‘No worries’ works

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

‘No worries’ works

via Boston Globe -- Globe West by Phil Perry, Globe Correspondent on 2/11/12

Watching the Franklin High girls' basketball team warm up is a reminder that the upcoming game will be just that: a game. On Tuesday night, Kaitlin Copponi chatted playfully during a passing drill. Lauren Irvine danced to hip-hop songs. No game faces here. And before tip-off, they chant their mantra three times over: "Hakuna mattata!'' Then the Panthers rolled to their 15th straight victory, clinching the Hockomock Davenport title with a 46-29 win at Attleboro.

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Franklin Food Pantry: 2nd Annual Phonathon

The 2nd Annual Phonathon will be conducted by the Franklin Food Pantry on Saturday Feb 18 and Saturday Feb 25.




Food Pantry volunteers will make phone calls during the hours between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM on both Saturdays.

Thanks to Dean College for the use of their facilities for allowing this to happen.

You can make donations on line at the Food Pantry website http://franklinfoodpantry.org/
or use the button here at Franklin Matters that will link you to the same donation process.

Wadsworth Diary - Feb 12, 1858

Oops, I posted Jan 12, 1858 instead of Feb 12, 1858

Very Pleasant very warm & windy Staid in store some & in house some with Wm. & c. in fournoon. Helped Jos & Father load a car of oak & ash. Put up 10 Bushels Potatoes for Clarry. Joseph went to Bellingham & to wood lot. 

Written upside down: Started for the sing about 8 ¼ O’clock but went to writing school.

Here is Feb 12, 1858

Very pleasant & cold 3 above zero at sunrise Jos masured boards in fournoon Father & Mother went to Uncle Richs to see Grandmother. She is some better. I staid in store some, split some birch wood & c. Sent a paper to Lorrinda.

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    

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Feb 15, 2012

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS – Life Saving Award-Franklin Police Dept

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
Public Land Use Committee - Roger Denny
Franklin Community Garden Committee - Kiernan Joliat
Citizen Committee - Robert Avakkian, Lawrence Benedetto, Paul Cheli, Monique Doyle, Donald Nielsen, Donna Resten, Steve Sherlock

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
– Library Board of Directors
- Remote Participation Guidelines

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-10: Appropriation: Library Expenses
2. Resolution 12-11: Appropriation: FY 12 Enterprise Funds Capital
3. Resolution 12-12: Appropriation: FY 12 Capital Improvement Plan
4. Resolution 12-13: Authorizing the Town Administrator to Execute Agreement By and Between the Town of Franklin and Franklin Community Cable Access, Inc.
5. Bylaw Amendment 12-679:Amendment to Chapter 82, Appendix A, List of Service Fee Rates – 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 document set as published before the meeting can be found on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/021512.pdf

Wadsworth Diary - Feb 11, 1858

Stormed hard all day, warm (rain) Staid in the house most the day with Wm. and looked over my books & c in my draw. Bought a note of $10.00 of Siles Adams against Jos Fisher. Paid $5.00 in money & the rest in potatoes. Bought 2 Ladies Almanacs (gave 1 to Sarah) & this book.

Also looking like a stormy day in 2012, this is what it looked like out the back window this morning.




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   

Facts About the Cost of the New Franklin High School

Dear Franklin Friend,

As we move closer to the March 27 vote to support the construction of a fully furnished and equipped 21st century high school and auditorium for our community, you should feel confident the project will stay on time and on budget.  Here are five factual reasons why you can be comfortable the new Franklin High School will be delivered as promised with no costly surprises:

·         The new Franklin High School is a Model School. Our model has been built eight times in other communities in Massachusetts, an experience which eliminates many of the unknowns that can drive up the cost of design and construction in these projects. You can learn more about the Model School Program here: http://www.massschoolbuildings.org/programs/model_school

·         The cost includes a conservative contingency budget of 4 percent. This far above what other model school projects have experienced. In Whitman Hanson, the change orders during construction amounted to less than 1%. Norwood had the same experience. And Plymouth North has had change orders amounting to one-half of 1 percent. All of the real-world evidence demonstrates that Franklin's project will come in at or under budget.

·         The cost includes everything. The March 27 debt exclusion voters are being asked to support funds a fully furnished and equipped new high school. In addition to furnishings and equipment, the cost of demolishing the old facility and constructing new athletic fields is included. It also accounts for potential inflation during the five or six months it will take to complete the bid documents and bid the project.

·         The project budget underwent a rigorous, professional review and approval process. The budget was developed by a project manager and architect with deep experience in the Model School Program; analyzed by two other professional firms; carefully reviewed by the Franklin School Building Committee; and, heavily scrutinized and unanimously endorsed by the professionals at the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

·         The cost of new construction is more predictable than a renovation. New construction eliminates much of the guesswork in the budgeting process. For example, the key systems at the current Franklin High School are located under a concrete slab foundation and behind cinder block walls. A renovation of the existing building would require significant demolition, take twice as long, and could encounter unforeseen, costly issues.

Thanks to careful planning and oversight by experienced school building professionals, as well as heavy scrutiny by town and state officials at every step of the process, Franklin residents can feel confident about the new Franklin High School budget. The budget is capped at $104.5 million, as is the cost to the taxpayers of $47 million. 

Please visit www.newfhs.com for updated information on the new FHS and why it deserves your YES vote on March 27. The "Learn the Facts" page (http://www.newfhs.com/facts.php) offers great factual information. We also encourage you to keep up with project news by "Liking" our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/newfhs.

Please share this email with your friends and neighbors here in Franklin so that everyone has the information they need to make a good decision.

To those who are already volunteering and have contributed financially, thank you. To those who have not, we need your active support and donations, and we welcome questions. You can email us at voteyesforFHS@gmail.com, or visit: http://www.newfhs.com/contact.php for more information.

Thank you!

Citizens for a New Franklin High School

Vote Yes for FHS on March 27! A Real Need. The Right Time.

Discover Tax program generates business expense audits

Tax season is upon us. This article from the Dept of Revenue highlights what they use to flag returns for audits. Deviations from the norm is the simple way to explain what they look for.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Discover Tax program generates business expense audits

via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Robert Bliss on 2/10/12

Banker & Tradesman (subscription only) ran a story this week on the subject of mortgage loan originators subject to DOR audits. The story also discussed how DOR generates taxpayer audits in general.

The piece was pegged to a notice from the Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association urging loan originators to "consult with your tax accountant or adviser" to best preserve the deductibility of appropriate unreimbursed business expenses for outside sales people. By the way, it is the IRS that defines what are acceptable unreimbursed expenses.

The story posed the question: Was DOR singling out mortgage loan originators for special attention? The answer, as reported in Banker & Tradesman, and we'll repeat it here, is simply, "no."

DOR uses a program called Discover Tax to review information on tax returns against many different kinds of databases. If, for example, a tax return reports relatively low income, but the taxpayer owns a $1 million home and two Bentleys, Discover Tax will flag that incongruity and generate an audit. DOR has no idea what type of employment or employer the taxpayer has; it's the numbers that jump out.

Similarly, if a taxpayer has an unusual amount of unreimbursed business expenses relative to income, Discover Tax will recognize that and kick out an audit.

Any individual taxpayer -- including mortgage loan originators -- may encounter a problem if they claim unreimbursed business expenses on the same basis as afforded to outside salesman.

DOR's view, articulated in 1989 and maintained since then, is that outside salesman sell for their employer outside the employer's office. Thus, a mortgage loan originator who works in an office is not an outside sales person.

If mortgage loan originators claim unreimbursed business expenses in amounts that  bubble up to an audit after a Discover Tax run, they face the question not only of justifying and documenting the expenses, but they must also make sure of their legitimate claim to them in the first place.  

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Shopping event to benefit Franklin Fusion Softball

 

 

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

 

 

Shopping event to benefit Franklin Fusion Softball

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 2/10/12

A "Shop Till U Drop Night" will be held on Friday, March 9, 7-10 p.m., at the Franklin Elks, 1077 Pond St., Franklin to benefit the Franklin Fusion Softball team.

 

 

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Franklin, MA: Parking Ban Activated

Parking Ban Activated Through 5am Sunday February 12th.

DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK SOUTH OF NEW ENGLAND...BRINGING

ACCUMULATING SNOW TO MUCH OF THE REGION ON SATURDAY...EXCEPT FOR

PORTIONS OF THE CAPE AND ISLANDS WHERE SOME OF THE PRECIPITATION

WILL BE IN THE FORM OF RAIN.

THERE IS A MODERATE TO HIGH PROBABILITY THAT WINTER WEATHER

ADVISORIES WILL BE NEEDED FOR A PORTION OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.

LATEST FORECASTS SUGGEST THAT THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL WILL OCCUR

ACROSS INTERIOR RHODE ISLAND AND SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. HOWEVER...A

SHIFT IN THE STORM TRACK COULD RESULT IN CHANGES IN PRECIPITATION

TYPE AND AMOUNTS.  STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST UPDATES AND ANY

POSSIBLE ADVISORIES THAT MAY BE ISSUED LATER TODAY.

STRONG NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE CAPE AND

ISLANDS SATURDAY NIGHT AND A WIND ADVISORY MAY EVENTUALLY BE NEEDED.

To subscribe to receive updates like these directly follow this link to the Franklin web site
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/subscriber-news

Wadsworth Diary - Feb 10, 1858

Very Pleasant & warm Went to Mr. Phersons after the Doctor (for Wm. Greene) but he wasn’t coming there, so went to Hermans and he went after him (Dr. Nelson). He came here about noon. I took care of Wm last night & going to to night.

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   

Video Documentary: MBTA After Hours

As a long time rider of the MBTA from Franklin into Boston, I often wondered what did go on over night. Some work clearly needed to be done during the day but much of the work also needs to be done off hours. Kudos to MassDOT for putting this together. Skip a TV show tonight and spend 45 minutes finding out the inside story on the night time work!

