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Wednesday, June 23, 2021
495/MetroWest Partnership: Our 2021 "Strength in Numbers" Report
“Massachusetts is going to be ground zero for the next wave of this fight”
"A fight that became the most expensive ballot measure in California’s history has arrived in full force in Massachusetts, setting the stage for a potentially costly campaign that could reshape the state’s labor law and how hundreds of thousands of workers operate under it.The question of whether Uber drivers, DoorDash delivery people, and other so-called gig economy workers should be classified as independent contractors or employees has already reared its head in litigation and at the State House, where a bill backed by the major ride-hailing companies is working through Beacon Hill’s legislative gears.But the emergence of two similarly named but opposing coalitions — each claiming the backing of app-based workers — is seeding a potential ballot question fight next fall, when voters could be asked to decide how the workers should be treated."
Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
Library of Congress: Copyright Public Modernization Committee Announced
Library Announces Copyright Public Modernization Committee
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Tuesday, June 22, 2021
The Housing Production Plan comment period is closing Friday June 25, 2021
Have you sent in your comments yet?
Sections of the plan were shared here in advance of the first public hearing at the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust meeting (June 2, 2021).
Housing Production Plan sections
- The Introduction to the **2021 Town of Franklin - Housing Production Plan - Public Review Draft**
- Executive Summary: ** 2021 Town of Franklin Housing Production Plan (HPP) ***
- Plan Development and Public Participation ** 2021 Town of Franklin - Housing Production Plan - Public Review Draft **
- Comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment ** 2021 Town of Franklin - Housing Production Plan - Public Review Draft **
- Strategies for Affordable Housing Production ** 2021 Town of Franklin - Housing Production Plan - Public Review Draft **
- Find the full copy of the Housing Production Plan
- Info on the public comment period
- Find the full copy of the Housing Production Plan
Meeting notes and audio links
Municipal Affordable Housing Trust meeting (audio with link to recap)
Economic Development Subcommittee meeting (recap)
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| The Housing Production Plan comment period is closing Friday June 25, 2021 |
wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Listen each week on the air at 102●9 fm, and online at our website, wfpr●fm as we bring more of our community – to community radio.
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| wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday, June 23, 2021 |
Tri-County RVT High School 42nd Graduation Ceremony - June 6, 2021
Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School officially gave 221 diplomas during the school’s 42nd graduation ceremony on Sunday, June 6th.
Superintendent-Director, Stephen Dockray, was joined on stage by School Committee Chair Brian Mushnick of Norfolk, Principal Michael Procaccini, Vocational Director Cathie Rebelo, Director of Special Education John Martin, Class Valedictorian Vivienne Seested of Franklin, Class Salutatorian Gerard (Ace) Ayotte, III of Seekonk, and. Class President Jennavive Barber of North Attleboro.
“You have made it to today despite a world-wide pandemic happening around you for the past 15 months. You have had to adapt continually over your last two school years here at Tri-County. This is a skill set that will serve you well in future years,” Superintendent-Director Stephen Dockray said. “Class of 2021, you did it! You should be SO proud of yourselves. It may not have been an easy road, but you made it!”
During her inspiring Valedictory speech, Seested spoke about Tri-County’s motto, “Work Hard, Today Counts,” and encouraged her classmates to “Work hard, work smart. Your yesterday, today, and tomorrow count.”
Barber’s Class President speech saluted her graduating classmates by saying, “Among us are electricians who powered light to hospitals, IT experts who fixed students’ Chromebooks during distance learning, and even healthcare workers who took care of COVID patients. We may have not had a normal high school experience, but as a vocational school, we did something bigger; we impacted the world in ways teenagers have never done before. We were unlike any others before us; we were unprecedented.”
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| Tri-County RVT High School 42nd Graduation Ceremony - June 6, 2021 |
Several students were awarded local scholarships and tool awards totaling $82,100 available exclusively to Tri-County students during the ceremony. Similar to scholarships, tool awards are given by local businesses, civic organizations, and families to aid students entering the workforce to purchase tools for their trade.
One of the largest scholarships awarded is the Dean College scholarship given annually to one Tri-County graduate. Anna Weidman, an Engineering Career Program graduate from Franklin, has been awarded a $36,000 tuition scholarship to Dean College for the 2021-2022 academic year. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years/eight semesters of attendance at Dean College. This is the twenty-third year that Dean College has awarded a scholarship to a Tri-County Regional student.
