Healthy eating out? There is an app for that!

Eating healthy with home cooked meals is one thing. Trying to eat healthy when eating out can be something quite challenging. Fortunately, there is an app for that. If you have a smart phone, you can use this new app to help make healthy choices.

Launched in the early 1990s, Healthy Dining began as a book publisher of healthful menu options offered at restaurants in the Southern California region. Today, the company operates a website, Health Dining Finder, that allows users to search for nearby restaurants and view a list of dietitian-approved menu options with nutrition information and a selection of kid-friendly items backed by the National Restaurant Association's Kids LiveWell program. And as of late November, the "Healthy Dining Finder" app is available in a GPS-enabled mobile format, delivering access to better-for-you food at 60,000 full-serve and quick-serve restaurant locations. Users can filter results by price and distance, as well as alphabetically.

Read more: http://www.wickedlocal.com/franklin/archive/x1275651259/Nutrition-News-Healthy-eating-app#ixzz2pKw0RWjr

The app webpage can be found here  http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/

They provide assistance to restaurants in menu preparation to provide healthy choices
http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/restaurant-partners/our-expertise

Their "Road to Health' blog offers good articles in this space
http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/blogs-recipes-more/Road-to-Health

Wicked Local - Storify on Hercules

Storify is a cool tool that will allow someone (in this case WickedLocal) to put together a story combining tweets around a particular hashtag. As the Twitter users make their posts including the hashtag #Hercules, WickedLocal then sorted to get the Eastern MA users to put together this "story"

One of my personal tweets showed the back deck and the wooden furniture covered with snow, though not covered as much as in past years. What caught my eye to take the photo was the holes in the snow where it was able to fall through the boards of the decking.

You can scroll along almost to the end to find my posting/picture and see a sample of what everyone else was doing yesterday.

Enjoy!

"I’m keeping an open mind"

Wicked Local reports on Representative Jeff Roy's efforts to learn all he can about the issues around licencing of firearms.

According to Roy, the Sandy Hook shooting served as a catalyst. Leaving the University of Massachusetts after a training session for newly elected lawmakers, Roy said he heard the first reports from Newtown, Conn. 

"It chilled me and gave me a real sense of the work I was going to undertake on Jan. 2," Roy said, referring to his swearing-in date. "I knew gun violence was going to be an important topic in the Legislature." 

The Legislature’s work on new state gun proposals will ramp up with the release of the gun violence task force’s anticipated report. Appointed last year by House Speaker Robert DeLeo, the group has been meeting with mental health experts, researchers, school officials and police chiefs, Roy said. 

The report, he said, will touch on school safety, mental health and gun licensing.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/features/x407166258/Roy-prepping-for-debate-on-gun-laws#ixzz2pQje5aR5

Trash Pickup Delay Explanation

Good morning, once again.  A follow up message from the DPW.  To clarify, this weeks' trash pickup has been delayed due to New Year's AND the storm.  Thursday pickup will be tomorrow, today's will be Monday, and ALL of next week will be delayed by one day due to logistics (Monday will be Tuesday, Tuesday will be Wednesday, etc).  Next week is also Christmas tree pickup; just put them out with your trash.  Thank you for your understanding.  Good bye.

This e-mail has been sent to you by TOWN OF FRANKLIN. 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 TOWN OF FRANKLIN either IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at 508-520-4938 or REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.

Trash Pickup Delayed

Good Morning.  This is a message from DPW Director Robert Cantoreggi.  Due to the storm, trash and recycling pickup will be delayed one day. 

This e-mail has been sent to you by TOWN OF FRANKLIN. 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 TOWN OF FRANKLIN either IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at 508-520-4938 or REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.

#Hercules

Hercules!

yes, #Hercules is here... hunker down, stay warm...

a nice snow covered street in Franklin

The plows have been by but are due back when the snow ends to clean up

Stay warm!

Annual Report 2013: Community Garden Committee

As we enter our third season at the King Street Community Garden, we are proud to report that we are
continuing to provide the citizens of Franklin with a place to meet, learn, and grow. Experienced and novice gardeners of all ages are taking advantage of our commitment to a healthy space in which we can share the joy of growing organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

Partnering with the Town of Franklin, the Recreation Department and the nonprofit Friends of Franklin
Community Gardens, Your Community Garden Committee:

• Identifies appropriate locations
• Coordinates design and construction of new gardens
• Develops and enforces rules and regulations for the gardens
• Oversees the plot lottery, gardener registration and plot distribution

We pledge to continue:

• Supporting our community in growing local food
• Providing locally harvested food to those in need
• Promoting increased social interaction through gardening within our community
• Developing an educational garden for all ages

In 2013, we increased our available garden space by eight beds, following the move downtown of the four
beds formerly reserved for growing produce for the Franklin Food Pantry and the building of four brand new
beds. Even with the expanded space, we have many aspiring gardeners still on the wait list for a bed!

This season, we've introduced some new systems to help our garden run more smoothly, including a
biweekly work day to allow all gardeners the chance to help out with general maintenance and a flag system
to alert gardeners to potential trouble spots. It’s not all work though – we've also introduced a monthly award for the best garden.

