Health Care in the House Budget Proposal

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Health Care in the House Budget Proposal  As part of our continuing analysis of the budget process, MassBudget is releasing a new report on Health Care spending in the House budget.* The final House budget proposal includes $12.66 billion in funding for programs that provide health care for approximately 1.5 million low- and moderate-income residents of Massachusetts. That includes:  $45.3 million more for MassHealth than was initially proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee (HWM)   New, lower projections for the cost of the Commonwealth Care program.  Read Health Care in the House Budget Proposal    * The report is the third in a series of budget briefs published by the Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute (MMPI) and produced by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center in partnership with the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.   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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Downtown Partnership updates

Strawberry Stroll Sponsorship

This is the last call to Franklin businesses. If you would like to be a sponsor or participant of the Strawberry Stroll on Thursday, June 7, please email us with your sponsorship information and we will get you listed.

We have extended the deadline to Wednesday, May 9, for Strawberry Stroll Sponsorships. Please email the FDP office at Downtown.Franklin@yahoo.com if you would like to be a sponsor and be included in Sponsorship Row and listed in the press release, flyers and posters.


Spring Reminders

Beautification Day
Saturday, May 19, 9:00 a.m.
Sponsors Needed
Please consider being a sponsor so we can continue with our beautiful flowers.
Flower invoices due this week!


Membership
Did you forget to send in your 2012 renewal? Would you like to join? The membership form can be found here  2012 Downtown Partnership membership form

Thank you to all of you who continue to support the Franklin Downtown Partnership with your membership and sponsorships. Please check our website and make sure your business link is in the column to the right of this page.


Harvest Festival
Sunday, September 30
Information coming soon!
Mary Graff is the booth event chair and can be reached at mgraff@berryinsurance.com

Circle of Friends concert set, May 12 - Deborah Henson-Conant

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Circle of Friends concert set, May 12

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 5/7/12

Deborah Henson-Conant will perform at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse, 262 Chestnut St., Franklin, on Saturday, May 12, at 8 p.m.

Imagine a harp shrunk to the size of a crossbow. Brushed chrome, with 32 strings, Henson-Conant plugs it in like an electric guitar and pulls sounds from the strings that you never thought could come from a harp: Hendrix-style wails, Flamenco, Blues and lush atmospheric sounds capes.

Singing with a voice that's been compared to Carly Simon and Joan Baez, in one-woman shows that are unified like a collection of musical short-stories. Admission, $25.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Wicked Local Franklin News RSS using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Visit Deborah's website http://hipharp.com/

Read Deborah's blog  http://www.hipharp.com/blog/

Wrentham Police Launch Statewide Click It or Ticket Enforcement

Franklin drivers be aware!

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Wrentham Police Launch Statewide Click It or Ticket Enforcement

via The Wrentham Times by The Wrentham Times on 5/7/12

The Wrentham Police department in partnership with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security's (EOPSS) Highway Safety Division (HSD), the State Police and over 120 other local departments, is launching a high-visibility seat belt enforcement mobilization called Click It or Ticket. During the Click It or Ticket mobilization, thousands of extra state and local police will patrol the state's streets and highways in a concerted effort to promote and enforce seat belt use with the ultimate goal of saving lives. Many departments across the state have adopted zero-tolerance policies for seat belt violations signaling the increasing importance of seat belt use. In fact, if pulled over, everyone in the car found not wearing a seat belt will be ticketed.
This Click It or Ticket mobilization runs from May 14th through June 3rd.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to The Wrentham Times using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

"applying it to a real work site"

Eighty-three high school seniors are participating in the senior shadow project this spring — heading out to experience the working world for about a month. 

“I would definitely think this project is extremely helpful,” Smith said. “I’m so happy I did it.”
Some of the dozens of sites include the Attleboro Arts Museum, medical manufacturer Zeptometrix Corp., Lakeview Pavilion, Hampton Inn and Dean College. 

“I think it provides (students) with real-life world experience,” Franklin-based Byrne Financial Freedom marketing director Carol Donnelly said of the students with whom the company has worked. “We’re not giving them copies to make.”

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/multimedia/photos/x2069499049/Franklin-High-program-imparts-shadow-wisdom#ixzz1uB1PmkVY

Stamp Out Hunger - Sat - May 12

The letter carriers of the Franklin Post Office will pick up your contribution this Saturday as they make their rounds with the mail.



