Franklin Voices: Open Letter to the Franklin Town Council

This came in from a couple of sources. A few of the Town Council in their closing comments referenced this having heard it was already making the rounds. Their comments indicated no set plan (contrary to the statements within the letter). Their comments also referenced their prior 5-4 vote as proof that the Council is not likely all on board (contrary to the implications of the letter). The Councilors also stressed that if any resident wanted to get the details to reach out to them. Their contact information (email and phone numbers) are posted on the Franklin webpage. They would be happy to discuss to clarify any possible misunderstandings.



Open Letter to the Franklin Town Council regarding 150 Emmons Street property (Old Municipal Building)

On behalf of Franklin, Massachusetts property owners, business owners, customers and citizens of Franklin we urge the Town Council to put on hold any decision to sell the Emmons Street property, including an RFP, for one year. 

* Please Note - Franklin, MA residents, property owners, or business owners are eligible to sign this open letter. Resident address information will not be displayed on site, and will only be used when verifying and delivering signatures to Town Council on April 2nd, 2014. Please indicate your business address if you are a business owner and note in the comment field. 

1. We believe it is critical to understand the impact of the new traffic pattern prior to the Council deciding what type of development it would like to see on the site. 

2. This would provide the business community and customers with alternative parking during the streetscape project construction. We cannot afford to lose any business during the construction process due to the lack of parking or access to properties. 

3. If the Council decides to sell the property after the streetscape is completed it will potentially command a higher value at that time. 

4. The property has been in the town’s control for over a century. Another year will not make a difference to the financial condition of the town, but a hasty decision will affect the town for years to come. We ask that you give the community time to participate in the decision-making process.

You can add your name to the petition by opening this link

Petition by iPetitions

If the link above is having some trouble try this one
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/open-letter-to-the-franklin-town-council-regarding

150 Emmons St - the subject of the discussion

The building was originally a school (right side of building as pictured) and then renovated in the 1990's to add the left portion and become the Franklin Municipal Building. It served in that capacity until the move to the building at 355 East Central St. Currently the building is used by the Recreation Dept.

My notes from the public meeting earlier this month can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/live-reporting-emmons-st-public-meeting.html

The next formal discussion on the future of the building is currently scheduled for the Apr 2 Town Council meeting. http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/01CE66C3-000F8513

Cultural District Committee - March 20th

Pursuant to expressed interest from the community, the Town of Franklin is currently working towards the creation of a state designated Cultural District. 

As is required, the Town is looking to form a Cultural District Committee to partner with interested organizations and institutions in order to identity all cultural facilities and activities as well as to shape concrete goals and objectives for the proposed Cultural District.

The Committee should consist of cultural organizations, specifically those that represent artists in the community, as well as historical and community organizations. Non-profits, private businesses, government agencies, educational and faith based institutions are all encouraged to participate in the partnership. 

Anyone interested in participating, or in need of additional information should contact the Town’s Department of Planning and Community Development.

The organizational/informational meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Mar 20th at the Library beginning at 7:00 PM

Additional information can be found in this flyer:

National Register Historic District marker on the Franklin Town Common

FSPA dancer advance to Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) International ballet competition

Three advanced Ballet Conservatory students from the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) placed at the top of their age divisions in the Classical Dance category of the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) New England regional semi-finals, held February 7-9 in Providence, RI. The prestigious YAGP, for aspiring dancers ages 9-19, is the world’s largest international student ballet competition, with semi-finals in 10 U.S. states and five foreign countries. Shaina McGillis, 15, of Franklin, placed among the top 24 women in the Senior Age Division (ages 15-19), Noura Sander, 13, of Easton, placed among the top 12 women in the Junior Age Division (ages 12-14), and Mikaela Guidice, 11, of Norfolk, placed among the top 12 men and women in the Pre-Competitive Age Division (ages 9-11). Of the more than 5,000 students who participated worldwide, both Noura and Mikaela now advance to the YAGP Finals in New York City on April 4-11, joining a select group of some 350 promising dancers from 30 countries. 

