Monday, April 7, 2014

Stations of Cross Broadcast

The Franciscans of Divine Mercy/ Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus of the Independent Old Catholic Church of the Americas will have a special televised Stations of the Cross often called Via Dolorosa @ 2:00 PM on Good Friday April 18th. 
The Franciscans of Divine Mercy's weekly televisions show REFLECTIONS and the special Good Friday Stations is broadcast through the Franklin Community Cable Access TV Studio on Comcast Channel 8 and on Verizon Channel 26. 
The REFLECTIONS television show airs every Sunday at 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM on Franklin Community Cable Access TV Studio. 
The show is available to all local Cable Access stations in New England in accordance with Massachusetts law simply by a resident of station manager requesting it. 
All the REFLECTIONS Shows are also available on YouTube by going to: https://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn 
For more information contact Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD @ 508-520-0992 or by email @ Divinemercyparish@msn.com

Pax et Bonum

Peace & All God's Goodness be with you
Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD

Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus
Divine Mercy Old Catholic Parish
Independent Catholic Church of the Americas

Link to Fr. Bob's Weekly TV show
http://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn

Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FriarBobJohn
Mission Web Site www.missionstsergius.org
Franciscan Web Site www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
ICCA Seminary Link http://www.iccamericas.org/seminary/
Diocese Office: http://stjosephcupertino.com/index.html

Hydrant Flushing - begins Apr 7

While visiting the Franklin Historical Museum for the Cultural Council open house on Sunday, I found a photo opportunity announcing water flushing begins Monday, Apr 7.

hydrant flushing - starts Apr 7
hydrant flushing - starts Apr 7


hydrant flushing - starts Apr 7
hydrant flushing - starts Apr 7

Updated 4/8/14 to include this message from the DPW

The Franklin Department of Public Works, Water Division will begin its hydrant flushing program on Monday, April 7, 2014. This program is conducted annually to improve Franklin’s water quality and fire flows. Some hydrants will be flushed in the evening hours, while others will be completed during the day. Hydrant flushing will continue depending on water availability and system pressures.  
Residents may experience temporary water loss or discolored water while hydrants are being flushed in their area. Even though the water may be discolored, it is still safe for human consumption.  
Check the DPW Home Page to find out which streets we are working on today.  
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and we apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the DPW office at 508-553-5500. 


As the sign board was located at the 'gateway' to Franklin, it raises a question related to the future of this building and land. Would the town include an easement in the land deal so they could continue to use this location for such notifications?

Sunday, April 6, 2014

FM# 104 - 150 Emmons St discussion at the Town Council meeting

Franklin.tv recorded the Town Council meeting on Wednesday Apr 2 but has not yet posted the video to the Franklin web page. As the 150 Emmons St discussion is important, I am sharing my audio recording of the meeting. 

Without further ado, here is the segment of the Town Council meeting Apr 2 that covered the discussion. (It runs approx 90 minutes)

Updated 2/6/20 = If you need the audio, please contact me directly.... thanks

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This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin. I can use your help. 

How can you help, you ask? 
If you have an interest in writing about something that matters in Franklin, please let me know. If you have interest and time to cover the Planning Board, or Zoning Board of Appeals, or Conservation Commission, or School Committee meetings I would be most interested.

As always - 

  • If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors
  • If you don't like this, please tell me.

This feedback loop is important. Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ where you can subscribe to the daily email that will deliver to you all that is posted once a day


You can find us on Facebook as "Franklin Matters" as well

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission

I hope you enjoy!


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My published notes for this meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/04/this-is-just-discussion.html



Lawrence Lessig's wish

Lawrence Lessig's wish appeals to all citizens



Here's my wish. May one. May the ideals of one boy unite one nation behind one critical idea that we are one people, we are the people who were promised a government, a government that was promised to be dependent upon the people alone, the people, who, as Madison told us, meant not the rich more than the poor. May one. And then may you, may you join this movement, not because you're a politician, not because you're an expert, not because this is your field, but because if you are, you are a citizen. Aaron asked me that. Now I've asked you.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lawrence_lessig_the_unstoppable_walk_to_political_reform

