Franklin Library: Book Sale Mar 21 - 22

This is the weekend for the Library Book Sale. The standard schedule applies; books for sale on Saturday from 9:00 - 4:00 PM. Books by the bag for sale on Sunday from 9:00 AM to noon.

Music by Betty Kushner from 9:00 to 10:00 AM on Saturday to help set the book buying spirit!

Library Book Sale - Mar 21 - 22

This was shared from the Franklin Library page here
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/03/dont-miss-library-book-sale.html

Franklin Art Association - Monthly Meeting - April 1

The Franklin Art Association will meet Wednesday, April, 1st, from 6:30 -9:00 pm at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street. 

Refreshments and socialization will begin at 6:30. The program will feature an oil stick demonstration presented by artist Carol Letvin. 

Meetings are free and opened to the public 

For more information, please visit our web site at www.franklinart.org and www.facebook.com/FranklinArtAssoc

Franklin Senior Center - how much snow will have melted by April 1?

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"Communication goes a long way"

As mentioned  in the FY 2016 update at the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Franklin and the fire fighters union are waiting on a decision from the arbitrator.

Union president Bob Donovan said Thursday that an arbitration award was expected this month, but the panel has likely delayed its decision to April. 

When the award arrives, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said it will take time to figure out the financial implications for the town's budget. 

"This goes back four years," Nutting said Thursday. "You have to go employee by employee, year by year, to get a total. That’s not an easy task." 

The timing of the award creates an additional strain on the town, he said, because it is preparing to begin collective bargaining with the eight other unions.

Continue reading the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150320/NEWS/150329600/1994/NEWS 

