Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Live reporting: Update on hiring of Football Coach


e. Update on Hiring of Football Coach

Sidwell has moved to the AD role and left the football coaching spot
a screening committee is working through 25 applications
9 candidates most likely on short list
search committee representative of the stakeholders
interview the 9 candidates starting tomorrow
looking for an educator role model 
focus on academics, social emotional development
be more visible in the community

as this is a high school position, the decision will be by the high school principle and staff
it is a coaching position, stipend position
hope to have the process shortened from 9 to next round at the end of this week

O'Malley - seems like an inclusive interview process to do this

Sabolinski - we have a good committee and want to thank them for their work in this matter



Live reporting: proposal for new sports teams

d. FHS Proposal for New Sports Teams
Brad Sidwell, Peter Light

working with a variety of folks in the community, to identify needs not currently being met
youth programs, booster groups, etc.
feasibility studies done, impact on budget, most cases budget neutral for sports
some are grant funded to defray the costs



inclusion of special education students
applied for a Best Buddies grant, also received a grant from Special Olympics to help with this
would need to get the special ed students paired with a partner


  • unified track program an extension of Best Buddies

this is a no cost program for the students as it is being funded by grants


  • lacrosse teams at freshman level

nothing currently elsewhere in the Hockomock League
would look around to get games for competition outside the league
need to be careful with Title 9 and offer similar programs for boys and girls

BC High, St John's Shrewsbury, Duxbury mentioned as possible competition at this level

'if Franklin builds it, the other Hockomock teams will follow'
Sabolinski - we started in 2003 with the girls hockey team, lead the way then and are continuing to lead as we need to


  • gymnastics

the only team in the Hockomock League without a team
have met with parents for three years to review this team
would need to find space for the team to practice and compete, should not be an issue

gym equipment is large and expensive and hard to store so this would be a good start

discussion with School Committee members, then audience, then to be voted on later tonight

actual cost is the cost to the district

we have not decreased in number of kids at the high school participating
we have decreased in percent participation

Q - explored the opportunity for a second JV team
A - scheduling is even harder, the teams at the freshman level is usually available

did explore a variety of options, did try a freshman/JV program and it didn't work so well
this should get us with a good start

325-375 boys in the lacrosse program last several years
good success at this level, the quality of talent is there, the volume and interest is there


Live reporting: FHS Program of studies update


c. FHS Program of Studies Update
Peter Light





Note the doc linked to is in the process of being updated. It contains most of the new updates but the date for the program of instruction still refers to '2015-2016' school year (rather than the 2016-1017 school year)


  • computer science, grant from State last year allowed development of this new aspect of training
  • advanced placement of computer science principles; expand upon the current offering which is targeted for coders, this is more broadly based student; students develop a portfolio rather than finish with an exam
  • advanced placement physic level 1 and increase over the physics C course (targeted for engineering students)
  • overview of environmental science, currently offering a series of semester electives but those classes mostly do not end up being run as the enrollments don't reach the required level
O'Malley - how many AP classes do we offer?
Light - only 2 or 3 AP classes that we don't offer (languages, and micro economics as examples)
52-54% of the senior class takes an AP class

Jewel - stick with the fundamentals, sometimes the students go to fast through the intros and don't learn it as well as they should

Live reporting: Substance Abuse Presentation


b. FHS Substance Abuse Task Force

Peter Light, Kristin Circe, and Joshua MacCreery





numbers lower than national average but can be better
data from MetroWest survey has not changed a whole deal over the years

substance abuse education from K-12
age appropriate through the years to create and enhance the awareness
more depth beginning about 5th grade

increase in clubs and activities at the High School helps
SADD is a key club in some of the activities

Panthers Club and Community Service Club

School Wellness Advisory Council (SWAC)
focuses on extra curricular healthy activities

FHS substance abuse sub-committee has three leads to focus on students, faculty and community to assist in raising awareness and education

Chris Herren (former NBA basketball player) coming to speak at FHS Feb 29th


Bilello - thanks for the information
it was disappointing that at the SAFE coalition forum, one student spoke to somethings that are not reflected here
what are you doing with the middle schools?

