In the News: Horace Mann honors vets; Plain St residence ribbon cutting

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

"Song, speeches, video and words of gratitude filled the Horace Mann Middle School's auditorium during an assembly Thursday morning. 

At the receiving end were local veterans, who were treated to refreshments before being invited to attend a speaking program - featuring the school band and chorus. 

Students played a number of patriotic songs - including the anthems of each armed service - and there were segments on the history of Veterans Day and biographies of lesser-known heroes. 

Speaker Kenzie Atwood asked her fellow students to remember waking up and eating breakfast in their homes that morning, and to think about the veterans who sacrificed such luxuries."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161110/franklin-middle-school-honors-vets

Oak St and Horace Mann in the morning sunshine

"Almost exactly one year after breaking ground on the project, state and local officials returned to Plain Street to cut the ribbon on a house for those with intellectual disabilities. 

People gathered at the eight-unit facility - called the Murphy-Rosa House - Thursday morning to hear speeches and see the inside of the building, intended to accommodate clients of the state's Department of Developmental Services. 

Lisa Audette, the town's Housing Authority agent, said the project, in the works since 2004, would at last provide disabled people with a level of independence that all humans deserve. 

"It's been a long time coming," she said.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161110/franklin-officials-cut-ribbon-on-new-housing

FHS football falls to Braintree 41-22

From Hockomock Sports. we share the FHS football game results from Thursday, Nov 10. 

Football = Non-Playoffs

Franklin, 22 vs. Braintree, 41 – Final
1st Quarter: (F) Jake Noviello 15 yard pass to Connor Peterson, Matt Zucco XP good; (B) Nick Martin 41 yard rush, XP good; (B) Drew Caruso 3 yard rush, XP good.
2nd Quarter: (B) D. Caruso 15 yard rush, XP good.
3rd Quarter: (B) N. Martin 5 yard rush, XP good; (B) D. Caruso 31 yard rush, XP good.
4th Quarter: (F) J. Noviello 14 yard pass to C. Peterson, M. Zucco XP good; (B) Mitchell Nevins 22 yard pass to Brennan Quigley, 2pt pass failed; (F) J. Noviello 28 yard pass to Eddie Scannapieco, M. Zucco 2pt pass to Joey Blaise.

Kinley Baird looks to make a move (hockomocksports.com photo)

Photos from the game can be found online
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/20162017/Fall-2016/Franklin-Braintree-Football-11/i-VnRWHqB

Additional results from around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-111016/

Your Invitation To the Small Business Showcase at FHS, Nov 17

FREE - Great Family Event

Come Join Us For A SMALL BUSINESS SHOWCASE November 17, 2016 5:00 to 8:30 PM Franklin High School A TERRIFIC COMMUNITY EVENT FREE and Open to the Public Raffles, Giveaways, Shopping, and Presentations! Fun, Interactive and Educational   Entertainment by Franklin Forte and FHS Student Ensembles. The Small Business Showcase is co-sponsored by #shopFranklin, an organization formed to help support and promote local, independently owned and operated businesses in Franklin and The Center for Adult Education & Community Learning, a program of the Franklin Public Schools Lifelong Learning Institute, dedicated to providing quality learning experiences in Franklin and surrounding communities.

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

"a great opportunity to create some dialogue"

By Joe Clark and Jaron May, HockomockSports.com Student Reporters

"Behind all of the great competition that happens in the Hockomock League, there are some amazing students, coaches and athletic directors that embody the values of sportsmanship, leadership and teamwork. These influential people all came together on Wednesday at Oliver Ames High School for the the Hockomock League’s Captains Conference for 2016/2017 Winter and Spring Sports. 

Over 500 Hockomock captains listened to messages that stressed the importance of leadership and sportsmanship in athletics by having students participate in group activities, listening to a guest speaker, and talking to other captains about effective leadership. 

