Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 4/14/17 - THU 4/20/17

FRIDAY 4/14/17
9-10:30am   Peter Cottontail EGGcellent Adventure @ FHS
12pm   Good Friday ‘Cross Walk’ @ Franklin Town Common
8pm   James Montgomery @ The Black Box

SATURDAY 4/15/17
8am-12pm   Recycling Event: Cans, Bottles, Electronics, Appliances @ Elks Lodge (supports FHS Softball)
9-10am   Rep Roy Open Office Hour @ Galante Restaurant in Medway
10-1pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
10:30-11:30am   StoryWalk @ DelCarte Conservation Area
2-4pm   Beauty and the Beast Story and Craft @ Franklin Public Library

SUNDAY 4/16/17
All Day   Library Closed for Easter
1-4pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open

MONDAY 4/17/17
All Day   Library Closed for Patriot’s Day
7-8:30pm   Learn To Cope Franklin Chapter Meeting @ FUSF

TUESDAY 4/18/17
10:30am   Dino Discovery Animal Program @ Franklin Public Library
3pm   Dino Egg Hunt @ Franklin Public Library

WEDNESDAY 4/19/17
9:30am   Wally the Green Monster Visits @ Franklin Public Library
3pm   Slime Time! @ Franklin Public Library
5pm   Army CORP Master Plan Input/Review @ Millis Public Library
5pm   Page Turners Tween Bookclub @ Franklin Public Library
6:30pm   Doggie Tales (registration required, grades 2 and up) @ Franklin Public Library

THURSDAY 4/20/17
10am   Alchemy Laboratory! @ Franklin Public Library
3pm   Memory Cafe for Caregivers and their Loved Ones @ Franklin Senior Center
3:30pm   Life-size Board Game @ Franklin Public Library
4pm   Family Coloring Book Club @ Franklin Public Library
5-8pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
7pm   Franklin Cultural District Formation Meeting @ Franklin Municipal Building
7-8pm   Healing Hearts Community Support Group @ Franklin YMCA
7:30pm   Dean College Presents: Five Women Wearing The Same Dress @ Dean College
7:30pm   Stony Brook Camera Club @ Anglican Church of the Redeemer (31 Hayward St)

For the Town of Franklin Public Calendar click HERE.

For all other events and Franklin happenings click HERE.

*To submit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this form
https://goo.gl/forms/7Pr1iBuAiIna7cUo2

Live reporting: Land Use Planning Workshop - April 13

I took notes via Twitter for the workshop conducted by Town Council with participation by Town Administration, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and members of the community. Lots of discussions and viewpoints shared, some consensus seemed to have been reached on "inclusionary zoning". Work would be required to draft the bylaw language for further review and discussion through the Planning Board before the Town Council would make a decision.



(be sure to scroll within the Storify widget to review all the entries)

The poster boards referenced during the meeting

Franklin map with MultiFamily dwellings highlighted

Franklin map  where the area is 5 acres or more (parcels in purple)

Franklin map  showing the different zoning districts

view from the back of the Council Chamber

FHS lacrosse teams top Milford, track teams top Oliver Ames

From Hockomock Sports and Twitter, we share the results of the spring sports action on Thursday, April 13.

Baseball = Franklin, 1 @ Milford, 5 – Final

– Milford scored in five different innings to pick up its second straight win. The Scarlet Hawks scored single runs in the first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth against the Panthers. Aidan Wilde tossed a complete game without giving up an earned run, striking out seven and letting up just two hits. Ryan Goncalves went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases, Alex Coady had a home run and Anthony Arcudi was 1-for-3 with a double, a run and two stolen bases.

Softball = Milford, 6 @ Franklin, 1 – Final

– Milford senior Ali Atherton inherited a two-on, no out situation in a relief appearance and struck out three straight batters to help the Hawks escape danger in the sixth inning. Atherton picked up the save with two innings of work. Kelley Reichert earned the win, striking out five while allowing five hits in five innings of work. At the plate, Maggie Farrell was 2-for-4 with two doubles and Emily Hartman was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Milford head coach Steve DeVitto praised the defense play of shortstop Emily Piergustavo and third baseman Kaitlyn DeCapua.

