Four Corners destruction

The destruction of the Four Corners Building is underway. The windows have been removed and now you can see right through the building.

I guess the Town didn't bother to remove their sign.



In the house next door to the property that is also coming down to make way for Walgreens, I hope the envelope in the mail box isn't important.

Strawberry Festival - June 19th 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM

There will be over 30 crafters, artisans, community groups, vendors, free entertainment, music, crafts, balloons, give-aways and, of course, the Downtown Partnership’s Famous Strawberry Shortcakes!

The festival will be held at the parking lot on West Central Street from 1:00- 6:00 p.m. and continue down East Central Street to Summer Street this year.

The rain date will be Saturday, June 20th.



Some of the highlights include Zumba demonstrations by the YMCA, Punk jump rope, and face painting. ArtBeat will offer free balloons and a children’s “Trash to Treasure” art gallery show. Salon Sorella will offer hair braiding and color hair spraying.

According to Mary Graff, the Festival Chair, “This festival has grown over the years and we have great entertainment lined up. There will be something for every age group!” This year there will be live music at three locations including the East Central Street patio at Café Dolce and the Summer Street Patio. The popular band “Nothing To No One” will perform at the Festival at West Central. “Knuf Said” John Kinney and Jessi Fanuele will be entertaining crowds, as well as “Tunes by Tina” a festival favorite.

Garelick Farms is the Platinum sponsor for this year’s festival.

• Silver sponsors: Dean College and Franklin Newcomers and Friends
• Bronze sponsors: Berry Insurance, Comcast, CVS, Chestnut Dental Associates and Keefe Insurance

A grant from the Mass Cultural Council will help fund the entertainment, and “Ever So Humble” will provide the shortcakes this year! “We really could not have the festival without our generous sponsors,” commented Lisa Piana, Executive Director for the Downtown Partnership.

If it rains the Festival will be held on Saturday from 1:00-6:00. The Farmer’s Market will also be held on Friday and the Garden Club will join the market with their plant sale on the town common. There will plenty of parking available at municipal lots and at Dean College Campus Center.

Visitors this year can ride the “Strawberry Express Bus” provided by GATRA. Pick ups will be at the Town Common at High Street and the Dean College Campus Center.

"I am very pleased with this outcome"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 15, 2009 @ 10:29 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

The teachers union overwhelming approved a proposal to freeze their wages for one year, which will save an estimated 16 teachers' jobs, said School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy yesterday.

The Franklin Education Association voted 176-74 yesterday in favor of the proposal, which defers members' negotiated 2.5 percent pay raise through June 30, 2010, Roy said.

Union President Robert McLaughlin could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Read the full article on the teacher's deferment in the Milford Daily News here

I do not believe that the article states the correct number of school positions to be cut for this budget year. By my count, I show the following positions cut since FY 2003:

Franklin (MA) School Position Reductions	Total
FY 2003	-28
FY 2004	-21
FY 2005	-1
FY 2006	-4
FY 2007	-1
FY 2008	-29
FY 2009	-44
FY 2010	-45
	-172

News Flash - Teachers Accept Wage Deferral with School Committee

The Franklin Education Association (commonly called the "teachers union") did vote today to accept the negotiated agreement to accept the wage deferral for FY 2010. Many hours were spent working on the agreement between the teachers and the School Committee bargaining units.

Many thanks to both organizations for working this out!

Additional details to follow.

FM #41 - This week in Franklin, MA

This internet radio show or podcast for Franklin Matters is number 41 in the series. You give me about ten minutes and I'll let you know what matters in Franklin, MA.

Time: 9 minutes, 21 seconds



MP3 File

Session Notes:

Music intro My intro FM #41

This internet radio show or podcast for Franklin Matters is number 41 in the series.

You give me about ten minutes and I'll let you know what matters in Franklin, MA.

We'll start with what happened this past week

1. The FY 2010 budget passed, barely
2. Relay for Life opened on Friday evening and closed Saturday noon
3. Congressman Jim McGovern appeared at the Library on Saturday
4. MetroWest Adolescent Health survey resulted were released
   

*** On the Budget, only 6 councilors voted on budget mustering just enough for the 2/3 majority vote required. McGann was missing both nights, Joined by Vallee on the 10th, by Whalen and Zollo on the 11th,

Ho-hum, ten positions on the Town side went out the door and approx. 40 on the School side. No cries for appeal, no crowds appeared at any hearing.

