Franklin Matters

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Franklin Middle School Music Department Presents… Virtual Winter Concert 2020

Franklin Middle School Music Department Presents…

Virtual Winter Concert 2020

Featuring music, student biographies, audio, and video performances from members of the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Band, Choir and Orchestra!

Wednesday December 16th

6 PM Live Stream

Join us at 6:00 PM for a livestream to introduce our lesson scholarship recipients and explanation and release of our virtual concert website.

To view our live stream concert, click the link => https://givebutter.com/cYJj3q

Download a copy of the flyer -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/19lYoDYYB3jzodDaMZncUHLcd06uIRH2m/view?usp=sharing

Franklin Middle School Music Department Presents… Virtual Winter Concert 2020

Join Jamie Barrett for a Holiday Singalong - Dec 17

Hello!

Please join me for a Holiday Singalong THIS Thursday at 7:00 PM!

Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccP2F5CTyPc

You can set a reminder on this video link so that you won't forget, too!

Join Jamie Barrett for a Holiday Singalong - Dec 17

Seems like it might be a snowy day that day! Perfect for a virtual singalong!

Looking forward to 'seeing' you!

Please feel free to share with everyone you know!

Thanks so much!

Jamie

James H. Barrett

General Music K - 5

Jefferson/Davis Thayer

(508) 541-2120 ext. 1029

Franklin Downtown Partnership Plans 2021 Harvest Festival

The Board of Directors of the Franklin Downtown Partnership (FDP) has voted on the date for the 2021 Harvest Festival, a family fun, community event. It will be the first weekend in October: Saturday, October 2 with a rain date of Sunday, October 3. This is subject to change, but the FDP is optimistic and hopeful that by October, it will be able to have a huge Franklin event.

“The Franklin Downtown Partnership has worked hard throughout 2020 to support our members and local businesses with our Keep it Local and Light Up Downtown Franklin initiatives, and we’re proud that we’ve been able to promote businesses without being able to stage our signature Strawberry Stroll and Harvest Festival events,” said Scott Martin, president of the FDP Board of Directors. “With recent developments with the vaccine providing some hope for the spring and summer next year, a number of FDP members and people throughout the community are seeing some light ahead, even if it feels a long way off, and they are asking us when the Harvest Festival will be. Knowing how we all want to be together again, and how much people want to return to the kind of events that brought our community together, our FDP will move forward with planning our Harvest Festival for the first Saturday in October.”

The status of the Strawberry Stroll, normally held in June, is to be determined based on COVID-19 circumstances.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a nonprofit, 501©3 organization made up of more than 300 business owners, community leaders and residents working to stimulate economic development downtown and create a positive impact throughout the area.

For more about the Downtown Partnership visit https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/

Franklin Downtown Partnership Plans 2021 Harvest Festival

Franklin Public Schools: District Newsletter December 2020

The newsletter does not display well in this format.

To view the contents, follow this link => https://myemail.constantcontact.com/District-Newsletter-December-2020.html?soid=1134219428814&aid=HecmJ4tzwqI

Franklin Public Schools: District Newsletter December 2020

Franklin Public Schools: Policy Sub Committee Meeting - Dec 17

Policy Sub Committee Meeting

Virtual Meeting (Links in agenda)

Thursday, Dec 17 6:00 PM

I. Electronic Distribution of Approved Policies

1. JJEA - Crowdfunding Policy
2. GE - Telework Policy
3. Policy Distribution Folder

II. Discussion of Policies sent to School Committee

A. None

III. Policy Revisions & New Policies - New Discussion Item

A. Continued Review of F Policies

Agenda doc with connection info
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/12.17.20_policy_sub_agenda_.pdf

the snow has completely gone from when this was taken, but sounds like more is coming

Franklin Federated Church - Christmas Services - Dec 20 and Dec 24

Franklin Federated Church will LIVESTREAM special Christmas services via the FFC Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/franklinfederated)

Sunday, December 20 = 10:00 AM

Story of Jesus's birth

Readers will be live and on video
Carols
Jenna Van Hyning on guitar "Mary Did You Know"
Grace Newton playing violin "Silent Night"

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Franklin Federated Church will LIVESTREAM special Christmas services via the FFC Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/franklinfederated)

Thursday, December 24 = 5:00 PM

Christmas Eve Worship (Live)

Reading of Clement Moore's "Twas the Night Before Christmas"
Reading from Luke 2....The story of Jesus's birth
Christmas Carols
Candle lighting

Franklin Federated Church - Christmas Services - Dec 20 and Dec 24

Franklin Information Q&A - Two opportunities on Dec 17

Two opportunities to find out more about what is going on here in Franklin.

