FHS Top 10 senior students recognized by United Regional Chamber

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce sent along this notification on the Franklin High School students that were recognized at the Chamber's Spotlight on Education breakfast at Lake Pearl Luciano’s on May 27. 

The Top 10 students from the senior class were honored as well as the Unsung Hero (a student who excels in other areas, has outstanding leadership qualities, or is outstanding in some other way.)

Heller Photography provided the photo of the Top 10 FHS Students

FRANKLIN

• Pooja Agarwal
• Gabriela Blood
• Thomas Cerier
• Kathleen Doherty
• Haley Frank
• Jessica Garrigan
• Marcus Giese
• Amy Reynolds
• Caleigh Smith
• Madison Wendell
• UNSUNG HERO: Philip Henault

Franklin Police share resources on preventing overdoses

During the Town Council meeting last week, Chief Stephan Semerjian mentioned that the Police Department was posting resources on their webpage to help share the information. 

Here is the info shared:





14 Rules Never to Break with Dealing with Addiction
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Police/Narconon14Rules.pdf

signs of heroin abuse - shared from the Franklin Police page

Opioid

The term opioid designates a class of drugs derived naturally from the opium poppy (opium, morphine, codeine), synthesized or derived from a natural opiate (heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone), or manufactured synthetically with a chemical structure similar to opium (fentanyl, methadone). Among their many effects, opioids depress breathing by changing neurochemical activity in the brainstem where automatic bodily functions are controlled. 

Overdose

An overdose occurs when opioid concentrations are so high in the body that they begin to cause respiratory depression. Overdoses can be further characterized as being either non-fatal (loss of consciousness and depressed breathing) or fatal (respiration ceases and/or cardiac arrest ensues) (Warner-Smith, et al, 2001). 

Overdose is a common experience among opioid users. In a review of the literature on overdoses, Darke and Hall (2003) found that at least half of opioid users in cross-sectional studies report a history of non-fatal overdose, many of whom report overdosing multiple times. Additionally, Darke and Zador (1996) report that opioid users have mortality rates that are between six and twenty times those of their peers. These authors go on to report that deaths attributable to overdose are the most common cause of death among opioid users. 

In a report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in December 2011, drug overdose was identified as the cause of death for over 41,000 people in 2008 (Warner, et al, 2011). With the rate nearly tripling in the past three decades, drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death nationally, exceeding motor vehicle accidents; in 2008, there were 38,000 motor vehicle deaths. 

While the CDC report identifies overdose as a national issue, the northeast region is disproportionately affected. In its 2011 New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (NE HIDTA) Drug Market Analysis, the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) noted, “opioid abuse remains the most significant drug threat to the NE HIDTA – (NDIC, 2011). The authors identify pharmaceutical opioid abuse as the driving factor behind this increase. Evidence suggests that pharmaceutical opioid abusers often switch from prescription medications to heroin due to its lower cost and greater purity.

Continue reading more from the Mass Dept of Health brochure (PDF) here
http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/substance-abuse/opioid/overdoseresponsestrategies.pdf

Senior Day for FHS Baseball, Softball teams

Baseball
Attleboro @ Franklin, 3:30

Come out to Dean tomorrow and support the boys on Senior Day against Attleboro at 3:30 pic.twitter.com/Clvcjh8HbV

— Franklin Baseball (@FHSBaseball2015) May 28, 2015

Softball
Franklin @ Attleboro, 3:45

Senior Softball...last "regular season" home game pic.twitter.com/2vn94VVFrL

— Pantherbook (@FranklinHSNews) May 28, 2015

And while we are sharing photos from Twitter, also happened to find this one of the three FHS MIAA Coaches of the Year:

From left to right: Coach Bositis, Coach Geysen, Coach Spillane

Very proud to be here at the MIAA with our three Coach of the Year winners #gopanthers #neverquit pic.twitter.com/SSmxNlpvmw

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) May 28, 2015

The article announcing the three was posted here:
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/05/miaa-names-3-fhs-coaches-as-coach-of.html

"I’m delighted to hear the project has been cancelled”

See it does matter. When some one takes action, it can be effective.

Local opponents of a planned natural gas pipeline that would have run through three area towns are celebrating an energy company's decision to scrub the project. 

“As someone who is working to stop new gas projects and promote clean, renewable energy instead, I am overjoyed that this project has been cancelled,” said Emily Kirkland, a spokeswoman for Better Future Project, an organization that pushes for renewable energy. 

The organization has coordinated with local residents also were also opposed to the project and wanted to inform the public about the pipeline's potential environmental consequences. 

