12 Days of Donating: Day 2

On Day 2 of the "12 Days of Donating", let's continue to look back through the events of the year and see how much we can be thankful for in Franklin.

In February, while the big news was that the Town Council set the date for the debt exclusion vote for the new Franklin High School, that seemed to overshadow the Library being decertified by the MA Board of Library Governors.  We will spend more time on the new high school in March but for now recall the issue of the Library decertification.




First word came from outside
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/franklin-public-library-decertified.html

The "Municipal Appropriate Requirement" became a new term to understand
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/municipal-appropriation-requirement-mar.html

The MDN gets into the issue
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/urge-restoration-of-funding-to-franklin.html

Digging back into the Budget cycle for FY 2012 didn't reveal much discussion about the cuts that were made
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/in-news-library.html

The Library was recertified early in April. 
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/02/in-news-library.html

During the decertification period, the Library was open to all but the lending of books were only available to Franklin residents. Franklin residents were also prevented from obtaining materials from the interlibrary loan program. Franklin has applied for a new waiver from the MAR requirements for FY 2013 and we won;t find out until later if that will be approved.

So how does this related to the 12 Days of Donating? Money, it all takes money. From the Franklin budget to our personal budget to feed and fund our family life, money is a key resource. The Franklin Food Elves are combining forces with the Franklin Downtown Partnership for the “12 Days of Donating” campaign to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. Donation bins are available at these participating businesses:

• Berry Insurance, 9 Main St.
• Chestnut Dental Associates, 38 Pond St.
• Dean Bank, 21 Main St.
• Dean College, Campus Center
• DCU, 500 West Central St.
• East Coast Driving School, 25 East Central St.
• Emma’s Quilt Cupboard, 12 Main St.
• Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, 9 East Central St.
• Jane’s Frames, 11 East Central St.
• Murphy Business, 15 East Central St.
• RE/MAX Executive Realty, 445 Franklin Village Dr.

You can also make a donation securely through the Franklin Food Pantry web page

http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

"a cause to rally around"

The Franklin Food Elves are back for another round of "12 Days of Donating". The Milford Daily News reports on their efforts for the Franklin Food Pantry:

"It’s not the stereotypical family coming in here," Sottile said. "It’s the neighbors; it’s the people who are working. You could have both parents working and still not make enough money to provide." 

Erin Lynch, the food pantry’s developmental director, said Friday the drive brings in the whole town. 

"We love to see the community come together on this," Lynch said. "You can always accomplish more together. This event shows that when you work as a team, you can maximize your resources for the greatest results." 

She added, "When you look at the ways something like this benefits the community, it’s not just the recipients here at the food pantry: It’s any organization that needs help. When you have kids learn they can make a difference, it benefits everybody."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x719500551/Franklin-food-elves-back-for-another-year-of-giving#ixzz2DnulQDdm

More about the Food Elves and the Franklin Downtown Partnership
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2012/11/food-drive-kicks-off-thursday.html

Disclosure: I am honored to lead the Board of the Directors for the Franklin Food Pantry and thoroughly approve of the efforts of the Franklin Food Elves. Franklin does matter!

You made the Holiday Stroll a great success!

from Lisa Piana Executive Director of the Franklin Downtown Partnership:

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Holiday Stroll last night.. Hundreds of people turned out to enjoy the sights and sounds of the 4th Annual Holiday Stroll in downtown Franklin yesterday. Visitors were treated to hot chocolate, carols, handbells, arts and crafts, wreaths, a visit from Santa, stories from Mrs. Claus, lighted trees, gingerbread cookies, holiday music and much more! The Stroll was made possible by our generous sponsors and the tireless efforts of co-chairs Cindy Kozil and Roberta Trahan and a large number of volunteer elves. Many thanks to our Gold Sponsors Dean Bank and DCU Silver Sponsors D.G. Ranieri Real Estate, Local Town Pages Franklin and Middlesex Savings Bank and Bronze Sponsors Franklin Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts and Simon's Furniture We also thank the Franklin Police Department who skillfully kept traffic moving and Strollers safe. And to DPW who made the downtown look so good.

Preschool Exploration Open House

Franklin, MA – Dean College Children's Center will host an Exploration Open House on January 14, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Parents of preschool children ages 2 ½ years old through 5 years old are encouraged to stop by during exploration hours, bring their child to explore the school, and learn about our program.

Innovative and progressive, the school is NAEYC accredited and well known in the community for an excellent preschool experience. Dean Children's Center has an adult to child ratio of 1:5 and has credentialed teachers as well as teachers-in-training. The center has a professional, caring environment where young children learn through hands-on exploration and enjoy enrichment programs in science, puppetry, music and dance.

Applications are now being accepted for preschool enrollment. An NAEYC Accredited program, the Children's Center serves as an inspiring environment for children and a lab school for Early Childhood Education at Dean College. Dean Children's Center uses a developmental approach which reflects education research in child development and peer conflict resolution. "We are a regional resource to parents and educators on peer conflict resolution in young children and our lab school is a demonstration site for best practices in early education of children" states Director Faith Nickolas.

Dean College Children's Center located at 144 School Street in Franklin. For more information, call 508-541-1598. 

Man suffers serious injuries in fall from tree in Franklin

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Man suffers serious injuries in fall from tree in Franklin

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Matt Tota/Daily News staff on 11/30/12

A man was flown by medical rescue helicopter Friday morning to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester after a fall from a tree, fire officials said.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to The Milford Daily News News RSS using Google Reader
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12 Days of Donating: Day 1

On Day 1 of the "12 Days of Donating", let's look back through the events of the year and see how much we can be thankful for in Franklin.

In January, the Historical Museum celebrated the birthday of Benjamin Franklin. Vera Meyer returned to glass the glass harmonica which had been one of Ben's inventions.



