Save Spruce Pond Brook - Stop Madalene Village Development

The continuation of the hearing on the developer's proposal for Madalene Village is scheduled for Thursday, May 19 at 7:50 PM. The Zoning Board of Appeals full agenda for this meeting can be found here

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_ZBAAgendas/Agendas%202016/05-19-16%20ZBA%20Meeting.pdf


7:50 PM 

21 Peck Street and 180 Cottage Street, Madalene Village - MV Cottage Development LLC Applicant is seeking a building permit to construct a 40 unit townhome style development. The building permit is denied without a comprehensive permit from the ZBA.

a view of the brook from Wachusetts St

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczbmptU2piU29nTU0/view?usp=sharing

"The Good Samaritan law removes a key barrier"

"Tuesday, May 17 at the State House, Governor Charlie Baker and Attorney General Maura Healey unveiled a new public information campaign to encourage people to call 911 for emergency medical services at the first signs of a drug overdose. Along with Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, Department of Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel and members of the law enforcement community, state officials launched the $250,000 Make the Right Call campaign to promote the Massachusetts 911 Good Samaritan Law.

This law provides protection to individuals seeking medical assistance for themselves or someone else experiencing a drug-related overdose, including opioid-related overdoses, without the risk of charges of possession of a controlled substance."

• Continue reading the Governor's press release

http://www.mass.gov/governor/press-office/press-releases/fy2016/administration-ags-office-call-911-during-overdoses.html

Make the Right Call

Make the Right Call targets active users of opioids and their friends and families with a simple message that they shouldn’t be afraid to seek help when they see an overdose. The campaign includes billboards, and advertisements on street furniture and other public environments where overdoses can take place. Viewers are directed to the website for more information on what to say when calling 911, what to do while waiting for help to arrive, and where they can access the overdose reversal tool Naloxone, more commonly called Narcan.

• Make the Right Call website

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/substance-abuse/make-the-right-call-public-information-campaign.html

ALERT: Changing Downtown Traffic Pattern Coming at the End of June

Dear Franklin Resident:

This is the first announcement to the community that the traffic pattern will be changing in Downtown Franklin toward the end of June, 2016. The one-way traffic pattern in downtown, which many have become accustomed to, will be changing to two-way traffic. Yes, that’s correct: traffic around the downtown triangle will soon become two-way! We encourage everyone to take it a little slower in their daily business to make sure you get accustomed to the new flow of traffic.

While the date has not been specified yet when the traffic pattern will become two-way, we can’t begin to educate the community soon enough. We encourage you to follow the town website and social media (Facebook, Twitter) feeds, as well as the Town’s traditional local media channels to stay tuned for specific updates over the coming month. We are counting on you to help spread the word.

Downtown Map 

A map is attached of the new traffic routes. I encourage you to print it out, send it to friends and family and begin to spread the word.

Future Notification

As part of the construction contract with the state, the Town will be placing electronic boards at all intersections of downtown when the traffic transitions to two-way. New lane markings will be painted around the entire downtown, as well as signage in key areas. Individual letters will also be distributed to all downtown businesses to help educate their customers of the traffic flow when exiting their business. The Town will also be doing as much publicity as possible through its own social media feeds and through traditional local media channels on this pattern change.

Public Benefits

I also want to take this opportunity to thank the community for their patience during the recent construction in downtown. The Town is installing many public benefits, including new sidewalks, new paving, better pedestrian-friendly accommodations, and many beautification efforts to enhance the vibrancy of the downtown. The planning effort for this project has taken well over a decade and I am confident residents will enjoy the new amenities.


If any resident has any questions, feel free to contact the Town Administrator’s Office at 508-520-4949.


Sincerely,

Jeff Nutting, Town Administrator
Jamie Hellen, Deputy Town Administrator

recent construction underway to complete the work before switching
to the new two-way traffic pattern in June

The memo on the Traffic Pattern containing the map with the new two-way flow

• The Town of Franklin is on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/Town-of-Franklin-998859663537294/

• Follow the Town of Franklin on Twitter

https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA

• Visit the Town of Franklin website

http://franklin.ma.us/

FHS Students to host a Genealogy Conference - June 3

Pantherbook (@FranklinHSNews) tweeted at 9:20 AM on Tue, May 17, 2016: 

"FHS Students to host a genealogy conference for the public on June 3rd. @FranklinPSNews @FranklinMatters https://t.co/7vcbVidLFg"

