Tuesday, March 6, 2018

A Night of Spiritual Readings & Connecting with Lost Loved Ones - Mar 8 and Mar 22

Sometimes we lose people that may have unfinished business for us. You might just want to know that a loved one is all right or make sure that they are still around you. Stephanie has been connecting people with lost loved ones for over 15 years. The experience is always very personal, special and unique to each individual.

Have you ever thought about what you’d say if you had another chance? Maybe you ran out of time to repair a relationship or you just didn’t say everything you would have liked. Stephanie has a unique ability of bringing peace and comfort to those left behind and to those who have moved on. It is not too late to reconnect with those you love.

Understanding loss and grief is one of the ways Stephanie is able to connect and help you with your process. Bringing peace and understanding to those that are here and those that are no longer with us is the goal.

This Workshop is $40 per person
Each person will receive a personal reading
Event is limited to 10 people

Light snacks and beverages as well as BYOB


Franklin Music Movement and Mindfulness

SPIRITUAL READINGS with STEPHANIE McBRIDE

  • THURSDAY MARCH 8th 7 PM 
  • FRIDAY MARCH 22nd 7 PM


Register online  https://secure.mainstreetsites.com/dmn3567/register.aspx

A Night of Spiritual Readings & Connecting with Lost Loved Ones - Mar 8 and Mar 15
A Night of Spiritual Readings & Connecting with Lost Loved Ones - Mar 8 and Mar 15

Monday, March 5, 2018

Franklin Odd Fellows: Speaker's Forum - Register O'Donnell - Mar 12

Presenters: 
William P. O’Donnell, Register of Deeds And Assistant Recorder of the Land Court

Date/Time: Monday, March 12, 2018. 7:00 PM
Location: Franklin Public Library, 118 Main St, Franklin, MA 02038

Agenda: 
1. Explain the historical nature of the Registry and the Register’s efforts to modernize and computerize the vast number of real estate records.

2. On site workstations will be made available to: 

  1. check the status of a mortgage discharge 
  2. print a copy of your deed, or 
  3. provide a demonstration on how the Registry’s On-Line Land Records Database works.

3. Provide a convenient way for residents to learn more about how the Registry serves Norfolk County.






Franklin Odd Fellows: Speaker's Forum - Register O'Donnell - Mar 12
Franklin Odd Fellows: Speaker's Forum - Register O'Donnell - Mar 12

“It’s amazing that more people have climbed Mount Everest than have broken the 4-minute mile”

From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin, in particular for the runners among us:

"Roger Bannister, the first runner to break the 4-minute barrier in the mile, has died. He was 88. 
Bannister’s family said in a statement that he died peacefully on Saturday in Oxford, the English city where the runner cracked the feat many had thought humanly impossible on a windy afternoon in 1954. 
Bannister, who went on to pursue a long and distinguished medical career, had been slowed by Parkinson’s disease in recent years. 
He was “surrounded by his family who were as loved by him, as he was loved by them,” the family said in a statement announcing his death on Sunday. “He banked his treasure in the hearts of his friends.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20180304/first-man-to-run-mile-in-under-4-minutes-dies-at-88

On May 6, 1954, Britain's Roger Bannister hits the tape to become the first person to break the 4-minute mile in Oxford, England. His family said Sir Roger Bannister died peacefully in Oxford on March 3 at age 88. AP
On May 6, 1954, Britain's Roger Bannister hits the tape to become the first person to break the 4-minute mile in Oxford, England. His family said Sir Roger Bannister died peacefully in Oxford on March 3 at age 88. AP

Additional links on Roger

  • NPR

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/05/590792079/roger-bannister-first-runner-to-break-4-minute-mile-dies-at-88


  • BBC

http://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/43273249


  • NY Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/04/obituaries/roger-bannister-dead.html


  • Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Bannister


FHS boys basketball team wins to advance; cheerleaders take D1 South Regional title

Via HockomockSports and Twitter we share the news of the FHS boys basketball playoff game on Sunday, March 4, 2018. 

