Metrowest Visitors Bureau Announces New Executive Director - Erin Lynch

The MetroWest Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce Erin Lynch of Franklin as its new executive director, effective immediately. 

“We are excited to welcome Erin to the organization. She has a solid background of professional achievements working in the MetroWest region. Her enthusiasm, experience and skill set makes her the right candidate to lead the Visitors Bureau. The MetroWest Chamber of Commerce has a long history of working together with the MetroWest Visitors Bureau and we look forward to our continued collaboration with both Erin and Jill Schindler who has been serving as Interim Executive Director.” Says Jim Giammarinaro, Board Treasurer and Search Committee member.

Lynch holds a B.S. in Recreation Management and Tourism from Arizona State University, National Certification in Nonprofit Management, and International Certification in Group Facilitation from the Institute of Cultural Affairs. She brings twenty years of leadership experience focused on collaborative community initiatives.

An alum of the MetroWest Health Foundation’s Health Leadership Program and former Executive Director of the Franklin Food Pantry, her work with the Healthy Futures project continues to serve as a model for hunger relief organizations throughout Massachusetts. The collaborative effort garnered a VIP visit to the White House during the Obama administration. Previously Lynch secured and administered the Arizona Department of Economic Security Volunteer Services contract, and served as Executive Director of the Maddie’s Project, a strategic alliance which secured a multi-million-dollar community grant for the Phoenix area.

Schindler is looking forward to resuming her role as Outreach and Development Director. According to the Bureau’s Board Chair Steve Levinsky, “The Bureau owes a huge debt of gratitude to Jill for stepping up during this past year of transition. She worked tirelessly taking on two jobs at once, ensuring the successful production of our Annual Visitor’s Guide and MetroFest 2019.” Schindler was honored by the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce in November with the Peter Barbieri “Service Above Self” Award.

Follow the Bureau on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @VisitMetroWest for the latest MetroWest happenings. Stay tuned for the soon to be released 2020 MetroWest Visitor’s Guide which will be circulated throughout the region. Save the date for the annual MetroFest on June 13, 2020.

About the MetroWest Visitors Bureau

The Bureau’s mission is to stimulate the MetroWest economy by marketing the region's assets to visitors and residents. Through 2010 legislation proposed by current Senate President Karen E. Spilka, the MWVB was designated as the state’s 16th Regional Tourism Council (RTC), making it eligible for state funding through the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism.

The MetroWest Visitors Bureau serves organizations and businesses in 30 municipalities throughout MetroWest and its bordering towns. For more information, including a complete list of towns designated as “MetroWest” in the state legislation please visit www.metrowestvisitors.org.

www.metrowestvisitors.org

FHS girls and boys basketball teams top Stoughton on Tuesday

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of FHS winter sports action on Tuesday.

Boys Basketball = Franklin, 56 @ Stoughton, 53 – Final
– Trailing 40-29 after three quarters, Stoughton rallied to get within one possession but the Black Knights couldn’t find the tying bucket before the buzzer. Senior Obinna Ugwuakazi scored nine of his team-high 20 points in the third while Ahmad Jahed (eight points), Jake Queeney (seven points) and Brett Pendenza all hit threes in the fourth to give the Black Knights a chance at the upset. Franklin senior Chris Edgehill scored eight of his 12 points in the final quarter to help keep the Panthers ahead. Stoughton grabbed the offensive rebound after missing the mark on a shot to tie the game but the buzzer sounded before their second shot was released. Jack Rudolph scored 12 of his team-high 15 points in the first half as Franklin led 35-24 at the break.

Girls Basketball = Stoughton, 31 @ Franklin, 77 – Final
– Franklin continued its unbeaten season with a big win over a shorthanded Black Knights squad. Ali Brigham and Olivia Quinn each scored 16 points to lead the Panthers and Kaliegh Houlihan chipped in with 11. Shyanne Trinh was the top scorer for Stoughton with 12.

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-07-20/

And via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FranklinMatters/lists/fhs-sports

Two tough wins for Fresh and Jv over Stoughton. Freshmen won 56-35 and Jv 61-55. Great job Boys!!!

