MBTA: New Locomotives, New Look

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

MBTA: New Locomotives, New Look

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 7/26/11

The MBTA has unveiled the new look for the new generation of Commuter Rail locomotives.  Nearly 14,000 people responded to three design choices in a two-week online survey.  The design chosen above got 50% of the vote.   The chosen design has the largest T logo on the side- three times the size of the current logo.
You'll begin seeing the new locomotives with the new look in the winter of 2012-2013, when the first of 20 new locomotives purchased are delivered from the manufacturer, Motive Power Inc. of Boise.
The $114 million investment represents the MBTA's first major locomotive procurement in more than 20 years.

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Christmas in July Patio Party - BBC Franklin

Ohhhhhh - the weather outside is delightful…so let's celebrate with a
Christmas themed outdoor patio party!  On Thursday July 28th the
British Beer Company in Franklin will be decking out the patio to
celebrate Christmas in July.  Twinkling lights, stockings hung with
care…dig out your fluffy Santa hat from the closet and join the
celebration.  Fun for the kids for sure (face painting, cookie design,
crafts), but more importantly this party will benefit children in need
through the Franklin Police Department's Toy Drive which is associated
with the Santa Foundation.  Everyone who brings an unwrapped gift to
put under the glorious fake Christmas tree will be entered into a
raffle with some great prizes.  Adults will be able to enjoy a secret
stash of seasonal winter beers that the BBC has been cellaring for a
special occasion along with some Christmas themed (cold) cocktails.
Come join BBC staffers and members of the Franklin community as they
sing along to their favorite Christmas carols under a beautiful summer
sky.

British Beer Company
280 Franklin Village Drive
508.440.5190
http://www.britishbeer.com/local/franklin

In the News - stabbing, Planning Board, pole fire

9-year-old stabbed in Franklin

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Franklin officials favor latest plan for former Knights property

by Alison McCall, Daily News staff

Pole catches fire in Franklin

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Living in the cracks

Yes, they are healthy. An unintended consequence but a wonderful one. The Franklin Downtown Partnership (a non-profit organization of business folks and citizens) raised money to adorn the downtown area with flower pots.

If you are not familiar with Franklin, this is the triangle downtown. The railroad runs underneath the bridge. Main St is behind you to the left. West central changes to East Central on the right. Also referred to as "the Triangle" this is a centerpiece for downtown.

Just off to the left of these flowers making their life among the cracks in the cement, are several of the flower pots. The pots contain a full collection and colorful assortment of flowers. How these migrated (via seeds maybe?) as runoff when the pots got watered to the cracks is open to speculation.

I'll leave the speculation to any of the CSI-wannabes around. The thought I would leave you with today is simply, when something good happens (as in the Partnership coming together to create a welcoming downtown for Franklin), more good happens!


Note: I am a citizen member of the Franklin Downtown Partnership

Note Worthy: Library grants, animals at the Library

State defers libraries’ grants

from Boston Globe -- Globe West by Megan McKee, Globe Correspondent

Live animals Wednesday at Franklin Public Library

from 02038.com by Warren Reynolds

In the News - helping dogs

Franklin kids sell flowers to help dogs

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

"the building cannot provide an adequate level of education"

And that's just the science department. 

The high school has been on warning status from its accreditation organization, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, for years, especially because it does not comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. 

In response, several members of the School Building Committee recently took a tour of four high schools in the state that were built on different state-approved model school designs. 

The committee voted Monday to request a place in the state's model school program, which allows towns to build new schools based on pre-designed plans and be reimbursed by the state 58 percent of the estimated $97.9 million total cost of a new school. The state is expected to make a decision about Franklin this Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x371607962/Franklin-education-leaders-make-case-for-new-school#ixzz1T1FhMWDF

Franklin model school choices

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

"a perfect location for a station"

... many factors have changed in the past 14 years. Population in towns west of Milford has grown significantly and the owner of the Grafton & Upton Railroad has begun restoring track in Hopedale and Milford to use for freight service, reducing the capital costs to add passenger trains. The owner, Marlborough developer Jon Delli Priscoli, has said he would be willing to work with the MBTA if the project moves forward, Moore said. 

The study will examine Hopedale's Draper mill complex as the last station on the line with the possibility of adding stops between Franklin and Hopedale including in Milford, Moore said. 

The Draper complex is a privately owned 1.5 million-square-foot former mill in downtown Hopedale that has been mostly vacant for years. 

