Baseball is Back! All 30 Teams Play on Opening Day

From the US Census Bureau comes the following graphic on the American baseball teams and their respective metropolitan audience.

The national pastime comes to us courtesy of 29 teams from 25 metropolitan areas across the United States and one team from Canada (Toronto).

The four metro areas with two teams each are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago — the nation’s three most populous — and San Francisco-Oakland (the 12th most populous).

Baseball is Back! All 30 Teams Play on Opening Day

Shared from the US Census Bureau

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCENSUS/bulletins/2395ff8

FHS Le Blanc makes listing of Top Hockey Sophomores

"With the 2018-19 Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association high school hockey season over, it’s time to look at the top 100 players in the Bay State circuit. 

New England Hockey Journal will unveil the top 100 players who played high school hockey this winter. Yesterday, we released the top 13 freshmen. Today, we move onto the top 32 sophomores. 

Over the course of the three-month season, there were many sophomores stood out as being a cut above the rest. An interesting trend in this year’s top sophomores is the fact that there were three sets of twins on our list."

Continue reading the article online (subscription is required)
https://www.hockeyjournal.com/mass-high-school-hockeys-top-32-sophomores/

FHS Joey Le Blanc ranks #30 in MA HS list of 32 best sophomores in MA Hockey according to New England Hockey Journal article.

Over the course of the three-month MIAA season, there were many sophomores stood out as being a cut above the rest. We rank the top 32.https://t.co/ScpmZok7Av

— NE Hockey Journal (@NEHockeyJournal) March 22, 2019

"that’s not a one-time problem, either"

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

"Amid an effort to reform the state’s school funding system, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is getting a new leader. 

Chairman Paul Sagan, appointed by Gov. Charlie Baker in 2015, announced to his colleagues Tuesday morning in Malden that it was his last meeting and he was stepping down at the end of his four-year term. 

Baker subsequently nominated Katherine Craven, who has served on the 11-member board since 2014, as the new chair, and tapped Matthew Hills to take the newly vacant seat. A former chair of the Newton School Committee, Hills is a managing director at LLM Capital Partners in Boston."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190326/katherine-craven-tapped-to-replace-paul-sagan-as-chairman-of-education-board

What is the role of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education?

"The mission of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) is to strengthen the Commonwealth's public education system so that every student is prepared to succeed in postsecondary education, compete in the global economy, and understand the rights and responsibilities of American citizens, and in so doing, to close all proficiency gaps. 

BESE's responsibilities include approving learning standards, voting on charter school applications, deciding when to intervene in the state's lowest-performing districts, and hiring the commissioner. The Board includes the secretary of education, a student (the president of the State Student Advisory Council), and nine members appointed by the governor. Those members must include a parent representative, a labor representative, and a business representative."

From the Board web page  http://www.doe.mass.edu/bese/

Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)

Live reporting: Consent agenda- Closing (Executive Session)

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

middle school improvement plans
Zub will be remote for next meeting

7. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from your March 12, 2019 School Committee Meeting as detailed.
b. Transfers
I recommend approval of the budget transfers as detailed.
c. FHS Scholarship
I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,000.00 from Robert Seide for a FHS Scholarship as detailed.
d. FHS Donation
I recommend acceptance of the donation of a Nikon D60 Camera and 55-250mm zoom lens valued at approximately $300.00 from Ivy Patten for FHS as detailed.
e. JFK Gifts
I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $1,075.00 for JF Kennedy Elementary School as follows:

• $350.00 American Heart Association for Supplemental Supplies
• $750.00 JFK PCC for Field Trips

f. Davis Thayer Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,700.00 from the Davis Thayer PCC for field trips as detailed.
g. Music Dept. Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $323.00 from various music parents for in-house enrichment for the Music Department.
h. Keller Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $4,098.50 from the Keller PCC for field trips as detailed.
i. HMMS Recurring Trip to Save the Bay
I recommend approval of the recurring request of Rebecca Motte to take 6th Graders to Providence, RI for Save the Bay program on June 5, 6, & 7, 2019 as detailed.

motion to accept, seconded, passed 7-0

8. Payment of Bills Dr. Bergen

9. Payroll Mrs. Douglas

10. Correspondence

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.

motion to go to executive session, not to return to open meeting
motion passed, 7-0


