FHS boys 4x100 relay team takes 6th place at Nationals

FHS boys 4x100 relay team takes 6th place at Nationals

via FHS Track:

Congratulations to our boys 4x100 team for placing 6th overall in the emerging elite division at Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon!

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DLS7kXQSYpg/

FHS Cheerleaders take 1st at Nationals

FHS Cheerleaders take 1st at Nationals

 

"Nationals 2025 ✅ 

We are beyond proud of this team and everything they have accomplished throughout the whole year. 

Thank you seniors for everything and we wish you the best next year!"

Shared from (also has more photos of their time in Florida) ->   https://www.instagram.com/p/DHSTsoVOfVs/

Reminder! - The National Community Survey has Launched!

Reminder! - The National Community Survey has Launched!

National Community Survey

Franklin has launched the National Community Survey - what would you like Franklin to focus on? 

We need your input to help us make upcoming planning and budgeting decisions. Invitations have been sent to randomly selected households asking for feedback via The National Community Survey. In a few weeks, we'll open the survey to all residents. If you would like to receive an email notification for this community-wide survey, register now to become a part of Franklin's digital sounding board: polco.us/n/res/signup

For more information, follow this link: https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/webforms/national-community-survey

Thank you for sharing your voice! 

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/reminder-national-community-survey-has-launched

National Community Survey to launch in January to a random sample of Franklin households

Hello neighbors! 

National Community Survey to launch in January

In just a few days, Franklin will launch The National Community Survey. Randomly selected households will receive mailed survey invitations over the next few weeks. If you receive an invite, please follow the instructions and share your input! Your feedback will help us make important plans for our future. 

If you aren't selected for this initial survey effort, we'll also share a community-wide survey soon. To become a member of Franklin's digital sounding board and get notified when this community-wide survey is available, follow this link and register for a Polco profile: polco.us/n/res/signup

For additional information, follow this link: https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/webforms/national-community-survey

Thank you for helping to create a better community for all!

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/national-community-survey

Franklin High School Varsity Cheerleaders take 1st Place at Nationals

Gigi Zub (@ggzub) posted Sun, Mar 17, 2024:

"Franklin High School Varsity Cheerleaders are your National 1st place and GRAND CHAMPIONS!!

Let's GO @fhsboysbball!! Bring home the State Championship tonight!!!"

@AmeriCheer87 @FHSSports  @FranklinMatters @jphref https://t.co/EvTZQfamZc

Shared from -> https://twitter.com/ggzub/status/1769441260983456209

Franklin High School Varsity Cheerleaders take 1st Place at Nationals

Talking about "Create Art Around the World" with the NAHS student leadership team (audio)

FM #1158 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1158 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with the leadership team of the National Art Honor Society (NAHS). Amy Edson, FHS Art teacher, and club advisor. The leadership team students introduce themselves as we go around:  

• Raena, the President of NAHS and leading the Singapore room

• Allie, the Vice-President, and leading the Spain room

• Gia, the Data Manager, and leading the Columbia room

• Christine, the Social Media Director and leading the Sudan room

We had our conversation in one of the art rooms where the Create Art Around the World will be taking place. 

Thanks to the Franklin Cultural Council for the grant to enable this event for free.

Let’s listen to this conversation about the kid friendly (and did we say, “Free”) Create Art Around the World scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.  Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1158-fhs-nahs-create-art-round-the-world-03-07-24

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FHS Clay Studio Instagram account -> https://www.instagram.com/fhs_claystudio/ 

More about the Franklin Cultural Council -> https://www.franklinma.gov/cultural-council 

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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"

Create Art Around the World scheduled for Apr 24, 2024 - free & kid Friendly at FHS

New Project from Poet Laureate Ada Limón - poetry as public art in 7 national parks

U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón to Publish Anthology, Bring Poetry to National Parks as part of Signature Project, “You Are Here”

"Ada Limón's signature project as the nation's 24th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, "You Are Here," will feature two major new initiatives: an anthology of commissioned nature poems and poetry installed as public art in seven national parks.

