FPS: Community Information Night about Enrollment Forecast - March 5

February 25, 2020

Good afternoon,

We are writing to make you aware that Jerry McKibben of McKibben Associates will be presenting a district-wide enrollment forecast to the School Committee at tonight's meeting. This enrollment forecast uses the town's demographic data to predict school-age enrollment for the next ten years.

In order to provide the community with additional opportunities to hear the information and ask questions, the Facilities Analysis Subcommittee of the School Committee is holding a follow-up community information session on Thursday, March 5 from 7-8:30 PM in the Horace Mann Middle School Cafeteria. Childcare will be available.

Please use this form to RSVP, which will help our planning: https://forms.gle/MkuQfb2Q1ryWyaLNA

Kindly,

Franklin Public Schools

FM #210 - Civil Discourse Pledge Discussion (audio)

This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 210 in the series. We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

At the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Feb 12, 2020 the discussion started on a proposal to pledge to conduct a civil discourse. Some of the Councilors objected to this “aspirational” proposal and the measure was ultimately tabled to the March 4 meeting to allow Councilor Hamblen to participate. Councilor Melanie Hamblen had been the one initiating this and she was not participating in this meeting due to her mother’s passing.

From my notes reported live during the meeting:

10h. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-14: The Town of Franklin Civil Discourse Pledge (Motion to approve Resolution 20-14 - Majority Vote)
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/20-14_franklin_web.pdf

motion to table to March 4, seconded, passed 8-0

Yes, my notes are sparse as I was on the edge of my seat, following the conversation, ready to jump in. It didn’t get opened to the public. It was tabled for next session.

I have a unique position in that I have been participating regularly for the past 14 years in many meetings each year. I get to watch and observe the behavior and conduct of many of our Town appointed officials (and by that I mean all the board and committee person volunteers) as well as the municipal employees. As a general rule, the behavior is above board, as it should be. Unfortunately, there have been times when I squirmed in my seat due to what was happening. For those times, this measure could help to guide and prevent further occurrences.

A couple of Councilors questioned whether what they have already sworn to or agreed to is changed by this. As Attorney Mark Cerel answered “This is aspirational”. For the few squirmy occasions that come to mind, the referenced oaths and guidelines were not adhered to. Maybe this aspirational item will. While admittedly, this measure has no ‘teeth’ to it, it may not. One can hold out hope that it does!

For reference, I have included links in the show notes for:

• The Role of the Town Council document https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/role.pdf
• The Procedures manual of the Town Council (which includes “The Role of the Town Council” doc) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/procedures_manual_.pdf
• Franklin Town Charter document https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/town_charter_2010.pdf

The link to the proposal text and associated supporting material that Town Administrator Jamie Hellen mentions is also provided.
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/20-14_franklin_web.pdf



I would encourage you to review and prepare for the continued conversation March 4. If you can’t be in attendance, please reach out to one or more of the Councilors to let them know where you stand on this matter.

The recording runs approx. 22 minutes (which included the full reading of the proposal text).

Audio link -> https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/Hy6gCj6X



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Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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one of the many "Hearts of Kindness" hung around the Town Common by school kids for Valentine's Day

Community Forum to Address Preparedness For Climate Impacts And Hazard Mitigation Plan

On March 2, 2020 the Town of Franklin will host a Community Forum to discuss the impacts of climate change on Franklin and actions the town can take to prepare for those impacts. The community forum will be held at 6:00 PM at the Franklin Municipal Building. All Franklin residents, businesses, and civic organizations are invited and encouraged to participate.

The Community Forum will present the results of a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Workshop that was held on November 20, 2019 jointly by the Towns of Franklin and Bellingham. The MVP Workshop brought together Town Board and Committee members, municipal staff, local businesses, institutions, and civic organizations to identify how Franklin and Bellingham may be vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, as well as the towns’ strengths and actions they may take to increase their resilience.

The forum will also summarize the 2020 Update of the Town of Franklin’s Hazard Mitigation Plan which is currently being prepared by Franklin with the assistance of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).

Franklin residents, business owners, civic organizations and institutions are invited to attend the forum and provide their input as part of this on-going effort to plan for the Town’s future.


