350 Mass Greater Franklin Node meeting Thursday, July 18 at 7 PM

Happy Hot July, everyone! Stay cool!

Our next 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node meeting is this Thursday, July 18! 

It will be HYBRID: both by Zoom AND in person at First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin, 7:00-9:00pm!

We're coming down to the wire for a climate bill as this legislative session ends July 31! The Senate came out with their strong version in late June and the House is supposed to submit theirs today. 

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node meeting

Here's a photo from our Mass Power Forward march from Boston Common to the State House on Sunday: 

WE CHALKED THE SIDEWALK WITH MESSAGES TO OUR LEGISLATORS TO SEE MONDAY!

WE CHALKED THE SIDEWALK WITH MESSAGES

We'll focus on what the rest of the legislative process is and what important actions we can take before the end of the session in two weeks, ESPECIALLY as Rep. Jeff Roy is so critical to the future of this climate bill as the House Chair of the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee (TUE) and a necessary member of the Joint Conference Committee.

Come learn what you can do!  

THESE LAST TWO WEEKS ARE WHEN THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD IN A SPRINT TO THE FINISH, FOLKS! We must implement phasing out gas, and facilitate fair siting and permitting for electrical transmission infrastructure to get off gas, and pass other major climate actions this legislative session. TIME IS UP! 

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 NEED YOUR VOICES TO PUSH FOR A STRONG BILL! JOIN US!

With gratitude,

Node Co-coordinators 

Carolyn Barthel and Steve Derdiarian

Get your Franklin questions answered, in person or remotely - Wednesday, July 17 at 11 AM

What is going on with .... ? 

What happened to ....? 

How come .... ?

Join Steve Sherlock, Community Information Director, for Franklin Matters & Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm),  for an informal and informative Q&A session. 

What is the session about?

• Steve provides some updates on what's happened in the past month in the first 10-15 minutes, then opens the floor to answer whatever questions you have.

When: Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 11:00 AM  

Where:  via Zoom or in person at the Senior Center

If you want the Zoom link, please use this form or check with the Senior Center front desk:      https://forms.gle/46H3gb4FZ4HSvwQJ6

Download this flyer as a reminder or to share ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TtkaAUuDNWXSPuEymSFFRUtQ3br-Y4UE/view?usp=drive_link

Get your Franklin questions answered, in person or remotely - Wednesday, July 17 at 11 AM

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, June 6, 2024

The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this week, Thursday, June 6, 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:  Join on Zoom   
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09             
Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

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.

This week we will highlight these events:

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, June 6, 2024

• Mass Power Forward Lobby Day, Thursday, June 20. Sign up to join activists across the state. Meet with your legislators either at the State House or in their Districts, to lobby for Mass Power Forward priorities. For details and registration, sign up here.  (350 Mass is a leader in the Mass Power Forward coalition.)

• In a related event, on Wednesday, June 12, 12:00-12:45 PM, 350 Mass will devote our monthly "Lunch.Climate.Action." Actionar to "The Art of Advocacy." Join us for more practice at how to effectively explore and enhance our lobby day skills. Information and RSVP here.

• As context for our advocacy for strong climate action by our state's legislature, please take a moment to reflect on the severity of the climate crisis. India is suffering from extreme heat with temperatures above 120 degrees in the capital Delhi, and people and animals are dying in large numbers. In our hemisphere, record heat is impacting much of the U.S. and our neighbor Mexico.  We must cram in as much as possible in our climate bill(s)!  Massachusetts needs to do its part to push the energy transition!    

• MA Climate Legislation Update! June 10, 7:00 PM.  For an opportunity to learn about proposed Massachusetts climate change and climate justice legislation, join this webinar by Green Energy Consumers Alliance and The Climate Reality Project, featuring an outstanding panel of advocates and policy experts. Information and registration here.

• Franklin Strawberry Stroll.  Friday, June 7 from 4 to 8 PM. Read the description here. There will be booths providing information about organizations and businesses, including 350 Mass and Energize Franklin. At our meeting on Thursday we will go over the details of our participation.  

We will save the latter part of the meeting on Thursday for some social time, in particular to say farewell to Ralph Halpern, our Node co-coordinator (that's me). After about 6-7 years of participating in the Greater Franklin Node, I will resign 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.

Our next meeting after this week will be the 3rd Thursday of the month, June 20th.

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, May 16, 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   

Get your Franklin questions answered, in person or remotely - Wednesday, May 15 at 11 AM

What is going on with .... ? 

What happened to ....? 

How come .... ?

Join Steve Sherlock, Community Information Director, for Franklin Matters & wfpr.fm,  for an informal and informative Q&A session. 

What is the session about?

• Steve provides some updates on what's happened in the past month in the first 10-15 minutes, then opens the floor to answer whatever questions you have.

When: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 11:00 AM  

Where:  via Zoom or in person at the Senior Center

If you want the Zoom link, please use this form or check with the Senior Center front desk:      https://forms.gle/guFMYoD7ppn1aPdJ6

Download this flyer as a reminder or to share ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HYcRukMTDvvSUdb6erh34IjAxNlC7Pt7/view?usp=drive_link

Get your Franklin questions answered, in person or remotely - Wednesday, May 15 at 11 AM

Board of Health meeting: key advice, please don't drink raw milk (audio)

FM #1186 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1186 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin (MA) Board of Health Meeting conducted on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.  The meeting was held at the Municipal Bldg and conducted in a hybrid manner. Chair Bridgit Sweet was remote. Members Jeff Harris and Kim Mu-Chow were in the room with the Health Department personnel.  

My notes:

Dual recording sessions underway; in board of health meeting, recording in progress for the school's comprehensive school facility subcommittee down the hall. 

