'Return of the Jedi' Among 25 Eclectic Films Joining National Film Registry
The 2021 selections represent one of the most diverse classes of films to enter the registry, with movies dating back nearly 120 years and representing the work of Hollywood studios, independent filmmakers, documentarians, women directors, filmmakers of color, students and the silent era of film. The selections bring the number of films in the registry to 825, representing a portion of the 1.7 million films in the Library's collections. "Films help reflect our cultural history and creativity — and show us new ways of looking at ourselves — though movies haven't always been deemed worthy of preservation. The National Film Registry will preserve our cinematic heritage, and we are proud to add 25 more films this year," said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. "The Library of Congress will work with our partners in the film community to ensure these films are preserved for generations to come." Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will host a television special Friday, Dec. 17, starting at 8 p.m. ET to screen a selection of motion pictures named to the registry this year. Hayden will join TCM host and film historian Jacqueline Stewart, who is chair of the National Film Preservation Board, to discuss the films. Also, select titles from 30 years of the National Film Registry are freely available online in the Library's National Screening Room. Follow the conversation about the 2021 National Film Registry on Twitter and Instagram at @librarycongress and #NatFilmRegistry. Films Selected for the 2021 National Film Registry
Click here for more information on this year's entries to the National Film Registry.
|
Monday, December 20, 2021
Looking for films to view during the holidays? 'Return of the Jedi' One of 25 Added to National Film Registry
FHS' Zub, Anderson, Welch, and Regan recognized with soccer awards by HockomockSports.com
Franklin sophomore forward Anya Zub followed up her stellar rookie season by becoming one of the league’s most prolific forwards. Zub led the Panthers with 20 goals and added six assists, helping them retain the Kelley-Rex division title and reach the Round of 16 in the Div. 1 state tournament. Her 26 points were the fourth-highest total in the league during the regular season. She was selected as an all-star by the league’s coaches and as the HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year (see below). Franklin coach Jodi Klein said, “Anya just keeps getting better. She is a very effective striker, composed in front of the goal and makes excellent decisions on whether to shoot or pass. She eagerly accepts the pressure of being our top scorer.”
Franklin junior Norah Anderson was dominant in the heart of the Panthers’ back line this season, helping Franklin secure back-to-back Kelley-Rex division titles and reach the Div. 1 Round of 16. Anderson’s leadership and athleticism were instrumental in the Panthers recording nine clean sheets this season and allowing only 11 goals in 18 games. Only twice this season did teams manage to score more than one goal in a game against the Panthers and no one scored more than two. Franklin coach Jodi Klein said of Anderson, “The captain of our defense. One of the toughest and smartest defenders I have ever had the pleasure to coach. Virtually unbeatable one-on-one, directs play from the back, and a leader on and off the field.”
Franklin sophomore Rachel Welch is the next in a long line of talented goalkeepers for the Panthers and she played a key role in retaining the Kelley-Rex division title and reaching the Round of 16 in the Div. 1 state tournament. Welch had a goals against average of just 0.60 this season, recording nine clean sheets, and allowing only nine goals in 15 games this season. Only twice this season did a team score more than one goal in a game against the Panthers. Franklin coach Jodi Klein said, “Rachel is an incredibly talented goalkeeper and has an impressive level of poise and maturity in the goal for just her second high school season. She still has two more years at the high school level and she will continue to be a player to watch leading our team from the back.”
Franklin senior midfielder Stella Regan was one of the top playmakers for the Panthers, creating scoring chances for herself and for teammates as Franklin won a second straight Kelley-Rex division title and reached the Round of 16 in the state tournament. After suffering a horrible injury as a sophomore, Regan was finally back to 100 percent this year and finished the season with 11 goals and six assists, none bigger than her perfectly weighted chip that led to the overtime goal against Reading in the opening round of the playoffs. Franklin coach Jodi Klein said of Regan, “She creates multiple scoring opportunities in every game, has an unstoppable engine, and a perfect touch allowing her to consistently create attacking chances.”
"Franklin sophomore Anya Zub has been selected as the 2021 HockomockSports.com Girls Soccer Underclassman of the Year, as the top performing freshman or sophomore player. The sophomore forward was one of the leading scorers in the league, as the Panthers won a second straight Kelley-Rex division title.After a breakout season last year on the wing, Zub moved into a center forward role this fall and scored 20 goals and had six assists, making her the fourth-leading scorer in the league during the regular season and the top scoring underclassman. She also came through in big games, scoring against both Mansfield and King Philip in the final games of the season to ensure Franklin won the league title outright.“Anya just keeps getting better,” said Franklin coach Jodi Klein. “She is a very effective striker, composed in front of the goal, and makes excellent decisions on whether to shoot or pass. She eagerly accepts the pressure of being our top scorer.”
 |
| 2021 HockomockSports.com Girls Soccer Underclassman of the Year |
FM #683 - Town Council Meeting - 12/15/21 (audio)
This session shares part of the Franklin, MA Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, December 15, 2021.