"All season long, the Franklin boys basketball team has relied on their defense and a balanced scoring attack on their way to the top seed in the D1 Central tournament. On Sunday afternoon at WPI, Franklin stuck to that formula in a 68-54 win over #5 Natick in the D1 Central Semifinals. 
The Panther’s defensive effort was in full force throughout the first quarter, as they limited the Red Hawks to just ten points to take an 18-10 lead. Franklin sophomore Chris Edgehill score seven of his team-high 19 points for Franklin, including a three that beat the buzzer to give Franklin an eight-point advantage heading into the second quarter. 
After Natick’s Will Bodnitzki (nine points, three rebounds) scored with just over four minutes to go in the first half to cut the Franklin lead to 26-17, the Panthers went on a 10-2 run and didn’t give up a field goal to close out the half. Threes from Paul Mahon (13 points, two steals) and Matt Elias (eleven points) highlighted the run that also included two free throws from Jack Rodgers (six points, eight rebounds, three assists) and a basket from Will Harvey (two steals)."

Continue reading the game recap by Joe Clark, HockomockSports.com Student Reporter,  https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-handles-natick-advances-to-sectional-final/

For other results around the Hockomock League on Sunday
https://hockomocksports.com/sundays-schedule-scoreboard-03-04-18/


...and here’s your DIVISION 1 SOUTH REGIONAL CHAMPIONS!!! CONGRATS LADIES!! #ontostates #PantherPride
...and here’s your DIVISION 1 SOUTH REGIONAL CHAMPIONS!!! CONGRATS LADIES!! #ontostates #PantherPride

















Register O'Donnell Highlights Customer Service Center



Norfolk County Registry of Deeds

Register O'Donnell Highlights Customer Service Center

Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell today reminded consumers the answers to their land document questions are just a phone call away by dialing the Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101. The department is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

"The Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center," noted O'Donnell, "is a single point of contact for Norfolk County homeowners and institutional users who have land related document questions. These questions can include confirming the current ownership of a particular property, or verifying if a discharge of a property's mortgage has been filed after the loan has been paid off. The Registry's customer service representatives are glad to help with any inquiry, whether you come through our doors or call us by phone."

Register O'Donnell further noted, "The department can also inform customers about the various state imposed fees for filing land documents. Also, upon a customer's request, whether it's by visiting us here at the Registry or by a direct mail request, we can provide copies of land documents for a fee of $1.00 per page. An additional $1.00 per document for postage will be charged if the request for copies is by mail. The Registry only accepts cash or check payments."

In addition, the Customer Service Center staff has been trained to answer questions about the Homestead Act, a law which provides limited protection against the forced sale of a homeowner's primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000. You can download a copy of the Homestead Act by going to the Registry's website.

O'Donnell went on to say, "For many people, trying to ascertain information about land documents can be a very frustrating and intimidating experience. Please know our customer service staff is well-versed in all areas of land document research. By utilizing our state-of-the-art land document research system, which is also available via www.norfolkdeeds.org, people can get answers to their property questions."

Notary services are also offered by the Customer Service Center. "Multiple staff members are available to notarize land documents. We are more than happy to do so provided the person requesting the service appears before us and presents satisfactory proof of identification by showing either their driver's license or passport," said O'Donnell.

In conclusion, Register O'Donnell stated, "Providing first-class customer service is a core objective of the Registry mission. We strive to ensure our customers have a positive experience when interacting with us. The bottom line is: We are here to be of service to you."

To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds and instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds.

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street, Dedham. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry's website at www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101, or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.