Meeting in hybrid, Chair Sweet remote, members Harris & Mu-chow present with health staff

Housing task force update, work on abandoned property in conjunction with Attorney General, 21  Country Club Blvd owner passed, going to court to get a receiver assigned so outstanding  actions can be taken care of.

Avian flu update, flu now infecting cows,raw milk can spread the flu. Highly discourage consumption of raw milk. FDA, CDC advising PPE for dairy workers to help prevent spread

• Inspector report

• Nurse update

• Epidemiology update

Cassia changing role to shared coordinator next month

Regroup text weekly sent out,

Updated homeless resource tab for statewide resources

309 individuals, 89 families

Health fair next month, June 5, 2 to 5 PM at Library 

Meeting adjourn with 3-0 vote

The meeting runs about 25 minutes.    Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1186-franklin-ma-board-of-health-mtg-05-01-24

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

Board of Health page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department 

Meeting agenda ->  

 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/boh_agenda_5.1.24_-_google_docs.pdf 

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

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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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"

Franklin, MA: Board of Health meeting scheduled for May 1, 2024 at 5:00 PM

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, May 2, 2024

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

As usual, we will share information about 350 Mass, and discuss and plan for local and state activities. 

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, May 2, 2024

Attendees at our Node meeting will share developments in their cities and towns.

IMPORTANT Legislative Update: Call/email your legislators to push our bills, using our BRAND NEW TOOLKIT! It's very informative, giving you everything you need to know. Please take these actions this week and next week.

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, May 16. 

 

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, April 18

 

The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this Thursday, April 18, 7:00-9:00 pm.  Please add it to your calendar.

The meeting will be on Zoom: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09

Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274    Passcode: 350ma

Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

Whether or not you attend the meeting, we ask you to complete two easy but important tasks.

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node

1. Legislative Update: Call/email your legislators to push our 350 Mass priority bills, using our BRAND NEW TOOLKIT! It's very informative, giving you everything you need to know. You will find a script for a phone call and text for an email. Please take these actions this week or next week, before May 1.  

2. It's a "No Brainer" that we tell ISO-New England to stop sending our money to fossil fuel peaker plants! Read about it and sign the statement here.

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   

Get your Franklin questions answered, in person or remotely - April 17 at 11 AM

What is going on with .... ?

What happened to ....?

How come .... ?

Join Steve Sherlock, Franklin Matters & Franklin Public Radio Community Information Director (volunteer), for an informal and informative Q&A session. 

What is the session about?

• Steve provides some updates on what's happened in the past month in the first 10-15 minutes, then opens the floor to answer whatever questions you have 

When: Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 11:00 AM  

Where: Franklin Senior Center (2nd floor conf room) and via Zoom

If you want the Zoom link, please use this form (https://forms.gle/9cqXaTTfP9pVU1zWA), or check with the Senior Center front desk, or email me directly (sgsherlock@franklinmatters.org).  

Note: While this event is held at the Senior Center it is not limited to seniors. Any one in Franklin can participate in person or remotely.

Download this flyer as a reminder or to share

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z2vf0SZiH1KyoOkz4mhG4FBcVQb2VBI2/view?usp=drive_link

Get your Franklin questions answered, in person or remotely - April 17 at 11 AM

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, April 4, 2024

The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this week, Thursday, April 4, 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:     

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

As usual, we will share information about 350 Mass, and discuss and plan for local and state activities. 

We are scheduling Franklin residents to make Citizen Comments to the Franklin Town Council to advocate for a Franklin Sustainability Coordinator. When you SIGN UP, please write in your name and put an X on the date you want to speak. We really want a variety of town voices, not the same ones each meeting (4 meetings x 3 Citizen Comment speakers = 12 different voices). For those who have already signed up with Xs for all the dates, CHOOSE ONE and PUT PARENTHESES AROUND THE Xs ON THE OTHER DATES in case we need you as backup. DON'T WORRY: THE TALKING POINTS WILL COME LATER THIS MONTH (we're organizing them right now). SIGN UP HERE.

Also, attendees at our Node meeting will share developments in their cities and towns.

IMPORTANT Legislative Update: Call/email your legislators to push our bills, using our BRAND NEW TOOLKIT! It's very informative, giving you everything you need to know. Please take these actions this week and next week.

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, April 18. 

 

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, March 21, 2024

The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this Thursday, March 21, 7:00-9:00 pm.  Please add it to your calendar. 

We will send more details about the meeting on Wednesday/Thursday. 

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node

The meeting will be on Zoom:  

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   

Get your Franklin questions answered, in person or remotely - March 20 at 11 AM

What is going on with .... ?

What happened to ....?

How come .... ?

Join Steve Sherlock, Franklin Matters & Franklin Public Radio Community Information Director (volunteer), for an informal and informative Q&A session. 

What is the session about?

• Steve provides some updates on what's happened in the past month in the first 10-15 minutes, then opens the floor to answer whatever questions you have

Steve will also be interested to find out what you think should be on the "watch list" for 2024? 

When: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 11:00 AM  

Where: Franklin Senior Center (2nd floor conf room) and via Zoom

If you want the Zoom link, please use this form (https://forms.gle/DJWtDepRgPxZ3ytP6), or check with the Senior Center front desk, or email me directly.  

Note: While this event is held at the Senior Center it is not limited to seniors. Any one in Franklin can participate in person or remotely.

Download this flyer as a reminder or to share

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16fR4nLs6tJtp0HXobreBjiIusdAoatfo/view?usp=drive_link

Get your Franklin questions answered, in person or remotely - March 20 at 11 AM

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 7 PM

The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this Thursday, March 7, 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. 

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