Emma Newton at 2016 Franklin Cultural Festival (video)

Turning back time (or #TBT) to that Saturday in July when THE BLACK BOX had two stages going for a full day of musical performances.

Here is a sample of Emma Newton's performance at THE BLACK BOX on the indoor stage. 




For more about Emma Newton visit https://soundcloud.com/emma_newton

Emma Newton performing at THE BLACK BOX

FHS girls soccer and golf teams post wins on Wednesday

From Hockomock Sports we share the FHS fall sports results from Wednesday, Oct 5


*** Boys Soccer = Franklin, 1 @ Canton, 1 – Final
– Franklin’s Farley Asmath opened the scoring off an assist from Nitin Chaudhury to give the visitors a lead but Canton’s Ben Waterhouse tapped in Jake Verille’s free kick with 14 minutes to play in the first half to bring the Bulldogs level.

*** Girls Soccer - Canton, 0 @ Franklin, 2 – Final
– Halle Atkinson and Miranda Smith netted second half goals to lift the Panthers. Nadia Havens and Atkinson registered assists for Franklin.

*** Volleyball = Franklin, 1 @ Canton, 3 – Final

FHS Panthers

– Canton won the first two sets, lost the third but sealed the victory with a big win in the fourth set, 25-19, 25-15, 26-28, 25-12. Canton middles Casey Shea and Emma Murphy both had strong nights to lead the Bulldogs, putting down eights kills with just one error apiece, and combined for five blocks. Head coach Pat Cawley said Nicole Poole did a great job distributing the ball, finishing with 26 assists, 11 digs and three kills. Canton’s defense of Julia Panico, Maria Mackie, Erika Lum and Emily Lynch was strong throughout the night. Franklin’s Erin Skidmore had 13 kills, three aces and 10 digs, Maddie Kuzio finished with 34 digs, Lauren McGrath had 31 assists and Meaghan Maguire had six kills and a block for the Panthers.

*** Golf = Franklin, 179 @ Foxboro, 190 – Final


For all the results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-100516/

"It's a rare find in such condition"

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

"The Town Council heard on Wednesday evening a report on an extensive categorization and reorganization project that took place at the town historical museum during the summer. 

Historical Commission member Mary Olsson, as well as Allison Anderson, one of the two interns who worked on the project, gave a presentation to the council at its meeting. 

Anderson spoke of the conditions at the museum, noting that while there were many deficiencies, the institution has a great deal of potential."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161005/franklin-council-hears-historical-museum-report

an exhibit about Franklin's own 3-star general is available near the entrance to the main room of the Historical Museum

Don't miss out on the Ladybug 5K - Saturday, October 15

This year's Ladybug 5K will be on Saturday, October 15th, starting from Kennedy School at 551 Pond St. In addition to the 5K, there will be kids races, games, face painting, and raffles. Fun, family friendly event.

• Race registration and number pick up start at 8:30 AM
• Kids race at 9:30
• 5K at 10 AM
• Cash prize for top male and top female overall in the 5K

Registration is available for the 5K, kids race and family pricing of $50 per family.

Participants can preregister at https://racewire.com/register.php?id=6650

For more details see our website at www.ladybug5k.com

The start of the Ladybug 5K in 2015

Present permitting for Residential Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic System installations are issued under zoning guidelines for garden sheds?

A copy of the Citizens Comment made to the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Oct 5 was obtained after the meeting and shared here:


Dear Council Members and Officials,

Solar Photovoltaic Systems and other sustainability based energy solution are key components of our future. However, their installation and placement needs to be carefully managed for safety and the community characteristics Franklin offers its residents.

Present permitting for Residential Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic System installations are issued under zoning guidelines for garden sheds? This according to my conversations with Building Commissioner- Lloyd Brown, when discussing a 40-Solar Panel Ground Mounted installation at 42 Prospect Street. The installation is on the side lot of 42 Prospect Street, Franklin's first designated scenic road, the lot borders my property. Under the garden shed guidelines no screening from the road is required nor protective fencing is necessary for safety to shield children and others from accessing the energized electrical components.

completed installation

The 40-Solar Panel Ground Mounted installation at 42 Prospect Street was complete weeks ago and signed-off by the inspections and building department. Now all of a sudden the panels were removed, stacked neatly and modifications are being made? Possibly to add more panels? I have contacted the inspections and building department who indicated no work should be taking place but the work continues?

left: rework underway; right: before installation

I urge the council, zoning board and town officials to consider specific zoning and permitting guidelines for Residential Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Systems that include; Solar panel quantity limitations, screening and setback requirements from roads and adjoining properties along with safety measures to protect children and others from accessing the electrified components.

