New Year’s Eve Labyrinth Walk at First Universalist Society of Franklin (FUSF)

New Year’s Eve Labyrinth Walk

The First Universalist Society of Franklin — 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin, MA — will host a New Year’s Eve Labyrinth Walk on Saturday, December 31, from 5 - 7 PM. 

This annual free event offers both an outdoor labyrinth in the pine grove, and a candlelit labyrinth in our sanctuary. Finger labyrinths will be available for people who want to experience the labyrinth but have mobility issues. 

We will begin our walk with an Opening Ceremony at 5 PM. Dress accordingly for the weather and allow at least 30 minutes to walk the indoor labyrinth, and less for the outdoor labyrinth. Socks are required for the indoor walk.  Booties that cover footwear will be provided for those who need shoes to walk. Face masks are recommended. 

In the event of a storm, or unsafe driving conditions, the walk will be canceled.  Call Judy Swaim at 508-769-6664 for more information, as well as for possible cancelations due to weather.

The labyrinth on a sunny day in 2016

Franklin author Susan K Hamilton talks about her new book "Stone Heart" (audio)

FM #903 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 903 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Franklin author Susan K Hamilton.  Susan has just published her third novel Stone Heart. 

We briefly talk about Susan’s Franklin story. Folks may recall we talked about her two most recent books the last time Susan and I spoke in 2021. We pick up from that conversation and talk about her new work and what might come after.

The recording runs about 23 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Susan. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-903-susan-k-hamilton-12-14-22

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Susan K Hamilton’s web page  https://www.susankhamilton.com/ 

Stone Heart ->  https://smile.amazon.com/Stone-Heart-Susan-K-Hamilton/dp/1737353687/ 

The Devil Inside ->  https://www.amazon.com/Devil-Inside-Susan-K-Hamilton/dp/1950301206/ 

The Shadow King -> https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-King-Susan-K-Hamilton/dp/1947848984 

Our conversation from 2021 ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/07/fm-579-franklin-author-susan-k-hamilton.html 

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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"

Franklin author Susan K Hamilton (courtesy photo)

More Perfect Union: 066 - Apprenticeships (Part Two) (audio)

In this episode, the group is joined by Emerson Claus, long time home builder and Clean Heat Commission member, to continue their discussion on apprenticeships, how they're useful in the trades as well as the rest of the working world, the on-the-job experiences one gains in them and so much more.

Audio file -> https://more-perfect-union.captivate.fm/episode/066-apprenticeships-part-two

Franklin.TV: A More Perfect Union (audio)

More Perfect Union - WFPR

Discussing American Politics and Current Events

Peter Fasciano, Dr. Michael Walker Jones, Dr. Natalia Linos, Jeff Roy, Chris Woolf and Nick Remissong host a round table discussion on current events and American politics, bringing about thoughtful conversation, compelling discourse, and a look at what the future might hold for the United States.

Find all the episodes online -> https://more-perfect-union.captivate.fm/episodes  or subscribe with your favorite podcast app