The day began with the theme of leadership. To start, the captains were challenged with a simple, yet thought-provoking request – to find the best quote that defines leadership. While making the rounds, there were many worthy quotes that defined what a leader is, the most popular being John C. Maxwell’s “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”

Continue reading the article online at HockomockSports.com
https://hockomocksports.com/hockomock-captains-gain-valuable-lessons-at-leasership-conference/

one of the gallery of photos from the event, click through to find more

In the News: marijuana passed, now what? ; Charter vote reflections

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

"Voters in Massachusetts have legalized marijuana, but it will likely be more than a year before the first pot shops open in the state. 

In the meantime, there’s a long to-do list for lawmakers and government officials. Following Tuesday’s vote, policymakers will soon begin the process of implementing and regulating pot sales in the commonwealth, a process that could potentially see legislators alter the new law by enacting higher marijuana tax rates and adding regulations. 

“I think there’s a general agreement that we need to respect the will of the voters and implement this, implement it in a reasonable amount of time and also resolve some issues that are not addressed in ballot question and some that were addressed but were not best practices based on the experiences in Colorado and Washington state,” said Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, one of the most prominent elected officials to support the pot legalization ballot question.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161109/marijuanas-legal-in-massachusetts-so-now-what

"While local public school officials are thrilled that a ballot question to expand charter schools failed, charter school officials are feeling regretful that more students will not be able to reap the benefits of a charter school education. 

Ballot Question No. 2, which would have lifted the cap on charter schools, allowing 12 new charter schools or enrollment expansions of existing schools across the state per year, was defeated 63 percent to 37 percent by Massachusetts voters Tuesday. 

Question 2 supporters argued that lifting the cap would provide under-served students in poorly performing school districts an opportunity to attend a charter school."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161109/local-public-charter-school-officials-reflect-on-question-2-results

the sidewalk on Oak St at the schools complex

Texas Hold'Em Tournament - November 18

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce will holding a Texas Hold'Em Tournament, on November 18 beginning at 6PM, at Bella Sarno Ristorante in North Attleboro!

Please pass this on to anyone who would like to play. You can register here: www.unitedregionalchamber.org/TexasHoldem

www.unitedregionalchamber.org/TexasHoldem

Public Disclosure of Fiscal Year 2017 Proposed Valuations

The Town of Franklin has completed a revaluation as required by the Department of Revenue and has received permission to disclose the proposed values pending preliminary certification from the DOR. The Fiscal Year 2017 values are based on the value of property as of January 1, 2016 and were developed analyzing Calendar Year 2015 sales and also income and expense information received for apartment, commercial and industrial properties. 

The analysis by the Assessors’ Department indicates that over the prior year assessments, single family properties increased in value by about 4%, residential condominiums increased by about 3%, residential vacant land stayed about the same overall, apartments increased by about 20%, commercial property increased by about 6% and industrial property increased by about 3%.

These are preliminary statistical averages. Some properties increased in value, some properties remained essentially the same in value and some properties decreased in value. Some properties have a substantial increase in value due to additions and/or renovations to the property or due to corrections in the property data descriptions resulting from a review, a re-measure and/or a re-inspection in the course of our town-wide cyclical review and revaluation programs.

From November 2, 2016 to November 16, 2016 real and personal property values are available for review at the Franklin Municipal Building during normal business hours from 8 AM to 4 PM on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 8 AM to 6 PM on Wednesday, and 8 AM to 1 PM on Friday. A listing alphabetically by street address is available. Real property values by Location, Owner or Parcel ID are available on the Town’s website at www.franklinma.gov under Departments, then Board of Assessors and then select FY 2017 Proposed Real Estate Assessments.

Any taxpayer who is concerned with the accuracy of the valuation of their property should contact the staff at the Assessors’ Office at the Franklin Municipal Building (508) 520-4920. Remember in accordance with Massachusetts General Law that these assessed values represent property values as of January 1, 2016 based primarily on Calendar Year 2015 actual market data and not the current or any projected future property market indicators.

