2015 HockomockSports.com Girls Lacrosse Awards features the "Player of the Year" and 6 from FHS

The Hockomock League awards for Girls Lacrosse named several athletes from Franklin High School including the Player of the Year, Emily Jeffries and Underclassman of the Year, Kendall Reardon.

Player of the Year

Franklin senior midfielder Emily Jeffries has been named the 2015 HockomockSports.com Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year. Jeffries led the Panthers to a fourth straight Kelley-Rex Division title. She was also selected as a league all-star and the Hockomock MVP by league coaches.

“Emily is an excellent scorer and can be trusted in big situations but also provides defensive effort in the midfield,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “She was the primary player on draw controls and was a vocal leader on the field for both the attack and the defense for the best team in the league.”

FHS Panthers

Defense - Nicole Ellin, Franklin

Franklin senior Nicole Ellin was a rock at the back for the Panthers, just as she was this past fall for the soccer team. Ellin, who will be playing lax and soccer at Bard next year, scored nine goals for the Kelley-Rex champions, claimed 49 draw controls, 30 ground balls and had 27 caused turnovers to lead the stingiest defense in the league. Ellin was named a league all-star and helped Franklin win its first sectional title in 2014 and reach the sectional semifinal this spring.

Defense - Sam Jones, Franklin

Franklin junior defender Sam Jones was another standout performer for the four-time defending league champions. Jones, who was selected as an all-star by Hockomock coaches, scored once for the Panthers and pulled in 13 draw controls. She also scooped 22 ground balls and had 20 caused turnovers. Jones and the Franklin defense were one of the reasons that the Panthers got back to the sectional semifinal and their only losses this year were to teams in the top 10 in the state.

Attack - Julia Jette, Franklin

Franklin junior Julia Jette was one of the attackers that the Panthers could count on in big games. The University of New Haven-commit scored 38 goals on 76 shots and added 36 assists this spring. She also added 12 ground balls and six caused turnovers. Jette was one of the five Panthers that were named league all-stars after Franklin won another league title. Jette is one of a host of returning players that has Franklin the favorite to win the title again next year.

HockomockSports.com 2nd Team

• Defense - Tracy Pisani, Franklin
• Attack - Kenzie Pleshaw, Franklin
• Attack - Kendall Reardon, Franklin

Underclassman of the Year

Franklin sophomore attacker Kendall Reardon was named the third annual HockomockSports.com Girls Lacrosse Underclassman of the Year after an impressive season with the league champion Panthers. 

Reardon recorded 50 shots this season and scored 24 goals and had 18 assists to complement the rest of the powerful Panthers attack and grew into an important player as the season wore on. She became a regular in big moments, including scoring an overtime free position goal against Lincoln-Sudbury in the sectional semifinal.

For the full listing of the Girls Lacrosse awards
http://www.hockomocksports.com/girls-lacrosse-awards.html

Dacey's Market liquor sales restricted by Town Council

The Town Council had a busy meeting on Wednesday. They approved the sewer extension for a single family home on Crocker Ave and penalized Dacey's Market for liquor sales to an underage person. They sent a zoning bylaw change to the Planning Board for the area around the current Thompson Printing facility. They also authorized the funding of the trust fund to help resolve the OPEB issue.

Sewer Extension

The single family home owner will pay for the sewer extension and repaving the road where the sewer line is laid. The land is mostly ledge and won't support a septic system per Franklin's Health Dept inspector. The vote was 8-0 for this item at the second reading. Members of the Council had objected to the absence of the home owner for the first reading of the bylaw change. The home owner was present on Wednesday.

Dacey's Market

Dacey's Market was handed a 7 day penalty, 4 days to be served beginning July 16th and 3 days held in abeyance for 2 years. This is the second instance for underage liquor sales. The first took place in 2011. 

The underage sale was discovered when an off duty sargent was making a personal purchase and observed the individual making his purchase. A vehicle license check confirmed the underage status. An officer on duty happened to be in the area, he was contacted. Confirmed the underage status and made a vehicle stop to confirm the liquor purchase. He confiscated a CT license. The individual claimed to not have used it as the store employees regularly did not check for licenses.

