WE CHALKED THE SIDEWALK WITH MESSAGES TO OUR LEGISLATORS TO SEE MONDAY!
WE CHALKED THE SIDEWALK WITH MESSAGES |
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
WE CHALKED THE SIDEWALK WITH MESSAGES TO OUR LEGISLATORS TO SEE MONDAY!
WE CHALKED THE SIDEWALK WITH MESSAGES |
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09
Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274 Passcode: 350ma
As usual, we will share information about 350 Mass, and discuss and plan for local and state activities. Also, attendees at our Node meeting will share developments in their cities and towns, including a focus on Franklin.
FOR YOUR ATTENTION: THIS WEEK: Mass Power Forward Lobby Day, Thursday, June 20. Sign up to join activists across the state on our decentralized lobby day and meet with your legislators around Mass Power Forward's priority bills. Learn more and RSVP here.. (350 Mass is a leader in the Mass Power Forward coalition.)
Also, looking ahead to July: Climate Justice Can't Wait—Rally and March in Boston, Saturday, July 13. Join our Mass Power Forward coalition and our youth allies from Mass Youth Climate Coalition as we march on the State House to demand climate justice. RSVP here. Sat, Jul 13, 1 pm, Boston Common Bandstand, 139 Tremont St, Boston.
On a personal note, as I wrote in the notice of the previous meeting, I (Ralph Halpern) am resigning from the Node because I am moving to a new home northwest of Boston. My wife and I are retired now and plan to start a new phase in a 55-plus condo community with, best or all, closer proximity to our young grandson and his parents. I expect to switch my 350 Mass affiliation to another Node, so I look forward to seeing many of you at rallies and events. As for our Greater Franklin Node, the work continues under Carolyn Barthel's tremendous leadership. In July, emails about meetings and activities will come to you from Node member Steve Derdiarian. If you're already active with the Node, thank you and keep up the good work. If you want to play a role confronting the enormous challenges we all face, I recommend 350 Mass and our Node as a great way to learn and participate.
For more news about ongoing and upcoming events, please sign up for the Climate Weekly email. Also, check out upcoming events on the 350 Mass website.
We look forward to another informative and action-oriented Node meeting. We hope you can join us, in person or on Zoom. We will send a reminder on Thursday.
Thank you.
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017
![]() |
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, June 6, 2024 |
The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this Thursday, May 16, 7:00-9:00 pm. Please add it to your calendar.
This will be a HYBRID meeting: you can attend in person, or join on Zoom.
Location of the in-person meeting: First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin.
OPTION: Join on Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09
Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, May 16, 2024
Here are some items for the meeting and for your attention:
Mini-Rallies for Climate Action on May 21! The state legislature is coming down to the wire to pass climate bills! We have about sixty days left to move forward on climate change in the state. 350 Mass and our allies invite you to rally for climate action! Our simultaneous mini-rallies will send a message to the legislature that we need them to do their jobs and pass climate legislation now. Find your local rally and join us. RSVP here.
One rally will be in Franklin, on Tuesday, May 21, 4:30-6:00pm. Location: Median strip: Main St & E. Central St. (Rt. 140), Franklin, in front of the Rome Restaurant. We call upon Rep. Jeff Roy, the House Chair of the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee (TUE), to push to pass major climate legislation such as an environmental justice (EJ) siting bill and the Future of Clean Heat bill. Bring your enthusiasm, your bodies and your signs! (Signs can say "60 days left for Climate Justice!, We Want EJ Siting Bill!, Future of Clean Heat, etc.). Attend our Node meeting this Thursday and bring materials so we can work together to make our posters.
Stop Expansion at Hanscom Field! At the meeting we will each write a letter opposing the proposed expansion of private jet capacity at Hanscom Field which would allow more private jet flights with their extremely high carbon dioxide emissions. If you won't be at the meeting, it would still be helpful if you did this on your own. Here is some background information and a sample letter to send to Alexander Strysky, an environmental analyst in the state's Environmental Policy Act Office (MEPA).
