Sunday, January 8, 2017

Important Cultural District Planning Meeting - Jan 19 - 7:00 PM

The Town of Franklin’s Department of Planning and Community Development invites you to attend a meeting at 7:00 p.m. on January 19, 2017 to hear an update on plans for a Cultural District in Downtown Franklin.

The Cultural District Steering Committee has worked hard for more than two years to draw attention to Franklin’s great cultural resources, advocate for creation of the Franklin Cultural District, and organize the annual Franklin Cultural Festival.

The Committee and Town staff are looking for your input regarding the creation of a state designated Cultural District and related management issues, as well as support for ongoing and potential cultural activities.

Input and ongoing involvement of all Franklin organizations and individuals is desired to develop a strong partnership consisting of cultural organizations, historical and community organizations, non-profits, private businesses, government agencies, educational and faith based institutions, and individual artists. All are encouraged to participate in this partnership.

Anyone in need of additional information should contact the Town of Franklin’s Department of Planning and Community Development.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Bryan W. Taberner, AICP

Director of Planning and Community Development
355 East Central Street
Franklin, MA 02038-1352
Phone: 508-520-4907
Fax: 508-520-4906
Email: btaberner@franklin.ma.us


When: 
Thursday January 19, 2017, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: 
Franklin Municipal Building
355 East Central Street, Town Council Chambers

Arts Happen Here in Franklin, MA!
Arts Happen Here in Franklin, MA!

Note: I am volunteering my time and effort as part of the Cultural District Steering Committee to make this happen for Franklin.

FHS wrestling takes 3 more wins on Saturday

Via the Twitterverse







https://twitter.com/FHSWrestle
Franklin Wrestling


"In a matchup of unbeaten perennial state wrestling powers in the finals of the inaugural Redhawks Duals tournament, Franklin snapped a tie when Mike Racca won by pin at 120 pounds in the final match to lift the Panthers to a championship win by a 35-29 score over host Natick on Saturday. 
The score was tied 29-29 as each team won seven matches heading into the decisive matchup at 120 pounds. 
"It was a great match with hard-fought wrestling and a lot of fun," said Franklin coach Carmine Colace. 
"It was a great match," said Natick coach Bob Anniballi. "They are one of the best Division 1 teams (in the state)."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/20170107/schools-franklin-wrestling-topples-natick-in-redhawks-duals-tournament


In the News: Kutil and the road to UMass Dartmouth; sledding map

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

"It gets a bit complicated, with a dose of personal conflict on Alicia Kutil's part, if one is to trace the back roads that ultimately placed her at UMass Dartmouth. 
"I wanted to go far away," said the ex-Franklin High basketball star. "I wanted to go to some pretty school down south." A slew of local colleges recruited the six-footer. She didn't even bother opening the letters. She sent video to a bunch of Division 3 schools down south. 
The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia was one of them. The basketball coaches liked what they saw of Kutil. She visited the campus, and enrolled. All good, so far. 
Then it wasn't good at all, and the change didn't take long."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/sports/20170107/franklins-kutil-finds-right-fit-at-umass-dartmouth



"By the time the storm Saturday ends, most of the area will have a decent coating of snow and cold enough weather to keep it around for a few days. 
In other words, the conditions are ripe for sledding. Check out an interactive map created by Millis woman Sharon Aigler for all the best sledding hills in the area, at hollistonmedway.communitykangaroo.com/sledding. 
The hills are also ranked by difficulty: small hills, large hills and intense thrill hills. 
Aigler, who runs the Community Kangaroo website, said she created the map with crowdsourced suggestions to solve a common problem."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170107/check-out-this-map-of-best-sledding-spots-in-metrowest

screen grab of sledding map
screen grab of sledding map

Fin the interactive version of this map online
http://hollistonmedway.communitykangaroo.com/sledding/

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
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
SNETT trail entrance parking along Grove St


Saturday, January 7, 2017

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)
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)
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












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
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
Franklin Municipal Building


view the complete information flyer here: