Franklin Residents: Winter Storm Update

Winter Storm Update Hello Franklin, Please make note of the following alerts and information:  A full parking ban is in effect until noon today No Trash/Recycling Collection today, Thursday, Dec 17th. Trash/Recycling will be delayed by one day for 12/17 and 12/18 pick-ups only. The Municipal Building and all town buildings (Recreation, Museum, Senior Center, Library, and DPW Administration) will remain closed today, Thursday, December 17th. All staff will be working remotely today and are available via email and phone during regular business hours. Please do not hesitate to reach out!  Town offices and buildings will reopen tomorrow, Friday, Dec 18th at 8:00 for normal business hours.  Based on this morning's report from the state MEMA office and Governor Baker's directives, it's in the best interest of the community to stay off the roads and allow our incredible local DPW workers and state highway officials the chance to clear snow from all roads, sidewalks and parking lots.  Visit our website for information and links. Stay safe!  www.franklinma.gov https://www.franklinma.gov/

Town of Franklin | 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by traceya@franklinps.net powered by Try email marketing for free today!

Urgent: Winter Storm Alerts

Winter Storm Alerts

A winter storm is approaching this evening and will be with us until tomorrow. Please make note of the following alerts: 

• A full parking ban is in effect from 12 pm tonight until noon tomorrow
• No Trash Collection tomorrow, Thursday, Dec 16th.  Trash will be delayed by one day.
• The Municipal Building will be closed from 8 am-noon tomorrow.  Employees will be working remotely until noon and are available via email or voicemail.  

Stay safe! 

 

Read more about Emergency information https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/emergency-management-information

Urgent: Winter Storm Alerts

FM #409 School Committee Meeting - 12/08/20 - P1 of 3 (audio)

FM #409 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 409 in the series. 

This session shares one of three segments for the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Dec 8, 2020. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: some of the School Committee and Central Office personnel were in the Council Chambers, the remainder of the Committee was remote via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

I’ve split the two hour and forty minute meeting into three logical segments:

• ** First ** - covers the opening through the Discussion Action Items (approx. 53 minutes)
• Second - picks up Discussion Only Items; the budget update, K-1 return alternatives, and re-opening through the School Committee members comments only (approx. 55 minutes)
• Third - picks up the community comments on re-opening and run through the remainder of the meeting (approx. 52 minutes)

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and to my notes. The meeting packet folder will hold the other documents released for the meeting (as we go to press, the Superintendent’s Report is not yet updated)

Let’s listen to this segment of the School Committee meeting of Dec 8, 2020

Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/10195a5d-676f-42a4-a51a-0faafdb0fdf4

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Agenda doc
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_12-8-20.pdf 

Meeting packet folder
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/december-8-2020-school-committee-packet

My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/12/school-committee-meeting-dec-8-2020.html 

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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/

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"

Winter sports update summarized by Athletic Director Tom Angelo

"MIAA High School winter season can officially begin on Monday"

Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612) tweeted at 6:29 PM on Thu, Dec 10, 2020:

"The MIAA High School winter season can officially begin on Monday for basketball, ice hockey, gymnastics, skiing and swimming. Here we go."

and

"The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) has posted its updated guidelines for high school, youth, and adult amateur athletics. High-risk sports including basketball and ice hockey can play games. Total participants and spectators can't exceed 40% capacity"

https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612/status/1337177596044382208?s=03
and  https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612/status/1337176173432987648

 

The document itself can be found on the MA.GOV re-opening page

https://www.mass.gov/doc/safety-standards-for-youth-and-adult-amateur-sports-activities-phase-iii-step-i-effective/download

 

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) has posted its updated guidelines for high school, youth, and adult amateur athletics.

High-risk sports including basketball and ice hockey can play games. Total participants and spectators can't exceed 40% capacity pic.twitter.com/4nglPtj2If

— Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612) December 10, 2020

"Adopt a hydrant" program returns with winter weather

Residents and civic groups (Scouts, local youth groups, Franklin High School teams, etc.) can "adopt" a hydrant or hydrants.  

This is intended to be a commitment for the 2020/2021 snow season and can be applied towards student community service hours.  

Visit our website https://www.franklinma.gov/water.../pages/adopt-hydrant to Adopt-A-Hydrant today!

Shared from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/931498886934582/posts/3705771699507273/

"Adopt a hydrant" program returns with winter weather

Tri-County RVTHS Athletics: cancels winter athletic season

Statement on Winter Sports https://t.co/iEchbxzqAH
(https://twitter.com/TriRvths/status/1334148280578617346?s=03)

 

Statement on Winter Sports pic.twitter.com/iEchbxzqAH

— Tri-County RVTHS Athletics (@TriRvths) December 2, 2020

 

 

MIAA Statement on Winter Sports and Sport-Specific Modifications

November 20, 2020

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) COVID-19 Task Force representatives today presented winter sport modifications and recommendations for the 2020-2021 season to the MIAA Board of Directors.

This presentation culminated a two-week MIAA governance process which included sport-specific sub-committee meetings where updated Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and current Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary (DESE) guidelines were reviewed. These subcommittees created sport- specific modifications and presented them to the full committees for approval. The MIAA Sports Medicine Committee (SMC) and ultimately the MIAA Covid-19 Task force subsequently approved the modifications.

MIAA Executive Director Bill Gaine stated, “The MIAA’s mission can be defined by a dual prescription: promoting maximum participation opportunities for the maximum number of student-athletes so that life lessons can be learned. At the same time, promoting
the health and safety of all participants is the Association’s imperative.”

The MIAA Board of Directors voted to approve sport-specific modifications for the Winter Season. These modifications will continue to be reviewed as they relate to current regulations surrounding COVID-19 and may be modified if necessary.

Additional modifications or the decision to participate in MIAA-recognized winter sports will be determined by local school districts and/or their local Board of Health. You may view the Task Force presentation HERE.

Highlights include:

• The Winter Season will have a new start date of December 14, 2020.
• Modifications for the sports of Wrestling, Indoor Track, winter Cheerleading and Dance were not created or presented due to committee recommendation for those sports to be moved to a different sport season. Indoor Track is moved to the Fall II Season and Wresting, winter Cheerleading and Dance are moved to the Spring Season.

MIAA President and Marshfield Superintendent Jeff Granatino said, “It is great to see that so many of our student-athletes will be able to take part in the sports they love this winter. Many coaches, athletic directors, principals and superintendents worked hard
over the past few weeks to ensure that we would be able to offer interscholastic athletes for our students, and I want to thank them for their efforts.”
 
Granatino added, “The pandemic has reshaped the way education is delivered across the country and the same can be said about its impact on athletics. Nonetheless, I am confident our student-athletes and coaches will adjust to the new expectations this winter and have an experience as fulfilling and as exciting as what we saw during the fall season. Gaine reinforced, “Our membership should be proud that our Board’s actions today reflect allegiance to the MIAA mission.”

The approved Winter Season sport modifications are located on the MIAA COVID-19 Task Force Page. The Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) document located on the Task Force page is currently being updated to better reflect and provide clarity with recent decisions. This will be posted as soon as possible.

Respectfully, 

Jeffrey Granatino       Bill Gaine
MIAA President          Executive Director 

 

• Basketball  http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/Basketball_Modifications_Winter_2020.pdf
• Gymnastics  http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/Gymnastics_Modifications_Winter_2020.pdf
• Ice Hockey  http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/Ice_Hockey_Modifications_Winter_2020.pdf
• Ski - Alpine  http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/Alpine_Ski_Modifications_Winter_2020.pdf
• Ski - Nordic  http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/Nordic_Ski_Modifications_Winter_2020.pdf
• Swimming & Diving  http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/Swimming__Diving_Modifications_Winter_2020.pdf
  

 

Shared from the MIAA page  http://miaa.net/contentm/easy_pages/view.php?sid=38&page_id=317

 

MIAA Statement on Winter Sports

Needed: Volunteers for Winter Decorating in downtown Franklin - Nov 21

This Weekend

WINTER DECORATING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Winter Decorating Day has been scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21 from 9 AM to noon with a rain date of Sunday, Nov. 22. Please email Eileen Mason if you are able to volunteer to dress up the downtown for the holidays!

Franklin Downtown Partnership | 9 E. Central St., Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by franklindowntownpartnership@gmail.com powered by Try email marketing for free today!

In the News: "Franklin firefighters get double duty on Winter Street"

From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin:

"Firefighters battled a blaze at a multifamily home at 44 Winter St. Friday night, only to be forced o return when it rekindled on Saturday morning.

