Once Upon a Town: Felix Cataldo Block & Dana Block - Downtown Franklin

Join Eamon McCarthy Earls and Joe Landry to "Find out the history of the Felix Cataldo Block, a landmark of downtown Franklin and host to numerous notable businesses. Also, the Dana Block."

Video link = https://youtu.be/GtLkaIk5cQU

Franklin Public Schools: Remote Learning Presentation

April 6, 2020

Dear Franklin Families,

Remote Learning Presentation

We would like to thank those who could join us last night as we presented the FPS Remote Learning Plan and answered questions. A recorded version of the presentation can now be found on our YouTube channel at the following link: https://youtu.be/zTFW_Vpqnhk

We apologize for our technological difficulties and appreciate the patience everyone exhibited.

Chromebook Borrowing

We appreciate that everyone is adjusting to the remote learning framework this week. As noted, we will seek feedback to monitor the roll out.

We anticipate that there will be requests for Chromebooks. We would like to allow for a few more days of adjustment as everyone gets used to this new framework. We will be back in touch with further information about another round of Chromebook borrowing.


Kindly,

Franklin Public Schools

Franklin PUblic Schools: Remote Learning Presentation

Franklin Recreation Sports and Art Contest

The Franklin Recreation Department is hosting the following challenges and contests to ALL residents during this stay at home quarantine. 

PRIZES will be awarded to the top winners and all winning videos and/or photographs will be posted on our website and social media.

 **REMEMBER these contests are to be done following the guidelines of social distancing. They are not to be done with a group of friends.**

Prizes include:

1st Place- $100 Franklin Recreation Gift Certificate
2nd Place - $50 Franklin Recreation Gift Certificate
3rd Place - $25 Franklin Recreation Gift Certificate
Honorable Mention - Franklin Recreation T-Shirt

SPORTS AT HOME Contest:
The Franklin Recreation Department challenges you to send us a picture or video of how YOU play sports at home. Email your photos or videos to franklinrecreation@franklinma.gov. Categories include:

1) Most Creative
2) Best use of a small space
3) Best Obstacle Course
4) Best Goalie

RECREATE A WORK OF ART Contest:
The Franklin Recreation Department challenges you to recreate a work of art with objects (and people) in your home. Choose your favorite artwork from the choices provided below. Find things lying around your house and recreate the artwork with those items. Email your photos to franklinrecreation@franklinma.gov.

ART WORK:
1- Frida Kahlo- self portrait with Braid

2-Yayoi Kusama- Dreams in Technicolor

3-Keith Haring- untitled Family

4- Norman Rockwell- 4 Boys on a Sled

5- Salvador Dali-The Persistence of Memory 

Franklin Recreation Sports and Art Contest

If you want to work with individual images rather than this collection, the images can be found in one PowerPoint doc here
 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zMRx4WaBCmaC2RPAsUEINHOu1UpjyAp6/view?usp=sharing

A Message from the Attorney General's Office

As the “People’s Law Firm,” the Office of the Attorney General is committed to serving all residents of the Commonwealth, especially during the current pandemic we are experiencing. We are working diligently to ensure that our dedicated staff has the resources and direction needed to adjust to the new normal and continue operating at the highest level possible.

Our goal is to continue protecting all residents of the Commonwealth during the on- going and unpredictable COVID-19 crisis on a wide-range of issues. Please contact me with any questions, including about earned sick time and workers’ rights, price gouging of critical goods and services, charitable donations, harmful debt collection practices, student loans and consumer scams. 

Some basic information is available
here: https://www.mass.gov/news/ags-office-issues-guidance-on-coronavirus-resources-warns-of-consumer-scams.

A helpful digital tool available through our office (https://www.mass.gov/news/ags-office-issues-guidance-on-coronavirus-resources-warns-of-consumer-scams) addresses the many resources we are providing that may be valuable for the Veterans residing in your respective towns and cities. I have also attached a PDF of the 2018 Resources Guide for Veterans and Servicemembers (below).

The Office and I are committed to working with each of you to honor the deserved rights and well-being of Veterans during this crisis. Please feel free to reach out to me directly with any question you might have.


Steven Pfister
Senior Investigator; Medicaid Fraud Division Veterans Affairs Coordinator
MA Office of the Attorney General (617) 963-2699

The doc referenced can be found on the MA Gov site
https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2018/11/09/vets-guide-110818_0.pdf

Franklin 50+ job-seeker program: Using LinkedIn as a Powerful Job Search Tool

Using LinkedIn as a Powerful Job Search Tool

Navigating Your Way to a New Career!

Facilitator: Edward Lawrence; Career Coach
Co-facilitator: Erin Rogers; Social Services Coordinator

Once you have a LinkedIn (LI) profile, it is essential to use LI as a research tool to identify target companies you may want to work for; jobs you may want to apply for; and people you may want to network with, because they may be able to assist during in your search.

