Franklin Cultural District ArtWALK Celebration Planning Meeting - Apr 26

Good Afternoon, 

The Franklin Cultural District Committee has continued to plan for the upcoming   ArtWALK Celebration which will be held on the weekend of June 11th - 13th. On Monday,  April 26th at 7:00 p.m. the committee is inviting all of our Cultural District Partners to join us for our second collaborative planning meeting. At this meeting each of the working groups will share the details for the work they have done to prepare for Franklin's ArtWALK Celebration. 

Below you will find the agenda for this meeting.

The meeting will be held via the Zoom platform:

The Cultural District Committee is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Cultural District Committee Franklin ArtWALK Celebration Planning Meeting

April 26, 2021 7:00 PM 

Join Zoom Meeting  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85257176877

Meeting ID: 852 5717 6877

One tap mobile  +13017158592,,85257176877# US (Washington DC)

Dial by your location          +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 852 5717 6877

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k4DmwsFLA

We hope to see you all there. 

Regards,

Nancy

__________________________________________________

Nancy Schoen

Chair, Franklin Cultural District Committee

nschoenfranklinculture@gmail.com

Link to the Agenda doc

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NT-sa_gVg53EHi8e8M0ucY8xh3P7mjb9/view?usp=sharing

ArtWALK Celebration Planning Meeting - Apr 26

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day - Apr 25 @FranklinPolice

"The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019. The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet."

https://t.co/62Cmpg0GLr

 

"This Sunday, April 25th,  from 10 am to 2 pm at the Franklin Police Department you can bring in your old or unneeded prescriptions to have them safely destroyed. Officers will be on hand during those hours to collect them.

If you are unable to come during that time, we do have a drop box located in the lobby to securely deposit them. Coming Sunday between 10am and 2pm means that you will not have to be turned away if the box is full. 

Please bring them to Police Headquarters at 911 Panther Way, Franklin, MA. Thank you for helping dispose of these medications safely."

https://twitter.com/franklinpolice/status/1385292115631091718

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day - Apr 25 @FranklinPolice

FM #522 - Doug MacPherson - HMEA - 04/06/21 (audio)

FM #522 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 522 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Doug MacPherson, Vice-President of Development and Public Relations for Horace Mann Education Association (HMEA). We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

Doug and I talked about the preparation for the HMEA’s IncredABLE 5K scheduled for May 23, 2021. In this pandemic period, the road race, community walk, and family fun field day has been converted to a virtual event. Virtual? Yes, we talk about how you can run your 5K on a certified 5K course and send your results to HMEA to count.

Our conversation includes the other elements of fund raising by HMEA event leading up to May 23. Links to the fund raising activities are included in the show notes.

The recording runs about 23 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Doug. Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/6c76ef69-8533-4943-9a15-c70179f3aa02

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Visit HMEA online IncredABLE Day May 23 ->  https://www.hmea.org/incredable-day/ 

• Video and photo contests ->   https://www.hmea.org/contests/
• Virtual trivia  https://www.hmea.org/smarty-pants2/   or Virtual bingo  https://www.hmea.org/bingo/ 
• 50/50 Raffle ->  https://www.hmea.org/50-50-raffle/
• Stroll down memory lane May 16 -> https://www.hmea.org/anniversary-video/

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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/  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"

FM #522 - Doug MacPherson - HMEA - 04/06/21 (audio)

How much state aid does Franklin get?

As part of the continuing series to prepare for the Finance Committee budget hearings (which begin next week) and the Town Council budget hearings (in May), check out the link to the details on the State aid (local aid) coming to Franklin year over year from FY 2012 to FY 2022. 

The total of local aid is shown in the charts. A breakdown of the different components, the largest amount is Chap 70 (school aid), is shown in the Appendix. The graph shown below combines the total local aid from Appendix C4 and the Total Operating budget from Appendix C1.

Note: the state aid shown is for the operating budgets (municipal and school). Other grant aid is not part of the operating budget and not shown here.

• Appendix C4 - Historic Data: Local Aid

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/appendix_c_historic_data_fy22.xlsx_-_local_aid.pdf

Total State Aid as percent of Franklin, MA Total Budget

Prior posts

What are the fixed costs of the Town of Franklin budget?

