NewBCamp - Providence College - Apr 19

What:
Come to learn and share about the new technology in social media tools! Blogs, podcasting, networking, Twitter, video blogging, etc.

Where:
Providence College

When:
April 19 - 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

More Information and registration:
Click here

Franklin's Earth Day Celebration

Franklin's Earth Day Celebration
Saturday April 18th, 2009
Beaver Pond
Starts at 9:00 AM

Volunteer to clean up targeted areas and assist with planting flowers and shrubs around Franklin.

- Please bring your own water bottle.

- Please bring your own gloves and rakes.

- Community service certificates will be issued.

- T-shirts to the first 200 volunteers.

- Clean up goes to 1:00 PM


Get some Eco-Info at Beaver Pond:

- Water conservation kits and rain barrel display.

- Mercury thermometer exchange for digital thermometers.

- Recycling tips and composting information.

- Energy conservation tips.

- Much more ! ! !


You can register on the Town website here

Disclosure Statement

• This blog doesn't accept ads or sponsorships.
• I don't own stock or accept royalties from any company or product mentioned on this blog.
• I don't serve on the board of any company.
• If the occasion were to come up, I would consider accepting samples of stuff with a nominal value (under $20 or so).
• I will tell you that there is no correlation between mentioning stuff and whether or not someone sent it to me.
• I write about what I find interesting and I think will interest you as a reader.

My goal in maintaining this blog is to share my ideas and hopefully create a conversation that will generate something more than we each started with.

My success will be determined by your readership and comments (or lack thereof).

I consider myself an amateur writer, a lifelong learner.

Specifically with regards to the Franklin override votes that occurred previously on May 22, 2007, and June 10, 2008: You should be aware that my wife is a kindergarten teacher in Franklin. My two daughters are recent (2004, 2006) graduates of Franklin High School and both are doing well. One has completed college and is now out in the working world. The other is in the middle of her college years. There are a few other good reasons for me to be writing about this issue. I will continue to elaborate on them here.

One last matter: a number of folks have asked me from time to time, if I would consider running for a local office (either Town Council or School Committee).

The answer has been “No”.

I expect that the answer will not change anytime soon.

Especially now, while I am looking for work, I can not commit to something like running for a town position when I don't know what my work commitment will be. I also feel that I am providing a valuable public service in the writing and sharing of the information that I currently provide here on Franklin Matters.

I do this as my hobby. I was fully employed and did my blogging/writing, etc. in my "off hours". I expect to be fully employed again. Until that time, I will be working and networking to identify that opportunity.


Updated 9/28/09 - I have accepted a contract position with Veritude to work on a project at Fidelity Investments. As this is only a short-term contract position, I will continue to identify a longer-term position.  


Updated 2/1/2010 - the contract position has been completed, I am now resuming my search efforts.

Updated 3/29/15 - After several years of employment at RBS Citizens, I have resigned that position to accept a role with John Hancock in Boston, MA


Disclosure announcement
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/08/disclosure-announcement.html


If anything changes with what I have said here, I will let you know.

I promise.


A similar version of this is found on the Why Franklin Matters page

Clever Commute - video

I have posted previously about Clever Commute and what a good idea it is. Josh Crandall, the guy behind the idea, has this video to explain how Clever Commute works.




It is free and it works because you, and I, and others on the Franklin Line make it work.

Join Clever Commute here

Cafe Dolce - Updated slides

I had a slide show of photos taken before Cafe Dolce opened. I added some to the set from opening day.

Updated 4/13/09 - more pictures were added from the "grand opening" held on 4/13/09.



Enjoy!

BTW - you can visit their website here

Garnet Rogers - Circle of Friends Coffeehouse

Famed Canadian performer Garnet Rogers will be appearing at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse on Saturday, April 18th at 8:00 PM. Garnet has established himself as "one of the major talents of our time". Hailed by the Boston Globe as a "charismatic performer and singer", Garnet is a man with a powerful physical presence and a voice to match. With his "smooth. dark baritone" his incredible range, and thoughtful, dramatic phrasing, Garnet is widely considered by fans and critics alike to be one of the finest singers anywhere. His music, like the man himself, is literate, passionate, highly sensitive, with a deep purpose. An optimist at heart, Garnet sings extraordinary songs about people who are not obvious heroes and of the small victories of the everyday. As memorable as his songs, his over the top humor and lightning-quick wit moves his audience from tears to laughter and back again. Garnet suggests that you bring a non-perishable food item as a donation to the Franklin Food Pantry.

The next show
Saturday,
April 18th, 8:00PM

GARNET ROGERS
with special guest
Marc Douglas Berardo $15

You can purchase tickets in advance through the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse website

"Consistency is the key"

Cafe Dolce is open and doing good business based upon time I spent there this morning.

“It'll take time. He'll do well. It is not easy to get established.” Dominic Narducci said.

Maggie Glassman and Xuen Wguven sat talking at one of the tall tables. Maggie is one of the English as a Second Language tutors from the Franklin Library. “I love it. We'll make this our regular coffee spot. We'll come by at least once a week.” She found an open parking spot across the street and fed it some change to cover their time talking over coffee.

Gary Razzonate is glad Cafe Dolce is open. He and his family had moved to Franklin from the Roslindale/Jamaica Plain section of Boston. Being a city person, he loved having the Zeotrope and MelDiva's within walking distance. Unfortunately, he only got to the movies a couple of times before it closed and then MelDiva's closed shortly after. “It was disheartening to see the downtown so empty. My daughter loved to go to MelDiva's. She was crushed when it closed. This is great! I'll walk here, allow a few minutes to get coffee before getting on the train.”

John P Murphy III and I talked for some time while he was connecting with a friend or two to stop down. “This town is full of real working people. The number of masons and landscapers per capita must be the highest in the state.” He looks forward to coming back to sit with his laptop like he used to across the street at MelDiva's. “This is a good place. I really hope they make it.”

Advice for making it here? “Consistency. I had a sandwich at a pizza place on Friday. It was good, a nice Italian. I go back on Sunday, get the same sandwich and it's not the same thing. What'd they do? Consistency is the key. You know what they're going to do, what it's going to be.”




Best of luck to BJ, David, Leisa and Samantha!