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| Ad Hoc Superintendent's Evaluation Sub Committee Meeting - Oct 28, 2020 |
From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:
THE UNVEILING of Gov. Charlie Baker’s revised fiscal year 2021 budget raised eyebrows. Some called it a “miracle budget” because he proposed a balanced budget without large-scale cuts and — notably — without raising taxes.
To be clear, raising taxes on families and businesses already facing financial hardship is not the right thing to do — on this point, we agree with the governor.
Where we disagree is the idea that the state can get through this storm without raising any taxes. The wealthiest households and large, profitable corporations should be paying more taxes to support communities in this time of dire need.
We commend the administration for some proposals, like delaying the state charitable deduction, and for its overall budget-balancing prowess. However, there are many areas where this budget falls short of our communities’ needs.
.......
The prime example is K-12 school funding. A new law, the Student Opportunity Act, recognized the need to dramatically increase state support for students in low-income families, English Language Learners, and those receiving special education.
Not only does the governor’s new budget delay the Student Opportunity Act’s implementation, it also cuts the amount of K-12 school funding from his January proposal by $195.5 million. (The slight increase in his budget compared with last year accounts only for inflation and normal enrollment growth.) The pain of these cuts will fall hardest on our students, particularly from Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities, which the new law was intended to support.
On top of these challenges, schools are trying to retrofit buildings for safe ventilation, ensure all students have access to online learning, and support children facing trauma. Federal relief will cover some of these unexpected costs, but that relief is insufficient, often restrictive, and contingent upon a mercurial Congress.
| Chapter 70 | Unrestricted Gen'l Gov't Aid | ||
| FY 2021 - January 2020 | 5,479,534,540 | 1,160,218,724 | |
| FY 2021 - October 2020 |
5,283,651,632
|
1,128,617,436 | |
| Difference | -195,882,908 | -31,601,288 |
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported an additional 550 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the statewide total to 139,903.
There were 12,395 new molecular tests conducted, with an approximately 4.44% daily positive rate. This marks the second straight day the daily positivity rate is above 4%.
State health officials also confirmed 21 new COVID-19-related deaths across Massachusetts, bringing the state’s confirmed coronavirus death toll to 9,503."
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| In the News: "the statewide rate of average daily cases is also in the red" |
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| Franklin is contributing to these numbers |
During the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period (October 15th-December 7th), you will have a chance to change your plans for next year.
SHINE's certified Medicare counselors can help you understand your plan changes, as well as other options you may have.
For the link to join, email: adoggett@franklinma.gov.
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| Franklin Senior Center: Medicare Update with SHINE - Oct 19 - 2:00 PM |
Why bake when the Knights can do it for you?
The Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart Council 1847 St. Mary Parish Franklin MA is running their 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Pie Sale. Our famous bakery (same as last year) is the family owned Mann’s Orchards and Bakery. The flavors will remain the same as last year - Apple, Pecan, Pumpkin and Blueberry.
These Pies are fantastic... outstanding flavor, aroma, and taste. We held the price so we will still have the magnificent $15.00 price per Pie. As was last year you will be able to DONATE a pie. All donations will be donated to the Franklin Senior Center for distribution at Thanksgiving time.
This year there will be 2 means by which you may purchase your Thanksgiving Day pies. Please visit our website www.kofc1847.org or on Facebook…… KnightsofColumbusCouncil1847 (https://www.facebook.com/KofCFranklinMA) .
You will find a link to order and pay for your order. The site is open now till October 31. We will also be taking Pie orders just one weekend this year October 31-November 1. After all the Masses at St Mary we will be set up in the Lower Church to take your Pie orders, Cash, Check or Credit Card will be accepted . ALL on line orders will accept Credit Card only.
All COVID 19 and CDC guidelines will be strictly adhered to. Pies are individually baked and packed at Mann’s Orchard.
You will be able to Pick Up your order of Thanksgiving Pies on Tuesday, Nov 24, 2020 from 2 PM – 8 PM at the CCD Offices at the old St. Mary's Franklin Parish Hall Center ( previously the Charter School )on the 1st floor. You will see our Signs.
We are excited again this year to bring this quality product to St Mary Parish community and all our Franklin neighbors.
