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 *
Friday, July 17, 2015
Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 7/17/15 - THU 7/23/15
FRI 7/17 12-6pm Franklin Farmers Market at The Town Common
FRI 7/17 6:30pm Art Night Uncorked at Franklin Art Center
FRI 7/17 8-9:50pm Frozen Friday DJ Public Skate at Pirelli Arena
FRI 7/17 8pm The Mark Poniatowski Situation - Jazz Concert at The Black Box
SAT 7/18 9am-4pm Book Sale at Franklin Public Library
SAT 7/18 9-10am Betty Kushner playing classical music during the Library Book Sale
SAT 7/18 11am-3pm Franklin Solar Challenge: the last Open House
SUN 7/19 9am-12pm Library Bag Sale at Franklin Public Library
MON 7/20 10:30am Meet Elmo!!! at Franklin Public Library
MON 7/20 1-2pm Drop In Craft at Franklin Public Library
TUE 7/21 10:30am Get Ready for Kindergarten (ages 3-5) at Franklin Public Library
TUE 7/21 6-8pm FREE Outdoor Concert: Jesse Liam Band at Franklin Public Library (bring a picnic dinner, blanket and your dancing shoes, 50’s to today’s music)
WED 7/22 10:30am Terrific Toddlers (18 months to 3 years) at Franklin Public Library
WED 7/22 1pm Indian Dance with Mouli Pal for all ages at Franklin Public Library
WED 7/22 6-8:30pm Concerts on The Common: Forever Fab, Children’s Program: Kizzy the Clown at 6pm.
THU 7/23 10:30am Story and Craft (ages 3-6) at Franklin Public Library
THU 7/23 1pm EPA - The Environment and Your Health for ages 5 and up at Franklin Public Library
For all the Town of Franklin Public Meetings click HERE.
For event details click HERE.
For all Summer Programs at the Franklin Public Library click HERE.
*If you have any suggestions or events for the calendar, please email Renata@BetterLivingRE.com
Franklin Solar Challenge: the last Open House is scheduled for July 18th 11AM-3PM
Now is the time to go solar!
The Franklin Solar Challenge is in Tier 5 pricing!
The Franklin Solar Challenge is in Tier 5 pricing!
SolarFlair Energy, the selected installer for the Franklin Solar Challenge, will be holding the last open house this Saturday. Food and soft drinks will be provided, with SolarFlair representatives on hand to answer your questions.
The Open House is scheduled for July 18th 11AM-3PM.
- Prewitt Residence
- 17 Sunset Rd.
- Franklin, MA
Franklin Solar Challenge |
Franklin Flyers Learn to Skate and Introduction to Hockey registration is now open!
Franklin Youth Hockey has opened the registration for their Learn to Skate and Introduction to Hockey programs.
Each program has three consecutive 9-week sessions. Session 1 will start on Sunday September 27, 2015.
You can register and get additional information on their website, franklinflyers.org.
Act now before the sessions fill up, these are the only Learn to Skate and Introduction to Hockey programs affiliated with the Franklin Flyers.
Franklin Flyers |
"the school will receive solar credits"
Tri-County is waiting until students return in the fall before celebrating the completion of a new solar farm that will provide 85 percent of its electricity.
Sometime after classes resume in September, the school will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to christen its 1.3-megawatt solar farm. Nearly finished, the solar array is set to save the school about $1.8 million on energy costs over the next 20 years and will serve as a four-acre lab, allowing students to study the technology behind solar power.
“Since this is an area of study for our engineering technology students, we decided to hold off until they are back in school so that they can learn more about the solar array during the ceremony,” said Tri-county spokeswoman Jessica Silva.
Tri-County website header |
Continue reading the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150716/NEWS/150717172/1994/NEWS
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Now there are three proposals for Pond St
I got caught working late in Boston but John Pazniokas kept the Pond St group informed via Facebook and I can share his meeting summary here.
When the RFP responses are posted to the Town webpage, I'll share the links. It is likely they will be posted to the same page where the other info on the Pond St property is found.
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/pondrfp
The EDC meeting tonight introduced the three proposals for the parcel:
- A sale/development proposal from Baystone Development, proposing 85 townhouse condos and 14,000 square feet of "Office/Retail". (Unofficially, the developer indicated that they'd rather go full office space on that 14,000, but that's not in the proposal.)
- A land-lease proposal for solar by Kearsarge Energy.
- A land-lease proposal for solar by Solect Energy.
