Happy Easter

May you and your family enjoy this Easter Sunday.

MassBudget: New Reports from MassBudget and KIDS COUNT

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Shelter and Housing for Homeless Families: Historical Funding and the Governor's FY 2015 Budget Proposal  It is important to every family to have the basic security of a place to live. When children become homeless, their opportunity to succeed in school and in life is significantly reduced. Our new Budget Brief examines the Governor's funding proposals for affordable housing and shelter for families, and it puts those proposals in historical context. In the 1990s Massachusetts dramatically reduced funding for affordable housing for low-income households. Before 1993 the state paid for almost 20,000 rental vouchers to help families pay for housing. By 2013, the state was funding only 5,600 such vouchers. As funding for housing vouchers has been cut, spending on family shelters has risen considerably. In our current difficult economic times, growing numbers of families have been unable to afford market rate housing and this has led to increased state costs to provide shelter. Shelter and Housing for Homeless Families: Historical Funding and the Governor's FY 2015 Budget Proposal explains the Governor's proposals to increase funding for family shelters to allow families now living in hotels and motels to move into shelter. The Governor's budget also proposes level funding long-term housing programs, such as MRVP and state support for public housing. Funding shelters is an important way the state can make sure that families are not living in unhealthy and unsafe conditions -- and shelters provide important supports to help families get back on their feet that hotels and motels do not. But without adequate funding for long-term affordable housing -- or much more aggressive policies to help people escape poverty -- it will be difficult to find a lasting solution to the problem of family homelessness.  Read the Budget Brief. Race for Results: Building a Pathway to Opportunity for All Children The Annie E. Casey KIDS COUNT project this week released Race for Results: Building a Pathway to Opportunity for All Children. The report explores the intersection of kids, race, and opportunity. The report features the new Race for Results index, which compares how children are progressing on key milestones across racial and ethnic groups at the national and state level. Read the full report. MassBudget is the KIDS COUNT group for Massachusetts. You can learn more about our KIDS COUNT project here. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Jazz 4 Kidz Featuring Mark Poniatowski and Friends

Franklin Performing Arts Company’s annual, free Family Concert Series continues this season with “Jazz 4 Kidz Featuring Mark Poniatowski and Friends” on Sunday, March 2 and “Opera for Kids: Dr. Seuss’s Gertrude McFuzz and Green Eggs and Ham” on Sunday, March 23. An FPAC tradition for more than two decades, the Family Concert Series programs begin at 1 p.m. at 38 Main Street in Franklin.

Franklin Performing Arts Company

All Family Concert Series events are especially geared to children in length and presentation, and provide young audiences with a fun introduction to the world of live music. The performances expose audiences of all ages to music of many genres and feature talented, professional musicians in an entertaining and interactive format.

Jazz 4 Kidz presents this musical tradition in an up-close and engaging way that’s accessible and easy to understand. Audience participation is encouraged. The concert features bassist Mark Poniatowski of Berklee College of Music. Poniatowski has performed with Sid Caesar, Floyd Dixon, Janiva Magness, Rita Moreno, Bob Newhart and Junior Watson. His recordings include Mississippi Moan with the Bruce Katz Band and The George Carlin Show soundtrack.

Opera for Kids features performances of two classic Dr. Seuss stories. Set to music by Robert Kapilow, Green Eggs and Ham brings to life the beloved children’s tale with iconic character Sam-I-Am. A great companion piece to Green Eggs and Ham, Gertrude McFuzz introduces the memorable “girl-bird” who learns to like herself just as she is, with her one-feathered tail. Engaging audiences of all ages, each opera is about 20 minutes in length and in rhymed verse. The performance features two members of the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) voice faculty, Shauna Martin and Mariko Matsumura, along with two FSPA students, Lily Barney of Franklin as Sam and Sara Weissinger of Hopkinton as Lolla Lee Lou.

A member of the FSPA Music Faculty since 2006, Shauna Martin received her master’s degree in Opera from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Music degree from Brandon University. Her performances include a wide variety of operatic and musical theater roles in works by classical as well as contemporary composers. A native of Winnipeg, Canada, Martin is a founding member of the popular children's show Opera Night in Canada and has performed with Canada’s regional orchestras and on CBC Radio.

A native of Tokyo, Japan, Mariko Matsumura received her bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance with high honors from the University of Montana and a master’s degree in Vocal Performance from Longy School of Music. Mariko's performance credits include Messiah, Aida, Hansel and Gretl, Der Rosenkavalier, The Magic Flute and numerous premiere performances throughout the Boston area. Mariko has been a member of the FSPA faculty since 2002.

