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Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108
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Thursday, September 1, 2011
Updated Fiscal Fallout Report & Updated Budget Browser
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
YMCA - September Membership Promotion
The Hockomock Area YMCA announces their Fall Membership specials. Details are contained in the flyer here:
Flyer- Fall 2011 Promo
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document
Flyer- Fall 2011 Promo
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document
New partnership with Greater Boston Food Bank
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Commonwealth Conversations: Health and Human Services by Paulette Song on 8/29/11
By DTA Commissioner Julia KehoeThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) is the first line of defense against hunger and currently serves one in eight Massachusetts residents . But what happens to individuals and families who don't qualify for SNAP and are struggling to put food on their tables? If a household's income is more than twice the federal poverty level (currently $22,350 per year for a family of four), they are not eligible for SNAP, but are likely in need of additional resources to make ends meet.
I'm pleased to announce a new, innovative collaboration between the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) and the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) to distribute food to households who don't qualify for government benefits.
This exciting initiative involves two key components that are currently being piloted at our Dudley Square and Newmarket Square offices in Boston:
- First, DTA identifies households who are ineligible for SNAP but still at-risk of hunger. We give them a voucher that allows them to pick up a box of produce and frozen meats at GBFB on designated distribution days. These packages also include information about food pantries and community meal programs, food safety information, and recipes.
- Second, GBFB will supply boxes of dry, shelf-stable foods to create mini-pantries at DTA offices. We will then provide these packages to SNAP applicants who have no other resources to tide them over until their benefits are approved. We hope to have our mini-pantries up and running sometime this fall.
DTA and GBFB will continue to evaluate this initiative and may expand it to include more DTA offices in the future.
The next food distribution day will take place on Saturday, September 10th at the Greater Boston Food Bank.
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Health and Human Services using Google Reader
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Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Beaver St Recycling Hours
Hello, this is Brutus Cantoreggi your director of Public Works calling with an important message about the leaf and brush drop offs and spoiled food drop offs at the Beaver St. recycling center.
Do to the effects of Hurricane Irene, and to assist residents, the Beaver St Recycling Center will be open from 8AM to 6PM daily now through September 10th for leaf and brush drop offs except this Sunday.
The Recycling Center will be closed all day this Sunday, Sept 3rd so we can grind the brush on site. The Recycling Center will reopen again on Labor Day Sept 4th at 8AM.
A Beaver Street Recycling Sticker is required on all vehicles dropping of brush and leaves at the site. Stickers can be purchased at the Beaver St. recycling center.
effective immediately, spoiled food can be dropped off in the designated dumpster at the Beaver Street Recycling Center. A sticker is not required for spoiled food drop offs.
Further information can be found on the Town's website.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
To listen to the above message, you will need audio software and speakers on your computer.
This e-mail has been sent to you by TOWN OF FRANKLIN. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. If you wish to discontinue this service, please inform TOWN OF FRANKLIN either IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at (508) 520-4938. THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS IS NOT MONITORED. Please do not reply to this e-mail as we are not able to respond to messages sent to this address.
Franklin Public Schools: Opening Delayed until Sep 6
Due to the continued impact of the tropical storm that has left forty percent of Franklin residents without power, the school administration made the decision to defer the opening of school until September 6. Faculty and staff will report on Friday, September 2 for orientation. On September 6, each school will host Kindergarten orientation and all Kindergarten students will report to school on Wednesday September 7 at the regular time.Additional information is contained in the following memo:
Franklin Public Schools- School Opening Postponed
Tree damage
Photos of tree damage in Franklin as we walked around on Monday
Susan's Way
Parmenter School
Wachusett St
Milliken Ave
King St
Being without electricity gives a new sense of what it is like to "have not".
Susan's Way
Parmenter School
Wachusett St
Milliken Ave
King St
Being without electricity gives a new sense of what it is like to "have not".
"it doesn't show any sign of coming back"
Franklin Fire Chief Gary McCarraher said that as of this afternoon, 40 to 50 percent of Franklin is without power and his main concern has been ensuring residents have access to food and water.
"The sewer and water system is functioning as designed, which is a blessing," said McCarraher. "The downtown Franklin restaurants are all open for business...We're pretty confident our people can get access to food."
Residents without water can head to the Department of Public Works, at 257 Fisher St., or either fire station - 40 West Central St., or 600 King St. - with their own containers for water.
Most of the traffic lights along Rte. 140 in Franklin are out, and stop signs affixed to barrels are set up at the intersections instead. McCarraher said he is meeting with National Grid, but that the DPW has opened all roads that are free of debris and downed wires.
