Franklin Public Library: Follow-Up Survey

Earlier this year, we had a series of Strategic Plan surveys. Now, we would love it if everyone could take a minute to complete our Follow-Up Survey! 

Please tell us what you really think about the Franklin Public Library!

Franklin Public Library Follow-Up Survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RF58BYQ

Franklin Public Library: Follow-Up Survey

Franklin Cultural District Dedication Held - May 10, 2019

The Franklin Cultural District held a formal dedication ceremony on Friday, May 10, at the Franklin Historical Museum. Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham), Representative Jeff Roy (D-Franklin), Susan Nicholl as the community liaison for Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland), and Anita Walker, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, all spoke along with the Chair of the Franklin Town Council Tom Mercer and the Vice Chair of the Franklin Cultural District Committee John LoPresti. 

Each emphasized the strength and vibrancy of arts and culture in Franklin and what an important milestone it is to achieve Cultural District status. Franklin is the 46th community in Massachusetts to establish a Cultural District.

"Franklin is an absolute treasure and a great addition to our Cultural District Initiative. The history and cultural vitality of this community makes it a destination for visitors as well as a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. Most impressive is the spirit and energy that brings this cultural district to life," says Anita Walker.

The Franklin Cultural District (FCD) is a demarcated region within the town that encompasses the cultural facilities, activities, and assets that lie in a compact, walkable area. Along with having the nation's first public library, Franklin is also home to Dean College, the Franklin Historical Museum, the Franklin Public Schools (a district well known for its strong music and art programs, including FHS' Arts Academy), over 25 other cultural, performing, visual arts and dance studios and associations, and a variety of restaurants and cafes. Establishment of the FCD will likely attract additional arts and cultural organizations in the future, driving economic development.

An official Franklin Cultural District sign was unveiled at the dedication, along with a new logo and the launch of a new website, which can be found at www.franklinculture.org. The website includes a listing of all arts and cultural partners in town, along with a District-wide arts calendar.

Franklin Cultural District

The dedication ceremony was followed by a wine and cheese reception at THE BLACK BOX theater, where students from Franklin High School and the Franklin School for the Performing Arts performed, followed by a solo by Rep. Jeff Roy, a duet with Roy and Senator Rausch accompanied by Franklin Public Schools music teacher Jamie Barrett, and then a finale with Barrett performing his original song "The City Known As The Town Of Franklin". Both FCD Partner organizations and interested town residents were in attendance, full of positive comments that added to the celebratory spirit of the event.

To learn more about the Franklin Cultural District, their partners, and upcoming activities and events, visit their website at www.franklinculture.org, or follow them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinCultureMA), Twitter (@FranklinCulture), and Instagram (@franklinculture)

 from left:Franklin Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, FCD Committee member Stacey David, Franklin Town Councilman Robert Dellorco,  FCD Committee member Nancy Schoen, Senator Becca Rausch, FCD Committee member John LoPresti, MCC Executive Director Anita Walker, FCD Committee member Pandora Carlucci, Representative Jeff Roy, Franklin Town Council Chair Tom Mercer 

FHS girls tennis drops match to Attleboro

Via HockomockSports, we share the results of the FHS sports action on Thursday, May 16, 2019


Girls Tennis = Attleboro, 4 @ Franklin, 1 – Final 
– With two wins in singles play and two more from doubles action, Attleboro earned a 4-1 decision on the road. Ella Lynch-Bartek won 6-2, 6-4 at first singles, Brianna Aronne earned a 6-3, 6-1 victory at second singles, the team of Lauren Anthony and Nicole Matheson picked up a 6-1, 6-3 win at first doubles, and Jordan Benardo and Rena Danho teamed together for a 6-3, 6-4 win at second doubles. Franklin’s Ashvika Boopathy won 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 at third singles.


For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-05-16-19/

FHS Panthers

In the News: Party for the Pantry a success; early voting proposed for MA 2020 Presidential Primary

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

"The fourth annual Party for the Pantry was a success once again, even more so than last year. 

Last week, more than 100 residents packed into the Black Box Theater to support the Franklin Food Pantry, as well as to party with local bands and neighbors all night long. 

William Donovan, one of the event organizers, said they crushed their expectations for this year. 

“Last year was the first year we hit $10,000, so every year we feel like we have to better ourselves,” he said. “This year we took in $13,600. Now I’m thinking about how we’re going to top it next year.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190516/party-for-pantry-another-success-for-franklins-food-pantry

Franklin Food Pantry

Early voting proposed for MA 2020 Presidential Primary

"Ten months before the 2020 Massachusetts presidential primary, Secretary of State William Galvin is trying to force lawmakers to decide whether to expand early voting and give voters five extra days beginning in February cast their ballots. 

Galvin, who has previously backed an expansion of early voting to include the presidential primary election, drafted a proposal that Sen. Michael Brady, of Brockton, has filed as an amendment to the state budget. 

If adopted when the Senate debates its version of the fiscal 2020 spending bill next week, the question of early voting in the 2020 primary will move into conference committee negotiations between the House and Senate. 

“Early voting has been enormously popular in Massachusetts since we began offering it in 2016,” Galvin said in a statement Thursday. “Expanding early voting to include the Presidential Primaries will make it much more convenient for voters to show up and have their voices heard.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190516/secretary-of-state-wants-early-voting-ahead-of-presidential-primary-in-massachusetts

MassBudget: SWM Committee's FY 2020 budget follows Governor's in revenue, includes slightly more education funding

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. May 16, 2019 Senate Ways and Means Committee's FY 2020 budget follows Governor's in revenue, includes slightly more education funding The Senate Ways and Means (SWM) Committee's Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget proposal goes further in boosting K-12 education funding than other proposals this budget cycle. But, constrained by the lack of substantial, new revenue, the Committee had to propose less funding or relatively small increases in other areas such as child care assistance for low-income families, elder services, and other areas, as discussed in MassBudget's analysis. The SWM budget proposal includes a more comprehensive approach to reforming the public K-12 education funding formula than the Governor and House proposals. However, funding levels in the SWM budget are still somewhat less than the most comprehensive plans being debated currently by policymakers. Updating the funding formula can help ensure that students across Massachusetts, particularly disadvantaged kids, receive a high-quality education. Further, the SWM Committee proposes to fund the Attorney General's Fair Labor Division (FLD) at $4.5 million, which is 8 percent less in total funding than FY 2001 (adjusting for inflation), but is 17 percent less when adjusted for job growth in Massachusetts since then. The FLD enforces the state's wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, and earned sick time. This funding decrease could weaken many of the increased worker protections and benefits passed in recent years. Regarding revenue, the SWM Committee included many of the new tax proposals first presented in the Governor's FY 2020 budget. (The House, by contrast, includes only the Sales Tax Modernization proposal.) These include a new tax on opioid manufacturers and another on vaping products. Unlike the Governor, the SWM Committee directs these new revenues to off-budget funds dedicated to combating and treating addiction, rather than to the General Fund from which most budgetary appropriations are made.  Like the House and Governor, the SWM budget also relies on pre-existing sources that recently have begun generating revenue (like taxes on marijuana sales and "Airbnb rentals"). While inclusion of these various types of additional revenue may appear to boost the Commonwealth's ability to invest in a range of priorities, in fact, the new revenues would mostly serve to back-fill substantial anticipated revenue losses from several already-scheduled tax cuts. These cuts - along with other, non-tax revenue losses - will impact state collections in FY 2020 and beyond. As is true of the House budget, most additional revenue in the SWM budget comes from a variety of consumption taxes, which hit low-income earners the hardest, and will make the state's tax system more upside-down than it already is. Read the full report here http://massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=Analyzing-the-Senate-Ways-and-Means-Budget-for-FY-2020.html. Read about the House budget proposal here http://massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=Analyzing-the-House-Budget-for-FY-2020.html. 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 mrivera@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today! The full set of details associated with the Senate Ways and Means budget for FY 2020 can be found online https://malegislature.gov/Budget/SenateWaysMeansBudget Senate Ways and Means budget proposal for FY 2020

VFW Youth Scholarships for 2019-2020

The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $30,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships may be for you.

