Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Franklin Kindergarten Registration NEXT WEEK!


The Franklin Public Schools announces
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION!

April 13th      4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
April 15th      4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Horace Mann Middle School – Cafeteria
224 Oak Street, Franklin

Oak St and Horace Mann building entrances
Oak St (left door) and Horace Mann (right door) building entrances

Children who will be 5 years-old on or before August 31, 2015 are eligible to attend kindergarten during the 2015-16 school year. 

Parents or guardians should plan to attend one of the two registration sessions, however children need not attend

Required forms as well as additional information can be found on the ECDC website http://franklinecdc.vt-s.net/pages/index  or by contacting Kelty Kelley, ECDC Principal @ 508 541-8166 or kelleyk@franklin.k12.ma.us.


Kelty Kelley, Principal
F. X. O'Regan Early Childhood Development Center
224 Oak Street
Franklin, MA 02038
Phone:  508-541-8166
Fax:            508-541-8254

"There is no hand so small that it cannot leave an imprint on the world!" Klub Kidz

Opera for Kids: Alice in Wonderland - THE BLACK BOX - Apr 12


Franklin Performing Arts Company’s annual, free Family Concert Series concludes this season with Opera for Kids, Alice in Wonderland, on Sunday, April 12 at 3 p.m. at THE BLACK BOX, 15 West Central Street, in downtown Franklin. Composed by Robert Chauls, Alice in Wonderland is an operatic adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s cherished children’s book. Journey down the rabbit hole with Alice and meet the colorful characters of Carroll’s surreal, madcap world!

A treasured FPAC tradition for more than two decades, Family Concert Series events are geared especially to children in length and format and provide young audiences with a fun introduction to the world of live music. The performances introduce audiences of all ages to music of many genres and feature talented, professional musicians in an engaging, entertaining and interactive way. FPAC’s 2015 Family Concert Series is sponsored by Berry Insurance.

THE BLACK BOX Theater
THE BLACK BOX Theater

Alice in Wonderland features two members of the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) voice faculty, Shauna Martin as the Queen of Hearts and Mariko Matsumura as the White Rabbit and Cheshire Cat. FSPA student Julia Clifford of Medfield is featured as Alice, with Aaron Frongillo of Franklin, Nicholas Steiner of Millis, and Susauna Wickstrom of Plainville performing the parts of Duchess, King of Hearts, Gryphon and Mock Turtle. Pianist Synthia Sture will accompany the vocalists.

A native of Winnipeg, Canada, Shauna Martin received her master’s degree in Opera from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Music degree from Brandon University. Her performances include a wide variety of operatic and musical theater roles in works by classical as well as contemporary composers. Martin is a founding member of the popular children's show Opera Night in Canada and has performed with Canada’s regional orchestras and on CBC Radio. This season, she appeared in FPAC’s production of The Music Man as Mrs. Paroo.

A native of Tokyo, Japan, Mariko Matsumura received her bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance with high honors from the University of Montana and a master’s degree in Vocal Performance from Longy School of Music. Mariko's performance credits include Messiah, Aida, Hansel and Gretl, Der Rosenkavalier, The Magic Flute and numerous premiere performances throughout the Boston area. She has performed with Lorelei Ensemble, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Jyugoya Ensemble, Chorus Boston, Setegaya Women’s Chorus and Opera Unmet.

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.

Franklin Downtown Partnership events for 2015


The Franklin Downtown Partnership has set its 2015 dates for the Strawberry Stroll, Holiday Stroll, and Beautification days. The Partnership also announces its General Meeting dates and invites the public to attend and learn more about important changes coming to downtown Franklin.

The event schedule looks different this year because the FDP has put the Harvest Festival on hold due to the upcoming Streetscape revitalization project. The scheduled reconstruction of roadways and sidewalks and pedestrian safety were the main factors in the Partnership’s decision to postpone the festival until 2016.


Downtown Beautification Day will be Saturday, May 16, 9:00 a.m. to Noon. The Partnership, the Franklin Garden Club and numerous volunteers wielding spades and garden gloves will install hundreds of flowers and greens throughout downtown and on the Common. Community service hours will be available to students. Contact Eileen Mason, emason11@verizon.net, for more information about the event, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities. Winter Beautification Day will be Sunday, November 22.


The 12th annual Strawberry Stroll is will take place downtown on Thursday, June 11, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Come celebrate summer with the Partnership’s scrumptious Strawberry Shortcakes while enjoying live entertainment and a sidewalk sale. If you would like to sponsor or participate in this event please contact event Co-chair Nicole Fortier, nfortier@deanbank.com.


