Franklin Matters

Friday, February 22, 2013

"the end is in sight"

In the round up of DPW preparations for the forecasted winter storm this weekend, Franklin is referenced:

In Franklin, Deacon Perrotta, director of operations, said the snow budget for this fiscal year came in at just over $900,000, and as of Feb. 17, immediately after the blizzard stopped, the town had spent about $635,000.

He estimated a storm with 6-inches of snow costs around $118,000, which includes pre-treating the ground, eight hours of plowing, and then sanding the roadways after the storm.

"Franklin is like the ‘Twilight Zone’ of weather forecasting," he said. "We’re either getting 6 inches or 2 feet, and we’re never in a spot that’s easy to predict."

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1522326831/The-regions-DPW-crews-brace-for-winters-next-blast#ixzz2Lce8bHrd

The winter storm plan as presented to the Town Council in January recently can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/01/franklin-dpw-winter-road-treatments-and.html

The 2012 version can be viewed here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/10/live-reporting-dpw-snow.html

The 2009 version can be viewed here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2009/01/dpw-presentation-on-snow-removal.html

Franklin Library: Family Drum Fun Circle

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Family Drum Fun Circle

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 2/21/13

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

I have an opportunity for young artists: I would like to trade weekly art lessons for babysitting. I am looking for kids 12 and up to watch my children (ages 4 and almost 2) for a couple of hours after school at my home while I am in the house drawing and painting. In exchange, I can offer a half an hour of college-level art lessons, including homework assignments. I am particularly interested in mentoring teens who are considering making visual art their career.

I am a graduate of the illustration department of the Rhode Island School of Design. Professionally, I have spent a few years making art for computer games. I am now a stay-at-home mom, and I am currently trying to break into the children's book market. I have extensive experience with drawing and painting in various mediums, as well as various 3D mediums. I will tailor the art lessons to meet the needs of the student. In addition to teaching foundation 2D and 3D art skills, I can guide students in assembling college admission portfolios, and I can share my knowledge of the professional fields of digital art, illustration, animation, and fine arts.

Parents and students can learn more about me and see samples of my art at http://michclay.blogspot.com/ For inquiries, you can reach me at michclaywriter@gmail.com I encourage interested students to visit me with a parent so that we can get to know each other first.

Cheers! - Michelle Clay

Make time to play!

Children play whenever they can – as soon as their most urgent needs are met, and whenever they are not prevented from it. That ability to stay in the moment, to grasp opportunities for exploration, joy and challenge whenever possible, is probably what most people mean by the word “childlike”. Morgan

Talking about play and fostering play. Sit in on this conversation with Bernie and Morgan. Listen to the passion around play! (full video = 45 minutes)

What can you take away from this?

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

"DelCarte’s gift stands as the largest Franklin has ever received"

The Milford Daily News has an update on the plans for the DelCarte Open Space or Franklin Reservoir (as it is referred to on some maps):

Preliminary plans call for the construction of a playground, canoe launch and boardwalk. In addition, some of the trails will be leveled and widened to make them easier to traverse.

Early estimates put the total cost from $300,000 to $400,000.

The bulk of the work will begin in the summer after repairs on two of the seven earthen dams cutting through the property have been completed. They are crumbling because of erosion and could break completely, turning the pristine landscape into a swamp.

DelCarte sign along Pleasant St

Related posts:

A photo tour from 2010
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/10/franklin-ma-delcarte-tour.html

A brief video from Dec 2012
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/delcarte-property-video_20.html

Another video from earlier in Dec 2012
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/delcarte-property-video.html

MassBudget: Children's Budget - a new online resource

MassBudget		Information.
MassBudget		Participation.
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center		Democracy.

A Children's Budget for Massachusetts

One of the most important things we do through our government is help children grow and thrive. We build schools to educate them; we ensure they have access to quality health care; we provide housing and food assistance to those who need it most.

Today, MassBudget is unveiling a new web resources, a Children's Budget, which provides information and analysis of the many programs in the Massachusetts state budget which affect children.

Using the Children's Budget you can:

Learn about all the programs in a particular area, including Early Education & Care, K-12 Education, Health, Housing, Human Services, and Justice.

Within those areas, you can look at individual programs, like the Newborn Hearing Screening Program. For each program, you will find a full description, information on funding history, proposals for future funding, and links to other online resources. The Children's budget includes over 150 different programs across the state budget--all of them related to the well-being of children.

MassBudget's Children's Budget also allows you to:

Browse material by age (for instance, all programs for 0-5 year olds)

See clusters of related programs in our Common Threads

Learn about tax breaks that affect children in Massachusetts

If you want to understand what we do for children in Massachusetts through our government, visit the Children's Budget. Use it, share it with friends, and then share your thoughts and suggestions with us.

Visit MassBudget's CHILDREN'S BUDGET

MassBudget's Children's Budget was developed with support from Boston Children's Hospital and the Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT initiative.

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER

15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700

BOSTON, MA 02108


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