Time for painting?

One of my favorite running routes is out Summer St and up Mount St coming down Upper Union to King St.     At the top, on Upper Union, you pass the water tower and then begin one of the real fun parts of the course; the long gradual slope down where gravity can do most of the work.

Coming by the water tower, the opportunity to freshen the coat of paint is becoming more obvious. Here are photos going back two years to compare.

Jul 2011

Feb 2012

Jun 2013

Road construction complete

The East, West, Nason, and Church streets received their final coating of asphalt recently completing the rebuild process.

Back in September/October, the water and sewer mains were worked on.
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/10/east-st-construction.html

The curbs and sidewalks were put in during March/April
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/04/franklin-street-construction-photo-essay.html

and now the final coat has smoothed out the ride.

East St near Fire Station #1

Hold the date for Akin-Bak Farmstand

From Facebook:

We are proud to announce that we will be having a grand opening for our new farm stand here on the farm on Sunday, August 4th at 12 noon! Stop on in and learn about our past, meet the farmers (if you haven't had a chance) and receive a voucher for 50% off on a pumpkin this fall!! We are super excited and hope you can all join us to celebrate!

Akin-Bak Farm

Join the event on Facebook for additional updates: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/129101290629778/

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Jun 19, 2013

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – May 1, 2013

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by Franklin Matters.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
Annual Committee Appointments

F. HEARINGS
Public Hearing to determine whether it is in the public interest to accept Jade Street, Ruby Way, Garnet Drive and Opal Circle. – 7:10 PM

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Proposed Zoning Change

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 13-50: Order of Layout, Acceptance, and Taking of Jade Street, Ruby Way, Garnet Drive, and Opal Circle and Related Parcels and Easements

2. Resolution 13-51: Declaration of Town-Owned Land (Vacant Parcel Between Old West Central and West Central Streets)as Surplus and Available for Disposition

3. Resolution 13-52: Granting M.G.L. Chapter 268A § 20(a) Exemption

4. Resolution 13-53: Purchase of Land at 37 Beaver Street Authorization

5. Resolution 13-54: Authorization for Non-Binding Local Ballot Question, Re: Adoption of Mayoral Form of Government

6. Resolution 13-55: Verizon Easement at New High School

7. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-718: Changes to Chapter 185, Section 7. Compliance Required, Parking. – Referral to the Planning Board

IMPERVIOUS SURFACES:
8. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-702: Changes to Chapter 185, Section 36. Impervious Surfaces – 2ND Reading

9. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-703: Changes to Chapter 185, Section 40. Water Resource District – 2ND Reading

10. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-716: Changes to Chapter 185, Section 3. Definitions – 2ND Reading

11. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-717: Changes to Chapter 185, Attachment 9, Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard and Height Requirements – 2ND Reading

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as Required
Pending Litigation with Walsh Brothers Construction

P. ADJOURN


The set of documents published for this meeting can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2013/061913.pdf

Relay for life

Cancer touches so many folks directly or indirectly. If it is not a family member, it is a friend, neighbor or work colleague that is affected by the disease. The Relay for Life was held Friday/Saturday on the track at Tri-County Regional to raise awareness and funds for this worthy cause.

opening ceremony - national anthem

The heavy rain overnight Thursday in to Friday cleared as forecasted to bring bright blue skies and comfortable temperatures.

the puddles remained

For those staying over night to walk, it should have been a nice evening.

there is hope!

When a number of people come together around a cause, there is hope!


If you would still like to contribute to the Relay for Life, you can visit the event webpage

Franklin Library: Finding Your Next Read

Finding Your Next Read

Library resources

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

In the News: Unfunded mandates, structurally deficient bridges

Unfunded mandates worry school officials

Even with a few more weeks left in the school year, administrators and teachers are already bracing for next year when Massachusetts school districts will begin undertaking a number of mandates expected to improve education.

Many structurally deficient bridges in MetroWest, Milford

Cars drive over almost two dozen structurally deficient bridges locally and hundreds statewide spanning railroad tracks, rivers, roads and lakes. Local officials say the key to repairing or replacing these bridges is, no surprise, money.