The always-popular Holiday Stroll will be Thursday, December 3, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. This special holiday celebration will include a visit from Santa and his elves, live entertainment, food and drink specials, crafts and gift shopping. Gregg Chalk and Roberta Trahan will co-chair this festive event.


The Partnership invites business owners and interested residents to participate in its General Meetings on June 4, September 3 and November 5. Come learn more about issues affecting downtown Franklin. The meetings are held at 8:30 a.m. at the Dean College Campus Center.


More information about each event, meeting sponsorship and volunteer opportunities can be found at www.franklindowntownpartnership.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FranklinDowntownPartnership.org, or on Twitter at @FranklinDowntwn.



The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a nonprofit, 501©3 organization made up of business owners, community leaders and residents working together to stimulate economic development downtown and create a positive impact throughout the area. The FDP currently has over 200 members and welcomes all businesses and residents. For more information, please contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774)571-3109 or downtown.franklin@yahoo.com.


Downtown Partnership 2015 Events
Downtown Partnership 2015 Events

This was shared from the Downtown Partnership page here

Reminder: Spring Cleanup - Parmenter - Apr 11th

The 5th Grade at Parmenter School will be doing a Spring Cleanup on Saturday, Apr 11th. 

Get your car washed, drop off those bottles/cans, any used books or clothing - they'll take 'em!. 


Spring Cleaning 5th Grade Fund raiser - Parmenter School - Apr 11 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Spring Cleaning 5th Grade Fund raiser - Parmenter School - Apr 11 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Wine Tasting with a vision

Marissa Garofano is runing the Boston Marathon and fund raising for the MA Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Marissa had worked for the Hockomock Y before moving on to another position.

Peter Sagal, of the Public Radio's show "Wait Wait, Don't Tell me!" is also running and fund raising for the same cause.

Peter Sagal (left) and Erich Manser (right) at the 2014 Boston Marathon
Peter Sagal (left) and Erich Manser (right) at the 2014 Boston Marathon (Boston Marathon photo)

You can read Peter's story here

You can support Peter and Erich's effort here
https://www.crowdrise.com/TeamVisionBoston2015/fundraiser/erichmanser


You can help Marissa on Thursday by going to the Wine Tasting at Pour Richard's or help her effort online here
https://www.crowdrise.com/TeamVisionBoston2015/fundraiser/marissagarofano


Wine Tasting with a vision
Wine Tasting with a vision

Note: I recently started work at John Hancock but the happy coincidence of this posting could have occurred anyway.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Live reporting: FinCom (continued) - Capital Budget

Jeff Nutting providing an overview of the stabilization accounts

turf field is subject to a bounce test every year, wears out due to the sun rays
about $500,000 needed to replace the 'carpet' at the turf fields

Chief Semerjian
discussion the police capital request
car replacement, try to keep cars in a rotation and replace the vehicles that are high mileage and maintenance issues

looking for 3-4 cruisers each year, try to keep it even year to year
3 marked units, requested as SUV vehicle types
1 unmarked units as a sedan
fully loaded for the police technology
computer, lights, electrical components, locking brackets for firearms
piggy back up on the State bid

body armor to be replaced 13 units, this year and another 13 next year
attempting to get some grants to help offset the costs
units are targeted to last 5 years
policy in place to wear the body armor at all times

tasers, rotated among the shifts
some assigned to tactical units; would like to have enough for everyone to have one per shift
affords another level of protection, less lethal
the business can recycle units but under the program where we own it
after 5 years, it is time to go

computer technology, pretty basic - $17,000
all cleared through T Raposa, the Technical Director

study done previously on the maintenance of old vehicles didn't actually save any money
tend to buy good used vehicles as a better (cost effective) option

the police cars do take a beating, they are running 24 hours

DPW
Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi,  DPW Director

need a street sweeper, both units need to be on the streets now especially after the winter
both units are actually broken at the moment, the main one (to be replaced) needs a new hydraulic units

1 ton dump truck, haven't replaced one in some time
buying gas engine rather than diesel as the diesel don't get the mileage to make it worth while

hot box, approved by Town Council last week

9 foot mower, part of the replacement program

streets 

attempted override last year, it did not pass

Oak St in front of high school, needs to be done soon
was waiting for high school work to be done and now is the time
put some islands in, like on Lincoln St
worked very well on Lincoln this winter, won't be as many as Lincoln
just at the beginning and end of the 'longest' school zone in Franklin

Miller and Pleasant St
drainage issue as well as frequent accident site
getting multiple things done at one
drainage, safety and storm water treatment

