"What we know is there was a fire and explosion - we don't know its origin"

Two bodies were found in the wreckage of a condominium unit after an explosion rocked a local neighborhood Saturday morning. 

The Norfolk County District Attorney's Office said the bodies of Nancy and Richard Brown, both 66 years old, were recovered from the site of the blast, which took place at 58 Tuscany Drive shortly before 7 a.m. The cause of the incident, fire officials said, will be the subject of an investigation by the state fire marshal's office over the coming days. 

According to a Franklin Fire Department release, department personnel received calls at 6:48 a.m. that an explosion had taken place at The Villages at Oak Hill, a condominium complex off of Washington Street. Units responded and reported heavy fire on their arrival, and were able to contain the blaze by 8:15 a.m.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151010/NEWS/151019445/1994/NEWS

At mid-afternoon Saturday, firefighters were still putting water on the smoldering ruins of a condo at The Villages on Oak Hill in Franklin. Daily News Staff Photo/Ken McGagh

MassBudget: A $15 Minimum Wage - Effects and Historical Context

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. A $15 Minimum Wage - Effects and Historical Context After several decades in which economic growth and productivity gains have not translated into wage growth for large segments of the labor force, policy makers are looking for strategies that can expand opportunity and raise wages for working people. One proposal in Massachusetts would set a minimum wage of $15 an hour for workers in fast food and big box retail businesses that have more than 200 employees. MassBudget's new report A $15 Minimum Wage - Effects and Historical Context looks at recent changes in wage and productivity growth and examines the current minimum wage in light of those trends. It also examines who would be affected by proposed increases for fast food workers. To read the full report, please click HERE. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Ford Hall Forum - Fall 2015 programs are here!

Digital Rights Management, Balancing Cyber Security and Privacy, Low Turnout in Municipal Elections.

All great topics for today! Too bad the low turnout for elections event is scheduled for After our Nov 3 election. Maybe we'll be able to provide an update on how an increased number of candidates seemed to engage the folks to get out and vote. That at least is my personal objective. To ensure that there is enough info to cast a good ballot and by doing so to entice as many folks as possible to get out and vote. 

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Cory Doctorow The Remote-Controlled Society REGISTER NOW! With Digital Rights Management, are our computers controlling us? Cory Doctorow (science fiction author and Co-Editor of Boing Boing tech blog)  Rebecca Curtin (Assistant Professor of Law with a focus on copyrights, Suffolk Law School) Benjamin Ngugi (Associate Professor, Information Systems & Operations Management, Sawyer Business School at Suffolk University) Leonid Reyzin (Professor of Computer Science with a focus on cryptography, Boston University) Tues., 10/13/2015, 6:30 p.m. C. Walsh Theatre, Suffolk University                                    Click here for more... Co-presented with:     Michael Sulmeyer Balancing Cyber Security and Privacy in the Digital Age Legislation hasn't kept pace with with technological developments, leaving some wondering if privacy as we know it is long dead. Michael Sulmeyer (Director of Cyber Security Initiative at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government) Thurs., 10/29/2015, 6:00 p.m. Reception in lobby at 5:30 p.m.   C. Walsh Theatre, Suffolk University                                   Click here for more... Co-presented with: Elena Letona Low Turnout in Municipal Elections: Implications for Democracy, Citizens of Color, and Low Income Individuals Join us for a provocative and thoughtful discussion of the causes, consequences, and possible fixes for low turnout municipal elections.   Sarah Anzia (professor at University of California, Berkeley and author of Timing and Turnout: How Off-Cycle Elections Favor Organized Groups) Zoltan Hajnal (professor at University of California, San Diego and author of America's Uneven Democracy: Turnout, Race, and Representation in City Politics) Elena Letona (Executive Director, Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts) Moderator: TBA Thurs., 11/5/2015, 6:30 p.m.  Modern Theatre, Suffolk University                                   Click here for more... Co-presented with: Visit www.fordhallforum.org now Register to attend the forums today!   All forums are FREE and open to the public.  Seating is first come, first served. If you register to attend on our website, you do not have to register at the forum.       Connect with us         BECOME A MEMBER OF THE FORUM     Ford Hall Forum   at Suffolk University 41 Temple Street Boston, MA 02114 P: (617) 305-6316 jbonardi@fordhallforum.org

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FHS golf, boys, and girls soccer teams win, football loses 10-3

On Friday, the FHS football team kept it a low scoring and close game losing to King Philip 10-3. Both the FHS boys and girls soccer teams beat their counterparts from Canton by 2-0 scores. The golf team topped Stoughton. Thanks to Hockomock Sports for providing the results to share here.

FHS Panthers

Football

King Philip, 10 @ Franklin, 3 – Final

1st Quarter: (KP) Zach Boari 17 yard field goal.2nd Quarter: (F) Nick Yelle 20 yard field goal.3rd Quarter: (KP) John DeLuca 2 yard rush, Z. Boari XP good.4th Quarter: No scoring.

