"It needs some tender, loving care"

A large field of runners took part in the Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee's road race Saturday morning. The fifth annual event is held to raise money for the development of a trunkline trail. 

The race consisted of multiple events, with a 1.5-mile or 3.5-mile walk and a five-mile run. 

Committee Vice Chairman Mark Kaplan said the race changed somewhat this year.
"It was previously a 5K race - this is the first year it's been five miles," he said. "It was really (Chairman) David (Labonte's) push (to change the race) - there are a lot of 5Ks out there."

Continue reading the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150503/NEWS/150509021/1994/NEWS

For more about the Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee visit their webpage or find them on Facebook

parking for the SNETT can be found on Grove St

For complete results of Saturday's race
http://www.coolrunning.com/results/15/ma/May2_5thAnn_set2.shtml

Arts Happen Here!

The title of this article is the tag line for the Cultural District Committee, as they work toward the establishment of a Cultural District in Franklin. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts established a process through which cities and towns may apply for Cultural District status. The Town of Franklin Cultural District Committee in the process of applying for Cultural District status and one step in the process is the Franklin Cultural Festival, which is scheduled for July 29 to August 2, 2015. 

Franklin Cultural Festival - Arts Happen Here!

When Anita Walker, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, visited Franklin in November 2013, she noted that, “A cultural district is a specific walkable area in the community with a concentration of cultural buildings and activities. Cultural districts aim to attract artists and cultural enterprises to the community, encourage business and job development, establish tourist destinations, preserve and reuse historic buildings, enhance property values and foster local cultural development.” 

This summer, the Cultural Festival will focus its efforts throughout downtown Franklin and beyond, including Dean College, the Franklin Public Library, the Town Common, and the Horace Mann Middle School. The activities will be clustered each day to increase the walkability of the proposed cultural district while simultaneously highlighting the activities and events in the performing arts, the fine arts and the culinary arts. 

The next meeting of the Cultural District Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5 at 7:00 PM at THE BLACK BOX. For more information, contact the Cultural District Committee via email at FranklinCulturalDistrict@gmail.com.

"we just didn’t do the job today”

Josh Perry, Managing Editor of Hockomock Sports writes:

There was little that Franklin coach Lou Verrochi could say after the game. His team had gone from leading at halftime to losing by eight goals at home against a potential tournament opponent. 

“We imploded,” he said. “The third quarter, they just came out like gangbusters and we didn’t match their intensity and it hurt us. We just didn’t rise to the occasion the way that I thought we would.” 

Franklin held a 5-4 lead heading into the break, but BC High outscored the Panthers 10-1 in the second half to pull away for a comfortable 14-6 victory. Senior Jack Vail and freshman Eric Civetti each scored a pair of goals, but it was not enough for the Panthers. 

Verrochi explained, “I thought we had a good first half and we told them what we had to do on the slides because that skip pass in the crease was killing us. We made those adjustments, but we just didn’t do the job today.”

Kyle Filbert (24) and Jack Vail (14) share a smile after Vail scored one of his two first half goals. The Panthers struggled in the second half and fell to BC High. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Continue reading the full article here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/franklin-implodes-in-second-half-against-bc-high

