In the News: Pan-Mass scavenger hunt, gas pipeline concerns, Tri-County solar

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"A scavenger hunt, hosted by The Pan-Mass Challenge Franklin Kids Ride, raised $4,000 to benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund for cancer research. 

Participants stopped at local businesses and to complete a task in order to gain points to win the scavenger hunt."

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151113/NEWS/151117344/1994/NEWS

Members of the Town Council said they would schedule a hearing on a proposed Spectra Energy natural-gas pipeline after many residents complained that the project would undercut safety and hurt property values. 

The matter came up Thursday, when several people spoke during the public comment portion of the council's meeting.

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151113/NEWS/151117240/1994/NEWS

A Friday morning ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School celebrated a solar installation that speakers said would bring save money and provide a learning tool for students. 

The event - held at the field which is home to the 1.3-megawatt array of solar panels - was attended by students, Tri-County officials, solar-company employees, state lawmakers and U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III.

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151113/NEWS/151117203/1994/NEWS

In the News: Spectra pipeline, Anderson recognized, student run flu clinic, FHS Improvement plan

A round up of the Miflord Daily News articles on or about Franklin

The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, a local chapter of the environmental advocacy group 350, met Thursday night to organize opposition to the pipeline project, which is slated for a phased construction starting in 2018, according to a Spectra spokesperson. 

The group believes the natural gas shortage is false advertising, that New England has enough gas and the pipeline project would create a decades-long reliance on fossil fuels that runs opposite the state's carbon emissions goals.

Spectra Energy is proposing a new gas pipeline that would stretch 21 miles through Milford, Medway, Franklin, Bellingham, Norfolk, Millis, Walpole, Sharon, Canton and Stoughton.

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151105/NEWS/151107201/1994/NEWS

Endicott junior defensive lineman Craig Anderson, of Franklin, was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District Football first team for the second time in his career. The NCAA Division III District 1 team includes all schools in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. 

The CoSIDA Academic All-District program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined academic and athletic performances. First-team Academic All-District honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America honorees will be selected later this month.

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151106/NEWS/151106880/1994/NEWS

Three medical careers students at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School hosted a flu clinic for faculty members on Nov. 2. 

During the clinic, pharmacist Ed Purtell of Rite Aid Pharmacy administered the vaccine to 48 staff members. Grade 10 students Alivia Carney, Katrina Chapman and Hannah Graveline, all of North Attleborough, took vital signs, administered a questionnaire and shared educational information on the flu vaccine and its benefits.

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151106/NEWS/151106878/1994/NEWS

The Franklin High School's improvement plan took center stage at the School Committee's most recent meeting. 

Discussing the plan at the Oct. 27 meeting, Principal Peter Light focused on administrator turnover, community outreach and the importance of the guidance department. 

Light noted that the school had seen significant turnover, with five administrators moving on to other positions. He said, though, that the majority took higher positions at other districts, and that he was excited to hire new administrators from within the district's ranks.

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151106/NEWS/151106790/1994/NEWS

The details of the school improvement plan can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/10/real-time-reporting-school-committee.html

"It’s going to be a long time before that point of view becomes relevant”

It is all in your point of view. This is an interesting find especially for those interested in opposing the Spectra Energy Pipeline expansion. Or maybe you already know this:

“We have a view, which happens to coincide with Gov. Baker’s view, on how we’re going to make up for the fact that Massachusetts is at the end of the pipeline,” says Weld. “The current battleground is gas. Five years ago, gas was the favorite child of the environmental movement because it wasn’t coal and it wasn’t oil. Those days are over. Now it’s a member of the hated fossil fuel community. Some in the environmental movement think everything is going to be wind and solar before long. It reminds me of the 1960s and all my fellow hippies in Cambridge saying, if only we could all love each other. I do think hydro is going to play a major role and soon.” 

Weld also notes that ML Strategies represents Spectra Energy, which wants to expand its Algonquin pipeline. “That’s a pretty easy sell,” he says. “There are issues with it, but conceptually it’s a fairly easy sell except for the people who now suddenly don’t like natural gas because it’s a member of the fossil club, which I think is not a well-taken position. It’s going to be a long time before that point of view becomes relevant.”

Read the full article in the Commonwealth Magazine online
http://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/all-bases-covered-at-ml-strategies/

Protesters needed for important Fracked Gas Conference in Boston Monday!

Hi, 350Mass pipeline fighters,

Now that earlier this month the DPU authorized itself to give permission to utilities to sign long-term contracts with gas companies, the vultures are circling!  We just heard about an important fracked gas pipeline conference on Monday and--guess what--we're having a protest to draw public attention to this nasty development!

image from Facebook event

We'll meet at 2:30 pm at the baseball fields at the Boston Common before heading out to the conference.  Bring signs, especially about the gas tariff.  See the Facebook event page listed below for more details and to RSVP (if you don't do Facebook, let me know you're coming).

https://www.facebook.com/events/1052588228098901/

If you have any questions, call me since time is short.

