Wind turbine success

How is this related to Franklin? You may recall that the Sisters of St Mary's Abbey are preparing a wind turbine of their own. It won't be quite as tall as this one. Their wind turbine is reported to be approx. 130 foot tall. This is 253 foot.

Jiminy Peak, a western Mass. mountain resort, marked the one year anniversary on August 15 of flipping the switch and connecting its 1.5 megawatt GE wind turbine to the grid. The turbine, nicknamed Zephyr, is now generating a full third of the ski resort's power. But getting there wasn't exactly a breeze.

Nestled in the Berkshires, Jiminy Peak claims to be the first privately held company in the nation to have installed a megawatt class turbine. Its Zephyr (named after the Greek god of wind) sits on a 253-ft. tower, with each of its three blades reaching approximately 123 feet into the air, making the wind turbine taller than the Statue of Liberty.

The turbine generates 4.6 million kWh (kilowatt hours) of energy or enough to light up the TVs, DVDs, microwaves and refrigerators in 613 homes for a year. Most of the power is generated in winter, when mountain winds peak, and demand at the resort is at its highest, due to the demands of snowmaking equipment.

Read the full article in InformationWeek here

Financial Planning Committee Meeting - live reporting

There is an insufficient quorum for the meeting this evening. Hence, no meeting.


Updated:
Two members present: Rebecca Cameron and Roberta Trahan
Two unofficial members present: Jeff Nutting and Wayne Ogden
One other member was acknowledged as being heard from, he was leaving town for family vacation (Steve Whalen).

In the News - Brick, 704 Washington

By Krista Perry/Daily News correspondent

GHS

Posted Aug 21, 2008 @ 12:14 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

Town councilors voted yesterday to accept the Red Brick School from the School Department, with some saying they still hope to have it be used for education by another group.

The school was declared a surplus earlier this month by the School Committee, which sought to transfer ownership of the building to the town.

The motion passed 6-1, with Councilor Robert Vallee casting the opposing vote.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

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

By Aaron Wasserman/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Aug 20, 2008 @ 10:33 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

The company owned by Councilor Joseph E. McGann and former Police Chief Lawrence Benedetto wants to withdraw its application for a retail development on Washington Street.

Their lawyer, Richard R. Cornetta Jr., made the request in a letter this week to the Zoning Board of Appeals, which votes on the matter tonight at 7:30.

McGann and Benedetto's proposal for a two-story 20,000-square-foot retail building met strong opposition from people living nearby. Mark Seifert, one of the leaders of a group called "It Does Not Fit, Do Not Permit," said he is pleased with the decision.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

704 Washington St Update

To those who have indicated to be notified about updates on the public hearings regarding the development at 704 Washington Street:

On August 18, 2008, Lajero LLC withdrew their application for variances. The application for variances were scheduled to be heard at a public hearing before the Town of Franklin Zoning Board of Appeals on August 21^st . That hearing is cancelled. No other hearings are scheduled at this time. You will be notified (via email or by standard mail) in the future of any subsequent developments. Thank you for your interest in the matter. Refer to the website www.home.comcast.net/~doesnotfit for details and future communications.

Thank you for your continued interest.

--
Mark and Julie Seifert
7 Jefferson Rd, Franklin, MA 02038
508.440.5561
www.home.comcast.net/~doesnotfit

FM #9 - Quiet Week & Look ahead

Another in a series of podcast on what matters in Franklin (MA). This looks back at the summer week that was and ahead to the Town Council and the Financial Planning Committee meetings.

Time: 9 minutes, 18 seconds



MP3 File

Session Notes:

Music intro

My intro

This was a relatively quiet week in Franklin. Many folks out of town enjoying summer vacation. No Town Council meeting. No School Committee meeting.

So what did happen this past week?
• King St/I495 construction announced
• Repairs on the library have started

What do we have coming up this week?
• Town Council meeting on Wednesday the 20th - Agenda posted.

