Franklin Public Library News & Events for December 2023

**LIBRARY NEWS**

Library Hours
The Library's hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This Holiday season the Library will be open Saturday December 23^rd and 30^th from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. The Library will be closed December 24^th, 25^th, 31^st, and January 1^st.

Franklin Reads!
This winter's community-wide read is Tracy Kidder's Rough Sleepers, a real-life portrait of Boston's homeless population and those on a mission to help them.

About the book:  After Jim O'Connell graduated from Harvard Medical School and was nearing the end of his residency at Massachusetts General, the hospital's chief of medicine made a proposal: Would he defer a prestigious fellowship and spend a year helping to create an organization to bring health care to homeless citizens? That year turned into O'Connell's life's calling. Tracy Kidder spent five years following Dr. O'Connell and his colleagues as they work with thousands of homeless patients, some of whom we meet in this illuminating book. We travel with O'Connell as he navigates the city streets at night, offering medical care, socks, soup, empathy, humor, and friendship to some of the city's most endangered citizens.
Where can I get a copy of Rough Sleepers? Beginning December 1st there will be many extra print copies available at the library and it is also available on Libby and through interlibrary loan.

Museum Passes
Now is a great time to reserve passes to the area's most popular museums, aquariums, and more! Passes are available to be reserved up to thirty days in advance.

Franklin Library Book Sale
Friday, December 8^th, 1:00-5:00 p.m.  Saturday December 9^th, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon
All books are just one dollar!

Bag Sale - $5 A Bag—Saturday, December 9^th, from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Come fill a brown bag with all the books you can!

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program
In our second year of providing free tax preparation assistance through the VITA IRS program the Franklin Public Library is looking for volunteers! While tax season starts in February; planning, training, and scheduling can begin today! To sign up or to find more information please email Site Coordinator Mitzi Gousie at mgousie@minlib.net!

Franklin Library ESL & Adult Literacy Program
Volunteer tutors needed! To volunteer please be at least 18 years old, have a High School diploma, & speak English clearly.  No prior teaching experience needed!  Volunteer tutors and students do not need to be Franklin residents. If interested, please fill out the registration form on the library's website.

Massachusetts Center for the Book 2023 Reading Challenge
December: A Book Published in 2023
Do you have a cozy reading corner you've been wanting to spend more time in? Do you have a group of friends who like to select books together? Maybe a little constraint helps you choose what to read next. If you are looking for a fun, unique reading challenge to take on in 2023, Massachusetts Center for the Book has you covered. Check it out today! https://www.massbook.org/readingchallenge

Shared from -> (Read the full newsletter here)  https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/news/december-2023-franklin-library-news-events

Franklin Public Library News & Events for December 2023

Franklin TV: New? News! Welcome to Franklin

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 01/29/2023

If you’re new in town – welcome! Thanks to Franklin Newcomers & Friends, here’s where you can gain traction on all things Franklin. http://franklinnewcomers.com/

GENERAL INFO:

Town of Franklin: https://www.franklinma.gov/ 

Need a helping hand? Visit the Franklin Area Nonprofit Network. https://www.franklinareanonprofitnetwork.org/

Franklin Downtown Partnership: https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/

Franklin Arts & Culture: https://www.franklinculture.org/

For MOM:

The MOMS Club of Franklin is a non-profit, international organization comprised of stay-at-home mothers and their children. https://www.meetup.com/MOMS-Club-of-Franklin/

For the KIDS:

Hockomock Area YMCA: http://www.hockymca.org

Franklin Youth Soccer Association: http://www.franklinyouthsoccer.org 

Franklin Youth Baseball: http://www.franklinyouthbaseball.com 

Franklin Youth Hockey: http://www.franklinflyers.org

Franklin’s Veterans Skating Arena:

http://www.fmcicesports.com/public/locations/franklin/index.htm

For NEWS:

Franklin Matters, your daily source of information about what matters in Franklin, Massachusetts (daily): http://www.franklinmatters.org

Franklin Observer (daily): https://franklinobserver.town.news/

Franklin Town News (monthly): https://www.franklintownnews.com/

Local Radio:

Franklin Public Radio, on 102.9: https://www.wfpr.fm/ 

Dean College’s Power88 WGAO: http://www.power883.org/ 

Milford’s MyFM: https://myfm1013.com/

Thanks for listening to 102.9 wfpr●fm. 

And – as always – thanks for watching.

