Patricia Ryan has been teaching English in the Middle East for 30 years. She has seen great changes during that time and shares some insights on the dominance of the English language.
What has this got to do with Franklin?
Due to the school budget cuts, the foreign language program offered by Franklin's schools is reduced. When my daughters went to middle school, they spent time with Spanish, Latin and French in 6th grade before choosing one of the three to continue with in 7th and 8th. That choice and program is not available to Franklin's students today.
The School Committee and Administration faced with a reduced budget are forced to make choices amongst ever tougher options.
Patricia's talk presents arguments for maintaining other languages. The cultural value of other languages is hard to calculate but should be considered.
What do you think?
Leave a comment, send an email or join the conversation on Facebook!
Related posts on the foreign language program in Franklin
1 - From the budget workshop Jan 29, 2011
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/01/live-reporting-school-budget-workshop_29.html
2 - Foreign language update to School Committee Sep 2010
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/09/live-reporting-foreign-language-update.html
3 - Discussion in Jun 2010 on the middle school Latin decision
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/06/live-reporting-foreign-language-latin.html
Franklin, MA
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Apr 6, 2011
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
March 2, 2011 regular minutes, February 16, 2011
Executive Session Minutes
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS
Community Garden Committee
Zoning Board of Appeals
F. HEARINGS
Public Hearing to solicit comments on a draft Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives for the Town
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION:
1. Resolution 11-09: Creation of Franklin Community Garden Committee
2. Resolution 11-11: Transfer of Tax Title Possession Parcels to Different Municipal Purposes
3. Bylaw Amendment 11-659 Chapter 135, Removal and Undergrounding of Utility Poles and Overhead Wires and Structures
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
L. OLD BUSINESS
M. NEW BUSINESS
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
O.EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
P. ADJOURN
The complete agenda document is included as the Brownfields information was good to share.
Franklin, MA - Town Council Agenda 4/06/11
Franklin, MA
March 2, 2011 regular minutes, February 16, 2011
Executive Session Minutes
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS
Community Garden Committee
Amy Acevedo
Christopher Clay
Nicole Harter
Deb Schwab
Teresa Triana
Zoning Board of Appeals
Timothy C. Twardowski
F. HEARINGS
Public Hearing to solicit comments on a draft Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives for the Town
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION:
1. Resolution 11-09: Creation of Franklin Community Garden Committee
2. Resolution 11-11: Transfer of Tax Title Possession Parcels to Different Municipal Purposes
3. Bylaw Amendment 11-659 Chapter 135, Removal and Undergrounding of Utility Poles and Overhead Wires and Structures
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
L. OLD BUSINESS
M. NEW BUSINESS
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
O.EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
P. ADJOURN
The complete agenda document is included as the Brownfields information was good to share.
Franklin, MA - Town Council Agenda 4/06/11
Franklin, MA
Franklin, MA: Street sweeping to begin April 11
The Department of Public Works will commence street sweeping operations on Monday, April 11th. Sweeping will start downtown and will be followed by primary roadways. Secondary roadways and subdivisions will be swept based upon the order for the 2011 street sweeping zones. A map indicating the zones is located here. Street sweeping is expected to take up to 3 months and is weather dependent. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the Department of Public Works.
The street sweeping zone map can be found at the link on the Franklin website or right here:
Franklin Ma Street Sweeping Letter Size 2011
Franklin, MA
HYDRANT FLUSHING
HYDRANT FLUSHING
PUBLIC NOTICE
TO
FRANKLIN RESIDENTS
The Franklin Department of Public Works, Water Division will begin its hydrant-flushing program on Monday, April 11, 2011. 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 also 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 508-520-4910/4915.
Department of Public Works
Deacon Perrotta
Water/Sewer Superintendent
Franklin, MA
"The idea is to get people involved"
For its annual One Book, One Community program, the library has selected "When We Were Strangers," a book by first-time novelist Pamela Schoenewaldt that chronicles the story of an Italian woman who emigrates to the United States.
"I think all of us in some way have a connection to immigrants," said Monique Doyle, vice chairwoman of the library board of directors who also went to high school with Schoenewaldt. "We're very close to immigrant ancestors. It's kind of a universal thing."
