Franklin's Community Gardens - ready for growing

In the rain Saturday, I stopped by the Community Garden. It was quiet and empty. Signs of preparation for the growing season were around.

Franklin Community Gardens

worthy caution

garden beds ready for planting

garden beds ready for planting - 2

rain barrel and shed

Fresh mulch was added. It ha snot completely been spread out yet so some piles remain.

For additional info on the community gardens, visit their page on the Franklin website
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_BComm/garden

From their section of the Annual Report
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/01/annual-report-2013-community-garden.html

Where are the community gardens?
In the King St Memorial Field

Baseball: Franklin tops King Phillip 11-3

Franklin (4-4) scored nine runs in the final two innings, including an eight-run explosion in the top of the seventh, to come from behind and pick up a big 11-3 win over Kelley-Rex rival King Philip (4-6) on Sunday in Wrentham. 

Panthers pitcher Zane Byrne, making his first start of the season, gave up three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first but settled down and finished with six scoreless innings allowing only one more hit and three more base runners. 

Franklin High School Panthers

“We were fighting against ourselves early and Zane was a little excited in his first start and was a little off, but I was really proud of how he and the team settled in, righted the ship, and started to play good baseball,” said Franklin coach Zach Brown. “It was a much-needed win against a high quality opponent.”

Read the full article in Hockomock Sports
http://www.hockomocksports.com/1/post/2014/04/byrne-franklin-rally-for-division-win-at-king-philip.html

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Apr 30, 2014

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS – This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by Franklin Matters.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS

F. HEARINGS
- 7:10 PM Budget: FY 2015 Budget Hearing – 1st Reading

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 14-26: Establishment of a Council on Aging Senior Center Activities Program Revolving Account for Fiscal Year 2015.
2. Resolution 14-27 Establishment of a Use of Facilities Account for Fiscal Year 2015
3. Resolution 14-28: Establishment of a Council on Aging Supportive Day Program Revolving Account for Fiscal Year 2015.
4. Resolution 14-29: Establishment of a Fire Department Fire Rescue Training Revolving Account For Fiscal Year 2015.
5. Resolution 14-30: Salary Schedule Full Time Elected Officials

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN

Franklin Municipal Building - 355 East Central St

The documents released for this meeting agenda can be found on the official Franklin webpage here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2014/043014.pdf

or here

new kind of 'green' ?? - (photo essay)

While walking in the rain on Saturday, I was able to capture some photos of the Remington Jefferson building. Some parts of the building remained dry in the light rain. Some parts did not.

back side of building (gym)

facing the Jefferson playground area

close up of the window sill and below show in the photo above

wet corner, close up it is ugly (see below)

close up of the wet corner

Jefferson side of building

as good as water is, it does cause damage

4th Annual Franklin & Bellingham SNETT Road Race 5k Run, 1 or 3 Mile Walk

Help the Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee and get in some exercise at the same time.

When:  Saturday, May 3  10:00 AM 

Where: 431 Washington St 

Register:  http://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/race/register

4th Annual Franklin & Bellingham SNETT Road Race

Google map for the race location (former Putnam property)

Indian Rock (video)

On my walk I diverged to explore what I believe is Indian Rock. It is supposed to be located off Jordan Road and off Indian Lane. Further off Indian Lane, there is another side street that according to Google maps is called King Phillip Road. (There is no street sign on the corner however.) At the end of this cul-de-sac, there are well worn trails to the rock.

looking down from Indian Rock

looking up to Indian Rock

Warren Reynolds posted about his visit to Indian Rock here
http://www.02038.com/2008/12/indian-rock-franklin-ma/

For Franklin parents (video)

In this TED Talk, Jennifer Senior says:

"We are now so anxious to protect our kids from the world's ugliness that we now shield them from "Sesame Street." I wish I could say I was kidding about this, but if you go out and you buy the first few episodes of "Sesame Street" on DVD, as I did out of nostalgia, you will find a warning at the beginning saying that the content is not suitable for children. (Laughter) Can I just repeat that? The content of the original "Sesame Street" is not suitable for children."

