Reminder: Christmas tree pick up this week!

Natural Christmas trees will be picked up curbside the week of January 9th on your normal trash and recycling pick up day. Make sure they are within 3 feet of the curb and out the day before. Artificial trees and/or trees with decorations, tinsel, lights or other ornaments will not be picked up.

This was posted to the official Franklin page here

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda, Jan 10, 2012

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 December 13, 2011 School Committee Meeting.
• Payment of Bills - Mrs. McIntyre
• Payroll - Mrs. Douglas
• FHS Student Representatives
• Correspondence: 1. Budget to Actual

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Franklin Rotary Club President, Archie Acevedo (dictionary donations)
b. Annie Sullivan Middle School Anti-Bullying Award
c. Fall Sports Teams
d. FHS Update
e. Capital Plan FY 2012

3. Discussion Only Items
• Concussion/Head Injury Task Force Update

4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of a check for $100.00 from David Kerman for in-house enrichment at Remington Middle School.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $100.00 from David Gennaro, Jr. for in-house enrichment at Remington Middle School.
c. I recommend approval of the FHS Music Dept. trip to UNH, Clark Terry Jazz Music Festival on March 10, 2012 as detailed.
d. I recommend approval of the recurring FHS Music Dept. trip to NY City on April 28 & 29, 2012 as detailed.
e. I recommend approval of the FHS Wrestling team trip to Middlebury, VT on 12/27 & 28/11 for a competition as detailed.
f. I recommend approval of the FHS Wrestling team trip to Bennington, VT on 1/14/12 for a competition as detailed.
g. I recommend approval of the FHS Wrestling team trip to Easton, PA on 1/20-22/12 for a competition as detailed.
h. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,500.00 from EMC for the FHS Robotics Club.
i. I recommend acceptance of the donation of an executive desk from Maria Murphy for the Franklin Public Schools.
j. I recommend acceptance of the donation of dictionaries for all Franklin 3rd graders from the Franklin Rotary Club.
k. I recommend acceptance of a check for $4,085.00 from Vicario Studio for in-house enrichment at Franklin High School.
l. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Lueder’s Environmental, Inc. for the Franklin Public Schools.
m. I recommend acceptance of a check for $250.00 from Maura Schaeffer for the Jacqueline A. Schaeffer Theatre Arts Memorial Scholarship at FHS.
n. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from Harvard Pilgrim Heqalth Care for supplemental curriculum materials at Remington Middle School.
o. I recommend approval of the FY2012 Capital Plan as outlined.

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. Executive Session
• Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn

Wadsworth Diary - Jan 8, 1892

Pleasant & cool. Chored about home. Elmer went up to Mr. Hunt’s & worked about home & c & c. I killed a rooster this eve.

In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale. 


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html 

When you give to charities, who really gets your money?

When the Franklin Food Pantry did its first phone-a-thon during 2011, it was an all volunteer effort that resulted in a 100% yield to the Food Pantry. Dean College provided access to their phone bank and over 40 volunteers made calls to about 2400 Franklin households. The full story can be found here:
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/06/franklin-food-pantry-says-thanks-to-you.html

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

When you give to charities, who really gets your money?

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff on 1/7/12

The phone rings during dinner. It's a professional solicitor, calling to raise money for the local police union. The smooth talker convinces you to donate $100. You write out a check. Here's what you might not realize: Only $37 goes to the union, which uses the money to support youth sports teams and the local food pantry. The fundraising company gets the rest — all $63 of it.

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In the News - rail crossing, man falls

Franklin rail crossing malfunction fixed

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Rhode Island man falls from Franklin roof

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Wadsworth Diary - Jan 7, 1892

Very pleasant & cool. Ground covered with snow. Elmer is at home to day & filed saws & worked a lot we partly put in the new cellar door & c. I am a little better. Wrote to Alvah this eve.

In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale. 


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html 

"it’s spurring some interest"

The site consists of three lots: Wendy’s, which occupies a building allowed to have a drive-through; one parcel on which Daddario will seek a sit-down restaurant; and a third parcel on which he will seek a tenant hoping to use an office building. 

“(There) was a lot of controversy with it,” Daddario said. “There was some initial disappointment with having to lose Taco Bell.” 

“Now we’re excited to get some more serious interest in the other two parcels and get it full, so we’re going to keep moving forward.”

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1266412437/Builder-making-progress-on-Knights-site-in-Franklin#ixzz1ili91oXe

Wadsworth Diary - Jan 6, 1892

Cloudy, & began to snow before 10AM. Very driving snowstorm turned to rain before night. Done my chores, & see to the trains for Willie, & went & got a passenger at Bea Whitney’s place ( the nurse there). Elmer came home to night in the cars at 4:35.

In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale.


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html

“I think they understand it and respect it"

To those who have played for Spillane, it is no surprise that Franklin has been a perennial contender in Division 2, advancing to the state final at TD Garden last March before dropping a tough-to-swallow 2-1 loss to Tewksbury. 