FPAC’s 2014 Family Concert Series is sponsored by Berry Insurance and the Franklin Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information, call (508) 528-8668 or visit www.fpaconline.com.

5 things for your Sunday reading

It is a slow summer news day here in Franklin but there is good stuff around the internet to read and share. For example:

1 - As parents we are learning to raise our children to be digital citizens. We can not turn to our parents to help in this space. In this article, I like this sentence:

"Bridging the gap isn’t an annual family meeting—it’s a conversation that is on-going until your children leave the nest."

You can read the full article here
http://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/making-it-cool-to-be-a-good-digital-citizen


2 - For the college students:

"One of the biggest recent trends in entry-level recruiting is the rise of the internship. Summer internships have become a necessary element of a college student’s qualifications for a post-graduation job, and many employers are treating internships as a “three-month interview,” making full-time offers to high performing interns for the following year."

Read the full posting about how to make your summer internships work for you
http://blog.linkedin.com/2013/07/24/the-ultimate-linkedin-guide-for-interns/


3 - For the family:

"There is no better time than summer break to spend some quality time in the kitchen with your kids. With all the learning our children do when they are off at school a few things they are not being taught are some pretty important household duties like cooking, cleaning, and laundry - just to name a few."

You can read the full posting on 10 recipes to cook with your kids
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/07/26/real-food-tips-10-recipes-to-cook-with-your-kids/


4 - For those driving along Lincoln and Daniels St, if you don't already know about the road construction Warren Reynolds provides a good summery;

Quite an extensive stretch of Lincoln Street in Franklin, Mass will be worked on in coming months. Construction will open the Lincoln Street roadbed in sections roughly from Brook Street to Daniels Street. 

Before all work is completed in the fall, new lines will also be installed on Daniels Street (from its intersection with Lincoln Street up to Lenox Drive).

You can read the full article here
http://www.02038.com/2013/07/expect-delays-on-lincoln-street/


5 - And finally for the romantics among us, this is a wonderful time. It takes a couple of minutes to do the build up but then gets rolling. (Keep the tissues handy!)

"What's possible when a community comes together in love and gratitude!"

Originally posted to UpWorthy
http://www.upworthy.com/the-kind-of-marriage-proposal-that-makes-you-want-to-go-out-and-fall-in-lesbian-love?c=ufb1

Spring photo mini-sessions - family photos!

Aubrey B Greene Photography

This Spring, mini-sessions will be held on June 15, 2013, from 9am - 4:30pm, with slots every half hour. Sessions will be 20 minutes long and can include any number of people. My selection of the best images will be edited and posted online for ordering prints, canvases & gifts. 

Sessions cost $100 each, and will be held outdoors on the Dean College campus in Franklin, MA. 

If you would like to sign up, please e-mail AUBREY@AUBREYGREENE.COM to reserve your time slot!

You can view Aubrey's work on her website
http://www.aubreybgreeneblog.com/index.php/post/view/spring_mini_sessions

View the event on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/events/500862403315043/

Happy Boxing Day!

There were plenty of good times with the extended family around for dinner on Sunday. There will be more time this week to spend with family. For those also who have taken time off from work this week, let there be safe travels and good times to enjoy!

Boxing Day is traditionally a day following Christmas when wealthy people and homeowners in the United Kingdom would give a box containing a gift to their servants. Nowadays Boxing Day is better known as a bank or public holiday that occurs on December 26, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Great Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and some other Commonwealth nations.

Read more about Boxing Day here

Family tradition

One of our family traditions signalling the end of the school year and the onset of summer is to have ice cream at the Franklin Flatbreads and Spruce Pond Creamery. If we go early enough, we make a meal of our ice cream. Banana splits and the works. If we go later in the evening, it is usually for small cups of our favorite flavors.

It was a cloudy evening Friday. The clouds were gathering and threatening to rain on someone, but not here in Franklin fortunately.



What tradition do you have to mark the end of the school year?

In the News - Franklin Elks

Franklin Elks to hold Family Fun Day on Sunday

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

Small Wonders Licensed Family Child Care

In the public service notice category, I have this email text from Joanne Basile:

Small Wonders Licensed Family Child Care has Part Time Openings 2010/2011 for the 2010/2011 School Year:

Hope you're all having a great summer, and I just wanted to post a quick note for those of you that are beginning to think about Back to School Planning...

- Have older kids in school and a little one at home?

- Do you have a little one that misses the preschool cut off?

