In the News: MBTA brings back $10 weekend fare

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

MBTA brings back $10 weekend fare

"The MBTA and its operating partner for Commuter Rail, Keolis Commuter Services, announced the special $10 Commuter Rail weekend fare pilot will resume on Saturday, Jan. 5. This special weekend fare is available from the first train on Saturday to the last train on Sunday and may be used across all zones and all lines. 

“Resuming this pilot allows our customers to continue taking advantage of Commuter Rail as a travel option on weekends, while we study the potential for making this program permanent,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak in an announcement. “I want to thank our partners at the FTA for working with us to resume this pilot and also acknowledge the enthusiastic response we received from our customers to this initiative.” 

The special $10 all-weekend fare will be available on the mTicket app, onboard trains (cash or credit card from conductors), and at ticket windows at North, South, and Back Bay stations. The special fare applies to customers age 12 and above; the weekend fare allows adults to travel with two children under 12 at no additional cost."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190107/mbta-resumes-special-weekend-rate-on-commuter-rail

the mTicket app

Timeless Crossfit and Fitness (video)

New location, but same mission. We're so excited to share what's next.

Please join us, the Timeless Crossfit and Fitness community, where Can't is Not an Option.

More info at https://www.timelesscrossfit.com/

ADDRESS : 842 Upper Union St, Franklin, MA, 02038

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Jan 9, 2019

The published agenda and documents for the Franklin Town Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 9, 2019.  

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

You can also find the full set of documents in one PDF

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/january_9_2019_tc_agenda_0.pdf

Agenda Item	Summary
Town Council Meeting Agenda	Meeting of January 9, 2019- 7:00 PM
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS	a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast Channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.
2. CITIZENS COMMENTS	a. 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.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES	November 28, 2018 Minutes
3b. APPROVAL OF MINUTES	December 12, 2018 Minutes
4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS	None
5. APPOINTMENTS	None
6. HEARINGS
6a. HEARINGS	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-822: Changes to §185-20. Signs
6b. HEARINGS	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-823: Changes To Sign District Regulations
6c. HEARINGS	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-824: Changes To Sign District Overlay Map
7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS	None
8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
8a. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS	2018-2019 Goals Update
8b. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS	OPEB Actuarial Presentation-Daniel Sherman
9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS	a. Capital Budget Subcommittee  b. Budget Subcommittee  c. Economic Development Subcommittee
10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
10a. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Resolution 19-01: Acceptance of Gift- Franklin Council on Aging (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-01 Majority Vote (5))
10b. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Resolution 19-09: Acceptance of Gift- Franklin Police Department (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-09 Majority Vote (5))
10c. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Resolution 19-10: Acceptance of Gift- Franklin Police Department (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-10 Majority Vote (5))
10d. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Resolution 19-11: Acceptance of Gift- Franklin Police Department (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-11 Majority Vote (5))
10e. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-822: Changes to §185-20. Signs - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-822 to a 2nd Reading- Majority Vote (5))
10f. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-823: Changes Changes to Sign District Regulations -1st Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-823 to a 2nd Reading- Majority Vote (5))
10g. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-824: Changes To Sign District Overlay Map - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-824 to a 2nd Reading- Majority Vote (5))
10h. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Bylaw Amendment 19-835: Changes to Chapter 47, Alcoholic Beverages - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 19-835 to a 2nd Reading- Majority Vote (5))
11. TOWN ADMINISTRATORS REPORT
12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
13. COUNCIL COMMENTS
14. EXECUTIVE SESSION	None Scheduled
15. ADJOURN

What is the future of the Brick School now that the Charter School has plans for a new building and won't need to use the facility to supplement their space needs? This is one of the items on the Town Council goals document.

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/2018-2019_town_council_goals.pdf

Franklin's Brick School, an original one room school house

FHS Studio Arts Opening Reception at Patriot Place - Jan 25

Join the FHS Studio Arts faculty and students for an exhibition and celebration of the AP and Honors Portfolio program.

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, January 25 from 6 to 7:30 PM

The Artist Studio and Gallery at Patriot Place

FHS Studio Arts at Patriot Place - Jan 25

Shared from Twitter  https://twitter.com/FranklinPSart/status/1081171718205566976

In the meantime, stop by the Senior Center to view a rotating art show from the schools through May.

