Representative Roy Announces Community Coalition to Combat Opioid Abuse

In light of the recent opioid epidemic that has been plaguing Massachusetts Representative Roy of Franklin will be hosting a Community Coalition on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at 7 p.m. in the Franklin High School Auditorium. This meeting will be open to the public with the goal of establishing a direction for the coalition to take, to hear from experts, and to hear from coalition members in other towns on their progress. 

Representative Roy has been working with a group since February to develop a Community Coalition to combat this epidemic. "While I was pleased to be a part of the discussion, it was unsettling to see the damage that is wreaking havoc on people and their families," said Representative Jeffrey Roy (D-Franklin) "We need to do more to help those who struggle daily with the disease of addiction and I think a coalition is the first step." 

Community entrance at Franklin High School

The Massachusetts Legislature has taken a number of legislative and budgetary steps to get in front of the problem and it has been supportive of efforts to establish community coalitions to confront opioid abuse. Franklin is not alone in discussing and facing the opioid problem—Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey and his colleagues have been spearheading coalitions to fight the epidemic and they have recently included Franklin. 

On June 3, in preparation for the first coalition meeting, Rep. Roy and his team met with D.A. Michael Morrissey and his coalition leaders in Canton for a briefing and discussion on the ways they can combat the opioid epidemic in our community. "Franklin is doing the right things in dealing with the effects of drugs in our region, and particularly the Commonwealth's deadly opiate epidemic," District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said, "we see prevention coalitions successfully changing attitudes about substance use in other towns. Enforcement and supply interdiction remain important. But groups like this one are key to addressing the demand for drugs in our communities. I applaud the elected officials, police, educators and other community members who are making this happen. I'm glad to support it and offer the help and assistance of my office." 

Franklin Town Councilor Robert Dellorco added his vote of confidence to the coalition by saying, "When I found out about the overwhelming response to the coalition meeting, it reinforced the pride that I have in the Franklin community, and the confidence that together we can make a difference." 

Finally, Rep. Roy and the coalition urge the people of Franklin to watch Dr. Anne Bergen's show, "It Takes a Village," on the Franklin community channel Saturday June 20th at 8:30pm. Rep. Roy and other coalition members appeared on the show to discuss the epidemic and it serves as good background on the issue going into the first coalition meeting. 

For more information on the Franklin Community Coalition please do not hesitate to reach out to Representative Roy or his office at 617-722-2020.

Troop 99 - 4th Annual BBQ - Sat - Jun 20

From Jim Schultz:

Troop 99 will be hosting it's 4th Annual BBQ Fundraiser this Saturday, June 20th at 2:00pm at the Franklin Rod and Gun Club. 

Tickets are $15 per person at the door. Menu will include Burgers, Hot Dogs, BBQ Chicken, Ribs, Homemade Baked Beans (cooked right onsite in dutch ovens!), cornbread, a variety of salads, and desert! 

If you're not doing anything on Saturday, or looking for a quick bite to eat, consider heading over to the Franklin Rod and Gun Club at 2:00pm (Florence St. in Franklin)

Even if you come and just take a plate to go, we'd appreciate the support! http://www.troop99franklin.org

Troop 99 - 4th Annual BBQ

MBTA commuter alert: Starting July 6: Commuter Rail parking policy change

Effective July 6th, the 'honor box' payment system will no longer exist at MBTA parking lots. For more information please visit www.mbta.com/parking. Effective Monday, July 6th, PayByPhone customers can make payment over the phone at 1-866-234-7275, or using the PayByPhone app. Customers are encouraged to sign up for PayByPhone at www.paybyphone.com. For customers who choose not to sign up for PayByPhone, the MBTA will mail a monthly invoice to the address listed on the vehicle owner's registration. Customers choosing the invoice method of payment will pay 50 cents more than PayByPhone customers. If invoices remain unpaid for more than thirty days, subsequent reminder invoices and notices of non-payment will be accompanied by a fine. Similar to All Electronic Tolling used on the Tobin Bridge, this payment system is licensed plate based and eliminates the need to pay for MBTA parking using cash. Last updated: Jun 17 2015 05:03 PM Franklin Dean Station Click here for more information: http://www.mbta.com/riding_the_t/parking/ Sent by the MBTA.

