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0 Frank 1 0 2 e c lin’s Original Newspaper Sin
Helping Hands Florist Helps HMEA Clients Grow
By J.D. O’Gara
What could be more pleasing to the senses than a bouquet of flowers? The colors and shapes, fragrance and textures can be wonderful to experience, and now, through Helping Hands Florist, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities served by the Franklin –based, nonprofit HMEA can work with flowers in a new employment opportunity. HMEA’s newest employment initiative, Helping Hands Florist, 1 George St., Plainville, opened in October and celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting organized by The United Regional Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 2. Later, on January 6, the new florist received a proclamation from the State of Massachusetts from none other than Sen. Richard Ross. Helping Hands Florist is a full service floral shop operated by the clients of HMEA who have developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Franklin Forms Building Committee for Library Expansion Design By J.D. O’Gara
Helping Hands Florist, which recently opened in Plainville, is a fullservice florist that offers arrangements designed and prepared by people with disabilities, supported by Franklin-based HMEA. From left, Melissa Benharis, Michelle Girard-Lynds and John Bolger.
“We’re always looking for employment opportunities for our people with disabilities,” says Doug MacPherson, Vice President of Development and Public Relations for HMEA. “One of our direct care employees, Michelle Girard-Lynds,
asked, why don’t we use their creativity to design and make floral arrangements?” “I used to manage the flower shop at Brigg’s,” says Girard-
HMEA
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February 1, 2015
When the current Franklin Public Library building was built in 1904, the town population was just 5,000. Eighty-four years later, when 20,000 people lived in Franklin, the building was expanded with the addition of the children’s wing, and now, with the town population about 33,186, the town finally agreed that the library building should grow with it. In mid-December, the town formed a 10-person building committee to oversee the design of a 2-story 6,000 square-foot, currently estimated $6.6 million addition to the library. This committee includes: Felicia Oti, Library Director, Monique Doyle, Library Trustee Sandra Brandfonbrener, Library Trustee
Nancy Rappa, Library ssociation member Joseph Mullin, Friends Group Tom Mercer, Town Council Matt Kelley, Town Council Judy Pfeffer, Town Council Bids from architects are due this month, and the committee will meet this month to consider the proposals and choose an architect to come up with a preliminary design and a more updated cost estimate. It will also hire a project manager. The three phases recommended by a 2007 feasibility study of the Franklin Library had been exterior repairs, which were completed in 2009, bringing the HVAC, plumbing and electrical up to code and finally, an addition, says Felicia Oti, Library Director.
Jim Roche, citizen
library
Chris Feeley, citizen
continued on page 5
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