Concerts on the Common - Schedule for Summer 2018

The Concerts on the Common schedule for the Summer of 2018 is found here. 

The main program is scheduled to run on Wednesdays from 6:30 PM  - 8:30 PM. The Children's Programs from 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM. 

You can download a copy of the schedule
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oG2-XOINB4ziJgVbf_4N0B6MNJCrG_SJ/view?usp=sharing




The concerts will use the new stage. Franklin's Town Council authorized the purchase last year and it has arrived in time to be used this summer.

stage in the early morning dewy sunlight

full stage view

When is a Grand Bargain Actually a Grand Problem?

In Massachusetts, politics is something of a blood sport, and nowhere has that been made more clear than in the recent “grand bargain” legislation to avert the placing on the ballot issues put forth by interest groups, many with the best of intentions. These would have had crippling effects on small business in the Commonwealth and a chilling effect on the potential recruitment of new companies to our state. The process is broken and must be addressed, and because some changes are constitutional in nature, ironically ballot reform may have to be addressed with yet another ballot measure.

The process for placing an item on the ballot on which the people will decide the result is relatively simple. First, one needs an idea for a problem they believe must be fixed that our representatives are not addressing. Ten registered voters later, the issue is presented to the Attorney General’s office for review of format and an initial assessment of legality and/or constitutionality. Then the organizers raise the money necessary to get 64,750 to sign the petition to place it on the ballot. They need not support the petition, but believe that it deserves a public vote.

From there, the issue goes merrily off to the Legislature which may adopt the question into law, propose a substitute or do nothing. Then, the issue proponents go out and gather an additional 10,792 signatures and the issue goes to the ballot. If there is a legislative substitute, both go to the ballot. Once on the ballot, the issue goes to the people who will, no doubt, be subject of well-funded campaigns put forth by organizers and opponents designed to cast the issue in its most or least favorable light. In November, the people decide – UNLESS there is some kind of Legislative compromise by which the proponents agree to pull off their question from the ballot. The gun is placed firmly at the Legislature’s head at this point, and regardless of the feasibility of the solution, only getting most of what proponents want will lead to the removal from the ballot.

What is wrong with this process? Mostly everything, sadly. The threshold to get something on the ballot is absurdly low. No policy is inherently all good or all bad, but there are reasons that these issues were not put forth by our elected legislators in the first place. The best they can do is make something “less bad” or from another perspective “less good”. We hire our legislators to make the best possible policy decisions for us. Sometimes they are right; sometimes they are wrong, but there are, and should be, consequences at the ballot box if they choose a disastrous change in the law.

This year, four particularly challenging ballot propositions came forward, three of which would have crippled small business in our state. The first, the millionaire’s tax, was struck down by the courts on constitutional grounds, but proponents vow to bring it back in a more constitutionally acceptable manner. The second, a sales tax reduction proposition, would have lowered the sales tax in Massachusetts from 6.25% to 5%, repealing what at one time was put forward as a temporary measure, but whenever government and revenue are involved, temporary has a way of turning permanent. And, if successful, the legislature would have sought to replace that revenue with some other tax or fee. The third, the paid family leave initiative would have placed a new tax on businesses and employees alike to fund a new government entity to ensure up to 26 weeks per year, a kindhearted gesture with real financial consequences that could have put small businesses out of businesses. The fourth was, for many small businesses, the most frightening - the increase in minimum wage to the highest in the nation, put forth by union groups with no members actually paid at minimum wage.

So, now we have a compromise. The sales tax remains the same but we will have a weekend sales tax holiday in August. Paid family leave has been cut back in length and small businesses (under 25 employees) are exempt from paying in – but their employees will have to pay in. And the minimum wage will go up to $15 per hour, with a gradual phase out of time and a half for Sundays. There will not be a teen or training wage component, virtually guaranteeing that no business will hire young people to learn the importance of work.

The so-called “grand bargain” gave proponents most of what they wanted, all of which have very real consequences for small businesses and large businesses alike. We citizens and taxpayers are held hostage by interest groups, and ballot initiative reform is a necessity in this state. Legislators are wary of addressing it for fear of being labeled as against the will of the people. Our legislators are forced to respond and compromise on issues they might otherwise never have addressed as remedies for the people of the Commonwealth.

Our citizens deserve a fair system, devoid of governance by special interests, and we welcome the opportunity to work with our legislators toward reforming the ballot initiative process and allowing them to do the job of fashioning good through a deliberative process.

The Southeastern Massachusetts Legislative Alliance of Chambers [SEMLAC] is comprised of the following chambers of commerce: Bristol County, Cape Cod Canal Region, Cranberry Country, Sandwich, SouthCoast, Taunton Area, Tri-Town and United Regional. SEMLAC represents the business interests of the communities each chamber serves and addresses policy issues of importance to the region as a whole.

When is a Grand Bargain Actually a Grand Problem?