"I want to champion the ways reading and writing poetry can situate us in the natural world," Limón said. "Never has it been more urgent to feel a sense of reciprocity with our environment, and poetry's alchemical mix of attention, silence, and rhythm gives us a reciprocal way of experiencing nature — of communing with the natural world through breath and presence."

Participating national parks are:

• Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts)
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina and Tennessee)
• Everglades National Park (Florida)
• Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
• Redwood National and State Parks (California)
• Saguaro National Park (Arizona) 

Find out more about the project -> https://newsroom.loc.gov/news/u.s.-poet-laureate-ada-lim-n-to-publish-anthology--bring-poetry-to-national-parks-as-part-of-signatu/s/daf3ca32-cdff-49e0-9109-c2d9ba66c3b1

poetry as public art in 7 national parks

FEMA & FCC announce national test of Wireless Emergency Alert - Oct 4 at 2:20 PM

FEMA (@fema) posted Thu, Aug 03, 2023:

"@FEMA and @FCC will conduct a national test of the Wireless Emergency Alert and the Emergency Alert System this fall. 

Cell phones, wireless devices, TVs and radios across the country will be sent a test alert around 2:20 pm on Oct 4."

additional details on the test: https://t.co/ke0EOoSYPK

Shared from -> https://t.co/QFet9BVXve

FEMA & FCC announce national test of Wireless Emergency Alert - Oct 4 at 2:20 PM

FHS results from the New Balance National Indoor Meet; Dumas 4th in Pentathlon

Girls Indoor Pentathlon Championship

4 Sarah Dumas 11 Franklin Tra 3275

Sarah Dumas

Indoor Pentathlon: #5 Girls 800 Meter Run 

5 Sarah Dumas 11 Franklin Tra 2:29.55 699

Indoor Pentathlon: #1 Girls 60 Meter Hurdles 

4 Sarah Dumas 11 Franklin Tra 9.08 893

Indoor Pentathlon: #2 Girls High Jump 

2 Sarah Dumas 11 Franklin Tra 1.60m 736

Indoor Pentathlon: #4 Girls Long Jump

18 Sarah Dumas 11 Franklin Tra 4.52m 433

Indoor Pentathlon: #3 Girls Shot Put

3 Sarah Dumas 11 Franklin Tra 9.77m 514

Additional photos of Sarah competing in the pentathlon events

https://twitter.com/FhsHurdlers/status/1635037933790187520

Girls 4x55 Meter Shuttle Hurdle Championship

21 Franklin Track Club 38.03

Girls 4x800 Meter Relay Rising Stars

16 Franklin Track Club 9:55.26

Girls High Jump Rising Stars

12 Abigail Griffith 11 Franklin Tra 1.53m

Girls Shot Put Rising Stars

11 Lily DeForge 11 Franklin Tra 11.02m

26 Elizabeth Hopkins 11 Franklin Tra 10.30m

Boys 4x200 Meter Relay Rising Stars

24 Franklin Track Club 1:32.27

"I think it's official, boys 4x200 with a school record of 1:32.27" https://twitter.com/FranklinHSXC/status/1634278987726835725

"Good luck to the Franklin athletes competing at Nationals today.

Check out the live stream if you can't make it into the TRACK"   ->   https://t.co/P6Pg2Tccv9

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/FranklinHSXC/status/1634169751231426560

Results from each of the days for the multi-day event can be found online

https://live.pttiming.com/?mid=5441

FHS Panthers

FHS' Rudolph, Brown, and Woelfel perform well at Senior Gymnastics Nationals; help MA take 1st place

Congrats to team MA, 1st place at senior nationals! Congrats to Kate who placed in 3 events in individuals and was 10th AA!  

So proud of @_katerudolph @_lizziebrown_   @carolinewoelfel   @FHSSports  @BuzzMyfm  @FranklinMatters  @KatCornetta  

@BostonHeraldHS

@MetroWestSports

@FranklinHS

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/fhs_gymnastics/status/1528055452600356864

FHS' Rudolph, Brown, and Woelfel perform well at Senior Gymnastics Nationals

FHS' Rudolph, Brown, and Woelfel help MA take 1st place at Senior Gymnastics Nationals

FHS Cheerleaders take National Title!; Theater group heads to Regionals

"National Champions!!! Hockomock, Regional, State and now - National Champions!!! Congratulations to the Best Cheer Team in the country!!!"

