Thursday, March 31, 2016

April Happenings At The Franklin Historical Museum

ITEM OF THE MONTH

The April item featured in the Museum’s ongoing Item of the Month series is a small Native American Stone Knife from our collection. There is a lot to be learned about how Native Americans in this area used stone tools to create axes, grinding tools, etc. to shape their environment and live off the land. The knife, a general purpose tool, with both a tapering point and a thick edge, demonstrates the highly advanced workmanship and ingenuity of the local Wampanoag tribe. 
The research and exhibit is put together by Justin Edwards, a Dean College history major and a student of American History professor Rob Lawson, and by Susan Elliott, museum volunteer.

CINEMA SUNDAY – APRIL 10TH

Visit the museum Sunday April 10th from 1:00PM-4:00PM and view Stanley Chilson Films from the 1950s. See a bit of the Simple Life of Mid Century Franklin on the museum’s large movie screen. Stanley Chilson was a photographer who chronicled life in Franklin from the early 1930s through 1960. His films are rare treasures, that give us a unique view of how life once was in our town.


KID’S WEEK - HISTORY MYSTERIES DURING APRIL SCHOOL VACATION

The Museum will be open from 11:00AM-2:00PM Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, April 19th, 20th and 21st - School Vacation Week. Open to the public and always free the Museum hopes to encourage families looking for something to do with the kids during school vacation. Enjoy ‘History Mysteries’ by guessing the age of a vintage American Flag from our collection. Student visitors will be encouraged to fill out an index card with their guesses. Winners will receive a letter of commendation and a small token of appreciation for visiting and participating. View a Herbert Hoover campaign poster and determine how old it might be. There will even be a question or two to try to stump our older visitors. Enjoy portions of the animated series Liberty’s Kids on the museum large viewing screen. There’s lots to see and much to learn from a visit to the Franklin Historical Museum. Spend your vacation learning a little bit of Franklin’s history.
Franklin Historical Museum
Franklin Historical Museum

The Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. Hours of operation are Saturdays 10:00AM – 1:00PM, Sundays 1:00PM – 4:00PM and starting again in April, Thursday evenings 5:00PM – 8:00PM. There is handicap access through the back door of the museum with an elevator to the 1st floor exhibits. Visit soon!

Franklin Art Association - Spring Show - April 30, May 1


Franklin Art Association - Spring Show - April 30, May 1
at THE BLACK BOX

Rudolph and Kutil recognized by Hockomock Sports

Hockomock Sports has published the Girls Basketball awards for the recently completed 2015-2016 season. Lauren Rudolph and Aubrie Kutil were recognized for their contributions to the Franklin High School team.

Girls Basketball 1st Team - Hockomock Sports photo
Girls Basketball 1st Team - Hockomock Sports photo


Girls Basketball 2nd Team - Hockomock Sports photo
Girls Basketball 2nd Team - Hockomock Sports photo

2nd Team


  • Lauren Rudolph – Franklin – Guard

Franklin senior guard Lauren Rudolph put in a solid all-around season for the Panthers to help them finish in third place in the Kelley-Rex division and qualify for the playoffs before bowing out after a tough trip to Westford. Rudolph averaged 9.4 points per game this season, while also grabbing nearly four rebounds and four steals per game. Rudolph spearheaded Franklin’s pressure defense and flourished in the drive and kick offense that the Panthers favor. She has committed to play at Springfield College next year.

Girls Basketball 3rd Team - Hockomock Sports photo
Girls Basketball 3rd Team - Hockomock Sports photo

3rd Team


  • Aubrie Kutil – Franklin – Forward

Franklin senior center Aubrie Kutil developed into a force in the paint for the Panthers this winter, the culmination of a strong four-year varsity career. Kutil led Franklin with 9.5 points per game, while shooting 52 percent from the floor. She added 7.4 rebounds per game and also showed off great vision and touch as a passer out of the post, which was the perfect fit for the Panthers style of offense. Kutil was named a Hockomock all-star by the league’s coaches for her play this season.


