Thursday, November 2, 2017

Candidates Night video - available on demand

To help prepare to decide who to vote for in the contested elections for Town Council, School Committee, or Board of Health, the Candidates Night video is available for replay upon demand.


View video 
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=497



Election Collection - 2017

Election Collection - 2017

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Beatlemania Stage Show - Nov 3 - Special Student Ticket Prices ($10 at the door)

The Franklin High School music students are preparing for their participation in the Beatlemania concert being held at Franklin High School November 3 at 7:30 PM.

The music students will be performing back up instrumentation on a few songs with the national touring production of Beatlemania Stage Show. Students will perform on the songs “Yesterday” with the school’s orchestra; “Sgt. Pepper” with the marching band and “Yellow Submarine” with the chorus.

The concert is a benefit to offset some of the expenses for the school’s music department’s trip to Washington DC in the spring for a music festival and competition.

The concert is titled “Help Keep Music Education Alive” which benefits music education programs throughout New England.

The concert is a full professional production with big venue sound and lighting brought in to facilitate the concert experience. Paul Lococo event organizer said “The Franklin High School has a brand new state of the art auditorium and will be a nice place to stage such a production.” 

The Beatlemania Stage Show is the complete Beatle’s experience with period costume changes and vintage Beatle’s instruments. The show will take you from the Beatle’s early years from the Ed Sullivan days to Sgt. Pepper’s Magical Mystery Tour and beyond.

Help Keep Music Education Alive - Nov 3
Help Keep Music Education Alive - Nov 3

Diane Plouffe, the Franklin High School Music Director said “This is a unique community event supporting the music students and a fun event for both the students and the community.”

“The show is educational for our students as well as they learn the music of the Beatle’s and get to perform in a professional production right here at Franklin High.” Stated Plouffe.

Tickets for the show are on sale at Purplepass.com and Shaw’s Market in Franklin




Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant awarded to Tri-County

Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School is pleased to announce it has been awarded $119,326 from the Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant to expand the Advanced Manufacturing component of the Engineering program.

After finishing one phase of the engineering technology plant expansion, Tri-County is now remodeling a third shop area to further broaden its Advanced Manufacturing program. This expansion will also enhance adult manufacturing courses offered through a partnership with Wentworth Institute of Technology.

The Skills Capital Grant Program awards grants to support vocational/technical training, upgrades and expansion of career technical education, and training of high-quality career pathway programs that are aligned with regional economic and workforce development priorities for in-demand industries.

Tri-County was among 35 educational institutions in Massachusetts that were recently awarded workforce skills capital grants. The competitive grants are awarded to educational institutions that demonstrate partnerships with industry, as well as align curriculum and credentials with businesses’ demand, in order to maximize hiring opportunities in each region of the state.

“Manufacturing is the fourth largest economic sector in this region today,” said Superintendent Stephen Dockray. “We are extremely thankful and proud to have been awarded this grant. It will allow us to train our students using the latest equipment and technology so they have the best possible training and knowledge to be successful in the job market.”

Tri-County RVTHS, located at 147 Pond Street in Franklin, is a recipient of the High Schools That Work Gold Achievement Award and serves the communities of Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole, and Wrentham.
Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant awarded to Tri-County
Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant awarded to Tri-County

Charles River Meadowlands hike recap

The Oct. 28 Charles River Meadowlands hike attracted a total of 20 people. The group made it through the rugged, wet, and overgrown terrain south of Oak Street Extension, eventually emerging in beautiful upland fields and tall stands of evergreens, ultimately exiting via White Avenue. 

Two town council candidates attended the event: Eamon McCarthy Earls and Andy Bissanti. 

“It was great to have so many people exploring this area,” said Meadowlands organizer, Alan Earls. “We got to see the challenges for trail development in the wetter areas as well as the enormous potential in the extensive field and forest sections,” he added.

Charles River Meadowlands hike recap
Charles River Meadowlands hike recap

In the News: Board of Health Candidate Profiles

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

"The Franklin town election will take place on Nov. 7.
Here are profiles for the two candidates running for a position on the board of health.
 