Register William P. O'Donnell
Norfolk County Registry of Deeds

email: registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org
phone: 781-234-3336
Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, 649 High Street, Dedham,, MA 02026-1831

Sent by registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org in collaboration with
Constant Contact
Register O'Donnell Highlights Customer Service Center
Register O'Donnell Highlights Customer Service Center

"No matter what they were going to do to me, I was going to survive”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"When colonists in Framingham awoke to riders on horseback yelling to ready the militia in the early hours of April 19, 1775, many thought it was a call to quell another slave revolt somewhere in Natick. 
Once the men realized it was a call to start marching toward Lexington to fight the Redcoats, many went back home and bolted the doors in horror of the coming war. At least that is story told by Josiah Temple, author of the 1887 book “The history of Framingham.” 
The Framingham men who did march the 17 miles to battle would later be acclaimed for their prowess at Lexington and Concord. That includes a former slave Peter Salem, who would later become famous for his bravery during the battle at Bunker Hill. 
Nevertheless, enslaved Africans in a place like Natick is a foreign thought to many native New Englanders. And it’s not generally part of the history passed down through generations. In truth, however, Massachusetts was the first colony to legalize slavery. 
In November, the Daily News published a Veterans Day story about Charles Paine, a former slave and forgotten Revolutionary War veteran from Franklin, who was publicly recognized for his service for the first time. Paine’s name was omitted from the Revolutionary War Memorial at the town common. His story begged the question about the history of slavery locally and across the state and New England. It seems it is a history overshadowed by the more flattering - but equally important - local-roots abolitionist movement."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180304/look-into-massachusetts-participation-in-slave-trade

The article on Charles Paine can be found online
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/11/stumbled-across-bill-of-sale-for.html

INTERACTIVE: A timeline of slavery in Massachusetts
INTERACTIVE: A timeline of slavery in Massachusetts
Additional research by Susan Eliot referenced in this article
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180304/profiles-of-two-massachusetts-slaves-one-murder-one-soldier

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Pantherbook: "A Moment of Silence for Parkland" - Mar 14

Alyssa Carolan, Editor of Pantherbook, writes about "A Moment of Silence for Parkland" being scheduled for March 14.

"On the afternoon of February 14th, 2018, a mass shooting occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. 17 were killed and 14 more were injured, being taken to hospitals, causing this to replace the 1999 events at Columbine High School as the deadliest high school shooting in America. Nikolas Cruz, a 19 year old who had been expelled from the Parkland high school, was the one to open fire. 
This is not the first school shooting that occurred in 2018, making this incident harrowing, in terms of circumstance and statistic. Schools should be a place of safety, which makes instances like these so terrifying. 
In order to practice safety and preparation, Franklin High School will have a lockdown drill next week. The drills FHS practice are a blend of lockdown in place drills and active live shooter drills. In a lockdown drill, measures taken include: turning the lights off, locking the door, sitting in a corner away from the windows, and seeing an exit, and taking it immediately. In an active live shooter drill, measures taken include: barricading the door, seeing an exit and taking it immediately, and fighting back, throwing, trying to be as much of a disruption as possible. 
“We are always examining our drills and our safety,” Mr. Peri stated."

Continue reading the article at Pantherbook
https://franklinpanthers.us/news/2018/02/28/a-moment-of-silence-for-parkland/

Pantherbook: "A Moment of Silence for Parkland" - Mar 14
Pantherbook: "A Moment of Silence for Parkland" - Mar 14


More about the Women's March Youth Empower can be found online
https://www.womensmarch.com/enough-toolkit

Franklin Senior Center "Connections" - March 2018

The March issue of the Franklin Senior Center "Connections" newsletter is now available.

You can also view/download from the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/mar18connection2.pdf





Franklin Senior Center "Connections" - March 2018
Franklin Senior Center "Connections" - March 2018

FHS girls hockey team ends playoff run vs. Methuen/Tewksbury 4-1

Via HockomockSports and Twitter we share the news of the FHS girls hockey playoff game on Saturday, March 3, 2018. 



