Second Sunday Speaker at Franklin Historical Museum to Talk About the (mostly) Happy Days at the Town Pool

the (mostly) Happy Days at the Town Pool

The Second Sunday Speaker Series at the museum continues on August 11, 2024 with perennially popular local historian, Joe Landry. 

Splish, Splash – A Seasonal Second Sunday Speaker Presentation on The Town Pool!

The Town Pool, now the location of the Sculpture Park off of Panther Way, was a fixture in Town Life from the 1930s to the 1980s.  Yet another gift to the town from the Ray family, its swimming program was overseen for many years by Lorraine Metcalf, scion of another “old” Franklin family. Joe will also share images and film clips from a not-so-distant past. 

Doors open at 1 and the presentation begins at 1:15 PM.

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM and Sunday afternoons from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. 

When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry.  

Questions? Contact Alan Earls at 508 560 3786.   

Visit us online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com

Update on Y pool fire - not to open this year

Monday, May 22, 2023

Due to the extensive damages from Saturday’s fire and the information we’ve gathered in the last 48 hours regarding the reopening process, the timeline to complete the necessary repairs would make it impossible to open our Family Pool Club in time for the 2023 summer season. We are deeply saddened by this fire and its devastation.

We are committed to the Club’s rebuild and creating the best member experience possible, opening in June 2024.

Family Pool Club members will receive full refunds on all fees paid by May 26th.

Thank you for your confidence in our YMCA – even in the face of adversity – to continue to deliver our mission to be here for our neighbors, serve our communities, and come back even stronger from this unfortunate incident.

Sincerely,

Jim Downs

CEO, Hockomock Area YMCA

Pool Club questions are to be directed to poolclub@hockymca.org.

https://www.hockymca.org/fire-statement/

Prior statement -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/05/fire-at-ymcas-new-family-pool-club-at.html

Update on Y pool fire - not to open this year

"Swimply has 43 pools 'live' on its platform in Massachusetts, and another 170 are on a waitlist pending approval"

"If you order an Uber, you’ll ride in someone else’s car, and if you book an Airbnb, you’ll sleep in someone else’s home. Now, with an app called Swimply, you can stay cool in other people’s pools.

Erin Moriarty, a teacher who lives in Waltham, heard about the swimming pool app when a friend asked her to download it so he could rent her backyard oasis for his wife’s upcoming birthday party. Moriarty decided to give it a try, but she didn’t expect the flood of interest in her backyard that followed.

“I listed my pool on a Saturday, and when I woke up the next day, I had 10 bookings,” she said. “I’m surprised how many people know about the app.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/07/11/business/business-their-backyard-some-mass-residents-are-renting-pools-by-hour/

Greg and Kelly Daniell posed by their backyard pool. This summer, the Chelmsford couple have started using the app Swimply to rent out their pool by the hour.ERIN CLARK/GLOBE STAFF

Franklin, MA: The Joseph G. Ray Swimming Pool (video)

This video highlights the Joseph G. Ray Swimming Pool, better known as "the town pool". 

Video link = https://youtu.be/HCKADURmr44

FM #460 - School Committee Meeting (P3 of 3): Pool testing to meeting close (audio)

This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Feb 9, 2021. 

The meeting was conducted in a virtual format: all of the School Committee members, Central Office personnel, along with the public were remote via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

I’ve split the just over two hour and twenty minute meeting into three logical segments:

• First - covers the opening through the Annie Sullivan presentation (approx. 41 minutes)
• Second - Discussion - Action items covering the Davis Thayer closing discussion and vote (approx. 43 mins)
• *** Third ***  from Discussion Only items (pool testing) through to the end of the public meeting (approx. 59 minutes)

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and to my notes. The meeting packet folder will hold the other documents released for the meeting (as we go to press, the Superintendent’s Report is not yet nor is the pool testing outline)

Let’s listen to this segment of the School Committee meeting of Feb 9, 2021

Audio file = https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/f99f9ae6-ea6d-44c8-a3d1-d3b34de0779e/fm-460-schoolcomm-mtg-20210209-p3of3.mp3

--------------

Agenda doc
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/02/franklin-ma-school-committee-meeting.html

Meeting packet folder 
https://franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/february-9-2021-school-committee-meeting-packet 

My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/02/school-committee-votes-to-close-davis.html

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
 
How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
 
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

FM #460 - School Committee Meeting (P3 of 3): Pool testing to meeting close (audio)

FM #447 School Committee Mtg - P2 of 2 - 01/26/21 (audio)

FM #447 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 447 in the series.

