FPAC - "The Nutcracker"

FRANKLIN -

In its 18th season, the Franklin Performing Arts Company will present its popular holiday classic, "The Nutcracker," Dec. 6 and 7, featuring a professional 27-piece orchestra under the direction of Boston’s Peter Cokkinias.

With a cast of more than 100 local area performers, special guest artists Cheryl Madeux Abbott will play the role of "Sugar Plum Fairy" and Vitali Krauchenka will portray "Cavalier."

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Tickets are now on sale at the FPAC box office. Call 508-528-8668 or visit the FPAC box office at 34 Main St. The Nutcracker will take place at the Thomas D. Mercer Auditorium, 224 Oak St. For information about featured guests and FPAC’s presentation of "The Nutcracker," visit www.FPAConline.com.

Read the full article online here and likely in this week's Gazette

Peter Cokkinias is an excellent conductor. He is on the faculty at Berklee and the conductor of the neighboring Metrowest Symphony Orchestra. My daughter played with Metrowest while a student at Franklin High and he was very welcoming of the high schoolers playing in this fine orchestra. It was a great experience for her.

“Energy $ense” Series - 11/13/08

“Energy $ense” Series in November at the Franklin Public Library

The Friends of the Franklin Public Library are pleased to sponsor the 2nd installment of The Franklin Area Climate Team’s “Energy $ense” Series for residents on Thursday, November 13th. The title of the seminar is “How Businesses Get Help Going Green” with speaker Jen Boudrie, Sustainable Business Leader Program Director.

The Sustainable Business Leader Program offers assistance to small to medium sized businesses in Franklin and the surrounding towns to improve their current practices in energy and water conservation, pollution prevention, waste reduction, transportation efficiency and sustainability management. The program provides: guidance in assessing your company’s current sustainability condition, help in developing an Action Plan to improve it and on-going assistance and monitoring.

The program starts at 7:00 pm in the community room, lower level of The Franklin Public Library. The library is located at 118 Main Street. For more information, please email Ted McIntyre at emcintyre1@comcast.net or call 508-528-7765

Veteran's Day

Veterans Day, 2008

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

On Veterans Day, we pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the men and women who in defense of our freedom have bravely worn the uniform of the United States.

From the fields and forests of war-torn Europe to the jungles of Southeast Asia, from the deserts of Iraq to the mountains of Afghanistan, brave patriots have protected our Nation's ideals, rescued millions from tyranny, and helped spread freedom around the globe. America's veterans answered the call when asked to protect our Nation from some of the most brutal and ruthless tyrants, terrorists, and militaries the world has ever known. They stood tall in the face of grave danger and enabled our Nation to become the greatest force for freedom in human history. Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard have answered a high calling to serve and have helped secure America at every turn.

Our country is forever indebted to our veterans for their quiet courage and exemplary service. We also remember and honor those who laid down their lives in freedom's defense. These brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice for our benefit. On Veterans Day, we remember these heroes for their valor, their loyalty, and their dedication. Their selfless sacrifices continue to inspire us today as we work to advance peace and extend freedom around the world.

With respect for and in recognition of the contributions our service members have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor America's veterans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2008, as Veterans Day and urge all Americans to observe November 9 through November 15, 2008, as National Veterans Awareness Week. I encourage all Americans to recognize the bravery and sacrifice of our veterans through ceremonies and prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and to support and participate in patriotic activities in their communities. I invite civic and fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, businesses, unions, and the media to support this national observance with commemorative expressions and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

GEORGE W. BUSH

"Somebody's mad at somebody"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Nov 10, 2008 @ 09:09 PM

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FRANKLIN —

Police do not have any leads into who slashed the tires on 42 cars last weekend or what motivated the malicious action, said Deputy Police Chief Stephan H. Semerjian.

As far as police know, nobody witnessed the crimes, which occurred late Friday night and early Saturday morning, Semerjian said.

Police have not received any new reports of slashings since Saturday, Semerjian said.

In total, 42 car owners, all at 301 Union Place, an apartment complex, reported their tires had been slashed, said Semerjian.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Ed Cafasso - Letter 11/2/08

Note: this is late posting. It got lost in my "things to do" box.

Hello Everyone!

