In the News - Eagles Nest

Franklin Zoning Board OKs Eagles Nest changes

by Brian Benson, Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

"the gift of cooking knowledge"

Michelle writes on The Clueless Gardner:

I asked Steve: wouldn’t it make more sense to stock the pantry with staples that are generally cheaper, and more nutritious? And I wandered away toying with the notion of writing recipes to submit to the food pantry along with donations of such staples - because in all likelihood if people aren’t cooking from staples, it is because they don’t know how.

Steve replied: “Michelle, I understand your desire for more of a healthy food request. We are heading in that direction. The Food Pantry instituted a farmer's market on Monday's last year to distribute the fresh produce we were able to obtain. We are working as part of the Community Gardens project to further that effort this year. By re-doing the Food Pantry website, we intend to incorporate a blog which will also feature healthy recipes. You also give me an idea that we can solicit recipes from the community (like yourself) as well as from other food and health writers. Thanks!”

Well, we certainly seem to be thinking along the same lines! So I’ve started writing down recipes. And not just recipes: I’m sticking to explaining the basics. What do you do with dry beans, uncooked rice, fresh kale, whole chicken, and the like? And perhaps just as important: how to you go about managing the often lengthy process of cooking from scratch with a hectic lifestyle in which the chefs may be working multiple jobs and raising children all at once?

You can read her full posting here

You can contribute recipes to Michelle, or send them to me. Via email is best for now.


Franklin, MA

"town leaders need to look at ways to reduce expenses"

Nutting suggested a $20 per sport fee per person added to the normal registration costs, although the amount could change and the fee could be structured differently. He said many local towns charge for field use.

Nutting estimated that the town could gain $100,000 per year to repair fields if the estimated 5,000 people who participate in sports paid a $20 fee.

Town Councilor Stephen Whalen said charging a fee for field maintenance would be a fair balance since the entire town paid for the construction of the fields.

"I think we should do it," Whalen said, adding "in our situation, I think we have to look at things like this."

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here


Participate in the budget priority survey here

Franklin, MA

No books, please

Friends not accepting book donations

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Hopefully, this is just a temporary situation. It was raised earlier this week according to the discussion at the Town Council meeting Wednesday evening and Jeff Nutting is working to find some space for this effort.

Yes, there is some irony involved. Here is the Library stopping their volunteer group from working to prepare their major fund raiser which provides financial aid to the Library.


Franklin, MA

Vallee holds office hours

Rep. Vallee holds office hours Friday

by Staff reports

Vallee, or a member of his staff, will be at the Medway Town Administrator’s office, 155 Village St., from 9-10 a.m. and at Vallee’s Franklin office, 4 West St., from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Franklin, MA

Creative thinking

This video clip from TEDx shows Charles Lamb sharing some interesting research that he is doing on the brain. By analyzing the brain activity when performing music, he is attempting to answer some significant questions on creativity.

Watch here:





For me, the initial take away was this quote:

But we have this combination of an area that's thought to be involved in self-monitoring, turning off, and this area that's thought to be autobiographical, or self-expressive, turning on.

In order to be creative, the brain needs to shut some aspects off and turn others on. There is a reason for having brain storming sessions. They may not have worked so well due to how they were set up but maybe with this new research they can find the way to set a good stage for being creative.

1. Put aside your bias for a moment. 
2. Put on your wide open 'thinking' cap.
3. Participate in the budget priority survey here

Franklin, MA

In the News - Override group, goal setting

Franklin group forms to support override

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Franklin council holds goal-setting session tomorrow

by Staff reports

Franklin, MA

Town Council - Agenda - 1/19/11 (not yet)

The Town Council is scheduled to meet on Weds, Jan 19th. Check the Franklin website later today to see if the agenda has been posted. It is not there yet.




Franklin, MA

In the News - birthday, Broadway

Franklin to celebrate Benjamin Franklin's birthday Jan. 23

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin school takes look at Broadway

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: Financial Impact Full-Day vs Tuition-based Kindergarten

This internet radio show or podcast is number 83 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This is a special session. The audio has been synchronized with the presentation to create a complete package. The package will provide the update by Miriam Goodman, Franklin School Business Administrator, on full day vs. half-day kindergarten. The presentation and discussion occurred at the School Committee meeting on Jan 11, 2011.

You can also review the meeting video on the Franklin website.

The link to the Kindergarten presentation is here:

http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=suY%2bgbIOkRUfeduJ9u%2f2aw%3d%3d/

The full meeting can be viewed here:

http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?ecm=634307043717953928&indexSessionSKU=bV0o80oxKwE2UUa+RXKE4A%3D%3D&siteSKU=L7qhQ46xin/r3Z0jcDVCNw%3D%3D/



During the presentation you will hear the voices of Miriam Goodman and Maureen Sabolinski, Superintendent. In the question and answer period, questions and comments will be asked by School Committee members – Ed Cafasso, Sue Rohrbach, Chairperson Jeff Roy, and Bill Glynn in order of their voices.

