Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail StoryWalk - Sep 24

Come read and walk on the local rail trail!

View this email in your browser Pop Up StoryWalk® on the SNETT Sunday, September 24th, 2017 8:00am - 4:00pm Welcome to our Pop Up StoryWalk® on SNETT #2! The featured book is: Amelia Bedelia Hits The Trail. It is level 1, beginning reading, but ALL are welcome to come enjoy the walk and read event. The StoryWalk® will be located on the same side as the parking area (the beginning will be at the end of the paved section up the hill). Stop by anytime between 8am and 4pm. Please note this event is WEATHER PERMITTING. There will be no staff for this event, just come anytime between 8am and 4pm and have fun reading and exploring. The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson. For more information, please visit our Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/361738560905565/ We are looking forward to seeing you! Copyright © 2017 Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee PO Box 68 Franklin, Ma 02038

The Fat City Band to Play THE BLACK BOX - Oct 6

THE BLACK BOX Local Artist Series presents The Fat City Band on Friday, October 6 at 8 p.m. at the downtown Franklin venue. For more than four decades, The Fat City Band has written, recorded, and performed a unique blend of blues, roadhouse rock, jazz, and New Orleans-style R&B. 

Performing coast to coast and beyond, the high-energy band has shared the stage with such legendary greats as James Brown, B.B. King, and Ray Charles. Bringing 40+ years of showmanship and entertainment experience to every show, the band remains committed to one idea: “Music Should Be Fun.” The Fat City Band invites audiences to come and join the party.

Tickets are $20. The home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company and a suburban hub for great music, THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 West Central Street. A cash bar is available. For tickets and more information, visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or call (508) 528-3370.

The Fat City Band to Play THE BLACK BOX - Oct 6

Saturday night at THE BLACK BOX - "The 60s A Musical Tribute"

SATURDAY NIGHT! THE BLACK BOX presents Featuring  JAMIE  BARRETT              ALAN MERCER                  NICK PAONE               KATIE GRAY                 KYLEE ROLLINS   Hosted by     RAYE LYNN MERCER Enjoy music and moments from a monumental decade with sensational singers and musicians, sixties cocktails, throwback trivia and a groovy vibe! TWO SHOWS AT 7:00 and 8:30   ORDER TICKETS NOW!

Franklin Performing Arts Company uses Vendini for ticketing, marketing, and box office management.

Franklin Performing Arts Company - PO Box 48, 15 West Central Street, Franklin, MA, 02038, (508) 528-3370
Vendini, Inc. - 660 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104, 1 (800) 901-7173

View as a web page.

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 9/22/17 - THU 9/28/17

FRIDAY 9/22/17
11am   Baseball Party @ Franklin Senior Center
12-6pm   Franklin Farmers Market @ Town Common
12-6pm   School Committeee: Community Relations ‘Coffee’ @ Franklin Farmers Market
6-7pm   Clothing Drive @ FHS Football Game (game starts at 7pm), Pisini Field
7-10pm   Showcase Pro Wrestling to benefit Oil for Vets Fund @ Elks Lodge

SATURDAY 9/23/17
10am-4pm   Christian Zen Retreat @ McMahon Guest House, 1061 Upper Union St.
10-1pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
7pm   The 60’s - A Musical Tribute @ The Black Box

SUNDAY 9/24/17
8am-4pm   Pop Up StoryWalk® #2 on the SNETT (Amelia Bedelia book) @ Lake Street Trailhead in Bellingham
9am-2pm   Open Auditions for the Nutcracker @ The Black Box
1-4pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open

MONDAY 9/25/17
7pm   Learn to Cope Franklin Chapter Meeting @ FUSF

TUESDAY 9/26/17
10am   Alzheimer’s Association: Healthy Living for Brain and Body @ Franklin Senior Center

WEDNESDAY 9/27/17
6:30pm   Christian Zen Weekly Meditation @ McMahon Guest House (1061 Upper Union Street)

THURSDAY 9/28/17
10am   Franklin Senior Center: Meet the new Superintendent @ Franklin Senior Center
1-6pm   American Red Cross Blood Drive @ Elks Lodge
5-8pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
7-8pm   Healing Hearts Community Support Group @ Franklin YMCA

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

Franklin DPW: Snow Plow Contractors Needed

The Franklin DPW is seeking contractors to perform snow removal operations during the 2017-2018 winter season. 

