Find answers to frequently asked questions on the Town Clerk's website here https://t.co/aQbh9Xv9qE
Check back for updates! #election2020 #faqs https://t.co/Dy4wXbpIUV
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| Town of Franklin: Frequently Asked Questions - Election 2020 |
Saturday, September 26, 2020
Town of Franklin: Frequently Asked Questions - Election 2020
Franklin, MA Senior Center: Email Blast - Sep 25, 2020
Hello Everyone!
WOW, it's hard to believe this marks 6 months of email blasts due to the Pandemic! Time has certainly had a very different meaning for me over the past half a year. In some ways the time has flown by and in others it has dragged. What I truly miss the most is the in person connection and HUGS!! What do you miss the most?
*A local group of students is doing a survey and has asked us to please share the link to take a brief, confidential survey. Thank you for your help! https://forms.gle/GVYCe7Gapa1xDGZw5
Tips
Nature Therapy - Relaxing in forestry 30 minutes of beautiful, relaxing video in nature
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb8CW3axqRE
Sit and be fit with Mary Ann Wilson, RN - a half hour of gentle exercise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-er7mpG7_Q&t=230s
Music
Hummingsong Choir - These incredible women bring the judges to tears on Australia's Got Talent. Listen to their story of how the choir started.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D_agY4LlTI
Radio Recliner - Radio Recliner is a pirate radio station run by real Resident DJs at senior living communities across the country, so we can stay connected while we're confined to our rooms. New shows at noon EDT, 11 CDT every day. You can GET ON AIR
Call to dedicate a song to someone you're missing, whether it's a resident, a family member, a friend, or a staff member! You can also sign up to be a Resident DJ. 855-863-0050
Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964) Sinatra, Crosby and Martin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjjzEYLU1rM
Just for Fun
Glacial Erratics with Ranger Dad. My father, Allen Reinhard, is the middle moores conservation ranger on Nantucket; I recorded a short video of him talking about glacial erratics and how the Island of Nantucket was formed. If you enjoy this please let me know!! I would like to do a longer video of him with a Q&A session after if there is interest!
https://youtu.be/3Nol0oERRTQSize scale, did you know how BIG these things really are?
Remember When?? - Things that were taken for granted but are now mostly gone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMlr9yfG8tk
Those were the days - Remembering life in the 1950's
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOgi6CsLI24
Young at Heart - Frank Sinatra and Doris Day 1952 - FULL MOVIE!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p3AOunxIG4&list=PLJbt62z8sVibinsW2hooidSX5JAqbs90A&index=9
Humor
Jeanne Robertson - Sleeping in tubes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K0k6W2jKXc
Understanding the wife's code - Jeff Allen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccTYpVUP4kA
Kindness Matters
Random acts of kindness. There is so much good in the world, what have you done lately to add to the kindness? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0DBbWLW12E
Random acts of kindness restoring faith in humanity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTqk6xWNSts
I have shared this before but it gets me EVERY time! Listen to this incredible man and his story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12d48zyx5Jg
Attached you will find:
Activity Pages https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MiNMoBN77c_Z-XKdpSbzMmks8hHImr5X/view?usp=sharing
Answer key for 9/18 Equation Analysis https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h8iImYO5E_T_JaTd-iqSDz1nqvj2KuFr/view?usp=sharing
New Equation Analysis sheet https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xl1j189wblZJ6RIDK7wpI7SW116N0P_k/view?usp=sharing
Junk Drawer Detective https://drive.google.com/file/d/1koc2kXkQ5zOJc1MI9n2ls5TiCcp3fGCI/view?usp=sharing
Happening Next Week
Wednesday Sept. 30th at 11am - Memory Cafe hosted by Franklin Senior Center. Featuring the engaging, toe tapping, get up and dance, sing along with us music of Howie Newman. Email adoggett@franklinma.gov for the link to attend ALL memory cafes if you aren't already on the list. (date changed due to Yom Kippur)
Staying Connected
Link to the Senior Center - https://www.franklinma.gov/fsc
Link to the Senior Center Calendar -https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/week/2020-W40
Link to Franklin Matters - https://www.franklinmatters.org/
Link to the Town's webpage - https://www.franklinma.gov/
Love, virtual hugs and good health to you all! We are still here for you! Please feel free to email Donna and I with questions, concerns or just to check in!
