In the News: election prep, candidate endorsements, new high school gym

With less than 48 hours to go before polls open on Tuesday for the primary election, candidates from all races were travelling across the state to meet with voters on Sunday. Their mission was the same: to spread the word. 

Democratic gubernatorial candidates Don Berwick, Martha Coakley and Steve Grossman were attending rallies, stopping by farmers markets and catching the Patriots game with voters. 

“Our biggest focus right now is getting out the vote,” said Patrick Sheridan-Rossi, field director for the Berwick campaign.

Continue reading the Milford Daily News article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140908/NEWS/140907361/1994/NEWS

election day sign on the railroad bridge downtown Franklin

The editorial board of the MetroWest Daily News and the Milford Daily News have made their endorsements for Tuesday’s primary elections. Their recommendations include Don Berwick, Charlie Baker, Steve Kerrigan, Maura Healey, Tom Conroy and Michael Sullivan.

Continue reading the Milford Daily News to read the individual endorsements for each candidate
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140907/NEWS/140907414

the gymnasium section in the front of the new FHS

Demolition of the old Franklin High School was not only the end of an era for the town's schools, but also for the town clerk's office - with the old field house went the town's long-time voting venue. 

Voting will now take place in the new Franklin High School next door, but with parking still under construction, Town Clerk Debbie Pellegri has had to do some careful staging to ensure a smooth voting process at Tuesday's primary. 

"We're going to have a policeman directing people into a certain parking lot at the new high school," Pellegri said. "And there's going to be all new signage to direct people to the parking lot."

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140908/NEWS/140907367

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Sep 9, .2014

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

AGENDA

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

Franklin Public Schools - 'the key to learning'

1. Routine Business

Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the August 26, 2014 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Clement
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: Budget to Actual

2. Guests/Presentations

a. Lifelong Learning – Pandora Carlucci

3. Discussion Only Items

none

4. Action Items

a. I recommend donation of a set of cheerleading floor mats (valued at approximately $1,000.00) to Franklin Pop Warner program.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $250.00 from Fidelity Charitable for supplies at ECDC.
c. I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $323.04 from Wells Fargo Community Support for in-house enrichment at Franklin High School.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $300.00 from Jefferson PCC for in-house enrichment at Jefferson Elementary School.

5. Information Matters

Superintendent’s Report
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business

To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Executive Session

Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn

Looking for work? Tickets available for Job Search Jam Sessions

If you are looking for work, or know someone who is, this is the event to be at. The 5th edition of Job Search Jam Sessions returns Sep 12.

What will the Job Search Jam Sessions be like?

Additional details on the event can be found here
http://jobsearchjamsessions.blogspot.com/p/expections.html

Job Search Jam Sessions - Sep 12

What is the schedule for the day?

The schedule will be similar to that held in 2013
http://jobsearchjamsessions.blogspot.com/p/schedule.html

Where will this be held?

Job Search Jam Sessions #5 will be held in Hopkinton at the St John Evangelist Parish Center
http://jobsearchjamsessions.blogspot.com/p/location.html

How much does it cost?

$8 you can pay online or at the door. Tickets can be purchased online or reserved so you can pay at the door. (To pay at the door - choose 'Show other payment options.'  Advance registrations are highly encouraged to ensure we have a good count of participants to plan for the food and refreshments).

Online Ticketing for Job Search Jam Sessions 5 powered by Eventbrite

If there is interest in helping to sponsor this event, please let me know!

"He spent the first few weeks in the hospital without even knowing he was paralyzed"

When most athletes say their coaches are their family, they are using speaking metaphorically. 

However, when wrestling standout Ritchie Elgar says it, it is 100 percent true. 

Earlier this summer, Elgar was in a car crash that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Facing an unknown prognosis, he turned to religion and asked to be baptized. His coach, Carmine Colace, stepped in to serve as his godfather. 

And now Elgar's coaches, teammates, friends and family are helping to raise money to help pay for his mounting medical bills. 

Last school year Elgar, then a sophomore at Tri-County in Franklin, was the state vocational wrestling champion, winning the Division 3 Central Sectional at 106 pounds. He then finished second in the Division 3 states and fifth at All-States.