RSVP to leightonj@franklinps.net

To be held from 9AM to noon in the FHS school library

FHS Students to host a Genealogy Conference - June 3

(https://twitter.com/FranklinHSNews/status/732561419787472896?s=03)

FHS boys tennis tops Canton on Tuesday

Boys Tennis

• Canton, 2 @ Franklin, 3 – Final 

– Franklin junior Rahul Herur won at first singles and the Panthers swept doubles play to beat the Bulldogs. Herur picked up a 6-3, 6-1 win while junior James Johnston and senior Tom Mancini won 6-2, 6-4 at first doubles. The team of sophomores Tyler DiPalma and Derek Wu clinched the win with a 6-2, 6-0 victory at second doubles. Canton sophomore Jake Wolicki won 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 at third singles and senior Nathan Maltz won 4-6, 7-6, 1-0 (10-8) for the Bulldogs.

Girls Tennis

• Franklin @ Canton – Postponed to 5/20 at 3:45

Hockomock Sports provides all results around the Hockomock League

http://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-051716/

FHS Panthers

Franklin TV: Grandparents and the Opioid Crisis

The opioid crisis is affecting many people.  Increasingly more and more grandparents are raising the children of their adult children who are suffering from the disease of addiction.  

Hear Dyan Fitzgerald, a grandmother raising her beautiful grand child, on this week's It Takes a Village...

Dyan tells her story, a story she states that is all too common, but also lets everyone know how the Franklin Branch of the YMCA came to her rescue through its scholarship program.  She wants everyone to know how the people there came to her rescue.

•   View on Comcast 8; Verizon 26 on Wed morning at 7:30
•                                                        Saturday  evening at 8:30

•   View on Comcast 98; Verizon 28 on Friday morning at 8:30
•                                                           Saturday - 12 noon

                              

Franklin TV

                                                               

Parmenter 5th Grader - Car Wash and Clothing Drive

The Parmenter 5th graders are holding a car wash in the Parmenter loop line as well as a clothing drive. In order to help raise funds to pay for their 5th grade celebration events as well as a parting gift to the school, every year the 5th graders hold a car wash. 

This year they are also collecting clothing and household items and SAVERS will make a donation to Parmenter based on the amount collected.

Event Details are as follows:

WHAT: 
Parmenter 5th Grade Car Wash and Clothing Drive

WHEN: 
Saturday, May 21st 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Rain Date (for car wash) - Sunday, May 22nd 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

WHERE: 
Parmenter Elementary School loop line
235 Wachusett Street

COST: $10 per vehicle for car wash

WHAT ELSE: 
Perfect time for spring cleaning. Clean out those closets and donate any clothing, shoes, bedding, toys, books, small kitchen and household items and drop off at Parmenter before getting your car washed.

A donation will be made based on total weight collected.

All proceeds benefit Parmenter 5th Grade celebration activities.

Parmenter School - Wachusett St

"to design a smart, flexible incentive program that will continue to help advance solar development in our state."

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

Vacating a Superior Court judge's ruling, the SJC ruled that Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations do not fulfill the specific requirements of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008. 

The ruling requires the department to promulgate regulations "that address multiple sources of categories of sources of greenhouse gas emissions, impose a limit on emissions that may be released, limit the aggregate emissions released from each group of regulated sources or categories of sources, set emission limits for each year, and set limits that decline on an annual basis." 

"This is a historic day," Jenny Rushlow, the Conservation Law Foundation's lead attorney on the case, said in a statement. "Today our highest court declared clearly and unequivocally that our leaders can no longer sit on their hands while Massachusetts communities are put at risk from the effects of climate change. Thanks to this landmark decision, our role as a national leader in battling climate change has only been stalled but not sacrificed. Now, with action from DEP, we can get back on track and ensure that the health of our families and future generations is always a top priority."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160517/states-top-court-sides-with-environmentalists-in-suit-over-carbon-emissions

Downtown Project Update #29

Contractors will be in tomorrow to begin the resin crosswalks around downtown. This week will be strictly milling the crosswalks (3/4") on Main Street.

Next week will be the resin pouring of the crosswalks. There will some lane closures/detours on Main Street by Lincoln tomorrow, Wednesday the 18th. We will wait until school traffic has subsided before we begin.

Please be mindful when you approach downtown, significant construction will be occurring over the next ten days leading up to Memorial Day Weekend.

