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| Mass Climate Action Network |
You can listen to the podcast here or download it to your mobile device
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Five issues that will shape the news of 2015 - The Climate Minute Podcast
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| Mass Climate Action Network |
You can listen to the podcast here or download it to your mobile device
One Simple Solution for Medication Safety (video)
New year, new year's resolutions, may be you do that. May be you don't.
Our individual health is important and this brief video has a good tip that everyone should follow.
Easy to do....
For more Dr Mike videos you can visit him on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/docmikeevans
or his webpage http://www.evanshealthlab.com/
Our individual health is important and this brief video has a good tip that everyone should follow.
Easy to do....
For more Dr Mike videos you can visit him on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/docmikeevans
or his webpage http://www.evanshealthlab.com/
"we shouldn’t have to feel like we are being judged"
Those who attended the first public hearing for the change Wednesday and a few who watched from home felt the council came across as flippant in listening to their thoughts on the measure.
If approved, the new zoning would authorize multi-family homes at the property, located off Interstate 495; hotels and office buildings are permitted there now.
Councilors who support the measure say expanding the zoning will attract more developers, improving the town's chances of finally making much-needed revenue - in the sale of the land and from taxes - off the former sewer beds.
But Wednesday, dozens of residents who live on or near Pond Street expressed concerns over the measure as it is written now.
Most of the comments were about the prospect of increasing traffic on a roadway that is already nightmarish during rush hour. Residents also sought assurances from councilors that only a certain number of apartments or condominiums be allowed.Continue reading the article at the Milford Daily News (subscription may be required): http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150110/NEWS/150119699/1994/NEWS#sthash.oKoKsM99.dpuf
My summary of the full Town Council meeting including audio recordings of the Pond St and Emmons St discussions can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/questions-were-raised-answers-sought.html
Friday, January 9, 2015
Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 1/9/15 - THU 1/15/15
FRI 1/9 6:30pm Art Night Uncorked at Franklin Art Center: Snowman
SAT 1/10 1pm-3pm Zentangle Workshop at Franklin Art Center
SAT 1/10 7pm Electric Youth at The Black Box
SAT 1/10 8pm Brother Sun at Circle of Friends Coffeehouse, First Universalist Society Meetinghouse Franklin
SAT 1/10 9:30pm Electric Youth at The Black Box (see link above)
SUN 1/11 1pm Jazz4Kids, a free family concert at The Black Box Theater featuring Mark Poniatowski and Friends
MON 1/12 7pm Candle Light Remembrance for Lexi and Sean Munroe at the Franklin Town Common. Donation boxes for Franklin Food Pantry will be set up.
TUE 1/13 7:30pm Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee public meeting at Franklin YMCA.
WED 1/14 6:30pm Winter Fundraiser for Franklin Downtown Partnership at Pour Richard’s
THU 1/15 4pm Lego Club (ages 3-12) at Franklin Public Library
For all the Town of Franklin Public Meetings click HERE.
For event details click HERE.
*If you have any suggestions or events for the calendar, please email Renata@BetterLivingRE.com
Candle Light Remembrance For Lexi and Sean Munroe
From Facebook, via Gillian Monroe, I find this event scheduled for Monday night Jan 12th:
This remembrance is scheduled for the Franklin Town Common at 7:00 PM
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| Lexi & Sean |
We will be having a candlelight remembrance for our daughter and son, Lexi & Sean Munroe.
We will have candles, although you are welcome to bring your own.
We'll also be releasing lanterns and balloons in memory of Lexi and Sean.
Donation boxes for the Franklin Food Pantry will be set up. They are in need of toiletry items, peanut butter, tuna, chicken soup and shampoo.
Thank you all.
This remembrance is scheduled for the Franklin Town Common at 7:00 PM
FM #108 - Emmons St RFP Discussion (audio)
The audio recording (podcast) for the Emmons St RFP discussion from Wednesday (Jan 7, 2015) night's Town Council meeting is available.
The run time is about 34 minutes.
You can also subscribe and listen to the audio on iTunes = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
My notes from the meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/live-reporting.html
Note: If you have any suggestions/corrections to make, please feel free to let me know.
The run time is about 34 minutes.
You can also subscribe and listen to the audio on iTunes = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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| subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes |
My notes from the meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/live-reporting.html
Note: If you have any suggestions/corrections to make, please feel free to let me know.
Norfolk Library: Trivets/Hot Plates Exhibit
On view in the Library foyer for the month of January will be a special exhibit of over 50 wooden Trivets/Hot Plates designed and built by Peter Mulliken of Franklin.
Mr. Mulliken taught basic woodworking at the Dexter School in Brookline, MA for 41 years, retiring in 2012.
The trivets were an "end-of-term" project for those students who completed their major woodworking project ahead of schedule. They could choose from a wide selection of designs Peter had on hand or could make up one of their own.
