Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Wadsworth Diary - Jan 31, 1892


Very pleasant, but cool & windy. About home all day. E. Simonds here.

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   

FHS: Updated Design Photos

Here is a slideshow of the updated design photos for the model school proposed to replace Franklin High School.

Many of these photos are now available in the Town Hall and entrance of each school.




The Town Council will vote at their February 1 meeting on the language for a ballot question and the date for Franklin voters to have their say. The State has approved the 104.5 million dollar plan and Franklin voters now have 120 days to approve the deal.

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

Additional info on the high school project is collected here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/12/collection-high-school-building-project.html

The Citizens for a New Franklin High have put together a website with additional info here
http://www.newfhs.com/


Community Gardens: Renewals & Wait List Info is Here!

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Growing In Franklin by Franklin Community Gardens on 1/30/12

Hello Friends!
Here's the news you have been waiting for:


The Franklin Community Garden Committee
Opens 2012 Garden Bed Renewals and Waiting List
For King Street Memorial Community Garden

Renewals:

  • Beginning Wednesday, February 1st, gardeners who maintained a raised bed at the King Street Memorial Community Garden may begin to renew for the 2012 season.
  • Gardeners have until Friday, March 2nd to complete the renewal application and submit payment. 
  • Gardeners in good standing have already been contacted by the committee.
  • The season fee is $40 and is payable to The Town of Franklin. The application will be processed through the Franklin Recreation Department, 150 Emmons Street (Old Town Hall)
  • There is no online registration for renewals.  Gardeners must call Franklin Recreation at 508-520-4909 or visit during office hours.
  • Garden beds not renewed by Friday, March 2nd will be assigned to the next person on the wait list.  
  • Gardeners may not reassign their plot to anyone else.

Wait List:

  • The Community Garden Committee will also open a rolling waiting list for the garden beginning February 1st
  • Available gardens will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis and assignments will begin Monday, March 5th pending available space at the garden.
  • Sign up for the waiting list ONLINE at http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Recreation/online by following the links to "Online Registration", then "Register for Activities" then select "Community Garden"
  • There is no fee to join the wait list; the $40 fee will only be charged when a garden is assigned.


If you have any questions, please contact the Franklin Community Garden Committee at franklincommunitygardens@gmail.com


Quick! Grab your calendar (or open your calendar app!) and write this down:


Save the Date:
Saturday, March 17
(peas and thank you)


Spring Celebration and Pea Planting Demonstration
 at 
the King Street Garden! 

Weather permitting; more info to follow.  

The public is invited!

oh, yes, FREE SEEDS!!! (while supplies last)




~In Spring We Trust~








Things you can do from here:

"a very good opportunity"


A new high school would cost the town $47 million of the estimated total cost of $104.5 million, thanks to a state reimbursement option called the model school. 
Under the model school program, town officials choose a state-approved high school design, hire the architect who created it and then get to work modifying the design to fit local needs, such as enrollment. 
Franklin officials chose the model used by Whitman-Hanson and Plymouth North high schools, created by architect Ai3. 
Last week, the Massachusetts School Building Authority approved the initial design plans for Franklin, giving the town’s voters 120 days to approve their end of the funding. 
“We’ve got to get that school soon, that’s the bottom line,” Town Council Chairman Robert Vallee said, apologizing that he won’t be there to vote Wednesday. “Educate our children. You’ve got to give them the tools to compete in the world market.”

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x739238366/Franklin-Town-Council-to-decide-on-proposed-high-school-tomorrow#ixzz1l1zWgggn

Monday, January 30, 2012

Goodbye Cafe Dolce!

Sad to say but Cafe Dolce is no longer operating. It closed today. This was confirmed via email with owner BJ Carlucci, "Unfortunately I had to close the cafe. It was one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make."


For the memories and good times, you can also review photos from the archives







Historical Museum - Photo essay - Jan 29, 2012

A glorious day for Franklin to celebrate Ben's birthday

Franklin Historical Museum - 1

Vera Meyer returned to play many tunes on the Glass Harmonica

Franklin Historical Museum - 2

Hey look, there are the Wadsworth Diaries!

Franklin Historical Museum - 3

Can it be a birthday party without cake? Heck no!

Franklin Historical Museum - 4

One of the interactive pieces of the Historical Museum is the on-going outreach to help identify folks in the pictures they have.

Franklin Historical Museum - 5

Do you know someone in the photo? Let one of the Museum volunteers know!

Have you been to the Museum yet?

If not, you are missing out on a good deal!

Wadsworth Diary - Jan 30, 1892


Pleasant, but windy & cold. Chored about. looked after trains & c. for Willie. Fixed saw for ice, baked beans & brown bread & c.

