Blackstone Valley: Our Volunteers are Going Places!

Paddle, Pedal, Recycle and Volunteer!

Blackstone Heritage Corridor Volunteer-led Events August 4 - August 13 Saturday, August 6th - Go Green at the Daniels Farmstead Farmers Market.  Electronics Recycling and More!  Tuesday, August 8th - Join the Paddle Club in the Slatersville Reservoir.  Tuesday, August 8th - Imagine the Possibilities as a Volunteer for the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor! Wednesday, August 9th - Pedal from the Blackstone River State Park Visitor Center to Pratt Dam during this week's Ride of Discovery. Don't Forget! - The deadline for submissions to the 2018 Calendar Contest is coming up!  Monday, August 14th, 2017 will be the last day to submit your photo entries. For a complete list of our volunteer-led events and other events  throughout the Blackstone Heritage Corridor,  Visit the events page on our website. BHC's online events calendar is updated faster than we can say  "Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor"  so check back often to see what's happening. * Afraid that weather is a factor? Check out BHC's Facebook Page for any updates!

Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, 670 Linwood Avenue, Whitinsville, MA 01588 Sent by mail@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org in collaboration with Try it free today

In the News: Exelon gets State approval; Governor appoints pot board

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

"A state board eliminated roadblocks for the construction of an expansion to the Medway Exelon plant. 

At a hearing Friday, the Energy Facilities Siting Board approved two decisions - one granting a certificate of environmental impact and public interest, and the other approving a revised water supply - in favor of the 200-megawatt expansion project. It had earlier issued tentative decisions to allow for public comment. 

Board counsel Joan Evans said her draft decision grants the certificate to Exelon. Though the company had requested the board grant 11 state and local permits, this decision requires it go through the regular permitting process. Evans said the state fire marshal’s office, for example, wanted more information on chemicals that would be stored at the plant. 

The company can seek those permits during construction, Evans said. With a favorable decision, she told the board, Exelon could begin construction."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170804/state-oks-medway-exelon-plans

Governor Charlie Baker on Friday appointed five members to the Massachusetts’ Cannabis Advisory Board, which will make recommendations to the Cannabis Control Commission on the regulation and taxation of marijuana. 

The board was established by the ballot initiative approved by voters last November and in legislation signed by Baker last week, consisting of 25 members: five appointees each from the governor, treasurer and attorney general and 10 others. 

The law requires Baker’s appointees to represent experts in minority business development, economic development strategies for under-resourced communities, farming or farming interests, employers and municipal law enforcement. 

The new members are Walpole Police Chief John Carimichael Jr.; Roxbury attorney Kimberly Napoli, co-founder of the Hempest retail clothing shop in Harvard Square; Mary Ann Pesce of Weston, an independent consultant who spent most of her career in business management for The Gillette Company in Boston; Lydia Sisson, founder and co-director of Mill City Grows, an urban food producer in Lowell; and Henry M. Thomas III, president and CEO of the Urban League of Springfield.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170804/governor-baker-names-five-to-pot-panel

Franklin Downtown Partnership: Harvest Festival registration press release & form; new members

