22-60: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Dept. ($3,289), Senior Center ($250), Franklin Historical Museum ($200) (Motion to Approve Resolution 22-60 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9c._22-60_gift_acceptance.pdf

Our conversation runs about 27 minutes:

Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes. 

Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Sep 8, 2022

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-841-town-council-quarterbacking-09-08-22

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

Meeting agenda =>    

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/september_7_2022_town_council_agenda.pdf

My notes -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hu5l46PgJoXVhDVRme0VNqgxapTyakZC/view?usp=sharing 

The meeting video is also available for viewing on YouTube

https://youtu.be/2rg4JCAXD-M 

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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

DPW Director Brutus Cantoreggi & Water Superintendent Doug Martin

Dean College President Kenneth Elmore J.D. and Chancellor Edward M. Augustus, Jr

Town Council - Sep 7, 2022 - video replay available via YouTube

The video replay of the Franklin Town Council meeting of Sep 7, 2022 is available

Video link -> https://youtu.be/2rg4JCAXD-M

The agenda and released documents for this meeting can be found ->

 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/september_7_2022_town_council_agenda.pdf

Current drought conditions for Franklin, update scheduled for Town Council meeting Sep 7

"The different categories of drought actually increased across the Northeast this week with the exception of the extreme drought area which did shrink thanks to those heavy rain showers south of Boston. #Drought2022"

One of the presentations scheduled for the Town Council meeting on Weds Sep 7 is an update on the Franklin water status per the drought. The presentation is not yet posted. The Town Council agenda can be found online ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/september_7_2022_town_council_agenda.pdf

Meteorologist Dave Epstein tweet shared from Twitter ->    https://twitter.com/growingwisdom/status/1565352398339465217

Additional maps and info can be found at Drought.gov/

The Franklin specific info can be found ->   https://www.drought.gov/location/02038%2C%20Franklin%2C%20Massachusetts

historical info for Norfolk County

Current drought conditions for Franklin, update scheduled for Town Council meeting Sep 7

Franklin, MA: Town Council - September 7 Meeting Agenda

FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL
Agenda & Meeting Packet
September 7, 2022 - 7 PM

 

 

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR
a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.
b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS
a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. July 20, 2022  -?   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/3a._july_20_2022_tc_meeting_minutes_-draft_for_review.pdf

4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS - None Scheduled.

5. APPOINTMENTS - None Scheduled.

6. HEARINGS - 7:00 pm - None Scheduled.

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - None Scheduled.

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION
a. Dean College President Kenneth Elmore J.D. and Chancellor Edward M. Augustus, Jr.
b. Discussion: Drought Conditions - Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW Director & Doug Martin, Water/Sewer Superintendent
c. Discussion: Massachusetts State Seal & Motto  ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/8c._state_seal_motto_-_google_docs.pdf
 

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
a. Bylaw Amendment 22-883: Amendment to Water System Map, 2nd Reading (Motion to
Approve Bylaw Amendment 22-883 - Majority Roll Call Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9a._bylaw_amendment_22-883_water_map_0.pdf
b. Resolution 22-59: Cable Funds in Support of PEG Service and Programming per MGL Ch. 44, §53F3/4 (Motion to Approve Resolution 22-59 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9b._22-59_peg_verizon.pdf
c. Resolution 22-60: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Dept. ($3,289), Senior Center ($250), Franklin Historical Museum ($200) (Motion to Approve Resolution 22-60 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9c._22-60_gift_acceptance.pdf
 

10. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
 

11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
b. Budget Subcommittee
c. Economic Development Subcommittee
 

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
 

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS
 

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None Scheduled.
 

15. ADJOURN
 

Note:
Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Agenda doc and remote connection info ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/september_7_2022_town_council_agenda.pdf

Dean's mascot "Boomer" out on the lawn for major events

Attention Franklin: Phase IV of Water Ban Begins August 6, 2022 at 12 AM (audio)

Phase IV of Water Ban Begins 

August 6, 2022 at 12 AM

The Town of Franklin has entered Level 3 Critical Drought status which has triggered the phase IV water ban which will go into effect August 6th, 2022 at 12AM. 

Water Conservation Measures are needed to limit the daily demand on the water system in order to ensure that adequate water is available to meet the public health and safety needs of the Town. This measure is necessary to maintain the water levels in the tanks for fire protection and normal consumption.

The following is allowed under phase IV of the water ban...

- Watering gardens and ornamental plants by means of a hand held hose.

The following is NOT allowed under phase IV of the water ban...

- Irrigation of lawns and landscaping via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems.

- Washing of vehicles except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety.

- Washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways or sidewalks.

