"commercial urban agriculture is a newer trend"

With an Agricultural Commission underway, a thriving Community Gardens, and several farms in the area Franklin is maintaining a link to farming. And apparently, we are not alone!

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Long the domain of rural areas, commercial farming operations are now starting to take root in urban neighborhoods. 

“Demand has been really strong for this,” said Rose Arruda, urban agriculture coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, which has awarded approximately $1.5 million in urban farming grants over the past five years. 

Perched up on rooftops, packed into greenhouses or spread across vacant lots, urban farmers grow a variety of crops to sell to customers in their communities."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170623/farming-takes-root-in-city

Franklin's Community Gardens is located at the King St Memorial Fields

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 6/23/17 - THU 6/29/17

FRIDAY 6/23/17
12-6pm   Franklin Farmers Market @ Town Common
4:30pm   Yoga on the Town Common
6-8pm  MA Walking Tour : Free Concert and Local Artist Showcase @ Franklin Public Library
7pm   Into The Woods @ Orpheum Theatre in Foxborough
9pm   Comedy Night (Bill Campbell) and Bigelow Station @ 3 Restaurant

SATURDAY 6/24/17
10-1pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
1pm   Into The Woods @ Orpheum Theatre in Foxborough
7pm   Into The Woods @ Orpheum Theatre in Foxborough
7:30pm   Electric Youth Bon Voyage Concert @ The Black Box

SUNDAY 6/25/17
1-4pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
7pm   Franklin Artists Collaborative Event @ Cole’s Tavern

MONDAY 6/26/17
10:30am   Animal Affair Traveling Petting Zoo @ Franklin Public Library
4-8pm   FSPA Open House @ 38 Main Street
7pm   Learn to Cope Franklin Chapter Meeting @ FUSF

TUESDAY 6/27/17
9am   Craft-Tastic! (all day, drop in) @ Franklin Public Library

WEDNESDAY 6/28/17
10:30am   Jamie Barrett Concert @ Franklin Public Library
3pm   Dog Park Clean Up (volunteers wanted) @ Dacey Field CANCELED - to be rescheduled

THURSDAY 6/29/17
5-8pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
6-10pm   2017 Franklin 4th of July Celebration @ Franklin Town Common
7-10pm   Concert: Swimmers Band @ Franklin Town Common
7-8pm   Healing Hearts Community Support Group @ Franklin YMCA
7:30pm   Stony Brook Camera Club @ Anglican Church of the Redeemer (31 Hayward St)

For the 4th of July Celebrations schedule click HERE.

For the Town of Franklin Public Calendar click HERE.

For all other events and Franklin happenings click HERE.

*To submit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this FORM

Theatre Institute presents "Into the Woods" - 6/23 -6/24

The Hockomock Area YMCA Theatre Institute Presents Into the Woods

Our Theatre Institute actors age 15-22 invite you to take a journey with them Into the Woods. Sondheim’s musical brings to life all your favorite fairy tale characters like Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and others as they set off to make their wishes come true. What inner strengths will they discover during the exciting journey?

This is a thrilling story! All ages will enjoy the show. Give yourself a late spring night out or a matinee on Saturday and join families from around the region. You’re sure to be impressed by the lengths the young adults go to, pushing themselves to achieve milestones in their pursuit of theatre excellence: singing, acting, and stage production.

We are thrilled to share this wonderful story with you.

Performs:
June 23 (Fri) 7:00 pm
June 24 (Sat) 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm

At the Orpheum Theatre
1 School St, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Tickets are $10 at the door for students, $12 for adults

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine

Theatre Institute presents "Into the Woods" - 6/23 -6/24

This was shared from the Hockomock YMCA page
https://www.hockymca.org/into-the-woods/

37th Annual Crackerbarrel Classic - Sep 16

Hello to all past participants in the Crackerbarrel Classic 5K Road Race at Wrentham Developmental Center. 

Your support was greatly appreciated! I hope to see you again for the 37th Annual Crackerbarrel Classic Race on September 16, 2017. 

You can preregister on line through Runreg.com 

Thanks in advance, 
Rich Katno, Race Director

37th Annual Crackerbarrel Classic - Sep 16

Concerts on the Common - Summer 2017

Set aside Wednesday evening for "family night" on the common. Bring a blanket, chairs, and a picnic meal; relax and enjoy the evening.