The latest from Mass Poetry

Poetry on the T Contest open for voting; Festival poet Stephen Burt; Workshops at the festival; Poem of the Moment; Charles Simic at Peabody Institute Library; U35 next Tuesday; Coming up on our statewide calendar; and more View this email in your browser Cast your vote! Public voting for our Poetry on the T Contest is open. Our Poetry Partners have helped us narrow down hundreds of Poetry on the T Contest entries and we have 15 wonderful finalists awaiting your votes. Which poems do you want to see on the T in May? Cast your vote by next Thursday, March 26 at 8 a.m. Winning poems debut on the T May 4. Festival Poet Stephen Burt: Suburbia Seasoned with Unease by Jacquelyn Malone Here are poems about babies and children, about shopping and Subarus, about the wedding of friends and the occasions of suburbia. The tenderness with which he views life in the town of Belmont, Massachusetts is both unexpected and captivating. And yet these poems about the commonplace of our lives are offset by a deep unease with both what is and the alternatives to what is. Continue reading. Festival Spotlight   Workshops galore! Everyone loves a good workshop, and at this year's festival, we've got 19 workshops on the docket.  How do the workshops work? A button to attend the festival readings and panels for all three days is $15, but if you are interested in attending workshops, there is an additional $10 flat fee. For that $10, you can take as many workshops as you like. We highly suggest you register for the workshops of your choice ASAP by creating a profile on our site and adding the session to your calendar. In workshops, seats are reserved for those who have registered. If the workshop registration is full, you'll be placed onto a waitlist. We also suggest that on the day of the workshop, even if you weren't able to register, you come to the door to see if you can get in. Sometimes people who register don't make it, and about five minutes after the session has started, those spots are fair game. Poem of the Moment Alan Albert: Essay on a Son I had this in a dream: Tom will marry once. He will have two children and be happy in his marriage and it will be a long one. This will come from me, his father, though I did not marry once and have a long and happy marriage. He will have children and be a good father. With his beloved wife he will have Continue reading. Getting to Know Karina Borowicz and Her New Book Proof Available now from Amazon.com  "Poems often come from something I've witnessed, read, or experienced. It's not an intellectual process for me, however. I like to say that something has to cease being an idea in my head and become a feeling in my gut before it becomes a poem." Continue reading. Next Tuesday March 24, 7 p.m. The Marliave Restaurant, Boston RSVP & Share U35 on Facebook. Featuring David DiSarro, Richard Shideler, and Denise Warren. Each poet will read for 15 minutes, with short breaks in between for mingling, drink refreshments, and food orders! David DiSarro From "I Used to Play In Bands" "The crowd, unaware, thinned, pushed through carved doors out into the chorus of sirens and car horns, and necked beneath the neon," Richard Shideler From "Note on a coffee table" "if I ever tell you I'm planning to move back, talk me out of it. My overcoat is underused and my trenchcoat has never seen the trenches." Denise Warren From "Please Take Care When Eating A Kiwi" "In the skin of the kiwi I have found four pinholes. I have found a child climbing high in a tree, a string quartet, a bicycle." Experiencing Poetry, This Time with Charles Simic: Peabody Institute Library by Kelley Rae Unger Opportunities to experience poetry are sought after by many, and the Peabody Institute Library strives to create opportunities for community members to do just that. Through writing workshops, discussion groups, classes, and author visits, the library reaches out to the poetry community of the North Shore, offering multiple events each year all free to the public. Continue reading. Coming up on our statewide poetry calendar: Tonight (Thursday, March 19) The 15th Annual Robert Creeley Award Night Andrea Cohen & Danielle Jones-Pruett Reading Saturday, March 21 Wake Up and Smell the Poetry Calliope Poetry Series, 'The Music of Syntax' Got Poetry? Open Mic Series Poesy Magazine 40th Issue Celebratory Reading Sunday, March 22 Love, Poetry, and the Things of the World More Money Than God - Publication Party Tuesday, March 24 U35 Reading Series John Hodgen and Fred Marchant Reading at Assumption College Reading: Martha Collins and Jeffrey Harrison Stephen Mitchell Poetry Reading Wednesday, March 25 Speak Up Spoken Word Open Mic On March 25, Mass Poetry is partnering with MASSCreative for Arts Matter Advocacy Day, to show our state political leaders that arts matter in Massachusetts. Beginning at the Citi Wang Theatre in downtown Boston, Arts Matter Advocacy Day will bring together the statewide creative community for a half-day event, featuring speakers, performers, connecting with colleagues, and an "Arts Matter March" to the State House to meet with our legislators. RSVP to attend Arts Matter Advocacy Day. Visit these presses and orgs at the Small Press Fair: Adastra Press • Bottle Rocket Press • Hedgerow Books • Human Error Publishing • Journal of the Month • Mock Orange Magazine • Perugia Press • Salamander • Slate Roof Press • Swamp Press • Tuesday: An Art Project • Tupelo Press • Zephyr Press Interested in having a table? Sign up or contact M.P. Carver at mp@masspoetry.org. The ad deadline for the festival program book is Sunday, March 22. Check out rates and book your ad space now! Partners & Small Press Fair exhibitors, ask about your discount when booking. Statewide Poetry Calendar • Participate • New Books by Massachusetts Poets • Massachusetts Poet Database • Poetry Partners • Sponsorship Opportunities

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Zoning Board of Appeals - March 19 - Agenda item on 280 unit apartment complex

via the network:


"Recently it was found out that a developer has gone before the Franklin Zoning Board of Appeals to obtain a permit to build a 280 unit apartment building at 1330-1342 West Central Street. This enormous complex would be next to (and sort of in front of) where Pump It Up used to be. While it is inevitable that the parcels will be developed at some point, to build something of this scale will only make the existing - and significant - traffic issues worse. 

In fact, Franklin's own report lists 1376 West Central Street as one of the top 20 locations for the highest number of vehicle crashes. (page 6, http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/masterplandoc/docs/elements/C.pdf)

West Central Development

Here are photos of the proposed complex. The yellow highlighted area is what the complex will encompass. The photo has been edited, an orange arrow and the text "Garelick Farms" was added on the right side of the photo.



Help is needed to get this project scaled down to a reasonable size. 

Please attend the next Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on Thursday, March 19, and please pass this info on to others."



