Franklin at night

I stopped at the triangle downtown to snap this photo when walking back from the Food Pantry after a Board Meeting the other night.

It was quiet. The buds have changed to blossoms this week.



If you would like to share a photo of spring around Franklin you can send it via email to shersteve.fmnews@blogger.com or post it to the Franklin Matters Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/franklinmatters

Water Restrictions begin Apr 17

The lack of precipitation during the winter (was there a winter?) and lack of rain this spring is not helping the situation. In either case, the annual water restrictions imposed by the Commonwealth of MA being ot take effect on Tuesday April 17.

Details are contained in this notice originally published on the Franklin webpage
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/0188C918-000F8513



Franklin Water Restrictions 2012

FYI: Route 140 Construction

Hello this is Brutus Cantoreggi, your DPW director calling with an important message about road work on West Central Street. This Monday, April 9th, the replacement of a waterline and roadway improvements will commence on West Central St in the vicinity of the Franklin Municipal building and near the McDonald's restaurant. This work will last around 6 weeks. During this time traffic will be reduced to one lane. The work will not begin until 9AM after rush hour and will stop by 4PM. There maybe some nighttime work. This work will cause traffic delays, so please allow extra time and drive carefully when in the construction area. We apologize for any inconvenience to residents and business located in the area. More information can be found on the Town's website or feel free to contact the Franklin DPW at 508-520-4910 Once again, thank you for your patience while we make improvements to your water and roadway systems. To listen to the above message, you will need audio software and speakers on your computer. This e-mail has been sent to you by TOWN OF FRANKLIN. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. If you wish to discontinue this service, please inform TOWN OF FRANKLIN either IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at (508) 520-4938. THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS IS NOT MONITORED. Please do not reply to this e-mail as we are not able to respond to messages sent to this address.

To subscribe to receive this type of news alert directly visit this page on the Franklin website

http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/subscriber-news

"information we’re going to use”

“Franklin gets it,” state Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, said. “It knows what it’s doing and it knows what businesses need.”

She and state Rep. James Vallee, D-Franklin, spoke at the 2 ½ hour session.

The summit was held at Tegra Medical in Forge Park, one of Franklin’s three touted industrial parks, meant to accommodate businesses while balancing residential needs.

Jones said that high technology and biotechnology businesses, like those Franklin has begun to attract, have job openings, but that most applicants are not qualified to do the jobs.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x121059633/Leaders-praise-second-economic-summit#ixzz1rFf4kQ2p


Prior economic development summit info
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/10/economic-development-summit-schedule.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/10/franklin-economic-development-summit.html


Franklin wants your business!
Franklin Wants Your Business - 2012

In the News - library, minibus

Franklin Library is recertified

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

 

 

Five children hurt in Franklin minibus crash

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

 

 

 

Bay State Bike Week May 14-20

The bikers among us!

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Bay State Bike Week May 14-20

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 4/5/12

MassDOT invites you to join the 3rd annual Bay State Bike Week set for May 14-20, a week of celebrating bicycle transportation across the Commonwealth.  The MassDOT and MassBike partnership makes Bay State Bike Week a statewide celebration that is unique in the nation. 

Building on the previous two statewide Bike Weeks, MassDOT, MassBike, and MassRIDES, our statewide travel options program, are again collaborating to raise awareness and to encourage bicycling transportation.  Biking is safe, economical, healthy, environmentally friendly, fast, and fun!

Event organizers are asked to submit your event for the website's statewide calendar and can join as a partner to be eligible to receive materials to support your event, including t-shirts, bike bells, reflectors and posters while supplies last.   Last year, Bay State Bike Week included more than 180 events statewide with participation from Orleans to Pittsfield.

May is fast approaching, so start planning now and mark May 14th to May 20th on your calendar for Bay State Bike Week.  Check out the Bay State Bike Week website at baystatebikeweek.org to find information for event organizers and participants.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Summer Art Institute

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Summer Art Institute

via Lifelong Learning by Pandora Carlucci on 4/5/12

Franklin Public Schools' Summer Art Institute is designed for students entering grades 6 through 12.
The following classes are for students entering grades 6 though 9
1. Drawing and Painting
2. Digital Photography
3. Ceramics and Sculpture
4. Paste Paper Workshop

Students entering grades 10 and 11 may be interested in Visual Literacy. Drawing, painting and mixed media/collage will be the focus of this class.

Students entering grades 11 and 12 are eligible to enroll in Portfolio Preparation/Open Studio. This course is designed to provide additional art instruction, skill building, and portfolio preparation for students who are considering studying art at the college level or who enjoy being challenged to stretch their skills to more advanced levels.

These courses are open to students in Franklin and the surrounding communities. Please visit our website for registration information.
www.franklin.k12.ma.us, select lifelong, select summer programs

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Lifelong Learning using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Parmenter 5K - Jun 10

This year's 4th Annual Parmenter Fun Run for All Ages will be held on Sunday, June 10th at 10am.

You can register online here

http://www.active.com/running/franklin-ma/4th-annual-parmenter-run-for-all-ages-2012

For specific questions, one can email parmenter5k@gmail.com

March revenue better than last year but less than forecast

What has this got to do with Franklin? 
About 30% of our overall revenue comes from the Commonwealth of MA. Their income stream is up over last year but slightly less than they had forecast. The Governor released his budget in January and the House and Senate versions are being reviewed. What they provide for us helps to determine what services we'll be able to fund.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

March revenue better than last year but less than forecast

via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Robert Bliss on 4/5/12

 

Posted by:
Robert Bliss, Director of Communication, Department of Revenue


DOR released its March revenue report yesterday in which there were two story lines.
The monthly revenue report includes both a review of the month, with a comparison to the same month a year ago, as well as a review of revenue collection year-to-date(YTD) along with a comparison to the previous year's YTD.

While the press releases presents a written summary of the numbers, the one-page tax collection summary presents the actual revenue numbers.

Perusing that summary reveals that there was one revenue story for March -- namely, that corporate/business tax collections were $50 million below benchmark -- but a separate story for the YTD report, with tax collections running $87 million below benchmark due to less than forecast income tax collections.

Corporate and business tax collections had been running ahead of forecast for the first eight months of the year, but fell $50 million below benchmark in March (and $32 million less than March 2011) leaving the overall March revenue collection of $1.802 billion some $29 million below benchmark.

YTD, the explanation for revenue running $87 million below benchmark is found in income tax collections, which are up $270 million or 3.5 percent, but which have fallen $169 million short of forecast. Basically, it is fair to say that income tax revenue has gone up, but not as much as was built into the forecast.

Both YTD income tax withholding (up $260 million or 3.7 percent but still $74 million under benchmark) and income tax cash estimated payments (down $17 million from a year ago or 1.4 percent and $73 million below benchmark) are down.

As Commissioner Amy Pitter noted in the press release, "Withholding overall has grown, but at the rate forecast, while income tax cash estimated payments dropped off in December and since then have been flat, possibly reflecting a slow down in the collection of investment related income."

So with the big months of April, May and June ahead, the Commonwealth has collected $14.697 billion, $343 million or 2.4 percent more than at the same point a year ago, but $87 million shy of the benchmark.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

"adopted lower trash fees"

In the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, there were four major items discussed:

• the capital budget
• within it were items for the Library
• discussion on Fire Dept staffing
• adoption of the lower trash fee (reduced from $220 to $204)

Part of the Milford Daily News reporting on the meeting:

Town Council also approved funding for library items not on the agenda, unanimously supporting $10,000 for library salaries and $40,000 for library materials, both from the free cash account. 

The move was in anticipation of a state vote tomorrow to reconsider the library’s certification and show that the town financially supports its library, Library Director Felicia Oti said. 

The library lost its certification in February, in part because about 27 percent of its funding was cut in the last budget cycle, said a spokeswoman from the state’s Board of Library Commissioners.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x777661177/Franklin-to-get-new-fire-truck-ambulance#ixzz1r9qp8iNM

In the News - Fire Dept, marathon

Franklin firefighters battle late-night condo fire

by Staff reports

Cat dies in Franklin fire

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Franklin girl inspires mom’s Marathon effort

by Elizabeth Stickley/Daily News correspondent

Stop Stealing Dreams

Seth Godin always asks provocative questions. He has an ebook/essay on education reform that I just found here

http://www.squidoo.com/stop-stealing-dreams

Have you read this yet?

What do you think?

Alert: RT 140 Construction

Beginning April 9th, 2012 a water main replacement project will begin on East Central St (Route 140) in the area between Glen Meadow Road and Aspen Way. Motorists should allow for extra time when travelling in this area as the roadway will be reduced to a single lane at times. Work will be completed during the hours of 9 AM – 4 PM in an effort to minimize disruption. Construction is anticipated to last approximately 4 weeks.

This text and the embedded doc were originally posted on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/01887CEA-000F8513


RT_140_Construction_20120409


A live portion of Google Maps showing the area of construction:


View Larger Map

Public Notice: hydrant flushing

The Franklin Department of Public Works, Water Division will begin its hydrant flushing program on Monday, April 9, 2012. This program is conducted annually to improve Franklin’s water quality and fire flows. Some hydrants will be flushed between the hours of 7:00 pm and 11:00 pm, while others will be completed during the day. Hydrant flushing will continue depending on water availability and system pressures. Residents may experience discolored water during this process.

Residents may experience, temporary water loss or discolored water while hydrants are being flushed in their area. Even though aesthetically the water may look discolored, it is still safe for human consumption.

Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation and we apologize for any
inconvenience that this may cause. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Water Office at 508-553-5551.

Department of Public Works
Deacon Perrotta
Water & Sewer Superintendent



Originally posted on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/01887947-000F8513

In the News - Dean College, marathon, lack of rain

Six former Dean students indicted in sneaker attack

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Franklin teacher’s running is a family affair

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Lack of rain has area towns eyeing early water restrictions

by Ian B. Murphy/Daily News staff