The meeting packet and documents released for this meeting can be found online
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/march-26-2019-school-committee-packet

Not some of the documents will only be posted AFTER the meeting (usually during the day Wednesday)

Live reporting: Discussion Items - Information Matters

3. Discussion / Action Items
a. Policy – 2nd Reading/Adoption
I recommend adoption of Policy IJOAB – Extended Field Trips as discussed.

motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0


4. Discussion Only Items
none

5. Information Matters
a. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports 
Budget - met last week, meeting again
 Community Relations - Apr 27, portrait of a graduate

Policy - TBD

Public Schools Advocacy - 
hearing last week, (as reported) 
meeting Weds evening

b. School Committee Liaison Reports 
Joint PCC - meeting next week

Substance Abuse Task Force - met this AM
school based supports, also when students make choices, balancing disciplinary transactions; student reps helped a great deal

School Wellness Advisory Council [SWAC]
March 5 meeting

School Start Times Advisory Committee

Live reporting: Technology Presentation

2. Guests / Presentations

d. Technology Presentation
Tim Raposa

(presentation to be added when published)

Technology Presentation - March 26, 2019 from Franklin Matters

Live Reporting: School Start Times

2. Guests / Presentations

b. Robert Seide – Art Scholarship
died recently from pancreatic cancer 
scholarship being created in her honor
she always believed in art and art scholarship
application along with 3 images of work to be submitted for consideration


c. School Start Times Advisory Committee Presentation

School Start Time Recommendation from Franklin Matters

https://www.slideshare.net/shersteve/school-start-time-recommendation

work on sleep and research formed the basis for the other subcommittees
looked at implication for before and after school care
a subcommittee was focused on busing and traffic
what other districts have or are considering start times
implications for employees

lots of work by lots of folks
research on sleep drove the work
sleep patterns change over the course of adolescence

survey reporting differences between what the students say vs the parents on how much sleep is actually achieved

survey results compare with MetroWest survey
take away = parent perceptions of sleep don't agree with reality

American Academy of Pediatrics making recommendations on start times
Center for Disease Control = CDC also made similar recommendations

if you want to know how not to do it, do it like Boston did (via computer)

Seattle High Schools did a longitudinal study
sleep duration increased; tardiness and absentees decreased 

looked at transportation next
using 31 buses and $1.5M cost
proposing to transport each level separately, uses only 20 buses (and a cost savings)
requires a minimum of 30 minutes between runs to make it work

did talk with other districts, did implement similar changes; given enough time before starting, it can work

communication is key
it was imperative to delay implementation by at least a year

survey results from parents and employees
46% survey return rate and that is pretty good (usually anything above 10% is good)

with implementation at least a year away, there would be changes on the parents as the kids age; not the same for the staff

homework was a major concern, coincidentally a homework project is underway that pre-dated the School Start Times

teacher work life balance, technology (as in student use of tech)

other major concern is after school activities; i.e sports

scenario A would involve more frequent early release for athletics; hence Scenario B

swim and gymnastics are issues with pool and facility times;

What about Solutions? early start may minimize need for early times; and would also increase need for afternoon time
would require additional planning and adjustments

recommendation to move to Scenario B
13-2 was the vote (3 absent)

charter school would be served by the high school run of the buses

still an item for contract negotiation although length of day doesn't change

MJ - quite the experience, got to know folks over the year, thanks for the presentation, well done - any additional cost? how much will it cost?

Sara - with busing a net savings of approx $350K, it shouldn't cost the district more
maybe an increase cost for swim (due to pool rental)

Feeley - I have a lot of questions, I appreciate what you did, one of the Standard Univ articles - kids have activities, building resumes, etc. kids are ready to go to bed at 11, but then they get on their phone and are in communications during the night. How are we going to fix that? We need to help them. I am not convinced that this is the solution.

Sara - one of the issues from the parent guardian night was just this, it is a bigger and broader conversation, including homework etc. 

