Franklin Solar Challenge - Next Step Energy - vendor for energy audits

Next Step Living can be found on the web at nextstepliving.com

An energy assessment at no-cost. A 2-3 hour visit to assess the efficiency of the home.

You can call 866-867-8729 to set up an appointment.

Next Step Living website

Franklin Solar Challenge - SolarFlair chosen as installation vendor

SolarFlair, a MA company currently located in Ashland, MA.

http://solarflair.com/

Founded in 2007, moved to Framingham in 2010 and then to Ashland earlier this year.

SolarFlair

(Copy of the presentation being shown should be available later for sharing here)

SolarFlair did send along a copy of their presentation to share here:




several slides from the presentation are the same ones as shown in the information session Aug 20, 2014.  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/08/solar-challenge-presentation-copies.html

pictures of installations done around the state, Holden, Charlton, Sherborn, Framingham, etc.

warranty for 25 years on the panel

SREC = solar renewable energy certificates
The wikipedia entry for SREC is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Renewable_Energy_Certificate

Fire Alarm - Horace Mann, Oak St, ECDC schools

A message from OAK STREET ELEMENTARYGood afternoon Oak St, ECDC, and Horace Mann families,

As you may know, a malfunction in one of our smoke detectors triggered an emergency evacuation. Even though this was not technically a drill, our students and faculty were not in any real danger at any time. The evacuation went smoothly and the fire and police departments responded quickly and efficiently.

Unfortunately, the same malfunction that triggered the alarm prevented us from immediately resetting the system. As a result, the alarm persisted for more than three hours.

After waiting outside for thirty minutes, we were cleared by the fire, police, and facilities departments to reenter the building despite not being able to reset the alarm. The flashing lights associated with the fire alarm continued through most of the afternoon. Accommodations were made for individual students as needed.

Best regards,

Corine Minkle, Kelty Kelly, Shawn Fortin
Oak St, ECDC, Horace Mann

This e-mail has been sent to you by OAK STREET ELEMENTARY. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. If you no longer wish to receive email notifications from OAK STREET ELEMENTARY, please click here to unsubscribe.

Horace Mann - Oak St (ECDC is located behind this building)

Reminder: Franklin Solar Challenge update - Sep 10 - vendor to be announced

Friendly reminder:

All:  The Town has received proposals from six Solar Panel Installation Companies for the Franklin Solar Challenge project.  I am working with a Proposal Review Committee made up of four Town residents who volunteered to review the proposals and interview the solar installation companies. Interviews took place today (September 3rd) and the Proposal Review Committee has identified two finalist. The Committee will conduct further review of the two finalists to assure the Town chooses the solar installation company that is right for the Franklin Solar Challenge project.  Both companies are well qualified and have implemented similar projects in other Massachusetts communities.

Which ever solar installation company is chosen for the Franklin Solar Challenge they will be in attendance at a meeting on September 10th at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 355 East Central Street. The company will provide specifics about their company and general information on solar panel installation costs and the different options available.

I hope all interested residents and small businesses are able to attend next week's meeting.  If not able to attend next week there will be many other opportunities in the near future to obtain the same information, including at the Harvest Festival on October 5th. Either way, the solar installation company chosen by the Town will begin contacting all individuals that previously provided the Town with contact information.   

In addition to the solar installation company chosen for the Franklin Solar Challenge, a partnering energy audit company will be in attendance at next week's meeting.  It is not required, but strongly recommended that all property owners considering solar panels first have a free energy audit performed. Additional information will be provided at next week's meeting. 

I look forward to working with the Town's residents and small businesses on the Franklin Solar Challenge project.  

Bryan W. Taberner, AICP

Director of Planning and Community Development

355 East Central Street

Franklin, MA 02038-1352

Phone: 508-520-4907

Fax: 508-520-4906

Email: btaberner@franklin.ma.us

Mt St Mary's solar farm when it was under construction during Aug 2013

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He went for the money, stayed for the cause

Fun fact:
Tuesday, we hit 1837 'fans' of this Facebook page. Thank you all for coming to visit, read, and share.
1837 was also the year that Horace Mann began his work in education.