Welcome to 2019 from FPS Art Department!

A series of rotating shows at the Franklin Senior Center will be highlighting artwork from our schools through May.

On display now: work from our Elementary Schools! @TOFranklinMA @FranklinMatters pic.twitter.com/vWLZK2IFrO

— Franklin PS Art Dpt (@FranklinPSart) January 3, 2019

Franklin Downtown Partnership Networking Breakfast - Jan 25

Franklin Downtown Partnership Networking Breakfasts

Dean College Campus Center Join fellow FDP members at the next networking breakfast on Friday, January 25 at 8 AM. The breakfast will be held at the Dining Center in the Dean College Campus Center. Have a cup of coffee or enjoy breakfast. Let Matt or Gary know if you're planning to attend! Looking Ahead Please mark your calendars for these upcoming Networking Breakfast dates: February 15 March 22 April 12 Franklin Downtown Partnership Networking Breakfast - Jan 25

Sober Mommies: Clothing Drive - Collection ends Jan 14

"The mission of Sober Mommies is to empower women in, and contemplating, recovery from substance use and misuse to reach their full personal recovery and parenting goals through peer-to-peer support and mentorship. "

Things Being Collected

• Personal hygiene products
• Diapers of all sizes
• Newborn clothing - up to adult
• Jackets
• Hats & Gloves
• New underwear and socks for all ages
• Strollers
• Gently used toys
• Gently used books

Drop off locations are at the Walpole Public Library, Hair with Flair: 499 High Street, Dedham and you can always drop off at 177 West Street, Walpole. 

Sober Mommies: Clothing Drive - Collection ends Jan 14

We will be donating up until the 14th. 

If you drop off at the library or Salon please fill out the sheet that is left there with your information, so I can send you a card and let you know exactly where your donations went. 

THANK YOU!


These donations are being personally delivered to halfway house and family shelters. Here are the places we're helping so far:

Serenity House - Located in Framingham is a residential treatment program for women recovering from substance abuse. The Serenity house has expecting mothers so they need maternity clothing, one is twenty-two weeks pregnant with a girl, and the other is thirty weeks pregnant with a boy. One little girl is one years old but will be leaving the program very soon but I’m sure she needs clothing and such to go home with, then they have two boys one is four months old and the other is a two month old preemie.

Pathways Family Shelter - Also located in Framingham. Pathways Family Shelter is a fourteen family shelter for homeless families. There are children from a newborn baby girl, up until early teens. There are boys and girls of all ages. The moms and dads need things too; things they really need are personal hygiene products, seasonal clothing and diapers!

Phoenix House - is a residential program for women with young children located in Dorchester; they also provide emergency shelter for mothers and their children.

Faith house - located in Worcester is a residential treatment program for women recovering from substance abuse. They have two women expecting, ones expecting twin girls and one is expecting a little boy. They also have a mother who is hoping to have her six month old son join her soon. Lets all pray that happens for her!

Sojourner House - Located in Roxbury houses up to nine families at a time. They can unfortunately, only accept new clothing and new twin and full size bedding. They really are in need though of diapers and hygiene products. The Sojourner house was the first shelter in Boston to house both men and female. They are really trying to help the homeless and they recognize the need for more affordable housing so they now have three houses located in Milton, Dorchester and Roxbury. They have units with 1,2 and 3 bedrooms. They have done amazing things and put on many events to raise money for the community and families in need but that doesn’t mean they don’t need help. We’ll see if we can gather up diapers and hygiene products for them.


For more about Sober Mommies, visit their web page  https://sobermommies.com/

2 MAEA emerging artists selected from FHS; N Calitri wins Soph Boys 1000M Indoor; NPR Student Podcast Challenge

2 MAEA emerging artists selected from FHS

Congratulations to Drew Conrad (ceramics) and Jackie Forcina (painting). Their artwork has been accepted into the MAEA Emerging Artists Exhibition at the State Transportation Building from Feb 11th - March 27th. Just amazing!!

https://twitter.com/johnsonb_ms/status/1082013071277768704

Congratulations to Drew Conrad (ceramics) and Jackie Forcina (painting). Their artwork has been accepted into the MAEA Emerging Artists Exhibition at the State Transportation Building from Feb 11th - March 27th. Just amazing!! @FranklinPSart @FranklinHS @FHSPantherbook pic.twitter.com/GIbI9Le5Oh

