THE BLACK BOX marquee is working!

A brief ceremony on Friday honored the accomplishment of the Franklin School for Performing Arts in turning on the marquee at THE BLACK BOX. The amazing performance venue will now be able to more easily advertise the shows available. Ironically, the first show on the marquee is already 'sold out.'

FSPA Director Raye Lynn Mercer and Alan Mercer talk to the small gathering inside the theater. They recounted some of the trial and tribulations on the journey to make the theater and the marquee a reality. Many helped in this effort. Representative Jeff Roy was on hand to be recognized for his assistance and to help acknowledge officials at both the local and state level that helped along the way.

FSPA Director Raye Lynn Mercer and Alan Mercer

FSPA Director Raye Lynn Mercer and Rep Jeffrey Roy

The lit up marquee

more about the FSPA   http://fspaonline.com/


THE BLACK BOX online box office   http://www.theblackboxonline.com/

Genealogy Club to hear about software choices

The next meeting of the Genealogy Club will meet at the Franklin Historical Museum on Thursday, June 30 at 6:30 PM.

Richard Reid from the Friends of Irish Research will discuss the options of software to use when doing research.

This was shared from the Franklin Library website
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2016/06/franklin-library-genealogy-club-meeting.html

Note: the Library is open and operational in its temporary location at 25 Kenwood Circle while renovations are being made to the building on Main St.
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/04/franklin-library-reopens-may-2-at-25.html

The Fiddling Thomsons To Perform At The Franklin Historical Museum

The Franklin Historical Museum is happy to be participating in the 2nd Annual Franklin Cultural Festival to be held the last week of July.

As part of the festival, the Fiddling Thomsons will perform on the front porch of the museum Thursday evening, July28th from 5:00pm -7:30pm.

Ryan and Brennish Thomson are an award winning father and son duo who will be performing lively tunes on a variety of old time instruments of historical nature. Together they play twin fiddles, wooden spoons, jaw harp, cajon box, drum, rhythm bones, mandolin,banjo, accordion, flute, foot percussion, penny whistle, to name a few! The duo will entertain with their large repertoire of fun and lively tunes and will be available to answer questions from the audience regarding the folk instruments they play.

Join us for Fiddling and Folk Music on Thursday the 28th, on the front lawn of the museum for some lively entertainment and a night of family fun.

More information on the duo can be found on their website, captainfiddle.com.

The evening is sponsored and hosted by the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum. The Cultural District Festival runs from Wednesday, July 27th through Saturday July 30th. 

See you there.

Fiddling Thomsons (image grab from YouTube video)

For more about the Fiddling Thomsons visit their YouTube channel

In the News: Freedom from Hunger Food Drive, workforce disability conference, teacher contract close

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"St. Mary’s Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will host its sixth annual Freedom from Hunger Food Drive from June 25 to 26. 

In order to receive a variety of nonperishable items, the group has divided the alphabet into six groups and are requesting different donations from each group.
The items requested are divided by the spelling of last names. Below are the items requested by beginning letter of the donors' last names. 

• A-D: cereal; coffee; tea; juice boxes; muffins and bread mixes.
• E-H: peanut butter and jelly; individual containers of Jell-O, fruit and pudding.
• I-L: granola bars; rice; whole grain crackers; oatmeal.
• M-P: canned fruit; fruit juice; applesauce; cranberry sauce.
• Q-T: tuna and Tuna Helper; beef stew; spaghetti sauce and paste; canned vegetables.
• U-Z: all paper products; shampoo; detergent; soap; toothpaste; deodorant."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160618/freedom-from-hunger-food-drive-announced

"The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and Riverside Community Care’s Central Massachusetts Employment Collaborative co-hosted a free workshop at Milford National Bank &Trust to educate employers on ways to expand their workforce by hiring people with disabilities. Rep. Jeffrey Roy, D-Franklin, talked about the connection between members of the MDSC and government work. 

Roy talked about different initiatives that he is currently following, in an effort to move people into more meaningful jobs. He mentioned the Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative and the higher education bill of Rep. Tom Sannicandro, D-Ashland, both of which push for people with differing abilities to receive higher education and skill training. Roy also told the attendees about his plans to refile a bill for student loan repayments."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160617/workforce-disabilities-conference-held

"The town school district and its teachers union are reportedly nearing a contract agreement. 

