Disability Expo schedule for May 4 at the Franklin Senior Center

The 2nd Disability Expo will be held at the Franklin Senior Center on Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 11 AM to 2 PM.

This expo will have numerous exhibitors set up at tables that you can visit in order to learn more about a variety of disability-related resources, activities, and support!

Entry is free! 

There will also be free door prizes too!

When: Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 11 AM to 2 PM

Where: Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street Franklin, MA 02038

Listen to Mary O'Neill talk with me about the Disability Expo. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1177-disability-expo-mary-oneill-04-19-24

Download the flyer as a reminder and to share ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zZ9ww6uM75VA_izUQ3l2_Z8ZkMUpo8wD/view?usp=drive_link

Disability Expo schedule for May 4 at the Franklin Senior Center

Comprehensive School Facility Plng Subcommittee recommends Option A for redistricting (audio)

FM #1181 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1181 in the series. 

This session shares the Comprehensive School Facility Planning Subcommittee meeting of Thursday, April 25, 2024. Subcommittee Chair Dave Callaghan, Al Charles, Erin Gallagher, Supt Lucas Giguere, Asst Supt Dr Tina Rogers, Asst Supt Paula Marano, Business Administrator Dr Bob Dutch participated.

Review of the feedback from the focus groups on visioning and portrait of the graduate were reviewed.

Facility proposal outlined with 2 options on how to handle the elementary schools. Option A to keep the facility as K-5, Option B to split the K-2 and 3-5. Option B would introduce a transition and put aside. It also did not align with feedback from the focus groups.

Subcommittee recommended to bring Option A forward to the School Committee meeting Tuesday, April 30.

The meeting recording runs about 70 minutes. Audio link https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1181-comprehensive-school-facility-plng-mtg-04-25-24

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Agenda for this session ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/04/fps-comprehensive-facilities-planning.html 

Letter to FPS community with summary -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/04/comprehensive-school-facilities.html 

My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF file -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WFZHjNN7Ggf7rMXmZN29PgtAQTHP-nO_/view?usp=drive_link

PDF file with the 3 maps, current state, Option A and Option B  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DO3B2-nn1S1wNucsrODU-nrIAWL7Meib/view?usp=drive_link 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/   or www.franklin.news 

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!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Town Council and School Committee hear from residents for or against an override, for June, or for Nov (audio in 2 parts)

FM #1179-80 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1179-80 in the series. 

This session shares the Joint Town Council & School Committee meeting of Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in 2 parts. All 9 Town Councilors and all 7 School Committee members participated.  Many town and school department managers were also present in the first couple of rows of the auditorium.

Over 400 folks were in the FHS auditorium, another 2-300 were online via YouTube at one point or another (and that tallied 800+ unique individuals by the time the meeting ended).

Part 1 

Covers the first 90 minutes of the meeting

• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen presented the FY 2025 budget

• School Superintendent Lucas Giguere accompanied by Business Administrator Dr Bob Dutch presented the school budget and issues

Audio link P1 -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1179-joint-town-council-school-cmte-mtg-04-24-24-p1-of-2

Part 2

The remaining 1 hour and 40 minutes covered the public comment and question section. Speakers were allocated 1 minute, most kept to the point.

Audio link P2 -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1180-joint-town-council-school-cmte-mtg-04-24-24-p2-of-2

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The Franklin TV broadcast of the 3 hour plus session is available for replay on YouTube ->   https://www.youtube.com/live/xMN27_nBPUU?si=aeSWZvxA-SMPJ6wo

Agenda for this session -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/april_10_2024_town_council_meeting_agenda.pdf 

Town presentation

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2024-04-24_fy25_budget_update_joint_sc_tc_meeting.pdf

School presentation

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy25_super_budget_sc_tc_presentation_4_24_24.pdf

My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF file -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h_7qKlYxPivFDjatz9mjtDg8lU-WMY_q/view?usp=drive_link 

Photo album with the slides as captured during the presentation on Wednesday

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qiHMQqYaertGjcqSA 

-------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

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!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

best depiction of 4 budgets for the portrait of a graduate

Senior Center hosts psychic medium Cathy Ripley Greene - April 26 at 6:30 PM

"Tickets on sale now!   

Join us this Friday at 6:30 as we host psychic medium Cathy Ripley Greene.  You don’t want to miss this great event!  Tickets $25"

Tickets are available at the Senior Center, you can stop by or call 508-520-4945

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/A6PGBvaYHRLMPdz9/

Senior Center hosts psychic medium Cathy Ripley Greene - April 26 at 6:30 PM

Cathy made an appearance for a fund raising event at the SAFE Coalition in January 2024. She also talked with Jim Derick and you can listen to their conversation in this episode of Chapters  ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/01/chapters-wfpr-jim-derick-dr-cathy.html

Dr Bergen & Dave Callaghan talk about the school budget in this Chalkboard Chat episode (audio)

FM #1178 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1178 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares this special episode of Chalkboard Chat with  Franklin School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan and former School Committee Chair Dr Anne Bergen. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Monday, April 22, 2024.  

Our conversation was a discussion around the school and Town budget issues in advance of the joint School Committee and Town Council meeting April 24 at 7 PM.  

During our conversation we address the key topics of 

• the rationale for the current school budget as “level service plus”

• the history behind the school budget cuts over the years (and resulting declining in academic performance)

• teachers and school personnel still providing a heroic effort in the face of challenges 

• rising special education costs and the creative inhouse programs saving the district (and taxpayers millions of dollars)

• the ‘old’ classroom is not today’s classroom, how the schools are telling that story

• redistricting status, fixing the holes in the prior studies to provide answers to all the questions that a long term facility plan should have

• how this is a “One Franklin” effort, the Town departments need more than they are getting in this budget, check out their needs listing

 

The conversation runs about 36 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Dr Bergen & Dave Callaghan. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1178-chalkboard-chat-school-budget-insights-04-22-24

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Contact info for Dave Callaghan  callaghand@franklinps.net 

Contact info for Dr Anne Bergen  annekbergen@gmail.com 

School Committee page => https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee 

School Budget page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget/pages/1-fy2025-budget 

Town FY 2025 budget narrative  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy_25_budget_message_narrative_updated_links_2.pdf 

Town FY 2025 budget book 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy25_ta_budget_book_v2.pdf 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Dr Bergen & Dave Callaghan talk about the school budget in this Chalkboard Chat episode (audio)

Mary O'Neill talks about the forthcoming Disability Expo scheduled for May 4th at the Franklin Senior Center (audio)

FM #1177 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1177 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Mary O’Neill, Franklin Commission on Persons with Disabilities. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Friday, April 19, 2024.  

We talk about the Disability Expo scheduled for the Franklin Senior Center on May 4, 2024 (yes, may the fourth be with you!). It will begin at 11 AM and run until 2 PM.

Free admission, free tickets to a couple of gift baskets, and plenty of resources to talk with about various aspects of disability.

If you have a question for Mary, you can reach her at 508-440-1265.

If you would like a “Kindness Matters” sign, text Mary at the same # and she’ll arrange for you to get one.  

The conversation runs about 12 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Mary. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1177-disability-expo-mary-oneill-04-19-24

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The Franklin Commission on Persons with Disabilities -> https://www.franklinma.gov/commission-persons-disabilities 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Mary & I talk about the forthcoming Disability Expo scheduled for May 4th at the Franklin Senior Center (audio)