— Brenna Johnson (@johnsonb_ms) January 6, 2019

Nick Calitri wins Soph Boys 1000M Indoor

Boys 1000 Meter Champion Nick Calitri of Franklin wins with a 2:41.33 at the #mstcafreshmansophomorechampionship

https://twitter.com/MSTCA1/status/1082023083492417538

Boys 1000 Meter Champion Nick Calitri of Franklin wins with a 2:41.33 at the #mstcafreshmansophomorechampionship ! pic.twitter.com/8qYIunv0PY

— MSTCA (@MSTCA1) January 6, 2019

NPR Student Podcast Challenge

This spring, @NPR is challenging students across the country to make their own podcasts. It’s the NPR Ed Student Podcast Challenge. Contest rules and details are here:

https://twitter.com/npr_ed/status/1063036347978563584

This spring, @NPR is challenging students across the country to make their own podcasts. It’s the NPR Ed Student Podcast Challenge. Contest rules and details are here: https://t.co/tSbJpS16Kc

— NPR's Education Team (@npr_ed) November 15, 2018

Senior Center - Low Vision Lecture - Jan 8

Low Vision Lecture features Dr. Nicole Ross from the New England College of Optometry. Dr. Ross is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Specialty and Advanced Care a the NE College of Optometry. 

Her clinical area of expertise is in Low Vision Rehabilitation. She will answer questions on the latest developments in low vision rehabilitation. 

Please call to sign up (508) 520-4945

For more about the Franklin Senior Center: https://www.franklinma.gov/fsc

Senior Center - Low Vision Lecture - Jan 8

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Jan 8, 2019

The School Committee has an interesting meeting scheduled for Tuesday night. The 'normal' meeting opens at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers. 

The second session Tuesday night is scheduled for 7:30 in the 3rd floor training room as a 'budget workshop'.

• Regular Meeting 7:00 PM - Council Chambers  -   Agenda

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/agendas/scagenda_1-8-19.pdf

• Budget Workshop 7:30 PM - Training Room - Agenda

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/agendas/scagenda_1-8-19budget_wkshop.pdf

No documents were posted in the Meeting Packet folder for either session. This is not helpful if you really want to having folks come prepare to provide input.

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Jan 8, 2019

Editors Note: I will need to make a choice given the info shared for this meeting. I was expecting a 'normal' session in the Council Chambers. Franklin TV would be able to record that and I could review later. Why later? Also on Tuesday, the Finance Committee meets at 7:00 PM at the Senior Center. Not likely to be broadcast (although possible), I would go there to record the first of the two capital budget sessions. The second, scheduled for Jan 15, wouldn't be a conflict to worry about.

Electric Youth 2019 (video)

Get to know the members of Electric Youth 2019. If you missed the opening show on Saturday at THE BLACK BOX, you can at least view their video on YouTube.

They'll prepare for their 2019 Summer Tour to the U.K., France, Switzerland, and Italy.

For more about Electric Youth visit www.electricyouth.com

FHS girls hockey, wrestling, and boys hockey teams all post wins on Saturday

Via HockomockSports we share the results of the FHS sports action on Saturday, Jan 5, 2019


Boys Hockey = Franklin, 4 @ Taunton, 1 – Final
– Franklin scored twice in each the first and second periods to earn two points on the road against Taunton. Colin Hedvig and Matt Holmes scored in the first period for the Panthers while Shane McCaffrey and Scott Elliott tallied goals in the second period.

Girls Hockey = Stoughton, 3 @ Franklin, 8 – Final
– Franklin sophomore Katelyn Brown scored a hat trick, senior Lindsey Maloof scored once, and senior Tori MacLeod had three assists to lead the Panthers to a win. Senior Gianna Cornetta made 13 saves, including one on a penalty shot, to earn the win.

Wrestling = Natick Red Hawk Duals (Franklin)
– Franklin dominated the day, winning five dual meets to earn first place at the Red Hawk Duals at Natick High. The Panthers beat Lincoln-Sudbury (63-9), Merrimack (75-4), Mt. Hope (51-17), Wellesley (60-6), and Natick (63-12). Franklin’s Alex Fracassa, Jordan Carlucci, Ken Sauer, Caleb MacLean, Dominic Sackley, and Riley Downing all went undefeated on the day.


