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| Webinar: "Executive Function Strategies for Creating Successful Students" - April 26, 2023 |
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| Franklin SEPAC presents a workshop on the science of reading and IDEA Law |
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| Franklin SEPAC presents MGH's Think:Kids Collaborative Problem Solving Workshop - Mar 29 (virtual) |
The House and Senate both passed a compromise supplemental 2023 budget bill today that includes a majority of the governor’s proposed “immediate needs” bond bill as well as extensions of pandemic-related authorizations related to public meetings and outdoor dining.The bill was originally filed by Gov. Maura Healey in January, and both chambers had passed slightly different versions earlier this month.The final bill (H. 47) includes extensions to pandemic-related authorizations that were set to expire next week.The bill would:• Allow remote and hybrid meeting options for public bodies through March 31, 2025• Allow remote and hybrid participation options for representative town meetings through March 31, 2025• Permit reduced quorums for open town meetings through March 31, 2025• Extend the expedited outdoor dining permit process through April 1, 2024
The legislation started as H.47 and ended up on the Governor's desk as H.58 -> https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H58
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| MMA: "Legislature passes supplemental budget with pandemic-era extensions, key investments" |
"Join Naturalist and Landscaper John Root to learn about the variety of beautiful and edible plants that are hardy for our region of the world.
Begin your more sustainable, eco-friendly yard adventure here!"
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| Sustainable Edible Landscaping - virtual event - March 25 - 11 AM |
We also are highlighting important activities taking place this month that we hope you can join.
Zoom Meeting, Greater Franklin Node, Thursday, March 16, 7:00 pm. Our regular meetings are held the first and third Thursdays of each month. We will update 350 Mass' campaigns for 2023-24, review developments in climate and energy policy, and discuss advocacy opportunities in our Node's region.
Zoom link: Thursday, March 16, 7:00 pm.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88924607755?pwd=bHl1empTRVFxYzdZUmVBSGl1Q0p3Zz09
Meeting ID: 889 2460 7755
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923
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| 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node |
National Day of Action to Discredit Bad Banks. Tuesday, March 21 (3.21.23): Activists nationwide are urging customers to move their money away from the "Big Bad Banks" that do most of the lending to fossil fuel corporations. Join 350 Mass' direct action wing Climate Courage for a noon visit to Chase Bank downtown, attack a giant credit card with a chainsaw to the music of a brass band, and inform the public about how banks are funding the climate crisis. Then, march to the nearby Bank of America. Sign up here. For more information and a list of other activities in Greater Boston on that day, see the national website.
Special Greater Franklin Node Meeting (Zoom), Thursday, March 30, 7:00 PM. Hold that date for a presentation and discussion led by Ingrid Geis, 350 Mass member and chair of our Stop and Steer the Money Working Group. The goal is to challenge and disrupt the financial underpinnings of the fossil fuel industry, notably from banks and insurance companies. We need to keep up the protests following the National Day of Action on 3.21.23. Ingrid will discuss how to identify which banks are "dirty" and which are not, what we can do as individual consumers, and examples of actions by groups of citizens. Whether you've attended our meetings or not, this is a good opportunity to learn about 350 Mass in general and this important initiative in particular. Please save the date. We will send out the Zoom link later this month.
To learn about actions and events like these, subscribe to the 350 Mass email newsletter. Also, see the Calendar of Upcoming Events on our website.
If you have items for this week's agenda or other comments and questions, contact carolyncbarthel@gmail.com and/or ralph.halpern@comcast.net.
Thank you. We will send a reminder on Thursday.
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017
Bill funds essential services relied on by vulnerable populations, extends COVID-era measures, authorizes public works bonding to support cities and towns
"This supplemental budget ensures that our Commonwealth continues to support the most vulnerable among us while also building on the lessons we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "I'm proud to say that this body has proven once again that it has the courage to chart a course that leaves no place or person in the Commonwealth behind. As I have said since the start of the pandemic, we must go 'back to better,' not 'back to normal.' With today's supplemental budget, I am pleased to see the Senate take one more step toward this goal. I would like to thank my colleagues, especially Chair Rodrigues and his dedicated team at Senate Ways and Means, for their hard work and contributions to this supplemental budget."
"As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, the Legislature has taken the necessary steps to keep the economy of the Commonwealth on a firm footing. The passage of this supplemental budget today utilizes robust tax revenues to its fullest effect, making substantial investments in economic development, housing, education, and the social service safety net. Those investments, along with a forward-thinking long-term bond authorization, will keep Massachusetts as a leader in the key economic sectors for decades to come," said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. "Thanks to the strong leadership of Senate President Spilka, and the commitment of my colleagues in the Senate, we sent a clear message to the people that we will always look to protect our marginalized communities, support our education and health care workforce, and invest in local infrastructure as the Commonwealth continues to recover from the impact of the pandemic."