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FHSSports/status/1505618908321038346

FHS Cheerleaders take National Title

"FHSTC is onto Regionals! Feeling grateful to be recognized as a Top 3 school, and punching our ticket to Regionals."

"BIG shout out to our All-Star Awards in: scenic design (Kaiti), costume design (Heidi, Ren, Will), sound design (Matt),

Ensemble work for the Rock Creatures (Heidi, Millie, Amanda, Colin, Will, Shea, Alex, Ava, Jake, Patrick), and an acting award for Simon, who played Don. "

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FranklinHSDrama/status/1505538540167471113

and from https://twitter.com/FranklinHSDrama/status/1505538542298087424

FHSTC is onto Regionals

Watch the FHS Indoor Track participants at New Balance Nationals today & Sunday!

"Good luck to the athletes in NYC this weekend for New Balance Nationals Indoors! Tyler Powderly in the 400M Friday at 11:58 and girls 4x4 (Anna Cliff, Olivia Costa, Sarah Dumas, Jill Fenerty) Sunday at 1:35."  

Livestream - https://nbnationalsin.com/eprofile.php?event_id=1164&do=videos&video_id=312475-LIVE-Webcast-New-Balance-Nationals-Indoor-2022… #NewBalanceNationals

 Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/FranklinXCTrack/status/1501919135663538176

FHS Panthers

FHS National Art Honors Society paints "Celebrate the Love"

"The National Art Honors Society painted a mural this afternoon called "Celebrate the Love." 

Thank you to all the members who helped and to the societies leaders who organized this event with Mrs. Edson. 

#nahs #naea #love #celebratelove @HonorsArt" https://t.co/1IuShjztvQ

FHS National Art honors society students painting a new mural in the hallway

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnsonb_ms/status/1489397672729616384

Recap: School Committee hears about the FHS program of studies, approves senior perks, and trip to Nationals for FHS Cheerleaders

Quick recap:

• School Committee hears about modifications to the FHS Program of Studies for the 2022-2023 School Year, what the modifications are and how they were developed from feedback and recognition of changes in students and needs
• Note the presentation doc previously released for this meeting was not the one used in the meeting, some pages had split out to multiple pages. Screen captures show the updated copy
• Approval for FHS senior perks and for the FHS cheerleading team to travel to National competition was granted. The team cheered so loudly outside the building after they left the Council Chambers, it briefly interrupted the proceedings inside. A happy moment to recognize the accomplishments for this group
• A new program for COVID-19 testing using "at-home FDA-approved rapid antigen test" kits. The test/stay process and contact tracing will stop with the introduction of these kits provided by DESE.
• The School Committee entered Executive Session and did not return to open meeting to continue discussions on negotiations

Photos captured during the meeting can be found in one album  https://photos.app.goo.gl/MXrJDo8M5A2c4tu96

Audio of the meeting should be available in a couple of days

My notes captured via Twitter during the meeting are summarized in the following PDF doc. This new tool also includes the photos shared inline with the tweet notes.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M3AcnmYaJV8IAr9sUGLmKvYsaEo8mPrs/view?usp=sharing

Recap: School Committee hears about the FHS program of studies, approves senior perks, and trip to Nationals for FHS Cheerleaders

Looking for films to view during the holidays? 'Return of the Jedi' One of 25 Added to National Film Registry