"Freight alone servicing the old Draper facility makes that facility far more attractive to development," said Moore, a former Hopedale selectman. "If there's also commuter rail, it's a tremendous opportunity."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x920808681/Franklin-rail-line-could-expand-to-Milford-and-Hopedale#ixzz1T1HLeyZl

In the News - e.coli, murder case

Franklin man suffered from German E. coli outbreak

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Mike Stobbe/Associated Press

No bail for Franklin man in Marlborough attempted murder case

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Kelleigh Welch/Daily News staff

Depot St construction

If you haven't been downtown to the train station, you might not have noticed that Depot St has been torn up. The municipal parking lot is also torn up. All as scheduled as part of the PWED project funded by a State grant.

Additional info on the two projects downtown can be found on the Franklin Downtown Partnership webpage here:  http://franklindowntownpartnership.blogspot.com/p/downtown-project.html

In the Globe: local meals tax

In case you missed it, the Boston Globe West section on Thursday ran an article on the local meal tax option. Franklin obtained 347,000 revenue from this during the past fiscal year. With continued growth in restaurants, this can be a continuing source of revenue. Not enough to solve our systemic problems, but substantial none the less.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2011/07/21/some_communities_find_meals_tax_a_boon/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Globe+West


Related post:
The State announced the totals for local meal tax revenues earlier in July
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/07/meals-tax-delivers-705-million-to-146.html

"cyberbullying feels like something they can't get away from"

While the foundation sponsors surveys every two years among the region's middle and high schools, it had never before asked its consultant to look at overlap between categories - in this case students who reported mental health problems and those who identified themselves as bullying victims. 

The prompt, Donham said, is a lingering perception among some parents - and even a few teachers - that bullying is something students usually work their way through, more an obnoxious rite of childhood than a serious danger. 

There have also been questions about why the foundation is treating bullying as a health issue deserving grant money, and questions about whether bullying is a classroom issue when much of the harassment takes place off school grounds.
But the data show a clear picture of mental health harm likely to impede learning, harm that includes stress, symptoms of depression, self-injury, serious consideration of suicide - and even attempted suicide, among roughly 578 students. 

"I think that's alarming," Donham said of the suicide numbers. "I think that warrants some looking at."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x920803137/Report-shows-link-between-bullying-mental-health-problems#ixzz1SjRqsR00


Another report, another view, this time from the Boston Globe:

Sharply contrasting findings, from a Globe survey of the state’s 10 largest school systems, casts light on a lingering controversy over the Massachusetts law: What, if anything, should schools report about bullying among their students to authorities at the district or state level?
Read more at the Boston Globe.

"The state will cover 58 percent"

"It seems like an absolutely slam-dunk no-brainer," said Town Council Vice Chairman Stephen Whalen, of building a new high school instead of renovating the current structure. 

The town will make use of the state's model-school program, in which the building committee would pick one of four state-approved options for a school that's already been designed. Building a new school under the model-school program will cost the town roughly $40 million, only about $3 million to $4 million more than gutting and renovating the existing building. 

"The most telling endorsement we got was from the architect who's going to lose his job if we get accepted into the model-school program," said Chairman Scott Mason, who also serves on the building committee. "For him to stand up and say, basically, this is a no-brainer, says a lot."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1510860843/Franklin-councilors-OK-with-plan-for-new-high-school#ixzz1SjQIZLhC

Franklin Farmers Market DOUBLES Food Stamp (SNAP) Dollars

Do you or someone you know receive Food Stamps (SNAP benefits)?


The Franklin Farmers Market new Produce Points program, will DOUBLE your Food Stamp (SNAP) dollars to increase access to fresh, local produce every Friday from 12 noon – 6 pm at the Town Common.


Thanks to a grant received from the MetroWest Community HealthCare Foundation, the Franklin Food Pantry and the Franklin Farmers Market are partnering to offer a new Produce Points Double your Dollars program to anyone who receives Food Stamps (SNAP benefits).


Visit the Produce Points table at the Franklin Farmers Market to convert SNAP dollars into Produce Points dollars. Double your Dollars allows Food Stamp customers to purchase twice as much fresh, local produce. For example, if a customer wishes to spend $5 in food stamps (SNAP), the Produce Points table will exchange the $5 EBT amount for $10 in Produce Points dollars to spend at the Franklin Farmers Market.


Under the Produce Points program, people who qualify for federal food stamps pay for their goods with their electronic benefits cards at the Produce Points table. They will then receive double their dollar amount in Produce Points dollars to use at the Franklin Farmers Market that day or in the future. Vendors are reimbursed for the Produce Points by the Franklin Food Pantry, which received grant funding for this program from the MetroWest Community HealthCare Foundation.