"just $31.50 a week, $4.50 a day, or $1.50 a meal"

Secretary John Polanowicz kicked off the SNAP Challenge this week with a shopping trip at Save-A-Lot in Springfield to highlight the importance of this benefit as a front line defense against hunger. The Secretary is joining his family, Congressman James McGovern, Department of Transitional Assistance Commissioner Stacey Monahan, Senator Jamie Eldridge and participants across the country in taking the challenge from June 13-19. Participants must live on a total food budget of $31.50 for the week, or the average, per-person federal SNAP benefit. 

“While living on a food stamp budget for just a week cannot come close to the struggles encountered by low income families week after week, and month after month, it does provide those who take the challenge with a new perspective and greater understanding,” said Secretary Polanowicz.

Read more about the SNAP Challenge here
http://hhs.blog.state.ma.us/blog/2013/06/hhs-secretary-polanowicz-and-commissioner-monahan-kick-off-the-snap-challenge-.html

The Franklin Food Pantry is able to help those in our community receiving SNAP by supplementing with other food and non-food items. Your contributions help make this happen.  Whether you contribute time (by volunteering), goods (food and non-food items) or money, it goes to help your neighbors.

a "powerful experience"

Friday was Flag Day and the battlefield cross to honor one of Franklin's fallen was unveiled at theYMCA.

Jesse "The Machine" Green carved the battlefield cross as a gift for Cabino-Cipriano and her family. 

Before Thursday, Green - the chainsaw sculptor from Medway who starred in the National Geographic series "American Chainsaw" - and Cabino-Cipriano had never met in person. 

When the moment came, they embraced one another for what seemed like minutes, Green giving Cabino-Cipriano a bear hug.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1615045815/Battlefield-cross-to-honor-fallen-Marine-from-Franklin#ixzz2WHQNMqT8


Related post:
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/06/special-flag-ceremony-jun-14-lance.html

Commuting on i495 was a mess on Friday

Two accidents, one during the morning commute and one during the evening commute left i495 something like a parking lot for hours. If you were caught in either or both sets of traffic, here are the stories on the accidents themselves.

Four-year-old girl killed in crash on I-495 in Bellingham

A 4-year-old girl was killed in a single-vehicle crash on I-495 northbound in Bellingham around 6:30 Friday morning, according to the state police.

One flown to hospital after crash on I-495 in Bellingham

State police officers called Life Flight to transport one person after a single-car crash on I-495 in Bellingham on Friday afternoon, a state police spokesperson said.

Farmers Market - noon to 6:00 PM

The farmers market will open today on the Town Common

Grateful Farm

What will future jobs look like?

In this TED Talk, Andrew McAfee talks about the jobs of the future and what it means for us.

Winston Churchill came to my home of MIT in 1949, and he said, "If we are to bring the broad masses of the people in every land to the table of abundance, it can only be by the tireless improvement of all of our means of technical production." 

Abraham Lincoln realized there was one other ingredient. He said, "I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to give them the plain facts." 

So the optimistic note, great point that I want to leave you with is that the plain facts of the machine age are becoming clear, and I have every confidence that we're going to use them to chart a good course into the challenging, abundant economy that we're creating.

Franklin Downtown Partnership’s annual Strawberry Stroll

"I am pleasantly surprised," said organizer Nicole Fortier of the large turnout. "It just goes to show you that the strawberry shortcakes really draw people in." 

Along with the partnership’s other seasonal events, the stroll shines a light on the downtown. Local businesses had tables set up throughout the plaza for people to stop by and find out what they’re all about. 

"It’s really a great community event," Fortier said.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x871004483/Rain-cold-dont-dampen-spirits-at-Franklins-Strawberry-Stroll#ixzz2WBKx14MT

Franklin School Calendar Survey

A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

June 12, 2013 Dear Parents/Guardians/Faculty: As the administration and School Committee collaborate to develop a school calendar, we need to balance the needs of students, parents and school professional. Additionally, we need to be mindful of federal, state and religious holidays and the contractual obligations necessitated in our bargaining agreements. With the addition of the challenges presented by inclement weather (snow, hurricanes that result in widespread power outages and tree damage) scheduling school days may present calendar challenges. In an effort to seek feedback from our stakeholders we would like to collect data to inform the development of future school calendars. The last time we solicited feedback was in 2007 and we felt this might be an opportunity to seek your opinions. We are asking you to complete this brief survey and when the results are complete we will report them out at a School Committee meeting and on our web site. We will seek data from parents/guardians and from our faculty as well. Thank you for taking the time to participate and we value your feedback. To access the survey, follow this link:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/752GSL5 This survey will be open from June 12 through June 26, 2013. Respectfully, Maureen Sabolinski Superintendent of Schools This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. If you wish to discontinue this service, please inform FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at (508) 613-1777.

