Where are you in Franklin to find this site?
The guidelines for playing "Where in Franklin?" can be found here.
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Where are you in Franklin to find this site?
The guidelines for playing "Where in Franklin?" can be found here.
The answer to picture #43 is the former Tompson Printing Press building along Dean Ave.
ltsjs contiued their streak of correct answers. Thanks for playing.
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What was this building used for before Thompson? I have been here almost 13 years but have only seen the building from the train as I go to or return from Boston.
Can anyone fill in some details?
Just in time for the town's Earth Day celebration April 19, the public works department has installed two $4,000 solar-powered trash compactors on Main Street and at the Beaver Pond recreation complex.
The "BigBelly" cordless trash compactors can hold up to 200 gallons of garbage - up to six times the typical load, said Denise Zambrowski, Environmental Affairs Coordinator for the Department of Public Works.
"It's really a neat invention. Using solar energy, it will help us maintain a neat (town), just controlling litter and trash in our parks, in our ball fields.
"It's a really interesting invention to help us deal with solid waste management in public places," said Zambrowski, who first learned about BigBelly at an energy efficiency workshop.
Read the full article at the Milford Daily News
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The town of Franklin on Saturday opened its new fire station on West Central Street. The new 22,250 square foot station more than twice of the facility it replaced, which was built on the same site in 1922 and demolished last year.
This is the complete article but you can click through to see the photo at the Milford Daily News.
"Is (regionalization) possible? Absolutely," he said. "Is it feasible, able to be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time? No, not with what I'm looking at. I'm not opposed to regionalization or the concept of it, but there's a lot that goes into the makeup of trying to regionalize."It will take time but the time to start is now. This is no reason to wait.
Eight years after the idea was first proposed, the town has a new fire station.
To mark the occasion, the department is hosting a dedication ceremony tomorrow and inviting the public inside for a look around.
"We're thrilled," said Fire Chief Gary McCarraher. "Our employees went from the old station, which was virtually crumbling, to (13 months in) a trailer.
"It's great to get them into a professional place to conduct business," McCarraher said of the new $9.3 million building constructed on the site of the former station at 40 West Central St.
"The troops really suffered during construction. It was cramped, especially in the winter," he said.
McCarraher and Lou Allevato, chairman of the Fire Station Building Committee, Town Council Chairman Chris Feeley and other dignitaries will speak at the dedication, which begins at 11 a.m.
The station will be open for public tours until 2 p.m.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
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A local pub owner has given the green light to the blues.
Inspired by the widely known Yard Rock Cafe in Quincy, Cottage Street Pub owner Phil Butkevich is bringing the blues to town this month.
Those who are blues fans run "from one end of the spectrum to the other - the blue collar worker to the white collar worker," Butkevich said.
"It's good sitting music, and it's good if you want to dance. Sometimes you're at a club, and the music's kind of loud. Personally, I think when you look at bands and hear the trombone, brass, bass and bugles, you're getting better quality sound," he said.
Every weekend this month, Butkevich will host at least one blues band from the Interstate 495/Rhode Island area at his 130-person-capacity pub.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
The idea of a tax override to prevent massive school layoffs has drawn mixed reaction so far.
The School Committee plans to talk with the Town Council and Finance Committee about giving townspeople an alternative to the cuts that will be required under the budget proposed by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.
While Nutting's budget gives $800,000 more for schools than last year's budget of $54.6 million (a 1.5 percent increase, totaling $55.4 million), the district needs $58.6 million - a 7.4 percent increase - just to maintain the same level of services and keep teachers and staff, said School Superintendent Wayne Ogden.
Ogden has outlined some of the major impacts of accepting Nutting's proposed budget of $55.4 million: 45 layoffs (mostly teachers), elimination of the late bus, a pay-to-ride fee hike, and increased class sizes.
Town Councilor Stephen Whalen said he "fully supports" putting a Proposition 2 1/2 tax override question before voters.
"It would be extremely difficult to get it passed, but in my opinion, its passage would be in the best interests of the town," Whalen said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
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In continued budget hearings last night, the Finance Committee approved several departmental budgets including a reduction in the library budget that the library director adamantly opposed.
