In the News: Price is Right, Falk's Market

Franklin woman appears on Price Is Right

The typical bucket list entries look something like this: seeing all of Europe, skydiving, swimming with dolphins or maybe great white sharks. Not always, though. Take, for instance, Kimberly Howley’s dream to-do list. On it, the number one item was to catch a live taping of "The Price Is Right."

End of an era in Plainville: Falk's Market comes down

A couple of well-placed nudges against the front of the more than 100-year-old Falk’s Market with the demolition claw of an excavator on Monday morning collapsed the landmark in Plainville center with a loud, resoundingly final crunch of snapped wood.

Construction progress - new FHS

The steel continues to rise at the new Franklin High School. On my walk around Franklin on Saturday, I managed to capture these photos to share here:

From Oak St, main entrance to site

Peeking over the green covered fence was a challenge in the strong breeze Saturday.

The cranes are TALL

Getting closer, the cranes are really tall!

Front corner of new building

The coordination of the construction site is amazing. As a IT project manager I can appreciate the level of detail that must be required to get this job done.

front right corner, closer this time for a new angle view

There will be more steel put in place. Follow the line created from the upright sections and you can connect the dots in your minds eye.

around to the back corner of the right side

Now walking around to the back side of the right. The field house of the existing high school is behind me. That the new building is 3 stories tall is telling!

stairway to the roof

The building is impressive. The back is full across but the front is not yet complete. The front that we see currently is the front side of this back section. There will be an open space and then another section like this will get laid out in front. The open space will be a courtyard open on the first floor and letting light into the interior sections of the second and third floors.

The building will be one to treasure as an educational institution!

Yes, there is a Neighbor Brigade in Franklin

Franklin Neighbor Brigade is a resourceful group of volunteers ready to help when immediate friends and family can’t do it all. We are ready to help families in times of crisis, such as illness, serious injury or tragic events. “Help is next door” is what we look to achieve in connecting with others to help during times of temporary crisis.

How do you reach out to the Neighbor Brigade?

You can contact

Linda Gagnon
Neighbor Brigade Inc.
617-335-5452/ FranklinMA@neighborbrigade.org
www.neighborbrigade.org

2013 Solarize Mass Program

Medway to Participate in Massachusetts Solar Incentive Program

MEDWAY –– Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D – Franklin) announced that Medway will participate in the first round of the 2013 Solarize Massachusetts program (Solarize Mass), a grassroots clean energy marketing, education and group-buying program. Roy is a member of the House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change.

The program – run by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) – is designed to increase the adoption of solar energy and further reduce the overall cost of solar power, and offers residents and businesses discounted pricing for solar. The more people in a particular community who participate, the greater the savings for everyone in that city or town.

"Medway has made strides towards reducing municipal energy consumption, including becoming a Massachusetts Green Community and installing solar panels on the High School and Middle School," noted Roy.  "The town is committed to creating a green and energy efficient community and this grant will undoubtedly be an asset to making the town's goals a reality."

Solarize Mass is an innovative initiative sponsored by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (CEC) and the Green Communities Division of the Mass Department of Energy Resources (DOER). It provides a structured program for local residential and commercial property owners to access and install competitively priced small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The program will begin in May and the time period for site assessments and sign ups will run through September 30, 2013.

"This year's program will build on the success of the last two years, saving residents and businesses money while creating local jobs," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan.

"This program brings together residents, local and state officials, and solar industry workers to form a truly grassroots effort," said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton. "With everyone at the table, we can spread the word about the economic and environmental benefits of solar power across ten communities."

"This new round of Solarize Mass continues to build on the clean energy leadership we've seen over and over again at the community level," said DOER Commissioner Mark Sylvia. "When neighbors encourage neighbors, it creates local excitement and greater participation. This grassroots commitment is fueling Massachusetts leadership in energy efficiency, clean energy jobs growth, and renewable energy adoption."