Articles: Massport's plan to expand private jet space at Hanscom is a climate debacle. And These Massachusetts landmarks made a new list of the 'most endangered sites' in the US.
350 Mass member Jennifer Riley offers this instruction: "Some folks have expressed frustration with the guidelines for submitting comments regarding the proposed expansion of private jet capacity at Hanscom Field. I'm attaching a copy of my letter in hopes it might make it easy to modify it and send it in as your own; it needn't be this long. Please change any details that apply to me but not to you. The subject line should be: "EEA No. 16654 - L.G. Hanscom Field North Airfield Development, Bedford" and it should be sent to alexander.strysky@mass.gov." Jennifer's letter is attached to this email.
For other activities and initiatives, see the Climate Weekly email and the Event Calendar.
Please try to join us for Thursday's meeting. We will maintain our schedule of meetings on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month.
Thank you.
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017
The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this week, Thursday, May 2, 2024, 7:00-9:00 pm.
This will be a HYBRID meeting: you can attend in person, or join on Zoom.
Location of the in-person meeting: First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin.
OPTION:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09
Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, May 2, 2024 |
We look forward to another informative and action-oriented Node meeting. We hope you can join us, in person or on Zoom. We will send a reminder on Thursday.
Our next meeting after this week will be the 3rd Thursday of the month, May 16.
Thank you.
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09
Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274 Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923
Please sign up for the Climate Weekly email if you are not yet receiving it.
Check out upcoming events on our website.
Please try to join us for Thursday's meeting. We will maintain our schedule of meetings on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month.
Thank you.
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017
This will be a HYBRID meeting: you can attend in person, or join on Zoom.
Those of us who have been meeting in Franklin have enjoyed the chance to come together. We hope others will do the same.
Location of the in-person meeting: First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin.
OPTION:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09
Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node |
We look forward to another informative and action-oriented Node meeting. We hope you can join us, in person or on Zoom. We will send a reminder on Thursday.
Our next meeting after this week will be the 3rd Thursday of the month, April 18.
Thank you.
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09
Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274 Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923
You may be interested in an online program, this Wednesday, March 20, 7-8:30 pm. Presentation on Mitigating the Effects of Climate Change: Communities and individuals must develop strategies to deal with the effects of climate change as they happen. Join Emily Norton, Executive Director of the Charles River Watershed Association, for a presentation and Q&A and learn how you can make your community safer and more secure in the face of our changing climate. Sign up here. Wed, Mar 20, 7-8:30 pm.
Please sign up for the Climate Weekly email if you are not yet receiving it.
Check out upcoming events on our website.
Please try to join us for Thursday's meeting. We will maintain our schedule of meetings on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017
This will be a HYBRID meeting: you can attend in person, or join on Zoom.
Those of us who have been meeting in Franklin have enjoyed the chance to come together. We hope others will do the same. 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node
· Location of the in-person meeting: First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin.
· OPTION:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09
Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923
This week, March 7, we'll continue our discussion about working to have our cities and towns adopt the Municipal Opt-in Specialized Stretch Code. Franklin, Sharon, and other towns in our node are taking steps to adopt the bylaw, and spring town meeting agendas are being set now. Here's some background:
One of the recommended local actions of the 350 Mass Emissions Free Buildings campaign is adoption of the Municipal Opt-In Specialized Stretch Code. This new level of building code pushes new construction towards our Massachusetts state-mandated goals through deep energy efficiency, reduced heating loads, and efficient electrification. Here is one of many online resources that provides helpful information: Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN) and Sierra Club: Fighting for Better Buildings, and Specialized Opt-In Code Toolkit
We will also catch up on legislative action as bills make their way through Committees, the House and the Senate.
For more news about ongoing and upcoming events, please sign up for the Climate Weekly email. Also, check out upcoming events on our website. 350 Mass will hold its annual summit, "Organizing in a Time of Upheaval" on March 16; learn more here.