Circe - using the data to drive curriculum and awareness down to the middle school level, the 7/8 students actually participate in the survey

Light - did get about 80 FHS teachers show up to do something to help, looking to start small and build on success; activities being planned around the Chris Herren visit; possible event planned for the joint basketball games at FHS against KP. Police coming in to do some drug awareness training during March and extend to middle school personnel. This does have a district wide impact

Schultz - question on the numbers, 10% in middle school 
Circe - the answers are life time events, not necessarily an indication of a continued use. Later added that the average had decreased over the past several year. Still a decent number of users but a down trend.
Light - use of a 'party' bowl where extra drugs are brought to a party to be shared - not really a smart decision because you have no idea what is really being used
Sabolinski - academic stress increases as they get to juniors, taking more caffeine and other self medications to get through it. Can go back to the zones of regulation, helping kids learn to recognize and deal with the emotions. Have spent several years moving in this direction. The anxiety and depression increases

Jewel - concern with the guidance as not always be good, need to be able to decipher. Some of the consequences of taking one drug or another may not be recoverable.


Live reporting: School Committee - Jan 12, 2016

Present: Bilello, Scofield, Douglas, O'Malley, Schultz, Jewel
Absent:  Bergan


1. Routine Business

Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
- no changes

Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the December 8, 2015 School Committee Meeting.
- Motion to approve, seconded, passed 6-0

Payment of Bills Dr. O’Malley
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
- discussion on lanyard policy, lack of pencil sharpeners in the classrooms is also an issue

Correspondence: Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

2. Guests/Presentations

a. Jefferson Elementary School Update
(doc to be added)





Reminder: Franklin Dog Park Committee forming Weds, Jan 13

Haley is looking to start a Franklin Dog Park Committee. 
My name is Haley and I am starting up the Franklin Dog Park committee, I was wondering if you would be able to help me promote it by posting about it? 
The first meeting is January 13, 7:00 PM at the New England Chapel - any and all are welcome. If you have any questions or are thinking about attending yourself, my email is franklin.dogpark@gmail.com

-----------

There is a signup sheet available for those looking to attend the formation of the Franklin Dog Park Committee meeting on Wednesday, Jan 13.



dog park at Dacey Field on a sunny summer day
dog park at Dacey Field on a sunny summer day

You can find the signup sheet online here -> https://t.co/9COXkE55Id

Franklin Library: Knitting Circle - Tues, Jan 12 - 6:30 - 8:30 PM

"Whether you knit, crochet or spin, all fiber enthusiasts are welcome to share their craft at the Franklin Library Knitting Circle. Open to all skill levels. Meetings will take place on the second Tuesday of the month"

For adults

Franklin Library - 2nd Tuesday of the month
This was shared from the Franklin Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2016/01/knitting-circle.html

Hurry, Your Hatha Yoga class starts before you know it!



yoga-woman-stretching.jpg



Hatha Yoga Classes begin soon!

The Center for Adult Education and Community Learning has Hatha yoga classes starting on Wednesday, January 20. 

AND there's still time to register.

 Just click here

» View all classes
Stay Connected
Franklin Public Schools   Lifelong Learning Institute 
Center for Adult Education and Community Learning
218 Oak Street, Franklin, MA 02038
adulted@franklin.k12.ma.us               
Forward this email


FPS- Life Long Learning | 355 East Central Street | Franklin | MA | 02038

"how substance-abuse issues derailed his life"



A substance-abuse coalition will host two events in February in an effort to better inform the public about the factors that lead to opioid abuse. 
The Support for Addicts and Families by Empowerment (SAFE) group will be hosting a talk by Harvard University Professor Robert Putnam on Feb. 2 and a program by former Boston Celtic Chris Herren on Feb. 29. 
State Rep. Jeffrey Roy, D-Franklin, said the Putnam talk - scheduled for 7 p.m. at Franklin High School - is not solely about drugs. 
"It's going to be more about the sociological background and context of the opioid crisis," he said. "Dr. Putnam has done a lot of research - not on opioids specifically - and he does paint a good picture of what is happening in America at the same time this epidemic has exploded."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160111/franklin-substance-abuse-coalition-hosting-two-talks

S.A.F.E. Coalition

For more info about the SAFE Coalition and the services they offer
http://safecoalitionma.com/

Monday, January 11, 2016

Franklin Public Schools: January 2016 concert calendar

Are you ready for some musical entertainment this January? 

The concert calendar for the Franklin Public Schools is available. The January date for each concert is shown followed by the school/grade and time of concert. Snow dates are also shown in case that white stuff makes an appearance.