1. The Franklin Farmers Market is only the second farmers market in Norfolk County to accept food stamps (SNAP benefits) (first was Dedham, over 22 miles away)
2. Nearly twice as many MA residents rely on food stamps (SNAP benefits) today as did just 4 years ago (from 238,000 in January 2007 to 440,000 in January of 2011, an 85 percent spike)

We believe everyone has the right to access healthy, affordable food choices. The intent of the Produce Points Double your Dollars program is to provide SNAP beneficiaries with an incentive and access to healthy, local food choices. We also hope this program will make the Franklin Farmers Market more accessible to everyone in the community.


For more information, please contact Anne Marie Bellavance at 508-528-3115 or Tim Grebowski at 508-446-5806.

Budget Monitor: The Fiscal Year 2012 General Appropriations Act

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  Budget Monitor: The Fiscal Year 2012 General Appropriations Act    July 19, 2011      The Governor and Legislature have now finished work on a budget for Fiscal Year 2012 that addresses a $1.9 billion gap primarily with a combination of cuts and reforms. The outlook for the future remains uncertain.  On the bright side, state tax revenue collections have been significantly exceeding projections.  (Data released today indicate that the FY 2011 tax revenue total was $723 million above the revised estimate).  But there are also reasons for concern:  the national economic recovery remains fragile; while the FY 2012 budget relies on less temporary revenue than the FY 2011 budget, it still relies on close to half a billion dollars of such revenue; and the budget assumes significant Medicaid savings that will be very challenging to achieve in full.       The FY 2012 budget includes deep cuts in a number of areas including $24 million from the Judiciary (including probation) and over $60 million in public higher education.  The final version of the budget also includes $460 million less in local aid in FY 2012 than in the original FY 2009 budget, after accounting for inflation.    This Budget Monitor discusses in more detail several reform initiatives, the funding proposals in the state budget, and the temporary and ongoing revenue initiatives on which the budget depends. The Monitor also compares proposed funding levels for FY 2012 to the FY 2011 levels, and, in some cases to previous years' funding levels.    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.

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

Y World of Tots Nursery School

The YMCA has registration open for their World of Tots pre-school program. Details are contained within the document attached that you can scroll to read, or download to keep.

Y World of Tots Registration for Fall Preschool

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

after all: "the shooting ... was justified"

"It was deemed that they were public safety officials protecting the public," said state environmental police spokesman Reginald Zimmerman. "They were performing their necessary duties in defense of the public in what was perceived as a public threat." 

The hawks, an adult and a juvenile, were shot after one attacked Gege Dellorco, a resident who was walking near the school. Dellorco went to the hospital after the hawk scratched the back and side of her head, said Deputy Police Chief Stephan Semerjian. 

According to environmental police, two animal control officers went to the school. One of them was also attacked. 

"They made the best decision they could with the situation they had," Semerjian said, of the animal control officers, who Semerjian would not name. "My understanding was that they deemed it an emergency situation."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x633527920/Hawk-shooting-was-justified-state-decides#ixzz1SdW2wcrj

This is a good follow up to the article on the incident that appeared last week
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/07/two-red-tail-hawks-down.html

Attention Franklin: Scam alert

A brief email from a new mother alerts us to a scam organization going door to door here in Franklin. The email is brief because the new mother was handling the baby and trying to type at the same time.

The short skinny on the scam:

A young person, waves a badge, has some information about you, claims to be associated with the School Dept and ultimately is selling some books. The two neighbors both had the same experience as had been written up extensively in the article here:

http://somedayallthis.wordpress.com/2010/07/05/the-southwestern-company-door-to-door-deception/


For additional information on the company behind the scam, a series of articles from the Salem (OR) News can be found here: http://www.salem-news.com/articles/february232010/southwestern-company-ew.php

"Presenting a $95 million school will not be perceived well"

A new school is about $4 million more expensive to the town, but is expected to take a shorter time to finish - two years instead of four. Also, because the new school would be built beside the old school instead of within its existing footprint, students will not have to go to class in a building that is being reconstructed. 

"You can't put a price tag on the disruption issue," said Ed Cafasso, a School Building Committee and School Committee member. "It's not worth it." 

The option of building a new school became viable at the end of June, when the Massachusetts School Building Association indicated that it would invite Franklin into the model school program - and therefore reimburse more than half the cost. The state is expected to accept Franklin's decision on July 27 and the town could choose which model school plan to use by Labor Day. 

