Tuesday, April 5, 2011

In the News - Tufts CEO


Tufts Health Plan CEO to speak at Dean College




Franklin, MA

Author: Laura Spinella

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Lifelong Learning by Pandora Carlucci on 4/4/11

Adult Education and Community Learning presents Laura Spinella on Wednesday, April 6 at 7 PM at Franklin High School.

Ms. Spinella is a Franklin resident and freelance writer for newspapers and magazines. She will present on the process of writing an book and then navigating the publishing process. This looks to be an exciting evening for Franklin writers-to-be.

For more information on this opportunity contact Joan Borgatti, Coordinator of Adult Education: borgattij@franklin.k12.ma.us

Things you can do from here:

Washington Street Bridge Work


MARCH 30, 2011

WORK BEING DONE ON WASHINGTON STREET BRIDGE AT THE ROUTE 495 OVERPASS.

SCOPE: STRUCTURAL REPAIRS, SANDBLASTING, PAINTING AND PAVEMENT
REPLACEMENT. ALL WORK WILL BE ON ROUTE 495. THERE WILL BE NO
WORK ON WASHINGTON STREET ITSELF.

FRANKLIN TOWN ENGINEER


To subscribe to your own copy of news from Franklin (Police, Fire, DPW, Senior Center) go to the webpage
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/subscriber-news


Franklin, MA

Monday, April 4, 2011

FM #91 - Week ending Apr 3, 2011

Let's take less than 10 minutes to cover what matters in Franklin, MA as the week ends Apr 3rd, 2011.


Time: 7 minutes, 14 seconds





MP3 File


Show Notes


This internet radio show or podcast is number 91 in the series for Franklin Matters.


We'll look back at the week that was as it comes to a close Sunday Apr 3 before getting to the outlook on the week ahead.


With my work on the Board of Directors for the Franklin Food Pantry, I missed the School Committee meeting on Tuesday and caught the highlights via the video feed.


The policy discussions can be found here
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=xRnvQEic8wAn0dx0vhs4uQ%3d%3d


and here
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=aiE5bT6Q1OUbssu1DcVcng%3d%3d




There was a minor change to the 2011-2012 calendar. As New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, school will skip Monday and start on Tuesday. This allows for the holiday to be observed on Monday as most other neighboring community school systems will also do. The revised calendar has been posted and prior versions removed to avoid confusion.




The action items can be found here.
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=Mf21W84bmi2SPafEDvNgrA%3d%3d


Of most interest was the action to accept the proposal on reducing the math graduation requirements to three years. Peter Light gives a good and brief summary of the position and why. Peter's comments occur about 1:01 of the action item segment.




On Wednesday, the School Building Committee meet to hear the first presentation on four options for the renovation of Franklin High. Two of the options are for renovation and two of the options are for building a new school. As the prices are comparable amongst them, the pros and cons will really need to be looked at as the project goes forward.


The next step is for the committee to finalize their options, and decide on a recommendation. This package (three options with one of them a recommendation) will then go before the MSBA where they will make a decision. That decision will then come back to the Franklin voters to approve or reject. If we approve, then the project proceeds with the State contributing something just above 50%. If we reject, the full cost of any resulting project will be borne solely by the Franklin taxpayers. The rejection will have lost our state reimbursement.


The committee is looking to decide by May and get before the MSBA in July which still puts us on the time line for a fall vote. Stay tuned to this one as it develops.


The meeting notes, handouts and photos can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/view/timeslide/1041884019440390619/2011/03/live-reporting-school-building.html




As for town meetings this week


The Finance Committee was scheduled to meet on Tuesday. As the budget book won't be ready until the end of the month, this meeting has been canceled. The budget hearings have been scheduled for May 2, 3, 5, 9 and 10. The calendar on Franklin Matters has been updated accordingly.




The Town Council is scheduled to meet on Weds. The Community Gardens group will be formed as an official town committee. There will be a public hearing on the Brownfields options for the NUStyle property on Grove St. Additional agenda items can be found on the full agenda here


http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/view/timeslide/9039137695672778386/2011/04/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-apr-6.html


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This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin. I can use your help. 

How can you help, you ask? 
If you have an interest in writing about something that matters in Franklin, please let me know.

As always - 


  • If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors
  • If you don't like this, please tell me.


This feedback loop is important. Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visitFranklinmatters.blogspot.com/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark &Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission

I hope you enjoy!






Franklin, MA

Eric Whitacre - Virtual Choir with 2,000 voices

Music is such an attraction point. Folks can disagree on other things but agree on good music. Or in this case, come together from all points around the world to participate in a virtual choir.





What a wonderful story and song! I can hardly wait to see the full release later this month.
Thank you Eric for accepting the challenge to join the choir and then for enjoying your journey in life with music!



Franklin, MA

In the News - public hearing, fund raising


Franklin considers demolishing old Nu-Style building



For the complete agenda for Wednesday's Town Council meeting and all of the associated documents:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/04/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-apr-6.html



Franklin boy inspires martial arts fundraiser




Franklin, MA

FISCAL FALLOUT: The Great Recession, Policy Choices, & State Budget Cuts - An Update for Fiscal Year 2012





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Fiscal Fallout: The Great Recession, Policy Choices, & State Budget Cuts
-- An Update for Fiscal Year 2012  


April 3, 2011


When Fiscal Year 2012 begins, Massachusetts will enter the fourth budget year shaped by the worst national recession since the Great Depression. Communities and families across the Commonwealth have been feeling the effects of deep cuts in government funding for education, health care, public safety, safety net programs, and other services that people count on.   

A new MassBudget report examines the budget cuts already enacted since the onset of the current economic downturn, and those proposed in the Governor's FY 2012 budget.





See MassBudget's Budget Browser to explore Massachusetts state budgets from Fiscal Year 2001 to the present, as well as budget proposals for the next fiscal year as they are 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.


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