"Prosecutors said when one witness yelled for the mother of DeAndre Scott's child to call 911, Marcus Thibodeau, 26, left the living room and said, "What was I supposed to do, he came at me."Read the full article via @milforddaily at https://t.co/prRv3xdEaC
Showing posts with label Milford Daily News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Milford Daily News. Show all posts
Friday, January 22, 2021
Milford Daily News: "Man indicted in fatal Franklin shooting pleads not guilty"
Monday, December 7, 2020
In the News: Cobi Frongillo wins Franklin Town Council seat
Cobi Frongillo, 23, has been elected to fill the open Franklin Town Council seat by a landslide after Saturday’s Special Election.The youngest of the four candidates running received 2,500 votes on Saturday – over half of the overall votes, according to unofficial election results.Despite a snowstorm that blanketed the region from morning to night, 4,267 residents cast their votes at Franklin High School to choose who should fill the vacant Town Council seat left by Eamon McCarthy Earls in September.Greg Chiklis received the second-highest amount of votes with 802 votes, followed by Alan Earls, father of Eamon McCarthy Earls, with 723 votes and KP Sompally with 229 votes.
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/story/news/local/2020/12/06/cobi-frongillo-sweeps-franklin-town-council-seat-left-eamon-mccarthy-earls/3821864001/
The official results are now available
 |
| voter turnout for Franklin elections 2003-2020 |
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
In the News: Town Council candidate statements
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Election season is not yet quite over for Franklin, which is holding a special town election next week — unusually on a Saturday — to fill a vacancy on the Town Council.
Franklin's special town election will fill a seat on the Town Council.
There are four candidates seeking the post left behind this fall by nearly three-year member Eamon McCarthy Earls, who exited the top governing board to pursue law studies. Candidates include Greg Chiklis, Alan Earls, Cobi Frongillo and KP Sompally.
The special election is set to take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. next Saturday. Polls will be open at Franklin High School, 218 Oak St.
Candidates all provided statements, which appear here in the order candidates will be listed on the ballot."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
For all the relevant info for the special election scheduled for Dec 5 to fill one Town Council seat visit the "election collection" https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/2020-election-collection.html
 |
| 2020 Election Collection |
Saturday, November 28, 2020
"12 Days of Donating" effort is marking its 15th year
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Usually, a holiday elf's job is to make toys, pack Santa's sleigh and deliver presents on Christmas Eve. But there's a team of elves in Franklin with a different job: Collect donations for the Franklin Food Pantry.
They are the Franklin Food Elves, and they are about to launch their annual "12 Days of Donating" campaign, an effort that is important to the food pantry's continuing efforts to help community members in need.
The Franklin Food Elves are getting ready to launch their 2020 "12 Days of Donating" fundraiser for the Franklin Food Pantry, which will collect monetary donations to help the pantry help community members in need. From left, during filming of a pantry tour for this year's elves are: Kim Cooper, pantry donor relations manager; Laura Often, communications manager and Lynn Calling, executive director.
“Franklin Food Elves is our biggest fundraising opportunity," said Food Elves senior captain Erin McCaffrey in a video she recently prepared to promote the 2020 campaign. "Last year we raised over $30,000 and this year I think we can beat that goal, but we need your help.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
 |
| Franklin Food Elves ready to launch pantry fundraiser |
Sunday, November 22, 2020
In the News: "misdirected to a third party"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"More than a month after a “spear phishing” attack swiped $522,000 from a town account, questions about what happened and what was done about it will be examined at the next Town Council meeting, according to council Chairman Tom Mercer.
During Wednesday's meeting, town councilors discussed the cyber security problem, which was reported in early October by town officials during a closed-door executive session.
More details about what happened will be revealed during the council’s next meeting on Dec. 2, said Mercer. Due to the nature of the topic, he said it could only be discussed in executive session, and that just one more meeting was needed before completing that confidential discussion.
