Retired Franklin school van driver honored
Auditor says state should pay towns for special Senate election
Franklin, MA
Monday, April 5, 2010
Shades IN Place
Please NOTE: as April 5th, 2010
New Office Number (508) 520 - 6700
Send all mailing/ billing/ deliveries to:
Shades IN Place
76 Grove Street
Franklin MA 02038
Roger's website does not change: http://shadesinplace.com/
New Office Number (508) 520 - 6700
Send all mailing/ billing/ deliveries to:
Shades IN Place
76 Grove Street
Franklin MA 02038
Roger's website does not change: http://shadesinplace.com/
Sunday, April 4, 2010
When was the last time you were called 'childish'?
In this delightful eight minute talk, Adora Svitak raises some good questions. Now, I have Peter Pan as one of my heroes (yes, I don't want to grow up) so this admittedly does appeal to me.
The reciprocal relationship I think is key. Dealing in an environment of mutual trust and understanding can generate wonderfulness. It starts with respect for the other. It deepens by listening to the other. Within the conversation, understanding can develop and enrich both sides. The 'power of we' can grow far greater than either one alone could have achieved.
What do you think?
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the video
Franklin, MA
The reciprocal relationship I think is key. Dealing in an environment of mutual trust and understanding can generate wonderfulness. It starts with respect for the other. It deepens by listening to the other. Within the conversation, understanding can develop and enrich both sides. The 'power of we' can grow far greater than either one alone could have achieved.
What do you think?
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the video
Franklin, MA
Getting the adult's attention on education
Two opinion columns this weekend in the Boston Globe are providing some insight into why the "Race to the Top" application for MA was not chosen.
On Saturday, Derrick Jackson wrote:
On Sunday, Andy Smarick wrote:
Read the full article here
These two groups of folks need to be active in the educational discussion.
On Saturday, Derrick Jackson wrote:
At best, parents are lumped together among the many “stakeholders" who provide “letters of support" in the Race to the Top applications. Here at home, the 180-page Massachusetts application rarely mentions parents, even as it concedes that “strong parent and community engagement is a critical lever of school turnaround."
The near-omission is shortsighted, especially because you know who will get the blame — from teachers, principals, and politicians — if the achievement gap fails to narrow. Those ignorant, uninvolved parents! Underscoring this mindset is President Obama himself, who in February boasted that he had not missed a parent-teacher conference and says, “I don’t care how poor you are, you can turn off the television set during the week."Read the full article here
On Sunday, Andy Smarick wrote:
So how did the state still manage to place a discouraging 13th overall out of 16 finalists?
By coming in very last place in the application’s most important section: improving the teaching profession.
Read the full article here
These two groups of folks need to be active in the educational discussion.
Franklin, MA: Town Council - inside the agenda
If you have sometime today in and around your family activities, you should check out the full agenda document for this Wednesday's Town Council meeting. You can find the PDF for the document on the Town website here.
Items of interest
1 - the changes to the Charter (pages 25 - 29)
2 - Capital budget ($2,019,000) (page 30 - 40)
Items of interest
1 - the changes to the Charter (pages 25 - 29)
2 - Capital budget ($2,019,000) (page 30 - 40)
Happy Easter!
Two photos to share today. This one I snapped while on my long run for this week.
Where was this? It looks like a golf course. Actually it is on the former Putnam Investments property along Washington St.
I snapped this one in the backyard.
Most everything outside is still brown. The trees are beginning to bud some more advanced than the others. The daffodils provide a welcome sight. Spring is coming!
Enjoy the day folks!
Where was this? It looks like a golf course. Actually it is on the former Putnam Investments property along Washington St.
I snapped this one in the backyard.
Most everything outside is still brown. The trees are beginning to bud some more advanced than the others. The daffodils provide a welcome sight. Spring is coming!
Enjoy the day folks!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
If Franklin matters, you can help
I believe Franklin matters, hence the name for this site. I have written of how the site came to be and how it is my public service effort here.
I am realizing that as much as I can do, there is still more to be done and hence can use some help.
I would like to include those who have answered Yes to the questions above and would be willing to help.
In particular, there are Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and Design Review meetings that would be good to attend and report on. I have focused on the Town Council, School Committee, Finance Committee and Financial Planning Committee to "follow the money". These other areas are important to cover and I can not do it all. Nor would I attempt to.
So if you are reading this, you already maybe someone who can help.
If you'd like to explore what this would mean (and what help/training I would provide) please let me know.
You can comment or send me an email at shersteve@gmail.com.
Thank you!
I am realizing that as much as I can do, there is still more to be done and hence can use some help.
- If you believe that Franklin, MA matters
- If you have some skill in writing
- If you have a willingness to learn some Web 2.0 tools
I would like to include those who have answered Yes to the questions above and would be willing to help.
In particular, there are Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and Design Review meetings that would be good to attend and report on. I have focused on the Town Council, School Committee, Finance Committee and Financial Planning Committee to "follow the money". These other areas are important to cover and I can not do it all. Nor would I attempt to.
So if you are reading this, you already maybe someone who can help.
If you'd like to explore what this would mean (and what help/training I would provide) please let me know.
You can comment or send me an email at shersteve@gmail.com.
Thank you!
In the News - Giada, road money, electronics recylcing, IT Forum
Chef Giada De Laurentiis draws a crowd in Franklin
from The Milford Daily News News RSSTowns to get boost in road repair money
from The Milford Daily News News RSSElectronics and appliance recycling day is April 17
from Wicked Local Franklin News RSSTech forum in Franklin Monday focusing on job growth in IT industry
from The Milford Daily News News RSSFranklin, MA
"you save the price of a stamp"
Treasurer Jim Dacey said residents will have the option to pay taxes, water and sewer bills, and permit, license, camp, recreation and school fees online in just a few weeks.Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
"This gives people another option for paying their bills," Dacey said. "We'd like to switch people from using their online banking, which for us is very inefficient."