Continuing the Tradition of Father’s Day at the Y

More than a century ago, Sonora Louis Smart Dodd aspired to create a holiday to honor fathers. Dodd, the daughter of a single father and Civil War veteran, was inspired by a Mother’s Day sermon and wondered why there was no holiday for fathers. After securing support from ministers in Spokane, Wash., her idea came to fruition with the first Father's Day celebration at the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910.

On Sunday, June 16, the Hockomock Area YMCA joins the nation in celebrating Father’s Day by recognizing the impact fathers and adult male role models make in children’s lives. Nationally, one out of three children lives in a home without their biological father, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And, societal factors such as unemployment, work-life balance or a lack of resources can affect fathers’ ability to seek support in strengthening their parenting skills and more fully engaging in the lives of their children. The Hockomock Area Y remains dedicated to providing resources and opportunities for fathers to further involve themselves in the well-being and development of their children.

“Father’s Day reminds us why it’s important to provide fathers with the support they need to be the best parents and caregivers they can be,” says Ed Hurley, president of the Hockomock Area YMCA.

Father and son duo Frank and Nathan enjoy a moment together at last year’s Hockomock Area YMCA Integration Initiative Golf Clinic hosted by TPC Boston.

Studies show that children with close relationships with their fathers and other adult male role models have more self-confidence and exhibit less depression, perform better academically and engage in significantly less drug and alcohol use.

The Hockomock Area YMCA offers a variety of programs that foster understanding and companionship between children and their caregivers such as parent-child aquatics, dance, enrichment, gymnastics, and sports classes as well as our community garden family share program in the town of Mansfield to name a few. We also offer a myriad of sports leagues and encourage parents/caregivers to volunteer as coaches to reinforce our core values – caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility – that unite us with a common cause of strengthening families and communities.

To learn more about programs and activities available at the Hockomock Area YMCA, visit hockymca.org.
Photo caption: Father and son duo Frank and Nathan enjoy a moment together at last year’s Hockomock Area YMCA Integration Initiative Golf Clinic hosted by TPC Boston. This year’s clinics will be held on July 15 and August 5.

About The Hockomock Area YMCA
The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. At the Y, strengthening community is its cause. Every day, the Y works side-by-side with its neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn and grow.For more information about the Hockomock Area YMCA, please visit www.hockymca.org.

Kindergarten ends Jun 19

Oh my, the last day of kindergarten is the 19th! Those precious darlings will soon be 1st graders!

Where did the school year go?

Parmenter sign

The last day of school is scheduled for June 26th.

Jane's Frames: Kids Create

Strawberry Stroll, June 13, 2013 4- 7 pm  Dear Steve, You are Invited  to   Kids Create  Allowing kids of all ages to create art on canvas There is now a large blank canvas hanging in the shop,  acrylic paint and paintbrushes await eager art enthusiasts. We will work together to create a huge canvas to be raffled off, all proceeds go to the Food Pantry. Sidewalk Sale during  Strawberry Stroll Downtown Franklin Due to the forecast of rain, many of the vendor tables, including the Strawberry Shortcake table, will be set up inside the Depot Plaza building,   (the building that houses Acapulco's)    Come to Jane's Frames  to see  Homemade soaps by Mary Jo Martini, and bracelets by Ben Speaks: their tables will set up inside the shop. At Franklin Art Center there will be an Art Show and an activity creating a sculpture from ping pong balls for the Sculpture Park.   Bargains galore!! - 100's of  prints 30-50% off   A Selection of Framed Art  at 30-50% off!!     The Strawberry Stroll is sponsored by the Franklin Downtown Partnership whose mission is the revitalization of Downtown Franklin.

Forward email Jane's Frames | 11 East Central Street | Franklin | MA | 02038

Yes, there are bricks!

This is the way we lay the bricks
To make the walls strong and thick
This is the way we lay the bricks
All day long.