Franklin police spokesperson Sgt. Brian Johnson said police had no update on the case as of Thursday, other than that it remains under investigation. "
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
As a retired professional with experience in information security with financial industry firms, I find it disturbing that some among the Council are first to assume individual corruption. The circumstances of a spear phishing attack could happen to almost anyone. Check out the FBI information to be aware of such attacks and how to protect yourself. https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/cyber
Other sources of information security on cyber attacks
- https://krebsonsecurity.com/2020/11/godaddy-employees-used-in-attacks-on-multiple-cryptocurrency-services/
- https://www.sailpoint.com/blog/why-working-from-home-opened-a-cybersecurity-pandoras-box/
- https://www.mcafee.com/blogs/consumer/consumer-threat-notices/cyber-monday-is-coming-10-tips-to-protect-you-from-online-shopping-scams/
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
PFAS from a new angle
From The Guardian, an article of interest for us in Franklin:
"The successful uptake of any vaccine for Covid-19, a crucial step in returning a sense of normalcy after a year ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic, could be hindered by widespread contamination from a range of chemicals used in everyday products.
Small amounts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl (or PFAS) chemicals are commonly found in the bodies of people in the US, as well as several other countries. These man-made chemicals, used in everything from non-stick pans to waterproof clothes to pizza boxes, have been linked to an elevated risk of liver damage, decreased fertility and even cancer.
But scientists warn some of these chemicals can also cause another little-known but potentially significant defect by reducing the effectiveness of certain administered vaccines. This impediment could cast a shadow over efforts to roll out a Covid-19 vaccine to enough people that restrictions on day-to-day life are eased.
“At this stage we don’t know if it will impact a corona vaccination, but it’s a risk,” said Philippe Grandjean, an adjunct professor of environmental health at the Harvard School of Public Health. “We would have to cross our fingers and hope for the best.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/17/chemicals-found-in-everyday-products-could-hinder-covid-19-vaccine
Millis drinking water tested positive for PFAS
In October 2020, a Talk Franklin episode discussed new DEP guidelines for testing PFAS
Earlier in October, the MMA noted the new testing standard required for PFAS
Friday, November 13, 2020
"I need to go do whatever I can"
From the Boston Globe, an article of interest for Franklin:
"Throughout the presidential campaign, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon often repeated a mantra from her collegiate softball days to rally staff on endless Zoom calls: We can do hard things.
Even for someone with an optimistic attitude, 2020 presented a particularly high number of “hard things” for the woman running Joe Biden’s campaign — a pandemic that turned traditional campaigning upside down, a polarized left that wasn’t thrilled about a three-time, middle-of-the-road presidential candidate, an unpredictable opponent who frequently said the election was rigged before any votes were cast.
But the mantra, however unflashy, turned out to be true.
“Once she commits to a goal, she’s going to grind it out,” said longtime friend Cloe Axelson, who played softball at Tufts with Dillon and worked on early campaigns with her. “She’s so tough, and she just does the work.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/11/12/nation/one-most-important-political-operative-youve-never-heard/
You may recall the Washington Post ran an article in August
The Milford Daily News picked up on the Post article in October
The Washington Post and MDN had also run an article in March when she joined the campaign https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/03/bidens-new-campaign-manager-is-franklin.html
 |
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
In the News: MA "may become recruiting field for Team Biden"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"When President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team announced his COVID-19 advisory board on Monday, House Speaker Robert DeLeo quickly did the math, pointing out on Twitter that more than half of the members “were educated and/or employed in Massachusetts.”
And while Boston Mayor Martin Walsh noted Sunday that Biden “can’t take everyone from Massachusetts to Washington with him,” speculation has started to swirl about which Bay State pols might find a new home in a Biden administration.
Walsh and U.S. Sen Elizabeth Warren -- who’d indicated a willingness to serve as Biden’s running mate after her own presidential bid came up short -- are frequently mentioned names among Democrats, and another one-time 2020 presidential contender, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, endorsed Biden in January after ending his own campaign.
