Friday, June 3, 2022

Have you considered volunteering at the Franklin Senior Center?

The Franklin Senior Center is looking for volunteers. 

You could 
  • help with the Adult Day Care program or the Sunshine Club.
  • greet folks when they enter the Center.
  • help in the Common Grounds Café
Contact the Franklin Senior Center for more information and to apply. Call or stop by to talk with Susan Barbour (508) 528-4945.



or the Senior Center page (https://www.franklinma.gov/fscto find out what is happening at the Center. 

Have you considered volunteering at the Franklin Senior Center?
Have you considered volunteering at the Franklin Senior Center?

School Committee: Space Needs Subcommittee Meeting - June 6 at 6:30 PM

Space Needs Subcommittee Meeting

Virtual Meeting (Link in agenda)


A G E N D A
"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."
● Call to Order
● Discussion of Data
● Preparation for 6/14 School Committee Presentation
● Adjourn

Agenda doc and remote connection info (meeting is virtual only)

School Committee: Space Needs Subcommittee Meeting  - June 6 at 6:30 PM
School Committee: Space Needs Subcommittee Meeting  - June 6 at 6:30 PM

Watch the FHS Class of 2022 Graduation today

If you want to watch the Class of 2022 graduation at 7:00 PM today, there are several options to do so.

You can watch the live broadcast

President Biden's Address advocating "Let us finally do something!" (video)

The full video can be found ->  https://youtu.be/0Yu7u2k-6gM



Boston Globe coverage of the address -> 

New York Times coverage of the address ->   https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/06/02/us/biden-gun-control-speech

Senator Rausch: MA Senate Budget Roundup



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Senator Rausch State House Briefing   
Part 2, Chapter 16 (May 31, 2022)   


May is always a busy month on Beacon Hill, and I am thrilled and proud to share fantastic news about how I am delivering real results for you and your community. 

In this newsletter, you will find updates on the fiscal year 2023 Senate Budget debate, my commitments to protect abortion care and prevent gun violence, Memorial Day observances, in-person Senior Coffees, and more.

For real-time updates, please follow me on Twitter and Facebook. If you are a constituent and need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me and my team via phone (617-722-1555) or email (becca.rausch@masenate.gov). We are here to help.   

I wish you and your loved ones strength, health, resilience, and joy.     

Yours in service,  
 
Senator Becca Rausch   

MA Senate Budget Roundup

What is the state budget and how does it work? Watch my explainer here! 

Last week my Senate colleagues and I wrapped up our budget deliberations for fiscal year 2023, allocating nearly $50 billion to support our Commonwealth's families and communities. My team and I worked diligently to elevate the needs of the cities and towns in our district, and we delivered massive results. Our communities received more than $1.6 million in state funding for local priorities like tuition-free full day kindergarten, public safety communications, senior centers, and water quality improvements. I also secured more than $1.5 million in statewide budget amendments, including $1,000,000 for youth mental health supports. 

These amendments built on the strong base budget that prioritizes you, the people who keep this Commonwealth moving forward. We made major investments in schools, childcare, workforce development, and housing while also boosting state aid to communities. 

Here are just a few components of the budget that will yield game-changing impacts for our Commonwealth: 

  • $1.23 billion in state aid to cities and towns (a $63 million increase) 
  • $6 billion in Chapter 70 state funding for public schools, in line with the landmark Student Opportunity Act 
  • Increasing our state's "rainy day" fund to $6.74 billion to ensure stability in times of economic hardship 
  • $250 million for pandemic-related grants to support early education and childcare providers 
  • Numerous boosts for environmental protection, consistent with the Green Budget, including increases for DCR, DEP, climate change adaptation and preparedness, the Ecological Restoration Program, and environmental justice initiatives. 

Through the amendment process, I secured several critically needed statewide funding and policy measures: 

  • $1,000,000 to fully fund Hey Sam,youth mental health support text line run by Samaritans, Inc. The original idea for the helpline came from my Students Speak Legislative Forum after hearing about my young constituents' firsthand experiences with mental illness. I am proud that my chamber and I delivered to help combat the ongoing youth mental health crisis.
  • $200,000 for a statewide car seat recycling pilot program to reduce landfill waste and support Massachusetts families. 
  • $92,000 to conduct survey research on COVID vaccinations for children in Massachusetts to determine barriers to access and strategy to close vaccination gaps. 
  • $300,000 for the MA Womens Suffrage Celebration Coalition of Massachusetts to enhance their educational programming about women's rights, women's suffrage, and women's history in our Commonwealth. 
  • I also co-sponsored an amendment and spoke on the floor about a policy measure to protect people in Massachusetts seeking, accessing, and providing reproductive and gender-affirming health care, consistent with our own state laws. This is critical if (when) the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. 
  • In the wake of increased gun violence and racist, antisemitic, Islamophobic, and anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes, I co-sponsored an amendment that successfully secured $3,000,000 in security grants for community nonprofits and places of worship to protect vulnerable communities against domestic terrorism. Watch my floor speech about combating hate crimes here.  
My speech on the Senate Floor about the youth mental health crisis and the Hey Sam youth text line 

