ICYMI: 40B change for Franklin; Dean scholarship; homework policy up for review; Cultural District moves forward; Town Council says no to MBTA

ICYMI from the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The town can now say “no” to developers who want to build homes under the state’s affordable housing law. 

The town now exceeds the state-set 10 percent threshold for having its housing stock deemed affordable under Chapter 40B."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170702/franklin-can-say-no-to-40b-housing-proposals

"The Town Council has recognized Dean College for stepping up to the plate in providing a special scholarship for a deserving Franklin resident. 

The school recently announced the first-ever Horace Mann Scholarship. The tuition scholarship totals $20,000 per year and will be given to a Franklin resident attending Dean in fall 2018. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years, provided the student maintains a 2.8 or higher grade point average."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170702/franklin-council-lauds-dean-college-for-special-scholarship

"The local school district is re-evaluating the purpose and role of homework in students’ instruction. 

The School Committee debuted a new homework policy at its Tuesday night meeting, after a process in which it solicited opinions from parents and teachers. The committee will have a definitive vote on the policy at a future meeting."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170702/franklin-schools-examine-homeworks-role-in-education

"After years of planning, Town Council has unanimously approved creating a downtown cultural district and will now forward an application to the state for approval. 

According to Director of Planning Community Development Bryan Taberner, the purpose of the state-designated cultural district is to create an area of concentration of arts and culture that will help to draw attention to resources to the downtown, such as the Black Box venue, Dean College, the Franklin School for the Performing Arts and library."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170630/franklin-council-creates-cultural-district

"Town Council made it clear Wednesday night that it does not want the MBTA to install a solar canopy at the Dean Street commuter parking lot because it interferes with the town’s ongoing mission to bring more economic development downtown. 

“We spent $7 million to redo the entire streetscape downtown,” said Town Administrator Jeff Nutting. “This is not the right place.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170629/franklin-town-council-voices-opposition-to-solar-canopy

the 3rd Annual Franklin Cultural Festival is scheduled for July 26-29, 2017

Oak St Teacher Dance Party (video)

The Oak Street Elementary School teachers know how to provide a good example in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Now there is evidence that they also can add rhythm to list of r's. 






While Franklin Matters has been off the grid (yes, off the internet completely) for the past several days, we hope you have enjoyed the scheduled posts. Regular news will begin to be caught up with today and 'new' posts will be shared on Thursday, July 6.

flower peek-a-boo

Franklin Almanac - Episode 7 (video)

Franklin Almanac, the compendium of life in Franklin. If you missed the broadcast via cable, you can catch up to Episode 7 via the YouTube link. Polikseni Manxhari hosts segments on

1. Opening- 00:00- 00:43
2. Healthy Kids Day- 00:44-05:47
3. Franklin Beautification Day- 05:48-10:17
4. HMEA 5K- 10:18-15:17
5. Franklin Fourth of July Celebration- 15:28-22:40
6. In Memory of Michael Doherty- 22:42-25:15
7. Final Thoughts- 25:16- 27:18

For more about the Franklin Downtown Partnership
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/

For more about the HMEA   https://hmea.org/

By way of disclosure, I am a citizen member of the Downtown Partnership and a regular volunteer to help the HMEA conduct the 5K road race.

Rep Jeff Roy and HMEA CEO Mike Moloney pushing their HMEA partners in the 5K road race held on May 21, 2017. I provided the 2 mile splits to the runners and captured this photo on Upper Union St

The Mikado Highlights FPAC’S 10th Anniversary Whatever Theater Festival

Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) presents The Mikado at 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 27 and Friday, July 28 on Franklin Town Common. The popular comic opera, with music by Sir Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W.S. Gilbert, was first performed in 1885 and is their ninth of 14 operatic collaborations. With sharp wit and timeless music, the legendary classic satirizes British society and bureaucracy, its politics and institutions.  

The Mikado will be featured as part of the 3rd Annual Franklin Cultural Festival, hosted by the Franklin Cultural District Committee. The visual, performing and culinary arts celebration will take place July 26-30 at various downtown Franklin locations within the proposed Cultural District. Events are offered to the public free of charge.

Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC)

FPAC will also present a 24 Hour Play production on Saturday, July 29 at 8 p.m. at THE BLACK BOX, the company’s home and performance venue located at 15 West Central Street in downtown Franklin. For this theatrical experience, the cast will create, stage, and perform an original show in 24 hours. Rehearsal will begin at 10 p.m. on July 28th, following the final performance of The Mikado. There are no auditions to participate; please call (508) 528-3370 to sign up.

FPAC presents The Mikado and the 24 Hour Play as part of the company’s 10th anniversary Whatever Theater Festival, featured this summer within the Franklin Cultural Festival. Conceived and directed by Nick Paone, the Whatever Theater Festival brings together professional artists, FPAC alumni, students, and community performers in a collaborative theatrical experience that showcases an exciting range of dramatic and comedic works. 

FPAC’s 2017 Whatever Theater Festival is sponsored in part by grants from Foxborough, Norfolk, North Attleborough, and Wrentham Cultural Councils, local agencies that are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information, call (508) 528-3370 or visit www.FPAConline.com.

Franklin 4th of July - Tuesday, July 4

The schedule of events for the Franklin 4th of July has been posted to the webpage  http://july4thfranklinma.com/

Tuesday, July 4

12pm - 5pm Rides and food booths open

Full 4th of July schedule
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczRTRscloyTnBscFU/view?usp=sharing



Per the Franklin Almanac video, one price wrist bands will be available for Thursday, 6 - 10; Saturday 12 -5 and then Monday 6 - 10PM 
All other times the rides would be for the individual tickets

big slide set up on the Town Common

Annie Sullivan's 8th Grade lip dub for 2017 (video)

Annie Sullivan's 8th grade class has an annual tradition to perform and record a lip sync video. The 2017 edition can be found here






The 2016 version can be found here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6tH_D_o4iE&t=1s


The 2015 version can be found here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SazRnJgI1uM

Keller Sullivan schools sign

Franklin Almanac - Episode 6 (video)

Franklin Almanac, the compendium of life in Franklin. If you missed the broadcast via cable, you can catch up to Episode 6 via the YouTube link. Polikseni Manxhari hosts segments on

1. Opening/intro- 00:00-00:43
2. Empty Bowls Dinner- 00:43-6:48
3. "Hate has no home here" campaign-6:48-11:05
4. Safe Coalition 5k- 11:06-17:28
5. Horace Mann Statue- 17:29- 26:34
6. Final Thoughts- 26.35- 28:53

Local source for Hate has No Home signs
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/02/people-are-really-looking-for-way-to.html

More about the Safe Coalition can be found http://safecoalitionma.com/

The audio recording of the Horace Mann Statue Unveiling ceremony is available here  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/05/fm-130-audio-recording-of-horace-mann.html

the Horace Mann statue stands to welcome folks to downtown Franklin