My keyboard and that of Brian Benson, the Milford Daily News reporter, is heard in the background as we type away reporting on the meeting. Hopefully, you won't find it too intrusive.

Without further ado, here is the presentation:

Franklin MA - Financial Impact Full-day vs Tuition-based Kindergarten

View more webinars from Franklin Matters.

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin. I can use your help.

How can you help, you ask?

If you have an interest in covering the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and or the Zoning Board of Appeals meetings in Franklin, please let me know.

And as always -

• If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like this, please tell me.

It will be via your feedback that I can improve this for you.

Thank you for listening.

-----

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 music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission

I hope you enjoy!


Franklin, MA

In the News - 1st book, enrollment drops

Franklin woman publishes her first book

by Brian Benson, Daily News staff

Laura Spinella's blog has been added to the Franklin Area Blog section.

Franklin school enrollment predicted to fall

by Brian Benson, Daily News staff

You can view the full report on the Enrollment Projections here


Franklin, MA

Help determine the priority list

In the January issue of the new Franklin newspaper delivered to your mail box, I wrote about setting priorities for the services that Franklin provides. This survey intends to develop a list of services that you would consider discontinuing and of services that you think we should continue.

The survey will remain open for your input through Saturday, Jan 29th.
The results of the survey will be published Sunday, Jan 30, 2011.

Note: use the scroll bar in form to get to the second question and "Submit".
You can provide an answer for both questions or chose to answer only one question.
For this kind of 'list building' exercise, there is no limit on entries. The survey results will provide two lists for further discussion.





Franklin, MA

Mother Nature responds to Franklin's message!

I travel along Summer St regularly and usually can find a good photo op on this corner:

I love how some of the Franklin streets are named and intersect.  Summer and Winter, East and West.
What other street combinations do you find around Franklin?


Franklin, MA

"He saw some pretty heavy action"

More than 1,000 Franklin residents served in the war, but only about 160 World War II veterans still live in Franklin, Fahey said.

"Earl Lang is just an amazing guy," Fahey said. "He's living history."

Lang said he appreciated adding the medal to his collection of war honors, including a letter from the White House he received in November for his 92nd birthday and a plaque recognizing his role as the grand marshal in Franklin's 2001 Fourth of July parade.

"It was very nice and kind of surprising," he said of receiving a replacement medal.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News

Franklin, MA

In the News - Broadway

Check out 'Broadway' in Franklin

by Staff reports

Franklin, MA

Be careful coming out of side streets, shovel fire hydrants

There has been so much snow, there is only so much room to put it. As a result, the snow gets piled up on the corners and really presents a challenge for those vehicles trying to come out into the main street. There is either no line of sight or its very limited.

And for perspective on how big the piles are, here is a view of the next corner.

I am sure you have the same or worse in the traveling I have done around Franklin. Please be careful!

And from the Franklin website, this is a good plea for action:

Please shovel your nearest fire hydrant. With recent snow, fire hydrants may be unavailable for firefighters. Please take a few minutes to shovel the fire hydrant closest to your home to save vital seconds in the event of fire.

 Franklin, MA

"We hope to put as much green into the project as is financially feasible"

Boulter was one of about 35 students who explored the pros and cons of solar panels, geothermal heating, green roofs and ways to improve bathrooms with low-flush toilets, automatic hand driers and motion-activated faucets at an event at the school yesterday.

"All of these things we're seeing on projects," said Christopher Alles, a project manager at the School Building Authority, mentioning the school's coming upgrades. "This gets students thinking about green design."

Students rarely take such an active role in researching such ideas, Alles said, with parents, town officials and administrators normally proposing them.

While concepts such as geothermal heat may not be possible in Franklin, project designers are considering some of the students' proposals, including making bathrooms more environmentally friendly, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said.

I love this collaboration. This is a great practical educational opportunity. Read more about the student work in the Milford Daily News here


Franklin, MA

Reminder: Pancake Breakfast - TODAY - 8:00 - 11:00 AM

The 8th graders at the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School are hosting a pancake breakfast to raise funds for their annual trip to Washington D.C.

The pancake breakfast will be held at the Franklin Elks hall on Pond Street in Franklin on Saturday, Jan. 15th from 8am - 11am.

Pancakes, toppings, juice, milk, coffee, and hot chocolate available. All are welcome. Cost is $5 per person (children under age 3 are free).


Franklin, MA