Senator Spilka: FY 2018 Senate Budget Debate Wrap Up

"Doing nothing for others is the undoing of ourselves" - Horace Mann

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Greetings!  Since our founding, the term Commonwealth - 'common wealth' - has served to remind us that each of us is invested in preserving our common good; that our fortunes rise and fall together. In the context of the Senate budget, our common wealth of course refers to dollars and cents. But it also signifies so much more. Our true common wealth is our people. And we can sustain it, even in tough times, by focusing on the fundamentals: education, health, and housing. I am pleased to present this update on the Senate's Fiscal Year 2018 budget, passed by the full Senate on Thursday, May 25, 2017. EDUCATION Education has always been Massachusetts' lodestar. We place our faith in public education as our greatest equalizer and catalyst for success.  The final Senate budget directs funding to high quality education for everyone, including:  $4.76 billion in Chapter 70 funding $15 million to expand access to high quality preschool $10 million to boost salaries for early educators $1 billion for higher education $3.7 million for after-school and out-of-school programs $294 million to fully fund the Special Education Circuit Breaker HEALTH We believe we can proactively tackle the issue of rising health care costs while continuing to encourage the adoption of innovative, evidence-based practices that will make all of us healthier and more productive. Our budget includes: A number of health care cost savings initiatives $24 million to fully fund the Turning 22 program $31 million for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment $144 million for substance abuse prevention & treatment $91.6 million for mental health services for children $13 million for Family Resource Centers $3.5 million to encourage collaboration among agencies, schools and community partners to strengthen programming for early detection and screening for mental illness in children HOUSING There can be no security for individuals and families without access to reliable housing. We believe that our investments to prevent homelessness support best practices in putting individuals and families on the path towards stability: $166 million for Emergency Assistance Family Shelters $100 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, providing funding for 350 to 400 new rental assistance vouchers $46 million for assistance for homeless individuals $32 million for the HomeBASE rapid re-housing program $18.5 million for RAFT, providing short-term financial assistance to low income families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. $5.5 million for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program  $2.5 million for housing and supportive services for unaccompanied homeless youth DISTRICT and LOCAL AID The budget continues the Senate's strong partnership with municipalities in directing significant investments to local aid and community services. $1.06B for Unrestricted General Government Aid to support community investments in education, health care, public safety and roads and bridges $83M for Regional Transit Authorities $26.7M for the Board of Library Commissioners, including $10.4M for regional library local aid, $9.8M for municipal libraries and $2.3M for technology and automated resources $16.5M for the Massachusetts Cultural Council to support the state-wide creative economy and local arts and culture $14.2M for local Councils on Aging to strengthen programs and services in senior centers For more information on the Senate budget, including additional investments, please see the links below or contact my Senate office at (617) 722-1640. Important FY 2018 Budget Links Senate FY 2018 Budget Final Press Release  Senate Ways & Means Budget: Message from Chairwoman Spilka Boston Globe: Senate OK's $40.3 billion state budget Metrowest Daily News: 5 takeaways from the Senate Ways and Means budget Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka Room 212, State House Boston, Massachusetts  02133 Phone: (617) 722-1640 - Fax: (617) 722-1077 http://www.karenspilka.com

Senator Karen E. Spilka, Massachusetts State House, Room 212, Boston, MA 02133 Sent by karen.spilka@masenate.gov in collaboration with Try it free today

PMC Franklin Kids Ride - Sunday, June 11

Like to ride your bike? Want to make a difference?

Come join us at the PMC Franklin Kids Ride on Sunday, June 11 from 8am-Noon.

All money raised will go directly to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute for life saving Cancer research and treatment.

Ride with your friends and form a team and choose your ride: 3, 6 or 10 miles.

We even have a Tikes and Trikes Ride for those on more than 2 wheels.

Register today at kids.pmc.org/franklin

Contact Lisa Marchioni at lisabxyz@verizon.net if you have any questions

PMC Franklin Kids Ride - Sunday, June 11

Total Wine & More Launches New Statewide Campaign To Modernize Mass. Laws Governing Sale Of Beer, Wine And Spirits

Consumers First initiative to promote sensible changes to update and improve Commonwealth laws regulating beverage alcohol sales

Total Wine & More today announced the start of a new statewide information and awareness campaign to support sensible changes to update and modernize the laws governing the sale of beer, wine and spirits in Massachusetts.

The Consumers First initiative is a source of information and advocacy to enhance and improve the regulatory environment and structure around the beer, wine and spirits industry in a way that promotes savings and better serves consumers across Massachusetts.

“Total Wine & More has a long track record as a proven consumer ally, and this new Consumers First campaign will promote sensible and much needed updates to Massachusetts’ alcohol sale laws – some of which date back to Prohibition,” said Ed Cooper, Vice President, Public Affairs & Community Relations at Total Wine & More. “Our entire business is built on creating a first class customer experience while providing the best value and selection in beverage alcohol. We take great pride in all the ways we serve our customers, and advocating on their behalf and being an ally is another way of serving them.”

Massachusetts alcoholic beverage laws and regulations need reform. The laws regulating and governing beverage alcohol sales should better protect consumers’ best interests.