Bridget Sweet 
What do you think makes a good Board of Health member? 
One who can be subjective and listen to both sides of issues always having the best interest of the community first. Commitment to the health department staff. 
What makes you want to be in this position? 
I am passionate about public service and giving back to the community, as well as passionate about public health and education. As science and technology advance, various state regulations are in the process of being updated. I would love to be a part of an educational board that helps residents and business comply with these updates to promote and protect public and environmental health."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171031/franklin-board-of-health-candidate-profiles

This post will serve as the collection point for all the posts related to the Franklin biennial election scheduled for Nov 7, 2017. Every two years, Franklin voters select who will run our community government.
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/08/election-collection-2017.html

Election Collection - 2017

Election Collection - 2017

In the News: Dacey retires; election campaigns in final days

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"An hour before his official retirement began Tuesday afternoon, long-time treasurer-collector, Jim Dacey, reflected on his 18-year career in municipal government. 
He spent his day doing the usual work, but with cohorts of citizens and co-workers alike coming to wish him a happy retirement, it was hard for Dacey to see things being business as usual. 
Dacey’s successor and previous assistant treasurer-collector, Kerri Bertone, has officially started in the position full-time."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171031/franklin-treasurer-collector-looks-back-on-his-career



"With a large turnout expected, the town election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 7. Franklin High School. Polls for all precincts at Franklin High School are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
There are nine seats open on the Town council with 12 candidates. For the School Committee, there are seven open seats with eight candidates. In the race for the Board of Health, two candidates are running for one slot. 
The race for a seat on the Board of Assessors is uncontested, as well as three available seats on the Planning Board."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171031/full-slate-for-franklin-town-election


Election Collection - 2017

Election Collection - 2017


IR-2017-182: 10 Million Taxpayers Face an Estimated Tax Penalty Each Year; Act Now to Reduce or Avoid it for 2017; New Web Page Can Help


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IRS Newswire October 31, 2017

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Issue Number:    IR-2017-182

Inside This Issue


10 Million Taxpayers Face an Estimated Tax Penalty Each Year; Act Now to Reduce or Avoid it for 2017; New Web Page Can Help

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers assessed an estimated tax penalty for tax year 2016 that they still have time to take steps to reduce or eliminate the penalty for 2017 and future years.

To help raise awareness about the growing number of estimated tax penalties, the IRS has launched a new "Pay as You Go, So You Don't Owe" web page. The IRS.gov page has tips and resources designed to help taxpayers, including those involved in the sharing economy, better understand tax withholding, making estimated tax payments and avoiding an unexpected penalty.

Each year, about 10 million taxpayers are assessed the estimated tax penalty. The average penalty was about $130 in 2015, but the IRS has seen the number of taxpayers assessed this penalty increase in recent years. The number jumped about 40 percent from 7.2 million in 2010 to 10 million in 2015.

Most of those affected taxpayers can easily reduce or, in some cases, eliminate the penalty by increasing their withholding or adjusting estimated tax payments for the rest of the year. With a little planning, taxpayers can avoid the penalty altogether.

By law, the estimated tax penalty usually applies when a taxpayer pays too little of their total tax during the year. The penalty is calculated based on the interest rate charged by the IRS on unpaid tax.

How to Avoid the Penalty
For most people, avoiding the penalty means ensuring that at least 90 percent of their total tax liability is paid in during the year, either through income-tax withholding or by making quarterly estimated tax payments. Keep in mind exceptions to the penalty and special rules apply to some groups of taxpayers, such as farmers, fishers, casualty and disaster victims, those who recently became disabled, recent retirees, those who base their payments on last year's tax and those who receive income unevenly during the year. For details, see Form 2210 and its instructions.

Taxpayers may want to consider increasing their tax withholding in 2017, especially if they had a large balance due when they filed their 2016 return earlier this year. Employees can do this by filling out a new Form W-4 and giving it to their employer. Similarly, recipients of pensions and annuities can make this change by filling out Form W-4P  and giving it to their payer.

In either case, taxpayers can typically increase their withholding by claiming fewer allowances on their withholding form. If that's not enough, they can also ask employers or payers to withhold an additional flat dollar amount each pay period. For help determining the right amount to withhold, check out the Withholding Calculator on IRS.gov.

Taxpayers who receive Social Security benefits, unemployment compensation and certain other government payments can also choose to have federal tax taken out by filling out Form W-4V and giving it to their payer. But some restrictions apply. See the form and its instructions for details.

For taxpayers whose income is normally not subject to withholding, starting or increasing withholding is not an option. Instead, they can avoid the estimated tax penalty by making quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS. In general, this includes investment income —such as interest, dividends, rents, royalties and capital gains —alimony and self-employment income. Those involved in the sharing economy may also need to make these payments.

Tips to Make Estimated Tax Payments
Estimated tax payments are normally due on April 15, June 15, Sept. 15 and Jan. 15 of the following year. Any time one of these deadlines falls on a weekend or holiday, taxpayers have until the next business day to make the payment. Thus, the next estimated tax payment for the fourth quarter of 2017 is due Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018.

The fastest and easiest way to make estimated tax payments is to do so electronically using IRS Direct Pay  or the Treasury Department's Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). For information on other payment options, visit IRS.gov/payments. Taxpayers may also use Form 1040-ES to figure these payments. IRS Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax, is a resource on withholding and estimated payments.


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