Run or walk for a good cause on Sunday May 20th. The HMEA is holding their 11th Annual Independence 5K Race/Walk event at the EMC facility on 50 Constitution Blvd, here in Franklin, MA.
If you want to register as a runner, you can do that directly here
http://www.active.com/register/index.cfm?CHECKSSO=0&EVENT_ID=2009516
or if you want to register and raise some funds for HMEA, you can do that here
http://www.firstgiving.com/hmea
You can also view the document here
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczMXJVVzMxLVFRazQ
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Introducing "Food Chain" (video)
There is more interest in food now than at any point in our nation’s history. We have more standards with which to make conscious food choices than ever before. Yet while people want to know where their food is grown, how it’s grown, and when it was harvested, no one is really asking any questions beginning with “who”. Despite this tremendous interest in food, there is almost no interest in the people that pick it.
Found on the Civil Eats website
http://civileats.com/2012/05/02/meet-your-food-chain/
Google, MBTA Debut Innovative Station Indoor Maps
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 5/9/12
Beginning today, MBTA riders will have a new and innovative way to get around the system. The MBTA is excited to announce that the T is the first U.S transit agency to have indoor maps of its stations in Google Maps for Android. Google Maps for Android users will now see indoor maps when they zoom into select MBTA stations. With indoor maps, users will be able to see station features such as stairs, escalators, elevators, entrances and exits to help guide them through the system. The "blue dot," familiar to Google Maps users can now help riders find their own location in many indoor stations.
Indoor maps and walking directions are available in Google Maps for Android in two dozen key stations including Park Street, South Station, and Downtown Crossing.
This new feature is the latest way that the MBTA is collaborating with Google to help riders get around the system. Last year, the MBTA was one of the first U.S. transit agencies to bring real-time transit data to Google Maps. In 2009, Google and the MBTA launched our collaboration to provide digital transit maps and schedule information.
This initiative is just one of many ways that the MBTA is working to give customers improved information. More than 50 apps answering the question, "Where's the T?" are available at MBTA.com/apps.
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
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Franklin Community Garden Update
Hello Gardeners,
Every indication shows that we've passed the last of the cold weather, and have entered into prime gardening time. The average last frost date for Franklin Massachusetts is May 1st, and the extended forecast shows pleasant weather in our future. If you haven't had a chance to get down to the garden an prepare your bed now is a good time. We have early weeds that are starting to go to seed, so get them pulled now before they spread the next generation into your bed and your neighbors! Remember that you are responsible for weeding your bed and the area around it!
When you visit the garden you may also notice a new structure in it, we now have a garden shed with tools in it thanks to a generous grant from the Franklin Rotary! The shed has a keyed lock on the front, and you can obtain your key to the lock at the Recreation department. Please be sure to lock the shed after you leave, and return any tools you've borrowed. If you'd like to further suppress weeds in your area feel free to take woodchips from the large pile and add them on top of any weed hotspots. The wheelbarrow and tools in the shed makes moving them easy, and there are gardening gloves in the shed to aid handling.
The water seems to be running slowly, but hasn't been officially turned on. We're in contact with the town to have to water turned on fully as soon as possible.
We have a number of gardening events coming up in May!
May 12th: 9:30 am to 11:30 am - An Introduction to Gardening and Garden Planning at the YMCA 45 Forge Hill Road Franklin, MA
May 19th: 9:00 am to 11:00 am - A Tomato Planting & Support Demonstration at the King St. Memorial Garden
May 28th: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm - King St. Memorial Garden 1st Anniversary Celebration at the King St. Memorial Garden
We hope to see you there!
The Franklin Community Garden Committee
Additional Event Info
An Introduction to Gardening and Garden Planning
Hosted By: Chris Clay, Friends of Franklin Community Gardens, and the YMCA
May 12th: 9:00 am to 11:00 am
YMCA 45 Forge Hill Road Franklin, MA
This class will give you a basic introduction to gardening and what you need to do to have a successful harvest. We'll also go over the basics of planning out what you'll be putting in your garden throughout the growing season, and have materials on hand to help you plan your garden for this year. All those who attend will also be able to pickup some free seeds, and meet fellow gardeners.
