Labor Day and 'back to school' week

The wikipedia entry for Labor Day reads in part:

To take advantage of large numbers of potential customers free to shop, Labor Day has become an important sale weekend for many retailers in the United States. Some retailers claim it is one of the largest sale dates of the year, second only to the Christmas season's Black Friday.^[7] 

Ironically, because of the importance of the sale weekend, some of those who are employed in the retail sector not only work on Labor Day, but work longer hours. More Americans work in the retail industry than any other, with retail employment making up 24% of all jobs in the United States.^[8] As of 2012, only 3% of those employed in the retail sector were members of a labor union.^[8]

Parmenter School sign with opening schedule for 2014-2015 school year

Labor Day is also the traditional end of summer and return to school. Franklin schools got out early in June 2014 in part due to the snow days but also deliberately to assist with the move out of the old FHS building. Schools are also opening after Labor Day this year to provide the time for the new FHS building to get completed (construction has been) and the facility moved into (by faculty, etc.).

In elementary, Grades 1-5 report on Sep 3

Friday Sep 5, there is a one hour Kindergarten orientation and on Monday, Sep 8th, Kindergarten will start their full day schedule.

The K schedule is different this year due to a new state requirement for an assessment of all kndergarteners.  The K teachers are being trained on the assessment process, Weds and Thur (Sep 3-4).

Middle school and high school opens for all grades on Sep 3

31 thermal totes collected and delivered

You may recall that Megan DeKing posted about collecting some thermal totes for new born infants at the intensive care unit of an area hospital. With your help she collected 31 totes and delivered them last Friday. She posted the following to our Franklin Matters Facebook page

Thank you so much to those that helped collect NICU totes! Just dropped them off and the moms there were so thankful!

Megan DeKing (far right) delivering the totes

The totes were delivered to the NICU at Newton Wellsley Hospital

The fund raising was initially posted here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/fund-raising-thermal-totes-for-infants.html

September is Campus Fire Safety Month

Did you know that September is Campus Fire Safety Month? With students returning to college campuses within and outside the state, including Franklin's Dean College, it makes sense.

Summer is coming to an end and a new school year is about to begin. As students return to campus and off-campus apartments across Massachusetts, the state designates September Campus Fire Safety Month. Through fire safety education, the Commonwealth aims to reduce occurrences of fire and the resulting losses of life or property damage. 

According to the Department of Fire Services (DFS), 39 Massachusetts civilians died due to fires in 2012. In fact,69% of all residential building fires originated in the kitchen due to unsafe cooking practices that year.

MA.gov blog on fire safety

Continue reading the MA Gov blog article here to find out the fire safety tips they provide http://blog.mass.gov/blog/safety/campus-fire-safety-month/

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Sep 3, 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

Jeanne Blanchard
Joyce Pedersen

Advisory Committee

Bruce Hunchard
Nancy Rafter

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Special Permits – Beth Wierling

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 14-50: Chapter 61B – 1st Refusal Option – Property Located Off East Central Street
2. Resolution 14-51: Chapter 61B – 1st Refusal Option – Off East Central Street
3. Resolution 14-52: Appropriation – Recreation – Tot Lot
4. Resolution 14-53: Prior Year Bill
5. Resolution 14-54: Authorization to Issue Request for Proposals – Pond Street Property
6. Bylaw Amendment 14-741:Chapter 65, Collection Containers – 1st Reading

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 - site of Town Council meetings

The full set of documents released for this agenda can be found on the official Franklin page here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2014/090314.pdf

Preparing for school lunches - lunch lady heroes and more

It is time to get back to school so that means it is back to either making lunches or getting lunch in the cafeteria. In this TED Talk, Jarrett Krosoczka talks about his lunch lady and lunch lady heroes!





You can find more about Jarrett with his TED bio page  http://www.ted.com/speakers/jarrett_j_krosoczka

or on his own website   http://www.studiojjk.com/



And while we are on the topic of school lunches, Lisa Leake has some good ideas and recipes to help create healthy lunches.

Lisa Leake's 100 Days of Real Food website

Follow this link to read her post on tips to making school lunches:
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/08/14/real-food-tips-10-recipes-to-freeze-for-school-lunches-which-makes-packing-a-breeze/

Lincoln St construction update

On my walk last weekend (8/24), I finally got out to check on the Lincoln St construction. The paving had been delayed starting and based upon the view last week is close to getting finished.

There will be islands put in to help calm the traffic and improve the safety around the Keller Sullivan schools. I confirmed this in a brief conversation with DPW Director Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi at the recent Sculpture Parking opening.

Looking towards downtown on Lincoln St (Keller Sullivan to the right)

cones in the middle indicate where the islands will be

single lane restriction for culvert work

one of the new culverts from stream side

culvert work near Winterberry

Franklin Girls Soccer: "another tournament run seems guaranteed"

In the Hockomock Sports preview on the Kelly-Rex Division they write the following about the Franklin High School girls soccer team:

Franklin
2013 Record: 17-2-3 (12-1-3)
2013 Finish: Lost in MIAA D1 State Semifinal
Coach: Tom Geysen

In 2010, Franklin coach Tom Geysen said he stopped setting season goals for his team and told his players to focus on one game at a time. The focus seems to have had the right effect with a state title in 2012 and sectional titles in three of the past four seasons. This year, that focus will be even more important with Franklin drawing not just statewide admiration but also national attention. After the first few days of practice, Geysen said that he wasn’t worried because the players “had the right attitude” and “came to work hard” this preseason. 

FHS Panthers

The Panthers return 10 of 11 starters from the team that reached the state semifinal last season, including 2013 HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Taylor Cogliano. In addition, Franklin brings back senior Eastern Mass. all-star Nicole Ellin at the back and a host of juniors that are motivated to return to the state championship game. Among the juniors are forwards Alexis Stowell and Bailey Knous and Underclassman of the Year Victoria Stowell. With Lexi Martin, Julia Mastaj, Jane Scafati and goalkeeper Dani Lonati also back, it’s no wonder that Franklin is considered among the favorites for the Hockomock title. 

Geysen raved about the fitness levels of his team in the preseason and credited the players for the willingness to share minutes to make the team better. He also said that he intends on using a lot of players over the course of the season so that the bench will be prepared if needed during the tournament. With the players Franklin has back, another tournament run seems guaranteed.

Continue reading the Kelly-Rex Division article here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-girls-soccer-kelley-rex-division-preview

The write up on the Davenport Division can be found here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-girls-soccer-davenport-division-preview