The owner of Dacey's Market was present. He had purchased the license validation machine after the 2011 incident to prevent underage sales. If the machine says the license is good, he makes the sale. The license itself may be good but it may still not match the individual. Dacay's has 5 days to appeal the Council decision by going directly to the ABCC, otherwise the penalty will take effect as agreed to.

Zoning Bylaw

A zoning bylaw change was referred to the Planning Board to begin the process of changing the last industrial zone in downtown to residential. This was an outcome of a prior zoning workshop the Council, Planning Board and other Town official held March 25, 2015. (My meeting notes can be found here)

The area around the location of the current Thompson Building is the target for the change. It already abuts another similarly zoned parcel. The proposed change is hoped to provide additional residential space near the downtown area. The Planning Board will do their public hearing process and bring the bylaw back to the Council where there will be a public hearing and two readings before a vote. 

Franklin Municipal Building

OPEB Trust Fund

Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) account is underfunded by the Town of Franklin to the tune of about $80M. An actuarial study currently underway will confirm the current requirement. Franklin had established a trust fund to help manage the money being put aside. The primary purpose for such would be to increase the rate of return on the funds invested. Current regulations impose a more conservative return opportunity for the money in 'stabilization' funds but allow for more aggressive funding opportunities in a managed trust fund.

The trust fund was established previously. The management committee had been meeting to discuss investment options and finally reached their decision. The Council's action was to approve the transfer of $1,875,334.64 (plus accrued interest) to the Trust Fund.  


The complete set of notes recorded live during the meeting can be found here

• Live reporting: Closing
• Live reporting: Legislation for action
• Live reporting: Dacey's Market
• Live reporting: Sewer Extension
• Live reporting: Franklin Advisory Committee
• Live reporting: Town Council - July 8, 2015

Important Traffic Notice for Interstate 495

From the Town of Franklin "news" section:

The MassDOT has notified us about upcoming work on 495 this weekend. 

They will be working on the Beaver Street Bridge deck on the southbound side. They will have reduced lanes on Interstate 495 and will be placing a temporary stop sign at the bottom of the southbound onramp (Exit 17) at Route 140. This may result in backups on the ramp, but they will have a local police detail on site as well. 

They will be doing the same on the northbound side in the next couple of weeks.

This was shared from the official Town of Franklin page
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/021674CA-000F8513

MassDOT

The MA DOT webpage has skimpy info on the project # 78213
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/ProjectInfo.aspx

In the News: Fight Hunger paintball fund raiser, butterfly aviary in Holliston

This is the fourth year Jones has organized the event. The way it works is, everyone who shows up that day pays an additional $5 cover, which goes straight to the pantry. Typically, the event raises about $500. 

“It’s not a lot of money but it’s something,” said Jones. “The food pantry is always in need of monetary support.” 

Fox 4 will also raffle off a paintball gun and other items in a 50/50 drawing. 

For Jones, the event is a convergence of two interests. As a former town counselor and now as a civilian, the Franklin Food Pantry has always been a focal point.

Continue reading the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150709/NEWS/150706729/1994/NEWS


additional info on the Paintball Challenge can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/06/fight-hunger-paintball-challenge-july.html

The average lifespan of a butterfly is between two and three weeks. The commission plans to harvest the eggs and create kits to give to youth groups to make the aviary self-sufficient. 

The commission also hopes to set up a reserve over the winter to pay for the aviary. Plant material is the biggest expense, said Kilkelly. 

The aviary will be open to the public during the day until November. Saturday’s grand opening will be from 1 to 4 p.m. at the golf course on 212 Prentice St.

Continue reading the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150709/NEWS/150706713/1994/NEWS

2015 HockomockSports.com boys lacrosse Awards features the "Player of the Year" and 7 from FHS

The Hockomock League awards for boys lacrosse named several athletes from Franklin High School including the Player of the Year, Jack Vail and Coach of the Year - Lou Verrochi.