The final number won't be known until the teachers determine if they accept the wage deferment or not. The teachers are scheduled to vote June 15th

Nothing new here in Franklin. Budget cuts and services cuts are expected now. Over 130 folks, 120 school personnel, 10 town, lost positions in the last three years. Ho-hum. I get the distinct feeling that there doesn't seem to be much of anything that will create enough attention for folks to do something about this. Ho-hum.

*** The Relay for Life opened on Friday night as the skies cleared and a rainbow appeared. Over $73,000 was reported to have been raised by this effort for the American Cancer Society. It was an impressive evening as the Survivor Walk took place in the hazy darkness on the lumineria light high school track.

*** Congressman Jim McGovern held local office hours at several locations through out his district on Saturday. He arrived late at the Franklin Public Library, coming from Medway and was going to be late leaving Franklin heading for Wrentham.

About 20 people had signed up on the listing to talk with the Congressman here in Franklin. In my few minutes with him, I offered my services to help spread the word on his efforts for any matters that would be of interest to Franklin. I also took time to discuss the status of No Child Left Behind and other unfunded Federal mandates. I was pressing for funding, or for removal of the mandates if they are not going to be funded.

I joined with Ted McIntyre and Steve Deredarian to represent the Franklin Area Climate Team. Ted invited the Congressman to the 350 event being planned for Franklin on October 24th.http://www.350.org/oct24

Ted also asked the Congressman about the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. Additional info on the visit can be found on Franklin Matters

*** MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey released, copies available for download via links posted on Sunday and also included in the notes accompanying this podcast.

While the numbers are down for alcohol, they are up for marijuana. Given the recent tragedies involving local youth and drinking, clearly much work remains.

For my two cents; how much have parents/guardians changed their own behavior? They are the ones who are setting the example for the children to grow up with.

One quote I like makes this point:

"Our example to our children, to our families, and to the world around us is
constant. The question is not whether or not anyone is watching, the question is
what are they learning as they watch." Kirk Weisler

And the outlook for the week ahead:

1. destruction of the Four Corners building continues as Walgreens prepares to put their building in place
2. Third Thursday, June 18th
3. Strawberry Festival, June 19th
4. Farmers Market starts operating on Friday's from 1:00 to 6:00 PM on the Town Common
   

Franklin, MA-The Franklin Downtown Partnership announces the special activities planned for the next “Third Thursday”. Join downtown businesses for a “Girls Night Out” and discover how easy it is to get in touch with your creative side in this round robin of fun, relaxing activities for busy adults. Grab a friend and head to Franklin’s downtown for this special event.

• Artbeat Your Creativity Store, at Summer Street-Visitors are invited to take a beaded candle votive in only 15 minutes! Kids can get free milk and cookies from 4:30 – 6:00 pm.
• Jane’s Frames, on East Central Street-Bring a 4”x6” photo to frame in only 15 minutes!
• Sarapaan, on East Central Street-Design your own earrings in only 15 minutes!
• Salon Sorella, at Summer Street-Have a quick massage in only 15 minutes!
• Pretty is Pink, at Summer Street-Relax with bubbly and treats!
  

Additional information on these events can be found on Franklin Matters.


*** As matter of interest, you should be aware that I have recently joined the United Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Franklin Downtown Partnership. By joining these two groups, I hope to learn more about the businesses of Franklin. Franklin clearly needs to increase the number and scale of businesses operating here if we have any hope of derailing the current pattern of budget cuts and layoffs.

I already have a series of postings on business operating in Franklin. I hope to expand on this series with membership in this two groups.

Why? I do believe Franklin matters. I believe the heart beat of Franklin is provided by the businesses amongst us.

---- ---- ----
This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow citizens of Franklin, MA

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music

Attention Veterans and Families

Webcast Discussion for Veterans and Families

Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 7:00-8:30 PM

Location: http://vbxevents.powerstream.net/003/02408/weoweyou

The Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services invites you to join us for an important online discussion about the programs and services available to Massachusetts veterans and their families.

