Saturday, May 15, 2010

Franklin, MA: Plenty to do today

Museum opens from 10:00 to 1:00 PM today

Bottle/Can drive options

  • Franklin High School 9:00 - 2:00 PM at high school parking lot
  • JF Kennedy School 9:00 - 12:00 

Library Book Sale 9:00 - 4:00 PM at DPW Yard off Hayward St


DPW Open House 10:00 - 1:00 PM

In the News - sharing stories, Pulaski construction

Sharing stories in Franklin

from Wicked Local Franklin News RSS 

24-hour constrution to begin Monday in Bellingham

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Franklin, MA

Friday, May 14, 2010

Storm water mandates

Under the proposed mandate from the EPA, which would only apply to Milford, Franklin and Bellingham, properties with two acres or more will have to manage their stormwater runoff.
Wednesday night's public information session included a presentation from the EPA about the regulations as well as time for public comment.
Rick Kaplan, owner of Kaplan Commercial Properties, recently purchased the Bellingham Plaza on Rte. 126, which has 8 acres. Kaplan, who lives in Medway, is not only concerned with the price tag of the mandate, but the fact that the actual cost is still undecided.
"It's an unknown amount of money," Kaplan said. "It's scary to me. It's not fair."
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Stormwater mandate concerns businesses



This article helps to clarify one of the questions asked during Wednesday night's meeting on the Downtown Improvement Project. If the new mandates apply to properties in excess of 2 acres, there doesn't appear to be much of an impact for the downtown project.

If you missed the Downtown Project meeting Wednesday, you can view the video here
Downtown Improvement Project - live broadcast

The EPA meeting was also broadcast but the video has not yet been posted to the Franklin website. As soon as I see the link, I share it here.

Franklin, MA

HMEA 5K Race/Walk - May 23rd

The Horace Mann Education Associates - HMEA, Inc. is located here in Franklin, MA but their effective service delivery is to over 100 communities in MA.





The annual fund raiser for HMEA is the 5K Race/Walk and Family Fun Day scheduled for May 23, 2010.
HMEA's 9th Annual Independence 5K Walk/Run in the Park - MARK YOUR CALENDARS and grab your sneakers to participate in this "Fun-filled Family Day fundraising event...
This event, which is hosted by our good friends at EMC2 Corporation in Franklin, MA gathers 2,000 or more people to help HMEA continue its mission to make a difference in people's lives. AND, all the money raised is returned to the many programs at HMEA, which supports 2,400 children and adults with intellectual challenges and developmental disabilities.

In addition to working the road race registration table (and providing splits at the 2 mile mark), I have decided to help HMEA do some fund raising this year.

I love the quote from Horace Mann that they use on their History page:
"Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity"

You can help the HMEA make a difference with a donation. I have a widget in the center column of this and my other blogs, should you choose to donate an amount within your means.

I will appreciate it.
The HMEA clients you help will too!

-----

If you would like to register for the race you can do so here
http://www.hmea.org/events.html

If you'd like you can contribute in one of several options directly through the HMEA website here
http://www.hmea.org/donations.html




Vallee holds office hours next week

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:


via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 5/13/10

Rep. James Vallee, D-Franklin, invites residents of Franklin and Medway to meet with him or a member of his staff on Friday, May 21, for his monthly office hours.
The first session will be held at the Medway Town Administrator's office at 155 Village St. from 9-10 a.m.
Vallee or a staff member will be available at his Franklin office at 4 West St. from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Those unable to attend can call his State House office at 617-722-2600 to schedule an appointment.

Things you can do from here:

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Special Override Election - June 8th - registration/voting details

ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE TOWN CLERK’S OFFICE.

TOWN OF FRANKLIN ELECTION NOTICE
SPECIAL OVERRIDE ELECTION
DATE:  TUESDAY, June 8, 2010
TIME:   6:00a.m. – 8:00p.m.
PLACE: FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL FIELDHOUSE ON OAK STREET
ALL PRECINCTS



LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE:
May 19, 2010  at 8:00pm at the
Town Clerk’s Office,
First Floor, 355 East Central Street,
Municipal Building.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BEGINNING May 12, 2010

Absentee Ballot Information:
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 Monday, June 7th.
(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.



