In the News: family science night, Dean performance scheduled, Circle of Friends concert

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

The high school will hosts its second annual "Family Science Night" next month - an event intended to encourage science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) interest on the part of elementary and middle school students. 

The event - scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 10 - will be organized by the high school's Science National Honor Society group. 

The group, said high school science teacher Ann Butler, is comprised of students who have reached a certain GPA in science subjects. This is the society's largest event of the year. 

"Last year, the idea was to invite elementary students to the night, and it was a wild, wild hit," said Butler. "We never anticipated the crowds we got - it was about 300 kids."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160208/franklin-science-night-set-for-march

The School of the Arts at Dean College will perform “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” March 2-6 in the Performing Arts Studios Stage at Dean College, 61 School St. 

“Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” is the tale of Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet” as told from the view of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. 

The Dean College production will take place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160208/dean-college-to-present-rosencrantz-and-guildenstern-are-dead

The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse will host Seth Glier at 8 p.m. Feb. 27 in the First Universalist Society’s Meetinghouse, 262 Chestnut St. 

A singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist who averages over 250 live performances annually, Glier has gone from opening act to headlining his own shows and playing major festivals. He’s shared the stage with artists as diverse as James Taylor, Ani DiFranco, Edwin McCain, Martin Sexton, Emmylou Harris and Ryan Adams. For more on Glier, visit sethglier.com.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160208/circle-of-friends-coffeehouse-to-host-seth-glier

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse

Memory Café - Feb 18 - 3:00 PM

Memory Café

Thursday-February 18th at 3:00 pm.

Please join us!

We will be hosting a small dog for a pet visit.

Please join us in the Cafeteria 

at the Franklin Senior Center.

The Café is free of charge and open to the public.

We will serve light refreshments!

Please call Elaine Owens at 508-520-4945 to sign up.

Franklin Senior Center

Pastel Art Classes Begin February 25

Franklin Public Schools            Lifelong Learning Institute   THE CENTER FOR ADULT EDUCATION and COMMUNITY LEARNING  is pleased to announce   PASTEL CLASS Don't wait  ........  start painting now Pick up a pastel stick and work with one of the oldest art medium known to man. Seeing pure pigment on a surface will heighten your interest to place color where you want it, where it stays.  Color is all around us and we will capture some of it with pastels.   We will begin with working with different strokes, shapes, design, negative/positive space, layering, minimal blending, and graduated color.   You will learn how to preserve your completed work.  There will be one-on-one attention, tips and techniques, and working from still life set ups, moving onto land/seascape compositions with weekly critiques to further one's learning experience. February 25 through March 31 Franklin High School 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm $75.00 Register Now The class is taught by GAIL ECKBERG, a full-time teaching artist 218 Oak Street, Franklin, MA 02038, adulted@franklin.k12.ma.us, 508-613-1480

Forward this email FPS- Lifelong Learning | 355 East Central Street | Franklin | MA | 02038

Random Smile Project Gala - March 12

Random Smile Project (RSP)  is celebrating 10 years of community service with our Gala on March 12th at the Providence Convention Center there will be 

• Live and Silent auction
• Dinner and Dancing with the Grab Brothers Band 

Discounted room rates available at the Omni Hotel in Providence. 

Complete information available at www.randomsmile.org/gala/

Random Smile Project Gala - March 12

The Grab Brothers Band will play for your entertainment and dancing

"every conversation is an opportunity to engage and delight customers"

"Interactions, a Franklin-based tech firm backed by $110 million in venture capital funding, has debuted what its CEO calls "game-changing innovations" for its virtual assistant technology. 

The company works to improve conversations between humans and automated customer service software. This week, it announced new technologies that make an automated virtual assistant as smart as a human customer-service agent."

