FHS Havens, Gipson, Robbins recognized with Hockomock Sports Com Soccer Awards

The 2016 Hockomock Sports .com Girls Soccer Awards were posted by Hockomock Sports .com. The Franklin High School students recognized are shared here. For the full listing follow the link at the bottom.

HOCKOMOCKSPORTS.COM BEST XI

Nadia Havens – Franklin – Defense

Nadia Havens – Franklin – Defense

Franklin senior defender Nadia Havens was a spark plug for the Panthers all season, whether playing at right back or in the heart of the back four. With Havens leading the way, the Franklin defense allowed only nine goals this year (a remarkable 11 goals in her two seasons as a starter) and helped the Panthers reach the 10-win mark again this fall. She also added five goals and three assists and was named an all-star by the Hockomock coaches and the Eastern Mass. Coaches Association. Franklin coach Tom Geysen said, “Nadia is a tenacious defender who never gives up on anything and is always where she needs to be.”

HOCKOMOCKSPORTS.COM SECOND XI

Abigail Gipson – Franklin – Defense

Abigail Gipson – Franklin – Defense

Franklin senior central defender Abigail Gipson was a major factor in the Panthers defense being the best int eh league for a second straight season. She emerged as an outside back last season and moved into the middle this year, as Franklin allowed only nine goals (11 in her two years on varsity) and reached the 10-win mark. Gipson is a no-nonsense defender that never shied away from a challenge, which is one of the reasons that Gipson was named a team captain and selected as an all-star by the league’s coaches. Franklin coach Tom Geysen said, “She is a very strong, very skilled, and very dependable defender.”

Cat Robbins – Franklin – Goalie

Cat Robbins – Franklin – Goalie

Franklin junior goalie Cat Robbins had big shoes to fill when she stepped between the pipes this fall and she was instantly one of the top goalies in the league, allowing only nine goals and helping Franklin to 10 wins and only three defeats. Robbins played every second of every game this year and finished the season with 11 shutouts, allowed only 0.81 goals against per game, and was chosen as a second team Eastern Mass. All-Star. Franklin coach Tom Geysen said, “If we had a surprise this season, it was Cat. She stepped up big time. We knew that she could play goalie but had no idea how good she would be.”

For the complete listing of awards for girls soccer for the 2016 season
https://hockomocksports.com/awards/girls-soccer/2016-2/

"The Hockomock Sports .com Awards are selected strictly by our staff and have no affiliation to the official Hockomock League all stars. Please note players are listed by position."

FHS girls basketball drop opening game to Holy Name 45-39

Franklin, 39 vs. Holy Name, 45 – Final 

"– Sophomore Bea Bondhus led the way for the Panthers with 12 points, 11 of them in the third quarter. Carli Koffinke added seven points and Ali Brigham scored six for Franklin."

For all the results around the Hockomock League on Friday from HockomockSports.com
https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-120916/

Photo from Twitter https://twitter.com/FHSSports/status/807372505472266240

In the News: peaker plant decision appealed; Super PACs in MA

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

"The Conservation Law Foundation is appealing a state board's decision to approve Exelon's plan to expand its Medway facility by adding 200 megawatts of generating power. 

The state Energy Facilities Siting Board tentatively approved the power generating company's plan in early November and later that month after a public hearing, issued a final approve for the 200-megawatt expansion, which calls for two dual-fuel turbines and tall smokestacks. 

https://twitter.com/stopmedwaypeak

In the 18-page appeal, the Conservation Law Foundation - one of four interveners in the board's process of reviewing the project - called the board's final decision a violation of the state's Global Warming Solutions Act, which calls for a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions - 25 percent below the 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161209/medway-law-group-appeals-exelon-decision

You can find and read the full appeal document from the Conservation Law Foundation here
http://web1.env.state.ma.us/DPU/FileRoomAPI/api/Attachments/Get/?path=efsb15-01%2fNoticeofAppeal12816.pdf

"With Election Day a month behind us, new campaign finance reports reveal the role Super PACs played in Massachusetts races this year. A Nov. 30 analysis from the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance shows those independent expenditure groups increased the amount they spent in efforts to influence Massachusetts legislature races. Here's a closer look at Super PAC activity in the Bay State.

What is a Super PAC?
A Super PAC, or independent expenditure political action committee, is an organization that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money, but cannot directly coordinate with candidates or parties. They often run ads or campaigns independently to support or oppose particular candidates. Super PACs came into existence following the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United ruling."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161208/five-things-to-know-about-super-pacs-in-massachusetts

In the News: white fox "Frankie"; college enrollment declining

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

"A rare white fox was captured Thursday in Franklin after spending the last few weeks visiting the yards of various homes near the state forest. 

