6th Grader charter students create movie trailers for books read

6th grade students at the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School created movie trailers for the books they read. They gathered images, sounds and created the textual commentary to prepare the short movies. An example of one of the trailers is shown here.

making Grade 6 iMovie book trailers

Follow this link to view all the book trailers created
http://padlet.com/tword/booktrailers

This was shared from the BFCCPS website here
http://bfccps.org/grade-6-imovie-book-trailers/

Meals on Wheels fundraising

The Tri-Valley Meals on Wheels program is holding two fundraisers for March. The first, a raffle, with tickets $3 each or 2 for $5. You can purchase the tickets by calling Meals on Wheels at 508-949-6640.

Meals on Wheels raffle

The second is an Italian dinner being held on Thursday, March 31. Tickets for this are $7 and can also be obtained by calling Meals on Wheels at 508-949-6640

Italian dinner - Thursday, March 31

Big Night! Vernal Pools come alive in Franklin

With spring-like weather expected this week and into the next few weeks, the Conservation Commission reminds you to keep your eyes and ears open for signs of "Big Night".

Big Night is the term we use for those first few warm, rainy nights of spring. The warmer weather and rain cue wood frogs and salamanders to begin migration, through forests and across roadways, to local vernal pools to breed. Vernal pools, as their name suggests are small depressions that collect snow melt and rain in the spring and fill for just a few short months, providing a safe place for some frogs and salamanders to breed.

These animals live in the uplands during most of the year and move in large numbers to the pool they were hatched in on these nights. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear wood frogs (they sound a little like quacking ducks) and spring peepers in the next few weeks.

If you are lucky enough to witness or hear nature's musings, please enjoy! And then do not forget to call the Conservation Department at 508-520-4929 to report it.

You can learn more about vernal pools here: vernalpool.org

image from vernalpool.org

This was shared from the Franklin webpage
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/02358E87-000F8513

Dean College Presents: Hair, April 6-10, 2016

The School of the Arts at Dean College will perform Hair, beginning Wednesday, April 6, 2016 through Sunday, April 10, 2016.

Dean College presents Hair

Set in the turbulent era of the Vietnam War and "Free Love," Hair presents the rock music and revolutionary culture that went with it on the stage. This show has a vitality, a timelessness, and a meaning that outlives the late 1960's and early 1970's in America. It has a strong effect on everyone and acts as a bridge between generations and viewpoints. 

What looks like incredible chaos is actually organized chaos. Phenomenal musical numbers include Aquarius, Good Morning Starshine, I Believe in Love, Hair, I Got Life and What a Piece of Work is Man and Hippie Life. You won't want to miss our talented students perform this musical performance!

The Dean College production of Hair will take place in the Main Stage in the Campus Center at Dean College, 99 Main Street, Franklin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday and 2:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets range from $5-$22 and can be purchased online. PARENTAL DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

To learn more and purchase tickets, visit www.dean.edu/boxoffice.

For the 3rd time, the road for FHS ended against St John's

Ryan Lanigan, Editor in Chief, Hockomock Sports provides the details on the FHS basketball game on Wednesday.

"Numbers don’t always tell the whole story of a game, but they certainly help explain what happened. 

Franklin went from shooting 50% in the first half to just 26% from the floor in the second. 

Franklin hit half of their six three point attempts in the first half but struggled from deep in the second half, going 1/9. 

St. John’s shot over 40% from the field for the game (nearly 50% in the second half), had a plus-15 advantage on the glass and went 16/19 from the free throw line. 

Those numbers totaled up to a 67-52 win for St. John’s over Franklin in the D1 Central Sectional Final."

Continue reading the article online
http://www.hockomocksports.com/franklin-boys-basketball-downed-by-st-johns-in-d1-central-final/

Franklin senior Tim Prunier dribbles past a St. John;s defender in the second half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

From the Twitterverse

This is a joke right? Proves Central is way too small. https://t.co/h4Jt014RfW

— Ryan Lanigan (@R_Lanigan) March 10, 2016

A great season comes to an end pic.twitter.com/SzMcMJUHNs

— Pantherbook (@FranklinHSNews) March 10, 2016

Half: St. John's 34, Franklin 33. Mahon and Gill getting called for two early fouls each hurt Panthers defensively. #hockomock

— Ryan Lanigan (@R_Lanigan) March 10, 2016

St Johns 34 - Franklin 33 half pic.twitter.com/9ZGdIzA3Av

— Pantherbook (@FranklinHSNews) March 10, 2016

#Franklin faithful, aka @RattleCity, going w/ tropical theme for CMass Div. 1 finals @BHallESPN @ESPNBostonHS pic.twitter.com/Jq4xAFwYmm