For the other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-05-19/

FHS Panthers

FPAC Presents "You Can't Take It With You" - Jan 25-27

The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) presents You Can't Take It with You January 25-27 at THE BLACK BOX. 

Written by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, You Can't Take It With You is a classic comedy about a family living “to the beat of a different drum”. Set in the summer of 1938 in New York City, the play introduces audiences to the freethinking Sycamore family and the mishaps and mayhem that ensue when their daughter's fiancé brings his conservative, straight-laced parents to dinner on the wrong night. 

You Can't Take It With You

You Can’t Take It with You won the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the screen adaptation won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director.

For tickets:
https://www.theblackboxonline.com/events.php?id=1192

In the News: table games make a return; state revenue collection declines in Dec

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

Table games make a return

"In a garage dubbed “The Ice House,” NewsMan the gnome was attempting to prove his worth as part of the guild. To prove his worthiness, NewsMan started a brawl in the guild’s courtyard. 

He managed to knock out Buckland Rogers, the human fighter, but soon met his match against a mysterious cloaked figure. Meanwhile Faelar the Unwanted, a half-giant, cast a few spells that fell weak in comparison to Morduso, warlock of the Raven Queen’s attacks from above. 

In other words, Dungeons & Dragons - aka, “D & D” - along with countless other table games, are back and more popular than ever, drawing people old and young away from the game consoles and into their own imaginations. 

According to David Gallagher, senior director of communications at online startup Kickstarter, board games are definitely back in style. Independent companies have found Kickstarter to be a prized outlet to release their unique games and help fund the manufacturing."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190106/table-games-make-grand-return

Pete’s Nerds Emporium has opened on Main St in Franklin

More signs of a downturn appear

"Add plunging state tax collections to a list of concerns that has recently grown to include a volatile stock market, rising interest rates and increasing talk about when the next recession may hit. 

Tax receipts for December alone missed the monthly benchmark by more than half a billion dollars, erasing months of above-benchmark collections and leaving collections $108 million behind their targets midway through fiscal 2019, according to data released late Friday by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. 

Income tax estimated payments totaled just $121 million for December, $542 million or 81.7 percent below benchmark and $575 million or 82.6 percent below December 2017. 

“We underestimated the shift of estimated payments from December into January. Early indications are that other states may be having a similar experience,” Revenue Commissioner Christopher Harding said in a statement."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190106/states-tax-haul-plunges-in-december

Join the Franklin Downtown Partnership!

Here We Grow Again! The Franklin Downtown Partnership had another record year with more than 40 new members!  Please check the membership list to make sure we have your business name listed correctly. If you are not listed, please contact the FDP office. Also please check the FDP website to make sure we have your link listed. Membership invoices will be going out this month (January) via email for 2019.  Thank you all for your continued community involvement in making Franklin a special place to live, work and play.  Please invite someone you think would benefit by joining the FDP. You are always welcome to bring visitors to our general meeting so they can see what the FDP is all about.

Join the Franklin Downtown Partnership!

The Downtown Partnership has memberships for individual residents (that is how I am a member). You do not need to be a business to be a member!

https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/p/membership-info.html

"We no longer are a nation of joiners, we are a nation of shoppers"

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

Seeking to boost to civics education

"Policymakers want to enhance civics education from kindergarten to college, and educators say civic engagement by students could be a way to learn by doing. 

A 2017 national report by Tufts University found that high school civics education has been stagnant since the 1990s. Test scores for eighth grade National Assessment of Education Progress in U.S. history and civics have either increased moderately or stayed the same since 1998. The proportion of students taking AP courses on American history has declined, although the proportion of students studying government and politics has increased, the study found. 

But test scores are not the only indicators of declining civics education. The Tufts report says Americans have become increasingly isolated and less likely to participate in churches, unions and political parties, which have historically encouraged civic engagement. 

A more alarming phenomenon, indicated by the title of the report, is “civic deserts” — communities where people have no opportunities for civic engagement."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190105/state-policymakers-seek-boost-to-civics-education

The direct link to the report
https://www.ncoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2017CHIUpdate-FINAL-small.pdf

direct link to the report