Hosted by Mike Nikitas of New England Cable News (NECN). Veterans’ services experts will explain the benefits available and will take questions LIVE via instant messaging throughout the program.

Military veterans, especially those who have recently returned to the Commonwealth, family members and friends of veterans, are encouraged to participate in this important live discussion.

For more information and to register, http://www.weoweu.org/.

Events in the schools this week

Parmenter - Gr. 5 Celebration 6/15/09 9:00 AM

Jefferson - 5th Grade Celebration 6/16/09 6-8 PM

Davis Thayer - 5th Grade Musical Production (Gym) 6/17/09 10:30 AM

ASMS - 7th Gr. Evening of Excellence 6/17/09 5:00 PM

Oak - 5th Gr. Walk to the Town Common 6/18/09 8:45 AM

JFK - 5th Gr. Proud To Be An American Performance 6/18/09 9:00 AM

ASMS - 8th Gr. Step Up Ceremony 6/18/09 6:30 PM

Oak - 5th Gr. Walk to the Town Common - Rain Date 6/19/09 8:45 AM

Davis Thayer - 5th Gr. Moving Up Program (Gym) 6/19/09 9:00 AM

Oak - 5th Gr. Breakfast & Celebration 6/19/09 9:15 AM

Keller - 5th Gr. Promotion Ceremony (Café) 6/19/09 8:45-10 AM

ASMS - 6th & 7th Gr. Field Day (ASMS Fields) 6/19/09 All Day

ASMS - 8th Gr. Field Day (Hopkinton YMCA) 6/19/09 All Day

Check each school website for additional details on each event

"It's not set in stone yet"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 15, 2009 @ 01:08 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

There's a decent chance parents will not have to pay the sizable increases in fees for busing, athletics and extracurricular activities that was under consideration to help offset the budget deficit, said Superintendent Wayne Ogden.

The School Committee still must vote whether to bump up athletic fees to $200 per sport (now $150), extracurricular fees to $50 per activity (now $25), and $350 for busing (now $325).

Administrators calculated the cost for a family with three children, who each participated in one sport per season ($1,800 total), one extracurricular activity each, for the year ($150), and each taking the bus ($1,050), to total $3,000 annually, or 60 percent of the average Franklin tax bill.

"We deliberated a great deal about the need to increase fees to cover our rising costs at a time when the budget was being level-funded, versus the financial stress on families during our economic crisis," Ogden said.

"Plus, there was a very real possibility that increased fees might result in reduced participation in these programs," said Ogden.

Read the full article on activity fees in the Milford Daily News here

With the final budget still unsettled, if the fees are not raised, how will the budget end up balanced?

You can either increase revenue (increase fees in this case) or cut expenses (additional programs or personnel) to balance a budget. Stay in touch to find out what schools could look like when September 2009 rolls around.

Franklin woes

“We’re cutting down to bare bones,” ... “We are cutting some services. We are taking no increase in pay on the town side. On the school side, teachers are giving up some pay days. We still don’t have a state budget. We are using estimated figures. If we’re wrong, we’re looking at additional cuts. People are unhappy.”

Gee, this sounds familiar! We are not the only Franklin with budget troubles. Franklin, CT has similar woes. Read the full article in the Norwich Bulletin here

For the listing of other Franklin's across the US, check out this listing

"students who reported recently smoking marijuana rose"

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Jun 13, 2009 @ 10:46 PM

---

Amid the backdrop of the deaths this week of two teens linked to drinking, a report released today by a regional health foundation shows a drop in alcohol use among area high school students.

The biennial report, the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey, uses responses from questionaires sent to middle and high schools in MetroWest and Greater Milford by the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation. Introduced in 2006, the report now includes data from 2008, allowing the first look at possible trends.

Between the two surveys, the proportion of high school students who reported drinking within a month of the questionnaire dropped from 42 percent to 39 percent.

Those using alcohol at some point in their lives, meanwhile, fell from 67 percent to 63 percent. And those recently consuming five or more drinks in a row binge drinking fell from 25 percent to 23 percent.

Click through to the Milford Daily News web site to down load the full report.

