Early voting ends Friday, Nov 4

Over Franklin 2700 voters cast their ballots last week, you can visit the Town Clerk's office to cast yours before Friday.

"There are a few days left for registered voters wishing to skip the Election Day trip to the polls to get early ballots cast. 

Early voting, which started for the first time in Massachusetts on Oct. 24, is ending on Nov. 4. Voters must have been registered by Oct. 19. 

Early voting can be done in person or by mail. Note that applications for early ballots must be submitted by noon on Nov. 4 and mailed ballots must be received back by the closing of the polls on Nov. 8. Voters may find the application on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161031/still-chance-to-cast-early-ballots-through-nov-4


New to Massachusetts - all registered voters may cast early ballots in biennial state elections beginning with the November 8, 2016 Presidential Election.

When? October 24th - Nov 4th

Where? Town Hall – Clerk’s Office

Early Voting Dates and Times:

• Monday Oct 24, 8 AM – 4 PM
• Tuesday Oct 25, 8 AM – 4 PM
• Wednesday Oct 26, 8 AM – 7 PM
• Thursday Oct 27, 8 AM – 7 PM
• Friday Oct 28, 8 AM – 1 PM
• Saturday Oct 29, 8 AM – 1 PM
• Monday Oct 31, 8 AM – 4 PM
• Tuesday Nov 1, 8 AM – 4 PM
• Wednesday Nov 2, 8 AM – 7 PM
• Thursday Nov 3, 8 AM – 7 PM
• Friday Nov 4, 8 AM – 1 PM

THE EXTENDED HOURS (BOLD) ARE FOR VOTING ONLY!
(During the normal office hours, all Town Clerk business can be conducted. During the extended hours, voting is the only service supported.

What is the difference between absentee voting and early voting?

• Absentee ballots are for those who will be out of town on the day of the election and can not make it to the polling place 
• Early voting is open to all registered voters but must be done at the early voting location (Town Clerk's office) 
• Absentee ballots can be applied for and sent in via mail. Early voting needs to be done in person
• Early voting ends on Nov 4th. Absentee ballots are accepted up until noon before the election  day

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/EarlyVotingWeb/EarlyVotingSearch.aspx

"the land could help expand the town's recreational offerings"

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

"Marilyn St. Fleur, a community involvement coordinator with the agency, said the session was part of an ongoing effort to learn more about Franklin. 

"We sent out a mailing with a factsheet about the property," she said. "We got a few people but we wanted more, so we thought an availability session would help." 

Officials noted that the state is now demolishing the building on the property, a process slated to end in December. That demolition, they said, will be complete before the federal agency undertakes cleanup work. After that, the agency will take samples from the property, develop a plan and seek public comment."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161031/epa-visits-franklin-to-discuss-superfund-site

http://twitter.com/epanewengland

Related links from the Franklin Matters archives

• Live reporting from the Town Council meeting July 2014

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/live-reporting-epa-300-fisher-st.html

• DEP and EPA presentation to Town Council, July 2014

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/300-fisher-st-ma-dep-epa-presentation.html

• Map showing property location within Franklin

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/300-fisher-st-map.html

Player of the Week – Nicole Clermont, FHS Cross Country

For the 2nd week in a row, a Franklin High School athlete has been named the "Player of the Week" by HockomockSports.com. 

Last week sophomore Annie Walsh was named for field hockey and this week it is junior Nicole Clarmont for her win at the Hockomock Cross Country Championships.

"Franklin junior Nicole Clermont has been selected as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Week for October 23rd through October 29th; the eighth player chosen for the 2016-2017 season. Clermont dominated the course at the Wrentham Development Center, winning the Hockomock League Championships for the second straight year. 

On Saturday morning, Clermont finished the 3.1-mile course in 19:06.49, besting her time from last year by over five seconds and crossing the finish line over 40 seconds before the next runner. During the dual meets, Clermont was undefeated (5-0) as Franklin clinched its second straight Kelley-Rex division title. Franklin placed fourth as a team at the league championship meet. 

“Nicole has really emerged as an elite distance runner in the state,” Franklin head coach Paul Trovato said. “This was her second straight Hockomock League Cross Country Championship and she has worked extremely hard to reach that level of success. Her work habits have become infectious as she brings out the best in her teammates and encourages them all the time.”

Continue reading the article online
https://hockomocksports.com/player-week-nicole-clermont-franklin-cross-country/

Player of the Week – Nicole Clermont, Franklin XC

“We don’t need to put each piece of produce in a separate plastic bag”

The Boston Globe MetroWest section of Sunday's paper recapped the community efforts to ban plastic bags.

"Industry lobbying may have helped block a state legislative effort to limit use of disposable shopping bags earlier this year, but local environmental advocates see victory in the growing numbers of cities and towns that banned the bag. 

At least 18 communities this year passed rules regulating or outright banning retailers from using disposable plastic bags at checkout, including Framingham, Watertown, Wellesley, Bridgewater, and Shrewsbury. 

