Taste of the Region - Oct 23

Sample the variety of delicacies offered from around the region at The United Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual Taste of the Region event. This fun-filled food festival features an eclectic mix of restaurants serving a variety of dishes. Enjoy wonderful music and bid on exciting items in a silent auction.

The Taste of the Region is Tues., Oct. 23 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Tri-County Regional Vocational High School, 147 Pond St., Franklin.

Tickets are available at The United Regional Chamber of Commerce offices in Attleboro (40 Union St.) and Franklin (4 West St.). Tickets cost $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Call 508-528-2800, 508-222-0801 or 508-695-6011 for more information.

In the News: election information

The two 10th Norfolk candidates face off tonight for the first time at Medway High School. Next week, the meet again at the Horace Mann Middle School in Franklin.

Eustis, Roy meet Tuesday in first debate in Medway

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

So while both sides of the ballot joined to urge voters to pass on the question, AAA has decided to split from the coalition and step in to urge a vote anyway.  An issue that was already confusing has gotten more so!

Despite new law, AAA urging people to vote for right-to-repair on ballot

by Colleen Quinn

Kennedy, Bielat debate the economy

by Lee V. Gaines/Wicked Local

Food channel choices

The food shopping choices for Franklin are varied. Stop and Shop and Shaw's have been joined by the Big Y. Market Basket is in Bellingham. Trader Joe's in Foxboro. These are the 'traditional' food outlets. BJ Warehouse, Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and then the smaller stores sell food as well. I had been working on an article to discuss what the introduction of the Big Y is doing to my family's shopping but the Globe has beaten me to the punch.

The Boston Globe Magazine on Sunday had a good article on the growth and evolution of supermarkets. Currently, we are shopping at more than one each week finding the best deals. The super stores that Walmart introduced have cut into the overall food sales of traditional supermarkets.

In part the article says:

Seventy-six percent of Americans now visit at least five “channels” for food — places like supermarkets, drug, and dollar stores — according to an August 2012 report from SymphonyIRI Group, a research firm in Chicago. Only 3 percent of us visit only one or two channels. Even my mom now shops at four. 

On average, a Boston-area family spends $8,066 a year on food, according to government statistics, but nearly half of it goes to things like restaurants and takeout. That leaves everyone selling groceries to tussle over only $4,870 per family. And for some time now, the traditional supermarket has been losing ground in the fight. 

Once the only game in town, supermarkets today only get about half of US grocery sales. Twenty-five percent goes to Walmart, which only introduced its Supercenters in 1988. Target is squeezing full food sections into many of its locations, including dozens in Massachusetts in recent years. Walgreens and CVS are now carving out more space for food on their shelves, and dollar stores across the country are adding freezers for items like pie crust and frozen vegetables. 

Offered this smorgasbord of options, today’s shoppers have become incredibly picky. Our sole loyalty, Rand says, is to our ability to find the best food at the best deals, behavior that increased during the Great Recession and still continues.

The online version of this article will require registration and/or subscription to the Globe
http://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2012/10/13/how-grocery-shopping-got-personal/P3Fgfalj8jB4bNQ8fGnU7K/story.html

"Miracle Workers" (video)

I spent the last four days at the Geraldine R Dodge Poetry Festival, an amazing gathering of poets and lovers of poetry. Among the many poets there, Taylor Mali stood out as one of the more dynamic performers.

He taught for several years in New York and built his reputation in the 'slam poetry' world. This video of his poem "Miracle Workers" was recorded in 2007. I saw Taylor perform this in almost the same way this weekend.

Taylor says:

I wanted to say, "All I did was give you what I knew you needed before you knew you needed it. Thank you for the compliment but education is the miracle, I am just the worker. I am a teacher and that is what we do." 

Enjoy!

For more Taylor Mali visit his webpage here:  http://taylormali.com

Tri-County recognized for career program by Cisco

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Tri-County recognized for career program by Cisco

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Staff reports on 10/14/12

The Tri-County RVTHS Computer Information Systems (CIS) career program was recently recognized with a special plaque by Cisco Systems, Inc. for 10 years of active participation in the Cisco Networking Academy.

