Budget Monitor: Analyzing the Governor's FY 2013 Budget

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BUDGET MONITOR: The Governor's FY 2013 Budget Last week, the Governor filed his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2013. Today, MassBudget releases our Budget Monitor, which tracks the impact of the Governor's proposals on each major area of state government, from health care and education to public safety and the environment--including information on tax revenues. With the Commonwealth facing a preliminary budget gap of approximately $1.3 billion, the Governor proposes balancing the budget with three strategies: Cuts and savings of about $550 million   Modest tax reforms and other revenue initiatives that generate about $215 million in ongoing revenue The use of about $545 million in temporary revenues, mostly from the state stabilization fund (the "rainy day fund"). Our Budget Monitor shows the impact on every line-item in the budget, comparing proposed funding for FY 13 with recent funding history. READ THE BUDGET MONITOR * Regular readers may note that we have redesigned the Budget Monitor. We are very interested in your feedback. Click here to send an email telling us what you like and what you think we might improve. MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies--with particular attention to the effects on low- and moderate-income people.

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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:

Renewals & Wait List Info is Here!

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 1^st, 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 2^nd 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 1^st. 
• Available gardens will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis and assignments will begin Monday, March 5^th 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:

• Subscribe to Growing In Franklin using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

"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

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

Franklin Matters: Cafe Dolce offers catering (updated)

Franklin Matters: Happy Anniversary, Cafe Dolce!

Franklin Matters: Cafe Dolce - Updated slides

Franklin Matters: Cafe Dolce expands to train station

Historical Museum - Photo essay - Jan 29, 2012

A glorious day for Franklin to celebrate Ben's birthday



Vera Meyer returned to play many tunes on the Glass Harmonica



Hey look, there are the Wadsworth Diaries!



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



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



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!