"a keen focus on the task ahead"

In a recap of the response to the marathon bombing, area communities sent police and law enforcement representatives to Boston.

Franklin police Sgt. James West, an element leader in the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council’s SWAT team, was preparing to begin his 3 p.m. shift when he saw the first reports of the twin explosions appear on the news. He immediately checked his phone and pager, expecting to get a call. 

The council, a consortium of more than 40 local police departments and law enforcement agencies, contains six divisions: a canine unit, computer crime unit, crisis negotiation team, mobile operations motorcycle unit, regional response team and SWAT team. 

In all, at least 100 officers from the council would be activated.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1580231620/In-wake-of-marathon-bombings-Franklin-Milford-Bellingham-police-answered-call-for-help#ixzz2ZxA6LMlc

In the News: RMV Milford, K girls, unarmed robbery

Officials oppose RMV possible Milford branch closure

Local officials raised concerns over a state transportation plan to regionalize the Registry of Motor Vehicles and close the Milford branch.

Mendon mother-daughter team made history during tragedy

While their accomplishment was overshadowed by the bombings at the Boston Marathon finish line, Kristine Biagiotti said she and her daughter have since received plenty of recognition for becoming the first mother-daughter team to complete the race.

There is nothing in the news yet about the report in the Franklin Police log for Sunday, Jul 21 where an unarmed robbery was reported at the Big Y at 6:40 PM.

911 CALL REPORTS UNARMED ROBBERY. 617(GILBOY) 613(GOVE) 603(KENNEY) 623(NIX) 602(MARGUERITE) 622(SGT THIBEAULT) RESP. SUSPECT FLED IN POSS BLUE FORD FOCUS TOWARDS WRENTHAM. WRENTHAM AND NORFOLK PD NOTIFIED. MV POSS MATCHING DESCRIPTION AT FRANKLIN COMMONS. 623/603/622/613 OFF AT RESIDENCE. NOT SUSPECT MV.

The full police log for Jul 21 can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Police/jul2013/jul212013.pdf

All the daily police logs are posted to the Franklin Police website here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Police/newlogs

Boston: Fun After Dark

View on Mobile or Web Page

Everyone knows that the real fun starts after dark. After the sun sets on Copley Square on Friday and Saturday, join me and some of my closest friends for After Dark. It's all part of the Boston Globe WGBH Summer Arts Weekend, presented by Citizens Bank. Buy tickets now for the exclusive After Dark performances. Spend Friday evening jamming with Dr. John and Della Mae. Come back Saturday night for a toast with Angelique Kidjo and Red Baraat. Get tickets right now, and use the member discount code (WGBH20) to save 20 percent. After Dark is the only place to see the biggest acts from BSAW's big stage playing together at a cocktail party for an intimate audience. And I hope that audience includes you. Brian O'Donovan Artistic Director, Boston Summer Arts Weekend Host, A Celtic Sojourn on 89.7 WGBH Boston Public Radio PS – After two late nights, don't forget about the Baroque Brunch on Sunday, July 28. Tickets are on sale. WGBH members save 20% on tickets for a limited time (use code WGBH20).

WGBH | One Guest Street | Boston, MA 02135 | 617-300-5400Privacy Policy | Pledge & Renew

Music Boosters: Car wash at Uno's July 27

The Franklin High School Music Boosters is hosting a car wash on Saturday, July 27th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Uno's in Bellingham. The group is raising money to help send the high school's music groups to perform at Disney world during the school's April vacation. The bands and vocal groups will be performing in Florida. 

The Music Boosters will have a series of fundraisers throughout the year, including a collection at Stop and Shop in Franklin on August 10 and 11.

Franklin Library: Teddy Bear Picnic

Teddy Bear Picnic

teddy bear picnic

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

In the News: RMV regionalization, food collection

Milford RMV branch could close with state plan

A state Department of Transportation plan to regionalize the Registry of Motor Vehicles could mean the Milford branch would close.

St. Vincent dePaul of St. Mary's in Franklin plans food collection

The Society of St. Vincent dePaul of St. Mary’s Church in Franklin will hold its monthly food collection at all Masses the weekend of Aug. 3 and 4.

Ramsey Musallam: "3 rules to spark learning"

It took a life-threatening condition to jolt chemistry teacher Ramsey Musallam out of ten years of “pseudo-teaching” to understand the true role of the educator: to cultivate curiosity. In a fun and personal talk, Musallam gives 3 rules to spark imagination and learning, and get students excited about how the world works.

For more about Ramsey, you can visit his TED bio page http://www.ted.com/speakers/ramsey_musallam.html

Sir Ken Robinson: "How to escape education's Death Valley"

Sir Ken Robinson outlines 3 principles crucial for the human mind to flourish -- and how current education culture works against them. In a funny, stirring talk he tells us how to get out of the educational "death valley" we now face, and how to nurture our youngest generations with a climate of possibility.