Project plans and drawings for some of the trivets will be on display in addition to basic woodworking reference books Peter found helpful while teaching the students.
Parents, grandparents, teachers, scout and 4-H leaders (and kids!) should plan on stopping by to view this fun exhibit.
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| screen grab of Norfolk Library home page |
The Norfolk Library is located at 139 Main Street, Norfolk, MA 02056
FM #107 - Pond St Zoning Bylaw Discussion (audio)
The audio recording (podcast) is available for the Pond St zoning bylaw discussion from Wednesday's (Jan 7, 2015) Town Council meeting.
The run time is about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
You can also subscribe and listen to the audio on iTunes = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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| subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes |
My notes from the meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/live-reporting-public-hearing-pond-st.html
Note: If you have any suggestions/corrections to make, please feel free to let me know.
A double Panther basketball win over KP
Hockomock Sports provides the scores for the double win by the Panthers over rivals KP. Both games were played in the new Franklin High School gymnasium.
Boys Basketball
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/defensive-effort-in-middle-quarters-propels-panthers
Girls Basketball
Hockomock Sports provides a more indepth report on the girls game here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/spolidoro-gives-panthers-triple-threat-against-kp
For all the results across the Hockomock League on Thursday you can find it here http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-010815
Boys Basketball
King Philip, 43 @ Franklin, 58 - Final - Marcus Giese had another double-double, this time notching 21 points and 16 rebounds while senior Markus Bohmiller dropped a career-high 16 points off the bench. James O'Brien had 13 points for King Philip and Ryan Layman added 10 points.
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| Franklin's Marcus Giese (42) drives to the hoop against King Philip's Erich Ryan (44). (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) |
Hockomock Sports provides a more indepth report on the boys game here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/defensive-effort-in-middle-quarters-propels-panthers
Girls Basketball
King Philip, 35 @ Franklin, 65 - Final - Franklin's Jillian Spolidoro led all scorers with 15 points while Lexi Martin added 13 points and Aubrie Kutil chipped in with 10 points. Emily Sullivan led King Philip with 14 points.
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| Franklin's Jillian Spolidoro takes the ball to the hoop in the second quarter. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) |
Hockomock Sports provides a more indepth report on the girls game here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/spolidoro-gives-panthers-triple-threat-against-kp
For all the results across the Hockomock League on Thursday you can find it here http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-010815
The latest from Mass Poetry
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Thursday, January 8, 2015
Questions were raised, answers sought and opinions stated amid some tension
There was a full house in the Council Chambers on Wednesday evening. The meeting had officially opened at 6:00 PM and the Council went into Executive Session to discuss the negotiations on the fire fighter contract. Their meeting was held in the small conference room next to the Council Chambers to allow those arriving for the main meeting to enter the chambers. The Councilors filed in to the Chamber about 6:55 and got ready for the meeting.
The normal pledge of allegiance and moment of silence was skipped by Chairman Vallee as they "had already opened the meeting at 6:00".
The agenda was adjusted to include a motion by Councilor Kelly to officially vote on the Chairman. (Recall that the vote at the organization meeting in November was actually skipped at that time.
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/11/the-town-council-reorganizes-sort-of.html)
The minutes were approved from the Dec 17th session.
The change of manager for the liquor license for Artistry Kitchen was approved. As the use of the facility will be changing to a private function room until the new direction of the restaurant is ready to be re-opened, there needs to be an approval by the Planning Board. The use is different from that already approved. It is a minor deviation but does need to follow the process for approvals.
Former FinCom member Phyllis Messere Malcom was appointed to the Historical Commission.
There were some tense moments during the discussion as some of the answers to the community were not appropriate and some of the community objected (rightly so) to the body language of some of the members of the Council. Councilor Kelly addressed this during the Councilor Comments at the end of the meeting but long after much of the crowd had dispersed.
The Town Council did approve to move the zoning change to a second reading.
The audio recording for the Pond St discussion can be found here https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/Hc9V86zk
How the change will really look as the 'final' negotiations take place remains to be seen. The deal will come back before the Council to require a 2/3 vote. We'll be able to see how well the legalese is drafted to meet the community desires and the need for the town to obtain additional revenue.
The audio recording for the Emmons St segment of the meeting can be found here https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HyDbqXQk
The forecast says FY 2016 should be ok but FY 2017 is another budget year where balancing the budget will present some problems.
This financial reason is the driving factor behind the moves to sell both the Pond St and Emmons St properties. The town needs to expand its taxable base to bring in additional revenue. The link to the agenda for the financial forecast can be found here http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/property-taxes-will-continue-to-be.html
The set of notes recorded live during the Town Council meeting can be found here:
The normal pledge of allegiance and moment of silence was skipped by Chairman Vallee as they "had already opened the meeting at 6:00".