Feeley - what time do kids arrive?
Klement - I have 1800 different answers
buses will get there as early as 7, vast majority arriving just before or just after the schedule start times

Feeley - what would happen if the rides still deliver the students?
(consider the dominoes, there will be parent adjustments to the schedules)

Linden - for some of us, this was a process that was very thorough, and just what we wanted it to be. Found interesting on how much research there is; some many correlations with research and the impacts; less sports injuries, better sports performance

Douglas - parents may need to do some busing that had not been needed before; should consider students at middle and high school; concerned about early dismissal;

Klement - the most common sport for early dismissal at Sharon was golf, minimal matches but daylight and course time were requirements; 

Schultz - if the other town in the Hockomock would it make it easier?
Sara - it would make it easier but we also play some non-league games

Lifelong learning would need to do more research but based upon a specific set of info to get valid feedback

Sara - did make several attempts to resolve the student survey issues, we had a draft it was not approved as the questions were troublesome getting phrased properly. We did have 4 students actively as part of the process

Zub - it was a great experience, I have middle schoolers and would be freshman if we did go with this; at the end of the day, if this helps them for their social emotional learning; are we not doing a bad job, we need to work through the challenges, the reward is worth us working through this. this really helps our children, that is what we are here for

Feeley - I am very worried about the elementary school kids, when I heard the principals talking about their needs, that is not sitting well with me

Bergen - i had similar concerns, there is anecdotal evidence that it is a benefit
planning for an event in October for what social media is doing for kids

Donna Grady - President of the FEA
on committee, Franklin is the only committee that asked the faculty and staff of the impact; it can be a dividing issue; we have to weigh the pros/cons; the members are equally divided; most districts have looked at it for 3-5 years, Franklin did it for one

questions on what happens to ECDC?

what about work after school for students? home work, jobs, sports, staff is concerned about being available later

what about professional development? Many courses start at 3:30. A lot of work was done in the past year, and there are so many other items to review

Jessie Fanuele - high school teacher, and resident
I don't know whether to support this or not, I have heard but am not yet convinced
I appreciate the transparency of the committee; parents and students will adjust
I do like the idea of 11 less buses, great for the carbon footprint

there is a 20 minute guarantee of warm up time for every team/sport
teachers don't do this for the money, we are always for the students
may limit opportunity for a second job
I am nervous for those who do need a second job, health care is increasing, nervous about that

teachers will come to school to provide extra help with no extra pay
research is there, I can't say that it outweighs

Jamie Barrett - 2 kids one in middle school; simple question but it is not; where the elementary students considered? we talk about the impact for the teachers, the high school students, the middle school students, but where is the impact for the elementary?
instrumental music was cut in 2005, Spanish was cut year later; friends want to go to Charter and why, they offer French. You talk about SEL, those young minds, that is where the problem starts. I am speaking for the children, the elementary students

 - it is really an depth survey and research, I wished the high school students had stayed to tell us what they think; I think a lt was done but all you said was what wasn't going to work. (addressing Donna G). Parents need to adjust, and it is in our control. There is no research on elementary; yes. we will all get through the challenges together. We need more sleep, we need more recess. we need to put our kids first

Jim D'Entremont - middle school teacher and resident, wondering why your choosing 8 when the research on this says 8.5 and up?

Bergen - state representatives coming to Town Council on May 8th; before we take a vote we will be getting more information

Sara - 8 was CDC recommendation, APA said 8.5

Live Reporting: School Committee - Meeting - Mar 26, 2019

Present: Feeley, Linden, Douglas, Scofield, Bergen, Schultz, Zub
Absent:  none


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
Term 3 ending Apr 5th
approx 100 student doing senior projects
this Friday is senior banquet
Mock Trial finished 2nd in state meet
Seussical at FHS this weekend

SADD presenter coming Apr 8
Dynamic Influence, open to 8th grade and up - on substance abuse
Monday also on vaping

d. Superintendent’s Report
exciting visioning process happening around the "portrait of a graduate"
focus group Apr 4 and Apr 8
more in memo (available Weds)

"Leap into Kindergarten" thanks for the presentation
to welcome kindergarten families and all things with the schools
another registration night coming Apr 3

school specific evenings to be scheduled and announced


2. Guests / Presentations
a. Special Guest – Ben Franklin
special visit, only 5 months old

Community Garden Meeting - April 1

Monday, April 1 at 6:30 PM there will be a meeting for all Franklin community garden members.

Director of Recreation; Ryan Jette will go over the community garden rules and regulations, bed renewals/membership, volunteering opportunities, be here to answer any questions you may have and much more. 

We will also have AGWAY owner Melanie Hamblen there to provide gardening insight and input.

