In the News: superintendent search, 4 legs to stand on, Franklin motorcycle driver crashes

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

"The Franklin School District hopes to finish its search for a new superintendent early next year. 

The School Committee held its first work session Tuesday with the firm it has hired to conduct the process, and set a tentative schedule for its search. 

Committee Chairman Kevin O'Malley said he was pleased with the results of the initial session, but the district must move quickly. 

"We are competing for candidates with other school districts," he said. "We have to feel that pressure."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161012/schedule-set-for-franklin-superintendent-search

Franklin Municipal Building

"A local group dedicated to fighting the opioid abuse crisis will be taking an unusual tack of spreading its message: by putting on a show. 

The Support for Addicts and Families through Empowerment (SAFE) Coalition will be hosting a theater production of "Four Legs to Stand On," which dramatizes the struggles that the epidemic presents. The show will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27 at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School and at 7 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the Black Box theater."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161012/theater-production-in-franklin-to-address-addiction

"A 56-year-old Franklin man riding a motorcycle was taken to the hospital Tuesday night after a three-vehicle crash on a busy part of South Main Street.

The crash, reported at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, involved three vehicles – a 2008 Suzuki motorcycle, a 2004 Toyota Corolla and a 2002 Cadillac Seville.
One of the sedans was traveling north on the street and was attempting to take a left into McDonalds. The other sedan, traveling in the opposite direction, stopped to allow the opposing vehicle to turn, according to Police Chief Tom O’Loughlin."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161012/milford-crash-sends-rider-to-hospital

School Committee workshop sets timelines for the Superintendent search

The School Committee met on Tuesday evening in a workshop format with the search consultants from ECRA Group which is part of HYA Executive Search (Hazard, Young, Attea and Assoc.). 

More about the search process can be found on the HYA webpage
https://ecragroup.com/leadership/

Consensus was reached on the following key points of the search (Please consider this a working draft. These are my notes from the summary of the meeting and I may have missed something.)

• The interview committee will be composed of 11 who are the 7 members of the School Committee, one representing the principals, one representing the teachers, one representing the parents and one representing the town community
• Individual focus groups for all the key stakeholders will be conducted on Oct 20, 21
• A community meeting will also be scheduled for the evening of Oct 20 (location TBD)
• A survey form will also be set up to allow for input via the internet and released as of Oct 24. The online survey will be available through Nov 10
• The same questions will be asked in all the focus groups, survey, and forum. The level of detailed conversation following up on the comments and input will vary by the size of the group participating in each
• The next workshop is scheduled for November 22. The workshop will focus on the superintendent profile which will summarize the feedback gathered from the survey, focus groups and forum.
• A placeholder was tentatively put on the agenda for the School Committee meeting of Dec 13. Primarily for an update on the overall candidate status (how many?). If not enough candidates had applied by this time, additional avenues to spread the word may be explored
• The deadline for candidate applications is targeted for Jan 6, 2017

https://ecragroup.com/leadership/

Note: I showed up at 6:45 for what I thought was a 7:00 PM meeting but one that had actually started at 6:00). The 'normal' meeting agenda and document package was not distributed in advance however I was not overly concerned as I knew it was going to be a workshop meeting. Given the holiday weekend and school schedule not getting the agenda had occurred before.

Pumpkins in the Park - October 29 - 6:00 to 8:00 PM

"Come join us in our Second Annual Pumpkins in the Park Saturday, October 29 from 6 - 8 PM. 

Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 favorites via public voting 

Lights provided by the Franklin Art Center

Drop off times to be announced 

Dance performance by Inspire Dance Academy 

Trick or Treating with local merchants for children in costumes from 6 - 7 PM"

Pumpkins in the Park - Oct 29

Where:
The Franklin Sculpture Park on Panther Way (next to the Police Station)

This was shared from the Franklin Art Center Facebook event page
https://www.facebook.com/events/1807538506141251/

Halloween Party - October 30, 3:00 - 7:00 PM

The Franklin Police Dept will hold a Halloween Party for kids from pre-school to 5th grade. 

Sunday, October 30, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

This was shared from the Franklin Police Facebook event page
https://www.facebook.com/events/539366676256987/

In the News: Fund raising for fire family; youth baseball elections; YMCA spooky games

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

"An online fundraising campaign has been set up to assist a local family that was displaced by a fire in September. 

The campaign, hosted on the site GoFundMe, is in support of Brittany McKinnon, her son Braydyn Morris and her fiance Jason Morris, who were forced from their 73 Beaver St. home after a Sept. 16 blaze. 

"It happened right after our son got out of school," McKinnon said, adding that she was very grateful that no one was hurt. "We basically just had the clothes on our backs." 

Though the home does not look severely damaged from the outside, the interior is being gutted because of fire and water damage."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161011/fundraiser-looks-to-help-franklin-family-after-fire

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/10/jason-brittany-braydyns-fire-fund.html

"The Franklin Youth Baseball board of directors elections will be held at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17. 

Election to the board of directors is determined by a vote of the general membership. All positions are open, and newcomers are welcome. 

Nominations to positions on the board of directors can be made by any member of the organization during nominations night, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161011/franklin-youth-baseball-to-hold-elections

"The Hockomock Area YMCA will hold free Spooky Games from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 21 at the YMCA Bernon Family Branch, 45 Forge Hill Road, Franklin. 

Participants are encouraged to dress in costume. The theme for the Franklin event is superheroes. 

Hockomock Area YMCA staff will provide face painting, crafts, games and a jumpy house. Pizza slices and water will be available for $1 each."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161011/hockomock-area-ymca-to-present-spooky-games

#shopFranklin: Karen Moriarty of Karen Moriarty Photography

#shopFranklin speaks with Karen Moriarty of Karen Moriarty Photography as we learn how she delved into photography and offers great advice on how to get great professional photos.

http://www.kemphoto.com/

For more about Karen and her photography   http://www.kemphoto.com/

or on Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/Karen-Moriarty-Photography-Portrait-Artist-193735463971180/

http://www.shopfranklinma.com/

For more about Sarah and her efforts with #shopFranklin
http://www.shopfranklinma.com/

Franklin Federated - Giant Yard Sale - Saturday, Oct 15

"The Giant Yard Sale will include books, toys, clothes, household items, jewelry, electronics, sporting goods, antiques, small furniture items, and holiday décor. Items are priced to sell. 

• Sale starts at the Church at 9:00 AM
• Half price sale starts at 1 PM. Much of the sale is held indoors.

This fundraiser helps support the works of the church and a portion of the proceeds will go towards specific local charitable organizations. A collection will be held for toiletry items (soap, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo) that will be donated to the Franklin Food Pantry."

Franklin Federated - Giant Yard Sale - Saturday, Oct 15

This is just a fraction of "stuff" that we've gotten in. You have no idea! Car after car dropping off bags and boxes, etc. ...anyhow, here is a partial list: 

Books, 
purses, 

collectibles such as games, 
figurines, 
vintage dishes and sets, 

old woven back rocking chair, 

old pottery, 
lamps,

frames and framed pictures, 

linens, 
rugs, 
cloth napkins, 
table cloths

a very large collection of Stamp It Up stamps, 
children's toys and games, 
children's bikes,
large selection of puzzles

glassware

and that's just the tip of the iceberg ...an unbelievable amount of stuff at truly unheard of prices

• For more about this Giant Yard Sale visit the Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/events/175887846187836/