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Franklin, MA
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 *
Camp Information
Time: 8:00 am — 1:00 pm
Dress: Grey shorts, White T-shirt, and athletic sneakers
Please have your child bring a snack and water bottle each day
Monday: Drop off/pick up at the police station
Tuesday - Friday: Drop off/pick up Meadowlark Field
Friday - Graduation at 12:00 followed by a family cookout.
Each morning we will begin camp with stretching and exercise. We will be outside rain or shine so if it calls for rain you may want to send your child to camp with a change of clothes. Also please remember sun-block.
Camps fill quickly and limited space is available so we ask that you only sign your child up for a week where they will be able to attend every day.
Cost: $150
This donation will be used to fund the DARE camp and activities through out the year.
Make checks payable to: Franklin Police DARE
The basketball game last year drew 1,200 people and raised $6,000 to fund field trips and cultural programs for students of the school.
"We're killing two birds with one stone," said Parent Communication Council Treasurer Erin Long. "Families get to go out for a great night, and we raise money for field trips."
Long, who is again organizing the event with former treasurer Karen Ayotte for the second year in a row, said the Harlem Wizards - a basketball show-team similar to the Globetrotters - will take on a group of students, teachers and community members at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School.
Sullivan Principal Beth Wittcoff said four students from each grade, five teachers, three alumni, Principal Paul Peri from Remington Middle School and School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy will comprise the Sullivan Rockets.
Dear Friends,
We are closing our Franklin store at the end of March. Sunday, March 28 will be our last day of operation.
When we opened our store and studio here nearly three years ago, we were proud to be part of an effort to revitalize Franklin's downtown, bringing you our signature products and services: creative gifts and art activities to take home to share with family and friends or to make in our studio.
Because of today's business climate, it is not possible for us to continue in this location.
We thank you for your support, for using ARTBEAT as a creative resource, for bringing your families here to celebrate birthdays and create family memories, and for allowing us to support your school, church, and scout groups through our donations. We will miss the many friends we've made here.
While we are leaving the Franklin downtown, we are not closing our business. We invite you to visit ARTBEAT in Arlington (www.artbeatonline.com). Our online store at www.artbeatshop.com will continue to supply the special selection of activities we are known for, like Creative Adventures™ sand art and Decopatch™ supplies. Our online selection will be growing over the coming months, and you can order products from us by phone at any time.
Our ART PARTIES will still be available to families in Franklin and surrounding towns. We will bring the party to your home or to another venue that's convenient to you. Click here for more information.
Gift cards will continue to be honored at our Arlington store.
As our parting gift to you, we are offering select items at deep discounts, including interesting fixtures that you might find useful in your home or studio. Please visit us to do some final shopping and let us say farewell.
Our best wishes to you,
Jan and Andrai
The Franklin resident works as a full-time pharmaceutical quality control specialist. She is earning her MBA degree online. She is pregnant with her first child, a girl. And, she has multiple sclerosis, or MS.
"There are a lot of misconceptions out there," the 32-year-old said recently. "I guarantee you everyone knows someone who has it, they just don't know."
Residents like Hoar and area doctors dealing with MS point to acquaintances, colleagues and, as of last week, a discount furniture maven with children.
"To know you can still do everything you want and have everything you want is good to hear," Hoar said, referring to the move by Phyl Rubin of Bernie and Phyl's Furniture fame to disclose her MS though a public service announcement after nearly 40 years.
Aside from Franklin's wrestling team, which included New England champion Dan Telhada and is coached by Carmine Colace, the Panthers got standout seasons from both their boys and girls hockey and boys and girls basketball squads. The track and swimming squads put their best feet forward as well.
Coach Dean O'Connor's boys hoops squad reached the Division 1 South quarterfinals, finishing 18-6 after winning a tournament game. John Leighton's girls basketball team was 16-7, and like the boys went 1-1 in the tourney.
On the ice, Chris Spillane led the boys hockey team to a 16-3-3 mark and the Division 1 South semifinals. Margie Burke's girls hockey team was 13-8 after a preliminary-round loss to Medway-Ashland in the Division 1 tournament.
What is the common thread between the teams, aside from winning records and "FRANKLIN" on the chest? The fact that the coaches come back each year and have built the programs and, as far as one can tell, will continue to.
BOSTON - 03/11/10 - Senator Spilka voted on Thursday to advance a pair of bills aimed at promoting a safe, healthy and productive learning environment for all students through banning bullying and updating nutritional standards in schools.