Franklin Downtown Partnership  9 E. Central Street, Franklin, MA  02038 (774) 571-3109   downtown.franklin@yahoo.com FDP Harvest Festival Registration press release, form Don't delay - booth spaces are first-come first-served and we expect to sell out spaces! Franklin Harvest Festival Registration Opens to Vendors in August Registration will begin in August for crafters, vendors, artists and community groups who want to participate in the Franklin Downtown Partnership's 15th annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This fall's Harvest Festival is expected to draw more than 8,000 visitors to downtown Franklin. The rain date will be Sunday, October 15. Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic for the event. Booths are free to 2017 business members, $125 for non-members, and $185 for food vendors. The registration deadline for participants is September 20. Downtown business owners need to send in a registration to secure store-front space. A late charge of $35 will be added to registration forms received after September 20, and no registrations will be accepted after October 1. Event details and registration forms will be posted in early August on www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/, on the FDP's Facebook event page and on Twitter. Questions can be directed to Harvest Festival Chair Scott Martin at fdpharvestfest@gmail.com. Sponsors are needed to help support the FDP's largest and most popular festival. As a non-profit organization, the Downtown Partnership depends on sponsors to fund this and other efforts including Beautification, the Strawberry Stroll and the Holiday Stroll. Sponsorship forms can be found on the FDP website under the Sponsors tab. Currently, Dean Bank, Middlesex Savings Bank and Rockland Trust are Silver sponsors. Chestnut Dental Associates, DCU, the Franklin Cultural Council, Franklin Ford and Real Living Realty are Bronze sponsors. The Franklin Historical Museum and Franklin Cultural District, LeafFilter, Rescom Exteriors, and Tom Fricker Heating & AC, Inc. are Friends sponsors. Download the press release here. Please tell us what you need: Networking lunches Over the past year we've been holding our monthly Networking Luncheons on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m., and many of you have joined us.  Does that day and time work for you? Do you prefer a different day or time?  What other suggestions do you have for our committee? Please email the FDP office with your comments and suggestions and we'll pass those along to Matt Lechter and Gary Donelan. They'll take your suggestions and create a luncheon schedule for the fall.

Franklin Downtown Partnership, 9 E. Central St., Franklin, MA 02038 Try it free today

The newsletter was shortened for publication here. Unfortunately, there is not a link to view the web version of this.

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 8/4/17 - THU 8/10/17

FRIDAY 8/4/17
9:30am   Family Yoga @ Franklin Public Library
10:30am   The Day the Crayons Quit Party @ Franklin Public Library
12-6pm   Franklin Farmers Market @ Town Common
3:30pm   Lemonade and Giant Legos @ Franklin Public Library
8pm   Black Box Jazz: The Mark Poniatowski Situation

SATURDAY 8/5/17
10-1pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
1-7pm   La Cantina Tasting Room Grand Opening @ La Cantina Winery

SUNDAY 8/6/17
8am   Yoga on the Beach (free event, all levels welcome) @ Beaver Pond
10:30am   Feast of St. Rocco: Opening Mass @ St. Mary’s Parish
1-4pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open

MONDAY 8/7/17
2:30pm   Maker Mondays @ Franklin Public Library
3:30pm   Wimpy Kid Book Club @ Franklin Public Library
7pm   Learn to Cope Franklin Chapter Meeting @ FUSF

TUESDAY 8/8/17
9am   Do Gooders DIYs @ Franklin Public Library
7:30pm   Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Monthly Meeting (public welcome) @ Franklin YMCA

WEDNESDAY 8/9/17
10am   Bryson Lang! @ Franklin Public Library
6-8pm   Franklin Cultural Festival: Mike Rutkowski @ Franklin Town Common

THURSDAY 8/10/17
9:30am   Baby Tummy Time @ Franklin Public Library
10:30am   Story and Craft @ Franklin Public Library
12pm   Park it and Read @ various Franklin Parks - check with the Library
1-6pm   American Red Cross Blood Drive @ Elks Lodge
5-10pm   Feast of St. Rocco: Rides Only
5-8pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
7-8pm   Healing Hearts Community Support Group @ Franklin YMCA

For the Town of Franklin Public Calendar click HERE.

For all other events and Franklin happenings click HERE.

*To submit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this FORM

St. Mary's St. Vincent de Paul August Food Drive

The St. Mary's St. Vincent de Paul Society will also be holding the August food drive during the weekend of August 5 and 6. We are so grateful for every item that is donated to our SVdP food pantry week after week. Because of these donations we are able to pack up many bags of food and offer them to our neighbors in need. 

For our August food drive, we are requesting peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti sauce, rice mixes, fruit juice and canned vegetables. Donations may be dropped off in the boxes at the doors of the church on the weekend of August 5/6.

