Saturday, November 3, 2012

12 Days of Donating-Important News From the Elves




A note from the Food Elves and the Franklin Downtown Partnership....
Last year the Food Elves in partnership with the Franklin Downtown Partnership collected food and cash donations that translated to
over 17,000 meals for families in need.
The "12 Days of Donating" Campaign will run from December 1st-12th with the kick off at the Holiday Stroll.
This year the Food Elves would like to expand the number of businesses that would like to pledge $200 if the Elves meet their goal of collecting 1,200 pounds of food donations. They invite YOU to to be a part of this
community-wide campaign! 
Please call or e-mail the office by Monday so the Food Elves can add you to the list. You will be in good company with our current participants: Berry Insurance, Dean Bank, DCU, Dean College,Emma's Quilts, Jane's Frames and the Franklin Downtown Partnership.
Just say YES...
It is easy...just say "YES" and the Food Elves will arrive with a Donation Bin and will pick up the food at the end of the campaign.  
Food Elves in Training...
If you know someone who is interested in becoming a Food Elf...please call or e-mail the FDP office by Monday so Head Elves Melissa and Cameron can add them to their list of volunteers and coordinate their schedules.
Make a Difference this year....and join the Elves for a Good Cause...


Boston Globe endorses Rich Eustis

The Boston Globe endorses Rich Eustis:
In the 10th Norfolk district, two strong candidates compete for the seat already vacated by Democrat James Vallee. Republican candidate Richard Eustis of Medway lacks the impressive town government experience of Democrat Jeffrey Roy of Franklin. But Eustis, who runs the Bar Advocate Program in Worcester County, offers an intriguing blend of pro-business policies and cost-effective alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders.

http://bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2012/11/01/open-seats-give-voters-opportunity-reshape-beacon-hill/qibWAOOqlj5fjcV2Mls6OO/story.html


Note: If some of you were wondering who I would endorse, I do not endorse candidates. In my journalistic role, I share information to help you become an informed voter.

MassDOT Introduces 857-DOT-INFO (857-368-4636)

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 11/2/12

One Voice New Telephone Numbers, November 2012
MassDOT today announced a new telephone number to provide customers easy, direct access to statewide transportation information as part of its internal OneVoice transition.

"We are speaking with one voice throughout MassDOT," said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey. "It's a voice that is focused on the customer. Maybe you don't know your highway district, nearest airport, bus route or what time the local RMV opens on Thursdays. Today, we are telling our customers all that information is just one call away, 857-DOT-INFO."

In 2009, Transportation Reform integrated stand alone agencies including the Turnpike Authority and MassHighway. Today, MassDOT is comprised of four divisions: the Highway Division, Registry of Motor Vehicles Division, Rail and Transit Division and the Aeronautics Division.

Reform has allowed MassDOT to consolidate functions and see cost savings. The OneVoice telephone transition will result in phone bill and maintenance savings of approximately $422,000 each year.

Registry of Motor Vehicles customers may be familiar with 857-DOT, as the call center transitioned to 857-DOT-8000 earlier this year. For MBTA customers, this new line complements the existing customer service line, 617-222-3200, which remains active.

MassDOT is maximizing existing resources to acquaint the public with 857-DOT-INFO. Customers will notice ads on the MBTA system and on the Highway Division's digital billboard PSA program and inside our RMV offices.

Employees with the new area code and exchange include those working at the State Transportation Building, the Registry of Motor Vehicles Headquarters in Quincy and its Boston branch, as well as MassDOT Highway District 6.

Things you can do from here:

Hurricane Relief

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT"
Date: Nov 2, 2012 2:30 PM
Subject: Hurricane Relief


A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Hello
The Town of Franklin Police, Fire and Schools are attempting to organize a disaster relief project to help our Fellow Americans impacted  by Hurricane Sandy.

Items needed include:
  • Bottled water
  • Nonperishable food- note expiration date
  • New Clothing- adults, children and babies
  • New Blankets
  • Personal hygiene items including baby items (diapers, baby wipes)
  • New household items
Please drop off items at one of our two fire stations (King Street or Downtown) between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Thank you for your support,
The Franklin School Department, the Franklin Police Department and the Franklin Fire Department.
This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. 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 FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at (508) 613-1777.

Pantherbook: Goodbye Access Road

The School Building Committee has an update scheduled for Weds Nov 14 in the Council Chambers at 7:00 PM.The update will cover the different stages of construction, how the traffic patterns will be affected and where the project is currently. This will be a good time to hear and discuss what is being planned for traffic during the construction that will be taking place for the next two years.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Pantherbook by brittanylandry on 11/2/12

The new school is on it's way and will begin construction in November,but with the access road being cut off by Monday, students are forced to leave earlier in the mornings, resulting in even less sleep for us.

I already have to make my way through the day running on six or sometimes less hours of sleep with all my homework, after school activities and attempting to make time for my social life. Getting up earlier just to get to school is the worst thing anyone could tell me right now.

I am a junior in Franklin and I will not even benefit from the new high school. I do not see the new school  as a benefit to me therefore I am frustrated that I will have to wake up earlier just to be able to park in my school!

Even with the access road  helping the flow of traffic into the bustling high school in the morning, there is still an overflowing amount of cars piling into the parking lot.

"It takes me long enough to get here with all the traffic in the morning already. I park in H wing so I don't use the access road but I see how many cars go through the road to get to school after dropping off a sibling or something" says Erica Lutazzi, Junior at Franklin High School.
I have to drop off my sibling before I get to school and then use the access as an easy way to get into the senior parking lot. Without the access road I will just be even later arriving, and I get up at 5:45 every morning!