Senate anti-bullying legislation prohibits physical, verbal and written acts that threaten or cause harm to another student, including Internet "cyber-bullying," while a separate school nutrition bill establishes new standards for fresh food options in school cafeterias and vending machines.
"Both of these bills will help create a secure, healthy and beneficial school environment," stated Senator Karen Spilka. "Kids need to know that the adults in their lives will back them up when they participate in positive behaviors, like healthy eating, and won't tolerate deplorable behaviors, like bullying. These bills go a long way towards setting new and important standards for a productive learning setting.
"These two bills working together will make a dramatic difference in our school environment," Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) said. "We all know there's a strong connection between health and safety and learning. By striking out fear and improving nutrition, we're going to provide students with a more valuable and rewarding educational experience."
The anti-bullying bill requires all school districts, charter schools and non-public schools to develop prevention and intervention plans by December 31, 2010 that include procedures for investigating bullying incidents, notifying parents and determining appropriate disciplinary actions.
"The anti-bullying legislation passed today provides a framework for schools to adequately address the damaging impacts of bullying in all its forms," said Senator Robert O'Leary (D-Barnstable), Senate chairman of the Joint Committee on Education. "Equipping teachers, students and parents with more information and education on bullying and outlined steps on how to handle it provides a community solution to a community problem."
Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) said: "This is comprehensive, prevention-oriented legislation that will work to end the persistent cycle of bullying we've seen in the Commonwealth's schools for years,leading to tragedies like those in South Hadley, Springfield and too many other communities. Every student deserves to feel safe in their own schools, and this bill is a strong step in that direction."
The bill requires school principals to notify local law enforcement of bullying incidents if there is reason to believe criminal charges may be pursued. It also allows Individualized Education Programs for children with special needs to include provisions that will help them handle and respond to incidents of bullying. The bullying ban extends to all school facilities, school-sponsored functions, school buses and bus stops.
The Senate also passed a bill establishing new nutritional standards in schools to address the problem of childhood obesity in the Commonwealth. Food and beverages in school cafeterias, vending machines and other locations in public schools separate from federal meal programs must bein compliance.
"The fact that the current generation of children may have a shorter life expectancy than their parents is simply unacceptable," said Senator Susan Fargo (D-Lincoln), lead sponsor of the bill. "Families demand and deserve that their children be offered food that is healthy, wholesome and safe. The School Nutrition Bill makes certain that parents have the final word on what children eat at school and makes it a requirement that schools maintain healthy standards in the cafeterias."
The standards, to be implemented by the 2012-13 school year, will be developed by the Department of Public Health and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and include requirements for the availability of free drinking water, fresh fruits and vegetables, and nutritional information for non-packaged foods. The use of deep fryers is banned.
The regulations do not apply to bake sales, concession stands and other school-sponsored events.
The nutrition bill also requires issues of nutrition and exercise to be included in the educational curriculum, and it establishes a commission to make recommendations related the management of childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes and eating disorders.
"I applaud the Senate for taking an important step in combating what has become a childhood obesity epidemic in the Commonwealth, and across our nation," said Sen. Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge), Senate chairman of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. "By limiting the availabilityof unhealthy foods and promoting the infusion of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, we're not only curbing bad habits among our children, but improving the general, healthy outlook of wellness inMassachusetts."
As a way to further promote wholesome food options and locally grown products, the bill encourages statewide adoption of the successful "Farm-to-School" program, which creates contracts between local farms and public schools to provide fresh fruits, vegetables and ingredients.
The bill also adds state colleges and universities to the requirement that state agencies or authorities give preferential treatment to local farms when purchasing agricultural products.
Finally, capitalizing on the fresh food trend, the bill requires the study of Boston's "Chefs in Schools" program, which teaches schools to create healthy, cost-effective meals that kids like to eat, to see how it could be effectively implemented in other school districts.
The bill now goes back to the House of Representatives for further action.
The proposal would also look at the merits of a regional dispatch or communications center.
Such a system would not only save money, but use manpower more efficiently, Thompson said.
"For the police side, it's an opportunity to reduce liability, particularly for holding prisoners," he said.
In a regional lockup, deputies would pick up prisoners from all the police departments, bring them to the facility, feed them, and then drive them to court the following day, or the next time the court is open.
The communications center would also be for all the police and fire departments, with trained emergency dispatchers working the phones.