Girls Hockey = Division 1
#13 Franklin, 1 @ #4 Methuen/Tewksbury, 4 – Final


For other results around the Hockomock League on Saturday
https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-03-03-18/










Via the Twitterverse

https://twitter.com/FranklinMatters/lists/fhs-sports

FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers

Franklin Library: Celebrating Ireland in Story and Song - Mar 4 - 3:00 PM

Celebrating Ireland in Story and Song is an all Irish program which embraces Irish history and culture in story and song. Phil Edmonds, Kevin Fallon, and Mary King are scheduled to perform at the Franklin Library, Sunday, Mar 4 at 3:00 PM
Franklin Library: Celebrating Ireland in Story and Song - Mar 4 - 3:00 PM
Franklin Library: Celebrating Ireland in Story and Song - Mar 4 - 3:00 PM

For more about the group and to listen to samples of their music, visit
http://www.celticharpri.com/celebrating-ireland.htm

Tri-County Robotics team (Tri-Bots 3236)

The Tri-County Robotics team (Tri-Bots 3236) competed at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) today (Thursday, March 2) in the FIRST Robotics Competition. 

This clip is from the second run the team competed in. Go Tri-Bots! 

#tricountyrvths #wpirobotics #tribots #firstroboticscompetitionne







Saturday, March 3, 2018

Town of Franklin: [Residents] March 3rd 2018 Storm

Good morning:
This is Brutus Cantoreggi with the Town of Franklin to provide you with an update on the loss of electricity within the Town after yesterday's historic Nor'eater storm.
There are presently 3,140 customers in Franklin without power.  As of this morning, National Grid has begun power recovery efforts in the community and will restore power as quickly as possible.  They presently warn that full power restoration may take up to 72 hours.  If you do not have power make sure you contact National Grid at 800-465-1212.  They can't restore your power if they don't know it's out.
The high winds of yesterday caused many power and other overhead transmission lines to come down.  Please stay away from any downed wire and treat all downed wires as energized electrical lines. Only a few road remain impassable due to trees and wires down; they are marked with barricades and signs - please do not drive past barricades.
Citizens without power can go to the Hockomock YMCA located at 45 Forge Hill Road for a warm shower and charge your electronic devices.  
We will keep you updated with information as the situation dictates.  As always please call 911 in the event of an emergency.

Town of Franklin: [Residents] March 3rd 2018 Storm
Town of Franklin: [Residents] March 3rd 2018 Storm

Urgent: Power Outage Update

Power Outage Update

Due to the power outages the Franklin YMCA is allowing residents with no power to use their facility to take hot showers and charge your phones and laptops etc.

For information about power outages please visit National Grid at:
https://m.nationalgrid.com  or call 1-800-465-1212
This is an automatic message from Town of Franklin MA. Please do not reply to this message.

Urgent: Power Outage Update
Urgent: Power Outage Update

Supporting documentation for the FY 2019 School Budget Proposal

On Friday, March 2, a check of the document folder for the Feb 27, 2018 meeting reveals the "supporting documentation" referenced by the Superintendent's memo are now available. 

The meeting packet folder can be found here:http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinCom_Packets/t2-27-2018%20SC%20Packet/


The budget supporting documents of note:



  • Budget breakout school by school (generally determined as a per student allocation)

http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinCom_Packets/t2-27-2018%20SC%20Packet/FY19%20supt%20recommended%20budget%20cover%20sc%20(1).pdf


  • Budget line item details for FY 16 through the proposal for FY 19

http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinCom_Packets/t2-27-2018%20SC%20Packet/FY19%20supt%20recommended%20budget%20overview%20sc.pdf


  • What's in the revolving accounts? How are they able to provide funding to offset the budget?

http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinCom_Packets/t2-27-2018%20SC%20Packet/Revolving%20Detail%20sc.pdf


  • What are Special Funds? State and Federal grant details can be found here

http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinCom_Packets/t2-27-2018%20SC%20Packet/Special%20Revenue%20FY19%20sc.pdf



  • The Superintendent's memo and the presentation document

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/03/superintendent-to-school-committee-fy.html


Superintendent to School Committee - FY 2019 School Budget Memo and Presentation
Superintendent to School Committee - FY 2019 School Budget Memo and Presentation

