Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Rail Trail Committee - Meeting - Apr 9, 2013


The Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee will have a meeting on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at the YMCA in Franklin.  The meeting will start at 7:30.  At this meeting will will discuss the final details for the 3rd Annual Road Race (May 11), future outreach programs, and our upcoming presentation at the Franklin Town Council meeting. 
Also, registration for the 5k Run / 1m Walk can be found at www.FranklinBellinghamRailTrail.org/3-annual-road-race

Southern New England Trunkline Trail: SNETT
SNETT Trail Head, Grove St, Franklin, MA


The agenda for the meeting

You can also download and print the trace application from here



Ready to Run Program at Team Fitness Franklin



Ready to Run Program at Team Fitness Franklin
Greetings!

A number of you have expressed interest in the 5K training program and we're getting ready to kick it off in early May, with a target of the "Finish at the 50" -5K to be held at Patriot Place on July 3rd. What an amazing experience it will be to run in Gillette!

 

Jenn Champion Goebel, Certified Personal Trainer and experienced runner, will run the program. It is open to both members and non-members of any age and fitness level. In 8 weeks you'll go from "just thinking about it" to the starting line of your first event.

For $295 (less than $19/session!) you will receive: 
  • a week-by-week plan to get you running 3 miles or 30 minutes non-stop; 
  • 1 running workout per week, scaled to your ability; 
  • 1 conditioning session per week, focusing on injury prevention and flexibility; 
  • one-on-one feedback to help you achieve your goals; 
  • advice on everything from diet and hydration to race day strategy and recovery tactics; 
  • registration in the "Finish at the 50" -5K to be held on July 3rd; 
  • and a team t-shirt.
We'll have two groups:

DAYTIME:
  • Running workouts on Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00 AM at the Franklin HS track
  • Conditioning workouts on Thursdays from 10:00-11:00 AM
EVENING:
  • Conditioning workouts on Mondays from 7:30-8:30 PM
  • Running workouts on Thursdays from 7:00-8:00 PM at the Franklin HS track

Groups are limited to 5-10 participants, and will start the week of May 6th. 

If you have any questions or would like to register, please email jenn@teamfitnessfranklin.com

**The registration deadline is April 22nd, so don't delay!** 

How Will You Stay Fit??

The Team at Team Fitness and CrossFit Franklin
Have you tried one of our healthy, protein smoothies?
Here is your chance. print out and bring in this coupon
(and PLEASE, ONE PER MEMBER)
and present it to one of our fabulous, incredible, talented and expert smoothie makers and we will hand you over a delicious, tasty
post-workout smoothie to help you preserve your muscles and help them to re-cooperate, recover, build, and burn calories. 

YOU MUST BRING IN THIS COUPON TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE SMOOTHIE!
Please sign your name on the back of the coupon..........................!

Thank you and ENJOY!!!!


Offer Valid from April 8, 2013 through APRIL 30, 2013 @ 9:00 PM

This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by tricia@teamfitnessfranklin.com |  
Team Fitness Franklin | 100 Franklin Village Drive | Franklin | MA | 02038

FHS Coach Kristin Igoe

HockomockSports.com interviews FHS girls lacrosse Coach Kristin Igoe



Read the full article
http://www.hockomocksports.com/1/post/2013/04/new-coach-looks-to-take-franklin-lax-to-next-level.html


In the News: Price is Right, Falk's Market



Franklin woman appears on Price Is Right


The typical bucket list entries look something like this: seeing all of Europe, skydiving, swimming with dolphins or maybe great white sharks. Not always, though. Take, for instance, Kimberly Howley’s dream to-do list. On it, the number one item was to catch a live taping of "The Price Is Right."

End of an era in Plainville: Falk's Market comes down

A couple of well-placed nudges against the front of the more than 100-year-old Falk’s Market with the demolition claw of an excavator on Monday morning collapsed the landmark in Plainville center with a loud, resoundingly final crunch of snapped wood.



