12 Days of Donating: Day 6

On Day 6 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 June, the Town Council approved the budget for FY 2013, the Downtown Partnership held their Annual Strawberry Stroll, and MassDOT held a public hearing on the Downtown Project among many events during the month.

The Franklin Community Garden operating in its second year was the setting for a good bit of sharing on healthy alternatives to the use of pesticides. If you have not been to the Community Garden at the King St Memorial Field, please make a date to do so sometime. It is a great example of the collaboration among organizations within Franklin. The benefits are enormous. Every time I go there, I come away with another good story to share. While good food is grown in the raised garden beds, the conversations among the gardeners, and with those who pass by, is building the kind of community where we can all be proud to say we live here!



For more on the Community Garden and healthy alternatives to pesticides, visit this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/06/franklin-community-garden-diatomaceous.html

For additional information on the Community Garden, visit their website http://www.franklincommunitygardens.org/


Another good example of collaboration is the current 12 Days of Donating where the Franklin Food Elves are combining forces with the Franklin Downtown Partnership 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/

Day 5 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-5.html
Day 4 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-4.html 
Day 3 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-3.html
Day 2 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-2.html
Day 1 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/12-days-of-donating-day-1.html

"duel entrances in and out were the preferred option"

For those shopping at Stop & Shop, using the points for gas purchases meant going to the Shell Station on RT 140. There are plans in the process of gaining approval for a Stop & Shop gas station to be located at the empty lot on the corner of Grove St and RT 140. The Planning Board will continue their hearing on Dec 17th with Zoning Board and Conservation Commission approval required as well before they can begin.

Stop & Shop has proposed a gas station with five fueling islands that can service 10 vehicles at a time. Near the pumping stations, the company has said it wants to build an attendant’s kiosk with an attached restroom. Underneath the facility will be two gasoline tanks (diesel won’t be available): one holding 30,000 gallons of fuel the other 8,000 gallons. 

The gas station would be located about a quarter mile from the Stop & Shop supermarket at 40 Franklin Village Drive. 

Should the Planning Board — which met on Monday to discuss the proposal during a public hearing — approve the design plan and issue the company a special permit, Stop & Shop has indicated that it would look to begin construction sometime in the spring.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x719501777/Franklin-Stop-Shop-gas-station-proposal-closer-to-approval#ixzz2EAmQAW5r

Where would the gas station be located? On the empty lot at the corner of Grove St and RT 140 according the the address and the map.



View Larger Map

"having money left over is always a good thing"

In the Franklin budget process, the Finance Committee gets the preview of the budget before it goes to the Town Council. In their meeting Tuesday, they were shown the plan to cover the capital budget in two phases for this time around. The first phase is underway and is scheduled for Council vote in Jan 2014. The second phase is scheduled to complete in Apr/May 2014. The Milford Daily News reports on the meeting in part by writing:

The Finance Committee reviewed most of the plan, including spending requests from the fire, police, technology, library and school departments — during its meeting Tuesday night. 

The committee will examine the remaining requests, from the Department of Public Works and water and sewer departments, at its Jan. 8 meeting, before spending the rest of that month reviewing the plan in its entirety and then making a recommendation to Town Council. 

Calling his strategy fiscally conservative, Nutting wants to prepare the town for strains on the budget resulting from a potentially harsh, snowy winter and a possible decline in local aid prompted by shortfalls in state revenue.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x719501763/Franklin-may-go-easy-on-capital-improvement-plan#ixzz2EAjBdwA2

MassBudget: Mid-Year Budget Cuts

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Mid-Year Budget Cuts Because tax receipts for FY 2013 have been lower than expected, the Governor today announced a series of mid-year spending cuts--along with plans to use money from existing reserves. Our new factsheet, Mid-Year Budget Cuts for FY 2013, describes these proposals and the broader fiscal context. Among the cuts announced today are the following: Lower reimbursements for districts with high-needs special education students (via $11.5 milllion in cuts to the SPED Circuit Breaker) $7.4 million in cuts to mental health programs, including some services for children and some for adults A 1% cut to Local Aid, which funds municipal services including police and fire protection, parks, and public works. (This cut would have to be approved by the legislature.) $200 million drawn from the state stabilization fund (the "rainy day" fund) There are two basic reasons that Massachusetts continues to find itself in a fiscal crisis. First, because of the lingering effects of the Great Recession. And second, because of tax cuts and other declines in tax receipts over the last fifteen years that cost the state over $3 billion in annual revenue. Read MID-YEAR BUDGET CUTS FOR FY 2013 The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

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12 Days of Donating: Day 5

On Day 5 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 May, there was a whole lot going on. candidate campaigns for Rep Jim Vallee's seat started, the Master Plan Committee held its first public forum, and the annual Memorial Day activities took place among the many events for the month. 

The one event, i'd like to focus on here is the combined Library Book Sale and DPW "Touch a Truck". This is a good example of Franklin seamlessly providing a quality event and yet it is a combined Town and non-profit sponsored event. The DPW provides the facility and the vehicles are arranged for easy access around the garage and parking areas. The food is donated by local businesses. The Library Book Sale is coordinated by the Friends of Franklin Library and is an all volunteer non-profit effort. The turnout is great, the smiles and bags of books are plentiful. The Library (and hence the Franklin residents) benefit from the funds raised. There is also a separate collection for the Franklin Food Pantry (which we appreciate!).

One could walk away from the event and think this is a wonderful thing that the town does. And they would be right. It is a result of the wonderful collaboration that can be very effective among the various Franklin organizations.





Guy Supernor poses as Batman

For more photos from the Library Book Sale and DPW "Touch a Truck" day
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/library-book-sale-and-dpw-touch-truck.html

Another good example of collaboration is the current 12 Days of Donating where the Franklin Food Elves are combining forces with the Franklin Downtown Partnership 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/

Day 4 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-4.html 
Day 3 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-3.html
Day 2 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-2.html
Day 1 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/12-days-of-donating-day-1.html

DelCarte Property (video)

While on my run Sunday morning, I stopped for a couple of minutes to take some pictures and this video. It is not always good to stop while running but I use the excuse that I am making my run twice as good by reporting along the way. The DelCarte Property is wonderful open space and when the dams are fixed, the trails upgraded, this will be a treasure for all of Franklin to enjoy!

Where is the DelCarte Property?

View Larger Map


Related posts on the development of the DelCarte Property

DelCarte Tour in 2010
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/10/franklin-ma-delcarte-tour.html

Town Council approved work on the dam in June 2012
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/06/in-news-leadership-delcarte-bullies.html

Ernest DelCarte donation
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/something-that-puts-franklin-on-map.html

Partial cell phone survey results

My thanks to the 41 folks who replied to the cell phone survey we started here yesterday before switching to the http://sensorly.com/ site. This is what we captured before we switched:



Many thanks for the quick and detailed responses. Sensorly will be a better place to aggregate our answers. I could not have replicated the maps that they provide.