In the News - headquarters moves

Franklin company Echo moves headquarters south

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

Steve Nelson helps with HMEA!

The 10th Annual HMEA Independence 5K Walk, Run, Roll & Stroll also celebrating 50 years of support for thousands of children and adults with disabilities including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and intellectual challenges will be held in Franklin on May 22nd rain or shine. 

The event includes a professionally timed and run 5K USATF certified course plus a flexible 5K walk that is very family oriented and fun. Free food, parking, tee shirts, entertainment, and fun games and a kid’s activities area. 


Raffles, award program. Franklin High School Jazz Band performance, Gene Lavanchy (Fox 25) will host the event. Sports teams mascots appearances, train rides Special tribute to Veterans and currently enlisted military personnel. For more info or to volunteer, get involved via www.hmea.org or dmacpherson@hmea.org


Registrations are being accepted through Thursday May 19th on the web site www.hmea.org. Early community champions helping to sponsor the are industry giants ADP, AAA-Southern New England, EMC, Wal Mart, UPS Trucking, Tegra Medical, Team Hoyt, Waste Management, Rockland Trust, Charter Communications, D’Angelo’s, Autobahn East, Vehicle Fleet Management, Quality Beverage, Price Chopper, Ducharme Estates, Holliston Oil, Medway Oil, T&J Heating, Eagle Stainless Tube, Plansee USA, Roche Bros., Garelick Farms, Waste Management, WB Mason, Todson, Boston Sports Club, Franklin, Team Fitness Franklin.


The funds raised at this special event will benefit over 2600 children and adults with developmental disabilities in 110 towns from Attleboro to Littleton and from Boston to Worcester. In addition, the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Army National Guard and the Pawtuxet Rangers will participate in the opening ceremonies by providing a special tribute to America’s Armed Forces.


Those interested in sponsoring, participating, or attending the event, are encouraged to visit the web site at www.hmea.org to register on line or download more information on the event or contact Linda Conley at 508-298-1107, or Doug MacPherson 1105. A Super raffle and a special 50/50 will also culminate on race day.


HMEA is a non-profit agency serving children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families in 110 communities in central and eastern MA. Headquartered in Franklin, they provide a wide variety of services including educational, vocational, and residential supports. For more information please call 508-298-1105.


Franklin, MA

CALLING ALL ARTISTS

CALLING ALL ARTISTS

Would you like a connection to history?  Do you have an artistic flare?  If so, we're interested in your ideas.

The Franklin Historical Museum is searching for an official logo.  This logo will be used on stationary, publications, our web page and promotional items.

The museum moved to it's new location on West Central Street, ½ block from the fire station, last May.  We are approaching our 1 year anniversary, and to celebrate we are holding a logo contest.

If you have an idea for a logo and would like to submit it for consideration, we'd love to hear from you.  Simply send your artistic rendering of your logo idea to Debbie Pellegri, c/o Franklin Town Hall, East Central Street Franklin, MA 02038.  All entries should be received by the deadline Monday, May 16^th.

The selected logo will be unveiled at the Museum's 1 year anniversary celebration on Sunday May 22^nd.

The contest is open to all ages.  You can be part of history!