Equipment needed: 6-wheelers, backhoes (must have plow), loaders (must have plow), 1-tons (minimum of 9 ft plow needed). 

Equipment must to be in good running condition for the Town to consider and is subject to inspection by Town mechanics prior to the start of the season. 

Limited positions available; please apply within 30 days.

Please see the rate sheet and full contract (PDF) for additional information.

Franklin offers a dynamic team environment and MA DOT rates, paid in a timely manner! Any questions, please contact Jamie at 508-553-5527.

Read more: http://www.franklinma.gov/node/139203
This is an automatic message from Town of Franklin MA

DPW headquarters on Fisher St

FHS field/track status - limited open for Friday night football

Via Twitter, updates on the FHS field/track status. 

During Fri night FB game- Only players,coaches & support pers allowed on turf.No one allowed on track.Only entrance is near Horace M school

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) September 21, 2017

Following the football game, Pisini stadium will again be off limits until line painting on the track is completed.m -hopefully by Thursday

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) September 21, 2017

the track was laid down although the running lane lines
remain to be painted when I stopped by Thursday evening

Note to those who were walking along the track today, you are not supposed to be there (yet).

Community Relations "Coffee" at the Franklin Farmers Market

The School Committee Community Relations Subcommittee will hold their next "Coffee" today at the Franklin Farmers Market on the Town Common. 12 PM - 6 PM

"Join the Community Relations subcommittee as we bring our coffee conversations into the community. We are unable to offer good or beverages, so please bring your own (or obtain them at one or more of the farmer market booths)."

Subcommittee members are Denise Schultz, Anne Bergen, and Vanessa Bilello.

two rows of vendors at the Franklin Farmers Market in July

For updates on the event, check out the Facebook event page
https://www.facebook.com/events/1453183668090604/

FHS Boys Hockey says "Thanks!"

"On behalf of FHS Boys Hockey, sincere thanks to all who donated bottles, cans, cash, and redemption tickets for Stop & Shop and Shaws. All those donations added up to $526.20, and there is a bit more to add to that total as donations are still coming in.

As noted prior to the Bottle/Can Drive, the proceeds from this year's drive will be put towards hurricane relief for those affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.

Again, many thanks to all who contributed!"

FHS Boys Hockey says "Thanks!"

This was shared from the Facebook posting
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1551606135109407/permalink/1948688195401197/

MassBudget: 29% of Mass workers would be affected by $15 minimum wage

Local estimates in new fact sheet

MassBudget Information. Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center Democracy. $15 Minimum Wage Would Affect 29% of MA Workers;  At Least 15% in Every Region    Updated data from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center finds that raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2022 would increase the wages of 29 percent of the Massachusetts workforce. The MassBudget report based on Census data delineates the effect of a $15 minimum wage across 52 regions in the state, revealing that at least 15 percent of workers in every region of Massachusetts would see their wages rise from a minimum wage increase. In some regions more than 40 percent of wage earners would benefit. In addition to the regional data, the report examines demographic data about those whose wages would increase: it finds that 90 percent are adults, 56 percent are women, and 55 percent work full-time. You can read the new MassBudget fact sheet here (LINK). The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108 Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

“We wanted to honor our guy”

The Franklin radar finds this from The Chronicle, the Independent News Organization at Duke University:

"Junior Michael Doherty’s death this summer devastated members of his fraternity Alpha Tau Omega, but they’re finding solace in raising money for an endowment fund to honor their dear friend.

Doherty, a student in the Pratt School of Engineering, passed away in May near his home in Franklin, Mass. Shortly afterwards, members of ATO began the Michael Doherty Memorial Endowment Fund to honor his legacy at Duke by creating a permanent, annual scholarship for an undergraduate engineering student. The fund has currently raised almost $110,000, surpassing the original goal of $100,000.

“Mike was the best of us, we all loved him so much,” said senior John Clarke, president of ATO. “We tried to think of what the best way to commemorate him would be and decided it would be to continuously give to students who embody the same characteristics Mike did."

Continue reading the article online
http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2017/09/dohertys-fraternity-brothers-find-great-closure-from-fundraising-raise-more-than-100000

Photo by Special to the Chronicle | The Chronicle

In the News: EPA details plan for cleanup; SEC reveals it was hacked in 2016

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

"The cleanup for ground pollution at a Superfund site could take up to 20 years, according to a fully drafted Community Action Plan. 

The draft highlights the planning and progress the Environmental Protection Agency has made regarding the cleanup and Superfund status at 300 Fisher St. 

