Saturday, January 1, 2022

Community Preservation Committee - Jan 4, 2022 - Agenda - Public Hearing

Community Preservation Committee Meeting
Agenda & Meeting Packet
January 4, 2022 - 7:00 PM


Agenda:
1. Approval of Minutes
2. Public Hearing #1:
a. Citizens hearing for ideas, questions or proposals on how to use the Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds to incorporate into the CPA Plan. 


Agenda doc with remote connection info


Audio discussion with three members in advance of the public hearings


Conversation on the Community Preservation Public Hearings - Jan 4/Jan 18 (audio)
Conversation on the Community Preservation Public Hearings - Jan 4/Jan 18 (audio)

Boston Globe: "In memoriam of victims of domestic violence"

"For more than 30 years, advocates for victims of domestic violence have maintained a tragic roll call of intimate partner deaths in Massachusetts. Although this state ranks near the bottom of domestic abuse homicides nationally, each death echoes in an expanding ring of trauma, often involving children. This year, according to Jane Doe Inc., a coalition of organizations working against domestic violence and sexual assault, 13 women and one man were allegedly killed by their partners, two of whom then committed suicide. Another victim was simply associated with a target. At least 23 children are now without a parent.

In a strange way, the list is a testament to the success of Massachusetts gun laws, as most of the victims had not been shot. Nationally, firearms are used in 54 percent of fatal domestic violence cases; in Massachusetts it is closer to 30 percent. Without the swift lethality of guns, some victims have a better chance of surviving or escaping. This state also has a robust network of programs and organizations where targets of abuse can find protection, keeping the numbers relatively low."
Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/31/opinion/memoriam-victims-domestic-violence/

Cathleen Liberty, Franklin Health Director, talks with Marcia Szymanski, Executive Director of New Hope, in this episode of The Topic.    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/12/the-topic-003-marcia-symanski-new-hope.html


The Topic: 003 - Marcia Symanski - New Hope
The Topic: 003 - Marcia Symanski - New Hope

FHS girls hockey finished tie with Longmeadow 2-2 in OT

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of the FHS winter sports action on Friday:

Girls Hockey = Franklin, 2 vs. Longmeadow, 2 – Final (OT) 
– Freshman Julia Flynn scored with just under seven minutes left in the game to pull even, helping the Panthers grab a point over a scoreless overtime period. Franklin took the lead when Avery Greco lit the lamp, assisted by Shaw Downing and Molly Hurley. Izzy Brown had a great game in net while head coach Margie Burke noted it was a great team effort. 

For other results around the Hockomock League


FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers

Senate President Spilka: From the Bottom of my Heart - Thank You


Dear Friend,

As 2021 draws to a close, my heart is filled with gratitude. To everyone who has supported the work of the Massachusetts State Senate and me personally, I just want to say: thank you.

Like so many of you, my 2021 was filled with ups and downs.

I have been incredibly proud of the work the Massachusetts State Senate has done this year to continue to address the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including seeing a $4 billion economic recovery package signed into law, as well as passing a comprehensive bill to reform mental health care delivery in Massachusetts.

But I have also had my share of struggles, including being diagnosed by my doctors as having had a mild stroke in November. I am feeling stronger every day, and my doctors expect a full recovery within a matter of weeks. As I reflect on this experience, I am so very grateful to the medical professionals I worked with for their assistance, especially as many have worked tirelessly throughout this pandemic to care for those with COVID-19.

I am also grateful to everyone who has reached out to support me in my recovery. Because of your support, I am energized by the work ahead. We have important work to do on mental health care, childcare, our climate and much more. I look forward to working with all of you on the issues that matter most to the residents of our Commonwealth.

As we move into a new year, I wish you and yours a very happy and healthy 2022!
Warm regards,
Sharing Awareness About Stroke
In mid-November, I experienced what my doctors diagnosed as a mild stroke. I shared my story in a televised interview because I wanted people to see firsthand that I'm doing well.

I also feel it would be a missed opportunity not to speak up. I hope that by telling my story, I can help raise awareness about those who have survived and thrived after experiencing stroke, and encourage those who are experiencing symptoms to seek help immediately.