- Do you need an opportunity for your little one help manage on separation anxiety, or play and share with peers?

- Would you like a few hours a week to do some errands on your own, take a class, or even just clean up?

Small Wonders Family Child care is a fully licensed family child care - I have been in business since 2003, and have many sweet little friends here in Franklin that have come to play. The children enjoy puzzles, board games, dance parties, baking, coloring, sing a longs, walks around the block, story time and more.

I am CPR and First Aid certified and as a mother of two young boys with severe food allergies, trained in the use of an Epi Pen. As a licensed provider the state has performed a background check and safety inspection.

I have many happy references available from both current and former clients.

Only three spaces remain for my 2010/2011 school year, spaces available Tuesday and Thursday from 9-12 or 9-2 depending on your needs.

Please email me at basilefamily@comcast.net if you'd like more details.

Franklin, MA

HMEA: 5K, Walk and Family Fun day!

HMEA held their 9th Annual Independence 5K Run/Walk in the Park on the ground of EMC in Franklin on Sunday, May 23. 297 runners completed the 5K and hundreds of walkers came out for the event where the sun gradually brought thought the clouds.


Many volunteers came out early to set up for the family fun day. The mysterious Mr Cone Head Man even made an appearance:

Once the set up was complete the volunteers were busy distributing race day packages and t-shirts. The opening ceremonies were held on the main field then everyone moved out to the balloon arch for the start of the 5K and walk. Gene Lavanchy was master of ceremonies:

After the race and walk finished, the clouds looked like they were going to rain on the festivities. Franklin Fire Dept's Tower 1 unit was sent up to check out the situation.

Many kids were attracted to the fire truck as it reached great heights. They lined up to get a view from the tower platform when the unit returned to ground level.

The kids race on the field awarded lollipops to the finishers. Soon the full set of 5K Race age category winners were announced.

WalMart presented a donation. Derek Bergeron of the Plainville Redemption Center program was recognized as the winner of this year’s Kelly Mendall Spirit award.

All those who participated in Franklin on Sunday had a great day. Why?

"We believe in the power of dreams and not the limitations of disability."

If you have not made a contribution to HMEA yet, there is plenty of time.


If you'd like to contribute as part of my fund raising, follow this link:  http://www.firstgiving.com/stephensherlock



Or go directly to the HMEA website here HMEA.org.




Franklin, MA

Tooting the horn for books, a family day in Franklin

The combination of the Library Book Sale and the DPW Open House drew quite a crowd on Saturday.

The Friends of the Library paid for the overtime of the DPW workers. The food and drink provided at the DPW Open House was donated by Weston & Sampson.

The bucket truck authorized for purchase as part of the capital plan in 2009 was on display looking brand new. It is over ten years old. The new look comes from the paint job that was part of the purchase price. DPW Director, Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi is walking towards us in the photo.

The DPW garage had four mechanics. One just retired this year and due to the budget cuts, the position won't be filled leaving three mechanics to take care of more than 300 pieces of equipment. Which of these two units looks like it is three years old? and which looks like it is sixteen years old? (Answer at the end of this post.)

Most of the equipment that I saw on display had a sign telling the year and use for the unit. The purpose for some was easy to recognize, some were not. This batwing mower is over 10 years old and still doing duty cutting the grass on our athletic fields.

The weather cooperated for this nice family event. If your son or daughter was one of the horn tooters, they probably walked away with a smile. Your smile came from the fact that they at least stopped blowing the horn!

Iqbal Ismail is show below taking pictures of his daughter Zeba and son Faraz in the front seat of the truck.

Note: In answer to the question above: the unit on the left in the picture is 3 yrs old; the unit on the right is 16.
My thanks to Brutus Cantoreggi and Dave Allard for providing the information to share here.

Franklin, MA

Fall Family Day - moved to Sunday, Oct 11

The New England Center for the Performing Arts 2nd Annual Fall Family Festival will be held on Sunday, Oct. 11, 12-4 p.m., at 1350 West Central St., Rte. 140, Franklin, the site of their future new school and presentation facility.

The New England Center for the Performing Arts posted the change to the schedule on their events calendar.

Updated 11/4/09, due to the weather postponed again until next Sunday, the 11th

The original notice was found in my Wicked Local Franklin RSS feed.

Franklin Families with Food Allergic Children and Teens

Franklin Families with Food Allergic Children and Teens (Franklin F.A.C.T.) will hold a welcome back meeting in the conference room at

Franklin Fire Station #2,
600 King St.,
Franklin,

7-9 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14.

