Chess Group meets at the Library, Saturday Aug 27 at 2 PM

The Chess Group meets at the Franklin Public Library, Saturday Aug 27 at 2 PM

http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2016/08/chess-group-saturday-august-27-2-4-pm.html

Reporting by Walking Around -Saturday, Aug 20 (Photo essay)

My walk Saturday found lots of good things to share. Some of these photos were shared on Facebook already but most were not and readers of the website and newsletter will get these first.

Summer St between King and RT 140 is getting re-done. The base paving was done just before the 4th of July and work on the sidewalks continues

Looks like the sidewalk is going to go around the interesting pole arrangement

initially a photo to capture the blinking light sequence. Wasn't until well after that I realized something special had been returned to the triangle! More on that later...

work on the Horace Mann greenspace and location of the new statue makes progress

yes, there really is work going on at the Library. It is tucked away in the back corner of the property so it is not visible to the passerby on Main St

another view of the construction at the Library

sidewalks on Pleasant St are being worked on, some concrete sidewalks closer to the Town Common are done, past Dean Ave, there is blacktop sidewalks and additional construction underway

nice work expanding the sidewalk to provide room around the utility pole

curbs in place and base smoothed for the sidewalk

more curbing along Pleasant St

a view of the large pond at DelCarte

the drought has lowered the water level significantly

good thing the approval has been made for the invasive species reduction, otherwise as shown here, the open water will continue to decrease

bee busy about his pollination rounds

no water spilling over the spillway

a view of the train station from the railroad bridge through the nice flowers out there by the Franklin Downtown Partnership

the water trough is back!

nice and freshly painted it has been located back on the triangle of Main and East/West Central

close up view of the fish ornaments

You can also find these photos on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/albums/72157671773779570

Despite drought, Tri-County's garden tops 300 pounds donated

Dry conditions presented new challenges to the teacher and student volunteers responsible for maintaining the garden at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School this summer. Despite the drought, the garden yielded 300 pounds of fresh produce by Tuesday, August 23. The garden yielded 325 pounds by the same time last year.

All of the produce harvested from the garden is donated to local food pantries.
Walking through the garden Tuesday, Culinary Arts Instructor and Garden Coordinator Nancy Haney pointed out that although the plants were wilting at a faster rate than in the past, the garden was still enveloped in vibrant red tomatoes and hulking yellow sunflowers. This year’s newest additions to the garden, cabbage, kale, and corn, were also alive and well.

Culinary Arts Instructor and Garden Coordinator Nancy Haney

Tri-County sunflower

Tri-County tomatoes

The school has donated nearly 3,000 pounds of produce to food pantries in Franklin and Medway since the garden was established four years ago. The initiative educates students about proper gardening techniques and helps to bolster philanthropy.

For more about Tri-County, visit them on the internet  http://www.tri-county.us/

In the News: Franklin schools prepared, Tri-County forensics class added

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

"School officials provides updates this week on their preparations for the new year, set to begin on Tuesday, Aug. 30. 

Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski reported on enrollment shifts, faculty and administration workshops, and bus routes. 

Sabolinski said at Tuesday night's School Committee meeting that although the district's enrollment changes daily, there are certain evident trends. 

"Overall, we're down 139 elementary students, which we anticipated," she said. "Right now, middle school (students are) down eight, while the high school is plus 46."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160824/franklin-schools-prep-for-new-school-year

"A new forensic science class appears to have caught the interest of Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School students. 

The elective, school officials said, was originally slated to have one section, but will now have three sections of students studying such topics as blood spatter and fingerprinting. 

Class instructor Doreen Erwin said she began lobbying for the course when she started working at the school three years ago. When the opportunity (and budget) presented itself in the middle of last year, she compiled a course description and consulted Franklin High School's forensic program for ideas. 

"It's a personal interest," she said. "Before I started (at Tri-County), I was working in the field of environmental toxicology, which is along a similar line."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160824/tri-county-starting-forensics-class

image from Tri-County webpage

Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club - Sep 14

The Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club kicks off their 2016/2017 season on Wednesday, September 14th. We invite any resident of Franklin, or a surrounding town that doesn't have a Newcomers Club, to join us at "3" Restaurant, 461 West Central Street, Franklin. 

Complimentary appetizers and beverages are provided and a cash bar is available. We meet upstairs at 7:30 pm on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. We run September through May but hold many other casual events to stay connected throughout the year. 

The club is an opportunity for residents of all ages and situations - not just those new to town - to socialize and learn about our community. Our September meeting is a social gathering so it's a great opportunity to come and make new friends or catch up with old ones. 

For more information visit www.franklinnewcomers.com.

The Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club is a non-profit social and
charitable organization for residents of Franklin

Christmas in August - End of Summer Party at the Franklin LIbrary

Come to the Franklin Public Library for the "Christmas in August - End of Summer Party" on Friday, Aug 26 from 1 to 4:00 PM

Christmas in August - End of Summer Party at the Franklin LIbrary

This was shared from the Franklin Library page here
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2016/08/christmas-in-august-end-of-summer-party.html

@shopFranklin Movie Night at Beaver Pond - Aug 26

#shopFranklin Small Businesses in partnership with the Franklin Rec Department and FranklinTV are excited to announce the #shopFranklin Family Movie Night on Beaver Pond featuring the Pixar/Disney film FINDING NEMO.

FINDING NEMO

Join some of our favorite local independently owned businesses for an evening of community and entertainment. 

The evening will begin at 7pm where you can browse participating business tables to buy merchandise, learn about services and enter raffles. 

Our featured film, FINDING NEMO, will begin promptly at dusk (approximately 7:40PM) so make sure to have your FREE popcorn in hand

Make sure to stop by the #shopFranklin Welcome Table to pick up a free gift for the first 50 guests, buy raffle tickets (all proceeds going to charity)

@shopFranklin Movie Night at Beaver Pond - Aug 26

Note:  the weather forecast does call for rain on Friday. There is a rain date already set for Sunday, Aug 28 at 7:0 PM. The decision will be made on Friday morning.