FPAC - “My Violin Journey” Sunday, February 22

Franklin Performing Arts Company’s annual, free Family Concert Series continues this season with “My Violin Journey” on Sunday, February 22 at 1 p.m., featuring violinist Irina Fainkichen, with piano accompaniment by Kitty Cheung Evans. The performance will take place at THE BLACK BOX, FPAC’s new theater, music and event venue located at 15 West Central Street in downtown Franklin. 

violinist Irina Fainkichen

Family Concert Series events are especially geared to children in length and format and provide young audiences with a fun introduction to the world of live music. The performances feature talented, professional musicians and present music of many genres in an entertaining and interactive way. Audience participation is encouraged.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Irina Fainkichen received degrees from Rachmaninoff Music College, St. Petersburg State Conservatory, Russia, and Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, Israel. She is a busy freelance violinist in the Greater Boston area. Irina was concertmaster of San Francisco’s Russian Chamber Orchestra for many years, appearing as soloist numerous times. Currently, she is a member of Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, assistant concertmaster of Brockton Symphony Orchestra, and a co-founder of “Flying Hearts” duo, which performs in a number of musical genres including Jazz, Klezmer, and classic American tunes.

For the FPAC Family Concert Series program, Irina has chosen songs that have significance from her early childhood. These include works by Mozart and Beethoven, pieces that Irina first played at the age of 5 and that she now likes to teach to her own violin students. Additionally, Irina will perform two pieces, Weber’s “Hunter’s Chorus” and Baklanova’s “Mazurka,” that she played at her first public performance at age 6, and F. Schubert’s “The Bee,” which she performed at age 10 for her first national TV appearance. The program will also include “At the Zoo,” by Cofalik and Twardowski, among the many engaging and accessible pieces of repertoire by noted composers.

A treasured FPAC tradition for more than two decades, FPAC’s Family Concert Series concludes on April 12 with Alice in Wonderland, an opera for children featuring sopranos Mariko Matsumura and Shauna Martin. FPAC’s 2015 Family Concert Series is sponsored by Berry Insurance. A distinctive, non-profit arts organization founded in 1991, FPAC presents quality performances with a focus on youth development and live music, while offering opportunities for professional artists, community performers and students of the arts to work together in a collaborative and creative environment. For more information, call (508) 528-3370 or visit www.fpaconline.com and www.theblackboxonline.com.

Religious School Open House - Mar 15, May 3

Temple Etz Chaim, Franklin, is hosting two Religious School Open House events. Families interested in Religious School for their school-aged children from Pre-K through High School are welcome to join us Sunday, March 15, 2015 or Sunday, May 3, 2015 from 9:15 to 11:00 am at the Medway High School, 88 Summer Street, Medway. 

Each event will include a tour of the school and participation in the activities of the day, opportunities to meet with the Rabbi, the Education Director and representatives from the Membership Committee as well as time for coffee and schmoozing with temple families. 

There is no cost for attending. RSVP by email to Hana Berman at directorofeducation@temple-etzchaim.org or call the temple office (508) 528-5337 to RSVP or for additional information.

screen grab of Temple Etz Chaim webpage

For additional information on the Temple Etz Chaim, please visit their webpage
http://www.temple-etzchaim.org/

MBTA: Commuter Rail schedule change for Presidents' Day

All Commuter Rail lines will operate on a Saturday schedule on Monday, February 16. Commuter Rail service is expected to have delays due to switch and signal issues and mechanical issues with locomotives. Cancelled train trips are also likely. -------- Limited Rail and Bus service will be available on Presidents' Day, Monday, February 16. Details are available at www.mbta.com/winter. Photo of commuter rail train leaving Franklin Dean Station Last updated: Feb 15 2015 07:11 PM Sent by the MBTA.

FM #109 - The Delegate Ladybug Lands in Franklin

The Franklin Delegate ladybug landed on Tuesday, Feb 10th. There was a brief ceremony to acknowledge the landing. Claire Griffin and Kai Olsson of the Franklin Cultural Committee kick off the event.

Franklin delegates to Beacon Hill: Senator Karen Spilka, Representative Jeff Roy and Senator Richard Ross each take a turn to acknowledge this event.

As the recording ends, the group is gathering for a photo. The photos from the event have been posted to Flickr and Facebook for you to view and enjoy.

Listen here:

The Delegate Ladybug

Claire Griffin and Kai Olsson of the Franklin Cultural Council

Left to right: Sen Ross, Rep Roy, Sen Spilka and Delegate Ladybug

Rep Roy speaking about the Ladybug story

Session Notes: - FM #109

The Franklin Delegate ladybug landed on Tuesday, Feb 10th. There was a brief ceremony to acknowledge the landing. Claire Griffin and Kai Olsson of the Franklin Cultural Committee kick off the event.

