Fallen Hero: Lance Corporal Richard Lincoln Desper

Lance Corporal Richard Lincoln Desper was born on February 12, 1947 the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Desper. Richard lived at 45 Coutu St. with his parents, four brothers, and 13 sisters. 

According to the war Department's official telegram Corporal Desper died five miles north of An Hoa in Quong Nan province of fragmentation wounds inflicted by mortar fire while on a search-and-clear mission with the Marine Corps in Vietnam on February 26, 1969. This was Corporal Desper's second tour of duty in the war zone having previously served in Vietnam with the Navy.

Lance Corporal Richard Lincoln Desper

Lance Corporal Richard L. Desper was 22 years old at the time of his death in Vietnam.

Lance Corporal Richard Lincoln Desper

Franklin 1 of 33 Massachusetts School Districts Named to the 2013 AP District Honor Roll

School Districts recognized for expanding access to AP and maintaining or improving performance

MALDEN – State education officials today announced that 33 Massachusetts school districts were named to the College Board's 2013 AP District Honor Roll for expanding access to Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum and maintaining or improving the percent of students scoring 3 or higher.

According to the College Board, Massachusetts had the fifth most number of school districts earning a spot on the honor roll. Pennsylvania had the most districts recognized with 40. A total of 477 districts across the U.S. and Canada were selected for the 4th annual AP Honor Roll.

"Massachusetts teachers continue to help pave the way for the Commonwealth’s successes in education,” said Education Secretary Matthew Malone. “I am proud that the Patrick Administration’s continued investments in expanding access to high quality educational programs is boosting student participation and performance on AP exams that will help prepare them for success both in the classroom and ultimately, in the workforce."

"Each of our districts honored today, along with many more across the Commonwealth, are providing students with a rigorous course of study that will prepare them for success in college and careers," said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester.

The Patrick Administration is implementing a number of initiatives to ensure that students are prepared for success beyond high school and have the necessary skills to fill open jobs and compete in our increasingly global economy. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is implementing a set of recommendations proposed by a task force of the state's leading educators, employers, and academic labor experts to ensure that every student graduates from high school ready to pursue the next steps on the path to a successful career or post-secondary education.

Schools across the Commonwealth are also implementing the state's new college and career ready standards in English language arts and Mathematics, which incorporate the Common Core State Standards. The Department is developing online resources tools that educators can use in the classroom. Massachusetts is also a member a 20-state consortium that is building a next generation assessment system, called PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers), to provide a better signal of students' readiness for college and careers.

The College Board bases inclusion on the AP District Honor Roll according to the following criteria:

• Increased access to AP courses by At least 4% in large districts
• At least 6% in medium districts
• At least 11% in small districts
• The percentage of African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students taking AP exams must not have decreased more than 5% for large and medium districts and 10% for small districts.
• Performance levels were maintained or improved when comparing the percentage of exams scoring 3 or higher from 2011 to 2013.

The following Massachusetts school districts were named to the 2013 AP Honor Roll:

Arlington Public Schools (1)
Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District
Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District (1)
Diocese of Fall River
Dudley-Charlton Regional School District
Franklin Public Schools (1)
Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District
Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District (1)
Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District (1)
Hampshire Regional School District
Hanover Public Schools
Hingham Public Schools
Hopedale Public Schools
King Philip Regional School District (1)
Leominster Public Schools
Ludlow Public Schools
Medfield Public Schools (1)
Medway Public Schools (1)
Monomoy Regional School District
Needham Public Schools (1)
Newton Public Schools
North Attleboro Public Schools (1)
North Middlesex Public Schools (1)
Northbridge Public Schools
Norwood Public Schools
Plymouth Public Schools
Swampscott Public Schools
Triton Public Schools
Wachusett Regional School District (1)
Waltham Public Schools (1)
Webster Public Schools (2)
Westford Public Schools
Whitman-Hanson Regional School District



(1) District has achieved the honor for multiple years.
(2) District has 30% or greater enrollment of students who qualify for free/reduced lunch.

AP is a rigorous academic program that offers more than 30 courses in a wide range of subjects and college-level assessments developed and scored by college and university faculty members and experienced AP teachers. According to the College Board, a score of 3 or higher on an AP exam represents the score point that is predictive of college success and college graduation.