Spectra Energy, which owns the Algonquin Gas Transmission pipeline, has dropped plans for a 3.5-mile, 30-inch wide pipeline that would have run through Medway, Bellingham and Franklin, according to a notice from the Massachusetts Energy Siting Board earlier this week. That pipeline would been part of a larger project.

http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150528/NEWS/150526073/1994/NEWS

"for the collaboration working in and connecting within the community, I give you an A+"

The School Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 26 is a good one to review in the On Demand video archives.

There was an update on Creative Arts Fridays at the Kennedy School. How technology and poetry are integrated with the other subjects to provide a rich and exciting learning epxerience. The presentation included a couple of brief videos but it is only available in the On Demand link as provided ablve.

Oak St provided a year in review showing multiple pictures taken during the year. The photos although static do help to show the depth and richness of the learning experience and earned kudos from Committee member Kevin O'Malley who gave them an "A+" as paraphrased in the title of this summary.

You can view the photo presentation here:

Oak Street Elementary School 2014-2015 slideshow from Franklin Matters

The third presentation was an update on the work of the School Wellness Advisory Committee. While it sounds like a dry and unexciting title, the work being done coincidently was highlighted in a few cases by the prior two presentations. The SWAC effectively is putting together the curriculum on health and wellness which is then delivered via the teachers and staff to the students across the district.

You can view the presentation copy here:

SWAC Presentation to the School Committee May 26, 2015 from Franklin Matters


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

• Live reporting: Closing

• Live reporting: Action Items

• Live reporting: School Wellness Advisory Council

• Live reporting: Oak St Update

• Live reporting: School Committee - May 26, 2015

I would encourage you to spend the almost two hours to view the meeting video. It does provide some real good insights into what happens in the elementary school classrooms and how some of the curriculum is built to be delivered.

You can view the meeting video here
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?ecm=635683896305427500&indexSessionSKU=og8cahm8VNrZ2CTSyUPlUg%3D%3D&siteSKU=L7qhQ46xin/r3Z0jcDVCNw%3D%3D

Don't flush Swiffers!

From the DPW Water and Sewer page:

Paper towels, disposable wipes, washcloths and rags are becoming more and more of a problem for sewer systems with the increase in "disposable" wipes.  These wipes may be disposable but that does not make them flushable!   

Please do not flush swiffer wipes, baby wipes, diapers, disposable toilet bowl cleaners or any other non-toilet paper product.  These items cause major problems in our sewer pumps and we are not alone.  As discussed in a USA Today article tilted "Wipes in the Pipes Snarling Sewers", this issue is is affecting sewer systems across the country.  So please do your part and don't flush wipes!

swiffers removed from Franklin's pump station

What does happen to the water you flush?




You can also find the treatment process with this interactive webpage
http://www.wef.org/flash/gowiththeflow_english/theflow.htm

FHS baseball and softball top Sharon

Hockomock Sports provides the results of the FHS vs. Sharon baseball and softball games. The baseball team has the featured write up as the Sharon coach is retiring after 44 years.


Sharon, 0 @ Franklin, 14 - Final (5 innings) 

FHS Panthers

- Franklin jumped out with five runs in the first, tacked five more on in the second and never looked back. Erin Hanley and Maddie Connelly (three RBI) each scored three runs, Olivia DiGiacomo and Alyssa DaSilva each knocked in three runs, Sabrina LoMonaco knocked in two runs and Brie Flaherty knocked in one. LoMonaco struck out five in three innings of work and Emily Sawyer struck out three in two innings of work.

Find all the results from Wenesday's action here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-052715

Emotional Home Finale for Sharon Baseball Coach

He went through the handshake line and had a quick word with his opposing coach, then turned around and walked back to the dugout to speak with his team. As Sharon coach Joel Peckham went through the usual postgame routine, the crowd crept ever closer to the huddled players. 

Franklin won the game 10-8, its seventh win in a row, and Sharon showed its typical fight to claw back three runs in its last at bat and have the tying runs in scoring position, but after the final pitch the game was forgotten and the coach became the focus.

On Wednesday afternoon, Peckham walked off the Sharon field for the final time as head coach of the Eagles. His 44-year career at Sharon High that has included stints as an English teacher and a guidance counselor as well as coach of the football, basketball, and baseball programs will be coming to a close on Friday at Milford.

His current players, their families, and a number of alumni were on hand to pay tribute to his tenure on the bench. The longtime coach admitted that it was an emotional afternoon for him.

Continue reading the remainder of the article here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/emotional-home-finale-for-sharon-baseball-coach