Franklin Matters

Thursday, August 25, 2016

In the News: Franklin schools prepared, Tri-County forensics class added

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"School officials provides updates this week on their preparations for the new year, set to begin on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski reported on enrollment shifts, faculty and administration workshops, and bus routes.

Sabolinski said at Tuesday night's School Committee meeting that although the district's enrollment changes daily, there are certain evident trends.

"Overall, we're down 139 elementary students, which we anticipated," she said. "Right now, middle school (students are) down eight, while the high school is plus 46."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160824/franklin-schools-prep-for-new-school-year

"A new forensic science class appears to have caught the interest of Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School students.

The elective, school officials said, was originally slated to have one section, but will now have three sections of students studying such topics as blood spatter and fingerprinting.

Class instructor Doreen Erwin said she began lobbying for the course when she started working at the school three years ago. When the opportunity (and budget) presented itself in the middle of last year, she compiled a course description and consulted Franklin High School's forensic program for ideas.

"It's a personal interest," she said. "Before I started (at Tri-County), I was working in the field of environmental toxicology, which is along a similar line."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160824/tri-county-starting-forensics-class

image from Tri-County webpage

Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club - Sep 14

The Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club kicks off their 2016/2017 season on Wednesday, September 14th. We invite any resident of Franklin, or a surrounding town that doesn't have a Newcomers Club, to join us at "3" Restaurant, 461 West Central Street, Franklin.

Complimentary appetizers and beverages are provided and a cash bar is available. We meet upstairs at 7:30 pm on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. We run September through May but hold many other casual events to stay connected throughout the year.

The club is an opportunity for residents of all ages and situations - not just those new to town - to socialize and learn about our community. Our September meeting is a social gathering so it's a great opportunity to come and make new friends or catch up with old ones.

For more information visit www.franklinnewcomers.com.

The Franklin Newcomers & Friends Club is a non-profit social and charitable organization for residents of Franklin, Massachusetts. We like to have fun, learn new things, spend time together, and give back to the community through volunteer activities and fundraisers.

The Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club is a non-profit social and
charitable organization for residents of Franklin

Christmas in August - End of Summer Party at the Franklin LIbrary

Come to the Franklin Public Library for the "Christmas in August - End of Summer Party" on Friday, Aug 26 from 1 to 4:00 PM

Christmas in August - End of Summer Party at the Franklin LIbrary

This was shared from the Franklin Library page here
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2016/08/christmas-in-august-end-of-summer-party.html

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

@shopFranklin Movie Night at Beaver Pond - Aug 26

#shopFranklin Small Businesses in partnership with the Franklin Rec Department and FranklinTV are excited to announce the #shopFranklin Family Movie Night on Beaver Pond featuring the Pixar/Disney film FINDING NEMO.

FINDING NEMO

Join some of our favorite local independently owned businesses for an evening of community and entertainment.

The evening will begin at 7pm where you can browse participating business tables to buy merchandise, learn about services and enter raffles.

Our featured film, FINDING NEMO, will begin promptly at dusk (approximately 7:40PM) so make sure to have your FREE popcorn in hand

Make sure to stop by the #shopFranklin Welcome Table to pick up a free gift for the first 50 guests, buy raffle tickets (all proceeds going to charity)

@shopFranklin Movie Night at Beaver Pond - Aug 26

Note: the weather forecast does call for rain on Friday. There is a rain date already set for Sunday, Aug 28 at 7:0 PM. The decision will be made on Friday morning.

New nature blog for Franklin's natural areas

Via Mike Perrin

Attention nature-lovers of Franklin, MA: As part of my internship with the Franklin Conservation Commission, I have created a public nature blog for the natural areas around town. The blog provides a great opportunity for citizens science, or gathering information/data from the general public, to keep an inventory on the flora and fauna of the sites.

In addition, the blog will be used as an aid to track the impacts of climate change as the areas experience seasonal transitions.

If you utilize the beautiful conservation areas in Franklin and would like to contribute to the blog by reporting a sighting, please go to https://franklinmanature.wordpress.com/ and follow the instructions.

Thank you!

https://franklinmanature.wordpress.com/

"Helen Huang, of Franklin, was named the Distinguished Young Woman of Massachusetts"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Helen Huang, of Franklin, was named the Distinguished Young Woman of Massachusetts and awarded $2,300 in cash scholarships, and multiple full- and partial-tuition scholarships during a statewide scholarship program for high school girls held Aug. 13 at Holyoke Community College.

Huang is the daughter of Howard Huang and Shuang Chen, and is a senior at Franklin High School. She was one of six high school senior girls from Massachusetts who earned the chance to participate at the state level after winning their local programs earlier this year.

Participants spent one week staying with local families while participating in life skills workshops in interview, public speaking and college admissions; performing community service and working with young kids, attending receptions in their honor and rehearsing for the showcase at the end of the week."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160823/franklin-resident-named-mass-distinguished-young-woman

Facebook photo from the Franklin Distinguished Young Woman page

In the News: 2 search firms present, Circle of Friends Coffeehouse schedule for 2016-2017

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The School Committee heard pitches from superintendent search firms Tuesday night as it looks to start seeking a new district head.

The committee listened to presentations by the New England School Development Council (NESDEC) and the ECRA Group about the services each would provide in a search.

Arthur Bettencourt, the executive director of NESDEC, led off with the first presentation. He touted his organization's ties to the area.

"We're a New England-based firm, which means we see a lot of up-and-coming administrators," he said. "We have an idea of how to recruit them and where they are in their careers."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160823/franklin-school-committee-starts-superintendent-search

"The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse, 262 Chestnut St., will begin its 27th season Sept. 10 with Canadian singer Garnet Rogers.

The schedule below is full of well-known artists such as Tom Rush, Ellis Paul and Livingston Taylor, but also includes up-and-coming talents.

The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is a nonprofit 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. Shows begin at 8 p.m.; doors open at 7:30 p.m.