I think the most interesting items on the agenda:

Hearing
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-625: Chapter 185-5, Town Code: Zoning Map – Business to Commercial II – 7:10 PM - Knights of Columbus building and land

Presentations
• Fuel Efficiency –Jeff Nutting, Town Administrator
• Disaster Mitigation Plan- Gary McCarraher

Legislation for action

1. Resolution 08-53 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking Newell Drive, Dover Circle, Cohasset Way, Sherborn Lane and Related Easements
2. Resolution 08-54 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking of Hancock Road, Winthrop Road, Corey Way and Lantern Road and Related Easements
3. Resolution 05-55 – Transfer of Care, Custody, Management and Control of Red Brick School From Franklin School Committee to Franklin Town Council
4. Bylaw Amendment 08-627: Chapter 4, Public Notice and Advertising of Public Hearings – 2nd Reading
   

Financial Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on 8/21/08

This committee has their meeting schedule available on the new town web site but I don’t find anything else for them, meeting agendas, meeting minutes, etc.

Community section takes you off the new virtual Town Hall pages to a new portal provided by American Towns. Nice layout, seems to have all the prior community links moved over. In a future podcast, I’ll spend some time looking through those pages. In the meantime, go exploring. If you find something there of interest, let me know. If you find something missing, that should be there, let me know

Ben Franklin would say: "Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today."

-----------
This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music

in the News - Center Commons, Sgt Pirelli

Franklin Center Commons moves forward

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Developer John Marini isn't letting today's economy drag down his part of Franklin's $28 million downtown revitalization project. "He's got a large amount of his own personal money involved in this," said Eileen Mason, a sales agent with Costello Realty representing the Marini property. When Marini finished constructing the first of four buildings at 9 Summer St., last May, financial advisers, consultants, and a pain management company, among others, moved quickly to rent the professional offices on the second and third floors. Mason said retailers like Pretty is Pink and ARTBEAT moved in at the street level. "It did not take long to fill out that professional office space," Mason said, noting the dual draw of the commuter rail and the high traffic. Every day, 22,000 cars travel downtown, she said.

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

Pirelli scholarship fundraiser to be held in September

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Just like his "old man," Staff Sgt. Robert Ryan Pirelli loved kids, recalled his father, Robert Pirelli, a long-time TV announcer for Franklin Youth Hockey, coach and ice cream man. While serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Pirelli played football and baseball with Iraqi kids, Robert Pirelli said, remembering with amusement how his son gave the children baseball mitts, but they didn't understand they were for catching the ball. "He threw the ball to one kid, and the kid didn't use the glove, it just hit his chest," he said, so Pirelli taught them all what the glove was for and other baseball basics. "He just loved working with kids over there. He saw the appreciation they had," Pirelli said. One child's mother made a bracelet and sent it to Rob's sister, Stacey, to thank him, his father said.

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

Father reflects on fallen Green Beret

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

For Robert Pirelli, the memories come one after the other, as time seems to collapse into vignettes of the moments he shared with his son, Staff Sgt. Robert Ryan Pirelli. Rob's post office tree-house he ran with his brother, Shawn, and sister, "Postmaster Stacey," inspired by their father, a postal worker. Rob on the ice, "accidentally" blasting a puck at the glass protecting the Franklin Youth Hockey commentator - his dad. One of the first father and son bonding moments: little Rob walking out of the house, looking at his dad's ice cream truck and back at his dad, realizing, "My dad's the ice cream man!" Robert Pirelli remembers, breaking into a smile.

