Sunday, February 17, 2019

FPAC to host 8th annual “Culinary Cabaret” - Apr 5

The Franklin Performing Arts Company will present Culinary Cabaret 2019 on Friday, April 5, from 7 to 10 p.m. at THE BLACK BOX, 15 West Central St.

The 8th annual food and wine event showcases the culinary and performing arts, featuring creative dishes and gourmet specialties. The evening also includes a culinary-themed silent auction and entertainment by FPAC special guest artists and the international touring ensemble Electric Youth. Partners for this year’s event will include 3 Restaurant (Franklin), Tavolino (Foxboro), Intermission (Franklin), Alumni Restaurant (Franklin), JP Fuji Group (Quincy), The Curry House (Franklin), DAVIDs Tea (Wrentham), J & L Catering (Medway), The Gavel (Wrentham), and more.
FPAC to host 8th annual “Culinary Cabaret” - Apr 5
FPAC to host 8th annual “Culinary Cabaret” - Apr 5

Tickets are $75 and are fully inclusive of the evening’s food, wine, beer, and entertainment. Event proceeds support Electric Youth’s 2019 European concert tour of France, Switzerland, Italy, and the United Kingdom including a Fourth of July show for troops and families stationed at Lakenheath Air Force Base. The evening will feature entertainment by Franklin Performing Arts Company favorites and Electric Youth.

For more information, visit www.FPAConline.com. Tickets may be purchased online at www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or by phone at 508-528-3370

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Feb 19, 2019

The meeting originally scheduled for Feb 12 was rescheduled to Feb 19 due to the snow mess last Tuesday.


Vision Statement
The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

A G E N D A
“The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.”


1. Routine Business
a. Review of Agenda
b. Citizen’s Comments
i. In the spirit of open communication, “the School Committee will hear public comment not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee Meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment” – from Policy BEDH
c. FHS Student Representative Comments
d. Superintendent’s Report

2. Guests / Presentations
a. Dementia Friendly Community – Maggie Gundersen & Karen Alves
b. Homework Update – Dr. Joyce Edwards &; Homework Study Group Representatives

3. Discussion / Action Items
a. Approval of Amego (Private Special Education School)
I recommend the appointment of Paula Marano, Interim Director of Student Services, as the Committee’s designee to review Amego’s application and bring a recommendation to the School Committee.
b. Policy – First Reading
I recommend approval to move Policy DGA – Authorized Payroll Signatures to a second reading at the next meeting as discussed.

4. Discussion Only Items
a. FY20 Budget Discussion
b. BICO Quarterly Update
c. Revised School Committee Presentation Schedule

5. Information Matters
a. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Budget; Community Relations; Policy; Transportation; Public Schools Advocacy; Ad Hoc Superintendent’s Evaluation)
b. School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC; Substance Abuse Task Force; School Wellness Advisory Council [SWAC]; School Start Times Advisory Committee [SSTAC], MASC)

6. New Business
a. To discuss any future agenda items

7. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from your January 22, 2019 School Committee Meeting as detailed.
b. HMMS Donation
I recommend acceptance of the donation of exercise balls, fish bowls and various items valued at approximately $500.00 from Adam Jacoby, Interactions Company for Horace Mann Middle School as detailed.
c. JFK PCC Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,049.83 from the JFK PCC for Supplemental Supplies at JF Kennedy as detailed.
d. BJ’s Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $430.00 from BJ’s Wholesale Club for district wide in-house enrichment as detailed.
e. Athletics Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $844.02 from All-American Publishing for in-house enrichment for FHS Athletics Dept. as detailed.
f. Franklin Music Parents Gift
I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $4,268.00 from Franklin music parents for in-house enrichment for the FPS Music Department as detailed.
g. Davis Thayer Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,000.00 from the DT PCC for field trips as detailed.
h. FHS Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,719.80 from Lifetouch for in-house enrichment at FHS as detailed.