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)

Franklin Town News runs correction on October issue with political spotlight appearing as an endorsement instead of a paid ad

Raymond D Milici (@raymilici1199) tweeted on Tue, Nov 01, 2022:

https://twitter.com/raymilici1199/status/1587621342647566336

https://twitter.com/raymilici1199/status/1587621919657951238

Franklin High School: Important Information and Dates for October to December 2022

Franklin High School News: Important Information and Dates

October - December

 

Oct 15       PSAT's at FHS for the class of 2024; 7:30 am to 12:30 pm-- register your Junior HERE until 9/23/22

Oct 19       Theater II presents Cabaret: Too Much Light Makes the Baby go Blind  7PM in the FHS Auditorium Tickets $5 for students, $10 for Adults

Oct 20      Theater II presents Cabaret: Too Much Light Makes the Baby go Blind  7PM in the FHS Auditorium Tickets $5 for students, $10 for Adults

Oct 21       Homecoming Football Game VS Attleboro at 7 pm on FHS Pisini Field

Oct 22      Homecoming Dance at 7 PM in the FHS Gym; click to buy tickets; proceeds go to a Breast Cancer charity

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

Nov 8       No School PDD Day/Election Day

Nov 9       Half Day-Parent Conferences in person during the afternoon and evening; dismissal at 10:55 AM

Nov 10     Half Day-Parent Conferences - virtual only; dismissal at 10:55 AM

Nov 11      No School - Veteran's Day

Nov 11      FHS Theater Co presents: Cinderella 7 PM in the FHS Auditorium

Nov 12     FHS Theater Co presents: Cinderella 2 PM in the FHS Auditorium

Nov 15     TriM Induction Ceremony and Chamber Concert @ 7PM FHS Auditorium

Nov 18     FHS Theater Co presents: Cinderella 7 PM in the FHS Auditorium

Nov 19     FHS Theater Co presents: Cinderella 7 PM in the FHS Auditorium

Nov 23 through 25 No School -Thanksgiving Break

Dec 6       FHS Chorus and Orchestra Concert @ 7PM in the FHS Auditorium (snow date 12/9)

Dec 7       Half Day of School; dismissal at 10:55 AM; no lunch served

Dec 8       FHS Band Concert @ 7 PM in the FHS Auditorium (Snow Date 12/9)

 

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

• New Student Registration >> click HERE
• Moving? Complete a Change of Address form >> click HERE
• School Bus Routes for the 2022-2023 School Year-click HERE
• Register your Franklin Public Schools Chromebook and purchase insurance for it HERE

Shared from Franklin High School -> https://www.franklinps.net/fhs/news/school-news-important-information-and-dates

Franklin High School: Important Information and Dates for October to December 2022

Helping Voters with Disabilities Participate in Our Democratic Process

During the 2022 midterm election, 38.3 million voters with disabilities will have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process. These voters may include you, one of your friends, or a family member.

Voters with disabilities face unique obstacles when casting their ballots. The Help America Vote Act ensures that all voters with disabilities have the right to mark, cast, and verify their ballots privately and independently.

The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) helps voters with disabilities register to vote and understand their options to cast ballots. 

Helping Voters with Disabilities Participate in Our Democratic Process

Continue reading this article -> https://blog.ssa.gov/helping-voters-with-disabilities-participate-in-our-democratic-process/

What is Franklin TV, radio and News doing in this arena?

Election interviews in particular are shared in video and audio formats where possible. If needed, a transcript of either can be made available. We are working towards making the combination an 'automatic' production so in the meantime, feel free to ask for a transcript.

Comment on this post to request a transcript of an interview, or send an email to sgsherlock@franklinmatters.org

"Half of all the refund money will go to the top 10 percent of households by income."

"THE STATE is preparing to pay out $1.4 billion in “illusory” funds under the tax cap law, giving wealthy taxpayers a huge windfall, according to a report from the left-leaning Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.

Officials at the center say they are not accusing state officials of doing anything wrong or making a math error. Instead, they are saying a set of unusual circumstances are combining to inflate the amount of taxes collected in excess of the tax cap, and doing so in a way that shortchanges the state and allows wealthy taxpayers to gain an even bigger benefit than they normally would.

“The affluent win in every way,” said Phineas Baxandall, senior policy analyst and advocacy director at the Budget and Policy Center.