"I am not worried about the access road being shut down but for others it could be an issue" says Lutazzi.

While some students don't see the problem with the road being closed off while the new school is under construction, I see this as another struggle for me to get to school every morning.

What is the faculty going to do to help the overflowing traffic? Do we have to wake up even earlier just to get a parking spot? All I know is I get up early enough and cannot see many other students waking up that much earlier either.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Things you can do from here:

Holiday Stroll - Nov 29th

Plan on coming to downtown Franklin for the Holiday Stroll on Nov 29th, 4:00 to 7:00 PM



Related posts


In the News: campaign, hurricane, syringe, Shaw's



Mass. newspapers split down the middle on Brown, Warren

Friday, November 2, 2012

The last Farmers Market for Franklin in 2012

Here it is November 2.
The days are shortening.
We turn the clocks back this weekend.
The last Farmers Market is today.

Where does time go?


Franklin, MA: Farmers Market


Where in Franklin is the Town Common?


View Larger Map

Finance Committee - Agenda - Nov 6, 2012

The Finance Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers.

The published agenda for this meeting is shown in this document:



Holiday drive set for this month in Franklin

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Matt Tota/Daily News staff on 11/1/12

A 35-year-old local business has teamed up with a 163-year-old church to make sure every child in town unwraps some joy this holiday season. On Thursday, Hometown Paint Ace Hardware, at 254 East Central St., and St. Mary's Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, stationed at St. Mary's Parish, began what will be a monthlong gift drive to support needy families.

Things you can do from here:

Winslow endorsed Eustis


NORFOLK (October 16, 2012)-- State Representative Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk) today endorsed Rich Eustis for election to the Massachusetts House in the neighboring towns of Franklin and Medway and urged all residents to vote Eustis on November 6. "As the only elected Republican House member who lives in Norfolk County, I need more help to solve problems and get Massachusetts working again," said Winslow. Of particular concern, noted Winslow, is the need to end the one-Party monopoly domination of state government. "The Democrats vote as a bloc nearly 100% of the time with the Speaker and the Speaker doesn't give two hoots about Franklin or Medway," said Winslow. "And when a good Democrat like my friend Jim Valle had the courage to stand up to the machine, they chewed him up and treated him disrespectfully. We shouldn't reward that thuggish behavior by sending another Democrat to the House from this area." 
Winslow noted that any Democrat elected would be expected to vote as part of the monopoly or face the consequences. In the past two years, Democrats have voted on a party-line basis as directed by the Speaker in significant votes that Winslow claims have hurt this region. "All or nearly all Democrats voted with the Speaker to kill a proposal to make it easier for homeowners to refinance jumbo mortgages to take advantage of low interest rates; rejected an amendment to allow towns near a casino to receive mitigation payments; shot down a proposal to require utility companies to trim branches away from power lines and to rebate consumers for extended blackouts; rebuffed a proposal to offer consumers a choice of basic health plans that would have reduced the cost of health coverage for individuals and families by at least 25% immediately; crushed a GOP-led effort to update the House ethics rules after the felony conviction of the third Speaker in a row; and evaded a proposal by "studying" it which would have prohibited illegal aliens from receiving public welfare benefits. The Democrats even voted on a party-line with the Speaker against legalizing sparklers on the 4th of July, despite sparklers being legal in 46 states!" 
"Rich Eustis is smart, hard working and articulate and would be a great partner to help me get things done in state government," said Winslow. "If people want change, we can't keep sending the same one-Party monopoly back to Beacon Hill and expecting a different result. I enthusiastically endorse Rich for Representative and urge all voters in Franklin and Medway to give him their vote on November 6."

2012 Annual St John's Christmas Fair


This year St. John’s Christmas Fair will be held Saturday, December 1st from 9am - 3pm in the St. John’s Parish Hall located at 237 Pleasant Street in Franklin, MA.

There will be homemade gift baskets, Cookie Walk, pastry table, as well as hot soup and coffee to enjoy.

Pictures with Santa as well as other activities for the kids! Join us for a fun day!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Casino Night - Nov 3


The Franklin Education Foundation will be holding its annual Casino Night, Saturday, Nov 3




Additional information can be found on the FEF webpage  http://www.franklined.org/casino_nights
or Facebook page  http://www.facebook.com/events/295237077251757/

"There were trucks in town for four hours, and the liaison didn’t know it"

Oh, there has been progress but it is still a messy process as reported by Milford Daily News:
"For starters, community liaisons don’t interact directly with our crews," she said. "Their role is to sit in the emergency operations center to be that one-on-one contact with the town, not necessarily with our crews." 
"In some towns, we still have some bugs to work out about how that data is flowing back from our platforms and to the community liaisons," she said. 
Praising her company’s improved response to power failures, Reed said that, as of 2 p.m., the company had restored service to 78 percent of its customers who lost it during Hurricane Sandy.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x303001718/Officials-furious-with-National-Grid#ixzz2AxjpLztU

Related posts
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/10/nationalgrid-power-outage-map-830-pm.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/10/national-grid-hurricane-sandy-update.html


"focus on talking to voters"

The Milford Daily News has an update on local campaigns and what has been reported on their fund raising and expenses.
Jeffrey Roy, running against Richard Eustis for the empty 10th Norfolk house seat in Franklin and Medway, since May has donated $18,230 to his own campaign. 
"I wanted to spend my time getting out, reaching voters, getting my message out in whatever way I could," he said. 
Roy said the money will pay for mailings and newspaper ads. Fundraising this year is hard, he said, because so many presidential, senate and congressional races are happening alongside state races.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1890070203/Candidates-kick-in-personal-money-to-win#ixzz2AxgJ7evf