The One Book, One Community movement, which started in Seattle in 1998, is a community read-a-thon where librarians encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to read the same book and join up for a series of programs relating to the title. Several area communities, including Framingham, Bellingham and Wayland, have started similar programs.
Franklin began four years ago with a $7,500 grant from the state Board of Library Commissioners. After the first year, the program has been funded mostly by the Friends of the Franklin Library, Library Director Felicia Oti said.Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x816840317/Library-program-gets-the-whole-town-on-the-same-page#ixzz1ISKhYkGP
Related posts
1 - The Library One Book, One Community program announcement for 2011
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/one-book-one-community-2011.html
2 - From the budget hearing in May 2010
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/live-reporting-library.html
3 - "Dark Tide' was the selection in 2008
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/07/if-youve-already-read-dark-tide.html
Franklin, MA
Saturday, April 2, 2011
This man is not Blue in Franklin
Have you tried catching marshmallows with your mouth?
Matt Greene has and he really does catch them.
How does he do it?
Practice. Practice that comes with having performed in over 1,000 shows with the Blue Man Group in Boston.
How did you do more than 1,000 shows?
In Boston currently there are five guys rotating through the three positions for each show. Each role/character has different business to conduct. The roles are structured more jazz-like playing riffs off each other than following a script word for word. There is also a three man band that is highly integrated with the Blue Men. The band also rotates through their positions. So with six different personalities in each show, no two shows are exactly alike. Business needs to be accomplished but exactly how we get there is open to interpretation. That is what makes it interesting. If you had to do every show, the same thing, exactly the same way, every night, it would get tiring very quickly.
Where did the Blue Man group start?
They started in New York. Boston’s group was the first outside of NYC. They wanted to ask the question: could it exist and survive outside NYC? It could and has so well that the Blue Man show has also expanded to other cities: Chicago, Orlando, Las Vegas, and internationally in Berlin and Tokyo.
How does the show work?
You play within some structure. The music is still as much fun to play today as it was five years ago. You get your schedule at the beginning of the week and you know which role you are going to be for each show. You can go several weeks without having the same line up. The personality within the group plays as much importance as the role. The group thrives on a certain vibe. The drummer could be waiting for you to set this up. If you don’t go, then the other musicians are waiting for you, and him. They need to find each other. So you learn to recognize when to step outside the box, when to stay within. After each show there is a recap, the group discusses ‘how did that work?’ It is not judgemental. Valid feedback is required to foster the collaboration within the group. The vibe is key.
How do you train?
A new person comes to the group with about 6-8 weeks of training in NYC. We teach them how to come in here. It’s not formalized. It is more apprentice/master with doing and showing; this is how they learn. Then they figure out later when to vary. Some of this workout is done in the rehearsals. Amongst all the play, there is still a lot of technical things that you just have to get right. It may look like it but we are not really running around making everything up. You need to master your business first. Then you can think about your character and how it should react.
What is the show about?
I never answer that. It is different for everyone. It can’t be summed up. It is something that has to be experienced. Which is why it has been staying around for so long.
So how does a Blue Man come to live in Franklin?
He wanted more space than he could have in Brookline. Aubrey and I had been looking for awhile. As nice and convenient as Brookline was, we started looking around. We wanted a yard for the dog, room to raise a family. We heard great things about Franklin. We heard about the top 10 lists. The distance concerned me because I needed to commute into Boston. Sometimes I take the train which is really convenient. I can walk to it. It gets me there earlier than I want to but it takes me home almost exactly when I need to. And then I can also drive and get there at the last minute. So I mix it up.
Aubrey’s photography business can still serve Boston. She can also get down into Rhode Island so it works out very well for us. The commute is not as scary as I thought it might be so we’ll be here for a while.
What keeps you busy when you are not a Blue Man?
I am a strength and conditioning coach. I also write a blog, where I share information on proper training techniques, which I guess is how you found me.
Yes, I found Aubrey’s photography page and from hers, found yours.
Franklin, MA
Matt Greene has and he really does catch them.