We look forward to another informative and action-oriented Node meeting. We hope you can join us, in person or on Zoom. We will send a reminder on Thursday.
Our next meeting after this week will be the 3rd Thursday of the month, March 21.
Thank you.
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017
The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this Thursday, February 1, 2024, 7:00-9:00 pm.
This will be a HYBRID meeting: you can attend in person, or join on Zoom.
Those of us who have been meeting in Franklin have enjoyed the chance to come together. We hope others will do the same.
· Location of the in-person meeting: First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin.
· OPTION: Join on Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09
Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923
This week, Feb. 1, during the first part of the meeting, 7:00-7:45 pm, we'll have a Weston volunteer present how his town organized a campaign to successfully adopt the Municipal Opt-in Specialized Stretch Code, with Q&A following. Why is this important? Because Franklin and other towns in our node are working to adopt the bylaw, and spring town meeting agendas are being set now! Come hear his presentation!
BACKGROUND: One of the recommended local actions of the 350 Mass Emissions Free Buildings campaign is adoption of the Municipal Opt-In Specialized Stretch Code. This new level of building code pushes new construction towards our Massachusetts state-mandated goals through deep energy efficiency, reduced heating loads, and efficient electrification. We will also share resources that all of us can use in our own communities.
Here is another important matter: We ask everyone to contact your state Representative and Senator this week! All the information you need is here in this Action Alert.
BACKGROUND: We want our Legislature to pass climate and energy bills that are priorities for 350 Mass and the larger Mass Power Forward coalition. Now is the time to push legislators to have our key climate bills reported favorably out of committee. If not reported out favorably soon (February 6 is the current deadline, although it could be extended), bills will be effectively dead for this legislative session.
For more news about ongoing and upcoming events, please sign up for the Climate Weekly email. Also, check out upcoming events on our website.
We look forward to another informative and action-oriented Node meeting. We hope you can join us, in person or on Zoom. We will send a reminder on Thursday.
Our next meeting after this week will be the 3rd Thursday of the month, February 15.
Thank you.
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09
Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274 Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923
ATTENTION Franklin residents! In addition to our regular agenda, we will hear about and discuss sustainability plans for the Town of Franklin. We will be joined in-person by Gino Carlucci, chair of the Sustainability Subcommittee of the Franklin Master Plan Update Committee, from 7:15-7:35. It will be primarily an introductory discussion to one or more public meetings scheduled over the next 2-3 months, at which everyone interested will have the opportunity to provide input to the master plan in general as well as the sustainability elements in particular. We look forward to our discussion with Gino.
The remainder of the Node meeting will focus on the two major 350 Mass campaigns: Emissions Free Buildings and Make Polluters Pay. Read about them here.
The Emissions Free Buildings (EFB) campaign works at municipal and statewide levels to replace building systems with proven renewable energy technologies to make our buildings and homes emissions free, in alignment with the Commonwealth's emission goals.
Along with statewide legislation, the 350 Mass EFB campaign promotes local action to accelerate the transition with five Local Projects that can be undertaken by single communities. We'll discuss the choices for towns within the node:
Here is your opportunity to promote climate action in your town and get guidance to make that happen! The Greater Franklin Node encompasses 20 towns. We want to identify potential Local Projects for towns. Which projects make sense for your town? Who are the key players? How to engage local citizens? This is your chance to make a difference in 2024 and take on the challenges that we face in climate and energy. Join us!
Please sign up for the Climate Weekly email.
Check out upcoming events on our website.
Please try to join us for Thursday's meeting. We will maintain our schedule of meetings on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month.
Note: We typically will hold a hybrid meeting on the 1st Thursday and a Zoom-only meeting on the 3rd Thursday, but this week's meeting is a hybrid event so we can welcome Gino Carlucci and residents of Franklin for an in-person discussion.
If you have questions or items for the agenda, you can contact the Node coordinators, carolyncbarthel@gmail.com and/or ralph.halpern@comcast.net. We will send a reminder on Thursday.
Thank you.
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017