The field house cannot remain standing under the state model school program because it would need to be renovated and the cost of the repairs would be too expensive under the state requirements, officials said. The idea of saving the field house had been part of earlier discussions.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x633527724/Franklin-committee-votes-to-try-for-new-high-school-not-repairs#ixzz1SXkddICP

What Franklin piloted, the others now get to use

The Franklin Line piloted the "Quiet Car" service which is now being rolled out to the remaining commuter rail lines. Having been a frequent rider (until recently), I recognize some of the folks in this video.



Have you ridden the quiet car? How quiet is it?


Thanks to the UniversalHub for the pointer to this video

Cooking cutaway

On the food front, here is a ten minute video from TED. Not exactly a cookbook you'll run out an buy but the photos and explanations of the science and physics of cooking are worth seeing.



Also on the food topic, Michelle is preparing lunches with Bento boxes

Construction progress

Around the neighborhood, the work progresses on the 3 unit building at the corner of Wachusett and Cottage streets. The site of the former Dugout.

Lesson learned: bike shops don't open early

Saturday was a great day for a bike ride.

We got a later start than we wanted. We knew the tires needed to be filled before riding and I do have a bike pump, so it should have have been quick and easy to fill and go. What surprised me was D's new bike has some funky new tube connections. These connections would not fit my pump nor work with the gas station air pump. We would need to get to the bike shop before riding. As it was 8:30 AM when we discovered this, I anticipated that one of the shops would open at 9:00. No such luck, one opens at 10:00 and the other at 11:00.

We were at Crossing Cycle when the doors opened at 10:00. Bought the adapter for the connection, a new pump with the capability to do both connections (standard and new one), filled the tire and were off, finally!

We biked about a dozen miles along the Blackstone River Bike Path. And we'll be ready to get an early start even if the tires need some air next time!

"may send $65 million in local aid cuts back to towns and cities across the state"

Some towns, which didn't expect to have the money, don't have plans for where it would go. Others are welcoming it to plug late cuts, with their local public bodies, such as selectmen, likely to decide its fate. 

"Certainly the economy has affected state aid over the past several years," Ashland Town Manager John Petrin said. "We always look forward to additional funds." 

Franklin Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting easily came up with areas that need further funding, from balancing the budget to capital projects. 

"Obviously, if it happens, it's great news," he said. "In this economy, any money is good news." 

Many towns have already closed their budgets, but, like Nutting, came up with dozens of items for which the added funds could be used.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1797068865/Local-aid-could-be-restored-if-state-has-65-million-in-surplus#ixzz1SMNdyNSp

Two red tail hawks down

Animal control officers, one of whom was also attacked, then shot and killed two hawks, which Tom French, an assistant director of MassWildlife, later identified as an adult and a juvenile that was learning to fly. 

French confirmed that state environmental police and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are investigating. 

He said the state does not typically second-guess town officers who act in the interest of public safety. 

"Unfortunately, there are some concerns," said Marion Larson, an information and education biologist for MassWildlife, "because it is illegal to shoot hawks and owls, and it's a federal issue as well as a state problem."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x633527252/Shooting-of-two-hawks-in-Franklin-questioned-by-MassWildlife-officials#ixzz1SGeGATLj

Franklin Downtown Partnership: Next General Meeting

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Next General Meeting

via Franklin Downtown Partnership by noreply@blogger.com (Franklin Downtown Partnership) on 7/15/11

Please join us for our next General Meeting!

Thursday, July 21, 8:30 a.m.

Dean College Campus Center Board Room

1st floor across from the dining hall

Coffee will be served.

New Members Welcome!

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Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School to destroy some records

I assume the destruction will be a controlled and secure process.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School to destroy some records

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 7/15/11

In compliance with the Student Records Regulations, Chapter 71 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth, notification of the destruction of the temporary school records is given to all students who received special education services and who transferred, terminated, withdrew, were released from these services, or graduated from Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School during the 1995 – 2004 school years.

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In the News: there was a market for this

Franklin detectives saw the men exchange something with someone in a second car, police said, and then followed the second car and stopped a man who, by that time, had a baggie of what was later identified as cocaine in his mouth. 

The detectives then returned to the parking lot and saw a second exchange within an hour and a half involving the same green car, the police report said. 

Detectives interrupted that deal, which this time was heroin, and arrested Dejesus-Escbales and Delossantos, according to court documents. 

The two people who bought the drugs were not arrested and instead were summoned to court on possession charges, police said. 

Police found 13 small bags of heroin, one large bag of heroin, and a bag of cocaine in the Honda, along with $2,158 in cash. Officers also found five cellphones, which rang repeatedly during the arrests, according to court reports.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x633527250/Two-charged-with-dealing-heroin-in-Franklin#ixzz1SGg9TAYX

Farmers Market Open Today !