Monday, April 8, 2013

Construction progress - new FHS

The steel continues to rise at the new Franklin High School. On my walk around Franklin on Saturday, I managed to capture these photos to share here:

Franklin_FHS_front
From Oak St, main entrance to site
Peeking over the green covered fence was a challenge in the strong breeze Saturday.

Franklin_FHS_cranes
The cranes are TALL
Getting closer, the cranes are really tall!

Franklin_FHS_frontrightcorner
Front corner of new building
The coordination of the construction site is amazing. As a IT project manager I can appreciate the level of detail that must be required to get this job done.

Franklin_FHS_scale
front right corner, closer this time for a new angle view
There will be more steel put in place. Follow the line created from the upright sections and you can connect the dots in your minds eye.

Franklin_FHS_backrightcorner
around to the back corner of the right side
Now walking around to the back side of the right. The field house of the existing high school is behind me. That the new building is 3 stories tall is telling!

Franklin_FHS_back
stairway to the roof
The building is impressive. The back is full across but the front is not yet complete. The front that we see currently is the front side of this back section. There will be an open space and then another section like this will get laid out in front. The open space will be a courtyard open on the first floor and letting light into the interior sections of the second and third floors.

The building will be one to treasure as an educational institution!

Yes, there is a Neighbor Brigade in Franklin


Franklin Neighbor Brigade is a resourceful group of volunteers ready to help when immediate friends and family can’t do it all. We are ready to help families in times of crisis, such as illness, serious injury or tragic events. “Help is next door” is what we look to achieve in connecting with others to help during times of temporary crisis.




How do you reach out to the Neighbor Brigade?

You can contact
Linda Gagnon
Neighbor Brigade Inc.
617-335-5452/ FranklinMA@neighborbrigade.org
www.neighborbrigade.org

2013 Solarize Mass Program


Medway to Participate in Massachusetts Solar Incentive Program

MEDWAY –– Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D – Franklin) announced that Medway will participate in the first round of the 2013 Solarize Massachusetts program (Solarize Mass), a grassroots clean energy marketing, education and group-buying program. Roy is a member of the House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change.

The program – run by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) – is designed to increase the adoption of solar energy and further reduce the overall cost of solar power, and offers residents and businesses discounted pricing for solar. The more people in a particular community who participate, the greater the savings for everyone in that city or town.

"Medway has made strides towards reducing municipal energy consumption, including becoming a Massachusetts Green Community and installing solar panels on the High School and Middle School," noted Roy.  "The town is committed to creating a green and energy efficient community and this grant will undoubtedly be an asset to making the town's goals a reality."

Solarize Mass is an innovative initiative sponsored by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (CEC) and the Green Communities Division of the Mass Department of Energy Resources (DOER). It provides a structured program for local residential and commercial property owners to access and install competitively priced small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The program will begin in May and the time period for site assessments and sign ups will run through September 30, 2013.

"This year's program will build on the success of the last two years, saving residents and businesses money while creating local jobs," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan.

"This program brings together residents, local and state officials, and solar industry workers to form a truly grassroots effort," said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton. "With everyone at the table, we can spread the word about the economic and environmental benefits of solar power across ten communities."

"This new round of Solarize Mass continues to build on the clean energy leadership we've seen over and over again at the community level," said DOER Commissioner Mark Sylvia. "When neighbors encourage neighbors, it creates local excitement and greater participation. This grassroots commitment is fueling Massachusetts leadership in energy efficiency, clean energy jobs growth, and renewable energy adoption."

Last year, 17 cities and towns participated in Solarize Mass, with 749 residents and businesses signing contracts to install solar electricity systems with the capacity to generate 4.8 megawatts of clean, renewable energy – enough to power the equivalent of 719 average Massachusetts homes annually. During the 2012 Solarize Mass program, participating customers were able to purchase solar electricity systems for 20 percent less than the statewide average price at the beginning of the program. The program last year also created at least 32 new jobs.