While the numbers are down for alcohol, they are up for marijuana. Given the recent tragedies involving local youth and drinking, clearly much work remains.

For my two cents; how much have parents/guardians changed their own behavior? They are the ones who are setting the example for the children to grow up with.

One quote I like makes this point:

"Our example to our children, to our families, and to the world around us is constant. The question is not whether or not anyone is watching, the question is what are they learning as they watch." Kirk Weisler

You can sign up for Kirk Weisler's Thought for the Day (T4D) here.

Items of interest; ethics reform, farmer's markets, union givebacks

By Staff reports

GHS

Posted Jun 13, 2009 @ 11:11 PM

---

BOSTON —

Speaker Robert A. DeLeo has appointed his chief advocate, Majority Leader Rep. James E. Vallee, D- Franklin, Majority as the principal House member of the legislative conference committee on ethics reform.

DeLeo credited Vallee with being the drafter of the stringent, far-reaching ethics and lobbying reform bill recently passed by the House and strongly applauded by government reform advocates.

The conference committee, consisting of three House members and three Senate members, is charged with resolving the differences between each chamber's versions of ethics reform legislation.

"I am honored to be part of crafting such an important piece of legislation," said Vallee. "Only when the citizens of Massachusetts see their legislators making bold moves to change the public perception will we prove that we are acting with nothing but the public interest at heart. I look forward to working with my House and Senate colleagues to negotiate a bill that will represent the strongest, most comprehensive, and meaningful overhaul of the way our government does business."

Read the full article about Rep Vallee and the ethics reform efforts in the Milford Daily News here

------------

By Whitney Segel, Daily News correspondent

GHS

Posted Jun 13, 2009 @ 11:01 PM

---

Farmers already depend on the unpredictability of weather and nature each year so it was with some trepidation given the faltering economy that organizers of local farmers markets opened for business last week.

For now, farmers and organizers are optimistic for their harvest sales.

Framingham farmer Tom Hanson said the poor economy in an indirect fashion is fueling farmers markets. He believes people are slowing down, eating at home, and taking the time to come out to the market, while before they were too busy.

Jeff Cole, executive director of the Federation of Massachusetts Farmers Markets, said the downturn in the economy and a declining restaurant industry "leads us to conclude that folks are taking limited resources and making different choices on how they are going to spend, which seems to be in the direction of the markets."

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here. Note: there is no reference to Franklin in this article.

Did you know Franklin has a farmer's market? On the Town Common, Friday afternoons. You can visit the Federation of Massachusetts Farmers Markets website to sign up and receive an email alert to remind you of the market.

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Unions mixed on givebacks

Officials lobbying for budget relief

By Connie Paige Globe Correspondent / June 14, 2009

Several area communities and school districts have asked employees to break existing contracts and accept wage freezes, salary-increase deferrals, or other givebacks in the coming fiscal year to help prop up wobbly municipal finances.

With the stakes high for both communities and public employees, municipal and school unions have generally turned down the requests, with reactions ranging from respectful mutual understanding on both sides to acrimony and suspicion.

In Franklin, the School Committee's chairman, fearing that the teachers union had not adequately briefed its members about the town's financial plight, used the online site YouTube to make a direct appeal to teachers. In a virtual Internet duel, the union used its own website to respond.

Whatever the relationship between employers and employees, there is a shared understanding of the need to save cash, as municipal revenues and local aid from the state go into freefall, according to local officials.

Read the full article in the Boston Globe here

The Franklin teachers are scheduled to vote on their latest negotiated agreement with the School Committee on Monday, June 15th.

McGovern running late

The good news is that there are people out to meet and talk With Congressman Jim McGovern today.

The bad news is that this has him running vary late. He arrived Franklin Library at 10:10 (not the 9:30 he was scheduled for).

I left after talking with him about 11:10. He is due in Wrentham at 11:30. Given the number of folks remaining to talk with him in Franklin, I would estimate that he would not arrive before noon time maybe not before 12:30. Note: these are my estimates.