Franklin Public Library Director Felicia Oti requested a $976,985 budget, a figure that would allow her to fund replacing two full-time-equivalent positions in the children's department, but the committee instead approved about $800,000 as proposed by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.
The library's budget last year was $925,196, said Finance Committee Chairman Jim Roche.
Prior to the vote, Oti argued that the library is understaffed and that morale is at "an all-time low."
"It's the lowest it's been in the 10 years I've been at the library," Oti said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
read the full article in the Milford Daily NewsAt its budget hearing tomorrow night, the Finance Committee will discuss possibly bringing the School Department's $5 million maintenance budget under the town's jurisdiction, a contentious issue between Town Council members and the School Committee.
The Finance Committee will make a recommendation on the change in its budget package to Town Council by April 18, said Finance Committee Chairman James Roche.
Roche and Town Councilor Robert R. Vallee said they support the consolidation, as proposed by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.
The School Committee last night decided to send Chairman Jeffrey Roy to start discussions with the Finance Committee and Town Council about presenting voters with an override ballot question this year.
The committee is not advocating for an override, but members said they want to give voters the option in a year when the School Department faces 45 layoffs and other town departments will suffer from budget cuts.
The committee unanimously voted to propose two school options, a budget that would be close to level-funded, and one which would keep the same level of services, and which would require the override.
The close to level-funded budget would have a 1.5 percent, $800,000, increase over this year's $54.6 million budget, reaching $55.4 million. The level-services budget would rise 7.4 percent, or $4.1 million, hiking the budget to $58.6 million.
Both options will be discussed with the Finance Committee at the budget hearing Monday night.
A level-service budget would enable the district to maintain its staff and programs
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
Call to order Mr. Roy
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence
Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes:
I recommend approval of the minutes from the March 25, 2008 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly
Payroll Ms. Armenio
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence:
Budget to Actual
Letter from Representative James Vallee regarding Portable Classrooms
Guests/Presentations:
Prudential Spirit of Community Award Honoring Remington Middle School student
Remington 6th Grade Project Report
Signing of the Educational Support Personnel (ESP) Contract
Discussion Only Items
School Choice for 2008-2009 school year
2009-2010 School Calendar
Second Reading of Policy JEA Entrance Age
Second Reading of Policy JFAA-R Residency
FY 2009 Budget – FinCom and Council presentations
FHS Building Project & Building Committee
Action Items:
I recommend approval of the FY 2009 budget at the level service amount of (7.4%) $58,687,804.
I recommend approval of continuing the School Choice Program for the 2008-2009 school year.
I recommend approval of the 2009-2010 School Calendar
I recommend adoption of Policy JEA Entrance Age
I recommend adoption of Policy JFAA-R Residency
I recommend acceptance of a check for $800.00 for a portable washing station for the Davis Thayer art teachers from the Davis Thayer PCC
I recommend acceptance of a check for $35.72 from Follett Educational Services for surplus books for the Parmenter gift account.
I recommend acceptance of a check for $2625.00 from the Annie Sullivan PCC for the 7th grade field trip to McAuliffe Center.
I recommend acceptance of a check for $154.83 from Target for 8th grade field trip to YMCA in Hopkinton, MA.
I recommend acceptance of a check for $198.00 from the Davis Thayer PCC for library books for DT.
I recommend approval of the request of FHS for the Track Team to participate in the Penn Relays from 4/23 to 4/25/08 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Mt. Laurel New Jersey.
I recommend approval of the request of FHS for the Football Team to participate in the Athletic Program & Retreat at Camp Cobbossee in Winthrop, ME from 8/21 to 8/24/08.
I recommend approval of the request of Keller Elementary School for the 5th grade class trip to Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI on 5/2/08.
Information Matters:
Superintendent’s Report
School Choice 2008-2009
School Calendar for 2009-2010
Enrollment Comparison for 3-30-07 and 3-28-08
Consolidation
Online Courses
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports
New Business:
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations – FEA side letters and early retirement
Adjourn
Hi everyone,
At this Tuesday evening’s School Committee meeting, members will discuss how to handle the massive proposed cuts your community’s schools are facing in fiscal year 2009, which begins July 1. You can expect several updates on this topic in the weeks ahead.