Town Council - Agenda - 8/20/08

FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL

August 20, 2008
7:00 PM

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - None

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS – Historical Commission –Regular Member
Associate Member

F. HEARINGS – Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-625: Chapter 185-5, Town Code: Zoning Map – Business to Commercial II – 7:10 PM

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS – Franklin Country Club- Change or manager/directors

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

• Fuel Efficiency –Town Administrator
• Disaster Mitigation Plan- Gary McCarraher

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

1. Resolution 08-53 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking Newell Drive, Dover Circle, Cohasset Way, Sherborn Lane and Related Easements
2. Resolution 08-54 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking of Hancock Road, Winthrop Road, Corey Way and Lantern Road and Related Easements
3. Resolution 05-55 – Transfer of Care, Custody, Management and Control of Red Brick School From Franklin School Committee to Franklin Town Council
4. Bylaw Amendment 08-627: Chapter 4, Public Notice and Advertising of Public Hearings – 2nd Reading

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN

In the news - King St/I495 construction, storyteller at library

King Street work slated at long last
By Rachel Lebeaux
Globe Correspondent / August 17, 2008

A long-awaited overhaul for busy King Street in Franklin has received an injection of state funds that will allow the project - offering improved traffic flow, better signals, and enhanced vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle safety - to move forward next spring.

The state Transportation Improvement Program has allotted $3.8 million in state and federal funds toward the project, which focuses on upgrades to the Interstate 495 ramps at King Street. Work will extend along King Street from Union Street to Upper Union Street, and include construction on Upper Union Street from King Street to Constitution Boulevard.

The project is slated to go out for bid this fall, with construction starting next spring. Robert "Brutus" Cantoreggi, director of Franklin's Department of Public Works, said he expects construction will last 18 months. While there are likely to be delays, the roads involved in the project will remain open, he said.

The project is aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving safety measures at several bustling intersections along King Street and at Interstate 495.

Read the full article in the Boston Globe here

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

FRANKLIN -

On Tuesday, Aug. 26, the Franklin Public Library is hosting Carolyn Martino, professional storyteller, actress, writer and educator at 7 p.m. in the Meeting Room.

"Enjoy the musical rhythms and joyous logic of all that is Italian in a Bella Notte of Italian storytelling as Martino captures you with her humor, warmth and style,'' says Margaret Ellis, the library's literacy coordinator.

This program is funded by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners with funds from the LSTA, a Federal source of library funding provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Originally published in the Franklin Gazette on Friday August 15, 2008.

Solar powered?

I remember hearing about these new solar powered recycle devices at one of the Town Council meetings.

Great idea. Green all over. Solar powered compaction, reduces the number of times the container would need to be emptied.

Why position this device in the shade of a tree?
Will it get enough sunlight?

What would Ben say?

What would Ben say?, originally uploaded by shersteve.

"Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today."

Benjamin Franklin

Hence, having missed prior opportunities for regular maintenance on the library, the scaffolding is up now for repairs before the situation gets any worse.

Red flag

is this a warning to birds to keep away?

found this pole near the corner of Wachusetts and Arlington streets

Mobile post sent by shersteve using Utterz. Replies.

In the News - attempted arson, Brick future

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Aug 14, 2008 @ 01:03 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

Leading up to the McDonough family's 200-year-old barn, a blotchy trail of gasoline still darkens Partridge Street, a trace of an attempted arson during the early hours of Aug. 4.

"They started at the barn, went down the driveway, down the street," said Bill Tavia, who found matches next to a five-gallon gas can between the McDonough home at 430 Partridge St., and 443 Partridge St., a group home for people with developmental disabilities.

"They thought they could light it and it would fire up like they saw in the movies. Thank God it didn't," said Tavia, a former Bellingham Police officer and neighbor who had just finished renovating and painting the McDonough's post-and-beam barn two days earlier.

Read the full story in the Milford Daily News here

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

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Aug 14, 2008 @ 12:50 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

Town Council will decide Wednesday whether to accept ownership of the historic Red Brick School from the School Department, which declared the property as surplus at its last meeting.

A future tenant could keep the building's historic integrity intact and keep the building on the National Historic Register by using it for educational purposes, officials have said.

Two such entities - the Benjamin Charter Classical Public Charter School, and artist/art instructor Don Carlucci - have expressed interest in renting the building, which is about 500 to 600 square feet, said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

Yesterday morning, Nutting gave a tour of the Brick School to Carlucci, the owner of the Franklin School of Modern Art, he said.

read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

FM #8 - Storm Water Presentation

Another in a series of podcasts on Franklin(MA) Matters, this one focusing on the DPW presentation on storm water and how they propose to handle it including a possible new fee. This presentation is from the July 23, 2008 Town Council meeting.