The Meeting will be held at the Recreation Department (275 Beaver Street).

If you have any questions, please call our office (508) 613-1666.

Thanks,

Franklin Recreation

Community Garden Meeting - April 1

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group Kicks Off in Franklin

A new support group for grandparents raising grandchildren is launching in Franklin this April. A collaboration with the SAFE Coalition and the Hockomock Area YMCA, the group provides information, resources, and support for grandparents and kinship caregivers. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren begins on Wednesday, April 10 from 6:30 – 7:30 PM and the group will meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month moving forward.

The program is being offered at the Bernon Family Branch of the Hockomock Area YMCA at 45 Forge Hill Road in Franklin. It will be an ideal forum for a group of people with common experiences or concerns to provide support, compassion, comfort and understanding, encouragement, and advice to each other on issues affecting grandparents and all relatives raising grandchildren. All area residents from surrounding communities are welcome to participate in this free program.

“In meeting and talking with constituents throughout the district, I have encountered many grandparents who have taken on the role as the primary caregiver for their grandchildren and who are looking for additional support and encouragement,” noted Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin). “This group will show them that they are not alone and that there are many families in our area that share their experience. It’s great to once again have the SAFE Coalition and the Hockomock Area YMCA as partners in dealing with the fallout from the disease of addiction, and we are grateful for the fact that they are providing a forum for help, compassion, and guidance.”

The group will be facilitated by Meredith Poulten, a school counselor, social worker and member of the SAFE Coalition Board of Directors. “I am proud that the SAFE Coalition is able to partner with the Hockomock Area YMCA in providing a new approach to aiding those effected by substance use disorder,” said Jennifer Knight, President of the SAFE Coalition. “Grandparents raising grandchildren has been an underserved population and this style of community collaboration only enhances options for healing and for families as a whole to gain support.”

Light refreshments will be provided and child care at the Y is available for the meeting. Please contact the Y in advance if child care is needed 508-528-8708. For more information on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, email Meredith Poulten at mpoulten@verizon.net.

About the Hockomock Area YMCA:

Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.

The Hockomock Area YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities they are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.

A collaboration with the SAFE Coalition and the Hockomock Area YMCA

Tri-County Regional Senior Wins First Ever Girls’ All State Wrestling Championship

What an amazing season it has been for the Tri-County wrestling team. One shining star is Ashley Barrett, a senior from Bellingham in the Legal and Protective Services program, who has won the first-ever Girls’ All State Wrestling Championship for all divisions in Massachusetts in the 120-pound weight class. 

Tri-County Regional Senior Wins First
Ever Girls’ All State Wrestling

An estimated 70 girls from Massachusetts participated in the inaugural tournament. Ashley won her title by defeating three girls; in fact, she won all of her matches by pin. Massachusetts is only the 10th state in the country to offer a girls’ state wrestling tournament.

Ashley is one of two girls on the roster of the Tri-County wrestling team. During the 2018-2019 wrestling season, Ashley wrestled in many mixed-sex tournaments. She earned second place at the State Vocational Tournament. She placed fifth at the Cohasset Tournament and she won first place at the Martin Luther King: All Girls Tournament in Mahar. For her stellar season, the Mayflower League has acknowledged Ashley as a League All-Star and both the Boston Herald and Boston Globe have appointed her an All-Scholastics All-Star.

Ashley started wrestling just two years ago. During her first year of wrestling, her combined varsity and junior varsity record was 13-3. This year, as a senior, Ashley has a combined varsity and junior varsity record of 34-6. Her career record, including all of her varsity and junior varsity matches, is an impressive 46-9.

Ashley Barrett

“Ashley’s hard work has made her extremely coachable and confident,” says Coach Steve LaPlante. “She knew she was going to be a state champion before her finals match even started. She has instilled this confidence in her teammates and coaches.” Not only did Ashley work hard on the mat every day during the wrestling season, she also put in the work during the offseason. After her junior year, Ashley began attending the Blackstone Wrestling Club in Cumberland, RI.

How does a girl get into wrestling in the first place? At six years old, Ashley went to a Taekwondo birthday party and instantly fell in love with mixed martial arts. Though she did not know what it was at the time, she began her training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Ashley currently trains six days a week at USMMA in Bellingham, MA, where she trains with professional fighter and Tri-County alumni, Hillary Rose. “My training in mixed martial arts has given me an edge over many who’ve never done it because it gives you fluid motion and flexibility,” explains Barrett.

