Hold the date => Night of the Arts at FHS - Apr 29

"Save the DATE! The National Art Honors Society is hosting a Night of the Arts at FHS on Friday, April 29th, from 5:30pm - 7:30pm for middle/elementary school students.  

Enter FHS through the community door & travel around the world through art!!

@HonorsArt

@FranklinHS #NAHS "

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnsonb_ms/status/1512454889242255373 

Hold the date => Night of the Arts at FHS - Apr 29 

When are you moving into the new building?

The Franklin Food Pantry gets a frequently asked question these days: 

Q    When are you moving into the new building?

A   The short answer is "not yet." While the former Edwins is a beautiful building, we still have lots of work to do so make it afunctional Pantry to best serve our neighbors. Please watch our social media and website for updates about the building project. In the meantime, we are grateful to still be able to operate out of current location.

For more about the Edwins building visit the Food Pantry page ->
https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/edwins-building-to-be-new-site-of-the-franklin-food-pantry/

Shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CcBFZJAryG5/

When are you moving into the new building?

Check your inbox for an email about a refund from OnPoint Global

Check your inbox for an email about a refund from OnPoint Global by Karen Hobbs Did you use one of OnPoint's bogus websites — like DMV.com or floridadriverslicense.com — to get driver's license or vehicle registration services? Now you can apply to get back the money you lost.  Learn more at ftc.gov/OnPointDMV. Don't wait, the deadline to apply for a refund is July 5, 2022. Read More -> https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2022/04/check-your-inbox-email-about-refund-onpoint-global

Check your inbox for an email about a refund from OnPoint Global

 

Critical Conversations: The Impact of Social Media (video & slides & resources)

Missed our last Critical Conversations: The Impact of Social Media event?  

It's now available on our YouTube channel along with the presentation slides and resources pamphlet which are linked in the bio.

https://buff.ly/3jjHZf6

"On March 24, 2022, the Franklin Substance Abuse Task Force held the second installment of the Critical Conversations series. The night focused on the impact of social media on the social-emotional wellbeing of youth. Keynote speaker, Georgia Wells, tech journalist for the Wall Street Journal, kick off the event speaking on how the tech companies behind social media and the effects on young people. The Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, Karyn Polito provided additional remarks addressing state-level initiatives regarding social media usage. A panel was curated to offer various perspectives on the topic of social media and was followed by an audience question and answer session. You can access the slideshow here: https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/critical_conversations_social_media_3_24_2022.pdf

Resource list for parents can be found here: https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/cc_sm_trifold_v2.pdf

Busy week for School Committee meetings

Yes, this is a busy week for School Committee meetings. If you happen to see one or more of them around, thank them for what they are doing!

• Monday, Apr 11 - 8:15 AM

Special meeting School Committee - open meeting to go to directly to Executive session for negotiations (not a meeting for public attendance, needed to be posted to enable full committee participation)  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/agenda/special-school-committee-meeting

• Tuesday, Apr 12 - 6 PM

School Committee workshop - Superintendent's evaluation

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_4-12-22_workshop.pdf

• Tuesday, Apr 12 - 7 PM

School Committee meeting - key vote on budget

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_4-12-22.pdf

Packet folder -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/april-12-2022-school-committee-meeting-packet

• Wednesday, Apr 13 - 5 PM

School Committee special meeting - interview candidate for superintendent  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_4-13-22_special_mtg.pdf

• Thursday, Apr 14 - 6:30 PM  CANCELED

The 5th annual Legislative Forum   https://www.franklinps.net/district/events/86366 

Thursday, Apr 14  - the 5th annual Legislative Forum

On the Climate Front: more heat pumps; legislation in Congress; MA Senate acts to drive climate action forward

A Cold War law could be used to boost heat pump production 

"Democrats and climate advocates are demanding the White House invoke a Cold War-era law to boost domestic manufacturing of heat pumps and other clean energy technologies, arguing it could simultaneously counter Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and fend off climate change.

The Defense Production Act enables the president to force manufacturers to expand the production of crucial goods in times of crisis. President Harry S. Truman wielded the law in 1950 to bolster steel production for the Korean War. Former president Donald Trump and President Biden used it to boost the manufacturing of ventilators and medical masks respectively."

Continue reading the article (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/04/07/science/cold-war-law-could-be-used-boost-heat-pump-production/

Is the world’s most important climate legislation about to die in US Congress?