Maybe the construction folks are not singing this nursery rhyme but the first bricks are being laid along the back right corner of the new high school.

first bricks - Franklin High School

I stopped by on Sunday to grab these photos (making hay while the sun shines) to catch up on the progress.

first bricks - close view

I can imagine what it might be like to work the brick.

back wall - blue, yellow, steel

The back wall shows the stages of the construction

bricks - side view

It would be interesting to watch to see how the platform moves and how the supports are adjusted as the bricks rise up the wall.

stair well and interior view

With floors and ceilings roughed in, there are lights now. I wonder how it looks at night. The darkness and just the individual lights.

front corner

As quiet as this place is on a Sunday, I can also imagine it must be pretty busy during the normal working day.

front panorama - Franklin High School

The building is impressive in its skeleton shell. Stay tuned for more photos next month as we mark the progress on the new high school.


Full text for This is way we lay the bricks

Franklin Scholarship Award Winners

Nicole Higgins and Laura Murphy received the Franklin Republican Town Committee Scholarships at the Franklin High School Awards Night. Each graduating senior was presented with a $500 scholarship and flowers by Dr. John Jewell, member of the Franklin School Committee and Franklin Republican Town Committee. 

Miss Higgins and Miss Murphy submitted the highest ranking essays based on Ronald Reagan's quote, "America is too great for small dreams." 

The recipients are active members of the Franklin community. The various high school activities of Nicole Higgins includes junior and senior class president, town council school committee representative, vice-president of the community service club and secretary of Young Americans for Freedom. She has also given extensive hours of community service through a variety of organizations including but not limited to the food pantry, Salvation Army, Care Packages for Troops, Relay for Life and the Brain Tumor Association. Nicole plans to pursue an education degree. 

Laura Murphy served as the varsity tennis captain and took part in Mock Trial. She was a member of the National Honor Society, FHS orchestra, Tri-M Music Honor Society and United States Figure Skating Association. Her list of volunteer work includes CCD teacher, assisting the Food Pantry and the Santa Foundation as well as taking part in fundraising and school volunteering, Laura plans on attending college to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering.

The Franklin Republican Town Committee congratulates the recipients and wishes them the best in their academic goals. The FRTC raised money for their annual scholarship through sales of their booth at the Franklin Fourth of July Celebration. Additional information about the FRTC's meeting and activities may be obtained at franklinmagop.com. The FRTC believes in advancing the core values and principles of our country's founding fathers."