Girls may feel apprehensive about joining a traditionally all-boys team. They can struggle to feel fully accepted. However, Ashley did not experience that with the Tri-County team. “Once I made the decision to become a part of the wrestling team at Tri-County, I wasn’t treated any differently because I was a girl,” said Barrett. “Coach LaPlante tells everyone who joins the team that they’re now a part of a wrestling family that will make sacrifices for, and rely on, each other. He tells us it’s larger than just being a member of a team. It’s about being part of something greater than yourself.”

Ashley is now training for her MMA debut in May when she turns 18 years old. She hopes to become a professional mixed martial artist in the future.

When not working out at the gym, the busy senior works at the Holliston Police Department as a part of her cooperative education at Tri-County. After graduation, Ashley will attend Bridgewater State University to study Psychology.

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.

In the News: Franklin curbside pickup fees to rise; Fall construction alert - Rtes. 16 and 140 near Milford Regional Medical

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

Franklin curbside pickup fees to rise

"Trash and recycling fees are going up due to international struggles with plastic disposal. 

Town councilors approved a rate hike of $32 on March 20, raising the average annual cost for curbside trash and recycle pickup to $240. The council also voted to raise the price of stickers in 2020 from $25 to $35 for the transfer station on Beaver Street. 

Franklin recycles about 3,600 tons of waste a year. The cost will rise to $55 a ton in 2020, $20 more a ton than the town currently pays. The town sold around 240 stickers last year, but is considering either eliminating the option or increasing the 10-day fee to $25. 

In the last year, China has been sent massive amounts of plastic waste for recycling purposes. According to NPR, about 106 million metric tons, or roughly 45 percent of the world’s plastic ready for recycling, was exported to China. Inundated with the waste, the country decided at the start of last year to decline any more shipments."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190326/franklin-trash-recycling-fees-increasing

Note: The first of two votes to approve the rate increase was held on March 20. The second vote is scheduled for a future Town Council meeting before becoming effective July 1. While the fee is increasing, we are still below where the fee was in 2005.

Due to global market issues for recycling, proposal to increase curbside fee

Construction alert: Rtes. 16 and 140 near Milford Regional Medical Center

"The planned facelift for one of Milford’s most heavily traveled roads remains on track to begin this fall. 

The half-mile stretch of Rte. 16 from just past the Milford police headquarters to the Hopedale town border will receive a long-awaited upgrade. The project will focus on the intersection of Rtes. 16 and 140 near Milford Regional Medical Center. The intersection is a regular spot for traffic backups and will be widened to make way for dedicated turning lanes, which should ease the turning radius for large trucks and tractor-trailers. 

“You cannot get through that intersection if someone is taking a left turn,” said Highway Surveyor Scott Crisafulli. “It’s too small.” 

New modern traffic signals with preemptive control for emergency vehicles approaching the intersection are part of the project."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190325/milford-rte-16140-intersection-project-includes-new-signals-bike-lanes

Charles River Meadowlands Initiative Schedules Public Forums

As they come close to completing their efforts, working with BETA, the Charles River Meadowlands Initiative (www.charlesrivermeadowlands.org) is presenting a series of community forums in Bellingham, Franklin and Medway in April. Any interested parties in these communities are invited to learn about the Charles River Meadowlands Initiative and share your thoughts.

State Rep. Jeff Roy and two of his colleagues (now no longer on Beacon Hill) helped secure a line item budget allocation to hire a consultant capable of professionally evaluating the recreation potential of the Charles River Meadowlands. 

The town of Franklin, in particular the Planning Department and Bryan Taberner, provided immeasurable help by receiving the funding on behalf of the Initiative and using their professional skills to help select a skilled consulting organization – the BETA Group.

Since late last year, BETA has been making field visits, developing maps, talking to officials in Franklin, Bellingham, and Medway, and developing concepts for consideration. They have helped identify real obstacles, for example potential rare-species areas that will likely have to be avoided. But the last few months have seen real, exciting progress.

