VICTORY: Walpole Board of Selectmen pass two anti-pipeline motions!

Everybody,

OUTSTANDING NEWS!  Tonight (Tuesday) at the Walpole Board of Selectmen, after a Spectra presentation and question and answer period, proposed and passed two motions against the Access Northeast pipeline!

The wording of the motions are as follows:

MOTION moved that the Board of Selectmen strongly oppose any pipeline development within a 400-foot radius of any Town Well, as the siting of the pipeline in such close proximity to the Town's water supply would propose an unacceptable threat to public health as the contamination of the Town's drinking water supply would create incalculable damage to the public health, the natural environment and the built environment.  It is simply unacceptable and any new pipeline must be routed as far as possible from drinking water wells and other drinking water sources.

PASSED: 4 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSTENTION

MOTION that the Board of Selectmen votes to endorse the analysis and position of Attorney General Healey, as supported by the Regional Electric Reliability Options study, which concluded that new gas pipelines are not needed "to keep the lights on" and that, to the contrary, the region can maintain energy reliability through 2030 without any new gas pipelines; and furthermore, there are cheaper, less carbon-intensive options, than a new pipeline, better options such as energy efficiency and demand response, all less costly and less risk-intensive.

PASSED: 3 YES, 1 NO, 1 ABSTENTION

WOOHOO!  FIRST VICTORY ON THE Q1 LOOP!  CONGRATULATIONS, WALPOLE!

Please share this news with people in your towns as well as town leadership.  This is definitely a step in the right direction so let's see what other towns can get on board!

With gratitude,

Carolyn

508-473-3305 H

508-335-0848 C

lawn sign seen on Franklin lawns

FHS spring sports postponed due to the weather on Tuesday

FHS spring sports suffered postponements due to the weather on Tuesday. The reschedules for the FHS competitions are shown below courtesy of Hockomock Sports.


Boys Tennis

• Oliver Ames @ Franklin – Postponed to 5/3 at 3:30

Complete boys tennis schedule for FHS
http://www.hockomocksports.com/schedules/boys-tennis/franklin/2016-2/


Girls Tennis

• Franklin @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to 5/3 at 3:30

Complete girls tennis schedule for FHS
http://www.hockomocksports.com/schedules/girls-tennis/franklin/2016-2/


Boys Outdoor Track

• King Philip @ Franklin – Postponed to 5/5 at 3:15

Girls Outdoor Track

• King Philip @ Franklin – Postponed to 5/5 at 3:15

Complete Outdoor Track schedule for FHS

http://www.hockomocksports.com/schedules/outdoor-track/franklin/2016-2/

For all the results (and postponements) around the Hockomock League on Tuesday

http://www.hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-041216/

FHS Panthers

In the News: Lion's Heart begins year two, Franklin Art Center classes open for registration, Disabled American Veterans Mobile Service visits Franklin Elks

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"The second year for the Franklin chapter of Lion’s Heart - Teen Volunteers and Leaders will officially begin May 1. 

Open enrollment for the organization runs from Feb. 1 to Oct. 1. Teens are assigned to groups beginning April 1. 

In their first year, 32 members logged over 1,200 hours of service in and around Franklin. 

For information: lionsheartservice.org; Allison Bernhardt at allison.bernhardt@lionsheartservice.org."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160411/franklin-lions-heart-to-begin-2nd-year

Lion's Heart

The Franklin Art Center is now enrolling for April vacation and spring art classes, available to students in kindergarten and older, adults included.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160411/franklin-art-center-now-enrolling-for-spring-art-classes

The Disabled American Veterans Mobile Service Office will be at the Franklin Elk’s Lodge, 1077 Pond St., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 20 to assist veterans who have questions regarding their benefits and/or need help with claims.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160412/disabled-american-veterans-mobile-service-office-to-visit-franklin-elks-lodge

In the News: School Committee passes budget, former drug chemist released from prison

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"The School Committee voted to approve a $58.3 million fiscal year 2017 budget at its meeting Tuesday night, but the chairman said the process needs to fundamentally change in the future. 

The committee passed the budget - which represents a 2.28 percent over the FY '16 budget - unanimously. 

Committee Chairman Kevin O'Malley was the only member to comment on the budget during the time slated for discussion. He said he did not believe the school district's situation is sustainable. 

"This budget is sufficient to help a good school system to remain good," he said. "It is not sufficient for the students, parents and teachers in our charge."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160412/franklin-school-committee-votes-to-adopt-583m-budget

"A former drug lab chemist convicted of faking test results and tampering with evidence, leading to a review of tens of thousands of criminal cases, is out of prison. 

Annie Doohkan, who lived in Franklin before serving her sentence, has been paroled, a spokesman for the Massachusetts prisons system confirmed to the Boston Herald. Nicolas Gordon, the attorney who represented Dookhan during her criminal case, said she was released about a month ago."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160412/annie-dookhan-released-from-prison

Storify: Real Time Reporting - School Committee - Apr 12, 2016

The agenda and my other notes can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/04/real-time-reporting-school-committee.html


(be sure to scroll within the Storify widget to review all the entries)

School Committee - photo captured from webcast

Real time Reporting: School Committee - Apr 12, 2016

Present: Bilello, Scofield, Bergen, Douglas, O'Malley, Schultz, Jewell
Absent:  none

1. Routine Business

Citizen’s Comments
none

Review of Agenda
no adjustments

Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the March 22, 2016 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Dr. O’Malley
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives

• MICA performances received silver awards
• Empty Bowls dinner Apr 27th
• Beauty and the BEast almost two sold out nights
• one student rep leaning to Lesley and the other to Bentley to continue their studies next year

Correspondence: Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

2. Guests/Presentations

a. School Counseling Update
see Storify notes -> http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/04/storify-real-time-reporting-school.html

*** left off real time reporting during the middle school portion of the presentation (missed approx 20 minutes of the meeting)

-----------

Picked up again here, during the Mental Health Awareness Week being scheduled for the high school for May 16-20

Mental Health Awareness Week - May 16-20

3. Discussion Only Items

• FY 2017 Budget Adoption
• School Choice 2016-2017
• recommendation to continue NOT accepting student choice
• Policy – Second Reading

• JKA – Corporal Punishment

• Resolution Chapter 70 Funding
• Committee to look to endorse the recalculation proposal at next meeting.

4. Action Items

a. I recommend adoption of the FY2017 Proposed School Budget in the amount of $58,250,000.00 as presented.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

b. I recommend not accepting any new School Choice students for the 2016-2017 school year.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

c. I recommend adoption of Policy JKA – Corporal Punishment as discussed.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,000.00 from Special Olympics for the Student Activity account for the Unified Track Program at FHS.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

only meet on May 2, 3:30 PM at FHS

e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $460.22 from the Parmenter PCC for supplemental supplies.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

f. I recommend approval for the recurring field trip to Providence Place Mall on April 15, 2016 for RMS students as detailed.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

g. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,334.28, proceeds from the Book Fair at Davis Thayer.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

h. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Steven Mollo for in-house enrichment at RMS.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

i. I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $1,014.28 from the JFK PCC for field trips.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

j. I recommend approval of the HMMS field trip to Mystic Aquarium on May 2nd as detailed.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

k. I recommend acceptance of a check for $400.00 from New England Institute of Technology for field trips at FHS.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

5. Information Matters

Superintendent’s Report

• Kathleen Gerber has accepted Principal position at Davis Thayer
• organizational meeting with DCF, round table meeting to be hosted quarterly, multiple parties involved, trying to get the agencies involved with DCF and get more proactive, hosted here in Franklin. Police partnership going well. All at no cost to the community.
• K registration yesterday and today, final numbers not available yet, registration still open
• Empty Bowls dinner scheduled for Apr 27th to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry, raises awareness on hunger and impact on families in Franklin

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

• multigenerational community engagement workshop attended recently, presentation to a future meeting

School Committee Liaison Reports
a. Calendar Committee

• met three times, whittled down from 8 to 2 calendar options, scheduled for next school committee meeting, this would be for the 2017-2018 school year

6. New Business

To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
none

7. Motion to Adjourn 

– Dr. O’Malley
motion to adjourn, seconded passed 7-0

Downtown Project - Update #25 - April 12, 2016

This week, expect the curbing construction to continue. Please be aware of any detours the construction crew may have up as you approach downtown. 

The week of April 18th, expect new sidewalk construction to begin. 

The following week (week of Apr 25), please expect Main Street sidewalk and curb construction to get started. 

There will not be any construction crews on Monday, April 18th in observance of Patriots Day. 

The project remains on schedule to be fully completed by Labor Day at the end of the summer. 

Follow the Town on Facebook and Twitter for the most recent updates.

new curbing for the downtown construction project

Shared from the Town of Franklin
http://www.town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/0239D2FB-000F8513

FHS baseball, softball win vs Sharon on Monday

On the spring sports front, Franklin versus Sharon was effectively a split on Monday. The FHS baseball and softball teams won while the Sharon boys and girls tennis teams won. All results courtesy of Hockomock Sports.

FHS Panthers

Baseball

• Franklin, 14 @ Sharon, 1 – Final 

– Sophomore Jason Ulrickson came on in the fourth inning in relief and pitched four innings without allowing an earned run to get the win for the Panthers. Ulrickson struck out four and scattered three hits. Sophomore Matt Foley pitched the scoreless innings to start the game for Franklin. Offensively, senior Joe Corsi scored four runs, going 2/4 at the plate with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Jake Lyons went 2/4 with two RBI and a run scored, Tyler Gomes had a double and two runs scored, Josh Macchi went 3/4 with a double and three RBI, Jake Noviello was 2/4 with an RBI and Mike Skaza went 3/4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Softball

• Franklin, 12 @ Sharon, 0 – Final (6 inn.) 

– Caroline D’Aprile struck out six and allowed two hits to get the win for the Panthers. Maddie Connelly had a pair of hits, a pair of runs and a pair of stolen bases and Alli Shea added three runs scored and two hits. Clara Decarvalho knocked in four runs on three hits while Julia Arms had a three run home run and Rachel Cousineau connected for a solo home run.

Boys Tennis

• Sharon, 5 @ Franklin, 0 – Final 

– Sharon won all five matches in set straights to start the season with a win. Griffin Fein won 6-2, 6-3 at first singles, Fred Bondar won 6-3, 6-3 at second singles and Han Cui won 6-2, 6-1 at third singles. Adam Dobbin and Alex Romantz picked up a 6-1, 6-3 win at first doubles and Tilak Mehta and Dahujan Thiru won 6-1, 6-4 at second doubles.

Girls Tennis

• Franklin, 2 @ Sharon, 3 – Final 

– Freshman Nupur Shulka debuted with a 6-0, 6-2 win at second singles to help lead the Eagles to a season opening win. Sharon sophomore Emily Wen won 6-1, 6-2 at third singles and junior Michelle Coo and sophomore Rithica Neti won 6-2, 6-0 at second doubles. Franklin’s Hannah Sweeney won 6-0, 6-0 at first singles and junior Anja Deric and sophomore Katelyn Davenport won 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-6) at first doubles.

For all the Hockomock League results from Monday's action
http://www.hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-041116/

6th Annual Franklin-Bellingham Franklin Fives Road Race - May 14

6th Annual Franklin and Bellingham Franklin Fives Road Race

5 K Run, 5 Mile Run, 3.1 or 1.5 Mile Walk

Saturday May 14, 2016 at 10 AM

Help support our effort to develop the Southern New England Trunkline Trail into a multi-use path for Franklin and Bellingham

• Registration: 8:30 – 9:45 AM
• Start Time: 10:00 AM ( + or - )
• Start / Finish: 628 Washington St. Franklin, MA (Remington School)
• Run 5 K or 5 Mile courses through residential neighborhoods
• 1.5 or 3.1 mile mile walk through residential neighborhoods
• Entry Fee: $25 prior to race day, $30 day of the race, $15 Students

The SNETT is an abandoned rail bed running from Franklin to the CT line

Register online at: www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/race

 6th Annual Franklin & Bellingham Franklin Fives Road Race - May 14

Dean College Bulldog Baseball - April Baseball Clinic

Dean College Bulldog Baseball

April Baseball Clinic

April 19,20, 21 = 9 AM to 11:30 AM

Baseball season is here!!! 

The long winter is finally over! If the weather is good enough we will have three great days of baseball instruction out on the Dean College baseball complex at Longley Field! 

Don’t fret if the weather is bad, we will just move inside to our indoor batting cages and gymnasium on campus! Either way the Dean College coaching staff and team will help you hone your baseball skills in preparation for the season.

Print out the form shown above or download one from here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczV19nVFQ3V3dQdTg/view?usp=sharing

Dean College 

Summer Math Academy - Come Join the Fun!

Fun Awaits in the Summer Math Academy! July 11 to 22, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM Remington Middle School Tuition $270   The nontraditional setting allows curious and enthusiastic students to explore math, art, and science through hands-on interactive projects such as building solar powered helicopters and boats, designing tessellation t-shirts, creating objects from irregular shapes, constructing newspaper buildings, devising Rube Goldberg machines, and using pool noodles to blow bubbles! Register Lifelong Learning Institute | 508.553.4814 | Email | Website

FPS- Lifelong Learning | 355 East Central Street | Franklin | MA | 02038

Governor Baker Signs Comprehensive Solar Legislation into Law

Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito were joined by a bipartisan group of legislators to sign solar legislation into law to continue the expansion of the Commonwealth’s solar industry and establish a long-term framework for sustainable solar development in our state. The bill, An Act Relative to Solar Energy, passed both legislative chambers with overwhelming support and achieves the Baker-Polito Administration’s goal of reducing costs to ratepayers while strengthening the state’s clean energy economy and progressing towards the greenhouse gas reduction requirements set forth under the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA). 

“This legislation builds upon the continued success of the Commonwealth’s solar industry and ensures a viable, sustainable and affordable solar market at a lower cost to ratepayers,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “As our administration continues its balanced approach to diversifying Massachusetts’ energy portfolio, solar development will be an integral component of our state’s clean energy future and we look forward to collaborating with the legislature on an omnibus energy bill that includes cost-effective, hydropower generation.”

You can read the full press release here
http://www.mass.gov/governor/press-office/press-releases/fy2016/governor-signs-comprehensive-solar-legislation-into-law.html

You can find the legislative document here
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S1979

Commonwealth of MA

In the News: low flying helicopter alert, Town Council authorizes capital spending

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration’s will conduct low-altitude helicopter flights along the route of the Boston Marathon Tuesday through Friday to measure naturally occurring background radiation. 

The radiation assessment will cover about 13 square miles. A twin-engine Bell 412 helicopter, operated by the Remote Sensing Laboratory Aerial Measuring System from Joint Base Andrews, will fly in a grid pattern over the area at 150 feet above the ground or higher at a speed of 80 mph. 

Flyovers will occur only during the day and are estimated to take about two days to complete. 

The measurement is being conducted to establish baseline levels for security and emergency preparedness."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160411/low-flying-helicopter--will-measure-background-radiation-along-marathon-route

"The Town Council last week approved numerous capital spending items, including a program to combat invasive species at the DelCarte property, funds for replacement vehicles and water and sewer system improvements. 

The council voted on the items at its meeting Wednesday night."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160411/franklin-council-approves-capital-expenses

For the Franklin Matters' reporting on the capital authorizations check here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/04/town-council-authorizes-62-million-for.html

Franklin's businesses moving and selling

There are multiple changes happening among Franklin businesses so in this post, we'll collect some photos from walking around. 

• Blue Hills Bank to open a mortgage center near Dunkin Donuts (where Tastebuds used to be)

Blue Hills Bank

• Aubuchon and Hometown Paints relocating to Horace Mann Plaza

The Aubuchon Hardware store on Cottage and the Hometown Paint on East Central St will relocate and combine in one location. The new place is where the Rite-Aid drug store used to be (near Shaw's)

New location in Horace Mann plaza

sign at current location on East Central

• The Agway on Cottage St has changed ownership. 

I stopped by on Saturday for bird seed and meet them briefly. They were busy so we'll return to chat more.

@FranklinMatters New owners of the Franklin Agway say hello!

— Franklin Urban Farm (@FranklinUFS) April 3, 2016

Franklin Agway - Your urban farm store

Check out their updated webpage  http://www.franklinagway.com/

• As many know by now, the Cake Bar also changed ownership. 

I used the location for a meeting on Saturday and talked briefly with the new owner. Additional items are scheduled for sale to expand upon the cupcakes and cakes they provide currently.

the Cake Bar

Mass Consumer: Your Guide to Choosing the Right Auto Repair Shop

Discovering a mechanical problem with your car can be stressful and getting it repaired can be overwhelming. That’s why we put together some helpful tips for consumers when choosing a reliable auto shop for their vehicle. Keep in mind, caring for your vehicle with preventative maintenance increases your vehicle’s performance and fuel efficiency; it can also help you avoid more extensive and more costly repairs down the road.

Mass Consumer repair shop advice

Continue reading the article online
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/your-guide-to-choosing-the-right-auto-repair-shop/