With Biden trumpeting a message of unity, the Delaware Democrat could look to pull some members of his cabinet from across the aisle. Gov. Charlie Baker’s name has surfaced as a potential candidate, and former acting Gov. Jane Swift said she was “honored” to be among the ”#unexpected5″ blogger Patrick Riccards floated as potential education secretaries."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Sunday, November 8, 2020
“The kids are ecstatic. The kids are absolutely thrilled”
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Izzy Arnold received her first COVID-19 test Saturday morning.
“It was kind of uncomfortable,” the Franklin High junior soccer player said. “But nothing I can’t handle.”
And that sentiment accurately sums up the past week for Franklin High students and administrators.
A party on Oct. 31 at a home in Franklin, where up to 50 high school students failed to practice social distancing or wear masks, forced Franklin High School to shut down until Nov. 16."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
The Nov 1 letter shutting sports down with delay to hybrid until Nov 16
The Nov 5 letter with the test plan for athletes
 |
| “The kids are ecstatic. The kids are absolutely thrilled” |
"Municipalities have until Nov. 18 to send their final tallies to the state"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"These vote-counting sessions are required so that local clerks can count any ballots that came in between 5 p.m. on Election Day and 5 p.m. on Friday, as long as they were postmarked by Tuesday. Another session will need to be scheduled to count overseas ballots, which have another week to arrive, but again, must have been postmarked by Nov. 3.
Municipalities were allowed to save ballots that came in the mail on Election Day until these later counting sessions, but many chose to count them on Election Day.
None of the cities or towns in MetroWest or Greater Milford who responded to the Daily News anticipate having enough ballots to overturn their town’s presidential results. Several had 20 ballots or fewer as of Thursday or Friday afternoon, with only a day or a few hours left until the post office could drop off more.
On Saturday, Franklin officials expected to count nearly 200 ballots, the most of any community in the region. But that’s still not enough to take the win from Biden in that town, where he had just under 5,000 votes more than President Donald Trump."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
 |
| "Municipalities have until Nov. 18 to send their final tallies to the state" |
"2,200 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in MA"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"The state Department of Public Health reported an additional 2,200 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the statewide total to 164,936.
This marks the second straight day that state health officials have reported more than 2,000 new coronavirus cases. The last time that happened was April 24-25.
An estimated 20,720 cases are active across the state, the daily report shows."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20201107/2200-new-covid-19-cases-confirmed-in-mass-23-additional-deaths?rssfeed=true
Saturday, November 7, 2020
“What we heard from the governor today is a complete disconnect”
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Gov. Charlie Baker, along with health and education officials, on Friday detailed an expectation that schools across the state should have students attending in-person learning and that most of the 351 cities and towns should strive to have students in classrooms full time.
The announcement was made alongside a major revision to the state’s weekly COVID-19 risk map, which has been tied to state guidelines for school and business safety policies. Under the new methodology, which adds population as a factor, the number of communities in the “red” or “high-risk” category will decline from 121 last week to 16 on the map that was scheduled to be published Friday evening.
Baker, Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders and education officials on Friday cited various pieces of research that found that in-person learning does not lead to increased transmission of the virus. While about 450,000 public school students attended in-person classes last week, Baker said there were only 252 confirmed cases among those students and staff.
“We continue to see too many communities with students learning in remote-only models,” Baker said. “Not being in school poses significant risk for kids, both related to COVID and related to other health concerns — like depression, anxiety and others. In Rhode Island, students learning remotely tested positive at a higher rate than students attending classes.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:
"THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION on Friday ramped up pressure on the roughly 23 percent of school districts teaching remotely to return to in-person classes by releasing new metrics that downgraded the risk of COVID-19 in most communities and issuing new guidance suggesting hands-on teaching is safe even in hot-spot areas.
Gov. Charlie Baker said the evidence is clear that in-person teaching is safe. He noted cases in public schools declined this past week and Catholic schools statewide, many of them in high-risk areas, have seen few infections.
“Data collected from school districts across the US, of which we now have several months’ worth, shows schools can open and operate safely in person,” he said.
“We know nothing can take the place of in-person instruction,” said Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeff Riley. “The time to get kids back to school is now.”
