On this day - Gettysburg - July 3, 1863

150 years ago, the Battle of Gettysburg was fought July 1 - 3. Pickett's Charge is arguably the critical point of the 3 day fight that allowed the North to turn back the South.

Southern view of Cemetery Ridge before Pickett's Charge

My wife and I visited Gettysburg in 2008 and captured these photos on the visit.

For more about the battle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg

Gettysburg Cemetery

The remains of 159 MA soldiers are marked in the cemetery where Abraham Lincoln gave the historic Gettysburg Address.

You can find the text of the Gettysburg Address on the Civil War memorial along the main street side of the Town Common.

Franklin - Civil War  Memorial

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. 

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. 

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address

Civil War Memorial - Franklin, MA - Town Common

Have a safe an enjoyable 4th of July!



FYI - Gettysburg is just one of the many sites to be explored on the National Park Service website as mentioned on the Dean College Library blog

to mark the 150^th anniversary of this battleground, the National Park Service (NPS) is giving Gettysburg National Military Park the royal treatment this summer.  From programming for all ages, to remembrance ceremonies of all sorts, there will be an event to meet every need.  Just check out theNational Park Service website for details.

Preparing for Franklin's 4th of July (part 3)

The last set of photos from the Town Common on the show rides set up for the 4th of July celebration.

Toy Story themed funhouse

polar express round she goes

cars spinning and swirling

twisted every which way

The theme for the collection of rides is to scare kids, or get their stomachs turning every which way. Hopefully, the kids will learn from one time when they do this that it is not a pleasant feeling.


What is the full schedule for the 4th of July?
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/06/franklins-4th-of-july.html

Franklin Library: Closed on July 4th

Franklin Library - closed for the 4th

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

Survey Says: No to Mayor

The survey question was posted:

"Would you be in favor of further amending the Franklin Home Rule Charter to provide for the election of a mayor to govern the city known as the town of Franklin?"

There were 44 responses and the vote was decidedly No = 27, Yes = 17

While was a survey question here, the Franklin voters will see this on the November ballot. What will happen between now and then will help to determine the fate of the question.

Those for the exploration of changing to a mayoral form of government would need to outline the proposal more distinctly. There are different forms of mayoral government, would saying "Yes" mean one of those in particular (no). It should really mean that the Town Council would then start the process of setting up a Charter Commission to determine what the change would be like. Ultimately, nothing would happen right away. It would still be sometime off before a fine tuned proposal would come back to the voters.

Want to know more about the forms of municipal government?

1 - You can visit the National League of Cities site here

http://www.nlc.org/build-skills-and-networks/resources/cities-101/city-structures/forms-of-municipal-government

(Note, we already operate legally as a city with a council and manager - coincidentally this is the most popular form of government. )

2 - wikipedia has a worthy entry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor%E2%80%93council_government

3 - Strong Mayor Council Institute has some good information

http://strongmayorcouncil.org/structures.html

For other survey or quick poll questions that Franklin Matters has conducted over the years, you can visit the collection here   http://www.franklinmatters.org/2009/12/survey-says.html

Franklin's Drinking Water

The 2012 Drinking Water Report has been published and should have arrived in your regular mail from the US Post Office. It provides an annual summary of the water quality and usage. Franklin is a ground water community. All our water comes from aquifers under ground. Out of sight, out of mind  but very important. Hence, the EPA is watching to treat the storm water runoff before it gets into the Charles.

There is whole lot of fine print in the annual report. It is worth spending a few minutes to read. One section on fluoride reports:

Fluoride occurs naturally in all water supplies in tract amounts. In many Massachusetts communities the fluoride level is adjusted to about one part per million (ppm or mg/l) so that it is optimal for better oral health. At this level it is safe, odorless, colorless, and tasteless. There are now over 3.9 million people in 140 Massachusetts communities and 184 million people in the United State who receive the health and economic benefits of fluoridation.

