Living with Alzheimers

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via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 4/23/12

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The power of music

Spend a few minutes to see the power of music! (Video less than 7 minutes)

Actually the promo for a documentary film:

Music imprints itself on the brain deeper than any other human experience. It speaks to us in a different language and arouses every emotion. It connects us all, it is a force that ignites our souls. 

Alive Inside is a documentary film that follows Dan Cohen’s Music & Memory project, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing personalized music into the lives of the elderly and infirm, thereby vastly improving their day-to-day existence.

FinCom: FY 2013 Budget hearings

The budget hearing for FY 2013 have mostly been held now. They were scheduled for four sessions as follows

Apr 3
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_FinanceAgendas/Agenda%202012-4-3.pdf


Budget Hearing
Veterans 543   E-19
Human Resources 152 A-26
Facilities 192   A-47
Library 610   F-1
Town Council 111  A-1  
Town Administrator 121 A-2
Finance Committee 131 A-4
Comptroller 135  A-5
Treasurer/Collector 147 A-16
Legal 151   A-23
Central Services 196  A-53
Animal Control 292  B-53
Benefits 910   G-16
Liability Insurance 945 G-26

The video replay for this meeting is available on the Franklin website
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?ecm=634707088382946090&indexSessionSKU=OQs85NOhWcBJ13Ix9wlbOw%3D%3D&siteSKU=L7qhQ46xin/r3Z0jcDVCNw%3D%3D



Apr 10
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_FinanceAgendas/Agenda%202012-4-10.pdf


Budget Hearing
Council on Aging (COA) 541   E-9
Inspections 240   B-53
Appeals 176   A-42
Police 210   B-1
Recreation 630  F-10  
Fire 220   B-12
Norfolk Aggie School 395 C-3


There is no video replay available as this session was held in the 3rd floor training room and not broadcast via local cable.

Apr 11
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_FinanceAgendas/Agenda%202012-4-11.pdf


Budget Hearing
Health 510   E-1
Assessors 141    A-11
Planning 177   A-43
Town Clerk 161  A-36
Elections 164   A-39  
Information Systems 155 A-33
DPW 422   D-1
Enterprise   H-1

The video from this meeting is available on the Franklin website
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?ecm=634707075522074166&indexSessionSKU=sKQphCKirlrcGpOc9OakkQ%3D%3D&siteSKU=L7qhQ46xin/r3Z0jcDVCNw%3D%3D



Apr 25
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_FinanceAgendas/Agenda%202012-4-25


Budget Hearing
Education – Franklin Public Schools    C-1

"lower the amount of phosphorus discharged"

You may recall the EPA has proposed new standards for treating water before it gets into the Charles River. During 2011, there were public meetings and comment sections where local communities could provide input to the EPA. The new regulations were supposed to be issued during Q1 (which has come and gone) with no indication from the EPA on the new timeline.

The Milford Daily News checked on the impact of the regulations with other communities along the Charles River.

Some have taken a wait-and-see attitude, while others, such as Franklin, have been proactive by building rain gardens, reducing the size of streets and only having a sidewalk on one side of a road, she said. Improving existing infrastructure to meet the requirement is costly, and the challenge is to figure out how to do that affordably, Bowditch said. 

“Public infrastructure was built back at a time when we didn’t think much of rainwater as a resource. We just thought of it as a nuisance,” she said. “We didn’t realize as a society how many problems we were creating just simply dumping everything in the river.” 

Complying with both proposals could cost up to $111 million in Milford, $75 million in Franklin and $35 million in Bellingham, an EPA-funded study found.

One of Franklin's objections to the regulations was that the study done (referenced here) used numnbers that understated the cost of compliance. Franklin's calculations showed more in the $100 million range. Another study was just completed that confirmed Franklin's numbers.

You can get an update on this from the DPW section of the FY 2013 budget hearings held by the FinCom. This segment is available on the Franklin website in the video on demand section.

DPW section of the budget occurs towards the end of the recording.
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?ecm=634707562664708360&indexSessionSKU=sKQphCKirlrcGpOc9OakkQ%3D%3D&siteSKU=L7qhQ46xin/r3Z0jcDVCNw%3D%3D

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x643676252/EPA-proposal-felt-outside-Milford-Franklin-and-Bellingham#ixzz1sr1hN9Lu

Related Posts

On the Charles River plant enhancements to treat phosphorus
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/08/there-isnt-going-to-be-option-not-to-do.html

On the EPA regulations
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/its-huge-issue-for-municipalities.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/06/costs-of-charles-river-cleanup.html

"families out gardening together"

Amy Acevedo of Franklin was happy to have her hands in the dirt at the Franklin Community Garden in Memorial Park yesterday, leading a volunteer group of gardening enthusiasts in a day of weeding, mulching and planting. 

“This is primarily a vegetable garden, but the vegetables need pollinators, so we are going to be planting some sunflowers to encourage some honey bees — plus it looks nice,” Acevedo said. 

It was Acevedo’s dream to start the organic garden, so maintaining it on Earth Day weekend made sense.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x643676114/Earth-Day-inspires-a-weekend-of-lending-nature-a-hand#ixzz1slecoNDC




Chris Clay shares a good reason for gardening via video by the MDN reporter.

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - 4/24/12

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 April 10, 2012 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mrs. McIntyre
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: none

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Art / FAA Update – Jane Hogan (presentation doc can be viewed here)
b. FY2013 Budget Open Hearing (budget summary document can be found here)

3. Discussion Only Items
Collaborative Agreement

4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of a check for $728.48 from the Hockomock Y (Stop & Shop mini grant) for supplies for Parmenter Elementary School.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1778.00 from the Parmenter PCC for Field Trips.
c. I recommend approval of the Budget Transfers as detailed.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $780.00 from Horace Mann PCC for field trips.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1165.00 from the Franklin Music Boosters for In-House Enrichment.
f. I recommend approval of the field trip request of Nancy Schoen for middle school music students to Canobie Lake Park on June 8th as detailed.
g. I recommend approval of amendment number 1 to the Agreement with Bi-County Collaborative titled Inactive Membership as detailed.
h. I recommend approval of amendment number 2 that outlines the annual meeting schedule for the Board of Directors of the Bi-County Collaborative as outlined in the memo.

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. Adjourn


The School Budget up for discussion can be found here:
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/04/franklin-ma-fy-2013-budget-documents.html

Franklin Public Schools: Art program

An overview of the Franklin, MA Public Schools Art program as scheduled for the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Apr 24, 2012.

FPS Art SchComm April2012

Curious: There is no mention of Gallery 218. Is it still alive or did it get closed?

You can also view the file via Google docs here
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczR3ZUVHQwcmtvRmc

Related posts on Gallery 218:

The Alumni show
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2009/02/gallery-218-alumni-show.html

Summer Art program
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/10/gallery-218-works-of-summer.html

Non-art teachers show their works
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2009/09/gallery-218-new-art-show-reveals.html