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| Massachusetts Center for the Book has a 2023 Reading Challenge |
Thanks to State Representative Jeff Roy for making some time in his schedule to join me for a virtual conversation about what’s happening in the state government and his campaign for re-election in November 2022. Jeff represents the 10th Norfolk District and has served as the Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy in this current term.
A quick overview of Jeff
Development of political career, School Committee, Town Council, then State Rep
Newsletter, office hours
Video from House floor – periodic, topical
More Perfect Union – broad topics on regular schedule
Frank Presents – recent overview
Making Sense of Climate – 2 episodes, likely more on the roadmap to 2050
Presidential library tours shared at Franklin Historical Museum
PanMass ride, Ben Gardner’s Boat
SAFE Coalition, Franklin Food Pantry and other local nonprofits
This listing may have left something out, but it leads me to two observations:
Lifelong learner
Looking for meaningful challenges
Can you develop your thoughts on those?
Can you explore:
How you juggle home/family life with public work
Opportunities for improvements in transparency of State House deliberations, information
The audio segment runs about 50 minutes, so listen in to my conversation with State Representative Jeff Roy.
Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-858-ma-state-representative-jeff-roy-10-04-22
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Jeff Roy’s campaign page https://jeffreyroy.com/
Jeff Roy’s Twitter = https://twitter.com/jeffroy
Representative Roy’s Facebook page = https://www.facebook.com/RepJeffRoy/
Jeff’s Representative profile page at MA Legislature = https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/JNR1
Newsletter - subscribe here -> https://jeffreyroy.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a03272e278ec395d5f164106a&id=43d5611856
Video advocating passage of the climate act -> https://youtu.be/PB-CRp7ooCg
More Perfect Union – broad topics on regular schedule -> https://more-perfect-union.captivate.fm/
Frank Presents – recent overview -> https://youtu.be/E5RjWxDg1lU
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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).
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"
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| State Rep. Roy attends White House Ceremony |
Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.The Hockomock Area YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities they are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.
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| (L-R: Kathy Spier, Greg Spier, the late Alex Spier and Sonja Spier) |
Olivia Quinn can use your help "I am so excited to compete for the 3rd year in the @ASFL_Shoot4Cure challenge!! Help me reach my $1,000 goal by donating through the link below or in my bio!! You can also venmo me: oliviaquinn1
Any and all donations are greatly appreciated. "
Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/oliviaquinn22/status/1537059680249425921
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| Olivia Quinn can use your help in her Shoot4Cure Challenge |
"A special program brought to you by our VolunTeens! Register to play, pick up your kit and complete the tasks to earn materials that you will use to build your very own marble run! Then join us on the 26th to put your design to the test!"
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| Marble Run Challenge! Tuesday, Feb 1 - Friday, Feb 25, 2022 |
"All the @jfkladybugs are excited for Kids Heart Challenge to begin next week.
Over the past 5 years we have raised $57,823 for the @AmericanHeartMA ! Our goal this year is $12,000!
Be on the lookout for the envelope next week."
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| https://twitter.com/jfkladybugs |
Dear Franklin Families,
I find myself in the unfortunate position of, once again, writing to inform you of the latest TikTok challenge. There have been reports of a “School Threat Challenge" encouraging followers, on Dec. 17, 2021, to call in bomb threats, school shooting threats, etc., at schools in the United States. We do not believe these posts originated in our area.
We must remain vigilant when it involves these types of threats. Any situation that involves threats to our schools is taken seriously and acted upon immediately using our well-established threat assessment protocols. Our partnership with the Franklin Police Department is an essential component for quickly investigating and assessing the level of concern. As a precautionary measure, we have notified the Franklin Police Department, and we will have a police presence at each school tomorrow. As of this afternoon, Dec. 16, 2021, the Franklin Public Schools have not received any threats.
As I stated in my last “November Tik Tok Challenge” communication, social media is a powerful tool often used to influence others, and not always for good. I enlist your support and strongly encourage you to discuss the negative impact of engaging in inappropriate TikTok challenges with your children. Students must understand that making violent threats towards the school is a criminal act, and violators will face disciplinary action, including suspension, expulsion, and criminal charges for making threats against the school.
Despite the apparent threat these trends present to our community, many of our students are engaging in positive behaviors across the district worth acknowledging.
I hope this information allows you to connect with your children about the concerning content on TikTok and other social media platforms. For resources on how to support your children’s healthy and safe technology use, we encourage families to access Common Sense Media for their social media monitoring guidance.
Respectfully,
Lucas GiguereAssistant Superintendent
"The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a competition to develop “the next generation of masks” with the winning submission receiving a $500,000 cash prize.
The competition — “Mask Innovation Challenge: Building Tomorrow’s Mask” — is a partnership between HHS’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
In the announcement, HHS notes that many health authorities around the world are encouraging people to wear masks to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases, but masks often present some challenges such as: “contact dermatitis with prolonged wear, physical discomfort, fogging of eyeglasses, and difficulty communicating.”
