Franklin Matters

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Don't throw it out, Freecycle

Somehow I missed this article Friday morning:

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Don't throw it out, Freecycle

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Brian Benson/Daily News staff on 4/22/11

Lorena Landry said she feels like she has a new kitchen, but she didn't spend thousands on appliances.

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Friday, April 22, 2011

Kathryn Schulz: On being wrong

Kathryn Schultz says:

"I call this error blindness. Most of the time, we don't have any kind of internal cue to let us know that we're wrong about something, until it's too late."

"This internal sense of rightness that we all experience so often is not a reliable guide to what is actually going on in the external world. And when we act like it is, and we stop entertaining the possibility that we could be wrong, well that's when we end up doing things like dumping 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, or torpedoing the global economy. So this is a huge practical problem. But it's also a huge social problem."

Will you think about being wrong today?

Franklin, MA

"recession hit and the project fell through"

In 2007, the Zoning Board of Appeals approved two variances for a mixed-use project by developer Antique Realty Corp. and builder Platinum Building, both Franklin-based companies.

Ross said no formal application was ever submitted to the Planning Board.
The plan called for a four-story building with parking below ground, shops and parking on the first floor, office space on floors two and three and residential space on the top floor, according to Zoning Board documents.

"I think everybody in the state was moving towards transit-oriented (mixed-use) development," said Daniel Lewis, of Antique Realty, a principal in the project. "The building had been vacant - it seemed like that would be the perfect spot for it."

In the News - Dean College, copper theft

Dean College to offer negotiating class

by Staff reports

Copper thefts increasing

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Calling for the Pantry: Apr 30 - May 3

Volunteers for the Franklin Food Pantry will be calling residents of Franklin, MA as part of a fundraising effort during specific time periods from Apr 30 through May 3, 2011. The volunteers will be using the phone bank at Dean College to call residents on Saturday, Apr 30 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Sunday, May 1 from Noon to 4:00 PM. Monday, May 2 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Tuesday, May 3 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

The volunteers will announce that this is the first annual phone call fundraising effort for the Food Pantry. The Pantry is looking to raise funds to provide for the over 400 families it services each month. The Pantry is able to provide 5 meals for each $1 donated by leveraging the resources of the Greater Boston Food Bank, local supermarkets, local farmers and generosity of the Franklin community.

Donors will be asked to make their contribution via credit card, or to make a pledge. The pledge will result in regular mail sent to their address which can be returned via the mail with a check, or the check could be dropped off at the Pantry during operating hours.

As an alternative, donors can visit the Food Pantry website and make a secure transaction with their credit card via Google Checkout. The website can be found at http://franklinfoodpantry.org/

Note that the volunteer calls will appear as “Dean College” for those with caller ID.
The Food Pantry thanks Dean College for the gracious access to their phone bank for this fundraiser.

Volunteers to make the phone calls are still welcome. There are several time slots to choose from over the four day campaign. If you would like to help with this effort, please contact Maureen Roy.

Saturday, April 30th
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 1st
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Monday, May 2nd
6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 3rd
6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m

For additional information on the campaign, contact Maureen Roy at the Franklin Food Pantry. Telephone Number: 508-528-3115. Maureen can also be reached via email at maureen@franklinfoodpantry.org

Web site address http://franklinfoodpantry.org/

We believe in the power of community. Our mission is to connect the resources needed to sustain a healthy life.

The Franklin Food Pantry was established in 1987. We provide supplemental food and non-food items to the needy in Franklin. The Food Pantry was housed in various temporary locations until June 2009 when thanks to the generosity and support of Rockland Trust, the Pantry moved to our current home at 43 West Central Street. The Franklin Food Pantry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Franklin, MA

Franklin's business delayed by lack of quorum

Last night's Town Council meeting was canceled because not enough members showed up to form a quorum.

The board needs five of its nine members for a quorum, but Stephen Whalen, Matthew Kelly, Shannon Zollo, Joseph McGann and Tina Powderly were unable to attend.

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said this was only the second time he could recall in the 11 years he's worked in Franklin that a meeting was canceled because there was no quorum.