"a lack of electricity four days after"

In Franklin, about 1,300 people were still without power as of noon yesterday, which is down from about 4,200 on Tuesday. 

Franklin Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said National Grid told officials in a meeting on Tuesday that power was supposed to be restored at the Municipal Center yesterday by 11 a.m., but wasn't. 

"The only people that dropped the ball are National Grid," said Nutting, praising town public safety departments and the DPW for their work during and after the storm. 

"We still have about 1,300 folks out of power. If you're one of those 1,300, it's getting a little thin after three days." 

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x227166423/Many-still-without-power-across-region#ixzz1Wgy4h0dG

Tree damage

Photos of tree damage in Franklin as we walked around on Monday

Susan's Way

Parmenter School

Wachusett St

Milliken Ave

King St

Being without electricity gives a new sense of what it is like to "have not".

Powerless and lucky

We're powerless but lucky to have escaped with little tree damage from what was left of Hurricane Irene. The power went out about 1:00. We were prepared with batteries, candles and the Coleman camping lantern provides a great deal of light.

When the rain stopped we picked up most of the small branches and twigs dropped by the wind from the trees. It didn't take long to cut up the one large branch that fell into the street. We'll have some good fire wood for the winter!

The cell phone batteries were the first to die away. Depending upon when the power returns (today?), we may need to run the car to re-charge them a bit. I have sparingly used my netbook and broadband card so I have several hours of connection remaining.

We did take a walk around the neighborhood last night. It was a rare event to see no lights anywhere. If there was a light (from a passing car, or a candle in a house) the little light was very noticeable in the darkness.

I hope you all survived with a story or two to pass along.

Hurricane Info from the Red Cross

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Hurricane Irene Update #2

via (title unknown) by Wendy Harman on 8/23/11

August 23, noon EDT
Resources:
redcross.org article about Irene
Red Cross Hurricane Preparedness Tips
Follow the Red Cross on Twitter
National Hurricane Center Advisory 13
Red Cross shelter map
Safe & Well tool

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In the News - storm, labyrinth, softball, library

A quiet storm

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

New Year's Eve labyrinth walk planned in Franklin

by Staff reports

Franklin Girls Softball Association plans pitching, catching clinics

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Friends of Franklin Library slate meeting, Jan. 5

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin, MA

Parking Ban Activation

Section 170-62 Effect of Parking Ban. The parking of any motor vehicle within the layout or right-of-way of any public street or any roadway open to the public is prohibited between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. while a winter storm parking ban is in effect.

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How's your mailbox?

Mailboxes take a beating in winter storms

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

FRANKLIN - Before the latest storm, Pond Street resident Cindy Martinez had already lost half a dozen mailboxes to town snowplows over the course of three winters.

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