In the News: Buckley Mass Audubon photo winner; Upper Charles River trail progress

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

"It's a striking photo - an orange-yellow sunset reflected in near-perfect fidelity by the water, with a few beach-goers navigating the narrow spit of land between sky and ocean. 

That picture, of Cape Cod's Mayflower Beach, has won statewide recognition for local 15-year-old Samantha Buckley, as it took high honors in a Mass Audubon photo contest. The society named it the top entry in the under-18 division of its "People in Nature" category. 

Buckley said she's had an interest in photography for some time, and had taken part in some photography challenges in her art classes.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170106/franklin-teens-photo-wins-mass-audubon-award

Under 18: Samantha Buckley

View other Mass Audubon photo winners from the 2016 contest here
http://www.massaudubon.org/news-events/photo-contest/2016-winners

"The push for the Upper Charles Trail, a bike and walking path through Ashland that would connect to a greater, 25-mile loop, just got a little outside help. 

The town has hired an engineering firm to help solidify a proposed route and a plan for construction. 

If Ashland completes the trail, it will finish its leg of a five-town loop first envisioned decades ago. Currently, only Milford has finished its stretch of the trail, but Holliston isn't far behind, having acquired the land it needs for the last stretch of unfinished trail. Hopkinton, Sherborn and Ashland are all in some stage of planning."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170106/ashland-trail-committee-partners-with-engineers-to-solidify-route

More info about the Upper Charles Trail (and other rail trails in MA)
http://www.traillink.com/trail/upper-charles-trail.aspx

Franklin is the starting point for the Southern New Eegland Trunk Trail (SNETT) located off Grove St   http://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/

SNETT trail entrance parking along Grove St

FHS splits with Oliver Ames in basketball at Coaches vs. Cancer night

Boys Basketball = Oliver Ames, 42 @ Franklin, 75 – Final

Girls Basketball = Oliver Ames, 64 @ Franklin, 50 – Final

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-010617/

Franklin junior forward Connor Peterson (11) scored 16 points to lead the Panthers to a big win over Oliver Ames in the Coaches vs. Cancer game. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

"Oliver Ames came out aggressive, physical, intense, and playing well on the offensive end of the floor. The Tigers trailed by three points at the end of the first quarter in Friday night’s late half of a basketball doubleheader, but the game looked poised to be a four-quarter battle. 

Eight minutes later, Franklin was in complete control. Using a 19-0 run to break the game wide open and dominating the paint with junior forward Connor Peterson (16 points), the Panthers turned a close game into a rout and cruised to a 75-42 win over OA in the first divisional meeting between the two teams. 

“We started playing defense, got our heads out of our butts and played like we’re capable of playing,” said Franklin coach C.J. Neely about the second quarter turnaround. “I thought OA came in and out-toughed us in the first quarter…I thought we got the ball into CP finally and once we got him the ball and started dominating the inside it opened up the outside. The press helped a little bit too.”

Continue reading the article online
https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-boys-basketball-clamp-roll-big-win-oa/

Franklin freshman Ali Brigham (24) battles OA senior Niyera Mitchell (45) for a rebound in Friday night’s Coaches vs. Cancer game. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

"Much of the attention on Oliver Ames this season will be centered on junior forward Kayla Raymond, and rightfully so, but the Tigers are going to need other players to step up if they want to repeat last season’s run to the Div. 2 South title. 

On Friday night, in the opener of a Coaches vs. Cancer doubleheader, those other players made the plays that the Tigers needed to pull out a divisional road win against Franklin. While Raymond was once again the star with a game-high 22 points and 14 rebounds, OA had five other players score at least six points. 

“That’s ultimately what we have to do,” said OA coach Laney Clement-Holbrook. “Everyone is going to be keying on Kayla and that’s what they’re going to be focused on doing and we need other people who can step up and contribute and take some of the pressure off.”

Continue reading the article online
https://hockomocksports.com/oliver-ames-shows-off-depth-win-franklin/

Via the Twitterverse

Great work girls! https://t.co/FcMAJkO8UV

— Pantherbook (@FranklinHSNews) January 7, 2017

Great win boys! https://t.co/m9CgGyo1s6

— Pantherbook (@FranklinHSNews) January 7, 2017

Game #2 underway! #CoachesVsCancer @HockomockSports pic.twitter.com/ns1SfoXIcY

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) January 7, 2017

Boys Bball vs OA in 10 min. @RattleCity is ready. Are you??? pic.twitter.com/kt6KsdwL3J

— FranklinHighSchool (@FranklinHS) January 7, 2017

Second-half underway with Oliver Ames up 35-30. @HockomockSports pic.twitter.com/62ShPz74lK

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) January 6, 2017

Charles River Meadowlands meeting, Tuesday, Jan 10

​Welcome to 2017 – The Year of the Charles River Meadowlands!

We are starting off with a meeting next week, Tuesday night, Jan. 10, at 6:30 PM, Dean Room, First Universalist Society. 262 Chestnut St, Franklin, MA.

This will be a chance to get a first look at the Charles River Meadowlands Plan – a document that is an outgrowth of meetings and conversations with federal, state, and local officials as well as public comments solicited at our September meeting. This is still a draft, so your comments and ideas are critical. Based on comments and feedback, we will be sharing the document widely and using it as a template for action starting in February.

Please make an effort to attend, even briefly, on Tuesday. Should the weather seem threatening, please feel free to call my cell phone – 508 560 3786 for updates...

Sincerely,

Alan Earls
Charles River Meadowlands initiative

www.charlesrivermeadowlands.org

map of the Charles River Meadowlands

PS: Be sure to mark our upcoming meetings on your calendar!