Note the agenda for the 2/26/15 ZBA meeting shows:

DUE TO LACK OF QUORUM – AGENDA HAS BEEN CONTINUED TO MARCH 19, 2015


2/26/15 agenda doc

3/19/15 agenda doc

FHS has three on the wrestling All Star Team

The Hockomock League coaches have announced their all stars for wrestling per the posting from Hockomock Sports. We can share the FHS representatives are

FHS Panthers

Mike Coppola	Franklin	120
Dan Pisani	Franklin	126

And for honorable mention -> Pat Glynn, Franklin (132)

All the Hockomock League wrestling All Stars can be found here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/the-2015-hockomock-league-wrestling-all-stars

The Music Man continues its run at THE BLACK BOX

The musical theater classic, The Music Man, continues its run at THE BLACK BOX in downtown Franklin this weekend. Franklin Performing Arts Company’s production of the Broadway charmer opened on March 13 and concludes with three additional performances on March 21 and 22. Saturday’s shows will be staged at 2 and 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday matinee at 2. With small-town spirit, con-man-makes-good plot, and toe-tapping score, the six-time Tony Award winner woos audiences of all ages.

“It’s my favorite show!” said Director Raye Lynn Mercer. “The humor is so honest. It’s charming and so well written.”

With book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, The Music Man showcases an all-American score that captivates with gorgeous ballads, rousing marches, nostalgic barbershop harmonies, and such cherished standards as “Ya Got Trouble,” “Seventy-six Trombones,” and “Till There Was You.”

“Those elements – the barbershop quartet, the marches – are real crowd pleasers,” noted Mercer.

The Music Man - at THE BLACK BOX Theater

The musical theater classic follows fast-talking salesman Harold Hill as he attempts to bamboozle the townspeople of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a marching band. But Hill’s scheme begins to unravel when he falls for Marian the librarian and must choose between the promise of romance and a quick getaway.

Under Mercer’s direction, FPAC’s production makes creative use of THE BLACK BOX’s open floor plan, with staging that mixes a traditional proscenium format with the intimacy and flexibility of the venue’s space. The aisles lead into the center of River City, bringing the audience into this iconic small town. The theater’s 360-degree catwalk provides a dramatic platform to feature the production’s professional orchestra, conducted by Boston’s Peter Cokkinias.

The Music Man spotlights the talents of 50 lead, featured and ensemble cast members, with Franklin’s Nick Paone and Hallie Wetzell in the starring roles of Harold Hill and Marian Paroo. A prolific FPAC performer and director, the versatile Paone most recently appeared as Captain Hook in Peter Pan, Scrooge in Humbug!, Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker, and was creatively cast as Miss Hannigan in Annie. Nick is the founder and creative force behind FPAC’s annual summer Whatever Theater Festival. FPAC Vocal Director Hallie Wetzell is also Vocal Director at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA), where she oversees the Pro Voice program, teaches private vocal instruction, and music directs all ensembles, including the international touring group, Electric Youth. A classically trained soprano with master’s degrees in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from the New England Conservatory of Music, Hallie is a veteran FPAC performer as well.

The Music Man cast showcases well-known local talent, including Jamie Barrett, popular Franklin music teacher, singer-songwriter, and guitarist. Barrett is featured in the musical’s famed barbershop quartet, along with Ed Milham of Attleboro, Graham Hancock of Franklin and Brian Steiner of Millis.

From 10 area towns, cast members also include Madi Asgeirsson, Janene Asgeirsson Jason Barney, Lily Barney, Aidan Clark, Brooke Collins, Devin Curley, Christine DiMartino, Mia Fleischer, Aaron Frongillo, Brandon Hancock, Graham Hancock, Kelly Irwin, Ed Jones, Jocelyn Jones, Wendy Jones, Greg Leach, Sydney Leach, Shauna Martin, Tatiana McAlpine, Caroline Merten, Debra Packard, Shane Packard, Chuck Peters, Guy Rezendes, Hannah Rezendes, Kim Rezendes, Madison Rezendes, Katharine Waples, Michele Webster, Amanda Wylie, Melissa Wyner and Peter Wyner of Franklin; Colie Vancura of Medfield; Alan Mercer and Maddy Williams of Medway; Zoe Stewart of Mendon; Katie Gray of Milford; Bob Matson of Millis; Susauna Wickstrom of Plainville; Laine DiMartinis, Mairead Nee and Griffin Wilkins of Walpole; Kellie Stamp of Westport; and Jenna McDermott of Wrentham.