The Town of Franklin, on average, spends $2,200 less per pupil than the average for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The state Department of Education tracks school district spending in 11 categories, including administration, professional development, pupil services and operations and maintenance. Franklin spends above the state average in only one of the 11 categories – classroom teachers.
In fact, approximately 80 percent of our budget is driven by compensation to teachers. Over years of grappling with school budgets, the Committee has always tried to protect classroom personnel in order to maintain reasonable class sizes for our students.
But, unless we can improve school funding for the coming fiscal year, it’s unlikely that Franklin will be able to claim an advantage in that category any more.
The current school budget is $54.6 million. In order to maintain the same level of services in the new school year, a budget of $58.7 million is required to meet rising salary, healthcare, pension and utility costs. Maintaining the exact same level of services we are providing this year would mean an additional appropriation of $4 million.
Despite receiving an increase in Chapter 70 state educational aid of $2.2 million, town tax revenues are down overall, so the Town Administrator proposing to give schools only $800,000 more in fiscal 2009.
In order to fulfill our responsibility to submit a balanced budget to the Town Council, the School Committee and Supt. Ogden are considering $3.2 million in cuts, including:
15 teaching positions at elementary level
12.5 teaching positions at middle school
17 teaching positions at FHS
A $100 increase in the pay-to-ride bus fee hike, and
The end of late bus service for students who need to stay after school for academic, club and extracurricular programs.
Last year, even passage of the town’s first-ever override was not enough to help the budget keep pace with escalating costs, and the schools cut 28 positions. The vast majority of those terminations were not educational positions. This year, the 45.5 jobs slated for elimination will have a direct, negative impact on class sizes in Franklin for the first time.
At Franklin High School, where a reasonable class size range is 22 to 26 students, the class size in September will balloon to 25 to 30. Middle school class sizes will range from 25 to 30, as well. Class sizes in most of the town’s elementary schools will push well past appropriate levels, and will feature 26 to 30 students each this fall.
At our most recent meeting, school principals expressed deep concern over their ability to deliver a top quality academic experience to students if these cuts go through. One even predicted that Franklin’s test scores, which have been outstanding despite lower-than-average per pupil spending, will begin showing declines in only one year.
Members of the School Committee – as well as members of the Town Council and the Finance Committee – need to hear your concerns and recommendations on how to proceed. Everyone recognizes that these are tough economic times, but disinvesting in our schools has no good outcome. It will not help our children prepare for their own economic future. It will not maintain our quality of life. It will not stabilize home prices in Franklin.
Please let me know your thoughts on the current situation. In the meantime, the following links provide additional information on budget proposals and discussions:
School Budget Information Home Page:
http://www.franklin.ma.us/auto/schools/FPS/super1/FY06Budget/default.htm
PowerPoint Overview on Proposed FY09 School Budget:
http://www.franklin.k12.ma.us/co/supt/budget/Budget2SCFY09.pdf
Complete Proposed FY09 Budget by School:
http://www.franklin.k12.ma.us/co/supt/budget/FY09Budget.pdf
Franklin School Committee Web Site:
http://www.franklin.ma.us/auto/schools/fsc/
Franklin Town Council Web Site:
http://www.franklin.ma.us/auto/town/towncouncil/
Franklin Matters Blog:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/
Franklin Town Common Discussion Site:
http://www.towncommon.net/tcma/forumdisplay.php?f=594
I hope you will use these sources, as well as newspaper reports, PCC meetings and cable broadcasts, to stay informed as budget discussions continue. As always, I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you!
Ed Cafasso, Member
Franklin School Committee
Watch out, bingo. Wii has got seniors cheering, jumping out of their seats and swinging the "Wiimote" faster than they can stamp a square.
After reading that senior citizens are the second largest market for Nintendo Wii, Susan Bonvilar, director of enrollment for Suffolk University students at Dean College, decided to bring the video game system, to the Forge Hill Senior Living Center.
Last week, one dozen seniors offered stiff competition for six students in the Suffolk University Networking Club based at Dean, in their first Wii-bowling tournament at the center.
