In the News: Franklin family tries to recover; Cultural Council looking for artists; new attempt to eliminate home heating assistance

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

"When Franklin resident Joseph Cooper took a break from watching TV to grab a late-night snack on Saturday, Feb. 3, he returned to the basement of his home on Warwick Road to hear a popping sound coming from the connected garage. 

“It’s happened before where a squirrel would get into the garage and knock everything over,” he said. “But when I opened the door there was already a good fire going inside.” 

He said the smoke detectors were going off in the garage, but because the door was steel and the alarms weren’t connected to the rest of the house, he couldn’t hear them. 

“I tried to fight it a little bit, screaming to my daughters to get shoes and coats and get out,” he said."

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180219/franklin-family-tries-to-recover-after-house-fire

"The Franklin Cultural Council has announced a call for artists for their Art in Motion Juried Exhibition and Live Art Event slated for 2-4 p.m. April 28 at Franklin Public Library, 118 Main St. 

The juried exhibition will showcase paintings and drawings of figures in motion.
The prospectus for the exhibition can be found at http://bit.ly/ArtinMotion_prospectus. 

Online applications are due by March 1, and can be found at http://bit.ly/artist_entry. There is no fee to enter the ArtWeek exhibition."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180219/strongfranklin-cultural-council-announces-call-for-artistsstrong

Additional info on the call for artists and performers for ArtWeek
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/02/call-for-figurative-artists-for-art-in.html

Art in Motion Juried Exhibition and Live Art Event

"The Trump administration is once again calling for the complete elimination of a heating assistance program that helps to keep the homes of low-income families warm. And once again, program supporters are vowing to fight it. 

The administration is using the same arguments from a year ago when it tried to abolish the program, saying it’s rife with fraud and that no one would be left freezing if the program goes away. 

“These arguments are very misleading and wrong,” said Mark Wolfe, director of the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association in Washington, D.C. 

The program, known as LIHEAP — Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program — helps families pay their heating bills primarily in the form of a grant that’s sent directly to utility companies or heating fuel vendors."

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20180218/trump-again-will-try-to-cut-energy-assistance-to-poor

In the News: home heating assistance; 12 days of donating

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

"Despite threats that funding would be eliminated in President Donald Trump’s preliminary budget, the state’s home heating program will continue to keep low-income families warm this year, just as temperatures are beginning to drop. 

“People can opt out of air conditioning in the New England area, but they can’t opt out of heating,” said Sue Crossley, executive director of Natick-based Family Promise Metrowest. 

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides critical help for people who are trying to become self-sufficient after being homeless and helps others avoid becoming homeless, according to Crossley, whose organization assists homeless people."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171126/after-uncertainty-state-gets-heating-assistance-funds

"The food pantry’s Food Elves are kicking off their 12th annual “12 days of donating” holiday drive, but have switched over to a fund-only model due to a lack of space. 

Scores of elementary, middle, and high school students will be making their neighborhood rounds, passing out flyers and collecting donations during December. 

With dozens of food and fund drives underway, the pantry is out of space to store inventory. Monetary donations that are collected will be used to buy chicken, beef and other meats, dairy products, eggs, fresh vegetables and fruits. 

“In addition, monetary gifts allow us to buy what we need when we need it,” said executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry, Erin Lynch. “They give us the flexibility we need to provide for the more than 1,000 individuals who count on us. We are also able to purchase food through the Greater Boston Food Bank for much less money than people pay in the grocery store.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171126/franklin-food-elves-launch-holiday-drive

Julia Buccella and Natalie Dextradeur are the Co-Lead Food Elves for the
2017 Campaign (Photo courtesy of Patti Dextradeur.)

Will area residents be left out in the cold this winter?

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Will area residents be left out in the cold this winter?

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Jeff Malachowski/Daily News staff on 12/8/12

With the impending "fiscal cliff" and recent state budget cuts, local fuel assistance programs that rely on federal and state dollars are worried residents who need help might be left out in the cold this winter.

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How to Cut Home Energy Bills: a Home Energy Efficiency Workshop

When: Monday, October 6, 7 p.m.

Where: Franklin Public Library

What: Heating your home this winter is going to cost you far more than it did last year. This program will show you a variety of things you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your house and lower your energy costs. Most of the things covered will cost little or nothing and you can go home with a helpful resource handout and how-to guidance.

This presentation is free and will take place in the community room, lower level of the Franklin Public Library located at 118 Main Street at 7 p.m.