"more details about the program will be determined in the fall"

This summer, the state Department of Housing and Economic Development awarded $894,082 in total to the towns of Franklin, Bellingham and Hopedale for housing rehabilitation and fuel assistance. 

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said the money will allow needy families to complete necessary home repairs. 

"It's to provide housing rehabilitation on an emergency basis," he said. 

He said, as an example, that a homeowner in need of $10,000 to repair a roof could apply through the program, and would not need to pay the money back, as long as they continue to own the house for a set length of time. 

Nutting said this is not Franklin's first experience with a housing rehabilitation program.

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150820/NEWS/150829056/1994/NEWS

The full set of notes from the Aug 5 Town Council meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/08/community-takes-exceptions-to-councilor.html

corner of Emmons St and West Central street under construction for the downtown improvement project

Franklin TV presents Dr John Kelly's talk for the S.A.F.E. Coalition meeting (video)

Franklin TV has made the video of Dr John Kelly's talk for the S.A.F.E. Coalition meeting at Franklin High School on Aug 12, 2015 available for your viewing pleasure.
  




The audio of the full meeting has been made available in two parts
Part 1 - Dr Kelly's talk
Part 2 - The panel and audience Q&A


The live reporting from this meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/08/live-reporting-safe-community-meeting.html

S.A.F.E. Coalition meeting - Panel with Q&A session (audio recording)

FM #113

The second of 2 parts to the recording of the SAFE Coalition meeting at Franklin High School on Aug 12, 2015. The first part has the presentation by Dr John Kelly. This second part has the panel discussion and audience Q&A.

Note: the volume may need to be adjusted from one speaker to another. While the audio quality is good, the variation between speakers may require an adjustment.





The live reporting from this meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/08/live-reporting-safe-community-meeting.html


-------

As I close this special session, let me remind you that

• If you like what I am doing here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don’t like something, please tell me

It is through this feedback loop that you can help me improve the information I provide for you.

Thank you for listening!

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark and Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission

I hope you enjoy!

You can also subscribe and listen to the audio on iTunes = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes

The Spectra Access Northeast project is back - meeting 8/20 from 7-9p at the First Universalist Society

Via Monica Linden:

The Spectra Access Northeast project is back - and planning to build a pipeline right through Franklin and neighboring towns. If you'd like to get more information to stop this pipeline (or if you are a concerned potential abutter - if so, you've probably been contacted by Spectra already) there's a meeting on Thursday 8/20 from 7-9p at the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut St. (Also, I'm wondering what any of the town council candidates think about this, and how they might help those of us who might be directly affected!)

Via the Milford Daily News:

The project is in the early planning stages and hasn’t yet entered the federal permitting process, according to Spectra spokesman Arthur Diestel. 

The project aims to bring about 5,000 megawatts of power to 70 percent of New England’s gas-fired power plants. In the works for 2017, Spectra bills the new infrastructure as a way to lower electricity rates as early as winter 2018. 

Local activists say that’s false advertising. Citing environmental concerns, worry the rate payers will foot part of the $3 billion project through their utility bills, and the fear rates may increase as Spectra uses the pipeline to export gas to Canada, the consumers’ interest may not be so dear to the company’s heart, according to a flyer circulated by the group, which has yet to take an official name. 

“They’re in it to make a buck on our backs and I don't trust it's going to lower costs,” said Gail Chirdon, a Franklin resident active in fighting the Atlantic Bridge Pipeline proposal, abandoned by Spectra in late May.

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150820/NEWS/150829529/1994/NEWS



About the project:

"The beauty of the Access Northeast project is that very little “greenfield” or pipeline construction through areas where pipelines don’t exist is required. The stiff resistance to the Kinder Morgan TGP NED project largely comes from communities that don’t want new pipeline cutting through the area. Can New England support two new massive pipeline projects–both Access Northeast and NED? From a purely economic standpoint–would both projects make their respective investors/companies money and be profitable–we suspect the answer is yes. But from a political viewpoint–can you sell both projects to liberal, fossil fuel-hating New Englanders? Probably not. We suspect only one of these projects will survive. With an alliance of different partners, locking up much of the electrical generating customers in the region, and very little greenfield construction required–Access Northeast increasingly looks promising to be the winner."

http://marcellusdrilling.com/2015/02/access-northeast-pipeline-pulling-ahead-of-kinders-ned-project/

Access Northeast

Related posts
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/07/access-northeast-is-proposing-similar.html

and it was too good to be true
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/05/im-delighted-to-hear-project-has-been.html

Traffic Alert: RT 140 ramp to Southbound i495 shut for weelend

IN ORDER TO WORK ON THE RAILROAD BRIDGE, 

THE RT 140 RAMP TO i495 SB

WILL BE CLOSED FRIDAY AUGUST 21 TO MONDAY AUGUST 24 

TRAFFIC WILL USE GROVE STREET TO KING STREET

MassDOT

The MA DOT webpage has skimpy info on the project # 78213
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/ProjectInfo.aspx

"The river runs through it" and the Police Station hit by lightning

Yes, the weather was bad on Tuesday. How bad? Well....

Pisini Field! #pantherriver pic.twitter.com/67gro9dcSN

— Coach P (@Coachpasquarosa) August 18, 2015

And then the Police Station got hit by lightning!

"Some members of the Franklin Police staff came about as close as anyone can come to being struck by lightning late Tuesday afternoon, without actually getting hit. 

Police Chief Stephan Semerjian said police headquarters on Panther Way may have taken a direct hit – if not, it was close by – during the severe thunderstorm that swept over the area starting about 3:30 p.m. 

“We took a good hit. There were a number of us in here. I’ve got to tell you, it was unbelievable,” he said."

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150819/NEWS/150816232/1994/NEWS

Franklin Police Station - 911 Panther Way

Franklin Family Movie Night - rescheduled to 8/28/15

Due to the weather forecast for Friday evening, the Family Movie Night has been rescheduled to Friday, August 28th

-----

Via Tracie's Facebook posting:

Woody and Buzz in the original Toy Story

Bring your whole family and enjoy watching Toy Story on the big screen in a classic Franklin setting - Beaver Pond! 

The movie itself will start at dusk, but WOODY AND BUZZ ARRIVE AT 7:00!

Kids will get an opportunity to meet and play games with both characters. 

In addition to the characters arriving early, a whole host of local small businesses will be represented at booths offering treats, fun toys, and other retail offerings! The marketplace opens at 6:30. 

 the marketplace opens at 6:30, Woody and Buzz arrive at 7:00 PM

Franklin Family Movie Night

August 28

Beaver Pond in Franklin, Massachusetts