In the News: health officials urge to stop vaping; supplemental spending bill to address PFAS

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

"U.S. health officials on Friday again urged people to stop vaping until they figure out why some are coming down with serious breathing illnesses.

Officials have identified about 450 possible cases, including as many as five deaths, in 33 states. The count includes newly reported deaths in California, Indiana and Minnesota.

No single vaping device, liquid or ingredient has been tied to all the illnesses, officials said. Many of the sickened — but not all — were people who said they had been vaping THC, the chemical that gives marijuana its high. Many are teens.

Health officials have only been counting certain lung illnesses in which the person had vaped within three months. Doctors say the illnesses resemble an inhalation injury, with the body apparently reacting to a caustic substance that someone breathed in. Symptoms have included shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain and vomiting."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20190906/us-health-officials-report-new-vaping-deaths-repeat-warning

"A supplemental spending bill Gov. Charlie Baker plans to file on Friday will include millions of dollars in new money to help cities and towns test for and treat certain chemical contaminants in their drinking water.

The family of chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have been detected at levels above Department of Environmental Protection guidelines in public water supplies in Ayer, Barnstable, Harvard, Hudson, Mashpee, Middleton, Shirley and Westfield, according to the DEP.

DEP officials said all those communities have taken action to target PFAS, and the department is undergoing a sampling program looking for contamination in areas where PFAS has been found or is known to have been used.

The budget Baker is filing to close the books on fiscal 2019 will propose $8.4 million to test drinking water for PFAS contamination, and another $20 million to support PFAS remediation projects, according to the DEP."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190906/baker-seeking-big-outlay-to-address-water-contaminant

Community Walking Coming Your Way - Sep 9

Starts Monday, September 9

‌ Lifelong Community Learning COMMUNITY WALKING NEW Registration Procedure REGISTER Starting September 9, 2019 Monday thru Thursday 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm LOCATION: Franklin High School This year we have a NEW safety protocol.  To walk at FHS, fill out an annual registration form.  For your convenience, click here to fill out the form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfMQFJTyPPsFWg34zrfBWp1ZwJlYuBfyFQjQQKX37DZXHuDKQ/viewform.   Otherwise, you can fill one out the first night you walk.   Lifelong Community Learning, 218 Oak St., Franklin, MA 02038 LCL@franklinps.net www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com

FPS- Lifelong Community Learning | 218 Oak Street, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by lcl@franklinps.net in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!

Monday - Thursday
Date: 9/9/2019 to 5/21/2020
Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

There will be NO walking on the following days:

 

September	26, 30
October	9, 14
November	7,11, 27, 28
December	23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31
January	1, 20
February	17, 18, 19, 20
March
April	20,21, 22, 23
May

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Sep 6 to THU - Sep 13

Fri Sep 6, 2019

10am	Knitting Group
12pm	Farmers Market
3:30pm	Chess Club for Kids

Sat Sep 7, 2019

10am	Franklin Historical Museum (Always free)
10am	Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) Open House
10:30am	Baby Sensory!
1pm	Book Character Costume Party!
3pm	Library Garden Interest Meeting!
8pm	Abbie Gardner: Circle of Friends Coffeehouse

Sun Sep 8, 2019

1pm	Franklin Historical Museum (always free)
1:10pm	French Neutrals during the French and Indian War

Mon Sep 9, 2019

10:30am	Move Along
3:30pm	D&D for Kids

Tue Sep 10, 2019

9:30am	Cool Cruisers
10:30am	Get Ready for Kindergarten
6:30pm	Foreign Film Night
7pm	School Committee meeting
7:30pm	Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Public Meeting
7:30pm	Let's Laugh Today

Wed Sep 11, 2019

10:30am	Terrific Toddlers
6:30pm	Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
6:30pm	Teen Advisory Board

Thu Sep 12, 2019

9:30am	Baby Tummy Time
10:30am	Story Xplorers
3:30pm	Discovery Workshop
5pm	Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

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 - Sep 6 to THU - Sep 13

"The sisters' achievement is a remarkable milestone for women in the military"

Via Franklin resident Rus Lodi's Facebook post about his sisters:

"Their brother Rus Lodi calls them “leadership junkies.”

If you’re a soldier, you’d better just call them ma’am and salute.

Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett and younger sister Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi are each accomplished in their own fields. But together they have become the first two sisters, the Army believes, to attain the general’s rank in the service's 244-year history.

"Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett and Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi represent the best America has to offer," said Acting Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy. "However, this comes as no surprise to those who have known them and loved them throughout this extraordinary journey. This is a proud moment for their families and for the Army."

Continue reading about the Lodi sisters online
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/09/05/army-first-two-sisters-become-generals/2094498001/

Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett and her sister, Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi pose for a family photo after, then Col. Lodi's outgoing Change of Command for the 44th Medical Brigade, Fort Bragg, N.C. in July 2018. (Photo: None, army.mil)

FHS field hockey and football teams open with wins over Milford

Via HockomockSports.com we share the results of the FHS fall sports action on Thursday, Sep 5, 2019

Field Hockey = Franklin, 13 @ Milford, 0 – Final

Volleyball = Franklin, 1 @ Milford, 3 – Final

Football = Milford, 27 @ Franklin, 34 – Final
Josh Perry, Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap:

"Graduation hit both teams’ offense hard. One team lost its all-star, dual-threat quarterback, and the other lost the bulk of its starting receivers, but on Thursday night at Pisini Field both Franklin and Milford showed that they have plenty of firepower remaining.

The two teams combined for 61 points, including 40 in the second half alone, and more than 600 yards through the air. In the end, the Panthers had just enough to hold off the Hawks and pull out a 34-27 victory in the season opener for both programs.

Franklin quarterback Thomas Gasbarro completed 70 percent of his passes (21-of-30) and threw for 293 yard and three touchdowns, while Milford senior Colby Pires completed 57 percent of his throws (12-of-21) for 325 yards and three scores of his own.

It didn’t take the hosts long to get into sync. On its first possession, starting at the Milford 46, Gasbarro hit Jack Nally for an eight-yard completion and then on the second play from scrimmage hit Jake Davis in stride down the far sideline. The senior receiver dove from several yards out and just snuck inside the pylon for a 7-0 lead."

Continue reading the game recap
https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-football-wins-aerial-dual-against-milford-in-opener/

For a photo gallery from this game
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2019-2020/Fall-2019/Franklin-Milford-Football-9-5-19

For other results around the League on Thursday
https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-09-05-19/

Franklin senior quarterback Thomas Gasbarro (14) eludes the Milford pass rush in the second half of the Panthers’ season-opening 34-27 victory. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Applications for 61A and 61B status to be filed by Oct 1, 2019

The Franklin Agricultural Commission would like to remind all Franklin landowners of parcels of 5 acres or more that their applications for 61A (agricultural tax status) or 61B (recreational land tax status) must be filed with the Town Assessors office by October 1, 2019.

The application form is available at the Town of Franklin Assessors Office at 355 East Central Street (phone number: (508) 520-4920. 

A link to the document online can be found at:
https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/tl/cl1.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3ftUtj_z--FsqSuHz4lSSW69Yi92D57KKR4yK-B9NJO3hAo5hRQbAvVlM

General Law Chapters 61A and 61B allow for a reduced property tax on land that is primarily used for agriculture and/or recreational uses, including wildlife habitat and open space. The property tax is reduced to reflect the benefit to the community that such land provides. 

For more information, please contact the Franklin Agricultural Commission (email us at Franklinmaagcom@gmail.com) or the Franklin Tax Assessors office.

Public Service Announcement from the Franklin Agricultural Commission
 https://www.franklinma.gov/agricultural-commission

 

Franklin Story map on the Agriculture Commission page

In the News: Planning Board to hear retail marijuana proposal

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

"Planners are scheduled next week to resume consideration of the retail marijuana dispensary proposed for an industrially-zoned site at the northwest side of Forge Hill.

The Planning Board in August began discussing traffic issues related to the shop, Town Planner Amy Love indicated in an email. The hearing was continued to Monday. The board had previously ordered an independent traffic study to be done.

Proponents of the shop, GTE Franklin, LLC shared plans for the venture with the Planning Board at an initial hearing in mid-June, which drew a sizable crowd. Many have spoken up against the proposal, though there have also been voices raised in support.

The proposal is for an facility that would operate by appointment only, starting with a maximum of 40 visitors allowed within an hour."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190905/franklin-planners-to-continue-review-of-retail-marijuana-shop

The Planning Board documents for this proposal can be found on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/planning-board/pages/1256-west-central-st-marijuana

last page of the site plan revised showing the building and parking layout on the property