Franklin Matters

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

New Items at Franklin Public Library

New Items for February 2011

from Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library

Browse a list of new books, dvds, music, games and audiobooks recently added to the collection. Click the title link to check availability in the Minuteman Library Catalog.

New Children's Items Feb. 2011

from Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library

Franklin, MA

Curbside Chronicle: Apr - Jun 2011

The Franklin DPW has published the Curbside Chronicle for Apr - Jun 2011.

Curbside Chronicle for Apr - Jun 2011

Franklin, MA

In the News - Private wells, child porn

Private wells may have high levels of arsenic, uranium

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Brian Benson, Daily News staff

Former Millis man convicted of possessing child porn now out of jail and living in Franklin

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Brian Benson, Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Public Health Advisory: Private drinking water wells

Mass DEP/USGS Arsenic and Uranium Bedrock Well Study, Public Health Advisory

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Drinking Water Program released the results of a U.S. Geological Survey study regarding arsenic and uranium in private drinking water wells in Massachusetts on March 21, 2011.

The study suggests that naturally occurring arsenic and uranium levels in some private drinking water wells in Franklin may exceed recommended levels. Mass DEP has developed a comprehensive website to provide town residents with information regarding the details of the study, the resources for determining if one’s well may be impacted, as well as information on well testing and mitigation procedures.

At the current time, only private drinking water wells in a small area of southwest Franklin have been determined to be suspect based on maps provided by Mass DEP.

The Franklin Health Department urges residents in the suspect areas to carefully review all information on the Mass DEP website, and to have their drinking water wells tested and treated as necessary.

Residents who are served by the town’s public drinking water wells are not affected by this advisory.

Important Contacts:

For questions regarding the US Geological Survey report contact John Colman at USGS at (508)-490-5027.

For questions regarding health effects of arsenic and uranium contact Massachusetts Department of Public Health at (617)-624-5757 or (800)-240-4266.

For questions regarding arsenic mitigation contact Joe Cerutti, Mass DEP at (617) 292-5859.

For questions regarding uranium mitigation contact Steve Hallem, Mass DEP at (617)-292-5681.

You may also contact the Franklin Health Department at (508)-520-4905.

http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/drinking/au/aulocate.htm

Franklin, MA

Anthony Robles defines the impossible

I posted the other day about taking on the impossible. As impressive as Sarah Kay was with her words and delivery, Anthony is that much more impressive!

What is impossible?

Franklin, MA

"create a more pedestrian-friendly downtown"

"Downtown is a very unique area," Taberner told about 25 people who attended the meeting. "It is much different than a half-mile (away). It's perfect for transit-oriented, mixed-use (development)."

That overall concept is still important to creating a vibrant downtown, but planning staff plan to soften some of the planned changes from downtown's current commercial zoning as a result of the meeting, he said.

The proposal initially included parking mandates for residential and commercial space, but the new plan requires 1.5 spaces per residential unit and no commercial parking. Under current zoning, there are no parking requirements for residential or commercial projects allowed by right.

That change pleased Diane Glass, who owns a commercial building on East Central Street. Glass worried that if property owners were required to add parking spaces for commercial space, they would limit the parking to their customers, creating empty spaces when those businesses were closed.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x617855042/Franklin-officials-to-soften-changes-in-downtown-zoning#ixzz1HJpjBFp7

My notes from the meeting can be found here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/live-reporting-downtown-commercial.html

Note: The sentence
"But several town councilors and downtown business and property owners worried the proposal would drive away businesses by making height, parking and other requirements too strict."

Would be more accurate if it read as follows:

"But several downtown business and property owners worried the proposal would drive away businesses by making height, parking and other requirements too strict." Only 1 Town Councilor was present at the meeting.

Franklin, MA

"expected to create 150 full- and part-time jobs"

Big Y representatives met with town officials last week, outlining a preliminary plan under which construction would begin in July, Planning Director Bryan Taberner said.
Representatives of the Springfield-based supermarket chain "came back to talk in general terms and figure out what steps they have to take," Taberner said.

One of the biggest hurdles will be coordinating with the state Department of Transportation to install a traffic light at the supermarket's entrance, he said.

The Planning Board approved the 56,800-square-foot store in June. It will be built across the street from the Franklin Municipal Building, on the former site of the Franklin Buffet restaurant, 348 East Central St.

"Any development there right now would be a good thing. In general, commercial development is needed" to expand the tax base and create jobs, Taberner said.