Superintendent Giguere discusses redistricting, the budget process, school successes & more in this conversation (audio)

FM #959 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 959 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my recorded conversation with Franklin School Superintendent Lucas Giguere. We had our conversation in person in the Superintendent’s office in the Municipal Building on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. 

At a high level our topics were:

• Redistricting

• Budget process, Portrait of a Graduate

• School district successes

• Hiring process

The recording runs about 39 minutes. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-959-fps-supt-lucas-giguere-03-07-23

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Superintendent’s page ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/superintendent 

Storymap with the three options ->

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/9db1fa2830964554ba24ddb4558556fa

Handout available at the Redistricting Forum 03/07/23  -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l9KQNRFUxKCutPmNMJSMWGmf0dIMKROa/view?usp=share_link

Redistricting Advisory Committee page ->

https://www.franklinps.net/school-committee/2023-redistricting-advisory-committee 

  

Dec 2022 conversation -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/01/my-conversation-with-superintendent.html

Nov 2022 conversation -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/11/conversation-with-franklin-ma-school.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"

Franklin (MA) School Superintendent Lucas Giguere

Franklin High School Cheerleading take 1st place in New England

"2023 D1 New England Champions!!! 

Insanely proud of these athletes. What a great way to end the season!!!! 

💙🤍💙"  https://t.co/ygBM2IU4Gz

Shared from Twitter ->  https://twitter.com/FHScheer_/status/1637249232435331079

   

Franklin High School Cheerleading take 1st place in New England

Register O'Donnell Discusses Food Insecurity, Urges Community Support for Local Food Pantries

Last month, during the distribution of more than 200 pounds of food donations to Norfolk County food pantries from the Registry of Deeds' Annual Holiday Food Drive Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell discussed the growing need for community support with several organization leaders.

"I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the companies, community groups, families, and individuals who donated," said Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell. "It was my pleasure to deliver these items to Food Pantries in Norfolk County and to help those with hardships during the winter season. "

There are more than 33 food pantries in Norfolk County, and each of these organizations relies in part on food donations from the local community.

"Community donations are really a big help and give us a good deal of variety that we wouldn't otherwise have," said Rich Bielecki Operations Manager for the Marge Crispin Center.

Household food insecurity in Massachusetts is between 16 and 18%. At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, the number peaked at 19.6% of households being food insecure.

"With the rising cost of food, housing, and utilities taking their toll on struggling families and seniors on fixed income, we have seen a marked increase in the need for food," said Pamela Denholm, Executive Director for South Shore Food Bank.

 

According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, home food prices rose 12.7% while wages only grew 5.1%, netting more than a 7.6% deficit at the grocery store.

"Many Norfolk County residents face both long-term and temporary hardships, including children, families, and individuals, and may be helped by a donation that you could provide," said Register O'Donnell.

Children are especially vulnerable to food insecurity. Recent trends indicate that food insecurity among households with children in Massachusetts is increasing, with rates ranging between 19 and 22% as of early January 2023.

Register O'Donnell concluded, "Hunger does not stop after the holidays fade into the past; it is a persistent issue affecting many of our neighbors. I urge residents to consider dropping off food supplies at their local pantries across Norfolk County. Pantries are requesting canned goods, breakfast cereals, pasta, sauces, toiletries, and paper products. Dropping off a food donation at a local pantry can make a world of difference in helping a family in need," noted Register O'Donnell.

To see a list of Norfolk County food pantries, visit the Registry of Deeds website: https://www.norfolkdeeds.org/support/faqs/where-are-the-norfolk-county-food-pantry-locations-142

To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, "like" us on Facebook at facebook.com/norfolkdeeds. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @norfolkdeeds.

 

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High St., Dedham, is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities, and others with a need for secure, accurate, and 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 at (781) 461-6101 or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.

 

Register O'Donnell Discusses Food Insecurity, Urges Community Support for Local Food Pantries

Register to Learn how to build and use a labyrinth in your backyard - March 21

Creating this healing space helps us to unplug and reconnect with both nature and ourselves.

You will learn what a labyrinth is and is not.

You will be able to describe types of labyrinths, how to create them, and their uses.

1 CLASS, TUES. MARCH 21 6:30-7:30 PM, $10

Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High School Adult and Continuing Education  at 147 Pond Street, Franklin

REGISTER:    https://tri-county.us/adult-education/continuing-education/

Learn how to build and use a labyrinth in your backyard - March 26

How to find news you can trust - 3 session webinar series in April, 2023

Save the date for our webinar series.

