LET'S LAUGH TODAY in Franklin is on Wednesday, December, 7

Trade all your holiday stress for laughter on Wednesday, December 7th from 7:30pm to 8:30pm at he Meetinghouse of the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. 

Come and enjoy this unique exercise of guided laughter exercises combined with gentle breathing that brings more oxygen to the body's cells. This oxygen boost gives enhanced vitality, energy and a feeling of real well-being. Any age and any level of physical ability can participate in this uplifting experience! 

New laughers are always welcomed! $5 donation to the church, $10 maximum per family. Please bring your water bottle because laughing is dehydrating. 


Led by Certified Laughter Yoga Teachers, Linda and Bill Hamaker. www.letslaughtoday.com. 

If you have any questions, just call them at 508-660-2223 or e-mail billandlinda@letslaughtoday.com.

#shopFranklin: Emma's Quilt Cupboard and Sewing Center (video)

#shopFranklin - supporting small business speaks with Cyndi Rich of Emma's Quilt Cupboard and Sewing Center located in the heart of Franklin, MA. 

Find out how Cyndi started the business and learn how to make a simple FOUR seam project that works for any holiday and takes just a few minutes!

one of the storefront windows at Emma's Quilt Cupboard and Sewing Center

Emma's Quilt Cupboard and Sewing Center

MIAA App provides the FHS Sports Schedule on your smartphone!

If you want to follow the FHS Panthers boys basketball team, or any other FHS team, you can download the MIAA app to your smart phone and get the season schedule.

I had heard of the app from the Facebook posting by the FHS boys team.



It does install quickly

in the Google Playstore

It is also available for iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/miaa/id987574520?mt=8

Prompts you to select a favorite (FHS was my choice!)

the installed app prompts to select a favorite school

FHS winter sports selected as favorites for now

You can also get the schedules at HockomockSports.Com. This is the source of most of the sports results that I share.

Franklin Recycling Center operates on new Winter Schedule

There is a new seasonal and holiday schedule for Franklin Recycling Center this week. November 29th was the last Tuesday that the Recycling Center is open. 
Tuesday operations will resume on April 4th, 2017.

• Christmas Eve hours: 8am - noon
• New Years Eve hours: 8am - noon

This was shared from the Franklin DPW Facebook posting:

Recyclopedia: What do I do with?

Have you seen the Recyclopedia?

It answers your questions on what to do with each item: trash or recycle!

• The recyclopedia can be found online

http://www.franklinma.gov/recycling-solid-waste/pages/recyclopedia-what-do-i-do

“Is the fuel delivery infrastructure as constrained as it may appear or not? Prices may suggest it’s not.”

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

"New England has undergone a profound shift in how it produces electricity over the past decade and a half, phasing out coal and oil plants while becoming more reliant on natural gas. 

Following passage of a state energy law this summer, Massachusetts will see wind, solar and imported hydropower become increasingly important sources of energy in the coming years, but many in the energy industry expect natural gas to remain a crucial resource for the foreseeable future. 

“We’re not going to likely see any new coal built in the region,” said Anne George, vice president of external affairs and corporate communications for grid operator ISO New England. “Oil is very limited in this region … There’s unlikely to be any new nuclear in the region. So you’re left with natural gas, and we do see the increasing desire to develop renewables.” 

Back in 2000, just 15 percent of New England’s power was produced by burning natural gas. Last year, natural gas accounted for 49 percent of all electricity generated in the region."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161205/energy-landscape-undergoes-major-changes

About us page for ISO New England

ISO New England - screen grab of real time chart showing fuel mix (non-renewables)

ISO New England - screen grab of real time chart showing fuel mix (renewables)

Download these brief explanation documents from ISO New England:

• A summary of power grid facts and figures (PDF)
• An overview of the region’s wholesale electricity marketplace (PDF)
• A rundown of ISO New England’s latest high-tech initiatives (PDF)
• 
  

Jane's Frames: A quick note from us

Holiday Hours

For the busy Holiday Season  we have extended the hours at  Jane's Frames We are now Open: Monday from 12:00 Noon-5:00 p.m. Tuesday,  and Wednesday from 9:30 a.m-6:00 p.m. Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 pm Friday from 9:30 a.m-6:00 p.m. Saturday from 10:0 0 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Hopefully this will make it easier for you to take advantage of our many services, such as: Custom Picture Framing Photo Restoration Custom Mirrors High Quality Photo Printing Unique Original Art  Antique Map Reproductions Tabletop Photo Frames Handmade Artisan Crafts (Handmade cards, Unique Jewelry, Handmade Ceramic items, Holiday Home Decorations, Handmade Quilts and More) We thank you for your continued Business!

Jane's Frames | 11 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by janeframe@verizon.net in collaboration with Try it free today

Jane Curran at Jane's Frames, website photo

Public Hearing: EPA Brownfields Grant - Dec 6 - 5:00 PM

The Department of Planning and Community Development will be a holding Public Hearing on Tuesday, December 6th at 5:00PM for an EPA Brownfields Grant in regards to the former Nu-Style site at 87 Grove Street. 

The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers at the Town Hall.

Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central St

Related posts on the NuStyle property

• A similar hearing was held almost one year ago

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/12/public-hearing-notice-for-87-grove-st.html

• From the 2015 Annual Report:

"Also during 2015 DPCD continued to work with other Town staff, consultants, and the EPA to move forward redevelopment of the Town’s “Nu-Style” Property. The Nu-Style Property at 87 Grove Street consists of two parcels totaling 1.2 acres. The property is contaminated with a variety of hazardous materials. Demolition of the main NuStyle building was completed within FY13; demolition was required in order to access and analyze soil and water under the building to assure that the full extent of soil and water contamination is known.  

Preparing the site for redevelopment is expensive, and DPCD has sought funding and technical assistance from a variety of sources in recent years. DPCD secured EPA technical assistance to assess the quality of ground water at the Nu-Style site; several monitoring wells were drilled and two rounds of water samples were analyzed. In addition, the EPA performed indoor air quality assessment activities in an adjacent privately held building to assure contaminated soil and ground water on the Nu-Style property is not negatively impacting adjacent properties. Building II, a smaller dilapidated mill building on the back of the Nu-Style property became the focus of DPCD efforts during the second half of FY15."

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/12/annual-report-2015-department-of.html