If anyone has a question, please feel free to reach out to the DPW Director, Brutus Cantoreggi or Town Engineer, Michael Maglio at 508-553-5500 or Jeffrey Nutting, Town Administrator at 508-520-4949.

the crossing is marked for where the milling will occur to place the resin that looks like red brick

What will the resin crosswalks look like?

If you have seen the crosswalks on Lincoln St near the Keller/Sullivan School, they should be similar to that.

resin crosswalks on Lincoln St just after they were installed

For additional info on the resin crosswalks this came up via a Google Search
http://www.derckandedson.com/crosswalks/#stamped

Additional photos of Linocln St can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/10/lincoln-st-construction-progress-photo.html

“Opening Doors” to Federal Government Contracting - May 19

The Town of Franklin is hosting a Small Business Association (SBA) seminar on May 19, 2016 at the Incontro Restaurant (860 West Central Street, Franklin, MA), to help businesses learn about contracting with the Federal government. The Federal government spends over $220 billion dollars per year, purchasing good and services from private businesses, with $51 billion allocated to purchasing goods and products from small businesses.

Many people tend to think of the Federal Government purchases only military equipment such as tanks and aircraft, but the reality is that the Federal Government purchases products and services that covers all major industrial groups. Examples of products and services purchased include, cleaning supplies, janitorial cleaning services, printing, boxes, gloves, cars, trucks, office supplies, office equipment, office furniture, lab equipment, food, uniforms, medical equipment, prescription medications, etc. 

Bryan Taberner, Director of Planning and Community Development for the Town of Franklin said that “winning a contract with the Federal Government can have a very significant positive impact on the business.” He further explained that the Town of Franklin wants to help businesses succeed and hire more employees because this helps the company, the town, the region and families of those employees.

The event is free and open to business owners. You may RSVP at http://bit.ly/1SfkbIg

Incontro Restaurant

Shared from the Town of Franklin webpage
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/023E3A06-000F8513

New name, same 5K race, same great cause to benefit

"Formerly known as the Independence 5K Run and Walk, the event has a new name and a new look. Organizers say the new name draws attention to the abilities, not the disabilities, of the more than 4,000 people that HMEA serves."

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/take-one-incredable-walk-to-help-hmea/article_42c97f3f-09b8-5fc8-b62e-e5c8bcefe2aa.html

incredABLE 5K Race, Run, Walk

For 14 years, the Independence 5K Race, Run and Walk was held on the Sunday before Memorial Day weekend. It is scheduled for this Sunday, May 22. The 15th event in the series but for some reason while they changed the name as indicated above they also took the 5K out of the event title. Oops.

To register: my.racewire.com/event/3842. For more information, visit hmea.org.


Prior notifications posted here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/05/hmeas-incredable-day-may-22-8-am-to-300.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/04/hmeas-incredable-day-may-22.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/04/hmeas-15th-annual-fundraiser-of-year.html

  

Madalene Village - ZBA hearing continues May 19

The continuation of the hearing on the developer's proposal for Madalene Village is scheduled for Thursday, May 19 at 7:50 PM. The Zoning Board of Appeals full agenda for this meeting can be found here

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_ZBAAgendas/Agendas%202016/05-19-16%20ZBA%20Meeting.pdf


7:50 PM 

21 Peck Street and 180 Cottage Street, Madalene Village - MV Cottage Development LLC Applicant is seeking a building permit to construct a 40 unit townhome style development. The building permit is denied without a comprehensive permit from the ZBA.

map of proposed development

The listing of exemptions being sought from the ZBA

It's Not Too Late! - calling all FHS 9th graders starting in Sept 2016

High School Experience 2016 Registration is still open.

High School Experience 2016 August 9 to 12, 9:00 AM to Noon During the week, students will have get an opportunity to meet faculty members from the Freshman Collaborative, participate in Project Adventure Challenge by Choice games, learn about FHS Technology and receive chromebook, receive the HSE t-shirt and water bottle, and meet other incoming freshmen. Register

FPS- Lifelong Learning, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by lifelong@franklin.k12.ma.us in collaboration with Try it free today

FHS boys lacrosse, baseball, softball, boys tennis, girls tennis post wins on Monday

Josh Perry, Managing Editor Hockomock Sports writes:

"The FOGO (“face-off, get-off”) position can sometimes be overlooked, as the players may only be on the field for a few minutes and many times are on the bench or heading back to the box when the ball finds the back of the net. But when a FOGO dominates a game, those few minutes of playing time can play a critical role in the final result. 