Worthy of note: in the water process flow shown above this paragraph on the Drinking Water Report, it states that fluoride is added to Franklin's water. In the paragraph itself, it implies but does not explicitly state that fact. Since MA has 351 communities, only about one third actually add fluoride. This is significantly less than the US as a whole which has approx. two thirds of the population getting fluoride. (184 million out of 313 million)





As a ground water community, one or more of the wells will turn up a bad test once in a while requiring a notification like the following:




As a ground water community, this is the major reason why the DEP which issues the permit for Franklin to draw from its wells, imposes the water conservation measures each year. We have the capacity to pump what we need to. The DEP fears we would draw down the aquifer more than we should, hence the restrictions.

annual water conservation for Franklin

The annual drinking water report can also be found on the official Franklin webpage
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_DPW/General_Pages/2012_CCR.pdf

Preparing for Franklin's 4th of July (part 2)

While I was around on Sunday to take some photos of those show rides not yet set up, I did catch those there were set up on the Town Common. Such as

the slide

Kidville

Cars

Carousel

Seems like there will be rides that the kids will like! What is the schedule for the 4th of July?
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/06/franklins-4th-of-july.html

Big News from Franklin Yoga & Wellness

Steve

Not sure if you are or have ever been a yoga enthusiast, but I thought you may want to get the word out about Franklin Yoga & Wellness. The new owner is the yoga teacher that I have been studying with for many years. Betsy Barry is a Franklin resident and has been teaching yoga for at least a 9 years. She is the most amazing and talented teacher I have met. Her directions are so precise and her attention to detail is so precise that every yoga position is done with the best possible form, realizing that pain or injury is not to be part of a regular healthy yoga practice!

Thank you

Jane Curran

Exciting News from Franklin Yoga & Wellness Look What Has Sprouted A New Gardener Rooting & Rising July 4th Class Changes Dear Jane, Welcome Summer!! In this time of sunny days spent outside, lazy afternoons with toes in the sand and cool evening walks we enjoy the abundance of nature and delight in continual discovery in our gardens. The summer sun restores and transforms, inviting new growth. So here is what we have been sprouting: Welcome to Franklin Yoga's new owner and director, Betsy Barry! Finally! The big day has arrived.... Commencement seems to be my theme this spring and summer with one son graduating from college and the other from high school. Endings and beginnings are partners. You can't have one without the other. So, sadly and most joyfully, Guruatma and I are handing Franklin Yoga and Wellness over to our dear friend and long-time teacher, Betsy Barry. She is stepping in as the excited new owner and director and is thrilled to cultivate new growth for all of our amazing and dedicated students. Guruatma and I are beyond grateful for all of the relationships, memories, and all the blessings we received from our 9 year  stewardship of Franklin Yoga. To all of you, "THANK YOU from the depths of our hearts!" Be sure to stop in and give Betsy a big welcome hug! As always, wishing you blessings of love and joy! Kaye Michelle (Khalsa) Rooting & Rising: New Classes Coming Soon Throughout the summer and into the fall we will be adding new classes to support your growth. We remain committed to helping our students cultivate roots that grow strong and deep. Our goal is that all students rise to new heights in their physical and emotional development with the support of our talented teachers. Please let us know what we should be planting in order for you to thrive. Be sure to check the website for new growth and offerings each week: Optional Link   CLASSES CANCELLED this week only for the 4th of July Holiday     Guruatma, Denise & Pam deserve a break today - don't cha' think?     There will be NO 9:30 am Kundalini Yoga or 6 pm Gentle Yoga  on Thursday and NO 9:30 am Divine Moves on Friday.   SPECIAL 4th OF JULY FLOW CLASS ON THURSDAY  8:00 - 9:15 am    Help Betsy celebrate this exciting new change!! Join her for a sparkling  Vinyasa Flow class which will ignite your Independence Day! Link UNLIMITED SUMMER YOGA PRICE BREAK    Join us at Franklin Yoga anytime you like all summer long for the low price of $189!  Fire up your practice this summer and burn brightly as you embrace a new you.  Link    We Look Forward to Seeing You Soon!! We are excited to share these new and exciting changes with you, our valued clients and friends.  Please continue to let us know how best to meet your health and wellness needs. Sincerely, Franklin Yoga and Wellness | 508 520-4515 info@franklinyoga.com | http://www.franklinyoga.com 1256 West Central Street Franklin, MA 02038 Copyright © 20XX. All Rights Reserved.

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