'Return of the Jedi' Among 25 Eclectic Films Joining National Film Registry Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced today the annual selection of 25 influential motion pictures to be inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. Selected for their cultural, historic or aesthetic importance to preserve the nation's film heritage, the newest selections include epic trilogies, major roles for Jennifer Lopez and Cicely Tyson, extraordinary animated features, comedy and music, and films that took on racially-motivated violence against people of color decades ago. The 2021 selections represent one of the most diverse classes of films to enter the registry, with movies dating back nearly 120 years and representing the work of Hollywood studios, independent filmmakers, documentarians, women directors, filmmakers of color, students and the silent era of film. The selections bring the number of films in the registry to 825, representing a portion of the 1.7 million films in the Library's collections. "Films help reflect our cultural history and creativity — and show us new ways of looking at ourselves — though movies haven't always been deemed worthy of preservation. The National Film Registry will preserve our cinematic heritage, and we are proud to add 25 more films this year," said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. "The Library of Congress will work with our partners in the film community to ensure these films are preserved for generations to come." Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will host a television special Friday, Dec. 17, starting at 8 p.m. ET to screen a selection of motion pictures named to the registry this year. Hayden will join TCM host and film historian Jacqueline Stewart, who is chair of the National Film Preservation Board, to discuss the films. Also, select titles from 30 years of the National Film Registry are freely available online in the Library's National Screening Room. Follow the conversation about the 2021 National Film Registry on Twitter and Instagram at @librarycongress and #NatFilmRegistry. Films Selected for the 2021 National Film Registry (chronological order) Ringling Brothers Parade Film (1902) Jubilo (1919) The Flying Ace (1926) Hellbound Train (1930) Flowers and Trees (1932) Strangers on a Train (1951) What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) Evergreen (1965) Requiem-29 (1970) The Murder of Fred Hampton (1971) Pink Flamingos (1972) Sounder (1972) The Long Goodbye (1973) Cooley High (1975) Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979) Chicana (1979) The Wobblies (1979) Star Wars Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (1983) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Stop Making Sense (1984) Who Killed Vincent Chin? (1987) The Watermelon Woman (1996) Selena (1997) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) WALL•E (2008) Click here for more information on this year's entries to the National Film Registry.

Area Swimmers Post Personal Bests at Sunkissed Championship Meet

HAY Lightning is the name of the longstanding team of swimmers hosted by the Hockomock Area YMCA, which practices at pools housed at the Foxboro, Franklin and North Attleboro YMCAs. For this team of athletes ranging in age from 6-18, the goal of swimming at the Sunkissed Invitational swim meet every March or April has become a highly anticipated event.
 
If going to Nationals is one of a swimmer's goals for the season, then the swimmer must make the commitment to attend practices and work hard. Additionally, swimmers must give themselves every opportunity, over the course of the season, to swim the events in which they are trying to qualify.

During the pandemic this past year, we are proud to say that members of the YMCA team have continued to swim and improve their skills, including competing in 12 swim meets between September and March.

HAY Lightning

The Nationals meet, designed in accordance with USA Swimming guidelines, gives the opportunity to compete in a national meet to many more swimmers than comparable meets in other organizations. Historically, swimmers, who otherwise may never encounter this experience, get the opportunity to travel to, and compete in, a big four-day meet. The qualifying times are attainable goals for most junior swimmers (at least 10 years of age) as they approach the age of 13, and for senior swimmers from 14 years of age.

Hosted by Team Charlotte Swimming, this year’s event—formerly planned to take place in Charlotte, North Carolina—was forced to become a virtual event. Parents, most of whom usually attend the meets and perform chaperoning duties for meals, as well as timing and officiating duties, pulled together to ensure a successful local event, while honoring the seniors and upholding important team traditions such as door decorating, swimmers’ parade, and roses for anyone earning a spot on the podium.

Participation on the National Team involved 25% of the swimmers. “We saw amazing achievements that included kids receiving qualification times that will allow them to compete at other prestigious events,” said swim dad Dan Campbell of Plainville.

“Twenty-seven of the meet participants swam at personal best times.” Dan continued, “Beyond the 189 swims at Sunkissed, we know how fortunate our kids were to be able to swim throughout the short course season. My daughter Megan, who will go on to swim in college with eight other recruits, is one of two who got to swim during COVID — and she is the only one that’s been able to compete. That she achieved four personal bests at Nationals is something else!”

It is a testament to the commitment of the team when one looks at Sunkissed results to see nine team records broken, including the shattering of the twenty-year-standing 500 free record. Harikalal Birali (of Franklin) broke her first team record, Jack Maron (of Sharon) broke two, and Jill Carline (of Attleboro) had a standout showing with 6 team records.

