|
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Franklin Community Coalition on Opioid Abuse
Franklin Community Gardens - June Update
Hello Gardeners,
The garden is looking good as we move into the middle of June.
Open Registration for Additional Beds
We still have a handful of open beds in the garden. At the last committee meeting we decided to open the registration on these gardens to existing gardeners, allowing you to obtain and additional bed if you so choose. This bed would only be available for this season, and when you renew next year you'd need to choose which you'd like to keep. If you are interested in an additional bed please visit the Recreation department to register.
Garden Work Day & Pest Control Tutorial - June 13th 9am to Noon
I apologize on the late e-mail for this, but tomorrow we'll be holding the first official work day of the season and we will be doing a tutorial on organic pest controls. The workday runs from 9am until Noon and allows you to get your required volunteer hours done in one shot. The tutorial will start at 9am.
Future Work Days for the 2015 Season
- June 28th
- July 18th - Will include a tutorial on tomato plant maintenance and diseases.
- July 26th
- August 8th - Will include a tutorial on fall planting
- August 23rd
- October 12th
- October 27th
Sluggo Plus
There was a discussion at the last committee meeting about the prevalence of cutworms in the garden this spring, along with additional pests. One of the potential remedies would be to apply Sluggo Plus to the garden beds, but for it to have long term results it would need to be garden wide. There are conflicting reports on its toxicity to some beneficial critters such as bees and earthworms.
We will discuss this further at the next committee meeting, so if you have any strong feelings on the subject please let us know or attend.
As always if you have any questions let us know!
Franklin Community Garden photo from 2014 season |
We will discuss this further at the next committee meeting, so if you have any strong feelings on the subject please let us know or attend.
As always if you have any questions let us know!
Sincerely,
Chris Clay & The Franklin Community Garden Committee
Visit us on Facebook!
Follow us on Twitter!
“Whatever needs a vet has, they come to me, and I’ll help them out.”
The Norfolk County Board of Commissioners has entered into an agreement with the town to provide veterans services.
The agreement, signed by the Town Council Wednesday, gives the town a full-time veterans services officer at a reduced cost.
Rather than cover the salary and benefits of new veterans advocate Dale Kurtz, the town will pay the county monthly payments of $3,150. Over the life of the agreement – effective from July 1 through June 30, 2016 – the cost of the service amounts to $37,800.
“The savings to the town just for the wages will be approximately $6,000 without loss of the current service level,” said Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting. “If for any reason this does not work out, we are free to terminate the service.”Continue reading the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150612/NEWS/150618052/1994/NEWS
Franklin Senior Center |
For all the Franklin Matters notes from the Town Council meeting on Wednesday:
Friday, June 12, 2015
Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 6/12/15 - THU 6/18/15
FRI 6/12 - TUE 6/30 Ladybug Trek starting today, visit 15 local businesses and use app on your phone for scavenger hunt. #shopFranklin
FRI 6/12 12-6pm Franklin Farmers Market at The Town Common
FRI 6/12 7:30pm Zero - The Musical Fable at The Black Box
FRI 6/12 8-9:50pm Frozen Friday DJ Public Skate at Pirelli Arena
SAT 6/13 1pm Zentangle Workshop at Franklin Art Center
SAT 6/13 7:30pm Zero - The Musical Fable at The Black Box
SUN 6/14 8am PMC Kid’s Ride at Jefferson Elementary School
SUN 6/14 2:00pm Zero - The Musical Fable at The Black Box
SUN 6/14 6:30pm Franklin Interfaith Council "Voices of Faith" Concert, 91 Jordan Rd
THU 6/18 6:30pm Open Mic Night at The Cake Bar
For all the Town of Franklin Public Meetings click HERE.
For event details click HERE.
*If you have any suggestions or events for the calendar, please email Renata@BetterLivingRE.com
FRI 6/12 12-6pm Franklin Farmers Market at The Town Common
FRI 6/12 7:30pm Zero - The Musical Fable at The Black Box
FRI 6/12 8-9:50pm Frozen Friday DJ Public Skate at Pirelli Arena
SAT 6/13 1pm Zentangle Workshop at Franklin Art Center
SAT 6/13 7:30pm Zero - The Musical Fable at The Black Box
SUN 6/14 8am PMC Kid’s Ride at Jefferson Elementary School
SUN 6/14 2:00pm Zero - The Musical Fable at The Black Box
SUN 6/14 6:30pm Franklin Interfaith Council "Voices of Faith" Concert, 91 Jordan Rd
THU 6/18 6:30pm Open Mic Night at The Cake Bar
For all the Town of Franklin Public Meetings click HERE.