Find out more about the wish here http://www.rootstrikers.org/

Franklin Public Schools: Feedback Opportunity

A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT 
Hello
All our stakeholders have a voice in Franklin Public Schools' ongoing pursuit of educational excellence.  
Beginning on Monday, April 7 we will be asking for your feedback about the individual school your child attends or where you are assigned as a staff member. We are focusing on critical school issues such as academic preparation, student support, parent engagement, diversity, school operations and accessibility of school leaders.  
This survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. All responses are strictly confidential. 
After the survey closes, we will report the findings publicly sharing what we have learned and what specific changes you may anticipate as a result of your feedback.  The survey will open on Monday at 4:00 pm and you will receive an email with the link. We thank you for your support and we value your feedback. 
Respectfully, 
Maureen Sabolinski

Franklin Public Schools
Franklin Public Schools

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.

Rails to Trails and Rails WITH Trails - Apr 16

Rails to Trails and Rails WITH Trails projects in 
Southern New England: 
How we got here and where we’re going


Presenter: Craig Della Penna, Executive Director, Northeast Greenway Solutions

Date/Time: Wednesday, April 16, 2014. 7:00 pm

Location: Franklin Public Library, Community Room (Downstairs)

SNETT sign - Grove St entrance
SNETT sign - Grove St entrance


The Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT) is one of the longest trails in the region and is currently the center of a local effort to convert this old rail line to a universally accessible trail. Formerly the site of a major rail line from Boston to NY, the trail begins in Franklin (on Grove Street) and heads west through Bellingham. Developing the SNETT into a multi-use, non-motor vehicle trail will improve home values and businesses in both towns and create a recreational outlet for all ages. Come learn how a rail trail will benefit you.

For additional information on SNETT visit the Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee page
franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org



Downtown Partnership - talking points on Emmons St building

The following are the talking points presented by Executive Director Lisa Piana to the Town Council at the 7:00 p.m. meeting on April 2:



Message from the FDP Board to the Town Council -- April 2, 2014


The Partnership Board of Directors recently sent a letter to the Town Council recommending that they give the community time to further develop concepts for the Emmons Street property. We also recommended that the Town Council evaluate the potential traffic and parking issues prior to sending out an RFP.


We believe there is no downside to inviting the community to participate in the process. We think Franklin has some very talented residents who could offer some creative solutions.


The March 4th workshop was a great start, and we appreciated being invited to participate, but many of us were under the impression that there would be time to further develop ideas and research funding possibilities.  


We feel that there is no rush to sell this property, since we believe the land will only increase in value once the streetscape project is completed.


We understand that a few Town Council members want to sell the property as quickly as possible. However, we feel that there are 5 key questions that still need to be answered prior to putting out an RFP:  
  1. What are the specific long-term goals for this property?
  1. What is the plan for where businesses will park during the construction project?
    1. Businesses have been told for the last year that parking would be available at the Emmons Street property.
    2.  When Main Street is under construction, there needs to be a place for people to park.


  1. How will losing the 50 parking spaces on this property affect downtown businesses?
    1. It is important to be proactive and plan for the future parking needs and growth of the downtown.
  1. What will the new traffic patterns be after the streetscape project and the two-way traffic pattern is implemented?


  1. What state funding is available in the town considers a cultural center and greenspace?
    1. We have been told that there may be state funding available.
    2. We think it would be in the town’s best interest to pursue these options before deciding to sell the property.


The town is so fortunate to own this Gateway property. We have a chance to really put something special on Emmons Street.


Something special means different things to different people. One of the reasons the Partnership Board wrote the letter to the Town Council was because of some of the commercial ideas that were being talked about. When the developer started talking about a drive-thru coffee shop and a drive-thru drycleaners, we started to get calls and e-mails.


One of the concerns is that if the town loses control of this property and the wrong commercial business gets built, we could see traffic back-ups all the way to the Davis Thayer School.


The Partnership Board of Directors would like to recommend that the Town Council give the community time to work together with the Council, Jeff Nutting and the Planning Department to further develop ideas and research funding options.


We also ask the Council to take the time needed to answer the important questions that I just mentioned. Once these questions are answered, we believe the community will feel more comfortable with the final plan for this property.


We feel that the more ideas, facts and knowledge the town has, the better the final outcome will be for this important “Gateway” property.


Thank you.

150 Emmons St, Franklin, MA
150 Emmons St, Franklin, MA