Wednesday, November 23, 2011

High School Project - Part 8 (audio)

The eighth and final segment of the complete recording from the School Building Committee forum on the new high school held on Nov 17, 2011.

Time: 16 minutes, 11 seconds




MP3 File

Show Notes:

This internet radio show or podcast is number 100 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This is the eighth and final for the series of the informational session on the new high school. The forum was conducted by the School Building Committee and held at the Horace Mann Auditorium on Thursday, Nov 17, 2011.

This eight segment continues the Question and Answer period with Tom Mercer (School Building Committee Chair), Jim Jordan (partner and owner of Ai3 Architects) Sean Fennell (Project Manager) and School Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski provide answers to the questions. Andrew Chagnon (?) joins to answer the traffic questions.

The questions covered during this segment
  • Teachers end up cutting off the HVAC because it interferes with the class, is the noise in the room something you are planning for?
  • Can you tell us about the technology? Wireless of course, but what is there in the cutting edge?
  • Are you going to have virtual desktops?
  • Can you facilitate the traffic situation?
  • I don't want to minimize the traffic situation, it hasn't been done right at any of the schools!
  • Where are you going to hold the 4th of July fireworks?

Without further ado, here is the recording from Thursday evening Nov 17th

(audio)

Be sure to listen to the other parts of the series:

Part 1 – introduction and evolution of model school invitation
Part 2 - Jim Jordan, partner and owner of Ai3 Architects provides an overview of the building
Part 3 – Q and A: educational space and construction cost
Part 4 – Q and A: various project costs and overall process
Part 5 – Q and A; cost of designing a green building and debt exclusion timing
Part 6 – Q and A; alternate fields and communication campaign

Part 8 – Q and A and closing

---- ---- ----

While this podcast is my public service effort for Franklin. I can use your help. How can you help, you ask?

If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like this, please let me know.

This feedback loop is important. Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
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!

In the News - tree lighting, Tri-County library



Franklin tree lighting set




Franklin's Tri-County library dedicated to retired superintendent

Downtown Partnership - Holiday Stroll



3rd Annual Holiday Stroll Happenings

A Cut Above: Hot cocoa and cookies, 10% off Strawberry Patch jewelry and gift cards

Allied Chiropractic & Whole Health Center: Free chair massage and chiropractic evaluation.  Visit us outside Rockland Trust.

Berry Insurance:  Holiday Happenings with WODS-FM 103.3, Boston’s Holiday Music Station

Confidence Beads:  Discounts on a unique and meaningful gift.  Visit us outside Dean Bank.

Crossway Church:  Snack bags. Visit us at the Berry Insurance parking lot.

Dean Bank: Gingerbread men cookie decorating

Dean College: 4:00pm tree lighting, caroling and holiday snacks

Digital Credit Union: Glow necklaces/sticks for children at the Mobile Branch. Visit us at the Simon’s parking lot.

Franklin Art Center: Local art exhibition and sale, ornament craft for children, free art class raffle, and
evening band exhibition

Franklin Boston Sports Club: Fitness contests and demos, Scooby Doo appearance, free 1-week gym membership. See us at Jane’s Frames.

Franklin Dance Workshop: Holiday entertainment 5:00pm at Simon’s Furniture parking lot

Franklin Federated Church: Project International. Visit us at the Berry Insurance parking lot.

Franklin Fire Department: Holiday Fire Safety Tips

Franklin Food Pantry: Open House and Franklin Food Elves donation drive kick off for “1,200 Pounds of Food and $1,200 in 12 Days

Franklin Girl Scouts: Crafts for strolling kids. Visit us at the Berry Insurance parking lot.

Franklin Historical Museum: Meet Mrs. Claus, Busy Bees craft sale, browse through Franklin history

Franklin School for the Performing Arts: Singing, crafts with the elves at Santa’s Workshop

Grandma Jen’s Crafts: Scarves, blankets and other hand crafted items. Visit us at the corner of Summer and East Central Street.

H&R Block:  Free giveaways and refreshments

Jane’s Frames:  Cider, live music, drawing for framed NE Patriots Sports Panoramic Print, Wish List sign-ups, check out Boston Sports Club at Jane’s Frames.

Mary Kay: Product samples, pampering gift basket drawing.  Visit us at H&R Block.

Printsmart: Free candy cane pens.  Check out The Cake Bar at Printsmart.

