Senior Center: A new edition of The Franklin Connection is available

A new edition of The Franklin Connection has been published on the Town of Franklin web site.

Click the link below to read the latest edition.

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/Feb16connection.pdf

Franklin Senior Center on a rainy day

FHS Girls Track tops North Attleboro, takes division title

The FHS track teams ran against North Attleboro with the boys losing and the girls winning. The girls win completed their dual meet season undefeated and left them on top of the Kelly-Rex Division. On the basketball court, with nearly half of the games gone, Hockomock Sports editors Ryan Lanigan and Josh Perry take a look at where things currently stand for boys and girls in their reports "Taking Stock of the Hock" 

FHS Panthers

Indoor Track (@ Reggie Lewis Center)

Boys

• Franklin, 29 vs. North Attleboro, 62 – Final

– Nick Rajotte was first in the 55M dash (6.93), Gareth King won the 600M (1:28.37), Matt Reimels won the 1000M (2:42.52), freshman Liam Monahan won the 2 Mile (10:25.25), Matt Tarantino won the 55M hurdles (8.67) and the high jump (league best 5-10.00), John Larkin won the shot put (42-06.25) and John Thompson won the long jump (20-00.00). Franklin’s Luke Gordon won the 300M (37.88) and Ryan Spelman was first in the 1 Mile (4:41.59).

Girls

• Franklin, 62 vs. North Attleboro, 38 – Final 

– The Panthers claimed the 2015-2016 Kelley-Rex division title with a perfect 5-0 dual meet record. Sophomore Jessica Kroushl had a league best time in the 55M dash (7.50) and also won the long jump (16-05.00), freshman Halle Atkinson had a league best time in the 300M (42.28), Meghan Doherty won the 600M (1:42.54), Brittany Robinson won the 1000M (3:11.75), sophomore Nicole Clermont posted league best times in the 1 Mile (5:20.04) and 2 Mile (12:09.65) and Beth Neal won the 55M hurdles (9.85). North Attleboro’s Summer McGowan won the shot put (30-04.75) and Nicole Boulanger won the high jump (5-00.00).

For the other results around the Hockomock League on Thursday
http://www.hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-012116/

Tasking stock of the Hock midway through the basketball season

Girls
http://www.hockomocksports.com/taking-stock-of-the-hock-girls-basketball-2015-16/


Boys
http://www.hockomocksports.com/taking-stock-of-the-hock-boys-basketball-2015-16/

The Tri-County Insider

JANUARY 21 To the Tri-County Community, This is a busy month for the freshman class. Shop Selection Night was held on January 13.  During this time, parents were informed about the different shops and were able to ask questions to the shop instructors. This event was very successful. The week of January 18 is the Class of 2019's last Exploratory. Students passed in their Shop Selections this morning and will be going through the shop selection process within the next few weeks. After the number drafts, outlines and deadlines, the junior class handed in their final draft of their Senior Project papers, which were due the week of January 11. Seniors began their Senior Project presentations the week of January 11. The Medical Careers and Plumbing shops were the first to present. The Engineering and Metal Fabrication shops will present the week of January 25.  I experienced my first day as an evaluator for Senior Projects last week and enjoyed the morning. The projects were fantastic. Seniors are also in the process of voting for class superlatives, submitting senior quotes, and senior pictures. January 18 is the last week of the second quarter. Grade 9 and 11 students took their midterm exams the week of January 11. Grade 10 and 12 students took their midterm exams the week of January 18. I would like to ask for your support for our Tee Off for Tri-County. This year's golf tournament will be held on Friday, June 10, at the Wentworth Hills Country Club in Plainville. Start time is 12 p.m. Those of us who attended last year, whether as a golfer or a go-for, had a great time. You can help by signing up to golf, sponsoring a hole or donating an item to our raffle. More information about participating can be found on the Tri-County website. ALL Golf Tournament proceeds benefit Student Activities. Thank you in advance for your help with the golf tournament. Thanks for your support, Mr. Procaccini Upcoming Events Second Quarter Ends Friday, January 22 Early Release Day Friday, February 5 About The TC Insider The TC Insider is a biweekly newsletter for the families of Tri-County students. Forward to a Friend Follow on Twitter Like us on Facebook View Email In Browser Tri-County RVTHS 147 Pond Street Franklin, MA 02038 www.tri-county.us 508-528-5400

Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School District · 147 Pond Street · Franklin, Ma 02038 · USA

This email was shortened for publication here. To view the full contents View In Browser

Lifelong Learning: Beginner Ceramics Class

Exciting New Course

Raising Community Awareness Through The Arts Beginner Ceramics Class Beginning Tuesday, January 26 Don't Miss This Exciting and Fun Class! A perfect class for beginners! Make clay objects including bowls, mugs, and vases while learning a new technique each week.   Hand building, glazing, and wheel throwing will be explored during this fun and intensive class.  In the end, you will gain a better understanding and appreciation of the ceramic medium AND you will have made functional art objects. At the conclusion of the class, we ask that you donate two objects to the Empty Bowls Club at FHS that will be hosting a community event on Wednesday, March 4, 2016 in the cafeteria. The money raised at this event will be donated to the Franklin Food Pantry to combat hunger in our local community. We hope to see you there!!! When and Where?   Tuesdays, January 26 to March 1   6:00 to 8:00 PM Franklin High School,  218 Oak Street Cost: $60  REGISTER NOW      Franklin Public Schools          Lifelong Learning Institute      The Center for Adult Education and Community Learning 508-613-1480      www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com

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

In the News: billboard proposal gets another try, Tri-County app in competition

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

The Town Council will hear a proposal for an electronic billboard at a future meeting, though some councilors wondered if that was necessary, given the majority's negative opinion on the project. 

The council had been scheduled to hear about the idea at its Wednesday meeting, though the applicant did not show. The matter had been raised at previous meetings of the council's Economic Development Committee.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160121/franklin-council-to-hear-billboard-proposal

For many Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School students, getting a pass for the school's late bus is a hassle. 

For one group of students - Dylan Ross, Micah Perkins, Victoria Rezza, Dylan Lavimodiere, Robert Paige, Eric Bernard and Tyler Mello - it presented an opportunity. 

The group's idea - an app that would dramatically streamline the process - was the state winner of the Verizon Innovative App Challenge, and is now vying for a national "fan favorite" award.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160121/tri-county-app-idea-vying-for-national-prize

FHS boys and girls hockey teams win, wrestling loses on Wednesday

Boys Hockey

• North Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 4 – Final

– Franklin senior Jake Downie scored a pair of goals in the first period while Joey Blaise added another in the first and Adam Assad scored once in the third period. Zach McGowan scored North Attleboro’s lone goal and freshman goalie Ryan Warren had 37 saves.

Girls Hockey

• Franklin, 4 vs. Medway/Ashland, 2 – Final 

– Cassi Ronan scored a pair of unassisted goals to break a 2-2 tie for the Panthers. Elizabeth Quinn (assisted by Maddie Hinckley) and Jackie Connelly (from Marlee Paterson) had the other Franklin goals.

Wrestling

• Franklin, 21 @ North Attleboro, 42 – Final

– North jumped out to a 30-0 lead. Nick Gould (145), Jordan Tillinghast (160), Jack Donohue (170), and Nick Morrison (182) each had pins for the Rocketeers. Evan Herandez (195) and Jordan Carlucci (106) had pins for Franklin, which cut the lead to 36-18 with three matches left. Devin Spratt (120) clinched the win for North and Anthony Biaungo (132) finished the match for the hosts with an overtime win. North clinches a share of the league title.

