Friday, September 19, 2014

Big Y: Learn How To Prevent and Treat High Cholesterol



Inform and Inspire - September is... CHOLESTEROL EDUCATION MONTH! Join us! Friday, Sept. 19th 1pm - 6pm. Inform and Inspire event day in all Big Y Pharmacy & Wellness Center Locations. Our pharmacists can help you understand how to prevent and treat high cholesterol by making therapeutic lifestyle changes.
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Thursday, September 18, 2014

RFP goes with a drive through option

The Town Council meeting Wednesday was a relatively quiet affair. The agenda was changed to move the action items before the appointments. This was mentioned here earlier.

The resolution to add membership to the Franklin Advisory Committee needed to be voted on before the actual membership additions could be approved. Normally, the appointments are to standing committees where one or two people are replacing folks who have left.

In my seven years reporting on the Council, this circumstance had only come up a couple of times. The resolution was approved and the appointments were confirmed.

The change in agenda may have surprised some of the residents who could have spoke on the Emmons St property as only Lisa Piana, Executive Director of the Franklin Downtown Partnership, came forward to make two points on the RFP.

The Council acknowledged the two items but effectively dismissed them as something that could be handled later and proceeded to approve the RFP as written by a 7-0 vote. Councilor Padula was absent from the meeting and Councilor Kelly recused himself for the first time from this discussion item.
Franklin Municipal Building, site of the Town Council meetings
Franklin Municipal Building, site of the Town Council meetings


In a PR move, Ron Roux, the Cook's Farm developer spoke briefly about his intention to use local resources on the construction project. He could not commit to specific skills that would be open or keep for his standard group. He will be scheduling a meeting to present details of the project and needs to let those interested get more information and consider their involvement.

David McKearney, presented an overview of the operations of the Board of Health. The Health Dept is quite busy and their duties vary from beaver permits to food inspections of the more than 100 restaurants and food service operations twice a year in Franklin.

His presentation doc is supposed to be posted to the Franklin website. The outline used seems to be similar to their section in the Annual Report. The numbers would have been updated to reflect current activities (versus prior years).


My detailed notes reported live during the meeting can be found here

The Annual Report section for the Board of Health in 2012 can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/annual-report-2012-health-department.html

The Health Dept page can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Health/index


Whole Foods Market Bellingham's Annual Harvest Fest

We are excited to announce 
the date for our annual Harvest Fest!

Please join us on Saturday, 
October 11th from 12noon – 6pm

We would love to invite you to participate in this epic event!
We are planning our activities now which include camel rides, a petting zoo, bounce house, Farmers' Market, concessions, pumpkin patch and decorating, carnival games and so much more! In the past years, we have welcomed 1500 – 2000 folks on the day of this event. All activities are FREE for families and this encourages a huge crowd! This is an amazing opportunity for you to introduce your product to new customers and solidify your presence as a community supporter to your loyal customers.
Here are some of our favorite pictures from prior years…

Whole Foods Market Bellingham's Annual Harvest Fest

Whole Foods Market Bellingham's Annual Harvest Fest

Whole Foods Market Bellingham's Annual Harvest Fest

Whole Foods Market Bellingham's Annual Harvest FestWhole Foods Market Bellingham's Annual Harvest Fest

Please let me know if you will be able to attend this outdoor event as I am planning the layout as folks respond. I am hoping to have a finalized list of vendors by Monday, September 22nd.

Many thanks,
Chelsey Barton-Karnes
Marketing Team Leader
Whole Foods Market
Bellingham, MA


Nutcracker Auditions - Sep 20th


It's the most wonderful time of the year! Nutcracker Auditions are being held this SATURDAY, September 20th. 
AUDITION TIMES: Ages 5-7 audition from 1-1:40; Ages 8-10 audition from 1:45-2:25: Ages 11-12 audition from 2:30-3:10 and Ages 13 and up from 3:15-4:15. 
If you cannot make the audition, but would like to be cast in a part, please let the office know. Dancers trying out for Pointe parts MUST have Pointe shoes for audition. 
There is a $10 audition fee. Proper ballet attire and hair must be pulled back in a bun. Auditions are open to the public and we invite all local dance studios to join us!
Nutcracker Auditions
For additional information on the Patti Eisenhauer Dance Center and their programs, you can find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patti-Eisenhauer-Dance-Center/

or on the web here http://www.pedancecenter.com/Home.html


Franklin Library: Book and Bag Sale 9/20-21

The monthly book and bag sale will be held this Saturday and Sunday. The Book sale will run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday. The Bag Sale will open from 9:00 AM to noon on Sunday.

