Saturday, April 16, 2011

Senate Approves Local Aid Resolution

On April 14, 2011, the Senate approved a resolution declaring its intent to fund Chapter 70 and Unrestricted General Government Aid at levels not less than the amounts appearing in the House Ways and Means Committee's budget.

What does this mean?
This means that the numbers from the House Ways and Means Budget released earlier can be used with some confidence in planning for the Franklin budget.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Community Gardens Update

Hi Everyone,

Happy Spring!  We have been really busy with garden business and we have several updates to share with you.

The biggest piece of news is that the Town of Franklin has established a community garden committee!  The first meeting of the Franklin Community Garden Committee will be held on April 21, 2011 at 9 AM in the Franklin Municipal building in room 205.  All of the town committee meetings are open to the public.  Future meetings will most likely be scheduled for the evening, however, the Town Clerk will be swearing in the committee members so the first meeting has been planned during business hours.  
The agenda will be posted soon, and will be available for viewing on this page:

Meanwhile, we have established the Friends of Franklin Community Gardens to partner with the Franklin Community Gardens Town Committee.  The Friends will help by providing financial support for materials and supplies needed to build the garden, as well as educational and enrichment programs to benefit our entire community. 

Whether you are hoping for a garden space for yourself or your community group, seeking to volunteer for the initial Build Day or future garden work days, helping the Franklin Food Pantry Giving Garden team, supporting the Friends as a member, donor, sponsor, or volunteer, or any/all of the above, we hope everyone is as excited as we are to see the garden become a reality this year! 

Please be on the lookout for upcoming emails containing information on garden sign-ups, volunteer opportunities, the Friends of Franklin Community Gardens, and more.  In the meantime, please visit us on the web at: www.franklincommunitygardens.org . Thank you for your interest and support!



In health and springtime,

Amy, Chris, Nicole, Lauren, Deb, and Teresa



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In the News - recycling, art, FSPA


Recycling fundraiser set in Franklin




Franklin Art Association offering scholarship



Franklin, MA

Cooking Classes at Whole Foods in Bellingham


Monday, April 18th 
Cooking with Greens!  - 6:30-8:00 p.m. 
Cost: $5.00 donation to the Whole Planet Foundation
Are you tired of eating plain old steamed greens? Do wish you were eating more green leafy vegetables? Don't feel bad, GREENS tend to be the #1 missing ingredient in the standard American diet. Learn how to incorporate this missing element to achieve excellent health and vitality in the Cooking with Greens class. 
Join Karen, the Healthy Eating Specialist in this educational  cooking class and learn some great ideas on how to get more green into your diet!




Thursday, April 28th
Health Starts RAW Foods Cooking Class - 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Cost:  $5.00 and please sign up and pay in advance at the Customer Sevice booth


By popular demand, we are offering our Raw Foods "cooking" class again! 
Learn about the many health benefits that are associated with the Raw Foods way of life, while sampling many great dishes that are not cooked above 104 degrees. 
Attend this class for some motivation and added support in your journey to becoming the healthiest "YOU" you can be! Receive an assortment of ways to incorporate more RAW Foods following the 4 Healthy Eating Pillars; Plant Strong, Whole Food, Healthy Fats and Nutrient Dense  into your diet.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Preliminary Analysis: The House Ways & Means Fiscal Year 2012 Budget






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Contact Info


  Noah Berger
  President
  (617) 426-1228 x102

  Tom Benner
  Communications Director
  tbenner@massbudget.org
  (617) 426-1228 x100


Preliminary Analysis:
The House Ways & Means
Fiscal Year 2012 Budget

 

April 13, 2011    

 

With federal fiscal relief for states ending in Fiscal Year 2012, Massachusetts faces a budget gap of approximately $1.9 billion (the gap between the cost of maintaining current services and the revenue expected to be available).

 

The House Ways & Means budget proposed today closes this gap primarily with cuts and savings.  These reductions affect virtually all areas of government, from health care and public health, to local aid, funding for education, and human services. 

 

Preliminary Analysis: The House Ways & Means Fiscal Year 2012 Budget provides an overview of spending proposals in various areas of the House Ways & Means budget.  MassBudget will release a more detailed analysis of the House Ways & Means budget plan in a Budget Monitor next week.

 

The report is available at www.massbudget.org or by clicking here.   


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.
This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by info@massbudget.org |  
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

In the News - free seeds, hip hop, rain barrels


Be a garden blogger, get free seeds




Dean College hip hop team to perform Friday




Rain barrels, composter available to Franklin residents at discount




Franklin, MA

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Earth Day - April 16 - volunteers needed


VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR
TOWN-WIDE CLEAN UP AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXHIBITS AT BEAVER POND


Franklin will celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 16th with a roadside clean up, spring plantings, and new environmental activities for all ages with activities based at Beaver Pond. 
        Earth Day kicks off "rain or shine" at 9:00 a.m. when volunteers start a town-wide roadside clean up of litter and set out plants and flowers. After this winter's snowfall, many of the town's most scenic streets can be quickly restored to an attractive roadside with just a few hours of time. Please bring gloves for each person and rakes. 
All volunteers are asked to sign in at Beaver Pond between 9:00am-11:00am, so that the areas most in need of a spring clean up get attention. To nominate a town road which needs a cleanup, please call or email the DPW as soon as possible. 
This year, volunteers will be given a trash bags for collecting cans, glass bottles, trash and litter. Volunteers simply leave the bags along the roadside by 12:00 p.m., after which Franklin DPW trucks will pick up the bagged trash. 
Last year's clean up brought out about 200 volunteers and the trash picked up filled one 40 yard dumpster.  Over one ton of litter was collected. 
Community service certificates are issued to youths and adults who need them. Earth Day t-shirts are given to the first 300 volunteers and there will be free pizza and beverages starting at 12:00 p.m. for returning clean up crews. 
Volunteers are also needed to help pick up donated goods, help run events at Beaver Pond. 
Also on site will be Waste Management recycling demo, environmental booths, and demonstrations.  Dean Radio WGAO, will be on site to broadcast live from the event. 
Sponsoring groups and businesses this year so far include: Waste Management, Comprehensive Environmental, Inc., CDM, Malcolm-Pirnie, Garelick Farms, Aubuchon Hardware, State Forest Advisory Council, Metcalf Materials, Hillside Nurseries, Domino's Pizza, Bimbo Bakeries, Dunkin Donuts, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Various boys and girls scouts, Hillside Nurseries, Franklin Garden Club, Franklin Citizen's Rail Trail Committee, Green at Dean College, Dean Community Outreach program, Coles Tavern, and Metacomet Land Trust.

For information on how you can get involved, visit the DPW webpage at:


This notice was also posted to the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/016E42E9-000F8513

To subscribe and receive your own copy of this notice, go to the Franklin website and sign up for "Recycling News"  http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/subscriber-news

Franklin, MA