The three proposals were presented at the meeting, with little if any prereading done by anyone. (Chairman Bissanti basically claimed a cursory reading; nobody else sounded familiar with any of it.) There was a three-page memo from the town summarizing them.
Highlights from the meeting:
- Interestingly, Bissanti opened the meeting by stressing rules of procedure and an unwillingness to permit personal or professional attacks. Not sure what THAT was about.
- Vallee is disappointed in the response to the RFPs, referring to it as an "ideal parcel" to have only 3 proposals. He seemed to take 'the process' to task for not getting the word out enough, and suggested that he wanted to try to get more proposals.
- Bissanti, again, brought up the specter of the anaerobic digester, which he, again, pointed out he had opposed. This was to warn us that these proposals were pretty good.
- The Planning Board rep spent most of the meeting critiquing the solar proposals and insinuating that, if anything, the Baystone bid was waysuperawesomer than anything else. (I'm sorry, but I can't un-type that now.)
- Bissanti, again, insinuated that everyone "but these seven people in the audience" were basically seen as in favor of whatever the council decides.
Town of Franklin photo of the Pond St property |
When the RFP responses are posted to the Town webpage, I'll share the links. It is likely they will be posted to the same page where the other info on the Pond St property is found.
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/pondrfp
"the human cost of operating a farm in a culture of cheap food" (video)
There are three local farms in Franklin: Grateful Farms, Ak-Bak and Hoffman Farms. Scenes from their locations could fit in this film. #shopFranklin and shop local when you visit the Farmers Market on Friday!
Seedlight Pictures premieres a new film:
Growing Local (Trailer) from Seedlight Pictures on Vimeo.
Artist Bridget Besaw talks about the Making of Growing Local
http://www.growinglocalfilms.org/about-the-series/artists-statement/
For more about "Growing Local" check their webpage http://www.growinglocalfilms.org/
hat tip to Sarah Mabadry for finding this piece to share
Seedlight Pictures premieres a new film:
GROWING LOCAL—A mid-length film in three parts that explores the growing pains of the local food movement and the uncertain fate of the farmers and farmland that keep it alive.
The locavore movement is old news. Growing Local takes the conversation to the next level. While "buying local" is on the rise, these three poignant vignettes make clear that small farms and access to locally produced food is not a sure thing.
In Growing Local, we meet father and son organic dairy farmers struggling with the realities of producing a commodity food product to keep their farm going and in the family, we follow an artisanal butcher who helps us understand how healthy, thoughtful meat production can be supported and sustained, and the series closes with the story of a young farm couple who, on risky sweat-equity, have revitalized a fertile piece of farmland into a thriving community food hub. These stories help us to better understand the interconnected fates of farmers and farmland, consumers and the local food movement.
Growing Local (Trailer) from Seedlight Pictures on Vimeo.
Artist Bridget Besaw talks about the Making of Growing Local
"We’ve made a series about small farms and the uncertain fate of the local food movement. The challenge of this series was weaving together three separate but connected stories to create a coherent narrative about local food and local farms. Our goal was to craft a project that will help fellow Mainers, and hopefully others around the country, better understand the agrarian landscape surrounding us and the important role it plays in growing community as well as food. We hope to inspire viewers to actively seek out local foods for their own health, the health of their communities and that of the planet."Continue reading what Bridget says about the film here
http://www.growinglocalfilms.org/about-the-series/artists-statement/
For more about "Growing Local" check their webpage http://www.growinglocalfilms.org/
hat tip to Sarah Mabadry for finding this piece to share
2015 Whatever Theater Festival performs at the Franklin Cultural Festival
The 2015 Whatever Theater Festival will feature a production of Shakespeare's Henry IV (Part 1) on Franklin Town Common and a series of one-act plays staged at THE BLACK BOX.
Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) will present the Whatever Theater Festival from July 29 - August 1, with performances offered free to the public.
Wednesday, July 29, 8:30 pm - One-Act Plays staged at THE BLACK BOX
Thursday, July 30, 7:30 pm - Shakespeare's Henry IV (Part 1) on Franklin Town Common
Friday, July 31, 7:30 pm - Shakespeare's Henry IV (Part 1) on Franklin Town Common
Saturday, August 1, 8:30 pm - One-Act Plays staged at THE BLACK BOX
arts happen here - Franklin Cultural Festival |
This year’s Whatever Theater Festival will be part of the first annual Franklin Cultural Festival, hosted by the Franklin Cultural District Committee.
The visual, performing and culinary arts celebration will take place at various downtown Franklin locations within the proposed Cultural District from Wednesday, July 29 to Sunday, August 2.