The supporting documents can also be found on the School District page here

Pantherbook: "Hitting Snooze on the Morning Bell"

Madeleine Lussier, Editor of Pantherbook, has a piece on school start times called "Hitting Snooze on the Morning Bell"

"The idea of later school start times has spread to the town of Franklin. 
As it stands right now, Franklin High School has one of the earliest start times in the area with Medway beginning school at 8:04, Milford students getting to class at 7:50, and the bell ringing in Bellingham at 7:30, but as early as January 2019, students at Franklin High could be the ones sleeping in the latest. 
Beginning school at a later time would allow students to develop longer natural sleep cycle which in turn allows for more cognitive function, or increased availability to learn according to the U.S National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health."
Continue reading the article at Pantherbook
https://franklinpanthers.us/top-stories/2018/02/27/hitting-snooze-on-the-morning-bell/

Pantherbook: "Hitting Snooze on the Morning Bell"
Pantherbook: "Hitting Snooze on the Morning Bell"

FHS wrestlers Bakalars and Remillard perform at New Englands

Via Twitter, we share the FHS wrestling results from the New England meet being held in Providence.









Help Neal in his marathon fund raising

"I NEED YOUR HELP!
Please share and help me get Under Armour to support Silver Lining Mentoring!
500+ miles run, 70 lbs lost, and 9 months of training have been successful because I've used the right gear. The clothing that Under Armour makes is excellent and what I've used exclusively to come this far.
Now, I'm challenging Under Armour to help make this effort meaningful by donating to the cause. On Monday, April 16 I am running the Boston Marathon to make a difference for youth in foster care.
You can help! Please share this post and consider a donation. Every click and dollar matters!



Silver Lining Mentoring
Silver Lining Mentoring

"Transportation projects are a major part of local economy"

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

"When a harsh winter crippled MBTA service in 2015, Gov. Charlie Baker had realized that it was time to bring the entire system into the 21st century. 
Baker vowed Friday morning to focus on upgrading signals, switches, tracks, power systems and electronics. 
“I am just going to be a bear about this,” Baker said in front of business leaders as one of the keynote speakers at the annual 495/MetroWest Partnership annual conference at the Courtyard Marriott. “Until we make the investments we are supposed to make so the core system runs in such a way that somebody might recommend to someone to ride it.” 
He said a lot of the infrastructure is 50, 60 or 70 years old."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180302/gov-charlie-baker-vows-to-upgrade-core-mbta-infrastructure

boarding the train at Franklin/Dean for the commute to Boston
boarding the train at Franklin/Dean for the commute to Boston

MassBudget: Educated and Encumbered



MassBudget  Information.
  Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center  Democracy.

March 1, 2018



Educated and Encumbered: Support for higher ed down since FY 2001, tuition and debt up

While the economic strength of Massachusetts is built largely on having the best-educated workforce in the nation, funding for public higher education has declined substantially since 2001. This has led to large increases in tuition, fees, and student debt. Those financial obstacles can limit opportunity for high school graduates, potentially weakening our state economy. In the past dozen years debt for graduates of four-year public colleges and universities has grown more rapidly in Massachusetts than in 48 of the 50 states.

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center's report, Educated and Encumbered: Student Debt Rising with Higher Education Funding Falling in Massachusetts, finds that per-pupil funding for public higher education has declined by 32 percent since 2001 in Massachusetts, funding for scholarships has declined at a similar rate, and per-pupil debt has increased 122 percent since the 2003-2004 school year. The average debt among public university graduates now almost equals that of students graduating from the state's private colleges and universities.

The report finds that, by 2016, more graduates of public higher education had debt than graduates of private institutions - 73 percent compared with 54 percent.

MassBudget: Educated and Encumbered

Since Fiscal Year 2001, the state's public higher education funding has decreased by about $3,000 per student in today's dollars while tuition and fees rose by about $4,600 per student in that same time.

Read the full report here.
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
Constant Contact