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   






Sunday, January 29, 2012

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Feb 1, 2012


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
Master Plan Committee - Christopher Vericker, Jay Dunca
Franklin Community Garden Committee - Richard Clause

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
1. Change of Manager – 99 Restaurant & Pub
2. Transfer of License – Diavolo, Inc. d/b/a Bellino’s

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS - Model High School

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-05:Appropriation: Franklin High School
2. Resolution 12-06:Setting Date of Debt Exclusion Ballot
3. Resolution 12-07:Ballot Question
4. Resolution 12-08:Refunding Bond Order
5. Resolution 12-09:Appropriation: Debt - Principal
6. Bylaw Amendment 12-673:Amendment to Sewer System Map - 1st Reading

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 on the Franklin website here (PDF)
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/020112b.pdf

Proposed Ballot Question for Debt Exclusion

The proposed ballot question language.

Resolution 12 - 07
Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to exempt from the provisions of Proposition two-and-one-half, so called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued in order to construct a new high school, to be located at 218 Oak Street, and for the payment of all other costs incidental and related thereto?

Compared to the language of the ballot questions for the prior debt exclusions:

Oct 10, 2000

Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to exempt from the provision of proposition two and one-half, so called, the amounts required to pay the principal and interest on the bonds to be issued in order to finance the construction and equipping of renovation and an addition to the Horace Mann School, in the principal amount not to exceed $29,900,000, a portion of which may be reimbursed to the Town through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Education.

Nov 2, 1999
Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to exempt from the provision of proposition two and one-half, so called, the amounts required to pay the principal and interest on the bonds to be issued in order to finance the construction and original equipping of a new combination elementary/middle school, the total cost of which is estimated by the School Building Committee to be $25,500,000 excluding land acquisition costs.

June 20, 1998
Shall the sum of $26,700,000 be appropriated for the construction and original equipping of a new school, which appropriation is in addition to the $300,000 appropriated for the planning costs related to the project by Resolution No. 98-25R and which appropriation bring the total amount appropriated for the project to $27,000,000; and, to meet this additional appropriation shall the Treasurer-Collector with the approval of the Town Administrator be authorized to borrow $26,700,000 in addition to the $300,000 authorized under resolution No. 98-25R, under G.L. c.44, sec 7 and or Chapter 645 of the Acts of 1945 as amended, provided, however, that no debt, except for up to an aggregate of $1,205,000 for planning and other preliminary expenses, may be incurred under this appropriation and Resolution No. 98-25R for the project until the State Department of Education has included the Town's application for a State School Construction grant for the project on its list of completed project applications, showing the priority assigned?

May 2, 1998
Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to exempt from the provision of proposition two and one-half, so called, the amounts required to pay the principal and interest on the bonds to be issued in order to finance the construction and original equipping of a new school, in the principal amount  of $27,000,000, 60% of the eligible cost of which may be reimbursed to the Town through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Education?

March 14, 1998
Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to exempt from the provision of proposition two and one-half, so called, the amounts required to pay the principal and interest on the bonds to be issued in order to finance the construction and original equipping of a new school , in the principal amount  of $49,000,000, a portion of which may be reimbursed to the Town through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Education?.

April 4, 1995
Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to exempt from the provision of proposition two and one-half, so called, the amounts required to pay the principal and interest on bonds, in the principal amount of $2,000,000, in order to finance the acquisition of land, or interests in land, for any purpose for which a city or town is or may hereafter be authorized to acquire land or interest therein, including but not limited to open space, public parks, or playgrounds, municipal outdoor recreational and athletic facilities, or school or municipal facilities?

Jan 31, 1995
Q1 - Shall the vote of the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School District Committee passed on December 23, 1994 authorizing the incurring of debt in the amount of $2,362,364 for the purposes of financing costs of reconstructing, remodeling, making extraordinary repairs and equipping the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, including costs of design service consultants to prepare studies, final architectural and engineering plans, bid specifications and contractual documents and cost estimates including costs incidental and related thereto pursuant to chapter 71 of the General Laws, as amended, be approved?

Jan 31, 1995
Q2 - Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to exempt from the provision of proposition two and one-half, so called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to finance the construction and remodeling, making extraordinary repairs and equipping the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, including cost of design service consultants to prepare studies, final architectural and engineering plans, bid specifications and contractual documents and cost estimates including costs incidental and related thereto?

Feb 12, 1994
Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to exempt from the provision of proposition two and one-half, so called, the amounts required to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds, issued in order to finance the construction and equipping of a new school in the principal amount of $18,500,000, a portion of which may be reimbursed to the Town through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Education?

