News and upcoming events for Charles River Meadowlands

We have two important upcoming events to mention and we would also like to continue to offer kudos to Rep. Roy, Rep. Kuros, and Rep. Fernandes for passing our $25,000 line item!

The long summer included all kinds of action on Beacon Hill. First, the effort to get the line item through both chambers and then, the equally difficult effort to restore it to the budget after Governor Baker removed it. Our friends in the House managed it all!

At present, Franklin Town Manager Jeff Nutting is working with the Department of Fish and Game to try to move forward and ensure that the money is used appropriately.

Locally, we have spent much time meeting (back in July) and planning for our Charles River Meadowlands Workshop, scheduled for Sept. 27 at 6 pm at the First Universalist Society, 262 Chestnut St, Franklin, MA 02038. (Thanks to Sue Bencuya for helping with that!). 

The event will include a brief intro and overview for those new to "the Meadowlands" and will then have some presentations about how other similar efforts have been organized in the past. Then we are looking to tap into the "wisdom of the crowd" by engaging everyone present in a lively conversation about what and where to focus, how to move ahead, etc. Please come and bring a friend!

We also have a meeting schedule for Aug. 30, 6:30 pm at the Arcand room of the Bellingham Town Hall. This will mostly focus on planning for the September 27 event. But, as always, everyone is welcome and we are anxious to hear from you.

Finally, kudos for Marjorie Turner Holman, who has helped us get some good visibility in local media, including the Milford Daily News!

Keep in touch. Alan Earls can be reached at 508 528 6930 or via email at alan.r.earls@gmail.com and our Website is updated from time to time, as well: www.charlesrivermeadowlands.org​

image from http://www.charlesrivermeadowlands.org/

Nemo found amidst smiling faces (photo essay)

There were lots of smiling faces on the Beaver St field Friday night for the showing of "Finding Nemo." Dozens of #shopFranklin businesses came together along with Franklin TV and the Franklin Recreation Dept. to sponsor and conduct the event for free. 

Over $500 in raffle tickets were sold to help benefit the SAFE Coalition.

the raffle and information table for the SAFE Coalition

the big screen gets set up

free gift bags for the first 50 families

the crowd gets settled for the movie. A preview roll touted the #shopFranklin businesses helping to put on the event

and before the movie, Beaver Pond looked very inviting!

Thanks to Sarah Mabardy for leading the #shopFranklin effort to make this a wonderful night.

In the News: Taste of the Towns, Rise and Shine food drive, Tri-County gardens produce

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

"The 11th annual Taste Of The Towns will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 15 at The Portuguese Club, 119 Prospect Heights, Milford. Proceeds of this year’s event will support the Medical Center’s Palliative Care Service. 

Participating restaurants include 3 Restaurant, 110 Grill, Alicante, Atria Draper Place, Bamboo Express, British Beer Company, Candy Cottage, Dinner & Company, Dunkin’ Donuts, Hay Wagon, Jalapeno’s Grill, Jr’s Diner, Little White Market, Miss Mendon Diner, Milford Regional Medical Center’s Atrium Cafe, Oliva’s Market, Price Chopper, Restaurant 45 and Wanokura. There will also be prize raffles, a 50-50 cash raffle and a cash bar. 

Tickets are limited, and are on sale now. To purchase tickets: 508-473-4493. 

Tickets cost $35 in advance and $40 at the door."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160826/taste-of-towns-set-for-sept-15

"The St. Vincent DePaul Society of St. Mary’s Parish, 1 Church Square, will host the Rise and Shine food drive Sept. 3-4. 

Donations of breakfast foods, especially instant oatmeal, dry cereals, Pop-Tarts, protein bars, granola bars, pancake mix, maple syrup, corn muffin mix, peanut butter, juice boxes, tea, coffee and school snacks will be accepted. 

All items must be in the original packaging. Donations can be left in the boxes at the doors of the church at any time."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160826/st-vincent-depaul-society-to-hold-food-drive

"Dry conditions presented new challenges to the teacher and student volunteers responsible for maintaining the garden at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School this summer. Despite the drought, the garden yielded 300 pounds of fresh produce by Aug. 23. The garden yielded 325 pounds by the same time last year. 

All of the produce harvested from the garden is donated to local food pantries. 

Culinary arts instructor and garden coordinator Nancy Haney said plants were wilting at a faster rate than in the past, but the garden was still enveloped in red tomatoes and yellow sunflowers. This year’s newest additions to the garden were cabbage, kale and corn."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160826/tri-county-garden-yields-produce-despite-drought

Culinary Arts Instructor and Garden Coordinator Nancy Haney

Berry Insurance Gives $5,000 to Boston Children's Hospital as Winner of 2016 Safeco Insurance® Make More Happen Award

Berry Insurance in Franklin has earned a 2016 Safeco Insurance Make More Happen Award for its community work with Boston Children's Hospital.

