Attention Potential Volunteers: New volunteer position at the Franklin Food Pantry

The Franklin Food Pantry is looking for a Truck Assistant. It's a volunteer position and the job description is below.

• Assist the Operations Manager with morning pickups at our local Retail Partners. This entails evaluating the product donation in terms of quality and quantity, accepting and loading boxes (anywhere from 5 to 25) of up to 50 lbs each onto the pantry truck. Unload of the donation back at the pantry and help to sort and put away product into various areas.
• Time: Tuesdays from 7:30 – 10:30 am. We are also looking for someone who can serve as a dedicated sub (trained and able to fill in as needed)
• Physical Requirements: Ability to work quickly and efficiently. Heavy repeated lifting of food donations. Transport of donations up and down stairs. 

To apply please fill out our volunteer application form.
https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/give-help/volunteer/sign-up-form/ 

For more information, visit the Franklin Food Pantry online
https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

Attention Potential Volunteers: New volunteer position at the Franklin Food Pantry

"Nowhere to Lay His Head: Homelessness and the Gospel" - Jan 12

“Nowhere to Lay His Head: Homelessness and the Gospel” is a presentation in words and images. Matthew is an artist and speaker who travels the Greater Boston area and country. He will preach on January 12 at the 10 AM worship service at Franklin United Methodist Church; after worship, we will have a potluck meal (bring a dish to share, if you can) Matthew's presentation will begin at 11:45 AM. Join us for worship and/or the presentation, either way you are welcome.

Matthew, who spent nearly 10 years on the streets of Boston, uses art to start the conversation about the realities of homelessness and how people of faith can respond. Though he is still homeless, Matthew hasn’t had to sleep outside, nor in a homeless shelter, for over 12 years as he travels the country presenting his art and speaking about homelessness. He has spoken at universities and seminaries across the country including University of Pennsylvania, MIT, the University of California at Berkley, Harvard Divinity School and has been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition and This American Life (Living Without, “Act 3: The Call of the Great Indoors,” September 16, 2011).

"Nowhere to Lay His Head: Homelessness and the Gospel" - Jan 12

Follow the Facebook event
https://www.facebook.com/events/1242765902580518/
 

Economic Development Subcommittee - Agenda - Jan 8, 2020

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Municipal Building - 355 East Central Street, 3rd Floor Training Room 

Franklin, MA

January 8, 2020 = 5:30 PM

Announcements:
This meeting may be recorded by audio or video.

Discussion:
1. Zoning Amendment proposal:
a. Ground Mounted Solar Bylaw Amendments in residential Zoning Districts;
b. A house cleaning items in Mixed Business Innovation (MBI) district; and .
c. A housecleaning item in Accessory uses for Agricultural with Poultry to comply with zoning setbacks.

2. Lot line Clean up #1: Areas near Highland, Maple and Lincoln Streets.

3. Lot Line Clean up #2: Areas near Oak Street and Daily Drive.

The full agenda and documents released for this meeting can be found on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/20200103133120366.pdf

The solar farm being installed at Mount Saint Mary's in 2013

A Life in Music Lost & Found - Jan 8

A Life in Music Lost & Found 

A “Talk & Play” presentation 

by Betty Hauck, viola & violin

For 50 years, Betty enjoyed a rich and rewarding career as a professional violist— until the day she realized that she had to retire because of progressive hearing loss. 

For three years, she completely turned her back on music. In this “Talk & Play” presentation, she will tell the story of how various twists and turns led her back into sharing the joy of music while educating and advocating for those with hearing loss. 

Her talk will be punctuated by short musical selections on both violin and viola. The program is about one hour and includes Q&A at the end.

Please call the Senior Center to sign up   508-520-4945

Jan 8 at 1:00 PM

Download your copy of the flyer
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LtlXn5OYmDlMtD_HbXWmRVTEWUxo9AH5/view?usp=sharing

wfpr●fm Program Schedule for Jan 8, 9, 10

Our weekly wfpr●fm program schedule lists interviews and musical programs of interest hosted by Franklin residents. Our current slate of programs runs Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Programs repeat at 9 AM, Noon, and 6 PM, and Saturdays, starting at 9 AM.

Wednesday:

9:00a/12:00p /6:00p        FPS Voice – Anne Marie Tracey

All about Franklin Public Schools

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p        The Wonderful World of Wine – Mark Lenzi, Kim Simone

All about wine, its culture, lore and finer points 11:00a/2:00p/8:00p        TBA

Thursday:

9:00a/12:00p/6:00p        The Tabernacle Choir

from Salt Lake City 10:00a/1:00p/7:00p        Frank’s Music – Frank Falvey

Frank explores a range of music genres and artists 11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm     Talkin’ the Blues – Jim Derick

Exploring the music of the great Blues tradition.