Food and non-food items are welcome. You can check out the current needs listing for suggestions

Note: At this time the Franklin Food Pantry has lined up more than enough volunteers to help process the receipts on Saturday. Thank you!

Saving the American Chestnut tree

For more than a century, a relentless blight has decimated the American chestnut tree, driving the nation’s once grandest hardwood to the edge of extinction. 

First identified in 1904 in chestnut trees near the Brooklyn Zoo, the blight is thought to have arrived on imported Japanese chestnuts. It spread by airborne spores across the Eastern seaboard, eventually killing an estimated four billion trees, said Paul Franklin, communications director of The American Chestnut Foundation. 

“The American chestnut has gone from being a dominant tree to a shrub. If we do not intercede, it will eventually become extinct,” he said from the Foundation’s headquarters in Asheville, N.C.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1266595025/Saving-the-American-chestnut-tree#ixzz1uAydZqOl

The American Chestnut Foundation website can be found here  http://www.acf.org/

While we are talking about trees, I have noticed that the maple tree is suffering from blight here in Franklin.



More about maple blight  http://www.savatree.com/maple-tree.html

Share your wedding gown with Franklin Historical Museum

The Franklin Historical Museum is preparing for the return of their very popular Wedding Dress Exhibit. It will include dresses representing each decade of the last century and back to the late 1800's. The exhibit will run in June and July, dresses should be received before May 19.



If you would like to loan your wedding gown, or your Mom's or grandmother's gown to the museum for this beautiful exhibit, you can contact Debbie Pellegri at Franklin Town Hall, 508-520-4900 or drop off your dress with your name and as much information as you would like to share during Museum hours: Saturday 10:00am - 1:00pm; Sunday 1:00pm to 5:00pm and Thursdays 5:00pm-8:00pm.



If you don't have the gown but still have some pictures of the wedding, please share those with the story of the wedding. 

For more information visit the Historical Museum Facebook page.

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - May 8, 2012

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 24, 2012 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mrs. McIntyre
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: Budget to Actual

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Davis Thayer Update
b. Common Core – Joyce Edwards

3. Discussion Only Items
Draft 2012-2013 School Committee Meeting Calendar

4. Action Items
a. I recommend adoption of the Proposed FY 13 School Budget for $52,710,000.00 as presented at the Budget Hearing on April 24, 2012.
b. I recommend adoption of the draft School Committee Calendar for 2012-2013 as discussed.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check in the amount of $4,200 from the Parmenter PCC for document cameras.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check in the amount of $239.19 from Funding Factory for supplies at Remington Middle School.
e. I recommend acceptance of a donation in the amount of $885 from TPC Boston for a field trip for 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade students from Davis Thayer.
f. I recommend acceptance of a donation in the amount of $1,449.95 from Mr. Robert Salzbert of Resh, Inc. to be used for supplies at Davis Thayer.
g. I recommend acceptance of a donation in the amount of $500 from Peter Baglioni for the Fernando P. Baglioni Scholarship fund.
h. I recommend acceptance of a donation in the amount of $250 from the Franklin Music Boosters for in-house enrichment.
i. I recommend acceptance of a check in the amount of $125 from the JFKennedy PCC for Nurses fee for a field trip.
j. I recommend acceptance of a check in the amount of $175 from the JFKennedy PCC for a bus for a field trip.
k. I recommend acceptance of check in the amount of $89.69 from PGB for the athletic gift account.
l. I recommend acceptance of a check in the amount of $50 from All American Publishing for the athletic gift account.

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. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn

Franklin, MA: Curriculum

Part of the agenda for the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 8 will be an update on curriculum from Joyce Edwards. Part of the presentation will reveal the plans for the MCAS replacement with PARCC.

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) is a consortium of states working together to develop a common set of K-12 assessments in English and math anchored in what it takes to be ready for college and careers.

More about PARCC can be found on their website http://parcconline.org/

Her presentation document can be viewed here:

In the News: Jordan Hall, field trip

Franklin teens to perform at Jordan Hall Sunday, May 6

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin students raise funds for field trip

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Things to do - many choices

Sunrise Montessori Spring Fair
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/reminder-sunrise-montessori-school.html

The Cake Bar grand opening
Franklin Art Center One Year Anniversary
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/exciting-saturday-downtown-franklin-may.html

Horace Mann Destination Imagination Fund raiser - Panera Bread
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/franklin-destination-imagination-group.html

Cub Scouts shoe recycling
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/cub-scouts-to-franklin-residents-if.html

Franklin's 'Master Plan' public hearings scheduled

FRANKLIN - Franklin's Master Plan Committee will hold its first two public hearings this month to hear from residents about what they want for the future of Franklin.  The first hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 9 at 7 p.m. in the training room on the 3rd floor of the Franklin Municipal Building.  For those unable to attend a weeknight meeting, a second hearing has been scheduled on Saturday, May 19 at 10:00 in the conference room at Franklin Public Library.

