Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Jamie Oliver is on a mission to get everyone to eat better. His new website, Jamie's Home Cooking Skills, is the subject of my latest post on the USA Character Approved Blog. A recent study...
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HARMONY FROM THE HEART Raising money for Platelet Research one concert at a time
Friday, October 1, 2010
6:30 PM Lake Pearl Luciano's Wrentham, MA
Cocktail Reception, Silent Auction, Raffles, Live Music, Dancing, Fun and Fundraising
Join us for a great night of entertainment by Peter Paulousky, Kai Olsson, Toby Olsson w/Jamie Barrett, PT 73, and the reunion show of classic 80's band 'The DRIVE'
Tickets are $25.00 in advance and $30.00 at the door (space permitting) Tax deductable donations can be made online at http://bit.ly/9kz1uU Your name will be added to the door guest list.
There will be a Sherlock participating in the School Committee meeting this evening but it won't be me there to report on what is happening. Mrs Sherlock will be there as part of the group that worked to define Early Childhood School Readiness.
The readiness definition they will present and discuss can be viewed here:
Where will I be?
You may recall that I am now on the Board of Directors for the Franklin Food Pantry. Our monthly meeting is this evening so that will take priority tonight. Given my schedule for the remaining week, I probably won't be able to get to review the School Committee meeting video until this weekend.
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to review the document.
George Ferguson wasn't surprised when he read about the newly recognized presumptive illnesses related to his time served in Vietnam.
The Franklin resident already collects benefits for type II diabetes, and now, like thousands of Vietnam veterans across the country, Ferguson is waiting to see if the Department of Veterans Affairs will officially recognize the heart disease he's been suffering from since 2005.
"Now I'm just waiting to find out if they will give me disability for my heart disease, and at what rate," he said.
Last year, the VA added three diseases to an existing list of conditions presumed to be the result of exposure to Agent Orange, a toxic defoliant used to destroy jungle foliage in Vietnam and expose the enemy.
B Cell leukemia, ischemic heart disease and Parkinson's disease were added to a list that includes type II diabetes, prostate and lung cancers, Hodgkin's disease and other conditions.
The conditions were officially published in the VA's Federal Registrar last month, and are subject to congressional review until Oct. 31.
The Friends of the Franklin Library are preparing for our Oct. Book Sale and we need your help!
Volunteers have the opportunity to shop early.
The October Book Sale set up begins on Tuesday, Oct. 12th. We need volunteers to assist with the set up through the beginning of the sale on Friday, Oct. 15th.
The set up and sale will again be housed at the DPW garage off of Hayward Street. Set up times are from 9:30 AM– 2:30 PM Tuesday through Friday (Oct. 12th-15th).
We also need help on each day of the sale.
Friday, Oct. 15th (Member’s night) 4PM – 8PM
Saturday, Oct 16th, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Sunday, Oct. 17th, from 9AM to Noon - 'bag sale'
Sunday Oct 17th - help with clean up from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
We are also looking for students to help during the sale times and clean up on Sunday. If you know a student who is 14 or older and who would like to help, please have them Denise Jandreski @ 508-520-9955 or via email: jandrma@comcast.net.
The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School program works with over 340 elementary and middle schools representing over 150,000 students in 115 municipalities statewide. The program educates students, parents, and community members on the values of walking and bicycling to school. The program also offers schools technical assistance for designing, implementing, marketing and evaluating initiatives tailored to the school's needs and priorities.
The newest edition of the Safe Routes to School Newsletter features information and updates about fall programs and initiatives.
International Walk to School Day is October 6, 2010 and thousands of elementary and middle school students will be participating in walking events around the Commonwealth.
Safe Routes to School is conducting a video contest among Massachusetts elementary and middle schools about how schools, classrooms, or communities practice Safe Routes to School. The winner will be featured on the MassRIDES homepage and in the next edition of the Safe Routes to School newsletter.
For more news and details about upcoming events, read our fall newsletter, andr follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/MassRIDES.
Gallery 218, Franklin Public Schools own Art Gallery, will be holding it's first opening of the year Tuesday the Sep 28th from 5-7pm! Great Art, Live Music, and food...what else are you going to do on a Tuesday night????
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As posted on the FHS website, this appears to be correct information as opposed to what was published in the Milford Daily News and the Franklin Gazette which had this event for Friday 9/24 instead.