MA Walks to School Successes

May 2011 Community Highlights Cottage Street School Community Champion Amvet Boulvard & Community School Participating Schools Bernon Family Branch: Oak Street Elementary, Franklin Stallbrook Elementary, Bellingham    Invensy's Foxboro Branch: Igo Elementary, Foxboro Burnell Elementary, Foxboro Taylor Elementary, Foxboro   Jordan/Jackson, Mansfield Cottage Street, Sharon Heights Elementary, Sharon East Elementary, Sharon    North Attleboro Branch: Amvet Boulevard, North Attleboro Community, North Attleboro St.Mary-Sacred Heart, North Attleboro Community Sponsors Special thanks to:  Bank of America for providing breakfast bars, prizes and supporting the organization of SRTS in North Attleboro.  Associates at JCPenny for donating over sixty prizes for North Attleboro's "Golden Sneaker Raffle." Massachusetts Walks to School Day     The Hockomock Area YMCA supported twelve schools in our communities that participated in Massachusetts Walk to School Day on May 4, 2011. This annual event, encouraged by MassRides Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, provides youth, parents, and community volunteers the opportunity to participate in a healthy, environmentally friendly travel option to and from school. With over 100 elementary and middle schools around the commonwealth taking part in MA Walks to School Day, our YMCA was excited to provide volunteers to support safe, successful events. Our YMCA values the SRTS program and other important community-driven programs, projects and polices that help make the healthy choice the easy choice for our communities as part of our Healthy Futures Initiative. Our YMCA is committed to reducing youth inactivity and poor nutrition.     Cottage Street School   Cottage Street School has incorporated the Safe Routes to School Program into the School Wellness Policy and has successfully launched monthly Walking Wednesdays.  Students are encouraged to walk on the first Wednesday of the month and they have the option of four different meeting locations that are staffed by faculty, parent and YMCA volunteers. Meeting locations are color coded with a matching color assigned to each bus, creating an effective efficent system.   Community Champion  Susan Johnson has been a crossing guard in Franklin for forteen years. For the past ten years she has been helping students safely walk to Oak Street Elementary School with spirit and enthusiasm. Each day the students look forward to seeing which of her seventy-five hats she'll wear that day! On MA Walks to School Day she was wearing a chicken hat, as she is also a foodservice staff and chicken was being served that day. Amvet Boulvard & Community School    With over four hundred walkers, community sponsors and volunteers, North Attleboro shined at it's second MA Walks to School Day.    Students walked from meeting areas determined through a colloboration with Bank of America, North Attleboro School Administrators and the Hockomock Area YMCA. Students who were bused to school were encouraged to walk when they arrived, providing all students with the opportunity to participate.    Committed to 'paying it forward,' our Y was able to deliver over one hundred fifty bags of groceries to Lenore's Pantry made possible by generous donations from members and staff. Barbara Zimmer, School Age Program Director, said, "I felt so privaleged to see the face and the reaction from the Town Nurse, Anne Marie Fleming, who was overwhelmed with the donation. It was a great addition to the day!" Please contact a member of our Healthy Futures Team if you would like to learn more about our Healthy Futures Initiative or to join one of our community-driven task forces.    Supporting Healthy Living, Healthy Futures Team  Hockomock Area YMCA Healthy Futures Team: Bernon Family Branch: Lauren Marciszyn, RD, LDN, Director of Youth & Community Wellness: LaurenM@hockymca.org Invensy's Foxboro Branch: Caitlin Hurley, Director of Youth & Community Wellness: CaitlinH@hockymca.org North Attleboro Branch: Mike Mahoney, C.S.C.S, Director of Community & Workplace Wellness:MichaelM@hockymca.org Save 25% If you are using a special coupon or promo code, include it here. Or, indicate if the coupon must be printed and presented in person. Is the coupon transferable? If so, encourage recipients to share the offer with friends and family to maximize the viral effect of the coupon. Offer Expires: Enter Expiration Date here

Forward email This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by laurenm@hockymca.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Hockomock Area YMCA | 300 Elmwood Street | North Attleboro | MA | 02760

Parmenter School car wash and bottle/can drive

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Parmenter School car wash and bottle/can drive

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 5/11/11

The fifth grade at Parmenter Elementary School, 235 Wachusett St., will hold a car wash and bottle/can drive on Saturday, May 21, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

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Hockomock YMCA Branches Hold Summer Camp Open House May 22 at 12:00 p.m.

Registration is now open for summer camp at the Hockomock Area YMCA. All three branches in Foxboro, North Attleboro, and Franklin will hold an open house this Sunday, May 22 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. This afternoon will be highlighted with activities for the children to participate in and get to experience Y Camp hands-on! The open house is designed to provide prospective campers with a chance to see the camp, meet camp directors, ask questions, and learn about the variety of summer day camps our YMCA offers.

As parents look for opportunities to keep their kids active this summer, the Franklin YMCA reminds caregivers that camp is among the best options for engaging kids in activities that will help develop their spirit, mind and body, while getting them outdoors in a safe environment. “Camping is synonymous with personal development. It provides kids with the opportunity to practice social and decision-making skills through new experiences,” says Jim Downs, vice president of youth & community development of the Hockomock Area YMCA. “Kids come to camp to develop friendships, learn skills in a new environment, and make memories that will last a lifetime.”