All your food donations go right back into the community to help our neighbors who in their hour of need, turn to St. Mary's.

Thank you for helping us to work together to make a difference in our community!

St Mary's Parish, Franklin

Franklin PD and Lifelong Community Learning Announce Partnership

The Franklin Police Department and Franklin Public Schools Lifelong Community Learning (formerly the Center for Adult Education & Community Learning) today announced a partnership to present a Citizen Police Academy beginning September 13.

Classes will be held once a week for ten weeks on Wednesday nights from 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM at the Franklin Police Station, 911 Panther Way. In addition to answering questions like …….. how would you react in an emergency situation; how is evidence collected; and what should you do if stopped for speeding ……  

Each attendee will be given the opportunity to ride with a Franklin Police Officer during his or her tour of duty to experience the duties and responsibilities of the officers firsthand. Ride-alongs will last approximately 3-4 hours.

Citizen Police Academy begins Sep 13

The intended result of the academy is to give residents a better understanding of what police officers do and how they do it. The classes, designed to give overviews of the areas taught, will cover basic operations and will be instructed mostly by members of the Franklin Police Department.

Given the degree of access participants will have during the program, some requirements will apply, including the successful completion and approval of a Criminal Offense Record Information (CORI) filing.

The Academy registration fee is $90. Participants can register online at www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com on the Lifelong Community Learning page.

For more information you can call Lt. James West 508-440-2726 or Brenda Reed 508-613-1483. You can also visit www.franklinpolice.com or www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com

The mission of the Franklin Police Department is to work collaboratively in partnership with our community to enhance the quality of life in our town, while maintaining order and protecting the people we serve. We will accomplish this mission by providing high quality law enforcement service, doing so with professionalism, honor and integrity.

The Lifelong Community Learning Center is a program of the Franklin Public Schools Lifelong Learning Institute, dedicated to providing quality learning experiences for residents in the Town of Franklin and surrounding communities.


This was shared from the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/news/citizens-police-academy

Cradles to Crayons Prepares Students for the New School Year with Its Ready for School Program

Cradles to Crayons®, a nonprofit organization that equips children from birth through age 12 living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive, commences its Ready for School initiative, a program aiming to ensure that children enter the school year confident and excited to learn.

Although students are in the midst of summer vacation, Cradles to Crayons (C2C®) is one step ahead and preparing children for the new school year. Since 2006, C2C's Ready for School program has worked to help level the playing field for all children by providing essential items needed to start school on the right foot. This year's program, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, The TJX Companies, Inc., and OMAM, runs through September 30th and aims to serve 70,000 children. The program will distribute backpacks filled with new, age-appropriate school supplies as well as customized KidPacks complete with clothing, shoes, and more.

There are currently more than 400,000 children in need in Massachusetts. Entering the school year without the supplies needed to succeed can be a significant developmental setback. Basic essentials like backpacks, school supplies, shoes, and clothing are critical tools that help developing children turn curiosity and creativity into knowledge and success. These resources also alleviate stress from struggling parents and allow them to direct money to food, rent, and other necessities.

"School supplies are a vital aspect when it comes to student success. However, providing students with school supplies can be a financial hardship for many families," said Joyce Asack, Ward 6 School Committee Member for the City of Brockton. "The Ready for School Backpack-A-Thon will ensure that many of our Brockton students have the opportunity to start the school year off successfully with the tools they need. It has been rewarding to see the happiness these backpacks have brought to many Brockton families and I am happy to continue letting this rewarding tradition live on!"

Lynn Margherio, Founder and CEO of Cradles to Crayons adds, "School supplies and basic essentials are required for children to be mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared for school. We understand that school readiness goes beyond backpacks. When a child's clothing doesn't fit properly or is poor quality, they become focused on discomfort and embarrassment rather than applying themselves to learning. Our Ready for School goal is to boost confidence and set kids up for success. We greatly appreciate the generous support of our community for this initiative."

