Thursday, March 28, 2019

9th Annual Franklin & Bellingham Franklin Fives Road Race 5k & 5 Mile & 3.1 or 1.5 Mile Walk

Please join us for the 9th Annual Franklin & Bellingham Franklin Fives Road Race!

Registration: 8:30 – 9:45 AM
Start Time: 10:00 AM

Start / Finish: 628 Washington St. Franklin, MA (Remington School)
Run 5 K or 5 Mile courses through residential neighborhoods
Walk 1.5 or 3.1 miles through residential neighborhoods

Entry Fee: $30 prior to race day, $35 day of the race, $15 for Students

Chip Timing by Spitler Race Systems

DJ with sound system

Food Tent and Raffle Giveaways

Prizes awarded to top 2 overall male & female runners and top 2 male and female runners in each age group and top running team.

Event details and schedule
Certification & Course Details USA Track & Field Sanctioned Events offer a robust, low cost insurance policy, require organizers to time the race and award prizes based on age groupings, require organizers to provide a safe race for all participants and post the results on the internet within 24 hours of the conclusion of the race. All participants MUST sign the waiver form listed below.

Run: 5 K loop on paved roads

Run: 5 mile loop on paved roads

Walk: 1.5 or 3.1 miles on the race route

Location: 628 Washington Street, Remington Middle School, Franklin, MA 02038 From 495: Take Exit 16 (King St) heading West for approx. 1.1 Miles. Go past Hunters Run and turn left on Lord Way, the approach road to the school. Park & register straight ahead.

Register online
https://www.active.com/franklin-ma/running/distance-running-races/9th-annual-franklin-and-bellingham-franklin-fives-road-race-5k-and-5-mile-and-3-1-or-1-5-mile-walk-2019?


9th Annual Franklin & Bellingham Franklin Fives Road Race 5k & 5 Mile & 3.1 or 1.5 Mile Walk
9th Annual Franklin & Bellingham Franklin Fives Road Race 5k & 5 Mile & 3.1 or 1.5 Mile Walk

Wine Tasting 101 - April 9

Sit Down Educational Wine Tasting Events Held In The Franklin Liquors Wine Room Partnering With Franklin Lifelong Learning

Wine Tasting 101
We all know how to drink wine, but did you know there's a difference between Drinking and Tasting? At this sit down educational tasting we will explore how to taste wine like the experts do. How the wine looks, smells and tastes will all be explained and explored.

Using these tips you will be able to communicate better with friends, retailers, restaurants and wine geeks.

Tuesday April 9 - Sign Up
https://reg.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0079-0003-ff1aa4301754482eaa65092f2316b8c8

 Wine Tasting 101 - April 9
 Wine Tasting 101 - April 9

MassBudget: Decades-Old Tax Cuts Now Exceed $4B in Lost Revenue



MassBudget  Information.
  Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center  Democracy.
March 27, 2019



Decades-Old Tax Cuts Now Exceed $4B in Lost Revenue
Benefits mostly got to highest-income households

Decades-old income tax cuts have been depriving the Commonwealth of revenue for years - revenue for education, transportation, and programs to help families make ends meet. The loss now exceeds $4 billion per year.
The households that have benefited most from these tax cuts (implemented over the late 1990s and early 2000s) are those with the most income, according to a new Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) report.
"These past tax cuts have had a lasting effect on our Commonwealth. We are seeing the effects now: in our inadequate education funding formula, in our aging transportation infrastructure, and in long waitlists for housing vouchers and early education," said Kurt Wise, Senior Policy Analyst and author of the paper.
MassBudget: Decades-Old Tax Cuts Now Exceed $4B in Lost Revenue
Over two-thirds of these past income tax cuts go to the top 20 percent of Massachusetts households, by income. Meanwhile, the lowest 40 percent of households receive only 7 percent of the tax benefits.
"Reviewing and reversing these rate cuts is just one example of the many opportunities to raise new revenue in ways that also can help turn our upside-down tax system right-side up," said Marie-Frances Rivera, President of MassBudget.
The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER
15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700
BOSTON, MA 02108
TwitterFacebook
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108

Sent by mrivera@massbudget.org in collaboration with
Constant Contact

In the News: Ryan Martin selected 'Celtics Junior Broadcaster'; Grave search for America's first published poet

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

Ryan Martin selected 'Celtics Junior Broadcaster'
"Like many 14-year-old boys, Ryan Martin enjoys playing baseball and basketball. But unlike some of his peers, he already knows what he wants to do when he can’t play sports anymore. 
Ryan aspires to be a sports broadcaster, and earlier this month he got a taste of what his adult working life might look like. He was selected as a “Celtics Junior Broadcaster” after submitting a short video of himself to the NBA team, and his reward was to join the radio and TV crews for a March 14 Celtics game against the Sacramento Kings at TD Garden. 
Ryan was interviewed on air by NBC Sports Boston anchor/reporter Kyle Draper. He also joined Celtics commentator Sean Grande of 98.5 The Sports Hub for the radio station’s halftime show. 
“That night was truly unbelievable,” Ryan told the Daily News last week. “Just seeing the Celtics shooting around and being three inches away from (players) Al Horford and Aron Baynes. It was really a great experience.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190328/franklins-ryan-martin-14-joins-celtics-as-junior-broadcaster

Grave search for America's first published poet

"Anne Bradstreet was the North American continent’s first published poet, yet her legacy has largely been lost to time. 
Now, professors and students at Merrimack College in Massachusetts are trying to pinpoint her burial site while at the same time restoring her legacy and what they say is her rightful place in the pantheon of Western literature. 
“Even though we don’t know much about her, she was a household name in the 17th century, both here and in England,” said Christy Pottroff, an assistant professor of English at Merrimack. 
Bradstreet’s 1650 book of poetry, “The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America,” was a sensation both in the Colonies and in her native England, where people were fascinated by her accounts of everyday life in the New World."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190327/search-on-for-burial-site-of-americas-first-published-poet

The Poetry Foundation has additional material on Anne and her poetry
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/anne-bradstreet

Poetry Foundation photo of Anne Bradstreet
Poetry Foundation photo of Anne Bradstreet

FTC Alerts: Robocallers, you’re out





FTC Alerts: Robocallers, you’re out
by Rosario Méndez
Attorney, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC


Most robocalls are prohibited by law, but scammers and dishonest people continue to send them. And even some legitimate companies violate peoples' privacy rights with illegal robocalls. Today the FTC announced several victories in the fight against illegal robocalls.