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Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Oct 17, 2012

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
September 19, 2012

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
COA Appointment - Suzanne Wade

F. HEARINGS
Alcoholic Beverage License-Failure to Pass Compliance Check – 7:10 PM
Franklin Wine and Spirits

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-70:Appropriation - Insurance Recovery Account

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS
For Future Legislation

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN


The full set of documents for this agenda can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/101712.pdf

Spilka endorses Roy

Senator Karen Spilka endorses Jeff Roy for the 10th Norfolk seat to replace Rep Jim Vallee.

''I cannot rectify it,'' he said, ''with the woman I know.''

'I find it hard to believe that she was an individual who decided to falsify lab results ... that she would turn into someone who did something like that. ... That isn't the person I remember,'' said John Warner, an instructor who gave her A's and A-minuses in 2000 when she took his biochemistry class as a senior at the University of Massachusetts-Boston. 

''Obviously, things can happen to people,'' he said. ''Either something happened in her life that changed the person that she is, or this is a deeper story.'' 

Dookhan's struggle with both personal and professional problems in 2009 - including a miscarriage and a legal ruling that put new pressures on chemists at the lab - may help offer an explanation, one former co-worker said.

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1890058796/A-closer-look-at-the-accused-rogue-chemist-Annie-Dookhan#ixzz29Ge4K5Nk

More Mass. voters steer clear of party affiliation

If you have not already registered to vote, the opportunity closes at 8:00 PM on Weds Oct 17th.

If you will be out of town on election day, you can still get an absentee ballot.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

More Mass. voters steer clear of party affiliation

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Laura Krantz/Daily News staff on 10/13/12

As voter registration forms flood into town halls across MetroWest, more voters than ever are choosing not to register with a political party.

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Get Fit for Life Health Fair

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Get expert advice, meet great people in the local health and fitness industry, bring the entire family and Get Fit For Life! Giveaways from... Dream Dinners Pole Fitness Plus Whole Foods Auric Muse Ciao Bella Day Spa Davis Mega Maze and More! Win a getaway to Smuggler's Notch in Vermont! Meet participants from the first Get Fit For Life and the Rugged Maniac Dream Team! Demonstrations from Momentum Physical Therapy & Performance Training, Rivera Athletic Center, Pole Fitness Plus, Athletic Based Training and Get Josette! Visit www.facebook.com/wmrcgetfit for more info on vendors, demos, giveaways and more! WMRC Daily News 258 Main Street Milford, Massachusetts 01757

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"Roads go ever ever on"

Students at Horace Mann are about to embark on a journey!

Turns out, the posters were written in runes, which appear in the book. (Tolkien based his fictional language off ancient Norse runes.) 

The enormous success of last year’s read-a-thon, during which 250 students devoured Suzanne Collins’ "The Hunger Games," prompted teachers to plan another one.
Those who opt to take part in the challenge have a set amount of time to read "The Hobbit," Tolkien’s epic fantasy tale about a skittish hobbit who, swayed by a learned and powerful wizard, joins a hearty company of dwarves on a quest for stolen riches. 

After tackling the dense, 19-chapter novel, they must prove they’ve followed the story all the way to its conclusion — in the shadow of the Lonely Mountain — by answering a few questions about the plot.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x781379724/Franklin-students-to-tackle-Tolkien#ixzz29AmZwl6y

I heartily endorse this book choice! I first read The Hobbit when I was in high school as it had just become available (yes, that dates myself). I proceeded to read and re-read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy dozens of times beginning each re-read with The Hobbit. While the Hunger Games is a decent story, The Hobbit is so much richer.

The students will come to find:

Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon. 

Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_Goes_Ever_On_(song)

Cops: Couple robbed area donut shops to feed heroin habit

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Cops: Couple robbed area donut shops to feed heroin habit

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Matt Tota/Daily News staff on 10/12/12

A husband and wife this week went on a spree of armed robberies, with one acting as the stick-up-man, threatening donut shop cashiers with a syringe he warned contained AIDS-infected blood, and the other as the getaway driver, to feed their heroin addiction, a prosecutor said Friday.