For additional information on AP, visit the College Board's website at http://www.collegeboard.org.

In the News: drive by shooting, Veterans Day

Two arrested in connection with drive-by shooting in Franklin

Two Rhode Island men were arrested in Woonsocket on Wednesday in connection with a drive-by shooting Tuesday night near Upper Union Street.

Milford-area parades and ceremonies for Veterans Day

Franklin’s Dean College will honor Veterans Day at its downtown campus. At 12:30 p.m., alumni, students, faculty and staff will gather for a ceremony in front of the college’s War Memorial on Awpie Way. 

U.S. Rep Joseph Kennedy III is the featured speaker and will join Dean students in the singing of the National Anthem.

Franklin Art Center: NAMIBIA EXHIBIT

Photography Exhibit Franklinartcenter@gmail.com Photography Exhibition Tonight Come support the Franklin Food Pantry We are asking everyone coming to the show to bring a canned good and help the  Franklin Food Pantry this holiday season.  Friend on Facebook   Forward to Friend  Copyright © 2013 Franklin Art Center Our mailing address is: 5 Main St Franklin Art Center Franklin MA 02038 unsubscribe from this list   update subscription preferences

This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Franklin Art Center · 5 Main St · Franklin, MA 02038 · USA

Franklin Newcomers and Friends 40th Annual Craft Fair

Over 70 artisan crafters under one roof offering hand-made and unique items for every style and budget including: art, photography, body care, candles, kids and adult clothing and accessories, jewelry, handbags, quilts, pottery, home décor, holiday décor, stained glass, pewter, hand-made wood and glass items, food and much, much more!

Get a start on your holiday shopping! Please come out to support local artisan crafters and support our local community at the same time! The majority of the proceeds from the Craft Fair benefit local organizations. We are also accepting non-perishable donations at the door for the Franklin Food Pantry. 

Admission is $3 for adults and children over 12 with a maximum of $10 per family. The club will also run a raffle table and a bake table. 

Please come join us for this annual tradition!

Franklin Newcomers and Friends 40th Annual Craft Fair

Visit their Facebook event page here
https://www.facebook.com/events/1429061823974140/

Franklin Food Pantry distributes the holiday meal

With the holidays approaching, the Franklin Food Pantry held its annual distribution of turkey dinners on Wednesday evening.

Two hundred dinners were put together and handed out to registered members of the food pantry. All registered members are residents of Franklin who are chosen through an application process.

volunteers ready to distribute the meal kits

The dinners included a frozen turkey and all the side items such as cranberry sauce, vegetables, stuffing and more. All items are donated by the community with the help of the Franklin Interfaith Council while volunteers put together all the bags. The turkey's come from the Greater Boston Food Bank and are handed out from the back of a Garelick Farm's refrigerated truck.

"Everyone is very supportive in getting the bags put together," says Linda Sottile, Director of Operations at the Food Pantry, who helps oversee the collecting and packaging of the items and bags.

Sottile works alongside Erin Lynch, Director of Development at the Food Pantry, to make the distribution possible. Thanksgiving is the first of two dinner distributions with the second one happening early in December.

Lynch says the Food Pantry is always thankful for any donation made to make these events possible, "We're very grateful to the community."

This was originally posted to the Franklin Food Pantry webpage

In the News: veterans breakfast, AP Honor Roll

Franklin cheers its veterans at annual breakfast

The town’s veterans were recognized with waves of applause on Friday morning during the annual Veterans Day breakfast.

Schools in Hopedale, Medway and Franklin named to AP Honor Roll

Hopedale, Medway and Franklin were three of 33 state school districts named to the College Board’s 2013 Advanced Placement (AP) District Honor Roll, the state Department of Education announced Wednesday.

Change of seasons

1 - Friendly reminder that the Farmers Market is done for the season.

Farmers Market ended Nov 1

2 - Notification of the Christmas Fair is popping up around town. Plan for Nov 17th to get ahead start for that season!

Christmas Fair at the Elks Lodge

Pour Richard's: Beer Extravaganza

Calling all craft beer enthusiasts! On Saturday, Nov 9th, Pour Richard's will host its first-ever Beer Extravaganza!