"On April 23, the day after Earth Day, a big tent coalition—climate activists, union workers, civil rights leaders, and increasingly desperate young people—will be gathering outside the White House. If you live on the eastern seaboard and are free that Saturday, you should sign up and join them. Here’s why:

Tucked beneath the headlines on COVID and Ukraine, the most important climate legislation in US history – and thus, arguably, in world history – is still stuck in Congressional purgatory. You’d be forgiven if you weren’t fully aware. It is not trending on Twitter. President Biden has mostly stopped talking about it. The enormous moral stakes have been brutally ablated by a broken, farcical, and, above all, extremely boring legislative kludge known as budget reconciliation. The months-long saga has turned Biden’s original “Build Back Better” plan into the juridical equivalent of a Warhol soup can – a ubiquitous token evacuated of any original meaning."

Continue reading the article (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/07/is-the-worlds-most-important-climate-legislation-about-to-die-in-us-congress

An Act Driving Climate Policy Forward

The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday introduced An Act Driving Climate Policy Forward, its second major climate proposal this legislative session, and the latest effort to continue the Commonwealth on its path towards reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The bill, also known as the Drive Act, increases investments in the state’s clean energy infrastructure, builds and improves upon existing incentives for homeowners, renters, and consumers to reduce their carbon footprints, and reduces emissions from the building and transportation sectors.

“With the Drive Act, we are taking an all-hands-on deck approach to saving the planet, with a particular focus on three area that will need significant attention if we are to meet our ambitious goal of having net zero emissions by 2050: the transportation, clean energy, and building sectors,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “With gas prices fluctuating and our reliance on foreign oil being brought into question once again by world events, it is in everyone’s best interest to get more Massachusetts drivers into electric vehicles, and this bill will help do that through investing in renewed EV incentives for consumers and expanded EV infrastructure. I’m proud that the Senate continues to lead on facing the existential challenge of climate change, and I am particularly grateful to Senate Majority Leader Cream and Chairs Barrett and Rodrigues on their dedicated work to aggressively move this important legislation forward.”

“Building off last year’s landmark Next Gen Climate law, An Act Driving Climate Policy Forward is a comprehensive climate bill focused on boldly confronting our climate challenges and achieving our ambitious 2050 net zero carbon emission goals as quickly and as equitably as possible,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “I applaud Senate President Spilka and her team for their incredible leadership, ensuring the Senate is committed to prioritizing an all-hands-on deck approach on the issue of climate change, and I applaud Senator Barrett, Senator Creem, their staffs and the Senate Ways and Means team for their collaboration, dedication and focus to put forward this comprehensive package to meet this most urgent moment. I look forward to a robust and energetic debate next week on the Senate floor.”
 
“We know climate change is relentless, so we think Massachusetts needs to be relentless, too,” stated Senator Mike Barrett (D-Lexington), Senate Chair of the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee. “No one's around to give out ‘A’s’ for effort. What matters are results. An Act Driving Climate Policy Forward pushes back against global warming on multiple fronts, and with an emphasis on innovation and smart experimentation. It's about thinking long-range but executing now, in the short term. It's about problem-solving, confidence, and even optimism.”

“It seems like just yesterday that we were celebrating the passage of another landmark climate bill, but the climate crisis requires of us to constantly drive Massachusetts’ climate policy forward,” said Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem (D-Newton), Chair of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change. “I’m grateful to President Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, and Senator Barrett for prioritizing climate action, and I’m incredibly proud of the bold steps that the Senate is proposing today to reduce emissions from transportation and buildings and invest in clean energy technology.”

An Act Driving Climate Policy Forward bolsters cutting edge clean energy technologies, updates the offshore wind procurement process and supports the advancement of solar power. It also incentivizes consumer adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), electrifies the MBTA bus fleet and builds up the EV charging infrastructure across the state. Finally, it addresses issues regarding building emissions, biomass facilities and the future of gas in the Commonwealth, among other things.

A detailed description of the bill’s provisions can be found in the accompanying fact sheet. The Senate plans to debate S.2819, An Act Driving Climate Policy Forward on Thursday, April 14, 2022, in advance of the annual celebration of Earth Day. In coordination with the Drive Act, the Senate will take up H.851, An Act preserving open space in the Commonwealth, and S.676, An Act relative to the remediation of home heating oil releases. The former bill codifies into law protections for open space covered by Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution, while the latter bill takes action to ensure that homeowner insurers provide crucial insurance coverage to families who are at risk of costly home heating oil spills.

