The NSA Debate at TED

“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”  Benjamin Franklin

As we live in the first community named for Ben, we should be as concerned about liberty and security as much as how Franklin will find funds to pay for our roads and other services. Hence, there are two important TED Talks from this week I will share here. Pull up a comfy spot (if you're not in one already) and spend about an hour with Edward Snowden and then the response from the NSA.

Edward Snowden at TED  "How we take back the Internet"




Richard Ledgett: "The NSA responds to Edward Snowden’s TED Talk"

"I would say the last year has been a reminder that democracy may die behind closed doors, but we as individuals are born behind those same closed doors, and we don't have to give up our privacy to have good government. We don't have to give up our liberty to have security. And I think by working together we can have both open government and private lives, and I look forward to working with everyone around the world to see that happen."  Edward Snowden

Franklin High's weight coach is strong

Two year ago, shortly after she was introduced as Franklin High's new strength coach, Liane Blyn became a legend in the school's weight room. 

It was a YouTube video, later posted on the school newspaper's website, showing Blyn dragging a yellow Hummer that had the students abuzz.

Read the full article here (subscription required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140322/NEWS/140328669/1994/NEWS






and the video of her pulling the Hummer from a dead stop

Hockomock Area YMCA kicks off the Reach Out for Youth and Families annual campaign

Brian Earley and Michael Patch return to lead the charge in the Hockomock Area YMCA’s 2014 Reach Out for Youth and Families Campaign. Brian joined the Board of Directors of the Hockomock Area YMCA in 2011 and is currently vice chairman. He is General Manager of Patriot Place and active in the town of Franklin, where he resides with his wife and four children. North Attleboro native Michael Patch grew up as an avid YMCA member and is currently chairman of the YMCA’s North Attleboro Branch Board of Managers. Michael is President of CSM Group, Inc. and lives in North Attleboro with his wife and three sons. 

Michael Patch [left] and Brian Earley [right]

"We are thrilled to have Brian and Michael lead our annual campaign," notes Jeff Dufficy, Chairman of the Y’s Board of Directors. "Brian and Mike are great champions of our mission and their passion to help improve the quality of life in the communities we serve is infectious and inspiring."

The Hockomock Area YMCA is recruiting more than 400 volunteers to help tell the story of the Y and its impact. The campaign will officially kick off on March 27th at the Hockomock Y’s annual breakfast beginning at 7:00 a.m. at Gillette Stadium, Putnam Club (East Side). Volunteers, community partners, and friends will come together to be inspired and to help friends and neighbors in need. 

In 2013, the Hockomock Area YMCA invested $1,732,470 in confidential scholarship assistance and subsidized programs. Through the community’s support, people of all ages and from all walks of life are enjoying lives that are more healthy, confident, connected, and secure. This includes cancer survivors and their families enrolled in the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA initiative, over 600 children with special needs participating in inclusive YMCA programming through the Integration Initiative, and thousands of middle school students taking part in Adventures in Respect, the Hockomock Area YMCA’s bullying prevention initiative. The Hockomock Area YMCA is more than a place; it is a cause that is committed to strengthening communities. 

According to Ed Hurley, President of the Hockomock Area YMCA, “We are grateful for the thoughtful generosity of our community. Last year, more than 15,000 local children and families benefited from a Y experience through the contributions of over 3,000 Reach Out for Youth and Families donors.” To RSVP for the annual breakfast, contact realimpact@hockymca.org. To learn how you can volunteer for this year’s campaign, please contact Peter Waisgerber at (508) 643-5251.

About The Hockomock Area YMCA
The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. At the Y, strengthening community is its cause. Every day, the Y works side-by-side with its neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn and grow. For more information about the Hockomock Area YMCA, please visit www.hockymca.org.

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 3/21/14 - THU 3/27/14

FRI 3/21   6:30pm   Art Night Uncorked - Franklin Art Center.
FRI 3/21   7pm   Casino Night to benefit Franklin Youth Baseball

SAT 3/22   9am-12pm   Patriot’s Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser to benefit BFCCS students, Elks Lodge Franklin.
SAT 3/22   8pm   Concert: Lori McKEnna with Mark Erelli, First Universalist Society, Franklin. (sold out)


SUN 3/23   12:30pm   Cupcake Decorating for Teens. The Cake Bar, Franklin.
SUN 3/23   1pm   FPAC Free Concert Series: Opera for Kids - Franklin.