• Tues Feb 7
• Tues Mar 7
• Tues Apr 4
• Tues May 2

Connections that work! SBA Workshop - Jan 25

• Looking to Start or Expand your Business?
• Gain a better understanding of SBA Programs and Services

General information will be provided on the following:
MSBDC – Mass Small Business Development Center

SCORE – Counselors to America’s Small Business

SBA Guaranty Loan Programs:
7(a) Loans - Microloans
SBA Express Loans - 504 Loan Program

Government Contracting Opportunities:
8(a) Business Development - HUBZones (Historically Underutilized Business Zones) - Small Disadvantaged Business - Surety Bonding - Disaster Assistance

CWE – Center for Women and Enterprise

Register online here
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/connections-that-work-tickets-30342938546

Franklin Municipal Building

view the complete information flyer here:

ECDC Preschool Program Enrollment Opens

The Franklin Public Schools 

ECDC Preschool Program

Now Enrolling for Fall 2017…

Lottery to held on February 28, 2017

Applications now available on the principal's blog 

• http://www.ecdcprincipalpage.blogspot.com/ 

and on the ECDC website 

• http://franklinecdc.vt-s.net/pages/index

@FranklinECDC

The F.X. O'Regan Early Childhood Development Center (@FranklinECDC) is committed to offering preschoolers here in Franklin an opportunity for high quality developmentally appropriate learning in an environment that encourages diversity, cooperation and understanding. 

Our building and our curriculum have been designed to meet the complex needs of students with and without disabilities and help them develop the necessary readiness skills to prepare them for kindergarten. 

Our curriculum is aligned with the MA state frameworks for Literacy, Math and Social Emotional Development as well as the NAEYC standards for teaching and learning. Our teachers are highly qualified public school certified in early childhood, special education or a combination of both specialties.

Students who enroll attend ECDC participate in our "integrated" preschool model. In these language-based classrooms, children of all ability levels, with and without identified special needs, are taught together in an environment that nurtures peers as partners in learning. 

Research has proven that linking children of varying ability levels actually enhances the growth and development of all the children. Each of our classrooms maintains a low class size, maxing out with 15 students, with a Massachusetts certified teacher and at least one highly qualified educational assistant.

Franklin residents who turn 3 by August 31st are eligible to register for the integrated preschool program at ECDC.

Families interested in scheduling a tour at ECDC can call the main office @ 508 541-8166 to contact Kelty Kelley, ECDC Principal via email @ kelleyk@franklin.k12.ma.us.



Kelty Kelley, M.Ed., Principal
F. X. O'Regan Early Childhood Development Center
224 Oak Street
Franklin, MA 02038
Phone: 508-541-8166
Fax: 508-541-8254
kelleyk@franklin.k12.ma.us


"There is no hand so small that it cannot leave an imprint on the world!" Klub Kidz

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse: Update - Christine Lavin and Don White - January 7 - > CANCELLED due to the weather

Peter Mulvey January 28th View this email in your browser Christine Lavin and Don White Jan 7, 2017 - 8 PM $25 We just found out that after years of touring together Christine and Don will be taking a break. This may be your last chance to see them together. Hope you can join us. The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is starting the year off right with two hilarious musicians, Christine Lavin and Don White on Saturday January 7th at 8PM. Christine's smart and funny songs nail our lives and foibles on the head! She is a comedienne whose delightfully skewed songs cover a lot of territory including relationships, politics, and life's injustices.  http://www.christinelavin.com/  Don White is a Circle of Friends regular whose songs and stories about raising teenagers always have our crowds rolling in the aisles. Together they are a fabulously hilarious duo of comedy and song. This will be a night to remember.  http://www.donwhite.net/ "...Christine Lavin and Don White, perhaps the two funniest performers on the folk circuit today." - Scott Alarik, The Boston Globe http://www.donwhite.net/don-christine/ Check out their video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLwRwZ7j3C4 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. Tickets for this shows are $25.  Please call (508)528-2541 or visit http://www.circlefolk.org/ to purchase tickets or for more information. Upcoming Shows Jan 28       Peter Mulvey Feb 11      Joe Crookston Mar 4        Celtic Band RUNA Mar 18      The Boxcar Lilies

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

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 1/6/17 - THU 1/12/17

FRIDAY 1/6/17 
10:30am   Knitting Circle for Adults @ Franklin Public Library

SATURDAY 1/7/17
8pm   Circle of Friends Coffeehouse: Christine Lavin and Don White

SUNDAY 1/8/17
7:30-10:30am   Sunday Morning Breakfast @ Franklin Rod and Gun Club
1pm   FPAC Family Concert Series: New England Percussion Ensemble (free event)

MONDAY 1/9/17
8-8:30pm   FPAC Open Auditions for Beauty and the Beast @ The Black Box
7-8:30pm   Learn To Cope Franklin Chapter Meeting @ FUSF

TUESDAY 1/10/17
7pm   Yankee Quilters Guild Meeting @ St. John’s Episcopal Church (prospective members welcome)
7:30pm   Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Meeting @ Franklin YMCA (public welcome)

WEDNESDAY 1/11/17
6:30pm   Teen Advisory Board Meeting @ Franklin Public Library
7:30pm   Franklin Newcomers and Friends Meeting @ 3 Restaurant, speakers: Alan Earls (Charles River Meadowlands) and Marjorie Turner Hollman (Easy Walks in Massachusetts)

THURSDAY 1/12/17
7-8pm   Healing Hearts Community Support Group @ Franklin YMCA
7pm   School Committee Coffee Hour @ Franklin TV (23 Hutchinson St)

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 and/or shersteve@gmail.com