Action: J F Kennedy Playground and the Pepsi Refresh Grant

Hi Steve,

As education budgets continue to shrink nationwide, the Pepsi Refresh Project is giving grassroots organizations opportunities to improve their communities.  Our school, J F Kennedy Elementary in Franklin, MA is trying to build an inclusive playground so that all children can play together in our community.  We are hoping that you can tell your readers how they can easily help J F Kennedy Elementary School win $50,000 grant to build an inclusive playground.  Our playground will have slides, climbing structures, ramps for access, and sensory panels for children with sensory integration concerns so that all children can play together.

                                          

Starting now through Nov. 30^th you can help support our children by voting for our idea "Building an inclusive playground so all children can play together" at www.4jfkplay.com.

Anyone 13 years of age and older can vote once a day via the internet and text for the idea they believe is most deserving of a grant.   The top ten ideas that receive the highest number of votes, in our category of education/$50,000 will be awarded thegrant.

Here are three easy steps you and your readers can take to help our community get a new inclusive playground.

1.      Vote online

1.      Log on to www.4jfkplay.com

2.      Register to Vote

3.      Vote for "Building an inclusive playground so all children can play together" once every day!

4.      Spread the word!

and

2.      Text to vote - Text* 109738 to Pepsi (73774) to vote from your mobile (standard texting charges apply)

3.      Downloading the Pepsi Refresh Project App for the iPhone or Android and using it to vote.

We hope you'll share the story and link with your readers to help make a difference in our community. Please let us know if you have additional questions?

Best Regards

Tisha Arffa

Kennedy Playground Committee

tisha_arffa@comcast.net

www.kennedyplayground.com

781-389-3767

Question: Who can help with blueberry bushes?

Hey Steve,

I recently found your site and as a long-time resident of Franklin, I love it! I have a quick question........ Do you know of any site (perhaps even yours) which connects people who need some work with homeowners like me who need help? I'm very able bodied but I have a few specialized tasks which I need help with (trimming blueberry bushes, etc) . I've tried Craigslist but I'd rather stay with someone local who needs some cash.

Wanted: Able bodied Franklinite who has experience in gardening (particularly Blueberry bushes) to teach/help me trim a patch of Blueberry bushes.  I will pay for your time.

Just tossing it out there.  I am community minded myself.  In fact, I am going to be at Dacey Field this Saturday helping dig fence post holes for the new Dog Park ( http://franklindogpark.webs.com ).  Again, thanks for the reply and if it's not something you want to add on to your site, no problem!  I just figured that there are people in town who need help with things and people who have the time/talent who may be out of work or whatnot.  I've been on both sides of that equation.

Best!

Dave Wolfe
wolfeysmac@mac.com

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In the News - Delfino

Meet the Franklin Candidate: Charles Delfino Jr., constable

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Jeffrey Roy answers 3 questions

Jeffrey Roy submitted his answers to the three questions:

FM - Tell me a bit about yourself, your family and your life here in Franklin?

JR - I have been a trial lawyer in Boston, Massachusetts for the last 25 years. Locally, I have been a member of the School Committee for the last 10 years, and have served as the Chairman for nine of those 10 years. I have also served as a member of Franklin's Horace Mann School Building Committee, and as an elected Town Meeting Member in Milford, Massachusetts.

I am married to Maureen Roy and have two daughters (ages 21 and 18) and a son (age 15). All of my children were educated in the Franklin Public Schools. My oldest daughter currently attends Bates College in Lewiston, ME, and my other daughter is a freshman at Boston College. My son is a sophomore at Franklin High.

I am a 1986 cum laude graduate of Boston College Law School in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. I received my undergraduate degree from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine in 1983, where I served as Editor-in-Chief of the Bates Student newspaper. In addition, I received engineering training at Worcester Polytechnic Institute from 1979 to 1981 and one year of legal training at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.

After growing up in Milford, I moved to Franklin in 1986 and this has been our family home for the last 25 years.

2 - What experience or background will help you to serve in this role? or What do you think makes you a good candidate to fulfill this role?

JR - I spent the last 10 years working with the Franklin School Committee and enjoyed the challenges of working in municipal government. I am proud of the accomplishments made by the Franklin Public Schools team over the past 10 years and I will bring that spirit of hard work and commitment to the Council. In addition, as a trial lawyer, I am a problem solver. I will bring those skills to the table to address issues that we will face on the Town Council.

I have put together a website at jeffreyroy.com which more fully articulates my vision and priorities for this community and details why I am running for Town Council.

3 - What do you see as your role’s biggest challenge and do you have any suggestions on how we can resolve it?

JR - From a big-picture perspective, funding for education, public safety, public works, and our other town services is the biggest challenge. Addressing that will require strategic planning. Strategic planning will invite us to visit the questions of who we are and what we want for our community. The Town Council should do everything in its power to bolster and strengthen our programs in education, public safety, public works, and other town services. In addition, as a Town Council, we must develop policies that embrace economic development with the goal of creating jobs, attracting business, and improving our infrastructure. We also need to restore decorum and pledge fairness, integrity, and civility, not only in Town Council meetings, but also in all written and oral communications. Finally, we must deliver a Franklin High School building project that will serve this community and our students for a long time. The project was first advanced in 2005 and I am encouraged that the question will be presented to the voters in the near future. I will devote time, energy, and enthusiasm to completing this project.