Freshman Jake Alexander has come in this season and provided a spark for Franklin and on Monday night his domination of the face-off ‘X’ (winning all but three face-offs) provided a platform for the Panthers to break away in the second half and get one step closer to a fourth straight league title. 

Franklin turned a two-goal lead at halftime into as much as a 10-goal lead in the fourth quarter and rolled to a 13-6 victory over the Warriors at Pisini Field, leaving games against Oliver Ames and Milford between the Panthers and a perfect league record."

Continue reading the article online
http://hockomocksports.com/alexander-helps-panthers-roll-king-philip/

For additional photos from Hockomock Sports for the KP-FHS lacrosse game
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/20152016/Spring-2016/Franklin-King-Philip-Boys/

Jake Alexander (2) dominated the face-off ‘X’ again on Monday and helped Franklin
pull out a win against KP. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Baseball

• Taunton, 2 @ Franklin, 6 – Final 

– Franklin turned a two run lead in the fourth inning to a comfortable cushion in a league win over Taunton. Nick Santucci connected for a two-out RBI triple in the inning, finishing the game 3-4 with a run. Jake Lyons added two RBI while Joe Corsi was 2-3 with an RBI and three runs scored. Josh Macchi added two hits, including a double, and scored a run for the Panthers. Sophomore Jason Ulrickson was solid on the mound in a complete game effort, scattering five hits while walking one to get the win. Ulrickson struck out four with just one walk. Taunton’s Kevin Griffin went 2-3 with an RBI while Luke Figueira (2-3) and Joe Manchester (1-3) each scored a run for the Tigers.

Softball

• Taunton, 6 @ Franklin, 2 – Final 

– The Tigers’ offense cashed in in the fifth and sixth innings to get the win over the Panthers. Taunton scored four runs in the fifth and then tacked on two more in the sixth inning while Franklin scored twice in the seventh. Aimee Kistner got her 11th win of the season, striking out five while scattering four hits in a complete game effort. Kistner also paced the offense, going 4-4 with a pair of RBI while Jordan Wade was 3-3 with a triple, a walk and an RBI. Jaime Brown went 1-2 for the Tigers with a sac bunt, a walk and an RBI and Kya Enos added a double and an RBI. Allie Shea went 1-2 for Franklin with a pair of walks and knocked in both of the Panthers’ runs.

Boys tennis

• Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final 

– It was a clean sweep for Franklin, who won all five matches in straight sets. Rahul Herur won 6-2, 6-1 at first singles, Eli Brooks ton 6-2, 6-0 at second singles and Dan Barrow won 6-3, 6-2 at third singles. Cam Piana and James Johnston took home a 6-1, 6-1 win at first doubles and Tyler DiPalma and Derek Wu won 6-0, 6-1 at second doubles.

Girls tennis

• Franklin, 3 @ Taunton, 2 – Final 

– Franklin went on the road and extracted a bit of revenge by avenging an early season loss to the Tigers. The Panthers used a sweep in singles play to edge of the Tigers. Junior Hannah Sweeney won 6-1, 6-0 at first singles while senior Anna Humphreys won 6-0, 6-1 at second singles and junior Anja Deric swept 6-0, 6-0 at third singles. Taunton’s Ashleigh Eason and Emily Moor won 7-6 (7-2), 3-0 (forfeit) at first doubles and Caroline Hebert and Jillian Pagliuca won 6-2, 6-0 at second doubles.

Boys and Girls Outdoor Track

Hockomock League Championships (@ Taunton High), 2:30

• The FHS girls team finished 3rd overall and the boys finished 9th

For all the results from the track and field meet
http://www.coolrunning.com/results/16/ma/May16_Hockom_set1.shtml

For additional photos from Hockomock Sports for the track meet
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/20152016/Spring-2016/Hockomock-Outdoor-Track/

For the remainder of the results around the Hockomock League on Monday
http://hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-051616/

We don’t like to waste things. Our forefathers understood this was common sense.”

Franklin is not like a lot of New England communities where the rivers running through the city/town have been dammed and once upon a time used to generate electrical power. 

"As the turbid currents of the Hoosic River tumble over his backyard dam, a century-old barrier of concrete and limestone, Ken Egnaczak sees a cascade of lost opportunity. 

Day after day, the water flows by without generating even a spark. 

“It’s such a waste,” he said. 

