Senator Rausch: Sep 6 - Primary Voting Info

Everything you need to vote by mail, vote early, or vote in person on Election Day.

View this email in your browser Senator Rausch State House Briefing    Part 2, Chapter 20 (August 25, 2022)    It's primary season! Do you have a plan to vote in the Tuesday, September 6 Massachusetts primary election? As a registered voter, you have the choice to vote by mail, vote early, or vote on Election Day. I fought incredibly hard to bring vote by mail to our Commonwealth, and I'm deeply proud that we have expanded access to the ballot box through my legislative work. In such uncertain times, it is crucial that we protect our democracy by preserving our constitutional right to vote.  In this newsletter, you'll find everything you need to make a voting plan for the Massachusetts primary election. For real-time updates, please follow me on Twitter and Facebook. If you are a constituent and need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me and my team via phone (617-722-1555) or email (becca.rausch@masenate.gov). We are here to help.    Happy voting! Yours in service,     Senator Becca Rausch    Resources at a Glance  Check your voter registration, find your polling place, and preview your ballot  Find your early voting site Register to vote or update your voter registration  Download an application to vote-by-mail, call 800-462-VOTE (8683) to request an application, or email elections@sec.state.ma.us (and include an e-signature)  Application and ballot tracker Find your local election office  REGISTER TO VOTE   The deadline to register for the September 6 primary election is Saturday, August 27. You can check your voter registration, find your polling place, and preview your ballot here.  VOTE BY MAIL Fill out a vote by mail application   If you did not receive a vote by mail application in the mail, you can request one online, contact your local election office, or call 1-800-462-VOTE to get a copy mailed to you. If you are an unenrolled or independent voter, make sure you indicate on the application which party's primary ballot you want to receive. If you do not apply for a mail-in ballot for the primary, or you miss the deadline, you should get another application in the mail in September to vote by mail in the November 8 general election.  Send in your vote by mail application  Simply mail, email, fax, or drop off your application to your town or city clerk. The application sent to you will be addressed with guaranteed prepaid postage. If you submit the application via email, the application must have your signature on it. Your town or city clerk must receive your application by 5PM on Monday, August 29.  Submit your mail-in ballot  You can submit your mail-in ballot via mail, ballot drop box, or at your early voting location.  A mail-in ballot will be sent to you at the address where you registered to vote, or a different address of your choosing if you designated it on your application. You will receive your ballot, instructions for voting by mail and completing your ballot, and an envelope pre-addressed with postage guaranteed to send to your local clerk. Remember to check the back side of your ballot and vote there too. Do not forget to sign your ballot!  The deadline to drop off your ballot is 8 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, September 6. If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked no later than Election Day and received by your town or city clerk by 8 PM on Tuesday, September 6.  VOTE IN PERSON - EARLY OR ON ELECTION DAY If you do not want to vote by mail, you can still vote early in person or head to the polls on Election Day.   In-Person Early Voting  Polling will begin on Saturday, August 27 and end on Friday, September 2.  Voting on Election Day  Polls will be open from 7AM-8PM on Election Day, Tuesday, September 6th. If you are in line by 8PM, you must be allowed to vote.   If you have any questions about voting in Massachusetts, please don't hesitate to reach out to my office at 617-722-1555 or the Elections Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office at 1-800-462-VOTE. Happy voting!   Virtual Evening Office Hours   My team and I host virtual office hours every month. Residents from any part of the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District, as well as residents of the Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex District (which takes effect in January 2023), are welcome to share their questions and opinions on state issues with me and my team via video chat or phone call.     Sign up for a 15-minute appointment here.          Upcoming virtual office hours:     Monday, September 12, 5-6 PM Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 218 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133

Franklin Residents: Breaking and Entering Northern Area of Franklin - Police looking for help & information

The Franklin Police are currently investigating several B&E's that occurred in the northern area of town.  Bellingham and Medway Police are also investigating several breaks under similar circumstances.  We have established a timeline between Saturday, August 6th at 9:00 AM and Sunday, August 7th at 8:00 AM. The vehicles in question are a white Ford Edge and a dark colored SUV; possibly a Jeep Cherokee.  The operator is believed to be a male wearing a white shirt that would walk from his vehicle after parking a far distance from the target homes.

