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In the News: break-in arrests, interest in Emmons St

In the Milford Daily News,we find two articles of interest today:

Two Boston men were arraigned Monday in connection with the theft of several thousand dollars worth of iPhones and iPads from an AT&T retail store Saturday. 

The Franklin Police Department arrested Edward Clarke, 21, of 14 Lindey St., and Shaqone Cazeau, 21, of 80 Edison St., late Saturday evening after responding to a panic alarm at the AT&T store on 25 Franklin Village Drive.

You can read the full article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140806/NEWS/140808416/1994/NEWS

Dean College intends to respond to a request for proposal for the town-owned property on the corner of Emmons Street once the town issues one. 

The college sent on July 30 an expression of interest to develop the 150 Emmons St. property.
Brian Kelly, Dean’s assistant vice president for capital planning and facilities, wrote to the Franklin Planning of Community Development that, while the college does not yet have a specific proposal to offer, "it is our intention to respond to an RFP (request for proposal) when issued by the town of Franklin." 

Town planners received two other expressions of interest for the property, which many in the town consider a "gateway" to the downtown area.

You can read the full article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140806/NEWS/140808350/1994/NEWS

Emmons St building

"All class gifts that could be saved, have been saved"

A thread of conversation around the demolition of the old high school has appeared again on Facebook discussing what could have been saved. Ed Cafasso, member of the School Building Committee replied to the thread as follows:

All class gifts that could be saved, have been saved. The obvious exception are things like wall murals. The Panther statue, the granite benches, the trophies and other awards, honors and gifts are all in storage. They will be put into the new school later this year, once students and faculty are settled in, and people have a chance to catch their breath. 

All of the schools in town, including Tri-County, had the opportunity to take used furniture and fixtures that were surplus. Technology items have been distributed to elementary and middle schools as appropriate. Other items that could not be reused by the Town were donated to charities. 

All of these actions have been discussed publicly by the School Committee, and recorded in their minutes and meeting videos. I hope these facts work to dispel continued rumors, but if you still have concerns, please feel free to contact members of the Franklin School Committee. 

Demolition will begin at 7 a.m., August 6, so no bricks are available yet as mementos. There will be a public open house at the new FHS on the weekend of September 20 and 21st. 

Your fellow FHS alumni work or volunteer on all of the Town and School boards that have been involved in the development and execution of these plans. Everyone involved respects the history of the school and the importance of class gifts. 

The priority at this moment is to make sure every aspect of the new FHS is ready for 1,700+ students, and for faculty, at the start of the school year. People are working hard, so your patience and support is appreciated. Thanks.

You can find the thread here on Facebook if you want to read the whole thread
https://www.facebook.com/groups/233787946659831/permalink/745366305501990/

front of new high school, taken on tour June 30th

The School Building Committee info on the Franklin page can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_BComm/School%20Building%20Committee

Video of prior School Committee (and other town meetings) can be found here
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewCalendar.aspx?siteSKU=L7qhQ46xin%2fr3Z0jcDVCNw%3d%3d

Information on the School Committee can be found here
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/Pages/index

Inside the new FHS (part 2 of 2)

As mentioned, I was able to join the School Building Committee meeting for their tour of the new Franklin High School on June 30th.

partial view of the new auditorium

band room with acoustical tiles

patio off the new cafeteria

interior courtyard 

some of the seats in the new lecture hall

scoreboard in the new gym

new gym, back to back full size basketball courts

"never quit" written in on the gym floor

varsity locker room

regular gym locker room

white walls in project room

new science classroom

Part 1 of the tour pictures can be viewed here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/08/inside-new-fhs-part-1-of-2.html

All the photos from the tour can be found here on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157645748897659

Other photos taken the same night and posted to the New FHS Facebook page can be found here
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.498420113591225.1073741837.264913556941883&type=1


The entire collection of posts on the new high school project can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/12/collection-high-school-building-project.html

Ladybug Spots coming to the Town Common - Aug 9 and 10 from noon to 4:00 PM

Friendly reminder that the Ladybug Spots will be appearing on the Town Common this weekend. You recall earlier this year, the Franklin Cultural Council created the Ladybug Spots Project. The decorated Ladybug Spots are now ready to showcase to one and all.

The showing will be held on the Franklin Town Common Saturday and Sunday, Aug 9 and 10 from noon to 4:00 PM.

Ladybug

Davis Thayer's Ladybug

On the one hand you can combine a visit to the St Rocco's Festival with a visit to the Ladybug Spots. On the other hand, be aware that parking around the Town Common with St Rocco's underway will be challenging.


From the archive on Ladybug Spots

Jan 2014
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/01/community-will-gain-lot-from-it.html

Apr 2014
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/04/cultural-council-open-house-and-awards.html

Jun 2014
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/ladybug-spots-public-art-project.html

Emmons Street Discussion on Wednesday Town Coucil Agenda

An email from the Downtown Partnership

The downtown Emmons Street property discussion is on the agenda for both the 5:30 Economic Development meeting and the 7:00 Town Council meeting this Wednesday. 

