Saturday, January 29, 2022

Conned on social media? It’s not just you


Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

by Rosario Méndez
Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC

In 2021, more than 95,000 people told the FTC that they'd been scammed with a con that started on social media. Today's Data Spotlight gives us insights into how scammers use social media to con people.

Read more >  https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2022/01/conned-social-media-its-not-just-you?utm_source=govdelivery


If you see or experience scam on social media, report it to ReportFraud.ftc.gov
If you see or experience scam on social media, report it to ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Social Security’s Top 5 Data Privacy Resources

From the Social Security Administration: 

"Are you looking for better ways to stay safe online? As you know, Security is in our name. We are committed to protecting your personal information and take this responsibility seriously. We keep this commitment in mind when we collect information from you to carry out our mission. 
As we celebrate Data Privacy Week, we are sharing our top five privacy resources:"
Continue reading about the 5 resources


Social Security’s Top 5 Data Privacy Resources
Social Security’s Top 5 Data Privacy Resources

Town of Franklin: MBTA proposed fare changes for 2022

Since Franklin is an @MBTA community, we wanted to share some information regarding the MBTA's proposed fare changes for 2022. 
For more information about the changes, and how you can provide feedback, please visit the MBTA website at  https://t.co/156LcjvLL8 or ->   https://www.mbta.com/fares/2022-proposed-fare-changes.

Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/C2fyp2mfkm


Town of Franklin: MBTA proposed fare changes for 2022
Town of Franklin: MBTA proposed fare changes for 2022

Friday, January 28, 2022

Update: parking ban for this weekend in advance of the forecasted blizzard

Parking Ban, 1AM Sat to 8AM Sun

  •     Schools, 
  •     Library, 
  •     Recycling 

all closed Sat and Sun. 

All recreation events cancelled also canceled this weekend


Shared from Town of Franklin page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/urgent-alerts/parking-ban-129-1am-130-8am

Be safe!

Will we see snow like we did in 2015? Stay tuned!
Will we see snow like we did in 2015? Stay tuned!

Franklin's Event Outlook: Jan 28, 2022 to Feb 3, 2022

Between COVID-19 shutting the Historical Museum and LiveARTS, and the approaching snow storm rescheduling the remaining events, the calendar is quiet and clear. 

  • The Winter Farmers Market moved to Sunday. 
  • St Mary's canceled Saturday services. 
  • LiveARTS postponed their concert Sunday

We'll likely hear of additional changes as the storm impact gets more clear. Be safe.

Saturday, January 29
10:00am - CLOSED - Historical Museum

Sunday, January 30
10:00am - Changed-> Winter Farmers Market
1:00pm - CLOSED -> Historical Museum
3:00pm - Postponed -> LiveARTS String Quartet 

Find the full calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found   https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26

Community Calendar
Community Calendar

Recap: Procedure review completed; Town Administrator review previewed

Quick Recap:
  • In back to back meetings on Wednesday, two subcommittees of the Town Council completed discussion on their tasks
  • First, the Procedural Review picked up from their Dec meeting to complete review of the current document and make mostly minor and/or technical revisions. One key component is to expand the remote participation up to "no more than 4". Pre-pandemic only one councilor was allowed to participate via phone remotely. Now, with Zoom in place, the limit can be raised to 4. Still need to maintain a physical quorum in the room
  • This is also pending further review depending upon what the State House does with the Open Meeting Law requirements with the current pandemic exceptions expiring in April (or June?)
  • The procedure doc changes as drafted by the subcommittee will be reviewed at a meeting Feb 2, before the full council session at 7, and scheduled for full discussion with the Council
  • Second, the Ad Hoc Town Administrator Review subcommittee met to review the performance and accomplishments of Jamie Hellen
  • Jamie insisted that his review is a reflection of the overall town personnel in providing service to the community. When pressed if he had any plans to leave, he said no. Paraphrasing - I don't take things for granted, it has been most rewarding here, we are rooted in MA, if I had my druthers, I'd stay here. I am still young. #tctar0126 I'd be more than honored to serve here at your discretion.
  • The full review write up is currently planned to be brought to the Town Council for the Feb 16 meeting for their full discussion and approval

The combined Twitter thread for the two meetings is located here (below).  
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MBd3ieaUnIBVv8rrJ9zV_Bo2e8FBhJK9/view?usp=sharing

The audio recording of the TA review meeting will be available in a couple of days.