The scheduled meetings include:

Thursday, April 11, 2019 - King Street Fire Station, 600 King Street, Franklin (enter the parking lot 6:30 PM from Constitution Boulevard. The meeting room entrance is on the King Street side of the building). In cooperation with the Franklin Department of Planning and Community Development

Tuesday, April 16, 2019 - Bellingham Town Hall, Arcand Meeting Room, 10 Mechanic Street 6:30 PM. In cooperation with the Bellingham Planning and Zoning Department

Monday, April 29, 2019 - Thayer Homestead, 2B Oak Street, Medway, 6:30PM. In cooperation with the Medway Open Space Committee and the Medway Community and Economic Development Department.

For more information, please contact Alan Earls, alan.r.earls@gmail.com

Charles River Meadowlands Initiative Schedules Public Forums

How to Speak Wine - April 2

How to Speak Wine - April 2

The dreaded “wine speak!” If fancy wine words make you tune out, then listen up. In this class we’ll explain the most commonly used wine terms and get to know what they mean in your wine. 

We’ll taste through a selection of wines that illustrate the concepts we talk about, and you’ll leave better able to communicate your wine preferences.

Sign Up  = https://www.activityreg.com/NRFLKMA/43_Site1.PDF

Sit Down Educational Wine Tasting Events Held In The Franklin Liquors Wine Room, Partnering With Norfolk Recreation And Medway Community Education

How to Speak Wine - April 2

Good Friday ‘Cross Walk’ is scheduled on the Franklin Town Common

Friday, April 19- 12:00-1:00 pm

St Mary’s teens and families will host its annual ‘Cross Walk’ procession on the Franklin Town Common beginning at Noon on Good Friday. Christians of all denominations and ages are welcome. 

Participants will gather on the Church Square end of the common. Together, they will process through and around the Franklin Town Common and back to St Mary's lawn, pausing along the way to reflect on Jesus’ great love for us. 

Teens from St Mary’s parish will read reflections and prayers at each stop. Anyone who wishes to may help share the burden of carrying the heavy cross during the procession. 

All area residents and our families and friends from surrounding communities are encouraged to take part in this meaningful procession on Good Friday to remember Christ's Passion.

Good Friday ‘Cross Walk’ is scheduled on the Franklin Town Common

Register O'Donnell Promotes Foreclosure Assistance Programs

	Norfolk County Registry of Deeds
	Register O'Donnell Promotes Foreclosure Assistance Programs Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell reminds homeowners who are in the midst of struggling to pay their mortgage or facing foreclosure that there are consumer programs available to assist them during these trying times. Register O'Donnell stated, "While the eastern Massachusetts economy has been robust, some of our neighbors have faced economic hardship. Foreclosures can result from a number of reasons including an illness, a job loss or being on a fixed income." To help consumers, the Registry of Deeds has partnered with several reputable agencies by promoting their services when it comes to mortgage modification and foreclosure programs. Consumers can either contact the Quincy Community Action Programs at (617) 479-8181 x-376 or NeighborWorks Southern Mass at (508) 587-0950. Another option would be the Massachusetts Attorney General's Consumer Advocacy and Response Division (CARD) at (617) 727-8400. "These agencies," noted O'Donnell, "provide a range of assistance from helping with the mortgage modification process to providing legal services, to staving off a foreclosure, and to offering several forms of credit counseling. Additional resource options can be found on the Registry's website, www.norfolkdeeds.org under the Support tab." The Register also provided a cautionary note to consumers. "Unfortunately, foreclosure rescue and mortgage modification relief is becoming a growing business scam. Some of these unscrupulous companies look to charge consumers outrageous prices for services by making unrealistic promises to them. If what they are telling you seems too good to be true, it probably is. Please check out any mortgage modification or foreclosure relief company before entering into a contract with them." Norfolk County Registry of Deeds statistics show that during the past several months, a mostly downward trend has occurred when it comes to Notice to Foreclose Mortgage filings, the first step in the foreclosure process. "With that said," noted O'Donnell, "we realize that while Norfolk County is a destination location to both live and work, one foreclosure in the county is one too many." Register O'Donnell concluded, "The Registry is always glad to help those facing a mortgage delinquency or foreclosure crisis by directing them to the appropriate agency. These organizations are there to serve your needs in the most professional and honorable ways." 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/or Instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds. The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street in 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 www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center via telephone 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 web: https://www.norfolkdeeds.org

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, 649 High Street, Dedham,, MA 02026-1831 Sent by registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org in collaboration with Try it free today