Franklin Matters

Friday, December 30, 2011

Franklin, MA: Cable Advisory Commission

Page 131-133 of the Franklin Annual Report for 2011 covers the Cable Advisory Commission.
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/Desktop/FRANKLIN%202001%20TR-WEB%20COPY.pdf (Note the page references are to the PDF version, the printed version would be Page 125-127)

Town Council, School Committee and many other committee meetings along with some special events are available via live broadcast or replay via cable. The Commission is also looking into creation of a non-profit entity by which the cable operations would be run instead of by Franklin. Stay tuned for developments in this area.

In the News - out of control

Car hits Franklin restaurant

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Christmas Tree Pickup Schedule

Natural Christmas trees will be picked up curbside the week of January 9th on your normal trash and recycling pick up day. Make sure they are within 3 feet of the curb and out the day before. Artificial trees and/or trees with decorations, tinsel, lights or other ornaments will NOT be picked up.

This was originally posted to the Franklin, MA website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/018053E5-000F8513

Winter Storm Overnight Parking Ban

Winter Storm Overnight Parking Ban is effective from October 15 to April 15.

The purpose of the winter storm overnight parking ban shall be to provide for the safe movement
of police, fire and emergency medical service vehicles during snow and ice storms and otherwise
provide for public safety during winter weather conditions. The parking ban shall also serve to
enhance the capability of the Public Works Department to remove snow and ice from the
roadways effectively and efficiently.

A winter storm overnight parking ban shall automatically take effect upon occurrence of any of
the following: Snow, sleet, or freezing rain has fallen, or is imminent.

The National Weather Service and/or local television and/or radio stations or other media are
reporting commencement of snow, sleet, or freezing rain within the local area or are predicting
that snow, sleet, or freezing rain will begin in Franklin within 12 hours.

The parking of any motor vehicle within the layout or right-of-way of any public street or any
roadway open to the public is prohibited between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. while a
winter storm parking ban is in effect.

The Franklin Police Department shall enforce the provisions of this article and shall be solely
responsible for issuance of tickets and authorization of towing.

This was originally posted to the Franklin, MA website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Police/WinterStormOvernightParkingBan2011.pdf

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

“It was so important to take an active role"

The Kennedy Playground Committee’s fundraising goal was $85,000, but through individual, family and local business donations, car washes, bake sales, snack tables and several grants, the group has raised $95,000 so far.

Arffa said the project will continue to raise money because the initial estimate left out pieces of equipment that the committee didn’t feel were completely necessary — like ladybug statues (the school’s mascot) and seats. The initial number also didn’t include the price of demolition or preparing the current space for new structures.

“You want the parents to help,” said mom Karen Kerns. “Especially when you talk about raising this much money ... It’s really been a grassroots effort.”

Did you know?

No one shall commence to remove, fill, dredge, build upon, degrade or discharge into or otherwise alter the following resource areas:

Any freshwater wetlands;, marshes; wet meadows; bogs; swamps; vernal pools; banks; reservoirs; lakes; ponds of any size; beaches; intermittent stream; lands under water bodies; lands within 100 feet of any aforesaid wetland or flood plain areas; lands subject to flooding or inundation by ground water or surface water; rivers and streams and lands within 200 feet of the mean annual high-water line of any river or stream.

Before starting to do any of the above, it would be good to contact the Franklin Conservation Office. More information on the Conservation Commission can be found on the Franklin website here.

Conservation Commission Rules and Regulations (PDF):

On January 27, 2011, the following members of the Franklin Conservation Commission voted to accept these Rules and Regulations as they apply to the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Wetlands Protection Bylaw, Franklin Code at Chapter 181

Jeffrey Senterman Chair
Andrew Tolland, Vice Chair
Christopher Botchis
Monique Allen
Ray Willis
Jon Fournier
Jeff Livingstone
Regan Harrold. Associate Member

In the News - tree pickup, auditions, copper wire

Tree pick up in Franklin next week

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin Performing Arts Company auditions

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

$20K in copper wires recovered

by Norman Miller/Daily News staff

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Outdoors in Franklin

Looking to get out of the house and do something this week? Take a hike in Franklin.

Noted author Michael Tougias also wrote a "Trailguide: Outdoors in Franklin." The trailguide can be found on the Franklin website.

Author Michael Tougias has written many area guidebooks including River Days: Exploring the Connecticut River from Source to Sea, Exploring the Hidden Charles: A Guide to Outdoor Activities on Boston's Celebrated River, and New England Wild Places: Journey's Through the Back Country, as well as Until I Have No Country: A Novel of King Philip's War in New England and the non-Fiction King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict.

This guidebook was developed as an initiative of the Franklin Open Space Committee with support from the Department of Community Planning including former director Todd Ford, current Director Daniel Ben Yisrael, Town Ecologist Rich Vacca, and GIS Specialist Nick Alfieri as well as input and support from the Conservation Commission. Special thanks go to the graphic arts class of Mr. Eskay Sriram at Tri-County Regional Vocational School, which provided several excellent candidates for cover illustrations. The illustration selected was created by Corey Gray.