Monday, March 2, 2020, 6:00 PM 

Franklin Municipal Building, Council Chambers
355 East Central Street Franklin, MA

MAPC is the regional planning agency for 101 communities in the metropolitan Boston area, promoting smart growth and regional collaboration. More information about MAPC is available at www.mapc.org.

Community Forum to Address Preparedness For Climate Impacts And Hazard Mitigation Plan

FHS boys basketball top Doherty 77-59 in playoffs

Josh Perry, Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap for the FHS boys basketball playoff win vs. Doherty High School

"One of the strengths of Franklin this season has been different players stepping up at different times. The Panthers are a hard team to match up with because it is hard to pinpoint one player that needs to be shut down.

In Monday night’s Div. 1 Central opener, Franklin’s depth was on full display. Senior guard Brayden Sullivan led the way with a game-high 23 points, including 12 in the third quarter alone, but he had plenty of help. Three players scored in double figures, as the Panthers beat visiting Doherty 77-59 and advanced to the sectional quarterfinal.

“That’s been the strength of ours all season, not having one guy that you come in and shut down and say we’ll stop one guy and be fine,” said Franklin coach CJ Neely. “We have a lot of guys who put it in the hoop and we’ve got a lot of guys who do a lot of different things for us.”

Chris Edgehill (nine points) got the night going by scoring Franklin’s first five points, but then Sullivan started to heat up. He drilled a three-pointer to put the Panthers up 10-7 and then got a steal and a layup, plus the foul, to extend the lead to six. He scored eight points in the first quarter and Franklin grabbed a 17-10 lead after one."

Continue reading the article online
https://hockomocksports.com/sullivan-sparks-franklin-boys-basketball-in-playoff-opener-against-doherty/

For the photo gallery from the game
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2019-2020/Winter-2019-2020/Franklin-Doherty-Boys-Basketball-2-24-20/

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-02-24-20/

Brayden Sullivan (25) scored a game-high 23 points and sparked the Panthers with a typically strong defensive effort as Franklin opened the playoffs with a big win against Doherty. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Kenny Hadley Big Band Brunch - March 1

BLACK BOX Jazz will present The Kenny Hadley Big Band Brunch on Sunday, March 1 at noon. The critically acclaimed 16-piece ensemble, led by drummer Kenny Hadley, boasts masterful musicians with performance ties to Big Band legends Woody Herman, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, and more. The Kenny Hadley Big Band has shared the stage with such notables as The Count Basie Orchestra and The Duke Ellington Orchestra and has hosted guest soloists including Clark Terry and Louie Bellson.

Brunch begins at 11:45 AM, with music beginning at noon. Brunch by Franklin’s Intermission Cafe includes assorted mini quiche, bacon, waffles, fresh fruit, yogurt and granola, bagels, muffins, OJ, and coffee. In addition, there is a cash bar with mimosas and Bloody Marys available.

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

Kenny Hadley Big Band to return to THE BLACK BOX - Mar 1

St John's Episcopal: Lenten services

• Ash Wednesday Service - February 26 at 7 PM

• Lenten Soup Supper and Book Study 

Join us to read and discuss Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr. Mondays, March 2nd & 9th from 6-8 PM.
 
St John's Episcopal Church, 237 Pleasant St, Franklin

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The Rev. Kathy McAdams, Rector
(cell) 857-237-9428
www.StJohnsFranklinMA.org

St John's Episcopal: Lenten services

"We quickly realized the collection was much more than we had originally hoped for"

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

"What goes around comes around.

That is certainly the case with a collection of historic images that originated in Franklin, left Franklin, and have now returned to Franklin, giving new meaning to the phrase and leaving local historians elated.

The Franklin Historical Commission has acquired what they are describing as an historical treasure trove -- more than 600 photographic negatives on glass plates, in addition to printed photos, recording scenes of everyday life in the town around the turn of the last century.

The images were among close to 1,000 glass plate negatives that were put up for auction by Coyle’s Auction Inc. of Medway, which also included images captured in Oak Bluffs, Marstons Mills, Plainville, Wrentham, Sheldonville, Medway and Bellingham. The Franklin images comprised the bulk of the items put up for auction."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200224/treasured-trove-franklin-historians-acquire-hundreds-of-antique-town-images/1

"the glass negatives will be carefully cataloged, scanned and digitized for archival protection and to make them more widely available"