Hockomock League boys soccer awards

Franklin senior midfielder Tim LaRowe has been named the third annual HockomockSports.com Boys Soccer Player of the year. LaRowe was also selected as a Hockomock League All Star, EMass All Star and named an All-State player by the EMSCA. 

LaRowe was a big reason why the Panthers were able to claim their fourth straight Hockomock League Kelley-Rex Division title. He scored four goals and had four assists on the season, but his affect on the game went far beyond the stat sheet. 

"Statistics don't really tell the story of how valuable Tim was to our team," Franklin head coach Fran Bositis said. "He was clearly an outstanding leader, someone who his teammates looked up to and responded to. He was like having a coach on the field, he was our organizer offensively and defensively.

Hockomock Sports photo of Tim LaRowe

Hockomock Sports First XI

F - Andrew Allen, King Philip
F - Damian Kozak, Canton
F - Kyle Lameiras, Attleboro
M - Devante Teixeira, Foxboro
M - Tim LaRowe, Franklin
M - Matt Rodrigues, Attleboro
M - Joe Morrison, Foxboro
D - Jeff Melo, Foxboro
D - Ben LaBelle, Franklin
D - Chris Romero, Oliver Ames
G - Jason Ross, Attleboro

The complete listing of awards for Boys Soccer can be found here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/2014-hockomocksportscom-boys-soccer-awards

Blackstone River Theatre - FREE Holiday Craft Fair & Festival Saturday!

THANK YOU! This year's Solstice Fest was our biggest yet... stay tuned for more on the 2015 festival set for June 20th... COMING SOON TO BRT!                     Ongoing   Zumba with April Hilliker on Mondays, 6:30 PM NO CLASSES 12/22 OR 12/29       Saturday, December 6 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. FREE!  7th annual BRT HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR & FESTIVAL 26 artisans and crafters and live continuous music! Sunday, December 7 2 PM and 5 PM shows! BOTH SHOWS ARE COMPLETELY SOLD OUT... THANK YOU!   3rd annual IRISH DANCE CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR featuring TIR NA NOG IRISH DANCE Saturday, Dec. 13, 8 PM AND  Sunday, Dec. 14, 7 PM $18 adv / $20.00 day of show BLACKSTONE RIVER THEATRE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION!   Quick Links... BRT Website     BRT Classes       Directions to BRT Tickets often available at door but to ensure a seat CALL FOR RESERVATIONS 401-725-9272 Please understand that when a show is SOLD OUT, it truly is! We must adhere to fire codes and it truly is not possible to fit "just one more"... especially when we have had several people ask to do the same! If a show at BRT has an advance price & a day-of-show price it means: If you pre-pay OR call in your reservation any time before the show date, you get the advance price. If you show up at the door with no reservations OR call in your reservations on the same day as the show, you will pay the day-of show-price. NOTE for prepaid tickets or if reservations have been made but not pre-paid: If you reduce the number of tickets requested or paid for at the box office on the night of the performance, that ticket must still be paid for! BRT requires 24 hour notice for cancellations or you will be charged for all seats reserved. Dear Steve, What an amazing SOLD OUT Homecoming Concert Saturday... And we are very pleased to say that BOTH SHOWS of the TIR NA NOG IRISH DANCE CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR on this Sunday have already sold out as well! But we have a great event for you this Saturday.... BRT's 7th annual HOLIDAY FAIR AND CRAFT FESTIVAL SHOP LOCALLY AND SUPPORT BLACKSTONE RIVER THEATRE WHILE YOU DO IT... and it is FREE. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook to get late-breaking news and really expensive gifts. Well, not that last one but definitely the first part... Please share what we do with your friends! www.facebook.com/pages/Blackstone-River-Theatre/165592431396    Hope to see you soon... Russell Gusetti, Executive Director   Blackstone River Theatre's 7th annual CRAFT FAIR AND HOLIDAY FESTIVAL Blackstone River Theatre invites YOU to our 7th annual Craft Fair and Holiday Festival. Please come out and support BRT programming as well as area craft vendors, artisans and home-based businesses while you do your holiday shopping locally! We will have 26 vendors on site and the event will also feature continuous live music by members of Pendragon, The Broad Street Fiddlers, and The Swamp Meadow Victorian Carolers plus raffle prizes, a bake sale table, refreshments and more. Door prizes will be raffled off from each vendor with the raffle proceeds to benefit BRT's programming. Think out of the box (store!)   Event Info Saturday, December 6, 9:00 A.M. to 3 P.M. FREE EVENT! at Blackstone River Theatre 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, R.I.  www.riverfolk.org BOTH SHOWS ALREADY SOLD OUT! IRISH DANCE CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR     Event Info Sunday, December 7, 2 P.M. and 5 P.M. BOTH SHOWS ALREADY SOLD OUT! at Blackstone River Theatre 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, R.I.  www.riverfolk.org BLACKSTONE RIVER THEATRE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Blackstone River Theatre will present our 7th annual Christmas Celebration featuring Aubrey Atwater, Erika Damiani, Elwood Donnelly, Bob Drouin, Kevin Doyle, Russell Gusetti, Josh Kane, The Miller Family, Mary Lee Partington, Torrin Ryan, and the Swamp Meadow Victorian Carolers. Audiences can expect the unexpected - familiar and unfamiliar songs, high energy clogging and step dancing, ancient carols, spoken word, jokes and more - as musicians and dancers perform in varied combinations or join together on beautiful Christmas and winter-themed pieces.   Event Info Saturday, December 13, 8 P.M. AND Sunday, December 14, 7:00 P.M. $18.00 advance / $20.00 day of show Sponsored in part by Navigant Credit Union at Blackstone River Theatre 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, R.I. Call 401-725-9272 for reservations  www.riverfolk.org

