Block Party - Downtown Franklin 5/21/09

FRANKLIN - The Franklin Downtown Partnership announced special activities planned for the next "Third Thursday" on May 21, 4:30 to 8 p.m. Join downtown businesses on the third Thursday of every month for special offers, discounts and fun activities for the entire family.

The May theme is a Block Party, featuring acoustical entertainment on the outdoor patio at the newly opened Cafe Dolce and a Beader Night Party at Sara Paan Beads.

Following are the planned activities:

Cafe Dolce, 17 East Central St.: Free live, acoustical entertainment in the outdoor patio and complementary muffins and scones during Third Thursday. Visit www.cafedolce.net for details.

Sara Paan Beads, 16 East Central St.: Staff will help customers finish a piece during the "Beader Night Party" and give special demonstrations on creating multi-strand necklaces, loop earrings and more. Refreshments will be served. Visit www.maysjewelry.com for more details.

Artbeat, The Creativity Store, 9 Summer St.: Children are invited to meet local author/illustrator Debra Wainwright, who will read from her new book, "That Kind of Dog." Get a signed copy of the story and take a picture with Bramble. Free craft projects can be made while enjoying light refreshments.

Other downtown business will participate in the event.

Read the full article online at the Franklin Gazette

Town Council - Agenda - 5/20/09

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 15 & May 6, 2009

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSION

1. Charter Commission Report
2. Update of FY 2010 Budget

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

1. Resolution 09-30: Appropriations Amended
2. Bylaw Amendment 09-633: Amendment to Sewer Rates

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

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

P. ADJOURN

Road Construction Alert

The Town of Franklin, Department of Public Works would like motorist and residents to know that the following streets will be under construction starting May 19, 2009 to about June 30, 2009:

• Beech Street from Kathleen Drive to Joseph Circle
• Daniels Street from Lenox Drive to Short Street
• Short Street from Daniels Street to Brook Street

The streets will be open to through traffic, however you should expect delays.

Any questions, contact DPW at 508-520-4910.

This was posted on the Franklin website

"there are some difficult choices to be made"

By Michelle Laczkoski/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted May 17, 2009 @ 11:36 PM

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FRANKLIN —

Teachers, nurses and residents fearful of deep cuts to state programs and services pleaded their case yesterday afternoon before a captive audience.

Gov. Deval Patrick listened intently while hosting a community forum at the senior center.

"We will get through this by hanging together, by being clear and bringing in the collective wisdom of everyone in the community," Patrick said.

The event is one of 36 forums scheduled across the state for the governor to hear from his constituents. Yesterday Patrick solicited ideas and fielded questions from more than 50 local residents.

Read the full article on Gov Patrick's visit to Franklin in the Milford Daily News here

Events in the schools this week

Jefferson - Wingmasters - Gr. 5 5/18/09 11:30-1 PM

Keller/Sullivan - Evening of the Arts 5/19/09 6:30 PM

JFK - Volunteer Reception 5/19/09 8-9:15 AM

Keller - Kevin Lemanowicz - Gr. 4 Weather 5/20/09 1:00 PM

JFK - Recorder Concert 5/20/09 2:00 PM

Remington - May Mosaic 5/21/09 6:30-8 PM

Oak - Memorial Day Concert 5/22/09 9:00 AM

Keller - Gr. 1 Celebrate America (Cafeteria) 5/22/09 9:00 AM

Parmenter - Memorial Day Remembrance (outside-weather permitting) 5/22/09 9:30 AM

FHS - Flea Market (rain or shine) - donations will go to the Food Pantry, Iraq/Afghanistan War Memorial, and the FHS Theater Scholarship 5/23/09 8 AM - 2 PM

Check each school website for additional information for these events

"The bylaw prohibits"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted May 17, 2009 @ 09:27 PM

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FRANKLIN —

Conducting business in one's home isn't always kosher.

Catering businesses run from the family kitchen, for instance, is a no-no in the town of Franklin, as health officials worry about sanitation issues, says Town Administrator Jeffery D. Nutting, but they still exist here.

The Planning Department is proposing an amended bylaw to better define home businesses and what is allowed in a "home occupation" business and a "home professional office," in order to both make it easier to run a home-based business and to address concerns from neighbors and the health agent, said Town Planner Beth Dahlstrom and Conservation Agent Nick Alfieri.

The town's existing bylaw does not sufficiently cover home businesses, said Town Attorney Mark Cerel.

Read the full article on the home business bylaw in the Milford Daily News here

For all the discussions during the Town Council meeting on 5/6/09 check the live reporting here.

