“In Massachusetts, we do not have a statewide ‘blizzard bag’ policy"

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

"THE ISSUE: Some schools are using at-home assignments to avoid making up snow days at the end of June. THE DETAILS: While Massachusetts has no formal policy, the state allows school districts to adopt their own remote learning programs. 

Instead of having snow makeup days shorten their summer vacations, some schools are exploring new ways for students to learn at home. 

One approach that’s been tried in a handful of school districts involves making up snow days by assigning projects for students to complete at home, instead of making up the snow day at the end of the school year.

“I think there’s certainly interest in it,” said Tom Scott, the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. “I think as some of the technology advances and opportunities to use technology exist, I think it’s more likely that more districts will pay attention to it.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170803/some-schools-will-make-up-snow-days-with-at-home-assignments

Parmenter sign buried in snow in 2015

La Cantina Winery expands - Grand Opening Aug 5

Join us on Saturday, August 5th from 1:00-7:00 for the grand opening of our new extension to the La Cantina Winery located at 357 Union St.

Sample wines produced and bottled locally for FREE!!

extension to the La Cantina Winery located at 357 Union St

It is good to see this expansion to take advantage of the recent passage of the tasting room bylaw for brewery, distillery and winery that was recently passed by the Town Council.

La Cantina Wine School (photo from the archives Sep 2014)

For more about the La Cantina Winery, check out their webpage or stop by the Farmers Market on the Town Common each Friday through October  http://www.lacantinawinery.com/

Tinkergarten Classes Scheduled for Franklin in September

Tinkergarten is bringing their early childhood education approach to Franklin. Trial classes are scheduled for Sep 7, 12 and 14.

"At Tinkergarten, families meet outdoors to connect and learn through play. In this free trial class, Tinkergarten Leader, Nancy Hayden, will facilitate an expert-designed play scenario, allowing children of various ages and needs to explore, problem solve, communicate, collaborate, and create together. Parents and caregivers learn, too, as we’ll share insight into your child’s development.
This trial class is:

• Designed for children ages 18 months-5 years. Child/children are accompanied by an adult. Siblings of any other age are most welcome.

• Limited to the first 15 families who register.

• Kids may get a bit messy (Hurrah!), so please send them in clothing that can get dirty.

• We start the class at the specified location, but may end within a reasonable walk from that location."

Tinkergarten Classes Scheduled for Franklin in September

This 3 minute video explains the Tinkergarten approach



For more information and to sign up for one of the trial classes visit
https://tinkergarten.com/classes/all/massachusetts/franklin

Franklin Public Library: The Day the Crayons Quit Party

The Day the Crayons Quit Party, Friday, August 4, 10:30 AM

Franklin Public Library: The Day the Crayons Quit Party

Shared from the Franklin Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-day-crayons-quit-party-friday.html

NationalGrid: Keep bills low as summer heats up

Keep bills low as summer heats up. nationalgridus.com. To view this email as a web page, click here.

With summer in full swing, temperatures are high and so is home electricity usage. Take advantage of our programs and solutions to help you take greater control of your energy use now, and year round. There are many cost effective ways to beat the heat without sacrificing comfort. We encourage you to follow these simple tips and visit ngrid.com/summerbills for even more ways to save. ▪ Draw blinds, shades, drapes – Close window dressings to block the solar gain during the hottest part of the day on south and west facing windows. ▪ Adjust the thermostat – Adjusting your thermostat a few degrees can lead to big savings on your bill. National Grid recommends a setting of 78 degrees or higher when you're home. A 75-degree setting will cost about 18 percent more than a 78 degree setting. ▪ Use programmable thermostats – Programmable thermostats allow you to set schedules to reduce cooling when the house is empty. ▪ Clean or replace air conditioner filters – Keep the air flowing freely by checking your air conditioner filter and replacing or cleaning it if it's clogged. ▪ Turn off fans – Fans don't actually cool your home; they only circulate air to make you feel cooler. Turn them off when you're not home or in a room where they're running. ▪ Unplug electronics – Even though your television and other appliances are turned off, many electronics still draw electricity (phantom load). Unplug any unnecessary electronics and chargers until you return home. An advanced power strip on your entertainment system can turn off the power to peripheral devices when the TV is not in use, reducing phantom energy use all year-long and saving you up to $60 annually. ▪ Use light timers, motion detectors – Many people like to leave a light on to make it seem like someone is home while they are away. Use a light timer instead for just a little while each evening. This saves energy and gives a more realistic impression of someone being at home. Rather than leaving your porch light on the entire time you're gone, install a motion detector to be used both when you're at home and away. ▪ Check refrigerator and freezer temps – The ideal refrigerator temperature is between 37 and 40 degrees. For the freezer the ideal reading is 5 degrees. ▪ Consider replacing or recycling older-model working refrigerators – Older model refrigerators often can use more than four times the energy of newer models and cost up to $150 a year to run. You can get paid to get rid of them with National Grid's recycling programs in Massachusetts that now pay $50 per unit (up to two per household). ▪ Choose the right dehumidifier – An ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifier removes the same amount of moisture from the air as a standard model but uses 15 percent less energy. You'll save up to $175 over the product's lifetime. And you'll save even more with a $30 rebate from National Grid. National Grid Here with you. Here for you.

National Grid - Summer bills

THE BLACK BOX: Friday Night Jazz - Aug 4

THE BLACK BOX: Friday Night Jazz - Aug 4 Attention Music Lovers! Don't miss a perfect night out this Friday at THE BLACK BOX! Come enjoy great jazz with The Mark Poniatowski Situation at 8:00. Doors and the bar open at 7:30! Thank you for supporting live music and theater at THE BLACK BOX!

Franklin Performing Arts Company uses Vendini for ticketing, marketing, and box office management.

Franklin Performing Arts Company - PO Box 16, Franklin, MA, 02038, (508) 528-8668
Vendini, Inc. - 660 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104, 1 (800) 901-7173

View as a web page.

“He had the soul of a warrior and the heart of a lion"

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

"The Franklin Police lost one of their own on Tuesday night when 3-year-old police dog Axe died during emergency surgery after falling ill. 

As a puppy Axe began training with Officer Michael Gilboy in July 2014. Together, the duo tackled drug busts, missing person searches and of course walks through the park to make residents smile. 

Shortly after he began training, Axe was instrumental in finding an unconscious man in Bellingham who had been reported missing."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170802/franklin-police-dog-with-soul-of-warrior-dies-at-age-3

Axe and Officer Gilboy (Franklin Police photo)

Our condolences to the Franklin Police Department. Our thoughts are with Officer Gilboy and his family. https://t.co/DFEd1TiNoc

— Franklin Fire (@FranklinMAfire) August 2, 2017