Franklin Matters

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Update to MassBudget's Budget Browser

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Budget Browser Updated

MassBudget's Budget Browser has been updated to include:

Information from the House's FY 2013 budget proposal.
Recent additions to the current, FY 2012 budget--including enhanced support for homeless families and summer jobs for at-risk youth.

The Budget Browser contains over a decade of detailed budget history. It shows how funding has been allocated among the major budget categories (health care, education, environment, housing, and more). And it allows you to track spending for any line-item or any group of line-items.

EXPLORE THE BUDGET BROWSER

You can also watch our tutorial video: HOW TO USE THE BUDGET BROWSER

MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies--with particular attention to the effects on low- and moderate-income people.

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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Library Book Sale this weekend!

It is time for the Friends of Franklin Library (FoFL) to hold another Book Sale. This fun and fund raising event occurs twice each year, in May and October.

Friday - members of the FoFL get to participate in the pre-sale from 4:00 to 7:00 PM

Saturday - open to all from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The DPW will also be open for their "Touch a Truck" event that kids love from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The DPW will sell some refreshments.

Sunday - the "Bag Sale" is held on Sunday from 9:00 AM to Noon. Put books into a bag and you can buy the books at a "bag" price.

If you are not yet a member of the Friends of the Franklin Library, a membership table is set up and you can join right there.

The FoFL will collect for the Franklin Food Pantry. Food and monetary donations will be accepted at a special table. A coupon for up to $1.00 off a book will be given to those making donations.

Where is the Book Sale?
At the DPW garage off Hayward St.

What happens with the money raised by this event?
Money raised supports many library programs; summer reading, children's and adult programs, One Book, One Community and associated programs, museum passes, e-books and new books,CD's and DVD's for the library to name a few.

In the News: Police, helicopters

Ashland Police sergeant hired by Franklin P.D.

by Laura Krantz/Daily News staff

National Grid will use copters for power line inspections in region

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

In the News: education articles

Perhaps you recall that the MA received a waiver from the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) program. What the waiver does and does not do is highlighted in the following two articles.

Education standards slated to become more flexible

by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff

What the waiver will, won’t change

by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff

Also on the education front, there is a bill working it was through the State House to examine if vocational school should be able to offer degrees. Tri-County Regional Voc Tech would be one of the schools that could implement this if it does go forward.

Voke school bill would study associate degrees

by Matt Tota/Daily News correspondent

Dean College - Children's Center - Open House

Open House tours will be held on Weds May 16, 2012 and Tue June 19, 2012
The open houses would run from 10:00 AM to 2:0 PM on both days.

call today to schedule a visit 508-541-1598

For additional information you can visit www.dean.edu/children

Monday, May 14, 2012

Stamp Out Hunger - 2012

The Franklin Food Pantry was on the receiving end of a parade of mail carrier trucks on Saturday. The annual Stamp Out Hunger drive was held. Letter carriers picked up donations from Franklin residents on their mail delivery rounds on Saturday and then dropped off the donations at the Food Pantry

The trucks arrived

The trucks got emptied

The bags/boxes were weighed and then date checked

The items were sorted and then put onto shelving

Thanks to Linda Sottile, the Food Pantry Operations Manager, for organizing the many volunteers.

Thanks to all the volunteers for their help!

Thanks to the letter carriers for their help!

Thanks to the Franklin residents who contributed!

Your Franklin neighbors will appreciate the results!

For more information on the Franklin Food Pantry, visit their website http://www.helpstampouthunger.com/
Note: I am honored to lead the Board of Directors of the Food Pantry.

Thanks to Barbara Evans for taking the pictures

“I think it’s fantastic”

“We all have a passion for Ultimate Frisbee, and we didn’t see a reason not to start a team,” Durkin said.

“(Xaverian Brothers High School) always talked about how they were the state champions, and we thought we could beat them,” Brian Doherty said. “So, why not give it a go?”

Ultimate Frisbee isn’t quite a sport at Franklin High School, but to get it classified as one of the official extracurricular activities associated with the high school and to become a part of the national organization, USA Ultimate, the boys had to jump through a few hoops.

They talked to their principal and the school’s athletic director, drafted and distributed concussion forms, found a coach, held no-cut tryouts, collected fees from teammates, raised $2,500 for jerseys and travel expenses, coordinated buses, scheduled games and met with area coaches.

“It was an amazing experience’’ to work at 3C

“The best place I ever worked,’’ said Jack Rathmell of Franklin. There was “an esprit de corps that won’t quit, epitomized by the fact that we still have over 70 people show up for a reunion 46 years after the Honeywell acquisition."

Rathmell is among those planning this year’s reunion, to be held Thursday evening at the Elks Lodge on Union Avenue. In past years, even EMC’s Egan would attend, fellow 3C alumni said.

