"I hope that you welcome them"

The hourlong assembly was organized by the school's Best Buddies chapter, which seeks to develop friendships between students with developmental disabilities and their peers. 

Friends of Best Buddies Franklin, a nonprofit organization that supports the program at several schools, provided a $1,100 grant to bring the Maiers to Annie Sullivan. 

The Maiers perform at schools throughout the country in the hopes of increasing awareness of people with disabilities, growing friendships between disabled students and others and demonstrating that someone with a disability can achieve remarkable feats. 

"I think it's just a gift from God," Maier said, adding there's no scientific explanation for her daughter's musical ability. "And we want to share that gift and inspire people around the world."

Read more: Blind, autistic pianist Brittany Maier impresses Franklin students The Milford Daily News

Related post:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/in-news-brittany-maier-zoning-workshop.html


Franklin, MA

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT DEAN COLLEGE

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce has organized a Business After Hours at Dean College, 99 Main St., Franklin, on March 10 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will take place on the concourse of the new Dean College Campus Center. The Main Stage Theater space and Campanella Boardroom will be open for self-guided tours. Ample parking is available on the main lot on Route 140 adjacent to the Campus Center main entrance. Admission is $5 for Chamber members and $10 for non-members. Please register by calling any Chamber office: 508-222-0801, 508-695-2011, or 508-528-2800.

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit, business support organization serving the communities of Attleboro, Bellingham, Blackstone, Foxborough, Franklin, Mansfield, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Norton, Plainville, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Wrentham.



Franklin, MA

In the News - Brittany Maier, zoning workshop

Playing it by ear

from The Milford Daily News News RSS

Franklin to hold workshop on downtown zoning

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin, MA

"fundamental issue is we're still facing a deficit"

"We're trying very hard to avoid an override," Whalen said after the Town Council meeting. "We're very conscious of the fact that there's a potential for a double whammy and we want to avoid that." 

But, if town officials cannot balance the budget without significantly reducing services, it might be better to let voters decide if they want higher taxes or service cuts, he said. 

Town Councilor Tina Powderly agreed with Whalen's comments, noting she hopes that, with a better-than-expected local aid picture, the town can close the gap through savings on health care and further increasing government efficiency. 

"Every year you hope to balance the budget without an override," Powderly said. "There's certainly going to be a deficit. ... We hope to put enough of a bite into the deficit that we won't have to have an override."

Read more: Franklin officials hope to avoid override - The Milford Daily News



Franklin, MA

In the News - DARE, art,

Franklin police announce DARE camp

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin artists’ work on display at Norfolk library

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin, MA

Citizens Against Waste - The question collection

The question form and guidelines

• The trash fee question
• The substitute pay question
• The check book question
• Athletic field lights question
• 
  

Franklin, MA

Library and Friends clear the air

The Friends of Franklin Public Library meeting took my attention away from the Town Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday night. Yes, that is rare but in this case, especially worth it. Why? The book sale is a major fund raiser. The Friends contributed $20,000 last year to the Library. The bank account for the Friends is currently sitting at $29,516.

(The Town Council conducted their meeting in under 8 minutes. If you watch the recording, the first 1:20 is blank so hang in there it will appear (at least it did successfully when I watched it Weds evening). The liquor license for Ichigo Ichie Franklin, LLC (going into the former Piccadilly Pub) was approved. The July 4th committee presented their financial report to the Council. The snow and ice deficit is now about $400,000. “Pray for warm weather” is what Jeff Nutting asked for.)

The Friends meeting was indeed special. Felicia Oti, the Library Director and Cindy Dobryznski, Chair of the Library Board of Directors were both in attendance with the Board of the Friends and a couple of their members..

I won’t go into the recap of the events that transpired beginning with the December 2010 meeting. There is really no point in trying to reconstruct the incident. It has passed and both sides are willing to go forward. There may be some who don’t want to forget and that is okay. We all have choices to make and then we need to live with them.

It was acknowledged that there were mistakes made on both sides. It was acknowledged to let the past be put behind and go forward to support the Library.

