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

Dean College Leadership Lecture Series Announces 'Finest Hours' Team as Guest Speakers for March 3, 2016

The Finest Hours

Dean College is honored to host both the producer and the author of Walt Disney Pictures new epic THE FINEST HOURS for the Dean College Leadership Institute Leadership In Action Lecture Series on Thursday March 3, 2016.

The Leadership Series offers a unique and interactive opportunity for students, alumni, and the local community to interact with today's business leaders.

Acclaimed film producer Dorothy Aufiero will be joined by bestselling author Casey Sherman to discuss their incredible journey together from page to screen. THE FINEST HOURS is set for worldwide release beginning on January 29, 2016. The film chronicles the greatest Coast Guard rescue in American history in February, 1952 off Cape Cod and stars Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Eric Bana, Ben Foster and Holliday Grainger. THE FINEST HOURS was filmed entirely in Massachusetts.   

"We are thrilled to be joined by the creative forces behind this major motion picture," said Dr. Paula Rooney, President of Dean College. "Both Ms. Aufiero and Mr. Sherman work here in Massachusetts and the Dean College community looks forward to a memorable event as they discuss  the challenges and the triumphs behind their cinematic achievement."

Dorothy Aufiero has also developed several of the most memorable motion pictures ever filmed in Massachusetts including the Oscar winning The Fighter starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, and the Oscar winning Good Will Hunting starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Aufiero also served as executive producer for the smash television hit Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

  

Casey Sherman is a national bestselling author of eight books including Search for the Strangler (about his re-investigation of the notorious Boston Strangler case), Bad Blood, Animal and Boston Strong. Sherman has also served as a guest analyst on CNN and FOX News.

Mr. Sherman and Ms. Aufiero are currently working on a feature film project based on Boston Strong to star Mark Wahlberg and directed by Peter Berg of Lone Survivor fame. Production is expected to begin this spring.

The speaking program will begin at 4 PM. in the Guidrey Center at Dean College, 99 Main Street, Franklin, MA on March  3, 2014. The program is FREE and open to the public. Registration is required as seating is limited. For more information and to register, visit the Dean College website www.dean.edu.


Behind the scenes preview can be seen here

FHS topped Mansfield in hockey and wrestling

FHS topped Mansfield in hockey and wrestling on Wednesday. The FHS boys swim team lost by one point to Milford. All results from Hockomock Sports

Boys Hockey

• Franklin, 4 @ Mansfield, 0 

– Final – Sophomore Kenny Demerchant scored his first career goal while sophomore Brendan O’Reilly, junior Adam Assad and sophomore Jeremy Miller each scored once. Nick Jasinski had the shutout in net for the win.

FHS Panthers

Wrestling

• Franklin, 48 @ Mansfield, 18 – Final

Swimming - Boys

• Franklin, 79 @ Milford, 80 – Final

For all the results around the Hockomock League on Wednesday
http://www.hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-011316/

In the News: water hearing, school calendar choices

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"A state board’s evidentiary hearings on Exelon’s proposed 200-megawatt expansion of its existing Summer Street will continue Friday with testimony about the plant’s proposed use of water. 

The state Energy Facilities Siting Board, which reviews and permits power infrastructure in the state, will meet for the first time this month to discuss the average of 95,000 gallons of water the plant will need each to help control emissions."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160113/medway-exelon-water-hearings-on-friday

The hearing is interesting for a couple of reasons: one, for Medway's use of the water and two, Franklin has an interest in getting additional water from Millis to help with the Kingsbury Pond issue.

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"The Franklin School Committee is considering two draft calendars for the upcoming school year. 

Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski at Tuesday night's committee meeting presented the early drafts for informational purposes only. The committee will be asked to make a decision at its next meeting on Jan. 26."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160113/franklin-school-committee-mulls-calendar

The two draft calendars can be viewed here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/01/live-reporting-calendar-choices-2.html

FHS boys basketball tops Foxboro in OT

From Hockomock Sports, we share the results of the FHS basketball games on Tuesday, January 12

Girls Basketball

• Franklin, 45 @ Foxboro, 51 – Final 

– Sophomore Ashley Sampson led the way for the Warriors with 21 points while sophomore Lily Sykes chipped in with 12 points for Foxboro.

Boys Basketball

• Foxboro, 60 @ Franklin, 65 – Final (OT) 

– Senior Tim Prunier scored a game-high 18 points while freshman Jay Dieterle scored 13 points, senior Kevin Gill had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists and Josh Macchi had 11 points and eight rebounds. Foxboro’s Jason Procaccini scored 17 points, Robby Lowey added 12 points and six rebounds and Mark Clagg had 11 points.

For all the results around the Hockomock League on Tuesday
http://www.hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-011216/

Franklin senior Kevin Gill hit a trio of three pointers between the fourth quarter and overtime. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

Ryan Lanigan, Editor-in-Chief, Hockomock Sports provides a complete write up on the game:

"Franklin starting guard Kevin Gill picked a pretty good time to hit his first three of the season. 

With the Panthers trailing 52-44 with just over two minutes to play, Gill took a feed from Josh Macchi and drained the triple from the right side to get within two possessions. 

After Franklin’s defense forced a turnover on the other end, Gill picked an even better time to hit his second three of the season. Once again it was Macchi playing the role of playmaker, finding Gill wide open in the corner and he drained it. 

And then after neither team could hit a go-ahead basket, the teams headed to overtime. That was the best time for Gill to hit his third three of the 2015-2016 campaign. Franklin’s lead was just one as time ticked under a minute in the extra period when Gill found himself in the corner — this time the left side — and hit nothing but net to give the Panthers the lead for good. 

Gill helped Franklin cap a big comeback and score a 65-60 win over Foxboro in overtime."

Continue reading the article online at Hockomock Sports
http://www.hockomocksports.com/gill-sparks-franklins-comeback-win-over-foxboro/