Due to state renewable energy incentive programs like Solarize Mass, residential solar electricity prices dropped 28 percent in Massachusetts in 2012, according to a report issued by the Solar Energy Industries Association in March 2013. This was the second biggest drop in the nation last year.

Massachusetts set a goal of achieving 250 megawatts of solar PV by 2017. As a result of the Solarize Mass program and other incentives, the state is close to reaching its goal – with 220 megawatts of solar electricity installed to date, the equivalent of powering 33,000 homes for a year.

For additional information on the Solarize Mass program visit this webpage

Rep Jeffrey Roy's profile page on MA.gov can be found here

Fenway 1912 author at Library


If opening day is not enough for you, you might be interested in meeting author Glenn Stout at the Franklin Library Monday, Apr 8th at 6:30 PM. He'll talk about his book "Fenway 1912"

library: Glenn Stout
Library: Glenn Stout

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Franklin Sculpture Park - imagine the future

I took a walk around the location of the old town pool on Panther Way on Saturday. The photos in this sequence will take us as we approach on Panther Way and then walk around the pool counter clockwise.

Franklin_Sculpture1
storm water catch basin

You can see the Police Station in the distance beyond the storm water catch basins. These were added to remove phosphorus from the storm water before it gets into Mine Brook.

Franklin_Sculpture2
trees and shrubs have overgrown the pool
Nature has taken over the pool area.

Franklin_Sculpture3
pool wall
Benches are planed to be placed along the wide wall area.

Franklin_Sculpture4
opposite end of the pool
Another pond shaped like a check mark feeds into the old pool area. (See map detail below)

Franklin_Sculpture5
water control

A water control point along the wall

Franklin_Sculpture6
pool overgrown by nature

At the back of the old pool looking towards Panther Way. The police station is to the right.


View Larger Map

You can navigate within this map pinned to the Police Station to see the water flow from the pond to the pool and eventually across RT 140 to Mine Brook.

For more information about the sculpture park, please visit the Franklin Art Center page here
http://franklinartcenter.com/park.html

You can contribute financially or buy a paving brick to help the cause!

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Apr 9, 2013

Vision Statement
The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens. 
"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."


1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the March 26, 2013 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mrs. McIntyre
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence:
1. Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Keller Elementary School Update – Julie Vincentsen, Dan Atwell

3. Discussion Only Items
School Choice for 2013-2014
School Committee 2013-2014 Schedule-DRAFT

4. Action Items
a. I recommend not participating in the School Choice program for the 2013-2014 school year.
b. I recommend acceptance of the donation of $242.28 from the Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign for employee Douglas Lee for the FHS.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $20.00 from Robert and Margaret Bean for a FHS scholarship.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Richard and Janice Parmenter for a FHS Scholarship.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Gordon Bibbins for a FHS Scholarship.
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $200.00 from David V. Anderson for a FHS Scholarship.
g. I recommend acceptance of a check for $25.00 from Cheryl and Anthony Tullio for a FHS Scholarship.
h. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Larry and Joan Kerpelman for a FHS Scholarship.
i. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Phyllis and Joseph Mueller for a FHS Scholarship.
j. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Phyllis and Ugo Ciannavei for a FHS Scholarship.
k. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from William Bardol for a FHS Scholarship.
l. I recommend acceptance of a check for $100.00 from Albert and Cheryl Mucciarone for a FHS Scholarship.
m. I recommend approval of the recurring field trip request of Anthony Joseph to take the Keller 5th Grade class to Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, RI on Friday, May 3, 2013 as detailed.
n. I recommend adoption of the 2013-2014 School Committee Schedule as discussed.

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn


Franklin Public Schools: School Choice Enrollment History

The history of school choice enrollment for the Franklin Public Schools from 2003 to the present. This will be an input to the discussion on whether to offer school choice for the next school year.




