"I Bet My Life" was a good bet!

With the song "I Bet My Life" fresh in mind, the Town Council  got to business and quickly approved by an 8-1 vote the fire fighters arbitration award funding measure. The vote was by roll call and the one "No" vote was cast courageously by Judith Pond Pfeffer. She did approve of the fire fighters getting the award but wanted to do more for the other unions.

After the vote, the fire fighters and their supporters filed out shaking the hands of the councilors thanking them for their support.

The song had been fresh in mind as the FSPA's "Electric Youth" had come for their annual performance before heading to tour Europe. They left on Thursday to make several performances in multiple locations in France and England.

The FSPA "Electric Youth" introduced themselves before performing "I Bet My LIfe"

The set of notes reported live from the meeting on Wednesday can be found here:

• Live reporting: Legislation through to closing
• Live reporting: Town Council - June 24, 2015

Photo of supporters in the Municipal Building parking lot before the meeting

Franklin Food Pantry Recognized for Making an Impact on Community

The Franklin Food Pantry is getting noticed for its efforts to move beyond immediate hunger relief by addressing the root causes of hunger and promoting better nutritional health. The Pantry has received two recognition awards from area organizations: the Red Triangle Award from the Hockomock Area YMCA, and the Community Impact Award from the United Way of Tri-County. 

Both organizations recently applauded the Franklin non-profit for going above and beyond in serving the Franklin community, and for its strong impact on the lives of the nearly 600 families it serves. 

The Red Triangle Award recognizes the Pantry for its “steadfast dedication and partnership with the Hockomock Area YMCA to meet the changing needs of our community.” Through a partnership with the Hockomock Y, the Pantry created a Healthy Futures Shelf that offers clients access to nutritious food. 

Nutrition information is posted with food products so that clients can make informed choices to fit their special dietary needs, such as low fat, high protein or gluten-free. In addition, the Pantry works with the YMCA to offer Cooking Matters classes that educate families how to manage their food budgets and prepare healthy meals. 

“Working with the Hockomock Area YMCA and Stop & Shop, we began to take preventative measures to help combat high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity,” said Erin Lynch, Franklin Food Pantry executive director. “As part of the Y’s Healthy Futures Initiative, we help our clients make healthier food choices and offer them access to more nutritious food, such as fresh produce and high protein items like chicken.” 

The Community Impact Award is given to United Way of Tri-County (UWTC) Community Partners that have changed the lives of the people they serve. The award states that the Franklin Food Pantry, with resources from the UWTC, changed lives by “effectively and innovatively delivering a program that addresses root causes within the areas of Education, Health, Financial Stability or Basic Human Needs.” 

Erin Lynch, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry, is shown here with the award

Lynch said that thanks to the generous support from organizations such as the United Way of Tri-County and the Hockomock Area YMCA, the Pantry was able to offer programs to empower community members to become more self-sufficient through resources and education. 

Examples include Cooking Matters which teaches families how to shop smarter and cook delicious, affordable meals; and a Healthy Futures Market that offers fresh produce weekly from June to October. The high cost of fresh fruits and vegetables can be a barrier to wholesome nutrition for many families. 

“The money we receive through grants, as well as individual and corporate donations, allows us to go beyond just getting food to people,” said Lynch. “We are able to offer the kind of support and education that can impact our clients for a lifetime.”

"Rail Good Coffee" now open at Franklin/Dean Station

When getting ready to catch the inbound train Thursday morning, I noticed that the doors to the building were open. This had been closed up for a bit after The Cake Bar and Cafe Dolce both gave it a good try.

They were indeed open. It had just opened earlier that morning. Newspapers had not yet started delivery but were scheduled. Train tickets can be purchased. The menu board had a listing of prices for coffee, etc.

Stop in to talk with Randy. Buy a coffee before your ride into Boston the next time you go.

menu board at Rail Good Coffee

"how to create a culture which is no longer a culture just of competition, but a culture of welcoming"

Krista Tippet interviewed Jean Vanier and in the course of their talk Jean said:

"... we must educate people to become capable and to take their place in society. That has value, obviously. But it's not quite the same thing as to educate people to relate, to listen, to help people to become themselves. 

