Franklin Matters

Friday, August 1, 2014

Senator Karen Spilka: Approaching the Finish Line

July 31, 2014

Dear Steve,

The legislature's schedule of formal sessions comes to a close today at midnight, and we're running through the tape at full speed! We will continue to meet regularly in informal sessions to address routine business, but many important controversial matters must be debated and finalized today.

I'm pleased to share a few highlights from the week so far in the Senate, and be sure to stay tuned for many more legislative updates after today's final formal session. For more frequent news from the Senate and other details, be sure to follow me on Twitter and "like" my Facebook page.

Legislature Passes Capital Bond Bill for State Building Projects

Yesterday, the legislature enacted a bill authorizing $1.3 billion in spending for the improvement of state facilities and other building projects across the state. The bill includes funding for accessibility improvements, cultural facilities, school equipment at vocational schools and public library improvements, as well as increases in spending authorizations for state universities and community college campus facilities.

I was especially proud to successfully advocate for $14 million in additional funding for MassBay Community College to build a new campus in downtown Framingham, bringing the state's total capital contribution to $36 million for the $59 million campus project. MassBay is a true partner for the MetroWest region, and this additional funding for a new campus is wonderful news for the college and for our ongoing efforts to transform and revitalize downtown Framingham. MassBay will be able to improve and expand educational opportunities for students, and a new campus in the heart of downtown will also provide a significant boost to local businesses in the area.

Read the full text of the capital bond bill here.

Senate Passes Healthy Kids Bill

The Senate passed An Act relative to healthy kids, which encourages healthy living by requiring physical education courses in public schools across the Commonwealth. Promoting public health starts with our children, and this bill takes important steps to improve education in the areas of health, wellness and nutrition, while increasing our kids' physical activity.

Read the Healthy Kids Act here.

Legislature Passes Disabilities Rights Bill

Too often, people with intellectual disabilities and their families have little control over major life choices regarding their care and the services they receive. This lack of control inhibits people from fully participating and thriving in their own communities. Their voices deserve to be heard. The Real Lives Bill, passed by the legislature yesterday, changes the conversation about the role disabled individuals should play in their own lives. We are expanding the ability of people to direct their own public funds and empowering them to choose what is best for their unique situations.

Legislature Passes Technology Spending Bill

The House and Senate passed a multi-year technology bond bill, authorizing up to $1 billion for the improvement of information technology equipment and projects across the state. Innovative technology drives economic growth in Massachusetts, and this bill makes important investments to allow the state to take full advantage of the opportunities that modern technologies offer. These technology upgrades and projects will allow the Commonwealth to better support our schools, public safety, transportation and other government operations, while also increasing internet and technology access state-wide.

Highlights include funds for upgrades to the State Police's communication network, a public school broadband access improvement grant program, a system to track diagnosis, treatment and services for individuals with autism and IT improvements at the Department of Transportation.

Read the full text of the IT bond bill here.

As always, if you would like additional information or have any concerns or comments, please do not hesitate to call my office at (617) 722-1640 or email me at Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov.

Warm Regards,

Senator Karen E. Spilka

2nd Middlesex and Norfolk
http://www.karenspilka.com

Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka

Room 320, State House

Boston, Massachusetts 02133

Phone: (617) 722-1640 - Fax: (617) 722-1077

http://www.karenspilka.com/

This message was sent to shersteve@gmail.com from:

Senator Karen Spilka | Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov | Office of Karen Spilka | Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka, Room 511-C, State House | Boston, MA 02133

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Thursday, July 31, 2014

Dean College Executive Lecture Series Announces World Series Champion Boston Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner as Honored Guest Speaker for Fall 2014

Dean College is honored to host Thomas C. Werner, Chairman of the 2013 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox, for the Dean College Leadership Institute Executive Lecture Series on September 23, 2014. The Executive Series offers a unique and interactive opportunity for students, alumni, and the local community to interact with today's business leaders.

Guest speaker Thomas C. Werner, is one of the chief architects behind three World Championships for the Boston Red Sox in 2004, 2007 and 2013, in which the Sox won their first World Series at Fenway Park since 1918.

"The Red Sox are a New England institution and Mr. Werner has helped build one of the most successful franchises in all of sports," said Dr. Paula Rooney, President of Dean College. "This event is a great opportunity for our students to learn from the management of the Red Sox as Mr. Werner shares many of the keys to his and the team's great achievements."

Dean College

Before joining the Red Sox ownership group, Mr. Werner was an award-winning television producer behind several network hits including The Cosby Show, Roseanne, and That 70's Show and is a member of the Television Hall of Fame. He became Chairman of the Boston Red Sox in 2002 when his company, Fenway Sports Group, bought the club. He is also chairman of the New England Sports Network, and since 2010, chairman of the Liverpool Football Club of the English Premier League.

