In the News: sports teams added, Milford raises age, Narcan considered by Medway, memory cafe at Senior Center

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"The School Committee has added gymnastics and freshman lacrosse to the high school's sports roster. 

Athletic Director Brad Sidwell spoke before the committee at its Jan. 12 meeting in favor of the changes, in addition to giving an update on several initiatives at the school."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160115/franklin-high-school-scores-two-new-sports-teams


Franklin's BOH considered this move in 2014 then did not raise the age.

"The Board of Health has raised the legal age for tobacco purchases in town from 18 to 21. 

The order, enacted at the board's meeting this week, goes into effect April 1. It makes Milford the 93rd town in the state to raise the legal age. Milford follows other area towns, such as Medway and Ashland, in a decision aimed at curbing youth substance abuse. The order also restricts e-cigarette purchases to those 21 and older. 

“It is our responsibility as a local board of health to do all we can to guide our young people and create a healthier future for all our residents,” said Paul Mazzuchelli, the town's health officer."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160115/milford-board-of-health-raises-legal-tobacco-age-to-21


The Franklin School Committee had previously considered this move.What the new committee now sitting will do remains to be seen.

"With drug users overdosing at an alarming rate around the state and country and the scourge of heroin finding its way into the lives of atypical drug users, the school department is considering arming itself with an overdose-reversing drug.
Narcan, a nasal spray, reverses the effects of an overdose caused by an opioid, like heroin, morphine and other prescription painkillers. 

Superintendent Armand Pires said the school department is engaging in an “ongoing discussion” throughout the district to gauge the need to stock the drug, a step that other nearby school districts have taken."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160115/medway-schools-consider-stocking-narcan

"Memory Café will be held at 3 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month, Jan. 21, at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill St. 

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

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160115/franklin-senior-center-to-host-memory-cafxe9-on-jan-21

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 1/15/16 - THU 1/21/16

FRIDAY 1/15/16
1-3pm   Kids Paint at the Franklin Art Center
6:30pm   Art Night Uncorked at the Franklin Art Center

SATURDAY 1/16/16
9am-4pm   Book Sale at the Franklin Public Library. Live music by Betty Kushner 9-10am.

SUNDAY 1/17/16
7:30-10:30am   Sunday Morning Breakfast at Franklin Rod and Gun Club
9am-12pm   Bag Sale at the Franklin Public Library. Fill up a bag with books for only $5.

MONDAY 1/18/16
1-3pm   Kids Paint at the Franklin Art Center

TUESDAY 1/19/16
6:30-8pm   Teen Advisory Board meets at the Franklin Public Library

THURSDAY 1/21/16
3pm   Memory Cafe for Caregivers and Their Loved Ones at the Franklin Senior Center. Please call the center to register.
5:30-7:30pm   Algonquin Open House for the Access Northeast Project at the Hawthorne Suites on Union Street, Franklin
6:30-8:30pm   Franklin Arts Academy Fundraiser at Pour Richard’s
7pm   Franklin SEPAC Free Workshop: Primitive Reflex, Intergration, Leraning and Behavior presented by Pam Formosa and Christina Schlupf from Brain Fit, Town Hall, 3rd floor Training Room

For all the Town of Franklin Public Meetings click HERE.

For event details click HERE.

*If you have any suggestions or events for the calendar, please email Renata@BetterLivingRE.com

In the News: anger over pond levels, free-throw championship at Y

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"Local residents expressed anger and dismay at a Wednesday evening meeting regarding the historic low water levels at Kingsbury Pond - a situation they attributed to nearby Franklin wells. 

Residents used the phrase "do your job" repeatedly as they spoke to representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, who had been invited to the meeting to discuss the situation and possible steps to fix the problem."

image of Kingsbury Pond from petition

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160114/franklin-wells-spur-norfolk-pond-concerns

Recent post summarizing the Kingsbury Pond issue
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/01/in-news-kingsbury-pond-issue-substance.html

"The Franklin Hockomock Area YMCA, 45 Forge Hill Road, will host a free-throw championship from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21. 

The contest, which is free to participate, is for boys and girls ages 9-14. Participants must bring birth certificates and a parent. The winners will be invited to the district, divisional and national competitions. Each contestant will receive a certificate and memento."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160114/franklin-hockomock-area-ymca-to-host-free-throw-championship

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.