FSPA Ballet Conservatory students (L-R) Noura Sander, of Easton, Mikaela Guidice, of Norfolk, and Shaina McGillis, of Franklin, placed at the top of their age categories at the New England regional semi-finals of the 2014 Youth America Grand Prix  (YAGP) international ballet competition. Noura and Mikaela will go on to compete in the YAGP New York Finals on April 4-11

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Now in its 15th season, YAGP has since its inception awarded over $2 million in elite scholarships and dance contracts. Alumni are now dancing with some of the most prestigious companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, English National Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet and more. Bess Kargman’s award-winning documentary “First Position” followed six YAGP dancers as they competed in semi-final and final rounds of the competition. YAGP has earned a distinguished reputation as a showcase for emerging talent from the U.S. and abroad, and it is a distinct honor to be chosen for the NYC Finals from the semi-final round.

Mikaela, Noura and Shaina are coached by FSPA Ballet Mistress Cheryl Madeux, who formerly danced with American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Hartford Ballet and Joffrey Ballet companies. Madeux’s own ballet competition experience includes the National Society of Arts and Letters Ballet Competition, where she was awarded first place at age 15, and the Prix de Lausanne and Paris International Ballet Competitions, where she was a finalist for both. 

Madeux has developed the Ballet Conservatory at FSPA, expanding the training from its foundations in the Vaganova syllabus to incorporate the new American Ballet Theatre (ABT) National Training Curriculum as well. Madeux, who received her Vaganova training from the Nutmeg Ballet Company in Torrington, CT, is an examiner for the ABT National Teacher Training Curriculum and a summer faculty member for the ABT Young Dancer’s Workshop in NY. This is the first year Madeux has prepared FSPA dancers for the YAGP competition, and she is delighted with the students’ showing. 

"Seeing all three of our students recognized at the top of their age division in the semi-finals is wonderful, and to have two of our dancers advance to the finals in NY is extraordinary,” says Madeux. “This is quite an accomplishment for them and for our school. The opportunity to perform on a New York City stage and be exposed to the best teachers and professionals is priceless. I am sure they will never forget it. "

Noura, who will dance both contemporary and classical variations at the YAGP Finals, has aspired to be a professional ballet dancer since she was very little. “I love the gracefulness of ballet and I also love the discipline,” she says. “It makes you work your hardest and strive to do your best.”

Mikaela, who will perform a classical variation, praises the pure joy of dancing. “I love everything about ballet!” she enthuses. “It makes me happy. I can’t imagine my life without it, so I definitely plan to dance in college and maybe someday dance professionally.” 

Madeux is pleased with the growth her students have demonstrated in the months of training, noting that the girls’ positive attitude, talent and disciplined approach to learning serve the young ballerinas well. “As a professional dancer, I have always appreciated my teachers and all they did for me,” Madeux says. “Now that I am the teacher, I realize that, much like a parent, we can only do so much. It is the talent and dedication of the students that will determine their own success. In my mind, these three young ladies have already won.” 

For more information about FSPA’s Ballet Conservatory program or recreational ballet classes at the school, including summer camps and ballet intensives, call (508) 528-8668 or visit www.fspaonline.com.

Voices of Franklin: Future PARCC MA Community Meetings + Flier "Do you know what Common Core is?"

Good Morning, Steve! 

Went to one of the MA DOE PARCC meetings last night (Tuesday) at the Framingham State Univ.  A two hour presentation and Q&A ran to three hours plus.  Attendees were interested/concerned parents just trying to learn more about Common Core and PARCC field tests that will be starting this April. Teachers (from K-12), school committee officials and college professors.  I would say about two dozen attendees.  Ran into some Medway educators and learned about a meeting Medway is holding next week which may be of interest to Franklin parents/educators/school committee members. 