FPAC’s commitment to youth development in the arts is reflected by the casting of 30 children and teens in this production, working collaboratively with the musical’s adult professional and community performers. Founded in 1991, the nonprofit FPAC supports educational arts experiences, quality entertainment and outstanding performance opportunities, drawing performers and audiences from more than 100 communities throughout the region.

THE BLACK BOX, FPAC’s new home and performance venue, is located at 15 West Central Street. Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation is the Premier Sponsor for FPAC’s production of The Music Man. Tickets are $34. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or call (508) 528-3370.

HipHarp at Circle of Friends Coffeehouse - April 25

HipHarp at The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse!

DATE/TIME:

Saturday, April 25 - 8:00pm-10:00pm

Deborah Hanson-Conant

DESCRIPTION:

"HipHarpist" Deborah Henson-Conant (DHC) is returning to one of the best Coffeehouse in the country, 'Circle of Friends Coffeehouse' at the Universalist Society Meeting House in Franklin, MA.

DHC is a Grammy-Nominated performer, composer and probably the world's most eclectic harp player.  She performs as soloist with symphonies and in her one-women shows and concerts world wide - and has made her home in the Boston area for the past 30 years.  She dragged her 6-foot concert harp into a Cambridge jazz club in the early 80's and started a career that includes a slew of awards, touring as a soloist with the Boston Pops, and as a band member with guitar legend Steve Vai, her own music special on PBS, and shows throughout the US and Europe. 

Along the way, DHC invented the wearable 32-string electric harp she plays, that's now designed for her by the French CAMAC company, and is the top-selling electric harness harp in the world.

What is her show like? Stories, humor, and music from Blues to Flamenco with sounds you never thought could come from a harp.

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is known as the "finest church coffeehouse in the country." It's like a visit to a 60's coffeehouse, BUT, with a modern sound system. Intimate. Funky. Fun. Franklin, MA  is equidistant from Boston, Providence and Worcester on 495, about 25 miles southwest of Boston.

LOCATION:

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse at the Universalist Society Meeting House
262 Chestnut Street
Franklin, MA, 02038
508-528-2541
http://www.circlefolk.org/

COST/TICKETS/REGISTRATION:

$25.
http://www.circlefolk.org/sched.html

MORE INFO:

Website: http://www.circlefolk.org/sched.html
Email:   circlefolk@gmail.com

Calling All Runners: WGBH 5K

View on Mobile or Web page

SATURDAY, APR. 11, 11AM, DCR ARTESANI PARK, BRIGHTON, MA WGBH 5K: Run for Public Media Shake off the winter blues, and sprint into spring alongside fellow WGBH supporters. We're excited to announce that WGBH's inaugural 5K road race will be held Saturday, April 11 at 11am. Our USATF-certified course travels through Artesani Park in Brighton and around the scenic Charles River. Space is limited, so reserve your bib number today. Register now, or learn more about the race. See you at the starting line!

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Live reporting: Legislation through to closing

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
none

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

1. Resolution 15-10-Order of Layout, Acceptance, and Taking of Lenox Drive, Berkshire Drive, and Symphony Drive and related Drainage Lot and Easement

motion to accept, seconded, passed 9-0 

2. Resolution 15-11-Order of Layout, Acceptance, and Taking of Windsor Circle and Related Drainage Lot and Easement

motion to accept, seconded, passed 9-0 

3. Resolution 15-12- Acceptance of Gift-Town of Franklin Police Department

motion to accept, seconded, passed 9-0 

4. Bylaw Amendment 15-746: Chapter 181, Wetlands Protection – 1st Reading

mirrors bylaw with other sections, to ensure some cost recovery
motion to move to 2nd reading, seconded, passed 9-0 


K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
right now, about $500K over budget, also want to make sure the salt barns are full

thanks to Lacrosse and soccer leagues who donated money to help clear the fields (turf field)

high school turf field came in at $839,000
had been projected at about $1M to 1.1M


L. OLD BUSINESS
none


M. NEW BUSINESS
Mr Lipit, title issue raised by DPW
town meeting notes authorized drainage work on the road but not much documented, lot built on private lot and probably shouldn;t have been
town employees stepped up at the time to help with a private matter
water would be taken from a pump station to elsewhere

property has had the benefit of the town maintaining it for 45 years

nothing, easement is only the right to do something for a public benefit
that doesn't resolve anything here; it is only the ground or surface water on the property

the first thing we do is look back to the developer for a remedy, why the town got involved I don't know