For event details click HERE.
*If you have any suggestions or events for the calendar, please email Renata@BetterLivingRE.com
Lady Bug Trek is "meant to just be fun."
The Strawberry Stroll has ended but reasons to get out and about to Franklin's small businesses have not.
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150611/NEWS/150618663/1994/NEWS
The website loaded quickly on my Android tablet and did not on my Android phone (they were next to each other at the time).
A mobile app-assisted scavenger hunt through more than a dozen small Franklin businesses is getting underway today, Friday, June 12 and will continue through the end of the month.
The Lady Bug Trek is the first collaborative activity of the recently formed Franklin Small Shop Co-op, featuring special offers from participating businesses and a chance at a grand prize of $1,100 in gift cards.
"We created the Small Shop Co-op for small businesses to collaborate, so this was sort of born out of that," said Tracie Turinese, co-owner of The Cake Bar in downtown Franklin.
A total of 15 businesses are part of the fun, including Franklin Liquors, Franklin Yoga & Wellness, Salon Sorella, Making Whoopie, Emmas Quilt Cupboard, Mac Deli, The Cake Bar, Hillside Nurseries & Farm, Elizabeth's Bagels, Terrazza, Pretty is Pink, NHS Printing, Daddario Hardware, Franklin Art Center and Jane's Frames.Continue reading the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150611/NEWS/150618663/1994/NEWS
The website loaded quickly on my Android tablet and did not on my Android phone (they were next to each other at the time).
Ladybug Trek - a scavenger hunt with a grand prize worth over $1,100 |
solve 9 clues (9 of the 15 businesses) and get 5 entries, solve 12 and get 10 entries! |
"Stop the Silence. Speak the Truth. Start the Conversation".
Patricia Byrne writes:
Continue reading her article here
https://stopthesilencespeakthetruth.wordpress.com/2015/06/04/hello-world/
Help is coming to Franklin. There is a meeting at the Franklin High School auditorium on Tuesday, June 30 - 7:00 PM to form a "Community Coalition" to address the heroin and opiate drug problem the community faces. It can be solved, not by putting additional police on the streets but by providing the support to the individuals and families that need it.
Additional information on the Community Coalition can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/06/community-coalition-on-opiate-addiction.html
Patricia's son Kurt |
"It’s time to Stop the Silence. It’s time to Speak the Truth. My son is a heroin addict. I want to wear a t-shirt, a hat, a pin, something. I want a suffering family member or addict to see me in the grocery store and be able to walk up and say ‘me too’. I want families to not feel isolated and alone in this hell that is Addiction. It is everywhere, and we are hiding it because we feel guilty and ashamed. I have seen in people’s eyes in the past that they knew my son was an addict. But they also didn’t know if I knew, and I wasn’t shouting it from the rooftops. So the elephant was with me everywhere I went. We lived in a small town. I was sure everyone knew. I was sure my son’s name was whispered when I wasn’t there. Yet I stayed silent.
My son is in recovery. He has been clean and sober for 16 months. It’s a miracle he’s alive. That miracle cost us a small fortune. True recovery is not cheap and it is not easy. It is not five days of detox, have a nice day. It is not a thirty day stint in rehab, have a nice life. It is a slow, slogging, exhausting crawl out of the muddy nasty pit Addiction digs under you."
Continue reading her article here
https://stopthesilencespeakthetruth.wordpress.com/2015/06/04/hello-world/
Help is coming to Franklin. There is a meeting at the Franklin High School auditorium on Tuesday, June 30 - 7:00 PM to form a "Community Coalition" to address the heroin and opiate drug problem the community faces. It can be solved, not by putting additional police on the streets but by providing the support to the individuals and families that need it.
Additional information on the Community Coalition can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/06/community-coalition-on-opiate-addiction.html
Voices of Faith concert - Sunday - June 14 - 6:30 PM
Just a quick note to let you know this Sunday - June 14th at 6:30 PM is the Interfaith Council's Voices of Faith concert. This year's theme is "Faith, Family and Freedom".