Rail Trail Committee: Clean-Up Day and Grand Trunk Meeting

Just as a reminder, a SNETT clean-up day will take place this Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 8:00 to noon.  The clean-up will take place on the trail in Bellingham at the Lake St crossing.  For more details you can check the web site at www.franklinrailtrail.org or email Kathy Wicks at kwicks34@comcast.net.

Also, the Grand Truck Trail Blazers will hold a meeting tonight in Franklin at the YMCA at 7:00 pm.  Sorry for the late notice, but we were just informed of it.  You are welcome to attend.  See details below.

Finally, attached for your continued review is the list of potential new committee names and the mission statement. We will discuss both of these at the next meeting on Tuesday, November 8.  

----- Original Message -----

From: Scott B

Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2011 11:11 PM

Subject: GTTB Nov. meeting

Our November meeting of the Grand Trunk Trail Blazers will be at the Franklin YMCA at 45 Forge Hill Rd, tomorrow, Thursday, Nov 3rd at 7 pm.

Upcoming meetings are
December 1st at the Southbridge Police Station, 1 Mechanic St. 01550  7 pm
January 5th at the Palmer Library, 1455 N. Main St 01069  6 pm

Scott Benoit

FCRTC: Names and Mission Statement

"did not officially discuss or take action"

"This will allow us to staff a position that was eliminated last year," Fire Chief Gary McCarraher said. 

The town employs 44 firefighters, but, because of budget cuts, just nine - rather than the 10 needed - can been used at any one time. The department has been fully staffing only the station in the center of town, leading to increased response time for emergencies, McCarraher said. 

The money approved last night will go toward paying current firefighters to work more hours. The $85,000 comes from new growth, or extra tax revenue, councilors said. 

The budget amendment also included $8,000 for the Planning Board and $9,000 for the Board of Health, which would allow each to hire two temporary clerks working 16 hours per week.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/education/x251089479/Franklin-budget-changes-include-more-money-for-fire-department#ixzz1cdMyx1Dr

The full set of my notes from the Town Council meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/11/town-council-110211.html

In the News - Carroll, i495 region, power

Meet the Franklin Candidate: John Carroll, Planning Board

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Meetings talk about growth in the Rte. 495 region

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Power back for most local residents

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Town Council - 11/02/11

The collection of posts reported live for the Town Council meeting held on Nov 2, 2011 can be found here

Live reporting - Closing

• Live reporting - Action items
• Live reporting - Town Council - 11/02/11

6th Annual Casino NIght - Nov 5th

Franklin Education Foundation’s 6th Annual Casino Night Planning is in Full Swing!

On Saturday, November 5, 2011, the Franklin Education Foundation (FEF) will hold its 6th Annual Casino Night at the Franklin Elks from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. The event will feature Black Jack, Roulette and Money Wheel as well as raffles, a Silent Auction, a live band, cash bar and FREE hors d’oeuvres. The event is well known as a fun evening out with friends and neighbors, all while contributing to a worthwhile cause.

For the first time ever, FEF is thrilled to announce the addition of live music to our annual event. Guests will be treated to the amazing acoustic rock sounds of Ben Gardner's Boat, one of the areas most popular bands.

FEF is currently seeking table sponsors as well as auction donations. If you have an item to donate or if your company is interested in sponsoring, contact FEF. It’s a great way for local companies to show their commitment to education in Franklin.

Admission is $25. To avoid waiting in line at the door, advance ticket purchase is recommended. For ticket purchase, auction donation or sponsorship information, please contact Mike Doherty at (508) 541-3000 or MPD1@dcdclaw.com. Cash only accepted for chip purchase. Checks and Visa/MC accepted for Silent Auction items. For more information visit www.franklined.org.

Since 1997, The Franklin Education Foundation events have raised well over $200,000 which has been distributed to Franklin public schools in the form of special grants. All Franklin Public School staff members are eligible to submit creative, innovative ideas for programs or activities that would not traditionally be funded by tax dollars. To see a list of programs FEF have funded over the years, visit www.franklined.org.

38th Annual Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov 12

The Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club will hold its 38th Annual Craft Fair on Saturday,
November 12th from 9 am to 4 pm at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School in
Franklin, MA.

Admission will be $3.00 per person, children 12 and under are free. The club
proudly supports the Franklin Food Pantry and will be accepting non-perishable food donations
at the fair.

This year’s annual tradition will feature over 60 crafters offering hand made and unique items for
every style and budget including: art, photography, baskets, candles, kids and adult clothing and
accessories, jewelry, ceramics, ornaments, handbags, holiday décor, and much, much more!

The Franklin Newcomers Club is a social and charitable club for area residents. The majority of
the proceeds from the Craft Fair will benefit local organizations. For more information, visit
www.franklinnewcomers.com.