VFW Youth Scholarships

Patriot's Pen: The 2019-20 theme is: What Makes America Great

Each year more than 132,000 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest. The national first-place winner wins $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. The first-place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $55,000, with each first-place state winner receiving a minimum of $500 at the national level.

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Want to apply? Read the rules and eligibility requirements, then download and complete the 2019-20 entry form. All student entries must be submitted to a sponsoring local VFW Post by midnight, Oct. 31, 2019.

Voice of Democracy: The 2019-20 theme is: What Makes America Great

Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 40,000 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.

The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$16,000, and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Want to apply? Read the rules and eligibility requirements, then download and complete the 2019-20 entry form. All student entries must be submitted to a sponsoring local VFW Post by midnight, Oct. 31, 2019.

Official Entry Forms and Instructions can be found at: https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships

Entries are to be mailed to: Franklin VFW Post 3402, PO Box 96, Franklin, MA

FHS baseball, and both the boys and girls lacrosse teams post wins

Via HockomockSports, we share the results of the FHS sports action on Tuesday, May 15, 2019


Baseball = Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 8 – Final
– Franklin junior Liam Dailey tossed a complete game shutout and senior Jake Macchi uncorked a grand slam as the Panthers swept the season series against the Tigers, clinching at least a share of the Kelley-Rex division title with the win. Dailey needed just 63 pitches, allowing three hits with no walks, striking out four in an efficient performance. Macchi finished with six RBI total, Alex Haba also had an RBI and a run scored, Jack Nally scored twice, Scott Elliott had a hit and two runs scored, and Joe Lizotte and Brennan Rivera each scored once.

Boys Lacrosse = Foxboro, 5 @ Franklin, 12 – Final 
– Franklin used a strong performance to pick up a convincing win over visiting Foxboro. The Panthers took a 9-1 lead into the fourth quarter to win the Kelley-Rex division title outright. Jake Davis scored four goals and had two assists, Matt Lazzaro scored a hat trick and had two helpers and Jacob Alexander (14-for-21 faceoffs) scored twice with one assist. Foxboro’s Brendan Tully and Shayne Kerrigan each scored twice while Aidan Stapleton found the back of the net once. Freshman Matt Tully made 12 saves for Foxboro.

Girls Lacrosse = Franklin, 14 @ Foxboro, 10 – Final
Josh Perry, Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap:

For nearly a decade, two teams have dominated Hockomock League girls lacrosse. Foxboro and Franklin have each won eight straight division titles, including the league crowns that both have already clinched this spring. The last time a team other than those two finished on top in the league was 2012, when King Philip shared the Kelley-Rex title with the Panthers. 

On Wednesday evening, the league’s top two teams squared off at Sam Berns Community Field. Behind a quick start that saw it jump ahead 5-0 and seven goals from senior midfielder Annie Walsh, Franklin pulled out a 14-10 victory to extend its remarkable league winning streak to 80 straight games dating back to April 2012. 

“I thought we did really well on the draws early, we were really feisty in the circle, and just took good shots in the first half,” Franklin coach Kristin Igoe Guarino said of the good start. “I think their goalie played awesome and really stepped up her game as it went on but we got on her early.”

Continue reading the lacrosse match recap
https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-girls-lacrosse-holds-off-foxboro-to-keep-streak-alive/

For a photo gallery of the lacrosse match
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2018-2019/Spring-2019/Foxboro-Franklin-Girls-Lacrosse-5-15-19/

Softball = Franklin, 0 @ Taunton, 5 – Final
Ryan Lanigan, founder and Editor-in-Chief of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap:

"The Taunton softball team has been one of the most lethal and dangerous offenses in the state over the past couple of seasons, and with 165 runs scored this year, they are among the best again this year. 

