Franklin.TV tells the story behind the FHS graduation broadcast issues

Good v Bad Days, Part 2

…and we srsly hate it when that happens

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 06/03/2023

It’s 6am, Saturday, 6/3. Yesterday’s graduation ceremony is history. So is the torrential weather that plagued it. I’m still stunned and dismayed by events that prevented us from covering FHS graduation live. Last week I wrote:

“These days (good or bad) there is much digital complexity in what we do. So, we maintain backup systems wherever we can.”

That reflection became a prophetic understatement: Yesterday was a bad day. We do all we can to prepare for the worst, but even the best preparations and plans go only so far. Here is the simplest telling of events:

First – We lost power at the high school and longer still at the field.

Backup plan: emergency power – we had that, but – Parts of the school did not.

The school’s PA system on the field was not working.

Facilities brought in their electrician to troubleshoot the issue.

Second – Fiber communication lines went dark.

We had no direct connection to the school, our studio, and the internet. 

Backup plan: Verizon cellular internet service to our studio.

Third – Verizon cell service was also disrupted – for the duration. 

We no longer had power or a digital connection of any kind. 

Backup backup plan – Record the event and rebroadcast later.

We were on the field with torrential storm, thunder and lightning all around. We had to pull and keep all our gear – cameras, microphones off the field, shut down and cover the school’s PA systems while the storm rolled through. Setting and testing it all in place takes an afternoon. What could we do in about 20 minutes?

We scrambled to get PA systems working for one podium mic and hustled two of our 5 cameras back onto the field. We are reassembling our recording of the event for rebroadcast and video on demand as soon as possible.

They say, “Man plans, God laughs.” I fail to see the humor.

The storm was indeed biblical. We had no power, no communication, no joy. 

Thanks for listening to 102.9 wfpr●fm.

And – as always – thanks for watching.

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

rain? Yup, some rain!!!

and the show does get recorded...

FPAC to close out their season with performance of Violet - Jun 8, 9, & 10 at THE BLACK BOX

The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) will close out their star-studded 2022-23 season with the musical Violet, June 8-10 at THE BLACK BOX starring Broadway’s Emily Koch and Tyrick Wiltez Jones. 

Emily Koch, currently on Broadway in Kimberly Akimbo, will lead the cast as Violet. Koch also appeared on Broadway as Elphaba in WICKED and Waitress as Jenna.

 

Tyrick Wiltez Jones will appear as Flick. Jones has been seen on Broadway in Hairspray and Finian’s Rainbow as well as the off-Broadway cast of Bat Out of Hell. NYC’s Robbie Rescigno will round out the principal cast as Monty.

Set to Jeanine Tesori’s stunning score, Violet tells a gripping story. As a girl, Violet was struck by a wayward axe blade when her father was chopping wood, leaving her with a visible scar across her face. With enough money finally saved, she travels across the Deep South in 1964 towards a miracle – the healing touch of a TV evangelist who will make her beautiful.

Although she may not succeed in having the scar on her face healed, Violet is able to repair those scars that are lying deeper than her skin. On the way, she meets a young soldier whose love for her reaches far past her physical “imperfections.” 

The production’s opening night sponsor is Physician One Urgent Care and FPAC’s Broadway sponsor is Dean College. 

The Franklin Performing Arts Company at THE BLACK BOX is a professional Equity theater  producing musicals, plays, and more, featuring Broadway stars, professional and regional performers, and emerging artists. The 2022-23 season featured performances by Sara Jean Ford (The Phantom of the Opera, CATS, and more), Tyrick Wiltez Jones (Hairspray, Finian’s Rainbow), Michael Barra (A Bronx Tale), and Christopher Rice-Thomson (Hamilton, Book of Mormon, Pretty Woman), new choreography by Broadway dance legend Tyler Hanes, and direction by FPAC resident artists and New York guests.

For Violet tickets and more information, visit THEBLACKBOXonline.com or call the box office at (508) 528-3370. THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 W. Central St. in downtown Franklin, MA.

FPAC to close out their season with performance of Violet - Jun 8, 9, & 10 at THE BLACK BOX

Town of Franklin, MA: Affordable Home Available - 90 Palomino Drive

"Please see attached flyer for an affordable home resale at 90 Palomino Drive in Dover Farms. 

Applications are available at https://t.co/KmOrHZJX1d"

Shared from -> https://t.co/0Vi5myWRZ8

Application ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/application_2023_-_first_come_first_serve_0.pdf

Flyer ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/news/flyer_1_90_palomino_0.pdf   

Town of Franklin, MA: Affordable Home Available - 90 Palomino Drive

Franklin Police & Fire Dept. conducted joint tactical training this week

Per the Franklin Police Dept Facebook posting: 

"Last week the Franklin Police Department completed joint tactics training with the Franklin Fire Department. Officers and Fire Fighters were trained in integrated rapid rescue and the formation of a rescue task force.  