There are descriptions of walks covering the following:

• Franklin Town Forest
• Franklin State Forest
• Charles River
• Indian Rock
• DelCarte Conservation Area
• Beaver Pond
• Charles River
• Dacey Farm
• Uncas Pond and Trout Fishing
• SNETT Trail

As this was written in 2002, the some of the subject areas may have changed. The Dacey Farm has since become more formal open space for Franklin with the development of ball fields and most recently the dog park.

The trailguide can be found here (PDF):

Monday, December 26, 2011

Happy Boxing Day!

There were plenty of good times with the extended family around for dinner on Sunday. There will be more time this week to spend with family. For those also who have taken time off from work this week, let there be safe travels and good times to enjoy!

Boxing Day is traditionally a day following Christmas when wealthy people and homeowners in the United Kingdom would give a box containing a gift to their servants. Nowadays Boxing Day is better known as a bank or public holiday that occurs on December 26, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Great Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and some other Commonwealth nations.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas

an M on a blue background (but, of course)

Saturday, December 24, 2011

"the celebration of Hanukkah"

The lighting was part of the temple’s annual celebration of Hanukkah, the eight-day holiday meant commemorating the Jews reclaiming Jerusalem from the oppressive Syrian Greeks.

“Hanukkah is most often a home celebration in Judaism,” Widzer said. “What we’ve developed as our tradition here is we take one of those nights and celebrate with the (congregational) family.”

About a dozen families came to see the candles lit on the fourth night of Hanukkah, the men and boys wearing yarmulkes, the traditional cloth skull caps, of various colors. One man even wore a yarmulke with the Patriots logo emblazoned on it.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Ninja cookies

Christmas cookies

simple sugar cookies, some shape makers, different color frosting and some time

given the time, creativity will flow and maybe the ninja cookies will be delightful!

Have the kids (both big and little) gathered in your house for cookie decorating?

Hamilton Storage Technology

The following press release confirms the last step in the process for Hamilton Storage Technology to get the tax incentive that the Town Council approved. Hamilton Storage has purchased 3 Forge Parkway for its new headquarters facility.

The tax incentive allows the company to pay a smaller amount initially on the improvements they are making and gradually the amount increases over ten years. So whatever the tax would be on the base value they pay full and then only 5% for the first year on the improvement amount. The improvement amount increases to 10% the next year and ten percent each year thereafter.

Franklin gets revenue and an increasing amount of revenue over time. The company gets to develop their property bringing jobs to the area. A good win-win proposition.

Press Release - Hamilton Storage Technologies

Related posts on Hamilton Storage Technology

June http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/06/needs-to-open-its-doors-in-franklin.html

Sep http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/09/real-time-reporting-legislation-part-1.html

Sep http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/09/hamilton-storage-technologies.html

Update on trash and recycling pick up week of 12/25 and 1/1/12

Holiday Calendar

Important note - Trash and recycling will be NOT be picked up on Monday December 26th and Monday January 2nd. The schedule will be delayed one day with Friday pick up on Saturday.

The Recycling Center will be open from 8 AM to 12 Noon on Saturday December 24th and Saturday December 31st.

Originally posted on the Franklin website here

Thursday, December 22, 2011

"dictates the path the town should follow"

The town is still looking for two to three members of the public to serve on the committee.

Members appointed to the Master Plan Committee last night were Town Councilors Andrew Bissanti, Matthew Kelly and Jeffrey Roy, Planning Board member John Carroll, Conservation Commission member Jeffrey Livingstone, Public Land Use Committee member Timothy Twardowski, and James Esterbrook from the Department of Public Works.

“It would be nice to get two to three more people, to have diversity on the committee,” Town Administrator Jeffrey Roy said, noting that the various town committees are acceptably represented.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1481469559/Members-picked-for-Franklin-master-plan-panel#ixzz1hG7DqN5v

Related post on the Master Plan
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/12/what-is-franklins-master-plan.html

Updated 12/22/11
Per email from Town Councilor Judy Pfeffer, Steve Whalen was also added to the Master Plan committee as a citizen member during the meeting last night.

“We’re approaching this with a very open mind”

“The grant is going to be used to do a deep examination of our general education curriculum,” said Melissa Read, assistant vice president for academic affairs. “It’s all about the student learning. Are students learning what we want them to and what we believe they need to know in order to prepare for their next step?”

Read said that Dean College begins the process of re-examining its general education courses every five years, and rolls out the resulting changes so that there is continuous progress.

The difference this time around is that the $100,000 grant allows Dean to spend more time debating the advantages and disadvantages of changes, with faculty members as well as administration, and of helping faculty become adjusted to those changes with week-long summer and winter training sessions, called “institutes.”