Friday:

9:00a/12:00p /6:00p       Chapters – Jim Derick

Insightful, life-affirming stories and interviews 10:00a/1:00p/7:00p        Music to Lift the Spirit - Jim Derick & Frank Falvey

An hour of uplifting music for all 11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm                                                Senior Story Hour – Senior Center Scribblers Group

Original short stories presented by the authors

Weekdays:

3:00p                                     Music of the Swingin’ Big Band Era

4:00p                                     Starlight Songs from the Great American Songbook

Listen each week on the air at 102●9 fm, and online at our website, wfpr●fm as we bring more of our community – to community radio.

For the full wfpr.fm program schedule
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CYwApFs6wG3s8RDgkjsu_goaKNsI03Bz/view?usp=sharing

For the full Franklin TV program guide
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KXX-HpkgeXBT04zAqZLikZNURRaokK63/view?usp=sharing

Franklin ECDC New Student Open House! - Jan 17

Are you looking for a preschool program for your child?

Do you live in Franklin?

Is your child going to be 3 by August 31st and not yet eligible for kindergarten in the fall of 2020?

Parents and children are invited to join us at F.X. O’Regan Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) for a tour of the school, to meet our teaching team and learn about our wonderful preschool program!

If you are unable to attend the OPEN HOUSE, you can contact Laura Flanagan to schedule a tour: Email: flanaganla@franklinps.net Phone: 508-541-8166

Tours are held at 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM to preserve the confidentiality and safety of our current students.

Applications for the 20-21 school year are available on the ECDC Website (https://www.franklinps.net/ecdc) or directly at
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GjbC7NiV9SxSIHf3EDZbQB_LkAeNlH3o/view


Applications can also be picked up at the Franklin Superintendent’s office and at ECDC.

Download a copy of the Open House flyer
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/ecdc_open_house_jan_2020_0.pdf

 

Franklin ECDC New Student Open House! - Jan 17

Franklin Issue on the 2020 'Watch List': School District Issues

With almost half of the Franklin budget covering the operation of our schools, the Superintendent Sara Ahern, the School Dept and ultimately, the School Committee, have their hands full this year.

The School Committee with 5 new members is really going to be challenged. School Start Time is on 'pause' as previously covered but, the FY 2021 budget, and the Davis Thayer issue (which in and of itself has multiple layers) will not be easy.

Fortunately, extra time is already added to the next two school committee meetings scheduled to allow for background info to be shared with the members in a workshop format. Jan 14 to cover the budget and Jan 28 to cover student services.

Simply put, the Davis Thayer issue is complex. The student population demographic numbers are expected sometime this month. We know the student population has declined from over 6,000 to 5,086 (as of Nov 30, 2019). With the planned and anticipated growth in the community, what does that mean for the student population for the school district? How does the charter school expansion play in that (if at all).

Once that number (or set of numbers is available), the other side of the equation comes to play. How do we service the students? That is, what does the existing physical capacity hold for the current educational demands of our students? We know for example that the high school was built for 1600 and is servicing 1754 (same date as student enrollment above). 

However, each of the middle schools and elementary schools were built or renovated at different times over the past. The educational requirement they were built for are different from what is required now.  What is the 'real' capacity of our school buildings? This study is also set to be done by an outside firm early this year. 

Then the real work begins: What do the two sets of numbers say? Are we under capacity? or over capacity, or somewhere in between? How do we decide what to do? Closing Thayer would mean a re-districting and that will be an involved process, not to be done quickly.

All this to be overseen by the new School Committee. They are a talented and diverse bunch of Franklin residents. They can not do this alone.

Fortunately, the School Committee will be informed by Superintendent Sara Ahern and her very talented Central Office, principals, and other educational personnel throughout the district.

They will all need our support, encouragement, and involvement. 

The adage goes: you can be part of the problem, or part of the solution! I recommend getting involved in the discussion (aside from Facebook!) to be part of the solution. 

Action:

• Get to a meeting
• Talk with members of the School Committee, your School Principals, and Superintendent Sara Ahern
• Have a civil conversation about one or more of these issues, together we can, and must, find a solution

The enrollment numbers as of November 2019
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/enrollmentcompare-nov2018-nov2019.pdf

 

Franklin Issue on the 2020 'Watch List': School District Issues