They rolled up in wheelchairs, put aside walkers, and grabbed hold of the Wiimote, a remote control which simulates a bowling ball.
"I love it. I love it because I like to bowl, I always used to bowl," said Janet Caton, a senior at the center who played for the second time last week.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
Read the full article here."Before, the thinking was just to get the water off the road for safety reasons, and there wasn't much thought given to pollution," said Denise Zambrowski, storm-water manager for the town of Franklin. "But we have 48 miles of streams and 266 acres of ponds, and 95 percent of our watershed ends up in the Charles River. We are now giving storm water a serious look."
Zambrowski said the town recently received a $131,000 federal matching grant to pay for several projects, including installing a man-made wetland area or other technology to capture runoff from a large condominium development near Route 140. Storm water from the complex, which has approximately 200 units, flows through overflow pipes directly into Mine Brook, a tributary of the Charles.
Franklin, like a number of other area communities, is also considering redeveloping its town center to make it more pedestrian and retail-friendly, and officials are considering measures such as storm-water planters as part of the redesign, she said.
The Art Department has been working this year to open a Franklin Public Schools K-12 Art Gallery. All the teachers in the department work tremendously hard to teach the students relevant art skills and thinking strategies. We believe it is important to get the results out of the class room and share it with the greater community. The new gallery space is yet another way we can share with the community.Note: Mike Caple is the K-12 Art Director for Franklin schools. The "old bank space" in case you are not familiar with it, is located off the cafeteria at the High School.
The new gallery space, Gallery 218, is located in the old bank space at Franklin High School. I want to stress that even though the space is housed at FHS the gallery is K-12. The work that will be on display for the first show will represent all buildings in the district. We are calling it Young Artists 08! The art work is from this year’s Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards entries and work that is currently at the Worcester Art Museum as part of the Youth Art Month Program.
I would like to invite all of you to the Inaugural Exhibition Opening of Gallery 218! The opening will take place Monday April 14th from 6:30-8:30pm and is free to all. That evening we will also be running an Empty Bowls event to continue to raise money for the Franklin Food Pantry. A $5 donation will allow you to pick out your own mug or plate and fill it with hot chocolate, coffee, or sweet treats. I do hope you can join us.
The little Red Brick School House that could just might.
Despite the School Committee's recent action banning the targeted donations on which the historic school is dependent for operation costs, the Brick School House Association remains optimistic about keeping it open, members said following their biannual meeting last Tuesday.
``As of right now, it's (funding) still in the School Committee's budget, so we're being optimistic. Until we know for sure otherwise, we're assuming it will be open'' next year, said Sandra Hunter, a Brick School House Association board member.
Are you due to get a tax refund or an "economic stimulus rebate" this spring? Why not spend it on energy-saving improvements or other steps to reduce your carbon footprint? The Bush rebate of $1,200 for a working couple might not pay all the cost of a solar-powered hot water system but it would go a long way for less intensive, smaller-ticket items! A few ideas for the typical Massachusetts home:Click through to read if one of the dozen ideas she lists would be something you could do.
Answered a knock on the front door a few minutes ago. The Franklin High School Lacrosse team is out going door-to-door selling coupon books as a fund raiser.
Good choices, good price!
Support FHS sports!
Lester Landry has learned a few things in his 99 years, and he doesn't keep those lessons secret.
``Money is secondary - people are number one,'' is Landry's first rule. He also advises, `If you get depressed, exercise - it clears your brain.''
Every day, Landry applies his wisdom and shares it with those around him - and he has made it a point to surround himself with people.
``I'm always very active, I like people, I like being with them,'' Landry said.
Between 7:30 to 8 a.m. each morning for the past 15 years, Landry has volunteered as a greeter at the Benjamin Franklin Bank on Main Street, lending an ear, telling stories and starting workers' days with a smile and a reminder that someone cares.
The Franklin Line will undergo necessary maintenance involving the installation of 24,000 ties.
Franklin Line Necessary Track Work Beginning Thursday April 10, 2008
We apologize for any inconvenience that may result from this necessary track work and thank you for riding Commuter Rail.