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Video Documentary: MBTA After Hours

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 2/8/12

A new documentary "Boston Under: After Hours" released this week tells the important story of MBTA employees working overnight to perform daily maintenance and make necessary repairs to get the trains and buses ready to roll beginning at 5:15am each day for millions of customers.

Things you can do from here:

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Bellingham library may help Franklin patrons

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Bellingham library may help Franklin patrons

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Alison McCall/Daily News staff on 2/9/12

Library trustees are offering a slight reprieve to some Franklin residents who have been locked out of the statewide library material-sharing network, potentially allowing them to borrow materials after last week's decertification.

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2nd Annual Big Wedding Giveaway

PLAINVILLE, MA: Local wedding photographer Jen Osojnicki didn't realize what she was getting into when she offered a wedding giveaway contest last year. "I came up with the idea because I thought it would be a fun, exciting way to help a bride win her dream wedding, and it was. We offered some great prizes and the winning bride was thrilled," says Jen. Repeating the contest seemed like a good idea…and good ideas have a way of growing to become great. Within days of her decision to hold the 2nd annual Big Wedding Giveaway Contest, other local wedding vendors had jumped on board, and Ms. Osojnicki has now amassed donation of services and gift certificates for a true dream wedding--a prize worth nearly $20,000.  


The 2nd annual Big Wedding Giveaway Contest is an essay contest for engaged couples; entry submission runs from February 15, 2012 through February 24, 2012. Entrants must write an essay telling their story—how they met and fell in love—including details about why they deserve to win the prize, and send the essay, along with a recent photo of the couple, to jenosojnicki@gmail.com. Essays must be between 250-500 words long, and a group of judges will choose the top essays out of all the submissions. On February 29, 2012, these top essays will be posted on www.jenosojnicki.com and opened for public voting on Ms. Osojnicki's blog (voting runs until 3:00pm March 6, 2012).  Wedding dates must also be included in each entry, as many of the vendors who are booked into 2013 must take their schedules into account when choosing the winner.  "Last year, some of the stories brought us to tears. It reminded me about why I love what I do," says Ms. Osojnicki. The winning couple will be announced at an event (details to follow) and crowned with—what else—a veil and top hat.


Local vendors donating their services to this Contest include:


Jen Osojnicki, Photographer www.jenosojnicki.com
Nathan Suher, Filmmaker www.nathansuher.com
The Black Opal Florist www.theblackopal.com
New England Corvette Rental http://www.newenglandcorvette.com/
Smitten https://www.facebook.com/pages/Smitten/179542588779977
Buttonwood Originals http://www.ButtonwoodOriginals.com/
Col. Blackinton Inn www.colblackintoninn.com
Striking Beauties www.strikingbeauties.com
Caterina Walton @ Sorella Salon https://www.facebook.com/sorellasalon
Essence Massage www.essencemassagestudio.com
Ideal Affairz www.idealaffairz.com
Rob Peters Entertainment www.robpetersentertainment.com
Sorella Salon  https://www.facebook.com/sorellasalon
Nails by Donna at Sorella Salon https://www.facebook.com/sorellasalon
Silpada By Jen Brillon https://www.facebook.com/jenbrillonsterlingboutique
The Wedding Outlet www.theweddingoutlet.com


Aside from providing a fun, exciting contest for brides, Ms. Osojnicki intends this contest to be a way to recognize and support local vendor companies. "I'm astounded at the generosity I'm seeing from local businesses in this contest, and I want to help get the word out about it. When small business owners band together, great things happen!" More details, including complete rules and restrictions, can be found on www.jenosojnicki.com. 


Contact: Aileen McDonough     Phone: 401-383-3515  Email: aileen@3amwriters.com or


Jen Osojnicki      Phone: 508-932-4695      Email: Jenosojnicki@gmail

Jen Osojnicki

jenosojnicki@gmail.com

508.932.4695

Wadsworth Diary - Feb 9. 1858

Clowdy, stormy, snow & rain & warm. Staid in store all day. Jos & Abbie went to Boston. Father went to Dedham after deeds. Went to Lyceum in eve, not very full house. Question was resolved that the spendthrift is a better member of society than the miser. 

Written upside down: decided 2 in neg & 1 in afermative.

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   

"making sure there is a consistent cost approach"

Local lawmakers generally supported DeLeo’s statement about taxes, which was a blow to Gov. Deval Patrick’s plan to raise $260 million by raising a levy on cigarettes, and ending the sales tax exemption on candy and soda. 

“People just can’t afford more taxes, and it’s not the time. It’s never the time in my opinion,” state Rep. Ryan Fattman, R-Sutton, said. 

Rep. James Vallee, D-Franklin, said the message of no new taxes and fees would show voters the state was living within its budget. 

“For us to send a consistent message to the business leaders and our constituents that we are going to live within our means, I think that’s the right message and right approach to balancing our budget,” Vallee said.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1085185387/Local-lawmakers-back-speaker-s-no-new-taxes-pledge#ixzz1lsdf3g2U