Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
"As Gov. Charlie Baker vetoed a controversial pay-raise bill Friday, several local lawmakers - on both sides of the argument - defended their votes.
The $18 million package that would bump pay for legislative leaders, judges and constitutional officers swiftly passed through the House and Senate this week with near unilateral support of Democrats, and complete opposition by Republicans.
Baker called the pay hikes "irresponsible" and rejected the bill. Republicans from MetroWest and the Milford area agreed with Baker's veto."
"Former Franklin goalie Sean Bertoni (Class of 2002) made his first return to his alma mater as a head coach on Saturday night, leading Oliver Ames into Pirelli Veterans Arena with a chance to take control of the Kelley-Rex title race.
But it was current Panthers netminder Cam Benham that stole the headlines and the two points with a 40-save performance that helped Franklin claim a 4-1 victory and control of its own destiny as it seeks to clinch a sixth straight league championship.
“That’s the goaltender that we need every night,” said Franklin coach Chris Spillane. “We’re looking forward to Cam getting on a roll. He had a shutout the other night, played unbelievable for us tonight, made some really big saves, and kept us in the game.”
"Franklin had three individual champions, two second place finishes and four more grapplers finish third or fourth to win the team title at the Hockomock League Wrestling Championships at Oliver Ames on Saturday.
The Panthers registered 218.5 points, edging out North Attleboro (212.5 points) and Foxboro (200.5 points).
Franklin’s Ian Bakalars won the 113 title with a 6-2 decision, Mike Racca notched a first round pin to win the 120 title and Dylan Maclean earned the 145 title with a pin. Jordan Carlucci (106) and Brian Perry (285) had second place finishes, Evan Hernandez (182) and Kyler Colella (195) each came in third and TJ Remillard (126) and Brian Farrell (132) both placed fourth."
The published agenda and documents for the Franklin Town COuncil meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 1, 2017 (Note where there are active links in the agenda item, it will take you to the associated document)
Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the Agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comments on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.
The change of manager at Joe's American Bar and Grill is likely to cause some conversation as under the previous manager there was an underage sale violation as part of the annual police sting operation.
"The Franklin Police Department is responding to the opioid epidemic in multiple ways. Franklin Police officers are dispatched to reported overdoes, and carry with them the opioid overdosing reversal drug naloxone (Narcan). In addition to this, they also carry with them defibrillators and other medical equipment. The Franklin Police Department believes in openness, transparency, and honestly about the problems our community faces. We will be providing information about the current state of the problem we are responding to, and also continually working to educate, and help those who suffer with addiction. This page will provide data on the number of responses the Franklin Police has made to reported overdoses, and the general locations where we have responded. No specific information about individuals will be provided. As this problem has grown we have gained more tools to help those who have been affected. Support groups such as the S.A.F.E. Coalition have formed, and also new legislation has been passed. In 2016 Governor Baker signed into law an expansion of the Protective Custody Law, which now allows police officers to require a victim of an overdoes to be seen by medical personnel. We hope that you will find this information useful, and will support our efforts in trying to help those who suffer under the weight of addiction, and those who care for and about them. Chief Lynch recently appeared on the S.A.F.E. Coalitions's "Confronting Our Crisis" television program. That program can be viewed here."
The Franklin Senior Center Open House is scheduled for February 26, 2017. Yes, this open house is to celebrate the renovations to the second floor and the improvements accomplished inside and outside (more parking) as part of the project.
Senior Center Open House- February 26, 2017 11:00 Am to 2:00 PM
The goal of the Franklin Public Library's One Book, One Community program is to help build a better sense of fellowship through a shared reading experience. The results are in! With 42% of the vote, Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance is our 2017 One Book, One Community read.
"A series of proposed recreational marijuana bylaws will come before the Town Council this week as the town coordinates its response to November's ballot initiative.
The council will consider the regulations - which would govern the location of recreational marijuana facilities - in a public hearing during its Wednesday night meeting.
The set of five bylaw amendments - which look to limit such businesses and buildings to certain areas, primarily the local industrial parks - first came in front of the council in late December."
The Town Council recap of the Jan 18, 2017 meeting has a few key takeways: 1 - Three new fire fighters were sworn in: Becky Caroline, AJ Morris, Katherine Forest
Chief McCarragher, Becky Caroline, AJ Morris, Katherine Forest
2 - The Finance Committee added a new member: David Wiech 3 - Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Councilor Glen Jones presented on the series of accomplishments in improving the communications and information availability with more to come in 2017.
4 - The residents of Summer St came out in force again to speak against the proposed addition of 34 houses on an 11 acre property that could be developed with 7-8 under the current zoning. The vote to make the map change was 5-3 but was insufficient to pass the measure. 6 votes were required. The council vote was by roll call.