We are looking for assistance from town residents and requesting anyone who observed any suspicious activity or anyone with a home security system that recorded useful footage to contact Detective Landry of the Franklin Police Department.  

Please remember to lock all doors and windows in your home when you are away and refrain from posting travel details on social media.  Have someone check your home while you are away.

Thank you

Detective Landry

508-440-2761

clandry@franklinma.gov

Visit the Town of Franklin Police online -> https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department 

Franklin Residents: Breaking and Entering Northern Area of Franklin - Police looking for help & information

Stop and think about it Before you share it

"A Facebook post on the Franklin MA Virtual Yard Sale group has been brought to our attention alleging a potential child abduction yesterday. The Facebook post states the child ran away from the attempted abduction and the incident was reported to the police. This post had over 75 shares. After looking into the matter we can confidently say this post is a SCAM. No incident similar to this was reported to the FPD. The poster, Nobuhle Magutshwa, posted the same post on various Facebook groups all around the country. Other activity on her Facebook page is consistent with other social media scams. In the future, any urgent public safety matters like will be shared immediately by the FPD social media accounts."

Shared from Town of Franklin Police Dept Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/franklinmapolice/posts/pfbid0F7JUTp2qvp8phQNVEQuCPopFjGuFfWJLzaS5dFDVXyBBVc5GovHHhGTsCi8qyN3yl

Coincidentally, this type of post was covered in the recent session on "How to Spot Misinformation"

Misinformation & Fact checking resources

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/07/misinformation-fact-checking-resources.html

If you missed the session, you can take the MediaWise course on your own

https://www.poynter.org/shop/fact-checking/how-to-spot-misinformation-online-july-2021/

 

How to Spot Misinformation Online

Misinformation & fact checking resources

The "How to Spot Misinformation" sessions at the Senior Center went well. Aside from some tech issues the material was covered and folks should have tools to help them determine how valid the info they find is.

You can download the handout I prepared with additional resources

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zAoFGnvKFnt7jyFxj7e5HZPWCYshNUyz/view?usp=sharing

You can also download this misinformation infographic from the News Literacy Project  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vRVUZ9bM1HhSeNN8lGHfAUIJ5_DvqZm2/view?usp=sharing

Misinformation & fact checking resources

Reminder: first session of "How to Spot Misinformation Online" Monday, Jul 18 at 1 PM

Join Steve Sherlock to walk through an online course from the Poynter Institute and MediaWise on how to spot misinformation online. 

Sign up at the Senior Center to participate for these session whether in person or via Zoom. 

When: 

Monday, July 18 - 1 PM (part 1)

Monday, July 25 - 1 PM (part 2)

“This free short course from MediaWise for Seniors will teach you how to tell what’s true and false on the internet. By looking at examples of political, health, travel and climate misinformation, you will learn techniques for identifying false information and how to seek out trustworthy sources. 

Christiane Amanpour, Joan Lunden, Lester Holt, Hari Sreenivasan and Dave Jorgenson — MediaWise Ambassadors — will also pop in to share their advice as experienced journalists to help you navigate information on platforms like Google, Facebook and more.”

The online course is listed as taking 1-2 hours. We have scheduled 2 one hour sessions to allow for discussion and following links to research current examples along the way.  

How to Spot Misinformation Online - 2 sessions at Franklin Senior Center

You can register with Poynter Institute and take the course on your own 

https://www.poynter.org/shop/fact-checking/how-to-spot-misinformation-online-july-2021/

If you want to attend via Zoom please use the form here ->   https://forms.gle/QzD4b9qwZayM42cv9

Via The Marginalian: "The Baloney Detection Kit: Carl Sagan’s Rules for Bullshit-Busting and Critical Thinking"

Maria Popova, creative genius behind "the marginalian" (previously "brain pickings") writes:

Carl Sagan (November 9, 1934–December 20, 1996) was many things — a cosmic sage, voracious reader, hopeless romantic, and brilliant philosopher. But above all, he endures as our era’s greatest patron saint of reason and critical thinking, a master of the vital balance between skepticism and openness. In The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark (public library) — the same indispensable volume that gave us Sagan’s timeless meditation on science and spirituality, published mere months before his death in 1996 — Sagan shares his secret to upholding the rites of reason, even in the face of society’s most shameless untruths and outrageous propaganda.