Franklin, MA
Friday, April 2, 2010
Thank you!
The growth of visitors and page views on this site has been gradual and wonderful to watch.
Thank you for coming to visit. I trust you are finding what you are looking for here.
Consider subscribing via RSS, email or iTunes to stay current with minimal effort on your part.
If you don't find what you are looking for, let me know.
Thank you for coming to visit. I trust you are finding what you are looking for here.
Consider subscribing via RSS, email or iTunes to stay current with minimal effort on your part.
If you don't find what you are looking for, let me know.
Filing deadline for physical property damage is May 28
The administration announced yesterday that Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk and Worcester counties are eligible for both physical and economic injury disaster loans. Small businesses and most private non-profits in Franklin are only eligible for economic injury loans.
Up to $200,000 in disaster loans is available for homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, and up to $40,000 is available to qualifying homeowners and renters to repair or replace damaged personal property.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
The Small Business Administration website is https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Franklin, MA: Police provide fraud alert
From the Franklin, MA Police Dept alert system:
You can subscribe to these alerts here:
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/subscriber-news
An unknown group is soliciting Franklin residents for donations. They claim to be working with the Franklin Police Department to develop a "Don't Drink and Drive" type program, geared towards younger people.
The Franklin Police Department is NOT SOLICTING FOR ANY FUNDS. We have NO affiliation with this group.
If contacted, you are urged to report this (and any phone number you may obtain) to the Office of the Attorney General.
You can subscribe to these alerts here:
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/subscriber-news
Franklin Connection - Senior Center Newsletter
The April Franklin Connection, the Senior Center Newsletter is now available here or on the Town website.
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document
Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document
Transliteracy - a new opportunity
Interesting points made on how the library should consider changing its mission are raised this brief video.
Read the full posting here.
What do you think? Should the library charter change from literacy to transliteracy?
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to view the video on Franklin Matters.
Franklin, MA
Read the full posting here.
What do you think? Should the library charter change from literacy to transliteracy?
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to view the video on Franklin Matters.
Franklin, MA
Hold the date - May 14th
Do you recall our effort last year to bring the unconference to the unemployed and underemployed? We ended up canceling the LaidOffCamp due to insufficient registrations. We have learned from that experience and are giving it a second try.
We have a good location:
The St John Evangelist Parish Center in Hopkinton, MA. It is great space for up to 200 and best of all, free for us to use. As we are a non-profit and all volunteer group, any proceeds from the event will be donated to the Church.
We have a date!
Friday, May 14th from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM
We have a new event name:
Job Search Jam Sessions
The name says we are all about the "job search". We are looking for collaboration, learning and sharing from each other on this road to the next stop in our career. You have some tips and tricks from your experience. I do. Bob does. Marilyn does. Everyone does. Let's come together in an open space facilitated set of sessions.
We have a new website:
http://jobsearchjamsessions.blogspot.com/
Stay tuned for further announcements. We should have the registration page active by the end of this week. In the mean time, hold the date on your calendar - May 14th!
Franklin, MA
We have a good location:
The St John Evangelist Parish Center in Hopkinton, MA. It is great space for up to 200 and best of all, free for us to use. As we are a non-profit and all volunteer group, any proceeds from the event will be donated to the Church.
We have a date!
Friday, May 14th from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM
We have a new event name:
Job Search Jam Sessions
The name says we are all about the "job search". We are looking for collaboration, learning and sharing from each other on this road to the next stop in our career. You have some tips and tricks from your experience. I do. Bob does. Marilyn does. Everyone does. Let's come together in an open space facilitated set of sessions.
We have a new website:
http://jobsearchjamsessions.blogspot.com/
Stay tuned for further announcements. We should have the registration page active by the end of this week. In the mean time, hold the date on your calendar - May 14th!
Franklin, MA
Franklin, MA: Design Review Guidelines
Continuing the series on the Franklin, MA Planning process:
The full guideline document can be found on the Town website here (PDF). Note: it is a large document and will take sometime to download.These design guidelines have been prepared to assist business and property owners in protecting and enhancing the design character of commercial and industrial areas in the Town of Franklin. This handbook is the result of a collective effort by Town officials, members of the Design Review Commission (DRC) and the local design community, and planning consultants. Its guiding principles are based on a general belief that high quality of design and construction contribute to enhance the economic vitality of business districts, and improve the overall quality of living.
The guidelines will be used by the DRC as a basis for the review and approval of new projects, improvements, and additions to existing buildings. They are also intended as a source of helpful information and ideas for owners, designers and builders.
This document is divided into five parts:
- Part I describes the general purpose and contents of the handbook and includes brief recounts of the Town’s historic background, and the history of the design review process. It also summarizes the process and requirements for application for design review and approval.
- Part II contains site and building guidelines of general application, organized by topics.
- Part III contains site and building guidelines that specifically apply to downtown Franklin, the commercial corridors outside of the downtown area, or “big box” development. These guidelines are to be applied in addition to the general guidelines listed on Part II.
- Part IV focuses on signage and sign requirements.
- Part V includes appendices with further information and resource materials.
In the News - flooding
As water poured over a closed Populatic Street yesterday, Eknaian and her husband, Jack, were forced to row to their Populatic Street cottage - which had about 5 feet of water in the yard.
"We always have problems when it rains two or three days steady - all year round," Eknaian said.
Flooding not as bad as expected
Franklin, MA
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