The award includes a $4,000 donation to Boston Children's Hospital from Safeco Insurance. Berry Insurance agent, Amanda Spittell, and Boston Children's Hospital also had a story featured on Safeco.com, which awarded the hospital an additional $1,000. For the hospital to win the extra money, at least 50 different individuals had to leave a virtual "cheer" on the Safeco.com story.

Photo Left to right: (L to R)- Kaitlyn Pintarich, President of Berry Insurance; Megan Leibovitz, Child Life Specialist at Boston Children's Hospital; Lauren Wilson, Child Life Specialist at Boston Children's Hospital and Christopher Pintarich, Vice President of Berry Insurance.

Safeco's Make More Happen Awards recognize independent agents who demonstrate extraordinary volunteerism for a nonprofit organization. These awards focus on nonprofits in the areas of health and safety, education and civil service. Berry Insurance was selected for the Make More Happen Award based on a photo and application demonstrating its commitment to Boston Children's Hospital, which serves Boston and the surrounding area by providing care, leading research and educating the next generation.

For 10 years, Berry Insurance employees have collected Halloween costumes for children to wear during the hospital's parade and trick-or-treating events. The insurance agency has provided nearly all of the approximately 400 patients, and their siblings, the chance to participate in Halloween.

"Safeco is committed to encouraging agents to make a difference in their local communities, and through the Make More Happen program, we enable them to directly support the programs where they personally see the greatest need," said Meghan Chase, Safeco Insurance northeast territory manager. "We are thrilled to see so many agents participating in this program, and we're proud to help them support the local charities they care about most."

Throughout 2016, Safeco will select a total of 66 independent agencies for the awards and donate up to $330,000 to the nonprofits they support. The Make More Happen Awards are a part of Safeco Insurance's Agent Giving Program.

About Safeco Insurance

In business since 1923 and based in Boston, Mass., Safeco Insurance sells personal automobile, homeowners and specialty products through a network of more than 10,000 independent insurance agencies throughout the United States. Safeco is a Liberty Mutual Insurance company.

Boston-based Liberty Mutual Insurance is a diversified insurer and the fifth largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2015 direct written premium data as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Liberty Mutual is ranked 73rd on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2015 revenue.

For more information about Safeco Insurance, go to www.Safeco.com.

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 8/26/16 - THU 9/1/16

FRIDAY 8/26/16
12-6pm   Franklin Farmers Market @ The Town Common
1pm   Christmas in August End of Summer Reading Party @ Franklin Public Library
2pm   Balloons by Ciel @ Franklin Public Library
7pm   FREE Family Movie Event (Finding Nemo) @ Beaver Pond

SATURDAY 8/27/16
2pm   Chess Group @ Franklin Public Library

SUNDAY  8/28/16
3:00 - 6:30pm Franklin Historical Museum Event At Almont Gallery In Medway

TUESDAY 8/30/16
Franklin Public Schools - First Day of School

WEDNESDAY 8/31/16
8:15pm   Movies in the Park @ Choate Park in Medway

THURSDAY 9/1/16
6:30pm   Art Night Uncorked @ Franklin Art Center

For all the Town of Franklin Public Meetings click HERE.

For event details click HERE.

*If you have any suggestions or events for the calendar, please email Renata@BetterLivingRE.com

Ballot sample for the Sep 8 Primary

The September 8 primary is for the MA state level offices. The sample ballot for each party is shown below. Scroll within the document to see the additional party ballots available.

If you haven't already registered to vote in the Primary, it is too late now. You can register now for the November election on the 2nd Tuesday, Nov 8.




Or view/download the samples from the official Franklin page
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/024A7D06-000F8513

election booths at Franklin High School where all precincts in Franklin cast their ballots

Lottery added for BFCCPS Grade Seven and Eight classes

The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School in Franklin, MA would like to announce that a lottery will be held for enrollment in Grades Seven and Eight for the 2016-2017 school year; spaces in our Grade K-6 program are not currently available. 

Applications for this additional lottery are due no later than September 23rd, 2016 by 4pm. The public lottery will be held in the school's library located at 201 Main Street in Franklin on Monday, September 26th.

Applications are available on the school website, in the school's front office, and at the local public libraries in Bellingham, Blackstone, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millis, Milville, Norfolk, Plainville, Upton, Walpole, and Wrentham. If you prefer, the application can be completed entirely online here http://bfccps.org/about/enrollment/enrollment-application/

If you have any questions or concerns please contact the school's Marketing Coordinator, Mrs. Joanne Basile at 508-541-3434 x140 or at jbasile@bfccps.org. 

You can also find answers to some of our most frequently asked enrollment questions at http://bfccps.org/about/enrollment/enrollmentfaq/

http://bfccps.org/about/enrollment/enrollmentfaq/