Franklin Matters

Friday, January 17, 2014

Support…possible in many ways

From Lisa Buccella:

A Franklin family has endured great pain as they navigate their steps while mourning the sudden deaths of their two young children. Whether you know them or not, there are many ways to offer subtle support as our town comes together. There are many businesses working to find ways to show solidarity and comfort. I'm sure there will be many more and we can share the info on social media too. Please, consider helping our local businesses offer what they can to the family and check the websites for the dates....most are today.

If you buy a cupcake or 12 at The Cake Bar, it will have an impact on the family.

If you buy one bottle of wine or a case at Pour Richards, it will have an impact on the family.

If you ate at Rick's Cafe this week and had a cup of coffee or a meal, it will have an impact on the family.

If you take a class at Live, Love, Barre or Tranquil Souls, it will have an impact on the family.

If you choose to make a donation of any amount to Dean Bank or the online gofundme that is available, it will have an impact on the family.

If you choose to support them by attending the vigil tonight, it will have an impact on the family.

My experience tells me that this type of support definitely makes an impact on a family. My sister and her three young children were the recipients of huge community support in their town in Florida during the time when her husband was ill and passed away. Their community showed support is so many ways that were meaningful, comforting and offered bright moments. The outpouring of love is very comforting.

And, I feel it in my own heart when I think of what others did for them.

Historical Museum: Ben's Birthday - Sunday

CELEBRATE BEN’S BIRTHDAY WITH US

Stop by the Franklin Historical Museum on Sunday January 19th and enjoy a piece of cake to celebrate Ben Franklin’s Birthday. The famous Revolutionary was born January 17, 1706. Stop in and celebrate our town’s namesake’s 308th birthday. Museum Hours Sunday 1:00pm – 4:00pm.

Franklin Historical Museum

THE HISTORY OF VALENTINE’S DAY

The month of February celebrates Valentine’s Day and the Franklin Historical Museum has researched some fun facts about the origin of the day, when Valentine cards were first exchanged and various customs associated with the day. The informative exhibit will run February 1st through February 23rd.

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING AT THE MUSEUM?

The Franklin Historical Museum is looking for additional volunteers to help with various aspects of running the museum. If you are interested in helping with research, correspondence, hosting and/or working with exhibits, please send an email to maryolsson1@verizon.net or call the Town Clerk’s office at 508 520 4900 leave your name and phone number. A volunteer meeting will be held in February.

You can also follow the Historical Museum on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/FHM02038

FSPA to Present Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!

FSPA will present an all-student production of the hit family musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on Saturday, February 8, at 7:30 p.m.

The performance will be held at the New England Chapel, 40 Kenwood Circle, Franklin, MA. Based on the biblical Joseph story, the lively Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical follows the trials and triumphs of Jacob's favorite son in a high-energy, high adventure retelling of epic proportions!

FSPA performs

The musical is entirely sung-through and boasts catchy songs of many musical styles, from country western and calypso to pop, disco and rock 'n roll. The enduringly popular Joseph is a colorful and uplifting show for audiences of all ages.

To purchase tickets please go to our website: www.fspaonline.com. Tickets are $22 for adults and $20 for seniors/students.

In the News: vigil Friday night, land purchased approved, hope chest recall

A candlelight vigil for Lexi and Sean Munroe will be held at 7 p.m. Friday on the Franklin Town Common.

See more at: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140117/NEWS/140118946#sthash.q8EHJgz0.dpuf

In a move to protect more land for recreation, the Town Council on Wednesday agreed to purchase an 18-acre property off Daniels Street.

See more at: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140117/NEWS/140118948#sthash.hTsCFIWk.dpuf

Following the news that two Franklin children died after accidentally locking themselves in a wooden hope chest, local second-hand furniture store owners are examining their shops and wondering what they can do differently to prevent such a tragedy.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Important Information re: Vigil Friday

From: "Neighbor Brigade" FranklinMA@neighborbrigade.org

To: FranklinMA@neighborbrigade.org

Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2014 8:56:29 AM

Subject: Important Information re: Vigil Friday

Hello again,

We received an email of concern about Friday nights vigil and a wake happening at the same time down the street from the common for a loss in the McGrath family. Please be respectfully answering any concerns among your peers and remind others that the Vigil has evolved to bring strength and unity for this family and it is not being facilitated by the Neighbor Brigade. Below is the note sent to the concerned friend of the McGrath's and she was very positive in this response, Thank you :

Neighbor Brigade has passed on the info and is not the facilitator of this Vigil.

