"This will break down these barriers. It will be like one-stop shopping"

"While the signing of Gov. Charlie Baker’s opioid legislation package into law made a huge splash Monday, local activists continued the process of planning programs to help local addicts. 

One of them is a drop-in center, and two local coalitions - SAFE in Franklin and JAG in Milford - plan to roll them out in April. The two groups announced the program in February. 

Drop-in centers are places where addicts and their families can go to seek information, start the process of getting help, and talk to therapists equipped especially for addiction (sometimes called substance abuse navigators). Local police will also be present, but not to arrest anyone. They are there to show support, that they’re committed to helping any addict that wants help, said Amy Leone, director of JAG (Juvenile Advocacy Group)."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160314/milford-area-opiate-coalitions-plan-drop-in-centers






Governor Charlie Baker released the following statement regarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new guidelines that urge general doctors to consider alternative treatments such as physical therapy, exercise and over-the-counter pain medications before prescribing opioids for chronic pain:

“A day after signing into law landmark legislation to fight the Commonwealth’s opioid epidemic, I welcome today’s new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to encourage doctors to prescribe fewer opioids and focus on safer, alternative treatments for chronic pain. 

The Baker-Polito Administration is dedicated to combating the deadly opioid and heroin epidemic at the state level, recognizing that one bill, one budget or one program will not be enough to curb this public health crisis. Yesterday, I was honored to sign an opioid bill that includes the first law in the nation to limit an opioid prescription to a seven-day supply for first time adult prescriptions, and other important prevention and education provisions recommended by our opioid working group—and we encourage other states to do the same. 

Recognizing that patients living with chronic pain need access to treatments that will relieve their suffering, I encourage physicians to adopt these new guidelines and discuss alternatives to addictive opioids with their patients. 

It will take all levels of government and intense involvement from law enforcement and the health care community to bend the trend and I encourage all doctors to practice these new guidelines as we continue to break ground in passing more reforms to eradicate the opioid epidemic.”

http://www.mass.gov/governor/press-office/press-releases/fy2016/governor-on-cdc-guidelines-to-reduce-opioid-prescribing.html

Attorney General Maura Healey

For additional resources, check the SAFE Coalition webpage  http://safecoalitionma.com/resources/

SAFE Coalition

American Legion 5 Miler Scholarship Fund Road Race - Jun 25

Jointly organized between the Franklin and Medway American Legion Posts for the benefit of students at Medway H.S., Franklin H.S and Tri-County Regional Vocational H.S. The 5 mile and 5k Road Race helps us raise money for our scholarship funds. 

Page 1 of the attachment is the flyer and page 2 is the registration information. 

The Road Race is on June 25th at 8:00 AM and is at Medway H.S.

The registration website is:
https://endurancecui.active.com/event-reg/select-race?e=32237654

Flyer
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczeWJ2enByZXJyeUhOSldaS1VnTFZGcHVrWDc0/view?usp=sharing

Event details and schedule

• Course is a 5 mile loop on paved roads. Post race refreshments. Prizes awarded by category. T-shirts for entrants. Raffle prizes. Help support our effort to give scholarships to high school students looking at the high cost of secondary education. All profits from this event will go to the Scholarship Funds for Medway Post 367 and Franklin Post 75.

• Start time is 8am. Course start in parking lot to Summer Street to Highland Street to Oak Street, to and thru Choate Park to Winthrop Street to Levering Street and back to Summer Street. for the last mile back to the high School entrance and the finish line in the parking lot.

American Legion 5 Miler Scholarship Fund Road Race - June 25

MBTA: Boston St Patrick's Parade - Commuter Rail notice

On 3/20, passengers attending the St. Patrick's Day Parade should utilize bus shuttles to/from S. Station along the parade route from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm.

On the day of the St. Patrick's Day Parade, 3/20, the Commuter Rail will operate on a regular Sunday schedule.

Shuttle bus service will operate to/from S. Station and along Summer St. and East 1st St. in South Boston from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm for the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Red Line passengers should be aware that subway trains will frequently bypass Broadway Station due to heavy crowds caused by the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Passengers are encouraged to visit the link below to make travel plans.

