LET'S LAUGH TODAY in Franklin is on the second Wednesday this month - Wednesday, June 14

Bring more laughter into your life by attending Let’s Laugh Today on Wednesday, June 14th (second Wednesday this month) from 7:30pm to 8:30pm at the Meetinghouse of the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. 

Laughter Yoga is a body/mind practice for well-being that involves deep breathing and a few stretches, playful laughter exercises (no jokes or comedy), clapping and deep relaxation. It has many benefits besides the joy of laughter. It can strengthen the immune system, combat the negative effects of stress, and is a powerful antidote to depression and anxiety. 

Any age and any level of physical ability can participate in this uplifting experience! They do not meet in Franklin in July and August, so be sure to get your laughs in this month! 
 

www.letslaughtoday.com

$5 donation to the church, $10 maximum per family. Please bring your water bottle because laughing is dehydrating. 

Led by Certified Laughter Yoga Teachers, Linda and Bill Hamaker. See www.letslaughtoday.com for opportunities to laugh in other towns. If you have any questions, just call them at 508-660-2223 or e-mail billandlinda@letslaughtoday.com.

MassBudget: Conference Preview - Differences between House and Senate Budgets for FY 2018

Differences between Senate and House budgets for FY 2018

MassBudget Information. Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center Democracy. Conference Preview:  Differences  between House and Senate Budgets for FY 2018 With a Conference Committee of three Representatives and three Senators meeting to meld the proposals of the two branches into a final budget to present to the Governor, we are entering the final stages of the annual budget debate. As MassBudget's new Budget Monitor describes,the House and Senate proposals have a lot in common: both modestly increase funding for K-12 education and both make new investments in early education (although in different ways); both take steps to address the cost increases borne by the state as the result of fewer employees getting health care coverage from their employers; and both increase funding for affordable housing to help reduce homelessness. Both branches also incorporate revenue from the Governor's initiatives to require larger on-line retailers to collect state sales taxes. There are also significant differences that will need to be worked out in conference: the Senate provides more funding for higher education and raises modest amounts of additional revenue by taxing on-line rentals through services such as Airbnb and by changing the way taxes are calculated on hotel rooms booked on-line; the House funding levels are higher than the Senate in several areas including MassHealth and the Municipal Regionalization and Efficiencies Incentive. The Senate also included a proposal that was not in the House budget to begin a process of examining the costs and benefits of tax expenditures. The state loses over a billion dollars a year in revenue as a result of various special business tax breaks that are part of our tax code and not regularly evaluated. In the links below, this Budget Monitor describes all of the major differences between the House and Senate budget proposals in each section of the budget. While the May tax revenue numbers came in a little above projections, overall tax revenue for the year is $439 million below projections with one month to go. The good news is that revenue from income tax withholding has been reasonably strong - and that is a good measure of current economic circumstances. The big drop we saw in April was due mostly to payments with returns when people filed their 2016 taxes. Part of that drop may have been due to taxpayers with significant business and investment income anticipating federal income tax cuts in 2017 and shifting income from 2016 to 2017 (such as by waiting to sell stocks that had increased in value). But while there are some positive signs, tax revenue this year is below projections and there is always the danger that our national economy will weaken. It will be important for the 2018 budget to be as structurally balanced as possible. The budgets enacted by the two branches of the Legislature both rely on over $500 million in temporary solutions. This is considerably more than the amount relied on in the Governor's budget because he had proposed addressing the state costs of fewer employees getting health care coverage from their employers by enacting a permanent assessment on employers who don't meet certain benchmarks for providing coverage. That plan would have raised $300 million in FY 2018 and more in future years. The House and Senate plans would raise only $180 million in FY 2018 and nothing after two years. MassBudget's new Budget Monitor describes the major amendments adopted during the Senate budget debate and examines the differences between the House and Senate proposals. The links below also allow readers to jump quickly to specific sections. Click here to read the full Budget Monitor, "Conference Preview: Differences Between the Senate and House Budgets for FY 2018." Individual sections:  Child Welfare Disability Services Early Education Economic Development Elder Services Environment and Recreation Higher Education Housing Juvenile Justice K-12 Education Law and Public Safety Libraries Local Aid MassHealth and Health Reform Mental Health Other Administrative Other Human Services Pensions Public Health Revenue (tax and non-tax) State Employee Health Insurance Transitional Assistance Transportation Additional Line Item Differences The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108 Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

MassBudget

"the work is in the best interests of preserving it"

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

"The town is set to begin herbicide treatment of the ponds at the DelCarte Conservation Property next week as part of an ongoing effort to fight invasive species there. 

According to a town release, the treatment will take place on June 13, depending on weather conditions; rain would delay the process. 

Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen said it is the beginning of a multi-year process to remove invasive species from the property. 