8. Payment of Bills Dr. Bergen

9. Payroll Mrs. Douglas

10. Correspondence 
– Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

11. Executive Session
a. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the FEA/RN unit as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.
12. Adjournment

The agenda PDF can be found online
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/scagenda_2-12-19.pdf

Documents released for the agenda can be found online
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/february-12-2019-school-committee-packet-documents

screen shot of budget presentation at Jan 22 meeting
screen shot of budget presentation at Jan 22 meeting

“In all sports and no matter what stage you’re on, the second the whistle blows you’re just playing"

Josh Perry, Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com, has a great piece on FHS basketball, lacrosse, and soccer alumni Kristi Kirshe now making her mark in rugby.

"Every little kid who plays sports dreams of playing professionally and dreams of someday representing his or her country, whether it be the Olympics or the World Cup or maybe the World Lacrosse Championships (see Foxboro’s Sophia Dicenso, who was featured last week). Former Franklin star Kristi Kirshe, a former soccer state champion with the Panthers and Div. III national champion at Williams College, recently fulfilled that dream, although not in a sport she would have ever imagined. 
A former standout in soccer, lacrosse, and basketball at Franklin (being named MVP in soccer and lax as a senior), and a two-time All-American at Williams, Kirshe has achieved her dream of being a professional athlete as a rising star in rugby. 
Kirshe recently played with the bronze-medal-winning U.S. Women’s Eagles Sevens at the HSBC Sydney (Australia) Sevens tournament and scored five tries in three matches and is a full-time resident at the U.S. rugby base in Chula Vista, Calif., despite having not even picked up a rugby ball until one year ago this week. 
“I’d say this one tops it all,” Kirshe said this week about how playing for the U.S. stacks up to all that she has achieved in sports. “I think I said when we won the state title in soccer that it was a dream come true but I’m pretty sure putting on the USA rugby jersey topped that.
Continue reading about Kristi
https://hockomocksports.com/franklins-kristi-kirshe-finds-a-different-path-to-team-usa/

Former Franklin soccer, lacrosse and basketball standout Kristi Kirshe races for a U.S. try against China at the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Sydney, Australia. (Mike Lee/KLC Fotos)
Former Franklin soccer, lacrosse and basketball standout Kristi Kirshe races for a U.S. try against China at the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Sydney, Australia. (Mike Lee/KLC Fotos)

FHS girls hockey team tops Leominster

Via HockomockSportswe share the results of the FHS sports action on Saturday, Feb 16, 2019


Girls Basketball = Franklin, 50 vs. Braintree, 53 – Final
– The Panthers battled back in the final two minutes to close the gap after the Wamps had opened a 10-point lead but couldn’t get any closer than three points. Ali Brigham scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Erin Quaile added 11 points, including a three-pointer with 0.6 on the clock.

Girls Hockey = Franklin, 5 @ Leominster, 3 – Final
– Cassi Ronan recorded three points while Amanda Lewandowski and Regan Paterson each had a pair of points in Franklin’s win on the road over Leominster. Ronan scored twice and had one assists, Lewandowski added two goals, Paterson had two helpers and Tina Pisano scored once for the Panthers. Katelyn Brown and Gianna Cameron each added an assist while Gianna Cornetta made 12 stops in the win.


For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-02-16-19/

FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers

No delay in trash/recycling this week

There is no delay in trash/recycle schedule this week. Yes, Monday is President's Day - Town offices, and the Library are closed but the trash will be picked up as scheduled.


Get another copy of the Fall/Winter Solid Waste mailer
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/franklin_2018_2019.pdf

"Holidays
Collection will be delayed one day if your collection day falls on or after one of these observed  holidays. Please note if an observed Holiday falls on a Sunday there will be NO DELAY in collection.
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day
  • New Year’s Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day"

Franklin trash and recycle bins or totters
Franklin trash and recycle bins or totters

In the News: distillery hearing Feb 25; MA at forefront of national climate change forum

