Franklin Matters

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

MassDOT Farmer's Markets 2012

The Franklin Farmers Market will open on Friday June 8 and run through November 2, 2012. For other farmers markets in MA, visit http://www.massfarmersmarkets.org/FMFM_Main.aspx

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

MassDOT Farmer's Markets 2012

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 5/29/12

MassDOT's Farmer's Market Program is now underway for 2012 and invites local farmers to take advantage of free space to sell their home grown produce and made-in-Massachusetts products at 18 Service Plazas. Eleven plazas are located along I-90 and seven others along other Massachusetts state highways.
This year's selling season kicked off in May with stands set up at the Charlton eastbound and Framingham Service Plazas. Letters have been sent to more than 300 Massachusetts farmers inviting them to sell their goods and produce.
Complimentary vending space is made available on a first-come, first-served basis at I-90 Service Plazas located in Lee, Blandford, Ludlow, Charlton, Westborough, Framingham and Natick. Space is also available at seven MassDOT locations in Newton, Lexington and Beverly along Route 128/I-95. Other locations include Bridgewater (north & southbound) on Route 24, Plymouth (Route 3), and Barnstable (Route 6). Farmers can sell their goods as long as they do not compete with the businesses that operate within the service plazas. MassDOT also assists in setting up the outdoor markets and provides on-the-road advertising using portable message boards.
Local farmers who want more information are asked to contact program coordinator Dave Fenton at dave.fenton@state.ma.us or at 413-572-3171.

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Monday, May 28, 2012

Memorial Day - 2012

President Barack Obama used his weekly address to acknowledge the reason for Memorial Day

From the White House YouTube channel, another video of Vietnam veterans and what is being done to help these veterans.

Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the videos

Franklin, MA: Memorial Day activities

Events today

Parade at 10:30 AM

The parade begins at the Historical Museum and ends at the Town Common. Last year the route was published as:

Marchers will line-up at the Historical Museum, 80 West Central St. The parade will travel on Main, School, Union, West Central and Beaver streets, ending at the war memorial on the Town Common.

Marchers will stop at Dean College, Union Street Cemetery, St. Mary's Cemetery and the war memorial.

I have not found a confirmation on line that this would be the parade route but it makes sense that it would be again this year.

Garden Party 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

On May 28th, 2011 the King St. Memorial Community Garden official opened for gardening. Join us as we celebrate the our first successful first year of gardening, and the many years to come. There will be seedlings on hand for sale to support The Friends of Franklin Community Gardens efforts to continue to expand on the garden, and other events and activities. Drop by to share a story, a piece of cake, or just the view.

Read more on the Community Garden website http://www.franklincommunitygardens.org/

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Measuring the Universe

How long does it take to walk from your house to the train station in downtown Franklin?

How do we measure the distance between two things?

How do we measure the distance between things when they are moving?

Let's spend a few minutes this morning to put our little place into some perspective!

Enjoy!

Hat tip to The Exceptional Man

AG issues emergency Open Meeting Law regulation

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

AG issues emergency Open Meeting Law regulation

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by Staff reports on 5/25/12

Attorney General Martha Coakley's Office issued an emergency regulation http://www.mass.gov/ago/government-resources/open-meeting-law/notice-of-proposed-regulation.html that clarifies the Opening Meeting Law regulations that explain how adopting authorities can restrict the use of remote participation by members of public bodies.

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Saturday, May 26, 2012

Franklin veterans gather for Memorial Day breakfast

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Franklin veterans gather for Memorial Day breakfast

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff on 5/25/12

More than 100 local veterans, their wives and town officials gathered at the Elks Lodge yesterday morning for the ninth annual Memorial Day breakfast. A tradition started by Veterans Agent Bob Fahey, the breakfast is an opportunity to acknowledge veterans, both living and dead, and the sacrifices they made for our country.

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MassVetsAdvisor.org launches Memorial Day weekend: Services and support for ...

