"Only those who risk going too far will know how far they can go."

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 06, 2009 @ 01:00 AM

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FRANKLIN —

In his last speech to the Class of 2009, Superintendent Wayne Ogden urged the 370 graduating seniors, "Educate your soul, and your spirit."

"I'm pretty darn sure the world has enough smart people - it (needs) people with compassion and integrity," Ogden said.

A "good, successful human being" is balanced, he said.

He told students now that they are graduating, they "can start the process of learning."

It may seem a strange bit of advice from a school superintendent, but he explained that for too many young people, the pursuit of a credential is substituted for the pursuit of knowledge and understanding.

"Seek knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. An associate's or bachelor's degree will fall into place," Ogden said.

To those who are not planning to go college, Ogden said, "you can learn a tremendous amount without going to school."

Read the full article on the FHS Graduation in the Milford Daily News here

The list of graduates can be found in the Milford Daily News here

"it's unlikely the bills were lost"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 04, 2009 @ 10:50 PM

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FRANKLIN —

The town treasurer mailed excise bills in February, but about 600 residents never received them, and now they've gotten hit with late fees and interest penalties, said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

Nutting attributes the problem to a mailing error on the part of the U.S. Postal Service.

"When one person says they didn't get their bill, that's one thing, but when hundreds of people are coming in and telling the same story, you have to believe it's true," said Nutting.

"They've been coming in and saying, 'Why do I have to pay this? I never got an original bill,"' he said.

Read the full article about the missing excise tax bills in the Milford Daily News here

Four Corners sale complete

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 04, 2009 @ 10:53 PM

Last update Jun 05, 2009 @ 12:07 AM

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FRANKLIN —

The town sold the former Four Corners School to Arista Development LLC and got the check for $2.5 million Tuesday, said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

Norwood-based Arista is replacing the building at the intersection of Rte. 140 and King Street with a Walgreens pharmacy.

About $1 million of the money will be used to pay the existing debt on the property, which the town bought for $1.32 million, Nutting said.

Town Council voted Wednesday to put the $1 million in an escrow account for that purpose.

The remainder of the funds can be used for any bondable expense, or capital project, such as building repairs, but cannot legally be used for operational costs, such as salaries or schools, and cannot be put into free cash, Nutting said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

"The retirees' loss will not be temporary"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 04, 2009 @ 12:47 AM

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FRANKLIN —

The teachers union is slated to vote on a new proposal for wage concessions in the coming weeks, according to School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy.

The School Committee is asking the union to defer its negotiated 2.5 percent wage increase for one year, at which point the union will receive both a 2.5 percent raise, plus any new negotiated pay increase, Roy said.

The union has offered to take the wage freeze, as well as to forgo course reimbursements for one year, but demanded three permanent contractual changes in exchange.

The School Committee rejected that offer, and the union rejected a counter-proposal by the School Committee.

On June 15, the teachers union will meet to take a ratification vote on a proposal that strikes contractual language requiring teachers to give a reason for personal days, and eliminates one of the additional after-school meetings, in exchange for a 2.5 percent wage increase deferment, according to a copy of the proposal.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Since Bob McLaughlin was unavailable for comment to create this article, the quotations from him were taken from his posting to the teacher's website on Memorial Day, May 25th. Read his full posting here.

"the most fiscally responsible and educationally appropriate solution"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 04, 2009 @ 12:38 AM

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FRANKLIN —

Slowly but surely, the plan to renovate or build a new Franklin High School is moving ahead, with a favorable vote from the Massachusetts School Building Authority allowing the town to conduct a feasibility study, according to School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy.

Yesterday, the authority's board of directors voted to invite the town to conduct the study to assess the needs of Franklin High School, said state building authority press secretary Carrie Sullivan.

The "invitation to collaborate" on a feasibility study does not mean the the organization has approved the project, Sullivan said.

"It is strictly an invitation to the Franklin school district to work with the (authority) to explore potential solutions to the problems that have been identified," she said.

Roy called the authority's decision "very significant, because we're now more in the pipeline."

Read the full article on this latest development in the FHS renovation process in the Milford Daily News

"It's a war, it's one we have to win"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 04, 2009 @ 12:25 AM

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FRANKLIN —

Town Council last night suspended the liquor licenses of three establishments caught selling alcohol to minors in a police sting.

Police Chief Steven Williams told the Town Council that the sting on May 15 involved six officers and three teenagers working undercover to check all of Franklin's 31 establishments licensed to sell alcohol.

The teens were told to show their actual licenses, which indicate their date of birth, a phrase in red stating that they are under 21, and which are also vertical, also signifying they are underage, Williams said.

Although some councilors were sympathetic toward the owners of Devita's Market, 198 East Central St., and and J.B.'s Liquor World, 365 West Central St., both first-time offenders, they ultimately voted to stand by their precedent of suspending the liquor licenses for three days.

Devita's Market and Liquor World will lose their liquor license for one day Friday and have two days held in abeyance for two years, the council voted.

The council also took Williams' recommendation and suspended Teppanyaki Restaurant's liquor license for five days, starting Friday.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

NO Live reporting available tonight

Yes, hard to believe but true. I have a prior engagement this evening and won't be live reporting from the Town Council meeting.

You'll need to tune it to the meeting via cable or via the live webcast.

Of course, you also have the option of coming on down to the Municipal building to participate in person. The seat I usually occupy near the column behind the presentation table will be open (at least I won't be in it).

I'll catch up with the meeting when the video is posted to the web.

If you find any good spots during the meeting let me know.