In the News: Library moving, trails cleared, auditions scheduled, empty bowl dinner set

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

The Franklin Public Library began its move to a temporary location this week as it prepares for a $10.5 million renovation of its Main Street building. 

Workers buzzed about the library building Tuesday morning, moving shelf after shelf of books and disassembling circulation desks. Tuesday was the second day of the library's closure; it is slated to re-open May 2 at 25 Kenwood Circle (off Grove Street near Interstate 495). 

Library Director Felicia Oti said the work had been progressing well. 

"So far, it's been excellent," she said. "I applaud the staff - there's been a lot of heavy lifting, and they're just giving their all."

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160412/franklin-library-move-begins

Luke d’Entremont, a Life-ranked Boy Scout from Troop 126 Franklin and sophomore at Franklin High School, made new trails in Franklin Town Forest so that private property would be circumvented. His work was an Eagle Scout Project, which is part of the requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout. 

Trails had crossed private property within the forest. The new trails make the paths wind around the property and extend approximately one­-half mile.

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160413/boy-scout-clears-franklin-town-forest-trails

sign posted indicating the trail work underway

Franklin School for the Performing Arts, 38 Main St., will hold placement auditions for Summer Theater programs on April 30. 

Auditions will begin at 2 p.m. for those entering grades 3-5; 2:30 p.m. for those entering grades 6-8; and 3 p.m. for those entering grades 9-12.

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160413/franklin-school-for-performing-arts-to-hold-auditions

The Franklin Food Pantry and a Franklin High School club will be hosting an "Empty Bowls" dinner later this month in an effort to raise awareness about hunger. 

The dinner - scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 27 at the high school from 6 to 8 p.m. - is the first such event to be held by the pantry and the high school's Empty Bowls Club.

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160413/franklin-empty-bowls-dinner-set-for-april-27

Unrepaired Gas Leaks in Franklin

Each year consumers spend billions on thousands of natural gas leaks. Currently Franklin has 41 unrepaired gas leaks dating back to 2009. This is not only a financial issue for consumers but it is also a safety and environmental issue. I've provided two links concerning gas leaks. Please consider publishing this in Franklin Matters. 

Thank you, 

Jim Hill

#1

City Maps of Gas Leaks | HEET

this is a screen capture of  the interactive webpage marking known gas leaks for Franklin, MA

#2

America Pays for Gas Leaks: Natural Gas Pipeline Leaks Cost Consumers Billions
A report prepared for Sen. Edward J. Markey; Released: August 1, 2013

http://www.markey.senate.gov/documents/markey_lost_gas_report.pdf

Or read the embedded document here:

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse: Forever Young - A Neil Young Tribute Band April 23

Next show is April 23rd featuring Forever Young Thanks for joining the new Circle of Friends Coffeehouse list. View this email in your browser Forever Young A Neil Young Tribute Band April 23rd, $20 "Forever Young combines superb musicianship, great arrangements and a well chosen set list of hits and rarities in finely saluting one of rock's legends. They are also a lot of fun"  ~ Patrick Norton, President, Narrows Center for the Arts Forever Young - A Neil Young Tribute Band On Saturday, April 23rd, award winning band Forever Young presents a tribute to the music of Neil Young at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse in Franklin. Forever Young is a six piece band that performs the best of Neil Young's acoustic and electric songs!  Forever Young takes you back, gets you singing and dancing, and puts those Neil Young songs in your head to linger long after the show! All of the musicians performing in Forever Young are staples of the Rhode Island music scene and veterans of many national and regional tours. In addition, they are all fans and have been influenced by the music of Neil Young. Drawing on his 40+ year career, the show highlights many of Young's popular songs and a few of the more obscure numbers.  The show is presented with the full six piece band doing both the acoustic and electric songs that Neil Young is famous for. The show is reminiscent of the "Four Way Street" live album recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and of Neil Young with his many back-up bands.  Forever Young is: * John Amitrano – acoustic and electric bass, vocals * Amy Bedard – violin, vocals, guitar, keyboard * Gary St. Germain  – drums, percussion and vocals * John Fuzek – 6 and 12 string acoustic guitars, vocals, keyboard, 6-string banjo * Dan Lilley – electric and acoustic guitars, vocals, harmonica * Pete Vendettuoli – electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, mandolin, keyboard, vocals http://johnfuzek.com/Forever_Young.html 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 May 7       DALA with The Young Novelists May 14     Jim Kweskin and Samoa Wilson Sep 10      Garnet Rogers with Shawna Caspi Sep 24      An Evening with Tom Rush Oct 15      Jim Henry and Abbie Gardner (Red Molly)

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

VICTORY: Walpole Board of Selectmen pass two anti-pipeline motions!

