Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Christmas trees at Akin-Bak

In addition to the produce and honey at the farm stand, Akin-Bak has Christmas trees! They are open from 9:00 AM until 8:00 PM through Christmas Eve

Akin-Bak Christmas Trees

For additional info you can find Akin-Bak on the web at http://www.akinbakfarmllc.com/

or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AkinBakFarm

Note: the photo was 'borrowed' from the Akin-Bak Facebook page!

Hockomock Field Hockey - Hock 5

HockomockSports.com announces the Hock5 awards for Field Hockey including:

Maddie Bressler and Kelly Dubowski were named to the 1st Team representing Franklin's Field Hockey team.
Tara Doherty and Marta Vesprille were named to the 2nd Team.
Lisa Cropper was named Coach ofthe Year for the 15-3-2 record, #6 seed, D1 South Quarterfinals performance.

Read the full listing for Field Hockey here

http://www.hockomocksports.com/1/post/2013/12/hockomocksportscom-2013-field-hockey-awards.html

Representative Roy's December Office Hours

State Representative Jeffrey Roy (D-Franklin) announced Monday that constituent office hours will be held in Medway and Franklin for the Month of December on the following days:

Medway – Thursday December 12th, 7:30-8:30AM, Medway Council on Aging, 76 Oakland Street, Medway, MA
Franklin – Thursday December 19th, 8:30-9:30AM, Franklin Senior Center– 10 Daniel McCahill Street, Franklin, MA

Christopher Yancich, his legislative aide, will be accompanying him.

Representative Roy stated that all office hours are open to any residents of Franklin and Medway who may have questions or concerns that they wish to bring to his attention. Walk-ins are welcome; no appointment necessary. He looks forward to hearing from you.

He also invites all constituents to call him at his State House office at (617) 722-2400, stop by Room 134 in the State House, or email him at Jeffrey.Roy@MAhouse.gov.

In the News: blood drive, property values

Blood drive in Franklin to honor Meredith Green

In honor of Meredith Green, friends and family will host a Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Blood Drive, Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Franklin Public Library, 118 Main St. Meredith was a member of the Franklin High School Class of 2008.

Franklin's proposed fiscal 2014 property values released

The Board of Assessors this week released proposed property values for fiscal year 2014, showing increases for both residential and commercial properties.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Consider #GivingTuesday so the Food Pantry can provide every day!

Thanksgiving and the other end of year holidays bring many folks around a dinner table to enjoy a good meal with the family and friends. While the awareness of hunger is heightened during this time of year, the reality is such that hunger is a year round problem.

The Franklin Food Pantry looks for ways to enable a sustaining volume of donations so that those they serve can be provided for throughout the year.

For #givingTuesday, there are several ways you can help the Food Pantry.

You can help in the following ‘traditional’ ways

Donate food or non-food items. Why non-food items? For those on WIC or SNAP benefits, purchases of personal health care products are restricted. A person needs those just as much as healthy food to live a good life. Review the listing of non-food items for the Healthy Futures shelf.

Donate money through the Food Pantry website with a one time payment, or set up a recurring payment. The website allows for payments from bank accounts or credit cards.

For the holiday season you might consider

The Franklin Food Elves will be collecting for the Food Pantry in their annual "12 Days of Giving" campaign. "More than 60 Food Elves will be collecting goods in neighborhoods around Franklin. If you don't have an Elf in your neighborhood, you can still participate in the food drive! Look for the red collection bins at participating Franklin Downtown Partnership member businesses. For additional information, check here.

Buying a ticket or two, or more for “A Christmas Carol, Times Two!” A dramatic reading of the classic story Charles Dickens with musical accompaniment. Thursday, Dec 12th at the Franklin United Methodist Church. Tickets $10 per person. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased in advance through BrownPaperTickets.com/, either on-line or by calling their 24/7 toll-free number 1-800-838-3006 For additional details on this performance check here.

You can also help by

Purchasing a “Franklin Pride” bead or necklace or bracelet. These items are carefully crafted in the Franklin blue and buff colors and make great gifts throughout the year. Birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day to mention just a few. A percent of the purchase price comes to the Food Pantry thanks to the collaboration with Beads for a Cause

Consider “Sponsoring a Shelf”. Contact Erin Lynch, Development Director to discuss how this would work for your budget. She can provide examples of items (peanut butter or toilet paper for example) that the Food Pantry uses on a regular basis. Your donation could provide the funds to keep a shelf stocked with that item for a set period of time. Your name (business or family) would be placed on the shelf to help provide recognition for your contribution.

Last but not least, you can find the Franklin Food Pantry on Facebook. “Like” the page and enable notifications to your timeline as the Food Pantry makes updates so you will always be “in the know”. Share items you find are worthy with your friends and neighbors so the Food Pantry can reach all of the Franklin user on Facebook!

If you have a Twitter account, you can also find and follow the Food Pantry

If you use LinkedIn, you can find updates from the Food Pantry

When you sit for your next meal, please give thanks for what you have. Please consider giving when you can to help the Food Pantry provide for others in Franklin throughout the year.

This was first posted on the Franklin Food Pantry website
http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org

Note: I am privileged to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Franklin Food Pantry

Santa Claus arrives in Franklin

If the rain kept you away from the Town Common Sunday afternoon, this brief video will take you there to see Santa arrive.

Thanks to the "Concerts on the Common" for putting this together. Everyone who was there had a smile on their face!

Screening of Dalai Lama interview Dec. 11 at Franklin Federated

On Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 7 PM the public is invited to a special screening of an exclusive interview with the Dalai Lama that was conducted by theologian Lloyd Geering. The recording will be shown at the Franklin Federated Church, 171 Main Street.

The up-close and personal interview by the two spiritual scholars was the only interview given by the Dalai Lama during a 2013 visit to New Zealand.

The showing is being cosponsored by Franklin Federated Church and the Franklin Interfaith Council. There is no charge for admission but there will be a free will offering to benefit the Interfaith Council's fuel assistance fund.