Franklin Library: Sparky's Puppets - Weds, February 22, 10:30 AM

Enter the magical world of children's stories, brought to life by colorful puppets and lively humor! Sparky’s puppets will perform “The Kingdom of Riddles,” a show about a knight’s quest to capture a unicorn for his king and queen! The knight will need help from the audience to solve riddles along the way! This performance also includes a special version of “The Princess and the Pea!”

Sparky's Puppets, Wednesday, February 22, 10:30 a.m.

This was shared from the Franklin Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2017/02/sparkys-puppets-wednesday-february-22.html

How do you report a pothole?

The updated Town of Franklin webpage has a DPW Service Request Form to report street lights, potholes, downed trees and Other (please specify) issues.

You can also call the DPW 

Hours of Operation:
M, T, Th: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Wed: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Fri: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm 

Phone:
(508) 520-4910
(508) 553-5500

From the mobile device (in this case, a phone)

The updated Town of Franklin website is enabled for mobile use

scroll down the Home Page to find a quick link for "Public Works Order"

click on the "Public Works Order" to open up the DPW Service Request Form

From your desktop/laptop

Scroll down the home page on the desktop/laptop versions to select the DPW Service Request Form

The form will ask the same questions whether on the mobile device or desktop/laptop

You can go directly to the form here
http://www.franklinma.gov/public-works/webforms/dpw-service-request-form

“There were several hundred acres and few access points"

"Like the majority of his constituents in Franklin and Medway, state Representative Jeffrey Roy is a frequent traveler on Interstate 495, the heavily traveled highway that bisects his district. 

But it wasn’t until two years ago, when Roy and another lawmaker met with Franklin resident Alan Earls, that he came to appreciate a stretch of woods and waterways between Exit 17 in Franklin and Exit 18 in Bellingham that spans both towns and a section of Medway. 

“I never knew some of the richness of the land, the history, how the trolleys traveled between Franklin and Bellingham 100 years ago,” said Roy, a Democrat who has lived in Franklin for 31 years. 

A year after their tour, Earls launched the Charles River Meadowlands Initiative, a grass-roots group formed to draw attention to the tracts of land — more than 400 acres in Franklin, about 350 acres in Bellingham, and another 50 in Medway — that are protected by the Army Corps of Engineers and open to the public."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2017/02/17/this-land-protected-but-can-people-reach/uh2PYr2vBlI2nuaj4FwkfO/story.html

For more about the Charles River Meadowlands project follow the news as I can share it here. 

Visit them at their website  https://www.charlesrivermeadowlands.org/

Come to a future planning meeting to help the effort:

* Tues Mar 7, 6:30 PM, Dean Rm, First Universalist Soc. 262 Chestnut St, Franklin, MA
​*  Tues Apr 4, 6:30 PM, Dean Rm, First Universalist Soc. 262 Chestnut St, Franklin, MA
​*  Tues May 2, 6:30 PM, Dean Rm, First Universalist Soc. 262 Chestnut St, Franklin, MA

one of several photos of the meadowlands in snowy winter

Franklin Cultural Council Grantee Reception - March 23

The Franklin Historical Museum is pleased to be hosting the Franklin Cultural Council Grantee Reception honoring their 2017 Grant Recipients on Thursday, March 23rd at 7:00PM. 

All grant recipients and a guest are invited to enjoy entertainment and light refreshments as part of the evening’s schedule. 

Franklin Town Council Members, Senator Richard Ross, Senator Karen Spilka, Representative Jeffrey Roy and representatives from the Massachusetts Cultural Council are all invited to the evening reception.

The Franklin Cultural District Steering Committee is pleased to announce that it was one of the 2017 Grant Recipients. The grant will be applied to the upcoming 3rd Annual Franklin Cultural Festival.

 

Franklin Cultural Council    Massachusetts Cultural Council

"The 3rd Annual Franklin Cultural Festival is supported in part by a grant from the Franklin Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency."

FHS boys basketball tops Cardinal Spellman

Boys Basketball = Franklin, 70 vs. Cardinal Spellman, 66 – Final

– Franklin was impressive in the first three quarters, building an 18 point lead before Spellman closed the gap in the final quarter. Franklin senior Josh Macchi registered a career-high 22 points while junior Paul Mahon added 15 points and sophomore Jalen Samuels finished with 14 points.

Boys Hockey = Franklin, 1 vs. Lasalle Academy, 4 – Final

Girls Hockey = Franklin, 0 vs. Ursuline, 3 – Final


For all the results around the Hockomock League on Monday
https://hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-022017/

FHS Panthers

Madalene Village public hearing continued to March 2

The Madalene Village proposal public hearing has been continued (yes, again) to March 10 this time. The next ZBA meeting is actually scheduled for March 2. During the intervening time, the developer is supposed to work out some issues with the peer reviewer as well as revise the submitted waivers listing to better reword some of the requests.

