Monday, January 23, 2017

Just hang up!

Great advice. The follow except is always a good reminder from MA Consumer Affairs
How can you avoid falling victim to a refinancing scam?

  • Ask questions! Scammers use high pressure tactics to get you to act quickly. When you start asking questions about why they need the card numbers of every credit card you own or why they can’t look up information they should already have about you, the scammer will usually hang up.
  • Do not give out your credit card information to someone calling over the phone. Ever! Once a scammer has access to this, they can charge your card for their own purposes or even distribute this information to other scammers. If you question the caller’s authenticity, hang up. Call your credit card provider yourself and ask about any “special offers” or refinancing availabilities.
  • Do not share personal information, such as your social security number or your bank account numbers. If you’re looking to make changes to your credit cards, call your provider yourself. They will have access to account numbers and you can verify you’re speaking with a legitimate representative of the company.
  • Sign up for the state “Do Not Call” registry as well as the national one to prevent telemarketers from reaching you.
  • Although a short cut to pay off your credit card debt would be ideal, it is best to pay down your debt yourself. If you’re struggling with debt, call your card provider’s customer service number (found on the back of your card) and ask about options, such as reduced rates. Consumers struggling with debt should also contact legitimate debt counseling services for advice on how to get back on track.
Just hang up!
Just hang up!


Read the full article on the MA Consumer Affairs blog


"Our goal is to be a reliable source for people"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"The town has worked through social media and its website to improve communication with residents over the past year, and officials hope progress will continue in 2017. 
The Town Council heard a report on the efforts, given by Councilor Glenn Jones, at its most recent meeting. 
Jones said he had requested, upon rejoining the council in late 2015, to be appointed as the council's community relations liaison. He said he reached out to others, including the cable access channel Franklin TV and Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, to help inform local residents of town activities. 
Hellen spoke of the town's internet-based initiatives, noting that the audience for town news is more splintered than ever."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170122/franklin-considering-ways-to-inform-residents

The Franklin Matters live reporting from the Town Council meeting can be found here  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/01/communications-and-civic-engagement_18.html





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Official Town and School social media accounts
http://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/social-media-center

the new Town of Franklin website works on mobile phones
the new Town of Franklin website works on mobile phones

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Microsoft Director of Governement Security Policy and Strategy Angela McKay to Speak at Dean College Executive Lecture Series

Dean College is honored to host Angela McKay, Director of the Government Security Policy and Strategy Team within Trustworthy Computing at Microsoft for the Dean College Leadership Institute Executive Lecture Series on January 24, 2017. The Executive Series offers a unique and interactive opportunity for students, alumni and the local community to interact with today’s business leaders.

Guest speaker, Angela McKay leads Microsoft’s public policy work on cybersecurity, cloud security, and norms, and on public sector use of cloud. Her team includes professionals working on these topics across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the U.S. She focuses on driving strategic change, both within Microsoft and externally, to advance trust in the computing ecosystem.
Angela McKay, Director of the Government Security Policy and Strategy Team
Angela McKay, Director of the Government
Security Policy and Strategy Team

Ms. McKay combines technical expertise and public policy acumen to develop policies that improve security and stability of cyberspace, and support development, growth, and innovation. She serves on the Board of Councilors for the East West Institute, a think tank focused on international conflict resolution, and as Microsoft’s Point of Contact for the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, which provides the President of the United States with recommendations to maintain reliable, secure, and resilient communications.

The speaking program will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Guidrey Center at Dean College, 99 Main Street, Franklin, MA on January 24, 2017. The program is FREE and open to the public. 

Registration is required as seating is limited. 

For more information and to register, visit the Dean College website www.dean.edu/executivelectureseries.


Dean College is a private, residential New England college grounded in a culture and tradition that all students deserve the opportunity for academic and personal success. A uniquely supportive community for more than 150 years, Dean has woven together extensive student support and engagement with exceptional teaching and innovative campus activities. Our graduates are lifetime learners who thrive in their careers, embrace social responsibility and demonstrate leadership. This is The Dean Difference.

Annual Report 2016: Zoning Board of Appeals

"The Zoning Board of Appeals currently consists of three (3) members and one (1) associate member appointed by the Town Administrator, subject to the confirmation by the Town Council, for terms of such length and so arranged that the term of one member shall expire each year. There are currently two (2) one (1) opening for associate members.  (Updated to reflect current status rather than than of June 2016 when report was submitted)

The members would like to take this opportunity to thank Nancy Danello for her 3+ years of dedicated service.

The Board of Appeals holds Public Hearings, as advertised, for Variance(s), Special Permits (including gravel removal), Findings and Chapter 40B applications. The Board also renders determinations on land use and zoning issues. 

All necessary forms and applications may be obtained through the Building Inspection Department and via Board of Appeals website at http://www.franklinma.gov/.

The Zoning Board of Appeals meets in Town Council Chambers at the Franklin Municipal Building on Thursday evenings usually twice a month, at 7:30pm. The calendar may be viewed via website at http://www.franklinma.gov/.

All meetings are open to the public.

The Board has been very active this fiscal year and the following agenda is a list of all applications filed, indexed and recorded with the Town Clerk.