In 2015, the EPA added the 18-acre property to the Superfund list, which makes the property eligible for state-funded cleanup. The Superfund law provides the EPA with the funds to clean up the sites and gives it authority to force the polluters to lead the efforts or reimburse the government for the work."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170921/franklin-fisher-street-cleanup-could-take-20-years

The Community Involvement Plan (CIP) can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/09/updated-community-involvement-plan-for.html

Updated Community Involvement Plan for the BJAT, LLC Superfund Site

"The federal agency responsible for ensuring that markets function as they should and for protecting investors was hacked last year and the intruders may have used the nonpublic information they obtained to profit illegally. 

The disclosure arrived two months after a government watchdog said deficiencies in the computer systems of the Securities and Exchange Commission put the system, and the information it contains, at risk. 

In July, the Government Accountability Office issued a critical report about the security measures employed by the SEC, citing a number of deficiencies in “the effectiveness of SEC’s controls for protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of its information systems.” It issued 26 recommendations that it said would make SEC systems more secure. 

According to the SEC, the breach was discovered last year, but the possibility of illicit trading was uncovered only last month. It did not explain why the hack itself was not revealed sooner, or which individuals or companies may have been impacted."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 
http://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20170921/fed-agency-urging-corporate-cybersecurity-upgrades-is-hacked

Lifelong Learning: One-Night Workshops This Fall

Your Autumn Adventure

Franklin Public Schools ~ Lifelong Learning Institute Lifelong Community Learning presents Your Autumn Adventure One-Night Workshop Opportunities Don't miss these...... A Beginners Guide to Decorative Life Planning Register Now We all have to-do lists, agendas, and calendars. Why not take these busy schedules and make them works of art through crafting, journaling, and memory keeping!  Tuesday, September 26  6:30 to 8:30 pm $35 Stage/Prepare Your Home to Sell Register Now In the real estate world your realtor will tell you that "you never get a second chance to make a good first impression." What is a successful strategy for preparing your home for market? Join us and find out. Wednesday, September 27  6:30 to 8:30 pm  $25 Real Estate Buyer Seminar Register Now So you want to own real estate.  When, why, where, how much can you afford, for how long?  These are just a few questions we'll be diving into and giving you direction as to where to turn for advice and answers.   Wednesday, October 4 6:30 to 8:30 pm  $25 Financial Transitions Due to Retirement,  Death of Spouse, Divorce Register Now   If you are in a transition now or will be entering a life change whether it be retirement, loss of a loved one, divorce, or new career, you will learn simple techniques to keep you from making mistakes that could impact you financially  and emotionally.   Thursday, October 5  7:00 to 8:30 pm $25 Creating a Haven Register Now Nature is all around us, but too often we don't invite it into our homes.  Learn how to incorporate natural elements in your home to create a more soothing and pleasant space.   Tuesday, October 17  6:30 to 8:30 pm  $30 Check out all of our fall classes LCL@franklinps.net    508-613-1480

FPS- Lifelong Learning, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by reedb@franklinps.net in collaboration with Try it free today

MA Consumer Affairs has a 4 Part Series on "A Consumer Guide to Landline Telephone Service"

The MA Consumer Affairs blog has a four part series on "How Do You Connect? A Consumer Guide to Landline Telephone Service"

From Part 1

"When buying landline telephone service for your home, you should be aware of several issues, including technological changes impacting the communications network, and ask questions to make sure you are getting the type of telephone service that best meets your needs. 

Telephone calls are generally categorized as:

• Local: Calls made within your immediate area as determined by the exchanges (area codes) in the calling plan and the service provider you choose. It is possible that calls in your own municipality may not be considered local. Be sure to ask or request a list of the exchanges that are part of your local calling plan;
• Regional: Calls made outside the “local” calling area; and
• Long Distance: Calls generally made out-of-state.

Always contact your service provider of choice to inquire about their service offerings and available calling plans. You can choose one provider for all your calling needs, or you can select different providers for different types of calls. 

Federal Law allows you to keep your current phone number when you change providers as long as you remain within the local exchange. When switching providers be sure to tell your provider you want to keep your existing phone number."

