Monday, August 3, 2009

"an issue for the new council to work on"

Nutting said he will wait to see the cost before deciding whether he feels as strongly as Vallee about burying the utilities.

Town Council filed special legislation months ago that will allow them to borrow money for the work, and Nutting said he expects the special legislation to be voted on by year's end.

Read the full article about this aspect of the planned improvements for downtown Franklin in the Milford Daily News here.

Picking up from the headline this is just one of many items that the "new" council will work on. The "new" council is one that will be elected on November 3rd. Who of the current council is running and who else will be on the ballot remains to be seen. As noted here previously, papers will be available from the Town Clerk next week (Aug 10th) and are due back to the Town Clerk by Sep 15th.

Please stay current with what is happening in Franklin. We will need to cast an informed vote in November to handle the major items that are facing Franklin.


Sunday, August 2, 2009

"It's just a matter of economics"

"I certainly understand the struggle the state is having to make ends meet. We at the association adamantly opposed the change," Nutting said.

Franklin's allotment was cut from $183,000 to $33,000, he said. The town is is only legally obligated to match that $33,000, Nutting said, so the Police Department's total Quinn Bill budget of $366,000 may become $66,000
Read the full article on the Quinn Bill in the Milford Daily News here

Bold Opportunities for District–Union Collaboration on Teacher Quality

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via ASCD Inservice by Laura Varlas on 7/31/09
Teachers unions are often cast as at odds with education reform and innovation. But frequently, behind a conservative national agenda, there's a union local working with districts on reforms like performance compensation and better, fairer educator evaluation systems. Even charter...

Things you can do from here:

The Month in Review - July's Most Popular Items

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Free Technology for Teachers by noreply@blogger.com (Mr. Byrne) on 7/31/09
As I do every month, I've compiled a list of the most popular items from the last month.

Here are the seven most popular items in the month of July, 2009
1. 10 Things Teachers Should Know Before 1:1
2. DL Hughley Reminds Us Why We Teach
3. When I Become a Teacher...
4. The World Images Kiosk - 75,000 Images
5. A Very Simple Way to Make Screen Captures
6. More Wordle in the Classroom Ideas
7. Using Blogs and Wikis are Core Skills


Things you can do from here:

Saturday, August 1, 2009

PMC - Franklin Water Stop

The Pan Mass Challenge had a water stop this morning at the Remington/Jefferson School on Washington St. It was quite a colorful and festive affair. One rider after pulling over to catch her breath, asked what town she was in. When my wife and I answered, Franklin. She responded; "Oh Franklin, yes, you're a great water stop!"

Here are some pictures of the riders and greeters today:




May the road be kind to all the riders today, and may the wind be at your back!

If you would like to contribute to a rider, you can search for a rider by name here.

For some of the many Franklin PMC riders, there donations pages can be found here:

To donate to Ethan Pearl's ride, logon to https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=EP0070,

for Michele Pearl, https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=MP0164 ,

for Jeff Roy, https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=JR0142

for Jeff Nutting, https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=JN0077

for Sue Rohrbach, https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=SR0109


On this day

You can check out Wikipedia to find out what happened on this day in history.

Digging into the archives, the posting here a year ago reported on vandalism, car thieves, and the Digital Credit Union expanding by opening their office on RT 140.

In 2007, Oak St Elementary School received word that it's kindergarten had been certified by the NAEYC and the Boston Globe wrote about the short cut utility poles. I had just before that posted pictures of those poles that could be seen along Union St.

Thanks for stopping by to visit Franklin Matters. If there happens to be nothing new on the front page, please feel free to dig into the archives. You might find something of interest that you had previously missed.

FHS Update and Amendment to the Program of Studies

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via FHS Principal's Blog by lightp on 7/31/09

Please excuse the date on this letter, but as I prepare to leave for vacation, I wanted to post a copy of this letter which will be sent next week to the FHS Community. The letter is designed to highlight and explain changes that will or have occurred at FHS as we prepare for the coming year. Guidance Counselors will be in the Office on August 18th and 19th to answer questions or resolve scheduling conflicts.

Click below for a version of the letter that can be downloaded and printed.

FHS Update


Things you can do from here:

Friday, July 31, 2009

This is an election year for Franklin

Did you know this was an election year?
Yes, Franklin voters get to decide who will serve in the open positions shown in the table below.

Do we know who is running for these positions yet?
No, the nomination papers will be available from Deborah L. Pellegri, the Town Clark, beginning Monday, August 10th. You can take out nomination papers up until September 11th. All papers need to be returned by September 15th.

So we won't know who is running until September 15th?
Officially, yes. It is likely that as the people declare they are running there will be some announcements, press releases, etc. as their campaign gets underway.

Will Franklin Matters cover the election?
Yes, I will be providing as much information here as I can obtain. My disclosure statement can be found here or in the right column on the Franklin Matters blog.

When is election day?
DATE: TUESDAY, November 3, 2009
TIME: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
PLACE: FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL FIELD HOUSE ON OAK STREET for ALL PRECINCTS

When is the last day to register to vote?
October 14, 2009 at 8:00 PM at the Town Clerk’s Office, First Floor, 355 East Central Street, Municipal Building.

What if I am going to be out of town on November 3rd?
Absentee ballots will be available beginning October 13th.