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Winter Parking Ban returns soon

Yes, it is October. Summer is gone. Winter is around the corner. Franklin is preparing for what winter will bring this time around:

College Readiness Seminar 10/18/12

sent along by a loyal Franklin Matters reader:

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Mr. Fortin asked the PCC to share information with families about an upcoming seminar that may interest many of you. COLLEGE READINESS SEMINAR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012, 7:00 - 9:00 PM DWIGHT HALL, FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY This is an annual event started by Lorretta M. Holloway, Ph.D., Associate Professor, English Department to get parents to start thinking about not just the content knowledge but the habits of mind their kids need to be successful in college. Parents of Middle School and early High School children are encouraged to attend. For complete details, view the event flyer here.

Forward this email Horace Mann Middle School PCC | 224 Oak Street | Franklin | MA | 02038

Boston I-93 Overnight Lane Closure October 16-17

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Boston I-93 Overnight Lane Closure October 16-17

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 10/12/12

MassDOT's enhanced maintenance schedule will require complete lane closures of Interstate 93 Northbound through Boston from 11 pm, Tuesday, October 16 until 5:30 am, Wednesday, October 17.

I-93 Northbound traffic will be detoured off the highway at Exit 16 (Southampton Street Exit) to Frontage Road Northbound. Ramps from Frontage Road Northbound allow traffic to get to I-90 Eastbound (Logan Airport) and I-90 Westbound. I-93 Northbound traffic will continue on Atlantic Avenue and re-enter I-93 Northbound at Haymarket On-Ramp. Traffic destined for Route 1 Northbound (Tobin Bridge) should stay on the surface streets and access the Route 1 Northbound on-ramp in City Square.

Work to be performed October 16-17 includes: tunnel wall and sign washing, drain cleaning and maintenance, as well as maintenance of electrical and communications systems.

Enhanced maintenance is planned for I-93 through Boston in November, exact dates to be announced.

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Groundbreaking for New Franklin High School

The Franklin community is invited to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new FHS on Saturday, October 13, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. The ceremony will occur on the athletic fields between the Field House and Pisini Field. During the week of October 14, leaders of Bacon & Agostini Construction of East Providence, R.I., the Building Committee, and project and design managers will meet to plan the best phasing for the construction work to ensure public safety and minimize disruptions to students, parents, teachers, visitors, pedestrians, neighbors and motorists.

Additional information on the new high school can be found on their webpage  http://www.newfhs.com/  or find them on Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/thenewfhs

Absentee ballots available

The last day to register to vote for the November election is October 17th. Absentee ballots are now available and additional details can be found in the notice shown here




Additional information can be found on the Franklin Town Clerk webpage
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/index

or on the MA Secretary of the Commonwealth webpage
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howreg.htm

In the News: assisted suicide, Cardinal tweets

Opponents gather support to fight assisted suicide ballot question

by Chris Burrell

Cardinal O’Malley joins the Twitter world

by Lane Lambert

If you do have a Twitter account and want to follow the Cardinal, you can check out his profile here

https://twitter.com/CardinalSean

If you'd like to follow Franklin Matters on Twitter while you are at it, please do so! @franklinmatters

Dean College: OKLAHOMA!

Multiple Tony Winner and Broadway Sensation Comes to Franklin, Massachusetts in Dean College Presentation of OKLAHOMA!

Toe-tapping show dates scheduled for November 14-18

Franklin, MA  - October 11, 2012…The Dean College Theatre department is pleased to announce that its second production of the 2012-2013 academic year is Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!. Dean College invites the public to make plans now to buy tickets before the production hits the stage for five consecutive days at Dean's Main Stage theatre. 

Set in a Western Indian Territory just after the turn of the century, the high-spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the colorful backdrop against which Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl, play out their love story. Although the road to true love never runs smooth, with these two headstrong romantics holding the reins, love's journey is as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road. That they will succeed in making a new life together we have no doubt, and that this new life will begin in a brand-new state provides the ultimate climax to the triumphant OKLAHOMA!