The broad outlines of the situation have been raised before, but the Budget and Policy Center report is the first time the dollar impact has been spelled out. The report calls on state leaders to address the situation, but they have shown little interest so far in intervening to change the tax cap law."

Continue reading the article online 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/report-calls-big-chunk-of-tax-cap-funds-illusory/

Reading between the lines, if the Governor wasn't so hasty in trying to the funds returned by check and used the tax rebate process, the 'illusion' might work itself out.  

The State House News Service, shared via Franklin Observer, tries to focus on the issue as party based:

Q1 State Tax Take Surpasses Record FY `22 Pace, but No Tax Relief in Sight

The golden dome of the State House. (Photo by Andy Metzger)

More Perfect Union: 057 - The Local News Crisis (audio)

In this episode, the group is joined by Stephen Sherlock of Franklin Matters, Alan Earls of the Franklin Observer, and Martin Luttrell, former long-time reporter for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, to dive into the issue of "The Local News Desert" - the dissolution of smaller local news outlets, discussing the decline of readership seen by newspapers, the economics of small businesses, the importance journalism plays in your community and the online future for regional reporting.

If you'd like to learn more about Steve Sherlock and the news Franklin Matters brings to the Franklin community, you can visit their here:   https://www.franklinmatters.org/

If you'd like to learn more about Alan Earls and the reporting done from Franklin Observer, you can visit them here:   https://franklinobserver.town.news/

Audio file -> https://more-perfect-union.captivate.fm/episode/057-the-local-news-crisis

Franklin.TV: A More Perfect Union (audio)

News Literacy in Cedar Falls: Ande McMorris (video)

"When I'm on social media I see a lot of misinformation. Sometimes I think [it's] true. It really mixes up my train of thought." - Ande McMorris, a Sr & 🏈 captain at Cedar Falls HS, IA

But using @NewsLitProject's #Checkology has made a big diff 4 Ande ⤵️ Video link -> https://t.co/X3Fc7rewpc or https://youtu.be/im-xg0zK8mk

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/jakelam2116/status/1473075132155318272

Find the NewsLitProject -> https://newslit.org/

PantherTV - News for 12/10/21 (video)

"This week we showcase the National Art Honors Society, Gymnastics Coach Paula Lupien, and senior Mack Gulla. Panther News, Dec. 10, 2021!"

Video link -> https://youtu.be/9QaWfXfTHa0

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/fhspanthertv/status/1469012227613245446

Panther TV News for May 7, 2021 (video)

Panther TV News for May 7, 2021 

 

Panther TV: Panther News Apr 8, 2021

We're all excited for our full reopening on Monday!!! This show has all you need to know to make your first day back a good one. @FHSPantherbook @FranklinPSNews @FranklinHS 

https://t.co/O8joVqUrIV via @YouTube

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/fhspanthertv/status/1380195919656796160

Panther TV: Panther News for Apr 1, 2021

Friday's Panther News...a day early! Check out all the latest news and announcements, plus an interview reflecting on our full in-person return coming in just a few weeks!  @FHSPantherbook @FranklinPSNews @FranklinHS

https://t.co/wLBaDBhhUM via @YouTube

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/fhspanthertv/status/1377640378522865664

Panther TV: News - March 26, 2021 (video)

Panther TV (@fhspanthertv) tweeted on Fri, Mar 26, 2021:

Panther News, March 26, 2021  @FranklinPSNews @FHSPantherbook @FranklinHS    

https://t.co/KBp9SP6mxo via @YouTube

Shaed from Twitter: https://twitter.com/fhspanthertv/status/1375492461016055813

National News Highlights

• Supreme Court Denies Trump’s Bid to Conceal Taxes, Financial Records - The New York Times

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/22/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-taxes-financial-records.html

• Public Policy and Health in the Trump Era via  The Lancet 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32545-9/fulltext

• Fauci: US political divide over masks led to half a million COVID-19 deaths

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/public-global-health/539999-fauci-us-political-divide-over-masks-led-to-half-a

• Biden honors covid-19 victims amid staggering toll, signs of hope

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-covid-deaths/2021/02/22/911952b0-7527-11eb-8115-9ad5e9c02117_story.html  

President Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff observe a moment of silence at the White House Monday. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

"It’s the megaphone that makes the government work better"

Rep. Lori Ehrlich (@RepLoriEhrlich) tweeted on Tue, Feb 16, 2021:

Terrific article by @KamiRieck with insight from @dankennedy_nu @BrendanCrighton & @jasonpramas. TY Speaker @RonMariano for this important new law and for appointing me to the new 23-member commission. I look forward to digging in! https://t.co/unm9Wgo3jF

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RepLoriEhrlich/status/1361729045491236871

"The growth of “news deserts” in Massachusetts and the possible solutions to improving local journalism in underserved communities will be the focus of a new commission approved in the final hours of the last legislative session.