MON 3/24   7pm   Planning Board Meeting, Franklin Municipal Building.

TUE 3/25   7pm   School Committee Meeting, Franklin Municipal Building.

WED 3/26   6:30pm   Cooking Matters - FREE class. Hockomock YMCA Franklin.
WED 3/26   7:00pm  Finance Committee - Budget hearing #4 (may be last one of series)

THU 3/27   7am-9am   Power of Voices - YMCA Annual Youth and Families Breakfast. Patriot Place - Foxborough.


For more details on above events click HERE and select the event of interest.

*If you have any suggestions or events for the calendar, please email Renata@BetterLivingRE.com

More on PARCC

Additional articles on the Common Core and PARCC

Todd Gazda, Superintendent, Ludlow Public Schools: Enough is Enough!

March 19, 2014 Letter written by Ludlow Superintendent regarding too much on standardized testing

Education official: Students can't be forced to take PARCC - News - MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA - Framingham, MA

Just out today, March 20, 2014

PARCC

Related post:

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/franklin-voices-future-parcc-ma.html

Franklin Downtown Partnership Announces 2014 Event Dates

The Franklin Downtown Partnership has set the dates for this year’s Strawberry Stroll, Harvest Festival, Holiday Stroll and Beautification days. The FDP also announces its General Meeting Dates and invites the general public to attend and learn more about important issues and happenings in town. 

Franklin Downtown Partnership

Downtown Beautification Day will be Saturday, May 17, 9:00 a.m. to Noon. The Partnership, the Franklin Garden Club and many volunteers will install more than 1,200 flowers and greens, and community service hours will be available to students. Contact Eileen Mason at emason11@verizon.net for details about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities. Winter Beautification Day will be Sunday, November 23. 

The Partnership’s 11th annual Strawberry Stroll will take place on Thursday, June 12, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A sidewalk sale, entertainment and the Partnership’s mouthwatering Strawberry Shortcakes will kick off summer in sweet style. The FDP currently is signing up sponsors for this event. Contact event Co-Chairs Nicole Fortier, nfortier@deanbank.com, or Bryan Taberner, btaberner@franklin.ma.us, for more information. 

The always-popular Harvest Festival will be Sunday, October 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. This annual event will draw at least 6,000 visitors to town for a fun afternoon of local entertainment, shopping, food and games. Booth registration information will be available on the FDP website in June. 

The Holiday Stroll is set for Thursday, December 4, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A visit from Santa, holiday music, crafts and specialty shopping draw hundreds of people downtown for this special holiday evening. Roberta Trahan and Gregg Chalk will co-chair this event. 

Along with these popular events, the FDP also set its General Meeting dates: May 1, September 4 and November 6. The Partnership invites all business owners and residents to join discussions about issues affecting the area and learn more about the FDP’s efforts in revitalizing downtown Franklin. The meetings take place at 8:30 a.m. at the Dean College Campus Center. 

More information about the events, meeting dates, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities can be found at www.franklindowntownpartership.org. 

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a 501(c)3 organization that works to stimulate economic development downtown to create a positive impact throughout the area. To that end the FDP runs events and takes an active role in downtown improvement projects like beautification efforts and streetscape design. The Partnership currently has close to 200 members and welcomes all businesses and residents. 

Any business, organization or resident interested in membership or sponsorship should contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com or (774) 571-3109, or visit the office at 9 East Central Street.

Franklin Art Association: Special Show Meeting

   SPECIAL SHOW MEETING

  

   Please come - We need all to help us

Who:        All members and all new members to join in

Place:      Guarino's, 75 Jefferson Road, off King Street, Franklin 

When:      Wednesday, March 26   

Time:       7-9 PM

Franklin Art Association

Objective:  Request for help* with FAA Spring Show, at Dean College, May 16, 17, 18 

*All tasks will be reduced to small responsibilities  No one will have to do anything they cannot do. 

Detailed information with be available for each 'assignment'. 

It is a wonderful way for newer members to become more part of FAA.    We want and need you!    

We want to get to know you newer members and 'work' with you.   

Please come, we need everyone's help.     Mark your calendars now to come over. 

See you there!

       Thank you.    Bill Wallhausser and Gail Eckberg,  Co-chairs, Spring Show

Gail  - geckberg1@gmail.com

Bill - bwallhausser@gmail.com