Internet Safety - 5/19/09 - 7:00 PM

The Franklin Community Health Council

Presents Worldwide leader in the area of online safety and parent and child Internet Education

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

7:00 PM

Horace Mann Middle School Auditorium

Parry Aftab is a security, privacy and cyberspace lawyer, as well as an author and child advocate. Ms. Aftab is Executive Director of WiredSafety.org, the largest online safety and educational program in cyberspace that provides important information and programs for children and teens, educators, law enforcement, parents and librarians for all matters related to children online, including online safety and privacy.

Parry Aftab is frequently called as an on‐air expert by all major news services, including CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, ABC News, The O'Riley Factor and CBS News. She has been used as a resource for 20/20, Dateline, Oprah, Inside Edition and 48 Hours. She has also appeared on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and the CBS Morning Show.

For more information please a contact: Lisa Keohane at lkeohane@dean.edu or call 508‐553‐4821

HMEA 5K: Wayne Levy

HMEA 5K: Wayne Levy, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Wayne Levy has no one looking over his shoulder as he approaches the 2 mile mark in today's 5K race in Franklin, MA.

Well over 200 runners participated. There was another group of walkers who raised money for the HMEA today.

Teens drinking

By Aaron Wasserman/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted May 16, 2009 @ 11:42 PM

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FRANKLIN —

Police busted up a party Friday night and charged 11 teens with with underage possession of alcohol.

Police said they received a call reporting a party behind the businesses at 38 Pond St. at about 11 p.m.

Police arrested Michael A. Carbone, 17, of 12 Taft Drive; Eric C. Plakias, 17, of 5 Kayla Drive; Christopher B. Dixon, 17, of 5 Echo Bridge Road; Matthew C. O'Neill, 18, of 95 Daniels St.; Patrick S. Cameron, 18, of 580 Maple St.; Michael B. Iacobucci, 18, of 10 Elizabeth Ave.; Matthew C. O'Brien, 18, of 8 Meadow Parkway; Daniel Joseph Telhada, 17, of 23 Susan's Way; Ryan M. Killoy, 18, of 49 Pond St.; Philip Graff, 17, of 17 Marthas Way and a juvenile whose name was not released.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News

Are you registered on the Do Not Call listing?

If you haven't registered yet, Massachusetts residents can use this online form to register. It takes less than a minute to provide the required information.

You can also check to see if your phone # is already registered.

Remember that this will help reduce unwanted phone calls, no one can guarantee stopping all of them.

Franklin Library book sale Sat 5/16/09

Franklin Library book sale Sat 5/16/09, originally uploaded by shersteve.

The Book Sale is at the DPW on Hayward St.

They will be open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Franklin: car wash at Parmenter school today.

Franklin: car wash at Parmenter school today., originally uploaded by shersteve.

The car wash will be open from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
The Bottle and Can drive will operate from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Beautification Day - 1000 flowers today

FRANKLIN -

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is preparing for its 2009 events and festivals.
On May 16, the Partnership and Franklin Garden Club will kick off the year with their annual Downtown Beautification Day. Volunteers will meet at the town center to plant more than 1,000 flowers. Due to the economy this year, the group is reaching out to businesses and residents asking for donations to assist with the cost of the flowers and the winter decorations. All contributions are tax deductible. Contact Eileen Mason at 508-330-4234 or emason11@verizon.net to volunteer or sponsor the beautification project.

Read more about event that the Downtown Partnership is holding online at the Franklin Gazette

"Technology has a lot to offer"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted May 15, 2009 @ 11:31 PM

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FRANKLIN —

This September, Franklin High School is going hi-tech.

No more playing catch-up to students toting iPhones and other electronic gadgets in their pockets; instead, school leaders are bringing wireless technology into the classroom.

The Technology Department has installed two wireless networks, with 21 access points around the high school, to make the entire building completely wireless, said Technology Director Tim Rapoza.

"It's a very big initiative. I don't know any other district that does it. They're all watching us to see how it goes," said Rapoza, smiling.

"I don't mind pioneering it a little bit. I think it's the right way to go. I don't look at it as a leap - I look at it as us moving in the right direction faster than everybody else, because it is inevitable," Rapoza said.

Read more about the wireless internet at FHS in the Milford Daily News here

Kodak Lesson Plans

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Kodak Lesson Plans

via Free Technology for Teachers by rbyrnetech@hotmail.com (Mr. Byrne) on 5/14/09

Kodak has been a household name for over one hundred years, but when most people hear the name Kodak they think "camera" not "lesson plans." A little-known aspect of Kodak's website offers lesson plans for every grade level in twelve subject areas. The lesson plans are organized by grade level and subject area. These are not skeleton lesson plans, the Kodak lesson plans have very detailed directions for classroom implementation. All of the lesson plans include the use of photographs and or cameras.

Applications for Education
The Kodak Lesson Plans provide good ideas for integrating art and photography into just about any subject area.

Here are some related resources that may be of interest to you:
Blogs for Art Teachers
Explore the British Library Online Gallery
Award Winning Google Earth Lesson Plans

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