Showing posts with label summary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summary. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Franklin MAtters Weekly resumes after a long hiatus

Yes, dear neighbor, back in the early days of my reporting journey I had experimented with a weekly summary. At the time, the effort for the gain was more than I could afford time wise so it stopped.

Spin forward to the present day, my reporting and audio 'machine' is well oiled, having retired from the corporate payday (in 2019), I have the time for a resumption of the weekly summary.

As you may be aware, Franklin TV, Radio, and Franklin Matters conducted a survey of how and where folks get their news. The results closed out at the end of December 2024. The results were sobering but not unsurprising given the current circumstances of news and social media.

Inside the data, there seems to be a glimmer of hope in that rather than the daily dose of what's happening, some folks may be interested in a weekly version.

So here we go. 

You can join us to subscribe to both the daily and weekly, or just one or the other, or NOT, and continue to visit the regular page or come to the weekly page to see what is happening.

Your Choice

We are here to "amplify the public good." 

Our ears (and inbox) is also open for feedback, questions, suggestions. You can email me at sgsherlock @ franklinmatters dot org

Franklin MAtters Weekly resumes after a long hiatus
Franklin MAtters Weekly resumes after a long hiatus

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,
Location: Franklin, MA 02038, USA

Monday, January 21, 2013

Martin and Ben in Franklin

Martin Luther King Day today and a holiday for most. School is out here in Franklin and elsewhere. 


Benjamin Franklin's birthday was celebrated with a party at the Historical Museum on Sunday. A good crowd gathered to hear Vera Meyer's play the glass harmonica, one of Ben's many inventions.



The Town Council meets on Wednesday. Among the items on the agenda:
1 - Treasurer/Collector, Jim Dacey apparently will talk about a section of the Home Rule process
2 - DPW Director, Brutus Cantoreggi will provide an update on the DPW snow plowing process.

In the action items, one key piece is the first part of the capital budget is scheduled for approval.


TOTAL REQUESTED:   $ 1,598,000
PURPOSE:  To transfer/appropriate funds for the 2013 Capital Improvement Plan:

Dept                          Type                             Amount
Fire                          Equipment                       $215,000
Police                       Equipment                       $  92,000
Police                       Vehicles                           $  71,000
Town Technology     Equipment                        $  97,500
School                      Vehicles                           $  63,000
School                      Technology                      $233,000
DPW                        Vehicles & Equipment      $193,500
DPW                    Street/Sidewalk/Drainage     $500,000
Facilities – School      Equipment                       $133,000



If you missed anything from the past week, these links can help you catch up!


Jan 20



Jan 19



Jan 18



Jan 17



Jan 16



Jan 15



Jan 14





Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,
Location: Franklin, MA 02038, USA

Monday, January 14, 2013

New England winter weather changes

Chilson Beach in winter
 This week the snow is gone, the ice is melting.

Ice fishing on Beaver Pond
Last week, the snow still provided a cover and ice fishing at Beaver Pond was a viable activity.

As many of you may recall, the Parmenter School Tour was scheduled for Thursday Jan 10th. Prior school tours have had minimal attendance by the general public. As we approach this weeks tour, I checked the school websites, newsletters, etc. and offered the following to the School Committee and Central Office.
  • The Parmenter PCC has no notification on its webpage or weekly update.
  • The Parmenter School newsletter has no notification of this event
  • The Parmenter School sign has no mention of the event.
  • The School Committee blog last update was for the overall tour schedule as published in Sep 2012.
  • The Schools website has no mention of the event (this one or past, or future tours).
Not one to just raise an issue without providing some solutions, I also offered some suggestions on what could be done to help spread the word.
  • Could there be an update on the School Committee blog?
  • Could there be an update on the community event calendar with the cable channels?
  • Could there be a press release touting the tour and showing off the only school installation of solar panels, or even of the rain gardens in the front, or of the modulars removed from the property?
  • Could some one use a couple of minutes of the Citizens Comments at the beginning of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday to spread the word?
  • Could some one think of some other way to help spread the word about this free yet valuable opportunity to meet with School Administration, School Committee and local school principals?

Note: The Parmenter sign was updated to tout the tour. The one set of parents that did show up for the tour heard about it via a ConnectED notification sent to all the school families that chose to register. But what about the non-school families? Were they notified in some way? Unless they heard about the tour via Franklin Matters, or perhaps the school sign and chose not to attend, they may not have known.

