La Cantina Wine School

On my walk Sunday, I found that the recent work setting up the small office space on Union St was not going to be a campaign office. The sign proudly announces the home of La Cantina Wine School.

La Cantina Wine School

There was an article last year by the Milford Daily News about La Cantina.

Did you know Franklin has a school that teaches you how to make wine in the Italian tradition? This article in the Milford Daily News introduces us to Bob Vozzella and La Cantina Wine School.

On Saturday, Professore di Vino Vozzella, as he has taken to calling himself, taught a group of students how to press the grapes, which had fermented a couple of weeks within special tubs. The wine would be a zinfandel.  

Wearing black T-shirts with the words "Crush Crew," they were scooping the rich violet grapes into the press. The work left their hands covered in the same color.  

Robert Alario, one of the pupils, enrolled at Vozzella’s school to relive some of his childhood. "I use to make wine with my father," the 59-year-old Fitchburg resident said. "This brings back incredibly fond memories."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1868850256/Franklin-man-uncorks-wine-school#ixzz2hh0inIaS  (subscription may be required)

Last year's posting to Franklin Matters appeared here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/part-of-italian-tradition.html


You can find out more about the wine making school by visiting their webpage
http://lacantinawineschool.com/

Walking around Franklin

Out walking this weekend, I find the stone walls and site preparations are still underway at the entrance to Chestnut Ridge.

stone wall at entrance to Chestnut Ridge

If you missed what is going in at this location, it is a "congregate assisted living facility".
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/whats-going-in-at-rockpile.html



The signs are in place for the new location of the Franklin Art Center

Franklin Art Center

They moved effective Sep 1 from the Berry Building downtown to this location next to the Municipal Building (near the Alumni Restaurant, across from the Big Y).
http://franklinartcenter.com/

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/