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 one hour and twenty minutes (1:20 )
The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting of Dec 15, 2021
Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-683-town-council-meeting-12-15-21
--------------
Agenda document -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/december_15_town_council_agenda.pdf
My notes from the meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/12/recap-town-council-hears-update-on.html
Town Council Quarterbacking with Chair Tom Mercer -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/12/town-council-quarterbacking-with-chair.html
--------------
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"
 |
| Town Council hears update on Human Resources from Director Karen Bratt |
FHS' O'Connor recognized with "Goal of the Year" (video)
Via HockomockSports.com:
"This year we teamed up with Beautiful Game Soccer Academy for our first ever Goal of the Year contest for boys and girls soccer. We narrowed down over 50 submissions to the top 16 for each, setting up a bracket style contest over the past couple of weeks. The final round came to a close last night and the winners are listed below. Thank you to BGSA for sponsoring this and to all the coaches, players, and everyone else involved for their submissions, votes, and support throughout our first go at this."
There are two videos of the top goals, one from the boys and one from the girls. FHS' Kelly O'Connor took the top honors for the girls goal of the year.
Video link -> https://youtu.be/XrgmxzJRFUE
Link to full article on HokcomockSports.com -> https://hockomocksports.com/hockomocksports-soccer-goal-of-the-year-winners/
Register O'Donnell Promotes Registry of Deeds Internet Research
"Providing secure, accurate and accessible land record information, coupled with our on-site customer service center, is central to our work here at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds," stated Register O'Donnell.
Elaborating on the Registry's research capabilities, O'Donnell noted, "Users are able to research land record information by multiple options, including the name of the property owner and property address. Members of the public can access our internet-based document research system for many endeavors such as determining property ownership, researching land titles, reviewing land plans (only plans which are recorded at the Registry) and finally to confirm that documents affecting a person's property, such as mortgage discharges, have been recorded."
Through technology and the Registry of Deeds modernization initiatives there are a tremendous amount of documents for viewing. For example, our website www.norfolkdeeds.org allows people to look up and view over 13 million scanned images with some 41 million pages of land documents dating back to the Registry's beginnings in 1793. Our Registry on-site IT Technology Department and Customer Service Center work to help anyone in need of internet research help find what they are looking for.
"A few years back, the Registry of Deeds completed a project which transcribed all our hand-written land documents that were recorded from 1793 to 1900. Prior to this effort, these hand-written documents were in many cases difficult to near impossible to read. With the transcription project completed, over 450,000 hand written documents were transcribed. Both the handwritten and the transcribed text can be viewed from the comfort of your home or business via our website www.norfolkdeeds.org."
It should be noted that while the transcribers made a best effort to translate these hard to read documents, their accuracy is not guaranteed. "These transcribed documents," noted O'Donnell, "are not legal documents in and of itself, and are not considered binding on the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds or its employees. It is considered merely a convenient reference for Registry users. For documentation purposes, users should refer to the scanned image of the original document instead of the transcribed image."
The Registry's website also provides information on how to obtain certified copies of land documents. The Registry's certified copy charges are $1.00 per page plus an additional $1.00 per document for postage.
In conclusion, Register O'Donnell stated, "Our core mission here at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds includes providing our users with first-class customer service each and every day. Norfolk County residents and businesses deserve a Registry of Deeds that provides them with access to land record information in an easily accessible and consumer friendly manner. The Registry website www.norfolkdeeds.org does that by bringing the Registry records into your homes and businesses."
To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds and instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds.
