"considered high quality by all standards"

Towns with a higher bond rating are more likely to be able to pay off their loans, and as such are often given a lower rate of interest on their bonds. 

"On smaller projects, a few (percentage) points isn’t going to matter too much," said Ballantine. "But if you’re building a high school, it can make a significant difference." 

Much like there are three main credit bureaus for personal credit scores, there are three main bond rating agencies — Moody’s Investors Service, Standard and Poor’s, and Fitch Group.

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x521655892/Despite-recession-area-municipal-bond-rates-in-good-shape#ixzz23KDAVE3B

Franklin has been able to maintain a very good bond rating with its overall budget management. This will be a major factor as the new high project goes out to bid for the bonds to finance the building. Of course, the timing for the actual construction bids will hopefully produce the lowest overall cost for the project as well.

Franklin is also aggressive in managing its debt to take advantage of the lowest ratings available. It was able to perform two refinancing exercises that substantially reduced the amount of interest that would be paid over the life of the bond. The most recent of these efforts was reported on during the FinCom meeting in April
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/04/live-reporting-fincom.html

The Parkinson's Voice Initiative

Do you know someone with Parkinson's? or maybe they are not sure they have Parkinson's?

There is a new service available that with a short phone call to record your voice, the analysis of the recording can determine and track progress of Parkinson's.

How do they do that? In this TED video, Max Little explains:




What is the phone number to call?

In the US, the phone number is 1-857-284-8035

You can visit the Parkinson's Voice Initiative web page for more information http://www.parkinsonsvoice.org/


What is Parkinson's Disease?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson%27s_disease

https://www.michaeljfox.org/understanding-parkinsons/i-have-got-what.php

Franklin Food Pantry

If you want to get to the Franklin Food Pantry website, use this link

Note: we are having problems with the redirection of our domain but the information on the website is available. So for the short term, you can use the above link and still get information about the Food Pantry.

St Rocco Festival

The 34th Annual St Rocco Festival is underway in Franklin this weekend. The Milford Daily News writes:

St. Mary Parish’s biggest fundraiser, the four-day festival raised $59,000 last year, with thousands attending. Father Michael Guerino started it in 1979 to honor St. Rocco, the patron saint of healing. 

Since then, a tight-knit group of church volunteers, old and young, have made sure the feast pushes on, August after August. They have managed it for so long, the setup has become a reflex. 

Indeed, their hard work was on display on the sprawling festival grounds.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1602170505/Franklins-fantastic-festival#ixzz238dz1gqk

In the News: dog bylaw, 4th Congressional, record notification, drunk driver

Town Council asks for second draft of new dog bylaw

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Due to the Census results, the Congressional Districts were re-aligned and Franklin ends up in the 4th. Rep Jim McGovern used to represent us, now Rep Barney Frank's seat is up for election. There are six candidates across the parties running for this seat.

4th Congressional District candidates' forums in Easton next week

by Will Richmond

Franklin Public Schools to destroy some records

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Repeat drunk driver from Franklin arrested again

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Free Soccer Camp

From the Yahoo Group for Franklin Area Parents come this posting worthy of sharing here

Do you know a child with an intellectual or physical disability that would enjoying playing soccer? We are hosting a free soccer camp in Franklin this August and are asking for your help to spread the word. 

The camp will be held from August 27th through August 30th, 5:00pm to 6:00pm each day at Carpe Diem Field on 34 Saxon Street. The camp is held indoors out of the sun and heat, in an air-conditioned facility.  

Many thanks to Franklin Soccer School and Carpe Diem Technologies for their generous donations allowing us to host this special and unique camp. 

Participants can be from any town, are asked to pre-register for the camp, and can find more information at: http://franklinsoccerschool.com/challengerform 

Thank you, 

Aaron Frongillo and Michael Katinas
8th Grade Students
Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School

Franklin Public Library: Animal World

 

 

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

 

 

Animal World

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 8/9/12

 

 

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• Subscribe to Franklin Public Library using Google Reader
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Franklin Public Schools: Class sizes by school

August, preparing for schools to open this September. What will be the class sizes around the Franklin school district? The information as presented to the School Committee on Tuesday is shown here.




These numbers can also be found on the Franklin Schools web page here
http://franklindistrict.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinDistrict_News/019309C3-000F8513

You can also view the School Committee meeting from Tuesday where these numbers were discussed.
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?ecm=634800882920015000&indexSessionSKU=9nH/HANkgO8EKZ7iG4dGYQ%3D%3D&siteSKU=L7qhQ46xin/r3Z0jcDVCNw%3D%3D

"$100 fine for first offenders, up from $25"

If there is trouble with enforcement of the existing dog feces law, how will increasing the fine help? I missed the Town Council meeting last night but wish I had been able to ask that question (if no one else did).

And for all the items that were on the agenda, the dog bylaw is what gets into the paper first? Not the new contract for Town Administrator? Or the report from the Citizens Committee?

The town intends to strike the previous leashing bylaw and replace it with a longer one titled, "Regulation of Conduct." The section on leashing was largely unchanged. 

The bylaw proposal, presented to Town Council for the first time on Wednesday night, states that the chief of police will have the authority to order a dog muzzled or confined for a period of time if it bites a person or another pet or chases a vehicle, bicycle or pedestrian in a public setting. Council was expected to vote on the measure Wednesday night after discussion. 

"We are trying to be proactive," said Town Attorney Mark Cerel, who rewrote the bylaw proposal with help from former Police Chief Steve Williams and Cindy Souza, the animal control officer for Franklin and Bellingham. "We don’t want to have any issues in the future with vicious dogs."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x866122448/Franklin-council-takes-up-dog-bylaw-proposal#ixzz232Wwod1l

The full agenda for Wednesday's Town Council meeting and accompanying document can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/08/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-aug-8.html

In the News: tax holiday, Foursquare founder

Is interest in sales tax holiday on the wane?

by Scott O'Connell/Daily News staff

Foursquare founder, a Medway native, fosters innovation

by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff

I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Dennis during a conference a couple of years ago. He was quite willing to talk about Foursquare, the lessons learned and to explore how else it could be used. Do you use Foursquare?