Continue reading the article online
With rejiggered COVID-19 map accounting for population, many MA communities move out of red zone
From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:
"WITH THE NUMBER of Massachusetts communities considered high-risk for COVID-19 growing at an alarming rate, the Baker administration on Friday changed the metrics it uses to set risk levels and cut the number of municipalities designated as red by 87 percent.
The administration had been using a one-size-fits-all system for determining whether a community was low (gray and green), moderate (green), or high (red) risk based on the average number of cases per 100,000 people over the previous two weeks.
On Friday a new system was rolled out that lumps communities into three different groups based on population size and then measures risk for each group using different metrics – the number of overall cases in smaller communities and a combination of cases per 100,000 and the positive test rate (positive cases divided by total tests) in the larger ones. Even the cutoff for the red, or high-risk, designation was raised from 8 to 10 cases per 100,000 people.
Using the new metrics, the number of red communities plummeted, falling from 121 a week ago to 16 on Friday. The number of moderate risk yellow communities increased from 76 to 91 and the number of low-risk gray and green communities jumped from 197 to 244."
Continue reading article online https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/red-municipalities-plummet-with-changed-metrics/
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"One day after unexpectedly delaying the release of a weekly COVID-19 risk map, Massachusetts health officials revealed that the next edition of the map will be adjusted for the population of the state’s cities and towns.
Administration officials revealed the first revised map with the new calculations Friday afternoon.
Since the first edition of the map, the Department of Public Health has categorized communities into four color groups — gray, green, yellow and red — based primarily on the average daily rate of new virus cases per 100,000 people over a two-week period.
But only a handful of the state’s 351 cities and towns have a population greater than 100,000. Nearly half have populations smaller than 10,000."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Friday, November 6, 2020
"everybody who knew Dre knew how big his heart was,"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"It’s been a week since DeAndre Akeem Scott was fatally shot in the chest, and police say no arrests have been made.
Investigators say they have no new information to release to the public about the shooting, said Franklin police spokesman Sgt. Brian Johnson, and that the investigation is still “active and ongoing.”
Last week, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said the suspect or suspects appear to have known Scott, 26, and that the shooting is not random. Morrissey also said Scott, from Attleboro, formerly lived in Franklin, but no further information about his background has been released.
According to Scott’s obituary, he lived in Franklin for much of his life, graduated from Franklin High School in 2012 and later attended Dean College. "
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20201105/still-no-arrests-week-after-murder-of-franklin-high-school-graduate?rssfeed=true
 |
| balloon display set up on the corner of Elwood St |
In the News: "1,761 new COVID-19 cases confirmed"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"The state Department of Public Health reported an additional 1,761 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the statewide total to 160,698.
An estimated 18,279 cases are active across the state, the daily report shows.
State health officials also confirmed 23 new COVID-19-related deaths, bringing the state’s confirmed coronavirus death toll to 9,859."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Community Level data map https://www.mass.gov/info-details/community-level-covid-19-data-reporting
 |
| COVID-19 Community-Level Data Map - 11/04/20 |
Thursday, November 5, 2020
In the News: "Mass voters reject ranked choice, but OK car repair measure"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Voters of Massachusetts said no Tuesday night to a reform that would have dramatically altered the way voters choose their elected leaders, rejecting a ballot question backed by a who’s who of current and former political leaders from both parties that would have allowed voters in future statewide elections to rank candidates in races with three or more choices on the ballot.
Voters approved the other ballot question, breaking in favor of giving independent mechanics access to wireless vehicle data to repair cars by a 3-1 margin, according to incomplete and unofficial returns.
Supporters of the auto repair question said their win at the ballot box would ensure that consumers can get their car or truck repaired wherever they want, but even after conceding defeat opponents of Question 1 said the Right to Repair Committee failed to show why the change was necessary.
Unofficial results showed voters favoring Question 1 by a 3-1 margin with over 93% of precincts reporting, according to The Associated Press."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
For more info on the Nov 3, 2020 election check the unofficial Franklin results on the Town Clerk page https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk
In the News: 1,629 new COVID-19 cases
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"The state Department of Public Health reported an additional 1,629 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 158,937.