There will be a book sale. It seems likely that it will be sponsored by the Friends of the Library for the benefit of the Library.

The book sale will be held at the DPW Garage like in recent years. The DPW will hold their “Touch a Truck” day to coincide with the book sale. All this will take place on the Saturday, May 21st.

The Library is still accepting books. The donation is technically to the Friends to benefit the Library. When the donation is to the Friends, the donor can receive a “Donation Acknowledgement and Tax Receipt”. If the donation is to the Library, it is accepted as a gift with no tax donation available. (An update from a loyal reader reveals that the statement above is incorrect, the gift to the Library still qualifies for a tax deduction.)

The sorting space that was a problem is still being used. Volunteers are still welcomed to help with the sorting. Felicia has heard from some volunteers who have stepped up to help conduct the book sale. The Friends book sale coordinator from last year had already determined not to do it this year (before the whole incident arose). Whether the Friends have another person to fill in remains open.

The permanent solution for space still remains to be determined.

Both the Friends and the Library Board of Directors have pledged to keep in better contact.

Felicia committed to come to the April meeting of the Friends.

Friends of the Franklin Library Mission Statement: We are a nonprofit organization, incorporated in 1991 and dedicated to supporting and promoting the Franklin Public Library. Ours is the first public, lending library in the USA, established with a donation of books from Benjamin Franklin. We are an all-volunteer community group that meets the first Wednesday of the month in the Library Community room at 7:00 pm from September thru June.

Franklin, MA

Town Council meeting 3/2/11

Present: Kelly, Jones, Vallee, Whalen, Mason, Pfeffer, Powderly
Absent: McGann, Zollo


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - February 2, 2011
Motion to approve, passed 7-0


B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meeting recorded by Verizon and Comcast but not by Franklin Matters tonight

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Warren Ravel - July 4th Committee presented annual report on the committee's work for the event

E. APPOINTMENTS - none

F. HEARINGS - none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
New All Alcoholic Beverages Restaurant License
– Ichigo Ichie Franklin, LLC
motion to approve, passed 7-0

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS - none

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS - none

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION - none

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
recognition of training by Police and Fire personnel
recognition of letters to thank the Fire Dept for excellent work done for the citizens

Approx $400,000 in hole on snow/ice removal, pray for warm weather


L. OLD BUSINESS - none

M. NEW BUSINESS - none

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Powderly - encourage seniors to take advantage of the Senior Circuit Breaker tax credit
don't have to own to get the credit, if any questions, contact the Senior Center

FHS doing their Spring fund raiser Sunday, March 13th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM

Vallee - question do you have the break down on the Police/Fire/DPW - that was a really big expense?
Revel - Yes, I don't have the specific break out with me but it was about $10,000 for Police and Fire and $3,000 for DPW
Nutting - I can provide a copy of the invoice if you want
Mason - is that alright Bob?
Vallee - yes
Mason - thanks for your work on this, it is a great event for the town and a ton of work. I hope you can continue to do this for some time.

Motion to adjourn - less than 8 minutes (likely a record!)


Franklin, MA

Happy birthday Franklin!

On March 2, 1778 Franklin was incorporated.

Franklin shares its birthday with another significant MA personality (Dr Seuss) as well as about 70 Franklin residents.

The party will be held on Sunday, March 20th at the Historical Museum. Join the celebration of Franklin's birthday and those Franklin residents who share the Mar 2nd birthday!

Read more about the history of Franklin, MA in Wikipedia


Related post:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/02/where-you-born-on-march-2.html

"I think this a great idea"

A community garden would provide a spot for kids and adults to learn about gardening, the importance of growing food locally and the benefits of working outside, said Amy Acevedo, who started Franklin Community Gardens, a group of residents that are in the process of forming a nonprofit organization. 

"There are so many benefits," said Acevedo, 46, who has lived in Franklin for 10 years. "We'd love to see some Scouts and school groups in there." 

Efforts to create a community garden began when the Bernon Family Branch of the Hockomock Area YMCA used grant money to build raised garden beds. Last year, beds were built at several locations including the Senior Center, Franklin Food Pantry and Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School, Acevedo said.