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MassVetsAdvisor.org launches Memorial Day weekend: Services and support for veterans just a click away with new web portal

via Commonwealth Conversations: Health and Human Services by Paulette Song on 5/25/12

By U.S. Army Reservist Kyle Toto
I joined the U.S. Army Reserves because I wanted to give back to my country and to carry on a tradition that had been in my family for three generations. After being in the reserves for three years, my civil affairs company was mobilized for a year-long deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan. It wasn't easy to leave my family and friends, as well as my commitments to work and grad school, but I felt that it would be worth it. After a long year in Afghanistan and countless times outside the wire, I was thrilled to go home and reconnect with family. When I got back I was focused on catching up with friends and enjoying all the comforts of home. My benefits were the last thing on my mind.

That's why I'm proud this Memorial Day to help the Patrick-Murray Administration's Department of Veterans' Services, Massachusetts Broadband Institute and the Home Base Program launch a new website to help veterans and their family members access over 200 state and federal benefits in one location.

MassVetsAdvisor.org is the perfect resource for veterans to easily access their benefits from the comfort of their own homes, on their own time.

As the new Community Manager for Broadband Adoption, I'll be working with veterans and Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) across the Commonwealth to help them utilize the website and connect to all of the benefits and services they have earned.

MassVetsAdvisor.org is just one more way that the Patrick-Murray Administration has continued to make Massachusetts the the nation's leader in providing services and outreach for our state's veterans.

If you are a veteran or a family member of a veteran please check out www.massvetsadvisor.org

If you are a service provider and would like training on the new veterans portal, feel free to contact me via email at toto@masstech.org, by telephone at (508) 870-0312 x 604, or through the mail at: Massachusetts Broadband Institute, ATTN: MassVetsAdvisor, 75 North Drive, Westborough, MA 01581.

# # #

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Friday, May 25, 2012

Garden Party Monday

On May 28th, 2011 the King St. Memorial Community Garden official opened for gardening. Join us as we celebrate the our first successful first year of gardening, and the many years to come. There will be seedlings on hand for sale to support The Friends of Franklin Community Gardens efforts to continue to expand on the garden, and other events and activities. Drop by to share a story, a piece of cake, or just the view.

Read more on the Community Garden website http://www.franklincommunitygardens.org/

Franklin council unanimously backs budget

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Franklin council unanimously backs budget

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff on 5/24/12

Town Council last night took just 15 minutes to unanimously approve a $91.5 million budget for fiscal 2013, up from $90.1 million in fiscal 2012. The council discussed the information technology and Fire Department budgets in further detail before voting on the second reading, or final approval, of the budget.

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In the News - workshop, drug charges

This workshop will be held at Dean College
Workshop to help area towns keep their rural feel

by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff

Cops level drug, counterfeiting charges

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Vote for HMEA!

A quick video from HMEA about the Toyota 100 Cars for Good contest that HMEA is a finalist for:

This follows up on the post from yesterday
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/hmea-is-finalist-in-nationwide-contest.html

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Town Council - Budget Hearing FY 2013

Present: Mercer, Dellorco, Kelly, Powderly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Bissanti
Absent: Jones, Roy

A. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Verizon, Comcast and Franklin Matters.
Parade 10:30 AM Monday morning, Andy Bissanti Senior Grand Marshall

B. HEARING
FY 2013 Budget Hearing – 2 nd Reading

Clerk to read line item, if an item would like to be held for discussion, say so
The line items come from this worksheet Expense budget FY 2013

motion to move all line items not held, passed 7-0

hold placed on
155 - Info Technology : why expenses and no salaries? The School Dept pays the salaries, while the Town picks up the facilities. The expenses are kept here, mostly maintenance fees and software licenses. Some purchases for replacements. The School Dept has their own expense line item

motion to move line item, passed 7-0

220 - Fire
I have been wanting to see three ambulances here 24x7, how close are we to that goal?
We are quite a bit away. We are about 5-8 people away from staffing level. We have applied for a grant to help. We continue to monitor this, monitoring mutual aid. The cost for overtime to staff doesn't cover the ambulance revenue the 3rd one would bring. As the industrial parks continue to build out, we would have pressure to increase but the call volume is pretty static right now. We do have two full staffed ambulances right now.

How much have your responses increased in the last several years?
With the downturn in the economy we have 'lost' calls and really held about the same. It hasn't been escalating like it did when we were growing. When we see the full commercial side of the town running, we'll see an increase.