Franklin's 4th of July schedule for Saturday, June 30

The schedule for the Franklin 4th of July celebration for Saturday, June 30

• 11:00 AM: Adult's Road Race 5K / registration and check in at 10:00 AM
• 11:45 AM: Children's Road Race (1.2m) / registration and check-in at 10:30 AM at the Gazebo
Races sponsored by the Franklin Recreation Department. Sign-up for the Adult race through RaceWire (https://my.racewire.com/event/5719) and for the Children's Road Race through the Recreation website (http://www.franklinma.gov/recreation-department/news/4th-july-road-race)

• 12-5 PM: Face painting, natural henna art and other crafts/vendors,
• 12-10 PM: Rides and food booths open (WRISTBANDS FROM 12-5PM -$30)
• 12:30 PM: Children's Bike Parade / meet at the Gazebo (Bike parade sponsored by the Franklin Lions Club)

• 3-5 PM: Flippo the Clown
• 5-7 PM: DJ Mike Rutkowski
• 7-10 PM: Duppy Conquerors (a Bob Marley tribute band)  https://duppyconquerors.com/





Food Booths:
Democratic Party — Pizza and water
Knights of Columbus — Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and Gatorade
Republican Party — Corn dogs, nachos and root beer floats
Rod and Gun Club — Fried dough and French fries
Temple Etz Chaim — Soft pretzels, fresh squeezed lemonade and a raffle board
4th of July Coalition — Soda, seltzer water and ice cream


View the full schedule or download a copy (PDF) here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ruYRILk6bmkiq32hDsndMPOiQSA6vJbL/view?usp=sharing

Visit the 4th of July website for updates  https://www.franklin4th.com/
Consider contributing to the nonprofit volunteer based organization that does all the work to put this event together. There is a donation button on the webpage.

amusement ride set up on the Town Common

Jim Smith: Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer Fight

From the GoFundMe page created by Emilie Smith: 

"My uncle Jim, a father of two teenagers, has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He is an incredible and humorous person who has spent the last 19 years caring for my two cousins as well as my sister and me. He has taught me about music and the bigger meanings in life since I was born. He still has two teens to put through college, as well as bills and this diagnosis has come at the worst time (job loss, financial struggles). 

This money will go into a non-profit my dad and I have created at EastBoca.org, and the money will pay for a variety of my uncles bills that he will struggle to pay. Any donations are extremely appreciated! All of you are so wonderful for helping!"

To contribute to this cause, visit the GoFundMe page 
https://www.gofundme.com/stage-4-pancreatic-cancer-fight

Jim Smith: Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer Fight 

Via the Twitterverse

A Go Fund Me page has been set up for the Smith Family. Any donations would be greatly appreciated. Please keep Jim, Susan, Katy and Hannah in your prayers.https://t.co/czo1fGz1i8

— Terry Nolan Fenton (@nolan1051) June 29, 2018

Fiscal Year 2019 First Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills

Fiscal Year 2019 First Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills will be mailed out on Friday, June 29, 2018. The due date for these bills is, August 1, 2018.

You can pay online at http://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/online-payments


Reminders:

• Payments received after the due date are charged 14% interest.
• If you are mailing in your payment, please be sure to include the remittance copy with your check.
• If you choose to use your Online Banking to pay your bills, please remember to reference the bill number(s) you are paying.

Fiscal Year 2019 First Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI 6/29/18 - THU 7/5/18

FRIDAY 6/29/18
9:30am   Family Yoga @ Franklin Public Library
10am-12pm   Knitting Group @ Franklin Public Library
10:30am   Nonagenarian Celebration @ Franklin Senior Center
12-6pm   NO Farmers Market due to 4th of July festivities @ Town Common
1pm   Joe Landry’s Historic Slides and Videos - Franklin Pool @ Franklin Senior Center
6-10pm   Franklin’s 4th of July Celebrations @ Town Common

SATURDAY 6/30/18
10am-1pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
10:30am   Musical Yoga @ Franklin Public Library
11am-10pm   Franklin’s 4th of July Celebrations @ Town Common

SUNDAY 7/1/18
1-4pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
1-10pm   Franklin’s 4th of July Celebrations @ Town Common

MONDAY 7/2/18
10:30am   Animal Affair @ Franklin Public Library
10:30am   Move Along @ Franklin Public Library
1pm   Garden Storytime @ Franklin Public Library
6-10pm   Franklin’s 4th of July Celebrations @ Town Common

TUESDAY 7/3/18
All Day   Drop In Craft @ Franklin Public Library
1pm   Family Book Tasting Event @ Franklin Public Library
6-10pm   Franklin’s 4th of July Celebrations @ Town Common
7pm   Friends of Franklin Library Book Group @ Franklin Public Library
9:30pm   Fireworks @ FHS

WEDNESDAY 7/4/18
All Day   Library Closed
12-5pm  Franklin’s 4th of July Celebrations @ Town Common

THURSDAY 7/5/18
9:30am   Baby Tummy Time @ Franklin Public Library
10:30am   Pre-K Story and Craft @ Franklin Public Library
5-8pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
7pm   Healing Hearts Community Support Group @ Franklin YMCA

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

Franklin 4th of July schedule for Friday, June 29

The schedule for the Franklin 4th of July celebration for Friday, June 29

• 6-10 PM - Rides and food booths open
• 7-10 PM - Groove Doctors (a seven piece rock-soul-blues-funk whirlwind)

For more about the Groove Docotors http://www.groove-doctors.com/

the Groove Docotors http://www.groove-doctors.com/

Food Booths:
Democratic Party — Pizza and water
Knights of Columbus — Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and Gatorade
Republican Party — Corn dogs, nachos and root beer floats
Rod & Gun Club — Fried dough and French fries
Temple Etz Chaim — Soft pretzels, fresh squeezed lemonade and a raffle board
4th of July Coalition — Soda, seltzer water and ice cream


View the full schedule or download a copy (PDF) here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ruYRILk6bmkiq32hDsndMPOiQSA6vJbL/view?usp=sharing

Visit the 4th of July website for updates  https://www.franklin4th.com/
Consider contributing to the nonprofit volunteer based organization that does all the work to put this event together. There is a donation button on the webpage.

The big slide is set up near the Single Solder Monument