Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 4/15/16 - THU 4/21/16

SATURDAY 4/16/16
8am-12pm   Recycling Event - Bottles, Cans, Appliances, Electronics to benefit FHS Softball Boosters, Elks Lodge, Pond Street.
12:30-1:30pm   FYHA Try Hockey for Free - Girls only! (ages 7-12) at the Pirelli Veterans Arena

SUNDAY 4/17/16
7:30-10:30am   Sunday Morning Breakfast at Franklin Rod and Gun Club

TUESDAY 4/19/16
9-11:30am   Dean College Bulldog Baseball Clinic
1-3pm   Kids Paint - Spring Flowers - Franklin Art Center

WEDNESDAY 4/20/16
9-11:30am   Dean College Bulldog Baseball Clinic
7:30pm   Franklin Newcomers Club Meeting at the “3” Restaurant. Public welcome.

THURSDAY 4/21/16
9-11:30am   Dean College Bulldog Baseball Clinic
3pm   Memory Cafe for Caregivers and Their Loved Ones, free event, registration required at Franklin Senior Center
6:30pm   Art Night Uncorked - Tulips - Franklin Art Center
7pm   La Cantina Winery Tasting at Franklin Liquors

For additional April Break kid's activities in Franklin area go HERE.

For all the Town of Franklin Public Meetings click HERE.

For event details click HERE.

*If you have any suggestions or events for the calendar, please email Renata@BetterLivingRE.com

Franklin Neighbor Brigade recognizes the Spirit of Volunteer Appreciation Week

Franklin Neighbor Brigade has a couple of shout outs in the Spirit of Volunteer Appreciation week. Thank you to our volunteers for giving and sharing themselves to others!

• To all our volunteers - April 22nd the Franklin brigade will be receiving an award from the Franklin Senior Center and Council on Aging for our volunteer work with the Senior population.

• As a fundraiser for the Jefferson Elementary Fifth Grade Celebration, the school's fifth graders sold bags of "Soul Warming Soups," and provided the option of donating a bag of soup to a local charity. With the selling power of the fifth grade students, as well as their generous families and friends, the school donated thirty bags of frozen soup to the Franklin chapter of Neighbor Brigade. More than fifteen families purchased two and four pound bags of soup, and the company generously matched these donations. The students thoroughly embraced the opportunity to raise money for their end-of-year celebration, while participating firsthand in assisting local families in need. Thank you volunteer Jacqui. S. For making this happen! Our recipients are going to be enjoying this soup all winter long.

Soul Warming Soups

• Kelly K has led a committee in creating "Neighbor Brigade Care Cups" to welcome new recipients with extra cheer and encouragement.

"NB Care Cups"

• Catherine A is leading a committee at her children's school with the art department in creating words of inspiration on butterfly's to Neighbor Brigade recipients in an art project.

words of inspiration on butterflies

You can help the Franklin Neighbor Brigade. Information on the group can be found on the internet at http://www.neighborbrigade.org/1-public/chapters/?chapter=FranklinMA

FHS girls lacrosse tops Concord-Carlisle 13-7

"On Thursday evening, the Franklin girls’ lacrosse team began a run of five straight games against teams ranked among the top 25 in the state with the visit of Div. 1 Central/East rival Concord-Carlisle, which won the sectional title last spring. 

After losing a second half lead against Needham in the season opener and eventually falling in overtime, this was an opportunity for the Panthers to pick up a marquee win early in the season and build momentum for a difficult portion of the schedule. 

It did not start well. The Patriots jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first half, but senior midfielder Kenzie Pleshaw took over with four goals before the break and five in the game to spark a Franklin comeback that turned into a comfortable 13-7 victory."

Continue reading the article by Josh Perry, Managing Editor of Hockomock Sports  http://www.hockomocksports.com/pleshaw-fires-franklin-girls-lacrosse-to-comeback-win/

Kenzie Pleshaw (15) scored five goals and the Panthers rallied from an early deficit to beat Concord-Carlisle. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Rotarians honored with Paul Harris Awards

In addition to the many projects Rotarians do locally (scholarships, TVs and wheelchairs for the Senior Center, spaghetti supper for Franklin Seniors (sign up will be posted at the Senior Center in late May), town common benches and lights, Youth Leadership training), Rotary is the largest nonprofit service agency in the world, building water and sanitation services in the 3rd world, ambulances and medical supplies in disaster areas, crutches in disease ravaged countries, as well as running Polio Plus, which has recently been enhanced by matching contributions from the Bill Gates Foundation that has Rotary virtually eliminating polio from the face of the Earth. 

The major way individual Rotarians support International activities is by becoming Paul Harris Fellows (meaning they contributed $1000 increments to Rotary Foundation (which monitors and supports the projects). 

Several local Rotarians were honored by District Governor Jim Fusco recently Pictured receiving their Paul Harris Awards are Bruce Healey (Dean Bank), Frank Cusanno (Bristol Co. Savings Bank) and Joe Paolino (Honeydew Donuts). Presenting the awards were Dr Jeff Morrill and DG Fusco, both Fellows themselves.

Joe Paolino (Honeydew Donuts)

Frank Cusanno (Bristol Co. Savings Bank)

Bruce Healey (Dean Bank)

In the News: School Committee hears about counseling, Atty General Healy looking for equal pay, DelCarte clean up scheduled

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"The School Committee heard an extensive presentation on district counseling efforts this week. 

The committee at its Tuesday night meeting listened to several members of the counseling staff - as well as some students - as they outlined initiatives at the elementary, middle school and high school levels. 

