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next Heart Of MA Networking & Referral Group is Apr 16 |
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Monday, March 24, 2025
The next Heart Of Massachusetts Networking & Referral Group is April 16
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
🌄 Rise Up with Special Events this Saturday July 20
82 West Central Street, Franklin (parking and entrance on left side)
Agenda:
- Open social time as people come in
- Group introductions and special visit with Lisa Drennan from Merge Consulting, about community inclusion
- More open social time and free clothes shopping from the church's Community Closet (we are having an accessible shopping experience where we meet on the first floor, as the clothing is usually located on the second floor, but volunteers will be bringing some down for us) ***
***If you have any particular clothing items you would be looking for, please reply by Wednesday evening with your item and size preferences, so the church can pull some items down for you
Example: size small women's tank tops or size large men's shorts
- individuals navigating life with disability to meet others they can relate with
- community partners to learn more about the population and share resources
- support persons to meet other support persons
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Rise Up with Special Events this Saturday July 20 |
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Rise Up THIS Saturday, Feb 17 at 10 AM
Franklin, MA 02038
- individuals navigating life with disability to meet others they can relate with
- community partners to learn more about the population and share resources
- support persons to meet other support persons
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Rise Up this Saturday! Dec 9 at Franklin TV Studio
Ali Rheaume |
- individuals navigating life with disability to meet others they can relate with
- community partners to learn more about the population and share resources
- support persons to meet other support persons
Monday, October 9, 2023
RISE Up - next social hour gathering Saturday, Oct 28 at 10 AM at Franklin TV
The location for the upcoming social hour has been chosen! Thanks to Steve Sherlock, who attended our last gathering, we have been invited to gather at the Franklin TV station. I know, sounds odd at first, but they have a great common area inside, the option of space outside, and accessible parking, entrance, and restrooms. Can't beat that, right!? Thanks Steve!The updated schedule is with the new location address included.
- individuals navigating life with disability to meet others they can relate with
- community partners to learn more about the population and share resources
- support persons to meet other support persons
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RISE Up - next social hour gathering Saturday, Oct 28 at 10 AM at Franklin TV |
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Rise Up scheduled for Saturday, at 10 AM at the Sculpture Park
- individuals navigating life with disability to meet others they can relate with
- community partners to learn more about the population and share resources
- support persons to meet other support persons
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Rise Up scheduled for Saturday, at 10 AM at the Sculpture Park |
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Come meet & greet some of the Franklin School Committee - March 19 from 11 AM to 1 PM
"Saturday March 19, 11 AM - 1 PM at the Franklin Public Library!
Come meet and greet a few of the Franklin School Committee Members!
We will be located in the "Friends Room"https://t.co/do1kb2mW9o
Come meet & greet some of the Franklin School Committee - March 19 from 11 AM to 1 PM |
Sunday, February 28, 2021
FM #475 Working Moms Social Club - 02/08/21 (audio)
FM #475 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 475 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Kristi Morin of the Working Moms Social Club based in Franklin. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
We talk about:
- Kristi’s Franklin story
- the purpose of the group
- meeting/gathering adjustments made during COVID
- Open for new members with a nominal annual membership fee ($25)
Links to the Working Moms Social Club web and Facebook pages are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 16 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Kristi. Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ea6273a6-982c-4bc3-b198-bf9110c38989
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Working Moms Social Club web page = https://www.workingmomsocialclub.org/
Facebook page = https://www.facebook.com/workingmomsocialclub
Email for questions, etc. = admin@workingmomsocialclub.org
Article by Warren Reynolds at 02038.com = https://02038.com/2021/02/local-moms-help-working-mothers/
We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
- If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
- If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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FM #475 Working Moms Social Club - 02/08/21 (audio) |
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
October 2020 VIRTUAL Coffee Social - Oct 7
Join us Wednesday, October 7 at 10:00 a.m.
Friday, May 15, 2020
Hold the date: June VIRTUAL or IN-PERSON Veterans Coffee Social - June 3
Join us Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.
Our May VIRTUAL Coffee Social was a success! There were 18 guests in attendance via Zoom, a free video-conferencing tool.
It was great to see so many of our veterans on-screen and know that they are staying healthy and safe. We were also joined by our friend Courtney, a dedicated Starbucks Associate who assists us at our monthly Coffee Socials. Starbucks continues to be such a generous community partner and we can't thank Courtney and the rest of the Route 140 Starbucks team enough!
We are not sure when the Senior Center will re-open but we plan to host the June Coffee Social either in-person or virtually via Zoom.
Stay tuned for updates on this web site!
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Hold the date: June VIRTUAL or IN-PERSON Veterans Coffee Social - June 3 |
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Veteran's Coffee Social - Weds - May 6
Find all the details on how to attend via Zoom here https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/tof_may_veterans_news_0.pdf
Veteran's Virtual Coffee Social - Weds - May 6 |
This was shared from the Town of Franklin tweet
https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1257294642648887297?s=09
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Veterans Virtual Coffee Social - May 6
Details for the meeting are below. You may join via the internet or call in from any phone.