According to wikipedia:

"It was not until he was appointed secretary in 1837 of the newly created board of education of Massachusetts (the first such position in the United States) that he began the work which was to place him in the foremost rank of American educationists. Previously, he had not shown any special interest in education. He was encouraged to take the job only because it was a paid office position established by the legislature. He began as secretary of the board. On entering on his duties, he withdrew from all other professional or business engagements and from politics."

Horace Mann page on wikipedia

No homework?

Another sign with interesting wording can be found at the corner of King and Union Sts.

Boston Sports Club Franklin sign

You can find out more about the Franklin Boston Sports Club by visiting their webpage
http://www.mysportsclubs.com/clubsched/_clubdetail.htm?rg=BSC&a=Greater%20Boston&c=215

FPAC Announces Open Auditions For 2014 Holiday Productions

The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) will hold open auditions for three 2014 holiday productions, Tchaikovsky’s timeless ballet The Nutcracker and the original FPAC musicals Humbug! and ’Tis the Season! 

The Nutcracker remains a highly anticipated and treasured part of the FPAC season – a popular holiday tradition for more than 20 years. Presented with live professional orchestra, FPAC’s magical journey of The Nutcracker features more than 100 area dancers and special guest artists. A family favorite since debuting as part of FPAC’s 2008 season, Humbug! is an original musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. 

FPAC auditions for The Nutcracker

With musical hits of every genre and live accompaniment by a 10-piece band of professional musicians, Humbug! transports audiences from Dickensian England to contemporary America as the novel’s characters and storyline are reimagined with modern setting and dialogue. 

’Tis the Season! is an original large cast musical first presented by FPAC in 1995. The upbeat, jazzy holiday extravaganza features members of the Kenny Hadley Big Band and contemporary arrangements of favorite holiday classics in many musical styles including R&B, jazz, rock, Motown, gospel and Broadway. 

FPAC will present The Nutcracker on December 6 and 7, Humbug! on December 12-14 and ’Tis the Season on December 20 and 21. Humbug! will be staged at THE BLACK BOX, FPAC’s new home and performance venue in downtown Franklin. Both The Nutcracker and ’Tis the Season will be performed at the new Franklin High School auditorium. 

Open auditions for The Nutcracker will be held on Saturday, September 27 at THE BLACK BOX, 15 West Central Street, in Franklin. Students, ages 6 and older, from all area dance schools are welcome. Ballet attire is required. Audition times are 9:30-10 a.m. for ages 6 and 7, 10-10:45 for ages 8 and 9, 11-11:45 for ages 10 and 11, 11:45-12:45 for ages 12 and 13, 1-1:45 for ages 14+ (off pointe), and 2:15-3:15 for ages 12+ (pointe audition; must be on pointe for at least one year). Off-pointe callbacks are scheduled at 1:45-2:15 p.m., with pointe callbacks from 3:15-4:00.

Open auditions for Humbug! and ’Tis the Season! will take place at THE BLACK BOX on Sunday, September 28 at 1 p.m. for ages 6 and 7, 1:30 for ages 8 and 9, 2:00 for ages 10 and 11, 2:45 for ages 12 and 13, 3:30 for ages 14+, and 4:30 for adults. Students must be 6 years of age or older on the audition date to participate. Beginners and all levels are welcome. Please prepare 16 measures of a musical theater or pop song. A simple dance combination will be taught at the audition.

A distinctive suburban non-profit arts organization founded in 1991, FPAC brings together professional artists, community performers and students of the arts in a collaborative and creative environment. With a focus on youth development and a commitment to live music, productions draw performers and audiences from more than 100 communities throughout the region. For more information, call (508) 528-8668 or visit online at www.fpaconline.com.