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

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Brian Benson, Daily News staff

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

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Brian Benson, Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

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

Explore our online budget database Is our research helpful to you? Support our work Contact Info   Noah Berger   President   nberger@massbudget.org   (617) 426-1228 x102   Tom Benner   Communications Director   tbenner@massbudget.org   (617) 426-1228 x100 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. The report, FISCAL FALLOUT: The Great Recession, Policy Choices, & State Budget Cuts - An Update for Fiscal Year 2012, is available at www.massbudget.org or by clicking here.   Individual fact sheets are available by clicking on Early Education and Care; Chapter 70 Education Aid; K-12 Education (Not Including Chapter 70) & School Building; Higher Education; Environment and Recreation; MassHealth (Medicaid) & Health Reform; Public Health;  Mental Health; Human Services; Housing; Economic Development; Law & Public Safety; Local Aid & Libraries; and State Employee Health Insurance.  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.

Forward email This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by info@massbudget.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Patricia Ryan: Don't insist on English!

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

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

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

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.

Matt’s website: http://greenestrengthandfitness.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

In the News - Dean radio, food collection

Franklin vets agent to be guest on Dean radio

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

St. Vincent DePaul food collection

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Staff reports

Franklin, MA

Video Friday - Maslow's Hammer

Yes, it is snowing today April 1. It's no April's fool joke, just Mother Nature doing what she does best in New England, changing regularly.

Why this video today?
To raise the other side of the technology coin. Technology is a tool and can be used or abused. There is Maslow's Hammer: "If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."

The internet does provide an easy (read 'free') entry to providing information. The RSA Animate video provides the other side of the coin.  Food for thought today!





Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the 11 minute video.


Franklin, MA

School Building Committee - documents from 3/30/11

The handouts from the School Building Committee meeting on Wednesday 3/30/11.

• Page one shows the calculations for the four options discussed.
• Page two shows the differences primarily between options one and two
• Page three covers the pros/cons of the options.
• Page four provides the financial impact to the Franklin's taxpayers.

School Building Committee - Docs 3/30/11


The meeting notes (including photos from the meeting) can be found here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/live-reporting-school-building.html


Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the documents

Franklin, MA

Public Hearing Scheduled: Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives

The Franklin Town Council will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at 7:10 p.m. to solicit public comments on a draft Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives for the Town of Franklin owned property (know as the former Nu-Style property) at 87 Grove Street, in Franklin Massachusetts. The following activities are currently being considered related to the Town of Franklin owned property: removal of hazardous materials within the vacant two story former manufacturing facility, demolition of said manufacturing facility, and partial remediation and or disposal of contaminated soil. The project is funded in large part by a $200,000 EPA Brownfields Clean-up Grant. The hearing will be held in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street. Any person or organization so wishing will be afforded an opportunity to be heard.

Written comments and suggestions related to the draft Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives and proposed project may be submitted to the Town of Franklin Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD), 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038. Deadline for comments is 12:00 p.m. Monday May 2, 2011.

A copy of the draft Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives has been added to the Information Repository for this project. The Information Repository, which is a collection of Nu-Style project documents including a Community Relations Plan and environmental assessments, has been established at the office of Planning and Community Development at the Franklin Municipal Building, and is available for viewing during normal business hours. In addition the draft Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives is available for viewing on the Town of Franklin’s Community Links web page:

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/NuStyle.

The Town encourages a broad spectrum of participation by residents and other interested parties in order to better understand and serve the needs of the community. The hearing location is accessible to persons with physical disabilities. If you require a translator or accommodations for the hearing impaired, please contact the DPCD at (508) 520-4907 no later than 4:00 p.m. Monday, April 4, 2011.



Franklin, MA

MA Small Business Development Center Network Event Calendar

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

April & May 2011 Calendar of Events MSBDC Southeast Regional Office   At the MSBDC, "Your Success Is Our Business". Here are programs offered by both MSBDC and our resource partners for April & May. April 01      Social Networking Secrets for Businesses (Fall River) 06      Center for Marketing Research 11th Annual Celebrity/Scholarship Dinner (Swansea) 07      SEED Basic Entrepreneurial Workshops - 2 Sessions (Edgartown) 08      The Power of On-Hold Marketing & Voice Branding (Fall River) 13      UMass Dartmouth eCommerce Conference 2011 (North Dartmouth) 14      Intermediate QuickBooks (Mansfield) 14      SNEEF Bootstrapping: Building a Business without A Pile of Cash (Fall River) 20      The SBA Advantage (Brockton) 20      Marketing Strategies Using Social Media (Brockton) 21      The SBA Advantage (Plymouth) 26      Marketing Strategies Using Social Media (Medfield) 29      Marketing for Small Businesses (Fall River)    May    04     Advanced QuickBooks (Mansfield) 10     Using LinkedIn and Facebook for Your Business (Nantucket) 11     Using LinkedIn and Facebook for Your Business (Brockton) 24     Leave Your Competition in the Dust (Brockton) 24     Export Documentation and Valuation (New Bedford)            *For details and registration, please click on the workshop title. For an updated listing of MSBDC seminars and workshops, please visit the MSBDC Southeast Regional Office Event Calendar periodically at www.msbdc.org/semass. All seminars are held in Massachusetts unless otherwise noted. Pre-registration is required for all seminars. Cancellation Policy Cancellations received by noon the day prior to the MSBDC sponsored seminar will be entitled to a refund. No refund will be given on notifications received after that time or in any no-show situation. The MSBDC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a seminar due to insufficient enrollment. Registration fees will be returned or credited towards a future program. *Not all events listed above are MSBDC sponsored events. "Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration" "The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network is a partnership program with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Massachusetts Office of Business Development under cooperative agreement 1-603001-Z-0022-31 through the University of Massachusetts Amherst. SBDCs are a program supported by the U. S. Small Business Administration and extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. SBA cannot endorse any products, opinions or services of any external parties or activities. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least two weeks in advance.  For further information, contact the Southeastern MA SBDC office at (508) 673-9783."

Forward email This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by tjacobsen@msbdc.umass.edu |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. MA Small Business Development Center Network Southeast Regional Office | 200 Pocasset Street | Fall River | MA | 02721