"It's often very hard to find information like that"

Hoping to inform and encourage awareness among Massachusetts residents, a nonpartisan research group has launched a Web site where people can click around and see specific line items in the state budget, track overall spending and gather other related information.

"The idea is to improve transparency so that anyone in the state can see clearly what we're doing through government," said Noah Berger, executive director of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.

Visitors to browser.massbudget.org can study how much money lawmakers have decided to spend on roads, bridges, education, public safety and other areas of government over the past 10 years.

"People really should have the ability to see how much is being spent on each of those things and be involved in debates about the quality of services that they want and that they're getting in their communities," Berger said

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Gee, wouldn't it be nice to be able to do this with the Franklin budget? The Financial Planning Committee report provides the numbers and trends on some specific areas. You can view the report here.


Franklin, MA

an update from the Franklin Food Pantry

Do you know a friend or family member who is struggling in this economy?  A recent USDA report shows that more than 200,000 households in Massachusetts lack consistent access to adequate amounts of nutritious food.  Here at the Franklin Food Pantry, we distributed over 45,000 lbs of food to more than 1,000 clients since October 1, 2009 (averaging 62 lbs per household per month).  We have seen our number of regular clients increase by 28%.

During the holiday season, we were able to feed more families, children and seniors thanks to our generous community, who donated more than 25,000 lbs of food and more than 200 monetary donations.  We believe our donations increased this year due to our new central location – Thank you Rockland Trust!   We are fortunate that more than 74 volunteers joined us to help us sort, check dates and stock our shelves with these community donations.  To help us accommodate such generosity, CVS volunteers helped us build shelves and makeover our storage room (a “move that bus” moment was shared by all!). 

We were able to accomplish all of the above during a very difficult economic period that we know will continue into 2010. Unemployment remains high and there are many people still struggling to secure enough nutritious food to feed their families.

Good food nourishes the body and the spirit. With regular, nutritious meals, we are free to grow, to think, to smile, to live.  In 2010, we will expand our capacity to provide our clients with a wide range of opportunities for gaining access to local, fresh, nutritious food.  We are excited to announce our partnership with Tangerini’s Farm in Millis (139 Spring St) to offer fresh produce to clients from June through October.  Please visit http://www.tangerinisfarm.com/  to learn more about our Food to Share CSA program and consider making a donation to help make fresh and local produce accessible to everyone.  We are grateful to our volunteer Heather for working with Laura Tangerini to help us create this exciting local program! 

We hope to learn with you, our community, the many elements of nutrition, food systems, local resources and to explore the questions, “What is food?” and “Where does our food come from?”

Volunteers and food donations are always welcome.

Thank you for making a difference.

Anne Marie Bellavance, Executive Director
Franklin Food Pantry
43 West Central Street
P.O. Box 116
Franklin, MA 02038-0116
Telephone: 508-528-3115

hours: Monday - Friday 9am - 1pm


This was originally posted on the Franklin Food Pantry website here:
http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/



Franklin, MA

"truly beneficial to the community and bring people together"

"We wanted to have something other than grants to give back, show, and make a visual acknowledgement (with a reception) and to bring people together and truly thank them," Welsh said.

She said a majority of the recipients were present, including Concerts on the Common, Franklin Performing Arts Company, Franklin Historical Museum and the Fourth of July Celebration committee, among others.

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting, state Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, Massachusetts Cultural Council Program Coordinator Tara Ahmed and Craig Carey, an aide for Rep. James Vallee, D-Franklin, spoke of their support for the council, Welsh said.

"There was a lot of representation from the Town Council, School Committee members, local government and state government," she said. "It was just great."

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Franklin, MA

Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee - meeting agenda - 4/13/10

Proposed Agenda for  April 13, 2010

Attendees:                                                      

I. Call to Order / Introductions of New Attendees
A. Introduction of new attendees
B. Quick review of minutes of previous meeting
C. Approve previous meeting minutes

II. Report from our representative from DCR
A.           
B.           
C.           

III. Membership Committee Report (Denison, McKeown, Sawyer)
A. Committee to report on membership activity

IV. Report from Finance Committee (Rossetti)
A. Report from Treasurer

V. Report of Fund Raising Committee (Sawyer)
A. Report on fund raising activities
1. Report on Raffle Ticket Sales by Carl Svendsen
2. Report Road Race Committee prep by Dave Labonte

VI. Report from Grant Writing Committee (if any)
A. Extend committee with more members & participation

VII. Unfinished Business
A. Earth Day Preparations
      a.   Make sign for bike, raffle ticket sales, etc.
B. Additional fraternal organizations in town

VIII. New Business
A. Need volunteers to work on the 2nd edition brochure
B. Form the Race Committee and set date as the 1st item of business
    Send in forms to Marsh for approval on property
C.