Thursday morning at 8:30 AM (pre-registration required)

Join in on a virtual coffee hour with State & Local officials

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/12/franklin-senior-center-virtual-coffee.html

Thursday afternoon at 1:00 PM (email adoggett@franklinma.gov to attend)

Talk Franklin Matters = Steve Sherlock answers questions and provides insights on what he reports on in and around Franklin

virtual coffee hour with State & Local officials

CommonWealth Magazine: Gov Baker gives 'mixed messages'; "DeLeo, Spilka seek to overturn Baker abortion amendment "

From CommonWealth Magazine we share two articles of interest for Franklin

Baker’s deliberate mixed message on COVID-19

"MIXED MESSAGES are not usually held up as a quality of good leadership, but a lot of things have been different about life amid a global pandemic.

That included Gov. Charlie Baker’s State House briefing on Tuesday where he offered a very calculated mix of hope and dire warning with Christmas approaching. Baker implored Massachusetts residents not to let their guard down — even as the first coronavirus vaccines are administered and it becomes easier to imagine an end to the viral nightmare that has upended life for the past nine months.

Baker’s plea for continued vigilance against the virus came after the state experienced a resurgence of COVID-19 cases that has been tied to informal family gatherings over Thanksgiving.

“That’s where the virus thrives,” he said of casual get-togethers. “And over Thanksgiving in Massachusetts it clearly did.”

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/bakers-deliberate-mixed-message-on-covid-19/

Gov Baker's press conference on Tuesday, Dec 15, 2020 = https://youtu.be/xTphOlaHquA

New info on holiday gatherings => https://www.mass.gov/holidays

DeLeo, Spilka seek to overturn Baker abortion amendment

"HOUSE SPEAKER Robert DeLeo said the House plans to overturn Gov. Charlie Baker’s amendment to an abortion provision in the state budget on Wednesday, and Senate President Karen Spilka said the Senate will act promptly once the House is finished.

The announcements by the two leaders on Tuesday set the stage for a high-stakes battle between the governor and the Legislature over the issue of abortion. Legislative leaders are characterizing the language they passed as necessary at a time when the US Supreme Court appears to be controlled by opponents of abortion, while Baker suggest his amended version goes far enough.

“The proposal we made, if enacted, would give Massachusetts some of the broadest and most significant reproductive health rights in the United States,” the governor said at a State House press conference."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/deleo-spilka-seek-to-overturn-baker-abortion-amendment/

New info on holiday gatherings => https://www.mass.gov/holidays

"it’s an idea that’s been ruminating for 50 years"

Interesting find via the BBC on rail trail development (hat tip to Marjorie Turner Hollman for finding this to share).

"Ryan Gardill used to love backpacking. Getting into the outdoors and covering ground was one of the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, native’s favourite things to do. But as the 29-year-old former US Marine’s joints and back began struggling to carry the weight of a backpack, he decided it was time to get on a bike.

That opened up a whole new world.

“I’d always dreamed of doing a thru-hike or bike,” he said. “A guy from work talked about a trail going from Pittsburgh to DC. I said: ‘That sounds awesome!’.”

Continue reading the article online:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20201213-a-new-way-to-travel-across-the-us

The Great American Rail Trail web page => https://www.railstotrails.org/greatamericanrailtrail/

Great American Rail Trail

"Iconic Framingham hotel sells for $15M at auction"

Anyone traveling into Boston up i495 to i90 and east has likely seen on the return route, the castle like structure that is/was the Sheraton Tara Hotel.

"The famed Framingham Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center was sold for $15 million at auction Tuesday.

People’s United Bank, which owns the first mortgage on the property, was the winning bidder of the iconic 376-room hotel that is designed to look like a castle and is visible from Rte. 9 and the Mass Pike.

“It was a buy-back by the mortgager,” said Justin Manning, president of JJ Manning Auctioneers. “Nobody beat the lender.”

The facility could "possibly" remain a hotel or may be sold, said Manning."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.telegram.com/story/business/real-estate/2020/12/15/framingham-sheraton-sells-15-m-auction-could-possibly-remain-hotel/3909350001/

With this building being sold at half the assessed valuation, is it any wonder why the new hotel under construction off King St/Union St has halted their construction due to these economic conditions.

"Iconic Framingham hotel sells for $15M at auction"

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Senior Center Parking Lot - Holiday Sing-A-Long - Dec 16

PARKING LOT SING-A-LONG!

With highly accomplished soprano singer, Monica Spencer!

Hot Chocolate, Cookies and Lyric Sheets will be handed out by the one and only… Mrs. Claus!

