Where are you in Franklin to find this site?
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The answer to picture #43 is the former Tompson Printing Press building along Dean Ave.
ltsjs contiued their streak of correct answers. Thanks for playing.
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What was this building used for before Thompson? I have been here almost 13 years but have only seen the building from the train as I go to or return from Boston.
Can anyone fill in some details?
Just in time for the town's Earth Day celebration April 19, the public works department has installed two $4,000 solar-powered trash compactors on Main Street and at the Beaver Pond recreation complex.
The "BigBelly" cordless trash compactors can hold up to 200 gallons of garbage - up to six times the typical load, said Denise Zambrowski, Environmental Affairs Coordinator for the Department of Public Works.
"It's really a neat invention. Using solar energy, it will help us maintain a neat (town), just controlling litter and trash in our parks, in our ball fields.
"It's a really interesting invention to help us deal with solid waste management in public places," said Zambrowski, who first learned about BigBelly at an energy efficiency workshop.
Read the full article at the Milford Daily News
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The town of Franklin on Saturday opened its new fire station on West Central Street. The new 22,250 square foot station more than twice of the facility it replaced, which was built on the same site in 1922 and demolished last year.
This is the complete article but you can click through to see the photo at the Milford Daily News.
"Is (regionalization) possible? Absolutely," he said. "Is it feasible, able to be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time? No, not with what I'm looking at. I'm not opposed to regionalization or the concept of it, but there's a lot that goes into the makeup of trying to regionalize."It will take time but the time to start is now. This is no reason to wait.
Eight years after the idea was first proposed, the town has a new fire station.
To mark the occasion, the department is hosting a dedication ceremony tomorrow and inviting the public inside for a look around.
"We're thrilled," said Fire Chief Gary McCarraher. "Our employees went from the old station, which was virtually crumbling, to (13 months in) a trailer.
"It's great to get them into a professional place to conduct business," McCarraher said of the new $9.3 million building constructed on the site of the former station at 40 West Central St.
"The troops really suffered during construction. It was cramped, especially in the winter," he said.
McCarraher and Lou Allevato, chairman of the Fire Station Building Committee, Town Council Chairman Chris Feeley and other dignitaries will speak at the dedication, which begins at 11 a.m.
The station will be open for public tours until 2 p.m.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
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A local pub owner has given the green light to the blues.
Inspired by the widely known Yard Rock Cafe in Quincy, Cottage Street Pub owner Phil Butkevich is bringing the blues to town this month.
Those who are blues fans run "from one end of the spectrum to the other - the blue collar worker to the white collar worker," Butkevich said.
"It's good sitting music, and it's good if you want to dance. Sometimes you're at a club, and the music's kind of loud. Personally, I think when you look at bands and hear the trombone, brass, bass and bugles, you're getting better quality sound," he said.
Every weekend this month, Butkevich will host at least one blues band from the Interstate 495/Rhode Island area at his 130-person-capacity pub.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
The idea of a tax override to prevent massive school layoffs has drawn mixed reaction so far.
The School Committee plans to talk with the Town Council and Finance Committee about giving townspeople an alternative to the cuts that will be required under the budget proposed by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.
While Nutting's budget gives $800,000 more for schools than last year's budget of $54.6 million (a 1.5 percent increase, totaling $55.4 million), the district needs $58.6 million - a 7.4 percent increase - just to maintain the same level of services and keep teachers and staff, said School Superintendent Wayne Ogden.
Ogden has outlined some of the major impacts of accepting Nutting's proposed budget of $55.4 million: 45 layoffs (mostly teachers), elimination of the late bus, a pay-to-ride fee hike, and increased class sizes.
Town Councilor Stephen Whalen said he "fully supports" putting a Proposition 2 1/2 tax override question before voters.
"It would be extremely difficult to get it passed, but in my opinion, its passage would be in the best interests of the town," Whalen said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
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In continued budget hearings last night, the Finance Committee approved several departmental budgets including a reduction in the library budget that the library director adamantly opposed.