Partial summary of open issues:
The stream is still an issue as it is referred to as a 'ditch' and not acknowledged as a viable and valuable water resource.

The town has a current drain from Fletcher Field into the 'ditch.' The developer says Franklin has no easement for it. Franklin says it is on their land. This should be interesting to resolve.

There was a bunch of discussion on 'subsurface structures' and the definition of that versus an 'infiltration basins'. The dispute is around what design standards from MA DEP requires. A 'mounded analysis' is hence required by the Town and is questioned by the developer.

The developer has yet to meet with or engage in anyway the Conservation Commission. Conservation issues are being addressed to the ZBA, which respectfully speaking, is not their subject of expertise.

The wording of many of the waivers requested seem to be broader than required. Some of them were acknowledged as being worthy of refinement.

Recap on process
The ZBA does not need something from the Conservation Commission before the ZBA makes a decision. The concept is before the ZBA. If the board is so inclined to proceed with a permit, they would still come back with the construction design to approve that formally. If they (the developer) goes to the Conservation Commission and can't meet the State regulations, then the development would stop.

You can view the ZBA meeting here
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?&PGD=franknma&eID=434

Files released before the meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/02/madalene-village-documents-for-zba.html

and here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/02/zoning-board-of-appeals-meeting-feb-16.html

Spruce Pond Brook is proposed to be rerouted for the development

"Better to be prepared early on"

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

"The Town Council has enacted a set of zoning rules that govern the placement of recreational and medicinal marijuana facilities in town. 

The council gave final approval at its meeting last week to a set of five zoning bylaw amendments, which would limit such facilities to the town's industrial parks and require special permits for their establishment. 

Town officials said the bylaws are meant to protect the town while the state finalizes marijuana regulations. 

"The intent of the zoning is to be prepared," said Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting. "At the very least, we're starting off in a conservative position."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170220/franklin-council-passes-marijuana-zoning

For the full Town Council meeting recap check this  link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/02/town-council-meeting-recap-follow-water.html

DPW Director Cantoreggi addresses the Town Council during the water presentation

Town Council meeting recap - follow the water!

The most significant take away from the Town Council meeting on Wednesday was the overview on the water situation for Franklin. We get all our water from the underground aquifer. Very interesting stats and details on how we get it, how it is treated before we use it and where it goes after we have used it (via sewer to the Charles River Treatment plant in Medway).

Some big expenses coming down the road. A water treatment plant is needed for Wells 3 and 6 or we would see this in our faucets (slide 35 from the presentation below):

Well 6 is underutilized as it has too much iron and manganese in it

The water treatment plant needed for Wells 3 and 6 (slide 37) is estimated at $6M. This is starting to be planned for now and would likely begin in a couple of years.

Replacement of the Beaver St connector is more expensive and would cost approx $15-20M. The connector was built in 1910 and carries most of Franklin's waste to the Charles River plant in Medway (page 5 of the presentation below).

I highly recommend listening to this presentation and discussion about the proposed inclusion of private wells in the future water ban restrictions. Not, the normal conservation effort only the water ban (if declared). 

It begins approx. 25 minutes into the video and runs for over an hour.

Franklin DPW Water Presentation from Franklin Matters

The video replay of the Town Council meeting of Feb 15, 2017 can be found here
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=433

The Actions Taken by the Town Council can be found here
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/town_council_actions_taken_february_15_2017.pdf

My notes reported live during the meeting can be found here

• Live reporting: Closing
• Live reporting: Water update
• Live reporting: Storage Facility
• Live Reporting: Town Council Meeting - Feb 15, 201...
• 
  

School Committee recap - Feb 14, 2017

Much of the School Committee meeting on Tuesday was a summary of the needs of the District. Much has been written here of the positions and programs cut over the years. The increase in sports fees was what got me started reporting. I wanted to find out what the 'budget issue' was all about. 

The Central Office compiled this listing to help the School Committee with the prioritizations on the upcoming budget cycle for FY 2018. The School Committee via the community relations subcommittee has been listening to the community at their coffee hours and compiling a listing as well.

I caught the first hour of the meeting and share my notes below. I came back just after nine (away for a work conference call) to view the elementary schools wrapping up. My notes resumed and I followed the meeting until it closed.