Ariel & Donna
Please feel free to share this email with anyone you think might enjoy it. If you want me to add someone to the email blast list just send me a message with their email in it.
REMEMBER:
When searching for information about the Coronavirus, COVID-19 please use caution! Unfortunately there are many false sites that contain viruses and malware that can threaten your computer. Many look like real sites. Your best bet is to go directly to the CDC, WHO or your local government page (links below).
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/urgent-alerts/coronavirus-information-portal-updates-here
Ariel Doggett
Virtual Program Coordinator
Respite Coordinator
"We rise by lifting others" - Robert Ingersoll
There is no act of kindness too small
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| Franklin, MA Senior Center: Email Blast - Sep 25, 2020 |
Goodbye exit 16, exit 17; hello exit 41, exit 43
MA highway exit numbers change in October to meet Federal standard. Announced last year and guess what, it was delayed by the pandemic, but the change is coming in October.
"Amid constant changes in 2020 not even highway exit numbers are safe.
Massachusetts will begin to transition to mileage-based exit numbers in October, according to WCVB.
The change was announced last year as the state will drop its current sequential numbering in order to comply with a 2009 federal mandate.
Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Delaware are the only states that have yet to implement the change, and are at risk of losing federal funding if they do not comply."Continue reading the article at MassLive:
https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/09/massachusetts-highway-exit-numbers-to-change-in-october-to-reflect-mileage-based-denominations-to-meet-federal-mandate.html
The MA DOT page for the overall project including an interactive map of all the exit number changes https://www.newmassexits.com/
Exit numbers for i495 https://www.newmassexits.com/i-495-corridor
MA DOT video explanation = https://youtu.be/7gG9-Pl-fUA
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| Goodbye exit 16, ext 17; hello exit 41, exit 43 |
Buy a Brick, join the Hall of Sponsors for the Fresh Start Market
Fresh Start Market is opening our doors to the community to be a part of our store's history. We have created a special place inside our market for a micro fundraiser where interested sponsors can "Buy a Brick" that will adorn our wall for our "Hall of Sponsors".
As start up businesses go, we are not typically able to obtain business loans and we do no qualify for any Covid-19 programs. We have supported our store completely out of pocket and would love to include ways that our customers and community can help! We've already seen a huge outpouring of support in getting bags for our floor, let's see what we can all do with our walls!
The way it works :
We have a great wall in our hallway between the 2 main parts of the store. We're putting up brick panels and we're selling each "brick" to interested sponsors (you!). Each brick can say anything you'd like (family friendly, of course) up to 35 characters. We encourage family names.
We have a great wall in our hallway between the 2 main parts of the store. We're putting up brick panels and we're selling each "brick" to interested sponsors (you!). Each brick can say anything you'd like (family friendly, of course) up to 35 characters. We encourage family names.
Each brick is $25 and can be made payable to Fresh Start Market safely and securely through Venmo using our email address Freshstartmkt@gmail.com. Please include what you'd like your brick to say in the payment notes. Payments without notes will be contacted to inquire about what to scribe.
You can also drop off a check at our store made payable to Fresh Start Market, Inc. PayPal is also an option, please contact us for more details. And cash is always welcome.
We are adding 2 more options! $50 for a silver purchase and $100 for gold! Lettering will be done in correspondence with donation. Great for local businesses to get involved!
We're grateful to everyone who is able to help! If you have any questions regarding this fundraiser, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to being open and welcoming our community!
Thank you for your support!