Enjoy!



11 - Keller 3rd and 4th Grade Winter Concert 9:00 a.m. (snow date 1/25)

12 - Parmenter 5th Grade Concert 9:00 a.m. (snow date 1/19)

13 - Parmenter 3rd and 4th Grade Winter Concert 8:45 a.m. (snow date 1/20)

13 - Keller 5th Grade Winter Concert 9:00 a.m. (snow date 1/20)

14 - Davis Thayer 3rd Grade Winter Concert 2:00 p.m. (snow date 1/21)

15 - Oak Street 3rd, 4th and 5th Winter Concert 9:00 a.m. Horace Mann Auditorium (snow date 1/22)

21 - Kennedy 4th Grade Concert 9:00 a.m. (snow date 1/27)

22 - Kennedy 3rd Grade Concert 9:00 a.m. (snow date 1/29)

27 - Franklin High School Jazz Concert 7:00 p.m. FHS Auditorium (snow date 1/28)

Franklin High School in the rain
Franklin High School in the rain

The Franklin Public Schools website can be found here
http://franklindistrict.vt-s.net/Pages/index

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds: Register O'Donnell Discusses 2015 Norfolk County Real Estate Activity




Norfolk County Registry of Deeds

Register O'Donnell Discusses 2015 Norfolk County Real Estate Activity

Despite significant challenges resulting from last year's brutal winter, Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell reported the Norfolk County real estate market showed mostly positive and sunny results in 2015.

Register O'Donnell noted, "When it came to the Norfolk County real estate market in 2015, the sun was shining brightly over most indicators. Last year, we saw healthy increases in the number of commercial and residential properties sold. A total of 17,819 properties were purchased in 2015 compared to 16,718 in 2014, resulting in a solid 7% growth rate."

There were also some warm smiles when it came to the total dollar volume of commercial and residential real estate sold in 2015 which was $8.1 billion, a 10% jump from last year. Additionally, the average sale price of commercial and residential sales in Norfolk County was $719,679, a 2% increase from 2014.

Also, another telltale sign regarding the improved real estate performance in Norfolk County was the 157,817 land documents recorded during 2015, a 12% increase from the previous year. "These numbers clearly indicate that despite a rough beginning, the Norfolk County real estate market weathered the storm and rebounded nicely, particularly in the summer and fall months," noted Register O'Donnell.

There were a few mixed results, however, in 2015. Despite a significant 21% increase in the number of mortgages recorded, the overall amount of mortgage financing actually fell 9%, closing at $18.4 billion. This decrease is partly explained by a large mortgage that was recorded on commercial properties in Dedham, Canton and Medfield during the 3rd quarter of 2014.

Last year, property owners were also active on the consumer front, signing up for protections accorded to them under the Homestead Act. A total of 12,077 Homesteads were recorded in 2015, an 8% increase from the previous year. O'Donnell stated, "A Homestead provides limited protection against the forced sale of an individual's primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000. I urge homeowners who have not recorded a Homestead against their primary residence to consider this valuable consumer protection tool."

In a continuing sign that some of our neighbors have not benefited from the robust economy in eastern Massachusetts, 2015 saw 250 foreclosure deed recordings, a 22% increase from 2014. Furthermore, the number of Notice to Foreclose Mortgage filings - the first step in the foreclosure process - rose by 36%. "The increases in foreclosure activity," stated Register O'Donnell, "can be explained in part by lending institutions working to resolve foreclosure issues that in many cases date back to the height of the economic slowdown in 2008."

The Registry has partnered 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 consumers is to call the Massachusetts Attorney General's HomeCorps program at (617) 573-5333.

Register O'Donnell concluded, "Despite a stormy start, 2015 turned out to be a solid year for Norfolk County real estate. For the most part, I believe the positive trends seen in 2015 can continue into the new year. Clearly, Norfolk County remains a destination location for individuals and families to live and work.

"However, the lingering concerns I have are that real estate inventory will remain low, potentially chocking off increased activity and also that any upticks in interest rates could put a chill on mortgage financing. Additionally, we need to watch for potential disruptions in the housing market as real estate professionals continue to get used to new federal disclosure rules for mortgages introduced this past October."