Watch my televised interview with Alison King of NBC Boston here.
Political Harmony in Massachusetts
I had a lot of fun joining in Alison King's annual tradition, 'Political Harmony' to join my colleagues and partners in government in singing "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town." Thank you for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful tradition.

Watch this holiday video here.
Wishing you Happy Holidays!
Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy 2022!

Senate President Karen E. Spilka | Massachusetts State House, Room 332, Boston, MA 02133

Sent by karen.spilka@masenate.gov powered by
Trusted Email from Constant Contact - Try it FREE today.

Boston Globe: "Massachusetts jobless fund is $115 million in the red"

"After months of delay, the Baker administration chose New Year’s Eve to deliver the news: The state fund that pays jobless benefits has a deficit of about $115 million.

Trying to bury bad news just before the weekend or a holiday is standard PR practice for companies and politicians alike. But you know what? Governor Charlie Baker’s team chose a sleepy Friday and last day of the year to release news that is . . . not too bad.

It’s no surprise the Massachusetts unemployment insurance trust fund is in the red after the state paid out a total of $22 billion in jobless benefits in 2020 and $11.8 billion in 2021. In 2019, payments ran about $1.6 billion."
Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/31/business/massachusetts-jobless-fund-is-115-million-red/

The administration of Governor Charlie Baker hasn't provided a timetable or amount for a potential sale of bonds to help replenish the state's unemployment insurance trust fund.JONATHAN WIGGS/GLOBE STAFF
The administration of Governor Charlie Baker hasn't provided a timetable or amount for a potential sale of bonds to help replenish the state's unemployment insurance trust fund. JONATHAN WIGGS/GLOBE STAFF


"virus traces in the waste water have risen extremely fast over the last three weeks"

"Levels of coronavirus detected in Boston-area waste water have reached new highs, with seven-day averages that shatter previous record-breaking levels.

On Dec. 29, the seven-day average of virus traces in the waste water in the southern sample of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s territory was 8,164 RNA copies/mL. That’s up from 2,574 RNA copies/mL on Dec. 23, meaning the average has more than tripled in the last six days.

Waste-water testing serves as an early warning sign for a COVID-19 surge. Cambridge-based Biobot Analytics, which tests the waste water coming into MWRA’s Deer Island treatment plant, has said it has found the amount of virus in the waste water is correlated with newly diagnosed coronavirus cases four to 10 days later."
Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/31/nation/coronavirus-detected-boston-area-waste-water-reaches-startling-new-highs/

Test results from MWRA’s pilot study to track waste water at the Deer Island treatment plant for indicators of COVID-19 infection.MASSACHUSETTS WATER RESOURCES AUTHORITY
Test results from MWRA’s pilot study to track waste water at the Deer Island treatment plant for indicators of COVID-19 infection.MASSACHUSETTS WATER RESOURCES AUTHORITY


Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Saturday, Jan 1, 2022

  • wfpr.fm = Saturday or 102.9 on the FM dial
9:00 AM = “Franklin Matters Radio”
10:00 AM = “Frank’s Music with Frank Falvey” 
11:00 AM = “Music to Lift the Spirit “
12:00 PM = “SAFE Radio” 
1:00 PM = “The Wonderful World of Wine” 
2:00 PM = “ Chapters” 
3:00 PM  = “Franklin Matters Radio”
4:00 PM = “Senior Story Hour “
5:00 PM = “Talkin’ the Blues”  

  • Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = SATURDAY
7:30 am Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Fire Safety
8:00 am Veterans' Call: Matt Ching Pt. 1
9:00 am Cooking Thyme: Candy Apples
9:30 am Candlepin New Generation: Show 10
10:00 am Once Upon A Town: Ray Block
10:30 am Santa on the Common 2021
11:30 am FHS Varsity Swimming: v Mansfield 12-16-21
1:30 pm FHS Fall Art Show 2021
2:00 pm FHS Girls Varsity Basketball: v Canton 12-14-21
4:00 pm The Drummers Studio: 11th Anniversary Show One
5:30 pm Ben Gardner's Boat
8:30 pm Senior Connection: Cookies
9:30 pm Circle of Friends: Freebo, Alice Howe & Kirsten Maxwell

  • Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = SATURDAY
8:00 am FHS Girls Varsity Basketball: v Canton 12-14-21
10:00 am FHS Boys Varsity Hockey: v St. John's Shrewsbury 12-20-21
1:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Basketball: v Attleboro 12-17-21
3:05 pm SAFE Coalition: Youth Sports
4:30 pm FHS Varsity Swimming: v Mansfield 12-16-21
7:30 pm It Takes A Village: Janice Houlihan
8:30 pm ArtWeek: FHS Jazz & Kenny Hadley Band
8:00 am FHS Girls Varsity Basketball: v Canton 12-14-21
10:00 am FHS Boys Varsity Hockey: v St. John's Shrewsbury 12-20-21
1:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Basketball: v Attleboro 12-17-21
3:05 pm SAFE Coalition: Youth Sports
4:30 pm FHS Varsity Swimming: v Mansfield 12-16-21
7:30 pm It Takes A Village: Janice Houlihan
8:30 pm ArtWeek: FHS Jazz & Kenny Hadley Band

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf     

Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)
Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)

Friday, December 31, 2021

Curbside Program Update - Anticipated delays in pickup today, to be carried over to pick up on Monday

31 December 2021

The Franklin DPW has been working with Waste Management throughout the pandemic to minimize disruption to the solid waste/single stream recycling curbside program. However, this week, Waste Management's collection team has been impacted by a severe increase in COVID related absences. At this time, it appears that 2-3 hours of Franklin's trash service will be left incomplete this week. Routes that are not completed today will resume on Monday. A map of the affected areas will be posted at the end of the day.
In the midst of the holiday season, the DPW and the Waste Management team are keenly aware of the unfortunate timing of this delay. It is always our goal to stay on track, and to ensure collection for trash and recycling occurs as scheduled. However, it must be noted that collection delays may occur from time-to-time, over the course of the next several weeks.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this causes to the residents of Franklin. Rest assured that we are working all the angles to ensure each route is collected on its scheduled collection day.

Stay safe. -- Derek Adams Town of Franklin Department of Public Works Environmental Affairs


For more about the curbside pickup program visit their page

Updated with the maps of the areas affected (shared from Facebook)

A map of the affected areas will be posted at the end of the day 1
A map of the affected areas will be posted at the end of the day 1

A map of the affected areas will be posted at the end of the day 2
A map of the affected areas will be posted at the end of the day 2




Anticipated delays in pickup today, to be carried over to pick up on Monday
Anticipated delays in pickup today, to be carried over to pick up on Monday


Franklin's Event Outlook: Dec 31, 2021 to Jan 6, 2022

This is your Community Calendar.  As we close out 2021 and open 2022, a few reminders. 

1 - This Community calendar displays both the community and Cultural events
The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events  https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

2 - The Town of Franklin calendar displays the official town committee and board meetings  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

3 - School meetings and events are found on the School district calendar (and in many cases on the calendars of individual schools).

4 - Action: To submit a community or cultural event, please use this form:



Friday, December 31
Day off for New Year's Day
New Year's Eve
6:00pm - Light up Franklin!

Saturday, January 1, 2022
New Year's Day
10:00am - Historical Museum (always free)

Sunday, January 2, 2022
1:00pm - Historical Museum (always free)


Find the full calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found   https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26

Community Calendar
Community Calendar

"May this be the day We come together"

A poem? In Franklin Matters? Why? 

Sometimes the poet has the words to say what needs to be said. In this case, the new work by Amanda Gorman fits the need so very well.  


‘New Day's Lyric’ by Amanda Gorman

May this be the day

We come together.

Mourning, we come to mend, 

Withered, we come to weather,

Torn, we come to tend,

Battered, we come to better. 

Tethered by this year of yearning,

We are learning

That though we weren't ready for this, 

We have been readied by it.

Steadily we vow that no matter

How we are weighed down,

We must always pave a way forward.

This hope is our door, our portal.

Even if we never get back to normal, 

Someday we can venture beyond it,

To leave the known and take the first steps. 

So let us not return to what was normal, 

But reach toward what is next.

What was cursed, we will cure.

What was plagued, we will prove pure.

Where we tend to argue, we will try to agree,

Those fortunes we forswore, now the future we foresee, 

Where we weren't aware, we're now awake;

Those moments we missed

Are now these moments we make,

The moments we meet,

And our hearts, once all together beaten,

Now all together beat.