YMCA Camp provides exciting and educational summer camp options for school-age children, teens, and options for children with special needs.

Attending summer camp at the YMCA can impact youth and teens in several important ways:

• Kids learn when given a break from their daily routine. Camp offers kids and teens productive “time away” from the troubling economic news they hear every day, as well as an independence they do not typically experience at home or in school.
• Lifelong memories are made at camp. Camp Wigwanawan is the ideal environment for developing new skills, learning from other campers and counselors, and making new friends to share it all with.
• Decision-making skills are learned through experience. At camp, kids and teens learn and practice how to make smart choices, solve problems, and work as a team toward common goals. These skills are essential to character development.
• At camp, kids and teens develop confidence by trying and learning new things, including adventurous outdoor activities that can lead to healthy, life-long habits.
• Camp is the perfect environment for increasing kids’ and teens’ awareness and appreciation of nature and the great outdoors.

Collectively, the nation’s largest providers of camping programs, YMCAs have operated summer camps for more than 100 years. Each year, YMCAs operate more than 2,000 community and regional YMCA day camps that serve 600,000 individual campers each summer, which includes about 120 specialty camps for kids with disabilities. An additional 1.5 million individuals participate in camp programs throughout the balance of the year in family camps, weekend retreats, and school camping.

Please visit www.hockymca.org or call the Franklin branch at 508.528.8708, the Foxboro branch at 508.772.1353, or the North Attleboro branch at 508.695.7001 to learn more.


Franklin, MA

King St. Community Garden Build Day Part 2 : When Compost Attacks

Hello Everyone,

Thanks to a wonderful group of volunteers we were able to build 44 of our 46 raised beds at the King St. memorial park last Saturday.  Unfortunately we only managed to fill several of the beds due to a scheduling conflict with the bobcat operator.  This Saturday we will be getting together at King St. at 8am to finish what we started.  Baring any acts of nature we should be done before lunch. 

What will we be doing?

We will be building the 2 remaining raised beds.
We will be moving several of the raised beds to form a new row on the left side of the garden. 
We will be moving beds out of the way to allow the bobcat access to the blocked in beds, and then back into position to be filled in turn.
We will also be anchoring beds in their final locations with the central stakes so they can be filled by the bobcat.

What should I bring?

If you have a cordless drill bring it along.  My DeWalt should easily get us through the two beds and side stakes, but as last Saturday taught us backup helps.
Yourself!

Where do I sign up?

Just reply to this e-mail if you can make it.

Thank you for all your support!

Chris Clay, The Franklin Community Garden Committee, and Friends of Franklin Community Gardens, Inc.

PS.   Time Lapse of last Saturday's Build Day : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xsajCNws2Q
PPS. Sign-up for the Plot Lottery : http://www.activityreg.com/selectactivity.wcs

--

Subscribe to the blog!

www.franklincommunitygardens.org

Yes, we are on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Franklin-Community-Gardens/152040424825578

Stamp Out Hunger - May 14

With 1 in 6 affected by hunger, they can be found all around us.



Help your neighbor.

Stamp Out Hunger - flyer2011


Help us help your neighbor.

You can contribute by leaving some non-perishable goods for your postal carrier on Saturday, or help volunteer as the donations are delivered by the carriers to the Food Pantry on Saturday afternoon, or make a monetary contribution on the Food Pantry website http://franklinfoodpantry.org/


Franklin, MA

In the News - school use fees, copper thief caught, beautification day

Franklin may raise rates for using school facilities

by Brian Benson, Daily News staff

Franklin man caught stealing copper

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Franklin Beautification Day set

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin, MA

"Franklin would need to apply for a waiver"

With the cuts, Franklin will only be able to staff a fire engine and ambulance in one station and an engine or ambulance in its second station instead of staffing a fire engine and ambulance in both stations, McCarraher said. 

"It's like playing baseball with seven players in the field," he said. "As long as it's hit to somebody, everything is fine. ... As long as incidents occur one at a time and are moderate, we'll be fine." 

But about 50 percent of all calls - and more than 80 percent of building fires - come in while another emergency is in progress, McCarraher said.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1560710680/Cuts-would-mean-fewer-firefighters-in-Franklin#ixzz1LwOoYHbJ


Franklin, MA

"Regionalization ... is going to come anyways"

Meanwhile, work is continuing on a study examining the feasibility of regionalizing dispatch services in Franklin, Wrentham, Norfolk and Plainville thanks to a $44,000 state grant. Franklin is only looking at fire dispatch while the other towns are examining police and fire dispatch. 

