Franklin Matters

Sunday, June 8, 2014

PARCC or MCAS?

The MA Dept of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is requiring a decision on whether to use Franklin should use PARCC or MCAS for testing. This is the presentation document summarizing the Franklin position that will be up for discussion at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jun 10.

PARCC logo

Related posts
The intro to PARCC
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/09/school-committee-mcas-and-parcc.html

MA DESE info on PARCC
http://www.doe.mass.edu/parcc/

The official PARCC website
http://www.parcconline.org/

The full School Committee agenda for Jun 10 can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-jun.html

"love to see a Hock team get the title"

From Hockomock Sports we find that the Franklin softball team bowed out of their playoff run on Saturday.

The Rocketeers scored runs in the first inning for the third straight game, this time three runs against Franklin at Jack Tripp Field in Taunton, and used that lead to their advantage, besting the Panthers, 5-1, in the D1 South Sectional Semifinal.

.....

FHS softball

"The game plan was to be aggressive," said Franklin head coach Kate Fallon, who admitted it was a tough start. "We're the 18th seed and we 'don't belong here' and just get in there and swing and get your hacks in. We put the ball in play, it just stunk we spotted them three in the first inning."

The Panthers made their second straight appearance in the D1 South Sectional Semifinals despite graduating four starters from last year and finish the season 14-10.

"There was no quit," Fallon said of her team. 'Even Lilly ending her senior year with a double over the center fielder's head. I couldn't ask for anything more than that from them. I'm very proud of them."

You can read the full article here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/rocketeers-best-franklin-reach-1st-ever-sectional-final

Volunteers Needed for Mobile Pantry and Healthy Futures Market

The Franklin Food Pantry will introduce the Mobile Pantry beginning Monday June 9th!! They will need volunteers to help out on Mondays for this new program. To start, the Mobile Pantry will be held on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Monday of each month.

Franklin Food Pantry truck becomes the "mobile pantry"

Volunteers are needed for the following shifts for each week:

12:00 - Meet at Pantry to help load the truck (3-4 volunteers-High School students okay)

1:00 - Driver needed to drive the truck to the location (Senior Center, Central Park Terrace or Winter Street depending on the week). Volunteer must have a valid license and current insurance.

1:30 - Unload truck at location (3-4 volunteers-High School students okay)

2:30-3:30 - Clients visit the Market. Volunteers will be needed to help Clients, do intake forms for new clients, etc. (3-4 volunteers - students NOT okay)

3:30 - Driver needed to drive the truck back to Pantry

3:30-5:00 - Reload truck and then help unload it back at the Pantry. (3-4 volunteers - High School students okay)

*Please note that some of these tasks may require heavy lifting and the basement stairs.

Eventually the process will change a little bit as we are having the Clients fill out shopping lists for each month, so we will be filling individual boxes prior to each Monday visit and the Clients will then only have to shop for specialty items such as bread, produce, and any other items we bring each week.

Healthy Futures

The Healthy Future Market is also beginning next week, Tuesday June 10th! Every Tuesday through October we will have the Healthy Future Market at the Pantry. The schedule for this program is as follows:

12:00 - Bring Pantry truck to Akin Bak and Hoffmann Farms to pick up that week's CSA shares. May involve some heavy lifting. (2 volunteers - one will need to drive the truck and must have a valid drivers license and current insurance)

1:00 - Setup the Market (carry tables and chairs from basement, unload product from the truck, weigh and setup the produce for the Market. (4 volunteers - High School students okay)

3:00 - Take inventory of stock, set limits for each item, place signage, etc. (2 volunteers - High School students okay)

4:00-5:00 - Market takes place. Assist Clients with their shopping, weigh out the bags, help with demos, tastings, etc. 2nd week of each month there will be a chef from Cooking Matters running a workshop too. (3-4 volunteers - students NOT okay)

5:00 - Break down Market, bring produce inside and put in appropriate space (shelves, fridge). Bring all tables, chairs, etc. back into basement. (3-4 volunteers - High School Students okay).
*Please note that some of these task involve some heavy lifting and the basement stairs.

We will have a calendar set up at the Pantry for each week and each shift so if you are interested in helping out on a specific day we can keep track of it that way and we will also send out reminders prior to your shift. Robin Cowper will be coordinating the Market schedule and will be in touch with you with further information.

As you can see we need quite a few people to make these both successes and we appreciate any help you can provide.

Thank you very much!