“We’re excited to finally get going,” he said. “What’s happening is invasive species - mostly plants, but some fish as well - are suffocating the ecosystem there.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170606/franklin-to-remove-invasive-plants-at-delcarte

the floating walk way at DelCarte in the rain recently

Note: the treatment had been scheduled for June 7 but the weather forecast likely changed the date and could change it again.


The prior notification can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/05/delcarte-invasive-plant-treatment.html

FHS baseball ends playoff run, boys tennis postponed

From Hockomock Sports, we share the results of the FHS spring sports action on Monday, June 5.

Baseball = D1 South

#1 Franklin, 3 vs. #8 Durfee, 15 – Final

Boys Tennis = D1 South

#7 Franklin @ #2 Brookline – Postponed to Tuesday, 6/6 at a time and location to be announced.


For the results around the Hockomock League on Monday
https://hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-060517/

FHS Panthers

8th Annual Massachusetts Walking Tour prepares for 11 day trek through the Blackstone Valley - Stopping in Franklin

The 8th Annual Massachusetts Walking Tour, founded by songwriting duo Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards, will be coming this year to the Blackstone Valley – performing 11 free community concerts while traversing the state on foot. Since 2010, Mandeville and Richards have organized now over 100 coffeehouse style concerts which showcase local musicians and artists across the state – creating a quality evening program for all ages and an opportunity for talent young and old to be enjoyed by a listening audience. Venues chosen for these community concerts include public libraries, town parks, and historical properties – and this year all events have been funded through local cultural council grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council program.

The concert at Franklin Public Library will feature local performers “Rhythm & Flow”, Matt Zajac, Jackson Gillman with the MA Walking Troupe to follow. This event is sponsored by the Franklin Cultural Council.

The MWT will lead a group hike Meet at the SNETT crossing (approx 372 Lake St, Bellingham, MA. Arriving 9:30-10am ) and walk the SNETT to Chilson Beach (over shoots the library by 1 mile). 3 miles. approx 2 hours. Alternative: Meet at Chilson Beach (598 Beaver Street, Franklin, MA arriving around 1pm ) – 0.25 mile trail along Eastern Shore of the pond. Parking near the beach.0.25 Miles.

Carrying approximately 40-50 lbs of gear and instruments, the Massachusetts Walking Troupe, including veteran members Mark Kilianski (guitar, banjo) and Amy Alvey (fiddle), will be hiking from concert to concert using the Blackstone Valley’s many recreational trails – Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT), Charles River Bikeway, and trails within DCR’s Riverbend Farm to name a few. In addition to evening concerts, the troupe will also be organizing a series of short group hikes wherein the community will be invited to meet up with the Massachusetts Walking Tour as they travel between towns. 

These public hikes will highlight some of the Blackstone Valley’s recreational hiking trails, routes which appear in local author Marjorie Turner Hollman’s book Easy Walks In Massachusetts. All daily routes and "Easy Walks" are available to view and download at www.masswalkingtour.org.

The Eighth Annual Massachusetts Walking Tour will take place between June 15 and June 24, starting in Webster and ending in Blackstone. All concerts will be from 6-8pm and here is a complete listing of events:

Eighth Annual Massachusetts Walking 
Tour arrives in Franklin - June 23

June 15 – Memorial Beach – Webster MA
June 16 – EN Jenckes General Store – Douglas MA
June 17 – River Bend Farm – Uxbridge MA
June 18 – Kiwanis Beach – Upton MA
June 19 – Hopedale Unitarian Parish – Hopedale MA
June 20 – Milford Senior Center – Milford MA
June 21 – Medway Public Library – Medway MA
June 22 – Bellingham Public Library – Bellingham MA
June 23 – Franklin Public Library – Franklin MA
June 24 – Blackstone Boys and Girls Club – Blackstone MA



For more information on these events or for videos of previous year’s Massachusetts Walking Tours, please visit:
www.masswalkingtour.org

"to what extent are drugs an issue in your community?”

ICYMI: From the Boston Globe West edition on Sunday

"The summer before Cassidy Latham entered Brockton High School in 2013, her sister, who worked at High Point Treatment Center, approached her with a question: Would she be interested in joining a new drug use prevention program there? 

Latham did not have personal or familial experience with drug use, but her sister wanted to have a variety of teenagers participate in the program. Latham had received some drug education in health classes when she attended South Middle School, where she learned about the dangers of drug use and heard from guest speakers who had struggled with addiction. But she and her peers agreed that it wasn’t entirely effective. 

The program Latham joined at High Point took a remarkably different approach: The teens were given cameras and a basic question: “to what extent are drugs an issue in your community?” The camera was the device to help them answer that question."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/south/2017/06/02/photovoice-youths-see-impact-addiction-new-light/uwKRfrboxxeDzmt2C7FZGO/story.html

Addiction is like “having your life locked up. The drugs just take
over, it’s not even you,” wrote the photographer, Cassidy Latham of Brockton, in 2013.