The concert is being held at 91 Jordon Rd., in Franklin - at the LDS Church - same location as the Turkey Trot!
Many of the houses of Worship in Franklin will participate - bringing songs from their faiths to share with us, as well as the 22+ voices of the Interfaith Council's Choir.
I've attached a poster with details. Refreshments will be served afterwards - and we will pass the plate to collect funds for our fuel assistance fund.
Here is the flyer you can print out
"Wow, this is a wonderful community!"
Franklin has a new two-sided flyer to help sell the community to potential businesses looking for a new location. This flyer touts all the goodness that Franklin can provide.
"the idea is sustainability"
“We’re looking for assurance on your part that this town is well protected,” Vallee said.
On average, towns with similar size populations have up to 50 officers, while Franklin currently has 43, with two more expected to arrive from the academy in January, according to Vallee.
Yet the statistics on crime do not justify the hiring of additional officers, Semerjian said. The stats show that since 2008, arrests and calls have steadily declined. For instance, arrests peaked in 2008 at 545; last year, there were 269.
“Were not dealing with (the kind of crime) that Framingham or Woonsocket is dealing with,” Semerjian said, adding, “Is the fear real, or imagined?”Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150611/NEWS/150618543/1994/NEWS
You can also find my notes from the full budget hearing Thursday evening here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/06/live-reporting-town-council-budget.html
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Live reporting: Town Council - Budget Hearing #2 - June 11, 2015
Present: Feldman, Padula, Mercer, Kelly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Williams, Dellorco
Absent: none
Police -
Vallee - we're looking for assurances that the Town is well protected
average of comparable communities have 52 officers, Franklin currently has 45
did have 55 patrolmen in 1995
Williams - we were budget for 54 but never did get through the Academy enough to break the 50 level
Semerjian - had layoffs in the 90's and again in the late 2000 for budgetary constraints
we talk all the time but we want to maintain the people when we bring them on, I thought the Administrator did a good job with the explanation on what we do and how we do it.
we have two guys in the academy now, we'd like to get more but it would be more one or two at a time, don't want to do it on a short time plan
Nutting - 42,000 in 2008 down to 28,000 incidents, the book is down so while the officer count is less we are also answering less. The technology improvements have helped immensely
Semerjian - we have a good community, that is a credit to the community and the people are doing their job
We are the larger town in Norfolk County, and we have only 3-4 people for the entire town
Semerjian - the numbers don't lie, the bookings don't lie, the community goes to sleep. I live here. I have all the confidence in the world. We are not dealing with some of the things that they are dealing with
Padula - you have talked with the administrator
Nutting - we were down to 39 officers 5-6 years ago, we got one last year, one this year. We will try and slowly build it up. We are keeping the long run in mind
The PDF of the document provided from which this chart was made:
Semerjian - we are not asking for any more, if some one retires, we need to replace them. Is the fear real or imagined? I provided the stats, you can see what we are doing. Common sense comes into play to.
Padula - the whole town goes to sleep at night, you have 3 patrolmen at night; the opiate issue, how many do we have on that? (2)
Semerjian - we have 7 detectives along with the 2 who are dedicated to the drug issue. These guys are very good. So there are 9 guys total who can address this. We have one guy working with the DEA on the task force.
Padula - so with the opiate issue, you don't need more people
Semerjian - you heard the District Attorney that said we are not going to arrest our way out of this problem. There needs to be another avenue for this. How is one problem more important than another? We need to do what we are going to do. There is a lot involved with putting the cases together. We got a guy out via a taxi on Friday and he was back in on Saturday on his bike. He walked out of re-hab.
Bissanti - I think what you are sensing is the raw nerve around town due to the recent deaths that have touched. There are career drug dealers and everyone knows they are around. All the rhetoric is for the victims. It is a difficult to get those. Don't you need to be maintaining a certain covert level?
Semerjian - I am concerned with what information we do reveal. It is an issue we deal with all the time.
Dellorco - The dealer are not coming into the community. They don't come here. The last one who passed away was in re-hab in a halfway house.
Semerjian - we have 45, 2 at the academy, so 43 on the street and the others will be ready to go by January.
Pfeffer - we are offering another officer, and when did you hear the Town Council do that? and you're saying no.