FHS Hockomock League tennis All Stars

Both the FHS girls and boys tennis teams have several players named to the All Star teams according to voting by the coaches released by Hockomock Sports.

FHS Panthers

Girls Tennis

Hannah Sweeney
Anna Humphreys
Katelynn Marr
Katelyn Davenport

Honorable Mention
Lauren Markland

Boys Tennis

Kyle Pandiscio
Rahul Herur

Honorable Mention
James Johnston


The full listing of Hockomock All Stars for tennis can be found here for girls
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/the-2015-hockomock-league-girls-tennis-all-stars


for boys
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/the-2015-hockomock-league-boys-tennis-all-stars

In the News: town clerk salary change, Snappy Dogs can stay

The budget for next fiscal year, which starts July 1, includes two salaries for the town clerk: Pellegri’s and her successor’s. The new salary takes effect following the Nov. 4 election. 

“We figure the new person will need to get some experience before getting a raise,” Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting explained during the Town Council meeting last week. 

At least two people have already shown interest in running for town clerk. Assistant town clerk Teresa Burr is considering pulling nomination papers. And Diane Padula-O'Neill in late March said she would pursue the seat.

Read the full article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150617/NEWS/150616388/1994/NEWS

Snappy Dogs can stay in its spot behind the former Colella's Supermarket as CVS pharmacy moves in, according to the owners of the popular hot dog trailer. 

Snappy Dogs' owners Lisa Volpe Hachey and Teresa Boyce said they reached out to Larry Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Health, with a hand-written letter. On Monday, CVS officials gave permission for the trailer to stay, Boyce said. 

"We're in," Boyce said. "We are very, very happy and relieved."

Continue reading the full article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150616/NEWS/150616889

Snappy Dogs  has visited Franklin participating in fund raising events at Pour Richard's

Snappy Dogs trailer (Pour Richard's Facebook photo)

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Conference Of Boston Teaching Hospitals And University Of Massachusetts Medical Center Announce New Web Portal To Promote Collaboration Between Industry And The World's Leading Research Hospitals

MA Life Sciences Center

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) joined the Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals (COBTH) and the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center at the 2015 BIO International Convention today to announce the launch of the Massachusetts Clinical Innovation Gateway. The new web portal will allow life sciences companies from around the world to seek opportunities to partner with Massachusetts academic medical centers (AMCs) on research and clinical initiatives.

"Lives are saved when people work together," said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh.  "We see it over and over again in all kinds of situations; the life sciences are no exception.  This tool will help bring together the best minds, greatest ideas, and strongest collaborations that have the potential to bring about life-changing breakthroughs—exactly the kinds of innovation and ingenuity for which Boston and the Commonwealth are known."

The MLSC and COBTH have developed a form and process to triage partnership requests from interested life sciences companies. Companies seeking to explore partnership opportunities with Massachusetts AMC's can complete the online form, which will be sent to representatives from each of the AMCs for review and consideration.

Participating AMCs include:

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Boston Children's Hospital

Boston Medical Center

Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Cambridge Health Alliance

Carney Hospital

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center

Lahey Hospital and Medical Center

Massachusetts Eye and Ear

Massachusetts General Hospital

St. Elizabeth's Medical Center

Tufts Medical Center

UMass Memorial Medical Center

VA Boston Healthcare

"This new tool will enable medical breakthroughs by offering companies in Massachusetts and throughout the world the opportunity to collaborate on product development and clinical studies with Massachusetts' world-renowned research hospitals," said Pamela Norton, MLSC Vice President for Industry Relations and Programs. "We are excited about the collaborations that will result, the improvements in patient care that will follow, and the role that this new system will play in attracting even more global companies to the Massachusetts life sciences ecosystem."

"In an intensely competitive global environment, development of the Massachusetts Innovation Gateway is an important step in making sure we do all we can  to attract companies wishing to partner with our academic medical centers," said John Fernandez, Chair of COBTH and President and CEO of Mass Eye and Ear.

"This tool will give the medical world insight and access to the incredible work conducted by experts in their fields at our Massachusetts academic medical centers,' said Patrick Muldoon, FACHE, president of UMass Memorial Medical Center. "We have a unique and rich history in the life sciences and with this new portal we invite the world to come and collaborate with us."

