Cable households - 2007

Did you know that the Town of Franklin 2008 Annual Report tells us that the total subscribers to cable are as follows:

Comcast -> 7818
Verizon -> 1833
Total cable subscribers -> 9651

The channels provided are

Cable Channels	Comcast	Verizon
Live	11	29
Playback	8	26
Educational Playback	96	28

If you have not picked up your hard copy of the report at Town Hall, you can try to view it online here: http://www.town.franklin.ma.us/pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/2008arpt.pdf

"hate is wrong, it still exists and people need to end it"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Dec 14, 2008 @ 11:52 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

As Madalyn Murtha watched "The Laramie Project," a play about one of the most notorious hate crimes in recent history, the normally stoic Franklin High student was so moved, she decided the work had to be performed at her school.

In the play by Moises Kaufman, characters react to the murder of 21-year-old Matthew Wayne Shepard, an openly gay college student from Casper, Wyo., who was killed in a hate crime in Oct. 1998.

Two men kidnapped, robbed and pistol-whipped him in Laramie, Wyo. They tied him to a fence where he remained for 18 hours in near freezing temperatures before he was found and taken to a hospital. He died as a result of his injuries from the brutal beating.

The compelling story inspired Murtha and Marushka Waters, theater teacher and director of "The Laramie Project," to perform the play in Franklin.

Franklin High School theater will present "The Laramie Project" at 7 p.m. at Franklin High School's lecture hall on Wed., Dec. 17, and Thursday, Dec. 18.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Free technology for teachers

Yes, there are free things with value. Finding a website with free things especially for teachers struggling with limited budgets and students eager to learn is a very good thing.

One to add to the list of "the best things in life are free" category

Go visit: Free Technology for Teachers

For example, smartboards are being talked of for use in the classroom. There is a website that focuses on the tips and tricks to use them to their fullest.

Enjoy!

Births, Deaths, Marriages - 2007

Did you know that the Town of Franklin 2008 Annual Report provides the details, names and dates of those born, died and married during 2007?

Births

• May 2007 was the most popular month for births with 32, followed closely by July and August with 31 each
• November and December tied for the least amount of births recorded with 19 each

Deaths

• June and August recorded the most deaths with 16 each, followed closely by April and July with 15 each
• November recorded the least with a total of 6, January was next with 10

Marriages

• September edged out June as the most popular choices for wedding dates with a total of 25 versus 22
• February was the least popular choice of wedding dates with only 2 followed by January and November with 3 each

If you have not picked up your hard copy of the report at Town Hall, you can try to view it online here: http://www.town.franklin.ma.us/pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/2008arpt.pdf

In the News - rail trail, teen drinking forum

Franklin rail trail steams forward

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Dave Labonte can't wait for the day he can hop on his bike at Franklin State Forest and keep going, all the way to Palmer. And getting there is a journey the Franklin bicycle enthusiast is more than willing to undertake as well, he said. Labonte and his fellow Franklin Odd Fellows have offered their lodge hall for the first meeting in the area to start discussions on Franklin's portion of the rail trail. An old railroad bed will be transformed into a paved bicycle path that will wind through 15 towns, starting in Franklin and heading through Bellingham and Blackstone, to Palmer and back up to Southbridge and Sturbridge. "It is a big undertaking, but I think we in Franklin have the easiest stretch of all the towns," Labonte said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

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Forum on teen drinking planned for King Philip

By Heather McCarron/Gatehouse News Service

In the aftermath of several recent underage drinking parties, and the death of a Plainville teen who wandered away from such a party in the woods and drowned in a local swamp, the King Philip Regional School District is planning a forum for parents on adolescent substance abuse and other social issues. The forum, which will address both substance abuse by teens and parental strategies associated with substance use, will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at King Philip High School, Rte. 140, Wrentham.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.

house fire, one death

FRANKLIN -

Firefighters found a body in the kitchen of a home at 652 Old West Central St. after knocking down a fire there last night. The person has not been identified.

According to a statement released by the Franklin Fire Department, police received a report of a house explosion in the area of 658 West Central Street just after 11 p.m. Friday.

Fire crews found flames coming from the first-floor kitchen area of a two-story, single-family house at 652 Old West Central St. They were told a person was possibly trapped inside.

Firefighters knocked down most of the fire in the kitchen and searched the home. After extinguishing more fire in the kitchen, firefighters found a body that "had sustained fatal injuries from the fire."

Read the full article online at the Franklin Gazette

"probably my favorite teacher"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GateHouse News Service

Posted Dec 12, 2008 @ 01:19 PM

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FRANKLIN —

Ninety-year-old Palma A. (DeBaggis) Johnson, who inspired her students to convince the Legislature to make the ladybug the official state insect, was struck and killed by a truck while walking to church Thursday morning, according to the obituary provided by Ginley Funeral Home.

Johnson, born in Franklin, taught Latin at Franklin High School from 1939 to 1944, and returned to teaching at Redland Park Kindergarten and the Kennedy Elementary School after her children were grown.