“The Y’s support means so much to families involved in the 2020 HAY Lightning season, said Dan who looks forward to the future of the team and his involvement with it.

 

HAY Lightning, the Hockomock Area YMCA’s competitive swim team for swimmers 18 years and younger, participated in their annual national championship swim meet March 25-28 at the North Attleboro YMCA. The 30 Junior & Senior National Championship qualifying swimmers posted 134 personal best times (out of 162 swims) and 25 swimmers achieved qualifying times for Sunkissed Championship Meet 2022

National news: Post Office performance to slow mail; Some news orgs following Russian model

"Slower mail, fewer office hours part of Postal Service plans"

"Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Tuesday announced plans to slow mail delivery standards and cut hours at some post offices as part of a 10-year strategy to stabilize the struggling agency.

Details of the long-awaited plan come at a time of intense scrutiny on the US Postal Service over persistent delivery delays under DeJoy, a major GOP donor who took over the agency last summer. The plan also includes a proposal to consolidate underused post offices, hinted at a potential postage rate increase and detailed investments in new delivery vehicles, among other things.

Facing an expected $160 billion in losses over the next decade, DeJoy and postal executives stressed the need to cut costs and modernize the agency's operations as its workload increasingly shifts from handling letters to hauling more and more packages."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/24/business/slower-mail-fewer-office-hours-part-postal-service-plans/

 

"Specifically, Pomerantsev points to two major areas of strategic overlap. First, there’s a shared war on facts that tries to convince the viewer that accountability is a fool’s errand because true objectivity does not exist.

“There’s this kind of pop-postmodernism, where Sean Hannity will say things like objectivity doesn’t exist, everybody’s biased,” Pomerantsev says. He points to Hannity’s infamous interview with Ted Koppel, in which he contrasted his own style with what he sees as the charade of “objective” facts in other areas of the press. “I don’t pretend that I’m fair and balanced and objective,” Hannity bizarrely boasted.

“That’s exactly the same argument the Russians make,” Pomerantsev says. He recalls a famous phrase uttered by Dmitry Kiselev, a prime-time TV host who was also appointed by Vladimir Putin to run Kremlin’s international propaganda network, Rossiya Segodnya. “Objectivity is a myth that is proposed and imposed on us.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/03/23/he-worked-russian-media-he-recognizes-same-tactics-fox-news/

National News: no mail fraud in PA found; check on your IRS stimulus payment; intelligence report highlights terrorists threats

"Postal Service finds no evidence of mail ballot fraud in Pa. case cited by top Republicans"

"U.S. Postal Service investigators found no evidence to support a Pennsylvania postal worker’s claim that his supervisors had tampered with mail-in ballots, according to an inspector general’s report — allegations cited by top Republicans to press baseless claims of fraud in the presidential election."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/03/17/usps-ballot-fraud-investigation/

 

 "The IRS has sent out 90 million stimulus payments."

"The Internal Revenue Service told financial institutions to expect roughly 90 million direct deposits amounting to $242.2 billion on March 17 in the initial distribution of the American Rescue Plan stimulus payments, according to a banking industry group.

Following the deposits, the IRS mailed an additional 150,000 checks amounting to $442 million, with a pay date of March 19, according to the Independent Community Bankers of America, based on a briefing from the IRS.

“Additional batches of payments will be sent in the coming weeks with the vast majority sent by direct deposit,” the group said in an online update to banking members. “Payments will also be sent through the mail as a check or debit card.” 

• How to check on your status ->  https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/03/16/irs-stimulus-payment-tracker/

"Racist extremists pose most deadly terrorist threat to US, intelligence report warns"

"Racially motivated extremists pose the most lethal domestic terrorism threats to the US, according to an unclassified intelligence report that warned that the threats could grow this year.

The blunt assessment, in a report released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, echoes warnings made by US officials, including the FBI director, Christopher Wray, who testified earlier this month that the threat from domestic violent extremism was “metastasizing” across the country."

• Direct link to report => https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/UnclassSummaryofDVEAssessment-17MAR21.pdf

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/17/racist-extremists-us-domestic-terrorism-intelligence-report