“It is unfortunate that many of the group has passed on,’’ said Harvey J. Bloom, a former Bellingham resident who now lives in New Hampshire. “The group has the most creative and fun people."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1310216338/Remembering-Framinghams-Computer-Control-Company#ixzz1uptitTj9

Additional information can be fond at at www.3CReunion.com

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Support of the People’s Rights Amendment

The appeal to the Citizens United decision is on the agenda for the Town Council meeting on Weds May 16, 2012. This video clip provides a quick summary:

This PDF provides a summary of a survey on this issue

You can get additional information on the website http://freespeechforpeople.org/

or their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Speech-For-People/140474869352859

Page 17 starts the documents included in the Town Council agenda for Weds May 16
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/05162012.pdf

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - May 16

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
February 1, 2012, February 15, 2012

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Verizon, Comcast, and Franklin Matters

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
Proclamation, Andrew E. Bissanti

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS

F. HEARINGS
Alcoholic Beverage License - Failure to Pass Compliance Check – Bamboo House – 7:10 PM

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-32: Order Dedicating Town-Owned Land at 459 Pleasant Street for Use As A Public Playground or Recreation Centre
2. Resolution 12-33: Expressing the Sense of the Franklin Town Council in Support of the People’s Rights Amendment
3. Resolution 12-34: Acceptance of Gift – Town of Franklin Council on Aging
4. Bylaw Amendment 12-683: Amendment to Chapter 170, Vehicles and Traffic, §19.B – 1st Reading
5. Bylaw Amendment 12-684:Amendment to Chapter 82, Appendix A, List of Service Fee Rates – 1st Reading

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 full set of documents for this agenda can be found on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/5-16-2012.pdf

“It’s a very positive program"

“I think it’s very important,” Dahlstrom, the town’s planner, said of ensuring residents can walk around town. “We’re obviously not an urban center but we do pretty well. I find it’s very easy to get from Point A to Point B.”

Dahlstrom hopes an initiative by a Boston-based walking advocacy organization to expand outside of Boston and its surrounding communities into the suburbs will help more people realize they can walk around their town.

The organization, walkBoston, through a grant from the MetroWest Health Foundation is working with officials in Franklin, Northborough and Milford to identify walkable areas and map out routes that show the distance and time to walk between shops, historical landmarks, schools and other destinations.

"Dean has prepared me for what’s next"

“Dean College showed me acceptance when other schools didn’t,” said O’Reilly, who majored in theater. “I’m proud of this school. I’m proud I came to this school, and I’m proud of what I’ve done at this school.”

More than 300 Bulldogs dressed in burgundy gowns received associate and bachelor degrees yesterday morning at Dean College’s 146th commencement ceremony.

The college added its first bachelor of arts program in 2007, and by 2010 it offered several four-year programs in business, theater and liberal arts.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Things to do today in Franklin

An Introduction to Gardening and Garden Planning
9:30 am to 11:30 am
By the Franklin Community Garden at the YMCA 45 Forge Hill Road Franklin, MA
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/franklin-community-garden-update.html

Stamp Out Hunger food drive
Timed with you mail delivery
Leave out a bag for your mail carrier with food or non-food items. They will pick it up on the mail delivery rounds today and bring it to the Franklin Food Pantry.
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/stamp-out-hunger-sat-may-12.html

Cub Scout Recycle Shoe drive
2:00 to 4:00 PM

Fletcher Field on Peck Street
Dacey Community Fields on Lincoln Street (from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
King Street Memorial Park on King Street
Beaver Pond on Beaver Street
Town Common across from St. Mary’s Church

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/franklin-cub-scouts-looking-for-shoes.html

"everybody knows where we are"

“That shouldn’t have happened last year,” Town Council Chairman Robert Vallee said, of the Town Council cut.

To prevent a similar scene, the School Committee and Town Council have been meeting regularly as the Joint Budget Subcommittee to provide each other updates on budget needs and financial limits.

“There’s more communication, more open communication, between the School Committee and the Town Council,” Vallee said. “There’s nothing (in the fiscal 2013 budget) that will come up that will make the councilors attack the School Department for any reason whatsoever, nothing controversial.”

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x775168158/Franklin-officials-hope-to-avoid-budget-showdowns-this-year#ixzz1ued22sgs

The Town Council will hold their budget hearings on Weds May 23 and Thu May 24.

The budget documents can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/04/franklin-ma-fy-2013-budget-documents.html

The Finance Committee budget hearings
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/04/fincom-fy-2013-budget-hearings.html

Friday, May 11, 2012

“You get to share stuff"

Seven sets of twins at the same school? in the same kindergarten grade?

Parmenter Principal Tom Morris said that, while twins aren’t necessarily uncommon in schools, he hasn’t seen such a large number of them in the same grade in his more than 20 years in education.

“Having so many here this year has been interesting for us,” Morris said. Chuckling, he added, “It can be hard for a principal to learn names when you have kids who look exactly alike.”

Fortunately for Morris, most of the twins have been split up, not sharing a teacher.

Despite living in close proximity to one another, none of the parents of the 14 students were aware of this anomaly until they signed their children up for school over the summer, they said.

Alert: low flying helicopters Friday, May 18

From the Announcement page on the Franklin website:

Please be advised that on Friday, May 18th, National Grid will be conducting low-level distribution and sub-transmission helicopter patrols in the area. In case of inclement weather the patrols will be postponed until a later date.

In the News: candidates making progress

Roy files nomination papers for state representative seat

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Padula making bid for Franklin, Medway state rep seat

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

As Foxborough folds, optimism grows in Milford for casino

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

As Foxborough folds, optimism grows in Milford for casino

via Boston Business News - Local Boston News | Boston Business Journal on 5/10/12

A decision this week by the Kraft Group and Wynn Resorts to drop their plans for a resort casino in Foxborough has kindled increased optimism for development of a casino in Milford (and no doubt other places as well), the MetroWest Daily News reports. Colorado-based developer David Nunes is looking to build a $700 million, 300,000-square-foot casino at the junction of Rte. 16 and Interstate 495 in Milford. Nunes told the Daily News that with Foxborough out of the picture, there is now going to be...