Kelly - I understand your statistics but I only got them at 5:00 o'clock and havem't fully digested the info. There are communities out there where they are getting offers to go to re-hab versus the arrest. It is getting worse instead of better. If we get another one, how can we not arrest the drug dealer but stop the next death. If they are doing it with 50 and we are doing it with 43, we have the best of the best.
Having 3-4 people on after midnight, it scary. I'd like to see a plan before we sit down to review the budget.
Padula - if you would be comfortable maybe we should have a discussion with the Town Administrator about the numbers. We need to reach out to him and figure out how to get you the numbers.
Bissanti - I don't want to open an other can of worms, wouldn't it be good to hire Franklin first.
Semerjian - if you have a pecking order, you have to be fair to the listing. There are plenty of qualified people out there.
Nutting - we offered 7 people to interview, and they all declined. I know its off subject but it is a fact. You are required to have a degree. This was our first opportunity and they declined.
Dellorco - when the police came out of a Civil Service, you said it would be easier.
Vallee - I am going to read you a few communities.... we are playing Russian roulette
Fire Dept -
Vallee - the King St facility is creating call volume
McCarragher- we went there and explained the role of emergency services. We are obligated by regulation and turn that call out, if the patient wants to go, under certain circumstances we will call a private ambulance to transport them. We expect them to provide routine transports, we only provide emergency
The new facility is a retirement community and not an assisted living community. I don't believe the same volume would come from there.
Vallee - we make money from the ambulance calls?
McCarragher - no we cover our costs, we built our system was to cover two calls at a time, and it is alarming to see those. Last year we had 129 mutual aid, we just logged out 130th call today. We have a plan to go the budget and add the 3rd ambulance in 3-4 years.
Staffing - purely by average 3-4 times a day we are out of resources
Fitness and wellness - 60% of the people who retired did so due to to injury
I am the little engine that could championing
I would need 8 people - $640,000 (including benefits) to put on the extra people to put on the 3rd vehicle
7 minute difference between one of our ambulances and a mutual aid ambulance
Kelly - are the assisted living and aging population driving the issue?
McCarragher - I haven't drilled into the numbers to that deal, we have already surpassed our call volume and I usually do that at the end of the year.
The Zoning Board did decline the permit for the facility
Some of the five were shifted to other positions, due to declining enrollment at the elementary level
The new high school
we started the high school up 100 students from Jun to sep, we are up 130 year to date. An influence of people coming to the community.
Vallee - we are not usually in the top 50
Sabolinski - the per pupil average is excess of the state average, their class size is even smaller that we have, like 15-20 students in an English where we would have about 80
Where students get in, and where students attend
most of the Ivy;s are so expensive that we don't always get to go
due to the financial aid and family choices
(note the presentation that was prepared but not used)
DPW
We are very low, we are probably 15 people short of where we could be
we don't have the budget to support the staffing we'd like to have
you could put every department in the same boat
they other towns have a higher tax basis, we live off our property taxes, and a low tax base
their tax bill is higher than the others, if the tax payers want to pay more we'll take it
the bottom line is you're doing a good job
Kelly - you guys got through a tough snow season, you work with not a lot of staff and do a great job
you should be commended for keeping it all straight
Bissanti - based upon our tax rate and the level of service we have compared to others, I can believe it
I fear we are hurting the services, everybody will be screaming but no one will want to raise the tax rate.
close of public hearing
Legislation
– 7:10 PM Budget: FY 2016 Budget Hearing – 2nd Reading
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
$11,084,818
motion to adjourn, seconded, passed 9-0
Absent: none
Police -
Vallee - we're looking for assurances that the Town is well protected
average of comparable communities have 52 officers, Franklin currently has 45
did have 55 patrolmen in 1995
Williams - we were budget for 54 but never did get through the Academy enough to break the 50 level
Semerjian - had layoffs in the 90's and again in the late 2000 for budgetary constraints
we talk all the time but we want to maintain the people when we bring them on, I thought the Administrator did a good job with the explanation on what we do and how we do it.