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

phone: 781-234-3336

Forward email





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

screen grab of Norfolk Deeds webpage
screen grab of Norfolk Deeds webpage


Town Council approves help for seniors, hears from anti-pipeline group

The Town Council meeting on Wednesday featured the presentation by local citizens against the Spectra pipeline.

With the new year, there are some changes that are noteworthy.


1 - Citizen Comments


When the agenda was published it included the citizen comment policy. This Council Chair Matt Kelly also read out load as the meeting opened.

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS – Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the Agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.
This helps to better set the expectations of those who come and comment. Many were not aware of the process and clearly disturbed by needing to wait until the end of the meeting to get the matter addressed. That issue is not resolved. If the Council will not address the matter directly but will have the Town Administrator look into it, why wait? Be courteous and provide a more timely response.


2 - Anti-Spectra Pipeline presentation


The Anti-Spectra Pipeline presentation can be viewed here




Spectra will make an appearance at the Town Council meeting on Feb 24 to present their side of the story.



3 - Council Subcommittee reports

The one subcommittee report was from Councilor Bissanti who had just chaired the Economic Development Committee (EDC) meeting held also on Wednesday that ended just prior to the Council meeting. 

The notes from the EDC meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/01/live-reporting-economic-development.html


4 - Legislation

The Council approved an increase in the tax exemption amount allowed for the senior work off program. In 2010, the Council increased from 500 to 700; this approval increased from 700 to $1000. Per Jeff Nutting about 30 residents meet the requirements.

The key discussion was around how many seniors are taking advantage of this. While authorized for up to 100, Franklin has never approached the limit. 88 people took advantage of the program last year. While some councilors were advocating for more to take advantage of the program (a worthy goal), there is also an issue on the Town side of being able to handle an increase. 

The work needs to be allocated by each department, some departments are more likely (Library, DPW, Senior Center, Schools, and Recreation) to have an appropriate kind of work for the people to do. Some qualifications are required. Some planning (including budgeting) within the departments are also required. 

Karen Alves, Director of the Senior Center, is reported to be working on expanding the program capabilities. This is also something we can keep an eye on during the upcoming budget cycle.

The Council in a related item also increased the minimum wage for such work to the state minimum of $10/hour.

The Council also approved an easement for NationalGrid to extend the proper power connection to the newly renovated Recreation Building on Beaver St. 

5- Fiscal Forecast

The annual update to the 5- year fiscal forecast was provided by Jeff Nutting. The doc is available in the agenda documents as released for the meeting and also published to the Town website as promised during the meeting. This will be referenced again during the upcoming budget cycle.

5 year fiscal forecast (PDF)


Other notes from the meeting captured live during the meeting can be found in the links below:



The agenda for this meeting was published here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/01/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-jan-6.html

the pole on the left in this photo appears to be the new on added as a result of the easement approved
the pole on the left in this photo appears to be the new on added as a result of the easement approved


Of note: there was also a special publication called "Town Council Actions Taken January 6, 2016" made available on the Town webpage on Friday (after the meeting).  The actions referred only to the specific legislated items but it is a good first start. Now if the Town can also enable real automated notifications for when something is updated on the webpage, we will really be making progress.


Reminder: Christmas Tree Collection Days - week of January 11

The snow has been washed away by the rain but the Christmas trees are still around and scheduled for pick up with your normal trash pick up day this week.


---------------

Christmas Tree Collection Days

Week of January 11, 2016

On Your Regular Trash Day

put tree out with the trash on your day during the week of Jan 11
put tree out with the trash on your day during the week of Jan 11

This was shared from the notice on the Town of Franklin page

Winter Bear Zentangle Fundraiser - Jan 14th


Thursday, January 14th, the Franklin Art Center is doing a fundraiser for the International Arts Foundation for Kids (IAFK).  IAFK is a new 501(c)3 organization based in Franklin to help art education.

IAFK zen bear poster
IAFK zen bear poster

 "The mission of the International Arts Foundation for Kids a registered 501(c)(3), is to collect new art supplies, new and gently used music and dance equipment, lessons, studio time, tickets to museums, shows and concerts and distribute these items to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted."

From 7-9:30 pm, the class will feature Zentangle. Each participant will leave with an 8" x 10" framed Winter Bear and a gift tag. The class will be lead by by Sarah Del Mastro.

The cost for the class is $45.00. This includes the zentangle starter kit and a portion of the cost goes to the IAFK foundation.


