Snow White and the Seven Elves - Dec 12-13

Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) presents an original panto this holiday season. With a twist on a fairy tale classic, the family-friendly musical, Snow White and the Seven Elves, debuts at THE BLACK BOX, 15 West Central Street, in downtown Franklin. Performances are on Saturday, December 12 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, December 13 at 2 p.m.

The production follows in the tradition of a British panto, a type of show that retells a well-known fairy tale in an exaggerated style filled with audience participation, popular songs, slapstick comedy, jokes, dances, and more. At its best, a panto thrills children with the opportunity to cheer for the hero, boo at the villain, and sing along with some of their favorite songs. But the brilliance of a good panto lies in its ability to also entertain adults with double entendre, references to modern culture, and open satire of other works.

THE BLACK BOX Theater, 15 West Central St

Area performers featured in the production are Madi Asgeirsson, Jason Barney, Brooke Collins, Hayley Driscoll, Andrew Falanga, Mia Fleischer, Aaron Frongillo, Anna Grasso, Ed Jones, Jocelyn Jones, Wendy Jones, Sydney Leach, Catherine LeClair, Holly McAlpine, Tatiana McAlpine, Cassidy Peters, Chuck Peters, Hannah Rezendes, Madison Rezendes, Abby Trombert, Katharine Waples, Hallie Wetzell, Caitlin Woodcock, Amanda Wylie, Katie Wylie, Melissa Wyner, and Peter Wyner of Franklin; Caroline Merten and Joey Soares of Hopedale; Michael Fajardo of Hopkinton; Lilla Gaffney of Hudson; Sam Evans and Colie Vancura of Medfield; Caroline Calnan and Maddy Williams of Medway; Katie Gray of Milford; Laine DiMartinis and Griffin Wilkins of Walpole; and Jenna McDermott and Susauna Wickstrom of Wrentham.

Founded in 1991, the nonprofit FPAC supports educational arts experiences, quality entertainment, and outstanding performance opportunities for professional artists, community performers, and students of the arts. With a focus on youth development and a commitment to live music, FPAC celebrates its 25th anniversary this season. 

Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation is FPAC’s Premier Sponsor. Big Y and Waters Corporation are FPAC 2015 Holiday Sponsors. 

For tickets and more information, visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or www.FPAConline.com or call (508) 528-3370.

Looking back to January 2015

We had some snow in the later part of January 2015 and missed a couple of days of school in what became the 'endless' winter.

• There was much to do about the conversations overheard with the microphones turned up at the Town Council meeting on January 7th. After all was said and done, there was no apology from the Councilors involved.

Jan 7th meeting here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/questions-were-raised-answers-sought.html

• The School Committee meeting on Jan 13th was a marked and positive difference. Two FHS seniors were recognized for being in the top of their class. Dillon Scarnicki had his teammates from the FHS hockey team support him for his participation in the Special Education presentation.

School Committee - Jan 13th
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/what-marked-difference-for-community.html

• Pond St was rezoned, Emmons St was sold.

Town Council - Jan 21st meeting here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/150-emmons-st-sold-pond-st-parcel-re.html

the snow did not keep Ben from reading

More photos from the walk  around Franklin on Saturday, Jan 24
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/saturdays-walk-around-franklin-photo.html


Feel free to cruise through all the archives (176 posts) for January 2015
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015_01_01_archive.html

Creating a Haven: Capturing the Spirit of Nature to Enhance your Home Design

Creating a Haven
Capturing the Spirit of Nature to Enhance your Home Design

A Presentation by Elizabeth Randall, Elizabeth Randall Interior Designs

Nature is all around us, but too often we don’t invite it in to our homes. Learn how to incorporate natural elements in your home to create a more soothing and pleasant space. Really looking at nature up close makes you stop and see a little more clearly, and provides times of rest and meditation. 

This presentation will present many images showing easy and inexpensive ways to create oases. Whether incorporating plants, sunlight, colors, water features or food displays, there are wonderful opportunities to welcome nature in. Please join us for an hour of creative ideas, guaranteed to have you stopping to smell the roses (and lilacs) just a little bit more!

Weds, Dec 2  -   7:00 PM

Franklin Schools: Music Department Concert Calendar for December 2015

December

12/01 - Horace Mann Middle School Concert 6:00 p.m. (snow date 12/14)

12/02 - Remington Middle School Concert 6:00 p.m. Horace Mann (snow date 12/8)

12/03 - Annie Sullivan Middle School Concert 6:00 p.m. Horace Mann (snow date 12/7)

Franklin Public Schools - music dept calendar

12/09 - FHS Concert 7:00 p.m. FHS Auditorium ( snow date 12/10)

12/11 - Kennedy 5th Grade Concert 9:00 a.m. (snow date 12/16)

12/14 - Jefferson 3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Concert 9:00 a.m. (snow Date 12/21)

12/14 - Davis Thayer 4th & 5th Grade Concert 1:45 p.m. (snow date 12/21)

The latest on Franklin's OPEB

• What is OPEB?

OPEB is "Other Post Employment Benefits"

• What is Franklin's outstanding unfunded liability?

Per the latest actuarial report (shown below), the unfunded liability is 92.5 million dollars.

• Is this an issue?

