Showing posts with label newsletter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label newsletter. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Big things happening at the Children's Museum of Franklin

This newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content, please -> Follow this link to view the content



Friends,

Big things are coming here at Children's Museum of Franklin and we are so grateful to have you along for the journey. We've seen thousands of you at our Mobile Museum events, bringing us joy and energy as we grow this community. Thanks to all those who were able to join us this past Saturday at the Annie Sullivan Middle School.

Your support through participation in the below events and generous donations are essential to help us expand our reach and community. Now is the time, especially, to secure your tickets to our upcoming benefit event! More to come soon, but, until then, read on!



Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Listen in as Mitzi & I talk about the March happenings at the Franklin Library (audio)

FM #1152 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1152 in the series. 


This session shares my conversation with Mitzi Gousie, Programming and Outreach Librarian with the Franklin Public Library. We had our discussion at the Franklin TV Studios on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.

 

We talk about 

  • Reviewed the regular open hours, and month ending holiday times

  • Library events for March 2024

    • Kiddos, or “littles”

    • Family

    • Adults


The show notes include links to the Library page and to the calendar of events where registration for some of the events is required/recommended..


The recording runs about 32 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1152-franklin-public-library-march-2024-highlights-02-28-24



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Mitzi Gousie’s email -> mgousie@minlib.net 


Event highlights we covered in this conversation

https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/news/march-2024-franklin-library-news-events 


Franklin Public Library page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library 


Library Calendar of Events ->  http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/F/FRANKLIN/ekp.cfm 


Stellarium - open source sky viewing software https://stellarium.org/


Eclipse viewers -> https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters 


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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"


Listen in as Mitzi & I talk about the March happenings at the Franklin Library (audio)
Listen in as Mitzi & I talk about the March happenings at the Franklin Library (audio)


Congressman Auchincloss: An Update For the past 2 weeks (03/05/24)


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LAST 2 WEEKS IN REVIEW

I'm your representative in Congress and I write to keep you informed.

  • Standing with our allies
  • 30th anniversary of the Brady Bill
  • Attorneys General share support for my drug-pricing efforts
  • Protecting kids online with the Dads Caucus
  • Talking transportation with Radio Boston

          —

  • The state of Massachusetts manufacturing
  • Medically tailored meals in Mansfield
  • Virtual Roundtables with constituents across the district

On the Hill

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Standing with our allies: I joined CNN to discuss funding for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Putin's murder of Alexei Navalny is emblematic of his drive towards autocratic governance – a repressive vision shared by dictators like Xi Jinping. Ukraine is fighting on the front lines against this assault on democracy. Navalny's murder underscores why it is so critical to fund Ukraine and all our democratic allies abroad. 

Next, we turned to the Israel-Hamas war. I stressed the immediate need to secure the return of the hostages, surge aid, and deny Hamas, which has immiserated the Palestinian people and vowed to repeat the atrocities of October 7th, any role in postwar governance of Gaza. 

Right now, there is a deal on the table that would enable a temporary ceasefire, unlock aid, and return many of the hostages. Israel has agreed to it. For the sake of the hostages and the Palestinian people, Hamas must accept it.

Then, I followed up with WBUR, where I explained why Speaker Mike Johnson won't bring the Senate's national security bill to the House floor: he's afraid of Trump. The House has the votes to pass funding for our allies in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as humanitarian aid to Gaza; it has the support of a bipartisan majority. But the MAGA flank is vociferous, and Speaker Johnson fears they'll move to oust him for standing up to what a former Bush 41 foreign policy advisor has called the GOP's "bizarre romance with Russian authoritarianism." 

Speaker Johnson does not have control of his conference and is on the way out, regardless. His legacy will be defined by whether he stands with Ukraine.

Recognizing 30 years of the Brady Bill: I shared my thoughts with you last week on the enduring legacy of the Brady Bill, which has blocked almost 4.9 million illegal gun transactions since its enactment in 1994. Last Congress, we passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act – the first major piece of gun safety legislation since Brady's passage. 90 percent of Americans – Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike – want to expand Brady to include universal background checks and strengthen extreme risk protection orders, or "red flag" laws, to prevent criminals from purchasing guns. I am committed to going beyond thoughts and prayers and to working with members of good conscience across the aisle to enact bipartisan, common-sense gun safety legislation that will end the scourge of gun violence in America. 

Attorneys General share support for my drug-pricing efforts: I was happy to see Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell and a coalition of attorneys general from across the country send a letter to Congressional Leadership last week in support of drug-pricing legislation that I helped introduce in the House. The letter states that "the DRUG Act, Protecting Patients Against PBM Abuses Act, and The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act…would be an important step toward reforming this industry." Among other things, these bills would de-link PBM compensation from the cost of medications, prohibit spread pricing and patient steering, and prohibit PBMs from paying affiliated pharmacies more than independent community pharmacies. In plain English: they would help lower drug prices for patients!