A citizen's group called the "Gateway Committee" will be presenting their letter regarding suggestions for the RFP for this town property. 

Both meetings will be held at Town Hall.  The Economic Development meeting will be in the conference room or lecture room.

Emmons St early this year in snow

Dear Mr. Vallee: 

The future redevelopment of 150 Emmons Street, the site of the former Municipal Building in
downtown Franklin, is located at one of the key gateways to Franklin Center. The property has a rich, longstanding history. For these reasons, we as interested citizens would like to see the redevelopment of the site remain a key gateway into downtown Franklin, which will maximize short-term and long-term benefits to the Town and its residents. 

We would like to go on record, however, that this committee strongly urges the Town Council to wait on any development of this property until we can assess the true and real impact of the upcoming Streetscape project that will include a new two-way traffic pattern both on West Central Street and Emmons Street. 

As a committee and a community, our overarching priority is to preserve the quintessential New England character and charm that downtown Franklin provides by including conditions in the future request for proposal that will define how the gateway to downtown will be developed. The following conditions help marry the principles that the Town has defined for the commercial district by creating a neighborhood identity that promotes pedestrian activity, human interactions, safety and livability. 

This parcel is in the heart of the proposed Franklin Cultural District. A community green space would offer economic benefits to the town by encouraging foot traffic and bringing people downtown to shop or dine. Additionally, this space could provide a venue for a multitude of cultural activities, for example outdoor art exhibits, an artisan marketplace, or music and theatre performances. 

● We request that approximately 20% of the property, roughly 8,000 square feet, be retained by the town of Franklin, specifically the southwest parcel of land, in
perpetuity, to be used as community green space. Maintaining the corner of this
parcel would allow the Town of Franklin to control the initial welcoming impression of visitors to the downtown area.
● We fully concur that a statue or monument in honor of Horace Mann is  appropriate and needed, and we support this measure that has been broadly talked about in discussion of the future use of this space. We recommend that the statue and green space project be designed and managed by a community committee in conjunction with the Town, rather than an outside developer, so the statue is done to the community's specifications. We suggest securing state funding for this important project.
● We suggest that the building frontage to Route 140 have limited setback, after landscaping provisions, to continue and enhance the New England style main street appeal that exists in the downtown area.
● We request that parking be sufficient and adequate for the building use but not a
primary focus of the development, with consideration given to the streetscape project and traffic pattern changes that have yet to occur.
● We explicitly request that no drive-through of any sort be permitted in this
development.

We feel strongly that these conditions above,incorporated in the request for proposal,
together with the long-term planning recommendations above, will lead to a welcoming
private/public investment to the gateway of downtown Franklin. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Signed, the Supporters of the Franklin Gateway Committee

Del Arnold, Michael Lucier. Karen M Young
Sue Bencuya, Christopher Lucier, Pamela Williams
Hannah Close, Amanda Lucier, Bruce Wood
Vicki Coates, Stephanie Miksis, Deborah Ryan
Jane Curran, Lisa Maxwell-Rounds, Raye Lynn Mercer
Alec Danz, Maxwell Morrongiello, Hallie Wetzell
Stacey David, Lisa Piana, Connie Jones
Gary Donelan, Nancy Rappa, Roberta Trahan
Gail Eckberg, Guy Rezendes, Lisa Carlucci
Barbara Evans, Joanne Roche, Karilyn Hammer
Tom Fahey, Rev. Carol Rosine, Selena Cousin
Alan Mercer, Marjorie Sardella, Maura O’Brien
Richard Fotland, Carl Scheinman, Claire Griffin
Denise Schultz, Theresa McDougall, Thomas G. Curran
Paul Guarino, John Sheridan, Wayne McDougall
Tina Guarino, Sue Sheridan, Robert Piana
Daydre Hamilton, Jean Sirois, Richard Guardabascio
Jim Kupfer, Chris Sternadore, Suzanne Sayward
Maria Lucier, Lynn Wetzell, Lisa Buccella
Kathleen M. Kirchmyer, Bill Buccella, Virginia Gillis
Claire Malette,. Kathleen Nosek, Rebecca Skinner
Jim Hill, Erica Luttazi, Bob Hamilton
Brenda Hutchinson, Kelly Luttazi, Rita Fahey
Joshua Close, Julie Dolan, Paul Peterson
Judy Luttazi, Katie Buccella, Sam Pasquantonio
Patricia Prewitt, Steve Luttazi, Terri Frank
Kevin Dolan, Kim Rezendes, Carolyn Marr
Tina Powderly, Bob Hamiilton

Franklin Library: Teen movie night - "Catching Fire"

The teens are invited to the Library for movie night, Friday at 5:00 PM. The Hunger Games "Catching Fire" will be the movie.

Movie night "Catching Fire"

This was re-posted from the Library webpage
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2014/07/teen-movie-night.html

Inside the New FHS (part 1 of 2)

I was able to join the School Building Committee meeting on June 30th as they toured the new Franklin High School. Construction was putting the finishing touches on everywhere we went although much had been completed.

