Candidates emerge for Vallee’s state rep job

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Candidates emerge for Vallee’s state rep job

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Brian Benson/Daily News staff on 4/14/12

Less than a week after longtime state Rep. James Vallee announced he would not seek re-election, three candidates have emerged to run for the 10th Norfolk District seat.

Franklin Town Councilor Jeffrey Roy, a Democrat, announced his candidacy yesterday. Franklin School Committee member John Jewell and Medway attorney Richard Eustis, both Republicans, said they will also vie for the seat Vallee has held for almost two decades.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to The Milford Daily News News RSS using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Franklin mom fights side-effects of stem cell treatment

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Franklin mom fights side-effects of stem cell treatment

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Alison McCall/Daily News staff on 4/13/12

At 45 years old, single mother Amanda Gard struggles with the ailments of a much older woman. "I have over 30 medications that I take every day," said Gard, who suffers from cataracts, osteoporosis and breathing issues. "It's affecting my ability to drive, it's affecting my independence ... It limits my ability to spend the time I want with my son." Her problems come from a stem cell transplant in 2009 meant to cure a previously well-managed cancer that became suddenly aggressive toward the end of her pregnancy with her son, Justin, now 3 years old.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to The Milford Daily News News RSS using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

The link to donate to this cause is also found at the end of the article emilyruns.org

In the news - Library, shoe recycle, special education

Vacation week fun scheduled at Franklin Library

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin Cub Scouts to kick off charity shoe drive, April 14

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

More students, complex needs, higher costs in special education

by David Riley, driley@wickedlocal.com

Reminder: Water Ban

Hello, this is the Franklin Department of Public Works calling to remind you that the Town's Water Conservation Plan has been in effect since May 27th. Outside lawn watering is restricted to one day per week on your trash day. Lawn watering is not permitted from 9:00 AM thru 5:00 PM. No lawn watering is permitted on other days of the week. These summer water conservation measures are needed to limited the daily demand on the water system in order to ensure adequate water is available to meet the public health and safety needs of the Town. Please remember, the University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension Center recommends that lawns only need one inch of water, either from rainfall or irrigation, each week. Non- compliance with these regulations could adversely affect public health and safety. Violators are subject to fines up to $200.00 Additional information can be found on the Town of Franklin website. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. To listen to the above message, you will need audio software and speakers on your computer. This e-mail has been sent to you by TOWN OF FRANKLIN. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. If you wish to discontinue this service, please inform TOWN OF FRANKLIN either IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at (508) 520-4938. THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS IS NOT MONITORED. Please do not reply to this e-mail as we are not able to respond to messages sent to this address.

HMEA 11th Annual Independence 5K - May 20th

The poster talking about the 11th Annual Independence 5K for HMEA is colorful!



If you want to register as a runner, you can do that directly here
http://www.active.com/register/index.cfm?CHECKSSO=0&EVENT_ID=2009516

or if you want to register and raise some funds for HMEA, you can do that here
http://www.firstgiving.com/hmea


You can also view the document here
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczMXJVVzMxLVFRazQ

"recommended dietary allowance"

On Friday the 13th, let's do a little video. No, not the slasher kind. Too bloody. Let's go the other end of the spectrum and watch as Billy Collins gives us our "recommended dietary allowance of poetry". After all, this is April and April is National Poetry Month.




The Mass Poetry Festival will be held in Salem and more info can be found here
http://masspoetry2012.crowdvine.com/


Note: Billy Collins was part of the inspiration to develop sherku, my own form of haiku. The story of sherku is here and the verse I wrote can be found here http://www.quietpoet.com/

Milford section of I-495 to be resurfaced

The trip to Walmart, Staples or Whole Foods or the cinema could take a little longer in the near future as the paving work gets underway on i495

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Milford section of I-495 to be resurfaced

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Brian Benson/Daily News staff on 4/12/12

A six-mile stretch of Interstate 495 is slated to be resurfaced in the coming months at a cost of $12 million. Dracut-based Brox Industries submitted the lowest of five bids at $12.1 million. The work will involve resurfacing a 5.9-mile stretch of the highway from just north of Rte. 85 in Milford through Medway and Bellingham to the Bellingham-Franklin town line.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to The Milford Daily News News RSS using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

“Another citizen will step up and serve the district"

Rep Jim Vallee surprised some folks yesterday:

The longtime lawmaker announced yesterday he won’t seek re-election for his House seat in the fall. 

“I was a very young guy when I started,” said the Franklin Democrat, first elected in 1994 when he was 27. “Now, I have three little kids.” 

“That really was my driving factor (in resigning),” said Vallee, referring to Lucy, 5, Beatrice, 3, and Sam, 8 months. “I’d like to be able to spend time with them on the weekends and be home at night to be able to read with them.”