FPAC’s Whatever Theater Festival is sponsored in part by grants from the Franklin and Norfolk Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information, call (508) 528-3370.For more information on the Franklin Cultural Festival visit www.franklinsculturalfestival.org.
In the News: Grant received, Pond St proposals
After applying jointly for Community Development Block Grants from the state Department of Housing and Economic Development, the towns of Bellingham, Franklin and Hopedale were awarded a total of $894,082 for housing rehabilitation and a fuel assistance program.
The Baker-Polito Administration announced 33 grants totaling $26 million to 65 communities Wednesday.
The federally-funded grants will help cities and towns provide housing, infrastructure improvements, childcare vouchers and other services, a press release said.Continue to read the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150715/NEWS/150717728/1994/NEWS
The grant was applied for in early 2014 and reported on here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/questions-were-raised-answers-sought.html
and here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/150-emmons-st-sold-pond-st-parcel-re.html
The town is vetting three potential developments proposed for more than 30 acres of land on Pond Street that officials have been trying to sell for at least a decade.
Two developers proposed solar farms for the property near Interstate 495, and the third submitted a commercial project with 85 condominiums and 14,000 square feet of office and retail space.
The town’s Department of Planning and Community Development received the proposals July 9.Continue reading the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150716/NEWS/150717691/1994/NEWS
THE BLACK BOX: Mark Poniatowski Situation - July 17
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Franklin Performing Arts Company uses Vendini for ticketing, marketing, and box office management.
Franklin Performing Arts Company - PO Box 16, Franklin, MA, 02038, (508) 528-8668
Vendini, Inc. - 660 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104, 1 (800) 901-7173
View as a web page.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Franklin Library: Book Sale - Sat - Sun July 18-19
This is the weekend for the monthly Franklin Library Book Sale.
The standard schedule applies; books for sale on Saturday from 9:00 - 4:00 PM.
Books by the bag for sale on Sunday from 9:00 AM to noon.
This was shared from the Franklin Library page:
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/07/library-book-sale.html
The standard schedule applies; books for sale on Saturday from 9:00 - 4:00 PM.
Books by the bag for sale on Sunday from 9:00 AM to noon.
Franklin Library - Book Sale |
This was shared from the Franklin Library page:
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/07/library-book-sale.html
"how to handle a growing number of “sexting” cases"
At the State House Tuesday, Roy and Reilly, joined by a Bridgewater State University psychology professor, testified before the Judiciary Committee in favor of the bill. According to Roy, the legislation would not hinder legitimate child pornography investigations, but rather establish an important, potentially life-altering distinction between child porn and sexting among teens.
“This bill would set up a new section of the statute to give police officers and prosecutors more tools to curb this behavior,” Roy said.
Filed earlier this year, H.1567, An Act Relative to Transmitting Indecent Visual Depictions by Teens, has found supporters beyond the Legislature, including in law enforcement and academics. One letter of support came all the way from a professor at the University of Colorado.
The bill, Roy said, protects minors who participate in sexting as long as they do so consensually. Instead of a felony, 15- to 19-year-olds convicted of sexting would have to enter a mandatory diversion program; other penalties range from a civil fine to community service.Read the full article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150714/NEWS/150718263/1994/NEWS
Would a wheelchair fit here?
One of the reported benefits of the Downtown Project is to make getting around town easier. Traffic calming cross walks will be installed along Main St to make it easier for the Dean students to cross and to make it easier for drivers to slow down for the cross walk.
Based upon the placement of the new utility poles, handicap access according to ADA requirements was left out of the planning process. These are a couple of photos from Sunday's walk along Main St. I have several more with similar situations present along West Central.
Assuming the 'old' pole is removed, does that leave enough space for a wheelchair or stroller to get by?
Based upon the placement of the new utility poles, handicap access according to ADA requirements was left out of the planning process. These are a couple of photos from Sunday's walk along Main St. I have several more with similar situations present along West Central.
eventually take away the 'old' pole on the right |
and same here, take away the old pole on the right |
Assuming the 'old' pole is removed, does that leave enough space for a wheelchair or stroller to get by?