The gregarious vixen, with soft streaks of red and black in her fur and black-tipped ears, was taken in by the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife after she was caught in cooperation with the Franklin animal control department. The capture followed a sighting reported to the agency Thursday morning. 

Dave Wattles, a black bear and furbearer biologist with the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, said the fox showed no indications of being rabid, though she has been vaccinated."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161209/rare-white-fox-captured-in-franklin/1

https://www.facebook.com/animaladventures.waycoolerthanazoo/videos/1374168705940101/

If you want to help the white fox "Frankie" listen to this
https://www.facebook.com/animaladventures.waycoolerthanazoo/videos/1374168705940101/

"Since hitting a peak in 2013, enrollment at Massachusetts public colleges and universities has decreased for the third consecutive year, posing challenges that education leaders are working to address. 

"This was predictable. All you had to do was go back 17, 18, 19 years ago and look at birth rates," state Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago said. "We knew it was coming … But we don't want to just sit back and let those demographic trends take shape." 

After more than a decade of growth, public undergraduate enrollment in Massachusetts has declined by 10,744, or 5.5 percent, since 2013. There are an estimated 186,103 undergraduate students on public campuses in Massachusetts for the fall 2016 semester."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161208/college-enrollment-declining-in-massachusetts

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 12/9/16 - THU 12/15/16

FRIDAY 12/9/16 
9-10am   School Committee Coffee Hour @ 23 Hutchinson St.
10:30am   Knitting Circle for Adults @ Franklin Public Library
3-6pm    Second Warehouse Sale @Boston International, 210 Grove St
7:30pm   A Glass Slipper Christmas @ The Black Box

SATURDAY 12/10/16
8-4pm    Second Warehouse Sale @Boston International, 210 Grove St
9am-3pm   Book Sale @ Franklin Public Library
9-11am   Breakfast with Santa (supports Santa Foundation) @ British Beer Company (registration required)
10:30am-12:30pm   Holiday Workshop (vases/candleholders, grades 5 and up) @ Franklin Art Center
5-7pm   Santa @ Learning Express
7:30pm   A Glass Slipper Christmas @ The Black Box
7:30pm   Charles River Choral: Home For The Holidays @ Medway HS
8pm   Circle of Friends Coffeehouse: Robbie O’Connell’s Celtic Christmas @ FUSF

SUNDAY 12/11/16
7:30-10:30am   Sunday Morning Breakfast @ Franklin Rod and Gun Club - open to public
9am-1pm   Photos with Santa @ Franklin Police Station
9am-12pm  Bag Sale @ Franklin Public Library
1-3pm   Cookies with Santa! @ Daddario Hardware Store
2pm   A Glass Slipper Christmas @ The Black Box
5:30pm   Annual FREE Christmas Concert and Dinner @ Medway Community Church

MONDAY 12/12/16
7-8:30pm   Learn To Cope Franklin Chapter Meeting @ FUSF

TUESDAY 12/13/16
1pm   Franklin Downtown Partnership Networking Lunch @ Dean College Dining Center
7pm   Yankee Quilters Guild Meeting @ St. John’s Episcopal Church (prospective members welcome)
7:30pm   Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Meeting @ Franklin YMCA (public welcome)

WEDNESDAY 12/14/16
6:30pm   Doggie Tales (grades 2 and up) @ Franklin Public Library (registration required)
7:30pm   Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club Monthly Meeting @ 3 Restaurant

THURSDAY 12/15/16
3pm   Memory Cafe for Caregivers and Their Loved Ones @ Franklin Senior Center (please call to register, free program)
7-8pm   Healing Hearts Community Support Group @ Franklin YMCA

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 or shersteve@gmail.com

FHS wrestling team opens season with win over North Attleboro

From Hockomock Sports we share the wrestling results of the first winter sports match for FHS

North Attleboro, 22 @ Franklin, 40 – Final

This is confirmed with the tweet from the FHS Wrestling account:

Great 40-22 win over North with individual wins from Bakalars, Remilard, MacLean, Polito, Hernandez, Colella, and Coughlin #FHSWrestle

— Franklin Wrestling (@FHSWrestle) December 9, 2016

https://twitter.com/FHSSports/status/807000634457292800

FHS Wrestling (Twitter profile image)

For all the results around the Hockomock League on Thursday
https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-120816/

Franklin Art Association January Meeting - Jan 4, 2017

The Franklin Art Association will meet on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 from 6:30 to 9:00PM at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street in Franklin. 

Refreshments and social time will begin at 6:30 followed by a short business meeting and a demonstration by Sallie Strand, a contemporary abstract artist living and working in Waltham. 

Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information log on to www.franklinart.org.

Franklin Art Association