Continue reading the article in the Boston Business Journal
http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/techflash/2016/02/franklin-tech-firm-develops-a-new-kind-of-customer.html

screen grab of Interactions website

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds: Register O'Donnell Reports on Jan '16 Real Estate Activity

	Norfolk County Registry of Deeds
	Register O'Donnell Reports on Jan '16 Real Estate Activity Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell reported a mostly positive kick-off to the New Year relative to Norfolk County real estate activity for month of January, but a few numbers still need to be closely watched throughout the first quarter of 2016. "I am pleased to report that January 2016 real estate sales activity showed solid gains in both the total number of real estate transactions and total dollar volume of real estate activity, including commercial and residential sales, compared to the same month in 2015," noted Register O'Donnell. 'The number of real estate sales, both commercial and residential, increased a whopping 28% in January. The average sales price during the month was $680,350, a 4% increase compared to January 2015. Total dollar volume of commercial and residential sales also showed solid gains, increasing an impressive 34% to $514.3 million," noted the Register. Continuing his remarks, O'Donnell stated, "The lending market was a mixed bag for the month of January. The total number of mortgages recorded in January was 1,982, a modest 5% increase. However, total mortgage financing actually fell 7% coming in at $764 million. We will need to watch this number closely to see if individuals and business begin to think twice before borrowing money." On the consumer front, Homestead recordings in January increased by 23% year over year. Information regarding the Homestead Act, which provides limited protection against the forced sale of an individual's primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000, can be found on the Registry's website at www.norfolkdeeds.org. Foreclosure activity in Norfolk County continued to be a cause for concern as it does throughout the state. Register O'Donnell stated, "The good news in January was that the number of foreclosure deeds fell by 25% year over year. However, when it comes to foreclosures, we are by no means out of the woods. What is troubling is the big increase in the amount of Notice to Foreclose Mortgage recordings, the first step in the foreclosure process. In January, 97 Notice to Foreclose Mortgage filings were recorded as compared to 59 in January 2015. This is a clear indication that despite the good economy in eastern Massachusetts, some of our neighbors continue to face economic hardship. "The Registry of Deeds continues to work with its partners Quincy Community Action Programs and Neighbor Works Southern Mass to help homeowners who have received a Notice to Foreclose Mortgage. Another option for homeowners who are facing the challenges of meeting their monthly mortgage payment is to contact the Attorney General's HomeCorps program for assistance." Register O'Donnell concluded, "The data clearly shows that the Norfolk County market is on solid footing. As the next 12 to 18 months progresses, it will also be interesting to see how much the General Electric headquarters move to Boston will impact the local housing market. However, a story that may have just the opposite effect is the recent decline in the stock market. Individuals who are seeing significant losses in their portfolios may pause before considering a real estate purchase or home improvement. Another factor not to be discounted is the real estate inventory, which if remains low, can have a negative impact on real estate sales, particularly for first-time home buyers." To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds. The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High Street, Dedham, is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101, or on the web at www.norfolkdeeds.org. Register William P. O'Donnell Norfolk County Registry of Deeds email: registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org phone: 781-234-3336 web: http://www.norfolkdeeds.org

Forward email Norfolk County Registry of Deeds | 649 High Street | Dedham, | MA | 02026-1831

screen grab of the Norfolk Deeds Consumer Alert webpage

FHS girls and boys basketball top King Philip

Girls Basketball

• King Philip, 30 @ Franklin, 45 – Final

Tipoff to start the game

Boys Basketball

• King Philip, 42 @ Franklin, 64 – Final

FHS free throw in 1Q

Ryan Lanigan, Editor in Chief of Hockomock Sports, provides the detail write up on the boys game:

Despite holding the league’s best record, Franklin was starting to develop a bad habit. 

For the past three games the Panthers have had sluggish starts and have had to battle their way back. 

Based on how Franklin started on Sunday afternoon, it looks like they’ve snapped out of it. 

Franklin started out with full court pressure and forced three consecutive turnovers in just over two minutes of play and forced another that resulted pointed and by the halfway mark of the first quarter grabbed hold of a 16-4 lead. After a timeout from the Warriors, Franklin continued its pressure and ended to quarter on a 8-4 run to take a 24-8 lead after just a quarter of play.

Continue to read the article online
http://www.hockomocksports.com/franklin-uses-fast-start-in-sunday-matinee-win-over-kp/