Lowell City Council endorses fixing the gas pipeline leaks

One of the key arguments of the anti-Spectra pipeline group is that if the gas companies fixed the leaks in the existing supply lines that would provide about 30% of the supply currently being 'lost'. 

"On Tuesday, the Lowell City Council passed a resolution in support of state legislation to address gas leaks! Gas leaks are costly for consumers and terrible for the climate: leaking gas pipelines emit methane, an extremely powerful greenhouse gas, directly into the atmosphere. 

Lowell's resolution is in support of H. 2870 and H. 2871, new pieces of state legislation that would help reduce gas leaks and ensure that consumers are not charged for leaking gas. Congrats to all the folks in 350 Mass Lowell who worked hard to make this resolution happen!"

Reference to the motion was also reported by Richard Howe

"Joint motion by Mayor Kennedy and Councilor Elliott to support resolution on bill pending in state legislature on natural gas leaks. Registered to speak is State Senator Jamie Eldridge who thanks the council for allowing him to speak. He wants to provide some context to this bill. Says Tom Golden is a strong advocate for this bill. Last session, the legislature took up the issue of the hundreds of thousands of gas leaks in Massachusetts, many of which occur in older cities like Lowell. 

This bill would require utilities to better document these leaks and to develop a plan to remedy them. Portions of the bill did not pass during the last legislative session so they are back again this year. This would also prohibit utilities from charging the cost of sealing these leaks back to their users. He appreciates the council’s consideration of this resolution and says the council’s passage of it would send a strong message to the rest of the legislature."

The full context of the Jan 5th Council meeting in Lowell can be found here
http://www.richardhowe.com/2016/01/05/lowell-city-council-meeting-january-5-2016/

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From the Twitterverse!

Huge congrats to @350MALowell -- their gas leaks resolution just passed!

— 350Mass (@350Mass) January 6, 2016

Are there really gas leaks? Yup, and they can be found!

We found gas leaks all along the #westroxburylateralpipeline route today, including M&R stn. @davabel @universalhub pic.twitter.com/s1WMwb2gxt

— Nathan Phillips (@nathanpboston) January 4, 2016

leaks along the west roxbury lateral pipeline

The presentation to the Franklin Town Council on Jan 6 can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/01/live-reporting-presentation-on-spectra.html

Valentine's 2016....don't forget your special someone(s)! VDay 2016 is fast approaching and you do not want to be caught empty handed! The Sugar Shoppe has a fabulous line up of goodies to go! And our Vday special items are on their way! Nothing says LOVE like a little SUGAR❤️❤️❤️ Stop by and shoppe for a great cause! 10% off any candy that's RED!! Just mention this ad & you shall receive! Follow us for more updates! Sugar Shoppe 334 Union St Franklin, MA 02038 USA

Tri-County Students Compete In National Mobile App Contest

A mobile app concept created by sophomores in Tri-County Regional's Computer Information Systems Program is in the running for the national Verizon App Challenge Fan Favorite award.

The app proposal, which would transform the school's late bus pass system to an all-electronic format, won Best in State in the high school section of the Verizon Innovative App Challenge. Each team member won a tablet computer and $5,000 to be used for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) initiatives at Tri-County.

Tri-County students working on the app challenge

Team members Dylan Ross, of Franklin, Micah Perkins, of Medway, Victoria Rezza, Dylan Lavimodiere, and Robert Paige, all of North Attleborough, Eric Bernard, of Plainville, and Tyler Mello, of Seekonk, said the idea for the app came to them very early on in the brainstorming process. Currently, students who stay after school for academic help, athletics, or extracurricular activities must visit the Main Office to get a pass for the late bus. The late buses transport students to designated stops within their hometown.

"We had to go from one classroom to get a pass to go either to the Main Office or the Homework Center to get a pass, to then even just get on a bus, and then sometimes the bus would be full and we'd have to wait for another bus. So basically, we just had the idea to make an app that would do all that for us, so then you would click ‘reserve,’ select the bus that you want and just wait," explained Eric Bernard.

The students thanked their teachers, Kim Zogalis and Christopher Cadorette, for encouraging them to participate in the initial “Best in State” competition. The group was elated upon learning from Mrs. Zogalis that they advanced to the national App Challenge Fan Favorite contest. The group could win an additional $15,000 for their school. 