IX. Set Date & place for Next Meeting and Adjourn


Franklin, MA

Money flowing in bid for Senate

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Money flowing in bid for Senate

via Boston Globe -- Globe West by Erica Noonan, Globe Staff on 4/10/10

With just two days before the Democratic primary for the state Senate seat left vacant by US Senator Scott Brown, political newcomer Peter Smulowitz has spent most of the campaign money he raised in the first three months of the year on his bid to defeat state Representative Lida Harkins for the party's nomination.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Boston Globe -- Globe West using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Franklin, MA: School Committee, Agenda, 4/13/10

Vision Statement
The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

Mission Statement
The Franklin Public Schools, in collaboration with the community, will cultivate each student's intellectual, social, emotional and physical potential through rigorous academic inquiry and informed problem solving skills within a safe, nurturing and respectful environment.

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the Open and Executive Session minutes from the March 23, 2010 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills  - Mr. Glynn
Payroll  - Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence

1. Budget to Actual

2. Demand for Arbitration

2. Guests/Presentations

1. Signing of the Secretaries Contract

2. JF Kennedy Food Service Presentation

5th Graders: Madison Harrington, Kendyl Ryan, Joseph Sarno, Daniel Wasnewsky. 

4th Graders: Jake Noviello, Cameron Riu, Kevin Sassaman,  Camille Fischer. 

3rd Graders: Nitin Chaudhury, Riley Downing, Arun Kavishwar, Cade Ryan.

3. Discussion Only Items

A. Space Needs Sub Committee Report and Modular Rubric

B. Budget Discussion

4. Action Items

A. I recommend approval of the 2010-2011 School Calendar with the change discussed.

B. I recommend adoption of the Secretaries Contract for July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013 as detailed.

C. I recommend approval of the field trip request for Keller 5th Grade class to visit Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, RI on May 7, 2010 as detailed.

D. I recommend acceptance of a check for $250.00 from the Alliance for Climate Education for the FHS for supplemental curriculum materials.

E. I recommend approval of the RMS Adventure Club’s recurring trip to Mt. Monadnock, Jaffrey, NH for May 15, 2010 as detailed.

5. Information Matters

Superintendent’s Report
a. Enrollment Comparison
b. Financial Audit

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn

In the News - Senate primary

Who will Democrats pick in state Senate primary

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Abby Jordan/Daily News staff

Franklin voters in Precincts 2, 3 and 4 will have an opportunity to vote in the primary on Tuesday April 13th and then again in the final election on May 11th to select the successor to Scott Brown.

Franklin voters will cast their ballot in the Field House at Franklin High School from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.


Franklin, MA

What's on your plate?

Come seen the documentary film on food for kids and families. This will be shown as part of a film and discussion with local farmers.

When:
Tuesday, April 13th at 6:00 PM. The film starts promptly at 6:15 and the vent should complete about 7:30 PM

Where:
Thomas Mercer Auditorium at the Horace Mann Middle School on Oak St in Franklin, MA


More info on the film itself can be found here: http://www.whatsonyourplateproject.org/


Sponsored by the Healthy Futures Task Force

Franklin raises a garden

Several groups in the community will be coordinating their efforts to build 11 raised gardens on 6 locations as part of the Earth Day activities, April 17th.


The Franklin Community Garden project began as a cooperative effort between the Franklin Hockomock Bernon YMCA, New England Chapel, and Franklin Foods Pantry. These groups share a common interest in the long term goal of developing a community garden in Franklin.


The purpose of community gardening is to develop a sustainable culture of food growth, to provide education for both children and adults, and to provide less advantaged community members access to fresh, healthy produce. Our first step to reaching the long term goal of a community garden is to accomplish the short term goal of developing 15 raised garden beds throughout Franklin. These community garden beds will develop relationships between community members and develop the infrastructure for a broader community garden.    We will be engaging community partners such as schools, faith organizations, other non-profit organizations and other committed community members to participate in the project.


This Community Garden project is partly funded by the Hockomock YMCA and $60,000 grant received by MetroWest Community Healthcare Foundation.


The project is also grateful for the following contributions:

• Lumber and building supplies are being provided and subsidized by Koopman Lumber Co.
• Compost and soil is being donated and delivered to the garden sites by Steve Nedoroscik from McIntyre Materials
• Laura Tangerini of Tangerini's Farm in Millis is donating seedlings and transplants in addition to help/advice as needed

The planning committee met at Cafe Dolce this past week:

• Deb Schwab, Ben Franklin Charter School
• Lauren Marciszyn, YMCA                 
• Ken Norman, Franklin Senior Center
• Robin McLaughlin, United Way
• Nicole Harter, Franklin resident & key contributor
• Jodi Koeman, New England Chapel
• Leann Danielson, YMCA
• Amy Cornwell, New England Chapel &  Cornerstone Christian Academy
• Sandy Bryant, Franklin resident & key contributor 

What will happen with the produce from the gardens?

