Franklin Matters

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - 9/28/11

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Executive Session April 6, 2011 – to be released, August 10, 2011 and September 14, 2011 Executive Session Minutes Not to be released

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
Cultural Council

Mary Beth Fraser
Janet Norman
Judith Needell
Judith Prueitt-Prentice

Design Review

Nancy Coleman

School Building Committee

Paula Mullen

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS - YMCA – Darkness to Light Program

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 11-46: Authorizing Tax Increment Financing Hamilton Storage Technologies Inc, 3 Forge Parkway
2. Resolution 11-50: Additional Appropriation for Comprehensive Feasibility Study of the Franklin High School and Grounds
3. Resolution 11-51: Support for House Bill No. 00869 – An Act relative to the establishment of municipal lighting authorities

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 full set of documents for this agenda can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2011tc%20Complete%20With%20Documents/09-28-2011agenda.pdf

"lingering effects of a severe concussion"

McGrath said it became clear that Glass, the son of Diane and Michael Glass, had not been abducted, leaving officials to suspect the ordeal had to do with the aftermath of a concussion Glass received while playing football last fall.

"Following that, in school, there was at least two episodes he was taken out by ambulance because he collapsed," McGrath said. The teen has had trouble concentrating in school and "has been dealing with the aftermath of that injury."

A toxicology report showed Glass was not using drugs or alcohol, McGrath said.

"This speaks loudly to the fact that it's something more related to the concussion," he said.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Garden Office Hours - changed

Hello Everyone,

Sorry for the short notice, but I will be moving my office hours to Sunday the 25th from 3-5pm. I'll be in the garden helping to weed, and will be available for any questions.

Cheers,

Chris

--

www.franklincommunitygardens.org

Visit us on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Franklin-Community-Gardens/152040424825578

Follow us on Twitter!

http://twitter.com/#!/FRKLNCommGarden

2 upcoming volunteer opportunities for Franklin Community Gardens!

Hello to our Franklin Community Garden Supporters, Gardeners, and Friends!

We'd like to share some upcoming volunteer opportunities with all of you.

Opportunity 1:
This coming Monday, September 26, from 4 pm until 7 pm, Whole Foods Market Bellingham will be having its last Farmers' Market of the season.

In addition to the usual farm-fresh goodies one finds at a farmers' market, this particular one has a grill station serving up a variety of hot foods, just in time for dinner. Location: the parking lot in front of the store.

Whole Foods Market has generously offered to donate to our community garden nonprofit (Friends of Franklin Community Gardens, Inc.) proceeds from the sale of food from the grill!!!

Thank you, Whole Foods Market!

There is a catch, and we need your help: We (the community garden supporters) must prepare and serve the food. Of course we will!

How great is that? Totally. Are you with us? Yea!

Please sign up for an hour (or three!) by clicking (or copy/paste) the link below:

http://bit.ly/nxLUDa

If you can not work the grill, then please consider your dinner plans that evening----you could shop the market and buy dinner from the grill knowing that proceeds from dinner go directly back into our garden nonprofit fund (more gardens, more tools, more programs!)

I believe that the items we will be cooking and serving are burgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers, surely the healthy ones considering the venue.

More info on the Bellingham Whole Foods Market: http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/bellingham/

Opportunity 2:

King Street Memorial Community Garden Workdays Weekend

All are welcome! No signup needed.

Saturday, Sept 24, 9 am -11 am with King St Garden Coordinator Chris Clay (bring your garden questions!)

Sunday, Sept. 25, 3 pm -5 pm with Amy Acevedo

We will be composting & weeding & generally making the entire garden and surrounding area as neat and tidy as a working garden can be.

Please bring your own labeled shovels, rakes, and tools. (And your awesome, sunny selves)

Check website for weather-related cancellations, I'll post it if we need to cancel---A.

Thank you for putting us on your calendar!

In Autumn and Abundance,

The Franklin Community Garden Committee & Friends of Franklin Community Gardens, Inc.
--

www.franklincommunitygardens.org
Visit us on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Franklin-Community-Gardens/152040424825578
Follow us on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/#!/FRKLNCommGarden

7th annual Run for Bob

7th Annual Run for Bob
5k Run/Walk

Sat. 10/1, 9am - 1pm

(run starts @ 10)

431 Washington Street, Franklin

(formerly Putnam Investments)

kids' activities, games, prizes, food & more!

$20 / adult ($25 after 9/26)

$10 / child under 12 and Best Buddies participants

Team rate (4 or more participants/team): $15 / person

Come in Franklin sports shirt - for every 3, get 4th entry free!

Ways to register: runforbob.org or hockymca.org

Ariel Doggett, Hock YMCA Coordinator of Integration: 774.235.2722

Free t-shirts to first 300 registered

** All proceeds go to Best Buddies Franklin chapter and the YMCA **

Together, we honor Bob Biagiotti, a Franklin resident who passed away unexpectedly 7 years ago. Some of his greatest times were spent running in 5k's --pushing his daughter Kayla in a stroller modified for her disability. Kayla is a student at FHS and her mom Kris puts together a great family day here in Franklin to benefit charities that have played special roles in her family's life. Join us for the run/walk, see flyer! After the run, meet us for fun - an adult only night at Pinz,see flyer!

* The benefitting charities work to promote mutually respectful relationships between people of all abilities. The YMCA's Integration Initiative provides children with special needs an opportunity to participate with their typically developing peers in all the programs, services and activities offered at the Y.

In the News - Matthew Glass Found Alive

Matthew was found in Dedham Thursday evening
http://www.milforddailynews.com/topstories/x985874800/UPDATE-Matthew-Glass-found

Matthew's truck was found in Boston
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x438806412/Missing-Wrentham-teen-Matthew-Glass-truck-found-in-Boston

MassBudget: Three new fact sheets on health insurance, poverty and income

Explore our onlinebudget database

Is our research helpful to you? Support our work

Contact Info

Noah Berger

President

nberger@massbudget.org

(617) 426-1228 x102

New Census data on poverty rates, health care coverage and household income in Massachusetts

September 22, 2011

The U.S. Census Bureau today released its annual update of state-level poverty rates, household income and health care coverage from the American Community Survey (ACS).

The new data show that the overall poverty rate in Massachusetts, having been stable the past three years, showed a statistically significant increase from 10.3 percent in 2009 to 11.4 percent in 2010. The increase in Massachusetts is similar to the rise in poverty nationwide in 2010 -- the overall U.S. poverty rate rose from 14.3 percent in 2009 to 15.3 percent in 2010. The fact sheet 2010 Poverty Rate Increases in Both Massachusetts and Across the Country is available here.

Health insurance coverage in Massachusetts far surpasses coverage nationally and in all other states, detailed statistics released by the Census Bureau today confirm. These data are more detailed and precise than the estimates released earlier this month, and show that 96 percent of residents in the Commonwealth had health insurance coverage in 2010. The fact sheet Massachusetts Still Leads in Health Care Coverage is available here.

The new Census data show a statistically significant decline of $3,182 or 4.9 percent in median household income (adjusted to 2010 dollars). For the U.S. as a whole, the ACS data show a statistically significant decline of $1,144 or 2.2 percent (also adjusted to 2010 dollars). Since 2007 (in the final month of which, the nation officially fell into recession), median household income in Massachusetts dropped an inflation-adjusted $3,307 or 5.1 percent. During the same period, U.S. median household income fell $3,280 or 6.2 percent. The fact sheet Median Household Income Dropped in Massachusetts and the U.S. in 2010 is available here.

See MassBudget's Budget Browser to explore Massachusetts state budgets from Fiscal Year 2001 to the present, as well as budget proposals 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.