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| Buy a Brick, join the Hall of Sponsors for the Fresh Start Market |
Disclosure: After following the development of Fresh Start Market over the past couple of years, they found the Market Study that the Town of Franklin did with MAPC and we shared here, as a critical piece of their planning. Very happy to put a brick on the wall to help them!
Market Study https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/8a._final_town_of_franklin_market_study_1.pdf
In the News: "Two officials charged in Holyoke Soldiers’ Home COVID outbreak"
From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin:
"Two of the top officials at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, where 76 veterans died of COVID-19 during an outbreak in early spring, have been criminally charged with neglect and causing serious bodily injury in a case that may be the first of its kind in the country.
“They risked their lives, from the beaches of Normandy to, some, the jungles of Vietnam,” said Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, in a press conference Friday morning. “To know that they died under the most horrific circumstances is truly shocking.”
Superintendent Bennett Walsh and former Medical Director David Clinton face 10 felony counts each, five counts related to criminal neglect and five counts related to causing serious bodily harm. They face up to three years in prison for each criminal neglect count and 10 years in prison for each count tied to serious bodily injury."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200925/two-officials-charged-in-holyoke-soldiers-home-covid-outbreak?rssfeed=true
Related articles on this story:
Commonwealth Magazine: https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health-care/two-at-holyoke-soldiers-home-face-criminal-charges/
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| Attorney General Maura Healey answers questions about her lawsuit that challenges a Trump administration policy that would kick international students out of the country for taking online-only courses at their universities. (Photo by Sarah Betancourt) |
What to do when someone steals your identity
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Friday, September 25, 2020
Franklin's Weekend - Sep 25, 26, 27
Farmers Market
Friday, Sep 25 - noon to 6:00 PM
THE BLACK BOX Sings... WICKED
September 26 at 2:00 and 7:30; September 27 at 2:00
St. Vincent de Paul Friends of the Poor Walk
Saturday Sept. 26, 2020 -registration required
Franklin's Weekend - Sep 25, 26, 27
Listening Sessions start on Weds, Sep 30 - How can we help Franklin determine its future?
From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:
"FITCHBURG MAYOR Stephen DiNatale’s office bears all the markings of the workspace of a small-city Massachusetts leader working hard to pull up his community, a place that has struggled for years following the exodus of industries that once made mill towns like this hum with economic vigor.
There are sketches of planned development projects, a big photograph showing downtown Fitchburg back in its pre-World War II heyday, and in one corner a group of shiny ceremonial shovels standing against the wall, mementos from recent groundbreaking celebrations that DiNatale is anxious to replicate. The affable 68-year-old former state representative is laser-focused on economic development, and in a hurry for it to happen. “I’m not a patient guy,” said DiNatale.It’s easy to see why. Median household income is $55,000 in Fitchburg, $22,000 below the statewide average. Meanwhile, the pandemic has hit the city hard, with its 15.5 percent unemployment rate in August the eighth highest in the state."
Continue reading the article online
Is there something Fitchburg is doing, that we should also consider?
Franklin starts listening sessions next week. The first one on Weds, Sep 30. The agenda for the September 30th Listening Session, which will focus on Downtown Franklin, the Crossing and the Franklin Cultural District, can be found here https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/2020-09-30_edc_listening_session_1_agenda.pdf
For reference here are links to the MAPC Town of Franklin Market Study
For reference here are links to the MAPC Town of Franklin Market Study
a Demographic & Economic Profile of the 495/MetroWest Region; details specific to Franklin can be found on pages 57 and 58
To sign up for one of more of the series of listening sessions, register here
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| Listening Sessions start on Weds, Sep 30 - How can we help Franklin determine its future? |
Franklin Downtown Partnership has been busy and shows!
Downtown decorated for Fall
"On September 16, members of the Franklin Downtown Partnership, Franklin Garden Club, resident volunteers and DPW decorated the downtown area with mums, pumpkins, and other autumnal decor from Hillside Nurseries and Franklin Agway.