I have been encouraged to see the efforts of state regulators and law enforcement to stop PBMs from evading state law and regulations. Now, Congress must pass legislation so that state and federal regulators have the necessary tools to work together to finally hold drug-pricing middlemen accountable.

Talking transportation with Radio Boston: I spoke with WBUR about my ideas for replacing the federal gas tax with state and local funding mechanisms as we look toward a transportation system unencumbered by automobile dominance. The federal government induces states and cities to choose highways over transit by offering better deals on funding for these projects. Owning two cars shouldn't be a precondition to participate in civil society.

In a 2022 op-ed, I explained why the federal gas tax would be better used to subsidize locally-sponsored projects that promote walkability, micromobility, and transit: 
"The benefits of reforming federal highway funding and changing the way we spend the federal gas tax would be swift and tangible. First, giving states and cities more latitude will encourage local innovation, helping us find better transportation solutions and root out failed practices.

Second, it will compel honest accounting of the cost of car-centric infrastructure. Right now, federal gas tax revenue incentivizes states to build and build without thinking about the compounded costs of maintaining an ever-expanding roadway, which are paid for by our children in the form of federal debt. Eliminating that revenue stream eliminates that unsustainable incentive. 

Third, a transparent account of the costs of maintenance will make it more likely that states implement strategies like congestion pricing and improved alternative mobility options, like cycling lanes, rail, and on-demand transit. The transition will be disruptive to politicians and bureaucrats, but the net effect will be a lower carbon footprint, better mobility, and more walkable downtowns." 

Protecting kids online: I was appointed Chair of a new Congressional Dads Caucus working group focused on children's mental health and online safety. The Technology, Media, and the Family Working Group will convene subject matter experts to educate members on issues related to modern technology and media and their impact on families, particularly children. 

As a millennial parent in Congress, I know parents shouldn't have to wrestle with trillion-dollar social media corporations over what's best for their children. Meta, TikTok, and the rest are attention-fracking America's youth, but they are so big and profitable that they have knocked down objectors. As Chair of this working group, I am intent on taking on their corporate greed to protect our children's mental health, cognitive development, and sense of self.

Are you concerned about the impact of social media on children's mental health?

 

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Around the Fourth

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The state of manufacturing in MA: I joined State Senator Paul Feeney and MassMEP at CPS Technologies in Norton to discuss how I am working to help equip Bay Staters to pursue the roughly 150,000 manufacturing jobs that require moderate on-the-job training, but no experience or degree. We also discussed the current landscape of manufacturing in Massachusetts. The Voice of the Manufacturer Survey in Massachusetts quantified my own impression from dozens of conversations with manufacturers across our district: access to talent is the most significant concern right now. According to the survey, 'availability of skilled labor' was the most commonly cited impediment to growth.

To build a skilled workforce for the 21st century, there are two steps Congress should take that would secure our border and our economic future:

  • Pass the bipartisan DIGNITY Act, which would help secure the border and provide documentation & dignity for immigrants, while also creating a skills fund, open to all, for apprenticeships and earn-and-learn programs financed by fees and back-taxes from naturalization; and
  • Encourage the federal government to set a better example in its own hiring practices by not defaulting to degree requirements that screen out qualified applicants without degrees.

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Medically tailored meals in Mansfield: I also joined Community Servings, a nonprofit organization that prepares and delivers medically tailored meals for patients and their families, at their Mansfield ribbon-cutting ceremony. The thought leaders and volunteers at Community Servings are not only helping people in a moment of illness and insecurity; studies indicate that they are also taking costs out of the health care system by treating the whole person, including their daily nutrition needs. I hope Community Servings' approach to food as medicine can help inspire a broader societal reckoning with our appetite for the high-sugar, ultra-processed foods that are ultimately making us sicker.

Virtual roundtables with constituents across the district: Over the past two weeks, I held a series of virtual roundtables with constituents in Brookline, North Attleborough, Mansfield, Sharon, Dover, Sherborn, Needham, Blackstone, Millville, Medfield, and Taunton. We discussed a wide range of topics from immigration, the Israel-Hamas war, and aid to Ukraine and our allies abroad to funding for complex disease research and access to multimodal transportation. I am encouraged by my neighbors' eagerness to engage in conversations about how federal policy impacts them at home. I value these virtual roundtable conversations with constituents and, along with phone calls, online opinion submissions, and informal conversations across the district with residents, it helps me to better serve as your voice and vote in Congress. 

In addition to these community-centered conversations, I invited students from across MA-04 to join me for a virtual roundtable during the February school break. These bright students came prepared with great questions about the House, improving access to diabetes medications, what I did for fun at their age (read American history), and my favorite part of being a Member of Congress (calling high school seniors who have been accepted into military service academies).

