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

FY 2023 School Budget hearing (audio & transcript) - 03/22/22

FM #757 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 757 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the School Committee meeting held Tuesday, March 22, 2022. 

The bulk of the meeting was the official public hearing for the FY 2023 school budget. 

Superintendent Sara Ahern, Asst Supt Lucas Giguere, and Business Manager Miriam Goodman were the primary presenters for the overview of the budget. School Committee Chair Denise Spencer then read the budget major lines, recording ‘holds’ along the way which then lead to the question period by the committee and then the public. The budget will come to the Committee at the Apr 12 meeting when they will vote on it.

NEW: A transcript of the recording is available. The transcript is part of a pilot by Franklin Matters using the transcription service provided by Otter.ai https://otter.ai/ 

The meeting opened at 7 PM and ran approx. 2 hours and 35 minutes.

Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-757-school-cmte-mtg-fy-2023-budget-hearing-03-22-22

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Meeting packet folder ->   https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/pages/march-22-2022-school-committee-meeting-packet 

 

Budget tab (with this proposed budget and prior budgets) ->   https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget

Meeting transcript ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZJGhMT7D0A5kkrWVSB-fvrQgwril-lDX/view?usp=sharing

My notes -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18oZq9R2K7-viFx3WMI5-lcDumfgBdpZf/view?usp=sharing 

Photos captured during the meeting can be found in one album ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/VgonZCSdb6Jn3EYz9

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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 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"

 

FY 2023 School Budget hearing (audio & transcript) - 03/22/22

Town Council hears about the storm water utility fee and give first approval (audio & transcript)

FM #753 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 753 in the series. 

This session shares part of the Franklin, MA Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: members of the Town Council and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, some members of the public participated in person, some via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The recording runs about two hours and thirty minutes (2:30 )

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting of March 16, 2022

NEW: A transcript of the recording is available. The transcript is part of a pilot by Franklin Matters using the transcription service provided by Otter.ai https://otter.ai/ 

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-753-town-council-meeting-03-16-22

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Agenda document ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/03/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-march.html 

My notes from the meeting  ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HKbbsQfgbgIjPbUx7DbMGikfrXo2iI68/view?usp=sharing 

Meeting transcript ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YLEsQa-LOO7-erEyhrykMhilZUNpTMaI/view?usp=sharing

Photos captured during the meeting many shared via Twitter with my notes
https://photos.app.goo.gl/S3camznuYvK3wYL6A

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

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.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"

 

Kate Sjoberg, Derek Adams, and Brutus Cantoreggi presenting on storm water

Joint Budget Subcommittee gets first view of projected budget deficit for FY 2023 (audio & transcript)

FM #751 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 751 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting held Thursday, March 10, 2022. 

The first such meeting of this recharged group combining Town Council, School Committee and Finance Committee members. 

NEW: A transcript of the recording is available. The transcript is part of a pilot by Franklin Matters using the transcription service provided by Otter.ai https://otter.ai/ 

The meeting opened at 6:30 PM and ran an hour and 45 minutes.

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Meeting agenda and budget overview document ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/2022-03-10_joint_budget_subcommittee_mtg_agenda.pdf

Meeting transcript -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XfN8Ig5eVvBbILAk_PcUAiCJw7h7JICu/view?usp=sharing 

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

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 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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

TA Jamie Hellen, Miriam Goodman and Supt Sara Ahern presenting to the Joint Budget Subcommittee

School Committee hears and discusses the recommended FY 2023 school budget (audio & transcript)

FM #749 = This is the Franklin Matters Radio show, number 749 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held Tuesday, March 8, 2022. 

The bulk of the meeting was the presentation and discussion on the Superintendents recommended budget for FY 2023.

NEW: A transcript of the recording is available. The transcript is part of a pilot by Franklin Matters using the transcription service provided by Otter.ai https://otter.ai/ 

The meeting opened at 7 PM and ran approx. 2 hours and 46 minutes.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-749-school-committee-mtg-03-08-22

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Meeting packet folder ->   https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/march-8-2022-school-committee-meeting

 

Budget tab (with this proposed budget and prior budgets) ->   https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget

Meeting transcript -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WeSfm-NIzFTNoFnkiwV1vHQXXdxhLLZV/view?usp=sharing

My notes -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BlZ3HbwBxRkDbcyRu6GKp6GpflnW2Tfs/view?usp=sharing 

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

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 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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

School Committee hears and discusses the recommended FY 2023 school budget

Heard about the Franklin For All Forum? the audio and transcript are now available

FM #748 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 748 in the series. 

This shares the Franklin For All Forum that was held on Monday, March 7, 2022.

The meeting was held in the Council Chambers. It was hosted by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) via Zoom and broadcast via Franklin TV as well as live streamed. 

This recording runs about 2 hours and 25 minutes.  Let’s listen to the Franklin For All Forum held Mar 7, 2022.  Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-748-franklin-for-all-forum-03-07-22

NEW: A transcript of the recording is available. The transcript is part of a pilot by Franklin Matters using the transcription service provided by Otter.ai https://otter.ai/  (Note: if there should be a more accurate spelling of your name, please let me know and I can update the online copy. For those whose name could not be determined via the recording, please let me know.)

Transcript =>  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WEsjmEFESie06Bx4bAOSxhMbhpY45gsL/view?usp=sharing

Links to the meeting information and my notes captured during the Forum are in the show notes. 

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**** Visioning Survey ****  The survey is open for your input ->       https://mapc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bDBzodBPnt8a5Ce 

Franklin For All project page -> https://www.mapc.org/resource-library/franklin-for-all/  

My notes captured via Twitter and shared in summary form

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iojwdwbOUUfrvfnwuy_xn59P8yVws5Jq/view?usp=sharing 

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

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.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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

QR code takes you to the Franklin For All page

QR code takes you to the Franklin For All visioning survey

Franklin TV: Still Growing - The Only Constant is Change

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director, Franklin●TV & wfpr●fm 11/14/2021

There are brief moments when I believe (mistakenly) that at some point (Soon?) our technical facilities will be finalized and complete.  Silly me.

When Franklin●TV began in 2012 it was crude – steampunk compared to today’s digital world. We simply played back DVDs and video tapes over three standard TV channels provided by Comcast and Verizon. Done.

The decade has been a whirlwind of technical change and growth. It hasn’t let up. Today is about multimedia, multichannel, multiplatform publishing.  Multi-challenges.  (Yikes!)  Our old SDTV channels live on. Now we also stream our programs and live events over the internet in High Definition. We also provide Videos-on-Demand, we broadcast on the FM dial (102.9) 24/7. We produce and post many new podcasts each week on our radio website, wfpr●fm. We’ve also seen requests for copies of our shows shift from DVDs to High Definition Downloads.

Sooooo- what’s upcoming? What else are we working on? Instant On Demand Video posting immediately after each live meeting and event. Expanded government meetings and live location events coverage. Adding closed captions to many of our programs. This in turn will provide text of interviews and meetings via Franklin Matters.

We are also expanding our network to studios in nearby towns. More sports events are being cablecast regionally. Yes, we are still growing, and that doesn’t happen by standing still – not even for a brief moment.

And –  as always –
Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm 
And, thank you for watching

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf  or for archive purposes  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Fb9bLbkIs2T0p52CiIvp9VRtY7FPftjX/view?usp=sharing

Franklin TV: Still Growing - The Only Constant is Change