I hope you had a good weekend and enjoyed that extra hour of sleep! Here’s a brief update on recent school issues in Franklin…

New Superintendent: The Franklin School Committee moved closer to appointing a new Superintendent last week, unanimously endorsing the candidacy of Deputy Supt. Maureen Sabolinski. Ms. Sabolinski has been a resident of the Franklin for 16 years, and has worked for the Franklin schools for most of that time, starting in special education and eventually working her way up to become second in command. Her children went through our schools, and Maureen has experienced just about every issue one can imagine as both a parent and as an administrator – budget challenges, redistricting, the opening of new schools, personnel evaluations, etc. The next step for the Committee is to work out a smooth transition for Ms. Sabolinski to officially take over for outgoing Supt. Wayne Ogden.

Two Milford Daily News stories are available regarding our consideration of Maureen’s candidacy: http://tinyurl.com/5wm6k8 (Oct. 29) and http://tinyurl.com/557p8b (Oct. 15)

School Calendar Survey: So many parents have expressed strong feelings about the fact that classes in Franklin begin before Labor Day that the Superintendent’s office has launched an online survey on the topic. Parents are strongly encouraged to make their views known at: http://tinyurl.com/576yjn. With only eight questions, completing the survey should be quick and easy. Please feel free to pass along the link to others in the school community. The survey will remain open until November 24.

Field House Advertising: Last week, after months of study, the School Committee voted unanimously to authorize a pilot program allowing advertising within the Field House at Franklin High School. Ads in the style of 4’ x 6’ vinyl banners (navy blue with white lettering) will be available for sale at $40/month with a minimum three-month advertising commitment. The banner ads will be hung along area where the curved roof meets the building’s long walls. By conservative estimates, some 45,000 adults attend or participate in events at the Field House each year, and potential advertisers began coming forward within hours of the Committee vote. The success of the pilot will be evaluated in six months. Local businesses and boosters can learn more about this inexpensive marketing opportunity by visiting: http://www.franklin.k12.ma.us/co/supt/FHAdvGuidelines.pdf.

School Enrollment: The total number of students enrolled in the Franklin Public Schools declined by 26 to 6,232 as of September, compared to the 6,260 students on the books when the 2007-08 school year ended in June. Elementary enrollment declined by 63 students during the period, and the number of middle school students decreased by eight. Franklin High began the 2008-09 school year with 43 more students than last year, bringing the student body at FHS to 1,617. In case you are wondering, total Franklin Public School enrollment has increased from 5,962 in May 2005 to 6,232 as of September 2008. That's an increase of 270 students (4.5 percent) during the course of the last four school years.

FEF Casino Night: The Franklin Education Foundation is holding its Third Annual Casino Night on Friday, November 21 at 7 p.m. the Elks Hall in Franklin. This has become a much-anticipated fun, adult event. As with the popular FEF Trivia Bee, proceeds from Casino Night go directly into grants for teacher initiatives at all levels of the Franklin Public Schools. This year’s event will feature Blackjack tables, Roulette, a Money Spinning Wheel, and a Silent Auction. A limited number of tickets are available at $25 each, or six tickets for the price of five. You can learn more about the FEF and Casino Night at: http://www.franklined.org/.

Commuter Rail Parking Rate Hike: As many of you know, parking fees at MBTA commuter rail stations are scheduled to double as of November 15. If you’re a daily commuter rail user like me, the proposed hike is maddening. It’s insensitive to the needs of working families during the worst economy since the Great Depression; it sends the wrong environmental message at a time when we all want to use less fossil fuels; and, it targets just one class of MBTA customers, the commuter rail riders who have already absorbed recent fares hikes and who play a big role in the capital city’s workforce.

Unless the cost of painting yellow lines on tar has dramatically skyrocketed, I feel certain the T is already making a sizable profit on commuter rail riders. You can express your opinion on this unfair rate hike at http://www.mbta.com/customer_support/write_to_top/ or by filling out the Commuter Rail Customer Comment Form at http://www.mbta.com/customer_support/feedback/. Or, you can write directly to MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 3910, Boston, MA 02116

These e-mails are provided as a constituent service. I try to distribute at least one e-mail update each month during the school year, as issues warrant. As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions. If you are receiving duplicate e-mails or if you no longer wish to receive these e-mails, please let me know and I will remove you from the distribution list. If you know of someone you would like to add to the list, please send along their e-mail address.

Don’t forget to vote Tuesday! Thanks!

Ed Cafasso, Member

Franklin School Committee

edcafasso@comcast.net

Parmenter Elementary School

From the Parmenter Elementary School sign on Sunday we find:

Davis Thayer Elementary School

The Davis Thayer sign on Sunday: