"paintball is the perfect answer"

Glenn Jones has run a couple of paintball fundraisers for the Franklin Food Pantry at Fox 4 Paintball in Upton. This past Sunday's Boston Globe West section has a nice write up on the business.

Admittedly, I’m from a different era. Growing up in New Jersey in the late 1960s and early 1970s, my siblings and I would play war, inspired by “The Rat Patrol,” or cops and robbers while imitating “The Rookies.” International espionage? “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” did the trick. Our games weren’t considered politically incorrect. We didn’t know any better. We just had a blast. 

David Painter of Northborough can relate. The 51-year-old native of East Lyme, Conn. is the owner of Fox 4 Paintball in Upton and the upTon 187 cRew, a professional paintball team. More than two decades ago, he moved to Massachusetts and was invited by his new neighbors to play paintball. He got hooked immediately. 

“My love for the game has only grown stronger over time,” he said. “I’m addicted to the fast action of the tournament paintball scene, the instant gratification of knowing if you’ve won or lost your point.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/north/2016/03/17/move-feeling-like-kid-again-any-age/QorZhzBuCtM6AIcxPyMmSL/story.html

fox4paintball.com

Trash recycling - delayed one day this week

For the week of March 21, 2016 trash and recycling will be delayed one day all week. Carts should be put out and accessible for the truck the day after your normal pickup day. Friday's route will be picked up on Saturday.

trash bins by curbside on a sunny day

For more info on recycling and trash visit the DPW page
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Recycling/index

Franklin Ma: School Committee - Agenda - Mar 22, 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"

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the March 8, 2016 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Dr. O’Malley
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: none

2. Guests/Presentations
a. FY 17 Budget Hearing

3. Discussion Only Items
Policy – First Reading

• JKA – Corporal Punishment

4. Action Items

a. I recommend approval of the budget transfers as detailed. 

b. I recommend moving policy JKA – Corporal Punishment to a second reading. 

c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $912.50 from the Oak Street PCC for field trips. 

d. I recommend approval of the request for the FHS Cheerleaders travel to Lincroft, NJ on April 1-3, 2016 for the Nationals Competition as detailed. 

e. I recommend acceptance of the anonymous donation of a check for $686.24 for a FHS Scholarship. 

f. I recommend acceptance of donations totaling approximately $275.00 for the FHS raffle as detailed.

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports:

a. Budget Sub Committeeb. Policy Sub Committeec. Community Relations Sub Committee

School Committee Liaison Reports:

a. Calendar Committee

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

7. Motion to Adjourn 
– Dr. O’Malley

"that’s what high school sports are all about"

A Cinderella run from the Franklin Panthers ended with a true storybook ending. 

Sophomore Luke Downie, who celebrated his 16th birthday on Sunday, scored on a wrist shot six minutes into the second overtime to give Franklin a 4-3 win over St. Mary’s Lynn and the program its first MIAA Division 1 State Championship. 

Senior Tyler Oakes connected on a pass from his own zone to senior and Jake Downie (Luke’s cousin) along the boards in the neutral, who then dropped the puck back to Luke after crossing the blue line. Luke fired a wrist shot that deflected off the the leg of a St. Mary’s defenseman and found it’s way over the goalie’s pad short side for the game winner. 

“This is awesome,” Luke Downie said postgame. “This is the best birthday present you could ask for.”

Continue reading the full article
http://www.hockomocksports.com/franklin-hockey-wins-first-d1-state-championship-in-2ot/

Franklin hockey victorious in D1 Championship

In 1983, Franklin went into overtime in the Div. 2 state championship game against Falmouth at the old Boston Garden. Ken Assad, now an assistant coach for the Panthers, broke free on a 2-on-1. He passed to his brother Brian, whose shot was spilled back into the path of Ken for the game-winning, and title-winning, goal. 

On Sunday night, the Panthers went into double overtime at the TD Garden against St. Mary’s (Lynn) in search of a second state title and first since that magical night 32 years ago. Once again, it was a family connection that secured the trophy. 

Senior Jake Downie received a cross-ice pass from Tyler Oakes and gained the zone. As he skated towards the lefthand circle, he spotted his sophomore cousin Luke racing up behind him and dropped a pass into his path. 

“I came down and saw Luke coming up behind me, dropped it back and I just saw him rip it and I knew it was going in,” said Jake in the press room after the game.

Continue reading the full article
http://www.hockomocksports.com/family-connections-lead-to-franklin-hockey-title-jake-luke-downie/


Hockomock Sports has additional photos from the game here
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/20152016/Winter-201516/Franklin-St-Marys-Hockey-03-20/

"All the transcriptions are accessible free of charge to the public"

The Boston Globe does a good job writing up the digitization of records almost complete at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds.

"In August 1822, John Adams, the nation’s second president, donated several pieces of land to his hometown of Quincy, including two pastures, several cedar swamp areas, and an 8-acre parcel that included the site of a former house built by John Hancock’s father. 

The details of the 86-year-old Adams’s gift, including his condition that a school be erected over the cellar of the old Hancock home, are contained in the land document he recorded in a personal visit to the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds. Thinking ahead to his envisioned school, the elder statesman wrote, “I hope the future Masters will not be presumptuous if I advise them to begin their lessons in Greek and Hebrew by compelling their pupils to take their pens and write over and over again copies of the Greek and Hebrew alphabets.”

But anyone studying the nearly 200-year-old deed today might not be able to easily glean those reflections by Adams or the other particulars of the document. Handwritten in the flowing cursive style of the day, the densely-packed words are a challenge to read. 

Now a nearly completed initiative by the Norfolk County registry is promising to make it much easier for modern readers to decipher the contents of the Adams deed and other old land records. In what officials say is the first project of its kind in New England, the registry in Dedham is transcribing into type all the county’s handwritten deeds from the time of its founding in 1793 to 1900, when the office switched to typing its documents."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/north/2016/03/18/turning-hard-read-cursive-into-computer-type/i1BZEB3fCmFxjlKJmHuJiK/story.html

two old handwritten deeds on Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell's desk (Boston Globe photo)

In the News: bowling making progress to return, RT 109 contract due soon

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

Efforts to return bowling to town have made progress, though an official location for the new lanes has yet to be announced. 

Last month, a group of businessmen announced they purchased much of the equipment - pin setters, ball returns and an automatic scoring system - once used at Ficco's Bowladrome. Ficco's, a longtime downtown mainstay, closed last June after 79 years in business. 

Andy Trockman, the operations manager for the new effort, said some strides had been made recently, though there is still much to do. He said the group is working on an offer for a piece of land in town. 

"At that point, we can go full steam ahead," he said. "I'm still shooting for (an opening date of) September."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160320/strides-made-to-return-bowling-to-franklin

bowling may return to Franklin with reuse of the equipment from Ficco's

The town and state Department of Transportation are closing in on selecting a contractor for the reconstruction of Rte. 109. 

The project, which is expected to begin in July and last for at least two years, was originally estimated to cost about $12.5 million, with the state and federal governments kicking in most of that money. 

Selectmen on Monday are expected to approve a 110 percent agreement with the state DOT, which stipulates that the town would be on the hook for any project costs that exceed the contract bid price by more than 10 percent.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160320/medway-state-closing-in-on-rte-109-project-start

Franklin Public Schools: 2 hour weather delay - Monday, March 21

A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Hello

There will be a 2 hour delay due to weather conditions - School offices open 2 hours later

No morning classes at ECDC

Central Office Administration Open - Municipal Building - Staff report at usual time

This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. 

Horace Mann and Jefferson schools in snow