The work period will be between 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Mondays through Fridays. Delays of 20 to 30 minutes are anticipated during the work period.
The first phase of this work will commence at 9:00 AM on Thursday April 10, 2008.Frightened that an "environmental catastrophe" is looming after conducting research on global warming, Remington Middle School students launched a public awareness campaign yesterday on the benefits of using compact fluorescent lights.
To combat energy waste, Team Titans, a group of 50 sixth-grade Remington students, made arrangements with Franklin stores J.D. Daddario, Stop & Shop, and Aubuchon Hardware to keep recycling bins on the premises.
Now people can drop off their used compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), which are energy-efficient but contain a small amount of mercury, at the same place they purchase replacements.
If every American household replaced one incandescent light bulb with an Energy Star-qualified compact bulb for a year, enough energy would be saved to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Web site.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
In my experience, and in the short time that I have used it, Twitter has grown quickly to play a major part in the way that I interact with fellow colleagues and professionals from around the world. In my classroom and with the children I teach it has been an exciting tool to utilise and support learning. However it is one of many tools that we have at our disposal. I do not see it replacing any of the others we use nor do I see the positive impact upon learning being exclusive to Twitter.Read the full posting here.
Franklin, MA - PLC Systems Inc., a company focused on innovative cardiac and vascular medical device-based technologies, announced recently that it has entered into a 3-year exclusive agreement with Artech s.r.l., Cavezzo, Italy for distribution of its RenalGuard System into Italy. Artech is one of Italy's leading distributors of interventional cardiology-related medical devices, doing business with most of Italy's major interventional cardiology centers. Artech will target early adopters who recognize the benefits of utilizing the unique fluid balancing capabilities of RenalGuard System in a cath lab setting during cardiovascular imaging procedures for patients at higher risk of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy (CIN).
Read the full announcement here.
Read the December news here.
By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff
Water rates and rubbish fees may be going up, while sewer rates could go down, if the Town Council goes along with a proposal by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting. Nutting requested councilors raise trash fees $12 a year to cover a potential shortfall and to rebuild the trash reserve account that dropped below $100,000 to $61,000 this year. |
Read the full article here
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Developer reviewing cost for office park
An eight-building commercial development on land near the Bellingham line, involving a major extension and paving project for Spring Street, could start before summer - if the developer decides he can afford it, and Franklin officials approve the final plans, and the project meets state environmental measures.
Developer Paul Maggiore has proposed constructing the eight buildings on a 53.4-acre property off Spring Street, south of Route 140 and near the Forge Park industrial complex.
Read the full article in the Boston Globe hereThe Finance Committee voted last night to recommend several budgets prepared by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting, including employee benefit line items totaling $7.2 million.
The cost of benefits for town and school staff represents a $400,000 increase over last year's figure of $6.8 million, said Finance Committee Chairman Jim Roche.
Pensions, excluding teachers', will cost the town an extra $588,000 in the coming fiscal year for a total of $3,250,290, Nutting said.
read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
The skyrocketing price of diesel fuel is putting a squeeze on school budgets and the contractors that districts hire to bus students.
"It's impacting us tremendously," said Joseph Vendetti, owner of Vendetti Bus Co. in Franklin. "Everybody's complaining about paying $3 a gallon for gasoline, and we're paying $4 for diesel."
Most school buses run on diesel, and the cost for that fuel shot past $4 last week - up 59 cents from just five weeks ago, according to AAA of Southern New England. As of Monday, the average price for diesel in Massachusetts was $4.14 a gallon.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily news
“It was a very difficult choice to have to use one-time revenue, but it’s Franklin, and we have to make sure our schools work,” Nutting said. “Classroom instruction remains our top priority, and we cannot retreat on progress.”This is purely wishful thinking, at least for now, as this quote is a doctoring of what Mayor Tom Menino said when Boston came up with additional funding to help balance the city's school budget, as reported in the Boston Globe.
“It was a very difficult choice to have to use one-time revenue, but it’s Boston, and we have to make sure our schools work,” Menino said. “Classroom instruction remains our top priority, and we cannot retreat on progress.”alas Jeff Nutting did not.