we have two guys in the academy now, we'd like to get more but it would be more one or two at a time, don't want to do it on a short time plan
Nutting - 42,000 in 2008 down to 28,000 incidents, the book is down so while the officer count is less we are also answering less. The technology improvements have helped immensely
Semerjian - we have a good community, that is a credit to the community and the people are doing their job
We are the larger town in Norfolk County, and we have only 3-4 people for the entire town
Semerjian - the numbers don't lie, the bookings don't lie, the community goes to sleep. I live here. I have all the confidence in the world. We are not dealing with some of the things that they are dealing with
Padula - you have talked with the administrator
Nutting - we were down to 39 officers 5-6 years ago, we got one last year, one this year. We will try and slowly build it up. We are keeping the long run in mind
Chart of the numbers referred to during the discussion that were just provided before the meeting |
The PDF of the document provided from which this chart was made:
Semerjian - we are not asking for any more, if some one retires, we need to replace them. Is the fear real or imagined? I provided the stats, you can see what we are doing. Common sense comes into play to.
Padula - the whole town goes to sleep at night, you have 3 patrolmen at night; the opiate issue, how many do we have on that? (2)
Semerjian - we have 7 detectives along with the 2 who are dedicated to the drug issue. These guys are very good. So there are 9 guys total who can address this. We have one guy working with the DEA on the task force.
Padula - so with the opiate issue, you don't need more people
Semerjian - you heard the District Attorney that said we are not going to arrest our way out of this problem. There needs to be another avenue for this. How is one problem more important than another? We need to do what we are going to do. There is a lot involved with putting the cases together. We got a guy out via a taxi on Friday and he was back in on Saturday on his bike. He walked out of re-hab.
Bissanti - I think what you are sensing is the raw nerve around town due to the recent deaths that have touched. There are career drug dealers and everyone knows they are around. All the rhetoric is for the victims. It is a difficult to get those. Don't you need to be maintaining a certain covert level?
Semerjian - I am concerned with what information we do reveal. It is an issue we deal with all the time.
Dellorco - The dealer are not coming into the community. They don't come here. The last one who passed away was in re-hab in a halfway house.
Semerjian - we have 45, 2 at the academy, so 43 on the street and the others will be ready to go by January.
Pfeffer - we are offering another officer, and when did you hear the Town Council do that? and you're saying no.
Kelly - I understand your statistics but I only got them at 5:00 o'clock and havem't fully digested the info. There are communities out there where they are getting offers to go to re-hab versus the arrest. It is getting worse instead of better. If we get another one, how can we not arrest the drug dealer but stop the next death. If they are doing it with 50 and we are doing it with 43, we have the best of the best.
Having 3-4 people on after midnight, it scary. I'd like to see a plan before we sit down to review the budget.
Padula - if you would be comfortable maybe we should have a discussion with the Town Administrator about the numbers. We need to reach out to him and figure out how to get you the numbers.
Bissanti - I don't want to open an other can of worms, wouldn't it be good to hire Franklin first.
Semerjian - if you have a pecking order, you have to be fair to the listing. There are plenty of qualified people out there.
Nutting - we offered 7 people to interview, and they all declined. I know its off subject but it is a fact. You are required to have a degree. This was our first opportunity and they declined.
Dellorco - when the police came out of a Civil Service, you said it would be easier.
Vallee - I am going to read you a few communities.... we are playing Russian roulette
Fire Dept -
Vallee - the King St facility is creating call volume
McCarragher- we went there and explained the role of emergency services. We are obligated by regulation and turn that call out, if the patient wants to go, under certain circumstances we will call a private ambulance to transport them. We expect them to provide routine transports, we only provide emergency
The new facility is a retirement community and not an assisted living community. I don't believe the same volume would come from there.
Vallee - we make money from the ambulance calls?
McCarragher - no we cover our costs, we built our system was to cover two calls at a time, and it is alarming to see those. Last year we had 129 mutual aid, we just logged out 130th call today. We have a plan to go the budget and add the 3rd ambulance in 3-4 years.
Staffing - purely by average 3-4 times a day we are out of resources
Fitness and wellness - 60% of the people who retired did so due to to injury
I am the little engine that could championing
I would need 8 people - $640,000 (including benefits) to put on the extra people to put on the 3rd vehicle
7 minute difference between one of our ambulances and a mutual aid ambulance
Kelly - are the assisted living and aging population driving the issue?
McCarragher - I haven't drilled into the numbers to that deal, we have already surpassed our call volume and I usually do that at the end of the year.
The Zoning Board did decline the permit for the facility
Some of the five were shifted to other positions, due to declining enrollment at the elementary level
The new high school
we started the high school up 100 students from Jun to sep, we are up 130 year to date. An influence of people coming to the community.