Forward email to a friend! Blackstone River Theatre | 549 Broad Street | Cumberland | RI | 02864

Jane's Frames Events - Holiday Stroll - Dec4

Holiday Stroll Downtown Franklin Dec 4, 2014, 4pm - 7 pm Dear Steve, Stop in to Jane's Frames during the   Holiday Stroll Thursday, 4- 8 pm Meet Ann Williams of Pour Richards Wine & Spirits while you enjoy some sampling from her line, stick around to listen to Jamie Barrett performing from 6pm-7pm.       See the new line of Gifts and Home Decor, including Puzzles, Jewelry, Greeting Cards, Handmade Table Runners, unique clocks, Original Artwork and more.        Check out the Special Pricing on prints as we offer some fantastic deals beginning at $2.00!!      We are looking forward to seeing you! Sincerely, Jane Curran Jane's Frames

Forward this email Jane's Frames | 11 East Central Street | Franklin | MA | 02038

In the News: Holiday Stroll, funding OPEB

A Holiday Stroll will kick off Thursday evening at Dean College with carolers providing the festive background music for a tree-lighting ceremony. 

The ceremony starts at 4 p.m. on the Dean College campus, 99 Main St., with the historic Dean Hall serving as the backdrop. The stroll then moves into the downtown, where more than 30 local businesses will provide entertainment, food and shopping until 7 p.m. for the hundreds of revelers expected to attend the Franklin Downtown Partnership annual event. 

“The Holiday Stroll is a unique event that we feel really showcases our businesses," said organizer Gregg Chalk. "Our merchants stay open late and invite everyone inside. It’s a great opportunity to discover new businesses and have one-on-one conversations with business owners."

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News here (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20141204/NEWS/141208603/1994/NEWS

In recent years, Franklin and towns throughout the state have made it a mandate to put away more money for other post-employment benefits, also known as OPEB, which consists mostly of retiree health insurance. 

Franklin has an $89 million unfunded liability that is continuing to grow. To date, town officials have saved about $1.2 million in a stabilization account, but the creation of a trust would give them more options to invest the money in hopes of shrinking the liability. 

"If you establish a trust, you are allowed by law to invest in a much broader way, including equities," said Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting. "This is happening across the commonwealth." 

The trust will be made up of five members, including Nutting and two residents appointed by the council.