At the end of the public disclosure period, we will request final certification of the FY 2017 revaluation assessment program from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

TOWN OF FRANKLIN BOARD OF ASSESSORS

newly updated Town of Franklin webpage

You can follow the steps above or follow this link
http://franklin.patriotproperties.com/default.asp?br=exp&vr=6

This was shared from the Board of Assessors page
http://www.franklinma.gov/board-assessors/news/public-disclosure-fiscal-year-2017-proposed-valuations

Shopping Extravaganza at Annie Sullivan Middle School. Nov 16

Mark your calendar for the Shopping Extravaganza at Annie Sullivan Middle School. Nov 16, 6-9pm.

Franklin Library - Closed Friday for Veterans Day, Nov 11

The Franklin Public Library will be closed on Friday, November 11  for Veterans Day.

This was shared from the Franklin Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2016/11/library-closed-friday-november-11-for.html

Fall foliage in Franklin - 2016

As I have walked around Franklin the past several weeks, I have enjoyed the fall foliage. With my phone camera handy I have captured quite a few photos and here is the best of the lot.

Enjoy!




The photos are embedded as part of a Flickr album.

You can also view the photos directly at
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/albums/72157674822931832

If you have good ones to share, please let me know via email!

"they should be on schedule to be done by the end of the calendar year"

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

"Unforeseen conditions have delayed the renovation project at the Franklin Senior Center, though officials hope the lag will not be too lengthy.

The center is in the middle of a $1 million project to finish the building's second floor. 

Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen said that it was conditions at the site itself that caused the problem. 

"When digging the hole for the elevator shaft, they hit rock," he said. "They had to go back into the plans and move the elevator shaft a little bit."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161108/franklin-senior-center-project-slowed

Franklin Senior Center

unofficial tally for Franklin, MA for the Presidential election November 8, 2016

The unofficial tally for Franklin, MA for the Presidential election November 8, 2016.

Franklin voted for Clinton, Kennedy, Spilka, Ross, and Roy. 
They voted against ballot questions 1 and 2 and for ballot questions 3,and 4.







Thanks to all the folks in the Town Clerk's office and to all the election workers, this was a record turnout and marvelously done!

Franklin High School early on the morning of Nov 8

Franklin Library: Pastel Paint Stunning Still Lifes Like the Masters

The Franklin Public Library will host this painting workshop on Thursday, November 10, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

"Gregory Maichack, twice nominated for the MCC Gold Star Award, and award-winning pastelist, presents his all-new “Pastel Paint Stunning Still Lifes Like the Masters” workshop: instruction, demo, and hands-on work by sheer beginners to advanced who keep their pastel painting. 

He demonstrates how beginners to accomplished artists can easily pastel paint a still life while applying techniques applied by masters such as van Gogh, O’Keeffe, Monet and da Vinci. He shares humorous and insightful anecdotes on the artists in this fun workshop. 

Essential techniques of pastel painting will be clearly demonstrated as participants follow along. He provides hundreds of professional grade pastels, paper, and pencils."

http://gregorymaichack.com/adult-workshops/

Franklin Library: Pastel Paint Stunning Still Lifes Like the Masters

This was shared from the Franklin Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2016/11/pastel-paint-stunning-still-lifes-like.html

Franklin Girl Scouts visit State House

Ten Girl Scouts from Troop 65396 (Franklin) paid a visit to the State House as a part of their government badge requirements. They toured the building with Representative Jeffrey Roy (D – Franklin). The girl scouts visited both the House and Senate Chambers, stepped onto the State House balcony and had a picture taken on the Grand Staircase. Attached is the photo taken on the Massachusetts State House Grand Staircase.

Troop 65396 (Franklin) visited the State House and Representative Roy

"We were excited to meet the Girl Scouts," noted Representative Jeffrey Roy (D – Franklin). "They were well engaged during the tour and their enthusiasm regarding their role in their government was a pleasure to see. They all asked pointed questions about life on Beacon Hill, while demonstrating considerable knowledge about Massachusetts history."