Vallee - we are not usually in the top 50
Sabolinski - the per pupil average is excess of the state average, their class size is even smaller that we have, like 15-20 students in an English where we would have about 80
Where students get in, and where students attend
most of the Ivy;s are so expensive that we don't always get to go
due to the financial aid and family choices
(note the presentation that was prepared but not used)
DPW
We are very low, we are probably 15 people short of where we could be
we don't have the budget to support the staffing we'd like to have
you could put every department in the same boat
they other towns have a higher tax basis, we live off our property taxes, and a low tax base
their tax bill is higher than the others, if the tax payers want to pay more we'll take it
the bottom line is you're doing a good job
Kelly - you guys got through a tough snow season, you work with not a lot of staff and do a great job
you should be commended for keeping it all straight
Bissanti - based upon our tax rate and the level of service we have compared to others, I can believe it
I fear we are hurting the services, everybody will be screaming but no one will want to raise the tax rate.
close of public hearing
Legislation
– 7:10 PM Budget: FY 2016 Budget Hearing – 2nd Reading
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
$11,084,818
motion to adjourn, seconded, passed 9-0
1 reason to stop at Franklin's Historical Museum today
During the Strawberry Stroll:
At 7:00 PM, just as the Stroll ends, Susan Elliot will talk about her research into slavery in Franklin at the Franklin Public Library.
Photos from the Historical Museum Facebook collection
Visit the Historical Museum online here http://franklinhistoricalmuseum.org/
"The wedding gowns are up! Visit us Thursday night during the Annual Strawberry Stroll, stop by this weekend or any time we are open. We have the Palma Johnson's wedding dress, Claire Thibedeau's dress, a gown from 1890, a gown worn by mother and daughter, gowns fromt the 40's and 50's, the 'parachute dress' and more. Come and enjoy this display that has become one of our most popular!"
lace detail of one wedding gown |
At 7:00 PM, just as the Stroll ends, Susan Elliot will talk about her research into slavery in Franklin at the Franklin Public Library.
Slavery in Franklin? Records show that there were in fact men and women of color owned as property, not only in the South, but throughout New England and by prominent Franklin families in the late 1700's and early 1800's. Susan Elliott's informative exhibit, with details about slaves in our town is now on display at the museum. Learn about a man named Ceasar owned by the Pond family. Extensive research was done in preparation for this revealing exhibit.
Historical Museum display on slavery in Franklin |
Visit the Historical Museum online here http://franklinhistoricalmuseum.org/
Downtown Streetscape Project Update #4
From Franklin's Town Administrator Jeff Nutting
Downtown Project Update #4
June 9, 2015
The expected work over the next two weeks will involve sidewalk work on Main Street from Emmons up to Pleasant Street, except the sidewalk next to the Town Common and sidewalk work on Emmons Street between Main and West Central Street.
The contractor plans to start road work between Main and Pleasant Street including High Street on or after June 15th
Further he expects to start sidewalk work on West Central Street between Emmons and Union Street on both sides and the sidewalk along West Central Street on the Fire Station side.
The sidewalk on the other side of West Central will be done after all the old utility poles have been removed.
The specific dates for the above mentioned work may vary depending on weather and crew availability
If anyone has a question please feel free to reach out to the DPW Director, Brutus Cantoreggi or Town Engineer Michael, Maglio at 508-553-5500 or my office at 508-520-4949.
FPAC Presents Original New Musical "Zero"
Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) presents an original new musical, Zero, on June 12-14. Performances will be staged Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 and Sunday at 2 p.m. at THE BLACK BOX, FPAC’s theater, music, and event venue in downtown Franklin.
Zero is an energetic and experimental show that tells the simple story of a fool’s journey through life. The fable unfolds in 21 distinct scenes, each inspired by the symbolism of a card from the major arcana of a tarot deck. The show will evolve throughout the rehearsal process, but the audience can expect to see magic, video projections, puppetry, innovative choreography, stunning visual effects and evocative music inspired by cultures from around the world. The musical’s hero, Zero, will encounter joy and loss, fear and wonderment, and will take audiences along for the ride.