"A classic ground-breaking event in American musical theatre," says David Krasner, Dean of the School of the Arts at Dean College. "Rodger & Hammerstein's first collaboration and some consider it their greatest."

Directed by Dean Faculty Member Jim Beauregard, with Musical Direction by Stephen Bergman, and Choreography by Julie Cassamas-White,  Oklahoma! will involve over 45 Dean Students in all aspects of the production including stage managing, house managing, lighting and sound operations, costume and back stage help.

Music is  by Richard Rodgers, and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, with  Book by Oscar Hammerstein II.

All performances are reserved seating and advance purchase is strongly recommended. Show times are Wednesday – Friday, November 14-16 at 7:30PM with a matinee (2:00PM) and evening (7:30PM) performance on Saturday November 17 and a matinee performance on Sunday, November 18 at 2:00PM.

For ticket and information, email boxoffice@dean.edu , call 508-541-1605 or visit www.dean.edu/Oklahoma

Main Stage theatre is located in the Campus Center at Dean College.

###

Franklin Library: Sparky's Puppets

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Sparky's Puppets

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 10/11/12

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Couple sought for donut shop robberies

Franklin police seek couple in donut shop robberies

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

The full release from the Franklin Police Dept:

FCCA / Franklin TV Annual Member Meeting, Nov. 8th, 2012

FCCA / Franklin TV Member Meeting, November 8th, 2012 We have a big event coming up.  Our first annual member meeting is scheduled for November 8th at 6:00 PM at the Senior Center.  This meeting is open to all Franklin TV members.  Questions?  Send an email to  info@franklin.tv    You can also call us at 508-541-4118. This meeting is an opportunity to learn about Franklin TV's plans for a new studio that will enable us to provide better production support for Franklin residents and organizations who wish to create TV programs.  It's also an opportunity to meet our current board.  Our progress to date, plus the groundwork for our plans going forward are all thanks to our current board members who have contributed so much of their time and energy to shape a clear vision for Franklin TV and move ahead as a new nonprofit organization. Come to the Senior Center, November 8th at 6:00 PM.  Presentations begin at 6:30.  Please join us at this important Franklin TV event.  Get to know the current board.  Come meet, greet, and vote for the latest board nominees.  And, thanks for watching!        - Pete Fasciano, Executive Director, Franklin TV [Insert social links here – select the logos from the toolbar on the left side.]

Forward this email Franklin TV | 13-25 Main st. | Room 10 | Franklin | MA | 02038

Curbside Chronicle - 4Q - revised

A revised version of the previously published Curbside Chronicle is now available. As near as I can tell the difference between the two is an added date (Nov 12) where there will be no pickup and the regular pickup days will slide one. Those getting picked up Monday will now be Tuesday, Tues to Weds, etc.




If you find any other differences, please share

In the News: Dunkin robbed, gas leak, debates

Franklin Police: Pair robs Dunkin' Donuts with HIV syringe

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Franklin homes evacuated due to gas leak

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Brown, Warren spar in 3rd debate

by Bob Salsberg and Steve LeBlanc

Bielat, Kennedy spar on ways to achieve the American Dream

by Will Richmond

Interested in politics? We're interested in you

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Interested in politics? We're interested in you

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Staff reports on 10/9/12

We are putting together a panel of people to comment on political issues and we are looking specifically for a couple of average voters - people not afiliated with a campaign or elected officials and ideally people who consider themselves "midd-of-the-road."

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FHS: A CABARET!

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A CABARET!

via Pantherbook by amandafarnan on 10/9/12

Come to A Cabaret in the FHS lecture hall Wednesday, October 10th and Thursday, October 11th   7-9pm  



Featuring outstanding talent! Dances, comedic skits, and solo/duets are few of many things shown at A Cabaret. If you are looking for a good time, this show is just for you.
Bring your friends and family, all are welcome!