Rick’s Restaurant: Choose either a complimentary cup of Rick’s award winning chowder or a small dish of Brigham’s ice cream with the purchase of any adult entrĂ©e

SELF Aesthetics and Therapeutics Specialists: Free chair massage, hot cocoa and a holiday treat, tour of facility

Simon’s Furniture:  Meet Santa from 5-7pm

The Cake Bar: Fabulous cupcake sale.  See us at Printsmart.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

High School Project - Part 5 (audio)


The fifth segment of 8 recorded from the School Building Committee forum on the new high school held on Nov 17, 2011.

Time: 19 minutes, 17 seconds



MP3 File

Show Notes

This internet radio show or podcast is number 97 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This is the fifth of a series of 8 audio segments recorded during the informational session on the new high school. The forum was conducted by the School Building Committee and held at the Horace Mann Auditorium on Thursday, Nov 17, 2011.

This fifth segment continues the Question and Answer period with Tom Mercer (School Building Committee Chair), Jim Jordan (partner and owner of Ai3 Architects) and Sean Fennell (Project Manager) providing answers. Ed Cafasso, a member of the School Building Committee, chimes in to talk about the communication process.

The questions covered during this segment

  • What is the scale of savings talked about for energy rebates?
  • What is the cost of designing a green building?
  • How do we package this building to sell it well?
  • Do you have the numbers on what the total cost would be?
  • Is the Remington/Jefferson debt exclusion coming off the books around the same time?
  • Does anyone have statistics on house valuations for districts with good schools?
  • Does the tax figure include the reimbursements?
Without further ado, here is the recording from Thursday evening Nov 17th

(audio)

Be sure to listen to the other parts of the series:

Part 1 – introduction and evolution of model school invitation
Part 2 - Jim Jordan, partner and owner of Ai3 Architects provides an overview of the building
Part 3 – Q and A: educational space and construction cost
Part 4 – Q and A: various project costs and overall process

Part 6 – Q and A
Part 7 – Q and A
Part 8 – Q and A and closing

---- ---- ----

While this podcast is my public service effort for Franklin. I can use your help. How can you help, you ask?

If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like this, please let me know.

This feedback loop is important. Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
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!

High School Project - Part 6 (audio)

This is part 6 of 8 from the School Building Committee Information Forum on the new high school project held Nov 17,2011

Time: 18 minutes, 37 seconds




MP3 File

Show Notes:

This internet radio show or podcast is number 98 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This is the sixth of a series of 8 audio segments recorded during the informational session on the new high school. The forum was conducted by the School Building Committee and held at the Horace Mann Auditorium on Thursday, Nov 17, 2011.

This sixth segment continues the Question and Answer period with Tom Mercer (School Building Committee Chair), Jim Jordan (partner and owner of Ai3 Architects) and Sean Fennell (Project Manager) providing answers. School Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski joins the conversation to provide some key answers (for example on the cluster model and visioning process and how the high school education can lead to better vocational choices).

The questions covered during this segment
  • Where will they play while the fields are being used to build the school?
  • The new fields, will they be seed or turf?
  • In your campaign, how are you approaching those without school age children?
  • You seemed to have been surprised about the cluster arrangement, if we are designing a building can we validate that this is a good thing to do?
Without further ado, here is the recording from Thursday evening Nov 17th

(audio)

Be sure to listen to the other parts of the series:

Part 1 – introduction and evolution of model school invitation
Part 2 - Jim Jordan, partner and owner of Ai3 Architects provides an overview of the building
Part 3 – Q and A: educational space and construction cost
Part 4 – Q and A: various project costs and overall process
Part 5 – Q and A; cost of designing a green building and debt exclusion timing

Part 7 – Q and A
Part 8 – Q and A and closing

---- ---- ----

While this podcast is my public service effort for Franklin. I can use your help. How can you help, you ask?

If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like this, please let me know.

This feedback loop is important. Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
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!

In the News - turkey dinner, winter concert



Thanksgiving dinner taking a bigger toll on pocketbooks this year

In the News - toy collection, home invasion, service award



Franklin police collecting toys, coats for those in need


Franklin cops still looking for home invasion suspects

St. John’s Episcopal Church Christmas Fair – December 3rd


St. John’s Annual Christmas Fair will take place on Saturday, December 3rd from 9am to 3pm at 237 Pleasant Street in Franklin, MA. Shop for Christmas gifts at our craft tables offering beautiful items, many handmade by the parishioners. A wide variety of themed gift baskets will be available, wrapped and ready to go!