Thirty-four years ago, Johnson inspired her students at Kennedy - and legislators - to change the law and adopt the ladybug as the state insect.

read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

MBTA Parking - pay by phone?

Found on the UniversalHub:

The MBTA has begun experimenting with a system that lets commuter-rail and ferry riders pay for parking by cell phone instead by rolling up all those dollar bills to stuff into those tiny slots at parking lots.

The new system, at parking lots along the Kingston line and at the Quincy and Hingham commuter-boat terminals, lets riders set up accounts and then dial a toll-free number to have the day's parking fee charged to their credit cards:

Upon creating a free pay by phone account, customers call the toll free number from their mobile phone, key in the location and parking numbers, and the parking fee is charged to their credit/debit card.

Thanks, adamg!

Gee is there enough bandwidth for dozens of phones calls to connect at the same time? Let's hope that is part of the pilot.

Circle of Friends: Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams

the next show
Saturday,
December 13th, 8:00PM

A Slambovian Holiday Show GANDALF MURPHY and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams

"Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams is simply one of the finest American bands out there on the road. " -AllMusic Guide

with special guest Lindsay Mac

Tickets = $20

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

Note: I added a new box on the right column with a sample song from each of the artists appearing at the Circle of Friends this season. You can click on on to listen to a sample of what they do. I'll confess that the samples are rather random, I haven't heard all the artists to say this one or that is a good representation of what they do. You can also click through to the Circle of Friends site, find the schedule, and each artist's web site is usually listed there. You can click through to find samples of what they do.

make a donation to the Franklin Food Pantry

FRANKLIN -

The Franklin Food Pantry is asking residents of the community to open their hearts and to help the less fortunate people who have difficulties feeding their families. In a country as rich as ours, no one should worry about keeping food on their tables. Hunger hurts physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

This year, the food pantry has seen a dramatic increase in people needing to access resources to help them live with dignity. The recession has made "financially stressed" a common household word.

We have 2,182 registered clients, which represents 927 households. In this number are 312 seniors who are living on the edge.

The pantry accepts all donations, both perishable and non-perishable. Our grants do not allow us to purchase non-food items. We have a need for toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, shampoo, toothpaste, soap and diapers.

To make a donation to the Franklin Food Pantry through the Country Gazette’s Gifts of Hope drive, make a check payable to Franklin Food Pantry Inc. and send c/o The Country Gazette to 159 South Main St., Milford, MA, 01757. Monetary donations can also be made to Franklin Food Pantry Inc., 80 West Central St., Franklin, MA 02038.

For more information about the pantry, call 508-528-3115. Ask for Linda or Michelle.

This was originally posted in the Franklin Gazette here

FM #27 - Solar Energy - Part 2

This podcast for Franklin Matters is Part 2 of the information session on solar and renewable energy sponsored by The Franklin Area Climate Team and held at the Franklin Public Library Wednesday evening, Dec 10, 2008.

In this second part, we will listen to Matt Arner, President of SolarFlair Energy, Inc. which is based nearby in Hopkinton. Matt gets into greater detail about the solar analysis, the process of obtaining permits, of applying for the rebates and actually getting an installation of solar electricity or solar heating for your residence or business.

Time: 44 minutes, 37 seconds



MP3 File

Session Notes:

This podcast for Franklin Matters is Part 2 of the information session on solar and renewable energy sponsored by The Franklin Area Climate Team and held at the Franklin Public Library Wednesday evening, Dec 10, 2008.

The recording of this evening is split into two parts. In the first part, we listened to Tyler Leeds, Project Manager from the Mass Renewable Energy Trust as he provided an overview on the grants and rebates available to MA residences and commercial or industrial operations.

In this second part, we will listen to Matt Arner, President of SolarFlair Energy, Inc. which is based nearby in Hopkinton. Matt gets into greater detail about the solar analysis, the process of obtaining permits, of applying for the rebates and actually getting an installation of solar electricity or solar heating for your residence or business. There is a great opportunity to tap into solar.

Listen, learn, and enjoy!

- insert clip -

Part 1 can be found here

----- -----

This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow citizens of Franklin, MA

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

FM #26 - Solar Energy - Part 1

This podcast for Franklin Matters captures the information session on solar and renewable energy sponsored by The Franklin Area Climate Team and held at the Franklin Public Library on Wednesday evening, Dec 10, 2008. This evening at the library is one of the Energy $ense series put together by FACT, with the help of Fred Schlicher, Program Manager from the Mass Climate Action Network, and by the Friends of the Library.

Part 1 of 2

Time: 48 minutes, 59 seconds



MP3 File

Session Notes:

This podcast for Franklin Matters captures the information session on solar and renewable energy sponsored by The Franklin Area Climate Team and held at the Franklin Public Library on Wednesday evening, Dec 10, 2008.