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street in Dedham. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry's website www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center via telephone at (781) 461-6101, or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.
 |
| Register O'Donnell Promotes Registry of Deeds Internet Research |
Boston Globe: "What happens when students remove masks? These Mass. schools are finding out"
"By lunchtime Thursday, word had spread through Hopkinton High School about a slew of basketball players testing positive for COVID-19. Already far more students had begun wearing face-coverings in the school, which in November became the first in Massachusetts to allow vaccinated students to go mask-less.Over lunch, five senior boys expressed anxiety. They hoped the school board that night would temporarily reinstate the school’s mask mandate. But other students wanted the relaxed mask policies, which they didn’t believe caused the outbreak, to continue. Two sophomore girls in the library studied without masks, happy to see each other’s smiles. They felt the mask-choice policy gave them something elusive in the past two years: a typical high school experience.“Last year, it felt like you couldn’t talk to anyone who wasn’t your friend,” said Sophie Weeden, 15. “This year, it’s gotten back to a little more normal — it’s so much better.”
 |
| What happens when students remove masks? |
"a chaotic “ripple effect” around the world"
"In Britain it’s alcohol, in Canada it’s maple syrup, while in Australia it’s a crucial additive for diesel trucks, and in New Zealand it’s brown sugar. These are just some of the many shortages affecting consumers and businesses around the world as industry experts warn that the supply chain crisis prompted by the coronavirus pandemic could last for many more months and even up to two years.Although there are signs that some bottlenecks are easing, the onset of the Omicron Covid variant could lead to new shutdowns, sending another disruptive spasm through the global system.The gravest appears to be an outbreak of Covid this week in the Chinese manufacturing hub of Zhejiang, which is home to the world’s largest cargo port, Ningbo-Zhoushan. Tens of thousands are in quarantine under China’s strict zero-Covid policy and some local authorities have urged workers not to travel home “unnecessarily” for lunar new year festival in February. “Further supply chain disruption is a significant possibility,” economic analysts at Capital Economics said in a note.Industry experts and economists believe the problems could persist as the finely calibrated network of world trade, already weakened by months of shipping backlogs, labour shortages and geopolitical tensions, remains “discombobulated”."
 |
| China’s Ningbo Zhoushan port in Zhejiang province, a key shipping hub. A new Covid outbreak in the region has raised fears of further delays in the global shipping system. Photograph: China Stringer Network/Reuters |
Senior Parking Pass for MA Residents good for use at MA State Parks
Central Regional Office355 West Boylston Street, Route 110Clinton, MA 01510Attention: Senior Pass
- A copy of your Massachusetts driver’s license or other official proof of state residency and age.
- A check for $10 made out to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- A contact phone number or email in case we need to reach you. (Optional)
- Senior passes may take 4-7 weeks before they are mailed.
 |
| Senior Parking Pass for MA Residents good for use at MA State Parks |
Feeling Vulnerable by Dan Rather and Elliot Kirschner
Thank you for joining Steady. We strive to make this platform and exchange of ideas accessible to anyone who would like to be part of our digital community. A gentle reminder that paid subscribers are greatly appreciated and help fund our effort; allowing us to produce more content free of charge and available to all.
As another year winds down... As we look to the future... and ponder a perilous time in this nation's history... As we contend with global challenges... ... with our environment... ... our health... ... our systems and notions of justice ...There is no shortage of adjectives to apply to our times - dire, dangerous, and demoralizing, to name a few (and that's just for the letter D). Today, however, we wanted to explore one closer to the end of the alphabet - vulnerable. Perhaps it is another looming wave of Covid, perhaps it is the multiple threats we face to our democracy, perhaps it is a season when we reflect on the past, perhaps it is the feeling of instability that comes with aging, but a feeling of vulnerability has been a major theme in conversations we have been having with family and friends. Vulnerability is part of the human condition, no matter the era. On a personal level, we are all vulnerable and we can see the vulnerability of those around us. Youth provides, to some, a false shield of invincibility, but life often knocks that down pretty quickly. The months I spent bed-ridden with rheumatic fever as a child is a personal reminder I carry with me. When we look back, however, we can likely think of times when the general state of vulnerability in our communities, and the nation and world as a whole, felt far less present than it does today. Perhaps there is something in our minds that makes us more attuned to the more immediate vulnerabilities of the present than in rememberances of the past. During the height of the Cold War, for example, there was a very real and present fear that the world could end with the push of a button. That's a lot of vulnerability to carry around with you. Any consideration of vulnerability must also recognize that it strikes communities unevenly, depending on how they are constructed. During Jim Crow, the chasm of vulnerability Black Americans felt as opposed to their White neighbors was wide and deep. The legacies of racial hatred still remain in America and they shape vulnerabilities people feel in their