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| 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Day Pie Sale |
Please support this most worthy cause, help a senior and make your Thanksgiving Day special with a Pie (or 2) from Mann’s Orchard on your dinner table this year.
Any questions, please call Jim Campbell at 508-848-8681 or Jim Lane at 774-571-9804 or Mike Swan 508-404-4792.
Thank You for your generosity and “giving back”...
Hello Everyone!
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/day/2020-07-07
Link to Franklin Matters - https://www.franklinmatters.org/
Link to the Town's webpage - https://www.franklinma.gov/
Do you know that we have a pumpkin carving contest happening at the Senior Center? Carve, decorate or paint your best pumpkin and drop it off for us to judge and display!
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| pumpkin carving contest |
Make sure you sign up for our "NAME THAT TUNE!" event happening on Friday Oct. 23rd at 5:30pm! PRIZES and fun will be had by all! Email adoggett@franklinma.gov to attend! Tell your friends!
Tips
Paul Eugene - 50 minutes of Baby Boomer Doo Wop dance exercise. Clear some space and get moving!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb76q_voIfo
Chair Yoga to help with arthritis and stiffness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUnZzpX2KMw
Music
Irene "Granny" Ryan sings "I'm a Woman" by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8z-qTG-Yt4
Instant relief from stress and anxiety. Deeply relaxing music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79kpoGF8KWU
Fun and well known music from the 50's, 60's and 70's. Over 150 songs that will bring you back and get your feet tapping. https://youtu.be/Jp6j5HJ-Cok
Just for Fun
12 of the most beautiful places on our planet! Which is your favorite?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olboi3ttUi8
25 seemingly impossible moments in sports
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Plki2SihIic
Amazing things hidden in everyday things
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvkstk2Pxqk
Silly animal videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPNXj87PkXw
Some of the most creative people with unusual talents! The food carving is amazing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuth1KQTUv0
Humor
John Branyan - The three little pigs like you've never heard it before
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_UegL1R3X8
Just for fun pranks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-OZFRZPDv0
Laurel and Hardy "Busy Bodies"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jtjo3UtL7E
Kindness Matters
Tyson gets his Furever home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wcPcb_R0Ek
Soldiers coming home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1F8mKzNYdc
Attached you will find:
Donna's fun and exciting Football activity pages https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iQYu60PoFOdEiFwOXk20I9Cea6_BXXfJ/view?usp=sharing
Paint / color by number (hard and easy) Farm pages (hard) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UWsg0ISgl3Y9MYaOghqJM-Y5bHcyV4Cm/view?usp=sharing (easy) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WVr6mooETPVMWyUNM1WsAehUfXePiWkR/view?usp=sharing
Mixed up cosmetics word puzzle https://drive.google.com/file/d/16UBhA7Q7LE81AbE4lzSK99q64NGOd_oV/view?usp=sharing
Match the Book title with the Author - No cheating! https://drive.google.com/file/d/15X5bEwCWMvNfzuQN-nVIKLLa8XycsAoG/view?usp=sharing
EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS AT THE FRANKLIN SENIOR CENTER
October special events -call the Franklin Senior Center, visit our website or check out the October newsletter for more details about these programs!
Oct. 19th - Medicare update with SHINE
Oct. 19th - Grateful Days Memory Cafe
Oct. 20th - LIVE IN PERSON concerts
Oct. 21st - Talk Franklin Matters with Steve Sherlock
Oct. 23rd - Name that tune game show
Oct. 26th - Norfolk County Sheriff presents "Scams"
Oct. 26th - Memory Cafe with Wayne Neon
Oct. 30th - Healthy Never Tasted So Good - cooking demonstration and food pick up
October daily events - contact the senior center, visit our website or the newsletter for more details about our weekly offerings.
MONDAYS:
Tele Bingo - call in game
Book Discussion Group (Page Turners) 1st Monday of the Month
TUESDAYS:
Chair Exercises
Low Vision Support Group (1st and 3rd Tuesday)
Audio Book Club (2nd and 4th Tuesday)
Quarantini Time - Social cocktail group
WEDNESDAYS:
Blood Pressure and Sugar screenings
Zumba gold
Wellness consults via phone
Medical equipment distribution and donations
Fibromyalgia support group (1st wed of the month)
Caregivers Support Group (2nd and 4th wed)
THURSDAYS:
Chair exercise
Cardio strength and balance class
Current events discussion group
FRIDAYS:
TOPS (Taking off pounds sensibly)
SUNSHINE group (supportive Day)
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
Budget SubCommittee Meeting
Tuesday, October 20, 2020 - 4:30 PM
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| screen grab with good quote from recent SchComm meeting |
Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the fall sports results for Franklin High School on Friday, Oct 16.