At 7:32 p.m. Friday, firefighters reported they were responding to a working fire on Winter Street, according to a Twitter post. A photo posted by the department later that night showed smoke and flames billowing from the top floor and roof of the 2,337-square-foot home.

The fire rekindled on Saturday morning before firefighters were again able to put it out. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) https://www.milforddailynews.com/sports/20201003/franklin-firefighters-get-double-duty-on-winter-street?rssfeed=true

 

"We have a working fire on Winter Street" via https://twitter.com/FranklinMAfire

Most of Tuesday's FHS winter sports games rescheduled to Wednesday

The weather played havoc with the FHS winter sports schedule on Tuesday with 3 of the games rescheduled for Wednesday, Dec 18

• Boys Basketball = Franklin @ King Philip – Postponed to Wednesday, 12/18/19 at 6:30.
• Girls Basketball = King Philip @ Franklin – Postponed to Wednesday, 12/18/19 at 6:30.
• Boys Hockey = Franklin vs. Malden Catholic – Postponed to TBD.
• Swimming = Franklin @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to Wednesday, 12/18/19 at 4:00.

For other schedules around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-12-17-19/

Most of Tuesday's FHS winter sports games rescheduled to Wednesday

Urban Air Holiday Party - Dec 18

Step out of the cold December air into a Winter Wonderland of fun! On December 18th from 4-8 PM we transform into a park wide Holiday Party for the whole family. 

Those who join us for our party will get:

* $10 off Ultimate and Deluxe passes
* Pictures with Santa Claus
* Shopping with tons of LOCAL vendors to support your community
* There will be fun, games and prizes all night long!

Here's a partial list of vendors to shop with:

* Homemade pickles, jams, salsa and ribs from Confectionery Creations
* Custom glassware, coozies and more from Just Crafting Around
* Candles from Scentsy
* Homemade scarfs, blankets and pillows
* Homemade Christmas ornaments and lighted signs
* Bags from Thirty One
* Hair Straightners
* Color Street nails
* Homemade Wine Bottles from Sher Creates
* Tupperware
* Disney Travel
* Lularoe
* Paparazzi
* Life Expressions Decor
* Homemade baked goods and more!


Urban Air Adventure Park (Bellingham)
189 Mechanic Street, Bellingham, Massachusetts 02019

Follow the Facebook event for updates: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/466060837385243/

Urban Air Holiday Party - Dec 18

Concert Band and Wind Ensemble's Winter Concert - broadcast on Panther TV

Can't get to the high school to watch the concert, tune in from your mobile device or smart home system.

"Tune into Panther TV LIVE Tuesday night at 7 PM for the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble's Winter Concert. "

Watch on YouTube live:  https://www.youtube.com/c/PantherTVLive/live

Other FHS  accounts to follow:

• @FranklinHSMusic  https://twitter.com/FranklinHSMusic
• @FHSPantherbook  https://twitter.com/FHSPantherbook
• @FranklinHS  https://twitter.com/FranklinHS

Tune into Panther TV LIVE Tuesday night at 7PM for the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble's Winter Concert. @FranklinHSMusic @FHSPantherbook @FranklinHS @FranklinMatters https://t.co/2uCSrkZPTB

— Panther TV (@fhspanthertv) December 9, 2019

Panther TV

Franklin Schools - Opening on time Monday, Dec 2

Monday, December 2, 2019

Dear Franklin Families and Faculty/Staff,

We have been monitoring weather conditions and the forecast for today very carefully. Additionally, we have been communicating with both DPW and Facilities regarding the treatment of the roads and snow removal around our schools. Based on the current conditions, Franklin Public Schools will open on time on Monday, December 2, 2019.

Given that some sidewalks may be slippery, emergency busing will be in effect in the morning and students walking or waiting along routes will be offered rides by our drivers.

