Poor sidewalk planning

Poor sidewalk planning, originally uploaded by shersteve.

The nice sidewalk laid down Friday afternoon was marked off with some traffic dividers. That's ok for the auto traffic. The foot traffic (yes, this is West Central and heavily trafficked) was not blocked off with anything so folks just walked on.

Some as they realized what they were doing got off. Some were more opportunistic and wrote their name. This could easily have been avoided with some more effective blocking. Where is the "Don Not Cross" tape when you need it?

Note that the sidewalk on East Street does not have the same foot or name markings. It is less heavily traveled.

Franklin: Good planning

Franklin: Good planning, originally uploaded by shersteve.

An example of good planning. To lay the bricks straight and even, there are guidelines on each corner. Three of those guidelines are pictured here.

Too bad the folks who just put in the sidewalk near the new fire station did not take similar planning precautions. Now they have some re-work to do.

Franklin: All the flowers are gone!

Franklin: All the flowers are gone!, originally uploaded by shersteve.

It is that time of year. The flowers, so colorful and welcoming, are now gone for the season.

The memories remain.

Thanks to the volunteers who helped to create these flower boxes and keep them watered and maintained during the growing season.

How not to spend Community Preservation Act dollars

More taxdollars are on the line in Wareham, where some political activists are fuming over some $1.1-million given to a property owner for her beachfront land. The money is coming from Community Preservation Act funds, but the larger issue is how residents and towns spend tax increase revenue.

Read more about this in the Boston Globe posting here.

As I read this article and more importantly, read between the lines (with all due respect to my newspaper contacts, news papers are out to be sold and headlines help) this is not so much an issue with CPA as it is an issue with apparent collusion amongst the town officials in Wareham who found a way to do what they wanted, period. If they had enough money in the coffee fund, they would have used that.

For Franklin voters and tax payers, this is message of diligence on how the town handles its affairs and not a condemnation of CPA. CPA while recently rejected, is a good thing. Maybe not yet for Franklin but someday.

Amesbury rejects "under" ride

Yes, Amesbury voters have voted down a proposal to reduce their taxes.

By a 2-1 margin, voters in Amesbury on Tuesday rejected a proposed $1 million Proposition 2 1/2 ‘‘underride,’’ or tax cut, that had been strongly opposed by Amesbury Mayor Thatcher W. Kezer III.

Read the Boston Globe Override Central posting here.

Franklin: Grand Opening

Franklin: Grand Opening, originally uploaded by shersteve.

I think Dolores and I will stop by to visit on our walk Saturday.

Franklin: Holiday Bazaar

Franklin: Holiday Bazaar, originally uploaded by shersteve.

While the sign is posted in front of the current Senior Center, with the new one celebrating the grand opening on Sunday the 11th, the bazaar will be held at the new facility off Oak/Beaver Streets.