Franklin Matters

Saturday, May 19, 2012

“The music, the friendships, you can’t beat them"

She said that, even while eating dinner during trips for the famous singing competitions, people recognized the signature matching costumes. The group would leave their dinners, choose a song amongst themselves and perform for the people in the restaurant.

Their travels took them to places such as New Orleans, Hawaii, Nova Scotia and London.

“And that happened everywhere,” Dempsey said, laughing. “We just loved to sing.”

“It hits at the legislative intent"

The case, which hinged on the court’s interpretation of the word “convicted,” only affects drivers whose first drunken driving offense resulted in a plea where they admitted to sufficient facts for a finding of guilty, but did not plead guilty or were not found guilty. Since those cases do not result in convictions, they cannot be counted, the court found.

Melanie’s Law mandates a 3-year license suspension of a driver with a previous drunken driving conviction who refuses to take a breath test.

“If the Legislature, in enacting Melanie’s Law, had wanted to include an admission to sufficient facts in the definition of ‘convicted,’ it could have done so explicitly,” wrote Supreme Judicial Court Justice Margot Botsford.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Weekend Outlook

Friday

Low flying helicopters today
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/alert-low-flying-helicopters-friday-may.html

Saturday

Oak St PCC Fund Raiser - Franklin Caf'e & Grill - 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/oak-st-pcc-fund-raiser-sat-may-19th.html

Library Book Sale - 9:00 - 4:00 PM
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/library-book-sale-this-weekend.html

DPW - "Touch a truck" - 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

A Tomato Planting & Support Demonstration - 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
http://www.franklincommunitygardens.org/2012/05/may-educational-and-event-calendar.html

Master Plan Committee Public Hearing - 10:00 AM - noon?
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/master-plan-hearing-this-saturday.html

Sunday Cub Scout Registration - Sunday 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/franklin-cub-scouts-running.html

HMEA 5K Independence Run/Walk
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/hmea-11th-annual-independence-5k-may.html

BBC Fund Raiser for Kelly/Lazinski Family
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/bbc-fundraiser-for-kellylazinski-family.html

“It’s giving back”

The books ran the gamut of the body’s systems. Santorsola’s taught about the digestive system — eventually Josh convinced his friends to like vegetables, too.

A cartoon cheetah who forgot to stretch before running taught students about the muscular system, while a boy confined to a wheelchair after an accident taught children about the nervous system.

In all the stories, something left the main character feeling left out, whether it was a health issue or something such as a piece of broccoli that wanted to be eaten by candy-loving kids.

There was a simple anti-bullying message underlying all the stories: People aren’t so different and everybody is better off when we all get along.

Oak St PCC - Fund Raiser - Sat May 19th

The Oak St PCC will benefit from 10% of all the purchases at the Franklin Caf'e and Grill on 418 W Central St during their open hours on Saturday, May 19th.

So for breakfast, lunch or dinner you can eat and help the Oak St PCC!

Disclosure: my wife teaches kindergarten at Oak St

In the News: scam alert, grand marshal, assessors

Franklin police warn residents of scam

by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff

Bissanti Sr. grand marshal for Franklin's parade

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

New member needed for Franklin board

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Court date set for teen suspected in Franklin home invasion

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Master Plan Hearing this Saturday

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Master Plan Hearing this Saturday

via Franklin Downtown Partnership by noreply@blogger.com (Franklin Downtown Partnership) on 5/16/12

FRANKLIN - Franklin's Master Plan Committee will hold its second of two public hearings on Saturday morning to hear from residents about what they want for the future of Franklin. The hearing is scheduled for Saturday, May 19 at 10:00 in the conference room at Franklin Public Library.

"This hearing will afford Franklin residents another opportunity to provide input on the planning process, and get involved early in developing the Franklin's Master Plan," noted Committee Chairman and Town Councilor Jeffrey Roy. "We have been meeting for several months formulating a structure for our work, and we want to hear from the Franklin community about priorities and concerns. We have scheduled the two hearings to afford citizens a good opportunity to participate in the process."

The committee held its first public hearing on Tuesday, May 9, 2012. You can read the Milford Daily News report on that meeting at http://tinyurl.com/7q5pxbc

In December 2011, following the election of a new Town Council, the Master Plan Committee was formed to develop documents, review research and data, and obtain public input to outline and compose a Master Plan for the community. In addition, the Committee will incorporate a strategic plan into this effort that will invite residents to visit the questions of who we are and what we want for our community.

"Attending a public hearing will provide Franklin's residents and organizations a great opportunity to provide the Town's Master Plan Committee with input as the Committee works toward development of a vision for the Town's future," said Bryan Taberner, the Director of Franklin's Planning & Community Development Department. "The public process is an extremely important component of any comprehensive planning process, as the resulting goals and objectives will help to focus the decision making of Town officials well into the future."

By law, a Master Plan is a statement through text, maps, illustrations or other forms of communication that is designed to provide a basis for decision making regarding the long-term physical development of the municipality. In that context, the committee is looking at the following elements: Land Use, Housing, Economic Development, Circulation, Open Space and Recreation, Natural, Cultural and Historic Resources, Community Services, and Facilities. The Committee will establish recommendations for goals and policies in these areas and develop an implementation plan. The report is expected to be delivered to the Town Council by June 2013.

Beth Dahlstrom, Franklin's Town Planner is hoping to learn how the residents of Franklin view the community in which they live. She is interested in learning about what the residents see as the most important aspects of the community and what can the Town can do to enhance areas within the community to make it a better place to live. "I then hope the Master Plan Committee will be able to then use the information obtained at the Public Hearing to help formulate goals and objectives for use in the Master Plan," noted Dahlstrom..

The Master Plan Committee members are Jeffrey Roy, Chairman, Matt Kelly, Vice Chairman, Andy Bissanti, Secretary, Christi Apicella, Nathan Carlucci, John Carroll, David F. Dobrzynski, Jay Duncan, James Esterbrook , Gene Grella, Jeff Livingstone, Greg Rondeau, Timothy C. Twardowski, and Chris Vericker.

The Committee has a website on the Franklin Town page athttp://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_BComm/Masterplan. It also has a presence on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/FranklinMasterPlan. In addition to the public hearings, residents can offer input online at either site.