Last updated: Mar 17 2016 11:10 AM

Click here for more information: http://www.mbta.com/events/

The Franklin train is getting passed by another commuter rail line approaching Boston

Solutions Summer Adventure 2016

The Solutions Summer Adventure book is available for summer 2016


View the summer book as embedded here:




Or download a copy from here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczWmNBU1l3RnZYUm8/view?usp=sharing

there won't be snow in the summer at Jefferson School to worry about

In the News: blood drives scheduled, Millis approaching decision on water

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood during National Volunteer Month this April. 

The next opportunities to donate will be from 2 to 7 p.m. April 7 at the Franklin Elks, 1077 Pond St.; and from 2 to 7 p.m. April 11 at the Franklin Country Club, 672 E. Central St. 

Volunteer donors are the only source of blood products for those in need of transfusions. Donors of all blood types are needed this spring. 

To make an appointment to give blood, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor app, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160317/american-red-cross-announces-upcoming-blood-drives

"A town committee is expected to make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen later this month on whether the town should sell water to Exelon for the company’s proposed Medway expansion. 

On Monday, the Drinking Water Committee, which has met on the issue several times, will be reviewing the final report from Kleinfelder – the engineering firm hired by Millis and paid for by Exelon – on the feasibility of the sale. 

According to the report, the sale is possible, as the town’s water supply “appears to be adequate” to meet projected water demand, including from Exelon and other developments."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160317/millis-closing-in-on-exelon-request

Senior Center: A new edition of "The Franklin Connection" is available

A new edition of The Franklin Connection has been published on the Town of Franklin web site.

Click the link below to read the latest edition.

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/Apr16connection.pdf

Senior Center - construction underway to build out the second floor space

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Circle of Friends Coffeehouse: Billy Novick and Guy Van Duser on April 9

Next show is April 9th featuring Billy Novick and Guy Van Duser Thanks for joining the new Circle of Friends Coffeehouse list. View this email in your browser Billy Novick and Guy Van Duser April 9th, $20 "Guy...has practically invented a finger-picked guitar style, closer to jazz piano than guitar. Billy Novick, on clarinet, had he lived in the 30's would be a legend...." -Boston Globe Billy Novick and Guy Van Duser perform at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse on Saturday, April 9th. "Elegant."  "Riveting." "Soulful." "Classic mastery." These are a few of the  terms that have been used to describe the unique and stunning swing-jazz music of acoustic guitarist Guy Van Duser and clarinetist Billy Novick. This concert is part of Guy and Billy's "I Can't Believe We've Survived" tour celebrating 40 years of performing together! They have performed in concerts, clubs and festivals all over North America and Europe. You also  may have heard them as frequent guests of the Prairie Home Companion show,  NPR's All Things Considered, or on one of the numerous film and television soundtracks they have been featured on. Their music combines two perfectly suited musical personalities. It is based around Guy's innovative finger-style guitar wizardry, and his uncanny ability to play bass lines, chords and melodies all at the same time. With his daring imagination, breathtaking technique, and his  wonderful  musicality, Guy has become an inspiration for guitarists all over the world. Novick's ever-inventive and soulful clarinet playing  provides the ideal complement to Guy's guitar. With his vast knowledge of the classic jazz era, his dazzling improvising skills, and his entertaining vocals, Novick is able to both add a melodic and dynamic spark to Guy's guitar . Their music sounds fresh and original, yet is also deeply rooted in the rich legacy of the classic jazz age. The duo can play any piece from their huge repertoire-  an obscure Ellington tune, a  Gershwin classic, a complex Jelly Roll Morton arrangement, or perhaps one of the their originals- and immediately have it sound their own.  http://billynovick.com/id113.html "Riveting echoes of an earlier jazz era..." -Washington Post The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is a non-profit organization affiliated with Franklin's First Universalist Society. Concerts are presented in a smoke free and alcohol free environment at the Society's handicapped accessible Meetinghouse, 262 Chestnut St. in Franklin, and begin at 8:00 PM; doors open at 7:30 PM. Beverages and gourmet desserts will be available. Admission is $20. Please call (508)528-2541 or visit http://www.circlefolk.org/ to purchase tickets or for more information.  Upcoming Shows April 23     Forever Young - A Neil Young Cover Band May 7       DALA with The Young Novelists May 14     Jim Kweskin and Samoa Wilson

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse · First Universalist Society · 262 Chestnut St · Franklin, MA 02038 · USA