Reviewing the LinkedIn profiles of people working in the desired field or in the desired job will help you enhance your own LI profile and provide guidance on types of jobs and companies that should be part of your search.

Guest Speaker: Kara Cohen, AARP Massachusetts

Guest Speaker: Janice Heller, who offers solution-based career development guidance as well as insightful, results-oriented work and life coaching. Her website is https://janicehellercareercoach.com

Program Pre-Registration (once per town location) is required:
https://50plusjobseekers.org/outreach/registration/

Registration is required for this specific online meeting:

• After you register for the 50+ Program, we will place you on a list to receive promos that contain a meeting’s registration information.
• If you have registered previously with the town that virtually hosts the session, there is no need for you to register again.

Note: 50+ Virtual sessions offered via Zoom are recorded; so, they may be available for later viewing by program participants.

For additional information about this program, please contact Erin Rogers; Social Services Coordinator, Franklin Senior Center; erogers@franklinma.gov; (508) 520-4945.

A copy of the flyer can be found here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_1XHwjhKN8g-SDJOC0t25RRpbCC1VXpa/view?usp=sharing
 

Franklin 50+ job-seeker program: Using LinkedIn as a Powerful Job Search Tool

FM #237 Jamie Barrett - "Sisu Ubuntu" 4/02/20 (audio)

FM #237 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 237 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Jamie Barrett, Franklin teacher and singer/songwriter. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We jump right into the making of “Sisu Ubuntu”, his new song, collaborated on with over 100 word suggestions, and as we find out, it came together once he picked up his guitar to work on the music to frame the lyrics.

We also talk about TuNesDay and his “Wake up with Mr Barrett” Live concert that he performs on Tuesday mornings at 8 AM. We also raise another challenge for Franklinites to help Jamie get more than 2,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel. He really needs 1,000 but we believe Franklin can do better than that, so let’s go for 2,000.

This recording runs about 15 minutes, so listen to my conversation with Jamie and get some insights into the creative process for this teacher and singer/songwriter.   https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HyZXbC07



--------------

If you haven't heard it, you can listen to the “Sisu Ubuntu” song here 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVP2eDzQGnQ

Please subscribe to Jamie’s YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiitAGAChXLE-lzyzPxauhg

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

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/
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!
------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

FM #237 Jamie Barrett - "Sisu Ubuntu" 4/02/20 (Twitter photo)

Road Construction Alerts

If you missed listening to DPW Director Cantoreggi's interview, there are a couple of road construction projects underway to be aware of.

1 - State paving work on RT 140

From Lewis St to the Wrentham line RT 140 is being repaved via "mill and overlay". The top surface has been ground up during overnight work the past week and should be paved this week. The work is scheduled for overnight.

State paving work on RT 140 - 1

State paving work on RT 140 - 2

2 - Franklin waterline replacement work on Lincoln St 

From Maple St to Brook St, the water line will be replaced by a contractor for Franklin DPW using the funding plan for water line replacements.

Franklin waterline replacement work on Lincoln St - 1

Franklin waterline replacement work on Lincoln St - 2

Franklin waterline replacement work on Lincoln St - 3

To listen to the interview with DPW Director "Brutus" Cantoreggi
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/03/fm-231-franklin-ma-dpw-director-robert.html 
 

Once Upon a Town: Chilson Block - Downtown Franklin

Join Eamon McCarthy Earls and Joe Landry to "Find out the story of the Chilson Block, a landmark of downtown Franklin"

Video link = https://youtu.be/v4fhjIK2wAA

Senior Center Connections - April Newsletter

The April newsletter provides the latest on what is still happening (although remotely).

Get your copy at the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/apr20connection_-_copy_1.pdf

Senior Center Connections - April Newsletter

In the News: COVID-19 testing facility for first responders; how to apply for unemployment assistance

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

COVID-19 testing facility for first responders

"A COVID-19 testing facility for first responders opened Sunday in Foxborough after it was built in just four days, and Gov. Charlie Baker said conversations are underway about setting up similar sites in western Massachusetts and the Merrimack Valley. 

After visiting the new drive-through testing site, set up in a Gillette Stadium parking lot, Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito provided updates on the state’s continuing efforts to prepare for the coming surge in cases of the dangerous and contagious coronavirus. 

Baker said state officials received a shipment of 100 ventilators -- a fraction of the 1,400 requested -- from the national equipment stockpile, and those ventilators will likely be distributed “over the course of the next 24 hours.” Last Monday, Baker had predicted 1,000 ventilators would arrived by week’s end."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200405/mass-continues-preparations-for-surge-in-coronavirus-cases

social distancing properly (Gov Baker's Twitter image)

how to apply for unemployment assistance

"In the past two weeks, 10 million workers have filed for unemployment, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. 