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x403921504/State-Rep-Jim-Vallee-not-seeking-re-election#ixzz1role676x

Rep Vallee has accomplished a whole lot for Franklin and the Commonwealth of MA. He'll be missed.

Massbudget First Look: The House Ways and Means Budget

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

First Look: The House Ways and Means Budget    Early this afternoon, the House Ways and Means Committee finalised its budget proposal for FY 2013. MassBudget's First Look provides a preliminary analysis of the major initiatives along with the effects on core programs. To address the state's budget deficit, the House Ways and Means budget relies heavily on: Cuts and savings, including reduced funding for Early Education & Care and Public Health. One-time revenue, drawn mostly from the "rainy day" fund. In contrast to the Governor's proposal, which introduced some modest tax initiatives, the House Ways and Means budget does not include any revenue from new taxes. Read A FIRST LOOK: THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS FY 2013 BUDGET MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies--with particular attention to the effects on low- and moderate-income people.

Forward email This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by nberger@massbudget.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Franklin Food Pantry: Current Needs

The current needs list of food and non-food items for the Franklin Food Pantry can be found in the document shown here:




You can also view the doc online here
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczWHRQNUo1YzRZTmM


Note: I am on the Board of Directors for the Franklin Food Pantry.

New Feature at Franklin Downtown Partnership web page

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

New Feature

via Franklin Downtown Partnership by noreply@blogger.com (Franklin Downtown Partnership) on 4/11/12

We are introducing a new feature on our website -- we have created a space for our members to advertise downtown retail and office space they have available. We have called it simply "Office and Retail Space Available" and you can find it on the right-hand side of the page under the Downtown Partnership Calendar and next to the Downtown Partners' Links. 


We start this feature off with a listing from Joseph Byrne of Byrne Financial Freedom, LLC. 


Do you have property you'd like us to list? Contact Lisa at Downtown.Franklin@yahoo.com with the pertinent information. We will list your property for one month. 


Looking for more properties? Please feel free to contact one of our many member realtors via their link on the right side of this page for more information.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Franklin Downtown Partnership using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

In the News - Letters to the Editor

Hobbs: Franklin fire victims offer gratitude

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Aucoin: Franklin vote penalizes other communities

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Spring Pond

As the buds continue to blossom, the brown on the tree line will change to green.

MassBudget Update: Revenue Proposals in the FY 2013 Budget Process

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

Revenue Proposals in the Governor's Budget   On Wednesday, the House Ways and Means Committee releases its budget proposal for FY 2013. And the fiscal challenge they face is to fill a budget gap of roughly $1.3 billion. To provide some context, MassBudget has updated its Budget Monitor with a fuller analysis of the Governor's proposals to address that same deficit by way of new revenue. Most of the new revenue specified in the Governor's budget is temporary--chiefly from the "rainy day" fund. But a modest amount (roughly $215 million) is ongoing, including An increase in the cigarette tax which would raise $62.5 million.  An end to the sales tax exemption for candy and soda which amounts to $61.5 million. Our analysis covers these and other revenue initiatives in greater detail. We also invite you to use our Budget Monitor more broadly--to compare the forthcoming House Ways and Means budget with the Governor's proposals for health care, education, public safety, and beyond. Our "First Look" review of the House Ways and Means Budget will be available Wednesday and our comprehensive Budget Monitor early next week. READ ABOUT REVENUE PROPOSALS IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies--with particular attention to the effects on low- and moderate-income people.

Forward email This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by nberger@massbudget.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Fundraising for the Rail Trail Effort

To All,

As some of you may know, I'v been involved in the development of the four 1/2 mile Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT) in Franklin and Bellingham with our parent 501(c)(3), the Grand Trunk Trail Blazers.  This is an abandoned railroad path that runs from Franklin through Bellingham and into Blackstone.

The Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee's mission is to raise awareness about the trail's existence and to develop it into a multiuse trail.  Our united efforts will ultimately provide a safe environment for riding bikes, horses, walking or jogging, and generally encouraging people to exercise in the outdoors.

The advantages of using this type of trail are many including improved cardiovascular health and fitness and destressing as you enjoy the beauty around us.  Because of the trail's proximity to public transportation, we hope to eventually extend it to the commuter rail stations and public transportation.  This can further help the environment by reducing dependence on cars during the daily commute.

We are holding a 5k run/1 mile walk on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 10 a.m. at the former Putnam Property at 431 Washington Street, Franklin, MA on paved trails.  We would love to have you join us.  Entry fee is $20 prior to race day, $25 on race day and $15 for students. You can also register online at www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org.

Or maybe you can support us either by becoming a member ($25), attending committee meetings on the second Tuesday of each month, or by sponsoring our event on May 12th.

If you would like to support this cause, please make your tax deductible check payable to: the Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee and mail it to: FBRTC Treasurer, PO Box 68, Franklin, MA 02038.

Regards,

Dave & Annette Labonte

Vice Chair, Race Chair

Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee