Electric Youth and Future Shock please the crowd (photo recap)

FSPA's Electric Youth opened the 3rd Annual Cultural Festival with a rousing performance highlighted by the appearance of Future Shock. 

Electric Youth and Future Shock please the crowd

Future Shock is the younger version and quite talented!

Tinker Bell was among the audience posing for photos and
sprinkling fairy dust on the young at heart both big and small.

Face painting, sidewalk chalk, and Plein air painting were
also attractions provided by the Franklin Art Association.

Let's hope the weather continues to be bright for the rest of the Cultural Festival schedule. The Festival has performances from 5:00 to 9:30 on the Town Common today. Kinetic robots are on display at the Methodist Church and the Historical Museum is scheduled for a speaker on wedding gowns as the wedding gown display continues.

Electric Youth and Future Shock please the crowd (photo recap)

All roads should lead to The Rome Restaurant in Franklin either before or after taking in one or more of the events at the Cultural Festival.  

The Rome will feature "Festival Fettucini" from 4:00 PM to closing each night Wednesday, July 26 through Saturday, July 29.  The culinary arts are one of the key arts that the Festival is looking to showcase. Franklin has a broad variety of culinary choices!
http://www.franklinculturaldistrict.org/2017/07/stop-by-rome-for-festival-fettucini.html 


If you are interested in getting updates on the Franklin Cultural Festival please check out the webpage http://www.franklinsculturalfestival.org/ or follow the Festival on Twitter https://twitter.com/artshappenhere


To help financially support the Festival please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/FCF2017. 
  
The tri-fold flyer with the full schedule can be downloaded here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczZFlnZFNMV1puWkE/view?usp=sharing

In the News: Exelon expansions gets approvals; TSA changes screening for tablet devices

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

"The state issued two preliminary decisions Wednesday regarding the proposed Exelon expansion: one approving the project’s water supply plan, and another granting a “certificate of environmental impact and public interest.” 

The Energy Facilities Siting Board decisions are tentative, according to state officials; the board will hear comments until Aug. 2, and then hold a hearing on Aug. 4 to make its determination. That hearing will be held at the Department of Public Utilities building in Boston. 

The board approved the 200-megawatt expansion of Exelon’s Summer Street plant last year. One of the decisions concerns the air plan required for a certificate of environmental impact and public interest for that expansion. 

Exelon had requested the certificate from the board, as it’s needed to move forward with the expansion. The Conservation Law Foundation, however, urged the board not to grant approval, claiming a greenhouse gas cap in the plan was unlikely to reduce gases emitted by the facility."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170726/medway-state-approves-exelon-water-plan

"Passengers at all U.S. airports will soon face new measures for screening electronic devices bigger than a cellphone. 

Security officers will ask travelers in regular lanes to take all larger devices out of their bag and put them in a bin by themselves, similar to the screening of most travelers’ laptops. 

Officials say it gives X-ray screeners a clearer picture of the devices. 

The change won’t apply to Precheck lanes."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20170726/tsa-expands-new-procedure-for-inspecting-large-electronics

Transportation Security Administration

Today's the day we have been waiting for!

*** Franklin Public Library

10:30 AM - Captain Haines Pirate Show!

Captain Haines Pirate Show

*** On the Franklin Town Common

5:00 to 8:00  PM – Art Association: Children’s activities: Sidewalk Chalk Art, Face Painting. Plein air Painting.

5:45 PM - Opening Ceremony

6:00 PM - FSPA's Electric Youth
 

Festival Schedule: Wednesday, July 26, 2017

* note the schedule is subject to change

All roads should lead to The Rome Restaurant in Franklin either before or after taking in one or more of the events at the Cultural Festival. 

The Rome will feature "Festival Fettucini" from 4:00 PM to closing each night Wednesday, July 26 through Saturday, July 29.  The culinary arts are one of the key arts that the Festival is looking to showcase. Franklin has a broad variety of culinary choices!
http://www.franklinculturaldistrict.org/2017/07/stop-by-rome-for-festival-fettucini.html


If you are interested in getting updates on the Franklin Cultural Festival please check out the webpage http://www.franklinsculturalfestival.org/ or follow the Festival on Twitter https://twitter.com/artshappenhere


To help financially support the Festival please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/FCF2017. 
 
The tri-fold flyer with the full schedule can be downloaded here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczZFlnZFNMV1puWkE/view?usp=sharing

“Like everyone in the nation we’re dealing with the opioid crisis"

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

"Police Chief Thomas Lynch discusses his first full year in the position and reflects on what he hopes to accomplish in the future. Lynch was hired as chief last July, and has been with the department for more than 20 years. 

How did you start your career in law enforcement? 

Police Chief Thomas Lynch (Town of Franklin photo)

“I’ve only worked as a police officer for the town of Franklin. I graduated from the police academy at 1996. ... I worked in recreation from when I was 14 to when I was 25 for Brookline and Wellesley. ... I was a patrolman from ’96 to ’99. In ’99 I was a detective until 2000 when I was promoted to sergeant. In 2002, I was promoted to lieutenant. I spent 13 years as lieutenant, I was in operations and ran the patrol unit. In 2015, I was promoted to deputy chief, where I was for about nine months, and then I became the chief on July 1 of 2016.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170724/franklin-police-chief-reflects-on-first-year

The Smartest Thing in Fur Pants (Video)

"Franklin Conservation Commission recently held a meeting featuring a report on beaver activity at DelCarte. 

Whether you view them as an engineering marvel or creators of flooding challenges, and they can be both, beavers (Castor canadensis) are fascinating creatures right here in our community. 

We thought you'd enjoy learning a little more about them in this PBS video."




This was shared from the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/beaver-activity-delcarte

Reminder: Commonwealth Ave. Bridge Project This Week; I-90 Lane Reductions

This is a reminder that the 2017 Construction Shutdown for the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Replacement Project (http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/HighlightedProjects/CommonwealthAvenueBridgeReplacement.aspx) is beginning at 9:00 PM on Wednesday, July 26, and will continue through 5:00 AM on Monday, August 14. Please note the construction-related impacts below:

Reminder: Commonwealth Ave. Bridge Project This Week; I-90 Lane Reductions

For Drivers:

I-90 (Mass Pike) Users:
From 9:00 PM on July 28 to 5:00 AM on August 7:
• I-90 between the Allston Interchange and the Beacon Street Overpass in Boston will be reduced to two lanes in both directions during peak hours (additional lane closures during off-peak hours, see below).
• The I-90 Eastbound on-ramp from Cambridge Street/Soldiers Field Road will be closed.
• The I-90 Westbound Exit 20 off-ramp to Brighton/Cambridge will be closed intermittently.

I-90 Off-Peak Lane Reductions:
Weekdays, July 28 - August 1 (during I-90 eastbound shift):
• 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM: one eastbound lane open and two westbound lanes open
Weekdays, August 2 - August 7 (during I-90 westbound shift):
• 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM: one westbound lane open and two eastbound lanes open
Weekends (9:00 PM on Friday to 5:00 AM on Monday):
• One eastbound and two westbound lanes open, or one westbound and two eastbound lanes open

See the "I-90 (Mass Pike) Ramp Closures Detour" on the Traffic Management page: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/HighlightedProjects/CommonwealthAvenueBridgeReplacement/TrafficManagement.aspx

Commonwealth Avenue Users:
• Commonwealth Avenue (between Packard's Corner and Kenmore Square) will be closed to vehicular through traffic (local access only) from 7:00 PM on July 27 to 5:00 AM on August 14. Access will be maintained for businesses and abutting properties.
• See the "Commonwealth Avenue Closure Detour" on the Traffic Management page: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/HighlightedProjects/CommonwealthAvenueBridgeReplacement/TrafficManagement.aspx

Boston University (BU) Bridge Users:
• The BU Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic from 7:00 PM on July 27 to 5:00 AM on August 14.
• See the "Boston University (BU) Bridge Closure Detour" on the Traffic Management page: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/HighlightedProjects/CommonwealthAvenueBridgeReplacement/TrafficManagement.aspx


For Pedestrians and Bicyclists:
• Pedestrians and bicyclists will have full access across the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge on the westbound side throughout construction.
• Bicyclists heading north and south between Mountfort/Essex Street and the BU Bridge will follow a minor detour route. See the new Bicycle Routes and Detours Map on the Traffic Management page: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/HighlightedProjects/CommonwealthAvenueBridgeReplacement/TrafficManagement.aspx
• There will be additional Hubway stations on Commonwealth Avenue during the shutdown (see below).
• See the Walk and Bike Times Map: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/8/docs/HighlightedProjects/CommAveBridge/WalkBikeTimeReduced.pdf


For MBTA Green B Line Users:
• The Green B Line will be replaced with shuttle buses between Babcock Street and Blandford Street Stations from 9:00 PM on July 26 to 5:00 AM on August 14.
• See the Green Line page on the project website: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/HighlightedProjects/CommonwealthAvenueBridgeReplacement/TrafficManagement/GreenLineBBranch.aspx

For MBTA Commuter Rail and Amtrak Users:
• The Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester Line will operate regular service on weekdays.
• On weekends (July 29-30 and August 5-6), service will terminate at Boston Landing, where customers can take a shuttle to Reservoir on the Green Line D branch.
• Extra Green Line trains will run from Reservoir to Park Street to accommodate Commuter Rail passengers.
• There is no scheduled direct shuttle service provided between Boston Landing and Yawkey, Back Bay, or South Station.
• There will be service between Boston Landing and Yawkey Station only related to the Red Sox games (7/29, 7/30, 8/5, 8/6). This service will be inbound from Boston Landing to Yawkey three hours before the start of each game and outbound with a departure 30 minutes after the conclusion of the ballgame.
• See the Commuter Rail page on the project website: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/HighlightedProjects/CommonwealthAvenueBridgeReplacement/TrafficManagement/CommuterRailFraminghamWorcesterLine.aspx
• Amtrak's Lakeshore Limited Line will be replaced by shuttle buses between South Station and Albany, NY for the weekends of July 29-30 and August 5-6.


For MBTA Bus Users:
• MBTA Bus Routes CT2 and 47 will be detoured from the normal routes from 7:00 PM on July 27 to 5:00 AM on August 14.
• See the MBTA Bus page on the project website: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/HighlightedProjects/CommonwealthAvenueBridgeReplacement/TrafficManagement/Bus47CT2and57.aspx
• Route 57 Bus will operate its normal route.

MassDOT Encourages Active Transportation

There will be pedestrian and bicycle wayfinding signage at all Green Line shuttle bus stops on Commonwealth Avenue to encourage active transportation, especially for short trips. This will help optimize shuttle bus operations by shortening bus wait times and headways.

Additional Hubway Stations:

MassDOT is partnering with Hubway to provide additional temporary Hubway stations on Commonwealth Avenue during the construction period at:
• Babcock Street
• Silber Way

Hubway Ambassadors will be assisting users at these temporary locations Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM and from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, providing additional bikes on a first-come, first-serve basis. All existing Hubway stations along Commonwealth Avenue and the rest of the Hubway service area will continue to be operational.

For New Hubway Users
• Download the brand new Hubway mobile app, available for iPhone and Android: http://www.thehubway.com/how-it-works/get-the-app
• Use the app to find a station near you.
• Starting soon, you'll also be able to get a pass via the app (only for a single trip or save 0 on a full annual membership during the shutdown!)
For more information, visit http://www.thehubway.com, and download the new Hubway mobile app.

Please see the project website: www.mass.gov/massdot/commavebridge for more information and to review project documents and presentations.

Please share this advisory with anyone you think may be interested in the project, and encourage them to sign up for email alerts for traffic updates and meeting announcements: http://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MADOT/subscriber/new?topic_id=MADOT_77%27

For any questions or comments, please contact Jim Kersten, MassDOT Legislative Liaison, at 857-368-9041 or by email at CommAveBridge@dot.state.ma.us.

Sincerely,
Commonwealth Ave Bridge Replacement Project Team

"There are many questions that remain unanswered"

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

"Research on 202 former football players found evidence of brain disease in nearly all of them, from athletes in the NFL, college and even high school. 

It’s the largest update on chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a brain disease linked with repeated head blows. 

But the report doesn’t confirm that the condition is common in all football players; it reflects high occurrence in samples at a Boston brain bank that studies CTE. Many donors or their families contributed because of the players’ repeated concussions and troubling symptoms before death. 

“There are many questions that remain unanswered,” said lead author Dr. Ann McKee, a Boston University neuroscientist. “How common is this” in the general population and all football players?"

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/ZZ/20170725/NEWS/170729919