live reporting - Community Health Council report

Supt Ogden, Asst Supt Sabolinski, Student Rep Patrick Slight, Student Rep Courtney Donaho (sp?), Michelle Kingsland Smith,

A committee by committee, leadership shared
subcommittees operational, lots of folks are putting in good effort

first meeting in September, split into 3 subcommittees

1. grant applications to help sustain the program overtime
2. parent/community education
3. safe activities for middle/high school students

Public health studies depend upon data collection
members attending conferences and workshops as they become available
more workshops being scheduled

Metrowest health center grant received several years ago, grant expired
submitted a proposal for a $10,000 grant to support the activities, in particular addressing alcohol abuse, cyber bullying and harassment.

increase community awareness, engage community
cross community partnership; Police, Dean, YMCA

Attempting to get events at the high school and YMCA for middle and high school student to attend and have some healthy activities.

Stoughton has a good model and good advice on grant writing and program sustainability.

Want to focus on alcohol to ensure some success. Will expand later as they can.

Q - is there a SADD group on campus?
A - yes, it is quite active

Q - are there curriculum changes to go along with this?
A - yes, in Health and other areas. Looking to get something into the Middle School as those students are getting involved early. The survey results lead to a dynamic where the result lead to changes/adjustments in the curriculum.

Q - with the MIddlebury College president leading an effort reduce the drinking age to 18, how does that affect your work?
A - We haven't addressed this topic yet but it will be a good one for the full committee meeting.

Q - With the drinking age as it is, how are kids getting access to alcohol?
A - one story of a parent who set up a keg in the driveway, it was okay to drink as long as you didn't go and drive.
A - older siblings also do provide access.

Live reporting - School Committee Mtg 11/18/08

Present: Armenio, Cafasso (late), Kelly, Mullen, Roy, Rohrbach, Trahan,


Call to order Mr. Roy
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence

1. Routine Business

• Citizen’s Comments - none
  
• Review of Agenda - add to decision items the letter from Rep Vallee; letter from Goodman removed, presentation on the 2010 budget forecast from Goodman instead
  
• Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the DATE School Committee Meeting - approved with 1 abstention
  
• Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly
• Payroll Ms. Armenio
• FHS Student Representatives

"address traffic concerns"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Nov 17, 2008 @ 10:36 PM

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FRANKLIN —

Consultants hired by Dean College presented plans for a new dining hall-performance arts center to the Planning Board last night.

The school intends to add a one-story, 30,000-square-foot building with a basement to the western edge of its campus center near Emmons and Main streets, said Peter Ziegler, an architect with Bruner/Cott & Associates in Cambridge.

The performance center, geared toward learning rather than entertainment, will have 150 permanent seats, no more than the existing theater, said principal architect Lynne Brooks.

"It (will be) accessible, new, and easier to use. ... It's more to relieve overcrowding" than to build a bigger facility, she said.

read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

"to turn a bright shade of blue-green"

By Michelle Laczkoski/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Nov 17, 2008 @ 09:10 PM

Last update Nov 17, 2008 @ 10:09 PM

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has chosen three local towns to test a new regulatory program to reduce rainwater pollution into the Charles River.

Under a new Clean Water Act permit, the EPA is requiring large commercial businesses in Milford, Bellingham and Franklin to apply more stringent controls on stormwater pollution running off roofs and parking lots.

While town officials agreed the stormwater regulations are necessary, they worry the financial impact could compromise the livelihood of local property owners.

"I think it's the right thing to do," said Franklin DPW Director Brutus Cantoreggi. "On the other hand, I do understand the plight of businesses and the cost associated with it."

Bellingham Public Works Director Don DiMartino said property owners may need assistance in complying with the regulations.

"I believe it's a good idea, but if it's that important there should be a federal program to help and ensure the businesses don't go bankrupt," he said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Related articles can be found here and the Town Council discussion on storm water from July can be found here.

School Committee Agenda - 11/18/08

Call to order Mr. Roy
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence

1. Routine Business

• Citizen’s Comments
• Review of Agenda
• Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the DATE School Committee Meeting.
• Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly
• Payroll Ms. Armenio
• FHS Student Representatives

Correspondence

1. Budget to Actual
2. Memo from Miriam?

2. Guests/Presentations

• Community Health Council Update

3. Discussion Only Items

• Refreshed Statement of Interest
• Capital Needs

• Facilities
• Instructional Services
  

4. Action Items

1. I recommend acceptance of a check for $83.03 from Target’s Take Charge of Education Program for Remington Middle School for classroom supplies.
2. I recommend acceptance of the gift of folding chairs and chair truck and 4 overhead projectors from Resh, Inc. valued at $3,276.00 for the Davis Thayer Elementary School.
3. I recommend approval of the recurring field trip for the FHS Wrestling Team to Greenbush, NY for a meet from 12/26 to 12/27/08.
4. I recommend approval of the recurring field trip for the FHS Wrestling Team to Salem, NH for a meet on 12/23/08.
5. I recommend approval of the recurring field trip for the FHS Wrestling team to Warwick, RI for a meet on 1/17/09.

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report

• October 1 Report
• Enrollment Comparison

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business

• To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Executive Session

• Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn

Red Molly at Circle of Friends Coffeehouse - 11/22/08

The next show
Saturday
November 22nd
8:00PM

RED MOLLY
with special guest
Anthony Da Costa, $15

For tickets and other information visit the Circle of Friends website here

The state will give facilities and landowners 10 years to comply

Image via Wikipedia

The US Environmental Protection Agency is set to announce today that it will, for the first time, require some big-box stores, malls, and other businesses to reduce the amount of rainwater that runs off their roofs and parking lots. Federal officials will test the new policy in the Massachusetts towns of Milford, Bellingham, and Franklin.

The EPA, using its authority under the Clean Water Act, will require large commercial and industrial landowners in these towns to steeply reduce the storm-water runoff that picks up pollutants and pours them into the Charles River, officials said last week in interviews. Storm-water runoff is rain and snowmelt that mixes with leaf litter, toxic metals, oil, and exhaust fume deposits as it washes over parking lots, rooftops, and roadways.

"Cities and towns are already investing a lot in storm water," said Ken Moraff, deputy director for ecosystem protection of the EPA's New England region. "These commercial facilities are missing pieces of the puzzle." The new regulations, he said, will help complete the cleanup effort.

In a parallel development, the state Department of Environmental Protection plans to release its own draft rules today that will expand the effort to reduce storm-water runoff throughout the 35 communities that make up the Charles River Watershed area.

Read the full article in the Boston Globe here

This is not a surprise, you may recall the Storm Water presentation at the Town Council Meeting July 23, 2008