Carolyn

508-473-3305 H

Upcoming Meetings For Potential Pipeline And Power Plant

Via Facebook from Denise Schultz:


* Tuesday, Oct 20, 
League of Women Voters Forum on the Access Northeast pipeline, 7:00 PM, Walpole Public Library, 143 School Street, Walpole. 

Terra Friedrichs, former Acton Selectwoman; Cathy Buckley, Massachusetts Sierra Club; and Paul Lauenstein, 350 Massachusetts, to present, Marcia Hirschberg, LWV, as MC. Q & A following.

OUR ROLE: We will pass out the latest general Spectra Access Northeast flyer (updated and attached with the latest info on the Dept of Public Utilities self-authorization to eventually charge customers for the pipelines) to attendees and can attend the forum to ask pertinent questions. This meeting will be recorded and used on local cable so ask good questions!

* Wednesday, Oct 21, 
Pipeline presentation, 7:00 PM, Moose Hill Audubon Sanctuary, 293 Moose Hill Parkway, Sharon. Rand Barthel to present, followed by Q & A.

OUR ROLE: We will pass out the latest general Spectra Access Northeast flyer (see attached). Sharon residents can sign the petition to request the selectmen to stop the Spectra process in Sharon.

Twitter image

* Wednesday, Oct 21, 
Medway Exelon Peaker Plant Expansion meeting, 7:00 PM, Medway High School, Auditorium, 88 Summer Street, Medway. The Medway Board of Selectmen are in charge of the meeting.

OUR ROLE: For those willing to hold Stop Medway Power Plant Expansion signs, arrive at 5:45 PM 2 Milford Street, Medway, to pick up signs, clipboards, signup sheets, and petition letters. The focus of the event will only be on Exelon, not the pipeline (we don't want to confuse people). We will hold Exelon signs only and do related stuff 6:00-7:00 PM, after which signs can be delivered back to 2 Milford St and signup sheets left in the garage. Non-Medway residents can attend the meeting and may be able to ask a few questions. However, your presence as a non-Medway resident is IMPORTANT because all who oppose the power plant should wear RED to the meeting so the selectmen can clearly see the amount of opposition. If you can't come early to hold the signs, that's OK; please come for the 7:00 meeting wearing red; we need to use every opportunity to influence this process!

Franklin Node Joins 350 Mass The Greater Franklin node is the newest addition to 350 Mass! Node members from Franklin, Medway, and the surrounding towns are organizing to stop Spectra's Access Northeast gas pipeline. Node members are calling on local town officials to withhold approval for Spectra's pipeline proposal. The node is also coordinating with the Stop the Medway Power Plant group  -- on September 17, the two joined forces for a protest outside a meeting between Lt. Governor Karen Polito and Medway selectmen.

The node meets on the first and third Thursdays of every month. Carolyn Barthel is the node coordinator and can answer any questions: her email address is carolyncbarthel@gmail.com.  What: 350 Mass Node Meeting (Franklin) When: Thu, October 1, 7pm – 9pm Where: First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin

To view the full 350 Mass newsletter follow this link
http://betterfutureproject.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/d/50788B05A743CF11

In the News: Pipeline opposition group to meet, good communication helps with roadway work

"Spectra Access Northeast Opposition Group will hold its second meeting on Thursday, Sept. 3, 7 p.m. at the First Universalist Society, 262 Chestnut St., Franklin. 

The group opposes a 48-mile natural gas pipeline proposed for the Milford area due to environmental and property value concerns. The pipeline is slated to run through Milford, Medway, Bellingham, Franklin, Upton, Millis, Norfolk and Walpole."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150902/NEWS/150909101/1994/NEWS

"Good communication has helped businesses deal with the extensive roadwork taking place in the downtown area, a local business official said. 

Franklin Downtown Partnership Executive Director Lisa Piana said it has been "so far, so good." 

"We've set up a good communications system," she said. "As executive director, I've attended meetings about it every two weeks, so I've been getting direct updates."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150903/NEWS/150908715/1994/NEWS

Proposed pipeline information meetings scheduled

Informational meetings are scheduled for those landowners potentially affected by the proposed pipeline.

"Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC ("Algonquin")' is hosting Landowner Informational Meetings in your area for our proposed Access Northeast Project ("Project"). The Project could have construction on or near your property. 

As we have mentioned to you in previous correspondence, we are currently evaluating a proposed expansion of our Algonquin pipeline system. The proposed project plans include replacement of existing pipelines and construction of new pipelines in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. 

At the informational meetings, Algonquin representatives will be available to answer questions concerning the proposed facilities, safety, environmental and permitting processes, construction and operation, and other aspects of the Project. 

We encourage you to attend the informational meeting and share with us your questions about the proposed project. For your convenience, please feel welcome to attend any of the landowner informational meetings on the dates and times listed below. Please note that there is no formal speaking program, so you can arrive anytime within the timeframes listed below."

Tuesday, August 25, 2015
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Medway, Bellingham, Franklin, Massachusetts
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham
835 Union Street Franklin, MA 02038

Access Northeast pipeline map

The full letter and schedule of meetings can be found here




This was shared from the Official Town of Franklin webpage
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/021CADA3-000F8513