“She learned a lot from it. Just to see how the process goes”

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

"With an eye on the 2018 and 2020 ballots, 17 groups filed more than two dozen initiative petitions for proposed laws and constitutional amendments in time to be considered for certification by Attorney General Maura Healey. 

Wednesday’s 5 p.m. petition deadline is the first step in the process to get a question on the statewide ballot. Petitioners filed 26 proposed laws that could show up on the 2018 ballot and two constitutional amendments that would appear on the 2020 ballot if successful, the attorney general’s office said. 

Lawmakers largely departed the State House late last week for summer recess, and August marks a time for citizens to try their hands at crafting policy."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170803/26-questions-propsed-for-2018-2020-ballots


On MA.GOV, you can find information on the Initiatives and Other Types of Ballot Questions
http://www.mass.gov/ago/government-resources/initiatives-and-other-ballot-questions/

You can find info on the Voting Process
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elevotingprocess/votingprocessidx.htm

screen grab of MA.GOV home page

Blackstone Valley: Our Volunteers are Going Places!

Paddle, Pedal, Recycle and Volunteer!

Blackstone Heritage Corridor Volunteer-led Events August 4 - August 13 Saturday, August 6th - Go Green at the Daniels Farmstead Farmers Market.  Electronics Recycling and More!  Tuesday, August 8th - Join the Paddle Club in the Slatersville Reservoir.  Tuesday, August 8th - Imagine the Possibilities as a Volunteer for the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor! Wednesday, August 9th - Pedal from the Blackstone River State Park Visitor Center to Pratt Dam during this week's Ride of Discovery. Don't Forget! - The deadline for submissions to the 2018 Calendar Contest is coming up!  Monday, August 14th, 2017 will be the last day to submit your photo entries. For a complete list of our volunteer-led events and other events  throughout the Blackstone Heritage Corridor,  Visit the events page on our website. BHC's online events calendar is updated faster than we can say  "Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor"  so check back often to see what's happening. * Afraid that weather is a factor? Check out BHC's Facebook Page for any updates!

Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, 670 Linwood Avenue, Whitinsville, MA 01588 Sent by mail@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org in collaboration with Try it free today

In the News: Exelon gets State approval; Governor appoints pot board

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

"A state board eliminated roadblocks for the construction of an expansion to the Medway Exelon plant. 

At a hearing Friday, the Energy Facilities Siting Board approved two decisions - one granting a certificate of environmental impact and public interest, and the other approving a revised water supply - in favor of the 200-megawatt expansion project. It had earlier issued tentative decisions to allow for public comment. 

Board counsel Joan Evans said her draft decision grants the certificate to Exelon. Though the company had requested the board grant 11 state and local permits, this decision requires it go through the regular permitting process. Evans said the state fire marshal’s office, for example, wanted more information on chemicals that would be stored at the plant. 

The company can seek those permits during construction, Evans said. With a favorable decision, she told the board, Exelon could begin construction."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170804/state-oks-medway-exelon-plans

Governor Charlie Baker on Friday appointed five members to the Massachusetts’ Cannabis Advisory Board, which will make recommendations to the Cannabis Control Commission on the regulation and taxation of marijuana. 

The board was established by the ballot initiative approved by voters last November and in legislation signed by Baker last week, consisting of 25 members: five appointees each from the governor, treasurer and attorney general and 10 others. 

The law requires Baker’s appointees to represent experts in minority business development, economic development strategies for under-resourced communities, farming or farming interests, employers and municipal law enforcement. 

The new members are Walpole Police Chief John Carimichael Jr.; Roxbury attorney Kimberly Napoli, co-founder of the Hempest retail clothing shop in Harvard Square; Mary Ann Pesce of Weston, an independent consultant who spent most of her career in business management for The Gillette Company in Boston; Lydia Sisson, founder and co-director of Mill City Grows, an urban food producer in Lowell; and Henry M. Thomas III, president and CEO of the Urban League of Springfield.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170804/governor-baker-names-five-to-pot-panel

Franklin Downtown Partnership: Harvest Festival registration press release & form; new members

Franklin Downtown Partnership  9 E. Central Street, Franklin, MA  02038 (774) 571-3109   downtown.franklin@yahoo.com FDP Harvest Festival Registration press release, form Don't delay - booth spaces are first-come first-served and we expect to sell out spaces! Franklin Harvest Festival Registration Opens to Vendors in August Registration will begin in August for crafters, vendors, artists and community groups who want to participate in the Franklin Downtown Partnership's 15th annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This fall's Harvest Festival is expected to draw more than 8,000 visitors to downtown Franklin. The rain date will be Sunday, October 15. Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic for the event. Booths are free to 2017 business members, $125 for non-members, and $185 for food vendors. The registration deadline for participants is September 20. Downtown business owners need to send in a registration to secure store-front space. A late charge of $35 will be added to registration forms received after September 20, and no registrations will be accepted after October 1. Event details and registration forms will be posted in early August on www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/, on the FDP's Facebook event page and on Twitter. Questions can be directed to Harvest Festival Chair Scott Martin at fdpharvestfest@gmail.com. Sponsors are needed to help support the FDP's largest and most popular festival. As a non-profit organization, the Downtown Partnership depends on sponsors to fund this and other efforts including Beautification, the Strawberry Stroll and the Holiday Stroll. Sponsorship forms can be found on the FDP website under the Sponsors tab. Currently, Dean Bank, Middlesex Savings Bank and Rockland Trust are Silver sponsors. Chestnut Dental Associates, DCU, the Franklin Cultural Council, Franklin Ford and Real Living Realty are Bronze sponsors. The Franklin Historical Museum and Franklin Cultural District, LeafFilter, Rescom Exteriors, and Tom Fricker Heating & AC, Inc. are Friends sponsors. Download the press release here. Please tell us what you need: Networking lunches Over the past year we've been holding our monthly Networking Luncheons on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m., and many of you have joined us.  Does that day and time work for you? Do you prefer a different day or time?  What other suggestions do you have for our committee? Please email the FDP office with your comments and suggestions and we'll pass those along to Matt Lechter and Gary Donelan. They'll take your suggestions and create a luncheon schedule for the fall.