Committee Chairman Kevin O'Malley said the role of school counselors had changed dramatically from the days when the focus was college and job preparedness. 

"School counseling is not what it used to be," he said. "It has never been more involved or far-reaching."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160414/franklin-schools-work-to-develop-counseling

The Franklin Matters reporting on the School Committee meeting can be found here  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/04/storify-real-time-reporting-school.html

"Attorney General Maura Healey calculates that she could have purchased 1 million cups of coffee with the additional wages she would have earned if she were paid the same as her male co-workers. 

“It is long past the time to get this done,” said Healey, who joined with state Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, State Auditor Suzanne Bump and dozens of male and female legislators by the Statehouse’s Grand Staircase for Equal Pay Day, which was Tuesday. 

Chief among the topics was a pay equity bill (S 983) that prohibits employers from discriminating on wages based on gender. 

The bill would make it illegal for a company to ask what a job applicant made in a previous job, which Healey said often used as a way to keep women’s salaries down. The legislation would also bar any prohibitions against employees discussing their wages with each other."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160414/legislators-stump-for-equal-pay

"The Conservation Commission is seeking volunteers for a cleanup of the DelCarte Conservation property next weekend. 

The cleanup - scheduled for 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 23 - is the first such event at the 136-acre Pleasant Street property, which the town has opened up for recreational uses. 

Town Conservation Agent George Russell said the work that day would likely involve mostly trash pick-up. 

"It's more a maintenance issue than anything," he said, adding that the work would take place along the property's trails and picnic areas."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160414/franklin-delcarte-cleanup-scheduled-for-april-23

the playground at DelCarte is currently closed for repair but scheduled to be re-opened for May

Governor Baker Signs $200 Million Bill for Chapter 90 Funding; Franklin to get $948,070

"Governor Charlie Baker today (Thursday, Apr 14) signed House Bill 4133, An Act Financing Improvements to Certain Municipal Roads, authorizing $200 million in Chapter 90 transportation funds for municipalities this construction season. Chapter 90 funding supports the reimbursement of every municipality in the Commonwealth for road-related construction projects and comes from general obligation bond issuances.

“Fulfilling the state’s commitment to support municipalities and grant access to critical funding for important transportation improvements across the Commonwealth has been a priority of our administration since our first day in office,” said Governor Baker. “Cities and towns count on this funding each year and we look forward to remaining a reliable partner on this issue for years to come.”

“As I have traveled across the Commonwealth meeting with local officials to discuss the most important issues facing their cities and towns, Chapter 90 is always an important part of the conversation,” said Lt. Governor Polito. “We are pleased the state will provide $200 million worth of funding that will have a direct impact on the everyday lives of everyone in Massachusetts.”

Chapter 90 reimburses cities and towns for costs incurred for eligible transportation projects. Cities and towns must submit receipts to the MassDOT Highway Division district in which they are located which verifies that the expenditures qualify for reimbursement under Chapter 90. The Highway Districts in turn submit these receipts to the Department of Transportation’s Fiscal Department which facilitates the reimbursements to cities and towns."

Continue reading the press release from the Governor here
http://www.mass.gov/governor/press-office/press-releases/fy2016/governor-signs-200-million-bill-for-chapter-90-funding.html

What does Franklin get from this announcement? According to the links provided, Franklin is scheduled to receive $948,070

• City\Town: FRANKLIN
• District: 3
• Mileage: 134
• Population: 31,635
• Employed: 17,513
• Allotment: $948,070

View the FRANKLIN Apportionment Letter

Download the Chapter 90 Distribution (PDF)

For the interactive view to see what other communities receive
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/DoingBusinessWithUs/LocalAidPrograms/Chapter90Program/Chapter90Apportionment.aspx

screen grab of MassDOT Chapter 90 program page

Mine Brook Area Cleanup and Walk Planned in Franklin

Metacomet Land Trust will sponsor a trail walk and cleanup of the town open space near Mine Brook in Franklin in cooperation with the Charles River Meadowland Initiative, the Charles River Watershed Association and the Town of Franklin Earth Day celebration. 

Everyone is welcome; families with young children please email for more information about conditions.

WHEN: 

Saturday, April 30, at 10:30 AM, rain or shine – duration, approximately 90 minutes

WHERE: 

Town-owned open space along Mine Brook, accessed through the Pond Street Property of the Town of Franklin. Follow the dirt driveway to the north of the the Kinder Care daycare facility at 42 Pond St. to the open “parking” area at the end, approximately 1000 feet. [This location is also known as the former sewer bed area.] While the trail is level, the trail may be overgrown and brushy. Please be prepared for wet ground. Please bring insect repellent, hat and work gloves of your choice. 

Link to Google Maps

WHAT: 

Free; suggested for adults, teens, and families with children 10 and older. Volunteers from Metacomet and the Charles River Meadowland Initiative will be on site to lead a walk over and through town land toward the vicinity of Mine Brook and the US Army Corps of Engineers Upper Charles flood control project lands. The focus is both to clean up any litter along path and to provide the public and local officials with an introduction to the 500 acres of contiguous open space in the proposed Charles River Meadowland area. Trash bags will be provided.

WHY: 

The Charles River Meadowland Initiative is working to bring together Federal and State agencies, as well as citizens and town governments in Bellingham, Franklin, and Medway to improve access to and management of this important open space resource. We also will use this occasion to contribute to the annual cleanup efforts of the Charles River Watershed Association. Mine Brook flows into the Charles River.

Please register to attend so we can provide enough materials for all: please contact Alan Earls at alan.r.earls@gmail.com (mention Cleanup in the subject line) or by call 508 528 6930.​

Mine Brook seen looking toward i495