Boys Soccer

Canton, 0 @ Franklin, 2 – Final 

– Kevin Hall scored for the third straight game, this time off an assist from David Stowell to pace the Panthers. Austin Kent added an unassisted for for Franklin.

Girls Soccer

Franklin, 2 @ Canton, 0 – Final 

– Megan Georges and Meghan Dieterle scored the goals for Franklin both assisted by Victoria Stowell.

Golf

Stoughton, 190 @ Franklin, 165 – Final 

– Matt Dao and Matt Pleshaw each shot a 40 for the Panthers.

For all the Friday results around the Hockomock League
http://www.hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-100915/

Franklin Cultural Council says "Please fill out our survey"

Greetings from The Town of Franklin Cultural Council.

The Council is requesting as many town residents as possible complete a survey to see how much they know about funding for community projects through the Franklin Cultural Council.

The Franklin Cultural Council is required to survey the community on a regular basis, but would in addition appreciate any and all resident input..

Also, as an important reminder, applications for grants for the next Award cycle must be postmarked no later than October 15th 2015.

Here is the survey link --> www.surveymonkey.com/r/LW9YLG9

image from Franklin Cultural Council webpage

For more information on the Franklin Cultural Council visit their webpage

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_BComm/cultural

Grant Application Forms (PDF) are available on the webpage or by following the link

News from Norfolk County Registry of Deeds: Positive Trends for 3rd Quarter 2015 Real Estate Activity

	Norfolk County Registry of Deeds
	Register O'Donnell Reports Positive Trends for 3rd Quarter 2015 Real Estate Activity Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell is still reporting good news when it comes to real estate in Norfolk County, as 3rd Quarter sales remain robust, but there are some potential leveling off signs that could be just around the corner. "The 3rd quarter saw a robust 11% increase in properties sold. A total of 5,369 deeds were recorded compared to 4,848 for the 3rd quarter 2014. This is further evidence that Norfolk County continues to be a destination location for individuals and families to live and work. In addition, the quarter saw a solid 14% growth rate compared to last year's period in total dollar volume of commercial and residential sales," noted Register O'Donnell. One note of caution was the minimal 2% increase in the average sale price of commercial and residential property to $647,737. "We saw the average sale price of real estate in Norfolk County begin to slow down in August and the overall quarterly figure reflects this trend. This minimal increase in average real estate price can be partly attributed to limited real estate inventory. However, the small sales price increase is good news for buyers' purchasing powers, especially first-time ones." said O'Donnell. The mortgage market saw conflicting news. There was a solid 11% growth in the number of mortgages recorded for the quarter. However, total mortgage indebtedness (financing) for the same period fell by 15% to $3.4 billion. This decrease can be explained by a large mortgage that was recorded against commercial retail property in Dedham, Canton and Medfield during the 3rd quarter of last year. Another note of concern was the number of foreclosure deeds recorded during the quarter which increased to 62 compared to 50 during the same quarter last year. Register O'Donnell stated, "Lending institutions continue to work through a backlog of foreclosures that resulted from the economic downturn that occurred in 2008. More disconcerting was the Notice to Foreclose Mortgage recording figure, the first stage in the foreclosure process, which rose to 238 compared to 139 during the 3rd quarter 2014. This figure is a clear indication that while our economy is strong, many of our neighbors still face significant economic hardships." The Registry continues to partner with Quincy Community Action Programs at (617) 479-8181 x-376 and Neighbor Works Southern Mass at (508) 598-0950 to help anyone who has received a Notice to Foreclose Mortgage from a lender. Another option for homeowners is to call the Massachusetts Attorney General's HomeCorps program at (617) 573-5333. Homestead recordings increased 11% for the 3rd quarter compared to one year ago. Homestead recordings provide limited protection against the forced sale of an individual's primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000. Register O'Donnell concluded, "The Norfolk County real estate story for the 3rd quarter 2015 was pretty much a positive one, but there are warning signs out there. The strong eastern Massachusetts economy continues to serve as an economic engine for real estate activity, especially in Norfolk County. However, while the Massachusetts Association of Realtors reported gains in real estate inventory during the summer months, the levels remain below average. Additionally, a possible move by the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates before the end of 2015 could have a major impact on borrowers. Finally, new consumer federal disclosure rules, scheduled to go into effect in early October, could lengthen the time for real estate closings, pushing some closings from the 4th quarter of 2015 into the first quarter of 2016." To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, "like" us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds. The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High Street, Dedham, is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101, or on the web at www.norfolkdeeds.org. Register William P. O'Donnell Norfolk County Registry of Deeds email: registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org phone: 781-234-3336 web: http://www.norfolkdeeds.org

Forward email Norfolk County Registry of Deeds | 649 High Street | Dedham, | MA | 02026-1831

screen grab of Norfolk County Deeds webpage