Tuesday, September 29, 2015

FPAC 2015 Gala - Silver is the New Black



Franklin Performing Arts Company
Franklin Performing Arts Company

FPAC's Gala Celebration is only a week away! Have you purchased your tickets yet?

If not – click here: http://tinyurl.com/ng7xz8y

Click here to see Highlights from past Galas! https://youtu.be/S4A75UKcDqQ

Enjoy Dinner, Dancing and Fantastic Entertainment featuring a special performance by Broadway's Jenn Colella. 

Spectacular Live and Silent Auctions include: Four Matilda Company Seats to see FPAC's own Jack Mullen on Broadway, including a visit with Jack after the show (These are the best seats in the house!); a Dream Vacation for Eight in Glorious St. John at White Cottage Villa; a 3-bedroom (sleeps 12) suite at the Holiday Inn Club Vacations in Kissimee, Florida (near Walt Disney World) during April Vacation week; Bruins, Patriot and Celtics tickets!

See you October 3rd!

Event invitation
FPAC 2015 Gala - Silver is the New Black
View card

Paperless Post

Franklin Node Joins 350 Mass


Franklin Node Joins 350 Mass

The Greater Franklin node is the newest addition to 350 Mass! Node members from Franklin, Medway, and the surrounding towns are organizing to stop Spectra's Access Northeast gas pipeline. Node members are calling on local town officials to withhold approval for Spectra's pipeline proposalThe node is also coordinating with the Stop the Medway Power Plant group  -- on September 17, the two joined forces for a protest outside a meeting between Lt. Governor Karen Polito and Medway selectmen. 
 
 
Franklin Node Joins 350 Mass
The node meets on the first and third Thursdays of every month. Carolyn Barthel is the node coordinator and can answer any questions: her email address is carolyncbarthel@gmail.com
What: 350 Mass Node Meeting (Franklin)
When: Thu, October 1, 7pm – 9pm
Where: First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin


To view the full 350 Mass newsletter follow this link
http://betterfutureproject.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/d/50788B05A743CF11

In the News: Y costume swap, Solar Challenge succeeds, Neighbor Brigade recognized, Sen Spilka plans office hours



The Hockomock Area YMCA invites families in the community to participate in a Halloween costume swap Oct. 8 and a farm day at Wards Berry Farm Oct. 13. 
Families are invited to bring their clean, gently-used costumes into any Member Service Desk at the following branches: Bernon Family Branch, 45 Forge Hill Road, Franklin; Invensys Foxboro Branch, 67 Mechanic St., Foxborough; and North Attleboro Branch, 300 Elmwood St., North Attleborough, no later than Oct. 7.
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150928/NEWS/150926376/1994/NEWS


The Franklin Solar Challenge has reached another milestone, earning a solar array for a local nonprofit organization. 
The challenge, which offers increasing tiers of savings for townspeople who agree to put solar systems on their properties, has been ongoing. It was originally set to end in September, but was extended to Oct. 15 to accommodate higher-than-expected interest.
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150928/NEWS/150926180/1994/NEWS


The Franklin Town Council recently honored a local volunteer group for the work it does for area residents. 
The council, at its meeting last week, read a proclamation in honor of and awarded a trophy to the local chapter of the Neighbor Brigade. 
Council Chairman Robert Vallee read the proclamation to chapter leaders Linda Gagnon and Cheryl Ferri.
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150928/NEWS/150926155/1994/NEWS

Franklin has its own Neighbor Brigade chapter
Franklin has its own Neighbor Brigade chapter


State Sen. Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) or representatives from her staff will be available for district office hours in Franklin and Medway on Friday, Oct. 2. Constituents are invited to share their concerns, questions and policy priorities and hear updates on the latest news and events from the State House and in the district. 
Medway's office hour will be held 12-1 p.m. at the Muffin House CafĂ©, 116 Main St., Medway. 
Franklins office hour will be held 1:30-2:30 p.m. at The Cake Bar, 17 E Central St., Franklin. 
Residents who are unable to attend or are interested in scheduling an appointment should contact Spilka’s office at 617-722-1640 at any time.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150929/NEWS/150926079/1994/NEWS

Monday, September 28, 2015

How will the pilot work out?