Call the Franklin Art Center to register and for more information.

In the News: contractor chosen for Senior Center project, Franklin's fiscal prospects good

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"After a process that drew lower-than-expected bids, a local committee voted Friday to award a contract for a renovation of the Franklin Senior Center. 
The Senior Center Building Committee opted to hire general contractor GTC Construction Management of Haverhill. The company bid just more than $1 million on a project that had been estimated to cost in the neighborhood of $1.6 million. 
Committee chairman and Town Council member Tom Mercer said the project had garnered nine bidders - a higher total than expected. 
Fellow committee members noted that there was not much variance among the bids, which was another surprise."
Franklin Senior Center in the rain
Franklin Senior Center in the rain

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160111/franklin-senior-center-contractor-chosen


"The town should be in good financial shape for the next couple of years, but may face challenges in the future, according to a recently-released fiscal forecast. 
Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting put forward his five-year forecast during the most recent Town Council meeting. During a brief oral summary, he spoke about its basic conclusions. 
"It hasn't changed dramatically from last year," he said. "The town is in good shape in the short run, but there continue to be concerns about the future, as fixed costs continue to rise."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160110/franklin-short-term-fiscal-forecast-positive

You can find the five year fiscal forecast referred to here
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/022E2532-000F8513

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Jan 12, 2016

Vision Statement
The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

AGENDA
"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which
may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed
and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent
permitted by law."

Franklin Public Schools - 'the key to learning'
Franklin Public Schools - 'the key to learning'

1. Routine Business

Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the December 8, 2015 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Dr. O’Malley
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

2. Guests/Presentations

a. Jefferson Elementary School Update
b. FHS Substance Abuse Task Force
c. FHS Program of Studies Update
d. FHS Proposal for New Sports Teams
e. Update on Hiring of Football Coach

3. Discussion Only Items

2016-2017 School Calendar – 2 Draft options
BiCounty Collaborative Update
ACCEPT Collaborative Update

4. Action Items

a. I recommend acceptance of four checks totaling $3,350.00 for FHS as detailed:

  • 1. Raytheon $1,000.00
  • 2. Franklin Music boosters $1,800.00
  • 3. Maura Schaeffer $250.00 (scholarship)
  • 4. Anonymous $300.00

b. I recommend acceptance of three checks totaling $12,496.00 from Franklin Music Parents from the Middle and High Schools.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Lueder’s for Davis Thayer Elementary School.
d. I recommend approval of the addition of Girls/Boys Freshman Lacrosse and Girls Gymnastics as outlined by FHS Principal.

5. Information Matters

Superintendent’s Report
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business

To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Adjourn


There were no documents released as part of this agenda preventing any preparation for the meeting.

Representative Roy Announces January & February Office Hours


State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin) announced today that constituent office hours will be held for the Months of January and February on the following days:

January:
  • Friday, January 29th, 10:00-11:00AM, Elizabeth's Bagels, 456 W Central St. Franklin, MA



February:
  • Thursday, February 18th, 8:30-9:30AM, Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill St. Franklin MA
  • Saturday, February 27th, 9:00-10:00AM, Medway Muffin House, 116 Main St. Medway, MA


Christopher Yancich, his legislative aide, will be accompanying him.

Representative Roy stated that all office hours are open to any residents of Franklin and Medway who may have questions or concerns that they wish to bring to his attention.  Walk-ins are welcome; no appointment necessary. He looks forward to hearing from you.

He also invites all constituents to call him at his State House office at (617) 722-2020, stop by Room 527A in the State House, or email him at Jeffrey.Roy@MAhouse.gov.

FHS wrestling win 4 matches, boys hockey tops Foxboro

The FHS boys hockey team cruised against Foxboro winning 9-0. The girls hockey team dropped a close 2-0 match to Medfield. The FHS wrestling team won four matches in the event at Franklin County Tech out in Western MA. All results via Hockomock Sports.

Boys Hockey


  • Franklin, 9 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final 

– Luke Downie, Ryan Hohman, Joe Lizotte and Zac Falvey all scored their first varsity goals in the win for the Panthers.
FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers


Girls Hockey


  • Franklin, 0 @ Medfield, 2 – Final



Wrestling


  • Franklin @ Franklin County Tech 

– Franklin went 4-0 with wins over Maher (64-9), Holliston (38-12), Pioneer (24-6) and Athol (24-9).