Congressman Jake Auchincloss: An Update for Dec 12 to Dec 23, 2022

LAST 2 WEEKS IN REVIEW DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 23 I'm your representative in Congress and I write to keep you informed. First, I'd like to wish you a happy holiday season! On the Hill Federal Spending: Earlier today, I joined my colleagues in voting to pass the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2023. This piece of legislation includes critical funding for health care, clean energy & climate action, and Ukraine. I also secured more than $38 million in funding for our district as part of the bill. These investments will help cities & towns in the Fourth provide clean drinking water, improve transportation, and stimulate economic development. I worked closely with state and local officials to prioritize these projects and align federal, state, and local funding sources for them. This final bill of the 117th Congress also included a measure — the Electoral Count Act Reform — to harden one institutional weak spot that Donald Trump tried to exploit in his insurrection on January 6th. This bipartisan law to safeguard the peaceful transfer of power, recommended by constitutional experts and the January 6th Committee, is a fitting way to conclude a term that began with an assault on democracy. Ukraine: I was moved by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's words when he spoke at the joint session of Congress earlier this week. He made clear that in 2023, with Ukrainian courage and American resolve, we can defend the principles of the free world against Russia's unprovoked and unjust invasion. Speaking to us from the frontlines of freedom, President Zelenskyy thanked us for our support over the last ten months — and rightfully asked us for more. I am proud that the federal budget for FY23 included additional assistance for Ukraine. This funding will support Ukraine's military with training, weapons, and logistics; replenish US stocks of equipment sent to Ukraine; and provide economic support to the Ukrainian government. Additionally, I've worked across the aisle to build support for the Russian oil price-cap and will continue to work on bipartisan backing for Ukraine. Our support for Ukraine is sending a message to Moscow, it's sending a message to Beijing, and it's sending a message to other authoritarian regimes: the United States is committed to defending the principles of democracy and freedom across the globe. Make your voice heard → Do you think Congress should continue providing support to Ukraine to defend against Russia's invasion? Do you support continuing to provide assistance to Ukraine? Around the Fourth Ørsted Offshore Wind: Earlier this week, I visited Ørsted's Boston office and had a detailed conversation about the technology, politics, and economics of offshore wind. In order to hit President Biden's goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030 - and to make sure that Massachusetts is the hub of this growing industry - we need strong public-private collaboration. Offshore wind will continue to be a top priority for me. From supporting construction and installation to growing our mariner workforce, there is plenty that the U.S. needs that Massachusetts can provide. I'll remain a champion of offshore wind in the 118th Congress because I want cheap, clean energy for Bay Staters and good jobs in southeastern Massachusetts. Congressional App Challenge: Congratulations to Alyssa Feinberg, Julia Hulburd, Salome Hizanishvili, and Sophie Strausberg for winning our district's Congressional App Challenge by developing CommunAphasia. Each year, middle and high school students from across the district are encouraged to learn to code and develop an app to be submitted for consideration. CommunAphasia took a unique approach to improve the quality of life of people with Aphasia - a language impairment that hinders a person's ability to communicate. The application provides a messaging system that uses icons and symbols to make it easier for people with Aphasia to communicate. The app also offers speech therapy exercises to improve comprehension and speaking abilities. I am proud of Alyssa, Julia, Salome, and Sophie for their hard work, creativity, and passion, and I look forward to seeing next year's participants' submissions. Onwards, Jake 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

IRS: delay announced for implementation of $600 reporting threshold for third-party payment platforms

"The Internal Revenue Service said on Friday that it was delaying by one year a new tax policy that will require users of digital wallets and e-commerce platforms to start reporting small transactions to the tax collection agency.

The delay followed bipartisan backlash from lawmakers and an uproar from small-business owners, who only recently became aware of the tax change.

The I.R.S. said the delay was intended to provide a smooth transition period for taxpayers to comply with the policy, which was part of the American Rescue Plan of 2021 and was supposed to take effect this year. Many users of services such as Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, Cash App, StubHub and Etsy only recently became aware that they would be receiving I.R.S. tax forms associated with their transactions, sowing fears of surprise tax bills."

Continue reading the article online ->

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/23/business/irs-venmo-digital-wallets.html

Read the announcement from the IRS on their page ->    https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announces-delay-for-implementation-of-600-reporting-threshold-for-third-party-payment-platforms-forms-1099-k

The Boston Globe also has coverage of this delay ->

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/12/23/business/irs-delays-600-tax-reporting-rule-for-venmo-etsy-sellers/

The Etsy Inc. website on a laptop computer arranged in Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands on Feb. 19, 2021.GABBY JONES/BLOOMBERG

Franklin's Event Outlook: Dec 23, 2022 to Dec 29, 2022

Is this the kind of day that led to the song lyrics? - "Oh, the weather outside is frightful" If so, then it might be a good idea to hunker down today and let the storm do its thing. 

If you do need to get out and about, please be careful. 

Friday, December 23 

No School for Franklin Public Schools due to weather

4:30pm - Ugly Christmas Sweater Party (67 Degrees Brewery) 

5:30pm - John Demers (live music) (67 Degrees Brewery) 

Saturday, December 24 = Christmas Eve

Sunday, December 25 = Christmas Day

Monday, December 26 Library and Town buildings closed Tuesday, December 27 10:30am - Pumpernickel Puppets (Franklin Public Library) Wednesday, December 28 10:30am - Trevor the Games Man! (Franklin Public Library) 3:00pm - Box City (Franklin Public Library) Thursday, December 29 10:30am - Music at the Blissful! A Fun Family Concert! (Franklin Public Library) 2:00pm - Teen Murder Mystery Party (Franklin Public Library)

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The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

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

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events      https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

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

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse adds three shows in Feb & Apr 2023

2023 Winter/Spring schedule

Upcoming Circle of Friends Coffeehouse shows View this email in your browser 2023 Schedule I hope you can join us for the next three Circle of Friends Coffeehouse concerts. Feb 25   Tracy Grammer with special guest Hana Zara April 1    SheGrooves - Boston's premiere female contemporary band featuring Kaye Kelly. April 29  John Gorka Tickets are available on our website. Circle of Friends Coffeehouse Jake The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is a non-profit organization affiliated with Franklin's First Universalist Society.  Please visit http://www.circlefolk.org/  for more information.

