Monday, January 27, 2014

"community will gain a lot from it"


In 1974, a student in Palma Johnson’s second-grade class at John F. Kennedy Elementary School wondered why Massachusetts didn't have a state bug. 
There was already a state bird, a state fish and a state tree, but not an official insect. One student suggested the ladybug. 
Together, the class drafted a petition to make the ladybug the state bug. When its petition came before a committee, the students, dressed, of course, as ladybugs, traveled to the State House and testified. 
Improbably the bill passed both the House and Senate. And when then-Gov. Francis Sargent signed it into law, the children were there to watch.

Read the full article at: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140127/NEWS/140127006/1994/NEWS#sthash.oe0bYD6S.dpuf

Ladybug floor mat at JF Kennedy School
Ladybug floor mat at JF Kennedy School


Related posts on the Ladybug Spots:
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/01/live-reporting-ladybug-project.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/01/cows-on-parade-now-ladybugs.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/01/ladybug-spots.html


Sunday, January 26, 2014

Franklin's Board of Health revises proposed tobacco regulations


More Massachusetts towns have enacted tobacco regulations in the past two years than in the history of the state’s anti-tobacco campaign, adopting new restrictions largely aimed at how businesses can sell such products. 
Since 2012, 12 communities, including Ashland, have raised the legal purchase age for tobacco products beyond 18. Fifty cities and towns ban the sale of blunt wraps, and 39 have set a minimum price for cigars. 
Town health boards have the power to pass the regulations without approval from Town Meeting or a higher governing body. 
Anti-tobacco activists, doctors and advisers, attend Board of Health meetings and public hearings both to offer up statistics pointing to the health hazards of smoking and to present model regulations that communities mold to their circumstances.

See more at: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140126/NEWS/140127129#sthash.zRK3Gw5Q.dpuf


Franklin's Board of Health is among those looking to make changes, The proposed revisions can be found here  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/01/regulations-tighten-towns-rules-on.html

The public hearing held at the January meeting resulted in the regulations being tabled to a future meeting without a decision at that time.
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/01/single-cigars-account-for-about-80.html


Franklin Municipal Building
Franklin Municipal Building
The proposed regulations (link provided above) have been revised and the new set posted to the Franklin website as of 1/23/14.
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_HealthNews/01C7D47D-000F8513


The old set is no longer on the Board of Health page. You can find the old set on the Franklin Matters page. The new set is shown here:





Visit the Franklin Board of Health page on the town website here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Health/index


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Updated: I printed both the old set of proposed regulations and the new set to walk through the document line by line, page by page to find the changes. This is what I find:

  • Definition add for "Retail Tobacco Store"
  • Section 4.1 - changed date from Feb 1 to April 1, 2014
  • Section 4.2 - changed date from Feb 1 to April 1, 2014
  • Section 4.3 - changed age from 21 to 18
  • Section 7.1 - added language to create an exception for in-store humidors
  • Section 15 - changed date from Feb 1 to April 1, 2014

If you find that there are changes that I missed, please let me know.


February is Library Lovers Month - What is your favorite book?


To help celebrate February as "Library Lovers Month", the Friends of Franklin Library (FoFL) would like to know what your favorite book is, and why (just a couple of sentences). It can be a book you read recently, or one you read years ago. Maybe you have a favorite author you can tell us about. Who knows, maybe we'll each find a new book or author to enjoy!





Ben Franklin reading outside the Franklin Library
Ben Franklin reading outside the Franklin Library

Entries will be accepted until Feb 28, 2014.

As you submit your entry, you'll have the opportunity to view the other entries.


Rail Trail Supporters: Stock up for the Patriots and Superbowl

An email on Saturday evening from the FBRTC:
It's too bad the Patriots are not in the Super Bowl next weekend, but chances are you'll still have that Superbowl party you planned.  So take the opportunity Sunday to stock-up for next weekend and help the rail trail effort at the same time.   
Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee
Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee

The Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee (FBRTC) is hosting a wine tasting at Pour Richards Wine ( 14 Grove Street in Franklin) from 2:00 to 5:00 pm.  Come taste fine wines and learn about the efforts to develop the Southern New England Trunkline Trail.  
Pour Richard's Wine & Spirits
Pour Richard's Wine & Spirits
And we won't pass judgement on how much you buy, but the more the better!  Pour Richards is generously donating a portion of their profits on sales to the FBRTC. Samples from Tastefully Simple will also be served along with other appetizers to pair with your wine! 
More details at www.FranklinBellinghamRailTrail.org/news or www.pourrichardswine.com 

We hope to see you.

Ladybug Spots

Additional information is contained in this one page document if you would like to be involved with sponsoring a ladybug





Related posts:

Cows now ladybugs
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/01/cows-on-parade-now-ladybugs.html

From the Town Council meeting
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/01/live-reporting-ladybug-project.html

Emeritus at Franklin: Events for seniors and senior caregivers


Emeritus at Franklin, the new senior living community slated to open in May 2014, is hosting two events for seniors and senior caregivers, which are free to the public, in February.

Surviving the Challenge of Caregiving Being a caregiver is a demanding role, and one that requires a good deal of self-care. Rosemarie Lanchester, a certified hypnosis consultant, will present five simple steps for caregivers to take better care of themselves.
Date and Time: Saturday, February 8, 10 a.m.-noon
Location: Hampton Inn, 735 Union Street, Franklin
RSVP: 508.520.1150 or Franklin-ED@emeritus.com 

Discovery Luncheon: Are you or a loved one looking for a safer and more enjoyable way to spend your golden years? Come discover how Franklin's newest Assisted Living and Memory Care community can help seniors continue to live fulfilling, productive lives even in the midst of the challenges of aging.
Date and Time: Tuesday, February 11, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: Hampton Inn, 735 Union Street, Franklin
RSVP: 508.520.1150 or Franklin-ED@emeritus.com 

About Emeritus at Franklin: Emeritus at Franklin was designed for seniors whose needs include assisted living and memory care. Nestled in a charming neighborhood, this lovely residential building will feature 81 new apartments, an experienced and compassionate care staff, three homemade meals served restaurant-style daily, a dynamic activities program and weekly housekeeping services.

Visit https://www.emeritus.com/ for more information

"There’s a pharmacy in your head"


Bill and Linda Hamaker simply couldn’t stop laughing in the conference room in Franklin’s Hampton Inn Saturday morning. 
Their laughter, completely unprovoked by jokes or humor, soon spread to the room of about half a dozen who wanted to explore the idea of laughter yoga, for which the Hamakers are certified instructors. 
Life is better when you are laughing
Life is better when you are laughing
The Walpole natives say this unconventional form of yoga first came to them during a three-day seminar at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge. 
Based on the teachings of Dr. Madan Katria, a physician from Mumbai, India, laughter yoga is based on reconnecting with the unrestricted laughter we once experienced as children, Linda said.








You can read the full article in the Milford Daily News at: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140126/NEWS/140127133/1994/NEWS#sthash.9WWyLTzl.dpuf


Check out the Let's Laugh Today webpage for their complete schedule of events
http://www.letslaughtoday.com/