For all the results on Saturday around the Hockomock League
http://www.hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-010916/

"we respect those concerns, they're legitimate concerns"



"Affordable housing: Not everyone’s favorite topic. It means constant juggling for local municipalities - balancing the needs of current residents with future residents, deciding what is best for the town and attempting to attract younger people and more taxpayers. And making sure at least 10 percent of their housing stock is deemed "affordable" as required by state law. 
Nowhere is this more evident than in a recent study done by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). The council recently released a study projecting house needs and demands for MetroWest and the Milford area for 2030. 
The study calls for at least 20,752 housing units to be added by 2030 to meet projected population and households changes. 
One trend among these projections includes a shift of those 55 and older into more rental units instead of owning their homes. Likewise, there is an increased demand in rental units for those younger than 35 and an increase in demand for single-family homes for those aged 35 to 54."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160110/more-affordable-housing-needed-for-future


Additional info on Chapter 40b can be found here
http://www.mass.gov/hed/community/40b-plan/

More about the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) can be found here
http://www.mapc.org/

280 units coming to West Central St via 40b
280 units coming to West Central St via 40b


Related affordable housing posts


  • 280 unit apartment housing coming to Franklin via 40b

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/04/280-unit-apartment-building-at-1330.html


  • Franklin offers affordable housing for 55+

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/12/affordable-housing-for-55-37-grey-wolfe.html


  • Lottery for affordable housing in 2014

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/franklin-municipal-affordable-housing.html

Saturday, January 9, 2016

S.A.F.E. Community Coalition January 2016 Update



This newsletter from S.A.F.E. is to provide you with some updates and information to keep the conversation on opioid addiction going.
View this email in your browser

Author to speak on Tuesday, Feb. 2


The S.A.F.E. (Support for Addicts and Families by Empowerment) Board is pleased to confirm that Professor Robert Putnam, the author of Bowling Alone and Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis, has accepted our invitation to speak at our next coalition meeting on February 2, 2016 at Franklin High School.

The coalition meeting begins at 7 p.m., and we expect Prof. Putnam to speak between 7:30 pm and 8:45 pm. He will begin with a presentation and then will sit down with Dr. Anne Bergen for a one on one dialogue.

Our Kids is a groundbreaking examination of the growing inequality gap and why fewer Americans today have the opportunity for upward mobility. You can learn more about the book and research by clicking hereBowling Alone talks about how we have become increasingly disconnected from one another and how social structures have disintegrated. It should be a fascinating talk and of particular interest to those wishing to understand the sociological climate surrounding the opioid crisis.

Our February 29, 2016 meeting will feature Chris Herren, a former Boston Celtic player and founder of the Herren Project, who will speak about his own substance use disorder and the importance of a healthy lifestyle and good decision making. He will also provide "real-world" techniques on how to handle pressure within a teen's life, community or family situation.

Please continue to spread the word about S.A.F.E., encourage your friends to sign up for this newsletter by clicking here. And please do not hesitate to reach out if you or someone you know is in need. We'll do our best to get you on the right path.

Outreach center

SAFE members Jeff Roy, Jim Derick, and Mike Gervais traveled to East Bridgewater to observe EBHope's outreach center which provides 4 hours of community-based meetings for persons with substance abuse disorder and/or affected family members. The center convenes twice a month at a centralized location in that community to act as a gatekeeper and notify residents about substance abuse services that are available to everyone before an overdose or fatality occurs.

SAFE will be discussing a similar proposal for our region at its next board meeting this month. We hope to grow the program into a community center-like system where residents can go to find answers and advice.



House opioid bill filed 

An opioid abuse prevention bill tagged for debate by House Speaker Robert DeLeo later this month is moving through the committee process in the House. DeLeo has said he hopes the House can vote on the legislation before the end of January.

The bill, among its many provisions, would limit first-time patients to a seven-day supply of opioid medication and require substance abuse evaluations before overdose patients are discharged. The bill would also set an evaluation requirement for overdose victims who seek help at hospital emergency rooms.

The House bill seeks to end a longstanding policy of placing women with civil commitments for substance abuse – but who have not committed crimes – into the state prison for women in Framingham.

It also includes legal protections for anyone administering the overdose-reversing Narcan to a person during an opiate overdose and requires a doctor to check the Prescription Monitoring Program every time a patient is prescribed a high-risk opiate medication.