In a chapter titled “The Fine Art of Baloney Detection,” Sagan reflects on the many types of deception to which we’re susceptible — from psychics to religious zealotry to paid product endorsements by scientists, which he held in especially low regard, noting that they “betray contempt for the intelligence of their customers” and “introduce an insidious corruption of popular attitudes about scientific objectivity."

Continue reading about Carl Sagan's rules for Bullshit-Busting and Critical Thinking ->  https://www.themarginalian.org/2014/01/03/baloney-detection-kit-carl-sagan/

The Baloney Detection Kit: Carl Sagan’s Rules for Bullshit-Busting and Critical Thinking

This will also be referenced in the 2-session class scheduled for the Senior Center (and virtual) on how to detect misinformation online ->    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/07/how-to-spot-misinformation-online-2.html

How to Spot Misinformation Online - Self-directed course, free, start anytime

Attention seniors (but anyone who wants to know really!) 

"This free short course from MediaWise for Seniors will teach you how to tell what’s true and false on the internet. By looking at examples of political, health, travel and climate misinformation, you will learn techniques for identifying false information and how to seek out trustworthy sources.

Christiane Amanpour, Joan Lunden, Lester Holt, Hari Sreenivasan and Dave Jorgenson — MediaWise Ambassadors — will also pop in to share their advice as experienced journalists to help you navigate information on platforms like Google, Facebook and more."

You can register for a Poynter account, then register for the free course.

https://www.poynter.org/courses/how-to-spot-misinformation-online/

How to Spot Misinformation Online - Self-directed course, free, start anytime

This is not the only course available via MediaWise for Seniors 

https://www.poynter.org/mediawise-education-resources/

Franklin High School News: Important Information and Dates

School News: Important Information and Dates

June and Summer

• The 2022 FHS Graduation Information page  is updated frequently so check back often. 
• School Bus registration for next school year. Please register your students by June 13th to ensure a seat

Upcoming events:

June 7       MCAS Biology for 9th grade

June 8       MCAS Biology for 9th grade

June 13     Please register your student for school bus transportation for 2022-2023 by today

June 15     Last full day of school  for 9th, 10th, and 11th grade; click for final exam Schedule  D Period Exam today: 7:35AM to 9:05 AM; then E-F-G-A classes

June 16     Half Day of final exams: E Period Exam 7:35AM to 9: 05 AM; F Period Exam 9:20 AM to 10:55 AM; Buses will depart FHS at 11:00 AM

June 17     Half Day of final exams: G Period Exam 7:35AM to 9: 05 AM; A Period Exam 9:20 AM to 10:55 AM; Buses will depart FHS at 11:00 AM

June 20     No School - Juneteenth

June 21     Half Day of final exams: B Period Exam 7:35AM to 9: 05 AM; C Period Exam 9:20 AM to 10:55 AM; Buses will depart FHS at 11:00 AM

June 22     Last day of school (Make-up Final Exams only- by prior arrangement with teacher) Buses will depart FHS at 9:30 AM; if you have nothing to make up you do not have to attend today

__________________________________

SUMMER NOTES:

The FHS Main Office and Guidance Office will be open all summer for limited hours: 

** Main Office Summer Hours 8 AM to 2 PM

• Work Permits (8-11 AM only)
• RMV Documentation
• Student Registration appointments
• Transcripts
• Student records
• Withdrawal paperwork
• and more

** The FHS Guidance Office Summer Hours 8 AM to 2 PM on these days:

• July 5, 6, 7  
• July 12, 13, 14  
• July 19, 20, 21
• July 26, 27, 28
• August 2, 3, 4  
• August 9, 10, 11
• August 16, 17, 18 Guidance Office Closed
• August 23, 24, 25- All Counselors are back

New Student Registration by appointment only after you have completed the ONLINE ASPEN REGISTRATION. You will be contacted to make an appointment.