The choice is with the School Committee and Central Office. They all do an awful lot of good work and could do a better job of sharing information about the work they do. I do my part on here on Franklin Matters and the Facebook page, but I wish they would do a little better in the communication area. A little bit of work can go a long way!

If you think the School Committee and Central Office can do a better job of communicating, then you should let them know.  Email addresses for the School Committee can be found here
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinCom_About/members



Jan 13



Jan 12



Jan 11



Jan 10



Jan 9



Jan 8


Jan 7

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,
Location: Franklin, MA 02038, USA

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Turning the page to the new year

I trust you and your family had a pleasant time with family and friends over the holidays. Now that we are well rested, it is time to get back to work.

Christmas trees get picked up this week. Leave them on the curb for your normal trash pick up day.

Christmas tree ready for pick up
The Planning Board meets on Monday. Among the agenda items are review of the plans for

  • Stop and Shop gas station
  • Franklin TV
  • Hoffman Farm
  • Robin's Nest Childrens Center

The Finance Committee meets on Tuesday to discuss the Capital Budget and start discussion on the FY 2014 Operational Budget.

The Town Council meets on Wednesday. The proposed changes to the site review plan process that were before the Council look like they will indeed be removed for now while the subcommittee discussed in their last meeting in December takes some time to adjust the changes to make them more agreeable.

You can tour the Parmenter School on Thursday evening. Outside the school, you can see solar panels and rain gardens. What can you see inside? Come along and find out. It is free. It just takes about an hour of your time. You gain access to the facility tour lead by the Central Office School Administration, the Parmenter Principal and members of the School Committee.

Learn more about the history and many stories of Franklin at the Historical Museum next Sunday. Eamon Earls will be there to sign and talk about his new book about Franklin.


Jan 6



School Tour: Parmenter

Jan 5


Jan 4


Jan 3


Jan 2


Jan 1


Dec 31

"The $10.5 million effort will begin in 2016"


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,
Location: Franklin, MA 02038, USA

Monday, December 24, 2012

Elf on the shelf

Some Facebook updates over the past couple of weeks talked about moving or forgetting to move the 'elf on the shelf'. This is a vehicle for some families to help reinforce good behavior in advance of Christmas. It helps to set expectations. Do something wrong, the elf will know. Do something right, the elf will know.

Some may quibble about the silliness of the elf, while others are living by it. Either way, setting expectations and consequences for behavior is good. Whether it is the elf or some higher power watching over us, there is a sense of right and wrong that I believe is inherent in humanity.



Christmas is one of many opportunities during the year to pause and reflect on what has happened, good and bad. There are consequences for both.  Some of the consequences are immediate, some will play out over time.

In this holiday season, this time of darkness, find a light, even if it is a glimmer of light. I do believe that there is a light and that light will bring hope and love. Hope that neighbors will help neighbors. That the neighbors will become a community, and live in a community of love and respect for one another.

This will be the last weekly summary for 2012.

Except for December, I have summarized the major event of each month as we progressed though the "12 Days of Donating." If you missed those updates you can find them here: http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-12.html

May you and your family have a great holiday season, and may the New Year bring goodness to Franklin!


12/23

Markham Nolan: How to separate fact and fiction online
What is ALiCE?

12/22




12/21




12/20




12/19



12/18




12/17



Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,
Location: Franklin, MA 02038, USA

Monday, December 17, 2012

Roller coaster ride

The rising high from the successful 12 Days of Donating, the performance of "A Christmas Carol" on Thursday was brought back to earth suddenly on Friday with the school shooting in CT.

Flag at half mast on the Franklin Town Common

The School Department has been busy coordinating with the Police and Fire Departments over this weekend. They provided a couple of timely updates. Chief Semerjian published his comments on Saturday. There was a joint release by Town Administrator Jeff Nutting, Police Chief Stephen Semerjian, Fire Chief Gary McCarraher and School Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski on the preparations for the normal opening of schools on Monday.

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/joint-statement-on-franklin-schools.html

Looking ahead to the meetings of this week, the Planning Board continues their discussion on the proposed Stop & Shop gas station among the many items on their agenda. The Town Council recognizes former Rep Jim Vallee with a Citizenship Award. There is a public hearing on the proposed revamping of the site plan review procedures as well as approval of the purchase agreement for the solar energy 'farm' being established at Mount St Mary's among the items on the agenda for the meeting. You can attend in person or view via local cable or web broadcast.

We will survive the roller coaster ride. The spirit of caring and giving in Franklin is alive and well.