Boys Lacrosse = Milford, 0 @ Franklin, 18 – Final

Girls Lacrosse = Franklin, 9 @ Bishop Feehan, 5 – Final

– Franklin clamped down defensively, allowing just one goal in the second half to pull away from the Shamrocks. Franklin built a 6-4 lead by the break but won the second half 3-1. Annie Walsh had four goals, Erin Walsh had two goals and Jordan Jette recorded three assists to pace the offense. Freshman Gianna Cameron had five saves in net for the Panthers.

For the remainder of the Hockomock League action on Thursday
https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-041317/

Via the Twitterverse, we can share the results of the Outdoor track and Field results against Oliver Ames

Great way to start the season with a win vs. OA! Awesome team effort! Congrats to both the girls and the guys! @FHS_girlsXC

Great win against Oliver Ames boys!! Lots of great performances to be proud of! Next meet: Mansfield Speed Classic on Tuesday

— FHS Boys Track (@FHSPanthersTF) April 14, 2017

Great win against Oliver Ames boys!! Lots of great performances to be proud of! Next meet: Mansfield Speed Classic on Tuesday

— FHS Boys Track (@FHSPanthersTF) April 14, 2017

Solids wins today for both boys and girls T&F teams against an always classy Oliver Ames team. Great way to start the season

— Coach Bailey (@FranklinHSXC) April 13, 2017

Great win today over Milford 13-1 💙⚾️👏🏼 #weneedtoworkharder #thisistraining #coachD pic.twitter.com/IREyKbDwEr

— Jenna Dicruttalo (@CoachJennaD) April 14, 2017

MassBudget: Analyzing the House Ways and Means budget proposal

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Analyzing House Ways & Means Budget for Fiscal Year 2018: The Budget Monitor explains changes and trends MassBudget provides analysis of this week's funding proposals in the House Ways and Means budget, which would generally maintain existing service levels while making small targeted new investments in several areas including housing, education, and substance abuse prevention and treatment. To expand access to affordable housing, this budget proposes a $13.5 million increase for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program that provides subsidies to help low-income families and seniors to pay for housing. The budget, however, would reduce funding for shelter for low-income families by $20.5 million. The increased funding for affordable housing will likely reduce the need for shelter, but not likely by $20.5 million. The House Ways and Means budget also proposes a $15 million increase to raise the rates paid to providers of early education and would provide local school districts with $27.5 million more in Chapter 70 funds than was recommended by the Governor. The budget proposes funding levels for our institutions of higher education that are unlikely to keep pace with inflation and will likely lead to further tuition or fee increases. To build on ongoing efforts to prevent and treat substance misuse and abuse, the budget proposes a $2.4 million increase for services for substance use disorders at the Department of Public Health. These relatively small increments to important programs will have significant benefits, but like the Governor's proposal and the budgets of recent years, this budget does not propose significant new funding to make progress on some of the big challenges our Commonwealth faces, such as significantly expanding early education; making higher education more affordable; making sure that our schools have the resources they need to provide high quality education for all children in the Commonwealth; or fixing our transportation infrastructure. This budget does includes provisions to addresses a major fiscal challenge identified by the Governor: the increases in MassHealth costs related to declines in employer-provided health care and increases in private-sector employees receiving their health coverage through MassHealth. The House Ways and Means budget authorizes the administration to move forward with plans to assess employers who do not meet benchmarks for providing insurance for their employees and it also creates a structure for the Administration to address concerns that have been raised about details of the proposal. This budget counts on only $180 million in related revenue rather than the $300 million in the Governor's budget. The rest of this Budget Monitor examines the House Ways and Means Committee proposals for major state programs in greater detail. Links from the Table of Contents allow readers to jump quickly to specific sections. Each section also provides links to our on-line budget tools including our Budget Browser(which provides funding information for every line item in the state budget going back to FY 2001) and, where applicable, to our Children's Budget and Jobs & Workforce Budget.  When the proposals track the Governor's recommendations closely, we also provide links to the detailed descriptions of those proposals in our Budget Monitor describing the Governor's budget. MassBudget www.massbudget.org is an independent nonprofit organization that provides non-partisan research and analysis of state budget and tax policies, as well as economic issues, that affect low- and moderate-income people in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108 Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