WINN for Education - What I (we) Need Now from Franklin Matters

Superintendent Sabolinski (center) comments during the meeting while Asst Superintendent Peter Light (left) and Asst Superintendent Joyce Edwards (right) listen

The video of the meeting by Franklin TV is available for viewing on demand
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=432

• Real time reporting: School Committee (Twitter not...
• Real time reporting: Action items
• Real time Reporting: District Current Needs
• Real time Reporting: School Committee - 2/14/17
• Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Feb 14, ...
• 
  

Franklin junior Ashley Loomis = HockomockSports.com Player of the Week

"Franklin junior Ashley Loomis has been selected as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, for February 12th through February 18th. Loomis is the 21st athlete selected for the 2016-2017 school year and the ninth selection during the winter season. She is the first female swimmer to be selected this winter. 

On Saturday at Boston University, Loomis continued her dominance in the pool by claiming her third straight 500-freestyle Div. 1 state championship, edging Beverly’s Nicole Welch by 0.36 seconds. Loomis and Welch were 13 seconds faster than the third place finisher. Loomis also brought home her second Div. 1 200-free title, again beating Welch but this time by more than a second. She was the meet’s only individual double winner. 

Last weekend, Loomis set a meet record in winning the South title in the 200-free, hitting a time of 1:50.39 to win by four seconds, and won the 500-free by nine seconds. Earlier this month, Loomis became a three-time champion in both events at the Hockomock Swim Championships at Milford High, winning by 11 seconds in the 200 and a remarkable 22 seconds in the 500."

Continue reading the article online at HockomockSports
https://hockomocksports.com/player-of-the-week-ashley-loomis-franklin-swimming/

Franklin junior Ashley Loomis = HockomockSports.com Player of the Week

FHS girls basketball lose in OT

@CoachMacCreery takes us along for the ride of the FHS girls basketball game via Twitter

G V Hoops getting ready to tip off against Holy Name in the Westboro Tourney. A WIN gets us in! #RightHereRightNow

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) February 19, 2017

After 1P Franklin trails Holy Name 15-11. #KeepFighting #GoPanthers @FHSSports @fhsgvbasketball @HockomockSports

— CoachMac (@CoachMacCreery) February 19, 2017

At the half, Franklin still trails Holy Name 27-20. #HangingTough #GoPanthers @FHSSports @HockomockSports @fhsgvbasketball

— CoachMac (@CoachMacCreery) February 19, 2017

Heading into the 4th, Franklin down 42-35. #PrimeforaComeback #GoPanthers @FHSSports @HockomockSports @fhsgvbasketball

— CoachMac (@CoachMacCreery) February 19, 2017

Franklin storming back down 3 with 2:59 left. @FHSSports @HockomockSports

— CoachMac (@CoachMacCreery) February 19, 2017

TO Holy Name up 51-50 with 1:26 left. #Barnburner @FHSSports @HockomockSports

— CoachMac (@CoachMacCreery) February 19, 2017

And we're heading to overtime! Franklin is all tied up at 52 with Holy Name #CardiacKids @FHSSports @HockomockSports @fhsgvbasketball

— CoachMac (@CoachMacCreery) February 19, 2017

HN with a 5–0 run to start overtime. Franklin down 57–52 with 1:47 left. @FHSSports @HockomockSports

— CoachMac (@CoachMacCreery) February 19, 2017

FHS Panthers

We're final here in Westboro w FHS falling 64-54 to HN. So proud of the effort & grit. @FHSSports @fhsgvbasketball @HockomockSports

— CoachMac (@CoachMacCreery) February 19, 2017

We drop a tough one to Holy Name in OT 54-64. We move into playoff mode tomorrow 8am - Shepherd Hill Tue 2pm - Win & In#RightHereRightNow

— Franklin Girls Bball (@fhsgvbasketball) February 19, 2017

“You need so many volunteers to make it work efficiently”

“It’s a wonderful service, and the meal is not the key point of it,” says Bill Wright, volunteer coordinator of the Medway route of Tri-Valley, Inc.’s Meals on Wheels program, which is currently in need of volunteer drivers. Tri-Valley’s local Meals on Wheels program operates out of the basement of the Franklin Federated Church, with volunteers overseen by Laura Newton. In addition to Wright’s Medway route, the location coordinates meals for another Medway route, three Franklin routes and two Bellingham routes. 

When Wright moved to Massachusetts from Illinois 25 years ago, he was looking for a way to give back to the community. In his home state, he had watched and accompanied his mother when she delivered Meals on Wheels. 

“It’s somebody to stop at their house, smile, say ‘how are you today?’ Just check in on somebody to say hello to somebody who’s not getting out of their house. To engage in a conversation with somebody, no matter who it may be, because it’s their lifeline to society.” 

These meals, says Wright, are delivered to elders and people with disabilities who live in private homes or even in senior housing."