Reminder: If you have a private well for irrigation, you must a sign posted that is visible from the street in accordance with Town bylaws 179-23

 

Learn more about Franklin's Water Conservation measures here:   https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/water-conservation?fbclid=IwAR1KokmHXP1NdxuQKcdBFvvd3GR6hWBAi_NrbH2WEjssiDhMDwl6m7_oMdA

Learn more about Massachusetts drought management here:   https://www.mass.gov/guides/drought-management-in-massachusetts

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/phase-iv-water-ban-begins-august-6th-2022-12am

 You can listen to the robocall message left by DPW Director Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi   https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/dpw-director-robert-brutus-cantoreggi-announces-the-phase-iv-water-ban-08-06-22

Attention Franklin: Phase IV of Water Ban Begins August 6, 2022 at 12 AM

Boston Globe: Drought conditions persists

"The rain has been a no-show and the parching persists. The area of Massachusetts experiencing severe drought conditions has expanded south from the northeastern corner of the state, according to the latest report from the US Drought Monitor.

The monitor released the data Thursday on its website, which said the readings were valid as of Tuesday morning.

Areas experiencing severe drought now include all of Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, and Norfolk counties as well as parts of Worcester, Bristol, and Plymouth counties. "

Continue reading the Boston Globe article (subscriptions may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/28/metro/drier-drier-severe-drought-area-mass-expands/

Also a link to an article with photos showing the effects of the drought around the state  https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/28/metro/these-photos-show-effect-drought-parts-massachusetts/

 

Franklin DPW update & reminder on water conservation measures in effect due to drought conditions

Hey friends,

Just a reminder we are still in a Level 3 drought here in Franklin. We know your lawns are going into "Dormancy" (i.e. brown) right now, as they should, but please follow the Town's Water Conservation Plan and water only on your Trash and Recycling day during outlined hours.

Remember even though our Water Conservation Plan is required by Mass DEP, it is also important to be a good environmental steward and neighbor and conserve water for all. Franklin draws all drinking water from the ground, not reservoirs or rivers and it is a very limited supply.

FYI, last week as required by DEP, we patrolled the Town looking for violators of the Water Conservation Plan and we had to send out over a 100 letters of warning with possible fines. This is an action we do not like to do, but have to. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE US BE THE WATER POLICE!

If you have a private well, remember you have to put a sign out in front of your property that is clearly visible from the road. This helps the Town and your fellow neighbors know you have a private well. If you have a private well, we recommend you follow the one day a week water plan as your fellow neighbors do because we all draw from the same aquifer.

Helpful links:

https://www.franklinma.gov/water.../pages/water-conservation

https://www.franklinma.gov/.../water-conservation-rebates...

https://www.franklinma.gov/.../welcome-watersmart-program

https://www.mass.gov/.../docu.../2019/10/03/drought-plan.pdf

From the Drought Monitor map archives (PDF) -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vzD-ivkPrM9nCnOZhFEiLJgUsjMi7jq5/view?usp=sharing

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/png/current/current_ma_trd.png

"State officials are reminding the public to limit outdoor watering"

"The lack of rainfall over the past four months is being felt across Massachusetts, as 90 percent of the state is now experiencing drought conditions, officials said.

On July 12 Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Bethany Card declared that there was a “significant” drought in the Connecticut River Valley, central, northeast and southeast parts of the state, and a mild drought in western Massachusetts, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard.

According to the latest map from the US Drought Monitor, the northeast part of the state is experiencing severe drought conditions. That level of dryness means specialty crops can be impacted in both yield and fruit size; trees become brittle and susceptible to insects; fish kills occur; wildlife move to farms to find food; water quality becomes poor; groundwater declines; and irrigation ponds dry up."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/14/metro/90-percent-massachusetts-is-experiencing-drought-conditions/

The State of Mass drought status page -> https://www.mass.gov/info-details/drought-status 

 

US view of the MASS info -> https://www.drought.gov/states/Massachusetts

"State officials are reminding the public to limit outdoor watering"

Drought level status creeps to 2

"State officials in Massachusetts today declared a "Level 2 Significant Drought" in both the northeast and southeast regions of the state."

Shared from  -> https://twitter.com/mass_rivers/status/1539700240340733952

drought level 2 status for Franklin is official 

The MA Status announcement can be found -> https://www.mass.gov/info-details/drought-status  This page also has conservation measures

Drought Status level increases to 2; water conservation measures remain in effect

Today (6/15/22), a Significant Drought was Declared for Southeast and Northeast Regions in MA!!

Reminder Water Conservation Measures Have Been In Effect Since, Thursday, May 12, 2022.

With Massachusetts continuing to experience dry conditions in much of the state over the course of the last several months, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Beth Card today declared a Level 2-Signficant Drought in both the Northeast and Southeast Regions of the Commonwealth.

The declaration of a Level 2 drought continues to reinforce the Town's Water Conservation restrictions as required per our Water Management Act permit through MassDEP. Therefore, the following Water Conservation Measures continue to be in effect.

One day per week outdoor watering. Outdoor watering using sprinklers or automated irrigation systems is restricted to the water user's trash day. If the user does not have Town trash service, the user should water on the same day as the nearest Town trash customer.

Outdoor watering is prohibited between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Please see our website for more information: https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/water-conservation

Thank you for your cooperation!

Additional info can be found at Drought.gov -> https://www.drought.gov/states/massachusetts/county/norfolk

Additional maps can be found on the Drought Monitor -> https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap.aspx

Drought Status level increases to 2; water conservation measures remain in effect