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse · First Universalist Society · 262 Chestnut St · Franklin, MA 02038 · USA

FHS girls hockey top Boston Latin 2-1 on Thursday

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of the fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Thursday, December 22, 2022. We also provide the link to the full set of Hockomock League results below.

Girls Hockey = Franklin, 2 @ Boston Latin Academy, 1 – Final 

– After going to overtime with Canton on Wednesday, Franklin was back in action in another tight one just 24 hours later. Lindsay Atkinson scored the game-winner late in the third period, off an assist from Julia Flynn, to lift the Panthers to the win. Avery Greco scored Franklin’s first goal, with Shaw Downing picking up the assist. Izzy Brown had another stellar game in goal for the Panthers.

https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-12-22-22/

Swim Team

"Meet at Milford 12/23 is POSTPONED... reschedule is TBD

NO practice 12/23

Happy Holidays"  

https://twitter.com/CoachP_FHSswim/status/1606105342701551616

 

FHS Panthers

FHS' Davis named MVP; Lackey, Lyons, Johnson recognized as Football All-stars; Quintina with Honorable Mention

Here are the Franklin athletes recognized as the official 2022 Hockomock League Football All Stars, as selected by the coaches in the league and published by HockomockSports.com. 

KELLEY-REX DIVISION MVP

Luke Davis, Franklin

KELLEY-REX DIVISION ALL STARS

Luke Davis, Franklin

Emmett Lackey, Franklin

Jase Lyons, Franklin

Devine Johnson, Franklin

Honorable Mentions

Nick Quintina, Franklin

For the full listing of Football All-stars

https://hockomocksports.com/2022-hockomock-league-football-all-stars/

FHS Panthers

FHS' O'Brien, Hagerty, Steele recognized as Golf All-stars; Collins with Honorable Mention

Here are the Franklin athletes recognized as the official 2022 Hockomock League Golf All Stars, as selected by the coaches in the league and published by HockomockSports.com. 

HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE MVP

Jake Gaskin, North Attleboro

HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE ALL STARS

Tyler O’Brien, Franklin

Jack Hagerty, Franklin

CJ Steele, Franklin

Honorable Mentions

Brendan Collins, Franklin

For the full listing of Golf All-stars

https://hockomocksports.com/2022-hockomock-league-golf-all-stars/

FHS Panthers

Redistricting Advisory Committee meets in hybrid format to review building block components (audio)

FM #902 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 902 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin Public Schools Redistricting Advisory Committee Meeting held in hybrid format with folks at the FHS Media Center on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 as well as some members who participated remotely.   

Given this was a working session, the major whole group sections of the meeting audio is what is shared here. There is one break in the audio when 

• The breakout discussion was held at each table

The break is indicated by a about 5 seconds of music (replacing about 25 minutes of table discussion) then the group discussion resumes

The edited meeting audio recording runs about 58 minutes. Let’s listen to Redistricting Advisory Committee Meeting

Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-902-fps-redistricting-advisory-cmte-mtg-12-20-22

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Dec 20 meeting agenda -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/redistricting_advisory_subcom_12_20_22.pdf 

Presentation doc shared during the meeting ->

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/franklin_schools_redistricting_committee_meeting_presentation_12.20.2022.pdf 

My notes in one Twitter threader document   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qWEoyejx9_i_LDuDAOVUys8OH1EGhl3i/view?usp=share_link 

The photo album shared via Twitter of the pix taken of the meeting and presentation slides   https://photos.app.goo.gl/QyKb2wkFHtqryhC18 

Redistricting Advisory Committee page ->

https://www.franklinps.net/school-committee/2023-redistricting-advisory-committee 

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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!

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

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

Supt Lucas Giguere opens the Redistricting Advisory Cmte mtg