Music by Betty Kushner will be provided from 9-10 and 2-3 on Saturday

Franklin Public Library - Book Sale
Franklin Public Library - Book Sale

This information was shared from the Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2014/09/library-book-sale.html

Senator Spilka Announces Fall Office Hours



Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) or representatives from her staff will be available for district office hours this fall. Constituents are invited to share their concerns, questions and policy priorities and hear updates on the latest news and events from the State House and in the district.

Tuesday, October 21st: Medway and Franklin Office Hours

8:00-9:00 AM
Muffin House
116 Main St., Medway

......
Elizabeth's Bagels and More
Elizabeth's Bagels and More
9:30-10:30 AM
Elizabeth's Bagels and More
456 W Central St., Franklin
...... 

Friday, October 31st: Hopkinton, Holliston and Ashland Office Hours

8:00-9:00 AM
Golden Spoon
85 W Main St., Hopkinton

9:30-10:30 AM
Jasper Hill Café & Bistro
770 Washington St., Holliston

11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Sunnyside Café
24 Front St., Ashland

Thursday, November 6th: Framingham and Natick Office Hours

11:30 AM- 12:30 PM
Panera Bread
400 Cochituate Rd., Framingham

1:00-2:00 PM
Nick's Pizza
179 W Central St. Natick


Residents who are unable to attend or are interested in scheduling an appointment should feel free to contact Senator Spilka's office at (617) 722-1640 at any time.


MassBudget: New Census data on health coverage, income, and poverty



MassBudget  Information.
  Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center  Democracy.


MA Again Leads in Health Coverage, but US incomes stagnant and poverty declining slowly 
 
The economic security of working families depends on reliable access to affordable health care, as well as opportunities to earn good incomes and to share in the benefits of economic growth.

New information released by the Census Bureau today shows that, in 2013, Massachusetts continued to lead the nation in the share of its state population covered by health insurance. With 96.3 percent of people in Massachusetts covered, the Commonwealth far exceeds the national average of 86.6 percent. Massachusetts has led the nation in health care coverage for its population since the implementation of the state's health reform in 2006.

[For more on health insurance coverage rates, see MassBudget's new factsheet on this part of today's Census release, available HERE.]
                                  
Today's Census data also reveal that four years into an economic recovery, low and moderate income U.S. households are seeing limited benefits from the nation's economic growth - median household income is lower and the poverty rate is still higher than in 2007, just before the start of the Great Recession. Modest reductions in the overall and child poverty rates, however, did occur between 2012 and 2013. Specifically, the data show the following:    
  • There was no statistically significant change in real U.S. median household income between 2012 and 2013. U.S median household income in 2013 stood at $51,939, an amount 8.0 percent (or $4,497) below pre-recession, 2007 levels (adjusted for inflation).
     
  • The U.S. poverty rate fell to 14.5 percent in 2013, which is lower than the 15.0 percent rate in 2012 and is the first statistically significant decline since 2006. The 2013 rate remains significantly higher than the pre-recession (2007) rate of 12.5 percent.
  • The U.S. poverty rate for children dropped to 19.9 percent in 2013, a decline from 21.8 percent in 2012. This is the first statistically significant decline in the child poverty rate since 2000. Across the country, however, 1 in every 5 children still lived below the poverty line in 2013.
Both short and long term factors have added to the challenges faced by low and moderate income households. In the near term, budget cuts due to sequestration as well as other austerity measures at the federal level during 2013 significantly reduced overall economic growth, likely impacting job and income growth. Over the long term, in a decades old trend, the well-being of working families has become increasingly disconnected from growth of the national economy. While workers' wages rose in lock-step with productivity gains throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, since the late 1970s, wage growth for most U.S. workers has fallen far short of growth in productivity. [See MassBudget's Labor Day release on workers' wages and incomes.]    

The data in today's release provide a useful overview of poverty, income, and health coverage on the national level (using Current Population Survey data), as well as health coverage data at the state level (using American Community Survey data). On Thursday (9/18), the Census Bureau will release additional state-level data from the American Community Survey. When that data is released, MassBudget will provide analysis of changes in income, poverty and child poverty levels in Massachusetts.

The full Census Bureau report is available on their website. Complete analysis of the national trends can be found at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

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15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700
BOSTON, MA 02108
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