Boys Basketball = Stoughton, 48 @ Franklin, 81 – Final
– Franklin senior Connor Goldstein connected on five three pointers in the first half and finished with a career-high 21 points to pace the Panthers to a win on Senior Night. Franklin seniors accounted for 54 points for the Panthers. Seniors Josh Macchi scored 16 points, James Hanlon had nine points and Mike Doherty chipped in with eight points. Stoughton’s Cam Andrews and Matt Valle each scored nine points.
Girls Basketball = Franklin, 47 @ Stoughton, 49 – Final
– Stoughton erased a 13-point deficit at half, rallying for 36 points in the second half to edge Franklin. The Panthers held a 26-13 advantage at the break but Stoughton freshman Shyanne Trinh scored all of her team-high 14 points in the second half to spark the comeback. Junior Val Whalen had 13 points and 16 rebounds. Franklin sophomore Bea Bondhus netted a team-high 13 points for the Panthers.
Boys Swimming = Franklin, 88 @ King Philip, 82
– Final – Franklin’s Connor Bourgeois won both the 50 and 100 free, Roy Wang won the 100 breast and the boys 200 freestyle relay of Bourgeois, Wang, Jack Cashin and Sumit Choudhury finished first to help the Panthers pick up their first ever win over KP.
Thanks for an amazing last dual meet💕 Even though it ended in a loss, everyone did amazing and we couldn't be more proud! love, the seniors pic.twitter.com/xpmkuFJotS
"I was only in the classroom for 45 minutes, but that was long enough to compel me to write a letter to the teacher once I left.
I’ll be honest, I have zero qualifications as it relates to child education. My only qualification and reason for being in a kindergarten class that day is my oldest child is a kindergartner. He attends a public school and I was in his classroom as a parent volunteer.
His teacher had asked parents to sign up to help during the daily Literacy Center portion of the morning. I was excited to go in, see my son in his classroom, and meet his classmates. When I arrived, the class was sitting on the floor, singing, and drawing the alphabet in the air with their fingers. Mrs. G gave me a quick rundown on how I was to help. She introduced me to the class and then quietly asked the children to go to their first center."
While this article is published in the Washington Post, the writer could have been a mother visiting a Franklin kindergarten classroom. I recognize the concepts of the centers in the classroom. Having visited a kindergarten (although not yet this year), I also recognize the sentiments expressed by the writer/mother. By way of disclosure, my wife (Mrs Sherlock) is one of the three kindergarten teachers at Oak St Elementary. You can see some of what they do in the classroom when they share via their new Twitter account @OakStKinders
"Franklin High School Principal Paul Peri says he wants to encourage C's but that isn't a bad thing.
In his first year at the school, Peri said he and other administrators came up with a list of core values after conducting a listening tour at the school.
"We wanted this to be a year of communication; collaboration; comfort and care; and culture," he told the School Committee Tuesday. "As a new team, we felt our role was to listen, learn and support."
Peri noted that, while there is often a sense of community in the district's elementary and middle schools, that is less true at the high school. He said the school was making efforts to remedy that by communicating with the public through several means, including Twitter."
Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell today expressed his sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to the Registry’s 2016 Annual Holiday Food Drive in making it another great success. “I am thankful,” O’Donnell stated, ”that so many Norfolk County residents, including our employees and title examiners, took the opportunity to donate and help those living through hardships such as the loss of a job or an illness. The non-perishable food collected during the drive was dispensed to several pantries throughout Norfolk County.”
Register O’Donnell with Sue Kilcoyne, Operations Manager at the Franklin Food Pantry
Register O’Donnell stated “Obviously, while the holiday food drive has ended, it does not stop hunger from affecting many of our neighbors. A report done by Project Bread noted that 1 out of 9 households in Massachusetts are considered food insecure.”
The Register, however, was heartened to see how Norfolk County communities are dealing with the issue of hunger. “Some of these communities were pretty innovative in addressing the problem with mobile pop-up pantries going into neighborhoods and to creating classes on how to cook and shop for food more efficiently. Additionally, I was struck by the large number of people that were involved in the fight against hunger through their local pantry.”
Register O’Donnell concluded, “Obviously hunger doesn’t end when the holidays are over. I urge residents to consider dropping off food supplies at their local pantries across Norfolk County. Most pantries are requesting canned goods, breakfast cereals, pasta, sauces, toiletries and paper products. Dropping off a food donation at a local pantry can make a world of difference in helping a family in need.”
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High Street, Dedham is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center via telephone at (781) 461-6101, or on the web at www.norfolkdeeds.org.