This part 1 of 2 will feature pictures of front of the school with landscaping and a rain garden, then interior views of the library/media center, principal's office, interior corridors and a first floor classroom.

rain garden

front looking to gym and community entrance

2nd floor view of front

front looking toward principal's office

front entrance

principal's office

main entrance corridor

from the corridor to the front of the building at the Library/Media Center

from the front/main entrance looking to the Library/Media Center

interior corridor

first floor classroom

Part 2 will feature pictures from the gym, auditorium, lecture hall and cafeteria.

All the photos from the tour can be found here on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157645748897659


Other photos taken the same night and posted to the New FHS Facebook page can be found here
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.498420113591225.1073741837.264913556941883&type=1


The entire collection of posts on the High School Project can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/12/collection-high-school-building-project.html

Bone Marrow Drive to be held at the St. Rocco’s Festival -> Aug 8 -10

Here is a link to St. Mary’s Newletter called "The Weave."  The front page story tells how the Bone Marrow Drive came about.

http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1103685264445-47/July+2014+Weave.pdf

Hopefully this is just the first of many Bone Marrow Drives to be held at the St. Rocco’s Festival in the years to come.

The St Rocco Festival schedule and additional information can be found here
http://www.stmarysfranklin.org/93

Franklin Library: Clifford

For the youngsters, Clifford the Big Red Dog will appear at the Franklin Library Friday morning. Bring you camera to take some photos for this story time that starts at 10:30 AM.

Clifford the Big Red Dog

This was re-posted from the Library webpage
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2014/07/meet-clifford-big-red-dog.html

funding for school zone safety lights in Franklin put back in the budget

State funding for traffic signals for additional locations within Franklin was part of the current FY 2015 budget, vetoed by the Governor and re-instated last week. Milford Daily News reports:

The other amendment, which asked for $60,000 to fund the installation and operation of solar-powered school zone safety lights in Franklin, was also vetoed. 

Roy last month said he called the governor’s office asking for an explanation and was told Patrick "was eliminating all earmarks in the budget." 

And with the new Franklin High School set to open this fall, Roy said the town’s "reasonable request" would help mitigate traffic in the school-heavy area. 

"To me, these were two very important issues for both Franklin and Medway," Roy said before he asked the House and Senate to override the vetoes.

Continue reading the full article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140804/NEWS/140809091/1994/NEWS


What kind of traffic signals are these? Similar to the one installed on King St by the Parmenter School.

pedestrian traffic signal on King St

#franklingrows: photo challenge

Found on the Franklin Town Common

#franklingrows 1

#franklingrows 2

#franklingrows 3

We can keep this open and if you have other photos to share, please send them along.

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Aug 6, 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
Election Workers (see listing in agenda doc)
Conservation Commission - Scott D. McLean

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
»Petition for Change of D/B/A- Soco Rose
»Change in Beneficial Interest and Removal of an LLC Director and Concept President – 99 Restaurant of Boston LLC

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
»Gateway Committee
»Collection Containers
»Parking Discussion

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

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

The full set of documents released for this agenda can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2014/080614.pdf

Interested in Solar? Meeting August 20

Join us for our kick-off meeting, Wednesday August 20 at 7PM in Town Council Chambers! 

The Dept. of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) wants to know if Franklin wants solar panels. The Franklin Solar Challenge will help residents and business owners obtain solar panels for less. The more residents and business owners that sign up, the cheaper solar panels become. 

Right now, DPCD is speaking with other communities who have run their own Solar Challenge, in order to see how best to move forward.

solar panels at Mt Saint Mary's

DPCD Needs Your SupportPlease help get the word out about the Franklin Solar Challenge. DPCD will contact those interested to organize a meeting date and discuss next steps. 

Concord recently engaged in their own Solar Challenge and now 160 residents and business owners have their own solar panels. Save money and go green! Contact Franklin’s DPCD today!

Interested in the Franklin Solar Challenge?
Please Contact the Town of Franklin’s Department of Planning & Community Development at:
(508) 520 – 4907 or TOFPlanning@franklin.ma.us

"I love the camaraderie, all these people coming together for a cause"

The Milford Daily News reports on the rest stop for the PanMass Challenge that rode through Franklin on Saturday in part by writing:

This year – the 35th year of the challenge – roughly 5,700 riders are participating, according to Jackie Herskovitz, the Pan-Mass Challenge spokesperson. 

Riders choose from 12 routes that range from 25 to 190 miles. The ride has three starting lines in Sturbridge, Wellesley and Bourne, and five finish lines: two in Provincetown and one each in Foxborough, Wellesley and Bourne. 

At press time, the challenge has raised roughly $26 million, all of which goes to research and patient care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute via the Jimmy Fund. 

The goal this year is $40 million. The final day to donate is Oct. 1, she said.

You can read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140802/NEWS/140809214/1994/NEWS

PanMass Challenge in 2013

You can still donate via this link:  https://www2.pmc.org/donation.asp

PanMass Challenge

For more info on Dana Farber you can visit there page
http://www.dana-farber.org/