I also delivered for the towns and cities in my district, securing more than $1,600,000 in collaboration with my Senate colleagues for local projects and initiatives that will have real impact in our communities: 

  • $127,000 to fund and implement full-day kindergarten in Wrentham  
  • $110,000 for food pantries in Attleboro and Natick 
  • $125,000 for a feasibility study for a new council on aging facility in Attleboro 
  • $100,000 for economic development in West Natick 
  • $600,000 for urgent property repairs at Elm Bank Reservation in Dover 
  • $100,000 for electric vehicle charging stations in Wellesley 
  • $5,000 to fund anti-bias curriculum in Franklin Public Schools after an increase in local acts of racism, antisemitism, and homophobia 
  • $10,000 for the annual Franklin Cultural Festival 
  • $8,000 for historical preservation and safety upgrades to the Franklin State Forest  
  • $45,000 for facility upgrades for the Milford Senior Center  
  • $25,000 for backup power generators to ensure the resilience and reliability of the Millis Public Safety radio system 
  • $30,000 to replace the lighting management system at the Millis Public Library 
  • $50,000 for a feasibility study to improve transportation options in Needham 
  • $25,000 for technological upgrades to study water pollution mitigation and support community development in Norfolk 
  • $25,000 to repair and expand the Norfolk Council on Aging parking lot 
  • $25,000 for the operations of North Attleboro's WWII Memorial Pool 
  • $50,000 for a new water pumping and treatment station to access a new water source in Plainville 
  • $50,000 to study and improve the water quality of Sherborn's Farm Pond watershed 
  • $25,000 to upgrade lighting in the Wayland High School Fieldhouse 
  • $50,000 for AEDs at town parks in Medfield 
  • $25,000 for cardiac defibrillators for the North Attleboro Fire Department 
  • $25,000 for the Natick 180 Coalition to address addiction and substance use
  • $30,000 for the Veterans Oral History Project in Natick 
My speech on the impact of senseless acts of hate in our communities

It is the greatest honor of my life to serve the cities and towns of the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district, and I am grateful for the partnership of our local community members and municipalities to elevate their needs do a statewide level. When we work together, we succeed. 
 
The Senate FY '23 budget now heads to conference committee to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions before they head back to our chambers and over to the Governor's desk. Stay tuned!  

This newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full contents, follow this link ->   https://mailchi.mp/masenate/monthlynewsletter-16310762

More Perfect Union: 049 - The Supreme Courts History, Missteps, and Where We're Headed In The Future (audio)

"In this episode, the group sits down to continue their discussion of the Supreme Court; recounting the history of the Courts System, famous cases, where's they've missed the mark in the past and what the future of the Supreme Court might look like.'

Audio link -> https://more-perfect-union.captivate.fm/episode/049-the-supreme-courts-history-missteps-and-where-were-headed-in-the-future 

Franklin.TV: A More Perfect Union (audio)
Franklin.TV: A More Perfect Union (audio)

2 Monthly Practice interviewing sessions remain (July 7, Aug 4)

Only two more sessions left (July and August)

Courtesy of a funded grant, the Framingham Public Library allows me to offer interviewing sessions on the first Thursday of a month.

Practice your interview skills!
Practice your interview skills!
Want to practice? Want to rehearse? Just want to ask questions?  
Come join us.

This link is valid for the first Thursday in July and August.


Edward Lawrence is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.



Topic: FPL - Monthly Practice interviewing -1st Thursday of month
        Every month on the First Thu, until Aug 4, 2022, 2 occurrence(s)
        Jul 7, 2022 02:00 PM
        Aug 4, 2022 02:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83809281952?pwd=aWpFVG5UeDNvUlR0M3htbnN5VjdGdz09

--
Ed Lawrence
Authorized DISC Administrator
Member, CPRW Certification Committee; NCOPE


_._,_._,_

"Total cost began to be higher than total income in 2021"

Social Security 2022 Trustees Report
Social Security 2022 Trustees Report
The Social Security Board of Trustees today released its annual report on the financial status of the Social Security Trust Funds. The combined asset reserves of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance (OASI and DI) Trust Funds are projected to become depleted in 2035, one year later than projected last year, with 80 percent of benefits payable at that time.