"These hearings will afford Franklin residents an opportunity to provide input on the planning process, and get involved early in developing the Franklin's Master Plan," noted Committee Chairman and Town Councilor Jeffrey Roy.  "We have been meeting for several months formulating a structure for our work, and we want to hear from the Franklin community about priorities and concerns.  We have scheduled the two hearings to afford citizens a good opportunity to participate in the process."

In December 2011, following the election of a new Town Council, the Master Plan Committee was formed to develop documents, review research and data, and obtain public input to outline and compose a Master Plan for the community.  In addition, the Committee will incorporate a strategic plan into this effort that will invite residents to visit the questions of who we are and what we want for our community.

"Attending a public hearing will provide Franklin's residents and organizations a great opportunity to provide the Town's Master Plan Committee with input as the Committee works toward development of a vision for the Town's future," said Bryan Taberner, the Director of Franklin's Planning & Community Development Department.  "The public process is an extremely important component of any comprehensive planning process, as the resulting goals and objectives will help to focus the decision making of Town officials well into the future."

By law, a Master Plan is a statement through text, maps, illustrations or other forms of communication that is designed to provide a basis for decision making regarding the long-term physical development of the municipality.  In that context, the committee is looking at the following elements:  Land Use, Housing, Economic Development, Circulation, Open Space and Recreation, Natural, Cultural and Historic Resources, Community Services, and Facilities. The Committee will establish recommendations for goals and policies in these areas and develop an implementation plan.  The report is expected to be delivered to the Town Council by June 2013.

Beth Dahlstrom, Franklin's Town Planner is hoping to learn how the residents of Franklin view the community in which they live.  She is interested in learning about what the residents see as the most important aspects of the community and what can the Town can do to enhance areas within the community to make it a better place to live. "I then hope the Master Plan Committee will be able to then use the information obtained at the Public Hearing to help formulate goals and objectives for use in the Master Plan," noted Dahlstrom..

The Master Plan Committee members are Jeffrey Roy, Chairman, Matt Kelly, Vice Chairman, Andy Bissanti, Secretary, Christi Apicella, Nathan Carlucci, John Carroll, David F. Dobrzynski, Jay Duncan, James Esterbrook , Gene Grella, Jeff Livingstone, Greg Rondeau, Timothy C. Twardowski, and Chris Vericker. 

The Committee has a website on the Franklin Town page at http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_BComm/Masterplan.  

It also has a presence on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/FranklinMasterPlan.  

In addition to the public hearings, residents can offer input online at either site.

PMC Franklin Kids Ride - Jun 10

I received the following letter from Lisa with information to share on the PMC Franklin Kids Ride

Hi Steve, 

My name is Lisa Marchioni and I have been running the PMC Franklin Kids Ride for the past 5 years. I was hoping that we could get some information out to the community about our upcoming ride. 

This is a bike ride where kids in the community raise money to help fight cancer. All proceeds go to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. It's a great way for the kids to get involved in this battle against cancer. We all have been touched in some way who has fought this terrible disease and this ride empowers kids to raise money and ride their bikes for a great cause. 

The ride is Sunday, June 10th from 8am-12noon. It is held at Jefferson Elementary School. 

Everyone needs to register online to sign up for this event. We have a DJ and lots of fun things for the kids. The ride is for kids aged 3-14, and they can choose their miles: 3, 6 or 10 miles. We also have a tikes and trikes course for those under 6 and/or on training wheels. 

You can check out our website at http://kids.pmc.org/franklin for more information. I would love to try to get this information out to as many people in the Franklin area as possible. If you could post this as well as put it on facebook and twitter to all of your followers that would be great. 

If you have any questions or need more information, please let me know.Thanks so much for your support.
Lisa

In the News - mock crash, fundraiser, bottles/cans

Franklin students see mock crash scene

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

British Beer Co. hosting fundraiser for Franklin fire victims

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

All Night Party bottle, can drive slated, May 12

by GateHouse Media, Inc.