Big Y draws big crowd in Franklin

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Big Y draws big crowd in Franklin

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Matt Tota/Daily News staff on 8/23/12

The Big Y supermarket, which when first proposed stoked some residents' fears that a large chain store along Rte. 140 would generate too much traffic, opened Thursday morning to the cutting of a cake.

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Taken before the opening on Thursday, the parking lot was empty.

Franklin Newcomers and Friends Kickoff Meeting - Sep 5

Save the Date! Wednesday, September 5th, 7:30pm, Union Street Grill, 371 Union Street, Franklin MA

New to town or just looking for something new? Kids? No kids? Wanting to meet new people?

We are NOT just for Newcomers!

The Franklin Newcomers & Friends Club is a social and charitable organization for residents of Franklin, Massachusetts. We like to have fun, learn new things, and give back to the community through fundraisers and volunteer opportunities. We meet monthly from September through May, often with a themed event (speakers, lively programs), and provide other activities throughout the month to facilitate friendship and fellowship. The Franklin Newcomers also host an annual Craft Fair every year in November, which has become a tradition in town.

Please join us on September 5th at 7:30pm to learn more about the Club. Take a chance on a raffle prize or just sample some appetizers. Cash bar available. Bring a friend! We look forward to meeting you for a great night and to kick off the year ahead!

Mass. NOW PAC Endorses Jeffrey Roy for State Representative

The Mass. NOW PAC Endorses Jeffrey Roy, Candidate for State Representative

The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee is pleased to announce its endorsement of Jeffrey Roy.  Mr. Roy is running for election to the State House of Representatives in the 10th Norfolk District.

Christina Knowles, Chair of the Mass. NOW PAC, says:  "We are proud to endorse Jeffrey Roy for State Representative. Jeff stands with us in our commitment to equal rights, and we are excited to offer him our support in his election bid and work with him on Beacon Hill."

The Mass. NOW PAC endorses candidates who are committed to NOW's mission and priority issue areas, including reproductive freedom, racial justice, constitutional rights, economic justice, LGBT rights, and ending violence against women.  In order to receive the support of the Mass. NOW PAC, candidates must go through a rigorous endorsement process, including a multi-issue questionnaire and an interview with PAC members.


The Mass. NOW PAC works to ensure that women's rights and other social justice issues are given a voice on Beacon Hill.  Prior to running for office, Mr. Roy served on Franklin's Town Council and has chaired the town's Master Plan Committee, the School Committee, and the Franklin Democratic Town Committee.  He is a graduate of Bates College and a cum laude graduate of Boston College Law School.  Mr. Roy has been a staunch supporter of equality and a voice for those who are often unheard, devoting his career as a trial lawyer to representing injured persons and co-chairing Franklin's Anti-Bullying Task Force.  The Mass. NOW PAC looks forward to electing Mr. Roy to the Legislature and working with him on equal rights and social justice issues.

On receiving the Mass. NOW PAC endorsement, Mr. Roy says: "I am honored to have the support of Mass. NOW and I share their commitment to equal rights and to giving women and girls a voice on Beacon Hill.  We share many values and a commitment to the notion of equal rights and justice for all.  I will bring those values and that commitment with me to Beacon Hill."

The primary election is Thursday September 6th.  Please be sure to head to the polls and join the Mass. NOW PAC in supporting Jeffrey Roy for State Representative. 


--

Mass. NOW Political Action Committee

PAC Chair, Christina M. Knowles 

Policy and Programs Manager, Ellie Adair

727 Atlantic Avenue, 3rd Floor

Boston, MA 02111

Website: www.massnow.org

Democratic Debate video

Couldn't get to Medway High School for the Democratic Debate on Tuesday? The video is now available.




Yes, you'll see me from time to time as I was honored to be one of the questioners for the debate. Many of the questions that you submitted were used. Thank you for helping to get information on each candidate's position!

McGovern endorses Roy

US Congressman Jim McGovern poses with Jeff Roy

Catching up to this press release that arrived while I was away on vacation last week. The glories of internet access kept me connected until Sunday when there was no posting here.



