Monday, April 27, 2015

Franklin Library: Creating a Gmail account and creative writing workshop

On Tuesday afternoon, there is a session on How to Create and Manage a Gmail Account. Gmail is the name for Google's email service. Gmail is a free email service. The session will walk through setting up and how to manage the account.

The session starts at 1:00 PM. Space is limited, please call the Library (508-520-4940) to register.
Create and Manage a Gmail Account
Create and Manage a Gmail Account
This was shared from the Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/04/create-manage-gmail-account.html


Creative Writing Workshop

For youth in grades 6-12 there is a creative writing workshop from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.

creative writing workshop
creative writing workshop
This was shared from the Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/04/creative-writing-workshop.html

Franklin Beautification Day to be May 16

Join the Franklin Downtown Partnership and the Franklin Garden Club and help add a colorful touch of spring to downtown and the Town Common on Saturday, May 16.
Volunteers and sponsors are needed to help with the 12th annual Beautification Day from 9 a.m. to Noon, rain or shine. This year’s color scheme honors American service men and women.
Volunteers plant flowers on the Main Street bridge last spring
Volunteers plant flowers on the Main Street bridge last spring

“We chose a patriotic theme this year to remember those who have served and continue to serve our country both at home and overseas,” says Eileen Mason, Beautification Day chairperson.
Red, white and blue flowers and greenery will adorn the Common’s memorial gardens as well as the planter boxes along the bridge and in front of several businesses downtown. The plants will be hardy enough to withstand full sunlight and this summer’s harsh construction environment.  
Residents interested in volunteering, especially students in need of community service hours, should contact Eileen Mason at emason11@verizon.net. Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. on the center island in front of the Rome Restaurant.
According to Mason, the Franklin High School hockey teams and volunteers from the YMCA will once again pull on garden gloves and help spruce up the downtown to create a welcoming environment.

Volunteers plant flowers on the Main Street bridge last spring
Volunteers plant flowers on the Main Street bridge last spring



Sponsors and donations are needed to help cover costs associated with the beautification committee’s year-round efforts. Tax-exempt donations help with planning, installation, and maintenance of the spring plantings and holiday decorations.
For as little as $150 businesses or residents can sponsor the group’s efforts. All sponsors will receive acknowledgement in the local papers and on the Partnership’s website and social media.
More information about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities can be found at www.franklindowntownpartnership.org.
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.
Eileen Mason coordinates the annual event

Click here to download the 2015 Beautification press release.

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Apr 28

Vision Statement
The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

AGENDA
"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which
may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed
and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent
permitted by law."

The key to learning
The key to learning

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the April 7, 2015 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Clement
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence:

2. Guests/Presentations
a. FY 16 Budget Hearing

3. Discussion Only Items
Accept Collaborative Agreement
Bi-County Collaborative Activities & Information

4. Action Items:
a. I recommend approval of the revised Accept Collaborative Agreement as discussed.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $ from Davis Thayer PCC for Field Trips.

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Executive Session
Personnel Update

8. Adjourn

Connection between white van delivering Verizon phone books and break-ins?

Sharing this from our "network" of Franklin neighbors

I wanted to share some info with you about recent break ins. Our television was stolen in may last year. Our front door was busted open and there was a Verizon phonebook on the front stairs. No one ever uses our front door as our driveway is at our side door. I had a friend tell me Friday their house in Bellingham was broken into while she was at work. 
When i got home Friday night I noticed our Verizon phonebooks this year were put at the mailbox unit we share with two neighbors across the street, not at our doorsteps. I asked my friend in Bellingham and she had also received a Verizon phonebook Friday when her house was broken into. 
My mother saw the van dropping the phonebooks off today and ID'd the vehicle and driver. Its an older model ford van Ohio license plate Z781154. She drove around the neighborhood and stopped the van asking "if they had seen a black lab running around". There was one guy driving and one guy with a hooded sweatshirt sitting in the back of the van. 
Bellingham And Franklin PD have been given this information but wouldn't question them as no one saw them doing anything wrong. I hope they are just delivering phonebooks, but I know last year there was a connection between a white van/suv and the break ins. I didn't want to post my name with this on your page but thought you may be able to do something with it. People should be vigilant to cars driving around dropping off phonebooks. 
Thanks for your time.

If you do see something, please contact the Franklin Police Dept.

Franklin Police Station - 911 Panther Way
Franklin Police Station - 911 Panther Way



"we’re pretty dangerous and we can run with anyone"

Josh Perry, Managing Editor of Hockomock Sports, writes about the close game that the FHS boys lacrosse played against Billerica on Saturday.