June 16, 1992
Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to exempt from the provision of proposition two and one-half, so called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to replace the high school roof in the amount of $1,290,000, a portion of which may be reimbursed to the Town through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Education?


The full details for these debt exclusions and the override votes can be found here
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkwjbnXDBhczdDVWaFU0N2ZsTEE2TUVuWHk5NURvQWc&hl=en_US#gid=0

This listing was compiled from both the official State records and official Town Clerk records. Those sources take precedence over this listing.

Resolution 12-05

The text of the resolution for the Town Council to authorize the funding of the high school building project.

Resolution 12-05
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Franklin: appropriates the sum of one hundred four million, six hundred forty-nine thousand, eight hundred seventy-six dollars ($104,649,876) for the construction of a new Franklin High School to be located at 218 Oak Street, and for the payment of all other costs incidental and related thereto which school facility shall have an anticipated useful life as an educational facility for the instruction of school children for at least 50 years, said sum to be expended under the direction of the School Building Committee, and to meet said appropriation the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Town Administrator is authorized to borrow said sum under M.G.L. Chapter 44, or any other enabling authority; that the Town of Franklin acknowledges that the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s (“MSBA”) grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any project costs the Town of Franklin incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the Town of Franklin; provided further that any grant that the Town of Franklin may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lesser of (1) fifty-nine point fifty-two hundredths percent ( 59.52%) of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA; provided that any appropriation hereunder shall be subject to and contingent upon an affirmative vote of the Town to exempt the amounts required for the payment of interest and principal on said borrowing from the limitations on taxes imposed by M.G.L. 59, Section 21C (Proposition 2½); and that the amount of borrowing authorized pursuant to this vote shall be reduced by any grant amount set forth in the Project Funding Agreement that may be executed between the Town of Franklin and the MSBA.



Weight Watchers to open an office


Maybe you noticed the addition to the sign at the Horace Mann Plaza?

Franklin, MA: Weight Watchers

Yes, Weight Watchers is opening an office in the Plaza. You won't need to go to the Hampton Inn for a specific scheduled time to weigh in or participate in a meeting.

Franklin, MA: Weight Watchers

The sign says Weight Watchers will be opening soon.

Weight Watchers - coming to Franklin, MA

It will be open 7 days a week with drop in and a meeting schedule.

Updated 3/18/12 
The schedule is available here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/03/weight-watchers-schedule-of-hours.html

Wadsworth Diary - Jan 29, 1892


Pleasant & warm, thawed some. Chored about. See to the trains & c for Willie. Put up 2 bbls apples & carried to Franklin, 1 to N. McGrory, & 1 to Chs. Bassett. Got 4 bus. meal.


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   



Commuter rail could soon be a costly ticket to ride

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Laura Krantz/Daily News staff on 1/28/12

MBTA1
MetroWest residents might soon think twice about taking a Friday night trip to Fenway Park on the commuter rail, or even about accepting a job in Boston.    That's because as part of its plan to get out of the red, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority said it will likely raise commuter rail fares about 40 percent and eliminate weekend and late night service.

Things you can do from here:



Related Posts




Saturday, January 28, 2012

Wadsworth Diary - Jan 28, 1892


Pleasant & cold, growing warm. Chored about. Split some wood, fixed barn some. See to the trains for Willie & c & c.
E. Simonds came to night, & went to G.W. Foster’s.

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  



Sunrise Montessori School Open House



Are you starting to look for a preschool or kindergarten for the fall? Or do you have a 3 year old that you think could benefit from starting before then? Consider Sunrise Montessori in Franklin. 
Sunrise will be having an Open House this Saturday, January 28 from 11:00am - 1:00pm. Please stop by to meet the teachers, discuss the program and explore the classrooms.  Sunrise has many great program options.  They offer half day programs as well as full day programs.  They also have the added flexibility of before and after school care for working parents.  Stop by and see for yourself!  Many people have questions about how a Montessori Education is different.  See the short blurb below or feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions.  I have had my children there for the last three years and can't say enough good things about the education they have been receiving. 
Montessori emphasizes learning through all five senses, not just through listening, watching, or reading. Children in Montessori classes learn at their own, individual pace and according to their own choice of activities from hundreds of possibilities. Learning is an exciting process of discovery, leading to concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning.  Montessori classes place children in three-year age groups (3-6) forming communities in which the older children spontaneously share their knowledge with the younger ones.


Sunrise Montessori School OpenHouseSaturday, January 28, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
31 Hayward St
Franklin, MA
509-541-8010

Check out Sunrise online: http://www.mysunrisemontessori.com/