CHRISTMAS CONCERTS AND SERVICES

Dear Friends of Our Lady of La Salette and Her Shrine,

Rev. Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Media Friends and Pilgrim Friends:

Please review our new Shrine and Welcome Center Christmas Concerts enclosed.

We also wish to invite you to come and visit us and see the most beautiful Lights and Services you've ever seen here at Our Lady's Shrine. 

We've got more lights than ever!  Beautiful snowflakes, Christmas trees beautifully decorated, the outdoor Manger and a live donkey named Clopper for the little children and big children to enjoy seeing how gentle Clopper really is. It's like reliving the birth of Jesus.

You can also have the opportunity to send Jesus His birthday card by going to the Welcome Center and visit the Birthday Card for Jesus!

These are precious moments that you will find Our Lady's Shrine and we all continue to share with each one of you the Spirit of the Season ...Jesus' birth.

Christmas is the true "DESCENDING DOVE" we truly wish to bless you and your loved ones in this Year of Faith. 

Come and be blessed at Christmas and year-round! We are here for you!  

Wishing you A Healthy, Happy, Holy Christmas and A Peace-filled New Year!

May Our Lady of La Salette and Jesus always bless you!

Merci! Dzienkujemy, Bog Zaplacz! Gracias! Graci!

Brother Bob Russell, M.S., Director

Brother David Eubank, M.S. / Shrine Publicist & Young Adult Ministry Coordinator

All of us The Attleboro La Salette Missionaries

12 Days of Donating: Day 11

On Day 11 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 November, the FHS Girls Soccer team won the state championship to complete their season undefeated, over 300 runners/walker turned out on Thanksgiving morning to raise a ton of food and a great deal of money for the Feed the Need 5K, the high school building project got update with a better timeline now that construction is actually underway and Franklin went to the field house to vote on Nov 6th.

The voter turnout for this Presidential year was just over 80% and similar to other elections of this category. This is the highest turnout that Franklin provides for an election. The lowest is the biannual vote for the Town Council, School Committee and other local officials that are elected (rather than appointed). For these elections, Franklin generally turns out around 18% although there was an increase in the last election. If that is the indication of a change in turnout, time will tell.

The every four year State level elections turn out the second most Franklin voters with just over 60%. The elections that really matter the most to Franklin taxpayers are those for override or debt exclusion votes and about 40% turn out for those.

One could say that money is what drives these numbers. The overall campaign dollars spent for a Presidential election dwarfs the State level and especially the local level. The dollars up for vote is what drives the override and debt exclusion turnout to be twice what it is for electing our officials.

Perhaps then, the need for money to assist the Food Pantry in completing its mission will help both the Food Elves and the Franklin Downtown Partnership be successful in their drive. The people of Franklin receive the real benefits of such collaboration!

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 10 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-10.html
Day 9 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-9.html
Day 8 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-8.html
Day 7 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-7.html
Day 6 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-6.html
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

How can I volunteer? (video)

Thanks to Eagle Scout Zach Zollo, the Franklin Food Pantry has a couple of videos to share. This one answers the question on what you could do to volunteer for the Food Pantry.

Parmenter and Five Guys, Dec 11

From the sing outside the Parmenter Elementary School, we find that there is a fund raising event on Tuesday, Dec 11 at Five Guys.

The schools have half days on Thu/Fri with parent conferences scheduled.

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Dec 11, 2012

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes:I recommend approval of the minutes from the November 27, 2012 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mrs. McIntyre
Payroll Mrs. Douglas

2. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of the donation of assorted science laboratory supplies as detailed with an estimated value of $2,000.00 to the FHS from Melissa Hancock from BD Biosciences.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $400.00 from PISA for in-house enrichment at the FHS.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,000.00 from the Davis Thayer PCC for Library Books at DT.
d. I recommend approval of the Budget Transfers as detailed.
e. I recommend approval of the request of Brad Sidwell for the Boys Ice Hockey team to travel to North Smithfield, RI on December 28 & 29, 2012 for a team building event.
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1569.20 from the Parmenter PCC for field trips.

3. NEASC - Core Values and Expectations Focus Group

4. Adjourn

12 Days of Donating: Day 10

On Day 10 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 October, the campaigns made their final pitch, the Library Book Sale took place, and the ceremonial shovel went into the ground for the new Franklin High School among the many highlights. These are just a few of the many events that occurred during this busy month. I would suggest that most folks would agree on Hurricane Sandy probably as being the most significant event of October.

NationalGrid power outage map for Franklin during Hurricane Sandy

Franklin was lucky. Some folks did lose power. NationalGrid for all the improvements they made did fail in the communication realm and town officials will be working with them to improve yet again to do better next time.

While Franklin was lucky, getting some rain and wind, Sandy bore her full force on the NY/NJ area. Sections of the metropolitan area will be a long time recovering. It will take time and resources to rebuild.

Collection bin for NJ Hurricane Sandy relief

Franklin participated in a relief effort to send food, water and other key items to those in need. Franklin has been good about this, it is a caring and sharing community.

While the Food Pantry has two part-time employees, everything it does is really accomplished through the efforts of volunteers. The collections, sorting and stocking the shelves, assisting with the distribution of food; all of these steps take time and effort and are driven by Food Pantry volunteers.

A current example of the community effort to supply the Food Pantry is that of the Food Elves with the Franklin Downtown Partnership. The people of Franklin receive the real benefits of such collaboration!

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 9 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-9.html
Day 8 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-8.html
Day 7 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-7.html
Day 6 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-6.html
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

Will area residents be left out in the cold this winter?

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Will area residents be left out in the cold this winter?

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Jeff Malachowski/Daily News staff on 12/8/12

With the impending "fiscal cliff" and recent state budget cuts, local fuel assistance programs that rely on federal and state dollars are worried residents who need help might be left out in the cold this winter.

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