FHS volleyball ends playoff run against Lincoln-Sudbury

From Hockomock Sports we share the FHS fall sports results from Monday, Nov 7 as the playoff run for volleyball comes to an end. 

FHS Panthers

Volleyball = D1 Central-West

#6 Franklin, 0 @ #3 Lincoln-Sudbury, 3 – Final

– Franklin pushed the third-seeded Warriors to the limit in each set but ultimately fell 22-25, 15-25, 23-25. Ellie Wisneiwski and Erin Skidmore (17 digs) each had nine kills to pace the Panthers’ offense while Maddie Kuzio had 27 digs.

For the remainder of the Hockomock results from Monday
https://hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-110716/

Election Day 2016 - Your time to vote

Election Day is here, finally. All Franklin voters can go to the high school to cast their ballots. The polls open at 6:00 AM and will close at 8:00 PM.

School is out and with 8,458 (almost 40% of the registered voters) taking advantage of early voting (7,278) or absentee ballots (1,180), there should be shorter lines and plenty of parking.

How much of a turn out will we end up with? For the last three presidential elections we were in the low 80% range. Early voting is new this time around. What effect will that have on the turn out? It may be hard to say definitively given the state of the national political campaigns. What matters is that folks do get out to vote. In the democratic way, we'll live with what the results are.


Presidential 2004    83.2%
Presidential 2008    84.4%
Presidential 2012     83.4%
Presidential 2016      ???

If you need any information on the ballot questions, check our the Election Collection  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/10/election-collection-2016.html

Election Day 2016

MBTA: Franklin Line shuttle updates for weekend of Fri 11/11 through Sun 11/13

Two items worthy of note for the MBTA this coming weekend. (1) Friday night will see select service via shuttle bus between Dedham Corp and Readville. (2) Saturday and Sunday will see the shuttle bus service return between those two stations which will add travel time to the 'normal' trip to/from Boston.

Item #1 

Service will be suspended on the Franklin Line between Dedham Corporate Center and Readville Stations on the evening of Friday, November 11th. Select trains will be replaced with shuttle bus service.

Due to Shore Line Bridge Replacement, buses will replace select evening trains between Dedham Corporate Center and Readville Stations in both directions on Friday, November 11th, 2016.

Customers should allow additional travel time anticipating delays of approximately twenty (20) minutes.

The following trains will be affected:

• 727 (9:00pm from Boston)
• 728 (9:01pm from Forge Park)
• 729 (10:30pm from Boston)
• 730 (10:25pm from Forge Park)
• 731 (11:50pm from Boston)
• 732 (11:46pm from Forge Park)

The following stations will be affected:

• Dedham Corporate Center
• Endicott
• Readville

Last updated: Nov 07 2016 09:39 AM

Item #2

Shuttle buses will replace Franklin Line train service between Dedham Corporate Center and Readville Stations on Saturday, November 12th, and Sunday, November 13th, due to Shore Line Bridge Replacement in Hyde Park.

Due to Shore Line Bridge Replacement, buses will replace trains between Dedham Corporate Center and Readville Stations in both directions on the following dates:

- Saturday November 12th, 2016
- Sunday November 13th, 2016

Customers should allow additional travel time anticipating delays of approximately twenty (20) minutes.

The following trains will be affected:

• Saturday - All
• Sunday - All

The following stations will be affected:

• Dedham Corporate Center
• Endicott
• Readville

Last updated: Nov 07 2016 09:43 AM

MBTA train on the Franklin Line headed to Forge Park Station

Franklin Youth Hockey - Try Hockey for Free - Saturday, Nov 12

Franklin Youth Hockey will be holding a Try Hockey For FREE event in Franklin this Saturday Nov. 12th at 12:30. 

Participants should arrive early to get dressed. The first 40 to register will receive a free USA Hockey jersey. 

Address: 910 Panther Way, Franklin, MA 02038

Register here   http://tryhockeyforfree.com/7132.

Franklin Youth Hockey - Try Hockey for Free - Saturday, Nov 12