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| FHS Panthers |
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| Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School |
The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) next weekend will present "The Nutcracker," bringing special guest artists, world-class musicians and more than 100 area dancers to one suburban stage.
FPAC invites audiences to fall under Drosselmeyer’s dreamy spell and join Clara and her Nutcracker prince on a journey full of surprises and wonder. A popular holiday tradition for more than two decades, "The Nutcracker" remains a highly anticipated and treasured part of the FPAC season. Set to Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, the ballet delights the imaginations of audiences young and old with festive magic and colorful splendor.
FPAC will present "The Nutcracker" on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. at the Franklin High School auditorium, 218 Oak St., Franklin.
Now in its fourth year, the Turkey Trot Family 5K Fun Run aims to both entertain and help to better the community in this giving season.
Runners can pay to enter the race - which starts on Thanksgiving at 8 a.m. - in two ways: by either paying a $20 entry fee or donating 20 non-perishable food items.
Krystal Whitmore, the race's organizer, said all proceeds benefit the Franklin Food Pantry.
"My son started it four years ago as an Eagle Scout project," she said. "We got such a great response."
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| donations to the Food Pantry at the 2013 Turkey Trot |
Attorney General Maura Healey today announced that a study commissioned by her office has determined that the region is unlikely to face electric reliability issues in the next 15 years and additional energy needs can be met more cheaply and cleanly through energy efficiency and demand response.
The study was designed to, first, determine whether the region is facing electric reliability challenges through 2030 and, second, identify the most cost-effective and clean solutions for addressing any of those challenges.
“As we make long-term decisions about our energy future, it’s imperative we have the facts,” said AG Healey. “This study demonstrates that we do not need increased gas capacity to meet electric reliability needs, and that electric ratepayers shouldn’t foot the bill for additional pipelines. This study demonstrates that a much more cost-effective solution is to embrace energy efficiency and demand response programs that protect ratepayers and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
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| image from Attorney General webpage |
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| FEF photo - Harlem Wizards game Nov 13 |
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| one of the boys races at Stanley Park, Westfield (Hockomock Sports.com photo) |
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| The 2nd Annual HockomockSports.com Charity Soccer All Star Event was held on Saturday |
The Special Education Parent Advisory Council will present sisters Patty Konjoian and Gina Gallagher, authors of “Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid: A Survival Guide for Ordinary Parents of Special Children” and creators of the Movement of Imperfection, at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 in the auditorium of the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School, 201 Main St., Franklin.
The Palladino School of Dance at Dean College will host a “Faculty Works” concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 4-5 on the Main Stage within the Dean College campus center, 99 Main St., Franklin.
The concert will feature dance faculty performing and sharing their work in a range of genres, as well as a repertory by Lester Horton and contemporary interdisciplinary work that will showcase both the art of dance and the dance of the college’s artists.
Faculty members participating in the concert include William Evans, Kristina Berger, Julianne O’Brien Pedersen, Rose Pasquerello Beauchamp, Amanda Donahue, Jim Beauregard, Craig Handel, Betsy Miller, Erin Mayfield, Todd Shanks, Julie White and Stephen Tracy Ursprung.
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| Palladino School of Dance performed at the Franklin Cultural Festival earlier this year |
The panther statue has been installed among the new fields on the ground of Franklin High School. I captured these photos on my walk last weekend. The panther statue is a gift from the Graci Family in memory of their daughter Kristen Graci, a 2007 graduate of FHS who died at 21 from complications with leukemia.
(If you are not familiar with the story, you can fill in some details here, here, and here.)
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| FHS Panther - "Franklin athletes never quit" |
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| The 2nd Annual HockomockSports.com Charity Soccer All Star Event |
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| screen grab of Tri-County webpage |
The Franklin Performing Arts Company will stage three productions this holiday season, featuring Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” and the original FPAC musicals, “Snow White and the Seven Elves” and “’Tis the Season!”
Franklin Performing Arts Company’s production of “The Nutcracker” is presented with professional orchestra, special guest artists and over 100 area dancers. FPAC will present “The Nutcracker” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and 2 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Franklin High School auditorium, 218 Oak St.
