MassDOT, AAA Promote E-ZPass

AAA members will be able to obtain E-ZPass transponders!

E-ZPass transponders are now available to AAA members at AAA branches across Massachusetts, including in: Auburn, Boston, Burlington, Framingham, Haverhill, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Newburyport, Newton, North Andover, Peabody, Plymouth, Rockland, Saugus, Waltham and Westwood.

E-ZPass users can forget about keeping cash and change on hand as they skip the line at the cash booths and travel, instead, through dedicated lanes without stopping. As residents begin to plan summer travel, it is important to note that E-ZPass is accepted on toll roads from Maine to Virginia and west to Illinois.

Indeed, the Franklin AAA office is not on the listing but at least the service is expanding. For additional information on the expansion with AAA, pleas visit
http://transportation.blog.state.ma.us/blog/2013/05/massdot-aaa-promote-e-zpass.html?utm_source=feedly

Franklin Library: Using Pinterest

Using Pinterest

Franklin Public Library - 118 Main Street Franklin MA 02038 - 508.520.4940

Farming in Franklin: Then and Now (photo essay)

Alan Earls was the host and collaborated with Seth Rousseau, AkinBak Farm and Nick Hoffman, Hoffman Farm to discuss "Farming in Franklin: Then and Now".

Franklin Historical Museum

A small but engaged audience participated at the Franklin Historical Museum.

Nick Hoffman, Seth Rousseau

The welcoming display

farming display

The bust of Benjamin Franklin keeps an eye on the historical displays

Benjamin Franklin

The presentation document

Farming In Franklin from Franklin Matters

Thanks to Alan for sharing the presentation document with us all.

Recycling event - May 25

At the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School on Pleasant St in Franklin, MA

recycling event - May 25

Electronic and bicycles

recycle your bicycle

A similar recycling event was held in October 2011
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/10/recycle-electronics-and-bikes-today.html

"may have the chance to travel to China"

"What better place for today’s young people to visit than the next super power," said Michael Walsh, the trip’s organizer and a Franklin High social studies teacher. "They are calling this the Chinese century. There seems to be a lot of opportunity for kids to visit European nations, so we were just thinking about another region of the globe for our students to explore. We thought, ‘Why not China?’" 

The trip, offered through the global academic company EF Education First, will run almost two weeks and take students on tours of Xi’an, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing. In Beijing, the country’s capital, they’ll walk atop the Great Wall of China, see Tiananmen Square, and visit the Forbidden City. 

The trip, which the School Committee approved last week, will cost around $30,000 — $2,500 per student. Plane tickets, hotel rooms, meals and tours are included in the price. 

"It will be completely student-funded," Walsh said. "We will do whatever we can as far as group fundraising."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1039445046/Franklin-teacher-plans-China-trip#ixzz2Tp7f81Ph

Rep Roy: Jefferson 4th Graders visit State House

Eighty Jefferson Elementary 4th Graders from Franklin took a field trip to Boston where they enjoyed a State House tour. The 4th Graders, accompanied by four teachers and a number of parent chaperones got the opportunity to take the guided tour, enter and see the House of Representatives’ Chamber and speak with their State Representative Jeffrey Roy (D), State Senator Richard Ross (R) and representative from State Senator Karen Spilka’s office. 

“It was great to see such an engaged group of 4th Graders from Jefferson Elementary School,” noted Representative Jeffrey Roy (D – Franklin). “We had some great discussions about what we do in the State House and several expressed interest in working here someday. I hope to have the chance to work with them.” 

Jefferson 4th Graders

“A visit to the State House is an excellent way to give our students the opportunity to experience our state’s history first hand,” said Senator Karen Spilka. “It is important for them to have an understanding of state government and their valuable role in civic engagement.” 

“I truly enjoyed meeting with the students and teachers from Jefferson Elementary School,” said Senator Richard Ross. “It is so heartening to meet with students who are engaged and interested in state government, as well as the rich history of the Massachusetts State House.”

Franklin Library: Krafty Monday - Design a Frisbee

Krafty Monday - Design a Frisbee

Franklin Public Library - 118 Main Street Franklin MA 02038 - 508.520.4940

In the News: charter school, police dogs

Franklin charter school works to end poverty and hunger

More than 400 other students, from kindergarten to eighth grade, at the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School have led a communal fundraising effort to support Heifer International, a global nonprofit that helps the world’s poorest families feed and care for themselves

Police dogs in big demand in MetroWest forces

Ken Ballinger wasn't surprised when calls from police departments starting pouring into his cell phone in the weeks following the Boston Marathon bombings.

FRANKLIN DPW ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE

The Franklin Department of Public Works will host its annual open house, 

featuring Touch-A-Truck for kids!

Touch a truck!

Saturday, May 18, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at 25 Public Works Way.

Enjoy free hotdogs, popcorn, drinks and hayrides!

The Library Book Sale is also scheduled from 9:00 to 4:00 PM today. Combine the trip to the DPW, pick up a book or two and make your kids day!