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

Distillery hearing Feb 25
"Depending on the outcome of a public hearing in a couple weeks, Franklin could have a new distillery in town. 
Local resident Patrick Downing, 51, and his wife, Beth, are looking to take over the space of the recently closed Incontro restaurant to create GlenPharmer Distillery. They’ll not only be serving food, but creating their own liquor from scratch. 
The couple plan to make gin, whiskey, vodka, rum and other drinks. 
The old mill building at 860 West Central St. may soon be home to the distillery and restaurant after a public hearing on Feb. 25. The hearing will take place at 7:30 p.m. during a Planning Board hearing in the Town Council Chambers at the Franklin Municipal Building."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190216/franklin-to-hear-distillery-proposal-on-feb-25


MA at forefront of national climate change forum
"As proposals for global warming legislation gain traction on a national level, several Massachusetts officials have emerged as key players in the conversation. 
Sen. Edward Markey has joined Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in announcing the Green New Deal, a sweeping policy bill that aims to drastically reduce carbon emissions in multiple sectors of the economy while also creating clean energy jobs. 
Markey, who has made environmental issues a signature component of his career while representing Massachusetts in the U.S. House and Senate, called climate change “the most important issue facing this country” at recent a press conference in Washington. 
Larry Stoodt, a member of the legislative team of the MetroWest node of 350 Massachusetts for a Better Future, a climate activist group, said a Green New Deal in Massachusetts is still in the development phase. But he commended Framingham’s three state reps - Maria Robinson, Jack Lewis and Carmine Gentile - for endorsing bills the group asked them to co-sponsor."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190216/mass-at-forefront-of-national-climate-change-forum

Saturday, February 16, 2019

FHS presents: "Shaken" and "Lovefest"

Two Productions coming soon to FHS Auditorium! 

  • "Shaken" on Weds, Feb 27
  • "Lovefest" rescheduled on Monday, March 11! 





"Shaken" on Weds, Feb 27
  • "Shaken" on Weds, Feb 27


"Lovefest" rescheduled on Monday, March 11
"Lovefest" rescheduled on Monday, March 11

Franklin Ford Donates Car to Tri-County’s Auto Technology Career Program

Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School is pleased to announce that Franklin Ford has generously donated a Ford Edge SUV to the Tri-County Automotive Technology program to assist with advanced curriculum.

With a shortage in qualified technicians, service departments around the country have been scrambling to find new talent. Ford Motor Company recognized the labor shortage in the industry and decided to do something about it. Last September, Ford started the TechDrive Program throughout the United States. Each Ford Regional Talent Placement Specialist was challenged with building partnerships with their region’s Ford Dealerships that have an automotive technician shortage and connecting them with local technical high schools.

Tri-County has been chosen as one of the Technical High Schools to take part in the TechDrive Program. Franklin Ford has agreed to sponsor Tri-County, with the expectation that the partnership will fulfill their technician hiring needs. As part of the TechDrive Program, Ford has furnished Training Modules to Tri-County students.

“With the automotive technician shortage, we’ve had to create innovative ways to find, hire, train and keep service techs,” said Frank LaMonica, Fixed Operations Manager at Franklin Ford. “We are pleased to have partnered with Tri-County in the TechDrive Program. We hope the Tri-County students will enjoy working on the car in order to prepare them for future career opportunities. Here at Franklin Ford, many of our automotive technicians are graduates of Tri-County. We look forward to hiring more in the future.”

“Our goal is to build the relationship between Education & Industry, and for Ford Dealers to have a pipeline of quality automotive technicians,” said Michael Nixon, Regional Technical Talent Placement Specialist at Ford Motor Company. “With 15 dealerships within my region, finding new ways to hire qualified service technicians has been a challenge. Hopefully, the TechDrive Program will help our dealerships to fill that shortage in technicians.”

“Our students in the Auto Technology program can’t wait to reverse engineer this vehicle,” said Superintendent Stephen Dockray. “We are thankful and honored to have been given the Ford Edge and are looking forward to our students gaining the knowledge and critical thinking skills required to meet the growing demands in the automotive industry.”

Franklin Ford Donates Car to Tri-County’s Auto Technology Career Program
Franklin Ford Donates Car to Tri-County’s Auto Technology Career Program

Tri-County RVTHS, located at 147 Pond Street in Franklin, is a recipient of the High Schools That Work Gold Achievement Award and serves the communities of Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole, and Wrentham.