For additional information on Jeff Roy and his campaign visit his website http://jeffreyroy.com/

Cops investigating armed robbery of Franklin pharmacy

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Cops investigating armed robbery of Franklin pharmacy

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Matt Tota/Daily News staff on 8/22/12

Authorities are hunting a man who they say robbed a pharmacy on Monday night. The suspect, wearing a hood, mask and gloves, broke into the Walgreens at 160 East Central St. at about 11 p.m. and pulled a handgun on two employees preparing to leave for the night, police said.

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Franklin Public Library: End of Summer Carnival

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

End of Summer Carnival

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 8/22/12

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"Theater operates on that whole suspension of disbelief system"

The Milford Daily News writes about Elizabeth Barrett Groth who was nominated last month for a "New York Innovative Theatre Award in outstanding innovative design for a puppet she created"

She credits her education (and a childhood of watching the Muppets) in helping her to find a niche in designing the costumes and sets that help a production cheat reality. In 2010, the former Franklin School for the Performing Arts student earned a master’s in theater design from Yale University School of Drama. 

Asked about what prompted her to abandon her acting career, Barrett Groth said she always was fascinated by the costumes and set of a performance, more so than the actors themselves. 

"I don’t pretend to be a really great actress," she said. "What I enjoyed the most about acting was putting the costume together before hand — the visual side of things. When I would read a play, I would be more worried about imagining what everything actually looked like than the motivation behind the characters."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x2118934292/Franklin-woman-is-a-master-of-puppets#ixzz24MNKZXSQ

One step

As mentioned previously, the modular units at Parmenter School are scheduled to be removed before school starts in September. The first step in the process mentioned in the School Committee meeting Tuesday, Aug 7 was the removal of the propane tank.

What was in place when the photos were taken the weekend of 8/12



is now gone

10th Norfolk Democratic Debate results

The 2nd debate or question and answer discussion for the Democratic Candidates was held at Medway High School Tuesday night. About 70 folks attended, applauding frequently as their respective candidate made a point. The Milford Daily News reports on the event in part by writing:

So far, the Franklin residents in the race for 10th Norfolk District seat, formerly held by James Vallee, have not hid their similarities — their backgrounds in law and focus on desire to push for more local aid. 

And the candidates continue to force home a pledge that the district, Franklin and parts of Medway, would have a constant voice in the state’s House of Representatives. 

But during Tuesday night’s debate, the congenial mood of the race seemed at points to become a bit more combative.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1405829838/Democratic-House-candidates-stress-their-differences#ixzz24GY77vqu

My thanks to you for helping craft the questions that for the most part were used in the debate.

In the News: girls softball, false claims, kickoff meeting

Franklin softball girls in league of their own

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Franklin man admits making false medicaid claims

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Franklin Newcomers and Friends kickoff meeting set, Sept. 5

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin Public Library: Tanglewood Marionettes

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Tanglewood Marionettes

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 8/21/12

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Help the Baby Beats - Sep 15 - Boston Heart walk

From the Amante Family:

Welcome to the fundraising page for team Baby Beats. We have been raising money for the Heart Association since 2002! Just two weeks after Damian's third open heart surgery we attended our first Heart Walk in New York. 

Funds donated to the Heart Association go toward life saving research, techniques and equipment.

Damian has directly benefited from projects that were funded by the Heart Association.

We celebrate Damian and the victory over his struggles by raising money to support this important organization.

Please support our team by donating to the Heart Association! Thank you!

You can find the fund raising page here

Franklin, MA: School Bus Routes for 2012-2013

The school bus routes have been published to the Franklin Public Schools Transportation web page and shared here.






If you have trouble with the Google link, you can also go directly to the School Transportation page to view and download the PDF file
http://franklindistrict.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinDistrict_BusOffice/transportation/transportation

Election participation data 1990-2010

Pew Center releases election participation interactive

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

The data on Massachusetts is shown below with this interactive tool. You can compare up to three states at a time. The total ballots cast is just that a count of all the ballots including blanks, etc. The votes counted is a subset of the ballots cast but will follow closely as there usually are not a significant number of blank or invalid ballots cast. As this number is generally insignificant, for simplicity sake I would have left it out.