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| "Mask Innovation Challenge: Building Tomorrow’s Mask" |
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Turn your social media page into a gratitude journal using #GiveThanks. Post every day about what you are grateful for, who you are grateful for, or why you are grateful. Share experiences, remembrances, and people you are grateful for. At the end of seven days, see if you feel happier and more at peace. Use the #GiveThanks.Say daily prayers of gratitude.
Now that we can back to our lives... Really looking forward to this free webinar with former IDEO designer and current Olin College prof @ElaBenUr next Monday: https://t.co/gXITrezKzy Some practical strategies to get unstuck and move forward. Register now!
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| Navigating a Mess of Unending Challenges |
Greg and Kathy Spier of Foxborough are issuing a $50,000 challenge grant to support the Hockomock Area YMCA’s commitment to support kids and families during this pandemic. The Spiers are matching every donation made August 10th through September 26th up to $50,000. When the Spier Family Kindness for Kids Challenge is met, it will result in $100,000 to benefit food security initiatives through the Hockomock Area YMCA.
Since the pandemic started, when the Y’s doors were closed in March, the
Hockomock Area YMCA immediately began providing food for people in need and
providing emergency child care for essential personnel. As of August 7th,
152,000 meals and 15, 623 grocery bags have been
provided to people in the local communities that the YMCA serves.
Every Wednesday, since March 18th, the Hockomock Y has provided free
family-size grocery bags valued at $50 each at their branches in Foxboro,
Franklin and North Attleboro to anyone in need. Additionally, the Y has been
working with school nutrition departments and community partners to ensure that
children and families have grab and go meals for breakfast and lunch while
schools have been closed and through the summer months. As the need for food
access continues to grow, grab and go meals are now offered in Bellingham, North Attleboro, Milford and
Wrentham.
“In these challenging times, our YMCA has been there for our community providing an important safety net for so many kids and families,” said Ed Hurley, President of the Hockomock Area YMCA. “I’m so proud of the work our Y has done – reflecting our mission and values - to provide emergency support focused on the needs of those challenged with food insecurity. Greg and Kathy Spier have been passionate partners for so many years with our Y. This incredible challenge will help our neighbors when they need it most and is the latest example of the Spier family’s commitment to our YMCA and the communities we are so proud to serve.”
Greg and Kathy Spier, long time Foxborough residents, Y members and volunteers, and community leaders, are committed to improving the quality of life in their community. The Spier Family’s legacy includes the naming of the indoor and outdoor aquatics centers at the Y’s Invensys Foxboro Branch, along with their parents, Sonja and the late Alex Spier.
Through the Spier Family Kindness for Kids Challenge, Kathy Spier expressed her hope that this challenge “will inspire people to make a gift to help feed kids and families and spread kindness and a caring hand to those who need it during a difficult time in our communities.”
“Our
family has always believed in giving back to the community and this YMCA. We have learned from our mom and dad the
importance of paying it forward and making your community a better place.
Through this challenge, and with the support of our community, together we will
make a difference providing food access to our neighbors in need during this
pandemic,” said Greg Spier.
When asked why the Spiers are issuing this challenge, Greg shared, “Kathy and I
give because our hearts feel good when we do so, and we advocate for the Y
because we know the Y’s reputation and commitment to helping people. Now more
than ever in these uncertain times, we all need to come together to support one
another.”
Every gift matters. To learn more about this challenge and ways to make a gift,
visit www.hockymca.org/spier-challenge
To learn about other ways to support this initiative, please contact Katie
Moore at katiem@hockymca.org.
For more information about the Y’s food securities initiatives, visit hockymca.org/food-access.
About Hockomock Area YMCA:
Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.
The Hockomock Area YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities they are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.
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| Spier Family Issues Giving Challenge At Hockomock Area YMCA |
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| FM #237 Jamie Barrett - "Sisu Ubuntu" 4/02/20 (Twitter photo) |
Thank you to all that were able to come out and support our troops at tonight’s unified game! AND a huge thank you to @franklinpolice @FranklinMAfire and @FranklinHS for coming out to play against unified! We appreciate your support and hope to see you at more of our games!! pic.twitter.com/xIL72f4ppV— FHSUnifiedSports (@FranklinUnified) October 17, 2019
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| FHS Unified basketball challenge game a success |
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| The Spier Family with summer campers in 2012 |
Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.
The Hockomock Area YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities they are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.
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| Chili & Chowder Challenge - April 14 (Facebook event photo) |
Congratulations to Drew Conrad (ceramics) and Jackie Forcina (painting). Their artwork has been accepted into the MAEA Emerging Artists Exhibition at the State Transportation Building from Feb 11th - March 27th. Just amazing!! @FranklinPSart @FranklinHS @FHSPantherbook pic.twitter.com/GIbI9Le5Oh— Brenna Johnson (@johnsonb_ms) January 6, 2019
Boys 1000 Meter Champion Nick Calitri of Franklin wins with a 2:41.33 at the #mstcafreshmansophomorechampionship ! pic.twitter.com/8qYIunv0PY— MSTCA (@MSTCA1) January 6, 2019
This spring, @NPR is challenging students across the country to make their own podcasts. It’s the NPR Ed Student Podcast Challenge. Contest rules and details are here: https://t.co/tSbJpS16Kc— NPR's Education Team (@npr_ed) November 15, 2018