In a pilot program announced Friday, Boston's MBTA is going to start tracking public-transit rider movements using beacons--stationary devices that measure the movements of people carrying smartphones, usually using bluetooth or Wi-Fi. 
It's similar to technology used by retailers to track customer movements in store. In another example, a Boston startup, Cuseum, uses beacons to track people's movements through museums, providing data designed to help museum operators engage with visitors.

An important item on a number of front is provided  by the following statement by the MBTA in their press release:
No personally identifiable information will be collected through this pilot program. Operating in a transmit mode similar to GPS, beacons cannot see, collect or store any personal data or consumer information. Beacons are transmit-only Bluetooth low energy devices that send out a signal that can only be used by user-enabled apps running on mobile devices to trigger location-specific content. In order for a mobile device to detect a beacon, a user must download an app that utilizes the technology and opt-in to allow the app to receive the beacon's signal.

While one of the objectives is to
"How beacon technology can be used to help the MBTA better communicate with riders"

another is to
"How brands can increase engagement and interaction with commuters based on proximity"

Will the communications really improve alerting riders to the schedule changes, or simply that someone has something to sell around the corner remains to be seen?

MBTA logo
MBTA logo


You can read the Boston Innovation article here
http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2015/09/25/mbta-beacons-t-pilot-rider-tracking-tech-advertisers-others/

Note: the pilot supposedly started on Friday but what app is required to take part in this was not specified.



Reporting by Walking Around - Sunday, Sep 27 (photo essay)


a good reminder
Signs and other promotional material are available at http://drivelikeyourkidslivehere.com/

Fortunately, Franklin Police do pay attention to speeding and coincidentally, the speed monitor boards were out in both directions on Union St on Sunday. They had been switched over from alerting about the railroad crossing closing for Saturday.

speed monitor on Union St
speed monitor on Union St


The traffic was a mess on Saturday trying to navigate around Franklin. Folks unaware of the crossing repair work were being re-routed on East St to West Central St and then to Cottage. Or via Cottage downtown to West Central.

the newly repaired railroad crossing on Union St
the newly repaired railroad crossing on Union St

brick cross walk showing increase sign of wearing, brick will be coming out soon
brick cross walk showing increase sign of wearing, brick will be coming out soon

even with all the construction, have a wonderful day!
even with all the construction, have a wonderful day!

Opioid Abuse in Massachusetts: What Parents Need to Know



"The number of annual deaths related to opioid use in Massachusetts increased dramatically between 2000 and 2014, according to the Department of Public Health (DPH). Parents should be aware that young people are at high risk of becoming involved in this fatal epidemic. Data provided by Governor Baker’s Opioid Working Group indicates that 74 percent of individuals with a substance use disorder began using by age 17. 
With resources from DPH, start a discussion about opioid abuse with your children, and learn how the Opioid Working Group is taking steps to protect young people from addiction."
screen grab of MA GOV page on "What parents need to know"
screen grab of MA GOV page on "What parents need to know"


Continue reading the MA Gov article online 
http://blog.mass.gov/blog/government/opioid-abuse-in-massachusetts-what-parents-need-to-know/


"a pump will be needed to send water to the plant"

We need to be aware of what is happening in our neighborhood, not just along our streets but just over the town line. Medway is tackling the issue of the proposed power plant expansion and now Millis is getting involved.

The Board of Selectmen is expected to approve a contract with an engineering firm to perform a review of the town’s water system to determine the feasibility of selling water to Exelon, which is planning a 200-megawatt expansion of its Medway plant. 
The Medway water system is already overburdened, and as a result, the town can't sell water to Exelon, which needs an average of 95,000 gallons per day for emissions control for two proposed 100-megawatt turbines at its existing 117-megawatt oil-fired facility on Summer Street. Exelon is proposing to purchase water from Millis, which would then pump the water into Medway’s water system.
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150927/NEWS/150926483/1994/NEWS


Additional resources:

Medway Peaker Project page  http://www.medwayenergy.com/about-our-project/facts/

Boston Globe's "The Argument" with both sides for the story
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2015/08/13/the-argument-would-exelon-proposed-power-benefit-medway/nUCI1wACGvtYsim7XgZZZP/story.html

And the Stop Exelon Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/nopowerplantmedway

and webpage  www.stopmedwaypeaker.com