The initiative by Rep. Lori Ehrlich, D-Marblehead, and Sen. Brendan Crighton, D-Lynn, was part of the massive economic development bill approved by lawmakers and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker last month. It will examine the sustainability of local press business models and the sufficiency of news coverage in communities across the state.

“Local journalists tell the community stories that bind us together,” Ehrlich said. “They tell us who we are, and where we’ve been and where we’re going. Local news is also essential to ensuring a healthy democracy.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.gazettenet.com/Journalism-task-force-38783093?fbclid=IwAR0cBSONXdL2PwMv17xgH0a8NQ7nBcnKFO4OJz9uQs2SnEGhSOQVAX8bWu0

New York Times: Don't loose this Pentagon papers story in the midst of everything else going on

 

"There was one story Neil Sheehan chose not to tell. It was the story of how he had obtained the Pentagon Papers, the blockbuster scoop that led to a 1971 showdown between the Nixon administration and the press, and to a Supreme Court ruling that is still seen as a milepost in government-press relations.

From the moment he secured the 7,000 pages of classified government documents on the Vietnam War for The New York Times, until his death on Thursday, Mr. Sheehan, a former Vietnam War correspondent and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, declined nearly every invitation to explain precisely how he had pulled it off.

In 2015, however, at a reporter’s request, he agreed to tell his story on the condition that it not be published while he was alive. Beset by scoliosis and Parkinson’s disease, he recounted, in a four-hour interview at his home in Washington, a tale as suspenseful and cinematic as anyone in Hollywood might concoct."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/us/now-it-can-be-told-how-neil-sheehan-got-the-pentagon-papers.html

For those who might not recall the Pentagon Papers

https://www.archives.gov/research/pentagon-papers

"Food insecurity leaving an impact across MA"

Via Boston25 News

"Alison Caruso left her part-time job earlier in 2020 to care for her teenage son, who she said had become depressed after the death of a family member and spending months trying to learn from home. She relies on the food pantry in Franklin as well as food stamps to survive, she said.

The state has seen food insecurity rise significantly, according to a study by Feeding America.

Norfolk County was cited as the area with the highest child food insecure rate at 163%, which is also the country’s highest mark, according to Feeding America."

Continue reading online (video clip also available on page)

https://www.boston25news.com/news/food-insecurity-leaving-an-impact-across-ma/PUTT37R2SJBL5BQAP4MRG2ATHE/

 

 

screengrab of FFP Executive Director Lynn Calling

"Survey-based measurement of news consumption is not without its own problems"

From the Pew Research Center comes a study on measuring news consumption:

"Given the increasing complexity and interconnectedness of this news landscape and concerns around overreporting of news consumption, Pew Research Center wanted to explore how best to measure news consumption: Where do currently used survey practices still work and where might changes be in order?

This report is the culmination of this effort and is organized into three sections: Chapter 1 looks at the U.S. public’s familiarity with newer concepts related to news; Chapter 2 examines possible ways to improve survey-based measures of news consumption; and Chapter 3 compares survey results to the use of passive data that comes straight from tracking software news consumers downloaded to their digital devices.

Americans are largely familiar with new technologies but often don’t think of them as news sources."

Continue reading the article online
https://www.journalism.org/2020/12/08/measuring-news-consumption-in-a-digital-era/
 

"Survey-based measurement of news consumption is not without its own problems" (Pew Research photo)

Panther News Friday October 23, 2020 (video)

Panther News Friday October 23, 2020.  Produced by the FHS TV Production Classes

 

PEW: The State of Trust, Facts, and Democracy

Stat: 59 percent: The percentage of Americans who say they have little to no confidence in the public’s political wisdom.

Story: As the new year—and an election year—begins, we turn to data on our democracy to learn more about how Americans view institutions and civic life today. Host Dan LeDuc speaks with Michael Dimock, president of the Pew Research Center, about the latest research on trust, facts, and democracy in America.

Listen here  https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2020/01/10/the-state-of-trust-facts-and-democracy

PEW: The State of Trust, Facts, and Democracy