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Sunday, November 9, 2008
In local TV - vandalism at Franklin Landing
ABC Channel 6 - Providence
ABC Channel 5 - Boston
Video is available on both links
"it's walking on sacred ground"
Thursday afternoon, a group of veterans hovered over the bar at the Elks Lodge, drinking beer, teasing each other about hitting on women and badgering the manager for socializing instead of staying in the office.
But when talk turned to the reason for their gathering - their trip to Washington, D.C. to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., the men quickly became solemn, nostalgic and filled with pride.
"I had a brother, William, in the Air Force who passed. I want to see all the different memorials while I still can. I'm excited about it," said Frank DeRose, 83, a World War II vet who fought as an infantryman in the Normandy invasion.
DeRose said he was discharged with a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, "etc., etc.," after shrapnel slammed into his chest and right arm.
"I decided I wanted to see the memorial before ... any more years go by," he said, laughing.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
In addition to the Elks, there is also a group called the Honor Flight Network that pays for the travel expenses of veterans to make the trip to Washington, DC. You can read more about Honor Flight here and here.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
In the News - veterans, modular classrooms
With bronze medals, citations, a proclamation and lots of applause, the town honored its war veterans yesterday, paying special tribute to "The 90s Brigade."
About 150 veterans celebrated at the eighth annual Veterans Day breakfast, a ceremony featuring two local lawmakers who are also Army National Guard lieutenant colonels as keynote speakers: Sen. Scott Brown and Rep. James Vallee.
"It's people like you that inspired me to join the military and serve our country," Vallee told the crowd, which gathered at the Senior Center.
Vallee, D-Franklin, read a proclamation from Gov. Deval Patrick, and presented House resolutions to the eight men and women sitting on the stage, a special group of World War II veterans from Franklin.
read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.
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After touring the district's 20 modular classrooms twice, School Committee members concluded the structures are nearing the end of their useful lives.
"We jumped on the floors, etc.," said Cora Armenio, a member of a subcommittee with Ed Cafasso and School Committee Vice Chairwoman Paul Mullen.
"The larger (older) the child, the bigger the impact. They've been through the ringer," Armenio said.
All of the district's modular classrooms are about 10 years old, and their maximum life expectancy is 15 years, Superintendent Wayne Ogden has said.
Modular classrooms are used at Jefferson Elementary School, John F. Kennedy Elementary School, Gerald M. Parmenter School, Davis Thayer Elementary School and Franklin High School. The town's first modular classrooms were built in 1998 at Parmenter and Davis Thayer.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.
Read about all the items that the School Committee discussed at their meeting on October 28th check here, including the live reporting on the modular status here.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Franklin WWII Veterans
Emma Tobias was in her car, driving, in December of 1941 when the attack that launched the United States into World War II was first being reported to the public.
"I remember, I was coming home from the grocery store and I heard it on the car radio Pearl Harbor was attacked," said Tobias, sitting on Monday at a table overlooking the back yard of the Franklin home she shares with her daughter, Toby Skelly.
Details sometimes escape the recently turned 91-year-old, but she clearly remembers that moment on that day, Dec. 7, 1941.
"I don’t recall that there was any fear ... I just didn’t really know what it meant," she said.
But by the next day, she knew. The U.S. and Britain officially declared war, joining the conflict that began overseas in 1939.
And nearly two years later, Tobias was herself part of the war effort, an enlisted member of the United States Navy working at the Navy’s San Francisco headquarters.
Read the full article in the Franklin Gazette here
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Emma Tobias was amongst the first women to enlist in the Navy in World War II, a few months after the WAVES — Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service — division was formed.
She is now among Franklin’s 11 oldest surviving WWII veterans whose service is being honored this Veterans Day.
The 91-year-old is in good company, too.
Among her fellow senior most WWII veterans, there is Zeffro Gianetti, who served in the U.S. Army under Gen. George S. Patton, from 1941-1945.
"General Patton was one of the top and most famous generals in World War II," noted Franklin veterans agent Bob Fahey.
There is also Paul Egan, who was at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked Dec. 7, 1941, launching the United States and Britain into the conflict that began in Europe in 1939.
Read the full article here
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Franklin Planning Committee - meeting canceled 11/6/08
I was also inspired to write a sherku on the train home:
Other Writing
meeting canceled; no need for
live reporting; can
catch up on other writing
What is a sherku?
"it sounds like a very good program"
Town Council last night looked favorably upon a proposal from the Department of Public Works to start an automated trash collection program featuring single-stream recycling.
The new program would save residents the trouble of separating recyclables, theoretically increasing recycling rates, reduce waste tonnage, and would cost residents nothing or just a small increase in their trash fee, said officials last night.
With single-stream recycling, people can put all recyclables in one container, said DPW Director Brutus Cantoreggi.
"This is kind of like a no-brainer to us," said Cantoreggi.
The program would take effect when Franklin's current contract with Wheelabrator expires on June 30, 2010, said Cantoreggi.
The town would provide residents a container for trash, which would be maintained by the hauler, said Cantoreggi.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Read all that occurred during this Town Council meeting here.
Town Council Mtg Summary 11/05/08
- Live reporting - Councilor Comments
- Live reporting - Town Administrator's report
- live reporting - rezoning
- Live reporting - Brick lease
- Live reporting - DPW re-org
- Live reporting - DPW Solid Waste & Recycling
- Live reporting - Fire Station Bldg Committee disol...
- Recycling update
- Live reporting - Recycle committee report
- Live reporting - License transfer
- Live reporting - opening items
- Live reporting - Town Council Meeting