Franklin MAtters Weekly

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Week ending - Oct 9, 2011

The summary of the week that was. I'll spare you the commentary for now. I need to collect my thoughts before expressing them.

Sun - 10/09

Sat - 10/08

Fri - 10/07

Thu - 10/06

Weds - 10/05

Tues - 10/04

Mon - 10/03

Sunday, October 2, 2011

The Harvest Festival will hopefully dodge a downpour and draw crowds of folks to downtown Franklin on Sunday.

Sun - 10/2

Links to the key video segments from the School Committee and Town Council meetings are posted for your convenience. The candidate profile continues with one on Roberta Trahan for the School Committee.

Key Video Segments

In the News - Trahan

Sat - 10/1

Preparing for the Harvest Festival, the Passport can be picked up at key locations around downtown. Dean College celebrates their new Campus Center. The Y is stalking up walking to school on Weds. The Senior Circuit break increases by $10 this year. The Milford Daily News starts a series of candidate profiles with Ed Cafasso.

Fri - 9/30

The chart of the attendance records for the Town Council tells a story. The Downtown Partnership prepares for the Harvest Festival this Sunday. The Y is hosting two community awareness meetings on child sexual abuse. The Fire Dept main station will be open during the Harvest Festival on Sunday. Mount St Mary's Abbey holds an open house for their new candy building.

Thu - 9/29

Hamilton Storage got the headlines coming out of the Town Council meeting Weds night. The Charles River won an international award, a telling sign of the progress made on improving the water quality. The Metacomet Land Trust is holding a presentation on bats. I watched video broadcast of the Town Council meeting on Weds and reported on it in real time. (Note: had I been in the Council Chambers, it would have been "live reporting".)

Wed - 9/28

News from the Milford Daily with the lead article on the School Committee meeting Tues and the announcement of the new contract with the Teachers union.

"we approach education collaboratively"

In the News: fire, fraud, culture, time

Tue - 9/27

The reality of the budget cuts are starting to be felt with slower response times from the Fire Dept. The School Building Committee met on Monday and worked on some design changes to the 'model school'. Spraying for mosquitoes was announced.

Mon - 9/26

Franklin's newsletter "The Express Line" was published with info on the high school building time line, the DPW and other town news. The Food Pantry sent out their fall update via email and it was shared here.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Week ending Sep 25, 2011

Another week, another summary. The short skinny - the election card is almost finalized. Almost, as the candidates will be certified by Oct 4th and can withdraw up to Oct 6th. The last day to register to vote is October 19th.

Sun - Sep 25

The paintball challenge was successful in raising over $500 for the Food Pantry. Thanks to Glenn Jones for leading that effort. The Commuter Rail will be running late today and next Sunday due to track work.

"You don't really think of this as a fundraising place"
Franklin commuter line will be delayed Sept. 25, Oct. 2

Sat - Sep 24

The Town Council agenda and supporting documents for their meeting Sep 28 is available for review. The Community Garden changed some of the hours they will be available this weekend. Matthew Glass is suffering from the lingering effects of his concussion.

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - 9/28/11

"lingering effects of a severe concussion"

Garden Office Hours - changed

Fri - Sep 23

Matthew Glass was in the news Thu as the alerts spread and he was found. The Community Gardens will be busy this weekend. MassBudget publishes some good info from the recent release of census data. An EEE alert as it has been found in nearby Medway. The 7th Annual Run for Bob is coming up Sat Oct 1.

Thu - Sep 22

The annual Harvest Festival is coming Oct 2, Five Guys helps with a fund raiser on Oct 19th, and Sparky's puppets appear at the Library. Franklin Music Boosters is putting together their annual ad book.

Wed - Sep 21

For any one heading out to Western MA, Route 2 is something to be aware of. A Paintball challenge to benefit the Food Pantry, and a choice of yard sales. A reminder on candidate interviews being scheduled to find out about them and what they will do should they get elected.

Tue - Sep 20

There are races for Town Clerk, Treasurer, Town Council (12 for 9 spots), School Committee (10 for 7 spots) among the highlights. Timely issue of resources by the FTC for alcohol resellers given the recent problems selling to underage drinkers.

Mon - Sep 19

Franklin's DPW scheduled the annual harzardous waste collection, the Nov 8 ballot is being confirmed today with candidates due to turn in their papers and a heads up for the Waterfire in Providence.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Week ending Sep 18, 2011

There is a lot happening on the election front in preparation for November 8. The last day to take out papers to run for one of the many open positions was Friday, Sep 16 and the last day to return the papers is Monday, Sep 19. After the signatures have been counted and the nomination papers certified we will know what the line up looks like.

After Town Clerk Deb Pellegri spoke at the Town Council meeting letting people know that there were openings still, there was a rush of business. (Video segment available here) If all the papers get turned in and certified, we could have some competition for Town Council and School Committee. We should have a choice. Folks who care about Franklin should volunteer to help the community. Running for a local government position is one of the many ways to give back.

Sunday - 9/18

The Franklin Downtown Partnership networking lunch scheduled for Fri, 9/23 and the possibility f the Blackstone River Valley becoming a national park provide some balance for the other two posts related to bicycles. One Milford turned out to clean their bike path in advance of a formal ribbon cutting next weekend and the REcycle club at Franklin High gathered 65 bikes and over $200 for Bikes Not Bombs on Saturday.

Sat - 9/17

A couple of photos from local contributors from the Back to Football Friday event at Parmenter, Berry Insurance is collecting Halloween costumes and the Milford Daily News has articles on Dean College, Ellis Paul and the FPAC season that was just announced.

Fri - 9/16

The Kennedy Community Playground announces 2 fund raising events, Chief Steve Williams discusses retirement, a reminder on the Framer's Market, Cultural Council and Women's Club were in the Milford Daily News.

Thu - 9/15

The Town Council meeting accounts for most of the postings as I did get to attend in person and it was a good meeting to catch. Chief Steve Williams resignation was announced. Joe McGann will let the voters decide if he should be on the Town Council (with only a 54% attendance record since Nov 2009). Four liquor license suspensions were discussed and approved for those caught selling liquor to minors.

Wed - 9/14

Mount St Mary's Abbey announces their Open House of their new candy building. Census data is released revealing updates on health care and poverty data. Office hours for Rep Vallee. Kennedy School announces a bottle and can fund raiser.

Tue - 9/13

The School Committee published their agenda including their District Improvement Plan. The Citizens Rail Trail Committee was also meeting Tuesday night. Mower N More announced a preseason tune up special for snow blowers.