For other results from Wednesday around the Hockomock League
http://www.hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-012016/

Full write up of the wrestling match by Josh Perry, Managing Editor

It seems that every season when North Attleboro and Franklin meet on the mats that a league title is on the line. This year’s meeting took on added significance because this will be the last time (at least until divisional breakdowns are reassessed) that the two programs will be fighting for the league championship. 

With North switching to the Davenport next year, the matchup will still pit two of the Hockomock’s top programs but there will not be a trophy on the line. 

North Attleboro took the bragging rights and clinched at least a share of the Kelley-Rex title on Wednesday night in the Kenneth Pickering Gym. The Rocketeers got off to a fast start, leading at one point 30-0, and closed out a 42-21 win over the Panthers.

Continue reading the article online
http://www.hockomocksports.com/north-clinches-share-of-title-with-win-against-franklin/

Photos from the match
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/20152016/Winter-201516/North-Attleboro-Franklin/

Franklin senior Jake Downie scored a pair of goals, including the game winner in the first period. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

Full write up on the boys hockey game Ryan Lanigan, Editor-in-Chief

Franklin scored three goals in the final five minutes of the first period and iced the game with a fourth goal in the first five minutes of the third period to pick up a big 4-1 win over North Attleboro in battle of two of the top teams in the Kelley-Rex division. 

Coming off a 1-1 tie against King Philip – a game in which they felt they had let too many scoring opportunities slip away – the Panthers were able to find the back of the net three times in the opening period. 

It didn’t come right away despite a great chance less than four minutes in. A mistake from North Attleboro left the puck all alone in front of goal and Franklin senior Alex Bissanti pounced and tried to go backhand but Rocketeer freshman goalie Ryan Warren made the glove save while falling.

Continue reading the article online
http://www.hockomocksports.com/end-of-first-period-flurry-pushes-panthers-pasts-north/

"The best way to protect your kids online? Talk to them"

"The best way to protect your kids online? Talk to them. Research suggests that when children want important information, most rely on their parents."

http://www.onguardonline.gov/articles/0006-talk-your-kids




The net cetera booklet can be found here or here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczbjRPSjA3Tm4tNkU/view?usp=sharing

net cetera - chatting with kids about being online

In advance of National Data Privacy Day, January 28th, we'll share some tips, tricks and other resources to be safe online.

"Respecting Privacy, Safeguarding Data, and Enabling Trust" is the theme for Data Privacy Day   https://www.staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-day/landing/



“Brain training” with Lumosity — does it really work?

"Let’s set the record straight. Playing Lumosity’s games might make you better at those games, the FTC says, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will sharpen your memory or brain power in the real-world. And those testimonials from satisfied customers? Many were from people who were offered prizes to say good things about Lumosity, and that wasn’t made clear. According to the FTC, that’s deceptive."

OnGuard Online   http://www.onguardonline.gov/

Protecting your Privacy   https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST04-013

Stop Think Connect   http://www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect

Intermediate Digital Photography Workshops start Monday, Jan 25

Intermediate Digital Photography Classes begin on January 25th Don't miss out Register online, save time THE ROAD FROM HERE:  Digital Photographer Extraordinaire Intermediate Digital Photography     4 week class with Jen Osojnicki    This course is designed for DSLR camera users who have a basic understanding of the menus and buttons on their cameras, and want to be more creative. Topics include: Depth of field, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual settings, understanding scene modes, composition, light modification, and what to put in your gear bag. Bring your camera, freshly charged batteries, memory card, and manual to each class.     Mondays Jan 25 - Feb 29 7:00 - 9:00pm Franklin High School Register Online Click Here Franklin Public Schools -  Lifelong Learning Institute The Center for Adult Education  & Community Learning 218 Oak Street, Franklin, MA 02038 www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com 508-613-1480

Forward this email FPS- Lifelong Learning Institute | 355 East Central Street | Franklin | MA | 02038

In the News: Pond St discussion, work continues downtown, wine and chocolate

The Town Council and local residents weighed in on the potential uses of a town-owned, 33-acre piece of property on Pond Street at Wednesday's council meeting. 