Read more: Franklin residents hope to start community garden

Related post:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/02/live-reporting-community-garden.html



Franklin, MA

In the News - Tri-County, accident

Two charged in Tri-County fight

by By Brian Benson, DAILY NEWS STAFF

Franklin accident sends two to the hospital

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

"increasing the fruit and vegetable choices"

Franklin's six elementary schools, as well as Remington Middle School and Horace Mann Middle School got salad bars. All three of Bellingham's elementary schools will have a new salad bar, and so will Uxbridge's Taft Elementary School. 

None of the salad bars are open to students just yet. 

"It is a good source of nutrition," said Franklin Food Service Director Clair Doyle. "We are hoping to get them operational by next week." 

The program is sponsored by the Whole Foods Market Foundation and chef Ann Cooper's Food Family Farming Foundation. The salad bars were paid for by Whole Foods customers who donated at local stores through a special school promotion as well as online donations.

Read more: Local kids to eat salad thanks to donations - Milford, MA - The Milford Daily News

Yes, I endorse this effort and thank the Whole Foods Market Foundation (and all the contributors) for this. We will live better when we eat better.

This effort ties in nicely with the Franklin Food Pantry, the Community Gardens, and other healthy programs.

Franklin, MA

Dean College - James Roosevelt, Jr.

Dean College invites the public to its

5th Annual Dean Leadership Institute Executive Lecture

James Roosevelt, Jr.

President and CEO, Tufts Health Plan

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

5:30 p.m. Networking Reception

6:30 p.m. Presentation

Dean College Campus Center, 135 Emmons Street, Franklin

RSVP to: alumni@dean.edu or 508-541-1612

James Roosevelt's presentation at the Dean Leadership Institute Executive Lecture will be on Social Security and Medicare. Mr. Roosevelt joined Tufts Health Plan in 1999 as senior vice president and general counsel, and became president and CEO in 2005. As general counsel he presided over the legal department and the company's compliance, privacy and government relations functions. In November 2008 President Barack Obama appointed Mr. Roosevelt to his transition team to co-chair a review of the Social Security Administration.

This was shared on the Downtown Partnership webpage

In the News - apartments rejected, police dog, gas leak

Proposal for eight apartments rejected in Franklin

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Franklin Police dog gets bulletproof vest

by Contributed photo

Franklin firefighters respond to gas leak

by Staff reports

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Community Gardens Committee Meeting

About 16 folks here tonight to get the low down on the developments for the community gardens

Where is it?
King St Memorial Playground - most families may have found this spot already due to the variety of sports played here but for those who need help positioning it is off King St, just past Forest St and before you get to the Remington-Jefferson complex.


View Larger Map


44 plots for raised beds is the first goal
4 plots for the 'giving garden'
4 plots for community groups
the remainder for first come first served

How would the plots be allocated?
Ideally, they would be assigned via the Recreation Dept website program (assuming it can be set up).
Worse case, it would be done via some sort of lottery to ensure appropriate allocation

A layout has been designed to optimize space
some of the plots will be on smooth ground to enable wheel chair access

The Steering Committee has worked with Tri-County to get some logos developed
there is a meeting Weds to review the drafts and see which one would work for the group

There is a meeting with Jeff Nutting, Town Administrator, to review the plans thus far
and to hopefully confirm some of the direction and planning

What size are the plots?
The plots are planned to be
Ideally 2' deep to ensure good root growth, with alternative plans for 16" or 12" deep beds
One reason to use raised beds on King St is to avoid the ground itself which has been treated over time with pesticides, etc and would not be good for growing organic foods.

Targeting for Apr 22, Earth Day, for the build - coordinated with the Town's Earth Day

each plot would have a 4' by 10' bed using 2" untreated pine
Yes, the beds would have an early life time but this is too get us started at a reasonable cost.

What else is needed?
Looking for another member for the Board
looking for fund raising ideas
looking to leverage relationships with building materials, etc.






Franklin, MA