As the state seeks new sources of clean energy to replace power lost from the closures of nuclear and oil-fired plants, the retired mechanical engineer sees promise in the unharnessed power on his property, and at the nearly 3,000 other unused dams across the state."

Ken Egnaczak sat on a wall by the small backyard dam that he is trying to get approval to repower.
(photo credit - MATTHEW CAVANAUGH FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE)

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/05/14/state-and-towns-looking-tapping-into-hydropower/DzhV2W1YHJwHX38GrEJueI/story.html


I ride along the Blackstone River Bikeway several times a year and there are many dams along the Blackstone River that could generate electrical power.

comparison of water flow at the Pratt Dam along the Blackstone River

Additional photos of the Blackstone River Bikeway can be found here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/albums/72157622053236460/with/4485646180/

Rain Garden Training and Demonstration - June 4

The Town of Franklin, in conjunction with the Charles River Watershed Association, is hosting a rain garden training and demonstration on Saturday, June 4 at the Department of Public Works, 257 Fisher St, Franklin.  

Learn to design, build and maintain a home rain garden to treat polluted rainwater from your driveway and roof while adding beauty and visual interest to your property. 

Register for the program online at www.soakitupfranklinma.org/rain-garden-training.html. 

For questions, contact Kate Sjoberg at ksjoberg@franklin.ma.us

one of the many rain gardens around Franklin can be found at the Parmenter School

Dean Baseball moves on to Regional Playoffs

Dean Baseball won the Region XXI championship and will move on to the regional playoffs next weekend. Dean swept the best of 3 series. Gary Peralta named MVP of the series, pitching a no hitter in game 1 and batting 2-4 with a home run and 2 RBI in game 2.

Dean Baseball team poses in celebration of win!

Game 1 recap:

Washington Park, Groton, CT

• Dean College 14  FINAL  UCAP 0

Gary Peralta throws no-hitter as the Bulldogs defeat University of Connecticut at Avery Point 14-0

Friday was a day Gary Peralta will set aside for the scrapbook as Peralta threw a no-hitter in the Bulldogs' 14-0 victory over University of Connecticut at Avery Point.

No University of Connecticut at Avery Point batter was able to locate Peralta's pitches during the game. Peralta threw a no-hitter, striking out 11 batters and walking one while recording his momentous feat. He got Avery Santos to fly out for the final out of the game.

The Bulldogs continued to add runs until the end of the game. The Bulldogs scored five runs in the last one innings to finish off the win. The Bulldogs scored six runs in the second on the Bulldogs scored in the second on an RBI single by Christopher Wood, a walk by Brandon Valls, an RBI single by Jesse Archambault, a sacrifice fly by Rosario Missiti, and a two-run single by Kevin Ciprian.

Valls racked up three RBIs on two hits for the Bulldogs.

Matt Fasoli took the loss for University of Connecticut at Avery Point. He lasted just two innings, walked one, struck out two, and allowed one run.

The Bulldogs got one-run boosts in each of the third, fifth and sixth. In the third, the Bulldogs scored on an RBI single by Valls, scoring Seth Leslie.

The Bulldogs piled on five more runs in the top of the seventh. The inning looked promising, as Archambault singled, plating Ben Keeping and Wood to kick things off. That was followed up by Dion Austrie's three-run blast, bringing home Archambault and Daniel Blazejewski.

Gary Peralta named MVP of the series

Game 2 Recap:

• Dean College 15  FINAL  UCAP 6

University of Connecticut at Avery Point falls 15-6 at the hands of the Bulldogs

The Bulldogs beat University of Connecticut at Avery Point on Saturday 15-6 at Groton, CT.

The Bulldogs scored six runs in the eighth on the Bulldogs scored in the eighth on an RBI single by Dion Austrie, a walk by Seth Leslie, a two-run error, a passed ball, and an error.

The game was back-and-forth heading into the fifth, with five lead changes.

The Bulldogs finally managed to grab the lead after a strong fifth inning. An error scored Ben Keeping and gave the Bulldogs the lead for good.

Brenden Smith recorded the win for the Bulldogs even though he allowed five runs over six innings. Smith struck out four, walked one and gave up nine hits.

Jesse Archambault, Keeping and Gary Peralta helped lead the Bulldogs. They combined for five hits and five RBIs.

Josh Vincent was the game's losing pitcher. He allowed seven runs in 4 2/3 innings, walked three and struck out none.