"Increasingly, industry is seeking to partner with academic and hospital researchers who have firsthand perspectives on patient needs and clinical innovations. Nowhere is this more coveted than in Massachusetts, where our world-class institutions are tackling global healthcare challenges every day," said Robert K. Coughlin, President & CEO of MassBio, the life sciences trade association representing 650+ life sciences companies, academic institutions, service providers and patient organizations. "We look forward to realizing the full potential of the portal to streamline and catalyze these collaborations."   

"The Massachusetts Clinical Innovation Gateway is a terrific display of Massachusetts institutions collaborating towards the common goal of streamlining the ability of companies to partner with Massachusetts academic medical centers," said Senator Michael Rodriques (D-Westport).

"This is a great new tool for companies to get access to some of the best academic medical institutions in the world," said Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin).  "In turn, the developments and enhancements that will result will be a great boost for patient care, will lead to greater innovation, and ultimately save lives."

Through the MLSC, Massachusetts is investing $1 billion over 10 years in the growth of the state's life sciences ecosystem. Through nearly $600 million in public investment, which has leveraged more than $1.7 billion in third-party investment, Massachusetts has emerged as the global leader in life sciences, and as a magnet for companies large and small from all over the world.

For more information about the Massachusetts Clinical Innovation Gateway, visit http://cobth.org/massclinicalinnovationgateway.html.

About the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is an investment agency that supports life sciences innovation, research, development and commercialization. The MLSC is charged with implementing a 10-year, $1-billion, state-funded investment initiative. These investments create jobs and support advances that improve health and well-being. The MLSC offers the nation's most comprehensive set of incentives and collaborative programs targeted to the life sciences ecosystem. These programs propel the growth that has made Massachusetts the global leader in life sciences. The MLSC creates new models for collaboration and partners with organizations, both public and private, around the world to promote innovation in the life sciences.  For more information, visit www.masslifesciences.com.

About the Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals

The Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals (COBTH) is the coalition of 14 Boston area hospitals, all of which are teaching institutions.  COBTH exists to maximize the Boston teaching hospitals' visibility on the issues that are fundamental to their unique missions of medical education and research. COBTH educates opinion leaders at all levels about the contributions of its members to the area's health and economy. In coalition with business organizations, COBTH advocates for policies favorable to academic medicine and the economy of the Commonwealth.

About the UMass Memorial Medical Center

Patients and families trust UMass Memorial Medical Center as the region's leading academic medical center, committed to improving the health of our communities in Central Massachusetts. With our partner, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, we are committed to excellence in primary and specialty care, community service, teaching and research. The Medical Center offers advanced technology and support services for patients and families, providing the region with specialists renowned for their expertise in caring for adults and children.

National French Awards at BFCCPS

BFCCPS is thrilled to present the results of this year's  French National Contest. Le Grand Concours is an annual competition sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French. Students at BFCCPS competed against French students from all 50 states and abroad.

We are very proud of our Grades 6, 7 & 8 students for their hard work and preparation for this examination.  This years results are the highest on record and we were pleased to present awards and medals during this year's French Award Assembly on Wednesday June 3, 2015. 

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School - BFCCPS

We were joined by Ms. Marie-Claude Francoeur, the Delegate of Quebec in Boston as well as Edie Richardson, a BFCCPS alumni class of 2007. Since her time at BFCCPS, she studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland and graduated from Smith College just two weeks ago. Edie will be spending next year in Rouen, Normandy, France teaching English and would like to study International Law.

Grade 6:
8 students were in the 70th percentile and received an Honor Award
1 student was in the 90th percentile and received a Silver Medal.
5 students were in the 95th percentile and received a Gold Medal.

Grade 7:
10 students were in the 70th percentile and received an Honor Award
9 students were in the 80th percentile and received a Bronze Medal.
11 students were in the 90th percentile and received a Silver Medal.
2 students were in the 95th percentile and received a Gold Medal.

Grade 8:
9 students were in the 70th percentile and received an Honor Award
10 students were in the 80th percentile and received a Bronze Medal.
10 students were in the 80th percentile and received a Silver Medal.
8 students were in the 95th percentile and received a Gold Medal
1 student received a Platinum Plaque/Medal for obtaining a perfect score.

You can find photos from the event here:  http://bfccps.org/french-awards-2015/