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/what-are-fixed-costs-of-town-of.html

Town of Franklin - budget growth and split between municipal and schools - FY 2012 to FY 2022  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/town-of-franklin-budget-growth-and.html

School budget, executive summary by School Superintendent Sara Ahern

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/franklin-public-schools-fy-2022-annual.html

Executive summary by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/franklin-public-schools-fy-2022-annual.html

Link to Town of Franklin budget proposal for FY 2022
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/fy-2022-town-of-franklin-budget-proposal.html

Earth Day Project at the Franklin Community Gardens

Please join us to learn about the Franklin Community Gardens and the Franklin Food Pantry Veggie Garden Project.  There will be an introduction of the gardens and information on how the Project, our volunteers and partners are working together helping create community and awareness of food insecurities.  This Project has many opportunities throughout the growing season including garden maintenance of the garden beds, harvesting Tuesday and Friday mornings and bringing produce to the Pantry. 

On Saturday, April 24, 2021 from 9 AM - 12 we will be building new garden beds for growing vegetables and flowers for the clients of the Franklin Food Pantry.  There will be other tasks including cleaning and weeding existing beds and the surrounding area.  No experience required, but carpentry skills are a plus!   Please bring gloves and any of your favorite garden tools. There will be garden tools on sight, however we are looking for the use of battery operated drills and bits.    

For additional information please contact:  communitygardens@franklinfoodpantry.org 

checking on the progress of a food pantry bed at the Community Garden last year

Please respond to the Franklin Public Library Customer Survey

Franklin Public Library Customer Survey

The Franklin Public Library is looking for your feedback about the services we have provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is your opportunity to let us know what you have enjoyed or not enjoyed, and what you would like to stay once life goes back to a "new normal". This survey will be accepting responses until the end of May.  https://forms.gle/7zED4VUY3MnKniJUA

Please respond to the Franklin Public Library Customer Survey

April 2021 Veterans Council Meeting - Date Change - Apr 29

April 2021 Veterans Council Meeting 

Date Change

Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 7:00 P.M.

The April Veterans Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 29 at 7:00 PM at the Franklin Senior Center.

Due to COVID-19, pre-registration is required.

Call or email the Veterans' Services Office to register.

Masks and social distancing will be required.

All members of the community are welcome!

email: dmartin@franklinma.gov 

TEL: (508) 613-1315 

Shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services/news/april-2021-veterans-council-meeting-date-change

April 2021 Veterans Council Meeting - Date Change - Apr 29

Tri-County Electrical Students Go For Gold In Wiring Competitions at District SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure that America has a skilled workforce. They provide educational programs, events and competitions that support career and technical education in the nation’s classrooms. “SkillsUSA is an investment in student success and its impact on student learning will be felt over the coming years,” said Tri-County electrical instructor, Robert Sprague.

1st Competition: Industrial Motor Control

The contestant is required to install electrical wiring and other devices used in an industrial setting as well as design and troubleshoot electrical diagrams using the proper testing instrument. 

• Gold - Jack Whittlesy, Sherborn
• Silver - Ryan Nawn, Franklin
• Bronze - Sean O’Reilly, Bellingham

2nd Competition: Residential Wiring

Contestants in residential wiring are tested on their ability to install wiring in a residence, working from drawings and specification sheets. 

• Gold - Alex Majewski, North Attleborough
• Silver - Alan Zheng, North Attleborough

SkillsUSA State Competition 

Students who earned gold and silver medals in the district competition now qualify for the state SkillsUSA competition, which will be held April 29th - May 1st. “This is the industry that I am in and I can tell you that there is a great demand in this field,” said Tri-County Advisory Committee Chairman, John Rainone. “Tri-County students will continue to ‘work hard because today counts,’ just as our school motto states,” commented Tri-County electrical instructor, Francis McKeown. 

Back Row: Sean O'Reilly, Jack Whittlesy. Alex Majewski - Front Row: Ryan Nawn,  Alan Zheng

FM #521 - Marilyn Sutcliffe - Franklin Food Pantry donor - 04/01/21 (audio)

FM #521 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 521 in the series. 

This shares my wonderful conversation with Franklin resident Marilyn Sutcliffe. We learn of Marilyn’s Franklin story and discuss the reasons behind her financial contributions for the Franklin Food Pantry.

Our conversation runs about 18 minutes, so let’s listen in to my conversation with Marilyn.

Audio file =  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/480cbcf5-e462-4efa-b8c8-188449507b02

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Franklin Food Pantry  https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/  

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

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/  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!

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

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

Marilyn Sutcliffe - Franklin Food Pantry donor

What are the fixed costs of the Town of Franklin budget?

As part of the continuing series to prepare for the Finance Committee budget hearings (which begin next week) and the Town Council budget hearings (in May), check out the link to the details on the history of the fixed costs year over year from FY 2004 to FY 2022.

• Appendix C3 - Historic Data: Fixed Cost

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/appendix_c_historic_data_fy22.xlsx_-_fixed_costs.pdf

The chart depicts the fixed costs of the budget year by year from FY 2004 to FY 2022.  

