Franklin Hosts Resident Visioning Event on Business Development - Oct 22

The Town of Franklin and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) are undertaking a business development strategy to focus on promoting new development and redevelopment in three strategic growth locations: Downtown Franklin Commercial District; the Crossing (near Union and Cottage Streets); and the Mixed Business Innovation District (near Fisher and Hayward Streets). 

The main goal of this project is to increase the economic activity within these older commercial areas, and the Town as a whole. The resulting Market Analysis and Market Position Summary will guide the development of a business recruitment and retention strategy, including the future creation of business recruitment materials to capitalize on the market potential of these districts.

Franklin’s Department of Planning & Community Development and MAPC are partnering with Franklin’s Cultural District Committee and the Franklin Downtown Partnership on this important business development study. Officials are seeking resident, property owner, and business owner input on what can be done to stimulate Franklin’s economy, including insights into how to create jobs, support businesses, and strengthen the community as a whole.

A public meeting is being held on Tuesday, October 22nd, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM in Franklin Municipal Building’s 3rd Floor Training Room at 355 East Central Street. The public input session will feature a presentation by a representative of MAPC on goals of the project, and the current state of economic activity in Franklin.

All input and guidance provided by the public will be utilized to develop the Market Analysis and Market Position Summary, which will contain an updated demographic analysis for the Town, local and regional market assessments, specific recommendations for growth in the three key commercial districts, and an outline of a Business Recruitment and Retention Strategy.

For more information, contact Raul Gonzalez, Senior Planner at MAPC, at rgonzalez@mapc.org, or Bryan Taberner, AICP, Director of Planning and Community Development for the Town of Franklin at btaberner@franklinma.gov.

Download a copy of the event flyer:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczbVNsS3c0R3E5SGFCMThBWkc2T01VNmJXZjRV/view?usp=sharing

Franklin Hosts Resident Visioning Event on Business Development - Oct 22

26 total candidates; School Committee, Board of Health and Board of Assessors lacking candidates

The candidate listing has grown again slightly this week. There are candidates equal to the number of positions for Constables, Planning Board, and Town Clerk. The Town Council currently has 11 candidates for nine positions (a net increase of one this week - 2 added, 1 withdrew) and the other boards/committees are currently short of candidates. 

Critical issues: 

1. The School Committee has only 5 candidates for 7 positions. Two are new candidates which is good but we simply need more candidates. The school budget accounts for more than half the overall Town budget and the role has oversight for the education of our youth (and future). 
2. The Board of Health (EEE) and the Board of Assessors (annual tax rate) are also important positions lacking a complete slate never ind a choice of candidates.

Let's go Franklin. 

There should be more candidates to allow for some competition and choice. The last day to take out papers is Friday, Sep 13. The last day to return papers is Tuesday, Sep 17.

The listing of the 26 candidates who have taken out papers to run for the open positions on the Franklin Biennial Election is provided via Town Clerk, Teresa Burr. 8 of the candidates have had their papers certified to confirm their ballot entry.

The listing will be updated weekly to provide the 'scorecard' of who's taken papers, who's turned them in, etc.

Download your copy from here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q1FFoxMMU4k3Ml-iKuYX1Mt3CwOtmvlS/view?usp=sharing

All precincts vote on Nov 5, 2019 in one location, Franklin High School

FHS soccer teams split with Milford; girls win, boys lose

Via HockomockSports.com we share the results of the FHS fall sports action on Friday, Sep 6, 2019


Boys Soccer = Franklin, 1 @ Milford, 3 – Final

photos from the boys game
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2019-2020/Fall-2019/Milford-Franklin-Boys-Soccer-09-06-19/

Girls Soccer = Milford, 1 @ Franklin, 2 – Final

For other results around the Hockomock League on Friday
https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-09-06-19/

FHS soccer teams split with Milford; girls win, boys lose

Franklin - Cross Country: 2019 Hockomock League Preview

Cross Country: 2019 Hockomock League Preview By HockomockSports.com Staff. We share the Franklin summary here. A link to the full listing is below.


2018 Boys Record: 5-0 (Kelley-Rex Division Champions)
2018 Girls Record: 4-1
Home Course: Dacey Field
Coaches: Nick Bailey and Paul Trovato

"The Franklin boys squad went a perfect 5-0 in league dual meets last season to win the Kelley-Rex division title and the 2019 squad to poised to replicate that success this year. Not only did the Panthers win the dual title, but top three finishers from senior Tyler Brogan and junior Nicholas Calitri also helped Franklin claim first place at the Hockomock League Championships.

Brogan has been a top runner in the Hock for the past three years and is off to a good start this season, winning the Tommy Cochary High School Mile in Falmouth in August. Calitri had a great sophomore campaign, finishing third overall at Hocks and will be a top runner again this year. Senior Cam Harrington will give Franklin a strong third option while the Panthers are looking for Joe Zercie, Declan Walmsley, Clancy Golden, Griffin Sieczkiewicz, Matt Zielinski, and Alec Hanley to all be in the mix throughout the season.

“As a team, the 2019 Franklin High Cross Country team is looking to continue to be competitive in a very talented Hockomock League,” said head coach Nick Bailey. “With a number of very talented runners as well as some younger runners looking to make a name for themselves, the Franklin boys have prepared themselves for a very challenging Hockomock league dual meet season.”

The girls’ squad graduated a staggering 22 seniors from last year’s Kelley-Rex division-winning team, so there will be a lot of new faces. Junior Sydney Hawkins is one of the top returning runners for the Panthers, finishing in the top 20 at the Hockomock League championships last year. Senior Sarah Giuliano took 22nd overall last year at the league meet and will give the Panthers a strong top duo alongside Hawkins. Franklin will also rely on junior Sidney Brady, sophomore Caitlin Casey, and sophomore Liliana Duffy

“The team has good leadership and is very supportive and will be competitive in the Hockomock League,” said head coach Paul Trovato."

Read the full listing online at HockomockSports.com
https://hockomocksports.com/2019-hockomock-cross-country-preview/

Franklin - Cross Country: 2019 Hockomock League Preview

Franklin - 2019 Hockomock Golf Preview

2019 Hockomock Golf Preview By HockomockSports.com Staff. We share the Franklin summary here. A link to the full listing is below.


2018 Record: 13-5 (Kelley-Rex Division Champions)
2018 Hock Championships: 3rd Place
Coach: Dustin Piccolo

"Franklin shared the league title with Oliver Ames last season, earning its first title since 2013 and ending the Tigers’ run of two straight outright Kelley-Rex division crowns. The Panthers are counting on a deep lineup and the development of talented young players to challenge for a second straight championship.

League MVP Matt D’Errico has graduated but there is still a lot of experienced players to count on for the title defense. Junior Jack Peterson averaged a 42 last season as a sophomore and could go even lower this fall, while senior Jake Blaney will give the young roster leadership at the top. Senior Quinten Faro posted a 43 last year after making the cross-country switch from Northern California to Franklin and junior Nolan Norton will be expected to contribute as the Panthers go in search of another title. Sophomore Caroline Woelfel could be poised for a breakout season after featuring in five matches as a freshman.

“In addition to most of our core returning next year, we are excited about the prospects of our practice group from last year,” said Franklin coach Dustin Picillo. “After splitting the Kelley Rex Division we are hopeful that we can put in a solid title defense.”

Read the full listing online at HockomockSports.com
https://hockomocksports.com/2019-hockomock-golf-preview/

Franklin - 2019 Hockomock Golf Preview

Update - Franklin Line notice weekends Sep 7 through Nov 24 - bus shuttle to Readville

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.

8:40pm and 10:40pm departures from Forge Park as well as 11:20pm 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: Sep 06 2019 11:40 AM 

Update - Franklin Line notice weekends Sep 7 through Nov 24 - bus shuttle to Readville

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