For additional info on Sir Ken Robinson including links to additional TED Talks you can visit
http://www.ted.com/speakers/sir_ken_robinson.html

Free the grapes! (video)

In the midst of vacation season, wouldn't it be nice to be able to ship some wine back home to MA.

Massachusetts wine lovers still cannot purchase wines directly from out-of-state wineries. But the legislature is now considering House Bill 294, a favorable bill that would replace an unconstitutional law with a proven solution. However, some Massachusetts package stores and the politically powerful wholesalers remain opposed to consumers choosing their own wine 

2013 is going to be the year for consumer choice in wine, but we need your help:

Step 1: Spread the word: Tell your friends about us on Facebook (and share our page, Facebook.com/freethegrapes) 

Step 2: Write your legislator! This is really easy (and quick) to do online through our Action Alert! 

Step 3: Join our email list: You’ll need to know the bill number as soon as we have it, so join the email list and we’ll keep you up-to-date on the latest news.

For more information, you can visit the "Free the grapes" website
http://freethegrapes.org/massachusetts-2013/

School Calendar Survey Results

Here is the summary of the Franklin Public Schools "Calendar Survey" conducted in May/Jun of this year

For the record, results from the last survey in 2008 can be found here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2008/11/live-reporting-school-calendar-survey.html

Angela Lee Duckworth: "The Key to Success? Grit"

Leaving a high-flying job in consulting, Angela Lee Duckworth took a job teaching math to seventh graders in a New York public school. She quickly realized that IQ wasn’t the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. Here, she explains her theory of “grit” as a predictor of success.

For more about Angela, you can visit her TED page http://www.ted.com/speakers/angela_lee_duckworth.html

Food recycling as a climate issue (audio)

Why is food recycling a climate issue?

Recently the U.S. joined the U.N. in launching programs to combat food waste. Fortunately, right here in Arlington we already have a great model for doing just that. Our guest on this edition of the Climate Hawk Companion is DeAnne Dupont, has been walking the talk, and was instrumental in establishing the Minuteman Food Recovery Project as a collaboration between the Minuteman High School Parent’s Association and Sustainable Arlington. 

The project collects from Panera Breads, Trader Joe’s and other local businesses in the Arlington, Massachusetts area and distributes it to people who need this food. This makes for a better community and fewer greenhouse gases. Listen to the podcast to catch up on how it all works.

Other organizations mentioned during this podcast are:
Loving Spoonfuls Boston  http://www.lovinspoonfulsinc.org/

What is happening here in Franklin?
The Franklin Food Pantry coordinates pickups from many local businesses to support the clients the Food Pantry serves. Periodic pickups from Panera Bread, BJ Warehouse, Trader Joe's, Stop and Shop, The Cake Bar, etc. are coordinated and conducted by Food Pantry volunteers. If the pickup is of a quantity that the Food Pantry can't use within the window for the item, the Food Pantry does share with the Senior Center and other places where the items can be used.

The anaerobic digestion process was proposed for the former sewer facility in Franklin based upon the new state regulations. If you haven't heard about the regulations, you can find out more here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/07/a-solution-that-meets-multiple-economic.html

For more about the anaerobic digestion proposal discussed at the Town Council meeting
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/06/anaerobic-digestion-tabled-in-franklin.html

For more about the anaerobic digestion proposal discussed at the Planning Board meeting
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/06/anaerobic-digestion-is-not-recommended.html

This was cross posted to
http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/2013/07/food-recycling-as-climate-issue-audio.html

Franklin High School - construction update - July 2013

There are some significant developments with the new high school construction.

new entrance traffic pattern

The entrance off Oak St is now two way

new exit traffic pattern

Because the road normally used to exit is now closed off and under construction

the parking lot is under construction

as is the entire parking lot closet to the field house

construction of the walls

this is by design so the parking lot will be completed before Sep 2013

hey, that's cool

someone likes that idea!

brick work continues

the brickwork noticed the last time we visited is making good progress

brick work along the back right corner

the bricked sections are spreading along the back and right side of the building

gymnasium section

the far left corner where the gymnasium will be located is roofed and the walls are starting to fill in

panorama from across the fields

the panorama from the Horace Mann parking lot

Farmers Market - noon to 6:00 PM

Another Friday, another day for the Farmers Market.

Farmers Market

Come to the Town Common between noon and 6:00 PM for fresh goods and produce from local farms and shops.

Geoffrey Canada: "Our Failing Schools.Enough is Enough!"

Why, why, why does our education system look so similar to the way it did 50 years ago? Millions of students were failing then, as they are now -- and it’s because we’re clinging to a business model that clearly doesn’t work. Education advocate Geoffrey Canada dares the system to look at the data, think about the customers and make systematic shifts in order to help greater numbers of kids excel.

You can find out more about the Harlem Children's Zone  http://www.hcz.org/hcz-home.php