Continue reading the article online 
http://www.localtownpages.com/content/volunteers-needed-bring-meal-%E2%80%93-and-smile

screen grab of Tri-Valley, Inc website

Learn more about Tri-Valley, Inc. at www.trivalleyinc.org

"Tri-Valley’s Nutrition Program needs volunteer drivers to deliver Meals on
Wheels to homebound elders in your local community or to help pack and serve
meals at area Dining Centers. All volunteers receive training and drivers are
eligible for travel reimbursement at the rate of 50 cents per mile. Anyone who can give as little as two hours per week of their time to help is encouraged to call the Nutrition Program at 1-800-286-6640 or 508-949-6640."

FHS Girls Swim Team results in the Sectionals via the Twitterverse

Another amazing season for Franklin lady swimmers! There is no end to my pride in all of you.
You just kept swimming...

— Coach_P (@mrsjpridham) February 18, 2017

Wrapped up this awesome state meet with a fantastic 400 free relay of Benoit,McGuire,Huang,Loomis. Congrats to all the lady Panthers today! pic.twitter.com/CMMeJt3HwH

— Colleen Gordon (@ms_gordo) February 18, 2017

Ashley Loomis with her 3rd STATE MEET TITLE in the 500 free! What a finish! After 19 laps...That's how you #finishstrong! @FHSSports pic.twitter.com/pTsTk6XTIJ

— Colleen Gordon (@ms_gordo) February 18, 2017

Katie McGuire matches her personal best in the 500 free! Solid performance for this freshman!! @FHSGVSWIM pic.twitter.com/jTd6RFxdQ2

— Colleen Gordon (@ms_gordo) February 18, 2017

ASHLEY LOOMIS ABSOLUTELY DESTROYING THE 500 FREE WITH A NEW PERSONAL BEST OF 4:53:63 pic.twitter.com/O4F7KLeVC2

— FHS Girls Swim (@FHSGVSWIM) February 18, 2017

HELEN HUANG WITH A NEW BEST 50 FREE SPLIT TIME OF 25.88 #personalrecord pic.twitter.com/OY8sGsRMDS

— FHS Girls Swim (@FHSGVSWIM) February 18, 2017

Ashley Loomis is the 2-time 200 free STATE CHAMPION. LET'S GOOOOOOO

— FHS Girls Swim (@FHSGVSWIM) February 18, 2017

Celebrating our captains here at States🐠🐟🐳 pic.twitter.com/DrrEY3Ucwz

— FHS Girls Swim (@FHSGVSWIM) February 18, 2017

Ashley's ready to go...are you? #statessaturday pic.twitter.com/XjcGU7yry2

— FHS Girls Swim (@FHSGVSWIM) February 18, 2017

Div. 1 Girls Swimming: Franklin's Ashley Loomis wins two state titles

I was unable to find any official results for the meet (aside from the video of the meet via the MIAA). If anyone knows of the source, please let me know.

FHS boys swim team in the Sectionals via the Twitterverse

Swim Coach Ms Gordon takes up along for a ride via Twitter as the FHS boys swim in the Sectional meet on Sunday

Awesome meet for SR Connor Bourgeois with a 9th in the 50 and a great swim in the 100! We're so proud of you, Connor! @FHSGVSWIM @FHSBVSWIM pic.twitter.com/07qaP9oEPm

— Colleen Gordon (@ms_gordo) February 19, 2017

A personal best 2:08.36 for Jack Cashin in the 200 IM !! @FHSGVSWIM @FHSBVSWIM pic.twitter.com/7YW5auFqdl

— Colleen Gordon (@ms_gordo) February 19, 2017

What a swim for Roy Wang with a personal best 5:06.13 in the 500! A-maz-ing!! @FHSGVSWIM @FHSBVSWIM pic.twitter.com/8OZd925zwq

— Colleen Gordon (@ms_gordo) February 19, 2017

FHS Panthers

Fantastic swims for Medley relay and 200 free relay of Cashin,Choudhury,Wang,Bourgeois both beating seed times! 👏🏻👍💪@FHSGVSWIM @FHSBVSWIM pic.twitter.com/gBUuCsRrjb

— Colleen Gordon (@ms_gordo) February 19, 2017

Best times for the 400 free relay of Choudhury,Juszczyszyn,Barrett,Cashin. So very proud of all of our swimmers! @FHSGVSWIM @FHSBVSWIM pic.twitter.com/VpV7LSV4QC

— Colleen Gordon (@ms_gordo) February 19, 2017

I was unable to find any official results for the meet (aside from the video of the meet via the MIAA). If anyone knows of the source, please let me know.

Town offices and Library closed Monday, Schools closed all week

Town Offices and the Public Library are closed for the President's Day holiday, Monday, Feb 20

Schools are closed for February vacation all week.

Franklin Public Library closed on President's Day, Feb 20

Town Offices are closed for the President's Day

Parmenter School announces February vacation

Davis Thayer School announces February vacation