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| Both FHS girls and boys soccer teams top King Philip on Friday |
If you missed Panther News in homeroom today, here's the link to this week's show! @FHSPantherbook @FranklinHS @FranklinPSNews
Video link = https://t.co/HRik5Ncv1L
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| School Committee: Policy Sub Committee Meeting - Oct 20, 2020 |
"Franklin High cross country coach Nick Bailey first met Nick Calitri when he was a freshman in Bailey’s video production class.
That is when Bailey first saw Calitri’s potential.
“I discovered him when he was running in one of the videos,” Bailey said. “I said, ‘Hey you got to do cross country or track.’ But it was too late for him to do cross country at the time.
“He ran track as a freshman and he ended up having a pretty good season.”
FM #365 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 365 in the series.
This shares the Community Preservation Act Webinar hosted by the CPAForFranklin group on Thursday, October 15, 2020. The webinar was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
This
is the audio recording of the webinar. Links the presentation document
and the webinar agenda doc are shared in the show notes.
The
webinar runs about 66 minutes so let’s listen to the information shared
in the webinar about the Community Preservation Act which is ballot
question 3 for the Franklin, MA November election.
More about the CPAForFranklin group and the Community Preservation Act can be found at https://www.cpaforfranklin.org/
Audio link = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HyV0fqFK
-----------
The webinar agenda doc
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13SXYzw2QJidTitdOKVgrB8Le6I9kdC4x/view?usp=sharing
The main presentation doc
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_qVhDBTTr3FzfPL6AeftTNiVbAczGJXS/view?usp=sharing
--------------
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.
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| Community Preservation Act Webinar - 10/15/20 (audio) |
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"The state Department of Public Health reported an additional 702 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the statewide total to 139,353.
There were 14,962 new molecular tests conducted, with an approximately 4.69% daily positive rate. That is the highest rate since June 6."
"The state’s unemployment rate dropped into single digits in September after spending five months above 10%, as employers reported adding 36,900 jobs and Massachusetts continued its economic recovery from the sudden COVID-inflicted recession.
State labor officials announced Friday that the unemployment rate declined to 9.6% in September, 1.8 percentage points below the revised August rate of 11.4%.
The state unemployment rate is now the lowest it has been since March, the last month of data that did not fully reflect the massive layoffs prompted by government-mandated shutdowns and large-scale shifts in consumer behavior to avoid public health risks."
“The weather is just getting more and more extreme,” she said, noting that while droughts are happening in this part of the world, other areas are seeing record rainfall and hurricanes.Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Earlier this month, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides declared a Level 3 Critical Drought in the southeast region of the state. When such a declaration is made, it means “many sectors, community functions and environmental resources are facing critical strain” due to the drought, according to the state’s drought management plan.
In September, Theoharides declared all seven regions of the state at a Level 2 Critical Drought Level, which called for more restrictions on water use and greater collaboration between the state and municipalities."
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| Town Common walkway as the fallen leaves are gathered |
From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:
"LAUREN SONALKAR was working as a part-time science teacher in the Lincoln Public Schools before the pandemic. A week before school started this year, the district offered Sonalkar a job working full time, teaching a small class of fourth graders in person.
Sonalkar lives in Arlington, where her first-grade daughter was given the opportunity of hybrid or remote schooling, and the family felt remote learning would be a more consistent option. Sonalkar also has a 3-year-old in a part-time nanny share and needs to be available to help her mother, who has a disability.
“When they told me I’d have to be full time, I was like I can’t do that,” Sonalkar said.
Sonalkar’s husband works in finance, and the family relies on his income more than hers. She felt her only choice was to take a year-long leave of absence from her teaching job.
While Sonalkar knows she is privileged to be able to forgo the income and have a job waiting for her, she said, “It felt like losing a piece of my identity a little bit.”