The bill includes numerous other provisions including:
  • requiring schools to have a plan for teaching students about drug addiction;
  • requiring schools to teach student-athletes about addiction to prescription painkillers;
  • making doctors write the reason for an opioid prescription in the patient's medical record;
  • allowing patients to voluntarily limit their access to opiate medications;
  • requiring the state to provide transportation for students attending recovery high schools; and
  • expanding the prescription monitoring program to track Gabapentin, a drug that has increasingly been abused.

Learn2Cope

Just before 7:00pm on a Monday, the Chestnut Street parking lot of the First Universalist Society begins to fill with cars. People make their way to the sanctuary as they do every Monday night to attend Franklin's Learn to Cope meeting, a support group for parents and family members whose loved ones are grappling with substance use disorder.

As 7:00 pm approaches, more than 40 people fill the church for the meeting. While many of the stories shared are painful and tragic, there are many others that talk about how their loved one is in long term recovery from this disease. These stories offer people hope and remind us of the fact that people can and do recover and go on to live happy, healthy and productive lives.

Learn to Cope meetings are peer led meetings designed support those who have a loved one struggling with the disease of substance abuse disorder. They are run by community members who have been trained as facilitators. Meetings provide a confidential and anonymous forum where members have the opportunity to express their feelings, find resources and ask questions of those who have traveled this road before.

Founded in 2004 by Joanne Peterson, a mother whose son struggled with chemical dependency, the organization has 21 chapters in Massachusetts. In addition to support, attendees may receive Narcan and training in it's proper administration free of charge. Narcan is an opiate overdose reversal drug which can revive an individual quickly while first responders make there way to the scene.

Meetings are open to anyone with a family member struggling with any type of addiction. The Franklin Chapter meets every Monday night from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Society, 262 Chestnut Street in Franklin. Please visit www.learn2cope.org for more information and resources. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call Jim Derick at 508-596-4985.
Subscribe to this email list
Robert Putnam book talk on "Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis"

Talk about Our Kids

Prof. Robert Putnam
Author of Our Kids and Bowling Alone

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016
7.p.m. to 9 p.m.

Franklin High School Auditorium
218 Oak St, Franklin, MA 02038

Our Kids is a groundbreaking examination of the growing inequality gap and why fewer Americans today have the opportunity for upward mobility. You can learn more about the book and research by clicking here

Bowling Alone talks about how we have become increasingly disconnected from one another and how social structures have disintegrated.

Join us for a fascinating talk about the sociological climate surrounding the opioid crisis.
SUPPORT SERVICES AVAILABLE

Learn to Cope meets on Monday evenings at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 262 Chestnut Street in Franklin at 7 p.m. The group offers support for families struggling with addiction and recovery. Its preserves anonymity and creates a safe place for people and families in crisis. For more information visit the website at http://learn2cope.org/, call Kathy Getchell at (774)893-3878, or email her at kathyg17@verizon.net

Community of Hope hosts a family support group meeting every Wednesday night in the Milford Regional Medical Center, Hill Building, Woman's Pavilion, 4th Floor, in Milford. The program is a support group for family members or loved ones of people who suffer from addiction (similar to "Lean to Cope"). For more information, contact Katie Truitt at (774)248-4526 or by email at ktruitt3@gmail.com 

Big Book Workshop, 12 step meeting for recovery. Wednesday evenings, 7 pm to 8:30 pm at Community Impact, 211 Main Street Milford, MA 01757. For more information, contact Meghan Giacomuzzi at 508-933-4571. Meghan (Katie Truitt's daughter) is the founder and chair of the Missin' Matt Foundation and a recovering heroin addict.

Healing Hearts has begun meeting on Thursday evenings on the second floor of the Franklin YMCA at 45 Forge Hill Road in Franklin at 7 p.m. The group offers support for families struggling with addiction and recovery. Its preserves anonymity and creates a safe place" for people and families in crisis. For more information, call (508) 570-6996 or send an email to Healingheartscircle@gmail.com.
Share
Tweet
Forward
Copyright © 2016 Jeffrey.Roy@MAHouse.gov, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you expressed an interest in joining the fight against obioid abuse in our community.

Our mailing address is:
Jeffrey.Roy@MAHouse.gov
State House - Room 527A
Boston, MA 02133

Add us to your address book


Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp