MBTA Commuter Rail: Franklin Line Weekend Shuttle Service Sep 7 through Nov 24, 2019

Weekends, Sept 7- Nov 24, Franklin Train service is replaced by free buses between Forge Park/495 and Readville for a Fairmount Line connection while PTC is installed. There will be no service at Back Bay, Ruggles, Endicott, Islington and Norwood Depot.

Please visit https://www.mbta.com/FRKwork for more details about bus shuttle schedules. Visit MBTA.com/PTC for more information on how this project will improve commuter rail safety and travel.

There will be no Franklin line service at Back Bay and Ruggles stations on weekends. Please travel to South Station to reach a Franklin Line station. If you are travelling inbound, please board a Worcester/Framingham line Train for direct connection to Back Bay or a Providence/Stoughton line Train for a direct connection to Back Bay or Ruggles.

We also recommend the subway: board the Red Line at South Station and transfer to the Orange Line at Downtown Crossing to reach Back Bay or Ruggles.

Due to proximity of adjacent stations, bus shuttles will not serve Endicott, Islington and Norwood Depot stations:

• Endicott station customers, please use Readville or Dedham Corp stations.
• Islington station customers, please use Dedham Corp station.
• Norwood Depot customers, please use Norwood Central or Dedham Corp station.

8:40 PM and 10:40 PM departures from Forge Park as well as 11:20 PM departure from South Station will be accommodated by a bus for the entire trip between South Station and Forge Park (including the portion between South Station and Readville).

Additional weekends may be added to the train service suspension between Forge Park/495 and Readville as work progresses on the Franklin line.

Thank you for your patience while we improve the signal system on your Commuter Rail line.

For more information: https://www.mbta.com/FRKwork


Last Updated: Aug 09 2019 01:57 PM
https://mbta.com/schedules/CR-Franklin/alerts

MBTA Commuter Rail: Franklin Line Weekend Shuttle Service Sep 7 through November 24, 2019

"would ban virtually all hand-held electronic device use by drivers"

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

"Conference committee leaders remained tight-lipped about their private negotiations on distracted-driving legislation a week after an apparent deal fell apart.

In separate interviews with the News Service, both state Rep. William Straus, D-Mattapoisett, and state Sen. Joseph Boncore, D-Winthrop, who together chair the six-member conference committee, said they are still discussing the long-sought bill but declined to put a timeline on when their work may be complete.

“We’re going to continue to discuss it between the chairs,” Boncore said. He described himself as “confident” that a deal would be reached soon, but noted talks would last “as long as it takes.”

Straus said the conferees “have never stopped being in communication with each other,” despite the collapse of an apparent consensus last week."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190809/no-timeline-for-distracted-driving-deal

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Aug 9 to THU - Aug 15

Fri Aug 9, 2019

7:30pm	"Footloose"
10am	Knitting Group
10:30am	SUMMER HAPPY FEET!
10:30am	SUMMER PROGRAM: Happy Feet!
12pm	Farmers Market
1pm	SUMMER PROGRAM: Farmer's Market Fun!
7:30pm	"Footloose"

Sat Aug 10, 2019

10am	Franklin Historical Museum (Always free)
10:30am	SUMMER PERFORMER: Greg and Axel
8pm	The Delta Generators

Sun Aug 11, 2019

1pm	Franklin Historical Museum (always free)
1:10pm	The Fashions of Downton Abbey

Mon Aug 12, 2019

10:30am	SUMMER MOVE ALONG (outside if permitting, otherwise in Community Room)
1pm	SUMMER PROGRAM: Picnic Storytime (CALEIGH) Lorelai and Grace!