A Tomato Planting & Support Demonstration
Hosted By: Chris Clay and Friends of Franklin Community Gardens
May 19th: 9:00 am to 11:00 am
King St. Memorial Community Garden
Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable among home gardeners, and with good reason. The flavor of a tomato fresh off the vine is something you simply cannot find at the supermarket. They also happen to be my favorite vegetable, and in this presentation I'll go over the tips and tricks for successful tomato growing I've collected. I'll also cover additional information on tomato varieties, how to prune tomatoes, and setup proper support structures for optimal tomato health.
King St. Memorial Garden 1st Anniversary Celebration
Hosted By: The Friends of Franklin Community Gardens and the Franklin Community Garden Committee
May 28th: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
King St. Memorial Community Garden
On May 28th, 2011 the King St. Memorial Community Garden official opened for gardening. Join us as we celebrate the our first successful first year of gardening, and the many years to come. There will be seedlings on hand for sale to support The Friends of Franklin Community Gardens efforts to continue to expand on the garden, and other events and activities. Drop by to share a story, a piece of cake, or just the view.
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Every indication shows that we've passed the last of the cold weather, and have entered into prime gardening time. The average last frost date for Franklin Massachusetts is May 1st, and the extended forecast shows pleasant weather in our future. If you haven't had a chance to get down to the garden an prepare your bed now is a good time. We have early weeds that are starting to go to seed, so get them pulled now before they spread the next generation into your bed and your neighbors! Remember that you are responsible for weeding your bed and the area around it!
 |
| Raised bed in April, 2012 |
When you visit the garden you may also notice a new structure in it, we now have a garden shed with tools in it thanks to a generous grant from the Franklin Rotary! The shed has a keyed lock on the front, and you can obtain your key to the lock at the Recreation department. Please be sure to lock the shed after you leave, and return any tools you've borrowed. If you'd like to further suppress weeds in your area feel free to take woodchips from the large pile and add them on top of any weed hotspots. The wheelbarrow and tools in the shed makes moving them easy, and there are gardening gloves in the shed to aid handling.
The water seems to be running slowly, but hasn't been officially turned on. We're in contact with the town to have to water turned on fully as soon as possible.
We have a number of gardening events coming up in May!
May 12th: 9:30 am to 11:30 am - An Introduction to Gardening and Garden Planning at the YMCA 45 Forge Hill Road Franklin, MA
May 19th: 9:00 am to 11:00 am - A Tomato Planting & Support Demonstration at the King St. Memorial Garden
May 28th: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm - King St. Memorial Garden 1st Anniversary Celebration at the King St. Memorial Garden
We hope to see you there!
The Franklin Community Garden Committee
Additional Event Info
An Introduction to Gardening and Garden Planning
Hosted By: Chris Clay, Friends of Franklin Community Gardens, and the YMCA
May 12th: 9:00 am to 11:00 am
YMCA 45 Forge Hill Road Franklin, MA
This class will give you a basic introduction to gardening and what you need to do to have a successful harvest. We'll also go over the basics of planning out what you'll be putting in your garden throughout the growing season, and have materials on hand to help you plan your garden for this year. All those who attend will also be able to pickup some free seeds, and meet fellow gardeners.
A Tomato Planting & Support Demonstration
Hosted By: Chris Clay and Friends of Franklin Community Gardens
May 19th: 9:00 am to 11:00 am
King St. Memorial Community Garden
Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable among home gardeners, and with good reason. The flavor of a tomato fresh off the vine is something you simply cannot find at the supermarket. They also happen to be my favorite vegetable, and in this presentation I'll go over the tips and tricks for successful tomato growing I've collected. I'll also cover additional information on tomato varieties, how to prune tomatoes, and setup proper support structures for optimal tomato health.