The agenda was adjusted to include a motion by Councilor Kelly to officially vote on the Chairman. (Recall that the vote at the organization meeting in November was actually skipped at that time.
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/11/the-town-council-reorganizes-sort-of.html)
The minutes were approved from the Dec 17th session.
The change of manager for the liquor license for Artistry Kitchen was approved. As the use of the facility will be changing to a private function room until the new direction of the restaurant is ready to be re-opened, there needs to be an approval by the Planning Board. The use is different from that already approved. It is a minor deviation but does need to follow the process for approvals.
Former FinCom member Phyllis Messere Malcom was appointed to the Historical Commission.
"Community Development Grant"
There was a brief discussion on the possibility for Franklin to join in a "Community Development Grant" application. Bellingham is the lead community handling the paperwork and administration. Franklin and Hopedale are also possible partners. The measure will return to the Town Council in two weeks for approval.Pond St zoning public hearing
The Pond St zoning public hearing opened. My notes from the long discussion are linked to. In brief, many of the questions and concerns raised were to gain assurances on what would be done. Right now, with the zoning change only, it is too early to say. Many folks don't understand the full process and the Council along with Jeff did not do a great job of explaining the process. My attempt at an overview would look like this:- There is a second hearing for the zoning change.
- If approved, the Economic Development Committee would then meet to draft the revisions to the new Request for Proposal (RFP). The RFP is the official offer by the town of the property for sale. It would specify what could be done (within the zoning for the property) and what additional restrictions the Town may make to the purchaser.
- The RFP would be posted for a period of time.
- Responses, if any would be reviewed at the end of the period
- Depending upon the responses, there would be additional meetings at the EDC to make a recommendation to the Town Council to proceed with the sale or not
- If proceeding with the sale, then the Town Council would still hold meeting or meetings to decide (as done with the Emmons St property)
- All that before the developer would go before the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and other town organizations to obtain the necessary permits and approvals.
There were some tense moments during the discussion as some of the answers to the community were not appropriate and some of the community objected (rightly so) to the body language of some of the members of the Council. Councilor Kelly addressed this during the Councilor Comments at the end of the meeting but long after much of the crowd had dispersed.
The Town Council did approve to move the zoning change to a second reading.
The audio recording for the Pond St discussion can be found here https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/Hc9V86zk
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| Emmons St |
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| former councilor Glen Jones and Town Administrator Jeff Nutting |
Emmons St discussion
The Emmons St discussion took a surprising turn. It was anticipated to be perhaps a more contentious discussion as the drive through option seemed to be a 'done deal'. However, as revealed by Jeff Nutting. A meeting by the developer, Mr Calarese took place on Monday morning and the proposal was changed to removed the food drive through. He would like to retain rights to a bank drive through. That revelation took the wind out of most of the sails and those that spoke appreciated the change in face of significant community objection.How the change will really look as the 'final' negotiations take place remains to be seen. The deal will come back before the Council to require a 2/3 vote. We'll be able to see how well the legalese is drafted to meet the community desires and the need for the town to obtain additional revenue.
The audio recording for the Emmons St segment of the meeting can be found here https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HyDbqXQk
Town Administrator Reports
Almost lost within the events of the evening were the real drivers to the selling of the town property at both the Emmons St and Pond St locations. Jeff Nutting provides updates on the overall town goals and objectives for 2015, showing much progress and accomplishments. He also laid out the objectives for this year. He provided updates on the Master Plan and the Five Year Financial Forecast.The forecast says FY 2016 should be ok but FY 2017 is another budget year where balancing the budget will present some problems.
This financial reason is the driving factor behind the moves to sell both the Pond St and Emmons St properties. The town needs to expand its taxable base to bring in additional revenue. The link to the agenda for the financial forecast can be found here http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/property-taxes-will-continue-to-be.html
The set of notes recorded live during the Town Council meeting can be found here:
"We're happy to that the food drive-through is now no longer on the table"
The local developer seeking to purchase a downtown property has changed his proposal to only include retail space after concerns were raised about the possibility for a drive-through restaurant at the site.
Roger Calarese, developer of the Franklin Village Mall, submitted a proposal to raze the current building at 150 Emmons St. and replace it with a 5,300-square-foot commercial property. He had considered building a drive-through on the property, but cut it from the proposal in response to complaints from downtown business owners and residents.
Calarese, who bid $500,000 for the property, has since taken the prospect of a restaurant drive-through off the table. However, he could still have a drive-through business there, such as a bank. His negotiations with a possible bank tenant, though, had fallen through. And it is unclear what type of retail business he now has in mind.Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150108/NEWS/150107578/1994/NEWS#sthash.lSTkeHrx.dpuf
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