______________________________

*** NEXT SCHOOL YEAR 2022-2023

Aug-October

Aug 9/10   High School Experience Program for incoming Freshmen; 8:30 to 12:30 daily. Click HERE to register

Aug 24      New Student Orientation-tentative date (time to be determined) for new upperclassmen and 9th graders who do not attend the High School Experience program

Aug 30      First day of 2022-2023 school year!

Sept 2       No School Professional Development Day

Sept 5       No School Labor Day

Sept 21     Half Day of School; dismissal at 10:55 AM

Sept 26     No School Rosh Hashanah

Oct 5         No School Yom Kippur

Oct 7         Half Day of School; dismissal at 10:55 AM

Oct 10       No School-Indigenous Peoples' Day

Oct 28       Half Day of School; dismissal at 10:55 AM

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

• New Student Registration-click HERE
• Moved? Complete a Change of Address form HERE
• Getting a driver's license or permit? Click HERE for information on obtaining the necessary documents from FHS
• Need a work permit for a new job? Click HERE for information on obtaining one

MCAS Information 2022

Letter from Superintendent's office regarding MCAS 

• ELA Grade 10 - March 22-23
• Math Grade 10 - May 17-18
• Biology Grade 9 - June 7-8

SNOW DAYS THIS SCHOOL YEAR

1. Friday, January 7th

2. Friday, February 4th

Franklin High School News: Important Information and Dates

Youth Mountain Bike Team - Info Night - Mar 22 at 6 PM

Youth Mountain Bike Team - Info Night
Bellingham Public Library

March 22, 2022 - 6 PM

Minuteman Junior Cycling Club is hosting an info night 3/22 at 6 PM to kick off the 2022 season. Membership is open to kids from 5th -12th grade. We ride near Franklin, ranging from Walpole to Uxbridge. 

All experience levels welcome. 

Come find out more.

Youth Mtn Bike Team - Info Night - Mar 22 at 6 PM

Download a copy of the flyer

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u1igAegZWTTfI49ySRP9kIeXS2v9MQYs/view?usp=sharing

Distinguished Young Women - info session scheduled for Feb 4, 2022

Calling all high school juniors who want to earn scholarship money and join our female empowerment program - zoom info meeting February 4 at 7:30 PM!

Shared from Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1551606135109407/permalink/3085838531686152/

Distinguished Young Women - info session scheduled for Feb 4, 2022

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds - Update on CIO Status

January 18, 2022

Dear Friends of the Norfolk Registry of Deeds and Registry Users,

Many of you have asked for an update on the efforts to keep the on-site Registry Chief Information Officer (CIO) that has been funded and in existence at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds for over 20 years. The Norfolk Registry of Deeds also needs to keep the on-site direct-report IT technology staff that makes up the Registry IT Technology Department which has been in place for well over 35 years.

The three Norfolk County Commissioners held a hearing on December 8, 2021 on recommendations if implemented that will negatively impact the functioning of an independent and modern Registry of Deeds as a result of not keeping as is an on-site Registry CIO and on-site Registry IT Technology Department. Attached is a document that was submitted to the Norfolk County Commissioners that you can review if you so choose click document here. This document advocates why the Registry IT Technology Department is needed and should be kept in this era of technology, cybersecurity and ransomware.

Also here is the link to the Norfolk County Commissioners Meeting of December 8, 2021:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdzTgUHXUHc

The words and reasons written by so many of you in letters and emails articulating why the Norfolk Registry of Deeds should keep its on-site direct report Registry IT Technology Department are so compelling. I wish I could now report that the advocated position of keeping the Registry CIO and keeping the on-site Registry IT Technology Department has finally won and prevailed. I can not. This critical issue is now being put into the Norfolk County Budget process as stated by the Norfolk County Commissioners.

Thank you so much for your support which must continue in order to make sure this unsound public policy decision is NOT implemented during this budget process.

I wish you and yours a happy and healthy new year in 2022.

