Hold the date for the Charles River Watershed Cleanup!

Are you looking to make a real difference in your community? If so, join a group or form your own to clean up trash throughout the Charles River Upper Watershed. You will be helping us improve the appearance and health of the waterways in our region.

If you live in the Upper Watershed please consider volunteering a few hours of your time to help us protect this unique and valuable natural resource. The large majority of our the cleanup sites are land-based, but we have a few on-water sites for experienced paddlers who can supply their own canoe or kayak. 

Did you know? The Charles River stretches for more than 80 miles from Hopkinton to Boston. It originates and flows for nearly 37 miles here in the Upper Watershed. In our region alone the Charles is fed by 45+ miles of waterways including seven major tributary rivers, brooks, and streams.

WHEN: Saturday, April 24, 2010
TIME:  9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon


WHERE: Charles River Upper Watershed - Ashland, Bellingham, Dover, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Medfield, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millis, Norfolk, Sherborn, Wrentham.


The volunteer check-in site will be located in front of Whole Foods Market in Bellingham, MA. Stop by to get directions to your assigned site, collect your cleanup supplies and receive a free t-shirt. We encourage you to sign up in advance by using the contact information below.


CONTACT: David Dobrzynski
Upper Watershed Volunteer Coordinator


EMAIL: CRWAvolunteer@gmail.com

You can view the flyer for this event here:

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Live broadcast

Live video chat by Ustream


Franklin, MA

Phil's Phriends - 8th Annual Live Music Silent Auction - April 9th

Join us for our 8th Annual Live Music Silent Auction, April 9th, at Showcase Live at Patriot Place in Foxborough, featuring live music from THE Average White Band and Sugarfoot and the Brass Kicking Horns. Help Phil’s Phriends raise funds to fight cancer through the Pan Mass Challenge and the Jimmy Fund.

Tickets are only $25 per person and must be purchased in advance. Limited tickets are available, so please reserve your spot as soon as possible. To reserve tickets, click here.

We look forward to you joining us for a great event. The doors to Showcase Live will open at 6:00pm. At that time you will be able to order food and beverages, preview auction items and make initial bids. The Average White Band will take the stage at 8:00pm and play until 9:30pm. At that time, we will open the silent auction bidding for 1 hour. At 10:00pm Sugarfoot and the Brass Kicking Horns will take the stage and complete the evening.

All ticket sale proceeds bought from Phil’s Phriends will be donated to the PMC and Cancer Research. All tickets bought through the Showcase Live Box office will be for the Average White Band Show and will not be considered a donation. Auction item bidding will be open to the entire crowd at Show Case Live. Please help Phil’s Phriends support our young PMC pedal partner – Emily Taylor – by raising money for cancer research. We look forward to seeing you at the event and thank you for your support!

The Average White Band are widely regarded as one of the best soul and funk bands in the history of music. Though perhaps best known for their timeless instrumental mega-hit ‘Pick Up the Pieces’ the band’s strength actually lay in their consistently accomplished song-writing, stretching across several gold selling albums and multi-grammy nominations for the legendary Atlantic Records. Sugarfoot & The Brass Kickin’ Horns is a 7 piece band with male & female vocalists and one of the finest horns sections around. The band plays the absolute best funk and dance hits from all eras including Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Madonna, Journey and many more.

To get tickets, click here.

You can subscribe to the Phil's Phriends blog to get regular updates as they prepare for this year's Pan Mass Challenge  http://philsphriends.wordpress.com/


Franklin, MA

In the News - reaction to Big Y

Several neighbors said they are concerned traffic will increase and Jordan Road will become an even more dangerous cut-through.

"Jordan Road traffic is a very big concern as it stands," Patricia Reinertson said. "I'm concerned with any such retail establishment that will bring a lot more road traffic."

Kelly McInnis of Russett Hill Road agreed increased traffic on Jordan Road could result in accidents and fatalities, and asked why there's a need for an additional supermarket.

"It's like we are becoming the city of Franklin," McInnis said. "... I love this town, but you're making the wrong business decision."

Some Franklin residents oppose new store

by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff


The official town song "The City Known as the Town of Franklin" can be found here
http://www.franklin.ma.us/auto/schools/jefferson/board/song/default.htm


Franklin, MA

Planning Board 03/22/10

The collection of posting from the Planning Board meeting of Monday, March 22 can be found here:

• Live reporting - Planning Board
• Live reporting - Planning Board
• Live reporting - 248 East Central/Big Y
• Live reporting - hearing: 691 East Central - Van R...
• Live reporting - Planning Board

Franklin, MA

Public Notice: Hydrant Flushing to begin

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Franklin Department of Public Works, Water Division will begin its hydrant-flushing program on Monday, April 5, 2010.  This program is conducted annually to improve Franklin’s water quality and fire flows.  Some hydrants will be flushed between the hours of 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, while others will be completed during the day.  Hydrant flushing will continue depending on water availability and system pressures. Residents may experience discolored water during this process.

Residents may experience, temporary water loss or discolored water while hydrants are being flushed in their area.  Even though the water may be discolored, it is still safe for human consumption.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and we apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.  If you have any questions or concerns, please call the DPW office at 508-553-5500.

Department of Public Works

Alfred Boone
Water/Sewer Superintendent


Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Planning Board

282 Summer St - site plan application

application for site plan approval
Conservation Commission scheduled for Mar 25
Design Review scheduled for Mar 23

combining 282 and 278 parcels, two separate properties
approval not required plan for 278 Summer

never received an occupancy permit for the existing building
lot to be used as a church and place of worship
structure to be renovated to being it up to code
not seeking dimensional relief

below the 15% impervious coverage, hence no need to go before ZBA

80 proposed parking spaces
calculation requires 82 spaces, desire to balance impervious and water area looking to get approval for the 2 space reduction in parking

rain garden design proposed for the rear parking area to help with the DEP storm water treatment
designed to treat 1" run off

will need to add to the existing septic and file appropriate documentation accordingly
looking to minimize the cost of some shade trees required, willing to work with the board

no anticipation for need to light at night time, depending upon grow over the years could use them

Town engineer comments:
81p plan being submitted
currently Town handicap parking req'd at 9' but ADA requires 8'
should keep the 9' until such time as the bylaw is changed

suggestions 'quite reasonable'

request to reduce parking by two doesn't seem unreasonable
reviewed plantings with best development guidebook, reviewed with Conservation agents and they are acceptable

congregation of 125 currently

for the first par tof the service, the whole congregation is together, then the children split from the adults for the second part so all are in the calculation for what is called for, not a new set of folks to use the separate floor.

to be continued Apr 5th 7:15 PM


Franklin, MA