You can view additional photos from the birthday party here:
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/01/historical-museum-photo-essay-jan-29.html


The Franklin Food Elves are combining forces with the Franklin Downtown Partnership for the “12 Days of Donating” campaign to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. Donation bins are available at these participating businesses:

• Berry Insurance, 9 Main St.
• Chestnut Dental Associates, 38 Pond St.
• Dean Bank, 21 Main St.
• Dean College, Campus Center
• DCU, 500 West Central St.
• East Coast Driving School, 25 East Central St.
• Emma’s Quilt Cupboard, 12 Main St.
• Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, 9 East Central St.
• Jane’s Frames, 11 East Central St.
• Murphy Business, 15 East Central St.
• RE/MAX Executive Realty, 445 Franklin Village Dr.

You can also make a donation securely through the Franklin Food Pantry web page

http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

Alan Procknow: Franklin's Industrial Revolution

Alan Procknow, a senior majoring in History at Dean College, presented this study during the Holiday Stroll at the Franklin Historical Museum, Thursday Nov 29, 2012.

Franklin's role in the industrial revolution presentation from Franklin Matters

The Franklin Historical Museum web page can be found here:
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/

or on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/FHM02038

Holiday Stroll - Photo essay

The bargain of the day was the Christmas wreaths being sold by the Friends of Franklin to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry.

At $5, they wreaths were moving quickly. This one is already hanging on my front door! (For the very observant, yes, I did change the photo. The wreath by daylight looked so much better than in the night view I originally had here.)

The Mount St. Charles Handbell Choir performed and explained their process at Dean Bank

The Franklin Art Center was alight and welcoming!

A great holiday idea is the Franklin Calendar. Available at the Franklin Art Center $15. Each month displays a different work of art in and around Franklin.

The downtown was busy with families and a festive spirit in the cool evening air.

At the Franklin Historical Museum, Mrs Claus had a circle of young folks listening with great attention. Everyone leaving her area left with big smiles!

Alan Procknow, a senior majoring in History at Dean College, presented on Franklin's role in the Industrial Revolution. A link to the presentation document will be added here.

It was a good night be in and around downtown Franklin. There were other places I could have stopped but time was short and there was so much to do! Albeit cool, the weather was good and the moon rose brightly over Franklin.

Thanks to the Franklin Downtown Partnership, all their helpers and sponsors for this wonderful evening.

"It’s mostly the guts of the school"

The next priority in line of sight for the Franklin school district facilities needs is the Davis Thayer Elementary School.

The project has been on the town’s agenda for at least a few years, he said, but other concerns pushed the renovations aside. 

"It was on the radar screen, but the high school just dominated the discussion over the past few years," he said. "Now it’s time to address the Davis Thayer issue." 

Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski said the school, constructed in 1924, was designed with a different era in mind. 

"It just wasn’t built for the educational expectations of the 21st century," Sabolinski said.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1107416149/Architect-for-Franklin-school-study-to-be-picked#ixzz2DhX8hhjM

The recent School Committee capital plan
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/franklin-public-schools-capital-plan-fy.html

In the News: NuStyle, Schofield Dr

Franklin's 'brownfield' referenced is the former NuStyle property on Grove St.

Using gold to turn the region's brownfields into green

by Laura Krantz/Daily News staff

Cops help with Schofield Drive fire in Franklin

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Voices of Franklin: How many ounces of Franklin's medicated municipal tap water to ingest daily?

Dear Health Board members:

In light of your decision last year to continue fluoridating Franklin inhabitants through the public water supply, medical best practice principles require that you provide residents with dosage information.


As you are aware, recent studies have shown, and federal health officials have warned, that ingesting too much fluoride poses various health risks, ranging from fluorosis of the teeth and bones to impaired brain development in children. Therefore it is necessary now for responsible Franklin parents to begin carefully monitoring and controlling the amount of municipal tap water that is being ingested by the children for hydration and through cooking.

We have already contacted state and federal health officials for this important information but they will not say how much fluoridated tap water is safe to consume because fluoridation is ordered by local officials, not state or federal. According to MA General Law Chapter 111, you are 100% responsible for the drugging of our water and therefore are responsible for publishing the dosage recommendations.

Please advise as soon as possible: How many ounces of municipal tap water per day are optimal? By optimal, we mean the number of ounces that will both provide your program's intended benefits and also not expose Franklin's inhabitants to the growing list of fluoridation's side effects. Please specify your recommended daily ounces for adults, children, infants, and those on dialysis.

Thank you in advance.

Rich Aucoin
www.FranklinFluorideCouncil.com

Town Council - 11/28/12

The collection of posts reported live during the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012 can be found here:

• Live reporting: closing
• Live reporting: Legislation
• Live reporting: Tax Hearing
• Live reporting: Town Council - Nov 28, 2012

Related posts
The tax rate information and analysis was updated and posted here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/tax-rate-info-for-fy-2013-updated.html

The full agenda for the meeting is here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-nov-28.html

"Nutcracker" - Dec 15, Dec 16

Rehearsing for their debut performances in the "Nutcracker" as Clara are Celine Santorsola, left and Caroline Lounsbury, right, at the Patti Eisenhauer Dance Center in Franklin, MA.

The show performances are Saturday, December 15 at 5:30pm and Sunday, December 16 at 1pm. Tickets are available by calling 508-520-7873.

In the News: committee openings, tax rate, commuter rail

Franklin seeks members for committees

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin taxes to rise

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Mobile ticketing option available on Framingham, Franklin rail lines

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Mingle, Jingle, & Shop - Sunday 12/2 @ Dean College

To benefit the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School 8th grade class trip to Washington DC in the spring