While the Tigers can certainly mash and string together hit after hit, one thing that Taunton is focusing on as the state tournament approaches is cashing in when the opportunity arises. 

Taunton turned to small ball on Wednesday night at Jack Tripp Field, scoring the first three runs of the game via squeeze plays, earning a 5-0 win over Franklin in a battle of top teams in the Kelley-Rex."

Continue reading the softball game recap
https://hockomocksports.com/taunton-softball-small-ball-past-panthers/

For a photo gallery of the softball game
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2018-2019/Spring-2019/Taunton-Franklin-Softball-05-15-19/

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-05-15-19/

Erin Walsh (1) scored twice and assisted on another goal to help Franklin continue its long league unbeaten streak by beating fellow division champion Foxboro. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

The Teen Summer Challenge Is On: Teens Can Work Out FOR FREE at Every Planet Fitness

THE TEEN SUMMER CHALLENGE IS ON!

PLANET FITNESS KICKS-OFF SUMMER-LONG INITIATIVE WITH ACTOR CALEB MCLAUGHLIN

Starting Today, Teenagers Ages 15 – 18 Can Sign up to Work Out for Free at all 1,800+ Planet Fitness Locations through September 1

Caleb McLaughlin Strives to be Every Teen's "Super Positive Workout Buddy" Leading the Digital Campaign

Planet Fitness, Inc., one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S. and home of the Judgement Free Zone®, officially opens the doors of its more than 1,800 locations throughout the United States and Canada today as it kicks off the Teen Summer Challenge. Now through September 1, teenagers ages 15 – 18* are invited to stop by their nearest Planet Fitness and sign-up to work out – and get their sweat on – for free all summer long. Teens under 18 must be accompanied in club by a parent or guardian at sign-up.

The initiative, which answers the call for youth to pursue a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day** as recommended by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, is led by one of Hollywood's most exciting stars, 17-year-old actor Caleb McLaughlin. McLaughlin stars as a "super positive workout buddy" in digital creative for the initiative, offering encouragement for every teen looking to stay active when school is out for the summer.

"Being part of the Planet Fitness Teen Summer Challenge is really important to me because it's offering teens so much more than just a place to work out over the summer, it's giving us all the opportunity to be active, build self-confidence and self-esteem in the process," said McLaughlin.

FEELINGS ON FITNESS: BY THE NUMBERS

A national study*** commissioned by Planet Fitness found that teens today are more fitness-conscious than ever before, with 92 percent agreeing that one is never too young to start taking care of his or her health. Many teens confirm fitness helps them feel motivated (55 percent), is fun (48 percent), and is a way to feel challenged (32 percent). While school-based sports such as gym class or intramural teams are the top ways teens currently get their daily exercise (49 percent), nearly half of all teens (41 percent) report that their fitness levels dramatically decrease over the summer when school is out.

Moreover, one-third (33 percent) of all teens simply don't know where to begin or what exercises are recommended for their age group, and almost two-in-five (39 percent) say they don't have enough guidance on how to properly exercise.

Planet Fitness Opens Its Doors to Teens 

FOR FREE All Summer Long

GUIDING TEENS TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE

That's why, to help teens kick start their summer fitness regimen, Brian Zehetner, director of health and fitness for Planet Fitness, developed a fun and effective workout specifically for teens this summer. The full body workout program is purposefully centered on appropriate cardio, strength and flexibility exercises for teenagers, providing a balanced blend for impactful activity. Active warm up and cool down periods comprised of dynamic and static stretches help ensure teens ease in and out of the core routine responsibly for greater mobility and less potential for injury.