Lisa Buccella and Maria Weiss

Volunteer Coordinators

Franklin Food Pantry

43 West Central Street

PO Box 116

Franklin, MA 02038

508-528-3115, press 5 for volunteer line voicemail

www.franklinfoodpantry.org

FPS - District Improvement Plan

The Franklin Public Schools District Improvement Plan is up for discussion at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jun 10.

The full agenda for the School Committee meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-jun.html

PMC UPDATE: My Daughter's are riding also!

This year both my daughter's will be riding in the Franklin Kids PMC Ride on Father Day (June 15th). This will be Catherine's 8th ride (she started 2 years before I did!) and Lizzie's 2nd. They are both riding in memory of their "Grandpa Rod".

Catherine and Lizzie

Catherine will be doing the "10 mile route" while Lizzie will be doing the "Tykes and Trikes" loop.

In order to help with their fund raising I am making the following pledge:

For every $10 donated before before Friday, June 13th, I will personally match with $1 for my daughters' "Kids PMC Ride"! (So if you donate $50 to my ride, I'll donate $5 to my kid's PMC ride.)

Please follow the links below to support my pledge:

Click here to make $25 donation

Click here to make a $50 donation

Click here to make a $75 donation

Click here to make a $100 donation

Click here to make a $250 donation

Click here to make a $500 donation

Click here to make a donation of any other amount

Thank you in advance!

Marty, Catherine, and Lizzie

---------------------------------------------------------
Martin Middelmann
Pan-Mass Challenge Rider
Cure Cancer by donating here:
http://pmc.org/MM0373
---------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, June 7, 2014

All Night Party - A labor of love

While the senior class and their families were participating in the graduation ceremony in the Franklin Field House, hundreds of volunteers were busy transforming the high school corridor to another world.

What can you do with a high school corridor? It is wide, concrete, has a tiled floor and not very exciting to look at. Well you'd be surprised by what can be done with a little creativity, lots of volunteers and have it all abide by the fire code for safety.

You see safety is one of the prime motivators behind the All Night Party anyway. What would high school seniors do on graduation night but go and party! With offsite parties, there would likely be alcoholic beverages. With such beverages, there would be an inevitable tragedy.

The All Night Party avoids all that. It magically transforms the high school corridor to a fun place for a party without alcoholic beverages and volunteer adult chaperones. The graduates can have a good time and their parents and families can rest assured for one night.

I was fortunate to be able to get behind the scenes and take these photos as the corridor was transformed. There was still work to be done after the graduation ceremony finished in the field house. There would be other exercise activities set up.

So let's walk along the corridor as it is being transformed...

From the field house, up the stairs to New York City at night with the stars out.

up the stairs to NYC

The stars are all the graduates!

FHS graduate photo as a youngster

Through the doorway, to Hollywood. Yes, more stars.

more stars in Hollywood

A hand painted mural.

hand painted mural of a theater

Hand crafted replicas of the Oscars! (Yes, Franklin has talent!)

one of the two Oscars with their creators

From Hollywood, we step into Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras display

and yes, Franklin does love a party!

FHS loves Mardi Gras

Then we get into the high school Marathon

the memory wall

I'd like to have seen the memory wall at the end of the night

the Marathon Team poses

the marathon finish leads to Hogwarts

We catch our breathe by stepping into Hogwarts

did you bring your broom? it is quidditch time!

watch out for the death eaters

From the darkness of Hogwarts, we jump into the sunshine of Panther Beach

Panther Beach

pose with a local beach drifter

get some good advice

From the beach, we take a ride to the Derby

another hand painted mural

take a ride around Franklin Downs

Franklin Downs

The horse figure first made its appearance at the All Night Party in 2004. My oldest daughter graduated that year. I wonder if she'll remember. The word has it that is has been more of a chameleon over the year than a horse, also showing up as a mule and a dinosaur at different times as well as changing color.

pose with the roses

From the Derby, we join the casino cruise.

card game tables at the ready

card game tables at the ready on both sides

be careful how you play

To contribute to or get involved in the All Night Party for next year visit their website for contact information

http://www.fhsallnightparty.com/

The full set of photos from the preparation for the All Night Party can be found on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157645098126833

40th Anniversary Celebration - St Mary's - June 8th

On June 8, 2014, the Parish of Saint Mary in Franklin is privileged to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of ordination to the priesthood of two members of the Parish clergy. Pastor Brian T. Manning and Parochial Vicar John L. Sullivan will be jointly celebrating this significant event.

A Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at 10:30 AM at St. Mary’s Church. Concelebrating the Mass will be Reverend Manning, principal celebrant, Reverend Sullivan, homilist, and Reverend Anthony V. Le, as well as numerous priests from throughout the Archdiocese of Boston and other friends of the celebrants.

The liturgy will include music directed Mr. Terrance Kerr, Parish Music Director, with participation by the St. Mary Adult choir and the Children’s choir. A String Quartet and Trumpet will accompany the choirs. Music literature will include the Adult Choir singing “Laudate Dominum” by Mozart, and the Children’s Choir singing “Shall We Gather at the River” by Robert Lowry.

Following the Mass of Thanksgiving, there will be a reception on the parish grounds. Parishioners, as well as the families and friends of the celebrants, will be in attendance.

St Mary's Church, Franklin

Additional information on St Mary's Parish can be found on their webpage

http://www.stmarysfranklin.org/

Tastebuds Fresh Marketplace: Now Open on Sundays

Hi Steve

We wanted to let your readership know that Tastebuds Fresh Marketplace, your local neighborhood Butcher shop, is now open on Sundays from 11:00am -3:00am for all your grilling needs. We have marinated beef and turkey tips, steaks cut to order and a variety of marinated chicken breasts , homemade sausage and fresh ground burger.

Customers can call us at 508 528 4100 during the week and we can have your order ready for pickup before you head north or to the Cape.

For a full listing of our hours, check our website www.tastebudsfreshmarketplace.com

Thanks
Dave and Donna Lanni

Tastebuds Fresh Marketplace

Related posts on Tastebuds

Mar 2014 - Now open for business
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/tastebuds-fresh-marketplace-now-open.html

Apr 2014 - Grand Opening
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/04/tastebuds-fresh-marketplace-grand.html

Dave Matthews Band helps the Franklin Food Pantry

The Dave Matthews Band is helping the Franklin Food Pantry via the BamaGreen Project. As the band tours, it is coordinating with local farms and local pantries (yes, us!) to raise awareness and funds for the local farmers.

Dave Matthews Seed Packets are for sale ($5) at each concert venue.

The BamaGreen Food Drive

Click here to view a video on the project http://www.reverb.org/DMB/DMB2.html

Additional info on how you can take action to help can be found here
http://www.reverb.org/DMB/action.html

If you are not going to the concert and would like to contribute, the Franklin Food Pantry accepts donations securely online here

Donate to the Food Pantry

Note the Dave Matthews Band appearance at the Xfinity Center on Saturday, Jun 7th is sold out
http://davematthewsband.com/tour/2014-06-07-xfinity-center

Friday, June 6, 2014

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 6/6/14 - THU 6/12/14

FRI 6/6 12pm-6pm Opening Day for Farmer's Market at Franklin Town Common. Every Friday until October 31!
FRI 6/6 6:30pm-8:30pm Art Night Uncorked at Franklin Art Center

SAT 6/7 9am-3pm Blood Drive in honor of Noah Smith at Franklin United Methodist Church. Please make an appointment at halfpints.childrenshospital.org
Sponsor code is FRMETHCH. Or call Susan Touhey at 508-404-6914. Positive ID required.

SAT 6/7 11:00am to 4:00pm Norfolk Community Day at the Holmes Complex at 22 Myrtle St in Norfolk

SAT 6/7 9am-2pm Kindercare Annual Yard Sale, Pond Street, Franklin.

SAT 6/7 4pm-7pm 2nd Annual Drink Pink For Cure at Pour Richard’s. Rose wine tastings, food, music - benefits American Cancer Society. Purchase your tickets HERE.

SUN 6/8 - 10:30 AM Mass - 40th Anniversary Celebration of Ordination - Pastor Brian T. Manning and Parochial Vicar John L. Sullivan - St Mary's

TUE 6/10 7:30pm Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Meeting at Franklin YMCA. Public is always welcome.

WEDS 6/11 1:00pm - Easy Walks in Franklin. Marjorie Turner Hollman presents at the Senior Center

THU 6/12 4pm-7pm Annual Strawberry Stroll in Downtown Franklin.
THU 6/12 7:00pm - Easy Walks in Franklin. Marjorie Turner Hollman presents at the Franklin Public Library

For all the Town of Franklin Public Meetings click HERE.

For more details on the events above click HERE.

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

Do we pay for the roads, or not that is the question...