This evening at the library is one of the Energy $ense series put together by FACT, with the help of Fred Schlicher, Program Manager from the Mass Climate Action Network, and by the Friends of the Library. One more evening in January is scheduled. Details on that session can be found on Franklin Matters or the town website.

The recording of the talk this evening will be split into two parts. In the first part, we will listen as Ted McIntyre introduces Fred who in turn introduces Tyler Leeds, Project Manager from the Mass Renewable Energy Trust.

The segment we are about to begin runs about 45 minutes. This is longer than I would normally make available but there is not a natural break until Tyler finishes. You can of course, listen to as much as you can, mark your spot and return. As you listen, you’ll recognize that the presentation by Tyler is well done, the questions are generally distinctly heard and the overall conversation is very informative.

Listen, learn and enjoy!

- insert clip -

In the second part, we will listen to Matt Arner, President of SolarFlair Energy based in Hopkinton. Matt will get into more details about the analysis and process of obtaining permits, applying for the rebates and actually getting an installation of solar electricity or solar heating for your residence or business. There is a great opportunity to tap into solar.

----- -----

This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow citizens of Franklin, MA

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

"We've gotten our money's worth"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Dec 10, 2008 @ 10:46 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

The School Committee is recommending the town's school building committee remove all modular classrooms at Davis Thayer Elementary School and Franklin High School as soon as school ends next summer.

"The modulars throughout the system are reaching the end of their usable life, and those are the oldest in town," said Chairman Jeffrey Roy.

Davis Thayer's two modular classrooms at the corner of Union and West Central streets are probably the least popular because they are ugly, Roy said.

"They're an eyesore in the middle of town. I know a lot of people wanted them down from the standpoint of beautification, but we had to get as much life out of them as possible," said Roy.

When the district laid off teachers at Davis Thayer, two classrooms were left vacant, so it is now possible to dismantle the schools' modular classrooms, Roy said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.

For all that occurred during the School Committee meeting on 12/9/08, click here.

single tax rate stays

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Dec 10, 2008 @ 10:47 PM

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FRANKLIN —

Town Council unanimously voted a slight increase in the tax rate for fiscal 2009, also keeping a single tax rate for residential and business properties last night.

As recommended by the Board of Assessors, the council approved raising the tax rate from $10.23 per $1,000 of property to $11.17 per $1,000.

Doing so will bump up the average residential bill by about 2.1 percent, or $88 for the average house, which is less than past annual increases, said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.

The tax rate is somewhat misleading. It will fluctuate as the residential valuations go down (next year is likely to see a greater decrease) the rate will increase.

Bottom line, the overall tax revenues the town can receive are capped at less than 2.5% unless there is an override. The override in June failed so the increase is 2.1%.

Live reporting - Energy $ense - Part 2

Part 1 can be found here

The audio version of this section can be found here

brief interlude for the presentation switch

Fred introduces Matt

Matt Arner
SolarFlair Energy, Inc.
Hopkinton, MA

• Solar electricity
• solar hot water (mostly for domestic hot water use)

How does the system work?

1. The solar grid feeds the inverter (the brains of the system)
2. The inverter is tied to the breaker panel, just like another breaker with the exception that it provides power into the breaker panel (not drawing from like the normal breakers).
3. If you are generating more power than you need to use, you send the extra back out through the meter to the power company. Effectively turning back the meter.
4. Matt's home system is generating enough that it pays for 90% of the electricity they use.
   

How did Matt do it?

1. Bought and converted to energy efficiency appliances
2. converted more appliances
3. then installed hot water system
4. then installed solar system
5. almost 100% solar powered but over time, a five year plan

Matt's company uses local products (Marlboro and Lawrence)

How much does it cost?

• Payback: approx 7-8 years
• System life: 25 years

They partner with a local bank to provide no upfront cost (outside of the grants and tax credits).
So you could effectively pay the same amount for green solar as you would for your normal electrical monthly bill.

expecting to see an 8% increase in electric rates

For commercial installations

• Payback: 5 years
• Return on Investment: 14%

for solar electric you need a minimum of 4 hours of real direct sun daily
solar hot water becomes a good alternative if you don't have the south facing roof

They make the process easy. The permitting process can take up to 3 months, the actual installation takes 2-3 days.

For more information on SolarFlair Energy, Inc. please click through to their web site. It has additional information on the solar water heating, solar electricity and several photos of residential and commercial installations.

If you want to examine the potential for solar for your home, you can follow the steps to start here.

For commercial installations, you can follow the steps to start here.

Renewable Energy Installers

Solar Energy Business Association of New England (SEBANE) North East Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) Directory Information on Installers, Costs, and Locations Other Solar Resources

Disclaimer: The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) has not investigated, and expressly disclaims any duty to investigate, any company, product, service, process, procedure, design, or the like which may be presented on the aforementioned websites. The presentation of these website links does not constitute endorsement, warranty, or guaranty by MTC of any company, product, service, process, procedure, design, or the like. The entire risk of any information presented is assumed by the user.