daily lives. Many of the vulnerabilities of today are such that even wealth and privilege do not feel like they are protective. The pandemic, the climate crisis, the assaults on our government are all of a nature that they put everyone and everything into a state of danger. At the same time, however, we must recognize that those on the margins of society will be most vulnerable to these changing realities. Recently, my daughter shared an article with me that captures a major vulnerability many Americans feel today. Originally published a year ago in The Atlantic, the piece by Dani Alexis Ryskamp is entitled The Life in The Simpsons Is No Longer Attainable. Ms. Ryskamp considered the lifestyle of the titular family of the animated television series which premiered more than 30 years ago! She concluded, "The most famous dysfunctional family of 1990s television enjoyed, by today's standards, an almost dreamily secure existence that now seems out of reach for all too many Americans." Ms. Ryskamp not only reports on the data around such things as housing and medical costs, but considers her own precarious career as a freelance writer. She didn't use the word vulnerability but it hovers over the entire piece. "For many, a life of constant economic uncertainty—in which some of us are one emergency away from losing everything, no matter how much we work—is normal," she wrote. It is impossible to remove all of our vulnerabilities; they are intrinsic to life. But we can lessen them for ourselves, and especially for others. This is a major role of government. We can provide more safety nets for those who falter. We can reduce our damage to the environment. We can introduce measures to improve our public health. We can build systems that are more just. Combatting vulnerability, however, is not something that can be purely accomplished on an individual level. It requires community. It requires a sense that we are in this together. It means getting vaccinated to help others, as well as yourself. It means embracing more housing, even if it's in your backyard. It means recognizing that we need to change the way we consume energy. It means paying a fair share of taxes. It means being open to the stories of people who are different from you. In the aftermath of the recent deadly tornadoes which ripped through several states, many noted how Kentucky Senator Rand Paul asked for federal aid after years of opposing aid to other communities in need after natural disasters. In this anecdote of rank hypocrisy, we can find an important lesson. We are all vulnerable. Some of us are vulnerable in ways we feel each and every day. Others of us are more vulnerable to something we cannot predict, a sudden illness, accident, or other such calamities, like a natural disaster. At a point when our feelings of vulnerability are at a high level, perhaps we can recognize the vulnerability being felt by others. When President Biden went to view the devastation in Kentucky, he headed to a part of the country that voted overwhelmingly for President Trump. The Washington Post wrote an article from this perspective and spoke to local residents who were appreciative of Biden't visit, even if they still didn't support him politically. Many were eager for federal help. That's okay. One doesn't have to support a politician to support the office of the Presidency or recognize the role of the government to provide aid. But the only way this works is if it goes both ways. Will these people in Trump country who are now feeling so vulnerable also support efforts to decrease the vulnerability in communities very different from theirs? President Biden knows firsthand how vulnerable we all are to the tragic twists of fate. His life is testimony to that. In the legislation he is pushing in Congress, from infrastructure, to climate, to child tax credits, to voting rights, he is trying to address the vulnerabilities he sees in American life. His bet is that ultimately a shared sense of vulnerability can bridge our divisions. A counter-narrative to this hope is the pandemic, which has shown how a deep and pervasive vulnerability can be politicized to further drive us apart around things like vaccines, which used to be uniting. But perhaps that is because the lies people have heard about the virus have provided them with a false sense of invulnerability. I do not know where these times will eventually lead. I do not see a quick end to the worries and vulnerabilities so many feel. But I do believe that recognizing our vulnerabilities and seeing the vulnerabilities in others can be an important part of recognizing our own humanity. And that, in turn, can be a step to building a future that feels less vulnerable. You're on the free list for Steady. For those who are able, please consider becoming a paying subscriber to support our efforts. © 2021 Dan Rather |
Sunday, December 19, 2021
Candlelight Vigil for Shirley Owen - 12/19/21 (audio)
FM #682 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 682 in the series.
This shares audio recording of the candlelight vigil in memory of Shirley Owen. The vigil was held on the Franklin Town Common and attended by a couple of thousand neighbors, friends, and members of the Franklin community.
The event ‘master of ceremonies’ was State Representative Jeff Roy.
Link to the GoFundMe for the Owen family is included in the show notes. At the time of the vigil, over $225,000 had been raised.
The recording runs about 33 minutes. Let’s listen to this recording of the candlelight vigil held Dec 19, 2021
--------------
GoFundMe for Shirley Owen https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/12/gofundme-for-shirley-in-our-hearts.html
Link to photos of the vigil ->https://photos.app.goo.gl/fhNJYofT7V7AsHqz7
--------------
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"
Prayer vigil and candle light service for Shirley Owen - Dec 19, 2021 at 5 PM
Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/ggzub/status/1472347378518839299