 Save yourself some baking time by taking advantage of our cookie walk. Select a box size and fill it with a wide variety of homemade Christmas cookies. Or choose bakery items from our “freeze to go” area.

Sit and relax while you enjoy hot soups and stews available at our snack bar and try a sweet from our fancy pastry table. Early Shoppers can enjoy breakfast items, such as quiche and cinnamon rolls. We’ll have many raffle items as well as an amazing silent auction, featuring a quilt by the Yankee Quilters!

The Children’s area will feature games, make and take ornaments, face painting, special snacks and more! Santa will be available for pictures from 11-1.

Don’t miss this great church fair!


Annual Christmas Fair Flyer-2011



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

Adult Education Update

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Lifelong Learning by Pandora Carlucci on 11/21/11

It is Thanksgiving week and many of the Session 1 courses are making way for the Session 2 courses. Take a moment to visit Adult Ed at:www.franklin.k12.ma.us select Lifelong select adult ed.

Health & Wellness, Volleyball, Basketball, Art, Dance and more will begin to offer Session 2 classes. Some of these classes begin after Thanksgiving and others come on line in January.

The Child Care Provider courses with Tracy Cheney were very well-received. All three courses were filled. Joan Borgatti, Director of Adult Ed., is working with Tracy on the new Child Care Provider courses for the spring.

Ed2go courses are another great way to update and strengthen your business skill base. They're on line courses, usually 4 to 6 weeks in length, and you can access them at a time that is convenient for you.

Include some Adult Ed. classes in your New Years' resolution.

Things you can do from here:

Monday, November 21, 2011

High School Project - Part 3 (audio)


This is the second third segment from the School Building Committee Informational Forum held Nov 17, 2011.



MP3 File

Time: 13 minutes, 54 seconds

Show Notes:

This internet radio show or podcast is number 95 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This is the third in a series of 8 audio segments recorded during the informational session on the new high school. The forum was conducted by the School Building Committee and held at the Horace Mann Auditorium on Thursday, Nov 17, 2011.

This third segment picks up with the start of the Question and Answer period. Sean Fennell, the Project Manager joins the dialogue to provide some answers

Questions covered during this segment include

  • Can you define educational space?
  • How can students adapt to the newer hallways?
  • When looking at the four model schools, was construction cost part of the criteria?


Without further ado, here is the recording from Thursday evening Nov 17th

(audio)

Be sure to listen to the other parts of the series:

Part 1 – introduction and evolution of model school invitation
Part 2 – Jim Jordan, principal and owner of Ai3 provides an overview of the proposed model

Part 4 - Q and A
Part 5 - Q and A
Part 6 - Q and A
Part 7 - Q and A
Part 8 – Q and A and closing

---- ---- ----

While this podcast is my public service effort for Franklin. I can use your help. How can you help, you ask?

If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like this, please let me know.

This feedback loop is important. Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
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!

High School Project - Part 4 (audio)


This is part 4 of 8 from the School Building Committee Information Forum on the new high school project held Nov 17,2011




MP3 File

Time: 16 minutes, 16 seconds

Show Notes:

This internet radio show or podcast is number 96 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This is the fourth of a series of 8 audio segments recorded during the informational session on the new high school. The forum was conducted by the School Building Committee and held at the Horace Mann Auditorium on Thursday, Nov 17, 2011.

This fourth segment continues the Question and Answer period with Tom Mercer (School Building Committee Chair), Jim Jordan (partner and owner of Ai3 Architects) and Sean Fennell (Project Manager) providing answers.

The questions covered during this segment


  • Once the drawing is done there will be a bid process?
  • What is the purpose of the courtyard in the center?
  • How do you compare in dollars per square foot?
  • What would be the project cost for Franklin?
  • What number will be presented when the voters get to the polls?
  • How are the utilities involved at this point?
  • Has the Franklin Facilities Dept been involved?
  • At what point is the commissioning agent brought into the project and how is it done?

Without further ado, here is the recording from Thursday evening Nov 17th

(audio)

Be sure to listen to the other parts of the series:

Part 1 – introduction and evolution of model school invitation
Part 2 - Jim Jordan, partner and owner of Ai3 Architects provides an overview of the building
Part 3 – Q and A – first set of questions

Part 5 - Q and A
Part 6 - Q and A
Part 7 - Q and A
Part 8 – Q and A and closing

---- ---- ----

While this podcast is my public service effort for Franklin. I can use your help. How can you help, you ask?