Franklin Public Library Director Felicia Oti requested a $976,985 budget, a figure that would allow her to fund replacing two full-time-equivalent positions in the children's department, but the committee instead approved about $800,000 as proposed by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.
The library's budget last year was $925,196, said Finance Committee Chairman Jim Roche.
Prior to the vote, Oti argued that the library is understaffed and that morale is at "an all-time low."
"It's the lowest it's been in the 10 years I've been at the library," Oti said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
read the full article in the Milford Daily NewsAt its budget hearing tomorrow night, the Finance Committee will discuss possibly bringing the School Department's $5 million maintenance budget under the town's jurisdiction, a contentious issue between Town Council members and the School Committee.
The Finance Committee will make a recommendation on the change in its budget package to Town Council by April 18, said Finance Committee Chairman James Roche.
Roche and Town Councilor Robert R. Vallee said they support the consolidation, as proposed by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.
The School Committee last night decided to send Chairman Jeffrey Roy to start discussions with the Finance Committee and Town Council about presenting voters with an override ballot question this year.
The committee is not advocating for an override, but members said they want to give voters the option in a year when the School Department faces 45 layoffs and other town departments will suffer from budget cuts.
The committee unanimously voted to propose two school options, a budget that would be close to level-funded, and one which would keep the same level of services, and which would require the override.
The close to level-funded budget would have a 1.5 percent, $800,000, increase over this year's $54.6 million budget, reaching $55.4 million. The level-services budget would rise 7.4 percent, or $4.1 million, hiking the budget to $58.6 million.
Both options will be discussed with the Finance Committee at the budget hearing Monday night.
A level-service budget would enable the district to maintain its staff and programs
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
Call to order Mr. Roy
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence
Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes:
I recommend approval of the minutes from the March 25, 2008 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly
Payroll Ms. Armenio
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence:
Budget to Actual
Letter from Representative James Vallee regarding Portable Classrooms
Guests/Presentations:
Prudential Spirit of Community Award Honoring Remington Middle School student
Remington 6th Grade Project Report
Signing of the Educational Support Personnel (ESP) Contract
Discussion Only Items
School Choice for 2008-2009 school year
2009-2010 School Calendar
Second Reading of Policy JEA Entrance Age
Second Reading of Policy JFAA-R Residency
FY 2009 Budget – FinCom and Council presentations
FHS Building Project & Building Committee
Action Items:
I recommend approval of the FY 2009 budget at the level service amount of (7.4%) $58,687,804.
I recommend approval of continuing the School Choice Program for the 2008-2009 school year.
I recommend approval of the 2009-2010 School Calendar
I recommend adoption of Policy JEA Entrance Age
I recommend adoption of Policy JFAA-R Residency
I recommend acceptance of a check for $800.00 for a portable washing station for the Davis Thayer art teachers from the Davis Thayer PCC
I recommend acceptance of a check for $35.72 from Follett Educational Services for surplus books for the Parmenter gift account.
I recommend acceptance of a check for $2625.00 from the Annie Sullivan PCC for the 7th grade field trip to McAuliffe Center.
I recommend acceptance of a check for $154.83 from Target for 8th grade field trip to YMCA in Hopkinton, MA.
I recommend acceptance of a check for $198.00 from the Davis Thayer PCC for library books for DT.
I recommend approval of the request of FHS for the Track Team to participate in the Penn Relays from 4/23 to 4/25/08 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Mt. Laurel New Jersey.
I recommend approval of the request of FHS for the Football Team to participate in the Athletic Program & Retreat at Camp Cobbossee in Winthrop, ME from 8/21 to 8/24/08.
I recommend approval of the request of Keller Elementary School for the 5th grade class trip to Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI on 5/2/08.
Information Matters:
Superintendent’s Report
School Choice 2008-2009
School Calendar for 2009-2010
Enrollment Comparison for 3-30-07 and 3-28-08
Consolidation
Online Courses
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports
New Business:
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations – FEA side letters and early retirement
Adjourn
