Schools sharing $250m

Franklin is one of those communities that choose NOT to participate in the Race to the Top program (although it is not listed here).

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Schools sharing $250m

via Boston Globe -- Globe West by Christine Legere, Globe Correspondent on 9/11/10

School districts that agreed to a list of educational initiatives contained in the state's application for federal Race to the Top funds will be sharing in $250 million awarded to Massachusetts.



Massachusetts - United States - Education - Race to the Top - New Hampshire

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Prior post on the Race to the Top decision
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-race-to-top-program.html

EPA to help towns meet run-off rules

The Globe is catching up on 'old news":

EPA to help towns meet run-off rules

via Boston Globe -- Globe West by Rachel Lebeaux, Globe Correspondent on 9/11/10

Three area communities will get expert help as they struggle to comply with a US Environmental Protection Agency directive to reduce phosphorous runoff into the Charles River.

Prior posts on the proposed new EPA regulation

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/08/epa-storm-water-proposal-information.html

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/08/natural-stormwater-filtration-system.html

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/storm-water-mandates.html

Museum open for Harvest Festival

The Franklin Historic Museum will be a part of the Downtown Harvest Festival on Sunday, September 26th from 11:00am to 4:00pm


We will offer free apple cider on the front porch along with a bake sale sponsored by the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum. If you would like to make a donation of bake good for our event, it would be very much appreciated. You may drop it off at the museum on Sunday the 26th in the morning. This will be our first fundraiser and funds will be used to offer programs during the year at the museum.


We are also planning to show films from the early 50s during the day. Stop by and see if you can recognize yourself or someone that you may know. Outside the museum, in our parking lot, we will have some antique cars for you to view.


All in all, it will be a very pleasant day to visit the new Franklin Historical Museum.


See you there!


Franklin Historical Commission


Prior posts on the Museum:

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/07/stanley-chilsons-films-are-big-hit.html

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/03/franklin-ma-moving-museum.html

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2008/10/museum-construction-progress.html

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2008/06/franklin-new-museum-repairs.html

Franklin, MA

Reflection: Half staff

Weekend time is always a good for reflection. Saturday, Sep 11 provided an opportunity to be a poignant one. The reflection on the Franklin Municipal building entrance of the flag flying half mast staff was one of the scenes I caught on camera.

Updated 9/12/10 8:00 PM

Most common usage incorrectly refers to 'half mast' when it should be 'half staff'. Half staff should be used when the flag pole is on land. Half mast should be used when the flag pole in on a ship. Thanks to the reader who raised this question and got me to learn something more about the flag today.

The full set of rules and regulations around display and handling of the US flag can be found here.


Franklin, MA

The sign is gone

It didn't take long to remove the sign for which that complaint was lodged at the Town Council meeting on Wednesday. Walking about for Franklin Photo Saturday, I checked on the Town Common and the sign previously found there was no longer around.

It was a glorious day for being out and about. I hope you all enjoyed your day.

Franklin, MA

Q&A - Glenn Jones on Haiti

I (FM) followed up with Glenn Jones (GJ) to find out more about his trip to Haiti. We exchanged email to complete the question and answers to share here:


FM - What memory from your first trip to Haiti lingered/lingers the most?

GJ - It was the third day of the Mission trip. I was working with my crew installing conduits for a new electrical generator, when ‘Sue’, one of the medical crew comes up to me asking to use my cell phone. She appeared rather distraught and I asked what was bothering her. She cried while explaining to me that a baby that came into the medical clinic just died. She talked about how she had assured the mother that all should be well, the baby had an elevated temperature and short of breath. The Baby had a chest infection. Not long after the mother left to wait outside the baby went into cardiac arrest. Sue mentioned how this should never have happened. If this were America so much more could have been done to save the baby, but it was not. The Medical clinics have extremely limited resources and the Hospitals are so far away and understaffed them selves. We said a prayer for the baby that night at dinner.

FM - Why go back to Haiti?