The OASI Trust Fund is projected to become depleted in 2034, one year later than last year’s estimate, with 77 percent of benefits payable at that time. The DI Trust Fund asset reserves are not projected to become depleted during the 75-year projection period.

In the 2022 Annual Report to Congress, the Trustees announced:

  • The asset reserves of the combined OASI and DI Trust Funds declined by $56 billion in 2021 to a total of $2.852 trillion.
  • The total annual cost of the program is projected to exceed total annual income in 2022 and remain higher throughout the 75-year projection period. Total cost began to be higher than total income in 2021. Social Security’s cost has exceeded its non-interest income since 2010.
  • The year when the combined trust fund reserves are projected to become depleted, if Congress does not act before then, is 2035 – one year later than last year’s projection. At that time, there would be sufficient income coming in to pay 80 percent of scheduled benefits.

“It is important to strengthen Social Security for future generations. The Trustees recommend that lawmakers address the projected trust fund shortfalls in a timely way in order to phase in necessary changes gradually,” said Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “Social Security will continue to be a vital part of the lives of 66 million beneficiaries and 182 million workers and their families during 2022.”

Continue reading the full press release ->   https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2022/#6-2022-1

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, June 3, 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

7:30 am Lessons For Littles
9:00 am Frank Presents: Danielle Hopkins
10:00 am Physician Focus: Common and Emerging Diseases
11:00 am Senior Connection: Sleep
11:30 am Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Healthy Communities
12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Scones
12:30 pm Sandya: Pasta
1:00:00 pm Mass Department of Public Health: CO-VID 19
1:30:00 pm Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 Show 2
3:00 pm SAFE Coalition: Michelle Palladini
4:00 pm Senior Connection: Sleep
4:30 pm FPAC: Broadway in Franklin 2022

  • Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = FRIDAY
7:00 am Public School Concert: Elementary Music Pt. 3 06-04-18
8:30 am It Takes A Village: Ethan Dimarino
9:30 am FHS Boys Varsity Tennis: v Attleboro 06-10-21
11:30 am FHS Varsity Softball: v King Philip 05-23-22
1:30 pm Public School Concert: FHS Concert Night 2019
3:00 pm Let's Talk Sports: Episode 3
5:30 pm FHS Boys Varsity Lacrosse: v Bishop Feehan 05-20-22
7:00 pm FHS Graduation Ceremonies LIVE
9:30 pm FHS Varsity Baseball: v Taunton 05-11-22

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

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals: 05-19-22
2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals: 05-19-22


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

Thursday, June 2, 2022

Dean College announces Elmore as President, adds a Chancellor, and names Augustus to that role

The Dean College Board of Trustees announced Wednesday that Kenneth Elmore, J.D. has been selected to serve as the College’s 14th President and that Edward M. Augustus Jr. has been named the school’s first-ever Chancellor. Elmore will replace current President Paula M. Rooney, Ed. D., who announced last year that she would be ending her tenure after 27 years of leadership at the College.
https://www.dean.edu/news-events/story/dean-college-invests-in-its-future-as-it-announces-new-president-and-new-position-of-chancellor/
The Dean College Board of Trustees is proud to announce Kenneth Elmore, J.D. as the 14th President of Dean College. Elmore, currently the Associate Provost and Dean of Students at Boston University will be on campus starting July 5, 2022.
https://www.dean.edu/news-events/story/kenneth-elmore-named-14th-president-of-dean-college/
The Dean College Board of Trustees is proud to announce Edward M. Augustus Jr. to the newly formed position of Chancellor. Augustus, the former City Manager of Worcester, Massachusetts will be on campus starting July 5, 2022.
https://www.dean.edu/news-events/story/edward-m-augustus-jr-named-chancellor-of-dean-college/

And the Boston University view 
With his signature bow ties, his boundless energy and broad smile, and an unwavering devotion to the student experience at Boston University—from celebratory to sad—Kenneth Elmore, associate provost and dean of students, has been BU’s most visible campus leader for nearly 20 years. 
Now Elmore (Wheelock’87) is leaving to become president of Dean College, a small private school with 1,200 undergraduate students in Franklin, Mass., about an hour southwest of BU. Starting July 1, he will replace Paula Rooney, who is leaving Dean College after 27 years as president and who recently saw a student hub renamed in her honor—the Dr. Paula M. Rooney Student Center.

Dean College
Dean College