The bill invests $368.7 million to address several time sensitive needs for an array of programs relied on by some of the most vulnerable residents of the Commonwealth, including $130 million for SNAP food assistance benefits to provide a glide path for families who were receiving enhanced SNAP benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, $68 million for the Early Education C3 stabilization grant program, $65 million for the continuation of free school meals, $45 million for emergency shelter assistance, and over $40 million to support affordable housing for immigrants and refugees. Other measures funded in the bill include:
The bill also authorizes $814.3 billion in capital expenditures to support economic development projects. Notably, these include $400 million for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, which provides grants to cities, towns, and other public entities for infrastructure projects, and $200 million for state matching funds to compete for federal grant opportunities, including those funded through the CHIPS and Science Act, which encourage innovation in Massachusetts. Other bonding items authorized by the bill include:
Reorganizing the societal shifts that have taken place during the pandemic, the bill also addresses several pandemic-era related measures, including:
Senator Liz Miranda (D-Boston) and Senator Robyn K. Kennedy (D-Worcester) both gave their inaugural Senate speeches during consideration of the supplemental budget. Senator Miranda spoke on behalf of her amendment for $2 million to support the NAACP's 114th national conference, which will be taking place in Massachusetts in 2023. The amendment was subsequently unanimously adopted. Senator Kennedy highlighted how the supplemental budget's $68 million investment in C3 early education grants will provide crucial stability to the early education sector.
As a previous version of this legislation has passed the House of Representatives, the two branches will now reconcile the differences between the bills.
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| Senate Passes $368.7 Million Supplemental Budget |
The Interfaith Council's Housing Assistance Program shares this invitation to a Zoom Progress Report on ending hunger in Massachusetts, March 17 at 1 PM.
See the notice and letter from Sen. Jo Comerford, below.
Contact her office for the links.
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| Register to Join Congressman Jim McGovern for a Progress report on the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health (virtual meeting) |
"The House bill’s $585 million in bonding authorizations include $400 million for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program and $104 million for the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust.The House included other MMA priorities — extensions to pandemic-related authorizations that were set to expire within the next month. The bill would:
- Permit remote and hybrid meeting options for public bodies through March 31, 2025
- Permit remote voting options for representative town meetings through March 31, 2025
- Permit reduced quorums for open town meetings through March 31, 2025
- Extend an expedited process for temporary permits for outdoor dining service and to-go cocktails through April 1, 2024
The House bill (H. 58) includes nearly $86 million to address the migrant housing crisis, a slight boost over Healey’s request. The funding would be used to expand shelter infrastructure and the provider workforce. It includes $41 million focused on communities with a large influx of school-aged children due to shelter placement."
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| MA House acts to extend remote/hybrid options through 2025, awaiting Senate action |
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| St Mary's Faith Formation Announcement - Mar 8, 2023 |
This email is a notice about the Zoom meeting of the 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Thursday, March 2nd, 7:00 pm.
We also are highlighting important activities taking place throughout March that we hope you can join.
Zoom Meeting, Greater Franklin Node, Thursday, March 2nd, 7:00 pm. Our regular meetings are held the first and third Thursdays of each month. We will update 350 Mass' campaigns for 2023-24, review developments in climate and energy policy, and discuss advocacy opportunities in our Node's region.
Zoom link: Thursday, March 2, 7:00 pm.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88924607755?pwd=bHl1empTRVFxYzdZUmVBSGl1Q0p3Zz09
Meeting ID: 889 2460 7755
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node
350 Mass Campaign Selection Meeting, Wednesday, March 1, 7:00 pm. All the Nodes and work groups have participated in a process of selecting campaign priorities for the organization. This week's meeting will select the campaigns for 2023-24. (Our last campaign, Bringing the Green New Deal Home, addressed housing retrofit legislation, protested dirty energy in our grid, and passed the Fair Share Amendment.) Current, new and prospective members are all invited to the Zoom meeting. For information and registration, see this Event page.
Rally for Clean Energy - "The Boston Fee Party". Thursday, March 2, 11:00 am. Location: Boardwalk next to Boston Children's Museum, 306 Congress St, Boston. Sponsored by Fix the Grid. Prices of electricity are skyrocketing this winter because our region depends too much on fracked gas for our power. The current system is unsustainable, harmful, polluting, and unnecessary. We know that cleaner alternatives exist. Call on Governor Healey to lead on reforming our electric system. Information and registration here.
National Day of Action to Discredit Bad Banks. Tuesday, March 21 (3.21.23): Activists nationwide are urging customers to move their money away from the "Big Bad Banks" that do most of the lending to fossil fuel corporations. Join 350 Mass' direct action wing Climate Courage for a noon visit to Chase Bank downtown, attack a giant credit card with a chainsaw to the music of a brass band, and inform the public about how banks are funding the climate crisis. Then, march to the nearby Bank of America. Sign up here. For more information and a list of other activities in Greater Boston on that day, see the national website.