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News here (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20141204/NEWS/141208523/1994/NEWS

Live reporting: Legislation and closing

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Economic Development Committee did look at the RFP responses for the Pond St facility
one submittal came in late and was disqualified


J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 14-84: Approval of Amendment to Solid Waste Disposal Contract
motion to approve, second, passed 5-0

negotiation of tip fee reduction from ~74 to ~64
will allow for avoiding a raise in the trash fees in the future
the other communities need to agree, the big one needed is Worcester
taking advantage of timing with the market

2. Resolution 14-85: Acceptance of Gift – Council on Aging
motion to approve, second, passed 5-0


3. Resolution 14-86: Approval and Adoption of OPEB Trust Agreement
motion to approve, second, passed 5-0

establishment of the trust could allow for a broader range of investment choices with higher return rates
5 members, Town Administrator, Comptroller, School Business Administrator and two citizens appointed by the Council
The Treasurer will invest the funds and report to the trust on the performance

Pfeffer - only one community has funded this (Wellseley)
I fear that the State would some how come along and say they'll fund it in some way and gather up the fund as they exist around the communities

Nutting - I look at that differently, the legislature needs to change the law for the future employees
not only are people living longer but health control costs are going up
this is a benefit that needs to fade into history
the problem is going to get bigger and bigger, this is a step to stem the tide


K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Introduce Judy Lezard,

Reminder on the Holiday Stroll Thursday 4:00

Thanks to the DPW and Chairman Vallee for the lights on the Common, additional trees added this year

The "All call for missing persons" was a success, they found the person walking on 495

Budgets being put together by dept heads and we'll get into budget season soon


L. OLD BUSINESS
none

M. NEW BUSINESS
none

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mercer, the lights on the common look fantastic

P. ADJOURN

Live reporting: Franklin TV

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
Back Bay Restaurant Group TR, LLC dba Joe’s American Bar and Grill – Change of Manager
motion to approve, seconded, passed 5-0


H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
- Cable TV

Ken Norman, Peter Fasciano





You can find out more about Franklin TV on their webpage  http://franklin.tv/

old studio at Depot Plaza was 600 sq ft
the new studio located at 23 Hutchinson St is

added a second ADA ramp to make it more accessible

community room available to other non-profits

kitchen built into the facility is designed for TV so it can broadcast a cooking show for example

small studio and larger studio available

everything produced is now high-definition

fiber connections between the municipal building and Hutchinson St

donated $164,000 to equip the new studio at the High School

operating about $23K per month

2011 did 197 locally produced programs, \last year (2013) there were 423 programs

Franklin TV provides all the resources for technical and production
compared to regular public access charters

everyone has a right to high quality programming

40-50% of the day is devoted to community bulletin board messages

looking to upgrade the Council Chamber to HDTV as well as upgrade the streaming service

construct a new FM radio station (obtained a low band license last year)

WFPR.FM 102.9
coverage in Franklin and A grade coverage for 10 miles around

Nutting:
a public service video is in development to tout Franklin's highlights
negotiate the renewal with Verizon

Fasciano
if they site the tower during the summer, could be online by the Fall 2015

we have an obligation to provide a minimum of 8 hours of local program daily, while broadcasting 24 hours we should exceed the minimum

Norman
if cable subscribers leave Comcast or Verizon, it is a concern for out future funding

Mercer
thanks to you for all you have done to help with the High School

Fasciano
the larger studio is two story, events can be staged that couldn't be done in the 'normal' studios
allows to work in multiple studios

looking forward to working on the kitchen to develop cooking programs

Mass General Hospital has a legacy grant to produce a series, so looking at other sources of revenue that could be using the studio and equipment

the radio station could be a good source of info during future emergency situations

Live reporting: Town Council - Dec 3, 2014

Present: Padu;a, Mercer, Vallee, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Williams
Absent:  Kelly, Feldman


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
October 1, 2014; October 15, 2014; November 5, 2014; November 19, 2014

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin Matters.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
none

E. APPOINTMENTS
Council on Aging -

David M. Cargill
motion to approve, seconded, passed 5-0
Lester Quan
motion to approve, seconded, passed 5-0

F. HEARINGS
none