Nutting - we have asked for a transfer of money coming in a future meeting to cover for injured coverage.

motion to move line item, passed 7-0

C. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-36: Adoption of FY 2013 Budget
Motion to accept, passed 7-0
needed a 2/3 vote, so they did roll call to cover

D. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn

Oak St School sign

I don't always get over to Oak St in my daily travels so when going by yesterday I managed to pause a moment to snap this photo.

Yes, I did pull over, parked safely and then took the picture.

Be safe and enjoy!

"pleased with the level of communication and transparency"

The Milford Daily News reported on the Town Council Budget hearing on Wednesday:

“Overall, the budget is only up about 2 percent. … It’s a pretty modest budget. We still are near the bottom in all spending categories for towns our size,” Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said.

Unfunded health insurance liability, stormwater management and roads are potential fiscal hardships for 2014, Nutting said.

School Committee Chairwoman Paula Mullen presented her committee’s proposed $52.7 million budget, up from about $51.1 million this year.

Mullen said Chapter 70 funding, or state aid for schools, is expected to be $26.86 million, which will cover 51 percent of the budget.

HMEA is Finalist in nationwide contest in the Toyota 100 Cars for Good program

Help HMEA win a new Toyota! The car will be used by our programs and individuals with disabilities to deliver meals on wheels to the elderly, shut ins and veterans in 25 Massachusetts and Rhode Island communities. Currently we deliver 140,000 meals on wheels per year.

On May 29th vote for HMEA. Click the #1 link below (they are certified safe) to remind yourself to vote - you will receive an email reminder and then click the #2 link to "Join the Cause" created on Facebook. From there you can invite up to 25 friends to join the cause and also vote on May 29th.

Spread the word – please.

1. https://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood

2. http://www.causes.com/causes/766610-vote-for-hmea-on-may-29th-in-the-toyota-100-cars-for-good-program

A little about the Toyota 100 Cars for Good Program

In a nationwide written essay and video contest to see how a charity would use a new Toyota of their choice, Toyota chose 500 finalists. On each of 100 days starting May 16th, Toyota has selected 5 charities to see who can garner the most votes on their https://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood page to win the Toyota!!

Our date is Tuesday May 29^th

Vote for HMEA on Tuesday May 29^th.

Thank you

Doug MacPherson

VP, Development and Public Relations

(508) 298-1105

For more information on HMEA and the services it provides visit http://hmea.org/

Trout Derby in Franklin

The Franklin Rod & Gun club will be holding its annual Trout Derby on Saturday, June 2, 2012. June 2 & 3^rd is Massachusetts's No-Fishing License-Required weekend. This is a great opportunity to introduce the family to fishing and the great outdoors. For those who do not have a fishing rod, the Franklin Rod & Gun Club will have fishing gear on hand to lend out complete with rod real tackle and bait. If you do have a fishing rod, please bring it as supplies are limited. Our anglers will be on hand to help those new to fishing get started. Raffle and prizes a great time for the whole family. Bring your lucky hat and come on down and enjoy one of Franklin best fishing spots, Uncas Pond. Uncas Pond is stocked with trout twice a year.

The cost to enter the trout derby is $10 for adults and $5 for 12 years old and under.

Time. Saturday June 2, 2012 from 6:30AM to 3:00PM. Location: Franklin Rod & Gun Club, 51 Florence St Franklin, MA. Breakfast and lunch available. Visit www.franklinrodandgun.org

MAY, 28, 2012

Greetings!

Join us at CrossFit Franklin on Memorial Day

to pay tribute to one of our fallen heroes,

Lt. Michael Murphy, Navy Seal.

This workout is one small way we can remember his sacrifice for us all.

All athletes, friends, family and veterans are welcome to workout here at CFF .

There are no main classes this day.

We will assemble for Murph at 10 am, Monday morning and begin the workout shortly after.

Please be here to support this great day.

Thanks Murph! you'll be in our hearts.

The Coaches at CrossFit Franklin

THE MURPH!!	This event is open to ALL people!! You do not need to be a CrossFit Franklin Member. Come challenge yourself and have some fun!!

	1 mile run 100 pull ups 200 push-ups 300 squats 1 mile run