Franklin Matters

Friday, January 28, 2022

Distinguished Young Women - info session scheduled for Feb 4, 2022

Calling all high school juniors who want to earn scholarship money and join our female empowerment program - zoom info meeting February 4 at 7:30 PM!

Shared from Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1551606135109407/permalink/3085838531686152/

Distinguished Young Women - info session scheduled for Feb 4, 2022

COVID-19 coming down from this hill

Franklin, MA COVID-19 case counts continue to be driven by the omicron variant. This week the positivity rate is at 15.0% down from last week at 21.54% (week prior was 22.83%). While on the downward trend, we are not done yet. Be careful.

the positivity rate is at 15.0% down from last week at 22.83%

Town-by-town COVID-19 data

Reminder via Medicare.gov -> "3 things you can do to protect yourself from Omicron (vax, boost, mask!)" https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/01/medicaregov-3-things-you-can-do-to.html

Make your own data visualization from this
https://app.flourish.studio/visualisation/4817758/

Boston Globe community coverage

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/15/nation/massachusetts-confirmed-coronavirus-cases-by-city/

Mass.gov COVID-19 page -> https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting

The CDC page for COVID-19 tracking -> https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home

CommonWealth Magazine: "House stands firm against same-day voter registration"

"THE STATE’S MOSTLY successful experiment with voting-by-mail during the COVID-19 pandemic would become a permanent option for voters in future elections, but House lawmakers on Thursday passed a major voting access bill that omitted voter registration rule changes sought by advocates and the Senate.
The House voted 124-34 to pass a new version of the VOTES Act that establishes rules for voting-by-mail in all future state and presidential elections and expands early in-person voting opportunities.
Those voting reforms were deployed during the pandemic to try to keep people safe from the virus, and led to record turnout in the 2020 elections, though MassGOP Chairman Jim Lyons on Thursday called it “an invitation for fraud” that would make it “easier to cheat.”
Assistant Majority Leader Michael Moran said that if signed into law the House version of the VOTES Act would put Massachusetts “head and shoulders above every other state” in terms of voting access. The Senate passed a similar bill in October, and the two branches must now negotiate a final bill."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/house-stands-firm-against-same-day-voter-registration

Find the House legislation language and votes here -> https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H4359

The Senate version can be found here -> https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S2554

CommonWealth Magazine: "House stands firm against same-day voter registration"

Registry Chief Information Officer (CIO) - update

January 26, 2022

Dear Friend of the Norfolk County Registry of Deed and Registry Stakeholders,
Re: Registry Chief Information Officer (CIO)

On June 30, 2021 the Norfolk County Commissioners voted not to replace a retiring Registry CIO even though this essential position was funded in the Registry of Deeds budget and has been in existence for decades. As a result of a law suit filed in July 2021 the Norfolk County Commissioners designated a Registry CIO as “temporary”. This “temporary” status Registry CIO handed in his letter of resignation effective January 21, 2022. Please review the attached correspondence to the Norfolk County Commissioners dated January 19, 2022.

I have spoken and wrote to the Norfolk County Commissioners that the “temporary employee” designation does not help in retaining or attracting qualified information technology employees and job candidates. Once again because of bad decision making despite pleas from those tasked by law with managing the Norfolk Registry of Deeds the Registry operations are left without ANY Registry Chief Information Officer (CIO).

I do not know what motivates such an unsound public policy decision to not keep an on-site permanent direct report Registry CIO working for and with the Registry staff, Registry users and the general public. It is unimaginable in this day and age of technology as well as cybersecurity risks and ransomware.

You can only manage and overcome these poor public policy decisions for so long in striving to produce quality services. Thank you for your patience as the Norfolk Registry of Deeds deals with this unfortunate situation.

Sincerely yours,

William P. O’Donnell,
Norfolk Register of Deeds

Registry Chief Information Officer (CIO) - update

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, Jan 28, 2022

wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Friday

9:00a/12:00p /6:00p Chapters – Jim Derick Insightful, life-affirming stories and interviews

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p Music to Lift the Spirit - Jim Derick & Frank Falvey

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Senior Story Hour – Senior Center Scribblers Group

Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = FRIDAY

7:00 am Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Advocates for Children
8:29:00 am Mass Department of Public Health: CO-VID 19
9:00:00 am Frank Presents: Michael Walker-Jones
10:00 am Physician Focus: Too Much Medicine?
10:30:00 am SAFE Coalition: PSA
11:00:00 am Senior Connection: Hearing Loss
11:30 am Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Advocates for Children
12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Waffles
12:30 pm Sandhya: Macaroons
1:00:00 pm Mass Department of Public Health: CO-VID 19
1:30:00 pm Pizzapalooza: Black Bean, Roasted Pepper & Garlic Pizzetta
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 Show 1
3:00 pm Franklin Art Association: Dave Kaphammer
7:00 pm SAFE Coalition: Task Force
8:00 pm Senior Connection: Hearing Loss
8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Phil Ochs

Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = FRIDAY

7:00 am Public School Event: Jazz Night 01-23-19

8:30 am It Takes A Village: Philip Hulbig

9:30 am FHS Varsity Wrestling: v Taunton 0-12-22

11:30 am FHS Girls Varsity Basketball: v Taunton 01-18-22

5:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Hockey: v King Philip 01-22-22

8:30 pm Public School Event: Annie Sullivan Winter Music 2021

Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) = FRIDAY

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals: 01-13-22

11:00 am Finance Committee 01-12-22: 01-12-22

2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals: 01-13-22

5:00 pm Finance Committee 01-12-22: 01-12-22

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf

Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)

Thursday, January 27, 2022

FPAC presents "Our Town" - February 4-6, 2022

Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) presents Our Town, February 4-6, 2022.

Through the everyday lives of its citizens, this Pulitzer-Prize-winning play tells the story of the fictional American small town of Grover's Corners between 1901 and 1913 through the everyday lives of its citizens.

Please note our safety measures to protect our artists, staff, and audience - masks will be required for all patrons, regardless of vaccination status. Masks must be worn at all times, except while actively eating or drinking.

Produced by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals and Samuel French, Inc. Artwork designed by Gene Sweeney

Tickets available online -> https://www.theblackboxonline.com/events.php?id=1544

FPAC presents "Our Town" - February 4-6, 2022

Recap: Charles River Meadowlands Initiative - 01/24/22 (audio)

FM #710 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 710 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Alan Earls, Franklin resident, local historian, and open space advocate as we recap the Charles River Meadowlands Initiative. We recorded this via the Zoom conference bridge Monday, Jan 24, 2022.

Links in the show notes include the BETA Report on the Meadowlands Initiative as well as many of the links for the reporting shared by Franklin Matters since 2016 as the initiative made progress.

The recording runs about 21 minutes, so let’s listen to this recap of the Charles River Meadowland Initiative audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-710-charles-river-meadowlands-recap-01-24-22

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Home page for the Charles River Meadowlands Initiative -> https://www.charlesrivermeadowlands.org/

BETA Report finally received early 2020

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/04/in-news-charles-river-meadowlands-study.html

Conservation Commission Annual Report for 2019 references

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/07/franklin-annual-report-2019.html

Info session series in 2019

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/05/charles-river-meadowlands-initiative.html

Forum schedule for April 2019

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/charles-river-meadowlands-initiative.html

BETA surveyed in 2018

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/12/the-goal-is-basically-to-create-few.html

ToF announces kickoff of study with $25K grant

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/08/town-of-franklin-kicks-of-study-of.html

Clean up & walk in 2018

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/05/charles-river-meadowlands-initiative.html

Review of 2017 activities published in Dec 2017

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/12/review-of-meadowlands-initiative-in.html

Oct 2017 hike with 20+ folks

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/11/charles-river-meadowlands-hike-recap.html

Charles River Meadowlands meeting scheduled for 2017

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/01/charles-river-meadowlands-meeting.html

Library info session and children’s reading for Ground Hog day in 2017

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/12/charles-river-meadowlands-initiative.html

Charles River Meadowlands and #Giving Tuesday

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/11/charles-river-meadowlands-givingtuesday.html

Meeting announcement mid-2016

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/07/next-meeting-of-charles-river.html

Charles River walk Jan 2016

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/02/exploring-charles-river-meadowlands.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/ 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"

Recap: Charles River Meadowlands Initiative - 01/24/22 (audio)

FHS boys hockey and gymnastics teams post wins on Wednesday

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of the FHS winter sports action on Wednesday:

Boys Hockey = Franklin, 13 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final

– Justin Magazu scored four goals and had one assist and Dylan Marchand scored one and had five assists, as the Panthers won a shootout against rival Mansfield that moved them closer to a league title. Magazu scored twice in the first period along with goals by Domenic Lampasona and Christian Shabbick, as Franklin led 4-1 after one. Dillon Benoit (two goals and two assists) had the goal for the Hornets. Franklin added nine goals in the third period. Shabbick scored two to complete his hat trick, Magazu added two more, Ben Paterson scored twice, and Lampasona, Marchand, and Thomas Balducci each scored once. Benoit added his second goal for Mansfield. Matt Tourigney got one in the third and Kyle Oakley added two for the Hornets in the third period. Franklin finished with a 42-20 edge in shots. Cole Pouliot-Porter made seven saves and Joe Toracco made eight stops for the Panthers.

