"Drive Smart and Save"

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"Drive Smart and Save"

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 6/30/11

The Patrick-Murray Administration today announced a new online resource that can help Massachusetts residents and visitors to save money on gas and travel. The "Drive Smart and Save" program offers tips for cost-friendly driving techniques that can save travelers money on fuel expenses, improve fuel economy by up to 33 percent, and help reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

"Drive Smart and Save" supports GreenDOT, a comprehensive environmental responsibility and sustainability initiative of MassDOT.  "Drive Smart and Save" tips include:
•    Drive Less -- When your travel plans allow, try taking public transportation, walking, biking, or carpooling.
•    Set It at 60 -- Drive the posted speed limit, or even a bit less on the highway, to see increased fuel economy. Fuel consumption increases about 5 percent for every five miles per hour driven above 60 mph. And use your cruise control – keeping a steady speed will also save fuel.
•    Easy on the Pedals -- Avoid fast starts and hard stops to decrease fuel use. Travelers should join FAST LANE prior to hitting the roads this summer to avoid traffic at the tolls – this can save lots of time, as well as fuel.
•    Turn It Off -- Shut off your engine when you are stopped. Idling wastes gas and is bad for the environment.
•    Click the Cap - Make sure your gas cap is tight to prevent fuel evaporation and to improve air quality.
•    Check the Pressure - Proper tire pressure is safer, extends tire life, and can provide up to 3% mpg benefit per tank of fuel. Check your tire pressure monthly, and pump your tires up to the recommended level (which can usually be found on the sticker in your driver's door frame).
Additional ideas for fuel savings can be found at:  www.mass.gov/massdot/drivesmart

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"that line is drawn at two miles"

The fee is for students who live less than two miles from school, under the assumption that the child could walk to school. 

School administrators said this week the changes are the result of upgrades to maps used to organize bus routes. 

Students in kindergarten through sixth grade who live more than two miles from school can take the bus for free. Other students must pay $325 to ride the bus. There is a family cap of $975. 

That policy has not changed, but the updated maps show more details, allowing administrators to more accurately determine where a student's home is and how far it is from school. 

That means some families that weren't assessed a fee will now have to pay; others that used to pay can now ride for free.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x706706302/Bus-fee-changes-irk-some-Franklin-parents#ixzz1QkcKMSkg

"There's a lot of efficiencies here"

Administrators will now discuss the terms of a contract with Whitsons. A contract would ultimately be signed by Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting and does not need to be approved by the School Committee, Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski said. 

Hoping a private company could better meet new federal and state nutrition requirements and have greater purchasing power than the current district-run program, the committee in April authorized the administrators to seek proposals to operate the food service. Whitsons, Sodexo, Aramark and Chartwells submitted proposals. 

Administrators told the committee last night that they were impressed with Whitsons' dedication to cooking many foods from scratch, using less processed foods than competitors, selling competitively priced food, training cafeteria workers and offering allergy-free products and organic foods. They were also impressed with a visit to Attleboro schools, where Whitsons operates. 

"We really felt they have the (capabilities) to meet the needs of all our students and offer a variety of foods," Sabolinski said.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x706706032/Franklin-schools-will-get-private-food-firm#ixzz1QelemPLO


Also from Tuesday's School Committee meeting:

Blogging helps kids in Franklin connect

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

Recycling Center News

Attached is the new information for the Beaver St. Recycling Center. We are taking more products for recycling.

In addition we will be enforcing fines for dumping and bringing in unacceptable items and trash to the facility.

Beaver St Recycling - July 1, 2011

In the News - 4th July, recycling, well,

Franklin July 4 festival ready to go, June 30-July 4

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin recycling center taking new items

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin may start using well again soon

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

Slick Back Swagger at Cole's Tavern Thursday

Slick Back Swagger will be playing at Cole's Tavern on Thursday evening to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. The band is scheduled to play from 9:00 PM to 11:30 PM.

The show is 21+

Tickets to the show are 5 dollars and will be sold at the door. Slick Back Swagger will be playing in the downstairs room at Cole's.

The Franklin Food Pantry will have a van set up outside of Cole's where food and monetary donations can be made. The van will be around all day, even if you can not make the show, you could stop by to donate. All donations are appreciated.

If you would like to drop off something for the Food Pantry, their current needs are:
Health & Beauty – Shampoo, Soap, Deodorant, Razors
Paper Products – Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels, Feminine
Baked Beans / Dry Beans
Baking Mixes, Flour, Sugar
Canned Meat/Fish
Canned Pasta (chef boyardeeish)
Cereal
Coffee/Tea
Condiments / Dressings
Flavored Rice and/or Pasta Side Dishes
Potatoes
Spices / Seasonings
Fresh and Frozen Produce always welcome!

What's a NY band doing playing in Franklin?
The drummer is from Franklin!



Additional videos can be found on Slick Back Swagger's YouTube Channel

Where is Cole's Tavern?


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Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - 6/28/11

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

Mission Statement

The Franklin Public Schools, in collaboration with the community, will cultivate each student's intellectual, social, emotional and physical potential through rigorous academic inquiry and informed problem solving skills within a safe, nurturing and respectful environment.

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the June 14, 2011 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills - Mr. Glynn
Payroll - Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: none

2. Guests/Presentations
a. ASMS – Rachel’s Challenge/Friends of Rachel
b. Blogging Project – Laura Welshoff / Jen Slater


3. Discussion Only Items
Food Service Program
Transportation – Pay to Ride
Policy – First Reading
o JNN – Head Injuries & Concussion in Extracurricular Activities
o JKG – Educational Services in the home or hospital

4. Action Items
a. I recommend the School Committee authorize the administration enter into negotiations with Whitson’s to assume the management functions of the school dining program.
b. I recommend approval of the budget transfers as detailed.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $84.03 from Follett for Supplemental Curriculum materials for Jefferson Elementary School.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $10.67 from Follett for the Jefferson Elementary School.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3000.00 from the HMMS PCC for In-house enrichment.
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $100.00 from the Jefferson PCC for Remington Best Buddies (in-house enrichment).
g. I recommend acceptance of a check for $200.00 from Alexandra LePage for Remington in-house enrichment.

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn