Sunday Reading suggestions

With snow swirling again, pull up a cuppa something warm, settle into your comfy chair and click through to read a few articles on local government, interesting free tools used in schools and deceptive ingredients in common branded foods.

Boston Fed Highlights Regional Consolidation as Opportunity for Local Governments to Reduce Costs, Improve Service Quality

from Boston Fed News

New research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's New England Public Policy Center is prompting state and municipal officials to take a second look at a familiar proposal: regional consolidation. Motivated by the prospect of continuing strain on local government finances, this research examines the extent to which joint service provision could potentially reduce costs.

Student Oral Reports with School Hallway Dioramas via AudioBoo

by Wesley Fryer

I took the following photographs today in the hallway at Independence Elementary School in Yukon, Oklahoma. The GT teacher, Dawn Dukes, has helped students create audio narrations (powered by AudioBoo) linked via QR codes for independent study projects students completed recently. It’s a high-tech museum-like audio tour, in the hallways of IES in Yukon. What a great use of educational technology tools to help students practice their oral language skills as required by the Common Core State Standards! It’s especially cool since the library at IES has iPod Touches for students to check out, pre-loaded with QR Code reader apps like i-Nigma so students can listen to their peers share their reports

Food Babe Investigates: How Food Companies Exploit Americans with Ingredients Banned in Other Countries

by Food Babe

Thoughts of outrage, unfairness, disbelief, and ultimately grief consumed me while I was doing this investigation. A list of ingredients that are banned across the globe but still allowed for use here in the American food supply recently made news. While I have written about some of those ingredients before, this list inspired me to look a little deeper and find out how pervasive this issue is for us. Are these banned ingredients contributing to the higher mortality and disease rates in the U.S.? . . . → Read More: Food Babe Investigates: How Food Companies Exploit Americans with Ingredients Banned in Other Countries

Updates at the Franklin Art Center

Hello Everyone,

Franklin Art Center

We have rescheduled the iphone workshop for March 8 & 15  6:30-8

Arctic Art will be Tues- Thursday this week 10-12

Student Show  Opening is March 2   1-3  

If you  have not dropped off work for this show , stop by during Arctic Week

or by Tuesday  February 26th

There is still space in the Watercolor class Monday evening, Drawing class Wednesday evening and the 

After School classes on Monday and Wednesday and two spots in the Tuesday and Thursday class

Saturday morning art has a few openings and PreSchool art Classes are open 

New  Saturday Morning Painting  Teens- Adults

11-12:30

This is a beginner painting class  Great for anyone wanting to work on portfolio pieces or  begin to paint in

Acrylics and Oils or improve their skills

April Vacation  

to be announced

Summer Vacation

will be posted after February vacation week

Schedule will be like last year ...we may change and add some new themes

We may have to cancel the first week due to the snow day and last day of school...If interested in the sculpture and Collage week we can have the class Tuesday-Friday that last week of June 

Enjoy the week

Linda and Ian Kabat

Franklin Library: Family Storytime & Winter Carnival

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Family Storytime & Winter Carnival

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 2/14/13

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"the giving season spans the entire year"

Franklin Phone-A-Thon to raise money for pantry

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Losing a day to the Blizzard of 2013 has not deterred the more than 30 volunteers for today’s Franklin Food Pantry Phone-A-Thon from endeavoring to beat last year’s fundraising total.

Franklin Food Pantry

Those staffing the phones have a list of more than 3,000 residents to call. "There’s 15 phones, and we have three different shifts," Lynch said, adding that Dean has graciously offered to feed the volunteers. 

That makes for a lot of dialing, but also a lot of excitement. 

"It’s absolutely fun," Lynch said. "It’s a great way for people to feel like they are making a difference." 

And whatever the final amount, she said, "We’re so grateful for all of the community’s support. It’s been wonderful."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1433784738/Franklin-Phone-A-Thon-to-raise-money-for-pantry#ixzz2L3vtZ3Ya

To make a secure donation online, you can visit the Franklin Food Pantry webpage
http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

or use the Donate Button on the top right corner of the Franklin Matters page. The donation routes directly to the Food Pantry account.

Disclosure: I am  honored to lead the Board of the Directors of the Franklin Food Pantry. Helping our neighbors matters very much to me.