Hi Franklinites! You probably read, watch or listen to the news every day, and chances are you often do so online. How do you know whether news sources are credible? How do you know what to trust? The News Literacy Project is offering a free three-part webinar series to help you navigate the increasingly crowded and rapidly changing information environment. We'll meet at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT on April 12, 19 and 26 for about 45 minutes, and we'll invite journalists to join the discussions to help us understand how they think about trust and credibility as they report the news. April 12: Session 1 | What is quality journalism? News outlets help us make informed decisions, but the process of creating news isn't always transparent. This session will pull the curtain back on the practice of quality, ethical journalism and its mission to inform us accurately. April 19: Session 2 | Understanding news media bias People frequently perceive and allege bias in news coverage, but what does this really mean? What makes a piece of news biased, and who decides? This session will empower you to evaluate the fairness, accuracy and objectivity of news coverage. April 26: Session 3 | How fact-checking works With the deluge of digital information, it's getting harder to know what to trust. Fact-checking organizations are taking up the charge to combat the spread of misinformation, debunking some of the most viral content springing up social media. We'll learn about the work professional fact-checkers do and skills we can use to do our own fact-checking. You can find more information and register for the series here. We look forward to learning with you! If you have questions about this series, please respond to this email. For a future founded on facts, The News Literacy Project

Visit us at newslit.org, checkology.org, newslitnation.org and rumorguard.org. The News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan education nonprofit, is building a national movement to advance the practice of news literacy throughout American society, creating better informed, more engaged and more empowered individuals — and ultimately a stronger democracy. The News Literacy Project 5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 440, Washington, DC 20015

Surprise: "we haven’t built enough housing to keep up with demand"

"Every day, more than 10,000 Americans turn 65, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.

By 2030, the US Census Bureau says, 70 million Americans will be 65 years old or older. Historically, homeowners in that age group have sold their single-family home and moved into a smaller place, often in the Sun Belt, but experts say that’s not happening.

Baby boomers are booming, but they’re just not going to hit the residential real estate market the way some experts thought they would, according to Selma Hepp, chief economist for CoreLogic, a property data analytics firm.

...

“Across the region, approximately 45 percent of large units are occupied by an over-fifty-five household. Nearly 15 percent of large units — 114,000 homes — are occupied by an over-seventy household. While many of these seniors are staying in large homes because they want to, others may be interested in moving but have few other options in their community. As noted above, there are relatively few one- and two-bedroom units in many towns.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/03/15/real-estate/sun-belt-meh-many-baby-boomers-are-staying-put/

Surprise: "we haven’t built enough housing to keep up with demand"

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Monday, Mar 20, 2023

• wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Monday

9 AM 12 PM and 6 PM Talkin’ the Blues – Jim Derick & Nick Remissong
2 hours of awesome blues music, info, interviews

11 AM 2 PM and 8 PM A More Perfect Union – Discussing American Politics and Current Events - Peter Fasciano, Dr. Michael Walker Jones, Dr. Natalia Linos, State Rep Jeff Roy, Chris Woolf, and Nick Remissong host a round table discussion on current events and American politics, bringing about thoughtful conversation, compelling discourse, and a look at what the future might hold for the United States.

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

8:00 am SAFE Coalition: New Facility

9:00 am     Concerts on the Common: Bus-14

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Brownies

12:30 pm Sandya: Crepes

1:00 pm     Cooking Thyme: Candy Apples

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Emergency Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 Show 6

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 4

3:30 pm     Drink Responsibly: La Cantina

4:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Student Athletes

5:00 pm Extended Play Sessions: Season 10 Show 2 - Paul Kelly

6:00 pm Veterans' Call: John Milot

8:00 pm Frank Presents: Caron Grupposo

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: Seth Glier

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

9:00 am         Winning Ways with the MIAA: Student Athletes

10:30 am Public School Event: Horace Mann Winter Music 2021

12:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Basketball: v Brockton 03-07-23

2:00 pm SAFE Coalition: New Facility

3:00 pm Public School Event: FHS Winter Music 2021

4:30 pm     FHS Girls Varsity Basketball: v Bishop Feehan 03-06-23

6:30 pm     Public School Event: Annie Sullivan Winter Music 2022

8:00 pm Public School Event: School Committee Re-Districting Analysis

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

8:00 am Planning Board: 03-13-23

11:00 am Joint Budget Subcommittee 03-08-23

2:00 pm Planning Board: 03-13-23

5:00 pm Economic Development: 03-01-23

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)

Winning Ways with the MIAA: Jim Quatromoni (video)

Winning Ways with the MIAA: Jim Quatromoni is the basketball tournament director. @MIAA033   https://t.co/kuKGyNlB9d via @YouTube 

Shared from Twitter ->   https://twitter.com/Franklinmatv/status/1637458553899286530

Winning Ways with the MIAA: Basketball State Finals - Episode 4 (video)

Winning Ways with the MIAA: Basketball State Finals Ep4 https://t.co/fZXg2LaQkr via @YouTube. 

Here are our interviews with the @CHSBoston girl's basketball team and the girls team of @WRHSGoBlue.

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/Franklinmatv/status/1637458174541266945

Economic Development Subcommittee Plus Meeting - March 22, 2023 - 6 PM

Economic Development Subcommittee + Steering Committee Meeting

Agenda & Meeting Packet

March 22, 2023 - 6:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers

355 East Central Street

Agenda:

1. Accessory Dwelling Units legislation

The agenda doc also includes remote participation info ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/edc_agenda_-_march_22_2023.pdf

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting - March 22, 2023