MBTA: new alert service starting June 4

As a long time commuter rail rider, I still subscribe to the T-alerts. What are T-alerts?

An alert service that sends text messages or an email to your phone or mobile device when the line you are subscribed to is having trouble. Wonder why the train is late? Ah, technical difficulty or signal trouble, or police activity. The T-alerts have improved in timeliness over the years. So even though I drive down to RI now, I still subscribe for those occasions when I would take the train in on the weekend or to just keep tabs on what is happening with the Franklin line in particular.

MBTA

Beginning June 4, the MBTA will begin using a new service to send T-Alerts. As part of the transition, the MBTA is asking all current subscribers to re-subscribe in order to continue receiving T-Alerts. Visit http://bit.ly/10yX5zj to subscribe or learn more. You must re-subscribe by Thursday, June 4, in order to continue receiving T-Alerts. Thank you.

So if you have subscribed, you should have received the notice above about the change in the service. If you haven't subscribed, maybe now is a good time to do so. Why wait on the platform without knowing? Why not be 'in the know'!


You can select specific time periods of the day for a specific line. I happen to choose all the time periods for the Franklin Line and the email confirmation looks like this:

You have made the following changes to your Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority subscriptions:

You subscribed to topics:

• Franklin Line - AM Peak
• Franklin Line - Early AM
• Franklin Line - Evening
• Franklin Line - Midday
• Franklin Line - PM Peak
• Franklin Line - Weekend

You will receive an email update when new information becomes available.

Abracadabra!! There are two free shows today!

There should be more magic. Abracadabra!! There are two free shows today!

Illusions Galore May 19  Enjoy a day with your child at the Illusions Galore Magic Show on Sunday, May 19. Shows run at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and are free to attend. Illusions Galore will be held in the Attleboro High School Auditorium, 100 Rathbun Willard Dr. in Attleboro. No ticket necessary.

Forward email The United Regional Chamber of Commerce | 42 Union Street | Attleboro | MA | 02703

Weekend activities in Franklin

Reminder that the Library Book Sale opens this evening from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM for friends of Franklin Library members (membership is $25 and you can sign up there), opens on Saturday from 9:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The DPW "Touch a truck" will run from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The book sale will close out on Sunday morning buying books by the bag. Additional details can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/friends-of-franklin-library-book-sale.html

Franklin Library Book Sale

The Parmenter School will do a car wash and bottle/can drive on Saturday

Parmenter school - car wash

Kennedy School has their fund raising recycle day on Saturday
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/kennedy-fund-raising-recycle-day.html


The HMEA 12th Annual Independence Run/Walk/Stroll happens on Sunday, May 19th
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/lavenchy-goes-to-dogs.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/04/franklin-area-road-races.html



The Historical Museum will have a presentation on the past, present and future of farming in Franklin on Sunday, May 19th
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/past-present-and-future-of-farming-in.html

MassBudget's analysis of the Senate Ways & Means proposal

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Senate Ways & Means Budget for FY14 Yesterday, the Senate Ways & Means Committee unveiled its budget proposal for FY 2014, detailing how it would support vital state programs from Education and Health Care to Human Services, Public Safety, and beyond. Our new Budget Monitor describes the funding proposals, and also the mix of tax and non-tax revenue. As was true for the House, the Senate Ways & Means proposal relies on some new money to help fix and improve our Transportation system. Beyond that, though, the investments specified in the proposal are fairly narrow--largely because they are constrained by the limited amount of available revenue. The Governor's budget had included a larger revenue package, which made possible a range of investments in education (pre-K through college) that would support the long-term needs of our economy. Among the issues we discuss in our Budget Monitor: A modest increase in K-12 Education funding--slightly more than the House, but still below pre-recession levels Less money for Higher Education than either the Governor or the House New rental vouchers for low-income families Read our SENATE WAYS & MEANS BUDGET MONITOR See ALL OF OUR BUDGET RESOURCES 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

This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by nberger@massbudget.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

BFCCPS Summer Programs

Yes, Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School is a mouthful and a perfectly good reason to create the acronym BFCCPS. No matter what you call it, the school is a good place to learn and have fun in the summer.

Charter School - Summer Fun

The BFCCPS webpage for the summer programs can be found here
http://bfccps.org/student-life/summer-programs/

Hold the date - June 1 - "I spy" on the rail trail!

The Friends of the SNETT (Southern New England Trunkline Trail) are hosting host trail-wide events for National Trails Day® on Saturday, June 1st. The Friends of the SNETT consists of representatives from all six SNETT towns (Franklin, Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville, Uxbridge and Douglas), as well as regional planning and state agencies. Our goal is to improve and promote the use of the trail. 

Events may vary by town but include planting flowers and beautifying the trail entrance with the help of the public and the Boy and Girl Scouts, family friendly nature games, such as “I Spy Nature,” and both guided and non-guided trail walks.