Continue reading the Milford Daily News article here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140906/NEWS/140907706/1994/NEWS

Ritchie Elger Fund Raising page

To contribute to the fund raining effort for Ritchie Elger follow this link
https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/7245/ritchie-elgar-s-recovery-fund

Online tool for MA 'lemon law'

The Office of Consumer Affairs recently conducted a survey of auto dealerships to see how they complied with providing notification to consumers on the 'lemon law'.

The number of dealerships that complied with the law and displayed the sticker on their car was disappointing: overall, 43 percent of the cars surveyed were missing the required Lemon Law sticker. Of the 71 dealerships examined, only 16 showed 100 percent compliance – 30 showed over 80 percent compliance. 17 dealerships had no stickers at all on any of the cars examined in the survey. 

Fortunately, the Office of Consumer Affairs created an online tool to educate consumers on the state’s lemon laws. You are still protected by these laws, even if the dealerships don’t tell you. Users can fill out our online survey with “yes” or “no” answers to find out if they qualify under the lemon laws. Users who qualify will be directed to the proper paperwork that they can fill out and take the necessary steps to refund their money. If a consumer requires arbitration to receive the refund they are entitled to, the application form for that is available on the same application page.

Office of Consumer Affairs

You can find the full article online here

http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/car-buyers-you-deserve-to-know-your-lemon-law-rights/

Franklin High School sports results - Friday Sep 5

Franklin girls soccer tied with Oliver Ames 1-1

The Franklin fans were stunned that it had come down to this. The Panthers had hit the bar and had a ball cleared off the line in the second half, but a goal off a corner tied the game and now sophomore Francesca Calabraro had the opportunity from the spot to earn Oliver Ames an unlikely road win at Pisini Field.

Continue reading the full article here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/lonati-saves-penalty-and-draw-for-franklin-against-oa

FHS Panthers

Franklin boys soccer lost to Oliver Ames 1-0

There's something about long distance that works for Oliver Ames junior Keegan Nutt. 

After moving nearly 3,000 miles from Washington, the transfer student ripped a shot from distance in the first half to score the lone goal of the game as Oliver Ames downed Franklin, 1-0.

Continue reading the write-up at Hockomock Sports
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/first-half-cracker-boosts-oliver-ames-over-franklin

Franklin football lost to New Bedford 42-36

The Panthers came out of halftime with the mission of getting the offense clicking. It worked, as senior captain Andrew Parent ran for all of his 211 yards and three touchdowns in the second half and Franklin scored 30 points after the break. 

The problem was that New Bedford scored 21 and Franklin had no answer for the Whalers quarterback Chandler Debosse, who finished 12-13 for 312 yards and three scores and ran 12 times for 120 yards and a touchdown. 

Franklin battled to the end, but it was the visitors that started the season with a 42-36 win.

Continue reading the write-up at Hockomock Sports
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/franklin-falls-short-in-shootout-with-new-bedford

Harvest Festival Deadline - Extended - Sep 10

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is extending the Harvest Festival Registration due date to Wednesday, September 10th.  After this date please remember to include the late fee of $35.00

The event is Sunday, October 5th Harvest Festival

Terri Frank is our Vendor Chairperson.

Franklin Downtown Partnership

She will be the contact person for all booth related questions.  She can be reached at terrifrank1@gmail.com

Attached is the  2014 Harvest Festival Registration. Spaces are assigned on a first-come basis.

Registration forms must be received no later than September 10th to participate. 

Important Reminders:

You must fill out a registration form in order to participate.

Booth spaces are Free for those FDP members who have paid their 2014 membership.  

Please remember to Read the Registration Form carefully and sign.  Terri will be sending the Final Festival Booth Map the end of September.

Sponsors Needed:  Please let us know if you would like sponsor this year's festival.  All sponsors will have their booth location on Main Street on Sponsorship Row.

Registration forms can be found here

Additional information about the Harvest Festival can be found on the Downtown Partnership webpage   http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/