Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Update: Stamp Out Hunger Drive Results


Good Afternoon,

Please let me take this opportunity to thank all of you for your help on Saturday to make the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive such a success.  I know there were times when we were standing around, but in the long run it is all worth the wait!  We collected more than 3,800 lbs of food that day which is such a huge help to keep the shelves stocked for our families in need.  Everything was organized and we were ready for business when we opened the doors this week for our clients to come in.

Thank you again and please visit our website franklinfoodpantry.org to view some of the pictures that were taken that day.

Linda Sottile

Franklin Food Pantry

“You need to be your own advocate”


Thirteen women, some of whom hadn’t met, or who knew each other only in passing, formed the walking group Sole Sisters, and volunteered to walk with Whalen in the two-day, 39-mile Boston Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on May 18 and 19. 
“They’re such a great group of women,” Whalen, 46, said, now past the surgery that removed the cancer. “You know your friends, but when something like this happens, that’s when you really know how great your friends are, and who your friends are.” 
Whalen was a nurse at Children’s Hospital in Boston for 20 years before quitting to take care of her three children: two daughters, now 14 and 15 years old, and a son, who is 11. 
“It’s a small thing we can do, walking and raising money,” said Peggy Sweeney, one of the Sole Sisters. “Lisa was very strong ... she was a trouper. She went through her treatment with grace and dignity.”

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x738804647/Franklin-woman-s-cancer-prompts-friends-to-rally-to-her-cause#ixzz1v1ZWeNUt

Better Business Bureau warns of 'Amazon' scam

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Staff reports on 5/15/12

The Better Business Bureau has issued a warning about a new email phishing scam that looks like an order cancellation notice from Amazon.com.

Things you can do from here:



There are several worthy resources to help with your online safety.



If you have found a site worthy of sharing, please send me an email or leave a comment.


Update to MassBudget's Budget Browser




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Budget Browser Updated 
MassBudget's Budget Browser has been updated to include:
  • Information from the House's FY 2013 budget proposal. 
  • Recent additions to the current, FY 2012 budget--including enhanced support for homeless families and summer jobs for at-risk youth.
The Budget Browser contains over a decade of detailed budget history. It shows how funding has been allocated among the major budget categories (health care, education, environment, housing, and more). And it allows you to track spending for any line-item or any group of line-items.  

EXPLORE THE BUDGET BROWSER

You can also watch our tutorial video: HOW TO USE THE BUDGET BROWSER 

MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies--with particular attention to the effects on low- and moderate-income people.


This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by nberger@massbudget.org |  

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Library Book Sale this weekend!

It is time for the Friends of Franklin Library (FoFL) to hold another Book Sale. This fun and fund raising event occurs twice each year, in May and October.
Friday - members of the FoFL get to participate in the pre-sale from 4:00 to 7:00 PM 
Saturday - open to all from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The DPW will also be open for their "Touch a Truck" event that kids love from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The DPW will sell some refreshments. 
Sunday - the "Bag Sale" is held on Sunday from 9:00 AM to Noon. Put books into a bag and you can buy the books at a "bag" price.
If you are not yet a member of the Friends of the Franklin Library, a membership table is set up and you can join right  there.


The FoFL will collect for the Franklin Food Pantry. Food and monetary donations will be accepted at a special table. A coupon for up to $1.00 off a book will be given to those making donations.


Franklin: Library Book Sale 10/20/07


Where is the Book Sale?
At the DPW garage off Hayward St.

What happens with the money raised by this event?
Money raised supports many library programs; summer reading, children's and adult programs, One Book, One Community and associated programs, museum passes, e-books and new books,CD's and DVD's for the library to name a few.



In the News: Police, helicopters



Ashland Police sergeant hired by Franklin P.D.

In the News: education articles

Perhaps you recall that the MA received a waiver from the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) program. What the waiver does and does not do is highlighted in the following two articles.


Education standards slated to become more flexible

Dean College - Children's Center - Open House

Open House tours will be held on Weds May 16, 2012 and Tue June 19, 2012
The open houses would run from 10:00 AM to 2:0 PM on both days.

call today to schedule a visit 508-541-1598



For additional information you can visit www.dean.edu/children

Monday, May 14, 2012

Stamp Out Hunger - 2012

The Franklin Food Pantry was on the receiving end of a parade of mail carrier trucks on Saturday. The annual Stamp Out Hunger drive was held. Letter carriers picked up donations from Franklin residents on their mail delivery rounds on Saturday and then dropped off the donations at the Food Pantry

The trucks arrived



The trucks got emptied




The bags/boxes were weighed and then date checked




The items were sorted and then put onto shelving



Thanks to Linda Sottile, the Food Pantry Operations Manager, for organizing the many volunteers.