In the News: Best Buddies walk at Sullivan; drought conditions improve

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

"Annie Sullivan Middle School students - garbed in blue and yellow - took part in a “Boston Strong” walk midday Thursday to honor and remember those injured and killed in the Marathon bombing four years ago. 

The event was the culmination of a “spirit week” at the school, organized by students in the “Best Buddies” program. 

School Principal Beth Witcoff said the Best Buddies program works to partner students with members of the school’s class for those with intellectual disabilities. 

“The program is introduced in sixth grade, and students apply by writing an essay,” she said. “By eighth grade, they’re allowed to choose officers and have more opportunities for one-on-one interaction.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170413/franklin-students-walk-for-bombing-victims

"The snow and rain during the last few months may have helped curb the arid effects of last year’s intense drought, but MetroWest and the Milford region are not in the clear yet, according to the latest figures and local officials. 

The U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday indicates just less than half of Massachusetts, including northern sections of Worcester and Middlesex counties, is experiencing abnormally dry conditions. 

Though the other half, which includes towns like Milford and Framingham, falls into the non-drought category, local officials say the change is not significant enough for them to roll back water restrictions in their communities. 

“I know they’re predicting a hot summer,” said Barry Smith, deputy director of Medway’s Public Works Department. “I hope we don’t (end up) in the same situation as the last year.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170413/region-drought-conditions-improve

US Drought Monitor Comparison: Oct4, 2016 (left) vs. Apr 11, 2017 (right)

Story Walk - At DelCarte Park - Saturday April 15, 10:30 AM.

The Franklin Public Library is partnering up with the Franklin Parks and Recreation Department to bring you a fun unique blend of story time and physical activity in the great outdoors! 

A Story Walk is a fun, educational activity that places a children’s story (literally a book taken apart) along a popular walking route, in this case, at DelCarte Park!

Story Walk - At DelCarte Park - Saturday April 15, 10:30 AM.

The Parmenter Elementary School had a story walk in October 2010. You can visit the photo archive here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157625155278049/with/5131423045/

In the News: FHS cheer team champions; school security works

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

"The Franklin High School varsity cheerleading team topped two divisions at a national competition over the weekend. 

Coach Amy Murphy said the squad - participating in the Platinum Nationals competition in Rochester, New York - won the high school division and was the grand champion of the school division. 

“They scored 91.71 out of a possible 95 - they did great,” she said.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170412/franklin-cheerleaders-top-division-at-national-competition

THEY DID IT! @FHScheer_ NATIONAL CHAMPIONS HIGH SCHOOL DIV!!!
2 time GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONS in School and College Div!! #PantherPride pic.twitter.com/mZNDunuTDw

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) April 9, 2017

THEY DID IT! @FHScheer_ NATIONAL CHAMPIONS HIGH SCHOOL DIV!!!

"Recent security upgrades helped keep an unwanted visitor out of the Parmenter Elementary School, officials said during an update on school safety this week. 

Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski said a reconfigured entrance - part of ongoing security efforts - kept that person from entering the building. Sabolinski, along with Assistant Superintendent Peter Light, gave a presentation on school safety at Tuesday night’s School Committee meeting. 

Sabolinski said school safety ties in with the district’s recent work with social/emotional learning, especially the idea that students have to be emotionally ready to receive instruction. 

“If students do not feel safe in school, they’re not learning,” she said. “The research is replete with data (showing that).”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170412/franklin-security-upgrade-put-to-test