New Look Locomotives

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New Look Locomotives

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 7/11/11

As the manufacturing and production of 20 new locomotives gets underway, the MBTA is asking the public to help choose a design scheme that reflects a new era in the delivery of
Commuter Rail service.  Beginning Tuesday, visitors to www.mbta.com will be presented with three options from which to choose, seen at left.  The on-line preference poll will be available for two weeks.  The design options will also be on display at North and South Stations.

The MBTA is purchasing a new fleet of twenty diesel-electric passenger locomotives from Motive-Power Incorporated of Boise, Idaho.  The $114 million investment represents the MBTA's first major locomotive procurement in more than 20 years. Employing the industry's newest technological advances, the locomotives are being designed and built to operate more efficiently, reducing fuel use and emissions while significantly improving performance and reliability.  The new locomotives will be in service by 2013.

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"asked for a waiver on two restrictions"

This plan eliminated a second drive-through proposed earlier, but asked for a waiver on two restrictions: one that prohibited left turns out of the property, and another that prohibited the restaurants being open during breakfast hours. It also asked for permission for, but didn't commit to building, increased square footage for one of the buildings, from 2,360 square feet to 5,280 square feet. 

"Doubling the size of a building doesn't come under a limited site plan, in my opinion," said Planning Board member Joseph Halligan, before the board took a vote that would have forced Daddario to create a full site plan, instead of push his project forward with a limited plan. 

An initial vote to require a whole new plan came out in a tie. 

After vehement disapproval from the applicant and Ballarino, and a suggestion of compromise from the Town Planner Beth Dahlstrom, the board reconsidered the decision. 

The board then voted to use the limited site plan, but not approve it until a further traffic study was examined and to limit the building size for now. 

The hearing was continued until July 25, when the board will vote on reconsidering the restriction on left turns.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1498054749/Franklin-board-hears-changes-to-development-plan#ixzz1Rsl9DT4O

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a twelve-week small group program designed for adult cancer survivors who have become de-conditioned or chronically fatigued from their treatment and/or disease. The program is offered without cost to the participants. Our goal is to help patients build muscle mass and muscle strength, increase flexibility and endurance, and improve functional ability. Certified Hockomock Area YMCA health and wellness instructors give personal individualized instruction to the participants. The instructors are trained in the elements of cancer, post rehab exercise, nutrition, and supportive cancer care.


Why is LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Important?
This program fulfills the important need of the increasing number of cancer survivors who find themselves in the transitional period between completing their cancer treatment and the shift to feeling physically and emotionally strong enough to attempt to return to their normal life. The fact that the program is outside a medical facility and integrated into the community serves to emphasize that LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is about health, not about disease. The positive and enthusiastic feedback that we receive from individuals who have gone through the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program convinces us that this is a significant community program that fills an important, and previously unaddressed, need of cancer patients and survivors.


A survivor is defined from the point of cancer diagnosis through the balance of his/her life. Are you a cancer survivor or do you know someone who is? Please contact your local Hockomock Area YMCA branch to get involved.


The Hockomock Y is pleased to announce its upcoming summer program and encourages cancer survivors in the community to join. There is no cost to participants.


Bernon Family Branch, Franklin
45 Forge Hill Road
Franklin, MA
508.528.8708


Start Date: week of July 18
Day & Time: Mondays & Thursdays, 6:00pm or Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:30 am
Contact: Vickey Marini

Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee - Meeting 7/12/11 - 7:30 PM

Proposed Agenda for July 12, 2011

Location: Franklin YMCA 45 Forge Hill Road
Start Time: 7:30PM


I. Call to Order / Introductions of New Attendees
A. Review & approve minutes of previous meeting
B. Volunteer to keep minutes of meeting

II. Report from our representative from DCR Comments from Ron Clough

III. Report from Finance Committee Report from Treasurer

IV. Illegal motorized trail usage
A. Dave Denison successful: We will host Sgt. Chris Spillane of the Franklin Police Dept to address this issue

V. Report from Grant Writing Committee
Application for the Tighe & Bond Engineer Services Grant
Application for the DCR Grant by town planning board
Other grant application opportunities


VI. Report on Regional Coalition possibilities
Mary Chaves on Bellingham
Joyce Godsey, Pres., Methuen Rail Trail Alliance
GTTB


VII. Report of the Membership Committee
Dave Denison


VIII. Unfinished Business:
A Still need to meet with the Metacomet Land Trust
A Still need to Meet with EMC

IX. New Business:
A.


X. Set Date & place for Next Meeting and Adjourn

Downtown Franklin: a flowering showcase

The care and tending to the flowers on the triangle, in the flower pots along the bridge and along the businesses in downtown Franklin are looking good.



Thanks to the Franklin Downtown Partnership for doing this. The time and effort is worth it.

For more information on the Downtown Partnership, please visit the website here



Disclosure: I am a member of the Downtown Partnership

Franklin, MA: School Committee - agenda - 7/12/11

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

Mission Statement

The Franklin Public Schools, in collaboration with the community, will cultivate each student's intellectual, social, emotional and physical potential through rigorous academic inquiry and informed problem solving skills within a safe, nurturing and respectful environment.

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the June 28, 2011 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Glynn
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: none

2. Guests/Presentations
a. none

3. Discussion Only Items
Budget Discussion / Adoption of FY12 Budget
Policy – Second Reading

• JNN – Head Injuries & Concussion in Extracurricular Activities
• JKG – Educational Services in the home or hospital

4. Action Items
a. I recommend adoption of Policy JNN – Head Injuries & Concussion in Extracurricular Activities
b. I recommend adoption of Policy JKG – Educational Services in the home or hospital
c. I recommend acceptance of the donation of an upright Bass from Christopher Richards valued at $3,400.00 for the FHS.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $501.14 from Stop & Shop for Horace Mann Middle School in-house enrichment.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,000.00 from the Parmenter PCC for supplies for the Parmenter Elementary School.
f. I recommend adoption of the FY11-12 School District budget in the amount of $51,410,000.
g. I recommend acceptance of a check for $250.00 from Middlesex Savings Bank for district-wide enrichment and supplies.

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Adjourn

"another tool to allow the officer to be better"

The Milford Daily News has an article about license plate readers that some police departments are now getting to assist in their work.

In Franklin, Lynch said the devices have flagged registration or insurance problems. But police can't check plates against certain types of information yet, such as arrest warrants, and Lynch said he hopes to see that improve. 

"It's still early. We've only had it for about a month," Lynch said. "The technology is great - it's just that the databases it draws off of, as far as I'm concerned, are a little limited."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1249728037/License-plate-readers-help-police-scan-30-plates-a-second#ixzz1RhS7dL54