Thanks to all the volunteers for their help!

Thanks to the letter carriers for their help!

Thanks to the Franklin residents who contributed!

Your Franklin neighbors will appreciate the results!


For more information on the Franklin Food Pantry, visit their website  http://www.helpstampouthunger.com/
Note: I am honored to lead the Board of Directors of the Food Pantry.

Thanks to Barbara Evans for taking the pictures

“I think it’s fantastic”


“We all have a passion for Ultimate Frisbee, and we didn’t see a reason not to start a team,” Durkin said. 
“(Xaverian Brothers High School) always talked about how they were the state champions, and we thought we could beat them,” Brian Doherty said. “So, why not give it a go?” 
Ultimate Frisbee isn’t quite a sport at Franklin High School, but to get it classified as one of the official extracurricular activities associated with the high school and to become a part of the national organization, USA Ultimate, the boys had to jump through a few hoops. 
They talked to their principal and the school’s athletic director, drafted and distributed concussion forms, found a coach, held no-cut tryouts, collected fees from teammates, raised $2,500 for jerseys and travel expenses, coordinated buses, scheduled games and met with area coaches.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x775168382/Frisbee-fanatics-find-a-home#ixzz1upsw3CTh

“It was an amazing experience’’ to work at 3C


“The best place I ever worked,’’ said Jack Rathmell of Franklin. There was “an esprit de corps that won’t quit, epitomized by the fact that we still have over 70 people show up for a reunion 46 years after the Honeywell acquisition." 
Rathmell is among those planning this year’s reunion, to be held Thursday evening at the Elks Lodge on Union Avenue. In past years, even EMC’s Egan would attend, fellow 3C alumni said. 
“It is unfortunate that many of the group has passed on,’’ said Harvey J. Bloom, a former Bellingham resident who now lives in New Hampshire. “The group has the most creative and fun people."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1310216338/Remembering-Framinghams-Computer-Control-Company#ixzz1uptitTj9

Additional information can be fond at at www.3CReunion.com

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Support of the People’s Rights Amendment

The appeal to the Citizens United decision is on the agenda for the Town Council meeting on Weds May 16, 2012. This video clip provides a quick summary:




This PDF provides a summary of a survey on this issue



You can get additional information on the website  http://freespeechforpeople.org/

or their Facebook page  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Speech-For-People/140474869352859


Page 17 starts the documents included in the Town Council agenda for Weds May 16
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/05162012.pdf

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - May 16


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
February 1, 2012, February 15, 2012

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Verizon, Comcast, and Franklin Matters

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
Proclamation, Andrew E. Bissanti

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS

F. HEARINGS
Alcoholic Beverage License - Failure to Pass Compliance Check – Bamboo House – 7:10 PM

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-32: Order Dedicating Town-Owned Land at 459 Pleasant Street for Use As A Public Playground or Recreation Centre
2. Resolution 12-33: Expressing the Sense of the Franklin Town Council in Support of the People’s Rights Amendment
3. Resolution 12-34: Acceptance of Gift – Town of Franklin Council on Aging
4. Bylaw Amendment 12-683: Amendment to Chapter 170, Vehicles and Traffic, §19.B – 1st Reading
5. Bylaw Amendment 12-684: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 set of documents for this agenda can be found on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/5-16-2012.pdf


“It’s a very positive program"


“I think it’s very important,” Dahlstrom, the town’s planner, said of ensuring residents can walk around town. “We’re obviously not an urban center but we do pretty well. I find it’s very easy to get from Point A to Point B.” 
Dahlstrom hopes an initiative by a Boston-based walking advocacy organization to expand outside of Boston and its surrounding communities into the suburbs will help more people realize they can walk around their town. 
The organization, walkBoston, through a grant from the MetroWest Health Foundation is working with officials in Franklin, Northborough and Milford to identify walkable areas and map out routes that show the distance and time to walk between shops, historical landmarks, schools and other destinations.

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x2069501057/Communities-want-you-to-break-out-your-walking-shoes#ixzz1ukUvpacS

"Dean has prepared me for what’s next"


“Dean College showed me acceptance when other schools didn’t,” said O’Reilly, who majored in theater. “I’m proud of this school. I’m proud I came to this school, and I’m proud of what I’ve done at this school.” 
More than 300 Bulldogs dressed in burgundy gowns received associate and bachelor degrees yesterday morning at Dean College’s 146th commencement ceremony. 
The college added its first bachelor of arts program in 2007, and by 2010 it offered several four-year programs in business, theater and liberal arts.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x255391767/Dean-College-graduates-Class-of-2012#ixzz1ukTleJU6