About Cradles to Crayons

Cradles to Crayons launched in 2002 and has operations in Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago. The nonprofit provides children from birth through age 12 living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive—at home, at school, and at play. They supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need. Cradles to Crayons mobilizes communities to collect and donate new and gently used high-quality children's items. The organization also engages thousands of youth and adults each year in tangible service activities that benefit local children in need. For more information, please visit www.cradlestocrayons.org/boston/.

Cradles to Crayons (C2C®)

In the News: beavers at DelCarte, PMC rides through Franklin

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

"Local officials are weighing what to do with a colony of beavers whose natural handiwork threatens an earthen berm at DelCarte Reservation off Pleasant Street. 

An expert from ESS Group, an environmental engineering firm, walked around the ponds and other parts of the reservation on April 7 looking for signs of beaver busywork. After discovering that the critters were indeed making themselves at home, ESS installed a motion-activated camera for 13 days. 

Four beaver lodges were found along the shoreline, two of which appear to be in use. One dam in the area is blocking water flow from the upper basin to the southern basin. The dam is flooding trees near a berm on the upper basin, or pond, according to an ESS study. That could be a problem if the berm continues to flood."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170803/franklin-beavers-raising-water-worries

"Thousands of bike tires will meet with hundreds of miles of pavement across Massachusetts during the 38th annual Pan Mass Challenge this weekend. 

The ride starts tomorrow and continues until Sunday – Over 6,000 cyclists from eight different countries gathered in Massachusetts for the bike race this year. The ride will begin on 5:30 a.m on Saturday and on Sunday and go until 7 p.m. 

The Pan Mass Challenge, or PMC, is a fundraiser for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. To date, PMC has raised almost $550 million for early-cancer research. The PMC raises more money than any other athletic fundraiser in the country. 

There will be water stops for cyclists in Franklin, Wrentham, Foxbourough, Whitinsville, and Wellesley. The stops are known to cause car traffic, as hundreds on cyclists will be making their way down dozens of the area roads.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170803/local-cyclists-ready-for-pan-mass-challenge

The water stop in Franklin is at the Remington-Jefferson School complex. It is worth an early trip there to see the riders come through. Some of the early riders will get there about 7:30 AM and the bulk of the pack arrives between 8 and 10 AM according to my recall of prior visits.

A slideshow of photos from the water stop in 2013 can be found here

A slideshow of photos from the water stop in 2013

“In Massachusetts, we do not have a statewide ‘blizzard bag’ policy"

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

"THE ISSUE: Some schools are using at-home assignments to avoid making up snow days at the end of June. THE DETAILS: While Massachusetts has no formal policy, the state allows school districts to adopt their own remote learning programs. 

Instead of having snow makeup days shorten their summer vacations, some schools are exploring new ways for students to learn at home. 

One approach that’s been tried in a handful of school districts involves making up snow days by assigning projects for students to complete at home, instead of making up the snow day at the end of the school year.

“I think there’s certainly interest in it,” said Tom Scott, the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. “I think as some of the technology advances and opportunities to use technology exist, I think it’s more likely that more districts will pay attention to it.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170803/some-schools-will-make-up-snow-days-with-at-home-assignments

Parmenter sign buried in snow in 2015

La Cantina Winery expands - Grand Opening Aug 5

Join us on Saturday, August 5th from 1:00-7:00 for the grand opening of our new extension to the La Cantina Winery located at 357 Union St.

Sample wines produced and bottled locally for FREE!!

extension to the La Cantina Winery located at 357 Union St

It is good to see this expansion to take advantage of the recent passage of the tasting room bylaw for brewery, distillery and winery that was recently passed by the Town Council.