So the equilibrium that people with disabilities could bring is precisely this equilibrium of the heart. Children. 

You see, maybe a father is a very strong man and businessman, and when he comes home, if he gets down on his hands and knees and plays with the children, it's the child that is teaching the father something about tenderness, about love, about the father looking at the needs of the child, the face of the child, the hands of the child, relating to the child. 

And the children, the incredible thing about children is they're unified in their body and in — whereas we, we can be very disunified. We can say one thing and feel another."

You can read the full transcript here
http://onbeing.org/program/jean-vanier-the-wisdom-of-tenderness/transcript/7614#main_content

screen grab of OnBeing website for Jean Vanier interview

You can listen to the audio here:
http://onbeing.org/program/wisdom-tenderness/234

or watch the video here

Franklin Library: Genealogy Club - June 25 - 6:30 PM

"Using DNA in your family history research" is the topic for the next Genealogy Club meeting at the Library. Thursday, June 25 at 6:30 PM.

genealogy club - 6/25/15 - 6:30 PM

This was shared from the Franklin Library webpage
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/06/genealogy-club-thursday-june-25-2015.html

In the News: 3 alarm fire, fire fighter deal approved

A three-alarm fire ripped through the basement and first floor of a Washington Street house early Wednesday morning, causing roughly $200,000 in damages. 

Crews responded to the two-and-a-half floor home at 886 Washington St. just before 1 a.m. to find heavy smoke on the first floor and fire in the basement. 

No one was home at the time of the fire. Smoke reached the second floor, but fire never took hold.

http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150624/NEWS/150627973/1994/NEWS

The town Council approved four years of retroactive salary compensation for the fire department by an 8-1 vote Wednesday night, ending a four-year dispute and drawing cheers from local firefighters. 

After roughly 150 firefighters and union members from around the state demonstrating in the town hall parking lot, dozens of firefighters filed the council chamber for a decision that would increase their pay for the first time since 2011. After the votes were tallied, the firefighters applauded the council before shaking hands with council members as they made their way out the door. 

The firefighters’ union president, Bob Donovan, observed the handshakes looked a bit like hockey teams at the end of a game. 

“This decision was hard-fought,” he said. “But at the end of the day, it’s important to shake hands and look forward."

http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150624/NEWS/150627961/1994/NEWS

Attn FHS Students: Grants for High School Seniors

Franklin Rotary Grant Application

Dear High School Senior,

As your high school experience is coming to a close, it is time to contemplate, plan and make decisions that will affect your future. Part of that process is determining how to pay for a college education. The cost of furthering your education is high but the failure to obtain additional knowledge will cost you even more. Our members understand this and recognize the significant expense and sacrifice that often accompanies its pursuit. With this in mind the Rotary Club of Franklin, as it has for many years, continues to offer graduating high school seniors from Bellingham, Franklin, Tri–County, and King Phillip High Schools an opportunity to receive scholarships to offset the expense of higher education.

The Rotary Club is an international service organization that is dedicated to world peace through service to others and an increased awareness of people's needs through education. Based on this premise, each application for the Franklin Rotary Club Grant is evaluated on the basis of community involvement, financial need, and academic achievement.

To apply for a Grant please complete the attached pdf application.

Please return it as soon as possible and before the June 30, 2015 deadline to:

jrougeau@comcast.net or mail to

Julie Rougeau

Rotary Grant Chair
5 East Street
Franklin MA 02038


On behalf of the Rotary Club of Franklin we wish you good luck and best wishes.

Sincerely,

Julie Rougeau
Chair -- Rotary Club of Franklin Grant Committee

Franklin High School

The Law Office of Julie A. Rougeau
5 East Street
Franklin, MA  02038

office phone:  508-541-4424
fax:  508-541-4421
e-mail:  jrougeau@comcast.net

The information in this email and subsequent attachments may contain confidential information that is intended solely for the attention and use of the named addressee(s).  This message or any part thereof must not be disclosed, copied, distributed or retained by any person without authorization from the addressee.