A fun day to be had, but space is limited; Call to sign up today! Sound will be broadcasted right to your car stereo!

Wednesday, December 16th at 12:30 PM

Senior Center - Parking Lot - Holiday Sing-A-Long - Dec 16

Voices of Franklin: Karen Landers questions zoning variance request

As an abutter, I received notification that there is to be a remote public hearing on Thursday, December 17th at 7:30 pm regarding an application that is requesting a variance to build a rather large 2-unit dwelling on a lot that is smaller than the zoning laws require. Instead of the required 35% impervious coverage, the builder wants to cover 50% of the lot. This is so that the Project can be as profitable to him/them as possible.

This dwelling will overpower the homes adjacent to it, among other things. I thought this town was concerned with Storm water runoff. Why do zoning laws exist if a variance request can be had without much concern to the neighbors Involved. According to the annual town report, from 2008 to 2018, there were 315 requests for a variance for many reasons. Only 23 were denied.

While I have an appreciation for our town citizens serving on boards, giving of their time and effort, perhaps there are way too many town officials who are in the real estate business, and, therefore, may have a conflict of interest.

If any Franklin resident is concerned about how variances are reviewed and want to get informed, go to the town website and sign up to get onto Zoom for this hearing. We are all abutters!

Karen Landers

Franklin Resident

If you have something to say, you can find the guidelines here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

United Regional Chamber issues the $50 Challenge

"I'm Issuing a $50 Dollar Challenge"

A Message from Our CEO/President Jack Lank

Typically, right about now we'd be singing about "the most wonderful time of the year". It's an understatement to say that 2020 has had other plans. If you've replaced wonderful with some other choice words, I promise, you're not alone.

I always ask small business owners, "What keeps you up at night?" In the past, they responded that prime concerns are regulations or the ability to retain quality employees. This year, the most common response has been, "How is my business going to survive?" The corona virus has significantly hit our communities' economy.

Jack Lank

How can the chamber help? The chamber supports local business by advocating on their behalf and communicating their needs to elected officials. We work with local partners to provide a prepared workforce so that our member businesses have access to qualified employees. We hunt down resources designed to help them succeed in entrepreneurial ventures. We create networking opportunities and facilitate connections.

THIS year, especially, shopping local is what's going to keep small businesses ALIVE. The truth is we can shop and remain safe.

Shopping looks different this year, but most small businesses are still open for business. We can shop safely (masks ON please), support our community, and make a significant difference in our friends' and neighbors' lives. This isn't about politics or your opinion on wearing a mask. This is about preserving what makes our communities special before it's too late.

One study found that for every $100 spent at a local business, $68 remained in the community. However, only $43 of $100 spent at a chain retailer remains in the community.

I'll be the first to admit that I shop at the big chain retailers. Many of these businesses employ our friends and neighbors, and they're a vital part of our community. However, let's not forget the local businesses – the ones that support our children's baseball team or theater program, volunteer their time, and give to the non-profits in our community.

According to the small business support organization Independent We Stand, "If every family in the country shifted $10 a month to locally owned, independent businesses instead of national chains, over $9.3 billion would be directly returned to local economies."

I have a challenge for you: Shift $50 of your holiday budget this month to a locally owned, independent business. If you don't have $50, shift $25. If you don't feel comfortable going inside, every shop will walk products or gift cards out to your car if you'll only ask.

Post this challenge on social media with the hashtags #50 DollarChallenge, #URCC, and #Supportsmallbusiness. Check in and tag businesses on social media and post pictures to show your support.

Together we can do this. This time next year, no matter where COVID takes us, we'll all be better for it.

Jack Lank, IOM
President & CEO
The United Regional Chamber of Commerce
310 South Street
Plainville, MA 02762
Phone: 508-316-0861
www.unitedregionalchamber.org
"People Do Business With People They Know"

Boston Globe: All Scholastics for Fall 2020

Catching up to the Boston Globe Fall 2020 All Scholastics that were published in the Sunday paper. Two from Franklin received top recognition.

"Nicholas Calitri - FRANKLIN | SENIOR

Calitri helped Franklin finish 5-0 in the Hockomock League and earned league MVP honors. The two-time All-Scholastic placed second at the Hockomock League championship meet (16:07.48 5K) and seventh in the MSTCA Cup race (16:12.8 5K).

Amanda Lewandowski - FRANKLIN | SENIOR

The league MVP (20 goals, 8 assists) saved her best for the biggest moment, scoring the lone goal in the Hockomock Cup-clinching win against King Philip for the 11-0 Panthers. Lewandowski is also a four-year starter on the ice."

The top page for the publication from which you can navigate to each of the fall sports

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/high-schools/all-scholastics/