 

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen updating the Council at a recent meeting
Town Administrator Jamie Hellen updating the Council at a recent meeting

St Mary's schedule change for this weekend/snowstorm

Due to the snow storm  forecasted for this weekend, and also for public safety reasons, St. Mary Parish, Franklin, will be closed on Saturday, January 29, 2022.  

There will be no Masses, confessions, or funerals on Saturday.  

St. Mary's will reopen on Sunday, January 30 for the 7:30 AM Mass. There will also be a 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM Mass on Sunday.  

Stay safe! 

St Mary's schedule change for this weekend/snowstorm
St Mary's schedule change for this weekend/snowstorm


Panther News: Friday, January 28, 2022 (video)

Watch this week's episode of Panther News featuring insights on Haiti   https://youtu.be/usewYfUKXnk


Franklin Line Double Track project update from MBTA, via State Representative Jeff Roy

Via State Representative Jeff Roy, sharing this response to our legislative delegation's query on the status of the Franklin Line double track. (BOLD and italics added by me for speed reading the key parts)


"Dear Honorable Members of the General Court,

Thank you for your attention regarding the Franklin Line Double Track project. We understand and recognize the importance of this initiative to you and your constituents. Please note that despite the reallocation of funding due to the pandemic, the MBTA remains steadfast in its commitment to completing this project. The Franklin Line had one of the highest ridership numbers on the Commuter Rail network prior to March 2020 and the aim of this project was to alleviate some of the capacity constraints that come with sharing the rail with freight trains. Improving service to make it more reliable is not just a stated goal of this project, but also a core focus for the MBTA throughout its network.

As a reminder, this work will create a continuous second track along nearly all of the Franklin Line—helping to keep Commuter Rail trains on schedule and supporting potential opportunities for increased service in the future. This is as much of a priority for the MBTA as it is for the delegation. However, during the onset of the pandemic difficult decisions had to be made by our team with regards to the Capital Budget. As stated to members of your team, there were several competing projects that required the same limited resources during that time namely around signal staff, materials, and necessary PTC design. The reallocation of these material resources and the funding are the primary factors for the delay in the project.

Please note that all major work on Phase 1 (Walpole to Norfolk) was completed in April 2020. The finished track serves as the foundation for phases 2 and 3 of the project. As you know in Phase 2 we’re adding 3.5 miles of track extending from Norfolk Station to near Franklin Station and then subsequently in Phase 3 we will extend the second track between Walpole and Norwood Central by 4 miles. This will connect to the existing double track that runs from Norwood Central to just south of Readville Station. Upon completion of Phase 3, the Franklin Line will have double track from slightly north of Franklin Station to the southern limits of the City of Boston.

The current cost to complete the project is approximately $23.3M which includes Keolis outlays, PTC/ATC expenses, and Amtrak dispatching expenditures. Our team will work to submit this funding for this project in the upcoming CIP process so that we can restart the necessary work to complete the work.

Thank you,

Steve Poftak 
General Manager"

Letter from delegation to MBTA

Response PDF (shared here)

On a walk in DelCarte in May 2021, popped out of the woods to view the tracks heading to Franklin Station
On a walk in DelCarte in May 2021, popped out of the woods to view the tracks heading to Franklin Station. This is the double set that doesn't go all the way into the Stations

Franklin, MA School Committee - audio recording - 01/25/22 - FHS program of studies

 FM #711 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 711 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, January 25, 2022.


The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: all of the School Committee members were in the Council Chambers along with some of the public, other members the public joined via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.


The recording of the public meeting runs about one hour and forty-five minutes. The School Committee enters Executive Session and does not return to a public meeting. 


Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes. The link to my notes taken during the meeting is also provided.


Let’s listen to the School Committee meeting of Jan 25, 2022

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-711-school-committee-mtg-01-25-22 


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Meeting agenda doc ->

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_1-25-22.pdf 


Documents released for this meeting can be found in the packet folder ->

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/january-25-2022-school-committee-meeting-packet

 

My notes captured during the meeting

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/01/recap-school-committee-hears-about-fhs.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"


FHS program of studies
FHS program of studies