The work day and pollinator events have been postponed due to the inclement weather. We'll update you all as soon as we have confirmed a new time with the speaker for the pollinator event.
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| bee on flower |
Following a two-and-a-half week summer concert tour of England and France, Electric Youth (EY) will perform two free outdoor concerts on Thursday, July 23, from 6:30-8 p.m. at Norfolk Town Hill and on Wednesday, July 29, from 6-8 p.m. on Franklin Town Common. The Franklin concert will be presented as part of the first annual Franklin Cultural Festival, hosted by the Franklin Cultural District Committee. The culinary, fine and performing arts celebration will take place at various downtown Franklin locations from July 29 to August 2.
Electric Youth’s 12th European tour features three shows at Disneyland Paris and several concerts along the coast of Normandy. Performances in England include a July 4th show for U.S. troops stationed at Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell Air Force Bases and concerts at Wimborne’s Tivoli Theatre and in Arundel and Hastings. Electric Youth first debuted in England and France in 2013 and this season’s itinerary marks a return to those countries after last summer’s tour of Austria and Italy.
The 13 singer-dancers of Electric Youth 2015 are pictured in this portrait photo
Backed by the eight-piece band of world-class musicians, Electric Youth delivers a fun, high-energy evening of family entertainment with an extensive range of contemporary pop, classic rock, Broadway and country hits for audiences all ages. This season’s repertoire features fully choreographed performances of the best of Adele, Aretha Franklin, Imagine Dragons, Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, Jason Mraz, Frank Sinatra, Styx and more.
Selected annually by audition, the group is chosen for superior musicianship, stage presence, and triple threat accomplishments in voice, dance, and acting. This season’s ensemble of performers, ages 15-17, studies multiple dance disciplines, voice, and acting at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA). Electric Youth 2015 includes Adriane D’Amato of Foxboro; Madison Asgeirsson, Kendra Dombroski, Jocelyn Jones, Shaina McGillis, Lauren Szczepanowski and Melissa Wyner of Franklin; Michael Fajardo of Hopkinton; Sam Evans of Medfield; Maddy Williams of Medway; Katie Gray of Milford; Kylee Rollins of North Attleboro; and Jenna McDermott, of Wrentham.
The EY singer-dancers are backed by Boston musicians who’ve performed, recorded and toured with such music legends as Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, B.B. King, Diana Ross, The Temptations and Van Morrison. EY’s show band features Kenny Hadley on drums, Bill Miele on bass, Artie Montanaro on trombone, Walter Platt on trumpet, Ken Reid on tenor saxophone, Ben Whiting on baritone saxophone, John Wilkins on guitar, and Raye Lynn Mercer on piano. Under the direction of Mark Poniatowski, musical arrangers for Electric Youth are Rick Hammett, Jeff Perry, Walter Platt, Poniatowski, Mark White and Ben Whiting. Hallie Wetzell is Electric Youth’s Vocal Director. Choreographers include Mercer, Casey Andrade, Cheryl Madeux, Nick Paone and Kellie Stamp.
Electric Youth has released six professional CDs and performed internationally at England’s Arundel Festival, Disneyland Paris, professional theaters in Bristol, London and Windsor, and such renowned venues as Sanremo’s Ariston Theatre and Vienna’s Konzerthaus, Musikverein and Schonbrunn Palace. EY has also headlined Fourth of July shows for U.S. troops and their families stationed in Italy at Camp Ederle, Camp Darby, and Aviano Air Force Base. The ensemble has performed on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, on Fox-TV and WBZ Radio, and at Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, Mechanics Hall, the Smithsonian Museum Theater and the United Nations. EY’s music, including the 2014 album Power Chord is available at amazon.com and iTunes.
For more information about Electric Youth or the EY summer concerts, call FSPA at (508) 528-8668 or visit www.electricyouth.com.
Franklin, like Natick, has seen location concerns lead to at least a temporary halt of its fireworks display.
Warren Revell, an organizer of the Franklin celebration, said the construction of the town's new high school had taken up the space once used to shoot off the fireworks.
Revell, though, did not rule out the display's return, should a suitable location be found. “We'll see what happens,” he said. “This is our third year without fireworks... it's a year-to-year thing.”
This year's celebration is facing another limitation; road construction has led to the cancellation of the traditional parade. The town will instead hold a battle of the bands, a children's parade and a laser light show this Independence Day weekend.Continue reading the full article on line here
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| 2015 Franklin 4th of July Celebration |
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 | Norfolk County Registry of Deeds | | |
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Last performance of Peter Pan Sunday at 2pm tomorrow (Sunday) at Steps Off Broadway in Bellingham Ma.
Tickets available at the door.
Captain Hook is played by Kristopher Kyer from L.A. He appeared in Saving Mr. Banks starring Tom Hanks and is amazing as hook!
Playing Pan is local Cara Dipeitro who could be on Broadway now!
www.stepsoffbroadway.com for more info! Going to rain so a great way to spend the afternoon.
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| Snow Sister's Soiree - Franklin Library - 6/27 - 10:30 AM |
THE BLACK BOX, downtown Franklin’s new theater, music, and event venue, presents two evenings of great jazz to kick off the first annual Summer Concert Series.
Beginning on Friday, July 17 at 8 p.m., THE BLACK BOX features The Mark Poniatowski Situation, led by bassist, composer and arranger Mark Poniatowski, with Robert Gallegos on trumpet, Jon Garniss on trombone, Kenny Hadley on drums, Joe Mulholland on piano and Jared Sims on saxophone.