PLANET FITNESS TEEN SUMMER CHALLENGE
DURATION OF WORKOUT: 25 – 30 MINUTES
Warm Up 3 – 5 Minutes		High Knees, Windmill, Arm Circles, Huggers, Lunges
Workout 18 – 20 Minutes	Cardio	Mountain Climbers, Burpees, Plank Jacks, Star Jumps Perform the first exercise for 30 seconds and then rest for 30 seconds as you transition to the next station. Follow pattern until you have completed all four movements.
	Rest	Rest 1 Minute
	Strength	Dumbbell Chest Press, Lat Pulldowns, Smith Machine Squats, Rope Crunches Perform the first exercise for 30 seconds and then rest for 30 seconds as you transition to the next station. Follow pattern until you have completed all four movements.
	Rest	Rest 1 Minute
	Cardio	Mountain Climbers, Burpees, Plank Jacks, Star Jumps Perform the first exercise for 30 seconds and then rest for 30 seconds as you transition to the next station. Follow pattern until you have completed all four movements.
	Rest	Rest 1 Minute
	Strength	Dumbbell Chest Press, Lat Pulldowns, Smith Machine Squats, Rope Crunches Perform the first exercise for 30 seconds and then rest for 30 seconds as you transition to the next station. Follow pattern until you have completed all four movements.
Cool Down 3 – 5 Minutes		Chest Stretch, Shoulder Stretch, Cat and Camel Stretch, Butterfly Stretch, Lying Quad Stretch, Seated Hamstring Stretch, Seated Torso Twist

"Our total body workout designed for teens is a fun and effective introduction to fitness, setting the stage for lifelong healthy habits, as it's designed to really target all major muscle groups efficiently, effectively and with the flexibility, mobility and busy schedules of high school students in mind," said Zehetner. "The best routine is a consistent routine, and we want this plan coupled with Planet Fitness' pressure-free environment to help youth feel excited about approachable exercise."

Free fitness classes specifically for teenagers will also be available Monday through Friday via certified fitness trainers at all Planet Fitness locations. Check your local Planet Fitness for exact times.

INCENTIVES FOR TEENS TO STAY ACTIVE THIS SUMMER

Finally, all teens who sign up beginning May 15 are automatically entered into Planet Fitness' Scholarship Sweepstakes. At the end of summer, 51 lucky teens across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., will be randomly selected to receive a $500 scholarship, and one teen will receive a $5,000 grand prize****. Teens will also have the chance to win exciting prizes on Planet Fitness' Twitter and Instagram channels throughout the summer, such as club swag, movie tickets and wireless headphones.*****

In addition to opening its doors to all teens ages 15 – 18 all summer long, Planet Fitness also offers extremely low prices for parents and other members alike, including a variety of benefits such as a hassle-free environment, brand name cardio and strength equipment, fully equipped locker rooms, flat screen televisions and much more.

For more information on the Teen Summer Challenge, including how to sign-up for the free membership at any of the more than 1,800 Planet Fitness locations across the United States and Canada, visit PlanetFitness.com/TeenSummerChallenge.

###

*Teenagers ages 15 – 18 can visit any Planet Fitness location in the United States. Teens must work out at the location they sign up at and are not permitted to use other locations. Online signups are not available. Teens under 18 must bring a parent or guardian to sign up. Once the parent or guardian waiver is signed for teens under 18, teens can workout alone. Students who are already 18 do not need a parent or guardian to be present during the sign-up process.

**U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2018, November 18). HHS Releases Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2018/11/12/hhs-releases-physical-activity-guidelines-americans-2nd-edition.html

***Online survey conducted by Kelton Global on behalf of Planet Fitness to 1,001 nationally representative American teens aged 15 – 18 and their parents, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.

****NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Void outside 50 U.S./DC and where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C., who are 15-18 years of age (with parent approval if under age of majority). Begins 12:00 a.m. ET on 5/15/19; ends 11:59 p.m. ET on 9/2/19. Odds of winning depend on total number of entries received. For complete Official Rules, eligibility, and free entry details, visit https://www.planetfitness.com/sweepstakes-rules. Sponsor: Planet Fitness Franchising LLC, 4 Liberty Lane West, Hampton, NH 03842 USA

***** NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Void outside 50 U.S./DC and where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C., who are 15-18 years of age (with parent approval if under age of majority).   Begins once the first post is live (approximately 7:00am ET) on 5/23/19; ends 11:59 p.m. ET on 8/28/19. Odds of winning depend on total number of entries received.   For complete Official Rules, visit https://www.planetfitness.com/sweepstakes-rules. Sponsor: Planet Fitness Franchising LLC, 4 Liberty Lane West, Hampton, NH 03842 USA.