Read more online at the FTC
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2019/03/robocallers-youre-out?utm_source=govdelivery

This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.


Wednesday, March 27, 2019

FM #161 - School Start Times Report - 3/26/19 (audio)

FM #161

This internet radio show or podcast is number 161 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This recording shares the School Start Times Advisory Committee report to the Franklin, MA School Committee on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 in the Council Chambers.

School Superintendent Sara Ahern leads with the intro and overview before handing off to Kit Brady and FHS Deputy Principal William Klements who cover most of the presentation before Sara comes back to close it out.

My notes from the session can be found here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/live-reporting-school-start-times.html

Recall that the applications for the Start Times Advisory Committee were accepted early in 2018
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/01/friendly-reminder-school-start-times_15.html

The Committee was appointed at the Feb 27, 2018 meeting and began work shortly after that
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/02/live-reporting-discussion-action-items.html

The Start Times presentation is displayed here





Or downloaded from here
https://www.slideshare.net/shersteve/school-start-time-recommendation

If the School Committee decides to make the start time change, it would be effective no earlier than the 2020-2021 school year. As the meeting closed Tuesday, there was no indication of when the Committee would take this up for a formal vote.

If you have questions, the School Committee has been making themselves available. The coffee hour schedule is posted. Their contact information is available. Each School Committee meeting has a portion for audience input for items not on the agenda. During the meeting, there are spots for input for those items on the agenda. Take advantage of these opportunities and raise your questions.

School Committee page https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee

The total meeting recording runs just about 1 and 45 minutes. Yes, this is a long one. Settle in comfortably, have my Franklin Matters live reported notes handy, and have the Start Times presentation at hand.

Without further ado, here is the audio recording.





-------------

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can always use your help.

How can you help?

In particular, if you have an interest in real estate, zoning or construction, I would like someone to help us by following the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and or the Conservation Commission meetings. I’ll provide the guidance on note taking and sharing. You need to bring an inquisitive, open mind and willingness to learn and share.

Overall:

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors.
  • If you don't like this, please let me know.


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.
Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes
subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes

FSPA Ballet Conservatory presents Coppelia

The Franklin School for the Performing Arts Ballet Conservatory will present Coppelia at THE BLACK BOX March 29-31. The ballet tells the story of Swanhilda who is engaged to Franz, but he has his eye on a mysterious girl sitting on the balcony of Dr Coppelius’s house. Franz doesn’t realize that she is a doll whom the toymaker is trying to bring to life and when Swanhilda and her friends sneak into the Doctor’s workshop, it looks as though he has succeeded. Love triumphs over all in this comedy of mistaken identity and the finale is a joyful celebration of the lovers’ wedding. Coppelia is an enchanting, family ballet, perfect for young and old alike.

The students of FSPA’s Ballet Conservatory will be joined by guest artists Clyde Nantais (formerly of Boston Ballet), Lucas Melfi (Conservatory alumnus), and Rosario Guillen (Franklin Performing Arts Company’s The Nutcracker). The production also features original costume design by Merrie Whitney.

FSPA's Ballet conservatory Program offers classical ballet education of the highest quality. An extensive range of training and performance experiences provides exceptional opportunities for students of all ages and levels interested in the study of classical ballet. The FSPA Ballet curriculum is based on the foundations of the new American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum. As of 2015, all teachers on the Conservatory Track have been certified in the NTC program.

Coppelia is staged by FSPA Ballet Conservatory Director Cheryl Madeux. Madeux received her training at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts under the direction of Sharon Dante and Donna Bonasera. Ms. Madeux has enjoyed a long professional career, dancing with such venerable companies as the Joffrey Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, and as principal dancer with the Hartford Ballet. Ms. Madeux has performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe, worked with leading choreographers including Gerald Arpino, Kirk Peterson, and Twyla Tharp, and been coached by such ballet luminaries as Igor Youskevitch and Eleanor D’Antuono.

Her extensive classical repertoire includes all the full-length classical productions as well as principal roles in The Nutcracker, Giselle, Coppelia, The Firebird, Balanchine’s Serenade, Spectra de La Rose and much more. Among her accomplishments, Ms. Madeux was awarded first place in the National Society of Arts and Letters Ballet Competition at age 15, was a finalist in the Third Paris International Ballet Competition and the Prix de Lausanne, and was awarded a Level 1 Presidential Scholar in Dance. Many of Ms. Madeux’s FSPA Ballet Conservatory students have been accepted to some of the most prestigious summer programs available and a select few recently participated and advanced to the finals of the Youth America Grand Prix in NY. Ms. Madeux is also a summer faculty member for the ABT® Young Dancers Program in NY and an examiner for the ABT® National Training Curriculum.

For Coppelia tickets and more information on the FSPA Ballet Conservatory, visit www.FSPAonline.com or call 508-528-8668.

FSPA Ballet Conservatory presents Coppelia
FSPA Ballet Conservatory presents Coppelia