Senator Ross: April 2015 State House Update

Senator Richard J. Ross, State House Update, April 2015 View this email in your browser Facebook Twitter Website LinkedIn State Senator Richard J. Ross (R-Wrentham) proudly serving the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District. State House Room 419 Boston, MA 02133 Ph: 617-722-1555 Fax: 617-722-1054 Email:richard.ross@masenate.gov Dear Friends, Warmer weather has finally graced the Commonwealth and Beacon Hill has certainly been busy as FY16 budget talks have made their way to the Senate. This month I will need your help and input as we work hard to ensure next year's budget is smart, efficient, and works well for you, my constituents. Please read my monthly newsletter for information on what has been going on in the district and the State House. As always, let me know what you would like me to focus on. It is my honor and privilege to serve you in the State Senate. Sincerely, CHARLES RIVER CENTER IN NEEDHAM Recently, I joined Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito at the Charles River Center in Needham to discuss the great work they do for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Founded in 1956, the mission of the CRC is "to empower and support people with developmental disabilities by offering high-quality, individualized opportunities that foster independence and community inclusion." I am grateful that such an organization helps so many individuals and families not only in my district, but all across the Commonwealth as well. Thank you to the Lieutenant Governor for coming to Needham. For more information on the Charles River Center, please visit their website here. MA TREASURER VISITS NATICK I was pleased to welcome Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg to Natick for the first stop of her statewide economic empowerment tour. The tour began with a roundtable discussion and tour of the MathWorks facility and continued at robotics classrooms at Natick High School to discuss the impact of STEM education on our children and the Commonwealth as a whole. Treasurer Goldberg is conducting a statewide economic empowerment tour to highlight the work of her new Office of Economic Empowerment which is focused on closing the skills gap in Massachusetts to help stimulate economic growth. STEM education and the programs they offer are essential to our students, their future, and the Commonwealth's future. Treasurer Goldberg witnessed the great work being done by our hardworking students and teachers. ATTLEBORO BUSINESS AWARDED FOR INNOVATION The Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) recently awarded the co-owners of 2 Friends Farm in Attleboro, Ashley Driscoll and John Irving, the Commonwealth Quality Innovator Award. 2 Friends Farm opened in 2013 and began as an idea to grow and offer healthy food options locally. The Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP), sponsored by the DAR, was created to identify food products grown, harvested, and produced locally while also providing local growers with the tools they need to compete in a thriving marketplace. This great program has offered them, and other local growers, the tools they need to succeed. Currently, there are 100 CQP participants across Massachusetts. I look forward to witnessing 2 Friends Farm's continued expansion and development in our community. PROMOTING AUTISM AWARENESS April was Autism Awareness Month, and on Beacon Hill and across the Commonwealth we demonstrated our continued dedication to those on the autism spectrum and their families. Currently, I am serving on the senate special commission on autism, created to make recommendations and monitor the implementation of policies impacting individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The commission is tasked with investigating the range of services and supports necessary for such individuals, so that they may have ready access and availability to these services across their lifespan. The commission was established in the autism assistance bill, signed into law this past August. I have always been a strong advocate for autism awareness and research, and I'm proud to be a part of this commission. I look forward to continuing the fight for those living with autism spectrum disorders and their families, something that must be a priority all year long. GOVERNOR BAKER PROPOSES MBTA CONTROL BOARD In April, Governor Charlie Baker filed legislation to deliver a reliable transportation system for the people of the Commonwealth. The bill would establish a Fiscal Management and Control Board (FMCB) and Chief Administrator to oversee operations and finances through 2018, create capital plans, introduce reporting and audit requirements and lift procurement restrictions for the MBTA. The FMCB and Chief Administrator would be charged with establishing a safe, reliable, financially sound and sustainable customer-oriented public transit system. The harshness of this past winter brought to light what has been evident for a very long time--the MBTA suffers from clear mismanagement at all levels. Reforming and addressing the many concerns of our public transportation system is a priority for me as our taxpayers and commuters deserve better. This legislation takes the necessary steps to fix a broken system and save the Commonwealth money. For more information, please click here. Congratulations to the 160 D.A.R.E. Program Graduates from the Delaney School in Wrentham (left). MA Association of School Committees Day on the Hill with members of the Plainville School Committee and the King Philip School Committee (right). Wonderful to have the National Honor Society members from the Brennan Middle School and Coelho Middle School in Attleboro at the State House (left). Happy to read to some great kindergarten students at the John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Franklin (right). [Message clipped]  View entire message

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Has the process been followed?

Given that the following resolution was passed in May 2014, did you see any notifications or announcements about a license being available in the past several weeks?

No, neither did some other folks. Franklin announcements are usually posted here:

Franklin news and announcements

Why is there a license award coming up for the Town Council meeting on Wednesday?