La Cantina Wine School (photo from the archives Sep 2014)

For more about the La Cantina Winery, check out their webpage or stop by the Farmers Market on the Town Common each Friday through October  http://www.lacantinawinery.com/

Tinkergarten Classes Scheduled for Franklin in September

Tinkergarten is bringing their early childhood education approach to Franklin. Trial classes are scheduled for Sep 7, 12 and 14.

"At Tinkergarten, families meet outdoors to connect and learn through play. In this free trial class, Tinkergarten Leader, Nancy Hayden, will facilitate an expert-designed play scenario, allowing children of various ages and needs to explore, problem solve, communicate, collaborate, and create together. Parents and caregivers learn, too, as we’ll share insight into your child’s development.
This trial class is:

• Designed for children ages 18 months-5 years. Child/children are accompanied by an adult. Siblings of any other age are most welcome.

• Limited to the first 15 families who register.

• Kids may get a bit messy (Hurrah!), so please send them in clothing that can get dirty.

• We start the class at the specified location, but may end within a reasonable walk from that location."

Tinkergarten Classes Scheduled for Franklin in September

This 3 minute video explains the Tinkergarten approach



For more information and to sign up for one of the trial classes visit
https://tinkergarten.com/classes/all/massachusetts/franklin

Franklin Public Library: The Day the Crayons Quit Party

The Day the Crayons Quit Party, Friday, August 4, 10:30 AM

Franklin Public Library: The Day the Crayons Quit Party

Shared from the Franklin Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-day-crayons-quit-party-friday.html

NationalGrid: Keep bills low as summer heats up

Keep bills low as summer heats up. nationalgridus.com. To view this email as a web page, click here.

With summer in full swing, temperatures are high and so is home electricity usage. Take advantage of our programs and solutions to help you take greater control of your energy use now, and year round. There are many cost effective ways to beat the heat without sacrificing comfort. We encourage you to follow these simple tips and visit ngrid.com/summerbills for even more ways to save. ▪ Draw blinds, shades, drapes – Close window dressings to block the solar gain during the hottest part of the day on south and west facing windows. ▪ Adjust the thermostat – Adjusting your thermostat a few degrees can lead to big savings on your bill. National Grid recommends a setting of 78 degrees or higher when you're home. A 75-degree setting will cost about 18 percent more than a 78 degree setting. ▪ Use programmable thermostats – Programmable thermostats allow you to set schedules to reduce cooling when the house is empty. ▪ Clean or replace air conditioner filters – Keep the air flowing freely by checking your air conditioner filter and replacing or cleaning it if it's clogged. ▪ Turn off fans – Fans don't actually cool your home; they only circulate air to make you feel cooler. Turn them off when you're not home or in a room where they're running. ▪ Unplug electronics – Even though your television and other appliances are turned off, many electronics still draw electricity (phantom load). Unplug any unnecessary electronics and chargers until you return home. An advanced power strip on your entertainment system can turn off the power to peripheral devices when the TV is not in use, reducing phantom energy use all year-long and saving you up to $60 annually. ▪ Use light timers, motion detectors – Many people like to leave a light on to make it seem like someone is home while they are away. Use a light timer instead for just a little while each evening. This saves energy and gives a more realistic impression of someone being at home. Rather than leaving your porch light on the entire time you're gone, install a motion detector to be used both when you're at home and away. ▪ Check refrigerator and freezer temps – The ideal refrigerator temperature is between 37 and 40 degrees. For the freezer the ideal reading is 5 degrees. ▪ Consider replacing or recycling older-model working refrigerators – Older model refrigerators often can use more than four times the energy of newer models and cost up to $150 a year to run. You can get paid to get rid of them with National Grid's recycling programs in Massachusetts that now pay $50 per unit (up to two per household). ▪ Choose the right dehumidifier – An ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifier removes the same amount of moisture from the air as a standard model but uses 15 percent less energy. You'll save up to $175 over the product's lifetime. And you'll save even more with a $30 rebate from National Grid. National Grid Here with you. Here for you.

National Grid - Summer bills