This year, Digital Federal Credit Union granted $10,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors.
The Tri-County graduation was held on a stage designed and constructed by the teachers and students of our Carpentry Program. The new stage will be used for years to come, and their hard work is much appreciated.
Many Tri-County graduates will further their education by attending a university or post-secondary education. Others will enter the workforce with the certifications and skills gained throughout their high school career, and five Tri-County graduates plan to enter into the U.S. Military.
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| graduation was held on a stage designed and constructed by the teachers and students of our Carpentry Program |
FHS baseball, girls and boys lacrosse teams win to advance in playoffs
Baseball - D1 South = #16 Durfee, 1 @ #1 Franklin, 15 – Final (5 Inn.)
– Franklin exploded for 12 runs in the fourth innning, turning a two-run game into a blowout against visiting Durfee. The Panthers built a 3-1 lead over the first three innings but the offense was nearly unstoppable in the fourth, recording nine hits and three walks to put the game out of reach. Junior Chris Goode (double, run, three RBI), sophomore Ryan Gerety (double, three runs, two RBI) and freshman Henry DiGiorgio (three runs, RBI) all smacked three hits to lead the way for the Franklin offense. CJ Jette added two hits and two runs, Jack Marino drove in two runs and scored twice, Jake Fitzibbons hit a double, had a walk and drove in two runs, Nate Cooke reached twice with an RBI, and Ben Jarosz had a hit, two walks, a run scored and an RBI. Jacob Jette earned the win on the mound, allowing one run on three hits and a walk in four innings of work while striking out six. Franklin will host #8 Norwood on Wednesday at 7:00PM.
Boys Lacrosse - D1 South = #16 Mansfield, 3 @ #1 Franklin, 16 – Final
– Franklin’s Justin Alexander only lost one faceoff as the Panthers rolled to their third win over Mansfield this season, this one in the state tournament. Sophomore Luke Davis led the attack with three goals and six assists, Matt Lazzaro added three goals and four assists and Jayden Consigli netted five goals in the win. Owen Kielty added a pair of goals and Joe Consigli notched a goal and four assists. Franklin will host #9 seed Wellesley on Wednesday at 6:30.
Girls Lacrosse - D1 East = #9 Acton-Boxboro, 10 @ #1 Franklin, 15 – Final
– Franklin jumped ahead of Acton-Boxboro early and never surrendered the lead to advance to the next round. The Panthers took a 5-1 lead after the first quarter and pushed the advantage to 11-1 by halftime. Franklin held a 13-4 advantage going into the final quarter where A-B pumped in some goals to tighten the score. Katie Jones scored three goals and had two assists while Katie Peterson accounted for a pair of goals and a pair of assists in the win. Jamie Tanner played well on defense and in the midfield, notching six draw controls and three caused turnovers. Brigid Earley made eight saves in the win for Franklin, who will host #5 seed Lincoln-Sudbury on Wednesday at 4:00.
Boys Tennis - D1 South - #8 Needham, 3 @ #1 Franklin, 2 – Final
– Franklin took wins at first and second singles but lost both doubles matches and third singles, falling to Needham to end the season. Senior Liam Marr emerged from a battle at first singles with a 6-4, 4-6, 14-12 win while Vayshnav Malhotra recorded a 6-3, 2-6, 10-5 win at second singles for the Panthers.
For other spring sports playoff results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-06-21-21/
https://hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-06-21-21/
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| FHS Panthers |
Tickets Are Selling Fast, So Grab Them While They Last! - Studio Two at THE BLACK BOX June 26
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New York Times: "What Are the Roadblocks to a ‘Vaccine Passport’?"
"With all American adults now eligible for COVID-19 vaccines and businesses and international borders reopening, a fierce debate has kicked off across the United States over whether a digital health certificate (often and somewhat misleadingly called a “vaccine passport”) should be required to prove immunization status.Currently, Americans are issued a white paper card as evidence of their COVID-19 shots, but these can easily be forged, and online scammers are already selling false and stolen vaccine cards.While the federal government has said it will not introduce digital vaccine passports by federal mandate, a growing number of businesses — from cruise lines to sports venues — say they will require proof of vaccinations for entry or services. Hundreds of digital health pass initiatives are scrambling to launch apps that provide a verified electronic record of immunizations and negative coronavirus test results to streamline the process."
Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
Dr Fauci and Kara Swisher on the Sway podcast (audio)
"Anthony Fauci doesn’t have a Twitter account. But he does have a lot to say about the recent scrutiny following the release of his emails from 2020 — an especially busy time in his tenure as America’s chief immunologist. Republicans like Ron DeSantis have used the emails as fodder for criticism, accusing him of “faucism” (yes, that’s a play on fascism). Fauci’s response: “Here’s a guy whose entire life has been devoted to saving lives. And now you’re telling me he’s like Hitler? Come on, folks. Get real.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
New York Times: "workplaces in apartment buildings"
"Before the pandemic, Tony Dopazo leased an office in Boston and used co-working spaces in Brooklyn for his company, Metro Tech Services, an IT provider for start-ups and biotech companies. Then the pandemic lockdown forced him, like countless others, to work remotely. That meant he was on the phone with clients from his apartment building, Level, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.At first, with the common areas in his rental building closed by Covid restrictions, Mr. Dopazo, 47, hunkered down in his one-bedroom, which was “brutal,” he said, “everything mish-mashing into one big blob of time.” But after the common spaces opened in September, he started going down to a co-working area in a ninth-floor lounge every day.The arrangement affords some “mental separation” from his home, he said, and, with other tenants working in the same space, he has companionship. When he needs to print or scan something, he heads to the ground-level business center. If he’s hungry, he returns to his apartment to make a sandwich, and for a break, he can take a dip in the building’s pool."
Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/18/realestate/coworking-rentals-condos.html
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| Tom Sibley for The New York Times |
Monday, June 21, 2021
FM #569 = Community Preservation Committee votes 9-0 to approve 'right of first refusal' (audio)
FM #569 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 569 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Community Preservation Committee meeting held Thursday, June 17, 2021
The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: all nine of the committee members were in the Municipal Bldg, along with Town administration personnel, some of the public joined via conference bridge.
Links to the key topics covered here are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 50 minutes, so let’s listen to the Community Preservation Committee meeting held Thursday, June 17.
* Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/279de95c-aab8-4e7c-a680-68490c0221ae
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Meeting agenda ->
https://franklinma.gov/community-preservation-committee/events/330126 #cpc0617
Right of first refusal summary
Recap of the meeting ->
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/06/recap-community-preservation-committee.html
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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/ 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"
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| Community Preservation Committee votes 9-0 to approve 'right of first refusal' (audio) |
Franklin TV: "The Dawning of a New Day? Juneteenth – Looking back, looking forward"
"As I sit in my office staring at a sunrise on a Saturday morning, musing and typing away, it is literally the dawn of a new day. A lovely day.
It’s also a brand-spankin’-new federal holiday. It is officially – Juneteenth.
This day commemorates June 19, 1865, when, more than a month after the last battle of the Civil War, Union soldiers informed the slaves of Galveston, Texas that they were at last emancipated. The date has been celebrated by black Americans ever since; first in Texas and eventually throughout the US. Whether you call Juneteenth Emancipation Day, Freedom Day or our second Independence Day, Juneteenth is one of the most important anniversaries in our nation's history.
There are those among us who cringe and fret over a holiday that calls attention to the past – to the darkest days of our nation’s history. I submit for consideration that every holiday has its rai·son d'ê·tre – a profound purpose to be fulfilled.
We celebrate – on July 4th – This year the festival returns to Franklin.
We commemorate – on Memorial Day- and honor those who served our country.
We rededicate – with each New Year – resolving to advance our better natures.
Now on every Juneteenth, let us not only commemorate long delayed independence of all, but embrace the opportunity to accelerate the just and equal enjoyment of that independence for all. Let Juneteenth lean forward into a better future. Let Juneteenth ask its essential perennial question, “How can we all work to eliminate pernicious systemic racism and advance genuine social and economic justice and true equality for everyone?”
We should all see Juneteenth as more than a ‘black holiday’, but a joyful journey for all of us toward the perfection of “freedom and justice for all”.
Let Juneteenth be an action item. In the fullness of time every Juneteenth will come to represent the dawn of a new day. A lovely day – for everyone.
And – as always –
Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm.And, thank you for watching. "
Pete Fasciano, Executive Director
Get this week's program guide for Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online
http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf or for archive purposes
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| Franklin TV: "The Dawning of a New Day? Juneteenth – Looking back, looking forward" |
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