A rescue task force is the main team made up of police and fire charged with treating the wounded on-site and getting them to a collection point for victims. They will arrive on the scene of a critical incident and immediately begin assessing the severity of injuries and performing life-saving interventions."

Shared from -> 

https://www.facebook.com/100064353536794/posts/pfbid0LmKd8AyAy2V6eLc8AEDabj9zRBfA4WiV7gZNuRWzDTU5fm72t6wHeFqPKE2EeKotl/   (follow the link to Facebook for additional photos)

Franklin Police & Fire Dept. conducted joint tactical training this week

Special Announcement from HMEA

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM HMEA HMEA Board of Directors Announces CEO Retirement Last September, the Boards of Directors of both HMEA and Advocates strongly voted in favor of a full merger of both organizations with the goal of completing that merger in stages by July 1, 2024. Since last fall, HMEA and Advocates have made considerable progress toward full integration of Administration and Finance, with a plan to work towards an organizational design for Services that will best meet the needs of the individuals, families, employees, and communities we support. While all of this progress and momentum is great news for both organizations, it does come with some bittersweet news as well.  Jule Gomes Noack, President and Chief Executive officer of HMEA, has decided that now is the right time for her to transition into retirement after more than 36 years with the organization. With the merger on track and a strong senior leadership team remaining in place at HMEA, Jule believes that her work is complete, and that the successful merger is a fitting capstone to her career.  Jule's last day will align with the next merger milestone date which is June 30, 2023. Jule has made it clear that she is committed to remaining a resource and advisor to the new organization. As such, she will be available to share her institutional knowledge and provide guidance beyond the end of June.  While we are very sad to see her go, we respect and support her decision and will now turn our attention to celebrating her incredible career and contributions. Jule Gomes Noack Retiring President & CEO Here are just a few highlights from Jule's career at HMEA... Jule joined HMEA in 1987 as the agency's first clinical coordinator and has worked directly in or managed nearly every program, service, and administrative role within the organization. For the past 16 years, she has been a key member of HMEA's executive leadership team and has served as President/CEO since 2020. She led the creation and expansion of the agency's Quality, Learning and Performance department, which is focused on ensuring the highest levels of service quality, improving staff development methods to address a diverse workforce, and measuring performance outcomes in all divisions and departments throughout the organization.  Jule has also been the champion and driving force behind the development of HMEA's diversity initiative which promotes a culture of inclusion with a strong focus on a resolution of respect and a 'No Place for Hate' workplace. HMEA employees come from more than 38 different countries.  She also successfully led the organization through one of the most challenging times in recent history with the confluence of a global pandemic, racial reckoning, and political unrest.  We are incredibly grateful to Jule for her dedication as a servant leader in support of social justice for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and the staff who support them.  Please join us in thanking and honoring Jule for all she has done and celebrating with her as she embarks on her next chapter. The Advocates and HMEA Administration and Boards of Directors are working together on a plan for leadership succession, and information including the timeline for merger will be shared in the next few weeks.

HMEA | 8 Forge Park East, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by hmea@hmea.org powered by Try email marketing for free today!

Reminder: Caucus for Franklin Democratic Town Committee - 12 PM Saturday, June 3

:::Tomorrow:::Join Us!

View this email in your browser Our Caucus is Saturday, June 3 at 12 PM Please join us to participate in our annual gathering to elect leaders to represent Franklin Democrats for the Commonwealth.  There was an error in a prior message stating the caucus begins at 1. The meeting is not at 1 PM, it is at 12 PM. SHIRTS ARE IN! Have you paid your dues? If so, come to the meeting and pick it up. Haven't given dues yet? No problem. Just come with a contribution and you'll be able to get one. Reminder: Caucus for Franklin Democratic Town Committee - 12 PM Saturday, June 3

Copyright © 2023 Franklin Democratic Town Committee, All rights reserved. Updates from the Franklin, MA Democratic Town Committee Our mailing address is: Franklin Democratic Town Committee 24 Daniels Street Franklin, MA 02038.

More Perfect Union - wfpr.fm: 82 - Trump On CNN (audio)

In this episode, the group sits down to discuss the recent airing of Trump at Town Hall from CNN; why it was a blunder for the network, how other Republicans play into this, how it impacts the upcoming election, the Democrats response, and more...

Audio file -> https://more-perfect-union.captivate.fm/episode/more-perfect-union-82-trump-on-cnn

wfpr.fm: 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 More Perfect Union episodes online -> https://more-perfect-union.captivate.fm/episodes  or subscribe with your favorite podcast app