When the Hockomock League changed the rules this spring, so that lacrosse teams only had to play league opponents once, these were the types of games and the types of opponents that Franklin was hoping to add. 
To continue to grow the program, the Panthers needed to prove that they can compete against the best. On Saturday afternoon, in the final of the Creators Crosse Tournament at Lincoln Park in Lexington, Franklin did just that by pushing a strong Billerica team to the brink before falling 10-9. 
Junior Austin Kent (4) scored three goals and had an assist against Billerica in the final of the third annual Creators Crosse Tournament. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
Junior Austin Kent (4) scored three goals and had an assist against
Billerica in the final of the third annual
Creators Crosse Tournament. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

“They wanted this,” explained Franklin coach Lou Verrochi. “They wanted this type of schedule and they proved that they belonged up here with the best. We battled from two-goal deficits, three-goal deficits…With a few bounces either way we could have won.” 
In fact, the Panthers battled back from a three-goal deficit in the first half and twice recovered from two goals down in the fourth quarter before an Indians goal with 1:03 remaining gave Billerica the lead for good.

Continue reading the article on Hockomock Sports
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/panthers-battle-to-end-at-creators-crosse-tourney

Celebrate Earth Day!!! - Help clean up around Franklin - May 2


Saturday, May 2nd
9 – noon (rain or shine)

Meet at Beaver Pond parking lot and volunteer to clean up targeted areas around Franklin.

Free dogwood and rose of sharon saplings to first 100 volunteers
Free dogwood and rose of sharon saplings to first 100 volunteers


  • Please bring your own gloves and rakes.
  • Community service certificates will be issued.
  • Free pizza and beverages for volunteers after the clean-up.
  • Free T-shirts to the first 300 volunteers!
  • Free dogwood and rose of sharon saplings to first 100 volunteers!


The listing of targeted locations can be viewed here


The Franklin map with the targeted locations marked


“Stamp Out Hunger is truly a community-wide effort"

On Saturday, May 9, Franklin letter carriers will help the Franklin Food Pantry Stamp Out Hunger when the carriers pick up food donations from town residents at their mailboxes and deliver them to the Franklin Food Pantry.

The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is a nationwide effort organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) that provides food to local food banks and pantries that would otherwise be faced with depleted stocks during the summer months. The food drive is the nation’s largest single-day drive, collecting almost 73 million pounds of food last year.
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

The Franklin letter carriers collected and delivered more than 4,585 pounds of food to the Franklin Food Pantry in last year’s drive. The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive comes at an ideal time for the Pantry.

“Stamp Out Hunger is truly a community-wide effort that gives us the inventory boost we need to help us through the summer,” says Erin Lynch, executive director for the Franklin Food Pantry. “Donations slow down after the first of the year, and by springtime, our inventory is depleted of the generous provisions we received over the holidays. We are so thankful to the letter carriers, and a supportive community, for helping us replenish our Pantry for the summer season.”

Nearly 600 households in Franklin count on the Franklin Food Pantry for supplemental food assistance.

Franklin residents can donate to the food drive by leaving a bag of non-perishable food where their letter carrier normally delivers their mail on Saturday, May 9. Some residents may receive the special yellow Stamp Out Hunger grocery bags to use, but any paper or plastic bag can be used. Letter carriers will pick up the bags during their normal mail rounds and will deliver the food to the Franklin Food Pantry.

Residents can also drop their donations off at the Franklin Food Pantry from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 9, or during the Pantry’s regular business hours, Tuesday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Pantry is located at 43 West Central Street, Route 140, adjacent to the Rockland Trust parking lot across from the Franklin fire station.

While all non-perishable food donations are welcome, items that are currently most needed at the Pantry include:
  • Tuna
  • Juice boxes
  • Granola bars
  • Pudding
  • Sugar-free Jell-O
  • Crackers
  • Cake/cookie/brownie mix
  • Coffee


The Pantry is also in need of the following non-food items:
  • Toilet paper
  • Deodorant
  • Dish soap
  • Hand soap


If residents prefer to give a monetary donation (please no cash), please write a check payable to the Franklin Food Pantry, seal it in an envelope (no postage required), write “Letter Carriers’ Food Drive” on the envelope, and leave it in your mailbox. 

Donations can also be made online at www.franklinfoodpantry.org, or mailed to the Franklin Food Pantry, P.O. Box 116, Franklin, MA 02038.

For more information on the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, visit www.helpstampouthunger.com or call the Franklin Food Pantry at 508-528-3115.