“This year, we feel it’s more important than ever to roll out the red carpet to our downtown by beautifying it with autumn decorations,” said Roberta Trahan, vice president of the FDP. “We want to encourage people to shop local and support Franklin businesses.”
Long-time chair of the beautification efforts in downtown, Eileen Mason, said all the volunteers maintained appropriate social distancing and wore masks while installing the fall decorations.
“We wanted to make sure we beautified the downtown in the safest way possible,” said Mason. “Many thanks to our volunteers, Hillside Nurseries, the Department of Public Works and Franklin Agway for making this possible.”
Continue reading the Downtown Partnership post
Kindness Rocks find new life
"Franklin Downtown Partnership, Berry Insurance and other local volunteers are spreading kindness and positivity by breathing new life into the Kindness Rocks Garden located in the green space next to Rockland Trust in downtown Franklin.Originally installed in the summer of 2018, the Kindness Rocks Garden was a huge hit with people who took rocks painted with inspirational messages and pictures. Now, a new push is on to create more painted rocks to place at the Kindness Rocks Garden.
“We’re excited to continue the new tradition of a Kindness Rocks garden in downtown Franklin. Together we can help spread more kindness one rock at a time.” said Kaitlyn Pintarich of Berry Insurance.
The project is an extension of a popular national initiative called The Kindness Rocks Project that has a mission of promoting random acts of kindness to unsuspecting recipients by painting and dropping inspirational rocks."
Continue reading the Downtown Partnership post
John F Kennedy Elementary named a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School
Franklin Public Schools (FPS) is proud to announce that Kennedy Elementary School has been named a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education!
Please find the press release
Congratulations!
Micro-Enterprise Grant Program Overview and Application
Small business owners may qualify
- The business must qualify as a microenterprise (a for-profitbusiness that has 5 or fewer employees, including the owner(s).(Note 5 employees means actual people, whether full-or part-time NOT Full-Time-Equivalents (FTEs) that has been adversely affected by Covid-19. The business can be a sole-proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or LLC.;
- The business must have a physical establishment in one of the participating towns:
- Bellingham
- Foxboro
- Franklin
- Medfield
- Walpole
- Wrentham
- The business must be currently in operation and have must have been established prior to January 1, 2019;
Additional qualifications can be found in the following information regarding the Micro-Enterprise Grant Program attached here:
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| Micro-Enterprise Grant Program Overview and Application |
The pressure from Gov Baker and DESE's Riley - getting pushback
From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:
"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Thursday continued to push schools to bring students back in person while denying allegations by the state’s largest teachers union that his administration is “bullying” local districts.
“If you are a low-risk district, and you’ve been a low-risk district for eight weeks, and you have no plan to return to in-person learning when most people in education and public health and the pediatric communities all believe that in-person learning, especially for young kids, is a critical part of their educational and social development, we want to know what your plan is to get back,” Baker said. “I don’t think that’s bullying. I think it’s a perfectly appropriate question to ask on behalf of people in those communities and particularly the kids.”
In August, Baker released a color-coded map indicating levels of COVID-19 transmission in each community, and he has been pushing communities with low levels of transmission to open their schools. But teachers’ unions have pushed back, saying many schools are not prepared to safely reopen."
Continue reading the article online
** Meanwhile one of the organizations Gov Baker claims to have participated in crafting the schools' guidance is saying they did not and have been trying to reach him but without success.
Steph Solis at #IRE20 (@stephmsolis) tweeted at 0:53 PM on Thu, Sep 24, 2020:
Carlene Pavlos of @MAPublicHealth says they didn't endorse or weigh in on in-person learning, despite @MassGovernor's comments: "Since March we have repeatedly asked to meet with Governor Baker or a staff member from the Governor's office, but we have received no reply."
