Tri-County students offer services to the public

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Tri-County students offer services to the public

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 9/19/12

Tri-County RVTHS Superintendent-Director Stephen Dockray has announced that the school's Career Technical Program students are now offering a full complement of services to the public for nominal fees.

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Do you know Franklin's muscle man?

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Do you know Franklin's muscle man?

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by Matt Tota/Daily News staff on 9/19/12

Last year, representatives of the "Guinness Book of World Records" traveled here from London to measure Moustafa Ismail's Herculean 31-inch biceps. The local bodybuilder, who said he benches up to 500 pounds, was told he had a slim chance to make it into Guinness' 57th book of records for having the biggest biceps and triceps in the world.

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Town Council meeting - Sep 19, 2012, 7:00 PM

Friendly reminder that the Town Council meeting is Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers.

The agenda and associated documents were posted here on Sunday
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/09/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-sep-19.html

On the agenda:

An appointment of a constable. There are five candidates one will be appointed to fulfill the unexpired term of Robert Jarvis who has recently passed away. At the next election, the seat will be open for vote.

Transfer of the liquor license for the liquor store in the small plaza at exit 16, next to Dunkin Donuts which will do business as Pour Richard's Wine and Spirits.



An update from Dean College. Dean sits in the middle of Franklin, how involved is it in the community?

Dept of Health David McKearney - likely an update on the move of the needle kiosk from the fire station downtown where it was available 24 hours a day to the DPW headquarters on Fisher St where it is now only available during DPW business hours.

The only legislative vote comes on a measure to assess some homeowners along Summer St for the extension of the sewer line to their property.



Note: I have a conflict with a Food Pantry meeting so I'll catch up on what happens later. If you do attend or watch via either the web broadcast or cable, and what to share what you learn from the meeting, please do so.

"I want to use those resources to help Jeff."

The Milford Daily News attended as former Rep Jim Vallee endorsed Jeff Roy for the 10th Norfolk seat that he left vacant.

"Jeff's somebody who's very energetic," Vallee said to a small crowd of Roy supporters gathered inside the Franklin headquarters of the Clark-Cutler-McDermott Co., a manufacturer of textile products for the automotive industry. "He's a great listener, which I think is important to this job." 

An 18-year veteran of the State House, Vallee said he waited until after the Sept. 6 primary before publicly endorsing a candidate because he wanted to respect the voters' right to choose. 

"My interest is ensuring that whomever steps into that seat cares as much as I did about Franklin and Medway," he said, calling his endorsement of Roy "a very difficult decision."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1803417259/Vallee-endorses-Roy-for-House-seat#ixzz26uFr9rj6

In the News: Meals on Wheels, girls softball, 'woman of year'

Meals on Wheels needs help in Franklin

by Heather McCarron/STAFF WRITER

Franklin Girls Softball Association announce tryout dates

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin students compete for 'Woman of the Year' honors

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

State Rail Network Progress

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

State Rail Network Progress

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 9/18/12

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray this week released a progress report, "Transforming the Rail Network for Economic and Community Development", describing accomplishments achieved as a result of the historic agreement with CSX Corporation.

"Transportation is the enabling network of our economy – it's about getting people and businesses from one location to another," said Lieutenant Governor Murray. "I have worked closely with many critical partners and stakeholders to advance the CSX agreement and invest in improved freight and commuter rail service. This progress report outlines how our rail system is evolving across the state, and simultaneously highlights the need to have continued conversations to enhance economic and community development in impacted regions."

Improving the state's transportation infrastructure has been a key priority of the Patrick-Murray Administration. As part of the Massachusetts State Rail Plan, the Administration has strategically invested close to $1 billion in the state's rail system through competitive grants, public funds and private sector capital. These investments, some ongoing, represent the most significant improvements in the Commonwealth's rail system as a whole in decades.

The historic agreement with CSX Corporation offers significant impacts to freight and rail service in Central Massachusetts, Metrowest, Western Massachusetts, Boston and South Coast regions.  The compact is being finalized in two parts, beginning with an initial closing in June of 2010, which set in motion the permitting processes and infrastructure work needed to allow for the relocation of CSX operations. 

The second closing, scheduled for early October will complete the full transaction.  Details after the break.
The second closing will allow for: 

• Expanding commuter rail service to the Metrowest/Worcester areas by taking ownership and control of the rail line between Framingham and Worcester.
• Raising the railroad bridge clearances from Westborough to the New York State line to allow, for the first time in state history, the double-stacking of full-size freight containers on trains serving Massachusetts. This will increase freight capacity, reduce costs, and give Massachusetts companies better access to national and Asian markets.
• Making possible the eventual restoration of commuter rail service to the South Coast by taking ownership of the rail lines that run from Boston to New Bedford and Fall River.
• Relocating the CSX freight rail operations now in Boston at the Beacon Park Yard, to rail yards in Westborough, Worcester and West Springfield. This relocation will allow for the redevelopment of an 80+- acre parcel along the Charles River to serve as a new gateway district for the city.

With the second closing, the full transaction will be complete and the Commonwealth will pay CSX $100 million in total for: 

• 45 miles of the Framingham/Worcester Commuter Rail line between Boston and Worcester
• 37 miles of rail lines running south from Taunton to Fall River and New Bedford
• 8 miles known as the Grand Junction, which runs from Allston, across the Charles River, through Cambridge, Charlestown, Everett and Chelsea
• 2 miles known as the Boston Terminal Running Track which extends from Dorchester to South Boston, including the West First Street Yard

As part of this public-private partnership, CSX is investing $129 million for rail yards in Worcester, Westborough and West Springfield to expand and enhance freight services throughout the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth and CSX have also worked together to complete bridge work at 31 locations across the state, from the New York border to Worcester, to raise the clearance to allow for the double-stacking of full-size freight containers. Through this initiative, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has raised clearances at 14 of those locations by investing $72 million and CSX has completed the work for the remaining sites.

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Who eats the crusts of bread?

In this TED Talk, Tristram tells us something we don't normally hear or talk about.

Western countries throw out nearly half of their food, not because it’s inedible -- but because it doesn’t look appealing. Tristram Stuart delves into the shocking data of wasted food, calling for a more responsible use of global resources. 

Tristram Stuart sounds the warning bell on global food waste, calling for us to change the systems whereby large quantities of produce and other foods end up in trash heaps.

If America really has 4 times the food that we need, then the Food Pantry and others in this space are clearly in the redistribution business, and there is still plenty to do.



Approximately 15 minutes and well worth watching!

For more information on Tristram's Feeding the 5,000  http://www.feeding5k.org/

For more on his book http://www.amazon.com/Waste-Uncovering-Global-Food-Scandal/dp/0393068366/ref=la_B001ITTVXE_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347742133&sr=1-1