Food/harvest obtained from the raised beds should be used at the sites for foods/meals and a portion of the food grown/produced will be donated to those Franklin community members with limited access to fresh produce via the Franklin Food Pantry. 

What will be planted?

Currently planning to have a gardener to work with each site to determine the crops to be planted, a planting schedule, regular maintenance plans, and harvest.  The hope would be that the gardeners would work with the sites to help meet their needs, but also to communicate with other site gardeners to share ideas and knowledge.

When will the raised beds be constructed?

The plan is to coordinate this with Earth Day on April 17th. Each bed location will be a building site. The building materials to be delivered to each site a couple of days prior.  

Where will be the raised beds be located?



Currently there are 11 beds planned at six sites in Franklin

• Hockomock YMCA
• Cornerstone Christian Academy/New England Chapel
• Ben Franklin Charter School
• Franklin Food Pantry
• Senior Center
• Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC)

What can I do to help?

If you are part of one of the sites where a bed will be located, there should be a contact person with information. Otherwise show up at the ECDC Senior Center for 9:00 AM. The ECDC Senior Center will serve as the "training" site for all groups. After the first raised bed is constructed, folks can return to each of their sites to construct their own.

Note: This information did change on 4/14/10. The original "training" site was going to be the ECDC, it is now going to be next door at the Senior Center.  

Note: The Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) is one of the schools that are part of the Oak St /Horace Mann Complex.


Note: This post was compiled based upon text provided by Lauren Marciszyn and Amy Cornwell i addition to my own notes from the meeting. Thanks for your input Lauren and Amy! And yes, I took the photo!

In the News - walk for multiple sclerosis

Almost two years after her diagnosis, the Franklin woman will walk for MS on Sunday to raise money for what she describes as a curable disease.

"I think there is a cure in my future, in my lifetime," Dwyer said. "The more money there is for research, the more we can figure out what causes this - and cure it."

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Jodi Dwyer's fund raising page for the MS Walk on Sunday can be found here:
main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/jodidwyer




Franklin, MA

Curbside Yard Waste Collection

Franklin’s Curbside Yard Waste Collection will be held on Saturday April 17^th, May 1^st and May 15^th. 

Be sure to have all material in paper bags, trash barrels or cardboard boxes.  

Brush must be bundled and shall not be more than 4 feet in length and 6–inches in diameter.  

DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS THEY WILL BE REJECTED

Franklin, MA

HMEA 5K Race/Walk - May 23rd

What happens on May 23rd?

Who is HMEA?

Why you should help?

These questions and more can be answered in this brief video.




If you'd like to register to run or walk, you can go to HMEA.org.
If you'd like to contribute as part of my fund raising page, there is a widget on this page or here: http://www.firstgiving.com/stephensherlock

I hope to see you on May 23rd!

In the News - Clara Lodi

Even at 84, the Franklin resident helped out wherever she was needed - right up until her one-year battle with cancer ended Tuesday.

"She just would always do what needed to be done ... whatever she got involved in, she did to her fullest," said Lodi's oldest son, Ruston of Newton.

Read the full article about Clara Lodi in the Milford Daily News here

Franklin, MA

In the News - Override

The Milford Daily News does some funky things with their RSS Feed. Case in point this week, the article on the Town Council meeting Wednesday did not appear in their MDN feed but did appear in the weekly Franklin Gazette feed.

You can find the full text of the article here.

There isn't anything new in the article itself that wasn't already reported here. Of great interest is the list of comments from our fellow Franklin residents. Have fun reading them!

The one reason why there should be an override is for the voters to have their say. Do the majority of commenters represent the majority of voters? We'll see come election day.



Franklin, MA

"Our primary concern is not making candy"

The existing 55-year-old factory had been added to over the years, but its size makes for tight working quarters and its infrastructure is barely passing its health inspections.

"It's passing code, but it's not going to do that forever," Sister Mariann Garrity said.

Garrity said one reason for construction is the walls, which have a bumpy surface and cannot be washed - creating a sanitary issue.

"The most important reason we are building a larger candy factory is that we'd like to expand our production," she said. "The building now is too tight space-wise to be able to do that."

Read more about the Sisters candy operation and fund raising effort for their new building here


Franklin, MA