As for my time with the Congressman:

• I talked with Congressman McGovern about collaborating with communications on his various issues and initiatives. You, the readers of Franklin Matters, should hear what he has to say in the matters that affect us. And given the current state of affairs, there is little that doesn't affect us. He listened, he liked to offer and claimed to follow up.
• I also talked about No Child Left Behind and other Federal unfunded mandates upon education. I pressed him that if the government is going to require something to be done, then fund it appropriately. Or take away the requirements. There are sufficient requirements at the state and local level to provide a good quality education to all the children of Franklin.
• After my time with the Congressman, I stayed to provide morale support for Ted McIntyre of the Franklin Area Climate Team. Ted wanted to invited the Congressman to participate in the Franklin event being put together for 350.org on October 24th. He also wanted to discuss the pending legislation on carbon trading. We were also joined by Steve Deredarian in this effort. Steve also took the opportunity to talk with the Congressman on the health care issue.

Congressman Jim McGovern - Office hours today

Friendly reminder that today, Saturday, June 13th, Congressman Jim McGovern will hold local office hours to meet and talk with us at the following places:

• Medway: Coffee Sensations, 116 Main St, 8:00 - 9:00 AM
• Franklin: Franklin Public Library, 118 Main St, 9:30 - 10:30 AM
• Wrentham: Public Safety Bldg, 89 South St, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
• Plainville: Fire Station, 157 South St, 1:00 - 2:00 PM
• North Attleborough: Richards Memorial Library, 2:30 - 3:30 PM

This is your chance to talk with Congressman McGovern.

Sign up for his newsletter on his web site here

teachers = "are expert learners first"

... I also wonder if we can actually make something new out of something old in this case. Without remaking the system, is it reasonable to expect that we can systemically move toward inquiry based, self-directed, networked learning spaces that focus on the learning that Carroll describes in the essay?

Thoughtful posting by Wil Richardson on the idea that if we could start over and create schools, what would we do?

I highly recommend clicking through to read the full posting here

Given the cost pressures affecting school districts here and elsewhere, how should schools operate? What do you think?

"The objective is economic development"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 12, 2009 @ 11:40 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

Even in the midst of a recession, state Rep. James E. Vallee, D-Franklin, knows how to secure money for his towns: "persistence and tenacity."

"You wear them down. Essentially, you just keep running at them, and hopefully you can convince them," said Vallee, the new House majority leader.

After five years of pushing, Vallee said Franklin has been awarded $1 million in state funds for improvements to downtown. That money is separate from a $5 million federal grant.

The $1 million, available through a public works economic development grant, will pay for improvements to Main Street, Dean Avenue, Depot Street to Ray Street, and a municipal parking lot on Depot Street, Vallee said.

Read the full article about this state grant in the Milford Daily News here

The grant will help economic development efforts downtown. It will allow Franklin to spend less of its own money to do the work required. While the grant can not be used to offset our operational budget problems, the grant will help the overall budget by avoiding the expense of additional debt. Our debt to operations ratio will remain low.

And the rainbow appears over the field

And the rainbow appears over the field at the Relay for Life, originally uploaded by shersteve.

And the rainbow appears over the field at the Relay for Life, FHS Track

Franklin 2009 Relay for Life begins

Franklin 2009 Relay for Life begins here at the FHS Track $73 590 raised thus fa, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Franklin 2009 Relay for Life begins here at the FHS Track $73 590 raised thus far.

All Tewksbury teachers given pink slips

TEWKSBURY -- Despite passionate pleas from teachers and parents for leniency, the School Committee voted unanimously last night to temporarily roll back the workday -- and thus the salaries -- of all school employees by 10 percent come July 1.

But the committee also left the door open for other suggestions, noting that it could not delay the controversial vote because of a contractual June 15 layoff deadline that the teachers union declined to waive.

"We're not close-minded," Chairman Richard O'Neill said after the vote. "Closing a school is off the table and we're not going to just flat lay off 40 people, but anything else we're willing to entertain."

In the meantime, though, all school employees will receive pink slips. Recall notices with a reduced, 90 percent workload will then follow. Those employees who agree to be rehired will essentially accept a temporary 10 percent pay cut and shorter work week.

Read the full story on the Tewksbury budget problem and how they are attempting to address it in the Lowell Sun here

Hmm, we have cut 28 positions in 2008, 42 positions on 2009, and could go as many as 60 for 2010.