Franklin senior attacker Jack Vail has been chosen as the 2015 HockomockSports.com Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year. Vail led the Panthers to a third straight Kelley-Rex Division title and was chosen as the Hockomock MVP by the league coaches. This is the second year in a row that Vail has been named Player of the Year.

“Jack was the best player on the best team in the league and an easy choice to be Player of the Year,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “Whether he got the ball behind the cage, in transition, or at the ‘X’ Vail was capable of scoring. He also had one of the most accurate shots that I saw all year and was capable of great goals.”

FHS Panthers

Defense - Alec Borkowski, Franklin

One of the Catholic Memorial players remarked that he had never seen a player force as many turnovers as Franklin senior Alec Borkowski. He was one of the driving forces behind the outstanding Panthers defense that led to a league title and the program's first trip to the sectional semifinal. Borkowski was named an all-star by the league's coaches and was also selected as a second team Eastern Mass. All-American after an impressive senior campaign that drew rave reviews from opposing coaches.

Defense - Sean Lockhart, Franklin

Another member of the relentless Franklin defensive core, junior pole Sean Lockhart was a tenacious on the ball defender and his ability to guard high up the field allowed the Panthers to pressure the ball and transition quickly. Lockhart is one of the returning Panthers that will be looking to build on the program's best season that included wins over perennial powers Xaverian and Wellesley. Lockhart was also selected as a league all-star by Hockomock coaches.

LSM - Michael Sullivan, Franklin

Franklin senior LSM Michael Sullivan combines speed and tenacity and was capable of making plays that could change a game, as he did with a diving save/assist against Xaverian in the playoffs. The Siena College-commit showed that he was capable of taking over a game. Sullivan, who was the 2013 HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year, was named a league all-star and was selected to play in the BostonLax All American Game.

Midfield - Austin Kent, Franklin

Franklin junior Austin Kent emerged last season as the 2014 HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year and continued his stellar attacking play for the Panthers this spring. Kent scored 36 goals and added 16 assists as part of Franklin's powerful attack, but he also showed the ability to be a factor on the defensive side especially in transition. His speed and his ability to dodge opened space for his laser of a shot. Kent was chosen as a Hockomock all-star by the league's coaches.

• Goalie - DJ Shea, Franklin
• LSM - Matt Pleshaw, Franklin
• Midfield - Kyle Lundgren, Franklin
• Attack - Eric Civetti, Franklin

Coach of the Year - Lou Verrochi, Franklin

Franklin head coach Lou Verrochi has been named the third annual HockomockSports.com Boys Lacrosse Coach of the Year. Verrochi led the Panthers to a third straight Kelley-Rex Division title and to the program’s first ever Div. 1 South semifinal. 

“Coach Verrochi kept the Panthers focused as the playoffs began and inspired his team to compete with some of the state’s best,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “With the Xaverian game going against his team, he called timeout to rally the troops and prevented a collapse. With a team that has as many personalities as Franklin had this spring, Verrochi worked hard to keep everyone working towards a common goal.”

For the full listing of boys lacrosse from Hockomock Sports
http://www.hockomocksports.com/boys-lacrosse-awards.html

Franklin Community Coalition on Opioid Abuse (Video)

The video recording from the June 30th meeting to start the Community Coalition addressing opioid epidemic is now available for viewing.





My notes from the meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/07/live-reporting-community-coalition-june.html

The next meeting is scheduled for August 12 location remains to be determined

Franklin DPW: Water Meter Replacement Program

The Franklin Water Department has begun its water meter replacement program and you may be receiving a postcard in the mail from our installer.  

The installations will be done by a private contractor called USI Services.  Please keep an eye out for a postcard from USI which is a division of Thielsch Engineering.  The program will start with residents who have the oldest meters, so not all residents will receive a postcard. 

If you do receive a post card, please follow the instructions on the card and set up an appointment at your earliest convenience.  All installers will have uniforms, photo ID badges, and will be driving clearly marked vehicles.  

If you have any questions, please contact the DPW at 508-520-4910.  Thank you and have a great week.

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