Visit www.franklinfact.org for complete details and contact info. Parents only, please

remember the Harlem Wizards?

Do you remember the Harlem Wizards?
They did come to Franklin a couple of weeks ago.

Want to review some video highlights?
Click to play to enjoy!



The photo slide show of the visit can be found here

SchCom: The Charlebois' statement

The text of the statement presented during the Citizens Comment portion of the School Committee meeting 3/25/08. The text was scanned from a printed copy provided by Amie Charlebois.

Hi, my name is Amie Charlebois and this is my husband David. I wanted to come before you tonight to ask that you make an assessment of my current situation with the FX O'Regan Early Childhood Development Center. I have approached the principal, Karen Seyfried as well as Wayne Ogden with this matter. Before I go any further, it has always been my understanding that the school department has what is in the best interest of each individual child.

I have 3 small children 5 years, 22 months and 4 months. My 5 year old son is at the end of his second year in attendance of preschool at ECDC. He attended 2 afternoons his first year and has been attending 5 afternoons this entire school year. My husband and I have been truly happy with his experience at ECDC and believe that it has laid a wonderful foundation for his education. I have faith that when my 2 other children attend ECDC, that they too will have the same wonderful experience.

Unfortunately, my family has recently undergone a severe financial hardship. My husband was badly injured in an accident at work and has recently undergone surgery due to that accident. The insurance company that deals with workers compensation has denied our claim and we are awaiting a hearing date. We have had a dramatic loss in income.

I brought my situation to Karen's attention and Karen told me there were scholarships available that I could apply for to assist with my sons tuition. I was very pleased to hear that we qualified for the highest level scholarship available with tuition that would cover 2 days and a reimbursement of my June deposit of $305. With the reimbursement, I would be able to apply that to the remaining 3 days for April and May and keep my son in the 5 day program he has been in since August. At a time in our lives when the reimbursement would be very helpful to put toward other household expenses, our priority is put that money toward our sons education. Karen informed me that I could not do that according to policy. It never once entered my mind that if I qualified for the scholarship, my son would only be able to attend school 2 days a week when he is enrolled in 5.

I signed an enrollment agreement last year accepting the 5 day program, a signed agreement, which is a binding contract between 2 parties stating my son is enrolled in the 5 day program. I am upholding my portion of the agreement and the ECDC is not. The policy states that scholarships are given out for 2 days and does not say anywhere that if you qualify for the scholarship your child can not attend the other 3 days as well. I told Karen that if I had known that was how the scholarship program operated, I never would have applied because again my son is in the 5 day program. Karen also informed me that the policy needs to be adjusted for next year and that she is in the process of "adding language" for next years handbook. Karen has stated to me the intent of the policy but I do not believe intent can be enforced.

But at this time, with 38 days left in the school year I am being told that in order to accept a scholarship that we qualified for, we can only use it by taking school days away from my son. My son who loves school and asks numerous times every morning "when are we leaving for school". At a time in my sons life when things are turbulent enough, I am being told that there is help available but that it will negatively affect my child if I accept that help. I feel that it is an absolute necessity to keep my sons school structure in tact, now on March 25, with 38 school days left in the year. My sons education is a priority especially in these early years. He would be devastated and confused if I had to take school days away from him at this point and I know that trying to explain to him that there are unclear policies that must be followed, will not help ease his hurt. Doing this to my son at this time would hurt him. My son is not taking a spot away from another child nor does it have any effect on anyone except for him. If this were October or November I would consider having to make certain adjustments with it being so early in the year but it isn't, it is almost April. I'm asking to be allowed to keep my son at the 5 day level, accepting the financial help from the scholarship that I qualified for to put toward the 2 days and I am asking ECDC to accept my money for the other 3 days of the week to keep my sons education consistent. There have been 3 different occasions, prior to our hardship that I have talked with my sons teacher about her feelings toward him attending the 5 day program, and she has said numerous times, that she believes my son is thriving in the 5 day program, he benefits from it and he needs consistency. I know his teacher of the past 2 years, has my sons best interest at heart. I am deeply saddened that amidst everything going on at home, I am required to fight in order to keep educational stability for a 5 year old boy, in a school that he truly loves. The ECDC Mission reads "The Francis X O'Regan Early Childhood Development Center's mission is to focus on the whole child and their family..." and every time I bring the attention and focus back to my son, I am told to refer to a handbook. All I am asking is for you to do what you already do when you make your decision, and that is to look at what is in the best interest of my child.