— Andrew Felper (@AndrewFelper) March 10, 2016

Kids Cooking Classes - Super Suppers - Register Now

Wednesdays March 23 to May 4 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM    REGISTER   Location Franklin High School KIDS COOKING CLASS Six Fun-Filled Sessions with Sandhya Jain  Super Suppers:  Grades 5 - 8 Each class will be approximately 45 minutes long.  Students will learn measuring math, mixing, and basic food science and will work directly with the chef instructor. The instructor will demonstrate basic knife skills and discuss safety rules for the kitchen. It's a great opportunity for young minds to expand their palate by cooking a wide range of food. Each week students will prepare one of the following: Menu:Wheat Pizza, Chicken nuggets, Gourmet Macaroni and Cheese, Pesto Pasta, Chocolate Mousse, Roasted Garlicky Salad with Honey Mustard dressing.   Fee: $120 plus $18 fee for ingredients    About the Instructor  Sandhya Jain, owner of Sandhya's Kitchen and currently appearing on Franklin TV cable television, shares her passion for making cooking easy, effortless, healthy, and delicious. Says Jain, "Cooking has been my passion for over 20 years."  Forward this email

FPS- Life Long Learning, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by lifelong@franklin.k12.ma.us in collaboration with Try it free today

"We thought we should give a reasonable amount of time"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

The Town Council debated the terms of a bylaw that would require anyone serving liquor in town receive alcohol awareness training. 

The council heard from several business officials Wednesday night and discussed several concerns with the proposal, which was originally put forward by councilor Andrew Bissanti. The proposal would require managers, bartenders and all employees who sell or serve alcohol undergo "safe service of alcohol" training.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160309/franklin-town-council-ponders-alcohol-training-requirement

Reminder: Family Science Night at Franklin High School

Family Science Night - Franklin High School 

From 6:00 to 8:00 PM

A community service project by the FHS Science National Honor Society

Live reporting: to Closing

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
moving in right directions, could be out at end of April to make repairs
the contractor will bear all expenses

did open bids for Pleasant and Chestnut St
will bring to capital committee in future

working on capital budget and annual budget

L. OLD BUSINESS
none

M. NEW BUSINESS
Bissanti - Conservation Commission enforcement practices
would like to see a lighter gentler message
some one apparently put some lawn clippings in his yard in what is a wetland (also on his land)


N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Jones - looking forward to the lottery on March 30 for the Beaver Ct building
(apparently an open house was held recently)

Dellorco - condolences to the 'Franklin mayor' Peter's family

Bissanti - thanks for pushing along the alcohol awareness program
if this saves one life, then it is all worth it

Pfeffer - there were 2 open houses on Sunday
can't please everyone



O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
- Pending or threatened litigation
1. Proposed Excelon expansion of Medway electric generating facility pending before Energy Facilities Siting Board.
2. Proposed Spectra gas transmission line through Franklin.

P. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn, passed 8-0

Live reporting: Legislation for Action

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
no reports, EDC wants to set a meeting

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

• Resolution 16-11: Declaration of Town-Owned Land on Grove Street (Portion of Former Nu-Style Property) as Surplus and Available for Disposition

Motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

• Resolution 16-12: Authorization for Municipal Aggregation of Electricity

Bernie Lynch, Mark Capadona

Franklin Community Choice Aggregation Program from Franklin Matters
• this provides opt in and opt out choices
• aggregation provides choice, stability and savings
• designed to protect customer rights
• no penalties for customers
• largest aggregation company, also a MA company
• local oversight and control with program
• approximate Dec of 2016 for electricity to flow
• possible savings 100-250 mentioned on typical household
• we are enrolled initially, can opt in

• Resolution 16-13: Appropriation: Town Administrator: Insurance Recovery Account – 28123490

motion, seconded, passed 8-0

any insurance claim over $20K needs to be authorized by the Council

Pfeffer - problem with the $5K deductible as it was a problem from the beginning

Mercer - the deductible is a topic of discussion with the principles involved, this allows us to get moving and to recoup the funds

• Resolution 16-14: Appropriation: Records Management – Assessors

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

Kevin Doyle, Director Assessors office

• need most recent 40 years of records for processing
• need to reduce the volume and reorganize the space available for the records
• info does grow annually
• little time to work on the backlog of records to get them organized
• some digital records are allowed but they can not be the 'official' record

• Bylaw Amendment 16-755: Chapter 179, Water – 1st Reading

motion to amend from 21 to 30 days, seconded, passed 7-1 (Pfeffer no)

move as amended to second reading, seconded, passed 8-0

looking for a different process to get access to replace the water meter

• Bylaw Amendment 16-756: Chapter 170 Vehicles and Traffic Article X Winter Storm Overnight Parking – 1st Reading

adjusting the bylaw to cover all public parking during the storm periods to allow DPW to plow

move as amended to second reading, seconded, passed 8-0

parking at Depot St, or at the Library, Fletcher Field, and sometimes the school

notification via website, reverse 911, police called in to get owners to move cars