King St. Memorial Garden 1st Anniversary Celebration
Hosted By: The Friends of Franklin Community Gardens and the Franklin Community Garden Committee
May 28th: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
King St. Memorial Community Garden
On May 28th, 2011 the King St. Memorial Community Garden official opened for gardening. Join us as we celebrate the our first successful first year of gardening, and the many years to come. There will be seedlings on hand for sale to support The Friends of Franklin Community Gardens efforts to continue to expand on the garden, and other events and activities. Drop by to share a story, a piece of cake, or just the view.
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Franklin Cub Scouts looking for shoes and a few good boys to have fun
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| Boy Scouts Maxwell McGuire and Liam McGuire from Troop 2 in Franklin |
“To tell the truth, we don’t even know how many pairs of shoes we’ve collected so far,” said Ed Milham, cubmaster of Pack 29. “Thanks to the Franklin area community, as well as the efforts of many dedicated volunteers from our Cub Scouting families, the collection effort has been so successful that there’s been little we could do to keep count!” The packs will be getting an accurate count after this Saturday’s final day of the shoe drive, though, because the pack that’s collected the most shoes will win an ice cream social, courtesy of the other four packs.
Another reason they’ll need that count is that the five packs are collaborating on a membership registration event on the Franklin Town Common on Sunday, May 20th, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the newly-registered boy who guesses the closest to the actual number of shoes collected will win a free membership in Cub Scouts for his first year. The packs plan an afternoon of fun activities that show off some of the things boys can learn and do in Cub Scouts. Kids can participate in a “Rain Gutter Regatta,” a compass course, a knot tying demonstration, an interactive animal tracks display and a model rocketry activity. Boys currently in kindergarten through fourth grade will be able to sign up right at the event, and start participating in the packs’ summer activities right away. Of course, if they can’t wait one more week, the boys can sign up online today at BeAScout.org.
“We’ve been really excited about the community getting to see our boys participating in a public service activity like the shoe drive,” added Milham. “It's activities like this that help the boys learn to be responsible members of their community, a concept that is central to Scouting. Last month, Pack 29 participated in the Franklin Earth Day activities, as we do each year. And of course, there’s the nationwide ‘Scouting for Food’ drive every November. One of the core values of Scouting that the boys learn is to ‘do a good turn daily,’ to help other people without thought of recompense or reward.”
Pack 29 is chartered by the Franklin United Methodist Church, and is made up mostly of boys from the Oak Street School neighborhood. The pack meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Franklin VFW post on Pond Street.
“The best thing about Scouting is that the boys learn about a huge variety of subjects, without really feeling like they’re learning,” Milham continued, “They’re self-motivated to learn. And it’s not just the hiking and camping and other such things that people associate with Scouting; it’s history, civics, science, the arts, sports, the whole gamut of what makes up a well-rounded individual.”
And there is no shortage of fun activities for the boys, as well. In recent months, Pack 29 has gone hiking in the Blue Hills Reservation, gone to see the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Providence Bruins, and the Harlem Globetrotters, and sent boys to the Seven Rivers District Pinewood Derby at Bass Pro Shops at Patriot Place. In the near future, you’ll see them marching in parades and replacing flags on veterans’ graves. They also plan a summer of hiking, camping and fishing, as well as a trip to the Boston Harbor Islands, a visit to Battleship Cove in Fall River, and a sleepover at McCoy Stadium after a PawSox game.
Meanwhile, the shoe drive continues for one more week. This Saturday, May 12th, Franklin area residents can bring their used but still usable shoes to any of the following locations between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. (with one exception, as noted):
- Fletcher Field on Peck Street
- Dacey Community Fields on Lincoln Street (from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
- King Street Memorial Park on King Street
- Beaver Pond on Beaver Street
- Town Common across from St. Mary’s Church
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
For specific questions, one can email parmenter5k@gmail.com
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