Sidewalks

St Mary's down Pleasant St to Miller ($900,000)
Griffin ($15K) and Chestnut ($15K)

do some design work this year, put out to bid next year
could use the hotel money or short term borrowing to provide the funds for the work
called for in the Master Plan

would normally be covered during road rebuild but these streets are not part of the road plan immediately

granite curbing and bituminous surface

asking for $200K to do desing and the two smaller sections
once the design is complete, the total cost will be know and could be bid

the reason Beaver St is not on the list is due to the railroad and the bridge

Water

developer put the water line in, now the street piece needs to be replaced
Crocker and Hill Road, Lewis St

water treatment membrane

Dale St water main to be done 'in-house', needs to provide the pipe to be used

study on water facilities being done, numbers should be ready for next year


Sewer

from Cook's Farm to Shaw's the sewer pipe is almost blocked
need to burst the pipe and replace with a new layer
sewer is normally gravity fed, this section is pumped as it is a low spot

26 sewer lift stations around Franklin

Council has authorized $7.5M to bond
15 year rolling, every 5 years, 5 million bond authorizations

Northgate neighborhood being done this year

water master plan being updated

no water rate increase foreseen in the next 2-3 years
maybe 3-5 years a small increase to fix a maganese issue that the DEP has raised

65% of the Charles River is 'owned' by Franklin hence we owe that amount of the expenses
took 1 million gallons out of the sewer treatment, to save money via leakage

positive planning with DEP has paid off, with awards and recognition

Medway found their $1M leak

Fire Dept, Schools, Facilities, Technology for next time

one item is to replace wireless connections in the municipal buildings
if this is going to be changed every 5 years, maybe start another stabilzation fund to cover those recurring expenses
schools are expanding their chromebooks, cost of hardware and installation

overall budget


quick update on overall budget
health insurance meeting this Thursday, $8M line item
out to bid and should have decision this week

charter school number was wrong and through the cherry sheet number off, overdue in reply
fire fighters arbitation award for 4 years, awaiting deal
4 years of retroactive pay for 48 people is going to be a chunk
possible gap coming but hopeful to get it soon

otherwise will need to make some educated guesses and get started
if we get started and need to make some adjustments, we will

everything later this year due to new Governor and his first budget which came out in March instead of January

regional transportation, circuit breaker issues
what will it be? don't know

early May to start budgeting, first two weeks
possibly five meetings

all the department heads have their budgets ready, what they have submitted may not be what I (Nutting) recommend to go forward so they can at least talk about it

Dispatch Center

have design, architect, Norfolk is also looking to put their police station in same building, we'd be on first floor; still a year and half away
all the equipment and coordination together
did put money in budget to start in 4thQ, will know more in a month or so

during day, secretary and kiosk at night for fire dept
doing analysis for the police station to monitor the lock up
does it make sense to have a central lock up? where? how many cells would be needed?
all in the talk stage at this point


Streetscape meeting today

plan to do the whole project this year with the exception of Main st
do the drainage work that is left
put up the bases for the new lights
Emmons, West Central, East Central and do Main St in 2016
they want to start in 2 weeks
it is going to be painful, some trees at Dean will be taken down
High St to be done as part of the project (it needs it)

ripping up the road down by Brick School, the pavement failed


Old business, new business - nothing

motion to adjoin
next meeting Apr 22

Live reporting: Finance Commmittee - Apr 7, 2015

Present: Deswnap, Bertone, Conley, Fleming, Heumpher, Dowd,
Absent:  Smith, Dufour, Aparo

Nutting, Gagner, Dacey, Cantoreggi, Semerjian, Jette

Draft capital plan for review tonight
left about $100,000 on table just in case something comes up before the end of the year

old municipal building up for sale, Recreation Dept to be displaced and needs a new home

discussion on proposal to purchase building at 275 Beaver St
use of the funds from Emmons St to be used for purchase of the facility

can briefly offer more programs, slight fee increase in fees
to provide revenue for renovation and continue operaitng

5 -7,000 sq ft, not many buildings this size to fit the need.
it has office space already built out, has capabiity to build out interior space for other rooms, training, art, etc. Meeting rooms space is available and could also be rented out to generate more revenue

parking for 25-30 spaces available, should cover most of the need for parking, most of the programs that would be run that are drop offs.

rental fees for use of school gymnasiums, can be avoided by use of the new facility

a newer more modern building, easier to maintain

most large storage is kept in containers on or near the fields where they are used

front building, to renovate specific space, currently wide open and would be built out to meet needs
back building

planning to use Parmenter school during the summer time to provide space during the gap betweent he sale of the old and purchase/renovation of the new

still need to do 21E, pass papers in June, have the Council approve

State did release money for paving, road repairs

can cover the $500,000 from various accounts of 'cash'; for example, $100,000 from the sale of the land being used for Starbucks. The other $500,000 would be from the sale of Emmons St

by 2026 our debt is dropping

motion to recommend to purchase and renovated the building on Beaver St
seconded, passed 6-0