July 12 - Leeds

• Elaine Kess1er - Children's program

July 19 - Sharon Band

• DJ Rich Green - Children's Program

July 26 - Electric Youth (opening night of the 3rd Annual Franklin Cultural Festival)

• Tinker Bell - Children's Program

August 2 - Frank Padula

• Rob Peters, Bubble Man - Children's Program

August 9  - Mike Rutkowski

August 16 - Matt Zajac and Friends

In the event of rain, the concert will be held at:St Mary's/Ben Franklin Charter School - across the street from the common.




Wednesdays 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Children's Programs 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM 

Concerts on the Common - Summer 2017

“Jazz in July” at THE BLACK BOX

THE BLACK BOX, downtown Franklin’s theater, music, and event venue, presents two evenings of great jazz to kick off the second annual Summer Concert Series.

Beginning on Friday, July 7 at 8 p.m., “Jazz in July” at THE BLACK BOX features Steven Kirby’s “Illuminations” Project with special guest, vocalist Aubrey Johnson. Steven Kirby is an award-winning guitarist/composer and Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music. He has appeared on more than 25 released recordings and toured in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Caribbean, Europe, China and Arica. Kirby’s music is most often categorized as contemporary jazz, but it is influenced by a variety of genres. His compositions have won awards in the International Songwriting Competition, Billboard Song Contest and DownBeat, and his music has been played on over 100 radio stations in this country and internationally. 
 

Steven Kirby’s “Illuminations” Project

The “Illuminations” Project is Kirby’s newest compositional and performance endeavor. Described as “richly textured, multi-layered, ebullient and lyrical jazz,” it showcases original compositions and arrangements, as well as some creative arrangements of standard tunes, using a quintet of instrumentalists and a singer performing both wordless and lyrical vocals. “Illuminations” was recently an Editor’s Pick in the prestigious jazz publication, DownBeat.

THE BLACK BOX Summer Concert Series continues on Friday, July 21 at 8 p.m. with the renowned Kenny Hadley Big Band. The critically acclaimed 16-piece ensemble, led by drummer Kenny Hadley, boasts masterful musicians with performance ties to Big Band legends Woody Herman, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich and more. 

The Kenny Hadley Big Band has shared the stage with such notables as the Count Basie Orchestra and the Duke Ellington Orchestra and has hosted guest soloists including Clark Terry and Louie Bellson. Hadley was 14 when he first heard Buddy Rich’s band play live. He caught Duke Ellington at The Boston Globe Jazz Festival and saw Basie, Kenton and Ferguson, among the greats, at the tail end of that era. 

Forming his own band at 23, Hadley has grown that ensemble to showcase a distinguished rotation of some 45 or 50 players. Now more than 30 years later, the Kenny Hadley Big Band continues to wow audiences and keep the big band tradition alive.

THE BLACK BOX, the home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC), is located at 15 West Central Street. Tickets to “Jazz in July” summer concerts are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. A cash bar is available. For more information, including additional Summer Concert Series event programming, or to purchase tickets, call (508) 528-3370 or visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com.

Town Clerks Office Closing at 4pm on Wednesday July 12

On Wednesday, July 12, the Town Clerks Office will be closing at 4:00pm.

I do apologize for any inconvenience.
Teresa M. Burr
Town Clerk


Teresa M. Burr
Town Clerk
Franklin Municipal Building
355 East Central Street
Franklin, MA 02038
(508)520-4900
M-T-Th: 8-4:00pm
Wed. 8-6:00pm and Fri. 8-1:00pm

Read more: http://www.franklinma.gov/node/131783

This is an automatic message from Town of Franklin MA

Franklin Municipal Building 355 East Central Street

Chance to WIN a $50 Polar Express Shop gift card

Get your tickets for the Blackstone Valley Polar Express!

DO YOU HAVE YOUR TICKETS YET?! Purchase seats for the 2017 Polar Express Train Ride by June 30th for a chance to WIN a $50 gift card to our Polar Express Gift Shop!  We'll notify the winner by email in early July!!! If you've already got your tickets...you're already entered! Call 401-495-1213 to purchase tickets or PURCHASE ONLINE   Here's a sampling of what our store offers... BLACKSTONE VALLEY POLAR EXPRESS  1 DEPOT SQ. WOONSOCKET, RI   |    401-495-1213  BLACKSTONEVALLEYPOLAREXPRESS.COM #BVPolarExpress

Blackstone Valley Tourism Council | 175 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860 Sent by info@tourblackstone.com in collaboration with Try it free today

Greater Franklin Distinguished Young Women

"The Greater Franklin DYW program held its performance showcase on May 13 at Dean College in Franklin. Alexa Katsaros was named Greater Franklin DYW 2018 and Alexis Juszczyszyna was named Greater Norfolk DYW. 