FHS boys basketball team wins; girls basketball loses to Attleboro

Via HockomockSportswe share the results of the FHS sports action on Friday, Feb 15, 2019

Girls Basketball = Franklin 54 @ Attleboro, 63 – Final
– Liv McCall and Mackenzie Roberts both scored career-highs and Attleboro head coach Marty Crowley called the game a “phenomenal effort” by the Bombardiers to hand the Panthers their first league loss of the season. McCall scored 18 points and Roberts added 17 to lead Attleboro to the upset. Bea Bondhus had 13 points and Meghan O’Connell had 12 for the Panthers.

Boys Basketball = Attleboro, 36 @ Franklin, 57 – Final
Ryan Lanigan, founder and Editor-in-Chief of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap:
"For the Franklin boys basketball team, terrific defense led to easy offense. 
And that combination resulted in a dominant performance and a comfortably 57-36 win over visiting Attleboro. 
The Panthers flipped a two-point game upside down with a 20-0 run over the final six minutes of the second quarter to pull away from the Bombardiers, who entered the contest with a chance to win at least a share of its first Kelley-Rex title. 
Franklin limited the visitors to just 22% shooting from the field in the opening half as the Bombardiers couldn’t find a connection from deep, going just 1-for-17 from three-point range. And with consistent stops, Franklin’s pushed the pace and cashed in with an impressive transition offense, converting some easy looks down low. Franklin shot 65% from the field in the opening half, making 12-of-18 shots from two-point range."
Continue reading the recap
https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-boys-basketball-dominates-attleboro/

Click here for a photo gallery from this game
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2018-2019/Winter-2018-2019/Franklin-Attleboro-Boys-Basketball-02-15-19/

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-02-15-19/

Franklin senior Jalen Samuels attacks the basket in the first half against Attleboro. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
Franklin senior Jalen Samuels attacks the basket in the first half against Attleboro. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)


MBTA's Rail Vision Update: Open House on Tuesday, March 5




MBTA's Rail Vision Update: Open House on Tuesday, March 5


The MBTA and MassDOT invite you to participate in a Rail Vision Open House


It will take place on Tuesday, March 5, from 4:30 to 7:00 PM in the Transportation Board Room at 10 Park Plaza (2nd floor). The goal of the event is to provide information on the seven service alternatives we are considering in Rail Vision, while gathering input from riders and non-riders alike on these futures.

The first hour will be an Open House format, where attendees can browse maps and boards describing the seven service alternatives and discuss questions and feedback with the study team. There will be a presentation at 5:30, followed by Q&A and then a return to the Open House format.



Please share the meeting information as widely as you can with your organizations, communities, and contacts. 

https://www.mbta.com/events/2019-03-05/rail-vision-open-house


For more information about Rail Vision, please visit the study website at 
  https://www.mbta.com/projects/rail-vision

The Rail Vision Team

Register for "Soccer For Smiles" today

What is Soccer For Smiles?

In 2010, one young Franklin boy wanted to help the community of Haiti after a tragic earthquake. So he found a way to do doing something that he loved to do ... playing soccer. Now in it's 10th year, the Soccer For Smiles tournament is continuing the tradition of giving young players a chance to help their community by playing soccer.

Will your child be a part of this? Register today!
https://soccerforsmiles.org/tournament

Register for "Soccer For Smiles" today
Register for "Soccer For Smiles" today

In the News: hearts of kindness return to Town Common; BFCCPS to perform "No Strings Attached"

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

hearts of kindness return to Town Common
"For the second time, hearts adorn the Franklin Town Common, strung up from tree to tree to celebrate both Valentine’s Day and Random Acts of Kindness Week. 
Uxbridge High School adjustment counselor Alison Ciccone saw the positive impact of the project a few years ago and decided last year it was time to bring it to Franklin. 
The project has been going on for seven years in Uxbridge, but it’s Franklin’s second year being involved, she said. In Uxbridge they hung over 1,000 hearts, while in Franklin they hung about 500 this year, but the movement is certainly growing, she said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190216/hearts-of-kindness-returns-to-franklin

hearts of kindness on the Franklin Town Common
hearts of kindness on the Franklin Town Common

hearts of kindness on the Franklin Town Common 2
hearts of kindness on the Franklin Town Common 2