In the News: Strawberry Festival Thursday, woman driver under the influence

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

"The Franklin Downtown Partnership believes its next events - this week’s Strawberry Stroll and October’s Harvest Festival - could be among the biggest in its history. 

Partnership Executive Director Lisa Piana said Monday that the 15th annual Strawberry Stroll (4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday) has seen record interest. 

“We have over 70 booths; we typically have around 20,” she said. “It kind of caught us by surprise, but it’s a great surprise.” 

Piana attributed the increase to a number of factors, including the end of the downtown streetscape project, new business in town and an enhanced interest in downtown. The new booths, she said, will be manned by local crafters, area schools and the local senior center."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170605/franklin-group-expects-growth-for-downtown-events

 the signature Strawberry Shortcake

"Police on Saturday arrested a Franklin woman who they say was driving under the influence of drugs with 5-year-old child in the car on Interstate 495. 

Hopkinton Police arrested Angela Boucher, 40, on Saturday at noon. 

Police received a 911 call from a concerned driver, prosecutor Kristen Hughes said at Boucher’s Framingham District Court arraignment on Monday. 

“A civilian reported the car was driving erratically,” said Hughes. “The driver appeared to have fallen asleep behind the wheel of the car. When she awoke, she was groggy and continued driving.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required).
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170605/franklin-woman-on-drugs-drove-with-child-in-hopkinton-authorities-say

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - June 7, 2017

The posted agenda for the Town Council meeting scheduled for June 7, 2017 can be viewed here. 

(Note: where there are active links in the agenda item, it will take you to the associated document)

The full PDF for this agenda can be found on the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/june_7_2017_agenda.pdf

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES	Approval of Minutes - May 10, 2017 (Motion to approve minutes of May 10, 2017 - majority (5) vote)
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS	This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may also be recorded by others.
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS	1. Electric Youth
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS	2. Swearing in of Firefighters James Polito Michael Falter
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS	Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the Agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.
E. APPOINTMENTS	FY 18 Annual Appointments - Boards and Committees
F. HEARINGS	Public Hearings - 7:10 PM
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS	Franklin Lodge of Elks - Change of Manager
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS	Safe Coalition
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	1. Resolution 17-31: Transfer of Tax Title Possession Parcels to Different Municipal Purposes (Motion to Move Resolution 17-31 - 2/3 majority (6) vote) 2. Resolution 17-38: Acceptance of Gift - Council on Aging (Motion to Move Resolution 17-38 - majority (5) vote) 3. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 17-788: Definitions. Brewery, Distillery or Winery with Tasting Room - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 17-788 to a 2nd Reading - majority (5) vote) 4. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 17-792: Use Regulations for Brewery, Distillery, or Winery with a Tasting Room - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 17-792 to a 2nd Reading - majority (5) vote) 5.Bylaw Amendment 17-791: New Chapter 73, Departmental Revolving Funds - 2nd Reading (Motion to Move 17-791 - Roll Call - majority (5) vote) 6. Resolution 17-35: Expenditure Limits for FY 2018 on Departmental Revolving Funds Established by Franklin Town Code Chapter 73, As Provided in G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2, As Amended (Motion to Move Resolution 17-35 - majority (5) vote ) 7. Bylaw Amendment 17-794: A Bylaw to amend the Code of the Town of Franklin by Adding a New Chapter: Chapter 108 Library Board of Directors - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 17-794 to a 2nd Reading - majority (5) vote)
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT	Town Administrator's Report (provided during meeting)
L. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS	Future Agenda Items  (provided during meeting)
M. COUNCIL COMMENTS	Council Comments (provided during meeting)
N. EXECUTIVE SESSION	Executive Session
O. Adjourn	Meeting Adjourned

The SAFE Coalition is scheduled for an update to the Town Council during this session

Annie Walsh, Franklin Lacrosse, Player of the Week

"Franklin sophomore Annie Walsh has been selected as the Hockomock Sports .com Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, for May 29th through June 3rd. Walsh is the 33rd selection for the 2016-2017 school year and the ninth during the spring season. 

She is the first athlete to win Player of the Week two times in one school year after being selected for field hockey in October. She is also the second Franklin girls lacrosse player to be selected this spring, following goalie Gianna Cameron. 

Walsh played a huge role in Franklin’s quarterfinal win over Natick, orchestrating a big second half comeback to hand the Panthers a 18-10 win. Natick held 7-6 lead over the top-seeded Panthers at halftime, but Walsh scored an impressive seven of her nine goals in the second half to lead Franklin back. 

“Annie was clutch for us in our first playoff game against Natick,” said Franklin head coach Kristin Igoe Guarino. “Her defensive and midfield play was just as important as her finishing on the offensive end! She has worked extremely hard this season and has done a really nice job at getting better and improving with each game.”

Continue reading the write up online
https://hockomocksports.com/player-of-the-week-annie-walsh-franklin-lacrosse/

Annie Walsh, Franklin Lacrosse, Player of the Week