Link to Join Meeting -https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84657160506
Call-in Phone Number:
Call 1-312-626-6799 and enter the Meeting ID: 846 5716 0506 then press #
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Veterans Virtual Coffee Social - May 6 |
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Live reporting: Housing and Transitional Assistance
8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
a. Housing Authority - Lisa Audette, Executive Director, Franklin Housing Authority
MA GL 121 B
regulated and partially funded by the State
elderly and disabled housing
4 units of congregate housing
2 and 3 bedroom, 33 units
2 dept of developmental services, 16 units of housing
3 other properties obtained to bring in 3 more units of affordable housing
State owns the application waiting list, local can view but State owns the listing
application time stamped once entered into system
applications available at Housing Authority or online at the State
eligibility requirements for elderly and handicapped housing
HUD low income standards change every two years
many fall below the listing due to Boston market rates
current waiting list over 3500 for Franklin
1075 for 1 bedroom, 100+ emergency status
172 on waiting listing for congregate housing
2500 (468 emergency) for family applications
there is not enough housing in Franklin, in MA or in our country
Q - can you explain more about the financing
A - surplus agency, covered by rents taken in
modernization money comes from the State
Affordable Housing Trust provided a grant to leverage other funding
to completely renovate the units at Central Park Terrace
Q - can we expand housing?
A - we are always looking for additional housing but the State has no money
encouraging comments from the Governor
can not afford to build a complex on our own
Q - can't you stay on the Franklin listing?
A - the code says no, once housed, no longer on the listing - they are better off than someone without
Q - Do they remain on the listing?
A - when housed, loose the emergency priority, they remain on the listing but not with emergency status
Q - could the St Mary's school be used?
A - we did re-purpose the Metcalf School for housing
Q - thanks for all the work you do, victims of domestic violence get a priority, that is good
A - a lot of people need help
Central Park Terrace, first built in 1960
expanded in 1965; up on the hill expanded, in 1975 with wheelchair units
Metcalf School, Winter St
Family units - 28 north, west, and east Park St opened in 1948
family development on Walnut Ave
Eaton Place not part of the Housing Authority
"Everyone needs to be reminded of the work you do"
housing is not affordable
turnover about 20/units/year
do have a service coordinator, one day/week to help residents
loophole with categorization on disability counting once reaching 60, they become a 'senior' but likely haven't lost their disability
Q - do you cover Sec 8?
A - Sec 8 wasn't accepted in Franklin when it was authorized
a quick plug that the CPA proposal can provide some help, our issue won't be solved with one project, or one check
we are over the 10% on 40B, it is not enough we do need to do more
March 4, EDC meeting will begin review of some bylaw changes to help with affordable housing
b. Transitional Assistance Discussion - Franklin Senior Center
https://www.slideshare.net/shersteve/transitional-assistance
Karen Alves, Erin Rogers
14 households assisted in past year for homeless, declined somewhat
landlord issues
Dept of Transition Assistance (DTA)
each shelter takes applications directly, (no central routing/fulfillment agency)
shelters won't take folks who are taking substances, alcohol or other
3 churches are collaborating in Milford for weather related shelters
most folks don't want to go to a shelter
Section 8 is also a lengthy waiting list
Q - is there a mechanism for landlords? to take someone on a voucher, the education required
A - yes, we would like to help coordinate that
Q - where do they go for something like fuel assistance?
A - come to the Senior Center, we have the listing of what they need
often by coming in, for one, they find out what else we can do for them
St Vincent DePaul
186 families served in 2019, clothing, resources
(copy of doc handed out to be added later)
categories of
- transient
- known homeless
- soon to be homeless
Lynn Calling, Exec Dir, Franklin Food Pantry
6000 visits to the pantry in 2019, an increase over 2018
no funding from town or State
March 2 tour at the Pantry, if you can't make it, call so we can set up a time
Kim, New England Chapel
services available in Milford area, "Pathway to a better life"
3 churches open on a rotating basis
open at 30 degrees, Northbridge does same thing
could do the same thing here in Franklin, could get grants for assistance
Milford Police will bring the folks to the shelter when open
not a town sanctioned group, but could not have been done without their coordination
social services stake holder meeting?
we did it a year ago, have attended interfaith council meeting
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Veterans Coffee Social - Dec 4
Franklin Senior Center Café
- Holiday Music Provided by the Franklin Silvertones
Coffee And Pastry Will Be Provided
All Vets Are Invited!
For More Information, Contact the Veteran Services Office At: (508) 613-1315
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Veterans Coffee Social - Dec 4 |
This was shared from the Franklin Veterans Services page
https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services/news/december-coffee-social
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Reminder: Veterans Coffee Social - Sep 4
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Veterans Coffee Social - Sep 4
Saturday, June 29, 2019
July Veterans Coffee Social - July 3
Come And Chat With Other Vets
Coffee And Pastry Will Be Provided
All Vets Are Invited!
For More Information, Contact The Veteran Services Office At: (508) 613-1315
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczQlRaV1ZDejFtcTdsd0VpTG9sLW1felF1QjFV/view?usp=sharing
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Veterans July Coffee Social - July 3
Monday, May 8, 2017
We the People - May 10 - 7:00 PM
You might be surprised to learn that over time the Supreme Court has given constitutional protection to "non-people".
Sponsored by Corruption of our democracy-UU Social Justice
When: Wednesday, May 10, 7:00 PM
Where: First Universalist Society, 262 Chestnut St, Franklin, MA
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We the People - May 10 - 7:00 PM |
Sunday, April 2, 2017
“I think Franklin’s really ahead of the curve”
"The town’s schools will be partnering with William James College to further their “social-emotional” learning efforts.
Assistant Superintendent Peter Light said the partnership - which will offer graduate-level instruction to the Oak Street Elementary School’s faculty and administration through a pilot program - will take place over the course of the 2017-2018 school year.
In recent years, the local district has adopted social-emotional learning practices, which take a “whole-child” approach to education.
“What we see more and more is that we have to have high-quality, standards-based instruction, but equally important is the kids’ readiness to receive that instruction,” Light said.'
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170402/franklin-schools-exploring-social-emotional-learning-partnership
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Oak Street Elementary School to take part in pilot program for social emotional learning |