The council heard a presentation about the land and took comments from the audience as part of an effort to move the discussion forward.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160120/franklin-pond-street-property-uses-mulled

Work on a large-scale reconstruction of town roads has continued through the winter, and efforts are expected to move forward as long as work can be performed. 

The $7.2 million street project has been ongoing since last spring, and is expected to rework the area's streetscape and spur business development in Franklin's downtown. The work is a state project, and is estimated to take about two years.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160120/franklin-downtown-work-pushes-into-winter

The Center for Adult Education and Community Learning will present a chocolate and wine tasting from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 9 at Franklin Liquors, 363 E. Central St. 

The event will include a minimum of six wine pairings; Sugar Shoppe’s Courtney Nappa and Franklin Liquor’s Mark Lenzi will host the educational sit-down tasting. 

A portion of the registration fee will benefit someone in need through the Sugar Shoppe, a local nonprofit candy store that raises money for homeless moms and kids. 

The event is for ages 21 and older and will cost $40. 

To register, visit FranklinLifelongLearning.com. 

For more information, call 508-613-1480.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160120/center-for-adult-education-and-community-learning-to-hold-chocolate-wine-tasting

Franklin Liquor has scheduled several wine tasting events

Franklin Liquors has scheduled several wine tasting events. You can check out the schedule on their posting
 https://franklinliquors.wordpress.com/2016/01/18/wine-education/

Franklin Liquors - wine tasting set up

Wine Explorers wanted! 

Join Our 300 Club Members!

How To attend and join

http://www.meetup.com/Franklin-Wine-Club/

http://www.facebook.com/FranklinwineclubMA

In the News: Dean College lecture series, ECDC enrollment open

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

Dean College will host the producer and the author of “The Finest Hours” for the Dean College Leadership Institute Leadership In Action Lecture Series at 4 p.m. March 3 in the Guidrey Center at Dean College, 99 Main St. 

The Leadership Series offers an opportunity for students, alumni and the local community to interact with today’s business leaders.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160120/dean-college-lecture-series-announces-finest-hours-team-as-guest-speakers

Families interested in ECDC may call the main office to schedule a tour or reach out to Kelty Kelley, ECDC principal, at 508 541-8166 or kelleyk@franklin.k12.ma.us. 

Additional information about tuition, staff, curriculum and school hours can be found on the principal’s blog, ecdcprincipalpage.blogspot.com, and on the ECDC website, franklinecdc.vt-s.net/pages/index.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160120/enrollment-opens-for-franklin-early-childhood-center-preschool

Live reporting: Action items to Closing

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

Resolution 16-85: Acceptance of Gift – Franklin Police Dept.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

Resolution 16-86: Acceptance of Gift – Council on Aging
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

Resolution 16-87: Acceptance of Gift – Franklin Police Dept.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0


K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Downtown project continuing in the middle of winter
the work they do now is less that will be done later

aggregation process underway, Jamie can give us an update in 30-40 days

capital and budget plans about to begin

Master Plan update scheduled for next time

we will continue to improve our communications and out reach


L. OLD BUSINESS
Padula - what do we do next?
Kelly - I would say two weeks

Vallee - we are procrastinating too long

Bissanti - what happens in this grey area, does this need a formal endorsement from the EDC?

Nutting - it is not needed, it is a Council decision, at the next meeting, tell us what document do we prepare? We need an outcome to prepare the resolution


M. NEW BUSINESS


N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Jones - congratulations to the new Asst Town Clerk

Dellorco - Coalition meeting, Putnam event moved from FHS to Horace Mann, still Feb 2

Bissanti - condolences to Councilor Padula for the loss of his mother last week

Pfeffer - affordable housing lottery coming March 30th
Chris Herren coming end of Feb

Padula - thanks to police and fire department for treating my mother with respect and support

Kelly - click button to email all Councilors, thanks for getting it done


O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
- Pending or threatened litigation

Proposed Excelon expansion of Medway electric generating facility pending before Energy Facilities Siting Board.
Proposed Spectra gas transmission line through Franklin.


P. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn, passed 9-0

Live reporting: Billboards and Pond St

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS 

• Billboards

brief update by Jeff Nutting on the discussion on the summary from the Economic Development Committee

proposal representatives are not present at this meeting

suggestion from Town Administrator to not move forward

brief discussion on what to do without their presence

Richard Circone (?) - clarification questions around proposal

Padula - they knew they had the opportunity to be here

Pfeffer - should give them the chance to come before us

Cerel - need to talk about rezoning without reference to money

Padula - only up for discussion, I know Attorney Doherty, he is good, not sure why we are allowing him to come again when he had this time

Bissanti - I would think we should allow them to

Eileen Mason - I had put out a posting on Facebook and not many were for this. This would need the master plan goals, it is a bad image for us to there on i495. It is not a good intersection already. It could be a huge distraction

Nutting will get a date and add it to a future agenda

• Pond Street Land Discussion

Kelly - reminder 5 minutes for speaking, reminder on being cordial and being good citizens of Franklin, will have time to get everybody

sewer beds until 1978, located along i495 and Pond St
couple of RFP's without getting anyway
did get a submittal with the last RFP for condominiums

Pond St property map  shown at the meeting

three options

some manmade wetlands, some natural
MIne Brook runs along one side by i495
natural zoning due to the wetlands as to what can be built on so nearby residents have a natural buffer

(photo of map to be added)

legal requirement of 40' set back along Pond St, as we own the land we can ask and declare for more

(map of the condo proposal to be added)

1 - option - accept current condo proposal

traffic would be minimal for the condos, the sale prices could go up or down depending upon the market; their proposal is a fair representation
condo revenue would be about $300,000 also

depiction of the current condo proposal

2 - option - go out for a business hotel
would sell for less (less land)
about $300,000 hotel revenue from room taxes and property taxes
about 800 cars, AM/PM peak different from condos
would deforest a bunch to put the hotel in, would save more space overall

Seth Jackson - resident with questions
the Council would have sole discretion now and in the future on what property was not sold (and available for sale)

Town met with MA DOT on the traffic at the Stop & Shop village mall plaza
DPW, town engineer, etc. visit the site
exploring options for short term fixes
possible signal timing
signal changes are really needed and would be 3-5 years for the long term solution to the traffic
we waited 22 years for the bridge over i495 to get approved and built
the State will need to address the hazardous intersection
different stack lanes, signal timing etc. study underway by State

Stephanie - question on traffic study, what does it include
Nutting - asked to include 1000 to be more aggressive


3 - option of doing nothing

Michelle (?)

Nutting - when any traffic study is being done, they do include the alternatives
there is a small percentage of people that would go north bound

Michelle - Pond St is used as a cut through to Medway
the Kennedy School is there and it is already dangerous

Maura Pearse -
my first choice would be for nothing, to let it remain vacant
let it be the golden mile, it would affect housing values depending upon what you do there

Seth Jackson -
I am opposed to any development of that property
we are over developed or getting to that point
not sure with a four chain hotel would do
we could be identified with the 'hotel town'
with EMC potentially going away, the capacity could be declining
the intersection is a nightmare
a condo would be the best of a worse case

Nutting - the hotel would have more upside from a revenue side
no kids for the schools from a hotel

Eileen Mason - we have a housing shortage
we would need to build another senior place (like Eaton Place)
house more seniors, let them get out of the house (not assisted living)
the downtown projects ended up going to seniors and singles, not to the commuters

Nutting - the housing trust, you need 7-10M dollars to do something like that
can do so if you have the community preservation act but not well positioned without that
demand will skyrocket
given the current rules and regs probably not going to happen