The Consumers First initiative will use information and advocacy to demonstrate that protecting and serving consumers should be the first priority. Examples of savings and conveniences that consumers in Massachusetts are being denied include access to the best possible retailer coupon and customer loyalty programs, as well as regulatory obstacles that prevent the lowest prices from being passed on to customers from bulk wholesale discounts.

“We believe all alcohol retailers in Massachusetts should be advocates for consumers. They should favor allowing new ways for consumers to save on beer, wine and spirits,” Cooper said. “The Consumers First initiative will help give people a voice in advocating for sensible reforms.”

For more information about the Consumers First initiative, visit massconsumersfirst.com. You can also like the campaign on Facebook and follow on Twitter.

Total Wine & More Launches New Statewide Campaign To 

Modernize Mass. Laws Governing Sale Of Beer, Wine And Spirits

About Total Wine & More
Total Wine & More is America’s largest independent retailer of fine wine, beer and spirits with 158 stores in 20 states. A four-time national retailer of the year award winner, the company’s vast selection of products, combined with low everyday prices and expertly trained wine associates, provides a unique shopping experience for the customer. Since opening its first store in 1991, Total Wine & More has been committed to being the premier wine, beer and spirits retailer in every community that it serves. For more information about Total Wine & More please visit http://www.totalwine.com.

"everyone says hello to each other, even if they are a complete stranger”

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

"For high school students planning to attend college, there is a lot of pressure to find the school that fits. To help these students find their perfect school, the Franklin Town Library hosted its first “mini college fair” on Saturday. 

“One of the big focuses, was that students wanted more exposure to schools all around the country,” said Caleigh Ross, youth services librarian. “That is why I reached out to a bunch of people I knew from Franklin that went to some of these schools.” 

The mini college fair, put together by the Teen Advisory Board, featured: Colgate University, University of Vermont, Saint Anselm’s College, Duke University, Virginia Tech, James Madison University, Elon University, Washington and Lee University, College of Charleston, University of Mary Washington, Indiana University, Wheaton College (Illinois), Illinois Wesleyan University, Miami University of Ohio, University of Chicago, Creighton University, Grinnell College, Denison University, Claremont McKenna College, Seaver College of Pepperdine University and Willamette University."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170527/franklin-students-look-for-college-that-fits

where do you want to go to college?

Where did the class of 2016 go to college?
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/06/where-will-fhs-class-of-2016-go-next.html

EPA "Community Involvement Plan" draft copy for 300 Fisher St is open for review and comment

"The Community Involvement Plan is a dynamic document that can be updated, when necessary, throughout the cleanup process. Attached, please find a draft copy of the plan. 

Please review and send me any comments you have by Friday, June 9, 2017. Comments we receive will be carefully considered prior to the plan being made publicly available."

Marilyn St. Fleur, MPH

Public Affairs Specialist

Community Involvement Coordinator

Office of the Regional Administrator

US EPA, Region 1

5 Post Office Sq. Suite 100
Mail Code ORA01-3
Boston, MA 02109-3912

Email: stfleur.marilyn@epa.gov 




More information on the BJAT Superfund Site: www.epa.gov/superfund/bjat

http://twitter.com/epanewengland

Learn More about the Latest EPA News & Events in New England(https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-1-new-england)

Follow EPA New England on Twitter (http://twitter.com/epanewengland)

Connect with EPA New England on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EPARegion1)

Related links from the Franklin Matters archives

• Live reporting from the Town Council meeting July 2014

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/live-reporting-epa-300-fisher-st.html

• DEP and EPA presentation to Town Council, July 2014

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/300-fisher-st-ma-dep-epa-presentation.html

• Map showing property location within Franklin

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/300-fisher-st-map.html

Memorial Day Program - May 29, 2017

The program for the Memorial Day ceremonies and parade is shared here.

Parade Route:

The 2017 Parade route will begin at the Depot Street and Dean Bank and proceed up Main St (towards Church St.), take a left onto School, to a Right on W Central Street, then a Right on Beaver St until we reach the Town Common / Church Square. 

The parade will once again stop at the Dean Memorial, Union St and St Mary's Cemetery's. 

Parade Information:

Date: Monday, May 29, 2017

10:00 am: Muster: Group leaders must check in at the Dean Bank Parking Lot
10:30 am: Parade Starts
12:00 pm: Ceremony at the Franklin Town Common


You can download and print this copy



This is also available on the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/memorial_day_2017_parade_information.pdf

The Franklin Garden Club maintains the flowers beds
around the war memorials on the Town Common

“These were kids I grew up with, who I went to school with and who never came back"

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

"Local veterans - and those who lost their lives in the armed services - were honored Friday in the lead-up to what was called the most solemn of days. 

The town held its annual Memorial Day breakfast at the Franklin Senior Center that morning, giving special recognition to Korean War veterans in town. 

Veterans Agent Dale Kurtz said the day’s purpose - to honor those who had died in war - is often forgotten by the public. 

“I keep getting pictures in my mind of the fields of crosses in Arlington National Cemetery, at Gettysburg, in France and at West Point,” he said. “These are reminders of the sacrifices our brothers and sisters at arms have made over the years.”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170526/breakfast-in-franklin-honors-vets

Franklin Senior Center, site for the Memorial Day breakfast and many other activities for the community