I also encourage each of you to visit the 42 Prospect Street installation to understand the full impact undefined Residential Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Systems permitting guidelines are having on our community.

Sincerely,

Michael Swetz

Live reporting: Legislation through to Closing

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
none

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 16-58:Request for Legislation, Exempting all Positions in the Fire Dept from
Civil Service Law
motion tabled to Nov 2 meeting, seconded, passed 9-0

2. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 16-768: Districts Enumerated. Creation of Rural Business
Zoning District – Referral to Planning Board
motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0
motion to refer to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0
proposed zoning change for Hillside Nursery area
they would like to expand to include a retail business
the set of bylaws are considered together
beer/wine sales not allowed

Any way to get joint public hearings with Planning Board and Town Council

Attorney Cerel to check on the past combined meetings that D Pellegri recalls and report back for next meeting


3. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 16-769: Definitions. Country Store – Referral to Planning
Board
motion to refer to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0
a country store with convenience items

4. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 16-770: Rural Business Zone Use Regulations – Referral to
Planning Board
motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0
motion to refer to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0

5. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 16-771: Rural Business Zone Dimensional Regulations –
Referral to Planning Board
motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0
motion to refer to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0

6. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 16-772: Rural Business Zone Sign Regulations – Referral to
Planning Board
motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0
motion to refer to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0

7. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 16-773: Zoning Map Changes from Rural Residential 1 to
Rural Business an Area on Washington Street – Referral to Planning Board
motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0
motion to refer to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0


K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
ribbon cutting at 4:00
aggregation was just approved this week, going out to bid, should have pricing within 2 weeks

300 Fisher St, community meetings being set up by EPA on this superfund site


L. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
would like to get discussion on a future agenda to review the ground level solar panels

adopt a resolution with the Council not in favor of a yes vote on Q4
in case it does go through, Council should re-address where they are located
the fear is that if the Q4 passes, then an agreement with a town and company would be tossed. We don't have an agreement, we have a zoning requirement
will look in to a zoning question

fire dept should have a presentation before the Town Council gets to vote

some people are moving their cars every two hours to comply, may need to address that

there are a lot of two hour signs downtown, it would be good to see it enforced to avoid the meters

complaints from some residents who now can't park in front of their house in the morning on East, Dean, and School St

do we have GATRA volume to see what stops are being used?


M. COUNCIL COMMENTS

Nov 18- Harlem Wizards at Tri-County
tickets now on sale, already half sold

This Conservation guy, we need to address this

We are not against a man doing his job, he just needs a little bedside manner

I did not get to comment, I believe by right there is some retail space available within the industrial use. Am I correct about the manufacturing space?
that is a future agenda item

The topping off ceremony was held at the Library on Tuesday, all the Councilor names were written on the girder that was hoisted with a small tree and flag

N. EXECUTIVE SESSION

O. Adjourn


You can find the full agenda and supporting documents as released on the Town webpagehttp://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/024F0E17-000F8513

Live reporting: Historical Commission update

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS -
- Historical Commission
Mary Olsson

hired two interns for part time work at the museum
Allison Anderson, BA and working on Masters

hired to assess needs of the collection and propose suggestions
more was required than simple inventory
some items were not relevent to the collection, and not enough storage for the items that should be cared for carefully

dependent upon an inventory developed in the 1970's

collection well connected to community
dusting and cleaning needed to create a safe working environment
items exposed to potential damage
permanent and safe storage needed
volunteers do not have the knowledge or expertise to do the inventory and assessment

at least 300 post cards with fully inventory
post card printing blocks are rare and a few were found, they also have post cards made with the blocks

weight of the clothing stacked potentially damaged the items on the bottom of the piles

a rare find of a child's dress from the 1880's in good condition

high quality scans of photos make the images more readily accessible

a guide developed by one of the interns will help future volunteer work

social media is a good way to build interaction with the museum
the Instagram account was linked to Facebook and volume of interactions increased

many weaknesses are highlighted, a part time curator would be worthwhile
the project set up a framework for future work to build upon

continued investment in people and supplies are vital

The historical commission has done good work getting to this point