Sincerely,

The Franklin Public Schools

Franklin Schools - Opening on time Monday, Dec 2

Winterbloom - Dec 7 at Circle of Friends Coffeehouse

Four beautiful voices together again

View this email in your browser WINTERBLOOM (Antje Duvekot, Anne Heaton, Meg Hutchinson, & Natalia Zukerman) December 7th 8PM $25 Add some joy to the holiday season with the wonderful music of Winterbloom.  This female supergroup performs at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse Holiday Show on Saturday, December 7, at 8 PM.  Winter is a time for gathering – and sometimes it's even more fun to gather with friends than family!  It's in this spirit that a new holiday tradition has emerged – a tradition of friendship and music.  Every few years four successful, internationally touring singer-songwriters Antje Duvekot, Anne Heaton, Meg Hutchinson and Natalia Zukerman will tour as "Winterbloom" with diverse reflections and experiences to share for the holidays. It started with one magical show in December 2008 that led these four women to record and tour together as "Winterbloom".  Since then they reunite in the dark days of winter to bring the gift of gorgeous melody to us all.  This holiday season Winterbloom returns to the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse for their only northeast concert. Join Winterbloom this holiday season for an evening of warmth, friendship, sarcasm and surprises. The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is a non-profit organization affiliated with Franklin's First Universalist Society. Concerts are presented in a smoke free and alcohol free environment at the Society's handicapped accessible Meetinghouse, 262 Chestnut St. in Franklin, and begin at 8:00 PM; doors open at 7:30 PM. Beverages and gourmet desserts will be available.  Please visit http://www.circlefolk.org/ to purchase tickets or for more information. Upcoming Shows Jan 4         Cheryl Wheeler with special guest Samantha Tracy Feb 8         Small Potatoes Feb 29       Pesky J Nixon presents Tribal Mischief Mar 14       The Squeezebox Stompers Apr 4          Tom Rush Apr 18        Matt Nakoa May 9         Red Molly

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse · First Universalist Society · 262 Chestnut St · Franklin, MA 02038 · USA

Franklin High School Winter Concerts - Dec 4, Dec 10

Franklin High School is pleased to invite you to celebrate over 200 student musicians as they perform their annual Winter Concert. This year, we will be presenting our concert over two nights. 

On Wednesday, December 4, the String Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra will perform Fanfare for the Common Man by Copland and Finlandia by Sibelius. The Combined Chorus, Chamber Chorus, and Treble Chorus, with pianist Cate Gallagher, will present works by local RI composer, Michael C. Kregler (“Babylon’s Fallin’” and “I carry your heart with me”), “Famine Song” by VIDA, “Duet of the Flowers” from the opera Lakmé, “Pure Imagination” from the classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory , and more!

On Tuesday, Dec. 10 the FHS Concert Band and Wind Ensemble will present a concert featuring the music of Robert W. Smith, including “The Divine Comedy - The Inferno, Purgatorio, The Ascension, Paradiso” and “Inchon & Encanto” plus Andrew Boysen Jr's “By My Side”. Together, the Wind Ensemble and the Concert Band will close the concert with two selections including “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson.

NEW THIS YEAR! Through the generosity of the Franklin Cultural Council, Regency Transportation and the support through the Franklin Music Boosters, we are thrilled to perform for the first time in our new formal concert attire. Thank you and see you there!

Both concerts will take place at 7:00 PM in the Franklin High School auditorium. A $5 donation is requested at the door.

 

Franklin High School Winter Concerts - Dec 4, Dec 10

Winter/Spring Sports Coming Your Way

Register Today

‌ Lifelong Community Learning Get ready for winter / spring sports Beginning February 4 REGISTER TODAY Intermediate & Advanced Co-ed Volleyball Intermediate: Build your strong foundation in the basics of volleyball. A fun, competitive time is guaranteed for all! Click here for more info. https://reg.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0079-0003-38a23fe895c34850976565a3c4a65509 Advanced: If you have played competitive volleyball in the past and would like to find something closer to home or get back into it after an absence, then this class is for you! Click here for more info. https://reg.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0079-0003-fe29d551362c420b8743d41c52a38d6a Badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played by two people or four people. Unlike other racquet sports, badminton involves hitting a shuttlecock – a cone-shaped projectile that moves differently than a ball - the ideal sport for those who like to be kept on their toes. Click here for more info. https://reg.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0079-0003-6045335e41ff41ebbd2db02fa40a4116 Men's Spring Basketball on Tuesdays Beginning in March REGISTER TODAY Looking for a night of fun and exercise? Basketball is great way to de-stress and add variety to your routine.  Click here for more info. https://reg.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0079-0003-6a64814584204e3c9fab8b8e1950944b ‌

Lifelong Community Learning - Franklin Public Schools | 218 Oak Street, Room 137, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by lcl@franklinps.net in collaboration with Try it free today