For all the details on the Girls Basketball Hockomock awards
http://www.hockomocksports.com/awards/girls-basketball/2015-2016/


Hydrant Flushing resumes April 4

The Franklin Department of Public Works, Water Division will begin its hydrant flushing program on Monday April 4, 2016.

This program is conducted annually to improve Franklin’s water quality and fire flows. Some hydrants will be flushed in the evening hours on weekdays and in the morning on weekends, while others will be completed during the day. Hydrant flushing will continue depending on water availability and system pressures.

Residents may experience temporary water loss or discolored water while hydrants are being flushed in their area. Even though the water may be discolored, it is still safe for human consumption.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and we apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the DPW office at 508-553-5500.

Flushing Areas will be posted here once the program has commenced.
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_PublicWorks/General_Pages/Hydrant_Flushing

hydrant flushing at Parmenter School
hydrant flushing at Parmenter School

In the News: Dean to use common app, Library move scheduled, empty bowls dinner set, discrimination lawsuit dismissed

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"Students applying to Dean College for 2017-18 will now have the ability to do so through the Common Application, an online system used by nearly 700 colleges and universities in the United States and around the world to manage the college admission process. 
By becoming a Common Application member, Dean College gains the opportunity to discover students who may not have been reached in the past."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160330/dean-college-to-utilize-common-application



"To accommodate a renovation and addition to its building, the Franklin Public Library will be closing on April 11 and re-opening in a temporary location in early May. 
The library this week released a timeline of the effort, which will result in its re-opening at 25 Kenwood Circle on May 1. The year-long, $10.5 million project will add a new section to the building, as well as updating its heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems."


Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160330/timeline-of-franklin-library-move-set


"The Franklin Food Pantry and the Franklin High School Empty Bowls Club will co-host the Empty Bowls Dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. April 27 in the Franklin High School cafeteria, 218 Oak St. 
Attendees will choose a hand-painted ceramic bowl to take home. A silent auction will feature select pieces that have been created and painted by members of the FHS Empty Bowls Club and local youth, adult and corporate groups. Proceeds from the event benefit the Franklin Food Pantry."


Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160330/franklin-high-school-food-pantry-to-host-empty-bowls-dinner



"The Massachusetts Appeals Court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit against Franklin Public Schools by a special education teacher once employed by the district. 
The suit, originally filed in June 2014, alleged that the schools discriminated against teacher Mary Perry because of her age. In a decision issued Tuesday, the appeals court held that a trial judge's summary dismissal of the case was proper."


Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160330/franklin-court-dismisses-school-discrimination-suit

"will revitalize an underutilized urban site" - Back Bay Station to be renovated


"It looks like Back Bay Station, the dingy and outdated transit hub of the MBTA at the corner of Dartmouth and Stuart streets, is getting an aesthetic overhaul, inside and out. So much so you might not even recognize the new structure. 
Boston Properties Inc. put forth plans Tuesday for the project, which would entail not just revamping the station itself, but the entire block surrounding it. Retail outposts would line the street level of a new glass office tower – 26 stories of twisting glass akin to several giant boxes stacked on top of each other at odd and seemingly random angles. 
The MBTA building itself, which sees some 30,000 commuters each day, would be redone to reflect a more modern transit station. Department stores and a supermarket could be in the picture as well, and the finished product will also offer "a variety of high-quality housing opportunities," which will reportedly include the creation of affordable housing."




Continue reading the article and view other renditions of the renovation

The full 242 page PDF of the project proposal can be found here

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Downtown Project Update #24 - March 29, 2016


Next week, construction will begin on the new sidewalk improvements and new road work on East Central Street leading into downtown. 
The bridge deck portion of the new island should be completed by the end of April. The project is anticipated to be fully complete by the end of August. 
Also, please note detours. From time to time, please be aware of detours around the downtown construction area through the spring and summer. 
Detours may need to be established as the construction team sees fit, and may not be able to give residents notice in advance. If we can, we will.

downtown triangle section under construction
downtown triangle section under construction

This was shared from the official Franklin webpage http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/02382928-000F8513