The School Committee, at its meeting this week, approved a memorandum of understanding with the Franklin Education Association, outlining the changes that a new three-year contract would bring. The committee is scheduled to sign the contract at its June 28 meeting, after which its full terms will be made public. 

Chairman Kevin O'Malley said the memo was approved unanimously by the committee. He said the teachers, too, voted to approve the document."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160617/franklin-teachers-district-nearing-agreement

For additional information from the recent School Committee meeting
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/06/school-committee-recognizes-retirees.html

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 6/17/16 - THU 6/23/16

FRIDAY 6/17/16
12pm-6pm   Franklin Farmers Market at The Town Common
7pm-12am   Team O’Neil Fundraiser for Chris B O’Neil Children’s Fund @ Elks Lodge

SATURDAY 6/18/16
8am-11am   SNETT rail trail Clean Up/Walk - meet at Grove Street trailhead.
10am   Franklin Rock Walk - explore Franklin’s Geology, meet at the YMCA parking lot.
9am-5pm   Civil War Reenactment in Millis
7:30pm   Electric Youth 2016 Bon Voyage Concert @ The Black Box

MONDAY 6/20/16
7pm   Substance Abuse in “Our Community”  @ Dean College Campus Center (Atrium). Presenters: State Rep. Jeff Roy, James Derick (SAFE Coalition President)

TUESDAY 6/21/16
1:30pm   Knitting Circle for Adults @ Franklin Public Library (25 Kenwood Circle)
6:30pm   Teen Advisory Board @ Franklin Public Library

THURSDAY 6/23/16
10am   Zentangle Boxes @ Franklin Art Center
5-9pm   SAFE Coalition’s Substance Abuse Drop In Center Open @ St. John’s Episcopal Church (237 Pleasant Street)
6:30-8:30pm   Art Night Uncorked @ Franklin Art Center

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

In the News: former Dean campus police appeal, Honor Flight take Franklin veteran to WDC

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Former Dean College campus police officers are appealing a federal board’s decision to dismiss their case claiming they were wrongfully terminated just days after informing the school of their plan to form a union. 

The initial appeal was filed last month, but a supplemental brief filed last week calls into question the training and capability of TeamOps, the private security force that was hired to replace the school’s public safety officers."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160616/former-dean-college-police-officers-want-wrongful-termination-case-heard-by-nlrb

"A local veteran of the Korean War will get the opportunity to tour various Washington, D.C. landmarks this weekend as part of the "Honor Flight" program. 

Joseph McManus, who served in the Navy for 20 years, is flying out on Sunday, and will be given a whirlwind tour before returning. The Honor Flight program looks to celebrate veterans by giving them an opportunity to reflect at memorials in the nation's capital. 

McManus, raised in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, joined the Navy out of high school in 1947. 

"The war had just ended, and I felt I had to do my duty," he said. "I had an algebra teacher who was a lieutenant in the Navy at the time, and he asked, 'Why don't you join the Navy?'"

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160616/franklin-vet-to-travel-to-washington

My brothers and I had the opportunity to take our father to Washington, DC to see the memorials
 in 2007 and he talked of the trip for the rest of his life

You can contribute to Honor Flight to enable trips to Washington DC for other veterans  http://www.honorflight.org/

Why Honor Flight? The Sherlock family answered that question when Jerry Sherlock passed away in 2012 and recorded those reasons here
http://jerrysherlockstory.blogspot.com/2012/02/why-honor-flight.html

In the News: Orlando remembered, Drummers' Studio schedules summer camps

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"For one member of the First Universalist Society of Franklin, the recent shooting in Orlando, Fla., hit close to home. 

On Dec. 11, 2012, while the woman was working in a Sephora located in the Clackamas (Ore.) Town Center mall, she said “a man decided he was going to run in on holiday shoppers and open fire in our food court.” 

The woman, who did not want her name used, was celebrating her honeymoon with her wife in Orlando on Sunday, when the shooting took place. 

“Every single time one of these mass shootings happens," she said, "it’s like this wound is reopened.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160615/first-universalist-society-of-franklin-remembers-orlando-victims

"The Drummers’ Studio, 244 East Central St., will host a series of summer drum camps for middle and elementary students the week of July 11-15. 

Elementary students looking to have fun and/or prepare for middle school bands will cover the basics in reading, rudiments, styles and soloing. The middle school drum camp is designed to help students successfully prepare for Jazz and Concert Band auditions as well as the Central District auditions."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160616/drummers-studio-to-host-camps

image from the Drummers's Studio webpage