Continue reading part 1
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/how-do-you-connect-a-consumer-guide-to-landline-telephone-service-part-1-overview/

Part 2
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/how-do-you-connect-a-consumer-guide-to-landline-telephone-service-part-2-billing/

Part 3
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/how-do-you-connect-a-consumer-guide-to-landline-telephone-service-part-3-bundled-services/

Part 4
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/how-do-you-connect-a-consumer-guide-to-landline-telephone-service-part-4-slamming-and-cramming/

How Do You Connect? A Consumer Guide to Landline Telephone Service: Part 1—Overview (image from MA Consumer Affairs article)

Enjoy a Pop up StoryWalk® on the SNETT Sunday - Sep 24

"Welcome to our Pop Up StoryWalk® on SNETT #2! 

The featured book is: Amelia Bedelia Hits The Trail. It is level 1, beginning reading, but ALL are welcome to come enjoy the walk and read event. 

The StoryWalk® will be located on the same side as the parking area. Stop by anytime between 10am and 4pm. Please note this event is WEATHER PERMITTING. There will be no staff for this event, just come anytime between 10am and 4pm and have fun reading and exploring. 

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson."

Enjoy a Pop up Story Walk on the SNETT Sunday - Sep 24

When: Sunday at 8 AM - 4 PM

Where: Lake Street Trailhead in Bellingham MA between Cross St and Claires Way


Follow updates on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/361738560905565/

FHS girls soccer, volleyball, field hockey, and golf post wins on Wednesday

From Hockomock Sports we share the results of the Franklin High School fall sports results from Wednesday, Sep 20.


Girls Soccer = Franklin, 2 @ Taunton, 0 – Final
– Halle Atkinson scored the first goal for the Panthers at the half hour mark and an own goal with 20 minutes to play sealed the two points for Franklin in an even game played in blustery conditions. Cat Robbins earned another clean sheet with four saves and Grace Pimenta made 10 saves in the loss for the Tigers.


Field Hockey = Taunton, 3 @ Franklin, 6 – Final
– Franklin junior Cassi Ronan paced Franklin with a pair of goals and also added an assist while controlling the midfield as the Panthers doubled up on visiting Taunton. Freshman Victoria Quinn scored twice and junior Annie Walsh had two assists and one goal. Junior Ashley Reutlinger also scored for the Panthers and played “an outstanding game on the wing” according to head coach Lisa Cropper. Cropper also highlighted the defensive work of sophomore Maeve Ledwith and senior Caroline Jackson.


Volleyball = Franklin, 3 vs. Brockton, 1 – Final
– Franklin’s Ellie Wisniewski had a strong performance for the second straight game, helping the Panthers rally from a one-set deficit for a 21-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-12 win. Wisniewski had 14 kills, five digs and four aces while Maggie Doyle added 10 kills, three blocks and three aces. Junior Lauren McGrath had another strong performance from the setter spot with 37 assists, three kills and two aces.


Golf = Attleboro, 184 @ Franklin, 175 – Final
– In windy, wet conditions, Franklin senior Bryan Woelfel earned match medalist honors, carding a low round of 41 for the Panthers.


For the results of the remainder of the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-092017/

FHS Panthers

Flu Clinic on October 17 at the Senior Center

For all Franklin residents, age 6 months or older

At the Franklin Senior Center from 9:30 - 11:30 AM on Thursday, Oct 17, 2017


Read more: http://www.franklinma.gov/node/137443

Franklin Senior Center

Senator Spilka: Senior Health and Wellness Fair - Oct 14 - Framingham

Senator Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland) will host her annual Senior Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, October 14 at the Joseph P. Keefe Technical School in Framingham. All MetroWest seniors are invited to learn about ways to lead healthy and active lifestyles and enjoy a fun morning out in the community.

Co-sponsored by Senator Spilka, MetroWest Medical Center and the MetroWest Health Foundation, the Senior Fair offers a variety of workshops and presentations about senior health programs, benefits and wellness activities. Representatives from local health care and elder services organizations will share information on services and opportunities in MetroWest. 

The Senior Fair includes a continental breakfast, hot lunch and health screenings for attendees.

WHAT: Senator Karen Spilka's annual Senior Health & Wellness Fair, co-sponsored by MetroWest Medical Center and the MetroWest Health Foundation

WHEN: Saturday, October 14, 2017
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Joseph P. Keefe Technical School
750 Winter Street
Framingham, MA

Seniors in the MetroWest area are encouraged to contact Puja Mehta, Senator Spilka's District Director, at (617) 722-1640 or Puja.Mehta@masenate.gov for more information and to RSVP.

Joseph P. Keefe Technical School, 750 Winter Street