Under Werner's leadership as Chairman of the Boston Red Sox, he oversaw successive improvements to Fenway Park that restored its luster. In 2012, Fenway Park was the first ballpark to celebrate its 100^th anniversary. More importantly, during Werner's tenure, the Boston Red Sox have enjoyed unprecedented success, having advanced to postseason play three straight seasons and six times in seven years for the first time in its history. The pinnacle, of course, was the 2004 World Championship that ended an 86-year drought. Another World Series victory would follow in 2007, and another in 2013.

Charitably speaking, Werner was instrumental in establishing the Red Sox Foundation, which gives away millions of dollars each year to local programs, and the Home Base Program, which aims at helping military veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

Werner has served on a number of Boards, including the White House Fellows Commission. He currently serves on the Crossroads School Board, Board for After School All Stars, and the Ron Brown Scholar Program. Werner also serves on the Board of Major League Baseball Enterprises, Major League Baseball Properties, and the Board of the MLB Network. In 2013, for his leadership and dedication to the game, Werner received the Dave Winfield Humanitarian Award from the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation.

The speaking program will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Guidrey Center at Dean College, 99 Main Street, Franklin, MA on September 23, 2014. The program is FREE and open to the public. Registration is required as seating is limited. Click here to register for this event.

Founded in 1865, Dean College is a private, residential college located in Franklin Massachusetts, 45 minutes from Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island. Dean College offers five baccalaureate degrees in Business; Liberal Arts and Studies; Arts and Entertainment Management; Dance; and Theatre. Dean also offers 15 associate degree programs as well as a robust schedule of part-time continuing and professional education credit and certificate programs throughout the calendar year.

Short cuts - update

When I had posted the pictures of the utility pole short cut I found at the corner of Mount and Summer St, there were a number of comments. One regular reader pointed me to the pole on Winter St. Another pointed out that all the poles are tagged with ownership. I had recalled seeing numbers on them but hadn't about the ownership. They are mostly tagged with owners although some of the acronyms are cryptic and or missing.

Yes, this is indeed a short cut. They left the bottom piece in as well as the top dangling.

Winter St pole - full view

Winter St pole - identification tags

This pole on Summer St will need to be addressed as the construction to re-do the street gets underway this year. The pole is on the section of street that Franklin will do, not the section of street that the state will do as part of the downtown improvement project.

Summer St pole propped upon the curbing

Summer St pole - limited tagging

If you find other examples of such short cuts in your neighborhood and can taker a picture to share, please send it along.

The prior post on the utility pole short cut can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/utility-short-cut.html

FSPA Summerstage Presents Legally Blonde The Musical -> Aug 7-8

FSPA

Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) SummerStage 2014 presents Legally Blonde: The Musical at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 7 and Friday, August 8. The annual SummerStage musical theater program casts students in grades 8-12 in the full-length musical production, while students in grades 5-8 will be showcased in an original musical comedy titled Paralegal! The Musical, with one performance on August 8 at 5 p.m. Both productions will be staged at Medway High School, 88 Summer Street.

Legally Blonde: The Musical is a feel-good stage musical adaptation of the smash-hit movie based on the novel by Amanda Brown. With music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach, Legally Blonde is a high energy, campy romantic comedy featuring tongue-in-cheek humor, memorable songs and a winning, upbeat style. The musical tells the story of sorority sister Elle Woods, who follows her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School intent on winning him back. But Elle learns to stay true to herself instead in this hilarious and heart-warming story of transformation and self-discovery.

Featured roles will be played by Ali Funkhouser (Elle Woods) of Franklin, Jenna McDermott (Margot) of Wrentham, Kylee Rollins (Serena) of N. Attleboro, Lindsey Sparages (Pilar) of Franklin, Aaron Frongillo (Warner) of Franklin, Michael Fajardo (Emmett) of Hopkinton, Katie Gray (Paulette) of Milford, Julie Shapiro (Brooke) of Mansfield, Madison Asgeirsson (Enid) of Franklin, Katherine Waples (Vivienne) of Franklin and Catherine LeClair (Kate) of Franklin.

In Paralegal! The Musical a clever middle school class takes creative license with a social studies assignment, bringing their demonstration of our legal system to life and the stage with comic song-and-dance style.

Tickets for Legally Blonde are $20 for adults and $18 for students and seniors. Tickets for Paralegal! are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. To purchase tickets, visit www.fspaonline.com. For more information, call (508) 528-8668.

Franklin Library: Electric Zany Rock & Roll Science Show

Scott Kepnes will bring his "Electric Zany Rock & Roll Science Show" to the Franklin Public Library on Wednesday Aug 6th.

The show starts at 3:00 PM

Electric Zany Rock & Roll Science Show

This was re-posted from the Franklin Library website:
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2014/07/scott-kepnes-electric-zany-rock-roll.html

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Concerts on the Common - July 30th

6:00 PM - Electric Youth

Concerts on the Common

Next week - Aug 6th
no concert next week (St Rocco's Festival opens Aug 7th)

Next concert - Aug 13
6:00 PM - Lolly the Clown
6:30 PM - The Leeds

Franklin Ford gets a new look

On my walks around town over the past couple of weeks, I have been observing that Franklin Ford is getting some work done. This week the new look is really coming out.