Last year, 17 cities and towns participated in Solarize Mass, with 749 residents and businesses signing contracts to install solar electricity systems with the capacity to generate 4.8 megawatts of clean, renewable energy – enough to power the equivalent of 719 average Massachusetts homes annually. During the 2012 Solarize Mass program, participating customers were able to purchase solar electricity systems for 20 percent less than the statewide average price at the beginning of the program. The program last year also created at least 32 new jobs.

Due to state renewable energy incentive programs like Solarize Mass, residential solar electricity prices dropped 28 percent in Massachusetts in 2012, according to a report issued by the Solar Energy Industries Association in March 2013. This was the second biggest drop in the nation last year.

Massachusetts set a goal of achieving 250 megawatts of solar PV by 2017. As a result of the Solarize Mass program and other incentives, the state is close to reaching its goal – with 220 megawatts of solar electricity installed to date, the equivalent of powering 33,000 homes for a year.

For additional information on the Solarize Mass program visit this webpage

http://www.masscec.com/index.cfm/cdid/14834/pid/11150

Rep Jeffrey Roy's profile page on MA.gov can be found here

http://www.malegislature.gov/People/Profile/JNR1

Fenway 1912 author at Library

If opening day is not enough for you, you might be interested in meeting author Glenn Stout at the Franklin Library Monday, Apr 8th at 6:30 PM. He'll talk about his book "Fenway 1912"

Library: Glenn Stout

Franklin Sculpture Park - imagine the future

I took a walk around the location of the old town pool on Panther Way on Saturday. The photos in this sequence will take us as we approach on Panther Way and then walk around the pool counter clockwise.

storm water catch basin

You can see the Police Station in the distance beyond the storm water catch basins. These were added to remove phosphorus from the storm water before it gets into Mine Brook.

trees and shrubs have overgrown the pool

Nature has taken over the pool area.

pool wall

Benches are planed to be placed along the wide wall area.

opposite end of the pool

Another pond shaped like a check mark feeds into the old pool area. (See map detail below)

water control

A water control point along the wall

pool overgrown by nature

At the back of the old pool looking towards Panther Way. The police station is to the right.


View Larger Map

You can navigate within this map pinned to the Police Station to see the water flow from the pond to the pool and eventually across RT 140 to Mine Brook.

For more information about the sculpture park, please visit the Franklin Art Center page here
http://franklinartcenter.com/park.html

You can contribute financially or buy a paving brick to help the cause!

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Apr 9, 2013

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. 

"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 March 26, 2013 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mrs. McIntyre
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence:
1. Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Keller Elementary School Update – Julie Vincentsen, Dan Atwell

3. Discussion Only Items
School Choice for 2013-2014
School Committee 2013-2014 Schedule-DRAFT

4. Action Items
a. I recommend not participating in the School Choice program for the 2013-2014 school year.
b. I recommend acceptance of the donation of $242.28 from the Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign for employee Douglas Lee for the FHS.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $20.00 from Robert and Margaret Bean for a FHS scholarship.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Richard and Janice Parmenter for a FHS Scholarship.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Gordon Bibbins for a FHS Scholarship.
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $200.00 from David V. Anderson for a FHS Scholarship.
g. I recommend acceptance of a check for $25.00 from Cheryl and Anthony Tullio for a FHS Scholarship.
h. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Larry and Joan Kerpelman for a FHS Scholarship.
i. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Phyllis and Joseph Mueller for a FHS Scholarship.
j. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Phyllis and Ugo Ciannavei for a FHS Scholarship.
k. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from William Bardol for a FHS Scholarship.
l. I recommend acceptance of a check for $100.00 from Albert and Cheryl Mucciarone for a FHS Scholarship.
m. I recommend approval of the recurring field trip request of Anthony Joseph to take the Keller 5th Grade class to Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, RI on Friday, May 3, 2013 as detailed.
n. I recommend adoption of the 2013-2014 School Committee Schedule as discussed.

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