— FHS Boys Basketball (@fhsboysbball) January 8, 2020

Ali Brigham gets most of the media attention for @fhsgvbasketball, but the other 2 senior captains Sydney Garilli & Megan O’Connell are playing a pivotal role in the Panthers’ season. Here they both talk about their roles and the team chemistry among other things @MetroWestSports pic.twitter.com/RgPVrT3Ev6

— Kevin J. Stone (@kstone06) January 8, 2020

"Whatever the case may be, they’ve done a great job making sure everyone feels right where they need to be."

Trio of senior captains keep Franklin girls basketball (@fhsgvbasketball) headed in right direction, undefeated so far @FHSSports | by @kstone06https://t.co/WO5qwuZE4l

— Daily News Sports (@MetroWestSports) January 8, 2020

Sydney Garilli dribbles for FHS girls basketball vs. Stoughton (@kstone06 photo via Twitter)

Catholic Memorial remains undefeated to end the FHS football playoff run

Via HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the FHS fall sports action on Friday, Nov 15, 2019

Football = D1 South Final = #2 Franklin, 8 @ #1 Catholic Memorial, 42 – Final

for other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-11-15-19/


Kevin Stone provides the write up on the game for MetroWest

"It had been 37 years since the Franklin football program had a sectional or state trophy to put on display at Franklin High School. And while the consolation hardware wasn’t what the Panthers were looking for on Friday night, there is no denying how far the program has come. 

Second-seeded Franklin lost to top-seeded Catholic Memorial in the Division 1 South championship, 42-8. With the win, the Knights (10-0) advance to the Division 1 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium in a few weeks. 

The Panthers (7-3) still have one game left on Thanksgiving, but the Division 1 South finalist trophy that is headed back to Franklin signifies quite a bit of growth from a program that just was a two-win team during head coach Eain Bain’s first year in 2016. 

“It’s a consolation prize, but we haven’t put a trophy in the case at Franklin High School since 1982,” Bain said following the loss. “I wasn’t even born yet, some of our coaches weren’t even born yet, so look, tonight wasn’t our night. CM is a great program. They’re able to bring in guys from all over and they’ve assembled a lot of talent."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/20191115/not-so-fast-catholic-memorial-halts-franklin-footballs-run-in-div-1-south-final

Follow Kevin on Twitter https://twitter.com/kstone06

Catholic Memorial remains undefeated to end the FHS football playoff run

School Committee - Recap of 10/15/19 meeting

Catching up to this recap (apologies for the delay, was spending time on the election prep which was more important at the time).

• The Superintendent's Report announced the authors visit to the three middle schools. This visit was funded by an FEF grant. 
• FHS students along with FHS teachers Kevin McCarthy and Mike Walsh provided an update on their trip to Germany this summer. 66 students participated in what was summarized as a success!
• NEASC Two-Year Update – Paul Peri and William Klements provided an update that FHS did receive the accreditation. In the final report, there were 9 highlighted recommendations; 3 were completed outright and 6 of the 9 deal with 21st century and are connected with the Portrait of a Graduate work already underway.
• Joyce Edwards and Kristin Letendre provided and update on the Health and Wellness program (presentation copy found below)
• Policy updates on the meeting procedure were approved
• The Superintendent's new contract was approved (1% increase in line with other contracts)

4 FHS students providing the update on the trip to Germany

Presentation on Health and Wellness from Franklin Matters

The Superintendent's Report
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/superintendents-report-10-15-19

MetroWest Slides
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/metrowest-slides
 
The agenda and other  documents released for this meeting can be found
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/october-15-2019-school-committee-packet

Franklin TV has the video of this meeting available for replay
https://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?&PGD=franknma&eID=690
 
Additional details can be found in my notes captured live during the meeting

• Live reporting: Consent Agenda to Closing 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/10/live-reporting-consent-agenda-to-closing.html

• Live reporting: Discussion Only Items

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/10/live-reporting-discussion-only-items.html

• Live reporting: Discussion - Action Items

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/10/live-reporting-discussion-action-items.html

• Live reporting: School Committee - October 15, 2019

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/10/live-reporting-school-committee-october.html

Learn more about the I-90 Allston Project’s Impacts on MetroWest - Thursday, July 18