What's happening in the 10th Norfolk district

Subscribe by clicking here. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter by clicking the images below. Bill allows regionalization of dispatch services In May, I was joined by Franklin Town Adminstrator and Fire Chief Gary McCaraher at the State House to testify in favor of House No. 2189, an Act establishing a district to operate a regional public safety communications and dispatch center for the Towns of Franklin, Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham.  It would allow the Towns of Franklin, Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham, through their respective town council and boards of selectmen, to enter into a written agreement for the purpose of establishing a district to construct, equip, operate and maintain a consolidated regional public safety communications and dispatch center. You can read the Milford Daily News report on the bill by clicking here.    Combining the dispatches for all of the towns will improve the response times, save taxpayer dollars, and make the citizens of the region safer. The bill would also give the towns quicker access through joint resources. Dispatchers at a regional center will have state-of-the-art tools and the latest technology. Rather than facing the numerous distractions in a typical police station, the dispatchers in the regional center can focus exclusively on taking calls and alerting first responders. The consolidation of resources and enhanced technology will allow dispatchers to stay on the line with a caller during an emergency—providing CPR instructions, for example—while another dispatcher follows through with lining up the response resources. And the dispatchers will receive training that will get them up to, and keep them at, professional standards set by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International. In short, the center will offer amenities that communities could not afford by going it alone. The bill mirrors Chapter 156 of the Acts of 2010 which established a regional dispatch center for the towns of Cohasset, Hingham, Hull & Norwell. Regional dispatch centers have also been formed in Essex County. The state encourages communities to regionalize emergency dispatch centers because it allows cities and towns to cut the cost of providing those services to residents. It also is a more efficient way of providing the service. Franklin, Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham have already been provided with grant money through the State 911 Department Regional and Regional Secondary PSAP and Regional Emergency Communication Center Development Grant program to complete construction of the center and fund operations for three years, but they are unable to proceed without legislative approval of this bill. The State 911 Department  supports the development and startup of regional and regional secondary PSAPs and regional emergency communication centers, to maximize effective emergency 911 and dispatch services as well as regional interoperability. As always, it is an honor and privilege to represent Franklin and Medway. Thank you for your support in the effort to make Massachusetts a great place to work and live. Sincerely, Medway forum on economic development The Medway Economic Development Committee held its inaugural business workshop to discuss attracting new business to the area and help existing companies make the most of resources to keep them here and help them grow. The emphasis was on how Massachusetts is working to keep businesses in Massachusetts while drawing in new industry. many of the area business and industry leaders described how they used some government resources to help them grow. You can read more about the forum by clicking here. Franklin's BMAC makes top 3 for greatest job in the world Brittany MacLeod (aka BMAC), a 2009 Franklin High School graduate wants to become Australia's first "Chief Funster," one of six new positions that the country's tourism department has sought to fill through the "Best Jobs in the World" contest. MacLeod, a 2013 graduate of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., has earned a place among the top 3 applicants for Funster in Chief. To get there, she had to beat out 600,000 people from 196 countries. The job description opens with, "If you're the life of the party, always in search of the best events and coolest festivals, then why not do it for a living?" In her role as Chief Funster, she would be based in Sydney, the country's largest city, spending a year traveling across New South Wales to promote exclusive festivals and events via new media. You can learn more about her campaign by clicking here. You can get a glimpse at all three finalists by clicking here. You can view video of Brittany being honored by the House of Representatives by clicking here, and Rep. Roy's endorsement by clicking here. Gun forum sets civil tone On May 30, Dean College hosted our gun violence forum featuring a panel of legislators, Franklin's police chief, two college professors, and the Executive Director of the Gun Owners Action League.. The event was well received in the community and was helpful in sorting through many of the issues surrounding this volatile topic. The information and comments provided by the panel were thoughtful, engaging, and material to the discussion, highlighting the difficulties faced by legislators in this area. The forum also made it clear that by sticking to the facts and avoiding hyperbole, we can have a civil discussion on reducing gun violence. You can read the Milford Daily News story on the forum by clicking here. The event was captured on video by Franklin TV and will be replayed over the next several weeks on local cable access in both Franklin and Medway. Click here for the latest program guide. Passing the plate for charity Our license plate bill was featured in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette last week. House Bill 3136 would reduce the number of initial applicants required to purchase specialty plates in advance, and those additional ones during the first two years from 1,500 to 500. So, instead of 3,000 applicants, 1,000 would be sufficient. By lowering the initial threshold for specialty plates, we can help charitable groups who are finding it difficult to raise money and keep their programs going. It's a revenue-neutral bill and a way to help charities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And it has bipartisan support in the House. To view the full story, click here. Moving Wall a fitting tribute Last week, Medway MA was the temporary home to the Moving Wall. Rep. Roy was given the honor to speak at the opening ceremony. As he noted, many Americans answered the call to duty on the battlefields of Vietnam. The Wall offered a time to extend tributes of thanks and share collective memories of these troops, to reflect on the valor of the fallen, and the bond of freedoms that unite Americans. As President John F. Kennedy once said: "A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers."   Office hours Medway – June 8th, 10:00-11:00AM, Coffee Sensations - 116 Main Street Medway, MA Franklin – Tuesday, June 11, 8:30-9:30AM, Franklin Senior Center - 10 Daniel McCahill Street Franklin, MA  Franklin – Saturday, May 22, 9:30-10:30AM, The Cake Bar - 17 E Central Street Franklin, MA Walk-ins are welcome and no appointments are necessary. You are also invited to call the State House office at (617) 722-2400, stop by Room 134 in the State House, email Jeffrey.Roy@MAhouse.gov, or schedule an in-district appointment.. Franklin residents honored at HOPE breakfast At a very special legislative breakfast focusing on people with differing abilities, Rep. Roy had the honor and privilege to present a citation to the Jim & Kathy Stoffel for their assistance with Karen Mackie and their heroic efforts to save her life on Christmas Day.  Congratulations Jim & Kathy and thank you for the great contributions to our community.  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2013 State Rep Jeff Roy, All rights reserved.  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

Relay for Life - Franklin

The next Relay for Life is scheduled for Jun 14 - 15 at Tri-County Regional Voc Tech here in Franklin.

For the full schedule of events visit the Franklin Relay for Life webpage