BFCCPS to perform "No Strings Attached"
"The Fine and Performing Arts Department at the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School has announced the upcoming performances of “No Strings Attached” to be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. March 1, and 2 to 4:30 p.m. March 2 at the Horace Mann Middle School, 224 Oak St. 
Tickets are priced at $17 for adults and $13 senior citizens and children younger than 10. Tickets will be sold at the door or an order form will be available for download at http://bfccps.org. 
When Carl, a teenager, wants to run away from home, he applies for a job with the mysterious Professor Pinecone and his traveling magical marionette puppet show. He quickly discovers, however, that the position comes with all kinds of strings attached. Once he feels the magical jolt in Professor Pinecone’s handshake, he embarks on the audition of his life. 
In this play-within-a-play, Carl becomes Pinocchio and improvises his way through the story, meeting some familiar characters — including a cricket with an attitude (“I’m Gonna Bug Ya”), the devious fox and cat (“Easy Money”) and the memorable Blues Fairy (“Blues Fairy Mama”) — as well as some new ones. With the help of this eclectic cast, Carl stumbles upon life’s lessons as he’s forced to make important decisions. After a string of poor choices (which makes his nose grow and ultimately leads him to make a donkey of himself), he finally does something good for a change by saving Geppetto from the mouth of a giant shark."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190215/strongno-strings-attached-performance-announcedstrong

O Say Can You Sing is Back!


ArtWeek registration closes Feb. 22

ArtWeek is a 10-day festival, April 26 - May 5, 2019, featuring unique and unexpected arts and cultural experiences that are participatory, interactive, or offer behind-the-scenes access to artists or the creative process. 

Anyone can host a Franklin ArtWeek event ... and while the venue has to be in Franklin, the hosting organization does not! Successful events are often partnerships between artists and venues, such as a theater or dance performance in a restaurant, or an art workshop in a retail space. 

We are happy to help you find a partner for your ArtWeek event, which is a great way to promote your business to the community! We currently have several venues looking for artists or performers...email us if you're interested!


Register
http://www.artweekma.org/get-involved-support/create-an-artweek-event-for-2019/

ArtWeek web page
http://www.artweekma.org/

ArtWeek registration closes Feb. 22
ArtWeek registration closes Feb. 22


Friday, February 15, 2019

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI Feb 15 - THU Feb 21

Friday, February 15
 Book sale setup
10:00am
 Knitting Group
2:00pm
 FCD Website Kick-Off Meeting, 2/15/2019 2:00 PM Room 205 - Municipal Building
3:30pm
 Chess Club for Kids
Saturday, February 16
9:00am
 Book Sale
9:00am
 St Mary Women's Faith Formation
9:30am
 Family Yoga Adventure
10:00am
 Franklin Historical Museum (Always free)
10:30am
 Galentine's Day
1:00pm
 Hidden Figures Movie Screening
Sunday, February 17
1:00pm
 Franklin Historical Museum (always free)
3:00pm
 LiveARTS: Cello virtuoso Aron Zelkowicz
Monday, February 18
 Library Closed - Presidents Day
 Presidents' Day (regional holiday)
Tuesday, February 19
9:30am
 Cool Cruisers
10:30am
 Rockabye Beats with Marcos Valles
3:30pm
 Maker Break
Wednesday, February 20
10:30am
 Jungle Jim Manning
5:00pm
 Book Bites
5:30pm
 Spy Kids Movie Screening
Thursday, February 21
9:30am
 Baby Tummy Time
10:30am
 Ukulele Storytime
4:00pm
 Fandom Thursdays
6:00pm
 Murder at the 1980's Prom
6:00pm
 Volunteens

For the interactive version, please visit
For the Town of Franklin Public Meeting Calendar
http://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

Submit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this link

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI Feb 15 - THU Feb 21
Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI Feb 15 - THU Feb 21