Franklin Downtown Partnership, 9 E. Central St., Franklin, MA 02038 Try it free today

The newsletter was shortened for publication here. Unfortunately, there is not a link to view the web version of this.

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 8/4/17 - THU 8/10/17

FRIDAY 8/4/17
9:30am   Family Yoga @ Franklin Public Library
10:30am   The Day the Crayons Quit Party @ Franklin Public Library
12-6pm   Franklin Farmers Market @ Town Common
3:30pm   Lemonade and Giant Legos @ Franklin Public Library
8pm   Black Box Jazz: The Mark Poniatowski Situation

SATURDAY 8/5/17
10-1pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
1-7pm   La Cantina Tasting Room Grand Opening @ La Cantina Winery

SUNDAY 8/6/17
8am   Yoga on the Beach (free event, all levels welcome) @ Beaver Pond
10:30am   Feast of St. Rocco: Opening Mass @ St. Mary’s Parish
1-4pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open

MONDAY 8/7/17
2:30pm   Maker Mondays @ Franklin Public Library
3:30pm   Wimpy Kid Book Club @ Franklin Public Library
7pm   Learn to Cope Franklin Chapter Meeting @ FUSF

TUESDAY 8/8/17
9am   Do Gooders DIYs @ Franklin Public Library
7:30pm   Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Monthly Meeting (public welcome) @ Franklin YMCA

WEDNESDAY 8/9/17
10am   Bryson Lang! @ Franklin Public Library
6-8pm   Franklin Cultural Festival: Mike Rutkowski @ Franklin Town Common

THURSDAY 8/10/17
9:30am   Baby Tummy Time @ Franklin Public Library
10:30am   Story and Craft @ Franklin Public Library
12pm   Park it and Read @ various Franklin Parks - check with the Library
1-6pm   American Red Cross Blood Drive @ Elks Lodge
5-10pm   Feast of St. Rocco: Rides Only
5-8pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
7-8pm   Healing Hearts Community Support Group @ Franklin YMCA

For the Town of Franklin Public Calendar click HERE.

For all other events and Franklin happenings click HERE.

*To submit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this FORM

St. Mary's St. Vincent de Paul August Food Drive

The St. Mary's St. Vincent de Paul Society will also be holding the August food drive during the weekend of August 5 and 6. We are so grateful for every item that is donated to our SVdP food pantry week after week. Because of these donations we are able to pack up many bags of food and offer them to our neighbors in need. 

For our August food drive, we are requesting peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti sauce, rice mixes, fruit juice and canned vegetables. Donations may be dropped off in the boxes at the doors of the church on the weekend of August 5/6.

All your food donations go right back into the community to help our neighbors who in their hour of need, turn to St. Mary's.

Thank you for helping us to work together to make a difference in our community!

St Mary's Parish, Franklin

Franklin PD and Lifelong Community Learning Announce Partnership

The Franklin Police Department and Franklin Public Schools Lifelong Community Learning (formerly the Center for Adult Education & Community Learning) today announced a partnership to present a Citizen Police Academy beginning September 13.

Classes will be held once a week for ten weeks on Wednesday nights from 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM at the Franklin Police Station, 911 Panther Way. In addition to answering questions like …….. how would you react in an emergency situation; how is evidence collected; and what should you do if stopped for speeding ……  

Each attendee will be given the opportunity to ride with a Franklin Police Officer during his or her tour of duty to experience the duties and responsibilities of the officers firsthand. Ride-alongs will last approximately 3-4 hours.

Citizen Police Academy begins Sep 13

The intended result of the academy is to give residents a better understanding of what police officers do and how they do it. The classes, designed to give overviews of the areas taught, will cover basic operations and will be instructed mostly by members of the Franklin Police Department.

Given the degree of access participants will have during the program, some requirements will apply, including the successful completion and approval of a Criminal Offense Record Information (CORI) filing.

The Academy registration fee is $90. Participants can register online at www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com on the Lifelong Community Learning page.

For more information you can call Lt. James West 508-440-2726 or Brenda Reed 508-613-1483. You can also visit www.franklinpolice.com or www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com

The mission of the Franklin Police Department is to work collaboratively in partnership with our community to enhance the quality of life in our town, while maintaining order and protecting the people we serve. We will accomplish this mission by providing high quality law enforcement service, doing so with professionalism, honor and integrity.

The Lifelong Community Learning Center is a program of the Franklin Public Schools Lifelong Learning Institute, dedicated to providing quality learning experiences for residents in the Town of Franklin and surrounding communities.


This was shared from the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/news/citizens-police-academy