Attest: Deborah L. Pellegri, CMC, Town Clerk/Election Administrator



This was originally posted to the Franklin, MA website here:
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/01579C3D-000F8513

"It'll make the stretch more vibrant"


Concerned neighbors and business owners turned out for an informational session with engineering firm Weston & Sampson to talk about designs to improve downtown's appearance.
"Our goal is to restore (downtown) as the focal point for community life and create economic development," said Vice President Eugene Bolinger. "We'll upgrade the infrastructure within the public right of way, in an effort to (attract) private investment in that quarter."
Engineers walked attendees through the designs, which call for eliminating some one-way traffic, adding parking spots, raising certain crosswalks and widening sidewalks to meet standards for the disabled.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1773731500/Plans-for-downtown-Franklin-discussed

To view the video of the session you can click here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/downtown-improvement-project-live.html

Franklin, MA

"spotlight on the youth program"

The Panthers are underdogs no more; they are now the team to beat.
And this spring, with Franklin off to an 11-1 start, and unbeaten in the Hockomock League at 10-0, may be just the beginning. The town’s youth program, started in 2004, is still in its infancy, but is stocking both the girls’ and boys’ rosters at the high school. This season, the Franklin girls moved up to Division 1 from Division 2.
“I was in seventh grade when the youth program started,’’ said Franklin senior captain Gina Velluti, a defender. “Now they’re out there and they’re 8 years old. And it just is changing the game so much, it’s making us so much better. The incoming freshmen, they don’t even know how good they’re going to be."
Read the full article in the Boston Globe West section here
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2010/05/13/franklin_youth_lacrosse_program_paying_dividends_for_varsity/

Franklin, MA

In the News - weekend events

J.F. Kennedy Elementary School bottle drive is Saturday

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Franklin Library book sale is Saturday

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Parmenter 5K run slated for Sunday

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Franklin, MA


Mystery Dinner Show - May 22

Mystery Dinner Show
May 22nd 6:30pm


It will feature a theatrical troupe, "Whodunnit," straight from the Newport Dinner Train in
"Win or Die Trying."

Tickets are $30

Please call the church office to purchase.


Franklin, MA

Parmenter 5K Race/Walk - Sunday May 16th

The Parmenter Elementary School will be the start and finish for their 2nd Annual 5K Race/Walk on Sunday, May 16th.

You can visit the event website for detailed information here
http://parmenter5k.weebly.com/index.html

You can also register at Active.com here
http://www.active.com/running/franklin-ma/2nd-annual-parmenter-5k-for-all-ages-2010

Franklin, MA

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Downtown Improvement Project - live broadcast

Live video by Ustream



Franklin, MA

Downtown Revitalization Project and EPA meetings being broadcast

With three choices tonight and new information, I will change my schedule. Talking with Chris and Bob at the Cable broadcast booth last night before the School Committee meeting, I found out that they will broadcast the EPA meeting from Tri-County and make it available on the Franklin website for on demand viewing like other town meetings.

I'll attend the Downtown Revitalization Project meeting and broadcast that one so it will also be available via video replay here on Franklin Matters.

So even with two of the three meetings being broadcast, please, get out to one of them in person. That will ensure that your voice will be heard!

Financial Planning Committee
May 12, 2010 7:00 PM
May 12, 2010 7:00 PM

To view the Downtown Revitalization Project meeting via the web, return here to Franklin Matters to find the Ustream video.


Franklin, MA

"If you do nothing else, come out and vote"


Fire Chief Gary McCarraher said his department will have to cut one firefighter-paramedic, reduce training, and reduce continuing education for staff and residents.
"We believe this year's budget reductions will have a negative impact," McCarraher said, noting it's important for neighbors to realize the decreased quality service is not the fault of employees.
He said without the tenth firefighter, he will not be able to sufficiently staff a second ambulance, and will have to rely on mutual aid for some emergency responses.
Though mutual aid response is of no charge to the town, whichever town responds and transports a person will collect the ambulance fee - which can result in $200,000 to $300,000 in revenue annually


Franklin finance officials back override
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For the full reporting of the three Finance Committee budget hearings I attended in person:
May 4th http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/finance-committee-050410.html
May 6th http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/finance-committee-050610.html
May 10th  http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/finance-committee-051010.html


The presentation used by the Fire Dept can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/franklin-ma-fire-dept-presentation.html


Franklin, MA

In the News - Dean College, Senate election, storm water

Dean College graduates look to the future

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Ross wins special Senate election by more than 6,000 votes
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Stormwater regulation meeting tomorrow in Franklin


Franklin, MA