“We’re basically living in this disposable society that was invented in the 1970s, and we have to change this,” said Ken Weiss, a Framingham man who successfully petitioned his town to adopt rules limiting plastic bags. 

Ban regulations are being considered in Boston, Springfield, Franklin, and Easthampton, while Brookline could tighten its existing bag rules, and officials are expected to enact their own in Natick."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2016/10/27/more-towns-are-tossing-out-plastic-shopping-bags/Yi7XgnNpXh1vUzK1IR4jZL/story.html?event=event25

The Franklin proposal has been assigned to the Economic Development Committee for review. The Committee does not yet have a meeting scheduled for the remainder of 2016. 

The Franklin November calendar
http://www.franklinma.gov/calendar/month/2016-11

image from the proposal presentation by the FHS students

The petition circulated in May 2016
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/05/petition-to-franklin-town-council.html

The recap of the September 25, 2016 Town Council meeting where the presentation was made by the FHS students
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/09/town-council-recognizes-helen-huang-and.html

“In the last seven or eight years we were pretty to watch because we could move the ball"

HockomockSports Managing Editor Josh Perry provides the full write for the FHS girls soccer game on Saturday:

"Franklin faced perennial Div. 2 power Notre Dame Academy (Hingham) in the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon and it started well for the Panthers, who hit the bar and forced four saves from the NDA keeper in the opening 40 minutes, but the offense stalled after the break. 

In the second half, the Cougars had an opportunity to hand Franklin just its third loss of the season but standing in the way was Catherine Robbins. The junior keeper stopped a pair of breakaways 15 minutes into the second half that preserved another clean sheet and grabbed Franklin a point in a 0-0 draw at Pisini Field. 

“She’s been solid the whole year long,” said Franklin coach Tom Geysen of Robbins, who took over in net after the graduation of four-year starter Dani Lonati. “She’s done everything we’ve asked her to do. There isn’t anything more that she could have done than she’s already done.”

Continue reading the article online
https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-girls-soccer-held-to-scoreless-draw-in-regular-season-finale/

Junior keeper Cat Robbins stopped a pair of breakaways in the second half to preserve a clean sheet and a point for Franklin against NDA. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Party with the Franklin Downtown Partnership - Nov 12

You can still buy tickets to Franklin Downtown Partnership 15-Year Anniversary Gala! Follow this link to buy tickets online (www.fdp15thanniversaryceleb.eventbrite.com) or stop into Jane's Frames or the FDP office to buy them in person. 

You can still buy tickets to the Downtown Partnership 15-Year Anniversary Gala

Tickets are available until Wednesday, November 2, at the end of the day.

Participate in a raffle of gift baskets and a silent auction of exceptional items donated by our wonderful local businesses. Dance to music by Ben Gardner's Boat, featuring Representative Jeff Roy. Fox 25 News Reporter Bob Ward will emcee the night. Enjoy heavy appetizers and pasta catered by 3 Restaurant. 

All of this happens in downtown Franklin at THE BLACK BOX!

Won't you join us? 


(Note this is being held Nov 12, 2016)
This was shared from the Franklin Downtown Partnership page
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2016/10/party-with-partnership-you-can-still.html

Note: Franklin Matters is a proud member of the Partnership and will be participating in the Gala.

In the News: blood drive at Charter School; Leavel in one show at THE BLACK BOX

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

"When Giovanna Sabini-Leite was 11, she found herself in Boston Children's Hospital for major surgery on a spinal fusion resulting from scoliosis. 

"I lost more blood than the doctors thought would be possible, and I had to do a self-donation," said the now 17-year-old. 

At the time, the nurses told her she had O negative blood, a universal -- though rare -- blood type. It was during this experience Giovanna began to realize the life-saving impact blood donations have on those who need them. 

After that, she said, "it was always in the back of my mind."

...

"Those interested in donating can sign up online at halfpints.childrenshospital.org (code: BenFra) for an appointment time, or contact Giovanna and Olivia at 508-541-1253, or send email to giovannasylvia@hotmail.com or oliviasabini@hotmail.com for information.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161030/franklin-twins-plan-series-of-blood-drives

Giovanna and Olivia Sabini-Leite, seniors at Franklin High School will conduct a blood drive at Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School Nov 11

"Tony Award-winner Beth Leavel will perform a one-night-only show at 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at The Black Box, 15 W. Central St. 

This event will launch The Black Box Broadway Series, sponsored by Childs Engineering. Leavel recently finished an Atlanta run of the new Broadway-bound musical “The Prom.” In Franklin, she will be accompanied by acclaimed musical director Phil Reno, who is currently conducting “Something Rotten” on Broadway. 

Seating options for The Black Box Broadway Series feature general admission, preferred table seating and VIP tickets, which include an exclusive reception with the Broadway stars."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161030/beth-leavel-to-perform-at-black-box