We are a group of community volunteers that are supporting the Monroe's in its right time because of our Mission.

I have received the info for the vigil from a friend of the family that we are connected with and she gave me permission and "encouraged me to spread the word".

It is my understanding that 3 women (names are not necessary) have invited this to happen as a community and they are from the Davis Thayer school where the children belonged.

I hope this helps and I also hope both families can be appropriately and respectfully able to mourn and be allowed opportunity to come together in unity to help these grieving families.

Lastly, I have not received any info about a need to help the McGrath family and just want to let you know that we are sorry for their loss. Neighbor Brigade is an available resource of volunteers who help families in day to day needs as they grieve and recover. Please feel free to ask us anymore questions or let me know if there is anything else we can help you with,

Sincerely,

Franklin Neighbor Brigade Leaders

--
Linda Gagnon
FranklinMA@neighborbrigade.org
www.neighborbrigade.org
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neighbor brigade | p.o. box 248 | lexington, ma 02420 | 781.325.8580
www.neighborbrigade.org | support@neighborbrigade.org
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This email and the information it contains is intended for Neighbor Brigade volunteers only. Please do not forward this email. If you would like to encourage a friend to join, please direct them to www.neighborbrigade.org/chapters/FranklinMA. Thank you!

Timely communications still an issue

The Town Council voted to purchase the recreation land that the FinCom approved, appointed Jim Dacey Treasurer to complete the move of that position from elected to appointed, and heard the apology from Waste Management on the trash schedule delays.

The trash schedule delays should be resolved this week although with the Martin Luther King holiday coming next week, the schedule will 'normally' be offset one day. The combination of the New Year's holiday, the weekend storm, the deep freeze causing equipment trouble and then regulations on hours worked conspired for this situation. There should be an alert coming from the DPW that will announce that extra trash will be picked up with no charge to the household for the 'extra bag' to help offset the problem.

The Town Council was rightly upset with the lack of communications from the DPW/Town Administration. There could have been a notification on Friday night to let folks know that the trucks would not be running on Saturday. That notification did not happen and the buzz began to build until we finally got official notification late Sunday and early Monday morning. But that was too late!

The Council also moved to second reading a water and sewer map adjustment to enable a 9 or 18 unit subdivision off of Uncas St. The developer had an approved project some years ago, ended up in court with the Franklin over the details and apparently has reached an agreement where they will provide some additional improvements to the area (i.e. Hill St) in return for the town agreeing to proceed. The second reading will come up at the Feb 5th meeting.

Yours truly spent 15 minutes presenting to the Council on lessons learned while operating Franklin Matters. I could have talked longer but kept to a short and hopefully to the point agenda. Communication is so easy to do and in some cases so hard to execute. Case in point with the recent DPW/Waste Management trash schedule. They did well to give us the first notification about the delay in schedule due to the snow storm. They did not do well to explain that the Saturday pickup would not occur.

It takes a service oriented approach to bring those communications to the forefront every time. Unfortunately as well as many of the Franklin employees do, there sometimes is not this mindset of sharing the info. It will take time to change that.

Franklin Municipal Building

The full set of notes taken live during the meeting can be found here

MASSBudget: A Preview of the State's FY 2015 Budget

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

FY 2015 Budget Preview

On January 22nd, the Governor is expected to submit his budget proposal--his plans for what we should do together through state government in Fiscal Year 2015. This includes how we fund our schools, maintain our roads and transit systems, keep our communities safe, and balance our budget.

Once again in FY 2015, Massachusetts will face a substantial gap between ongoing revenue and the cost of maintaining current services and commitments. Our "Budget Preview" estimates that gap to be roughly $500 million.

There are three basic reasons that Massachusetts continues to confront difficult fiscal challenges:

The income tax cuts of 1998-2002, which still cost the state over $3 billion per year

Health Care cost growth, which has slowed in recent years but which had been growing faster than our state economy

The still-sluggish economy here in Massachusetts and across the U.S.

Our "Budget Preview" provides an estimate of revenue growth for FY 2015, along with the cost of maintaining current services and the fiscal challenges moving forward.

Read MassBudget's BUDGET PREVIEW

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