Students/Seniors $5    Adults $10

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Franklin TV: "Things of Beauty"

This was also posted to the Franklin Downtown Partnership webpage
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2012/10/franklin-tv-newsletter.html

School Committee - 10/09/12

The collection of posts from the School Committee meeting on Tuesday evening can be found here. I saved time traveling to and fro by reporting via the cable broadcast.

• real time reporting: closing items
• Real time reporting: Action Items
• Real time reporting: Middle Schools - SIP
• Real time reporting: School Committee - Oct 9, 201...
• 
  

Good news for the SNETT!

Rail trails or bike trails are trending recently and this article brings more good news. A section of the Southern New England TrunkLine Trail (SNETT) which begins in Franklin and runs west to Palmer, MA will be upgraded as part of this north-south trail between Providence and Worcester!

“The bike trail will be a two-state transportation network between Worcester and Providence,” she said. “Much of the trail in Rhode Island has already been built.” 

According to DiPrete, though, progress on the Massachusetts half of the project, which will eventually run 28 miles, has been slower. The Rhode Island trail is 10 miles long. 

“The Massachusetts end has languished a bit because of environmental challenges along the route,” she said. “We’re hoping we’ll eventually see a bike trail between Worcester and Providence, two of the largest cities in New England.”

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x233634188/Groundbreaking-set-for-Blackstone-River-bike-trail-work#ixzz28t1JJYUS

The Franklin bellingham Citizens Rail Trail Committee is working on the Franklin and Bellingham section of the SNETT. http://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/

The Rhode Island segment mentioned here runs from Woonsocket through Cumberland and Lincoln to Central Falls. This segment runs along the Blackstone River canal and is a very good ride. You can start in Woonsocket at the River Edge athletic fields, or at the rest area on northbound i295 and have a choice of connecting to the trail to ride north or south.

More about the Blackstone River Bikeway can be found on their website
http://www.blackstoneriverbikeway.com/

Foliage train scheduled for Blackstone Valley

this should be a good ride!

____________________________________________________________

The following appeared on Boston.com:
Headline: Foliage train scheduled for Blackstone Valley
Date: Oct 9, 2012

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council is hosting its annual Fall Foliage and Shopping Train Excursion Oct. 20 aboard the Providence and Worcester Railroad, which leaves the Woonsocket train depot in Rhode Island at 9...


http://www.boston.com/travel/blog/2012/10/foliage_train_s.html?s_campaign=8315

real time reporting: closing items

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report


new high school ground breaking -Sat Oct 13, 1:30 PM - public invited

NEASC visit was informative in professional development, saw new standards in action, will be meeting to develop a three year action plan for the high school and how to implement the new standards.; changes in assessments, school wide rubrics, implementation of analytical rubrics, will be budget driven as well, will need to spread it out.

Started the official tours of the schools; four adults and a couple of children
Next tour will be Oak/Horace Mann/ECDC

Mrs Trahan, amazing that as much has she has been in the school, there is something to be learned each time, it is a good feeling coming away from the school at how much is going on and how well it 

Mrs Mullen, thanks to Franklin Matters for the publicity, the school was immaculate. Did not get to tour the new playground, as it was too dark. 

Supt Sabolinski demonstrated sitting on a therapy ball to meet the needs of the diverse learners.

Thanks to those for stopping by during the Harvest Festival, there are still a lot of questions about the high school. Hopefully, there will be more news about the traffic flow when the construction starts. There will be an impact to traffic when it starts. The more we can get out there, the better off we'll be

"Light up a life" fund raisers, peer leaders are sponsoring a basketball game against the Harlem Wizards. Supt Sabolinski will be the coach.

The new cable operation has an opportunity for the School Committee to make an appointment to represent their interests.


School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
joint budget committee started to discuss FY 2014


School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
Casino night - Nov 3
more information on the Franklin Education Foundation website

School Committee requested to appoint someone to the cable committee, send suggestions to mRs Mullen, will need to vote at next meeting to have ready for the Nov 8th cable meeting.


7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations - none

8. Adjourn
motion to adjourn, passed