Girls Hockey = Franklin, 4 @ King Philip, 6 – Final

– For a Photo Gallery from this game -> https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2021-2022/Winter-2021-2022/King-Philip-Franklin-Girls-Hockey-01-26-22/

– King Philip’s Morgan Cunningham scored her fourth and fifth goals of the contest in the third period to help the Warriors win, avenging a loss to Franklin from December and splitting the season series between league rivals. Freshman Catie Putt gave KP the lead in the first period but Franklin freshman Julia Flynn scored her first of her four goals just three minutes later on the power play to make it 1-1 after a period of play. Cunningham and Flynn then put on a show, each scoring a second period hat trick as the teams traded goals to make it 4-4 going into the third. Sophomore Kelly Holmes recorded three assists, Sydney O’Shea added a pair while Putt and Jen Daniels each had one. Lindsay Dennett and Haley Wernig each had an assist for the Panthers.

Wrestling = Franklin, 12 @ Milford, 57 – Final

– For a Photo Gallery from this meet -> https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2021-2022/Winter-2021-2022/Milford-Franklin-Wrestling-1-26-22/

– Milford finished with six pins as a team, including pins in the final three matches of the meet, and rolled to a big win that clinched the outright league title for the second straight season. Aidan Baum kicked things off for the hosts at 106 with a pin a minute into the first period. Mike Boulanger scored a 6-0 win at 113 and then Robby Lyons got a major win at 120, winning 18-1 to add five points for the Hawks. Alex Castro’s 8-2 victory at 126 made it 17-0 and then Joey Testa pinned his opponent in the first period at 132. Franklin’s first points came with a quick pin by Timothy O’Leary, who needed :33 to get six points at 138. Luke Donis got the six right back with a disqualification win at 145. Donis was leading 5-2 in the third period when the match ended. Franklin’s Alex Fracassa had a pin in :35 to make it 29-9, but Danny Alves added four points for Milford with a 20-7 win at 160. Ryan Donovan added a second-period pin at 170 before Ryan Parlon won 5-0 at 182 for Franklin’s final points of the night. Cam Phillips (195), Hampton Kaye-Kuter (220), and Mike Mastroianni (285) added first-period pins to close out the meet for the Hawks.

Gymnastics = King Philip, 137.45 @ Franklin, 146.75 – Final

"Top performer was Senior Emma White. She took the AA with a 38.15 followed up by Franklin Senior Captain Kate Rudolph with an AA of 37.15

Top 4 in Each Event - Vault - Emma White 9.55, Kate Rudolph 9.45, Lizzie Brown 9.1 and Emma Nelson 9.05. Another GREAT vault rotation for this team.

Bars - Emma White 9.75, Kate Rudolph 9.1, Elizabeth Schirduan 9.0 and Emma Nelson 8.55.

Beam - Emma White 9.15, Kate Rudolph 9.05, Elizabeth Schirduan 9.0 and Caroline Woelfel 8.9.

Floor - Emma White 9.7, Kate Rudolph 9.55, Caroline Woelfel 9.0 and Elizabeth Schirduan 8.85.

What an amazing meet these girls had, last regular season meet next Friday night 2/4 vs Mansfield." https://twitter.com/fhs_gymnastics/status/1486544670872199169

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-26-22/

Congratulations to all the seniors who competed

FHS parking monitoring and enforcement resumes week of Jan 31, 2022

Pantherbook (@FHSPantherbook) tweeted on Wed, Jan 26, 2022:

We have noticed an increase in the number of unregistered cars in the student parking lots.
1. Please remember to park in your assigned lot.
2. Unregistered? Please see Mr. Lestage in the 3rd floor office.
3. Starting next week we will begin recording license plate numbers.

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FHSPantherbook/status/1486403753100066819