Job Search Jam Sessions - May 14

“This is an ‘unconference’ for the unemployed and underemployed,” says Steve Sherlock, lead organizer. “The event’s organizers and session facilitators all have experience dealing with the challenges of layoffs and unemployment, and they are enthusiastic about sharing what they’ve learned in a peer-to-peer setting.”

“Job Search Jam Sessions participants will share experiences and ideas with their peers, make potentially valuable new contacts and refine their job search skills. And at the end of the day they’ll return home more confident and motivated to pursue new opportunities.”

The Job Search Jam Sessions will feature both seminar-like sessions and informal opportunities to network in small groups. There will be sessions devoted to job interviews and the use of social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.  The agenda will be adapted to reflect the needs and interests of participants.

"schools will be eligible for about 50 percent reimbursement"

The School Building Authority will also visit Franklin's Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School today to look at problems with their hot water and air conditioning systems.

Superintendent-Director Barbara Renzoni said upgrades to those systems could cost a minimum of $350,000.

"I was just (on the roof) looking at the (water storage tanks) and they are all corroded and rusted and leaking," she said.

Both systems are at the end of their life cycles at 33 years old, said Renzoni. The systems are original to the building, she said, and the school has been "nursing them along" for the past few years.

The school's two 250-ton air conditioner "chillers" are so old that they are difficult to fix because their parts are rare, said Renzoni. The refrigerant the chillers use has recently become regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, Renzoni said.

"Contractors are now obligated to disclose how and why they're using it, and the quantity (we use) would not be acceptable," she said.

Renzoni is hoping the School Building Authority can help offset the cost of these capital projects.

"And because Tri-County is sensitive to the 11 member towns' fiscal constraints, the school is only asking the towns for their minimum contribution to the school, which is a number the state determines," said Renzoni, "it further enhances our need for assistance."

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Franklin, MA

"This is where we want to end up"

At a forum hosted by Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, and the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, executives filled a training room at Franklin's EMC office yesterday morning to discuss the highlights and needs of the IT field.

"An educated work force is the lifeblood of these companies," said Joyce Plotkin, president emerita of the Mass Technology Leadership Council.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Franklin, MA

ELECTION NOTICE

TOWN OF FRANKLIN – ONLY PRECINCTS 2, 3 & 4 MAY VOTE

SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION

DATE: TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2010

TIME: 6:00a.m. – 8:00p.m.

PLACE:
FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL
OAK STREET

IF YOU RECENTLY REGISTERED AT THE REGISTRY…BRING IN YOUR RECEIPT!
Attest: Deborah L. Pellegri, CMC, Town Clerk

Questions should be directed to the Town Clerk, 1-508-520-4900




Franklin, MA

Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project - spraying starts

The Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project will be conducting helicopter applications of the biological larvicide Bti to control mosquito larvae.  The application will be conducted over specific large wetlands in the towns of:

Avon/Bellingham/Braintree/Canton/Dedham/Dover/Foxboro/Franklin/
Holbrook/Medfield/Medway/Millis/Milton/Needham/Norfolk/Norwood/
Plainville/Quincy/Randolph/Sharon/Stoughton/Walpole/Westwood/
Weymouth/Wrentham

The application may be conducted at any time between April 5, 2010 and September 30, 2010 as conditions warrant


http://www.massnrc.org/ncmcp/ControlStPr/LarvicideNotice.htm



Franklin, MA

Town Council - Agenda - 4/7/10

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – March 10, Special Meeting & March 17, 2010, Regular & Executive Session

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS

Long Range Financial Planning Committee - Brendan Morrison
Cultural Council - Helen Reebenacker

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS – New Officer & Director Change for Longhorn Steakhouse

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS –

1. Legislative Update by Representative James E. Vallee & State Senator Karen Spilka
2. FY 2011 Budget Discussion
3. Presentation by The Community Health Council

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION –

1. Resolution 10-12: Request for Special Legislation, RE: Amendment of Town of Franklin Home Rule Charter
2. Resolution 10-13: Appropriation: FY 10 Capital Plan
3. Resolution 10-14: Appropriation: Capital FY 10 – Fire Truck
4. Resolution 10-15: Appropriation: Parmenter School Solar Panels
5. Resolution 10-16: Appropriation: Triennial Property Revaluation
6. Resolution 10-17: Appropriation: Personal Property Revaluation
7. Bylaw Amendment 10-642: Amendment to Chapter 181-6:Wetlands Protection; Notice and Hearings – 2nd Reading
8. Bylaw Amendment 10-644: Amendment to the Code, Sewer Map Extension- 1st Reading

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN


Franklin, MA

In the News - retired, election

Retired Franklin school van driver honored

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

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Auditor says state should pay towns for special Senate election

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by David Riley/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

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/

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

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:

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)

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!

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Have you seen the Food Revolution? Quite impressive.

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.

• 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 expand the writers on this site.
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 RSS by Melanie Graham/Daily News staff

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Towns to get boost in road repair money

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Laura Krantz/Daily News correspondent


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Electronics and appliance recycling day is April 17

from Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc.


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Tech forum in Franklin Monday focusing on job growth in IT industry

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc.





Franklin, 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.

"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."

 Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here


Franklin, MA

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.

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