Rail Trail: Program Notes

An email with updates from the Franklin-Bellingham Rail Trail Committee;

The Franklin Historical Museum will be sponsoring a presentation this Sunday about the history of railroads in Franklin and our rail trail project.  Ron Clough, Forest Supervisor, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, will present a slide show at 1:00 on Sunday at the Museum at 80 West Central Street in Franklin. Ron will cover the history of railroads and when and how they came to Franklin, as well as their importance to the community and region. He will also discuss how things changed over time-- with a succession of different railroads in town and the abandonment of some  lines -- paving the way for the current interest in rail trail creation here and nationally.   

Following the slide show, Ed Barth of the Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee (FBRTC) will discuss our efforts to re-purpose the railroad in Franklin into a multi-use, universally accessible recreational path.

Please also note that the FBRTC 3rd annual road race to benefit the trail will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2013.  You can register online at franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/3rd-annual-road-race/register 

Thank you for being part of the rail trail effort!

SNETT Entrance on Grove St, Franklin, MA

For more information on the Rail Trail effort you can visit their website
http://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/

Upcoming DOR Senior Circuit Breaker Info Sessions

Note: Franklin is scheduled for one of these meetings, March 13 at 2:00 PM at the Senior Center.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Upcoming DOR Senior Circuit Breaker Info Sessions

via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Edward Peters on 2/15/13

DOR has had a great turnout for our early series of information sessions for seniors. These sessions are short presentations to educate taxpayers 65 and older about the benefits of the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit.

For tax year 2012, the credit is worth as much as $1,000 for eligible taxpayers 65 and older who either own or rent their home. The credit is refundable, meaning that if a taxpayer does not have an offsetting state tax liability, or has a liability that is smaller than the credit, they receive a check from the Commonwealth for either the entire credit or for the portion left after taxes are paid.

Seniors who live in public or subsidized housing are not eligible for the credit.
We hope to see you there!

Date/Time	Location/Address	Phone
February 20, 10:30 a.m.	Concord COA, 1276 Main St.	978-318-3020
February 20, 12:30 p.m.	Acton COA, 50 Audubon Dr.	978-929-6652
February 21, 10:30 a.m.	Merrimac COA, 100 East Main St.	978-346-9549
February 21, 12:30 p.m.	Ipswich COA, 25 Green St.	978-356-6650
February 25, 10:00 a.m.	Natick COA, 117 East Central St.	508-647-6540
February 25, 11:30 a.m.	Needham COA 83 Pickering St.	781-455-7555
February 25, 1:00 p.m.	Wellesley COA, 219 Washington St.	781-235-3961
February 27, 1:00 p.m.	Wayland COA, 41 Cochituate Rd.	508-358-2990
March 6, 10:00 a.m.	Attleboro COA, 25 South Main St.	774-203-1906
March 6, 1:00 p.m.	N. Attleboro COA, 204 Elm St.	508-699-0131
March 7, 1:00 p.m.	Waltham COA, 488 Main St.	781-899-7228
March 13, 11:00 a.m.	Norfolk COA, 28 Medway Branch Rd.	508-528-4430
March 13, 12:30 p.m.	Wrentham COA, 400 Taunton St.	508-384-5425
March 13, 2:00 p.m.	Franklin COA, 10 Daniel McCahill St.	508-520-4945

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Franklin Liquor: Wine Tastings

 Saturday, Feb 16th from 3:00 to 6:00 PM - Wine tasting and sale!

Wine tasting, Feb 16, 2013

Thursday, Feb 21 at 7:00 PM, Grady Family Vineyards, RSVP required as seating is limited

Grady Family Vineyards, Feb 21, 2013

For more information on the Grady Family Vineyards, you can visit their web page 

http://www.gradywine.com/

For more information on Franklin Liquors you can find their website here

http://www.franklinliquors.com/  or on Facebook here  https://www.facebook.com/FranklinLiquors

State Champions at State House!

The Franklin High School girls soccer team visited the State House recently. You may recall the team won the State Championship last fall.

FHS Girl's Soccer Team visits MA state House

Senator Karen Spilka, Representative Jeffrey Roy, and Lt Governor Tim Murray are pictured with the team and coaches.

FHS Soccer

Thanks to Sandy Frongillo for sharing this photo and information!

FHS Winter Carnival 2013!