Profile America Facts for Features: The Fourth of July: 2023

The Fourth of July: 2023 JUNE 1, 2023 On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As we celebrate this Independence Day, we reflect on how our Founding Fathers enshrined in our Constitution the importance of data as a vital tool for measuring America. Most of the following facts are possible thanks to responses to U.S. Census Bureau censuses and surveys. We appreciate the public's cooperation as we continuously measure our people, places and economy.  Did You Know? 2.5 million The estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation in July 1776. Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: 1789-1945 333,287,557 The nation's population on July 1, 2022. Source: Vintage 2022 Population Estimates 56 The number of signers of the Declaration of Independence. It is also worth noting that: John Hancock, a merchant by trade, was the first signer. In 2021, more than 1 million business establishments nationally with paid employees were in the retail trade industry like Hancock. Source: 2021 County Business Patterns, Table CB2100CBP Benjamin Franklin, who represented Pennsylvania, was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence at age 70. Pennsylvania had a resident population of 12,972,008 on July 1, 2022. Edward Rutledge of South Carolina was the youngest signer at age 26. South Carolina had a resident population of 5,282,634 on July 1, 2022. Source: Vintage 2022 Population Estimates                                       Patriotic Places  Places with the word "liberty" in their names. Source: Vintage 2022 Population Estimates Places with the word "union" in their names. Source: Vintage 2022 Population Estimates                                       Related News Products Previous Facts for Features FFF: The Fourth of July: 2022 FFF: The Fourth of July: 2021 FFF: The Fourth of July: 2020 The Fourth of July: 2019 FFF: The Fourth of July: 2018 FFF: The Fourth of July: 2017 FFF: The Fourth of July: 2016 Stats for Stories Maryland 235th Anniversary of Statehood (1788): April 28, 2023 Presidents Day: February 20, 2023 Massachusetts 235th Anniversary of Statehood (1788): February 6, 2023 Virginia 245th Anniversary – First State to Ratify the Articles of Confederation (1777): December 16, 2022 Bill of Rights Day (1791): December 15, 2022 Pennsylvania 235th Anniversary of Statehood (1787): December 12, 2022 Delaware 235th Anniversary of Statehood (1787): December 7, 2022 Ancestor Appreciation Day: September 27, 2022 Constitution Day and Citizenship Day: September 17, 2022 Previous Graphics Patriotic Places (2022) Happy 245th Birthday, America! (2021) Fun Facts: Fourth of July (2020) Fun Facts: Fourth of July (2019) The Fourth of July (2018) Declaring Independence (2017) Greetings From Liberty USA (2016) ### Read More About the Census Bureau We serve as the nation's leading provider of quality data about its people and economy. The Census Bureau is the federal government's largest statistical agency. As the world's premier statistical agency, we are dedicated to making our nation a better place. Policy-makers, businesses, and the public use our data to make informed decisions. Resources for Media For media interviews, please contact the Public Information Office Toll Free at 877-861-2010, 301-763-3030, or pio@census.gov.

Profile America Facts for Features: The Fourth of July: 2023

Franklin's Event Outlook: June 2, 2023 to June 8, 2023

The Farmers Market opens for their new season on the Town Common, This community event will run every Friday through October. There is one exception to this schedule for the 4th of July weekend. The 4th of July Celebration takes over the Common from Thursday, through July 4 with a variety of food, entertainment and of course the carnival rides. On Friday's during the summer months the Farmers Market will continue to coordinate with Concerts on the Common for food trucks, music, and an occasional movie night as #artshappenhere in Franklin.

Friday, June 2

8:00am - Love Letter - art display (Franklin Public Library)

Franklin Farmers Market

2:00pm - Franklin Farmers Market (Franklin Town Common)

2:00pm - Moxie (live music) (Franklin Town Common)

2:00pm - Franklin Agriculture Commission (seed planting, touch a truck, etc.) (Franklin Town Common)

4:30pm - Fettle & Fig  (food truck) (67 Degrees Brewery)

6:00pm - Cramer Hill (live music) (67 Degrees Brewery)

6:00pm - Laura May Duo (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

7:00pm - FHS Graduation (Franklin High School) 

10:30pm - FHS All Night Party (Horace Mann Middle School)

Saturday, June 3

8:00am - Love Letter - art display (Franklin Public Library)

10:00am - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

12:00pm - Franklin Democratic Town Cmte Caucus (Franklin TV Studio)

4:00pm - Michael Rivelis (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

6:00pm - Backyard Swagger (live music) (67 Degrees Brewery)

Sunday, June 4

8:00am - PMC Kids Ride - Franklin

8:00am - Love Letter - art display (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm - Fund Raiser to Support Steve Saleeba PMC (La Cantina Winery)

1:00pm - The Cowpunks (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

1:00pm - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

7:00pm - Interfaith Teen Climate Change Meeting (St John’s Episcopal Church)

Monday, June 5

8:00am - Love Letter - art display (Franklin Public Library)

Tuesday, June 6

8:00am - Love Letter - art display (Franklin Public Library)

6:00pm - Horace Mann Middle School Concert (Horace Mann Middle School)

Wednesday, June 7

8:00am - Love Letter - art display

1:00pm - Senior Scribblers (writing group)

6:00pm - Annie Sullivan Middle School Concert

7:00pm - Franklin Art Association

Thursday, June 8

8:00am - Love Letter - art display

6:00pm - Remington Middle School Concert

7:30pm - FPAC performs "Violet"

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

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 

Franklin's Event Outlook: June 2, 2023 to June 8, 2023