Pols Blitz Franklin, Hear from Locals

All Politics Was Local on Friday: Foreground, L to R,  Councilor Ted Cormier-Leger, Rep. Jeff Roy, Congressman Jake Auchincloss, State Senator Becca Rausch. Back row, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Reference Librarian Vicki Earls.

A political delegation, led by Congressman Jake Auchincloss and also including State Senator Becca Rausch, Rep. Jeff Roy, and some members of the Town Council and Town Administrator Jamie Hellen traveled to and through Franklin from mid-day to mid-afternoon on Friday. 

The procession started at the Nu-Style "Brownfield" site on Grove Street, where the town has been seeking ways to cleanup and redevelop.  Subsequent stops included the prospective extension of the SNETT rail trail to Union Street, the Franklin Fire Department, and Franklin Public Library.

During the stop at the library, Reference Librarian Vicki Earls was asked to deliver a short impromptu talk on the town's history, the saga of Ben Franklin's donation of books, and the art and architecture of the 1904 Ray Memorial Building.

After visiting the library, the group headed to Dean, led by President Ken Elmore. In response to a questioner asking where the welcome center is at the school, Elmore quipped, "The Whole Campus is the Welcome Center!"

Congressman Jake Auchincloss and State Representative Jeff Roy also paid a visit to Tri-County RVTHS to meet with school administrators, School Committee members and tour the facility. It was the first time Congressman Auchincloss was on campus while Representative Roy, a long-time friend, had paid many visits to 147 Pond Street.

Following a gathering with members of TC’s Upper Administration, the duo toured the school with Superintendent Dr. Karen Maguire and School Committee member, past chair and TC alum Mr. Brian Mushnick.

“It gave our entire school community the utmost pride to host Congressman Auchincloss and Representative Roy,” Dr. Maguire said. “It is one thing to have conversations and exchange correspondence but to have these two men on campus and see with their own eyes all the great things going on within these walls, is a special moment for all of us.”

On the tour Congressman Auchincloss and Representative Roy were afforded the opportunity to interact with instructors and students while witnessing first-hand the plethora of benefits inherent in Career Technical Education (CTE). A productive dialogue took place in the hallways and stairwells between shops as Dr. Maguire enthusiastically discussed Tri-County’s future which includes a new facility.

Since its founding in 1977, the mission of Tri-County’s Regional Vocational Technical High School has been to provide an excellent comprehensive technical and academic education to regional high school students. State-of-the-art technical skills and knowledge are enriched and complemented by a solid foundation of academic skills. The school proudly serves the communities of Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole and Wrentham. For more, visit the school online at www.tri-county.us or any of our social media platforms.

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