Everybody,

OUTSTANDING NEWS!  Tonight (Tuesday) at the Walpole Board of Selectmen, after a Spectra presentation and question and answer period, proposed and passed two motions against the Access Northeast pipeline!

The wording of the motions are as follows:

MOTION moved that the Board of Selectmen strongly oppose any pipeline development within a 400-foot radius of any Town Well, as the siting of the pipeline in such close proximity to the Town's water supply would propose an unacceptable threat to public health as the contamination of the Town's drinking water supply would create incalculable damage to the public health, the natural environment and the built environment.  It is simply unacceptable and any new pipeline must be routed as far as possible from drinking water wells and other drinking water sources.

PASSED: 4 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSTENTION

MOTION that the Board of Selectmen votes to endorse the analysis and position of Attorney General Healey, as supported by the Regional Electric Reliability Options study, which concluded that new gas pipelines are not needed "to keep the lights on" and that, to the contrary, the region can maintain energy reliability through 2030 without any new gas pipelines; and furthermore, there are cheaper, less carbon-intensive options, than a new pipeline, better options such as energy efficiency and demand response, all less costly and less risk-intensive.

PASSED: 3 YES, 1 NO, 1 ABSTENTION

WOOHOO!  FIRST VICTORY ON THE Q1 LOOP!  CONGRATULATIONS, WALPOLE!

Please share this news with people in your towns as well as town leadership.  This is definitely a step in the right direction so let's see what other towns can get on board!

With gratitude,

Carolyn

508-473-3305 H

508-335-0848 C

lawn sign seen on Franklin lawns

FHS spring sports postponed due to the weather on Tuesday

FHS spring sports suffered postponements due to the weather on Tuesday. The reschedules for the FHS competitions are shown below courtesy of Hockomock Sports.


Boys Tennis

• Oliver Ames @ Franklin – Postponed to 5/3 at 3:30

Complete boys tennis schedule for FHS
http://www.hockomocksports.com/schedules/boys-tennis/franklin/2016-2/


Girls Tennis

• Franklin @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to 5/3 at 3:30

Complete girls tennis schedule for FHS
http://www.hockomocksports.com/schedules/girls-tennis/franklin/2016-2/


Boys Outdoor Track

• King Philip @ Franklin – Postponed to 5/5 at 3:15

Girls Outdoor Track

• King Philip @ Franklin – Postponed to 5/5 at 3:15

Complete Outdoor Track schedule for FHS

http://www.hockomocksports.com/schedules/outdoor-track/franklin/2016-2/

For all the results (and postponements) around the Hockomock League on Tuesday

http://www.hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-041216/

FHS Panthers

In the News: Lion's Heart begins year two, Franklin Art Center classes open for registration, Disabled American Veterans Mobile Service visits Franklin Elks

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"The second year for the Franklin chapter of Lion’s Heart - Teen Volunteers and Leaders will officially begin May 1. 

Open enrollment for the organization runs from Feb. 1 to Oct. 1. Teens are assigned to groups beginning April 1. 

In their first year, 32 members logged over 1,200 hours of service in and around Franklin. 

For information: lionsheartservice.org; Allison Bernhardt at allison.bernhardt@lionsheartservice.org."

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160411/franklin-lions-heart-to-begin-2nd-year

Lion's Heart

The Franklin Art Center is now enrolling for April vacation and spring art classes, available to students in kindergarten and older, adults included.

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160411/franklin-art-center-now-enrolling-for-spring-art-classes

The Disabled American Veterans Mobile Service Office will be at the Franklin Elk’s Lodge, 1077 Pond St., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 20 to assist veterans who have questions regarding their benefits and/or need help with claims.

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160412/disabled-american-veterans-mobile-service-office-to-visit-franklin-elks-lodge

In the News: School Committee passes budget, former drug chemist released from prison

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"The School Committee voted to approve a $58.3 million fiscal year 2017 budget at its meeting Tuesday night, but the chairman said the process needs to fundamentally change in the future. 

The committee passed the budget - which represents a 2.28 percent over the FY '16 budget - unanimously. 

Committee Chairman Kevin O'Malley was the only member to comment on the budget during the time slated for discussion. He said he did not believe the school district's situation is sustainable. 

"This budget is sufficient to help a good school system to remain good," he said. "It is not sufficient for the students, parents and teachers in our charge."

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160412/franklin-school-committee-votes-to-adopt-583m-budget

"A former drug lab chemist convicted of faking test results and tampering with evidence, leading to a review of tens of thousands of criminal cases, is out of prison. 

Annie Doohkan, who lived in Franklin before serving her sentence, has been paroled, a spokesman for the Massachusetts prisons system confirmed to the Boston Herald. Nicolas Gordon, the attorney who represented Dookhan during her criminal case, said she was released about a month ago."

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160412/annie-dookhan-released-from-prison