We've called on our distributors to pour some of their newest and most-interesting seasonal offerings. Do you like good beer? Yes? Then you won't want to miss this. 

Pour Richard's

Lagunitas. Founder's. Ommegang. Evil Twin. Stillwater. Foolproof. Berkshire. Sierra Nevada. Goose Island. Wormtown. Jack's Abby. Avery. Anderson Valley. And much, much more. 

Are you thirsty yet? We'll provide some spicy chili and all the fixings. The event is free, 21+ only, and held 4-7 PM so you cannot possibly still be doing yardwork. 

Please forward to similarly beer-obsessed friends. See you there!

Visit Pour Richard's on the website to sign up for their newsletters http://pourrichardswine.com/

Regular trash schedule next week

Trash and Recycling pick up schedule will be the regular day with Monday pick up as usual.  For more information including holidays and yard waste pick ups, please refer to the Solid Waste mailer.

The Curbside Mailer can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/01BFEEE0-000F8513.0/Curbside%20Brochure.PDF

Neighbor Brigade: help is next door!

Hi All,

Many of you have already heard of the Franklin Chapter of Neighbor Brigade, some have not. I have the pleasure of volunteering for this group as a meal-deliverer, occasional driver and as the chapter leader.

Unfortunately for a couple families in town, we are very busy right now. Happily for us volunteers who enjoy connecting with this community when we can, we are full with appreciation and gratitude to help out.

Two of our current Franklin families are going through treatments from cancer ; another a family crisis; and a forth in the works who is coping with a new diagnosis of cancer and surgery challenges. Take a look below at the description of Neighbor Brigade and consider volunteering, with absolutely no pressure to give time, unless it fits into your schedule...

Franklin Neighbor Brigade – Help is next door. The Franklin chapter of Neighbor Brigade is actively recruiting volunteers! 

Neighbor Brigade establishes and mobilizes community-specific networks of volunteers that provide free and immediate support services to residents during times of temporary crisis – such as serious illness, major surgery, sudden accident or tragedy. Services include meal delivery, local rides, help with household duties, help with errands, and more. 

To learn about the Franklin network or find out how we can help you or someone you know, contact chapter leader Linda Gagnon 617-335-5452. Or go to: http://www.neighborbrigade.org/chapters/FranklinMA

 To join the Franklin chapter, you must be a resident and can sign up when you go to: http://www.neighborbrigade3.org/live/other-forms/volunteer-application/?status=New&chapter=FranklinMA

Neighbor Brigade's main site (all chapters in MA):
http://www.neighborbrigade.org/

With gratitude,

Linda Gagnon, Franklin resident for 24 years


Neighbor Brigade Inc.
617-335-5452/ 
FranklinMA@neighborbrigade.org
www.neighborbrigade.org


Like Us On Facebook!

Updated 11/8/13 4:30 PM with corrected text and links

Life Long Learning update

We are at the beginning of November and Lifelong Learning courses are active, rigorous and engaging.

Read more about the learning underway 
http://lifelonglearningfps.blogspot.com/2013/11/autumn-2013.html

Check out their webpage for future learning opportunities. Registration is open now for classes beginning in December.  http://cfweb.smartedu.net/lll/

Why Mount St? Where did this come from?

Mount St resident Judith Cobb writes:

I am writing to alert all those of you who may have dealings with the Town of Franklin (Or other town governments), solar companies with promises, and National Grid. Not so long ago Franklin granted a permit to a solar company to install a farm which would grant all sorts of electrical benefits to the town. I am a supporter of solar energy. The word at the time was that it would be kind to the land and would connect to the Grid through the Union St. Industrial Park. Very soon after all the large roadside trees were cleared from the site.

Read the remainder of her letter here: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinions/letters_to_the_editor/x1467731152/Cobb-Franklin-solar-project-hurts-neighborhood#ixzz2jxORIJ1B


Helen Markee had also commented on a prior solar panel update:

This project may be great for the town but not for the Franklin residents who live on Mount St. In order to connect the solar farm into the electrical grid, National Grid has decided to run the 23 thousand volt power line along Mount St, which already has three power lines crossing it, one twenty three thousand volt line and two one hundred and fifteen thousand volt power transmission lines. This decision was made and the work started without notifying any of the residents on Mount St about this additional power line. Other routes for this new power line are available which would not increase the harmful electromagnetic radiation exposure to the Mount St residents. Running this type of power line along a street by itself would not normally be a hazard, but combined with the effects of three other power transmission lines already crossing it greatly increase the risk of health related issues including cancer. Perhaps the residents of Mount St in Franklin don't Matter!