GJ - I am heading back to Haiti on October 16th to continue the work I started during my March trip. No matter how much I may be able to contribute to the rebuilding of Haiti, it is just a mere scratch on the surface. An estimated 230,000 people were killed during the January 2010 earthquake. Most of those deaths were caused by falling buildings and houses. Donating my experience and skills as an electrician to the devastated people of Haiti is the least I can do.

FM - Why go now?

GJ - Things have not really improved much since the January Earthquake. The Haitian people are just as much in need of our help today as they were the days following the quake. The Media has grown bored covering Haiti’s destruction and despair and has moved on to other international problems, like Iran building a nuclear power plant. However, we can not allow ourselves to forget those who are very much in dire need of International attention. So, why now? Because there is no better time than the present to help.

FM - How can someone help you in this effort?

GJ - A small donation goes a long way in helping me help Haiti. All donations have an immediate and direct impact. Unlike larger National Relief Organizations that have to jump through hoops to get things done, my Mission Trip this October will bring help as soon as I step off the plane. I simply need to raise the funds necessary to pay for a round trip flight and accommodations while in Haiti. Also, additional funding will go to support Mission E4’s continued efforts in Haiti. Please visit Mission E4 at http://www.missione4.com/ . Donations can be made directly to me. Glenn Jones – 172 School St. – Franklin, MA, 02038 – 508-439-7011

FM - Is there anything you'd like to add to this?

GJ - I would like to thank everyone that helped me in March and those that are helping now. I know for certain that the Haitian people are much appreciative of Mission E4’s continued support. It is never to late to help. Take a look around someday and see who may need you. Help is needed everywhere you look. There is no need to go as far as Haiti to help people. Find a local organization and start participating today in your Community; Senior Center, Franklin Food Pantry, and many others. Doing God’s work is what it is all about.

Related posts on Glenn Jones can be found here:

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/09/earthquake-is-over-disaster-is-not.html

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2009/10/town-council-candidate-glenn-jones.html

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2009/09/town-council-candidate-glenn-jones.html



Franklin, MA

Understanding Our Tax System: A Primer for Active Citizens

The 'primer' referenced here is some serious but highly informative reading. 87 pages worth. Get a fresh cup of your favorite beverage, sit down and cruise through this.

Explore our online budget database Is our research helpful to you? Support our work Contact Info   Noah Berger   President   nberger@massbudget.org   (617) 426-1228 x102   Tom Benner   Communications Director   tbenner@massbudget.org   (617) 426-1228 x100 Understanding Our Tax System: A Primer for Active Citizens September 9, 2010 A newly updated resource offering a comprehensive overview of the Massachusetts tax system is now available at www.massbudget.org. Understanding Our Tax System: A Primer for Active Citizens provides tools for everyone who wants a solid understanding of how the Massachusetts tax system works. The primer explains the five principal criteria used to assess a tax system.  It provides an overview of the Commonwealth's current tax system, describing how much revenue is collected from the most important categories of state and local taxes.  Placing the Massachusetts tax system in a broader context, the primer shows how Massachusetts compares to other states and to the U.S. as a whole, and how the Commonwealth's system has changed over time. Finally, the primer provides a closer look at each of the six major kinds of taxes which together compose the Massachusetts tax system, trying to answer a number of basic questions: How does each of these taxes work and how much revenue does it raise?  How has each of these taxes changed over time?  How does each of these taxes affect different income groups? The tax primer is available at www.massbudget.org or by clicking here. In addition, individual fact sheets are available on the income tax, the sales tax, the alcohol tax, tax fairness, and the "Taxachusetts" label. See MassBudget's Budget Browser to explore Massachusetts state budgets from Fiscal Year 2001 to the present, as well as budget proposals offered by the Governor and the Legislature. MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies, as well as economic issues, with particular attention to the effects on low- and moderate-income people.

Well, what did you think?

Does this help paint the big picture on taxes in MA?



Franklin, MA