Sincerely yours,

Register William P. O'Donnell
Norfolk County Registry of Deeds 

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds - Update on CIO Status

Keep your personal information safe in the New Year

Keep your personal information safe in the New Year by Jim Kreidler, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC As 2021 winds down, lots of us are making resolutions for a fresh start in the New Year — maybe to exercise regularly, get our finances in order, or spend more time with friends. But your list isn't complete until you add "update my security software" and "protect my personal information" to the mix. Scammers and hackers are always looking for new ways to steal your personal information online. Read more ->  https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2021/12/keep-your-personal-information-safe-new-year?utm_source=govdelivery

Keep your personal information safe in the New Year

News Literacy Project --> a concise one-pager to better understand and avoid misinformation

"New from @NewsLitProject -- a concise one-pager with key insights, takeaways and reminders to help you and your loved ones better understand and avoid misinformation:

More about misinformation -> https://t.co/8UTBmli8NO 

One pager ->  https://t.co/3FyPn4Wg4a"

News Literacy Project --> a concise one-pager  to better understand and avoid misinformation

News literacy requires work on everyone's part, and that includes you

Via the News Literacy Project:

"2021 marked another year of rapidly spreading misinformation following breaking news events, from the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol to the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to the Biden presidency. Get ready for 2022 by reviewing our news literacy takeaways from the past 12 months. You’ll be prepared to recognize and debunk falsehoods, conspiracy theories and hoaxes in 2022, and know what information to trust, share and act on.

Science misinformation

No, vaccines don’t magnetize you, increase the risk of infertility, contain tracking devices, or cause cancer and HIV. But misinformation surrounding vaccines — along with other science-based topics like climate change — continued to deluge social media feeds throughout the year.

News literacy takeaway: Turn to credible, authoritative sources to confirm or debunk science-related content, such as NLP’s COVID-19 resources page or reputable institutions like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And know that bad actors will even resort to cute cat videos as “engagement bait” to draw you to their sites and spread falsehoods."

Continue reading the article online

https://newslit.org/updates/2021-the-year-in-misinformation-news-literacy-takeaways/

Checkology is one of the resources available for news literacy awareness   https://get.checkology.org/

News literacy requires work on everyone's part

Meeting schedule - Information sessions Weds and Thursday

There are multiple meetings this week. The Town calendar provides all the details. I will be reporting on the following:

• School Committee meets Tuesday (7 PM)
• A School Committee budget workshop before their Tuesday meeting (6 PM)
• Town Council meets Wednesday (7 PM)
• A Town Council subcommittee looking at reviewing their procedures manual also before their meeting Wednesday (6 PM)

The monthly Franklin Matters Q&A scheduled for Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM. The meeting is hybrid. I'll be in the Senior Center and also allow for participation virtually via Zoom. Send me an email for the Zoom info. 

The Town Officials and State Rep Jeff Roy will hold their monthly coffee hour at the Senior Center Thursday morning at 8:30 AM. Also a good chance to get some details on any questions you may have.

Town Calendar - https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

Meeting schedule - Information sessions Weds and Thursday

Misinformation and democracy: How can we find truth in the age of misinformation?

"The past several years have seen a massive, sometimes malicious, assault on our sense of shared reality. The combination of social media and conspiracy theories has increased the reach and velocity of destructive lies. As a result, both the physical and political health of our country have been placed at risk.

On public health, the dissemination of misinformation about COVID-19 and the safety of vaccines has been responsible for thousands of avoidable deaths. Public benefit from the miraculous development of vaccines was partially squandered. Some politicians even echoed fraudulent information for political benefit – riding a wave of falsehoods with casualties when it crashes to the shore.

On America’s civic health, the tribalization of information is a serious threat to democracy. Many Americans live in ideological bubbles where their main sources of information gain profit by feeding fear and anger. In some cases, it has encouraged the self-radicalization that led to the Jan. 6 insurrection and other violence. "

Continue reading the article online 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/12/09/threat-democracy-misinformation-covid-age/6430888001/?s=03

The research report that drove the article can be found here ->

https://www.publicagenda.org/reports/partisan-animosity/

Direct link to report ->  https://www.publicagenda.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Putting-Partisan-Animosity-in-Perspective-REPORT-Final-2.pdf

hidden common ground