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/solar-farm-update.html

Sculpture Park - November Update (video)

I got out to the Sculpture Park this past weekend to check out the new piece that has been installed. Come along with me for about a 6 minute walk in the park.



Where is the Sculpture Park?
On Panther Way, next to the Franklin Police Station.

Now hiring - Artistry Kitchen

We are looking for people who understand and appreciate the art of hospitality and recognize the

importance of being involved in our community. If you are a motivated, service-oriented team

player who is ready to be part of the pre-opening team of this property, please forward your resume

to jobs@artistryboston.com.

AVAILABLE POSITIONS
Line Cook, Prep Cook, Bartender, Server, Greeter, Busperson, Runner, Dishwasher

BENEFITS
• Competitive Compensation
• Health Insurance
• Paid Time Off

VISIT US AT OUR JOB FAIR!

When: Wednesday, November 13 from 12 PM to 8 PM

Where: Rockland Trust Bank, 58 Main St., Franklin MA

RSVP: info@artistrykitchen.com

Apply at www.artistrykitchen.com

Artistry Kitchen is part of an emerging multi-faceted hospitality company in Massachusetts called
Artistry. In addition to Artistry Kitchen, the organization is comprised of The Inn at Hastings Park,
a boutique inn and restaurant, as well as a full-service catering and event planning company.


The Artistry Kitchen flyer:




Where is Artistry Kitchen?
in downtown Franklin on the corner of Cottage and East Central

Senior Center introduces Companion Caregiver Program

Funded by a grant from the MetroWest Health Foundation, Franklin's Senior Center is offering a program to provide some off time for care givers. For those caring for the sick and elderly, the job is 24x7. To get a break, you can now get some qualified help at a reasonable price.

The Companion Caregiver Program is designed to provide a regular break (respite) for unpaid caregivers of elders, aged 60 and over, in Franklin and Bellingham. Care recipients must have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, a related dementia, or a significant chronic medical condition. This in-home respite service is provided by a trained companion employed by the Franklin Senior Center. The program provides socialization and stimulation for the care recipient, through an activities plan developed for that individual, based on his or her interests and abilities. It also provides affordable respite for caregivers.

The details are contained in the flyer shown here:

Franklin Library: Air - Is it really there?

For children in the 1st through 4th grades, the next program in Silly Science and Mystical Math is scheduled for Friday, Nov 15th.

Registration is required as space in the class is limited. You can register here
https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e8ft554ybc860073&oseq=&c=&ch=

Additional information can be found in the flyer:

Air: Is it really there?

This was shared from the Franklin Public Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2013/11/silly-science-mystical-math-air_6.html

Town Of Franklin has gone GREEN with UniPay Gold

Are you tired of receiving bills in the mail, putting them down somewhere until you cannot find them when you are ready to pay them? Have you ever paid a late fee and/or interest charges because you misplaced a bill? Then you are ready to take the next step to bill presentment or paperless billing.

The Town of Franklin offers you the convenience of paperless billing through UniPay’s new electronic billing feature. Managing your bills online has now become faster and easier. With electronic bill presentment you will receive an email notice as soon as your bill is available for payment. With paperless billing you will no longer receive those paper bills to save.

It’s easy as 1, 2, 3~ …. Register, view, and pay….. And you are using the same trusted, dependable UniPay product. Your bills are stored electronically on UniPay and your payment history is also available. You can retrieve them by logging in. If you need a copy, just print it out. If you need to know what you paid for taxes for income tax purposes, just look them up.

No searching for paper copies.
No forgetting to pay.
No hassle.

And it is available 24 hours a day/365 days a year so you can manage your Real Estate and water/sewer/trash bills when you want to.

Use our on-line bill payment link to get you there to register. The link is on the Town of Franklin
Home page. franklin.ma.us/

or go directly here

It is easy to “be green”.



As posted by the Treasurer to the Franklin webpage
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/01BF8971-000F8513