If you’re one of those 10 million workers confused on how to apply for unemployment assistance, the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has been hosting Virtual Town Halls for the past week and can help you out. 

We simplified how that process works, and answered some common questions – including some questions answered during Saturday’s virtual town hall meeting conducted in Spanish."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200405/confused-on-how-to-apply-for-unemployment-during-coronavirus-outbreak-heres-simplified-guide-on-how-to-do-it

“I see a lot of pink bags at the curb awaiting (pickup) that will never come”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Jillian Wilson, Natick’s sustainability coordinator, is saddened by the number of pink recycling bags she still sees on the curbs of several Natick neighborhoods. 

Those pink recycling bags are part of Simple Recycling’s curbside clothing recycling program. 

Based out of Ohio, the for-profit recycler takes donated high quality clothing and other household goods and resells them to thrift shops or international markets. The town has been using the service for two years, and close to 20,000 to 30,000 pieces of material are collected each month, according to Wilson-Martin. 

On March 23, the company had to suspend operations in the state, following Gov. Charlie Baker’s order for all non-essential businesses to seize in-person operations to minimize the spread of the coronavirus."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200405/recycling-options-still-available-during-coronavirus-order

“I see a lot of pink bags at the curb awaiting (pickup) that will never come”

"child care providers worry they may never reopen"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Dominated by small businesses, the country’s child care “system” has long been at a breaking point. Child care is expensive to operate and to provide, yet families are largely left to pay for it themselves while providers eke out a living on meager profits.

To make it through coronavirus-era closures and the economic downturn, providers say they need help.

Without it, parents juggling child care with working from home, or unable to afford care while they’re laid off, could find their provider is closed when they return to work."

This story about child care services was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter.   https://hechingerreport.org/newsletters/

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200405/coronavirus-is-closing-day-cares-child-care-providers-worry-they-may-never-reopen

HMEA's incredABLE 5K Goes Virtual - May 17

We are going VIRTUAL!

These are uncertain times for all of us. HMEA is responding to the Covid-19 crisis by providing essential staff 24 hours a day in group homes; virtually connecting and teaching children with autism and adults with developmental disabilities who are staying safe at home; and offering resources to hundreds of families in need at this critical time. 

HMEA's incredABLE 5K Goes Virtual - May 17

Your contributions are vital as we work through this state of emergency together and then continue to teach, support, and empower the 5,000 members of the HMEA community. Eventually all of our supported individuals will resume their normal routines and we want to be ready for that with the resources that will be made available through the funds raised by this event.

So we are making the incredABLE 5K a VIRTUAL EVENT!


Live Virtual Event - MAY 17

10:00 am - walk and run
11:00 am - ceremonies, winners announced, raffles pulled
Tune-in to our Facebook Page


We need your help now, more than ever!
There are so many ways to do something incredABLE!

Run the Virtual 5K

You can still participate in our incredABLE 5k. Find an approved course near you at https://certifiedroadraces.com/.

Here's how it works:

1. Register as an incredABLE Virtual 5K Runner at events.hmea.org/incredABLE2020
2. Run a USATF certified course before May 10
3. Screenshot or take a photo of your time on the fitness app you used to time your run
4. Submit the screenshot/photo and the course ID# to tandryc@hmea.org by midnight May 10, 2020.
5. You may only submit timing once
6. The live virtual 5k run will be held on May 17th at 10:00 AM on our Facebook page. Join in and run at home. Can you beat last year's winner?

Registration fee is $15 for all runners.


Your time must be submitted by midnight May 10, 2020 to be entered into the competition.


Winners will be announced during the live streamed virtual event on May 17th.

• Additional info can be found online at

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/HMEA-s-incredABLE-5K-Goes-Virtual.html?soid=1114254466392&aid=EadIPPNfqmc 

 

Attention Franklin: Revised Town Budget Schedule

Due to the closure of all public buildings and delays in the Town, the scheduled budget related meetings have been rescheduled. The following schedule is subject to continued change and represents the most likely scenario based on the information we have today.

School Committee Budget Hearing

• April 14

Finance Committee Hearings

• Wednesday May 27
• Thursday May 28
• Tuesday, June 2
• Thursday June 4

Town Council Budget Hearings

• June 17 and June 18

We will continue to update the website with any changes.

Interested citizens should also check the Town Calendar and sign up for email notices  https://www.franklinma.gov/subscribe

For all the info on the Town of Franklin budget for FY 2021 (next year), FY 2020 (this year) and earlier  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget
 
 

Attention Franklin: Revised Town Budget Schedule

Once Upon a Town: Industries of Franklin MA

Join Eamon McCarthy Earls and Joe Landry to hear about how

"Franklin boomed in the 19th and 20th century thanks to industry as entrepreneurs launched new businesses making straw hats, felt, shoes, other textiles and even sugar"

https://youtu.be/RPjNer1iIls