For the full transcript of Jennifer's talk
http://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_senior_for_parents_happiness_is_a_very_high_bar/transcript

All Joy and No Fun

Who is Jennifer? 
Maybe you have read her articles in New York Magazine or perhaps her new book "All Joy and No Fun"
http://www.ted.com/speakers/jennifer_senior

Downtown Partnership - Networking Luncheon - May 2

Networking Luncheon 

Friday, May 2nd 1:00 pm 

Franklin Downtown Partnership

Dean College Dining Hall$6.50 

Come enjoy meeting other Franklin Downtown Partnership members 

Please e-mail Joel Carrara at jcarrara@printsmartoffice.com

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 4/25/14 - THU 5/1/14

FRI 4/25   9am-11:30am   DCR Healthy Heart Trail with Franklin YMCA
FRI 4/25   6:30pm   Art Night Uncorked - Franklin Art Center

SAT 4/26   10am-2pm   Prescription Drug Take-Back, Franklin PD
SAT 4/26   11am-2pm   Tastebuds Fresh Marketplace Grand Opening Celebration
SAT 4/26   8pm   Concert: Zoe Lewis with Heather Pierson, First Universalist Society Franklin

SUN 4/27   4pm-6pm   Ice Skating Fundraiser for Relay For Life, Pirelli Arena in Franklin

MON 4/28   3:30pm   iStories at Franklin Public Library
MON 4/28   7pm   Planning Board Meeting, Franklin Municipal Building
MON 4/28   7pm   Library Board Meeting, Franklin Public Library

TUE 4/29   7pm   School Committee Meeting, Franklin Municipal Building

WED 4/30   4pm-8pm   FSPA Open House
WED 4/30   6:30pm   Estate Planning Basics Workshop, Tri-County RVTHS
WED 4/30   7pm   Town Council Budget Hearings, Franklin Municipal Building

THU 5/1   8:30am   Downtown Partnership Meeting, Dean College Campus Center
THU 5/1   7pm   Town Council Budget Hearings, Franklin Municipal Building

NOTE: Earth Day Clean Up in Franklin is rescheduled to Saturday, May 3rd due to expected rain.

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

Request for Expressions of Interest (REI)

The Town of Franklin is pleased to present this Request for Expressions of Interest (REI) for the future redevelopment of 150 Emmons Street, site of the former Municipal Building. The
Town-owned property consists of one (1) parcel totaling 34,795+/- square feet (0.7988+/- acres), located at one of the key gateways to Franklin Center and adjacent to Dean College. The Town has chosen to proceed with a REI at this time to solicit informal, yet serious proposals, subject to the process detailed herein, from qualified developers and other interested parties who wish to purchase or lease and redevelop the property. 

The REI process is critical for a better understanding of existing market conditions, the formation of potential development options for the property, and the identification of community priorities.  This process will provide the community with the information needed to ensure a meaningful and productive public process, which will lead to a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) in autumn of 2014. The Town has the following goal for the development of the 150 Emmons Street site:

Redevelopment of the site into a key gateway into Downtown Franklin, which will
maximize short-term and long-term benefits to the Town and its residents. 

Each Expression of Interest must include a letter of interest and a project description/narrative. The letter of interest must be signed by the principals, describe the proponent’s interest in the property and the general intentions concerning the future use of the site. This letter shall also contain the nature and status of the organization acting as the proponent (whether a non-profit or charitable  institution, a corporation, a business association, or a joint venture) and the jurisdiction in which it is registered to conduct business. The project description must include narrative that provides an overview of the proposal, the market niche the project intends to serve, the experience and qualifications of the development team, and the capabilities the developer can marshal to achieve project objectives. A description of expected financial benefits to the Town, both short-term and long-term, must be included in each Expression of Interest. 

The Town offers you the opportunity to learn more about the site through participation in an
Information Session and Site Tour scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 10 a.m. The Town invites you to examine the information contained within this document, its attachments, and related reference documents that are available for review in the Department of Planning and
Community Development during normal business hours (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday - 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday - 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Friday - 8:00 AM to 1:00 P.M), or on the Town’s website  (http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/150EmmonsREI). 

The Town hopes to hear from individuals and organizations who will present compelling and
appropriate development proposals for the use of 150 Emmons Street. Please submit Expressions of Interest to the Department of Planning and Community Development by Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.