State health officials also confirmed 27 new COVID-19-related deaths across Massachusetts, bringing the state’s confirmed coronavirus death toll to 9,836.
As of Wednesday, 502 patients confirmed of having the coronavirus were hospitalized in Massachusetts, of which 109 were reported to be in an intensive care unit.
On Monday, the DPH posted a revised daily dashboard. Key new data points include “case growth by age group” and average turnaround time for COVID-19 test results that are reported to state health officials."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
The new COVID-19 dashboard can be found online https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-dashboard-november-4-2020/download
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
In the News: "Franklin voters opt to adopt Community Preservation Act"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Many projects around town that have been relegated to the back burner because of a lack of funding will have a better chance of being realized now that voters have adopted the provisions of the state Community Preservation Act.
The CPA question, which appeared on this election’s ballot along with two statewide questions regarding ranked-choice voting and right to repair, was handily passed with about 61% of those voting giving it the nod.
The measure will add a 2% surcharge to local property taxes as a means of raising money for often put-off open space and historic preservation projects, recreation projects and community housing development.
According to results reported by the Town Clerk’s Office, the ballot question decision was 11,565 in favor and 7,370 opposed."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Community Preservation Act - election results ("unofficial")
- Yes = 11565
- No = 7370
- Blanks = 862
- total = 19797
In the News: "Franklin voters opt to adopt Community Preservation Act"
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
In the News: Change to remote learning at FHS; petition started
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Hybrid learning at Franklin High School will be halted for two weeks after an underage drinking party was held on Halloween, school officials announced on Sunday.
In a letter to families, Superintendent Sara Ahern and Principal Josh Hanna said they learned an indoor party was held on Saturday at a home with up to 50 high school students attending. Franklin police officers, who broke up the party, were able to identify a small number of students there, but many of them scattered and were not identified.
Attendees were not wearing masks and were not social distancing, said Ahern and Hanna. They said they consulted the local health department in making the decision.
“This behavior puts everyone at Franklin High School at risk and we have no choice but to remain in the remote setting for another two weeks,” wrote Ahern and Hanna."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20201102/franklin-high-school-to-go-remote-until-nov-16-after-underage-drinking-party-leads-to-covid-19-concerns?rssfeed=true
"The Franklin High School Fall Athletes season has come to an abrupt halt due to a decision made by the Franklin Superintendent Sara Ahern. We are asking that you sign our petition to Let Them Play!
The decision was made to suspend the season for two weeks. However this will ultimately cause them to forfeit the rest of the season with the teams entering playoffs starting this week. "
Full petition link available https://www.change.org/p/dr-sara-ahern-franklin-ma-school-superintendent-let-the-franklin-high-school-fall-athletes-finish-their-season
In the News: new orders to combat COVID-19; School District to decide Davis Thayer and maybe more
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"In an effort to quell rising COVID-19 cases across the state, Gov. Charlie Baker issued new orders Monday afternoon that will put a curfew on some businesses, require face coverings in all public spaces and limit the size of in-person gatherings.
Baker announced the new measures on Monday in an attempt to curb COVID-19 cases, which he said are up by 278% since Labor Day. Hospitalizations are up 145% in that same period.
“Too many of us have become complacent in our daily lives ... If we do nothing and stay on the track we’re on now, we’ll create a capacity issue (in hospitals) by the end of the year,” Baker said. “It’s our hope to encourage people to act responsibly. ... We can’t afford to continue to do what we’ve been doing.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
"An architecture firm hired by Franklin Public School officials to evaluate closing Davis Thayer Elementary School last year recently came back to them with data indicating that they should also think about closing another school, too.Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Or merging two schools to create a district-wide middle school.
Architect Craig Olsen from Kaestle Boos Associates presented a comprehensive facilities analysis report to the Franklin School Committee on Oct. 27, reviewing the viability of closing Davis Thayer Elementary.
If no changes are made to any of the schools, Olsen said all of them will continue to operate under capacity, will be financially burdened by costs to maintain those underutilized facilities and would suffer “reduced educational adequacy in schools built prior to 1996.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)