Although National Grid is working as fast as they can to restore power, it still is frustrating to some residents.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1688627525/Area-towns-still-without-power-after-Irene#ixzz1WVL6OXAC
Monday, August 29, 2011
Y Opens Doors to Residents Without Power
SUPPORTING
OUR
NEIGHBORS
FFFY OPENS DOORS TO RESIDENTS WITHOUT POWER
Dear Members,
Please help us spread the word to your neighbors, family and friends: We are opening our Franklin and North Attleboro Branches to area residents who have lost power.
According to YMCA President Ed Hurley, "We want to help our neighbors in our local communities who have been impacted by Sunday's storm. In this spirit, we are opening up our facilities for people to take a hot shower, charge their cell phones, or simply get out of the house. Our YMCA's doors will be open to all during this difficult period."
Please help us spread the word to your neighbors, family and friends: We are opening our Franklin and North Attleboro Branches to area residents who have lost power.
According to YMCA President Ed Hurley, "We want to help our neighbors in our local communities who have been impacted by Sunday's storm. In this spirit, we are opening up our facilities for people to take a hot shower, charge their cell phones, or simply get out of the house. Our YMCA's doors will be open to all during this difficult period."
The Hockomock Area YMCA's Foxboro Branch did not open today and will remain closed until commercial power is restored.
Those who wish to visit one of the Ys, must bring an ID and fill out a guest pass form in order to access the locker rooms. Individuals and families will be able to use Hockomock Area YMCA facilities free of charge as long as they are without power. The YMCA hours are 5:15 am – 9:30 pm. For additional information, please call the Member Service Desks at our Franklin Branch (508) 528-8708 or our North Attleboro Branch (508) 695-7001.
Sincerely,
Hockomock Area YMCA
Franklin Public Schools: Open House/Classroom Visits
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Franklin Public Schools: Professional Development Schedule 8/30/11
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Powerless and lucky
We're powerless but lucky to have escaped with little tree damage from what was left of Hurricane Irene. The power went out about 1:00. We were prepared with batteries, candles and the Coleman camping lantern provides a great deal of light.
When the rain stopped we picked up most of the small branches and twigs dropped by the wind from the trees. It didn't take long to cut up the one large branch that fell into the street. We'll have some good fire wood for the winter!
The cell phone batteries were the first to die away. Depending upon when the power returns (today?), we may need to run the car to re-charge them a bit. I have sparingly used my netbook and broadband card so I have several hours of connection remaining.
We did take a walk around the neighborhood last night. It was a rare event to see no lights anywhere. If there was a light (from a passing car, or a candle in a house) the little light was very noticeable in the darkness.
I hope you all survived with a story or two to pass along.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Franklin MAtters: Changes to be aware of
I spent some time at the Community Garden on Saturday talking with a few of the folks that came to tend their gardens. The better part of the time it was just Chris Clay and I chatting as we both took pictures and he explained this or that about the garden and plants. In the course of our conversation we got around to comparing notes and we found we have much in common.
With Irene providing the time, and the conversation with Chris providing the inspiration, I have done some clean up here on the website. You may notice that there are less navigation tabs. Yes, I removed a few.
The Welcome page has been updated to remove the audio option. The effort to produce that was not generating enough of an audience to continue. You can subscribe to receive updates as they are published via email daily or weekly. Your choice.
Why Franklin Matters - remains
I am resuming my Weekly Summary as a text only summary (no audio) so that tab remains.
I have combined all the Meeting Notes into one tab. On this page, the meetings for 2011 are at the top with those from 2010, 2009 and 2008 below as you continue to scroll down.
The Important Links tab provides easy access to some key pages. For example, I just added a link for Election 2011 to collect all the election information as it is published.
I hope these changes will be helpful. If you have suggestions for things I should do more (or less) of, please feel free to comment or send me an email.
With Irene providing the time, and the conversation with Chris providing the inspiration, I have done some clean up here on the website. You may notice that there are less navigation tabs. Yes, I removed a few.
The Welcome page has been updated to remove the audio option. The effort to produce that was not generating enough of an audience to continue. You can subscribe to receive updates as they are published via email daily or weekly. Your choice.
Why Franklin Matters - remains
I am resuming my Weekly Summary as a text only summary (no audio) so that tab remains.
I have combined all the Meeting Notes into one tab. On this page, the meetings for 2011 are at the top with those from 2010, 2009 and 2008 below as you continue to scroll down.