PDF of the press release

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X8u7Pv98kM96wGhZfBFL-zD9dCoMOayu/view?usp=sharing

PDF of the Fact Sheet 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Oj_thFiKd7QbmFynCt_EDsw4rx5_MfDu/view?usp=sharing

An Act Driving Climate Policy Forward

FHS girls and boys tennis, softball, and baseball teams post wins on Friday

Via HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the FHS spring sports action on Friday: 

 

Baseball = Oliver Ames, 4 @ Franklin, 10 – Final 

– Franklin set the tone early with three runs in the bottom of the first and then tacked on four more in the second to secure a win over visiting Oliver Ames. Franklin took advantage of an error and a walk to get RBI singles from Chris Goode (3-for-3, three RBI), Jace Lyons (3-for-3, two RBI), and Ben Jarosz to seize a 3-0 lead. Jack Muir had a hit and a run scored to help OA (seven errors) cut the deficit to one run but Franklin came right back with four runs, all with two outs, to break it open. Goode knocked in Luke Sidwell and Ryan Gerety (two hits, two runs), and a drop third strike allowed Goode and Evan Raider to score to make it 7-2. Sophomore Austin Campbell earned the win in relief, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks in three innings of work. Ethan Voellmicke tossed two scoreless innings in relief, striking out three with one hit allowed.

Softball = Oliver Ames, 3 @ Franklin, 8 – Final 

– Oliver Ames scored three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead but Franklin scored once in each the second and fourth to tie it, and then scored five runs over the fifth and six innings to get the win. Lexi Galsband brought in OA’s first run with a squeeze bunt and Katie Melendy and Katherine Farley followed with an RBI each to make it 3-1. Dana Stott had an RBI single to cut the deficit in half and and Aislinn Lavery brought in the tying run to make it 3-3. In the top of the fifth, Reece Allen smacked an RBI double and Kiera Kotwicki drove in a second run to put the Panthers ahead 5-3. In the top of the sixth, the Panthers pushed across three runs to extend the lead to 8-3. Kotwicki got the win in the circle, scattering four hits in four innings of work while Lavery tossed three scoreless innings in relief, striking out two without allowing a hit. Freshman Emily Martin had two hits and a run scored for the Tigers.

Boys Tennis = Franklin, 4 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final 

– Franklin won a pair of singles matches and a pair of doubles matches, all in straight sets, to get a win on the road in Easton. Senior Vayshnav Malhotra didn’t drop a set in a 6-0, 6-0 first singles victory while senior Thomas Broyles was victorious 6-3, 6-2 at second singles for the Panthers. Sameen Shaik and Tyler Fitzpatrick earned a clean 6-0, 6-0 win at first doubles, and the Panthers got a 6-2, 6-1 win from the second doubles tandem of senior Tim O’Keefe and sophomore Jay Gorgas. Oliver Ames senior Raphael Vache prevailed in a marathon third singles match, 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 (1).

Girls Tennis = Oliver Ames, 1 @ Franklin, 4 – Final 

– Anchored by a sweep of singles action, Franklin defended home court to knock off the visiting Tigers of Oliver Ames. Vedika Vinayak prevailed with a 6-4, 6-2 win at first singles, Izzy Trull added a 6-0, 6-2 win at second singles, and Sarah Schiavo won 6-2, 6-2 at third singles for the Panthers. The team of Chloe Essam and Sydney Tolonen added another win for Franklin, taking the second doubles match by a score of 6-1, 6-2. Oliver Ames’ first doubles tandem of Morgan Vasiliou and Caroline Peper notched a 6-1, 6-1 win.

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-04-08-22/

FHS softball in action vs. Oliver Ames on Friday

Town Council hears of ISO Class 1 for Fire Dept, approves storm water fee, passport fee, and ARPA funding allocation (audio)

FM #769 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 769 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, April  6, 2022. 

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.

Quick recap:

• Fire department achieves ISO Class 1 rating, only one of 9 in MA and one of 15 in New England to do so. Contact your insurance company. Whether a business or residence, there could be a savings with this higher rating on insurance policies. Doc on Fire Department web page to send to company to support the potential savings.

• 2 new hires for Fire Dept sworn in. These are experienced firefighters coming from other areas to backfill open positions with the Fire Dept.

• Three alcohol license approvals were voted on. One to approve the move of Pour Richards, one to approve the permanent set up of outdoor dining at 3 Restaurant, and one to approve a license for the Birchwood Bakery & Café downtown. As a sign of how well Franklin has survived the pandemic, we now have more restaurant liquor licenses post pandemic than we did pre-pandemic.

• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provided an update on ARPA funds and how they would be allocated. Council approved the allocation which will now be submitted to the County for disbursement of the funds. Some of the $10M allocated to Franklin (approx. $2M) comes directly to the Town, some (approx. $6M) comes through the County.

