Week ending Sep 11, 2011

Sunday - Sep 11

Construction at the former Piccadilly Pub in preparation of the new Ichigo Ichie opening in October, athletes from FHS were around the neighborhood on Saturday doing some fund raising and the Town Council agenda for their meeting on Wednesday. The School Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday and their agenda is not yet available.

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• Ichigo Ichie is coming
• Sports fund raising
• Franklin, MA: Town Council Agenda - 9/14/11

Saturday - Sep 10

Announcements on the upcoming Circle of Friends Coffeehouse schedule and a seminar on sustainability by the United Regional Chamber of Commerce

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse: Ellis Paul

• SEMINAR ON BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY

Friday - Sep 9

The weekly reminder about the Farmer's Market, an update on the taxes for photography services, the Democratic Town Committee schedules a presentation on Clean Air, Judith Pond-Pfeiffer writes a 'letter to the editor' and Sen Karen Spilka gets into long range planning for transportation

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• Farmer's Market - open - noon to 6:00 PM
• Photography services - what is taxable?
• Franklin Democratic Town Committee: Clean Air presentation
• Pond Pfeffer: The trials and tribulations of Irene
• Public Workshop on Long Range Transportation Plan for MetroWest

Thursday - Sep 8

The last day to take out papers to run in the Franklin election is Friday, Sep 16. The last day to turn them in is Monday, Sep 19. After the papers have been verified, we'll know who is running for what positions.

Election line up still uncertain

Wednesday - Sep 7

The Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee is considering re-doing their mission statement and shared some samples prior to their next meeting Sep 13. Sen Richard Ross has emergency surgery, former football coach Leone was to be honored on Friday and the DPW updated the Beaver St recycling center hours to handle the yard waste from the storm.

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• Franklin Citizens Rail Trail - mission statement
• In the News - schools, Newcomers, Internet
• Sen. Richard Ross undergoes emergency knee surgery
• Former Franklin football coach Leone to be honored Friday
• Beaver St Recycling Hours

Tuesday - Sep 6

The Newcomers Club kicks off their new calendar year, Dean College is opening their cafeteria for Sunday brunch, the high school will collect bikes to recycle them and a video from TED on the cost of attention.

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• FRANKLIN NEWCOMERS AND FRIENDS CLUB KICKS OFF NEW YEAR
• Dean College opens its doors for Sunday brunch
• Collecting used bikes
• The cost of attention (video)

Monday - Sep 5

A thoughtful post from Seth Godin and a TED video on the magic of truth and lies. Good viewing!

• The post-industrial revolution is here
• The magic of truth and lies (video)

Week ending - Sep 4, 2011

Everyone is probably happy to say goodbye Irene! The Hurricane made its way up the east coast, hit Manhattan and Vermont head on. The damage to Vermont is going to take a long time to recover from. Western MA was also hit significantly with flood damage. Most of our area sustained wind damage and lasting electricity outages. 

Sunday - Sep 4

Geoffrey Zub is improving Franklin's entries on Google maps. With the lingering water, mosquitoes are now around. What is the labor situation as we head into Labor Day?

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• "improving the map for all users"
• PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY: mosquito alert
• In the News: SNAP benefits, Irene update
• Jobs and the Massachusetts Economy on Labor Day 2011

Saturday - Sep 3

Chris Clay was a fount of info during the garden walkabout.  Sustainable fishing and updates on the MOMS Club and important info on SNAP benefits.

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• Community Garden Walkabout
• "a global fishing crisis that is masked by sparkling blue waters"
• In the News - MOMS Club, Irene help

Friday - Sep 2

Parents of boys should view the short video. Mass Budget has and update on school funding. Franklin, Bellingham and Milford continue to push back on the proposed EPA regulations to control phosphorus in the Charles River basin.

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• The demise of guys (video)
• In the News - mosquitoes, electricity
• Public School Funding in Massachusetts: Where We Are, What Has Changed, and How We Compare to Other States
• In the News - youth baseball, Vallee
• Another School Year!
• Towns may get delay on river fix

Thursday - Sep 1

For those looking for work, there was a good event on Friday (recap here), an update on the electrical restoration process and another Mass Budget report.

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• Final Prep for Job Search Jam Sessions
• "a lack of electricity four days after"
• Updated Fiscal Fallout Report & Updated Budget Browser

Wednesday - August 31

Multiple updates on events post-Irene, Beaver St expands hours, school start is delayed and the YMCA is running a membership promotion.

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• YMCA - September Membership Promotion
• New partnership with Greater Boston Food Bank
• In the News - schools, FSPA, FYHA
• Beaver St Recycling Hours
• Franklin Public Schools: Opening Delayed until Sep 6

Tuesday - August 30

Photos from the walk around Franklin on Monday, the YMCA opens its doors to those without electricity and some school announcements.

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• Tree damage
• "it doesn't show any sign of coming back"
• Y Opens Doors to Residents Without Power
• Franklin Public Schools: Open House/Classroom Visits
• Franklin Public Schools: Professional Development Schedule 8/30/11

Monday - August 29

Without electricity, I was conserving my laptop battery power so there was only one item published.

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Powerless and lucky

Week ending Aug 28, 2011

Looking back on the week in Franklin, MA:

Monday - 8/22

Articles on the expansion of farmers' markets, use of local produce in school lunches, talk of a waiver for MA from the NCLB requirements, and update from the FTC on product warranties and the Y announces some races for Sep 10.

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• YMCA announces races on Sep 10th
• "fewer soggy chicken nuggets"
• "people want convenience"
• product warranties
• "A waiver for Massachusetts could lift a burden"
• "Economic inequality"

Tuesday - 8/23

High PCC meeting schedule is published, a recap of the Planning Board meeting, updates on Downtown Partnership events, the agenda for the School Committee meeting and a good video from TED on listening.

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• Summer time. Crickets. Waves.
• Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - 8/23/11
• Networking Luncheon and Harvest Fest Reminders
• "It's clear that the unit has to be on-site"
• Franklin High School PCC Meetings Set--Franklin, MA

Wednesday - 8/24


The United Regional Chamber of Commerce announces a sustainability seminar, info from the Red Cross to prepare for a hurricane, info on the upcoming Job Search Jam Session (do you know someone out of work? this is for them!) and another good video this time from the ImprovEverywhere group in NYC.

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• Say Something Nice!
• Let Hopkinton be the start!
• Hurricane Info from the Red Cross
• Business Sustainability Seminar

Thursday - 8/25

The bus routes have been published, an update from our neighbors in Wrentham on a mapping project they have underway, local officials are pushing back on the proposed EPA Stormwater regulations and a new sign found at the end of the northbound Exit 16 onto King St that recognizes the Wrestling Team.

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• FHS Wrestlers recognized
• "This is not a partisan issue ... This is a money issue"
• Mapping Wrentham
• Franklin Schools' 2011-2012 Bus Routes

Friday - 8/26

A little word fun today with the repetitive use of "making" to announce a can and bottle drive, recognize a girls efforts to create a dog park, an update on the candidates for Franklin's town election in November, a new survey says Franklin is not a good community for walking, and a reminder about the farmers' market.

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• Making a purchase!
• Making strides - yes or no?
• Making a race!
• Making the way for dogs!
• Making a drop off (for the can drive slated on Sept. 10)

Saturday - 8/27

Sen Spilka and Congressman McGovern got the word out on hurricane preparations, a last minute notice for a walkabout in the community garden and a photo of the Big Y taking a step forward (finally).

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• Big Y takes some action
• Community Garden Walkabout - August 27th 9am-11am
• US Congressman Jim McGovern: Hurricane Irene: Be Prepared
• State Senator Karen Spilka: Staying Safe During Hurricane Irene

Sunday - 8/28

More hurricane related items, an electronics recycling event in Providence, info on my preparations for the Franklin election in November and finally some changes to the website to be aware of.

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• Franklin MAtters: Changes to be aware of
• How will you decide?
• Drop off, Donate and Volunteer - Stuff Harvest
• All Commuter Rail Lines/Routes Alert
• NationalGrid: Hurricane Irene Preparedness

FM #92 - Week ending Apr 10, 2011

Let's spend a few minutes reviewing what matters in Franklin, MA as the week comes to a close April 10th.

Time: 5 minutes, 58 seconds




MP3 File

Show Notes:

This internet radio show or podcast is number 92 in the series for Franklin Matters.

We'll look back at the week that was as it comes to a close Sunday Apr 10 before getting to the outlook on the week ahead.

As we mentioned last week, the Finance Committee was scheduled to meet on Tuesday. With the budget book not scheduled to be ready until the end of April, the meeting was canceled. The FINCOM budget hearings have been scheduled for May 2, 3, 5, 9 and 10. The calendar on Franklin Matters has been updated accordingly.

The Milford Daily News ran an article on this updated schedule and in the article stated:

Town Council Chairman Scott Mason said the budget deficit probably will not be as bad as the $4 million to $6 million councilors predicted last year. He said he does not expect the council to seek an override this year.

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/04/does-not-expect-council-to-seek.html

So be it.

The Town Council met this week and spent time on the public hearing for the Nu-Style building which is getting closer to demolition and clean up than ever before. Several of the councilors created great sound bites on how long it is taken to do this. Jeff Nutting has the best comment in response:

My notes showed he said something like

”We have been trying to take care of the environment and minimize the Franklin tax dollars in the process.“

The good news from the Council meeting was their action to create a “Community Gardens Committee.” Five members were appointed all from the group that has been working on this for the past several months. This is a great step forward. The King St Memorial Fields will be the site for about 40 raised bed gardens to be set up in May. You can follow the events on the website
http://www.franklincommunitygardens.org/

My full set of notes from the Council meeting can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/04/town-council-040611.html


As for town meetings this week

The School Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Apr 12. As we record this on Sunday, the agenda has not yet been posted.

The Long Range Financial Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on Weds. They are likely to pick up the discussion on the questions that they drafted as ones to be answered.

Earth Day comes Saturday. The DPW will set up at Beaver Pond to coordinate the clean up efforts of as many want to volunteer.
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/2011-earth-day-april-16th-at-beaver.html


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This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin. I can use your help. 

How can you help, you ask? 
If you have an interest in writing about something that matters in Franklin, please let me know.

As always - 

• If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like this, please tell me.

This feedback loop is important. Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visitFranklinmatters.blogspot.com/
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!