Or is this the same one that brought about the discussion in March 2014 that lead to the policy?
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/live-reporting-town-council-mar-5-2014.html



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TOWN OF FRANKLIN 

RESOLUTION 14-36 

ISSUING AVAILABLE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (PACKAGE STORE) LICENSES POLICY 

Whereas: The Town Council has asked for a fair and equitable policy for the disposition of available alcoholic beverages (Package Store) Licenses;

Whereas: In order to provide an opportunity to all potential businesses to compete for an available (either because census results in additional license or existing licensee surrenders license) Liquor or Beer and Wine license, the Town Council wishes to adopt the following process.

• When the Town Administrator becomes aware of an available license he/she shall:
• Give notice to Town Council at the next Council meeting.
• Advertise the availability of the license via the Town Web page and other appropriate means. The advertisement will state the date the applications must be submitted and the hearing date before the Town Council.
• Conduct a hearing at which the applicants will be allowed to make their case before the Council in support of their application.
• Council will make a determination whether a public need exists based on a set of criteria which may include:

o Proximity of existing establishments.
o Will the license be used to enhance the economic development of a neighborhood?
o Impact on neighborhood.
o Is it near a school or place of worship?
o Other? 

• Council may determine that no public need exists, not withstanding applicant(s)

- - - - -

The policy was posted on the Franklin webpage here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Admin/licensing/policy.pdf

David vs. Goliath

Franklin Liquors (yes, the one located just down the street from the Big Y) posted this
https://franklinliquors.wordpress.com/2015/05/01/david-vs-goliath-we-need-your-support/

MassBudget: The Town-by-Town Reach of the MA State EITC

Earned Income Tax Credit = EITC

The Town-by-Town Reach of the MA State EITC  In Massachusetts - one of only four states boasting the term "commonwealth" in the official state name - we seek to build a thriving state economy that delivers broadly shared prosperity to workers and their families. Unfortunately, since the 1970s, wages have stagnated for low and moderate income workers in Massachusetts and nationally, making it increasingly difficult for many hardworking parents to make ends meet and provide for their children. The state earned income tax credit (EITC) program helps push back against this troubling trend, providing a meaningful boost to the after-tax earnings of thousands of low-income working families. (For a more detailed discussion of the EITC program, its proven benefits, and the effects of proposed increases, please see MassBudget's factsheet.)   Typically, between 415,000 and 430,000 filers claim the Massachusetts state EITC each year, together receiving a total of $125 million to $135 million in credits annually (for further funding details, see MassBudget's Children's Budget).      Using the most current data available from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (2013), the interactive map to the right shows the share of all tax filers in each city and town who received the state EITC. (Click on the image to access the full interactive map or go to the Kids Count Data Center.)     The table below shows both the share and total number of filers receiving the state EITC for a select set of Massachusetts cities and towns. For a table showing these data for all 351 Massachusetts cities and towns, visit the Kids Count Data Center.     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

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

The interactive table allows for comparison of up to five communities

FHS Panthers top Canton in softball and boys tennis; lose in baseball

The baseball team ran into a good pitcher at Canton while the softball team and the boys tennis teams were victorious on Friday. The results are shared from Hockomock Sports.

Baseball

Franklin, 0 @ Canton, 4 - Final

- Junior Sean Doyle tossed his first career complete game shutout, scattering four hits, walking one and striking out one. Junior Griffin Jerrier went 2-3 with an RBI triple, Kevin powers hit an inside the park home run, Joe Peccia reached base three times and scored two runs and Steve Bonica had a sacrifice fly. Zane Byrne went 2-3 for the Panthers and Kyle Wardrop came on relief for Franklin with the bases loaded and escaped the jam, allowed just one unearned run in 2.1 innings of work and struck out three.

FHS Panthers

Softball

Franklin, 8 @ Canton, 3 - Final 

- Caroline D'Aprille struck out seven to pick up the win for the Panthers. Brie Flaherty knocked in a pair of runs on a base hit and a sacrifice fly and Maddie Connelly went 2-4 with two RBI and played solid defense according to head coach Kate Fallon-Comeau.

Boys Tennis

Franklin, 5 @ Canton, 0 - Final


For all the Hockomock League action on Friday
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-050115