This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Jan 26, 2021.

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: some of the School Committee and Central Office personnel were in the Council Chambers, the remainder of the Committee was remote via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

I’ve split the just over two hour meeting into two logical segments:

• First - covers the opening through the Horace Mann Middle School update (approx 1 hour)
• ** Second ** - picks up from the FHS Program of Studies update through to the end of the public meeting as they entered Executive Session (not to return to public meeting) (approx 67 minutes)

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and to my notes. The meeting packet folder will hold the other documents released for the meeting (as we go to press, the Superintendent’s Report is not yet updated)

Let’s listen to this segment of the School Committee meeting of Jan 26, 2021. Audio = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HB7whP2S

 

--------------

Quick Recap:

• Update from Horace Mann Middle School on what they are doing and how they are doing in these pandemic days. Exciting to see.
• Update from Franklin High School on program of studies, some changes to class offerings to better follow "Portrait of a Graduate" and meet needs of students.
• Reopening status update, challenges remain with staffing and keeping schools hybrid. Case counts are rising, still working on K-1 improvements but less likely to get them in school with current situation (case counts) and previously expressed concerns.
• Pool testing reviewed, formal application has not yet been made
• School calendar approved for first look at 2021-2022 school year. Additional info and dates (half days/professional development) to be updated in second pass TBD.

 
Photos captured during the meeting can be found in one folder
https://photos.app.goo.gl/78XYK77JhzZUWNxX7
 
Agenda doc
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_1-26-2021.pdf

Meeting packet folder
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/january-26-2021-school-committee-packet

My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/01/school-committee-meeting-recap-jan-26.html

-------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
 
How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
 
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 
 

FM #447 School Committee Mtg - P2 of 2 - 01/26/21 (audio)

"this will revive it"

The Milford Daily News has an article on the new sculpture park being built at the old town pool.

The park’s grand opening will take place in the fall, Kabat said. Depending on available space, the center would like to display between 10 and 15 sculptures, rotating new ones in whenever possible. 

"Some of the sculptures will have containment areas, and some we are going to hide in the trees," said Kabat, adding that the center will accept art from students and professional artists. 

After the park is established, Kabat said he would like to hold art classes there, through the center and the new high school. 

The Department of Public Works has to install fences and create paths, Nutting said. He noted that the park will be handicap-accessible.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1148861843/Art-to-breathe-new-life-into-former-swimming-spot-in-Franklin#ixzz2Q98g1LMm

the old town pool

To contribute to the sculpture park, or buy a brick, you can visit this page http://franklinartcenter.com/park.html

Franklin Sculpture Park - imagine the future

I took a walk around the location of the old town pool on Panther Way on Saturday. The photos in this sequence will take us as we approach on Panther Way and then walk around the pool counter clockwise.

storm water catch basin

You can see the Police Station in the distance beyond the storm water catch basins. These were added to remove phosphorus from the storm water before it gets into Mine Brook.

trees and shrubs have overgrown the pool

Nature has taken over the pool area.

pool wall

Benches are planed to be placed along the wide wall area.

opposite end of the pool

Another pond shaped like a check mark feeds into the old pool area. (See map detail below)

water control

A water control point along the wall

pool overgrown by nature

At the back of the old pool looking towards Panther Way. The police station is to the right.


View Larger Map

You can navigate within this map pinned to the Police Station to see the water flow from the pond to the pool and eventually across RT 140 to Mine Brook.

For more information about the sculpture park, please visit the Franklin Art Center page here
http://franklinartcenter.com/park.html

You can contribute financially or buy a paving brick to help the cause!

Using the pool to clean storm water

Franklin was awarded a grant to treat storm water and clean it before it gets to the Charles. What does storm water treatment look like? These two views are found along Panther Way on the site of the old Town pool next to the Police Station.

 

The article in the Milford Daily News announcing the grant to fund this work was posted in July here and on the Wicked Local Franklin site here.

 

The catch basins are projected to handle about 86,000 gallons of water per storm, or about 1.6 inches of rain.