Franklin Farmers Market,  Friday,  12:00pm to 6:00pm

United Regional Young Professionals Organization announces website and membership opportunities

The United Regional Young Professionals Organization (YPO) announced the launch of their website at unitedregionalypo.org and is accepting new members. The YPO consists of a diverse group of young professionals who have an interest in social and business networking, community involvement and professional development. 

The YPO was organized in 2010 by the United Regional Chamber of Commerce in direct response to the challenges in attracting and retaining diverse young professionals and to develop the next generation of leadership. The annual membership fee of $50 is waived for the first year for United Regional Chamber of Commerce members. 

The YPO is co-hosting a “Christmas in July” networking event with the Hampton Inn in Franklin on July 28. “The hotel will be decorated inside and out for Christmas – Trees, lights, holiday music, movies, the works!” says Amanda Gentile, Director of Sales at the Hampton Inn Franklin/Milford and Board Member of the YPO. The festivities will include pictures with Santa, Christmas ornaments, cookies, hot apple cider and coco buffet, and a hotel hunt for fabulous gifts. You may register for this event on the YPO’s website or by contacting 508-488-YPO1 (9761).

"The end product is very much their own"

In another movie, a dozen characters fight for the title of Greatest Warrior. 

But the class is more than goofing off with gruesome fight scenes. Kids learn how to use a plethora of gadgets, from cameras to tripods, to USB cables, to memory cards. They learn how to make a better picture with or without the flash, edit audio and video clips, and download data to the computer program they used. 

Bisbee said she also incorporates some creative writing in having the kids plan out their characters, plot and settings on paper and storyboards before acting the script out. More than the technical and academic skills, though, the kids learn teamwork. 

"They definitely get a feel for what it's like to work cooperatively and be creative. They play off each other's strengths," said Bisbee, noting that the teams have to plan together and come to a consensus throughout the week. "It's a cooperative project from beginning to end."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x633527054/Putting-summer-fun-in-motion-in-Franklin#ixzz1SAGfernJ

Thousands needed for tornado cleanup July 30-31

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Thousands needed for tornado cleanup July 30-31

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 7/14/11

Thousands of volunteers are needed for a cleanup drive on Saturday and Sunday, July 30-31, in the communities affected by the June 1 tornadoes that struck western and central Massachusetts.

Click to register or for more information.

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Drop off unused drugs at Franklin PD

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Drop off unused drugs at Franklin PD

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 7/14/11

A drug take-back container is now in the Franklin police station lobby at 911 Panther Way.

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"amendments were approved unanimously and without discussion"

The downtown district will now be labeled a mixed-use, transit-oriented area, with specific emphasis on restaurants and retail. 

The amendments are stricter on residential use than commercial. 

Apartments are restricted to upper floors, with no more than 1 dwelling per 2,000 square feet of a lot area downtown. 

While there was previously no parking restriction, each residential unit must now provide 1.5 parking spaces. There is still no parking restriction for businesses.
The 20-foot setback from the street or sidewalk originally required for buildings now starts at a minimum of 5 feet, with 15 feet for four-story buildings. Upper floors are allowed to overhang that minimum requirement. 

The new rules only apply to buildings that are three stories or lower, and proposals for taller structures would still have to get special permit.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1850043867/Franklin-OKs-changes-to-downtown-zoning#ixzz1S4RhOeuc

"food service programs' nutrition standards are 'uneven' "

Ryan's remarks came after the Massachusetts Public Health Council yesterday adopted new school nutrition regulations giving students healthier eating options. 

The new guidelines, which take effect in the 2012-13 school year, will require schools to make fresh produce, healthy beverages, and low-fat dairy and whole grain offerings available wherever food is sold. The rules also get rid of products loaded with sugars and trans fat, including sugar-sweetened beverages like soda. 

The regulations apply to food in vending machines, at snack booths or at school-sponsored events. They won't affect schools' meal programs, nor do they apply to foods sold more than a half-hour before or after the school day.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1850043855/State-passes-stricter-school-lunch-rules#ixzz1S4ShI5MY

Note: Franklin just went with an outside firm to provide the food service partly for this reason.
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/06/theres-lot-of-efficiencies-here.html

In the News - Rep Vallee, Youth baseball

Rep. Vallee holds office hours in Franklin, Medway

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

Get involved with Franklin Youth Baseball

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

The summer of ______ (fill in the blank)

What will you have called this summer? Scott Stratton in this TEDx Talk called this his 'summer of Owen'.




Before the summer is over. Before you forget the heat. Before it gets to September.

Will you take time to stop?