Time: 21 minutes, 53 seconds



MP3 File

Session Notes:

Music intro

My intro

I was on vacation last week and missed both the School Committee and Town Council meetings on August 5th and 6th.

I tried to obtain a DVD copy of the meetings from the Library and was surprised that they only have meetings from April on hand currently. Maybe you knew this already. It was the first time I tried to get this copy. Apparently, the cable company brings over 3 months of meetings at a time. So the next delivery would bring over May, June and July but the first week of August meetings would not be available until November.

Anyway, from the Town Council meeting on 7/23/08 there was the full DPW presentation on storm water handling that was too long to include in the last session.

This segment is about 18 minutes. It includes the full DPW resentation but not the Q&A with the councilors after the presentation.

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

This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock

For additional textual information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music

In the News - more on cats, zoning issue, by-law emergency

By Michelle Laczkoski/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Aug 12, 2008 @ 01:28 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

A feral cat colony living behind Highwood Condominiums is the pride and joy of elderly resident Dorothy "Dottie" Luff, but other residents living closest to the cats' feeding station say the felines are just a nuisance.

"No one wants to hurt the cat people or send (Dottie) into distress," resident Madelyn McAneny said yesterday. "But these cats are using my yard as their litter box."

A group of neighbors gathered yesterday to dispel public perceptions surrounding the controversy over these cats.

"It's not that we don't like animals," Highwood Road resident Ruth Bayer said. "We're just concerned with the health issues, the smell and our property values."

"This is not us against Dorothy," McAneny added.

Last month, Pioneer Property Management responded to heightened complaints and notified residents the cats would be trapped and removed from the site. But pleas from officials and caretakers, including Luff, have halted the trapping.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Aug 12, 2008 @ 01:06 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

Planners recommended the town adopt a zoning change to allow a wider variety of development near the Knights of Columbus on Rte. 140.

The Planning Board last night voted in favor of recommending Town Council rezone a portion of West Central Street (Rte. 140) from Business/Single Family III to Commercial II.

Town Planner Beth Dahlstrom and Town Engineer William Yadisernia also supported the change.

"The Knights of Columbus is selling the property, and we want to increase the redevelopment potential of the lots in that area. The Knights of Columbus is in need of substantial redevelopment," Yadisernia said.

Neither he nor Dahlstrom knew the prospective buyer of the Knights' property, which they estimated to be between 7 and 10 acres.

The proposal involves seven adjacent parcels of land (on the zoning maps, parcels 270-024-000 through 270-030-000), including the Knights of Columbus property, a Dunkin' Donuts, a gas station, and single-family homes, Dahlstrom said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Aug 12, 2008 @ 01:25 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

Anticipating vast increases in the price of home heating oil this winter, Councilor Stephen Whalen is proposing the town suspend a prohibitive bylaw to enable more residents to convert from oil to natural gas.

"One of my fears is, a lot of people are going to be caught off-guard by the huge increase in heating oil," said Whalen, who is a senior financial analyst with Liberty Mutual Group.

He had just read a report projecting oil will cost homeowners 70 percent more than last year, and gas, 25 percent to 30 percent more, when he received an e-mail from Maple Street resident Joshua Phillips objecting to a bylaw that prevents him from tapping into natural gas, said Whalen.

"I'm not an expert, but there is a consensus in the financial community that oil will go up more than gas," said Whalen.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

In the News - cookies, St Rocco's, vacant houses

The St Rocco's Festival cookie contest recap with winner Donna Copponi

Donna's winning recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies

Plenty of good food at St Rocco's

And on the vacant house front:

Pellegri, who has been Franklin's town clerk for 24 years, said she finds the number of vacancies listed - 778 - alarming.

That figure is down slightly from April, when the listing was 805, she said, but in past years, it is typically in the high 400s or low 500s, Pellegri said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here