Both Katsaros and Juszczyszyna will go on to complete in the Massachusetts Distinguished Young Women Finals on Saturday, Aug. 12 in Holyoke. 

Katsaros received scholarships in the fitness, talent and self-expression categories and was the recipient of the Rebecca Most Community Award and the Amy Callahan Spirit Award."

http://franklin.wickedlocal.com/news/20170620/greater-franklin-distinguished-young-women-of-year-named

The Distinguished Young Woman of Greater
Norfolk for 2018 is Alexis Juszczyszyn, from Franklin.

The Distinguished Young Woman of Franklin
for 2018 is Alexa Katsaros, from Franklin.

For more information on the Franklin area Distinguished Young Women visit their webpage
http://franklin.ma.distinguishedyw.org/

Green Infrastructure in Parks: A Guide to Collaboration, Funding, and Community Engagement

INTRODUCTION 

"This guide is intended to encourage partnerships between park agencies and stormwater agencies aimed at promoting the use of green infrastructure on park lands. Green infrastructure can help to maximize the environmental, economic, and social benefits of parks. By building strong partnerships, agencies can improve park lands and access to parks, better manage stormwater, increase community resiliency to shifting weather patterns, and provide funding to implement and maintain park enhancements that benefit the community. 

The guide offers information on why partnerships between stormwater managers and parks managers can be beneficial and how you can create such partnerships. The guide presents an overview of green infrastructure and describes practices that can be used to manage stormwater in parks. In addition, you will find information on factors that influence the selection of appropriate green infrastructure practices, such as maintenance requirements. 

The guide is designed to provide you with a stepwise approach for building relationships with potential partners, and includes information on how to identify and engage partners, build relationships, involve the community, leverage funding opportunities, and identify green infrastructure opportunities. It includes recommendations on the types of projects that are most likely to attract positive attention and funding, and which provide a wide range of benefits. Case studies are included to illustrate the approaches presented in the guide. These real-life examples portray how partnerships between municipal stormwater agencies and parks departments have improved recreational resources in the community, enhanced environmental protection, and reduced risks and burdens. 

For those who wish to go deeper into a topic, the guide includes short descriptions and links to external resources that provide more detail on the material presented within."

You can find the full EPA document here



Or on the Town of  Franklin webpage (PDF)
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/epa_parks_book.pdf

Sculpture Park on Panther Way in Franklin

Registration for St. Mary’s Religious Education Classes

Registration for Grades 1—10 for Religious Education classes at St. Mary’s Church has begun. You can register your children 24/7 using a credit/debit card. Registration is being held now and continues until 11:55 p.m. on Sunday, August 13, 2017. 

Visit our website at www.stmarysfranklin.org and you will find the link for Registration. There is also information about the Religious Education Program for Grades 1-10. 

If there are any questions about this process or about Religious Education classes in general, please call Karen Ackles at 508-528-1450.

Registration for St. Mary’s Religious Education Classes

Encore Music: SUMMER REGISTRATION: Snag Your Lesson Time!

A friendly reminder that registration for Encore's 2017 summer session is now open! View this email in your browser SUMMER REGISTRATION 2017 A reminder that Encore Music Academy's summer session is fast approaching! Don't miss out, sign up today! We will be open for eight weeks during the summer, from July 10th through September 2nd. Lesson slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis with payment up front. We understand that many families have vacations or camps during the summer. In our experience, students who take the entire summer off from lessons typically spend much of September and October in review of lost technique or skills. For this reason, we do not require weekly lessons during the summer, but simply ask that students register for weeks they know they are available. Whether it's one lesson a month or the full eight weeks, we strongly encourage students to maintain continuity with their musical studies over the summer. To register, visit the front office at either location, or call (508) 533-7700.  SUMMER HOURS Monday through Thursday from 12:00pm-8:00pm, both locations. Fridays, CLOSED. Saturdays from 9:00am to 2:00pm, Millis location only.  Availability within these hours will vary by instructor. Speak with the front desk to determine your instructor's summer availability.  Don't forget about Encore's exciting summer classes!  Summer Class: Clarinet Choir $250 Register now Summer Class: The Audition Process $250 Register Now Summer Class: Saxophone Symphony $250 Register Now Copyright © 2017 Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios 3 Bent St Franklin, Ma 02038

THE BLACK BOX Dance Series to Present Tributary - June 21

THE BLACK BOX Dance Series presents Tributary on Wednesday, June 21 at 8 p.m. at the downtown Franklin venue. Tributary is a collective of musicians from around the U.S. dedicated to performing spiritually rich and honest music that is thoughtful, creative and improvisatory. 

