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| train at Franklin/Dean station |
"The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has assessed a $17,200 penalty on Strategic Materials, Inc. of Houston, Texas, which operates a glass recycling facility at Kenwood Circle in Franklin, for violating state air pollution control and wetland protection regulations.
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| State of MA DEP |
Strategic Materials holds an air quality permit issued by MassDEP, which establishes emission limits and operating requirements for the glass bottle-crushing facility. Inspections conducted by MassDEP staff in 2014 identified violations of both the permit and the Wetlands Protection Act regulations."
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| image shared from Eileen Mason |
The Town Council considered - and ultimately accepted - two initiatives intended to make it easier for local seniors to pay their property taxes.
The council unanimously approved a higher tax exemption for seniors older than 70 who make less than $19,000 a year and a higher ceiling for the senior tax work-off program.
Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said an increase in the state's minimum wage at the beginning of the year - from $9 to $10 an hour - allowed the town to bolster its work-off program, in which seniors volunteer at town departments in exchange for credit on their tax bills. The town is only allowed to pay seniors up to the minimum wage.Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
A Kenwood Circle glass recycling business has been fined by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for violations of state air quality and wetlands rules, the department announced Thursday.
The company - Houston-based Strategic Materials, Inc. - was fined $17,200 by the department after staff discovered violations in 2014, according to the announcement.Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
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| Franklin Senior Center |
State Rep. Jeffrey N. Roy, D-Franklin, will host a community conversation with senior citizens to discuss issues that impact their lives and to provide information on the various state programs available to them. Area seniors, their loved ones, and caregivers are invited to the event that will take place at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 15 at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill St.
Roy’s special guest for the event is State Rep. Denise C. Garlick, D-Needham, the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs. Garlick, who is also a registered nurse, will speak about the $3.5 billion dollars allocated to the Executive Office of Elder Affairs and MassHealth for senior programs. Aside from MassHealth, Garlick will address other funded initiatives including homecare and nursing homes, prescription drug assistance, Council on Aging funding, protective services, elder housing and nutrition programs.Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
– Jake Downie and Jeremy Miller had two goals and an assist apiece to lead the Panthers. Brendan O’Reilly had the other goal for Franklin and Nick Jasinski recorded 15 saves for the shutout. OA goalie Zach Walsh made 30 saves in the loss.http://www.hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-010616/
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| Jake Downie (9) and Jeremy Miller (5) each scored a pair of goals for the Panthers in a 5-0 victory over OA. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) |
Heading into their first Hockomock game of the season, the Panthers seem to have solidified the blue line, but there are still question marks about who will provide the goals for the defending league champs.
On Wednesday night at Pirelli Veterans Arena, senior Jake Downie and sophomore Jeremy Miller provided the offensive punch. The second line forwards contributed four goals and two assists to propel the Panthers to a 5-0 victory over visiting Oliver Ames.http://www.hockomocksports.com/downie-and-miller-spark-panthers-against-oa/
Area residents at Wednesday's Town Council meeting said a proposed natural-gas pipeline that would run through Franklin - as well as other nearby towns - was unnecessary and environmentally unfriendly.
A group of concerned citizens gave a presentation to the council, saying the local demand does not justify the 119-mile Spectra Energy pipeline.
Mendon residents Rand and Carolyn Barthel narrated a slideshow presentation in which they made their case against the project.
"This is a regional issue, a national issue and an international issue," Carolyn said, noting that such area towns as Milford, Bellingham, Medway, Franklin, Millis, Norfolk and Walpole would be affected by the pipeline.Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
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| screen grab of one of the presentation slides |
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