How does he do it?
Practice. Practice that comes with having performed in over 1,000 shows with the Blue Man Group in Boston.
How did you do more than 1,000 shows?
In Boston currently there are five guys rotating through the three positions for each show. Each role/character has different business to conduct. The roles are structured more jazz-like playing riffs off each other than following a script word for word. There is also a three man band that is highly integrated with the Blue Men. The band also rotates through their positions. So with six different personalities in each show, no two shows are exactly alike. Business needs to be accomplished but exactly how we get there is open to interpretation. That is what makes it interesting. If you had to do every show, the same thing, exactly the same way, every night, it would get tiring very quickly.
Where did the Blue Man group start?
They started in New York. Boston’s group was the first outside of NYC. They wanted to ask the question: could it exist and survive outside NYC? It could and has so well that the Blue Man show has also expanded to other cities: Chicago, Orlando, Las Vegas, and internationally in Berlin and Tokyo.
How does the show work?
You play within some structure. The music is still as much fun to play today as it was five years ago. You get your schedule at the beginning of the week and you know which role you are going to be for each show. You can go several weeks without having the same line up. The personality within the group plays as much importance as the role. The group thrives on a certain vibe. The drummer could be waiting for you to set this up. If you don’t go, then the other musicians are waiting for you, and him. They need to find each other. So you learn to recognize when to step outside the box, when to stay within. After each show there is a recap, the group discusses ‘how did that work?’ It is not judgemental. Valid feedback is required to foster the collaboration within the group. The vibe is key.
How do you train?
A new person comes to the group with about 6-8 weeks of training in NYC. We teach them how to come in here. It’s not formalized. It is more apprentice/master with doing and showing; this is how they learn. Then they figure out later when to vary. Some of this workout is done in the rehearsals. Amongst all the play, there is still a lot of technical things that you just have to get right. It may look like it but we are not really running around making everything up. You need to master your business first. Then you can think about your character and how it should react.
What is the show about?
I never answer that. It is different for everyone. It can’t be summed up. It is something that has to be experienced. Which is why it has been staying around for so long.
So how does a Blue Man come to live in Franklin?
He wanted more space than he could have in Brookline. Aubrey and I had been looking for awhile. As nice and convenient as Brookline was, we started looking around. We wanted a yard for the dog, room to raise a family. We heard great things about Franklin. We heard about the top 10 lists. The distance concerned me because I needed to commute into Boston. Sometimes I take the train which is really convenient. I can walk to it. It gets me there earlier than I want to but it takes me home almost exactly when I need to. And then I can also drive and get there at the last minute. So I mix it up.
Aubrey’s photography business can still serve Boston. She can also get down into Rhode Island so it works out very well for us. The commute is not as scary as I thought it might be so we’ll be here for a while.
What keeps you busy when you are not a Blue Man?
I am a strength and conditioning coach. I also write a blog, where I share information on proper training techniques, which I guess is how you found me.
Yes, I found Aubrey’s photography page and from hers, found yours.
Matt’s website: http://greenestrengthandfitness.blogspot.com/
Aubrey’s website: http://aubreybgreenephotography.blogspot.com/
Aubrey’s website: http://aubreybgreenephotography.blogspot.com/
Franklin, MA
"How can awareness be a bad thing?"
... Engelman is confident in Franklin police officers' ability to respond to autistic people.
Besides participating in regular training on autism, the department is participating in a special event to raise autism awareness.
Officers will bathe the police station in blue lights to raise awareness about the neurobiological disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop socially.
Beginning last night, officers lit several blue spotlights as part of Light It Up Blue, an international campaign by the Autism Speaks advocacy organization. Buildings throughout the world - including the State House, Prudential Center and Fenway Park in Boston - were expected to turn on blue lights yesterday and tonight. The event coincides with World Autism Awareness Day, which is today.Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x719608937/Franklin-Police-join-autism-awareness-event#ixzz1IMMVxqdh
Read ore about World Autism Awareness Day here http://www.worldautismawarenessday.org/site/c.egLMI2ODKpF/b.3917065/k.BE58/Home.htm
Franklin, MA
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