The Important Links tab provides easy access to some key pages. For example, I just added a link for Election 2011 to collect all the election information as it is published.
I hope these changes will be helpful. If you have suggestions for things I should do more (or less) of, please feel free to comment or send me an email.
How will you decide?
When you have an election ballot in front of you, you have a list of positions, a listing of candidates and a marker to fill in a circle next to one or more names. Or you may have a ballot question to answer yes or no. How do you decide to cast your vote?
To help you make your choice, I have offered to meet with all the candidates. My purpose is to hear directly from them about their background and their views on the issues Franklin faces that that they will work to resolve on our behalf.
This is not an endorsement of any candidate. This is an information sharing exercise.
I will ask the same set of questions of each candidate so that you should have some common ground to make your decision. The questions I propose to start with are as follows:
1 - Tell me a bit about yourself, your family and your life here in Franklin?
2 - What experience or background will help you to serve in this role? or What do you think makes you a good candidate to fulfill this role?
3 - What do you see as your role’s biggest challenge and do you have any suggestions on how we can resolve it?
If you have some suggestions, I’d like to hear them. I may find during the course of the interviews that I should tweak the questions. If I do that, I’ll post the updated questions here.
Election information
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/08/franklin-election-details-are-now.html
To help you make your choice, I have offered to meet with all the candidates. My purpose is to hear directly from them about their background and their views on the issues Franklin faces that that they will work to resolve on our behalf.
This is not an endorsement of any candidate. This is an information sharing exercise.
I will ask the same set of questions of each candidate so that you should have some common ground to make your decision. The questions I propose to start with are as follows:
1 - Tell me a bit about yourself, your family and your life here in Franklin?
2 - What experience or background will help you to serve in this role? or What do you think makes you a good candidate to fulfill this role?
3 - What do you see as your role’s biggest challenge and do you have any suggestions on how we can resolve it?
If you have some suggestions, I’d like to hear them. I may find during the course of the interviews that I should tweak the questions. If I do that, I’ll post the updated questions here.
Election information
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/08/franklin-election-details-are-now.html
Drop off, Donate and Volunteer - Stuff Harvest
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Stuff Harvest Fest
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011 from 9:00am - 1:00pm
8 Aurora Street Providence, RI 02908 MapA special event is coming up that may interest you - a great opportunity to bring in donations, volunteer and show your support of Free Geek Providence.
Stuff Harvest Fest is our name for a recycling/donation day organized in partnership with the Furniture Bank, a non-profit that takes in furniture and other household items to redistribute. It's a day when we can rescue those unwanted items from the dump and turn them into real treasures for needy families.
We will accept all kinds of household furnishings and electronics including beds, bureaus, tables, computers, laptops, PDAs, cell phones, mice, keyboards, and other peripherals,networking equipment, cabling, flat screens, CRT monitors, stereo equipment, telephones, cordless phones, wide screen / tube televisions, batteries (car or gel cells), and other appliances and just about anything else you wish to donate.
Free Geek Providence rescues computers from the landfill by restoring them with open source software and donating them to organizations and individuals who cannot otherwise afford them.
The Furniture Bank operates as a redistribution center by soliciting donations of good quality furniture and household items from individuals and businesses statewide. These items are passed on to qualified individuals and families who have been referred to our program by a member network of more than 85 social service agencies which include homeless and domestic violence centers, CAP agencies, drug/alcohol rehab programs and community centers.
A $10 disposal fee is charged for mini-fridges, household air conditioners and dehumidifiers. WE CANNOT ACCEPT hazardous materials, such as paint, firearms, mattresses, or any type of light bulb or disposable alkaline batteries.
Drop off, donate, volunteer - and make a difference!
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Saturday, August 27, 2011
All Commuter Rail Lines/Routes Alert
All service on all Commuter Rail Lines/Routes has been suspended for Sunday, 8/28/2011 due to Hurricane Irene. Full service is expected to resume on Monday, August 29, 2011.
Current updates can be found on http://www.mbta.com/
NationalGrid: Hurricane Irene Preparedness
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Big Y takes some action
When running along East Central St one morning this week, I found that it looks like the Big Y is finally starting to do something with their proposed location.
A public auction of the restaurant contents will be held on Aug 31, 2011. This is probably to help clear out the building so the remainder of the demolition steps can proceed.
A public auction of the restaurant contents will be held on Aug 31, 2011. This is probably to help clear out the building so the remainder of the demolition steps can proceed.
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