The Bulldogs scored two runs in the second inning, and then followed it up with two more in the sixth. In the second, the Bulldogs scored on an RBI single by Christopher Wood, plating Leslie.

The inning looked promising, as Rosario Missiti singled, bringing home Archambault to kick things off. That was followed up by Peralta's double, scoring Austrie.

Division II - Regional Champions 2016

Thanks to Matt Harrington, Dean College, Director of Baseball Operations for submitting this info to share.

FHS baseball and softball teams post wins on Sunday

Baseball

• Franklin, 8 @ St. Peter Marian, 4 – Final 

– Franklin rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the sixth inning, plating eight runs in the top half to take the lead for good. Senior Nick Santucci went 2-4 with a double, a run scored and a pair of RBI, Ryan Hodgkins had an RBI and a double and Mike Skaza was 2-4 with a pair of RBI and a run scored. Bryan Woelfel, who had a pair of strikeouts, earned the win after an inning and two thirds in relief. Ryan Morse struck out one in 1.1 innings of work for the save.

Softball

• Foxboro, 2 @ Franklin, 14 – Final (6 inn.) 

– Junior Alexx Niss continued her hot streak for the Panthers, knocking in seven runs with a single, double and a three run home run. Olivia DiGiacomo went 2-3 with a double and two RBI and Maddie Connelly was also 2-3 with an RBI, scoring three runs. Allie Shea reached bases three times for Franklin and Rachel Cousineau went 2-2 with a pair of runs scored. Caroline D’Aprile struck out four, allowing just one hit in three innings of work for Franklin.


http://hockomocksports.com/sundays-schedule-scoreboard-051516/

FHS Panthers

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds: April '16 Real Estate Activity

	Norfolk County Registry of Deeds
	Register O'Donnell Reports on April '16 Real Estate Activity Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell reported a mixed bag when it came to Norfolk County real estate activity for April 2016. The Register stated, "There was definitely some conflicting statistics when it came to comparing April 2016 versus April 2015. While we saw a 7% rise in the amount of commercial and residential real estate transactions in 2016, we also witnessed a 7% slide in the volume of dollars associated with these transactions. In addition, the average real estate sales price, both commercial and residential combined was $602,722, a surprising 22% reduction." "Additionally there was also a little softness in the mortgage financing market for the same period of time," noted Register O'Donnell. "The mortgage market was flat for the month of April. The total number of mortgages increased a slight 1% compared to the same time last year. Total mortgage financing dollars actually fell 2% to $1.02 billion compared to $1.04 billion figure posted in April 2015." On the consumer front, Homestead recordings, which provide limited protection against the forced sale of an individual's primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000, decreased 2% from April 2015 to April 2016. A total of 884 Homesteads were recorded versus 905 during this comparative time period. Further information regarding the Homestead Act can be found on the Registry's website at www.norfolkdeeds.org. A disconcerting note regarding the April 2016 real estate activity was the continuing increase in foreclosure activity in Norfolk County. The total number of foreclosure deeds recorded during the month was 16, the same figure that was recorded during April 2015. However, the number of Notices to Foreclose Mortgages recorded, the first step in the foreclosure process, jumped to 68 for the month of April compared to 36 recordings in April 2015, a rise of 82%. "For many months," stated Register O'Donnell, "lending institutions have been working to process foreclosures dating back to the 2008 economic slowdown. While there is some evidence that there are more and more new foreclosures happening, we are still seeing foreclosure activity with residents that have been struggling with this issue for some time. My office continues to partner with Quincy Community Action Programs at (617) 479-8181 x-376 and Neighbor Works Southern Mass at (508) 598-0950 for those who have received a Notice to Foreclose Mortgage from a lender. Another option for homeowners is to call the Massachusetts Attorney General's HomeCorps program at (617) 573-5333. In conclusion Register O'Donnell stated, "The number of real estate sales transactions recorded during the month of April 2016 clearly tells us that Norfolk County continues to be a destination location for individuals and families to live and work. I would say, however, that prospective homeowners are being more cautious in making their real estate purchases. As long as the county's inventory levels do not fall significantly, I believe the late spring and summer months could produce solid real estate results for Norfolk County." 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 email: registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org phone: 781-234-3336 web: http://www.norfolkdeeds.org

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, 649 High Street, Dedham,, MA 02026-1831 Sent by registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org in collaboration with Try it free today

screen grab of Norfolk Deeds webpage