Carlene Pavlos of @MAPublicHealth says they didn’t endorse or weigh in on in-person learning, despite @MassGovernor’s comments: “Since March we have repeatedly asked to meet with Governor Baker or a staff member from the Governor’s office, but we have received no reply.” pic.twitter.com/z6mPKXnMcZ
— Steph Solis at #IRE20 (@stephmsolis) September 24, 2020
https://t.co/z6mPKXnMcZ
(https://twitter.com/stephmsolis/status/1309174108047978498?s=03)
** Also from the Amesbury Mayor comes the notification back to DESE's Riley outlining their response to his most recent request.
(https://twitter.com/stephmsolis/status/1309174108047978498?s=03)
** Also from the Amesbury Mayor comes the notification back to DESE's Riley outlining their response to his most recent request.
Here’s Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove’s response to Commissioner Riley...well done, Mayor Gove. @TracyNovick @MASCSchoolComm pic.twitter.com/LwB7L7RvUS
— Mel (@MelWebster) September 24, 2020
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| Image from Commonwealth Magazine |
In the news: Gov Baker "balks" or"rebukes" President Trump
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin: "Baker balks at Trump comments on power transfer"
"Gov. Charlie Baker said Thursday that he and other public officials “will do everything we can to make sure that the people’s will is followed through” after this fall’s election.
“A huge part of this nation’s glory, to the extent it exists as a beacon to others, is the peaceful transfer of power based on the vote of the people of this country,” Baker said. “Mail-in balloting has been with us forever, and that peaceful transfer of power is what the people of this country rely on when they go to vote. It is appalling and outrageous that anyone would suggest, even for a minute, that if they lose an election, they’re not going to leave. Period.”
The governor’s impassioned comments came in response to a question about President Donald Trump’s refusal on Wednesday to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses the Nov. 3 election."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin: "Baker rebukes Trump power transfer remarks"
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER rebuked President Trump on Thursday for refusing to say whether he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power in the wake of the November 3 election.
In response to a question at a State House press conference, Baker criticized Trump without ever mentioning his name. The Republican governor said the peaceful transfer of power is what Americans rely on when they vote. “It is appalling and outrageous that anyone would suggest for a minute that if they lose an election they’re not gonna’ leave,” he said.
Continue reading the article online
Gov Baker press conference on Thursday, Sep 24: https://youtu.be/ORsupgAJTZ4
The last question Gov Baker gets is where he makes his remarks to "rebuff" or "rebuke" President Trump. You can listen and make your choice. Much of the conference covers the return to school re-opening process where Gov Baker and DESE's Riley are accused of pressuring districts to return in person.
Thursday, September 24, 2020
Franklin Museum holiday Ornaments for sale - Columbus Day weekend
The Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum will be selling hand-painted glass ornaments in their own velvet box .😊
This year offers 2 new designs
- The Ray Memorial Library
- The Clark Square Water Trough
each selling for $18.00.
Columbus Day weekend, Oct. 10, 11, 12th , from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
at The Franklin Historical Museum
80 West Central St, Franklin, MA
You don't have to leave your car, a one-way drive through will take place.
Cash or Checks only.
Ornaments sell out quickly, don't miss this opportunity !
Franklin Museum holiday Ornaments for sale - Columbus Day weekend
FM #351 School Committee Meeting - 9/22/20 - P1 of 2 (audio)
FM #351 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 351 in the series.
This shares part of the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting that was held on Tuesday, September 22, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
Part 1 - the first of two audio sections of the full meeting. This section covers the opening through the Superintendent’s Report covering the re-opening updates.
Audio file = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/Hc09fDHK
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The agenda doc, including connection info
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-sep_20.html
The meeting packet with all docs released for this meeting
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/september-22-2020-school-committee-meeting-packet
My notes taken via Twitter during the meeting are summarized here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/school-committee-meeting-recap-of-sep.html
Photos used in the Twitter thread can be found in the Google photo album
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ro64oXgTo4fpUdo1A
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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/
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"
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| FM #351 School Committee Meeting - 9/22/20 - P1 of 2 (audio) |
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