Dinner Show and Fundraiser - August 27
Dinner Show and Fundraiser
Hosted by the Committee to Elect Diane Padula-O’Neill for Town Clerk
Featuring Las Vegas Headliner Singing Comedy Impressionist
SCOTT RECORD
And Professional Singing Sensation
TONY DALE
Thursday, August 27, 2015
The Elks Hall
1077 Pond Street
Franklin, MA
For tickets and more information call: 508-528-0315
Food and Entertainment $30.00/pp
Suggested contributions: $25, $50, $100
- Doors Open and Cash Bar @ 5:30 PM
- Dinner Buffet @ 6:30 PM
- Showtime @ 7:30 PM
Make personal checks payable to:
CTE Diane Padula-O’Neill
3 Lincolnwood Drive
Franklin, MA 02038
Visit our website: www.dianepadulaoneill.com
or email: ctedianepadulaoneill@gmail.com
Senator Spilka: Lifting All Families in the FY 2016 Budget
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Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Pond St RFP's responses to be reviewed
The next Economic Development Committee meeting is scheduled for Weds, July 15th at 6:00 PM. The meeting will review and discuss the responses to the RFP that was issued for the Pond St property and due to be submitted to Franklin as of July 9th.
At the Town Council meeting on Weds, July 8th, there had been at least one response submitted for solar. Reported to be from the same company that did the solar farm for the Mount St Mary's property. Franklin has an agreement with the solar farm there to purchase the electricity which effectively provides about 80% of Franklin's municipal requirements.
The meeting was discussed as being held in the Council Chambers as the 3rd floor training was unavailable. According to the Franklin calendar, the meeting will be held in the 3rd floor training room so something may have changed.
In any case, I do know the date and time of the meeting at the Municipal building. Worse case we show up to find out what room it is in.
At the Town Council meeting on Weds, July 8th, there had been at least one response submitted for solar. Reported to be from the same company that did the solar farm for the Mount St Mary's property. Franklin has an agreement with the solar farm there to purchase the electricity which effectively provides about 80% of Franklin's municipal requirements.
The meeting was discussed as being held in the Council Chambers as the 3rd floor training was unavailable. According to the Franklin calendar, the meeting will be held in the 3rd floor training room so something may have changed.
In any case, I do know the date and time of the meeting at the Municipal building. Worse case we show up to find out what room it is in.
Franklin Municipal Building |
Regency Transportation to move "The Wall That Heals"
Franklin trucking company Regency Transportation was selected for involvement with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund in transporting “The Wall That Heals,” a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The memorial, unveiled in 1996, was designed to travel, and has visited more than 400 cities and towns in the U.S.
Regency Transportation driver Gordon Rogers, a Marine Corp veteran, will move the memorial from Fuller Elementary School in Gloucester, where it is currently on display, to Staunton, Virginia.
For more information, visit vvmf.org/twth.http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150713/NEWS/150718959/1994/NEWS
"The Wall That Heals" |
Rail Good Coffee - open from 5:00 to 11:00 AM Monday through Friday
An update to my post from June 26th, the hours that Rail Good Coffee operate were posted to the window when I went by on Monday morning.
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/06/rail-good-coffee-now-open-at.html
Rail Good Coffee hours Mon - Fri |
When getting ready to catch the inbound train Thursday morning, I noticed that the doors to the building were open. This had been closed up for a bit after The Cake Bar and Cafe Dolce both gave it a good try.
They were indeed open. It had just opened earlier that morning. Newspapers had not yet started delivery but were scheduled. Train tickets can be purchased. The menu board had a listing of prices for coffee, etc.
Stop in to talk with Randy. Buy a coffee before your ride into Boston the next time you go.
menu board at Rail Good Coffee |
Monday, July 13, 2015
Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew"
The best way to experience Shakespeare is to see a performance in person. To see an outdoor performance is an opportunity that is just around the corner for folks here in Franklin.
The Star Players of MA is collaborating with Dean College to perform "The Taming of the Shrew" in the open on the Dean quad.
This free performance is scheduled for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday before the Franklin Cultural Festival kicks off.
In case of the rain, the performance will move inside to the Chapel in Dean Hall.
For a quick recap of "The Taming of the Shrew" check the wikipedia entry here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Taming_of_the_Shrew
The Star Players of MA is collaborating with Dean College to perform "The Taming of the Shrew" in the open on the Dean quad.
This free performance is scheduled for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday before the Franklin Cultural Festival kicks off.
- Friday, July 24 - 7:00 PM
- Saturday, July 25 - 7:00 PM
- Sunday, July 26 - 2:00 PM
Star Players and Dean College perform Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" |
In case of the rain, the performance will move inside to the Chapel in Dean Hall.
For a quick recap of "The Taming of the Shrew" check the wikipedia entry here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Taming_of_the_Shrew
Parmenter Bird House (photo essay)
Saturday's walk gave me a great chance to capture some photos of the new bird house put in at the entrance to the Parmenter Nature Walk.
