Sign up Form for Build Day!

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Sign up Form for Build Day!

via Growing In Franklin by Franklin Community Gardens on 4/28/11

Calling all Volunteers!
Sign up for Build Day!

Click on this link to open the registration form:


FORM

questions?
email us at franklincommunitygardens@gmail.com

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Growing In Franklin using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

"We feel like we made an excellent decision"

Franklin switched to a single-stream system in July under which residents combine paper, cardboard, glass and cans into a new 65-gallon container. Residents also received a new trash container. 

The town borrowed $800,000 to buy both the trash and recycling containers, a cost that will mostly be paid off by user fees. 

The grant reimburses Franklin for about 20 percent of the $400,000 cost for the recycling containers, helping the town repay that money sooner without raising fees, Department of Public Works Director Robert Cantoreggi said. 

Since the switch, the amount of material recycled has increased by 15 percent while the amount of trash has decreased by more than 18 percent, a trend Cooper said has been seen in many of the 70 Massachusetts communities that have adopted single-stream recycling programs since 2005. 

Franklin is expected to save more than $100,000 in disposal costs and earn $20,000 in new recycling revenue this fiscal year, statistics provided by Cooper's department show.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/features/x730838910/Franklin-gets-praise-bucks-for-going-to-single-stream-recycling#ixzz1KuKJEGbd

State Rep Jim Vallee announced this grant earlier this week
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/04/franklin-to-receive-state-recycling.html

Prior posts on the recycling series can be found here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/03/franklin-ma-trash-collection.html


Franklin, MA

In the News - Dean College

Former Dean College students settle suit against officers

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

Franklin, MA

Reminder: Calling for the Pantry: Apr 30 - May 3

Volunteers for the Franklin Food Pantry will be calling residents of Franklin, MA as part of a fundraising effort during specific time periods from Apr 30 through May 3, 2011. The volunteers will be using the phone bank at Dean College to call residents on Saturday, Apr 30 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Sunday, May 1 from Noon to 4:00 PM. Monday, May 2 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Tuesday, May 3 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

The volunteers will announce that this is the first annual phone call fundraising effort for the Food Pantry. The Pantry is looking to raise funds to provide for the over 400 families it services each month. The Pantry is able to provide 5 meals for each $1 donated by leveraging the resources of the Greater Boston Food Bank, local supermarkets, local farmers and generosity of the Franklin community.

Donors will be asked to make their contribution via credit card, or to make a pledge. The pledge will result in regular mail sent to their address which can be returned via the mail with a check, or the check could be dropped off at the Pantry during operating hours.

As an alternative, donors can visit the Food Pantry website and make a secure transaction with their credit card via Google Checkout. The website can be found at http://franklinfoodpantry.org/

Note that the volunteer calls will appear as “Dean College” for those with caller ID.
The Food Pantry thanks Dean College for the gracious access to their phone bank for this fundraiser.

Volunteers to make the phone calls are still welcome. There are several time slots to choose from over the four day campaign. If you would like to help with this effort, please contact Maureen Roy.

Saturday, April 30th
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 1st
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Monday, May 2nd
6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 3rd
6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m


For additional information on the campaign, contact Maureen Roy at the Franklin Food Pantry. Telephone Number: 508-528-3115. Maureen can also be reached via email at maureen@franklinfoodpantry.org

Web site address http://franklinfoodpantry.org/


We believe in the power of community. Our mission is to connect the resources needed to sustain a healthy life.


The Franklin Food Pantry was established in 1987. We provide supplemental food and non-food items to the needy in Franklin. The Food Pantry was housed in various temporary locations until June 2009 when thanks to the generosity and support of Rockland Trust, the Pantry moved to our current home at 43 West Central Street. The Franklin Food Pantry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.



Note: I have added a Food Pantry 'Donate button' on the Franklin Matters website. The button takes you through the process of making a donation to the Food Pantry directly. The same button can be found on the Food Pantry website.

Franklin, MA

"ready to tackle the issues"

"We want to ... really focus on what we think will make the biggest impact with the town," said Chairman Douglas Hardesty. 

Hardesty presented a list of priorities he compiled from brainstorming sessions with the current committee and items the previous Long Range Financial Planning Committee was unable to fully evaluate. 

The list includes projecting and evaluating retirement benefits, the high school project, the tax burden, efforts to change state legislation and road and other capital investments. 

"We want to take a problem and say (to the council or School Committee) here's your portfolio of options," committee member Greg DiMarzio said. 

The previous committee, comprised mostly of elected officials, produced a report that explained the town faced a structural deficit in which revenue growth was less than what was required to maintain services. They projected that, through 2014, expenses would grow faster than revenue by $7 million to 10 million.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1336254064/Franklin-long-range-board-debates-future-emphasis#ixzz1KoD482Ra

Prior meeting reports are available here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/p/meeting-notes-2008.html



Franklin, MA

In the News - Fusion Fest, identity fraud, municipal guide, Historical Museum

1st Annual Franklin Fusion Fest planned

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin man indicted on 67 identity fraud charges

by Brian Benson, Daily News staff

Franklin’s municipal guide on town website

by Staff reports

Franklin Historical Museum seeking logo submissions

by Staff reports

Franklin, MA

"architects realized the costs would be similar"

The state is expected to reimburse the town between 53 and 58 percent of the cost, leaving the town to fund $30.8 million, $40.8 million, $45.6 million or $38.5 million, respectively, depending on the option. 

Dorothy Miller, who has a son in middle school and another who is a sophomore, said she worried renovating the existing building would significantly disrupt classes.
School officials said a new school would be built on nearby fields while students attend class in the existing building. 

In a renovation, "where would they put them?" said Robert Cloutier, 55, who has a son in eighth grade. "In the gym?" 

Cloutier said he worries about the cost, but said it's time to do something with the school, which was built in 1971. Project officials said it has outdated science labs, utilities systems and no elevators. 

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said during the meeting that a $35 million renovation would cost the owner of the average home valued at $360,000 an extra $235 a year while a $40 million model school would cost $265 a year, based upon current property values. A Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion override would need to be passed to pay for any of the options, most likely in the fall.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1294652027/Franklin-residents-like-model-high-school-idea#ixzz1KiLFl8QI

The March School Building Committee meeting is available here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/live-reporting-school-building.html


Franklin, MA