His rules are simple but highly respected. Younger kids are intimidated but the older ones make sure everyone sticks together. 

It’s a rare day that Hall or fellow senior captain Nick Bertoni doesn’t see Spillane, dressed in his police uniform, in the high school hallway. 

“During the day, you’re going to be a good kid with coach always around,’’ Hall said. “He definitely gets that respect.’’

Read the full article in the Boston Globe online here

Vera Meyer returns to the Historical Museum

The Franklin Historic Commission will celebrate Benjamin Franklin’s Birthday by welcoming back Vera Meyer and her Glass Harmonica to the Franklin Historical Museum on Sunday January 22nd. 29th

updated 1/18/2012 - with the realization that the Patriots playoff game would be a conflict with this event, it was postponed one week to Sunday, Jan 29th. 

The public is invited to the Museum to enjoy the sounds of this unique instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761. It is based on the idea of simply rubbing a wet finger around the rim of a glass. Vera Meyer plays a variety of compositions on this beautiful glass instrument, some specifically written for it, including works by Mozart and Beethoven. 

Ethereal, haunting, mystical and ghostly are just some of the words used to describe the sounds of this rare instrument. Come and hear it for yourself Sunday January 22 during regular museum hours 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Light refreshments will be served in celebration of our town’s namesake’s 306th birthday. The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin.

Related posts:

Franklin Matters: Vera Meyer - Glass Harmonica

Jan 24, 2011

The Franklin Historical Museum celebrated Benjamin Franklin's birthday with a musical performance by Vera Meyer on the glass harmonica (invented by Ben in 1761. I'll have a more complete write up on the afternoon during ...

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

Franklin Matters: FM #84 - Week Ending Jan 30, 2011

Jan 30, 2011

Those who came by were able to learn from Vera Meyer about the glass harmonica that Ben invented while listening to her play. I hope she is able to come back to the museum in the future. The instrument is special and her ...

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

For this one, you can skip ahead to about 9:00 minutes to hear Vera play the glass harmonica

Wadsworth Diary - Jan 5, 1892

Very pleasant & cool, AM. A little better. Done the chores & c. Went up to Herman’s, & see Geo. He is about sick.

In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale.


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html

"a significant state reimbursement"

“It’s very exciting,” Mercer said. “Certainly we weren’t expecting the increase. We thought we were set at 57.94 (percent).” 

As of yesterday morning, the state has locked in its reimbursement rate at 59.52 percent.
This means that, should voters approve a debt exclusion override tentatively set for March, local taxpayers would pay about $45.5 million for an estimated $104.5 million school. 

The School Building Committee began the process of getting a new high school through the state’s model school program after scrapping the idea of renovations last July. Renovations alone would have been too costly with too little reward, committee members said at the time.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x987654169/State-to-pay-more-for-new-Franklin-High#ixzz1iZzBFVcm

Related posts on the proposed new high school can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/12/collection-high-school-building-project.html

"heating assistance programs began chaotically last fall"

The state Department of Housing and Community Development raised the maximum benefit for the poorest heating oil customers from $675 to $1,025, a 52-percent increase. 

People who receive fuel assistance funding for natural gas or electric heat will see the maximum benefit nearly double, from $275 to $525. Benefits vary depending on a client’s income. 

State housing officials said two shots of federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program made the increase possible. 

But advocates warn that even after these increases, the state still has less money available for fuel programs than last year, when heating costs were lower.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1896001494/State-increases-benefits-for-low-income-families#ixzz1ia2uBdAB

2011 sales tax holiday saved consumers estimated $20.98M

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

2011 sales tax holiday saved consumers estimated $20.98M

via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Robert Bliss on 1/4/12

DOR has released its final report on the 2011 sales tax holiday weekend that occurred on August 13-14, estimating that the amount of sales tax revenue foregone was approximately $20.98 million, exceeding the estimate of $19.9 million from the 2010 sales tax holiday weekend.

Last summer, just prior to the holiday, DOR issued a preliminary estimate of $20.5 million in potential savings to consumers from the holiday weekend.

The most commonly asked question about this report is why can't DOR say precisely how much sales tax revenue was foregone to the Commonwealth and saved by taxpayers.

Sales tax is reported to the Commonwealth no later than the 20th of the month following. For example, information on December sales tax collections will not be reported until January 20th.
Retailers do not list individual transactions by date when they report that data,  but simply lump together the entire amount of taxable retail sales for the month, and then apply the 6.25 percent sales tax and forward that amount to the Commonwealth.

As a result, DOR receives no reporting on the volume of taxable or untaxable sales on any given day or days. Individual retailers undoubtedly have some information on this, but they are not required to share it with DOR.

So in the absence of hard data, DOR estimates using the methodology outlined in the report.

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Wadsworth Diary: Jan 4, 1892

Very pleasant and cool. Have done but little, besides the chores, am about the same. E. Simonds here, gave me grapefruit.

In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale.


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html