And the rainbow appears over the field at the Relay for Life, FHS Track
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Friday, June 12, 2009
Franklin 2009 Relay for Life begins
Franklin 2009 Relay for Life begins here at the FHS Track $73 590 raised thus fa, originally uploaded by shersteve.
Franklin 2009 Relay for Life begins here at the FHS Track $73 590 raised thus far.
All Tewksbury teachers given pink slips
TEWKSBURY -- Despite passionate pleas from teachers and parents for leniency, the School Committee voted unanimously last night to temporarily roll back the workday -- and thus the salaries -- of all school employees by 10 percent come July 1.
But the committee also left the door open for other suggestions, noting that it could not delay the controversial vote because of a contractual June 15 layoff deadline that the teachers union declined to waive.
"We're not close-minded," Chairman Richard O'Neill said after the vote. "Closing a school is off the table and we're not going to just flat lay off 40 people, but anything else we're willing to entertain."
In the meantime, though, all school employees will receive pink slips. Recall notices with a reduced, 90 percent workload will then follow. Those employees who agree to be rehired will essentially accept a temporary 10 percent pay cut and shorter work week.
Read the full story on the Tewksbury budget problem and how they are attempting to address it in the Lowell Sun here
Hmm, we have cut 28 positions in 2008, 42 positions on 2009, and could go as many as 60 for 2010.
Strawberry Festival - June 19th 1:00 - 6:00 PM
The festival will be held at the parking lot on West Central Street from 1:00- 6:00 p.m. and continue down East Central Street to Summer Street this year.
The rain date will be Saturday, June 20th.

Some of the highlights include Zumba demonstrations by the YMCA, Punk jump rope, and face painting. ArtBeat will offer free balloons and a children’s “Trash to Treasure” art gallery show. Salon Sorella will offer hair braiding and color hair spraying.
According to Mary Graff, the Festival Chair, “This festival has grown over the years and we have great entertainment lined up. There will be something for every age group!” This year there will be live music at three locations including the East Central Street patio at CafĂ© Dolce and the Summer Street Patio. The popular band “Nothing To No One” will perform at the Festival at West Central. “Knuf Said” John Kinney and Jessi Fanuele will be entertaining crowds, as well as “Tunes by Tina” a festival favorite.
Garelick Farms is the Platinum sponsor for this year’s festival.
- Silver sponsors: Dean College and Franklin Newcomers and Friends
- Bronze sponsors: Berry Insurance, Comcast, CVS, Chestnut Dental Associates and Keefe Insurance
A grant from the Mass Cultural Council will help fund the entertainment, and “Ever So Humble” will provide the shortcakes this year! “We really could not have the festival without our generous sponsors,” commented Lisa Piana, Executive Director for the Downtown Partnership.
If it rains the Festival will be held on Saturday from 1:00-6:00. The Farmer’s Market will also be held on Friday and the Garden Club will join the market with their plant sale on the town common. There will plenty of parking available at municipal lots and at Dean College Campus Center.
Visitors this year can ride the “Strawberry Express Bus” provided by GATRA. Pick ups will be at the Town Common at High Street and the Dean College Campus Center.
Free Seminar: Saving on the cost of College
June 17 (Wed): Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Seminar presented by Paul Lloyd Hemphill.
Additional info on Paul can be found on his website
I met Paul at the recent United Regional Chamber of Commerce Open House

"Am I concerned? Yes"
Town Council last night unanimously approved an $88.1 million budget for next fiscal year, which is $500,000 less than the current year's budget.
The only line item that was discussed last night was the Police Department budget, as Councilor Robert Vallee said he was "very concerned for deteriorating salaries" within the department.
He is worried that officers will lose a significant portion of their salary if the state eliminates the Quinn Bill (an educational incentive), and officers have fewer opportunities for detail work.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
You can read the collection of live reports from the same Town Council meeting here
Milford schools consider student uniforms
Should low-rise jeans and spaghetti straps be banned and Milford students be required to all wear khakis and tucked-in polos?
Vice Chairman Jonathan Bruce asked the question under new business at last night's School Committee meeting, sparking what promises to be a hot new debate over a uniform policy for Milford schools.
Milford's dress code, which the committee made stricter two years ago, is "way too open," Bruce said. He asked that Superintendent Robert Tremblay explore the idea of uniforms as a way to make things simpler.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Would Franklin consider uniforms?
Town Council Mtg Smry 06/11/09
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Live report- closing
Councilor Comments
Bartlett - congratulations on the All-Night Party, thanks for the organizing committee for such an excellent job.
Doak - there is not a lot of debate on the budget as there is not a lot of options.
Live reporting - FY 10 Budget
One hold on Police Salaries by Vallee
Questioning the overall salaries and the potential decline due to the Quinn Bill issue and details
Chief Williams - We always have a concern with the Officer's salary, without Quinn they could loose 3-7,000 a year. It does concern me. I hope the state government does resolve this.
I am proud of our education record here in the department. We have a number with degrees and those all pay benefits for us. A better educated officer is better for Franklin.
Motion to close the hearing, passed 6-0
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 09-43: Adoption of FY 2010 Budget
Motion to accept - passed 6-0
Live reporting - Town Council - 6/11/09
Missing: Whalen, McGann, Zollo,
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - none
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS - 16th Annual Relay for Life Friday June 12, 6:00 PM
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - none
E. APPOINTMENTS - none
Franklin: nice new landscaping
Franklin: nice new landscaping on the lot where the cinema used to be, originally uploaded by shersteve.
Town Council Mtg Smry 06/10/09
- Live reporting - Closing comments
- Live reporting - FY 10 Budget continued
- Live reporting - School Budget - FY10
- Live reporting - FY 2010 Budget hearing
- Live reporting - Action items
- Live reporting - 4th of July
- Live reporting - Town Council - 6/10/09
"less than 1 percent "
Town councilors listened to an hour of dismal budget information from the town comptroller and administrator last night in its first public hearing on the fiscal 2010 budget.
Town Council will hold its second public hearing on the budget tonight, and is slated to vote on an $88.1 million budget, as recommended by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting and the Finance Committee.
An additional $11.4 million is slated for the solid waste, sewer, and water budget, but that isn't included in the town budget as those expenses are covered by self-supporting enterprise funds paid for by user fees, not taxes.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Read the live reporting from the meeting last night here
Town Council - Agenda - 6/11/09
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS
F. HEARINGS – FY 2010 Budget – Public Hearing
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 09-43: Adoption of FY 2010 Budget
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