This is the layout of the booths for the Harvest Festival sponsored by the Franklin Downtown Partnership. The Harvest Festival will be held on Sunday, Sep 26 2010 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Downtown Partnership Harvest Fest 2010 Map
Note: the map is not to scale but is meant to provide a good idea of the layout of the booths and exhibits at the Harvest Festival. You can print a copy to take with you to the Festival.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Native Plants of Franklin
Greetings Franklin! Did you recognize what type of plant last week's mystery flower belongs to?
If you said "grass" you are correct!
I'm a little embarrassed to say that I'm not sure which type of grass this is. I had thought it was big bluestem, Andropogon gerardi, but I lost the plant tag. Drat. At any rate, it's a native grass that I bought from Garden in the Woods a few years back, and it has been a show-stopper in my garden ever since.
This particular native grass grows into a very tall clump, that, as you can see, is currently almost as tall as me. But native grasses come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, quite a few of which are fun for gardens as well as good for wildlife.
You may not have ever thought before about grass having flowers, but grass is a type of flowering plant. You just have to look closely to see the flowers.
You typically don't see flowers on mowed lawns because the grass needs to reach a taller height in order to produce flowers.
Native grasses aren't typically used in lawns. However, unlike the imported lawn grasses, native grasses handle our native growing conditions far better than their lawn counterparts. The grass I show above, for instance, remained emerald green throughout this summer's drought, even though I hardly ever watered it.
The next time you find yourself in a unmowed area, have a look at the grass, and see if you can't spot the flowers.
Here is next week's native plant:
Here is a hint: the fruit is a lot more interesting than the flowers.
Happy plant-sleuthing!
Michelle Clay writes about gardening here in Franklin at the Clueless Gardeners Blog.
Franklin, MA
If you said "grass" you are correct!
I'm a little embarrassed to say that I'm not sure which type of grass this is. I had thought it was big bluestem, Andropogon gerardi, but I lost the plant tag. Drat. At any rate, it's a native grass that I bought from Garden in the Woods a few years back, and it has been a show-stopper in my garden ever since.
This particular native grass grows into a very tall clump, that, as you can see, is currently almost as tall as me. But native grasses come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, quite a few of which are fun for gardens as well as good for wildlife.
You may not have ever thought before about grass having flowers, but grass is a type of flowering plant. You just have to look closely to see the flowers.
You typically don't see flowers on mowed lawns because the grass needs to reach a taller height in order to produce flowers.
Native grasses aren't typically used in lawns. However, unlike the imported lawn grasses, native grasses handle our native growing conditions far better than their lawn counterparts. The grass I show above, for instance, remained emerald green throughout this summer's drought, even though I hardly ever watered it.
The next time you find yourself in a unmowed area, have a look at the grass, and see if you can't spot the flowers.
Here is next week's native plant:
Here is a hint: the fruit is a lot more interesting than the flowers.
Happy plant-sleuthing!
Michelle Clay writes about gardening here in Franklin at the Clueless Gardeners Blog.
Franklin, MA
Encourage them to answer the survey
The early returns have shifted already from almost an even split (13-no, 12-yes) to almost 2-1 margin favoring the No vote.
Should the Main St traffic pattern be changed from 1-way to 2-way?
No - 40
Yes - 23
Total - 63
This is a small number of the total residents (approx. 33,000) and of the registered voters (approx. 19,000)
The survey will remain open until midnight 9/28/10 so the numbers can be prepared for the Town Council meeting and public hearing on the 29th..
Encourage your friends and neighbors to have their say. Now is the time!
Visit the Franklin Downtown Partnership website to participate.
http://franklindowntownpartnership.blogspot.com/2010/09/downtown-improvement-project-survey.html
Franklin, MA
This is a small number of the total residents (approx. 33,000) and of the registered voters (approx. 19,000)
The survey will remain open until midnight 9/28/10 so the numbers can be prepared for the Town Council meeting and public hearing on the 29th..
Encourage your friends and neighbors to have their say. Now is the time!
Visit the Franklin Downtown Partnership website to participate.
http://franklindowntownpartnership.blogspot.com/2010/09/downtown-improvement-project-survey.html
Franklin, MA
Franklin Police offering Bike Helmets
The Safety Division has a number of bicycle safety helmets available, free of charge, on a first come first served basis.
Sizes from toddler to adult available.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Have you had your say yet?
In the first 12 hours of the posting, just over 50 people visited the link, and 25 contributed to the survey. At this point, the survey results are split 13-No, 12-Yes.
Have you had your say yet?
Follow this link to the survey on the new Franklin Downtown Partnership website
http://franklindowntownpartnership.blogspot.com/2010/09/downtown-improvement-project-survey.html
After you complete the survey, check out the new website?
Are we missing something? Let us know.
Franklin, MA
Have you had your say yet?
Follow this link to the survey on the new Franklin Downtown Partnership website
http://franklindowntownpartnership.blogspot.com/2010/09/downtown-improvement-project-survey.html
After you complete the survey, check out the new website?
Are we missing something? Let us know.
Franklin, MA
Two fact sheets on new health care, poverty data from the U.S. Census Bureau
|
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108 |
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Downtown Improvement Project - Survey
The Franklin Downtown Partnership has opened a survey to gather input on the proposal to change the traffic pattern downtown from 1-way to 2-way on Main St.