12/16



12/15




12/14




12/13




12/12




12/11




12/10



Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,
Location: Franklin, MA 02038, USA

Monday, December 10, 2012

Slowing to the end of the year

The School Committee meeting has a light schedule for its agenda on Tuesday. The Town Council meets again on the 19th. The Planning Board meeting on the 17th may get some attention with the Stop and Shop gas station (among other items) on the agenda.

simple sign of the holiday season along Forest St in Franklin

The Franklin Food Elves will be closing out the 12 Days of Donating this week. The performance of A Christmas Carol to benefit the Food Pantry will be held on Thursday Dec 13. Arranged by the Historical Commission and hosted at the Franklin United Methodist Church, this should be a fun evening.

Folks will be taking time off from work to spend with family around the holidays. For those traveling, please be safe.

As I complete this weekly wrap up, let me remind you that

  • If you like what I am doing here, please tell your friends and neighbors
  • If you don’t like something, please tell me

You can sign up for the daily dose, the weekly summary or find us on Facebook. All the links to enable that are in one place:  http://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html


Dec 9




Dec 8




Dec 7




Dec 6




Dec 5




Dec 4




Dec 3


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,
Location: Franklin, MA 02038, USA

Monday, December 3, 2012

Next up: Remington-Jefferson school tour, Dec 6 - 6;00 PM

Coming off the Thanksgiving Holiday, one of our family traditions has been listening to Alice's Restaurant. This tradition started many years ago, before we moved to Franklin. My wife and I are native Rhode Islanders and would return for the holidays from our NJ home. The song was one of a standard set to play on the road.

Towards the end of the song, Arlo talks about the movement. How if one person did something, they would think he is crazy. If two people did something, they would think they are gay. How if three people did something, they would be an organization. How if 50 people did something, they would be a movement.

Getting from 3 to 50 to get a movement going is a challenge. You need to catch their attention and give them a reason to act. You are already reading this, so I have your attention. Thank you! The School District has scheduled a series of tours, one school (or school complex) a month for this school year. Members of the School Committee, Central Office and the principal of the school give of their time this Thursday night beginning at 6:00 PM to welcome Franklin residents for a walk through the Remington-Jefferson schools.

Horace Mann Middle School entrance

If you have children in school, you should participate. Even if you don't have children in school, you should participate. This is a great time to see what is happening in school. To ask questions in an informal setting as the tour goes room to room, around the school. From the front entrance to the boiler room, to the gym, to the cafeteria. You get to see the inside of the school that you wouldn't otherwise see!

Join us Thursday night at the Remington Jefferson Schools, 6:00 PM!


Dec 2



Dec 1




Nov 30




Nov 29




Nov 28




Nov 27




Nov 26




Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,
Location: Remington Middle School, 628 Washington St, Franklin, MA 02038, USA

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Time to set the tax rate

We come out of the Thanksgiving holiday into a busy week. The School Committee meets on Tuesday. The tax rate hearing is scheduled for the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov 28th. The annual Holiday Stroll takes place on Thursday, Nov 29th beginning at 4:00 PM.

School Committee Meeting
Scheduled on the agenda is recognition for the Girls Soccer Team for their recent State Championship. A presentation on the latest MCAS data, a change in the current school year calendar (the addition of two reduced schedule days for both elementary and secondary students), and a discussion on the proposed Capital Plan for the facilities and technology needs of the School District.

The full agenda for the School Committee meeting including links to several of the key agenda items can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-nov.html

Town Council Meeting
The tax rate hearing is procedural and based upon math. If the overall Franklin property valuation goes down, the tax rate will go up. It is that simple! Given the recent economic conditions, to see the overall residential property values decline 2% and to see Commercial/Industrial values decline a half percent (.5%), then the tax rate will go up. It is simple math. Even if the automatic 2.5% increase in tax was not included, the tax levy divided into a smaller tax base will raise the rate. Franklin has seen rate increases since the rate bottomed out in 2007. I expect that we'll continue to see something of a rate increase for the foreseeable future.

I have updated my analysis and explanation of the tax rate information and that is summarized here:

Franklin FY2013 TaxRateInfo


The full Town Council agenda will be posted on Monday
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-nov-28.html


Holiday Stroll
Sponsored by the Franklin Downtown Partnership, start at Dean College for the tree lighting and then visit the other businesses downtown to check out their happenings. A full listing of events is available on the Downtown Partnership page here
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2012/11/more-holiday-stroll-happenings.html



11/25




11/24




11/23




11/22




11/21




11/20




11/19



Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,
Location: Franklin, MA 02038, USA
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)