Come, look up with kindness yet,

For even solace can be sourced from sorrow. 

We remember, not just for the sake of yesterday, 

But to take on tomorrow.

We heed this old spirit,

In a new day's lyric,

In our hearts, we hear it:

For auld lang syne, my dear, 

For auld lang syne.

Be bold, sang Time this year, 

Be bold, sang Time,

For when you honor yesterday, 

Tomorrow ye will find.

Know what we've fought

Need not be forgot nor for none.

It defines us, binds us as one, 

Come over, join this day just begun. 

For wherever we come together, 

We will forever overcome.

 



and USA Today

Listen to Amanda read this poem in her Instagram video ->

FHS boys basketball and wrestling teams post wins on Thursday

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of the FHS winter sports action on Thursday:  

Boys Basketball = Franklin, 64 @ Framingham, 45 – Final 
– Franklin limited the hosts to just six points in the second quarter, building a double-digit advantage it never relinquished to get the win. Sophomore Henry Digiorgio scored half of his 18 points in the third and earned tournament MVP honors. Senior Sean Vinson scored a career-high 22 points to earn all tournament team honors for the Panthers. Sophomore Sean O’Leary added 13 points in the win. Franklin hit 14 two-point field goals between the second and third quarters to pull away from the Flyers.

Wrestling = Franklin, 58 @ Ashland, 24 – Final
Spectacular win over Ashland 58-24.
Pins by Carlucci, O’Leary, Owen, Fracassa, Dillon, and Sheridan.

For other results around the Hockomock League


FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers

TUNE IT OUT Guitar Classes Resume on Tuesday, January 11, 2022


TUNE IT OUT Guitar Classes Resume on 
Tuesday, January 11, 2022

All veterans are invited. No guitar experience is needed!



Guitars will be provided to those who are interested in lessons but don't have a guitar.  Call the Veterans' Services Office at (508) 613-1315 to sign-up


** This had been scheduled for 5:30 - 6:30 PM at the Franklin Senior Center. The notice of the resumption doesn't share the time so when you call the Veterans 'Services Office you can confirm.

TUNE IT OUT Guitar Classes Resume on Tuesday, January 11, 2022
TUNE IT OUT Guitar Classes Resume on Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Oh my! omicron driving new records

"The Department of Public Health released new town-by-town data for coronavirus cases and vaccinations on Thursday. It’s the latest set of such data showing how the virus has impacted individual communities throughout Massachusetts"

Franklin has outpaced the previous high of case counts with the latest data.  Franklin is only 82% vaccinated so we have a way to go,

The Flourish data can be found here -> https://app.flourish.studio/visualisation/4817758/

The State map on positivity can be found here ->   https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/15/nation/massachusetts-confirmed-coronavirus-cases-by-city/

The State archive of COVID-19 data -> https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting

8 percent positivity means masks will return to FHS for sometime
8 percent positivity means masks will return to FHS for sometime


Franklin set the wrong kind of record with the data this week
Franklin set the wrong kind of record with the data this week

 

Walpole Police and Franklin Police declared 2021 Gingerbread contest Co-Champions

Who won the contest? It finished with co-champions declared

"What a fantastic contest we had this year!  31 departments entered their gingerbread creations!  We had some very close matches and it all came down to the last 2!  I’d like to congratulate Walpole Police Department and Franklin Police Department on being the 2021 Gingerbread contest Co-Champions!  

We had to get a little bit creative this year with the winners.  It was so close, right down to the last hours when both Walpole and Franklin had some votes come in that were not actual individual votes, but seemed to be some sort of fake votes (no fault of either department at all). So, to keep the purpose and spirit of the competition alive, both departments are this year’s champs!!!  We can’t allow a little something like this ruin the fun we’ve had and the hard work put in from all participating departments and all of the folks that followed and supported their departments throughout the competition! 

We were able to raise $1,500 toward a cause to be chosen on Saturday, January 1st!  Along with the additional awards decided by me!  Have a happy and safe New Year everyone and thank you so much for participating and for your generosity!"

Shared from Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/shelovespolice/posts/936223143702036