Special Greater Franklin Node Meeting (Zoom), Thursday, March 30, 7:00 PM. Hold that date for a presentation and discussion led by Ingrid Geis, 350 Mass member and chair of our Stop and Steer the Money Working Group. The goal is to challenge and disrupt the financial underpinnings of the fossil fuel industry, notably from banks and insurance companies. We need to keep up the protests following the National Day of Action on 3.21.23. Ingrid will discuss how to identify which banks are "dirty" and which are not, what we can do as individual consumers, and examples of actions by groups of citizens.
To learn about actions and events like these, subscribe to the 350 Mass email newsletter.
If you have items for this week's agenda or other comments and questions, contact carolyncbarthel@gmail.com and/or ralph.halpern@comcast.net.
Thank you. We will send a reminder on Thursday.
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
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| St Mary's Faith Formation Announcement - Mar 8, 2023 |
Hello once again from the 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node. Our meeting this week (third Thursday of the month) will be on Zoom, this Thursday, February 16, starting at 7:00 PM.
Zoom link for the meeting, Thursday, February 16, 7:00-8:30 PM.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88924607755?pwd=bHl1empTRVFxYzdZUmVBSGl1Q0p3Zz09
Meeting ID: 889 2460 7755
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923
At this week's meeting—in addition to our usual agenda items about local, regional, statewide and national developments—we will review 350 Mass' Campaign proposals for 2023-24. We will consider which of the seven proposals our Node would recommend to the full organization, based on criteria such as their impact and likelihood of success. If you plan to attend the meeting and would like to review the proposals in advance, please reply to ralph.halpern@comcast.net to receive materials.
Here's an opportunity to learn about heat pumps. Tomorrow evening, Wednesday, February 15, 7:00-8:30 PM, another 350 Mass Node is sponsoring a webinar to learn how to navigate the often bewildering process of installing heat pumps and maximizing your rebate. Learn more and register here.
If you have an announcement or a topic for discussion, we can add it to the agenda. Let us know by contacting ralph.halpern@comcast.net.
We hope you receive 350 Mass' Climate Weekly email. It's a good way to keep up with key issues and actions on their behalf. You can sign up here.
We will send a reminder about the Node's meeting on Thursday.
Thank you.
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017
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| 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node |
Zoom link for the meeting, Thursday, February 2, 7:00-8:30 pm.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88924607755?pwd=bHl1empTRVFxYzdZUmVBSGl1Q0p3Zz09
Meeting ID: 889 2460 7755
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923
Twice-a-month, our Node, one of more than fifteen such 350 Mass groups throughout the state, holds its meetings, via Zoom. Our Node's participants come from Franklin and several towns ranging north to Sharon and south to Attleboro. You are always welcome to attend, to learn about climate and energy, politics and science, to hear about opportunities for action, and to contribute to our goals in a way that works for you.
Our meetings address ongoing challenges and actions related to energy and climate. Our typical agenda includes: discussion of climate and energy developments locally, across the state, and nationally. Announcements about planned advocacy and protest actions organized by 350 Mass and other groups. And plans for activities in our Greater Franklin region. Our tone and manner are collegial and neighborly. We hope to meet you one of these Thursdays. Or you can reply to this message; we'll follow up.
We hope you receive 350 Mass' Climate Weekly email. It's a good way to keep up with key issues and actions on their behalf. You can sign up here.
We will send a reminder about the Node's meeting on Thursday.
Thank you.
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017
"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."
Agenda doc for this virtual meeting -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/spaceneedssubcom-2_1_23.pdf
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| Space Needs Subcommittee scheduled to meet virtually - Feb 1 at 5:30 PM |
"Hope PUNK with Writers Renan Bernardo, Brianna Castagnozzi, Susan Kaye Quinn, and T. K. Rex
Tuesday, January 24, 7 PM
Virtual Event in collaboration with Watertown Free Public Library
Do you wish you felt more hopeful about the state of our world? Then you'll want to hear from Renan Bernardo, Brianna Castagnozzi, Susan Kaye Quinn, and T. K. Rex—they're writing hopepunk stories that challenge us to look up from our doomscrolling and envision a future filled with defiant optimism!"
Register -> https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/webinar/register/9216709615810/WN_TV9EwW_ST...
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| Hope punk virtual event Tuesday, Jan 24, 2023 |
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| 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node |
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)
339-203-5017
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| Greater Franklin-MA Hire Virtual Career Fair! - Feb 8, 2023 |
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| 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Virtual Meeting, Thursday, January 19, 7:00 PM |