Live reporting: alcohol training bylaw discussion

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

• Mandatory Alcohol Awareness Training for Licensees

draft for review and comment 

"If you're going to serve liquor, you should be trained before serving."

most establishments are okay with it as they are mostly doing it today

change time for new hires from 14 to 30 days

don't understand the requirement for the waiting period

a 2.5 hour course good for 3 years, costs only $40, can be done online

will hinder the one day sales in that this will apply to them as well

would prefer to have one on one training rather than online

The ABCC is already watching for any overserving instances as reported by police incidents

There should be a transition period per Cerel

Recommend a 9/1 date and reached consensus on that date

Live reporting: Town Council - Mar 9, 2016

Present: Padula, Mercer, Vallee, Kelly, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Dellorco, Jones
Absent: Pellegri 


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
none

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
– This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may also be recorded by others.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
– Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the Agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.

E. APPOINTMENTS
none

F. HEARINGS
none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
none

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

2015 Audit – Melanson Heath, Auditors

The documents released for this agenda can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2016%20Complete/03092016.pdf

Independent Auditors Report

P 14
enterprise funds (water, sewer, solid waste) in the second column
118M high school building to be depreciated
118M other fixed assets being depreciated

42M - OPEB listed, this is the GAAP amount for reporting purposes, not the total outstanding liability.
net pension liability, 39M

1.5M in OPEB trust fund to help fund the liability

deficit equity due to the unfunded liability previously not reported

P 16
9M is a good number, one the bond agencies look for (stabilization accounts and free cash)
at 9% indicates a very strong financial  position

P 20
amount revenues beat the budget, in far column $864K, a good number

$3M
use of free cash and stabilization, appropriately used for one time funds, i.e. snow and ice

very strong financial balances for enterprise funds

Management Letter

no material issues or weaknesses noted

The Risk assessment process mentioned has been for past couple of years and it being worked, still work needs to be done. Looking for Franklin to be more proactive in identifying risks for the town

single audit completed, no findings this year. Thresholds are being raised and more documented policies and procedures are being required. If not completed by next year's report, there could be 'findings' next year.

the audit runs very smoothly

Emily Waite, FHS senior wins Samsung Mobile App Scholarship

Emily Waite, a senior at FHS has received the Samsung Mobile App Scholarship for $20,000. Emily finished on the top in the 2015 contest. She will be receiving her award at a press conference at the end of April. 

----

"A 12th grader at Franklin High School in Franklin, MA. Emily's idea, Med Kid, aims to make frequent medicine-taking fun for children with serious illnesses; Med Kid gives in-app rewards each time a medicine is taken."

Emily Waite (photo from Samsung webpage)

"Six Samsung Mobile App Academies were held during the summer of 2015 in Miami; Houston; Boston; San Francisco; New Brunswick, NJ; and Washington, DC/ Baltimore, MD, with the goal of igniting top-performing 11th and 12th graders' interest in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and the related careers. Students learned about mobile app concept development and coding basics, plus the research, logic, design, and marketing that developers use when conceptualizing and creating mobile apps. Afterward, students had the opportunity to submit their own app concepts for a chance to win scholarships!"

For additional info on this program and the other awards, check out the Samsung site  http://www.scholastic.com/samsungacademy/winners.aspx

Franklin Art Association - Apr 6 - Marla Greenfield

The Franklin Art Association will meet on Wednesday, April 6. from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street. 

Refreshments and socialization will begin at 6:30 

The program will feature a demo, from guest artist Marla Greenfield who will do a water color. 

Meetings are free and opened to the public. 

For more information please visit our web site at www.franklinart.org or www.facebook.com/FranklinArtAssoc

Screen grab of Marla Greenfield webpage

Marla Greenfield became a full time watercolor artist in 1998 after retiring from a 15 year career in the investment business. She was drawn to watercolors because of their transparency and luminosity. Painting things she finds beautiful, peaceful and calming, she strives primarily to depict the beauty of light in her art with all of its variations in value and hue, using glazing and other techniques. 

Marla is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, and a past president and signature member of the New England Watercolor Society where she has also served on its board. She has won numerous awards, both on a national and regional level. Marla teaches watercolor classes and has conducted numerous workshops throughout New England.

Electronics Recycling Day - March 19th

Please join the Grade 8 students at the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School for an Electronics Recycling Day on March 19th. 

Clean out your house or place of business and pay no more than $50! TV's Computer Monitors, Gaming Systems, Wii, XBox, VCR's, DVD Players, Laptops, Computers, kitchen electrics, appliances, old stereo equipment, pretty much anything with a plug!

The event is open to the public so please invite your friends and neighbors. This is a fundraiser to benefit the upcoming Washington DC Trip.

BFCCPS event image on Facebook