Kelly - we have established intent

pipe going through multiple properties to a town storm drain

Kelly - can't we work it out?
Nutting -  we are stuck between a rock and a hard place
I have no problem taking a second look, I'll leave it at that

Lipit - I can't afford to maintain it, if it fails, and my neighbor sues me, I am not in a position to do it

Cerel - there is no liability from a permit, it is a flood plan, it is not buildable
how it got permitted for septic given the typography I don't know

Lipit - I am the second owner

Nutting - the town had no right spending money to support the private matter, is there a way to resolve it, I don't know

Bissanti - isn't this something we can find a way
Cerel - we are constrained, if we did something wrongfully 40+ years ago, doesn't mean we can

Pfeffer - we are city who calls itself a town, people who stepped in then and it was the right thing to do, everybody down there is going to be flooded unless we did something

Cerel - there may be other situations like this out there, what you do here may have repercussions

Pfeffer - can we get dsignated as a "purple heart' town

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

Padula - thanks to the DPW for a response on a frozen water line for a rental property

Kelly - a quick comment on Gus and his staff, they are always with a smile and willing to help, you don't always get that from town halls, but here especially in the building dept.

Feldman - an update on the Franklin Solar Challenge, new logo by David Mann

Pfeffer - Dean College is sponsoring a series of lectures at the Senior Center in honor of Stella Jean

Open House Algonquin pipeline at Keller/Sullivan the other night, the most polished entity. It was the scariest thing I have ever been through, they made sure your answers 

Nutting - reading at Davis Thayer, it is a great time


O EXECUTIVE SESSION 
– To consider purchase of real property (unimproved land)
motion to go to executive session, seconded, passed 9-0 (via roll call)

Live reporting: Presentations

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

• FY 16 Budget

Jeff Nutting, apparently the charter school enrollment is incorrect which should help the budget forecasted as the proper numbers roll through

Awaiting the fire fighters arbitration award

Once the last numbers come in, will go through the process, beginning with the Finance Committee

• Gus Brown - Building Commissioner

3 years as building commissioner

review and process residential and commercial permit applications

interpret and enforce zoning

totals of permits on one slide (hopefully will be posted later)

140 unit at Chestnut Ridge under construction

Starbucks and 3 other businesses in the one building

picture of a fire inspection: due to the sheet rock in the garage, the fire stayed in the garage and did not enter the building

there are no unregistered cars allowed unless you are a registered dealer

State offering a program to help manage abandoned homes

the property can be repaired through a court ordered receiver process

136 Chestut St - part of the Affordable Housing Trust

15 Beaver Court - being constructed by students at Tri-County

the framing was done at the school, moved to the site and now the working to complete the house is being done inplace on site

housing zoning starts with Building Commissioner and gets routed through to the Zoning Board of Appeals

Q - on solar panels

A - recent surge, checking for the ability of the roof to support the solar panels especially with snow

Q - what is the outlook on permits

A - it has evened out, several projects on Grove St are coming along

a tenate will potentially use the section of the building wil use the rail connection

Q - Pfeffer - kudos to Gus for working with the Housing Trust

Q - Padula - are the students taking it through to the finish?

A - yes, Glenn Jones is working on the electrical and is doing a great job. If you get a chance to see the kids operating, it is a joy to watch

Q - Bissanti - as far as the vacant homes, are you getting this money?

A - yes, we are. You are not dealing with the home owner, you are dealing with the other entity and they sometimes think that you are trying to buy the home. we don't want to. We want to kept up to keep up the neighborhood.

Q - are you collecting the fees?

A - yes, we are. With out this being in place, they could fly under the radar, now that can't hide.

Q - Dellorco - are we going to have other projects for Tri-County?

A - yes, but we are inline, other towns are seeing what is being done by the students and they want some of that too!

Nutting - I get so many comments about the professional courtesy of he and his staff

Gus - you can't put a price tag on having Mark here to answer questions