What are the fixed costs?

• Liability Insurance
• Employee Benefits:
• Pensions
• Health/Life Insurance/non school
• Retired Teacher Health Ins
• Non GIC - School Retirees
• Workers Compensation
• Unemployment Compensation
• OPEB
• Medicare

What are the fixed costs of the Town of Franklin budget?

Prior posts

Town of Franklin - budget growth and split between municipal and schools - FY 2012 to FY 2022

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/town-of-franklin-budget-growth-and.html

School budget, executive summary by School Superintendent Sara Ahern

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/franklin-public-schools-fy-2022-annual.html

Executive summary by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/franklin-public-schools-fy-2022-annual.html

Link to Town of Franklin budget proposal for FY 2022
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/fy-2022-town-of-franklin-budget-proposal.html

 

"we don’t build enough homes for everyone"

"PASSING AMBITIOUS LEGISLATION matters for obvious reasons, but so too does the rule-making process that follows a law’s passage. Final language often leaves state agencies with tremendous leeway, and real-world impact can vary widely based on administrative decisions that often get far less public scrutiny. Political scientist Leah Stokes calls this the “fog of enactment,” which opens the door for better-resourced interest groups and engaged insiders to water down the impact of landmark legislation.

Responding to years of advocacy for zoning reform, the Legislature recently passed a new transit oriented development law requiring cities and towns in the MBTA service area to create at least one zoning district that legalizes modest multi-family housing construction of at least 15 units per acre. The new law is a great opportunity to address our region’s housing crisis, but critical details remain to be worked out through a complex rule-making process involving the Department of Housing and Community Development, Department of Transportation, and the MBTA – which could last for much of the coming year. Depending on where this process lands, this promising new law could, in practice, net thousands of new homes – or almost none. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/housing/getting-the-details-right-on-transient-oriented-development-law/ 

More COVID-19 vaccine clinics scheduled for veterans, spouses & caregivers!

MORE COVID-19 VACCINE CLINICS FOR 

VETERANS, SPOUSES AND CAREGIVERS!

Various Locations - Pre-Registration is NOT Required

Shared from: https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services/news/more-covid-19-vaccine-clinics-veterans-spouses-and-caregivers

More COVID-19 vaccine clinics scheduled for veterans, spouses & caregivers!

Vaccination is important for adults with underlying health conditions

"Vaccination is important for adults with underlying health conditions because they are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Vaccines for COVID-19 are recommended for people who haven’t had a bad reaction to any ingredients in the vaccine.

Get more information for certain conditions, including those that cause weakened immune systems, autoimmune conditions, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and Bell’s palsy": Vaccination Considerations for Persons with Underlying Medical Conditions | CDC

Vaccination is important for adults with underlying health conditions

Join in the town-wide cleanup on Earth Day - Saturday, Apr 24

Earth Day is celebrated across the country on Thursday, April 22 this year.  However, the Town of Franklin is sponsoring Franklin Earth Day on Saturday, April 24, 9:00-12:00 PM with a clean up of the entire Town. 

 
Employees of the Franklin Recreation Department and Franklin Public Works will be on site at Beaver Pond to distribute trash bags and gloves along with maps of the sites we recommend for clean up.  

Community service letters will be given to students that need hours for school. 

 
100 tee shirts to the first 100 volunteers.  DPW will have 100 dogwood saplings as well

Register online

https://franklinrecreation.activityreg.com/ss_t2.wcs?leaguesid=2385&teamsid=11205

Join in the town-wide cleanup on Earth Day - Saturday, Apr 24

Town of Franklin - budget growth and split between municipal and schools - FY 2012 to FY 2022

As part of the continuing series to prepare for the Finance Committee budget hearings (which begin next week) and the Town Council budget hearings (in May), check out the link to the details on the history of the budget year over year from FY 2012.

Appendix C1 - Historic Data: Budget Breakdown
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/appendix_c_historic_data_fy22.xlsx_-_budget_breakdown.pdf

The chart depicts the split between the municipal portion of the budget (police, fire, etc...) (orange color) and the school portion (both K-12 and others) (blue color) as well as showing the growth of the budget year by year.

municipal and school split over the FY 2012-FY2022 period

Prior posts

School budget, executive summary by School Superintendent Sara Ahern

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/franklin-public-schools-fy-2022-annual.html

Executive summary by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/franklin-public-schools-fy-2022-annual.html

Link to Town of Franklin budget proposal for FY 2022
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/fy-2022-town-of-franklin-budget-proposal.html