Onwards,

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Jake

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WASHINGTON
15 Independence Avenue SE
1524 Longworth HOB

Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5931

NEWTON
29 Crafts Street
Suite 375
Newton, MA 02458
Phone: (617) 332-3333

ATTLEBORO
8 North Main Steet
Suite 200

Attleboro, MA 02703
Phone: (508) 431-1110


Contact




 

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Saturday, March 2, 2024

Rausch Report: Leaping Ahead (February 2024)


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Dear Friend,

Happy Leap Day! The Senate marked the occasion by leaping into a formal session to once again pass the Healthy Youth Act, a bill that codifies critical updates to schools' sex and relationship education curricula (more on this below). February may be short on days but it's long on legislative strides and district activity, including constituent meetings, numerous legislative and in-district events, and shepherding my legislative portfolio even closer to the finish line. 

  

This month is also Black History Month, which the Senate celebrated by welcoming a permanent bust of Frederick Douglass to the chamber in a memorable unveiling ceremony. Among the distinguished speakers in attendance was Dr. Noelle Trent, President and CEO of the Museum of African American History, who spoke about Douglass' life, work, and connections to Boston, where his legendary oratorical career began. This bust of Douglass, complementing his quote on the chamber's back wall and the first bust to be added to the chamber in 125 years, recognizes a true founding father of the civil rights movement and our nation. It was a privilege to be present for the unveiling. This month also marked an important milestone on the legislative calendar: Joint Rule 10 Day, the deadline for all bills to receive a committee report or an extension. I'm proud to say that 22 of my bills have been reported favorably out of committee so far and are advancing through the legislative process! The Senate already passed one of my bills earlier this term and another 18 are still moving through the committee process. Our legislative portfolio is achieving great success.

As Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources, I have been hard at work in partnership with my House Co-Chair Dan Cahill, issuing reports on more than 300 bills by the February 7 deadline. The bills we reported out favorably cover a wide range of policy areas, from wetlands protection to hazardous waste management to air quality and water access equity. 

Read ahead in this month's Rausch Report for legislative updates, a roundup of district events, a call for nominations for Women's History Month, a look ahead at upcoming youth engagement opportunities, and more. 

For real-time updates, please follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. If you are a constituent and need assistance, please don't hesitate to call me and my team at (617) 722-1555, email me at becca.rausch@masenate.gov, or attend upcoming office hours. We are here to help.     


Yours in service,  

 
Senator Becca Rausch   

This newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content, please visit -> View this link in your browser

Our mailing address is:
The Office of Senator Becca Rausch
Massachusetts State House, Room 215
24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133

Friday, March 1, 2024

Franklin Senior Center: The Senior Connection Newsletter for March 2024 is ready for your reading pleasure

March 2024 Senior Connection Newsletter

The Senior Connection Newsletter for March 2024
The Senior Connection Newsletter for March 2024 

Hello!

Here is Franklin Senior Center's March 2024 Senior Connection Newsletter. Take a look at all the fun programs to keep you active, social, and engaged!

Start registering for programs on Friday, March 1st by coming in to the Senior Center or giving us a call!

Happy March :)

-Your Franklin Senior Center Family


Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-senior-center/pages/franklin-senior-center-march-2024-senior-connection-newsletter

Monday, February 26, 2024

Congressman Auchincloss: An Update for the past 2 weeks (as of 2/23/24)

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LAST 2 WEEKS IN REVIEW

I'm your representative in Congress and I write to keep you informed.

On the Hill

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Supporting our allies: Alongside my Democratic national security colleagues, I called on Speaker Mike Johnson to immediately take up the Senate's aid package that includes funding for our allies in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as humanitarian aid for Gaza. 

Ukraine has the willpower to win, but it needs the firepower. The bipartisan bill to support our ally passed the Senate and has the votes to pass the House. One man stands in the way: Speaker Johnson, who refuses to let the People's House work its will. 

Reagan Republicans in the House must help Democrats force this legislation to the floor.

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Congressional Ukraine Caucus: I joined my colleagues to introduce a resolution commemorating the two year anniversary of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine and recognizing the heroic sacrifices of the Ukrainian people. It is unacceptable that the Speaker sent Congress home without a vote on supporting Ukraine. While House Republicans fundraised in Florida, the Russians captured Avdiivka. How many more cities must fall before Speaker Johnson cuts short the vacation? 

The bipartisan Ukraine Caucus stands with our ally in their fight for freedom.

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Championing the debate for Ukraine: There are too many speeches in Congress, and not enough debate. Representative Warren Davidson and I debated on A Starting Point about Ukraine. Appeasement does not work; Russia must be defeated. You can watch the whole debate here.

T&I goes off the rails: The Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing on the state of American aviation, but my Republican colleagues spent the morning berating the Federal Aviation Administrator about the migrant crisis. If they want answers, they should ask the Speaker why he torpedoed a bipartisan immigration deal to secure the border and address the migrant crisis.

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Happy 100th birthday to Matthew Jefferson: I gave a floor speech to recognize Matthew Jefferson in honor of his 100th birthday. Matt Jefferson and his late wife, Lillie, worked to eliminate racial, educational and economic barriers in Newton. As Black residents in an overwhelmingly white city, they devoted themselves to their religious community, the Myrtle Baptist Church; their neighborhood known as the "Village" in West Newton built around Myrtle; and the civil rights of people of color. Matt and Lillie helped found the Newton Interracial Fellowship to bring racial equity to Newton and helped form Newton's Fair Housing Committee, established to eliminate racial bias in housing. 

In 1968, Matt was appointed to the Board of Aldermen, becoming Newton's first Black Alderman. The Board instituted the Fair Housing requirement that at least 10% of any large housing development filing for a special permit be "affordable." Furthermore, he served on many boards and committees including the Newton Wellesley Hospital, Andover Newton Theological School, Middlesex Community College, Newton Housing Authority, and President of the South Middlesex Branch of the NAACP, among others. Above all else, Matt is known for his kindness and generosity. He is a mentor, leader, family man and a fierce advocate for social justice, and I am proud to recognize Mr. Jefferson's accomplishments this Black History Month. Happy 100th birthday Mr. Jefferson! 

It's been two years since Russia invaded Ukraine. Do you think the U.S. still needs to stand up to Russia and defend Ukraine?

 

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Around the Fourth

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China Select Committee visits MA: The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party recently conducted field hearings in Massachusetts to study biotech competition between China and the United States. Bio-manufacturing in places like Fall River, Norton, and Plainville in our district complement Greater Boston's outsize contribution to R&D, driving the bioeconomy forward. The bio-economy is a big prize; the life sciences provide jobs, cures, and new applications in fields like agriculture and materials. I got to preview the trip with WPRI 12. You can watch it here

The Committee wants to study how the U.S. should respond to China's major investments in biotech. In my op-ed for the Boston Globe, I explain that Massachusetts shows us how: by supporting talented people; by passing policy that promotes makers, not takers; and by providing biotech infrastructure. Two steps in the right direction would be to fully appropriate the basic research provisions of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which would unlock more public money for science, and reverse the Trump-era amortization penalty on research and experimental expenditures, which would unlock more private money for science and which just passed the House, with my support.

The broader economic and technological competition between the U.S. and China has two core elements: getting tougher on trade with China while increasing U.S. investments at home and U.S. engagement with the Global South – countries like Indonesia, Nigeria, and Brazil. In a recent interview with Inside U.S. Trade, I argue that the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party must convince Congress of both elements.

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Milford Senior Center town hall: I visited with seniors at the Milford Senior Center, where we discussed border security and immigration reform, Ukraine aid, and health care in a Q&A session hosted by the senior center. 

I also highlighted that, beginning this year, Medicare Part D beneficiaries, particularly those suffering from cancer, will start seeing lower out-of-pocket costs for their prescription drugs. Starting next year, there will be a hard cap of $2,000 for annual out-of-pocket costs in Part D, benefitting thousands of seniors in our district. These reductions are part of the 2022 legislation that empowered Medicare to negotiate drug prices; I am now working to lower this cap further through my own legislation.

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Building opportunities with Consigli: I visited family-owned Consigli Construction, which has an impressive portfolio of Eds & Meds construction projects here in Massachusetts. I met with their leadership to share notes on healthcare and life sciences economic trends and to discuss political dynamics in Washington. Employers are seeking stability and competence in governance, so that they can make their own long-term decisions. As your Representative, I am committed to working across the aisle to pass needed legislation on healthcare, taxes, and foreign policy.

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Honoring Black History Month with the Attleboro Council on Human Rights: I spoke at the Attleboro Arts Museum, where the Museum and the Attleboro Council on Human Rights teamed up for Black History Month to invite Black artists to reimagine Civil War artifacts through their own artwork. I was inspired by art that emphasized "our common humanity", even in times of division and strife, in the words of one of the artists. I also particularly enjoyed Reverend Cheryl Harris's speech on the role of song in Black history.

Onwards,

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Jake

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WASHINGTON
15 Independence Avenue SE
1524 Longworth HOB

Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5931

NEWTON
29 Crafts Street
Suite 375
Newton, MA 02458
Phone: (617) 332-3333

ATTLEBORO
8 North Main Steet
Suite 200

Attleboro, MA 02703
Phone: (508) 431-1110


Contact