"can result in both civil and criminal penalties"

By Michelle Laczkoski/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Dec 17, 2008 @ 01:06 AM

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FRANKLIN —

An Upper Union Street sheet metal company will have to pay nearly $50,000 in restitution and penalties for violating the state's wage and overtime laws, Attorney General Martha Coakley's office announced yesterday.

The attorney general has issued a civil citation against Custom Metal Systems, Ltd., and owner Sarah Farren, 45, of Wrentham, for unintentionally violating the state's wage and overtime laws.

Farren was ordered to pay $42,507 in restitution to the affected employees and a $4,600 fine for unintentionally failing to pay the proper prevailing wage.

In August, Coakley's Fair Labor Division received complaints from two employees alleging the company failed to pay the proper wage and overtime for sheet metal work performed at the Ralph Small Elementary School project in Fall River.

Investigators conducted an audit of the company's certified and general payroll records and found the company had misclassified 14 employees as laborers rather than sheet metal workers.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

"I don't want to leave any stone unturned"

By Heather McCarron/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Dec 17, 2008 @ 01:18 AM

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PLAINVILLE —

Police arrested a man they say provided rum to King Philip High senior Taylor Meyer before she wandered off alone from an underage drinking party and drowned.

The 17-year-old Meyer was found dead in a Norfolk swamp three days later, on Oct. 20.

Brian Zuzick, 19, of 6 Redcoat Lane, Plainville, was arrested Monday and is charged with sale or delivery of alcohol to a person under 21 and purchase of alcohol by a person under 21, police said.

Police are following other related to the Oct. 17 party at the old Norfolk airport, where Meyer, also of Plainville, and other teens had gathered after King Philip's homecoming football game.

"This is an open investigation," said Plainville Police Chief Edward Merrick. "Where charges are warranted, they will be pursued."

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Choices, choices

You can go to the Town Council meeting 7:00 PM at the Town Hall

or

Go to the production of "The Laramie Project" at 7:00 PM at Franklin High School's lecture hall.

or

Go to the auditorium at King Philip High School, Rte. 140, Wrentham, for a forum which will address both substance abuse by teens and parental strategies associated with substance use, at 7:00 PM

Town Council - Agenda - 12/17/08

December 17, 2008 7:00 PM

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – November 5, 2008

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS

F. HEARINGS -

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS – Annual Alcohol License Renewals

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS - Draft 2008 Open Space & Recreation Plan

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

1. Resolution 08-85: Endorsement of the Draft 2008 Open Space & Recreation Plan
   
2. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-628: Chapter 185 Nonconforming Uses and Structures – 2nd Reading
3. Bylaw Amendment 08-629: Amendment to Chapter 25: Personnel Regulations, Appendix A – Classification Plan- 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

Industry: CPDocks - compact cell phone charger

In our continuing series on the companies who do business here in Franklin, we find this press release:

New Plug-in-Shelf Portable Cell Phone Charging Station Eliminates Cell Phone Clutter

The clutter from cell phones and cell phone charger cords is increasing due to the growing number of cell phone users in the home. The CP Docks brand of cell phone charging stations introduces a new portable unit, the Plug-in-Shelf. It joins the EZ Mount home organizer model introduced last year at www.cpdocks.com. The Plug-in-Shelf Cell Phone Charging Station is a convenient new cell phone accessory that simply plugs into any electrical outlet. When you travel, just unplug and go!

Franklin, MA (PRWEB) December 16, 2008 -- CP Docks introduces its latest cell phone charging station, the new, portable Plug-in-Shelf model, a product that eliminates the tangle of cell phone charger cord clutter from counters and tables. When you need to travel, simply unplug the unit and take your charger and charging station with you!

The Plug-in-Shelf cell phone accessory is a clever problem solver that allows cell phones, chargers and cords to be placed on a small convenient station that plugs into any electrical outlet in your home. The unit consists of a shelf for the phone, a cord holder to hide the charging cord and a unique plug adapter to plug in your existing charger. There is no need to store the charger when not in use since it can always stay with the charging station, even when you travel.

Manufactured from durable plastic with a skid-free pad to hold the phone or PDA, the Plug-in-Shelf plugs into any outlet and keeps your charger and cell phone in one place. No storing and looking for your charger and best of all, no more messy charger cords laying on your kitchen counter! The Plug-in-Shelf is $12.95 and available at www.cpdocks.com. with free first class shipping.

Professional home organizers have discovered the CP Docks cell phone chargers. Geralin Thomas, a professional organizer from North Carolina, recently learned about the units and put them in her own home.

My kitchen counter space had disappeared with the mess of cell phone cords from my husband and my two teenagers. It seemed I was always pushing them out of the way ... the EZ Mount solved my problems -- and the kids can finally find their car keys!

I am a contractor who can get a call in the middle of the night. I keep my EZ Mount next to my bed. The phone acts as a night light while charging and it is handy if I get a late night call. A great product!

"Recently, I discovered the Plug-in-shelf and I'm impressed! It's a gizmo that requires no learning curve, no batteries and best of all, it is inexpensive. This product actually conquers and cures countertop-cord-confusion. Clients love them. Professional Organizers love them. Geeks love them. Families love them. I appreciate the way one intelligently designed little thing can change the entire landscape of a room. If your counter tops are covered with cords from iPods, mobile phones, digital cameras, computer cables, etc. I suggest the Plug-in-Shelf or EZ Mount Cell Phone Charging Stations."--Geralin Thomas, Metropolitan Organizing, www.metropolitanorganizing.com

The benefits of the Plug-in-Shelf charging station include:

• A permanent location for your cell phone and charger.
• Uses your existing cell phone charger.
• No more need to store your charger when not in use.
• No more looking for your charger when you need to charge your phone.
• Your cell phone is always charged and ready to use.
• Keeps your tables and counters clear of messy charging cords.
• Protects your phone from spills and damage.
• It makes the perfect holiday gift.

Many other customers have discovered the benefits of the CP Docks line of cell phone charging stations.

"My kitchen counter space had disappeared with the mess of cell phone cords from my husband and my two teenagers. It seemed I was always pushing them out of the way ... the EZ Mount solved my problems -- and the kids can finally find their car keys!" -- Carol, MN

"The Plug-in-Shelf works great for me. I am getting an extra one for my fiancb-Wendy, MI

"I am a contractor who can get a call in the middle of the night. I keep my EZ Mount next to my bed. The phone acts as a night light while charging and it is handy if I get a late night call. A great product!" -- Dennis, MA

"I love it! It would be a great idea for a gift." -- Nancy, NH

The portable Plug-in-Shelf, along with the EZ Mount Charging Station, which features a built-in key hook, is now available online at www.cpdocks.com. You now have two great solutions to keep your home organized and clear of the tangle of cell phone charging cords.

"Every fire death is a terrible tragedy"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Dec 16, 2008 @ 12:43 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

A family member has identified 62-year-old Bruce N. Barck as the victim of the fatal fire Friday night at 652 Old West Central St.

Barck lived alone, said a cousin, Deborah Atchue of Worcester.

State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan's office said yesterday a space heater was the source of the the fire that claimed Barck's life.

Investigators concluded the fire started in the kitchen where a space heater was too close to combustible materials, said Coan's spokeswoman, Jennifer Mieth.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

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

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

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

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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.