Franklin Performing Arts Company’s family-friendly musical “Snow White and the Seven Elves” debuts this season at The Black Box, 15 West Central St. Performances are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 2 p.m. Dec. 13.
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| Franklin Food Pantry |
The Franklin Food Elves and the Downtown Partnership will launch the “12 Days of Donating” campaign to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry on Dec. 1. This year’s collection drive marks 10 years that the Food Elves have helped neighbors in need during the holiday season.
The Food Elves were created in 2006 when Melissa and Cameron Piana began collecting donations in a wagon in their neighborhood. Last year more than 90 school-aged "elves" and 14 local businesses collected 7,020 pounds of goods and raised $8,500 for the food pantry. This year the pantry acquired additional warehouse space to accommodate the expected donations.
“We are looking forward to building on the success the Food Elves have had, and this year we hope to raise more money. The food pantry can buy a lot with those funds, and we hope to surpass last year’s dollar totals,” says Ellie Teixeira, lead Food Elf.
The town saw its new town clerk and final Town Council member get sworn in Friday after a recount delayed the two from assuming their positions.
Teresa Burr was sworn in as Franklin's first new town clerk in 31 years, while outgoing Town Clerk Deborah Pellegri was sworn in to her new seat on the council.
The matter had been delayed because of a challenge to the result of the Nov. 3 town election. Town Clerk candidate Diane Padula-O'Neill requested a recount in that race, as Burr had defeated her by only 32 votes - a margin of less than 1 percent.Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
The Women’s Spirituality Gathering at Franklin Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut St., will celebrate early for the winter solstice through honoring the Mother of the Night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 6.
The group will honor goddesses associated with the longest night, or the winter solstice. The winter solstice falls around Dec. 21-22, depending on astronomical variations and time zones.
Franklin Cub Scout Pack 126 will hold its annual All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast with Santa from 8-11 a.m. Dec. 5 at the Elks Lodge, 1077 Pond St.
The cost is $7 per person. Ages 2 and younger are free. Breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice, coffee and tea. Santa will be available for photos for a cost of $5 each.
The breakfast will include a raffle with themed baskets.
For information, contact 508-962-6726.
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| Franklin Liquors Newsletter for Thanksgiving |
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| FHS Panthers |
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| FHS Panthers |
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| FHS Panthers |
It's a worthwhile price to pay when you register for the annual Turkey Trot Family 5K Fun Run and Walk to be held Thanksgiving morning. The registration fee of $20, or 20 nonperishable food items, will go directly to the Franklin Food Pantry, keeping donations local to help those in need during this holiday season.
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| Franklin Food Pantry |
Sponsored by Feed the Need, the event begins and ends at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS Church) at 91 Jordan Road in Franklin. The race, open to runners and walkers of all ages, is a great opportunity for the entire family to get out and exercise together before their traditional Thanksgiving feast. And, there's the added benefit of helping to relieve hunger in the community.
"We are inspired by the great turnout for the Franklin race," said Erin Lynch, executive director for the Franklin Food Pantry. "Thanksgiving is a time for everyone to truly appreciate what they have, but also an occasion to think of others who are struggling to put food on their tables. The Turkey Trot rallies our community to give back and help protect others from the threat of hunger. We are grateful to Feed the Need for spearheading the race and raising awareness about our own need in Franklin."
The November 26 race will begin at 8 a.m. To participate in the Turkey Trot, you can pre-register online at www.feedtheneed.org; or sign up the day of the race from 7 – 8 a.m., or 7 – 9 p.m. the night before, at the LDS Church. The first 100 race participants to register Wednesday night will receive race t-shirts. For those interested in making food donations instead of the $20 registration fee, the Pantry is in most need of tuna, canned fruit, and health and hygiene products such as deodorant.
For more information, call 508-520-9864.
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| The entire Kilburn family of Franklin was among the almost 400 individuals who participated in last year's Turkey Trot |