In addition below is the link to MA DOE website with listing (below) of future PARCC MA Community Meetings run by Bob Bickerton, Senior Associate Commissioner and/or Maureen LaCroix, Special Assistant to Deputy Commissioner. 

I picked up an extra copy of Power Point presentation, if you would like it to provide to readers, it's 12 pages long. 

Thank you 

Sandra Fredrick

Good links for background information:

Education Expert Dr. Sandra Stotsky: Common Core 'Rather Shady'

Sandra Stotsky, Ed.D. | UARK – DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REFORM

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - Conference Registration

Peabody TV · Special School Committee Meeting (90 minute video of meeting)

Two Massachusetts Schools Approve PARCC Opt-Out | Truth in American Education

PARCC

PARCC Community Meeting Dates and Locations

*Additional dates and locations may be added. Registration is not required, but recommended so that we can better plan the events.


-March 20, 3:00-5:00 and 6:30-8:30--Holyoke High School, 500 Beech St., Holyoke, MA 01040

-March 20, 7:00-9:00--Medford High School, Caron Theater, 489 Winthrop St., Medford, MA 02155

-March 26, 6:30-8:30--Tahanto Regional Middle/High School, 1001 Main St., Boylston, MA 01505

-March 31, 3:00-5:00--Berkshire Community College, Campus Cafeteria, 1350 West St., Pittsfield, MA 01201

-April 1, 6:00-8:00--Springfield Central High School, 1840 Roosevelt Ave., Springfield, MA 01109 

Flyer for Medway meeting on Mar 27th

Sunrise Montessori - Open House - Apr 16

Sunrise Montessori School, Inc. 

Wednesday, April 16th from 9:30am to 11:00am 

Families are welcome to tour the classrooms, meet the teachers, watch a lesson presentation and learn more about our Montessori preschool and kindergarten programs. 

For further information, please call the school's Director, Karen Roeber, at 508-541-8010 or see the school's website at: http://www.mysunrisemontessori.com/ 

Sunrise Montessori School, Inc. is located at 31 Hayward St., Franklin and is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

The sign will look a little different without the snow!

Senior Center: A new edition of The Franklin Connection is available

A new edition of The Franklin Connection has been published on the Town of Franklin web site.

Click the link below to read the latest edition

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/Apr14connection.pdf

Senior Center - Open House Mar 31

Franklin Schools: Upcoming Events

A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Hello All 

Happy Spring / Yea for no more snow !
Last day of school June 20 ½ day
A few activities that may be of interest: 

Franklin Education Foundation Trivia Bee/ TonightCome to the FEF Trivia Bee- 7:00 p.m at the Mercer Auditorium at Horace Mann Middle School. Music, snacks and healthy competition for Town-wide dominance. 

PARCC Pilot Assessment Parent WorkshopMarch 20 at Horace Mann MS 6:30 p.m. - Panel presentation and hands on workshops with sample questions. Breakout sessions for K-5, 6-8 and 9-12. 

Putting for Patients/ FHS Community Service ClubGet your golf skills ready for the good weather- participate in Putting for Patients, a town-wide fun-filled afternoon of mini-golf to benefit Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. Open to students and adults of all ages. Sponsored and organized by FHS students. Sunday, April 6 from 1:00-4:00 at FHS.  For more information see flyer on  FPS web site  News You Can Use: http://franklindistrict.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinDistrict_Webdocs/news/news  or on the web: https://sites.google.com/site/franklinhighcsc/putting-for-patients-1 

Best Buddies 2^nd Annual Dodgeball TournamentThe Best Buddies and the Franklin Schools are pleased to announce that the tournament will be held on Sunday May 4^th from 2-5 p.m. at Horace Mann Middle School. Teams can sign up in all age brackets and the games use safety "foam/sponge" balls. For more information see News You Can Use website: http://franklindistrict.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinDistrict_Webdocs/news/news  or www.facebook.com/mberthia or email Mark Berthiaume at mberthia09@gmail.com. Last year $15,000 was raised to support Best Buddies programs. 

Franklin Municipal Building

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