Commute Times, Cost, Public Tranist, Congestion, Impact on MetroWest

I hope you will join me MassDOT Public Information Meeting I-90 Allston Multimodal Project Date: Thursday, July 18, 2019 Time: 6:30 pm-8:30 pm Location: Framingham City Hall Blumer Room 150 Concord Street, Framingham As your legislator and a long time toll-paying resident of MetroWest, I invite you to join me this Thursday, July 18, to learn more about the state's plan to overhaul a portion of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Allston and its potential impact on our region. According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the project will include straightening a portion of Interstate 90 and other changes to accommodate development in Allston/Brighton. We deserve to know more about what this means for our region, our commutes, our public transportation system and, most importantly, how much it is going to cost and who will be expected to pay for it. Your voice is important to help ensure our commutes experience the least amount of disruption. I hope you will join me.  Please contact my office at 617-722-1500 if you have any questions. More info: Allston Multimodal Project Office of Senate President Karen E. Spilka | 617-722-1500 | Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov www.karenspilka.com

Office of Senate President Karen E. Spilka | Massachusetts State House, Room 332, Boston, MA 02133 Sent by karen.spilka@masenate.gov in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!

Senator Spilka: Join Me Tuesday, June 25 - MetroWest Economic Development Planning Council Engagement Session

You are cordially invited to join Senate President Karen Spilka, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy for a MetroWest Economic Development Planning Council Engagement Session Date: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Time: 10:30 AM-12:30 PM Location: Framingham State University McCarthy Center Forum Room 100 State Street, Framingham Please join me, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy as well as municipal officials, legislators, and community and business leaders for a MetroWest regional engagement session to inform the Baker-Polito Administration's economic development strategy over the next four years. The engagement session is an opportunity to connect with local economic development leaders on their priorities as the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development writes a new Economic Development Plan to be signed by the Governor at the end of this year. Please contact my office at 617-722-1500 if you have any questions. Office of Senate President Karen E. Spilka | 617-722-1500 | Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov www.karenspilka.com  ‌  ‌

Office of Senate President Karen E. Spilka | Massachusetts State House, Room 332, Boston, MA 02133 Sent by karen.spilka@masenate.gov in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!

“This is just an awesome feeling for all of us”

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

"What a day it was for the Tri-County wrestling team. 

The Cougars, who from year-to-year are often right in the mix at the Division 3 Central sectional meet, finally made their first significant piece of program history. 

And they did it with depth, which is always the most important factor when it comes to the sectional meets. 

T-C only had one champion, but had a whopping 11 wrestlers place in the top-six, all of whom earned points for their team in the process. When it was all said and done, the Cougars earned their first ever sectional title, conquering the meet with a total of 198 points on Saturday at Wayland High."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/20190209/tri-county-wrestling-wins-their-first-ever-sectional-title

Tri-County wrestling wins their first ever sectional title

Attention businesses: survey "on employer-specific issues"

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

"For a sixth consecutive year, businesses throughout the MetroWest and Milford regions have been invited to weigh in on factors affecting their companies through an online survey. 

The 495/MetroWest Employer Survey and Forecast is being conducted by the 495/MetroWest Partnership, Framingham State University and the MetroWest and Milford Daily News. 

Paul Matthews, executive director of the 495/MetroWest Partnership - a Westborough-based public-private association that advocates for economic development, transportation and a skilled workforce in the region - said the survey was formed about five years ago with an initial goal of gauging employers’ confidence in the region’s business climate. 

“It was designed to be similar to AIM’s monthly survey, except to be focused on our region,” Matthews said, in reference to the statewide Associated Industries of Massachusetts Business Confidence Survey, which has been conducted monthly since 1991."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181001/employers-we-need-your-help-to-gauge-local-business-climate

"The survey runs for roughly a month, from Oct. 1 through Nov. 3, and can be accessed through several links, including one through the the MetroWest Daily News, https://www.research.net/r/495SurveyMWDN. Respondents can expect to complete it in 5 to 7 minutes, Matthews and Harrison said.

Results will be released on Nov. 30."

https://www.495partnership.org/

Franklin Senior Center Hosting Memory Cafes as part of Dementia Friendly Franklin Program

The Franklin Senior Center has received an $11,712 grant award from the MetroWest Health Foundation to make the city of Franklin a Dementia Friendly Community.

A component of this process includes providing a monthly Memory Café at the Franklin Senior Center that offers regularly scheduled social events for those living with dementia and their care partners, to encourage social interaction in a welcoming and accepting atmosphere.