Yes, it is akin to a homeowner's mortgage, you need to have a plan to pay for it. Franklin has a plan to save for this liability and plans to increase their contribution to it as circumstances allow.

• How is Franklin doing compared to other MA communities?

Franklin is doing better than most according to the actuarial update provided at the Town Council meeting on Nov 18th
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/11/live-reporting-opeb.html


Here is the cover letter from Sherman Actuarial Services, LLC (SAS):

"The Town of Franklin has engaged Sherman Actuarial Services, LLC (SAS) to prepare an actuarial valuation of their post-retirement benefits program as of June 30, 2015. This valuation was performed using employee census data, enrollment data, claims, premiums, participant contributions and plan provision information provided by personnel of the Town of Franklin. SAS did not audit these data, although they were reviewed for reasonability. The results of the valuation are dependent on the accuracy of the data. 

The purposes of the valuation are to analyze the current funded position of the Town's post­ retirement benefits program, determine the level of contributions necessary to assure sound funding and provide reporting and disclosure information for financial statements, governmental agencies and other interested parties. This valuation report contains information required by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board's Statements Nos. 43 and 45, respectively entitled "Financial Reporting for Postemployment Benefit Plans Other Than Pension Plans" and "Accounting and Financial Reporting by Employers for Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions." 

According to GASB principles, if the benefits are not prefunded, the rate earned by the General Asset Account must be used to select the discount rat used to measure the plan. To measure on that basis we have used a discount rate of 4.0%. The Town is currently partially prefunding the obligation with additional contributions of $400,000. Based on this policy, we have determined that a discount rate of 4.5% is appropriate for financial reporting purposes. If the Town were to commence fully prefunding the Annual Required Contribution instead of paying benefits when due plus $400,000, the measurement would likely be based on an 8.0% discount rate. 

Section II provides a summary of the principal valuation results. Section VII provides a projection of funding amounts. 

While the actuary believes that the assumptions are reasonable for financial reporting purposes, it should be understood that there is a range of assumptions that could be deemed reasonable that would yield different results. Moreover, while the actuary considers the assumption set to be reasonable based on prior plan experience, it should be understood that future plan experience may differ considerably from what has been assumed. 

The report was prepared under the supervision of Daniel Sherman, an Associate of the Society of Actuaries and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries, who takes responsibility for the overall appropriateness of the analysis, assumptions and results. Daniel Sherman is deemed to meet the General Qualification Standard and the basic education and experience requirement in the pension area. Based on over twenty years of performing FAS 106 valuations of similar complexity, Mr. Sherman is qualified by experience ·in retiree medical valuation. Daniel Sherman has met the Qualification Standards of the American Academy of Actuaries to render the actuarial opinion contained herein. 

The costs and actuarial exhibits presented in this report have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practices and the requirements of GASB 45. I am available to answer questions about this report. "

Respectfully Submitted,

SHERMAN ACTUARIAL SERVICES, LLC

DelCarte in autumn color 2015

The full report from Sherman Actuarial Services, LLC (SAS) can be read here:



Or use this link
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczZFhRbjVXWjBPNTQ




Page 3 and page 10 were the two handouts for the Town Council meeting on Nov 18th




or use this link
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczTkxYNkVCTVdGOTg


The Needham story
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/best-practice-how-is-needham-addressing.html

In the News: Santa on the Town Common, YMCA diabetes program

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

Santa Claus is coming to town this Sunday to preside over a tree lighting at the Town Common. 

The event - set for Sunday, Nov. 29, at 4 p.m. - will see the lights, strung by the Department of Public Works, come aglow and the season officially start. 

Barbara Rondeau, who organizes the tree lighting, said the town has been holding the event for the past 22 years. 

"When Santa comes to the common on a firetruck ... at that time, we do the lighting," she said. "He sits on the bandstand and each child gets a gift."

Santa on the Town Common - November 2014

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151127/NEWS/151126475/1994/NEWS

The Hockomock Area YMCA released Diabetes Prevention Program, designed to support adults that are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes and reduce their risk for developing the disease. 

The one-year program, consisting of 24 sessions, will provide a welcoming environment where participants work together in a small group to learn about healthier eating and increasing their physical activity. The classroom-based program is facilitated by a Y-USA trained facilitator at the Hockomock Area YMCA ,which has facilities in North Attleborough, Foxborough and Franklin.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151127/NEWS/151127197/1994/NEWS

Franklin Federated Church: Christmas Concert - Dec. 12

Franklin Federated Church will present this year's Annual Christmas Concert, Peace on Earth, on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 7:00 PM at the church at 171 Main Street.

The concert will feature an arrangement of classical music and Christmas melodies performed by "Quartet Duviteux," a string quartet of young, talented musicians who met as students at the New England Conservatory of Music.The quartet has been described as "proficient, passionate, gifted, international, irreverent, flexible, experimental, and joyful."

Quartet Duviteux

The group hails from all points on the compass. Maria van der Sloot, violin, is from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada; Luther Warren also plays violin, and comes from Minneapolis, Minnesota; Linda Numagami plays viola, and comes from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Cellist Marza Merophi Wilks was born in Peru and spent her high school years in Ithaca, New York.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling the church office at 508-528-3803.