Their concerts are about spiritual discovery through the language of art, and will be a unique experience, full of immediacy and vulnerability. Tributary is led by Greg Woodsbie, a self-described “ritual artist” whose background in jazz, classical and Cuban music permeates his work as a highly regarded dance accompanist and church musician in the Boston/Providence area. 

Tributary also includes Adam Meckler (Trumpet), Aaron Hedenstrom (Saxophone), Brian Courage (Bass) and Derek Dreier (percussion), featuring dancers Kristina Berger and Bill Evans.

Tickets are $15. The home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company, THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 West Central Street. For tickets and more information, visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or call (508) 528-3370.

 

THE BLACK BOX Dance Series to Present Tributary - June 21

School Committee recap - June 13, 2017

The recap of the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 includes the following items:

The Educational Support Professionals (ESP) contract with the signed. The contract was approved in the prior meeting and formally signed in this one.

Recognition of many of the retiring personnel took much of the meeting.

• Ron Taylor Akie - FHS Math
• Gretchen Carr - Annie Sullivan
• Ronni Cowen - Remington/Horace Mann
• Chandler Creedon - School psychologist, former president of FEA
• Jane Cronin - Jefferson 1st grade
• Jane Hogan - K-12 Art Director "irreplaceable"
• Randi Heiselmeyer - ECDC
• Dr Pandora Carlucci - Lifelong Learning
• Dr Maureen Sabolinski, Superintendent

The school district is loosing a whole lot of knowledge with these folks walking out the door. Given the performance, this will also create opportunity for others to step up and fill the shoes.

Slide show of the retirees 




The video replay for this meeting is also available on demand from Franklin TV
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=468

My notes taken while I reporting live from the Council Chambers during the meeting can be found here:

• Live reporting: Information Matters to Closing
• Live reporting: Action Items
• Live reporting: School Committee - June 13, 2017
• 
  

Hunag heads to Distinguished Young Woman National Finals

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Helen Huang, of Franklin, traveled to Mobile, Alabama on June 18 to participate in the 60th Distinguished Young Women National Finals, which will be held June 29, 30 and July 1 at the Mobile Civic Center Theater. 

Huang is one of 51 representatives competing for thousands of dollars in cash scholarships and the opportunity to represent the program as the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2017. 

Following her selection as the Distinguished Young Woman of Massachusetts, Huang began preparations for the National Finals competition, which will include five categories of evaluation: scholastics (25 percent), interview (25 percent), fitness (15 percent), talent (20 percent) and self-expression (15 percent). During her two weeks in Mobile, Huang will participate in team building activities, complete community service projects, interact with the Gulf Coast community through various events and engage in many hours of rehearsal in preparation for the three-night scholarship competition."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://franklin.wickedlocal.com/news/20170619/strongfranklin-resident-to-participate-in-distinguished-young-women-national-finalsstrong

Helen Huang was recognized by Rep Roy and Town Council Chair Matt Kelly

Franklin Library: Teddy Bear Picnic - June 22

Teddy Bear Picnic at the Town Common, Thursday, June 22, 12:00 p.m.

Franklin Library: Teddy Bear Picnic - June 22

This was shared from the Franklin Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2017/06/teddy-bear-picnic-at-town-common.html

"Participating students also gained an advantage"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"While students get a break from school over the summer, that doesn’t mean they should take a break from learning, many educators and advocates say. 

When kids experience the so-called “summer slide,” they lose some of the knowledge and skills they acquired during the school year. The result is that some – particularly those who may have already been struggling academically – can fall behind when they return to school in the fall. 

“For the first months when they come back to school, it’s like the teachers are retraining the kids,” said Jennifer Francioso, president of the Massachusetts Parent Teacher Association."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170618/combating-summer-learning-loss


This summer, the library is rolling out a whole bunch of fun new items to encourage literacy and creative play! Be sure to stop in and explore the fun new items we'll be unveiling each week! Check out the Summer Program flyer:
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/summer_2017_trifold_update.pdf

Lifelong Learning offers rising 9th graders the "High School Experience"
http://franklinlifelonglearning.com/high_school_experience/index.php

The summer enrichment programs will be held in three locations: Franklin High School, Horace Mann Middle School, and Oak Street Elementary School. There will be a nurse at the Oak Street/Horace Mann complex and a nurse at Franklin High School.
http://www.franklinlifelonglearning.com/summer_program/index.php

http://www.franklinlifelonglearning.com/summer_program/index.php