Our next Memory Café is scheduled for Monday, September 24th, at 3:00 PM. This month’s presentation will offer information and a hands-on meeting with “Ernie” The Therapy Dog. Therapy dogs can be a great source of comfort and companionship for individuals struggling with memory impairment or isolation. For information, please call the Senior Center at 508 520-4945.

The Franklin Council on Aging was established in 1971 to address the needs of elderly residents. For more information about the Franklin Senior Center, visit  http://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-senior-center-and-council-aging

Franklin Senior Center Hosting Memory Cafes
as part of Dementia Friendly Franklin Program

“Our success has come about from our partnering within the region"

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

"For almost 15 years, Paul Matthews has been hearing from companies about the challenges of the 495/90 interchange. 

But last year the long-standing project to fix the interchange entered its design phase with $227 million set aside in the state’s capital plan. 

Matthews, executive director of the 495/MetroWest Partnership, said enhancing the project is key for the region’s economy. The interchange is vital for companies to transport products and raw materials and for their employees’ commutes, he said. 

“It is in its final design stage,” Matthews said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180301/495metrowest-report-highlights-success-in-regional-economy

For more about the 495/MetroWest Partnership, visit them on the web
http://www.495partnership.org/

The "Strength in Numbers" report for 2017 can be found here
http://www.495partnership.org/strength-in-numbers-2017

495/MetroWest Partnership

"I want them to have an opportunity to really become better educated about this”

From the Metro West section of the Sunday Boston Globe, comes their recap of the Sext Ed Forum held at FHS on Monday, Oct 16, 2017.

"Amid rising concerns about the pervasiveness of teen sexting, a panel of speakers at a recent regional forum at Franklin High School agreed that the best way to address the problem is through education, not punishment. 

“We want to protect our teens and our children from the harms of sexting, but I believe we also need to do all that we can to prevent and limit our young adults and our children’s contact in entering the….criminal justice system,” said state Senator Karen E. Spilka, an Ashland Democrat. 

Organized by the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women, the forum Monday was intended to inform parents about the prevalence of sexting in the region, how they can address the issue with their own children, and possible changes in the law that could offer solutions."

Continue reading the article online (Subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2017/10/20/should-teens-who-sext-punished-educated/MIdVKynvfjvmJUPL95CtqJ/story.html

"I want them to have an opportunity to really become better educated about this”

The Franklin Matters summary of the evening via Twitter can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/10/community-forum-on-sexting-twitter.html

“A lot of these issues have to do with congestion”

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

"MetroWest in recent years has become an economic hub home to numerous global corporations and businesses. 

The large corporations bring increased tax revenue for local communities and much-needed jobs, but also more commuters and traffic congestion to the area’s main thoroughfare – Interstate 495. 

“The congestion has increased dramatically the past 15 years,” said Stephanie Hirshon, executive director of the MetroWest/495 Transportation Management Association. 

With more congestion comes more car crashes, said Hirson and Milford Fire Chief William Touhey."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170826/officials-hope-to-reduce-crashes-on-i-495

April 4: Make Your Voices Heard, MetroWest!

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

Greetings!  It's time to make your voice heard as part of the Massachusetts Senate's 2017 Commonwealth Conversations tour! After a very successful visit to MetroWest last session, my colleagues and I are bringing Beacon Hill back to MetroWest again.  Please join us at a Town Hall forum at the Warren Conference Center in Ashland from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm on April 4, 2017. {{{ REGISTER HERE }}} Commonwealth Conversations 2017 is the next step in our ongoing efforts to make your state government even more responsive and accessible to you.  But it can't work without your participation!  Please come to share with us your values, priorities, concerns and ideas. MetroWest is a dynamic and important part of the state, and I hope you will join us in shaping the future of our much loved community on April 4. {{{ REGISTER HERE }}} If you can't make the Town Hall on that day, there are still lots of ways to get involved: Take the online Commonwealth Conversations survey Join the Twitter conversation using #MAConvos & #MWConvos Call, write or email my office I look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday, April 4th!  For more information, please check out the MetroWest Commonwealth Conversations press release, or visit the Commonwealth Conversations website. Warm Regards, Senator Karen E. Spilka 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka Room 212, State House Boston, Massachusetts  02133 Phone: (617) 722-1640 - Fax: (617) 722-1077 http://www.karenspilka.com

Senator Karen E. Spilka, Massachusetts State House, Room 212, Boston, MA 02133 Sent by karen.spilka@masenate.gov in collaboration with Try it free today