The recommendation is to continue the recent policy of not enabling school choice. Those students already here can remain but no new enrollments would be accepted.


The full agenda for the School Committee meting Tuesday, Apr 9, 2013 can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/04/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-apr.html



School Committee - Draft Meeting Calendar

For the FY 2014 Fiscal year, this is the proposed calendar of meetings for the School Committee. The calendar is up for discussion and approval at the next School Committee meeting.




The full agenda for the School Committee meting Tuesday, Apr 9, 2013 can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/04/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-apr.html

In the News: crisis training, medical marijuana, robbery suspect


Franklin firm trains businesses, schools to respond to crises

With repeated exposure to harrowing experiences, the average person can learn to make quick, potentially lifesaving decisions amid the chaos and confusion. That’s the guiding principle behind Synergy Solutions.

Towns struggle for balance with medical marijuana proposals

When local officials discuss the pros and cons associated with a raft of local medical marijuana proposals and restrictions what becomes evident is that the challenge to strike a balance between voters who passed this fall's referendum and legal and health concerns is no small task.
Note: This coverage of what local communities are doing leaves out that Franklin is moving forward with a proposal to establish an overlay zone for these potential businesses in the industrial park areas. There were a series of zoning bylaw proposals referred to the Planning Board at last Wednesday's Town Council meeting
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/04/town-council-040313.html



Franklin police looking for robbery suspect


Police are searching for a man who they say robbed the East Central Street CVS Pharmacy late Friday night with a gun.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Franklin Area Road Races

We're into April, if you want to run a road race in May you should already be on the roads. For those preparing for Boston, you'll be in the taper. Making the final preparations with the long runs behind you and the big day coming quick. 

There are a bunch of road races (and walks) coming up in the Franklin area.

May 11 - you have a choice between supporting the Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee or the Franklin Elks. Both are fund raising for a worthy cause. You can actually support both but physically can only run one as the start this year is coincidentally at the same time for both events. Next year, the race dates will be different.

The Elks will hold their first event in what is expected to be an annual series. This event will benefit the Franklin Food Pantry and the Wounded Warrior Project. For additional information and to register visit the website  http://www.franklinelks5k.com/index.html 

The 3rd Annual 5K for the Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee will be held to raise money for the further development of the trail.  http://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/3rd-annual-road-race

HMEA 5K
HMEA 5K


May 19The 12th Annual Independence Day 5K and Walk, Roll, Stroll will benefit the Horace Mann Education Association. More info and to register visit their webpage   http://www.hmea.org/events.html



MassBudget: the new transportation plan - how does it compare



MassBudget    Information.
   Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy.
Less Revenue. Fewer Investments.
Earlier this week, House and Senate leaders unveiled their plan to fund transportation with a combination of new tax revenue and increased fees. The plan would shore up MBTA finances and move MassDOT employees from the capital budget to the operating budget--freeing up resources for capital spending. The Joint House and Senate plan is significantly smaller than the Governor's earlier transportation package and it does not include the investments in education that the Governor had proposed.

MassBudget's new brief, "The Joint Ways & Means Transportation Proposal," describes the basic structure of the new proposal and compares it to the Governor's.

  • The Joint Ways & Means plan is significantly smaller than the Governor's, raising less money for capital projects.

  • Whereas the Governor's proposal included efforts to make higher education more affordable, to expand access to early education & care, and to increase funding for our public schools, the Joint Ways & Means proposal is focused on transportation. More will be known about the impact on other areas when the House Ways & Means budget comes out next week.

  • New tax revenues to support the Joint Ways & Means plan come from a mix of focused changes, including increases in gas and tobacco taxes along with some changes to business taxes


For a fuller discussion of the Governor's proposal, see OUR BUDGET MONITOR
The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER
15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700
BOSTON, MA 02108
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This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by nberger@massbudget.org |  

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108