Employees from Pennsylvania consulting firm L.R. Kimball have gathered call volume and financial data and met with emergency officials in the four towns, Franklin Fire Chief Gary McCarraher said. 

"If it works out, fine," McCarraher said. "If it doesn't, at least we know what not to do. ... There's no downside to participating in this."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1036464755/Towns-lose-out-on-grant#ixzz1LwPo0BBq


Franklin, MA

In the News - garden lottery, blood drives

Registration open for Franklin Community Garden lottery

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Blood drives to be held in Franklin

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin, MA

Community Gardens: Build Day

Volunteers worked in teams to put the beds together:



The beds are located at the King St fields:



Some of the beds close to the entrance provide handicap access with a good stone dust surface:



Work in progress on Saturday afternoon:



More info about the Community Gardens can be found
http://www.franklincommunitygardens.org/


Franklin, MA

And then there were gardens!

The Community Gardens made great progress on Saturday, that large step from a dream to reality happened! Over 40 folks participated, overcoming some minor obstacles (re-charging handheld tools, and a hail storm) to put together the 46 garden beds.

Time lapse photos shows the progress during the course of the day (photos every 30 seconds)




Julie Balise from the Milford Daily News came back to gather info for her story:

Garden takes shape in Franklin park

by Julie Balise/Daily News staff

Master gardener, Chris Clay wrote about the success on his blog (the source of the time lapse photos)
http://thecluelessgardeners.blogspot.com/2011/05/gardening-for-greater-good.html

A longer post is on the Community Gardens website here
http://www.franklincommunitygardens.org/2011/05/build-day-success.html


What's next?
If you want to plant and garden on one of the beds, sign up for the lottery before the drawing on May 23.
http://www.franklincommunitygardens.org/2011/05/garden-registration-is-officially-open.html


Thanks to all, the hard work is done.



Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - 5/10/11

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

Mission Statement

The Franklin Public Schools, in collaboration with the community, will cultivate each student's intellectual, social, emotional and physical potential through rigorous academic inquiry and informed problem solving skills within a safe, nurturing and respectful environment.

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the April 27, 2011 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Glynn
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: Budget to Actual

2. Guests/Presentations
a. New Assistant Principals
b. Teen Angels
c. Music Department – Nancy Schoen
d. Art Department – Mike Caple

3. Discussion Only Items
Policy - First Reading – KF – Community Use of School Facilities

4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of the donation from the Franklin Music Boosters as detailed to the FPS Music Department. (Total donation value: $3,628.24)
b. I recommend approval of the Middle School Music student trip to Canobie Lake Park in Salem, NH on Friday, June 17, 2011 as detailed.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $294.00 from Wells Fargo for in-house enrichment at FHS.

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.

7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn

Budget Monitor: The House Fiscal Year 2012 Budget

Explore our online budget database Is our research helpful to you? Support our work Contact Info   Noah Berger   President   nberger@massbudget.org   (617) 426-1228 x102   Tom Benner   Communications Director   tbenner@massbudget.org   (617) 426-1228 x100 Budget Monitor: The House Fiscal Year 2012 Budget May 6, 2011     The final budget approved by the House of Representatives for Fiscal Year 2012 includes modestly more funding than recommended by the House Ways & Means Committee in several areas, but largely follows the HWM proposal in implanting deep cuts across state government.  The most significant amendments adopted were in health care accounts, specifically funding for a half year of the Commonwealth Care Bridge program, which provides health insurance for close to 19,000 legal immigrants, and adult day health services for the elderly and disabled. These and other amendments affecting areas throughout the state budget are described in the new report Budget Monitor: The House Fiscal Year 2012 Budget.  The report also compares the final House budget to the Governor's proposal and to the current budget (Fiscal Year 2011), and provides some comparisons to funding levels from before the recent recession.      The report is available at www.massbudget.org or by clicking here.  See MassBudget's Budget Browser to explore Massachusetts state budgets from Fiscal Year 2001 to the present, as well as budget proposals for the next fiscal year as they are offered by the Governor and the Legislature.     MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies, as well as economic issues, with particular attention to the effects on low- and moderate-income people.

