Kingsbury Ponds makes the Boston Globe, Franklin residents start their own petition

The Kingsbury Pond issue has reached the Boston Globe:

"Mark Gilmore’s patio once overlooked a soothing expanse of spring-fed water in a state-protected “great pond.” These days, Gilmore looks out at a lengthening stretch of rock-strewn dirt. 

Kingsbury Pond, once 26 acres, is now closer to a 9-acre puddle. And angry residents who live on its wooded shores are quick to name a culprit: the neighboring town of Franklin, which operates a nearby well that sucks up hundreds of thousands of gallons of groundwater every day.

“It’s starting to get scary. You can’t just suck a pond dry,” said Gilmore, who like many neighbors thinks Franklin is siphoning water from an aquifer that should be filling Kingsbury Pond. “This is the lowest that anybody has seen it — ever.” 

But where the pond’s admirers see a water-guzzling goliath next door, Franklin officials and some environmentalists see something more benign: a dry 2015 that lowered water levels across Massachusetts."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/05/towns-square-off-great-pond-turns-into-puddle/NeswM5a5gLi9XA4SzoKzNM/story.html

Kingsbury Pond, Norfolk

• It was reported earlier about the Kingsbury Pond area residents starting a petition online.

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/12/save-kingsbury-pond-petition-underway.html

• Franklin residents have started their own petition in support of finding a solution

https://www.change.org/p/franklin-dpw-director-robert-brutus-cantoreggi-franklin-ma-residents-wanting-to-save-kingsbury-pond?recruiter=436433650&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

In the News: anger over pond levels, free-throw championship at Y

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"Local residents expressed anger and dismay at a Wednesday evening meeting regarding the historic low water levels at Kingsbury Pond - a situation they attributed to nearby Franklin wells. 

Residents used the phrase "do your job" repeatedly as they spoke to representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, who had been invited to the meeting to discuss the situation and possible steps to fix the problem."

image of Kingsbury Pond from petition

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160114/franklin-wells-spur-norfolk-pond-concerns

Recent post summarizing the Kingsbury Pond issue
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/01/in-news-kingsbury-pond-issue-substance.html

"The Franklin Hockomock Area YMCA, 45 Forge Hill Road, will host a free-throw championship from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21. 

The contest, which is free to participate, is for boys and girls ages 9-14. Participants must bring birth certificates and a parent. The winners will be invited to the district, divisional and national competitions. Each contestant will receive a certificate and memento."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160114/franklin-hockomock-area-ymca-to-host-free-throw-championship

In the News: Kingsbury Pond issue, substance abuse presentation

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"A meeting is set to take place Wednesday night to address resident concerns that Franklin wells have been drawing too much water from a local pond. 

State Rep. Shawn Dooley, R-Norfolk, will host the meeting, organized in response to a petition on Change.org regarding the water levels at Kingsbury Pond. It is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. at the Norfolk Public Library. 

Dooley noted that the pond's water level had reached its lowest point in 40 years, something some locals attributed to neighboring Franklin wells. As many who live in the area appreciate the beauty of the pond, he said, this naturally led to some concern. 

"I know there were additional factors (leading to the low water levels), like the drought and the fact that several of Franklin's other wells were down, but they were pulling more heavily from the pond," he said. "So, some neighbors got together and formed a petition."

image of Kingsbury Pond from petition

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160112/franklin-meeting-to-address-pond-water-levels

The earlier posting on the petition can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/12/save-kingsbury-pond-petition-underway.html

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"Members of the school district's Substance Abuse Task Force spoke at Tuesday's School Committee meeting about their efforts to combat drug and alcohol use among students. 

High School Principal Peter Light, health department director Kristin Cerce and guidance counselor Josh MacCreery gave a slideshow presentation about substance abuse in schools and the strategies used to discourage use. 

"It's really about building emotional maturity and the skill for children to be able to adapt," Light said. "A lot of what leads to abuse is anxiety and mental health issues."

http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160112/franklin-sustance-abuse-task-force-gives-presentation-to-school-committee

The live reporting from the School Committee meeting on this topic including the presentation document can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/01/live-reporting-substance-abuse.html

"Save Kingsbury Pond" petition underway

From the Change.org petition:

"Kingsbury Pond is located in the northwest corner of Norfolk, MA and was once considered a 26 acre Great Pond of Massachusetts. In 1964, the town of Norfolk gave Franklin a piece of land approx 3000 yards from Kingsbury Pond, allowing Franklin to drill a well to supplement their water supply. 

Since that day, Kingsbury Pond's water levels have steadily began to drop. Studies performed over the last 40 years show the direct impact Franklin's well has had on Kingsbury Pond. 

Local pond residents have been fighting the battle to reduce Franklin's pumping from this well for decades, but Franklin's ever growing population and their need for drinking water has forced most pond residents to give up hope. 

Kingsbury Pond, Norfolk

In 2015, Kingsbury Pond has shrunk to unthinkable levels. What was once a 26 acre pond is now a disgraceful puddle. If this issue is not immediately addressed, there's a chance the aquifer beneath Kingsbury will never be given the chance to recharge and could potentially be gone forever. 

We need your help to show the elected officials in the town and the state that this is no longer acceptable. Something needs to change or this once amazing pond will be a distant memory. Whether you live in the Kingsbury Pond area or not, we need your help. 

What we are witnessing is a horrible shame. Please sign our petition and show our elected officials that the residents of Norfolk and the surrounding towns care about this once beautiful body of water. 

If you're interested, we also invite you to LIKE our Facebook page called Save Kingsbury Pond. 

We need your support. Thank you"

The full petition site can be found here
https://www.change.org/p/town-of-norfolk-stop-the-draining-of-kingsbury-pond-in-norfolk-ma?source_location=petition_footer&algorithm=promoted&grid_position=2

Where is Kingsbury Pond?