What do I need to do to get an absentee ballot?
Absentee ballots are now available in the Town Clerk’s office. A registered voter who will be unable to vote at the polls on election day due to the following reasons may vote absentee up to 12:00 noon the day before the election:
(1) absence from your city or town during normal polling hours; or
(2) physical disability preventing you from going to the polling place; or
(3) religious belief.

All absentee requests must be made in writing with an original signature (no faxes or e-mails are accepted). If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call Deborah L. Pellegri, Town Clerk, at 508-520-4900.


Name # of Openings Incumbent Term of Office
Board of Assessors 1 Position (For 4 years) Robert Avakian 2009 to 2013




Board of Health 1 Position (For 4 years) Bruce Hunchard 2009 to 2013




Planning Board 2 Position (For 4 years) Anthony Padula 2009 to 2013

* 1Vacant
2009 to 2013




Planning Board (Associate) * 1 vacant position (For 4 Years)
2009 to 2013




Town Council 9 Positions (For 2 Years) Joseph McGann 2009 to 2011


Deborah Bartlett


R. Scott Mason


Christopher Feeley


Judith Pond Pfeffer


Thomas Doak


Shannon Zollo


Robert Vallee


Stephen Whalen




School Committee 7 Positions (For 2 Years) Cora Armenio 2009 to 2011


Susan Rohrbach


Paula Mullen


Edward Cafasso


Roberta Trahan


Matthew Kelly


Jeffrey Roy


* These positions were appointed to fill vacancy until the next scheduled election thus, individuals holding these positions are not considered incumbents.

Please call Deborah L. Pellegri CMC, Town Clerk with any questions at 508-520-4900.

PanMass Challenge rides through on Saturday

Be aware that along the following routes and approximate times, the PanMass Challenge will ride through Franklin.

  • Between 7:10 and 10:10 a.m., riders will pass through North Street in Bellingham and continue toward Prospect Street in Franklin.

  • Between 7:20 and 10:45 a.m., riders will pass through Prospect Street in Franklin and continue toward Otis Street in Wrentham.

For more information about the Pan-Mass Challenge, including the routes, events and history, and how to make a donation, go to www.pmc.org.

A few of Franklin's riders were highlighted earlier this week here

If you know of other Franklin riders, please let me know so I can share their info here as well.

Want to cut college costs?

There will be a free college seminar at the Norfolk Public Library on how to cut $42,000 in college costs. Insights on why good students do not get into their first-choice colleges will also be reviewed.

Tuesday evening, August 4, at 7 PM

If you can't make it on Tuesday, this seminar will be offered again during the remainder of 2009. You can check out the full schedule here.

Who is the presenter?

Paul uses his own proven marketing techniques - just like the colleges use to sell their product to your student - to sell your student to the colleges. And he coaches your student through the entire process so that you don't have to pull out your hair.

In short, your anxiety, worry, and stress levels are dramatically reduced. Also, your relationship with your student is enhanced and the senior year is nourishing and productive – as it should be.


Paul Hemphill

Biz: 508.520.6642

Biz: 888.876.1863

Fax: 508.528.1946

http://files.killercovers.com/graphics/EasierWaysToPayForCollege/images/PH_PayForCollegeDVD&Case4_2.jpgCollegeGameCoverSideFullWYALBookCoverWrap4Brochure_300dpi4


Paul is a member of the United Regional Chamber of Commerce.


"Fun-ja-cational!"


The program's co-directors, Kristy Yankee, a French teacher and director of foreign languages at the high school, and Kristin Cerce, a former physical education/health teacher who will teach science this year, said the program has been a great success.

"I think the kids are making so many friends, new friends. As the week progressed, they really opened up. Every day, they have bigger smiles on their faces," said Yankee.

Read the full article about the High School Experience in the Milford Daily News here.


Thursday, July 30, 2009

Walgreens foundation


The foundation is taking shape for the Walgreens at the corner of 140 and King St.


Change the math pyramid

Are you going to use calculus in your real life? Probably not. The odds are you would make better use of statistics! Listen to this simple proposal on a change to math curriculum.



What are the odds of this proposal succeeding?

What is a better sale? 2 for 1, or half off?

"Franklin's pretty pro-active"


"The problem is, mankind has created a bunch of impervious areas. Water used to land on grass and work its way into the ground, but asphalt doesn't allow it to seep into the ground, and pollutants like antifreeze washes into streams and rivers," Cantoreggi said.

The new system, located next to the police station on Panther Way, will capture stormwater from places such as Highwood Drive and the police station parking lot, and treat the water before it goes into a stream, said Rich Niles, project manager with Comprehensive Environmental of Marlborough, the firm hired for the project design and permitting.

Read the article about the latest effort to treat stormwater before it goes to the Charles River in the MIlford Daily News here


"soccer balls and monetary donations are still needed"


"We're both soccer players, so we knew this would be something we were both interested in," Katinas said. "We decided to make it as a community service project because we get to work with children with special needs and they don't have many opportunities like this."

The camp, which is part of the Franklin Soccer School, will be held at Carpe Diem Field in Franklin from Aug. 3 to 6 from 5 to 6 p.m. for children ages 6 to 14.

----

For more information on the Summer Challenger Soccer Camp, visit Franklinsoccerschool.com/capstone.html or e-mail Frongillo and Katinas at Info@franklinsoccerschool.com.

Read the full artcile about this summer project in the Milford Daily News here