Seniors, veterans, all it takes
Is one phone call with Bob
To get it started
Marina Smoske, an eighth-grader at Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School, looks and sounds no different than any other 14-year-old.
She is energetic, beautiful and loves theater. She can't wait to join other kids who know all the lyrics to musicals at Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick where she has been accepted. She is just crossing her fingers, praying that she'll get the scholarships she needs to attend her dream school.
And she definitely knows what she believes - she's got strong opinions and enjoys expressing them.
But Smoske is different than most of her peers: She was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism, , at age 4.
Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Web site.
Read the full article about Marina's effort in the Milford Daily News here
Concerned about Franklin's Finances?
Brutus Cantoreggi, director of Public Works, has announced New England Rain Barrel will be holding the annual rain barrel sale.
Orders may be placed until May 8, 2009. Pick up day is Wednesday, May 13 at 150 Emmons St. from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Rain barrels will be offered to Franklin residents at the retail price of $72.50 , instead of the regularly price of $119.95, by The New England Rain Barrel Company.
The rain barrels are made from 55-gallon blue plastic recycled containers. The barrels have a 6-inch diameter inlet opening covered with a screened louver to keep insects and debris out. The barrels have two brass spigots, one to connect a hose for watering and the other for overflow. They feature a 5-foot hose with a shutoff valve. Multiple barrels can be linked together for additional capacity.
To contact New England Rain Barrel, call 877-977-3135 or log on to www.nerainbarrel.com.