Respectfully submitted,
Franklin Zoning Board of Appeals

Bruce Hunchard, Chairman
Robert Acevedo, Vice Chairman
Timothy Twardowski, Clerk
Philip Brunelli, Associate Member
Casey Thayer, Administrative Secretary"


Spruce Pond Brook is one of the key items around the 40B application for Madalene Village
Spruce Pond Brook is one of the key items around the 40B application for Madalene Village



Download and read the full Annual Report for the Town of Franklin FY 2016


Prior year annual reports can be found
http://www.franklinma.gov/administrator/pages/annual-reports


FHS wrestling, gymnastics, and boys hockey teams post wins on Saturday



Wrestling = Franklin @ Merrimack Duals
– Franklin finished second out of 11 teams at the team duals, going 4-1 overall. Franklin beat Biddeford (Maine) 48-19, Alvirne (N.H.) 46-22, St. Johnsbury (Vt.) 49-6, and Lawrence (Mass.) 40-20. The Panthers lost to Marshwood (Maine) 45-18 in the final match.


Gymnastics = Canton, 120.8 @ Franklin, 123.4 – Final 
– Franklin junior Liz Traphagen won the all around with a 34.7 – scoring a 8.3 on vault, 8.7 on bars and beam and a 9.0 on floor – to lead the Panthers to their first win since reestablishing the program. Sophomore Sadie Rondeau was second in all around with a 33.2 – scoring an 8.1 on vault, 7.4 on bars, 8.0 on beam and 8.2 on floor.


Girls Hockey = Franklin, 4 @ Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake, 11 – Final


Brendan O’Rielly scored a pair of goals to help Franklin bounce back and avoid a two-game losing streak in the league with a 5-2 win over Mansfield. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
Brendan O’Rielly scored a pair of goals to help Franklin bounce back and avoid a two-game losing streak in the league with a 5-2 win over Mansfield. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)


Boys Hockey = Franklin, 5 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final


"Sometimes even the top teams need a friendly bounce every once in a while. 
With Saturday afternoon’s game at the Foxboro Sports Center tied at 2-2 early in the third period, Franklin senior Noah Nasuti turned at the blue line and flung a puck on net. It landed a few feet from goal and bounced on its edge and slid past Mansfield senior goalie Tony Rullo, who finished with 28 saves and had a strong overall game to keep the Hornets in it. 
That bounce allowed the Panthers, who seemed nervous at times in the attacking zone, to breathe a little easier. Two late goals, one on the power play and the other into an empty net, sealed a 5-2 victory for Franklin and put an end to a two-game losing streak. 
“I know out third goal won’t be making the ‘Top 10’ on Sportscenter, but it was big for us,” said Franklin coach Chris Spillane. “It gave us a little breathing room and we weren’t gripping the sticks so tight and we got into a flow.”
Continue reading the write up by Josh Perry, HockomockSports 
https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-hockey-end-losing-streak-with-win-at-mansfield/

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/20162017/Winter-201617/Mansfield-Franklin-Hockey-1-21/

For the remainder of the results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-012117/


From the Twitterverse



















“Captivating Artists Performing Romantic Music” on Sunday, January 29

THE BLACK BOX Classical Series presents “Captivating Artists Performing Romantic Music” on Sunday, January 29, at 4 p.m., featuring violinist Irina Fainkichen and pianist Irina Kotlyar. Selections will include Franck, Sarasate, Prokofiev, Khachaturian, de Falla, and Schnittke. Tea service will be available in the lobby. A suburban hub for great music, THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 West Central Street in downtown Franklin.


violinist Irina Fainkichen and pianist Irina Kotlyar
violinist Irina Fainkichen and pianist Irina Kotlyar
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Irina Fainkichen holds degrees from Rachmaninoff Music College (Novgorod, Russia), St. Petersburg State Conservatory, and Rubin Academy of Music (Jerusalem, Israel). She was concertmaster of San Francisco’s Russian Chamber Orchestra for many years, appearing as soloist numerous times. Currently, Irina is a member of the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, assistant concertmaster of the Brockton Symphony Orchestra, and co-founder of “Flying Hearts” duo, which performs in a number of musical genres including jazz, Klezmer, and classic American tunes. She is a busy freelance violinist in the Greater Boston area.

Born in Ukraine, Irina Kotlyar earned her master’s degree and artistic diploma from the Jerusalem Rubin Music Academy. With Gregory Shifrin, the Kotlyar-Shifrin Piano Duo has won several international prizes and awards, including the Murrey Dranoff International Two Piano Competition in Miami and the First International Duo Piano Competition in Byalistok, Poland. The Duo has performed throughout Israel, Europe and America, including concerts with the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, New World Orchestra of Miami, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, and Israeli Chamber Orchestra.

Tickets are $15 (adults) and $12 (students/seniors), with tea service available for $5. 

For tickets and more information, visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or call (508) 528-3370.

Sidewalk bylaw should be re-written not removed

The quick poll taken by the Franklin Matters readers shows that 94% (16 of 17) of the responses favor rewriting the current sidewalk snow removal bylaw rather than removing it from the books.


Sidewalk bylaw should be re-written not removed
Sidewalk bylaw should be re-written not removed


From the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/j3_snow_and_ice_removal.pdf