*** The Town Council voted to put the ballot question before the voters to raise $1.5 million on a dedicated override to pay for roads and sidewalks. The dedicated override if approved, can only be used for this purpose. This is not line an 'operational' override which for the first year has a cause to rally around it, but in subsequent years the fund drop into the general fund.

road work on Uncas St

If approved, the money raised by the vote would be voted on by the Town Council in July of 2015 to be used for repairing some roads. If the Council in subsequent years, doesn't vote the full amount or any amount, then no money would be spent on the roads. The voters could change the amount or stop the override in another vote.

The $1.5 million would likely be paired with the approx. $1M of water/sewer line repairs and $900,000 in Chapter 90 funds from the State to help make a dent in the overall backlog of repairs required by the 200 miles of roads in Franklin.

The text of the ballot question can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/resolution-14-45-dedicated-override-to.html

*** The Town Council voted to fund the hiring of a project manager and architect to proceed with the Library renovations and expansion. This funding would allow for the more detail planning that a formal committee would do to eventually come back to the Council with a more detailed design and cost estimate for the work. The return would like be about this time next year.

The amount authorized was $1M. The amount would be funded within the existing debt service plan and not require any increase in taxes. The same funding method was use to provide for the Senior Center, the Fire Stations, and other significant capital expenses outside of the schools which have been covered by debt overrides (and an appropriate increase in taxes).

Franklin Public Library

The Finance Committee meeting had a more detail overview of the project. The presentation and those notes can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/live-reporting-finance-committee-060314.html

*** The Town Council also heard from Alan Mercer on the proposal for creation of a "Cultural District" in Franklin. There are many benefits to do so and the Council spoke in favor of the process.

revised outline of proposed Cultural Council for Franklin

My notes as captured during the meeting on Wednesday can be found here

Live reporting: Closing

Live reporting: Legislation

Live reporting: Cultural Council presentation

Live reporting: Town Council - June 4

LadyBug Spots Public Art Project

The LadyBug Spots Public Art Project is coming to Franklin this summer and into the fall. This fantastic art project will give business, civic organizations, and the whole Franklin community something to celebrate as we honor the 40th anniversary of the law naming our state bug, born in Franklin.

Local area professional artists will collaborate with sponsors to create 25 unique pieces of art. Funds raised from the project will be used towards erecting a sculpture honoring Palma Johnson and the work she did with her students from the Kennedy Elementary School.

If you would like more information about sponsoring a ladybug or would like to be one of the many artists, please contact the Franklin Cultural Council at franklinculture@hotmail.com.

You can also find an article that ran in June issue of Local Town Pages, Franklin:
http://www.franklintownnews.com/content/franklin-ladybugs-get-their-spots

plain Ladybug - ready for adoption

adopted Ladybug and in progress

Ladybug Spots information

DelCarte Program - June 4, 2014

The program handed out at the ribbon cutting for the DelCarte Recreation and playground on Wednesday is available here for your reading (and download).

DelCarte Recreation and Conservation Area

The photos were here posted yesterday and also shared on Facebook

Post by Franklin Matters.

Please note: The recreation area is also conservation space so it will be a "what you carry in, you also carry out" place like other parks.

Norfolk Community Day - Nov 7th

The Franklin Food Pantry truck will be in Norfolk as part of the Norfolk Community Day, Saturday, June 7th.

Franklin Food Pantry truck

Sponsored by the Norfolk Lions, the event is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM and end at 4:00 PM. It will be held at the Holmes Complex at 22 Myrtle St.

Bring a non-perishable item for the Food Pantry and get an entry into the Community Day raffle.

The Norfolk Lions are sponsoring a food drive this year at Community Day set for June 7th from 11 to 4 pm at the Holmes Busing Company located on Myrtle Street. We have partnered with the Norfolk and Franklin Food Pantry's and are requesting folks attending Community Day bring non-perishable food items or any of the following to the event:

Shampoo

Hand soap/sanitizer

Toothpaste

Deodorant

Cereal

Shaped pasta

Granola bars

White tuna

We will have a collection station in the parking lot, all donors will be entered in a drawing, and we will draw two winners for gift certificates around 3 pm during Community Day. You do not have to be present to win!

The need in our community continues to rise steadily, and the summer months are typically the slowest for donations. Combined, the Norfolk and Franklin Food Panty's service over 600 local families, and each is committed to providing immediate relief from hunger while working towards healthy sustainable solutions. We would appreciate your support in helping the Lions conduct a successful food drive!