Richard Ciccone -
is it because we need the money, the value may increase as the time goes forward
it may force us to be more frugal, not that we are lavish, we aren't
I don't want RT 140 to look like RT 9 in Natick

Stephanie Paziokas (spelling)
the three options
an other alternative, addimately opposed to hotel
condos, with some school children, we are not terribly worried about adding school children

the recent Recreation Survey asked about purchasing conservation land
make it a usable access point for Mine Brook, as in Alan Earls' proposal
referenced in Franklin Matters
would like that to be a consideration

Sandy Verhagen
opposed to a hotel on the site, for what it would do to the community
it would detract from the community, it likely would end up with a sign along i495 to attract
if it must be developed, let's go with the condos
we heard before that condos do not attract children, so what has changed in the last year
EMC has suffered some cuts, this will likely affect the hotel capacity
selling a portion of the land, unless there is some guarantee, what would remain would be dangerous and affected by future decisions

Nutting - condos produce less kids than a typical single family home

Sandy
reminder of the meeting on Jan 28th regarding the Mine Brook and Army Corp of Engineer land

Padula - appraisal?
Nutting - a minimum bid about $1.560M

Padula - issue with the contamination on the site, who is responsible?

Nutting - the purchaser would be responsible for whatever conditions remain

In the RFP it called for all we asked for, if the proposal would were to go forward, a formal plan would be put through the Planning Board process along with others involved
a traffic study would still have to be done
there would still be public access, per the RFP

Jones - it needs to be built not so much be cause of the revenue, we have a demand for more housing, I am not opposed to bring more kids in, I have filled my quota, we still have a say as this goes forward

Nutting - I would anticipate having an agreement, since it is the Town's property we would do this; there are about 600 units in the pipeline, about 500 of them appartments

Jones - one of the things I like the barrier between Pond St and i495, as a significant site and sound buffer

Nutting - would it be this heavily wooded? no but there will be some thing left due to the wetlands, etc.

Dellorco - I agree with Councilor Jones, bring the kids. I am concerned about the traffic

Nutting - you need an official traffic study, the housing traffic wouldn't all be needed at the same time, there is space on Pond St to handle the traffic going out. The issue is the left hand turn coming off 140 to Pond St

Bissanti - I am passionate about that as it is my old neighborhood, thank you for being vocal and active. I hope the Council makes a good decision.

Pfeffer - most of the condos are 3-bedroom and there arent enough taxes to pay for the students that would come. 99 condos is too much for that piece of land. How are you going to fit it all there?

Bissanti - most of the RFP responses had residential components and we finally asked for it specifically. We used as a frame work, They all came back with a residential component. They come back for one reason, it is a residential area, that is the highest and best usage there.

Kelly - it would be better to have 2 bedrooms rather than 3 to help with the school budgeting, the state doesnt cover the student

Nutting - that would be a negotiable issue on the 2 vs 3 bedrooms; last year, the state aid has been going down due to our enrollment decline

Kelly - the enrollment decline is all around us

Padula - I want to commend Councilor Bissanti for his passion and for his patience. How long have we been doing this? about a decade?

Roy McDowell, Baystone Development
doing a project in Hopkinton and Framingham
we'd be pleased to take on a project in Franklin

we would be doing trails, and clean up
we would do some combination of 2-3 bedrooms
age targeted, i.e first floor master bedrooms

the $311,000 is really a net number after paying for students and fire, etc.

if the neighbors would like to get together with Todd and myself, the right bedroom count with the right features would be attractive for Franklin

Jones - could you clarify the money?

Nutting - $300,000 would be part of the new growth and then to the general fund
sale of the land would be earmarked for capital investment (a project that would be minimum of 20 years)

No single family allowed in the zone so it would be 2 or 3

Stephanie - Would any of this go to OPEB?

Nutting - all money coming in is not earmarked and then allocated by the council