Wednesday, December 2, 2020

December 2020 E-Newsletter News & Updates!

The Town of Franklin Coronavirus Information Portal is available on our homepage and is updated frequently to provide residents and business owners with the latest information and resources. Find Franklin specific data under the "Town of Franklin News" tab.
The Town is holding a special election on Saturday, December 5th to fill a vacant Town Council seat. Voting will be held at Franklin High School from 7:00am - 8:00pm.
  • The last day to request an absentee ballot is December 1st.
  • Mail in ballots can be returned in the official mailbox at the Municipal Building or via USPS.
  • Mail in ballots must be received by 8:00pm on December 5th, 2020.
Please find all information related to this election on our Town Clerk's website.
The Franklin Police Department is still collecting toys until December 15th at the police station. We had a very successful "Fill The Cruiser" drive over the weekend, but we still need help. Gift cards for older children also are very helpful, as they are harder to provide for. Gifts can be dropped off at the front desk.

Also please remember to have a 9pm routine where you make sure your valuables are out of your car, and you lock it up. Don't be an easy target for a thief by leaving your car open. Too many of these types of losses are preventable if people just get into a routine of securing, and locking up in the evening.
The School Committee recently adopted the skills, descriptors and the graphical representation of the District's Portrait of a Graduate. The Portrait of a Graduate represents the community's consensus of five essential skills each student practices and develops, individually and collaboratively through teamwork throughout all grades in Franklin Public Schools. Understanding that the development of these skills is a lifelong process, FPS looks to provide a foundation for graduates' future learning, growth, fulfillment, and success.

  • Confident & Self-Aware Individual
  • Empathetic & Productive Citizen
  • Reflective & Innovative Problem-Solver
  • Curious & Creative Thinker
  • Effective Communicator & Collaborator

Additional language that describes the skills in more detail can be found HERE.

Superintendent Sara Ahern and DT Facilities Analysis Subcommittee Chair Elise Stokes recently shared information related to the Davis Thayer Facilities Analysis with Franklin Matters via podcast. To learn more about the process and current findings, please listen to the podcast found here.
In partnership with Dean Bank and the Random Smile Project, we are excited to share our new economic development initiative - Franklin Gift Cards! The perfect shop local gift this holiday season! Learn more about where to purchase and redeem at www.franklingiftcard.com
Are you a local business owner looking for information? Email Anne Marie Tracey at traceya@franklinps.net
DRIVE- IN MOVIE
The Franklin Senior Center is hosting its first-ever Drive-in Movie! We will show the classic holiday movie, A Christmas Story on Friday, December 11th at 4:30 PM. Drive thru the Curbside Café to pick up your complimentary pizza, popcorn and soda, then park in the parking lot where sound will be broadcast directly to your car radio. Curbside Café opens at 4:00 PM and bathrooms will be made available. Space is limited; call to sign up for this fun event!  

GATRA Go United will be starting December 2020. 
This public transit service is an accessible curb to curb service that can be booked by an app similar to Uber or Lyft. If you do not have the app, you can also book by calling 800-698-7676 to book a ride. More information about the service can be found at www.gatra.org/gatra-go. This on-demand service is open to all residents of Foxborough, Franklin, Norfolk and Wrentham. The vehicle will come to your pick up location and drop you off anywhere within the town boundaries of Foxborough, Franklin, Norfolk and Wrentham, Monday-Friday between 7:00 AM-6:00 PM and Saturday between 9:00AM-6:00 PM.  
This service replaces the existing Franklin Area Bus and Tri-Town Connector fixed route bus services in the area. It will not replace the long distance dial-a-ride for medical trips. This service, called Miles for Health, will still be available for trips to medical facilities in Boston, Worcester, and other locations with essential medical destinations. More information about which locations will
be available on each weekday will be available on the GATRA website.

The Senior Center's calendar is full of events and activities! Find details in their December Newsletter!
The Museum is excited to announce that our new exhibit, the Clara J. Foss Johnston Memorial Federal Parlor at the Oliver Pond House, which was generously donated by James C. Johnston, Jr. is now open and ready for visitors! Come by on Sundays from 1-4pm to see it.
Curbside Pick up continues at the Library! Find out more on their website and make note of the upcoming holiday hours:
  • We will be closing at 2:00 p.m. on December 24th & December 31st.
  • The Library will be closed and Curbside Pickup will not be available on December 25-27, 2020 and January 1-3, 2021.
The library is continuing to put out a calendar FULL of fun events for all ages such as story times, family events, crafts, cooking, book club and more. Some examples of upcoming programming include:
  • A Winter Storywalk at Delcarte
  • Zoom Holiday Cooking Classes
  • Teen Noon New Year's Eve Mystery Party
  • Kitchen Table Art Workshop and more!
Visit their website and sign up for the Library Newsletter to stay in the loop!
Newly hired Firefighter/ Paramedic Michael McConaghy and Dylan Voss graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy on November 6, 2020 after 10 weeks of extensive training. Congratulations to both!

The Department received an Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) FOR $8,500 from Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). The funds will be used to upgrade the A/V equipment in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Fire Headquarters.

Our 1949 antique Franklin aerial truck was been "placed in service" to support the Town lighting events on November 21 (Downtown) and November 29 (Common). It also participated in the Medway Annual Christmas parade on Saturday November 28th.

The Franklin Fire Department wishes everyone an enjoyable and safe holiday season!

  • Dec. 2 - 10:00 hours - VIRTUAL Coffee Social held via Zoom. Call our office for details and log-in info. All Vets are welcome to join the conversation!
  • Dec. 7 - National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
  • Dec. 13 - U.S. National Guard's 384th Birthday

Please contact our office if you (or a family member residing in Franklin) are a Purple Heart recipient so we can add you to the Franklin Purple Heart Registry.

Thank you to the Franklin DPW for installing our beautiful new Purple Heart Community signs at the entrances to our town as well as an Active Military or Veteran designated parking space sign near the front entrance to the Town Hall.

If any veteran, veteran's spouse, widow or dependent needs assistance or just someone to talk to, please call the Veterans' Services Office. We are here for you!

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