• The second approval for the storm water utility fee was approved. The fee will first appear in July 2023 (FY 2024). There is time to confirm your impervious coverage area (see the town storm water page) and order a rain barrel to help with mitigation of storm water and save on the potential fee.

• Passport photo fee was approved so the Town when processing your passport application can now provide a ‘one-stop’ shop service. The photo fee is $10 per photo. The fee for the passport is set at the Federal level.

The recording runs under two hours (1:58). The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting of April 6, 2022. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-769-town-council-meeting-04-06-22

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Agenda document ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/april_6_2022_town_council_agenda.pdf

My notes from the meeting  ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/14KnmcHPUOPMAUQ7TgXS8YMvDbUHTxTGa/view?usp=sharing 

Photos from the meeting can be found in one album -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/Zr6wAJwNbr61Yhob6

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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 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!

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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"

 

Firefighter Michael Eaton getting pinned by his daughter

Town of Franklin: Health Dept & School COVID dashboard updates

1 - The weekly FPS COVID-19 dashboard is now available to view  here ->   https://buff.ly/3pQh91e   (Shared from Twitter ->   https://twitter.com/FranklinPSNews/status/1512183194476494848 )

2 - The Town of Franklin Health department updates the COVID-19 dashboard weekly and can be found here -> https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/webforms/covid-19-dashboard-portal

https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/webforms/covid-19-dashboard-portal

Jake Auchincloss: An Update from Your Congressman

Hello, I'm your representative in Congress, and I write to keep you informed. Since I last wrote, I've worked to continue our global progress against COVID-19, hold China accountable, and advocate for our District's priorities. The Global Race Between Vaccinations and Variants One of my top priorities in Congress is protecting the health and safety of my constituents. That means getting as many people vaccinated as possible – here and around the world. The House of Representatives recently passed a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill that would fund the government through Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. Recognizing the ongoing impact of COVID-19, this package initially included $15 billion to prepare for and prevent future variants. As a Co-Chair of the Global Vaccination Caucus, I worked hard to secure this funding; however, this critical funding was removed from the budget before it passed. I vocally opposed the removal of this funding. To move forward, I support the passage of standalone legislation that would fund the procurement of antiviral medication, as well as research at the NIH to develop vaccines that protect against future variants. This legislation must include funding for Global VAX, an initiative to increase global vaccination rates. I have been a strong proponent of funding global vaccinations and will continue to be as Congress works on finalizing this funding. I introduced a Marshall Plan to commit American financial and technical resources toward this purpose. I have also stood with my fellow co-chairs of the Global Vaccination Caucus to support $5 billion in funding to vaccinate the world. Holding China Accountable for its Support of Russia Globally, we must blockade Russian energy exports to hold them accountable for their invasion of Ukraine. Oil, gas, and coal provide hundreds of billions of dollars to fund Putin's barbaric war machine. And yet, China continues to insist that its friendship with the Kremlin knows no limits. China is on the wrong side of history. I believe that China must enforce a blockade or face significant consequences. I have strongly supported efforts to weaken Russia's economy and hold Putin accountable, including by voting to pass bills that would impose an embargo on Russian oil and end the United States' permanent normal trade relations with Russia. Advocating for the Fourth District Last week, I stood with the district and voted against a provision in the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act that could cost thousands of offshore wind jobs in Massachusetts and set back our nation's transition toward clean energy. Our district and our state are uniquely positioned to lead in offshore wind development, with the South Coast seeing massive potential from the industry. Offshore wind presents an opportunity to propel job growth and economic development, while charting a sustainable path forward. As a result of my advocacy alongside Rep. Bill Keating, the Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee committed to working to ensure offshore wind jobs and development are not negatively impacted in the final version of the bill. I also joined my constituents in standing in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We must continue to show up for as long as this crisis demands. We must be committed for the long haul to protecting and rebuilding a strong, sovereign, prosperous, and democratic Ukraine. To stay up to date on the state of play in Congress, please make sure to like my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, and follow me on Instagram. Sincerely, Jake Auchincloss Member of Congress OFFICE LOCATIONS WASHINGTON DC OFFICE • 1524 Longworth House Office Building • Washington, DC 20515 • Phone: (202) 255-5931 NEWTON DISTRICT OFFICE • 29 Crafts Street Suite 375 • Newton, MA 02458 • Phone : (617) 332-3333 ATTLEBORO DISTRICT OFFICE • 8 N. Main St. Suite 200 • Attleboro, MA 02703 • Phone : (508) 431-1110   WEBSITE  | |  CONTACT Click Here to view this email in your browser  (Note this link is broken and has been reported)