150 Emmons St - the building offered in this REI

Bryan Taberner, AICP, Director
Department of Planning and Community Development

355 East Central Street
Franklin, MA 02038

508-520-4907
Fax: 508-520-4906
btaberner@franklin.ma.us


Find the full document on the Franklin webpage
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/01D41B5F-000F8513

Franklin Recreation (@FranklinRec) replied to one of your Tweets!

oops, due to the weather forecast for Saturday the Earth Day activities have been rescheduled for next Saturday, May 3

@FranklinMatters @MattTotaMDN @YourFranklin Franklin Earth Day event for this weekend postponed till May 3, 9am-12pm - @FranklinRec

Steve Sherlock, Franklin Recreation replied to your Tweet!   Steve Sherlock @FranklinMatters Earth Day - Apr 26 (video) goo.gl/fb/anwut - 24 Apr Franklin Recreation @FranklinRec @FranklinMatters @MattTotaMDN @YourFranklin Franklin Earth Day event for this weekend postponed till May 3, 9am-12pm pic.twitter.com/smNPVdNEMI 02:03 PM - 24 Apr 14 Reply to @FranklinRec Retweet Favorite Twitter, Inc. 1355 Market St., Suite 900 San Francisco, CA 94103

Family programs, Small Press Fair, Martha's Vineyard Poets, and more!

Family programs, Martha's Vineyard reading, and more View this email in your browser This year's festival includes no shortage of family activities, from creating poetry keychains to penning cat-inspired haikus. Check out the full listing here! In the spotlight... In each newsletter between now and the festival, we will be highlighting a different session.    Surrounded by Water: A Group Reading by Martha's Vineyard Poets Saturday, May 3 • 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Hawthorne Hotel, Library with Justen Ahren, Rachel Baird, and more Sometimes you just can't leave! Representative poets from Martha's Vineyard will provide a sense of their lives surrounded by multiple bodies of water. Martha is an unforgiving mystery, even to other residents of our state. Reading from works that cast a distinct view of what it means to live off-shore in MA, these poems provide compelling reasons to stay or to go. Buy your festival button online or at any of these stores:  Beverly The Book Shop of Beverly Farms Brookline Brookline Booksmith Cambridge Grolier Poetry Bookshop Porter Square Books Rodney's Books Harvard Bookstore Concord Concord Bookshop Newburyport Jabberwocky Bookshop Marblehead Spirit of '76 Bookstore Salem The Roost Salem Trolley Depot SSU English Dept. What else should you check out at the festival? We're glad you asked! Take a peek at: Poetry for Repair and Renewal: The Widows' Handbook Behind Every One...A Poetic Celebration of Special Needs Families Poets with New Books (Sessions 1, 2, 3) Poetry, Terror, and Translation CelticPoets: A SpringSong Session Grief and Healing in the Age of Endless War And don't forget sessions with our headliners, Kim Addonizio, Lucie Brock-Broido, Cornelius Eady, Li-Young Lee, and more! Share Tweet Forward Facebook Twitter MassPoetry.org Copyright © 2014 Mass Poetry, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up on our website. Our mailing address is: Mass Poetry 15 Channel Center Street, Suite 103 Boston, MA 02210 Add us to your address book

Franklin Voices: Lawrence Benedetto - Chair, Citizens Committee

Greetings:  Allow me to begin by introducing myself and explaining the purpose of this email.  My name is Lawrence Benedetto and I Chair the Franklin Citizen's Committee.  I am sending this independent of the Committee, although I may share its content at some later time.  I obtained most of your email addresses as a result of your participation in the recent 150 Emmons Street hearing.   

Although there may be disagreement in the desired disposition of 150 Emmons Street, I suggest we are all in agreement in doing whatever is best for the community at large.  Further, I want to encourage your further participation in certain endeavors that are upcoming, several of which the Committee has been partner to or will likely take the lead on. As you may know, the Committee is appointed to and answerable to the Council.  Our charge is to seek quality development that is aesthetically enhancing and financially beneficial to the community.  Our composition is made up of three current Councilors, two former Councilors, a former State Representative and myself.  

It is my belief that the more citizen participation we have  the better the ultimate results.  But, unless it is a hot-button issue, or a NIMBY matter, most Council meetings are unattended, press coverage is minimal, the citizenry is absent.  One purpose of this email is to arouse interest; it is an opportune time, Franklin has potential to excel.  

To this end, allow me to share with you past agenda and possible future agenda issues and some limited successes we, and the Council, have been able to provide:  

1. Gateway initiative.  Cook's Farm on the east entrance to Franklin and focus on the Davis Thayer site on our western end; recognition of, and compliments for the improvements and beautification of Dean's property adjacent to Davis Thayer.  We all recognize and remember those places we see that have "a pretty downtown" or "attractive village".  Although things are improving, it was not too long ago the Boston Globe characterized downtown Franklin as "seedy".  Certainly the train station fills that billing. 