Franklin delegates to Beacon Hill: Senator Karen Spilka, Representative Jeff Roy and Senator Richard Ross each take a turn to acknowledge this event.

As the recording ends, the group is gathering for a photo. The photos from the event have been posted to Flickr and Facebook for you to view and enjoy.

What was the ladybug project and how did this ladybug land here?

Claire and Beth Simon spearheaded the Ladybug Committee to obtain the 25 ladybugs, solicit sponsors and artists for each of them, coordinate their showing on the Town Common in August, and at the Harvest Festival in October.

The delegate ladybug will now be on display at the Municipal Building to remind us of the story of the ladybug being selected as the state bug for MA.

Money from the fundraising portion of this community art project will be used eventually for a fitting memorial for Palma Johnson, the Kennedy School teacher whose class developed the proposal and successfully petitioned to the State 40 years ago.

This was quite an accomplishment 40 years ago, and equally a good accomplishment during 2014 for the Ladybug project.

Without further ado, here is the recording of the brief ceremony on Tuesday, Feb 10, 2015 at the Franklin Municipal Building.

(recording)

----

As I close this special session, let me remind you that

• If you like what I am doing here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don’t like something, please tell me

It is through this feedback loop that you can help me improve the information I provide for you.

Thank you for listening!

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark and Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission

I hope you enjoy!

You can also subscribe and listen to the audio on iTunes = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes

Related links:

• The Ladybug story can be found on the Kennedy School webpage

http://kennedyelementary.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinKennedy_Webdocs/ladybugstory

• Copies of the Ladybug story are also available from the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s page

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/ciskid/kidlbs/lbsidx2.htm

• The collection of photos of the ladybugs from the showing on the Town Common in August 2014 can be found here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157645935226828/

• The same collection of photos can also be found on Facebook here

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150410611444995.1073741875.173205529994&type=3

Clebrating Presidents' Day in MA

If the weather cooperates, something from this list of historic sites provided by MA.GOV would be good to take in on Presidents' Day. Adams National Park and the Coolidge Library are still on my own list of places to visit.

I have visited the Kennedy Library a couple of times and there is always something to learn there.

quote from President Kennedy's 1st Inaugural Address

"All of this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in the our lifetime on this planet. But let it begin."

The recent record-breaking snowfall has affected hours of operation and parking availability for many of these sites. Make sure to call ahead before visiting.

• Take a tour of the Adams National Historical Park and explore the birthplace of our second and sixth U.S. presidents, John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams. The Adams National Historic Park includes a visitor center, a bookstore, a short film, a trolley ride, and tours of each president’s birthplace.
  • Located in Quincy, the park grounds are open year-round and the historic homes reopen this season on April 19. The Visitor Center is open year-round Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except for federal holidays.
  • Admission is $5 for adults. Children 16 and under can explore for free.

• Visit the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and learn about the life of our 35th president. Although the main exhibit halls are closed for renovations until mid-March, the special exhibit “To the Brink: JFK and the Cuban Missile Crisis” is currently open to the public.
  • The museum is located on Boston’s waterfront and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, and $10 for veterans and teenagers 13 to 17. Museum members, active duty servicemembers, and children 12 and under are admitted for free.

• Explore the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum, which was established in 1920 and houses a large collection of artifacts and exhibits that tells the story of our 30th president’s life.
  • The Coolidge research library and museum are located in the Forbes Library in Northampton.
  • Museum hours When planning a visit, contact the library by phone at (413) 587-1014 or via email atcoolidge@forbeslibrary.org for additional information.

Make this Presidents’ Day fun-filled and educational. Join Massachusetts as we remember and honor our past presidents, who helped shape our great nation under their leadership.

Shared from the MA GOV page here

http://blog.mass.gov/blog/history/celebrating-presidents-day-in-massachusetts/

FHS Wrestling finishes Second in D1 Central meet

From Hockomock Sports we can share the results of the D1 Central Wrestling sectional meet where Franklin finished second!

FHS Panthers

D1 Central
Team Rankings
2. Franklin 184.5

106
2. Mike Racca, Franklin

113
2. Nick Narducci, Franklin

120
1. Mike Copolla, Franklin

126
1. Dan Pisani, Franklin

132
3. Pat Glynn, Franklin

145
6. Nate Bakalars, Franklin

160
1. Bilal Khan, Franklin

285
2. John Miller, Franklin


For the results of the other Hockomock teams in D2 South follow this link
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/miaa-wrestling-sectionals-hockomock-results

Franklin Library: Liquid Nitrogen Demonstrations

School vacation week, what to do with the kids? Check out the library. In addition to plenty of books there are events scheduled almost every day.

Chris Towle will perform some liquid nitrogen demonstrations on Tuesday at 1:00 PM. Good for kids K and older.

Liquid nitrogen demonstrations scheduled for Tuesday at 1:00 PM

This was shared from the Franklin Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/02/liquid-nitrogen-demonstrations.html