One weekend in June, I happened upon a group of parents and 5th graders working to clean up the trail and to prepare for the installation of the bird house.
The bird house was supposed to be installed that Monday but the weather (rain) prevented that, time went by, it did get installed (sometime) and I finally did get to take some photos (on Saturday).
The group posed for a photo after their trail clean up work (thanks to Mary Jo Peterson for sharing)
The bird feeder
Photos of the Story Walk from October 2010 can be found here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157625155278049/
Note: The "Story Walk" is no longer but the trail is what was recently cleaned up
Photos of the Nature Trail from 2008 can be found here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157606926154439/
One weekend in June, I happened upon a group of parents and 5th graders working to clean up the trail and to prepare for the installation of the bird house.
entrance to Parmenter Nature Trail (bird house now in its own circle of stones to the left of the trail) |
The group posed for a photo after their trail clean up work (thanks to Mary Jo Peterson for sharing)
The group posed for a photo (thanks to Mary Jo Peterson for sharing) |
The bird feeder
front view |
memorial plaque |
one side view |
other side view |
full size view |
Photos of the Story Walk from October 2010 can be found here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157625155278049/
Note: The "Story Walk" is no longer but the trail is what was recently cleaned up
Photos of the Nature Trail from 2008 can be found here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157606926154439/
MA Ranked 48 of 50 on Fiscal Condition
Given the agreement between the MA House and Senate on the state budget which is now in the Governor's hand to review and vote on, it would be interesting to know how MA finances compare overall with the other states.
MA does not do well. We are ranked 48 of the 50. Yes, well down the bottom.
You can find the rankings here
http://mercatus.org/statefiscalrankings
The MA summary is here
http://mercatus.org/statefiscalrankings/massachusetts
A video explanation of the process can be found here
Does your state have its fiscal affairs in order? It’s not an easy question to answer, in part because the question can mean so many different things, including:The Mercatus Center at George Mason University has compiled this information in an interactive manner so you can check on the state by state comparison.
- Can the state pay its current bills? (cash solvency)
- Will annual revenues be sufficient to cover budgeted expenditures? (budget solvency)
- Are the state’s long-term liabilities—think bonds and loans—sustainable? (long-run solvency)
- How much room is there to raise additional revenue should the need arise? (service-level solvency)
- Can the state meet its pension and health care obligations? (trust fund solvency)
Long-run solvency. Can a state meet its long-term spending commitments? Will there be enough money to cushion it from economic shocks or other long-term fiscal risks? |
MA does not do well. We are ranked 48 of the 50. Yes, well down the bottom.
You can find the rankings here
http://mercatus.org/statefiscalrankings
The MA summary is here
http://mercatus.org/statefiscalrankings/massachusetts
A video explanation of the process can be found here
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Wedding Gown Exhibit
June (10.8%) may be the most popular month for weddings with August (10.2%) a close second but May (9.8%) and July (9.7%) come right behind along with September (9.4%) and October (9.2%).
So this is still prime wedding season and the Historical Museum can provide a comfortable setting to view some gowns and stories from Franklin weddings.
For additional information on the Historical Museum visit their webpage
http://franklinhistoricalmuseum.org/
or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FHM02038
Note the wedding statistics came from this page
http://www.soundvision.com/article/wedding-statistics-in-the-united-states
So this is still prime wedding season and the Historical Museum can provide a comfortable setting to view some gowns and stories from Franklin weddings.
The Franklin Historical Museum's summer Wedding Gown Exhibit is presently on display at the museum. 11 gowns ranging from 1890 to the 1960s are on display along with photos and stories of the brides who wore them.
Featured this year is the gown worn by beloved Franklin teacher, Palma Johnson, whose Kennedy school class had legislation passed to have the Lady Bug named as Massachusetts official state bug!
The parachute gown is one again on display as well as many mother/daughter displays of gowns from both generations.
The museum is located at 80 West Central Street in the old Town Hall, is handicap accessible and is open
- Saturdays 10:00am-1:00pm,
- Sundays 1:00pm-4:00pm
- Thursday evenings 5:00pm-8:00pm.
wedding gown on display at the Franklin Historical Museum |
wedding gown on display at the Franklin Historical Museum |
For additional information on the Historical Museum visit their webpage
http://franklinhistoricalmuseum.org/
or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FHM02038
Note the wedding statistics came from this page
http://www.soundvision.com/article/wedding-statistics-in-the-united-states
MassBudget: Analyzing the Legislature's Budget for FY 2016
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