About Planet FitnessFounded in 1992 in Dover, NH, Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of March 31, 2019, Planet Fitness had more than 13.6 million members and 1,806 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Panama and Mexico. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone®. More than 95% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.

In the News: Social consumption pilot possible; self driving shuttle in Providence

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

Social consumption pilot possible

"As state regulators prepare to discuss and possibly vote on a policy to allow marijuana use in certain public social settings, Gov. Charlie Baker indicated Monday he could be open to a pilot program for things like pot cafes and lounges. 

The Cannabis Control Commission is expected to have a “policy discussion” on Thursday about social consumption, or a policy that would allow adults to use marijuana in some form in a social setting. The commission initially drafted regulations to allow so-called social consumption but put the issues on the back burner after pushback last year from Baker. 

“It’s not up to me, it’s up to the CCC,” Baker said Monday when asked about the policy the CCC plans to discuss Thursday. “What I’ve said many times about most of the issues associated with the rollout of recreational marijuana, is it’s really important that they, the CCC, understand what they’re doing and why they’re doing it as they make these decisions.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190514/social-consumpton-pilot-for-marijuana-would-make-lot-of-sense-says-gov-baker

self driving shuttle in Providence

"Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo and Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza rode in a self-driving car for the first time Tuesday when they inaugurated the state’s autonomous vehicle pilot program. 

They circled the State House without incident and declared Rhode Island a leader in transportation technology. 

Raimondo “got a little nervous” when the vehicle attendant took his hands off the controls, she said after stepping out of the shuttle on Smith Street. “But after a couple minutes it felt great. It felt safe and smooth. ... It swerved around the curb that juts out. It stopped at a red light, took a left when it needed to.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190514/ri-state-leaders-get-first-ride-on-providence-self-driving-shuttle-service

US Census: Younger Workers in Cities More Likely to Bike to Work

Roughly 870,000 people report commuting by bicycle — many of them young and urban residents.

America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers Younger Workers in Cities More Likely  to Bike to Work May 17 is National Bike to Work Day and events are held around the country to encourage people to commute by bicycle. The most recent American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates covering the years 2013-2017 show that about 872,000 people, or 0.6% of all workers in the United States (Table S0801), bike to work. The ACS asks workers about their primary method of transportation to work. This provides data about national commuting patterns, including biking to work.  https://census.gov/library/stories/2019/05/younger-workers-in-cities-more-likely-to-bike-to-work.html? About America Counts America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. It features stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, the economy, emergency preparedness, and population. Contact our Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews.

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This is an official email from the U.S. Census Bureau. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us (http://www.census.gov/about/contact-us.html)

Franklin School for the Performing Arts to present Spring Concert

The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) will provide prospective students with complimentary tickets to its Spring Concert performances as part of the school’s All Access Pass program.

Franklin School for the Performing
Arts to present Spring Concert

Families are invited to learn more about FSPA programs in music, dance and drama. Spring Concert shows provide a dynamic way to experience what the school has to offer across many dance disciplines, voice, acting, instrumental music, and musical theater programming.

Spring Concert performances will be presented on Saturday, May 18 at 4 and 7 p.m. and on Sunday, May 19 at 1 and 4 p.m. at the Franklin High School Auditorium, 218 Oak St., Franklin.

Featuring FSPA students of many ages and levels, Spring Concert is presented in an audience-friendly, 90-minute format.

Founded in 1985 by Director Raye Lynn Mercer, FSPA has been dedicated to the enjoyment of the arts for all ages and to the artistic growth and development of young people.

Prospective students and families should call FSPA at 508-528- 8668 to reserve their complimentary tickets and schedule a trial class or tour of the facilities. Visit www.FSPAonline.com for more information.