THE BLACK BOX theater, downtown Franklin
Franklin’s Nick Paone is the creative force behind FPAC’s newest musical. He directs and appears in the production as well. A prolific FPAC performer and director, the versatile Paone has been featured this season as Captain Hook, Scrooge, and Harold Hill in Peter Pan, Humbug! and The Music Man, respectively. Humbug!, Paone’s contemporary musical adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, has become a cherished part of many FPAC holiday seasons. Paone is the founder of FPAC’s annual summer Whatever Theater Festival and directs the festival’s One Acts and presentations of Shakespeare on the Common.
In addition to Paone, area performers featured in Zero include Jason Barney, Lily Barney, Julia Buccella, Brooke Collins, Aaron Frongillo, Ali Funkhouser, Kelly Irwin, Jocelyn Jones, Sydney Leach, Catherine LeClair, Lindsey Sparages, Hallie Wetzell, Lindsey Wyner, Melissa Wyner, and Peter Wyner of Franklin; Colie Vancura of Medfield; Alan Mercer of Medway; and Griffin Wilkins of Walpole. Musical direction is by Hallie Wetzell.
THE BLACK BOX, the home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company, is located at 15 West Central Street. Tickets are $26. For tickets and more information, visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or call (508) 528-3370.
FHS baseball season ends with loss to Mansfield
In a tie game and with two outs in the fourth inning, Mansfield senior Branden Nevius picked a perfect time for his first career home run.
Nevius smoked a 3-2 fastball over the wall in left field for a three-run home run to put the Hornets up 4-1, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish in a 10-3 win over Franklin in the D1 South Sectional Semifinals.
Mansfield player celebrate win. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) |
Continue reading the article in Hockomock Sports here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/nevius-dousa-guide-mansfield-to-south-sectional-finals
In the News: Strawberry Stroll, lawsuit filed
The Strawberry Stroll kicks off downtown this afternoon, with volunteers outside Dean Bank on Main Street expected to dish out more than 700 whipped-cream-topped shortcakes.
The Franklin Downtown Partnership’s annual event runs from 4 to 7 p.m., rain or shine, and includes 25 local businesses that have planned strawberry or spring-themed specials, including food, giveaways and activities for children.
“The Strawberry Stroll was the first event the Downtown Partnership organized to bring the community together in the heart of downtown,” said organizer Nicole Fortier. “In the past 13 years the event has grown, but our mission has stayed the same: to give people a fun way to meet up with friends, discover new downtown businesses and create more engagement.”Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150611/NEWS/150619118/1994/NEWS
For a map of the events at the Strawberry Stroll check here
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2015/06/2015-strawberry-stroll-map.html
A local family has filed a civil lawsuit in federal court against the town, police chief and five officers, alleging acts of misconduct and civil rights violations that stem from a violent confrontation in February 2012.
The plaintiffs, Jeffrey and Amy DeLucia, accuse officers of making false allegations against them in a police report of a Feb. 5 traffic stop on Church Street to cover up misconduct and intimidate the pair so they would not write a complaint, according to the 35-page lawsuit, originally filed in Norfolk Superior Court, but moved to U.S. District Court in March.
During the traffic stop, Franklin police officer Paul Guarino allegedly struck Jeffrey DeLucia in the face with a metal flashlight “without justification,” giving DeLucia a concussion and an orbital bone fracture, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit also alleged that Guarino fractured DeLucia’s hand after stomping on it.Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150610/NEWS/150619088/1994/NEWS
Police Alert: Low Flyer Copters for NationalGRID aerial survey
For those who have not yet subscribed to the alerts sent out by Franklin, the Police Dept issued this one on Wednesday. nationalgrid will be conducting aerial inspections of the power lines starting this week and running through mid-August.
The notice is shown below and can also be found on the Franklin website here
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/0211C995-000F8513
The notice is shown below and can also be found on the Franklin website here
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/0211C995-000F8513
National Grid will launch an aerial inspection of all high-voltage power lines beginning Monday, June 8, 2015 through mid-August, 2015. Using continuous infra-red imaging, the Aerial Inspection Program will cover all transmission lines across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont. Safety will be the #1 priority in all areas of this work.
National Grid’s certified contractor, JBI Helicopters of New Hampshire, will perform the aerial inspection using its fleet of Bell Jet-Ranger helicopters. Jet-Ranger helicopters are primarily painted blue and yellow with occasional yellow or red striping.
nationalgrid survey copter sample |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)