To win this award, the students must get the most votes. Voters must text "LatePass1" to 22333 by January 31 to vote for Tri-County's app.

The winner of the app challenge will also have the opportunity to work with experts at MIT on building a working app, but the students at Tri-County are wasting no time in developing their product.

"Right now, we're wire-framing it, which is basically drawing what is going to look like," said Bernard.




The 30 second concept video of the app is shown here:

FPAC Slates Open Auditions For Disney’s The Little Mermaid

Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) will hold open auditions for Disney’s The Little Mermaid on Wednesday, January 27 at THE BLACK BOX, the company’s home and performance venue located at 15 West Central Street in downtown Franklin. 

Auditions begin at 6 p.m. for ages 7-9 (very few roles available) and continue at 6:30 for ages 10-13 (very few roles available), 7:00 for teens ages 14 and older, and 7:45 for adults. Please prepare 16 measures of a musical theater song in the style of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. For more information, including a character breakdown, please visit www.FPAConline.com.

Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC)

FPAC will stage the under-the-sea spectacular on March 12-13 and March 19-20 at THE BLACK BOX. Based on the beloved fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen and the classic animated film, the enchanting blockbuster musical brings audiences into a magical ocean kingdom – home to mermaid Ariel, King Triton and a host of memorable characters, including Flounder the fish and Sebastian the crab. 

When the beautiful and curious young mermaid falls for a handsome human, Prince Eric, in the world above, she bargains with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and book by Doug Wright, Disney’s  The Little Mermaid features the irresistible songs “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl,” and “Part of Your World.”

FPAC presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid as part of the company’s 25th anniversary season. For more information, call (508) 528-3370.

iOn the Ball proposal for Franklin digital sign

In the recent Economic Development Committee meeting, a proposal for a digital sign to generate approx. $40,000 in revenue per year for Franklin. The sign would be placed on private property and be only visible to drivers along i495.

Franklin would need to change the current sign bylaw to allow this digital sign. You may recall that the digital sign installed with the new High School was initially turned on but is as it does not meet the bylaw requirements.

screen grab from the presentation depicting the northbound view of the proposed sign

Franklin presentation by iOn the Ball from Franklin Matters

Stay tuned for the future Town Council meeting when this topic comes before them

• The set of notes published from the Economic Development Committee meeting can be found here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/01/live-reporting-economic-development.html

Ladybug Story on WCVB's 'Chronicle' Tuesday Night -> Replay available on demand

Did you catch "Chronicle" on Channel 5 Tuesday night? The show featured many of the 56 official Massachusetts symbols, including the ladybug. 

A screen shot from the WCVB website shows Rep. Jeff Roy speaking at Town Hall about The Ladybug Story booklet.

The story of the Kennedy School second grade class of 1974's efforts to have the ladybug named as the official state insect was highlighted as part of this show. 

Follow the link below to watch the segment on the WCVB Chronicle website. The fiberglass painted ladybugs from the Cultural Council's project, as well as Representative Jeff Roy, Town Hall, the Franklin Public Library and the Franklin Art Center, made appearances. The Franklin portion of the story begins after the Polka segment, at 1:45. 

http://www.wcvb.com/chronicle/keeping-it-symbol-official-insect/37413776?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=wcvb


This was shared from the Franklin Downtown Partnership page
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2016/01/ladybug-story-on-wcvbs-chronicle.html

Related posts:

• Announcement of the Ladybugs to appear on the Town Common in August 2014

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/ladybug-spots-on-town-common-aug-9-10.html

• The ladybugs have landed on the Town Common

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/08/ladybugs-on-parade.html

Senior Center: Memory Cafe - Jan 21

This month's Memory Cafe will be held as usual on the third Thursday of the month, January 21st at 3:00 at the Franklin Senior Center. 

The Memory Cafe is for Caregivers and their loved ones living with memory loss. It is a safe and supportive environment where families can socialize and feel at ease.

This month we are happy to have three or four Franklin middle and high school students who will be playing some older familiar tunes on the violin and viola. They will be led by Kathleen Woods Studio.

The Cafe is open to all in the community and free of charge. For more information please call Elaine Owens at 508-520-4945. We encourage you to sign up so that we have an idea as to how many we will have at each cafe. Refreshments are served!

guitar players from a prior memory cafe at the Senior Center