If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like this, please let me know.

This feedback loop is important. Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
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!



In the News - Holiday Stroll, food elves



Franklin partnership hosting Downtown Stroll





Franklin Food Elves launching 12 Days of Donating campaign

Sunday, November 20, 2011

High School Project - Part 1 (audio)

The first of 8 segments recorded during the School Building Committee Informational Forum held on Nov 17, 2011



Time: 22 minutes, 45 seconds

Show Notes

This internet radio show or podcast is number 93 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This is the first of a series of 8 audio segments recorded during the informational session on the new high school. The forum was conducted by the School Building Committee and held at the Horace Mann Auditorium on Thursday, Nov 17, 2011.

This first segment covers the opening remarks by School Building Committee Chair Tom Mercer.

Tom review the origins of the planning for the school, the drafting of four plans including a couple of renovation options, and eventually the invitation by the MSBA to join the Model School program. This option provides the best reimbursement rate to the tax payers of Franklin. While some may still say that renovation is the way to go, there is no money for reimbursement of renovation costs for the field house from the state.

If Franklin insists on renovation, then the entire bill would be paid for the the taxpayers of Franklin. If the model school option is approved, then up to 58% of the costs would be paid for by the Commonwealth.

Fact:
New facility is 306,543 sq. feet.
Existing facility is 312,571 sq. feet

While the new high school would be about 6,000 sq foot smaller, it would increase the educational space by 30,000 sq feet. One factor for this increase is that the number of classrooms increases from 52 today to 58 in the proposed facility.


Without further ado, here is the recording from Thursday evening Nov 17th

(audio)


Be sure to listen to the other parts of the series:

Part 2 – Jim Jordan, partner and owner of Ai3 Architects – overview of the project
Part 3 - Q and A
Part 4 - Q and A
Part 5 - Q and A
Part 6 - Q and A
Part 7 - Q and A
Part 8 – Q and A and closing


---- ---- ----

While this podcast is my public service effort for Franklin. I can use your help. How can you help, you ask?

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 visit Franklinmatters.org/
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!


High School Project - Part 2 (audio)


This is the second segment from the School Building Committee Informational Forum held Nov 17, 2011.




Time: 19 minutes, 54 seconds

Show Notes

This internet radio show or podcast is number 94 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This is the second of a series of 8 audio segments recorded during the informational session on the new high school. The forum was conducted by the School Building Committee and held at the Horace Mann Auditorium on Thursday, Nov 17, 2011.

This second segment picks up with School Building Committee Chair Tom Mercer introducing Jim Jordan, partner and owner of Ai3 Architects.

Jim introduces members of his team and then gets into some background information on his firm. How they have worked designing schools and how the MSBA developed the 'model school' program. There is an additional 5% reimbursement available from participation in the 'model school' program.

Whitman-Hanson was the facility they designed that serves as one of the four model schools and the one Franklin has chosen.

Facts:

  • The model proposed will include an 850 seat auditorium
  • Dec 9th due date for the project scope and budget package that will be submitted to MSBA (first real dollars associated with the total project)
  • 60% construction documents due approximately in April 2012
  • 6 cost estimates done and validated at three different times along the way
  • Construction could begin in the Fall of 2012


Without further ado, here is the recording from Thursday evening Nov 17th

(audio)

Be sure to listen to the other parts of the series:

Part 1 – introduction and evolution of model school invitation

Part 3 - Q and A
Part 4 - Q and A
Part 5 - Q and A
Part 6 - Q and A
Part 7 - Q and A
Part 8 – Q and A and closing

---- ---- ----

While this podcast is my public service effort for Franklin. I can use your help.
How can you help, you ask?

If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like this, please let me know.

This feedback loop is important. Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
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!


"Tri-County is the only high school in the Northeast to be chosen"



Last summer, Tri-County's engineering program was selected by MIT to participate in the NASA HUNCH program, in which students come up with real-world products to be used on space shuttles. With the help of an MIT faculty member, they hope to put their inventions to the test on a zero gravity aircraft, or space simulator, in April. 
The school had worked with MIT on projects before and had a student co-op at the university, said Bakr. 
"Every year, students indicate an interest in aerospace engineering," said Bakr, who has taught at Tri-County for eight years. 
"Typical schools in the program propose one idea, instead we proposed four. NASA liked three of the ideas," he said.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/education/x2075767420/Can-astronauts-cook-scrambled-eggs-in-outer-space#ixzz1eFFg5xDf