The tally on the Downtown Improvement Project survey to change from 1-way to 2-way traffic is holding to a 2-1 margin against the change. There is still time to have your say.
Come to the Municipal Building Wednesday evening to participate in the Public Hearing. 7:00 PM, second floor Council Chambers.
Note: the agenda for the Sep 29th Council meeting includes an item for a new Public Hearing on Oct 20th. The map associated with that hearing differs slightly from the map with this hearing. What is the full story behind this? I could only speculate now and I don't want to. Stay tuned to find out what the story is.
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS -Meetings of the Town Council are Recorded
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - Thermo Environmental Scientific
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS
F. HEARINGS - Public Hearing to Consider Removal of Utility Poles, Overhead Wires & Associated Overhead Wires and Associated Overhead Structures in Downtown Area – 7:10 PM
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS – Downtown Franklin Enhancement Project Proposed Traffic Circulation – Westin & Sampson
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 10-55: Order of Layout, Acceptance, and Taking of Hemlock Lane and Related Parcels and Easement
2. Resolution 10-56: Endorsement of Plan for Two-Way Vehicular Traffic on Emmons, West Central and Main Streets as Element of Downtown Revitalization Project
3. Resolution 10-57: Scheduling of Public Hearing to Consider Removal of Utility Poles, Overhead Wires, and Associated Overhead Structures in Downtown Area
4. Resolution 10-58: Appropriation to Construct Opticom System on Traffic Signals
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
The documents associated with the full agenda can be viewed here:
After a couple days of summer-like warmth, residents yesterday celebrated a crisp fall afternoon with apple cider, pumpkins and fried dough at the town's annual Harvest Festival.
Sponsored by the Downtown Partnership, the festivities drew nearly 100 vendors and thousands of people.
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the September 14, 2010 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Glynn
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence:
2. Guests/Presentations:
a. FEF Grant Awards
b. Early Childhood Readiness
c. Lifelong Learning Update
3. Discussion Only Items
Budget to Actual
4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of a check for $8,000.00 from the Davis Thayer PCC for field trips and enrichment.
b. I recommend approval of the recurring field trip for the Remington Adventure Club to Mt. Monadnock in Jaffrey, NH on October 2, 2010.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $205.17 from Target for Horace Mann Middle School in-house enrichment.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $478.41 from Target for Franklin High School in-house enrichment.
e. I recommend approval of the two recurring field trips for the FHS DECA students for the State competition in Boston from 3/10/11-3/12/11 and the International competition in Orlando, FL from 4/30 to 5/3/11 as detailed.
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $5,000.00 from the Keller PCC for field trips.
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.
I direct your attention to these three points because in spite of our efforts over the years, we continue to come up short. Why, for instance, in the richest nation in the world do we have 38 million of our brothers and sisters frequently wondering where their next meal will come from? Why has organic and locally grown food become such a craze – organic constituting the fastest growing segment of the U.S. food industry – while high calorie, low nutrient, so-called cheap food, constitutes such a large segment of lower income families’ diets? And why do so many of us have before us an unprecedented abundance of accessible and diversified retail food outlets to choose from while a significant segment of our citizens live in what can only be called food deserts?
On Friday, November 19, 2010, the Franklin Education Foundation (FEF) will hold its 5th Annual Casino Night at the Franklin Elks from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. The event will feature Black Jack, Roulette and Money Wheel as well as raffles, a Silent Auction, cash bar and FREE hors d’oeuvres. The event is well known as a fun evening out with friends and neighbors, all while contributing to a worthwhile cause.
FEF is currently seeking table sponsors as well as auction donations. If you have an item to donate or if your company is interested in sponsoring, contact FEF. It’s a great way for local companies to show their commitment to education in Franklin.
Admission is $25. To avoid waiting in line at the door, advance ticket purchase is recommended. For ticket purchase, auction donation or sponsorship information, please contact Peter Minor at (508) 541-6700 or peter@peterminor.com. Cash only accepted for chip purchase. Checks and Visa/MC accepted for Silent Auction items. For more information visit www.franklined.org.
Since 1997, The Franklin Education Foundation events have raised well over $190,000 which has been distributed to Franklin public schools in the form of special grants. All Franklin Public School staff members are eligible to submit creative, innovative ideas for programs or activities that would not traditionally be funded by tax dollars. To see a list of programs FEF have funded over the years, visit www.franklined.org.