Tue Aug 13, 2019

9:30am	Cool Cruisers
4pm	TEEN SUMMER Code It!
6:30pm	Documentary Film Series
7pm	Debi Graham-Leard Author Talk & Book Signing
7pm	School Committee meeting
7:30pm	Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Public Meeting

Wed Aug 14, 2019

10:30am	SUMMER PERFORMER: Journey to the Moon Puppet Show (Community Room)
4pm	SUMMER Crafternoon!
6pm	Concerts on the Common: Mike Rutkowski
6pm	Zentangle 101
6:30pm	Concerts on the Common: Southbound Train
6:30pm	Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
6:30pm	Teen Advisory Board
7pm	Town Council Meeting

Thu Aug 15, 2019

9:30am	Baby Tummy Time
3:30pm	TEEN SUMMER Board Game Cafe!
5pm	Franklin Historical Museum (always free)
5pm	SUMMER Thursday Movie Night
6:30pm	Canning, Freezing, and Dehydrating with Blackstone Valley Veggies Gardens

For the interactive version, please visit

https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

For the Town of Franklin Public Meeting Calendar

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

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

https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/links/submit-event

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Aug 9 to THU - Aug 15

Franklin Election 2019: What does the Board of Health do?

From the Annual Report of 2018 is this brief section on the Board of Health:

"The three-member elected Board of Health is the policy making arm for the Health Department. The board members assist in the drafting of public health bylaws and regulations, and review all site plans for compliance with local and state public health regulations. The board presides over administrative hearings in all matters concerning Health Department licensed and permitted activities. Board members are available for consultation on issues relative to the public health as well."

Two positions are up for election on November 5 for a 4 year term. The other position will be up for election in 2 years. This staggers the membership to maintain institutional knowledge.

What does the Health Department do?

"The Franklin Health Department is charged with protecting the public health and well-being of the community, in accordance with federal, state and local public health laws and regulations. 

The Franklin Health Department's responsibilities include inspecting and permitting new and repaired/upgraded individual septic systems, witnessing percolation testing, biannual inspections of all food service and retail food establishments, investigating complaints of public health nuisances, enforcement of the state sanitary code relative to housing, licensing of children's recreational camps, inspection of semi-public swimming pools and spas, tanning salon and manicure/pedicure establishment inspections. The Health Department also issues permits for individual private drinking water and irrigation wells."

State Required Duties of the Board of Health can be found here 
http://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/pages/state-required-duties-board-health

The Board of Health can be found on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department


Find more information on the Franklin Election Nov 5, 2019 in the "election collection"  
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/07/franklin-election-collection-2019.html 

Franklin Election 2019: What does the Board of Health do?

“This vote represents a serious misinterpretation of FCC authority"

From the Mass Municipal Association we find the news about the recent FCC order. Exactly how this plays out and what it means for Franklin TV and to the Town of Franklin budget process remains to be seen.

"On Aug. 1, the Federal Communications Commission ruled, by a 3-2 vote, that cable-related, in-kind contributions required by local franchising authorities from cable operators are in fact franchise fees subject to the statutory 5% cap.

The FCC ruled that the definition of “in-kind, cable-related contributions” includes “any non-monetary contributions … including but not limited to free or discounted cable service to public buildings, costs in support of PEG [Public, Educational and Governmental] access other than capital costs, and costs attributable to the construction of I-Nets. It does not include the costs of complying with build-out and customer service requirements.”

The FCC’s Third Report and Order on Cable Franchising Fees largely adopts the tentative conclusions of the Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, issued last September. The decision runs counter to the flood of concerns the FCC received during the public comment period about its tentative conclusions.

The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors said the Aug. 1 ruling “provides a windfall to largely monopoly cable companies on the backs of local communities,” adding that the commission “decided to drastically rewrite federal law and wipe out 35 years of cable franchise agreements that had been negotiated based on mutual understanding of what the law meant.”

Continue reading the article online
https://www.mma.org/fcc-order-preempts-terms-in-existing-cable-franchise-agreements/

“This vote represents a serious misinterpretation of FCC authority"

THE BLACK BOX Local Artist Series: The Delta Generators, The DayBreakers! - Aug 10

On Saturday, August 10 at 8 PM The Delta Generators return to THE BLACK BOX with opening act The DayBreakers.
 
Featuring Brian Templeton on vocals and harmonica, Charlie O’Neal on guitar, Rick O’Neal on bass, and Jeff Armstrong on drums, the Boston-based band blend the fine line between rhythm and blues and Americana in a way that makes them anything but average.

In 2017, the band recorded the audio for their sold out show at The Spire Center in Plymouth, MA, which they then used to release their first live album, “Delta Generators Live At The Spire.” This release followed in the footsteps of their four studio albums, “Devil In The Rhythm” (2008), “Hard River To Row” (2009), “Get On The Horse” (2014), and “Hipshakers and Heartbreakers” (2016).

“Delta Generators Live At The Spire” is the band’s first album with Templeton, who joined the group in 2016. The album features originals written by both Templeton and Delta Generators, as well as a few cover songs, and was recorded by Gary Sjolin and Kevin Marshall, mixed by David Minehan of Woolly Mammoth Studios and mastered by Dana White of Specialized Mastering.

Since forming in 2008, Delta Generators have won several awards including the Boston Blues Society Blues Challenge in 2008 and have placed in the top ten at The International Blues Challenge in 2009 (See more awards below). In the last few years, the band have shared the stage with such acts as Robert Cray, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Three Dog Night, Jimmie Vaughn, and Sonny Landreth, among others.

With Opening Act - The DayBreakers!

About The DayBreakers: Blending folk-rock melodies with blues guitar muscle and rock and roll grit, The DayBreakers have earned their stripes over four years of consistent gigging throughout New England. The band has played many of Boston and Cambridge's most revered rooms, sharing the stage with some of the region's best roots rockers, such as Entrain and The Silks. The band has also performed as an opener at Indian Ranch in Webster, MA for three years running, opening for Three Dog Night, The Beach Boys, and Bret Michaels.

For tickets and more information, visit www.theblackboxonline.com or call 508-528-3370. THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 W. Central St. in downtown Franklin. 


Direct link to tickets  https://www.theblackboxonline.com/events.php?id=1222

The Delta Generators return to THE BLACK BOX with opening act The DayBreakers

Franklin Election 2019: What does the Board of Assessors do?

While the Town Council votes to set the tax rate annually, the calculations on what the tax rate should be are based upon the valuations of all the commercial, industrial, residential, and personal property that Franklin has record of. These calculations are performed by the Assessors under the oversight of the elected Board of Assessors.

The state has changed the requirement for a property revaluation from every three years to every five years.

There are three members of the Board. Two positions are up for election this year. All three positions are four year terms of office and staggered to avoid a complete replacement and loss of institutional knowledge.

From the Town of Franklin Board of Assessors page
http://www.franklinma.gov/board-assessors

Mission
Establish and maintain valuations for all real and personal property within the community for purposes of generating tax revenues.

Services and Programs
Valuation, classification and assessment of all real and personal property for tax purposes. Conduct research of real estate market (including sales and ratio studies); prepare sales and other reports for state review and certification of values. Prepares and certifies abutters lists. Processes abatements, liens, and apportionment. Maintains assessors' maps, plans, property transfer records, and valuation data. Processes all real and personal property abatements and exemptions. Processes and abates motor vehicle excise. Prepares data for state approval of tax rate.

Inquiries regarding the valuation of residential property, industrial and commercial valuations, or questions about personal property valuations should be directed to Kevin W. Doyle, Peter Mooney or David Ruberti.

Questions regarding abatement and exemption applications, abutters lists, motor vehicle excise, ownership of real and personal property and general assessment data should be directed to the clerical support staff.

The Board of Assessors section in Franklin Annual Report for 2018 can be found
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/02/franklin-annual-report-2018-board-of.html

Find more information on the Franklin Election Nov 5, 2019 in the "election collection"  
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/07/franklin-election-collection-2019.html 

Franklin Election 2019: What does the Board of Assessors do?