The Mark Poniatowski Situation released a self-titled CD of jazz instrumentals composed and arranged by Poniatowski in 2010. An associate professor in the Contemporary Writing and Production department at Berklee College of Music, Mark Poniatowski’s extensive experience includes performances with the Bruce Katz Band, Toni Lynn Washington Band, Kenny Hadley Big Band, Soul Kitchen, Floyd Dixon, Sid Caesar, Rita Moreno, Bob Newhart, Junior Watson, Janiva Magness and Kid Ramos. Performances throughout the US and Europe include the Boston Globe Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz and Blues Festival, Boston Blues Festival, The River Festival, and The Natt Jazz Festival in Norway. Recordings include Two Sides with Joe Bargar and the Soul Providers, Mississippi Moan with the Bruce Katz Band, and The George Carlin Show soundtrack.
THE BLACK BOX Summer Concert Series continues on Friday, July 24 at 8 p.m. with the renowned Kenny Hadley Big Band. The critically acclaimed 16-piece juggernaut, led by drummer Kenny Hadley, boasts masterful musicians with performance ties to Big Band legends Woody Herman, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich and more. The Kenny Hadley Big Band has shared the stage with such notables as the Count Basie Orchestra and the Duke Ellington Orchestra and has hosted guest soloists including Clark Terry and Louie Bellson.
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| Kenny Hadley Band |
THE BLACK BOX, the home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC), is located at 15 West Central Street. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Cash bar available. Doors open at 7:30. For additional event information or to purchase tickets, call (508) 528-3370 or visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com.
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| screen grab of Ladybug Trek locations in Franklin |
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| Ladybug Trek - visit some or all of the 15, and get a free entry into the grand prize drawing |
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| Franklin Liquors 'Bud Summer Prize Package" |
“Let me make one thing perfectly clear here. Opioid addiction is a health care issue that knows no boundaries across age, race, class, or demographics,” Baker said. “From the Berkshires to Boston to Cape Cod, too many people have heart-wrenching stories of loved ones and friends that battled with addiction and in some cases lost their lives.”
Unintentional opioid overdoses claimed an estimated 1,008 lives in Massachusetts in 2014, an increase over the prior year and more than three times the number of lives lost to automobile accidents.
The report calls for the creation of nearly 200 new treatment beds by July 2016, state funding for school prevention programs to be designed at the local level, a partnership with a chain pharmacy to pilot a drug take-back program, and amendments to the civil commitment statute to include substance abuse disorders.Continue reading the article in the Commonwealth Magazine here
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| STOP Addiction in its tracks |
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| opioid deaths vs. motor vehicle deaths 200-2013 |
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| Claflin Hill Orchestra |
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| The FSPA "Electric Youth" introduced themselves before performing "I Bet My LIfe" |
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| Photo of supporters in the Municipal Building parking lot before the meeting |
The Franklin Food Pantry is getting noticed for its efforts to move beyond immediate hunger relief by addressing the root causes of hunger and promoting better nutritional health. The Pantry has received two recognition awards from area organizations: the Red Triangle Award from the Hockomock Area YMCA, and the Community Impact Award from the United Way of Tri-County.
Both organizations recently applauded the Franklin non-profit for going above and beyond in serving the Franklin community, and for its strong impact on the lives of the nearly 600 families it serves.
The Red Triangle Award recognizes the Pantry for its “steadfast dedication and partnership with the Hockomock Area YMCA to meet the changing needs of our community.” Through a partnership with the Hockomock Y, the Pantry created a Healthy Futures Shelf that offers clients access to nutritious food.
Nutrition information is posted with food products so that clients can make informed choices to fit their special dietary needs, such as low fat, high protein or gluten-free. In addition, the Pantry works with the YMCA to offer Cooking Matters classes that educate families how to manage their food budgets and prepare healthy meals.
“Working with the Hockomock Area YMCA and Stop & Shop, we began to take preventative measures to help combat high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity,” said Erin Lynch, Franklin Food Pantry executive director. “As part of the Y’s Healthy Futures Initiative, we help our clients make healthier food choices and offer them access to more nutritious food, such as fresh produce and high protein items like chicken.”
The Community Impact Award is given to United Way of Tri-County (UWTC) Community Partners that have changed the lives of the people they serve. The award states that the Franklin Food Pantry, with resources from the UWTC, changed lives by “effectively and innovatively delivering a program that addresses root causes within the areas of Education, Health, Financial Stability or Basic Human Needs.”
Erin Lynch, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry, is shown here with the award
Lynch said that thanks to the generous support from organizations such as the United Way of Tri-County and the Hockomock Area YMCA, the Pantry was able to offer programs to empower community members to become more self-sufficient through resources and education.
Examples include Cooking Matters which teaches families how to shop smarter and cook delicious, affordable meals; and a Healthy Futures Market that offers fresh produce weekly from June to October. The high cost of fresh fruits and vegetables can be a barrier to wholesome nutrition for many families.
“The money we receive through grants, as well as individual and corporate donations, allows us to go beyond just getting food to people,” said Lynch. “We are able to offer the kind of support and education that can impact our clients for a lifetime.”
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| menu board at Rail Good Coffee |
"... we must educate people to become capable and to take their place in society. That has value, obviously. But it's not quite the same thing as to educate people to relate, to listen, to help people to become themselves.
So the equilibrium that people with disabilities could bring is precisely this equilibrium of the heart. Children.
You see, maybe a father is a very strong man and businessman, and when he comes home, if he gets down on his hands and knees and plays with the children, it's the child that is teaching the father something about tenderness, about love, about the father looking at the needs of the child, the face of the child, the hands of the child, relating to the child.
And the children, the incredible thing about children is they're unified in their body and in — whereas we, we can be very disunified. We can say one thing and feel another."You can read the full transcript here
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| screen grab of OnBeing website for Jean Vanier interview |