The Partnership is hosting this survey on their newly revamped website:
http://franklindowntownpartnership.blogspot.com/
You can go directly to the survey here:
http://franklindowntownpartnership.blogspot.com/2010/09/downtown-improvement-project-survey.html
Note: As a member of the Downtown Partnership, I helped to revamp the website. Many thanks to my daughter Allison for her assistance with the website header. The individual photos were taken by Lisa Piana, Terri Frank, and myself. Allison 'magically' put them together with the Partnership logo for us.
Franklin, MA
The Partnership is hosting this survey on their newly revamped website:
http://franklindowntownpartnership.blogspot.com/
You can go directly to the survey here:
http://franklindowntownpartnership.blogspot.com/2010/09/downtown-improvement-project-survey.html
Note: As a member of the Downtown Partnership, I helped to revamp the website. Many thanks to my daughter Allison for her assistance with the website header. The individual photos were taken by Lisa Piana, Terri Frank, and myself. Allison 'magically' put them together with the Partnership logo for us.
Franklin, MA
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Wachusett St Construction
Construction on Wachusett Street is currently focused away from King St and the Parmenter School. Be aware of restrictions in the area. The construction crews do move fairly quickly.
Reminder that Lincoln St is closed for part of the day today!
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/09/lincoln-street-construction-closed-weds.html
Franklin, MA
Reminder that Lincoln St is closed for part of the day today!
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/09/lincoln-street-construction-closed-weds.html
Franklin, MA
What does class size have to do with it?
For me, the best statement for the impact of class size on educational test results comes from Jane Hyman, the Jefferson Elementary School Principal, in the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Sep 14.
One group of students was in the 3rd grade two years ago. Only three class rooms available for this group resulted in high class size, the MCAS results showed they did not meet the AYP guidelines.
Same group, the next year with four class rooms, they did meet the AYP guidelines (which also increased from year to year).
The same group, this year is back in three class rooms. With a return to large class sizes and the fear is that the AYP will not be met.
Franklin, MA
One group of students was in the 3rd grade two years ago. Only three class rooms available for this group resulted in high class size, the MCAS results showed they did not meet the AYP guidelines.
Same group, the next year with four class rooms, they did meet the AYP guidelines (which also increased from year to year).
The same group, this year is back in three class rooms. With a return to large class sizes and the fear is that the AYP will not be met.
Franklin, MA
School Committee - 09/14/10
The collection of posts from the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Sep 14th can be found here:
Franklin, MA
- Live reporting - Closing
- Live reporting - Action items
- Live reporting - Discussion only items
- Live reporting - Foreign Language Update
- Live reporting - Elementary principals
- Live reporting - AYP Update
- Live reporting: School Committee
Franklin, MA
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Live reporting - Closing
5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
a. Enrollment Update
b. Personnel
as mentioned earlier, all positioned filled with exception of special ed at the Parmenter School
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports - none
School Committee Liaison Reports - none
6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
Cafasso - away at an offsite and will miss the Sep 28th meeting
7. Adjourn
Franklin, MA
Superintendent’s Report
a. Enrollment Update
Davis Thayer - only elementary school with an increase, most data showing moving from town, i.e. relocations
middle schools also lost students
high school did gain, some were returns from private school, others were incoming moves from other area
b. Personnel
as mentioned earlier, all positioned filled with exception of special ed at the Parmenter School
Rachel's challenge - Oct 27th at Annie Sullivan from Sheriff Belloti's office
current students at the high school have no recollection of Columbine
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports - none
School Committee Liaison Reports - none
6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
Cafasso - away at an offsite and will miss the Sep 28th meeting
Trahan - Casino Night coming up in Nov
Glynn - also will miss the Sep 28th meeting
Run for Bob - Oct 2nd at the former Putnam facilities off Washington/Grove Sts
7. Adjourn
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Action items
4. Action Items
a. I recommend approval of the Elementary School’s School Improvement Plans as detailed. motion to accept, passed 7-0
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $252.00 from Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign for In-house enrichment at FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $252.00 from Wells Fargo Matching Gifts Foundation for in-house enrichment at FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
d. I recommend acceptance of two checks, $50.00 from Sylvia Ficco and $500.00 from Georgia D’Errico from the Class of 1960 for the FHS Scholarship account. motion to accept, passed 7-0
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Martha Akers from the Class of 1960 for in-house enrichment at FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $91.43 from Follett Educational Services for supplies for Jefferson Elementary School. motion to accept, passed 7-0
g. I recommend acceptance of a check for $27.74 from Olympia Sports for in-house enrichment for the FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
Franklin, MA
a. I recommend approval of the Elementary School’s School Improvement Plans as detailed. motion to accept, passed 7-0
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $252.00 from Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign for In-house enrichment at FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $252.00 from Wells Fargo Matching Gifts Foundation for in-house enrichment at FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
d. I recommend acceptance of two checks, $50.00 from Sylvia Ficco and $500.00 from Georgia D’Errico from the Class of 1960 for the FHS Scholarship account. motion to accept, passed 7-0
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Martha Akers from the Class of 1960 for in-house enrichment at FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $91.43 from Follett Educational Services for supplies for Jefferson Elementary School. motion to accept, passed 7-0
g. I recommend acceptance of a check for $27.74 from Olympia Sports for in-house enrichment for the FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
Franklin, MA
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