2. Train Station roofing and painting.  We have worked two years to achieve the small improvements that have been made.  I cannot tell you how many hours have been spent in that endeavor.  THERE IS A MEETING ON MONDAY, 28 April at 0800, WITH THE T TO SEEK ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE ON BOTH FRANKLIN STATIONS.  FRANKLIN ONCE HAD A PICTURE-POSTCARD TRAIN STATION, WE WANT THAT AGAIN.  WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION.  Details available at the Town Administrator's office. 

3. The town has a substantial investment at Chilson Beach and at the synthetic soccer field there.  The cleaning up of the former dump site (now recycle center) and improvements are commendable.  The next objective is the acquisition of the land between the center and I-495 so that the town can expand our recycling efforts as well as any future green initiatives that may arise.  The town is now in the process of meeting with the state to arrive at a mutual agreement.  AGAIN, YOUR VOICE AND SUPPORT IS WELCOMED IN THIS IMPORTANT TASK. 

4. Franklin's composition of taxable property is 80% residential; 2% commercial according to information offered at one of our meetings.  When we have children to educate, seniors to provide for, and significant municipal obligations, it is imperative that our tax base be expanded and to this end our position is "quality development that enhances our community aesthetically and financially", as alluded to above.  

5. Our position on 150 Emmons Street was to return it to the tax rolls, eliminate an expensive blighted building, create a development complimentary to the town and college and use the proceeds for a permanent home for the Recreation Department on town property either at Chilson Beach or Wachusett Street (Verna property).  Last year the Recreation Department served approximately 5700 children of the community; 4700 of which were athletic programs, the remaining services were in child care, music and the arts.  Our children and our seniors need to continue to be a priority and sound business decisions will allow for that. 

6. The proposed addition to the library and an historical enhancement/improvement of the Brick School are future agenda issues that I am confident will be forwarded and supported by the Committee.  Thankfully, the library appears to be moving along; the Brick School is another matter. 

7. We have reviewed certain permitting and zoning issues as well as soliciting the input from the Planning Board and Zoning Board (regular attendees) to allow Franklin to compete with its neighbors for desirable projects.  We have considered proposing a by-law for "unkempt property" and withdrew it to allow for additional research and consideration.  It is likely to appear again. 

8. The town's history of maintaining its property, although somewhat better of late, is abysmal, to be kind.  The destruction of a 41 year old high school, the condition of 150 Emmons Street, the weed infested downtown and major roadways in the summertime, the lack of maintenance on the Union Street project (one million dollars, plus), are a few of the topics we have discussed and will revisit this year.  The logic of creating a public beach and soccer facility across the street from a poorly maintained municipal dump was perplexing, to say the least! 

9. The development of a performing arts facility in the central business district (cbd) is certainly welcomed.  There is much discussion about the anticipated road construction that is upcoming.  The Committee has raised the issue, and sent forward, suggestions that it is an opportune time to approach Rockland Trust, the largest landowner in the cbd, for consideration of a public-private endeavor, which should include parking for the downtown businesses as well as arts center and general rehabilitation/reconfiguring of the area. IMPORTANT! 

10. The Downtown Partnership has done a good job in past years planting flowers and trying to enhance the cbd.  I cannot emphasize too strongly how simple flower boxes and landscaping, along with regular maintenance of trees and weed control, can positively impact a community's appearance and reputation.  The town needs to do more in this regard in partnership with the business community. In closing, the above represents some of the work we have done, in partnership with the Council, Town Administrator and staff and community supporters.  Obviously, much more needs to be done.  

Franklin, recently designated as "the safest small city in America" has tremendous potential and resources.  We all need to step up and exploit the possibilities.  I urge you, and your organizations, to join us, or participate in any way you are able, to make our community a better place for all.  Emmons Street is but one issue among the many issues the community faces.  Best regards, Larry Benedetto.    

Earth Day - May 3 (video)

Note: received an update via Twitter that the Earth Day has been rescheduled to Sat May 3

Early in the morning, the train whistle blowing as it approaches, the traffic sign on the triangle in downtown Franklin announces Earth Day - this Saturday, Apr 26 from 9:00 AM to noon at Beaver Pond.




For more information on Franklin's Earth Day
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/04/celebrate-earth-day-apr-26.html

Earth Day 2014

For more information on Earth Day around the world, visit this page  http://www.earthday.org/