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Calling for the Pantry

$20 will feed your neighbor for a month.

The First Annual "Calling for the Pantry" phone drive was successful but you can still help by making a contribution.

You can write out a check and mail it to the Food Pantry:

Franklin Food Pantry
P.O. Box 116
Franklin, MA 02038-0116

If you would like to make a secure online donation you can do so here:

$

The Food Pantry and those we serve, thank you for your contribution!

The Franklin Food Pantry is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

We believe in the power of community. Our mission is to connect the resources needed to sustain a healthy life.

The Food Pantry website can be found here: http://franklinfoodpantry.org/

Join us Saturday, May 7th or next Saturday, May 14th

A Big Thank You to all neighbors who received calls for help this past weekend and to all our volunteers.  More than 40 volunteers reached out to our community for our first annual Phonathon.  We are so grateful to be surrounded by very generous neighbors.  Pledge forms were mailed out this week and we look forward to calculating our final numbers.  Donations are still being accepted securely on our website, www.franklinfoodpantry.org. 

Join the Franklin Community Garden in building 46 raised garden beds, Saturday, May 7th @ the King Street Playground (located off of King Street near the intersection of Forest Street). Volunteers will be building the beds and then filling them up with gorgeous soil!  There are 2 shifts (9am - 12noon or 1pm - 4pm) or you can join us the whole day!  No amazing "building skills" required.  All the wood will be pre-cut, so if you know how to hold a piece of wood or can help shovel, all extra community hands are welcome!  Please bring cordless drills, shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, pitch forks etc. if you have them. 

Next Saturday, May 14th is Stamp Out Hunger day. Stamp Out Hunger is the Nation's Largest Single Day Food Drive.  We need many volunteers from 2pm - 6pm @ the Pantry to help us sort the thousands of pounds of anticipated food donations.  Please consider leaving a bag of items from our attached needs list at your mailbox on Saturday morning, May 14th and our letter carriers will pick up and deliver to the Franklin Food Pantry.  Thank you to the Franklin Post Office and Letter Carriers. 

Season 2 of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution will return with all new episodes beginning Friday, June 3rd at 9pm ET/8pm CT. If you've missed either of the first two episodes, they will be airing back-to-back on Friday May 27th at 8:00 and 9:00 pm ET (7 and 8 CT) or you can watch them on www.abc.com.   We invite you to help by spreading the word and joining the revolution: 

Are you a backyard gardener (or do you know a backyard farmer)?  Do you want to plant an extra row this year to help our neighbors in need?  We are starting a Plant a Row program and are getting ready to open registration and distribute row markers and brochures.  If you are interested in participating, please email PlantARow@franklinfoodpantry.org. 

We are celebrating a recent grant received from the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation to launch our Produce Points program at the Franklin Farmers Market in June 2011.  Produce Points is modeled after the Double Value Coupon Program developed by Wholesome Wave.  Stay tuned.

Michelle Clay of Franklin has generously volunteered to create a food resource cookbook for the Franklin Food Pantry and is inviting you all to be recipe testers.  You can find more information and many recipes here  (Thank you Michelle!)  http://pantrycookbook.blogspot.com/ Good food nourishes the body and the spirit. With regular, nutritious meals, we are free to grow, to think, to smile, to live.  In 2011, we will expand our capacity to provide our clients with a wide range of opportunities for gaining access to local, fresh, nutritious food.  Our free Farmer's Market for clients was a great success in 2010 and thanks to generous Donors we look forward to working with Grateful Farm to continue this program beginning in June 2011. 

In 2011, we hope to continue to learn with you, our community, the many elements of nutrition, food systems, local resources and to explore the questions, "What is food?" and "Where does our food come from?".   We believe everyone has the right to access healthy, affordable food choices.

Please contact annemarie@franklinfoodpantry.org if you are interested in working together on any of the programs mentioned or if you have a great idea that may align well with any of the above. 

Please forward to any friends or family who may be interested.

Thank You

--
Anne Marie Bellavance
Franklin Food Pantry
43 West Central Street
PO Box 116
Franklin, MA  02038
(508) 528-3115
www.franklinfoodpantry.org