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FHS Winter Carnival 2013!

via Pantherbook by zacharyborrelli on 2/14/13

Franklin High School will be putting on its annual Winter Carnival on March 10th from 12-4pm.

Fun events for kids all ages will take place in the FHS field house and small gym. Admission is five dollars for all children over the age of three, all children under age 3 get free admission!  All proceeds from the event will go to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund.

This year's Winter Carnival will not only have fun activity for kids of all ages, but live music, entertainment, and food!

Any students interested in volunteering for the Winter Carnival should see Mr. Leighton, come to a Student Government meeting on Thursday right after school, or get in touch with your class representatives. Winter Carnival is not only for a great cause but is also a great way to earn community service hours!

So be there or be square, March 10th from 12-4pm in the FHS field house and small gym for Winter Carnival 2013!

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A "self-healing" asphalt

Franklin road conditions have been the topic of many conversations over the past several years. 200 miles of roads, a limited budget, how will Franklin keep them in good shape?

In this TED Talk "Paved roads are nice to look at, but they’re easily damaged and costly to repair. Erik Schlangen demos a new type of porous asphalt made of simple materials with an astonishing feature: When cracked, it can be “healed” by induction heating. (Filmed at TEDxDelft.)"




Impressive. I wonder how long until it is commercially available?


For additional background material on the conditions of Franklin's roads

The Franklin Road Condition report
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/01/franklin-road-conditions-from-worst-to.html


Voices of Franklin: The road conditions on Ledge St
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/01/voices-of-franklin-what-to-do-about.html


The Long Range Planning Final report references the need to budget for road repairs
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/07/franklin-ma-long-range-financial.html

Franklin Library: Family Storytime & Winter Carnival

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Family Storytime & Winter Carnival

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 2/14/13

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Legal Clinic at Chamber, Fri March 8

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC) is holding a free legal clinic for small businesses at The United Regional Chamber of Commerce, 42 Union St., Attleboro, on Fri. March 8 , from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.   The law firm of Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP will be available to discuss general legal questions such as corporate structure, leases, contracts, insurance, employment, franchising, etc. You will be able to schedule a confidential 30 minute meeting with Chris Cassara, a partner at Partridge Snow & Hahn.   To make an appointment, call MSBDC's office at 508-673-9783 x10. Any business participating in the clinic will be expected to sign a general waiver regarding conflicts, etc.

Forward email The United Regional Chamber of Commerce | 42 Union Street | Attleboro | MA | 02703

New 2-Year DOR Strategic Plan Posted

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

New 2-Year DOR Strategic Plan Posted

via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Edward Peters on 2/13/13

DOR has posted its 2013-2015 Strategic Plan.  This plan outlines a comprehensive set of goals and actions which will serve as a roadmap to success for the agency.

The Strategic Plan describes how DOR will support the Executive Office of Administration and Finance's (A&F) Better Performance goal by taking a proactive approach to improve performance, effectiveness and efficiency across the agency, developing and actively measuring standards of quality for core processes, and actively working to improve the skills, processes and technologies to better support the core functions of the agency. The plan also describes how DOR supports A&F's Better Government goal by creating a customer-focused culture and processes that will support communication, collaboration and co-design with a broad range of stakeholders.

The plan is an important part of DOR's operational foundation and provides a blueprint by which its divisions can measure and report on their success.

Please take a look at our plan -- we trust that you will find it to be comprehensive, informative and useful.

Note: if you require an accessible version of the plan, please see the DOR homepage. 

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In addition to the links provided above, you can view the plan here

Curbside Chronicle: Feb - May 2013

The recent Curbside Chronicle is available here




You can also find this on the Franklin, MA webpage here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Recycling/index

Rep Roy: Medway Girls Scouts

Rep Jeff Roy met with a Girl Scout troop from Medway when they visited the State House recently. Sen Karen Spilka hosted the troop.

Medway Girls Scouts visit State House

The photo includes leaders: Tracey Twamley, Eileen McGonigle, Pat Davis, and Kathy MacDougall. The Girl Scouts include: Maya Twamley, Marissa Galante, Cayla McGonigle, Anita Cuff, Grace Brueckner, Andrea Hester, MaryKate MacDougall, Sophia Flotta, Maevis Fahey, Olivia Cardillo, Katelyn Piche, Lindsey Blenkhorn, Lindsay MacLeod, and Lily Ouellette.

Photo credit to Rep Jeff Roy's office