Our garden shed has also seen a few upgrades, including additional interior shelving, a rainwater collection system, and a bulletin board for gardeners to communicate with each other and learn about garden events.

We look forward to many more harvests to come! If you would like to join us for the 2014 season, please
visit the Franklin Recreation Department in person or online and select “register for activities” then select
“community garden.”



The Community Garden Committee meets the First Monday of the month at Town Hall. Check the Town of Franklin Meeting Calendar for details.

If you are interested in serving on the committee, please contact any committee member or visit the Town Clerk’s office.
Amy Acevedo, Chair
Christopher Clay, Vice-Chair
Kiernan Reed, Secretary
Rich Clauser, Member
Bonnie Kaiden, Associate Member

Respectfully Submitted,
Kiernan Reed

See "Hansel and Gretel" Sunday, Jan 5th

Sunday, Jan.5, 2014 Performances at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Attleboro High School Auditorium 100 Rathbun Willard Dr. Attleboro, MA 02703 Free Admission Sponsored by: The United Regional Chamber of Commerce 42 Union Street Attleboro, Massachusetts 02703 508-222-0801

Forward this email The United Regional Chamber of Commerce | 42 Union Street | Attleboro | MA | 02703

Six One Seven Studio - Open House - Jan 9th; 4:30pm to 7:00pm

Hello! 

Just a reminder that the team at Six One Seven Studios would like to cordially invite you to our first open house event on January 9th at 4:30 PM. We are a new Franklin based video production company and would like to celebrate our arrival in Franklin with you, and many other Franklin based businesses.  

Stop by any time between 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM. We are located at 25 Kenwood Circle,  Franklin, MA.  

Please check out our brand new studio, and meet our team of video professionals.  

We hope to see you there and look forward to meeting you! Please spread the word!  

Check out the studio here: www.vimeo.com/82308994 

Please check out our website www.sixonesevenstudios.com were you can view some of our previous work, and see what we're all about. 

Please RSVP by emailing Linda Conley at HMEA lconley@hmea.org 

Or feel free to contact me directly with any questions.

Bryan Roberts
Creative Director | Executive Producer
857-202-7690 25 Kenwood Circle Franklin, MA 02038
www.sixonesevenstudios.com
TELLING YOUR STORY

In the News: FPSA auditions

FSPA slates auditions for ‘Technicolor Dreamcoat’

Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) will hold auditions for the children’s ensemble of an all-student production of the hit family musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on Monday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m. (ages 6-9) and 7:45 (ages 10-11) at 38 Main St. in downtown Franklin.

Recycling Center Closure

Good Evening.  This is a message from DPW Director Robert Cantoreggi.  Due to the snow storm, the recycling center will be CLOSED tomorrow, January 3rd, re-opening Saturday January 4th.

This e-mail has been sent to you by TOWN OF FRANKLIN. 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 TOWN OF FRANKLIN either IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at 508-520-4938 or REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.

Schools Closed Friday, January 3, 2014

A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Good Afternoon
This is a message from the office of the Superintendent of Schools.  Based on inclement weather conditions, all Franklin Public Schools will be closed on Friday, January 3rd.

Stay safe.

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 either IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at 508-613-1777.

When are the Christmas trees going to be picked up?

According to the most recent recycling newsletter, the trees are scheduled for pickup during the week of Jan 6th. Like prior years, I would expect it to be scheduled for the day of your normal trash pickup.

Page 2 of the flyer attached here has the calendar with the week of Jan 6th marked for the special collection of Christmas trees





You can also find the flyer on the Franklin webpage here:
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Recycling/WM_00218_Franklin%206pg_rWEB.PDF

Planning for 2014

Milford Daily News takes a look at what the local communities are planning for in 2014.

In Franklin, the new Franklin High School is set to be completed in the summer and open in the fall, said Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting. 

The town will be reimbursed 59 percent from the MSBA for the $103.5 million, 300,000-square-foot high school. 

Also, a nearly $7 million project is planned for downtown funded with state aid and a federal grant. The project calls for repaving and widening roads and sidewalks and installing new traffic lights and signs.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x915456701/Looking-ahead-towns-2014-goals#ixzz2pEkq05XQ

Happy New Year - welcome 2014!

2014 is upon us. 2013 is no longer. What did we learn to help us prepare?

There are changes taking place all the time. Some are more obvious than others. Artistry Kitchen is continuing their preparations to open downtown.

Artistry Kitchens

The commuters from the Franklin/Dean College station would have noticed that the coffee shop operated by the Cake Bar has closed.

coffee shop at Depot Station has closed; The Cake Bar remains open on East Central St

The challenges around us can be better met with coordination, collaboration and communication.


The answer to Tuesday's "Where in Franklin?" photo was provided by: Jamie Barrett

The tree is the large one on the Dean College campus in front of their dorm building on Main St, next to the Library.

answer to Where in Franklin 2013 08

This will be the only post today. Enjoy the time with your family and friends.

If you really need something to read you dig into the archives. for example, pick a day, any day and then see what was posted on that date in 2013. Then go to the same date in 2012, and so forth back to 2008.

thanks to the Franklin Downtown Partnership for the holiday decorations

If you like what you read here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like what you read here, please tell me!