"Hearts Of Kindness" return to the Town Common

The "Hearts of Kindness" have returned to the Town Common. On my walk 

Monday morning, I had seen the cloths lines strung between some of the trees. The radar picked up that the hearts were going to be hung Monday afternoon.

I captured several photos during my walk on Tuesday. One shown here, the link to the album provided below.

masked or not,

life on the edge

or not, let’s find 

within ourselves

hearts of kindness

Photo album can be found online -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/zmbQif3AKSz3j3D86

The poem is an original 'sherku' - https://www.quietpoet.com/2022/02/sherku-hearts-of-kindness.html

some of the "Hearts of Kindness" hung around the Town Common

Ash Wednesday and Ash Sunday at St John’s

Join us for the traditional Ash Wednesday service on March 2 at 7 PM for imposition of ashes and the beginning of a holy Lent. Or, for a family-friendly version the following Sunday, March 6 at 10 AM.

St John’s Episcopal Church, 237 Pleasant Street, Franklin

For more information:

• Call 508-528-2387
• Email Admin@StJohnsFranklinMA.org
• Like us on Facebook at St John’s Episcopal Church
• See our website at www.stjohnsfranklinma.org 

Ash Wednesday and Ash Sunday at St John’s

Special School Committee Meeting - February 16, 2022 at 5 PM

*SPECIAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING 

FEBRUARY 16, 2022 AT 5 PM*

Topic: Face Coverings

Last week Governor Baker and Commissioner Riley held a press conference announcing that the Massachusetts Department of Secondary and Elementary Education will not be extending the mask mandate in school buildings past February 28th, 2022. This decision comes after consulting with medical experts and state health officials. The memorandum cites "the Commonwealth's high vaccination rates and widespread availability of COVID-19 testing for school personal and students" to support this decision. You can view the full memo here: https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/on-desktop/2022-0209mask-requirement-update.pdf

Without a state order, the decision on masking falls to local decision making. The Franklin School Committee is holding a special meeting on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 5:00 PM to discuss masking. The agenda and links can be accessed here: https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/events/scagenda_2-16-22_special_mtg.pdf

As for Franklin High School, FHS received a waiver from the state in November because over 80% of the population at Franklin High School had been vaccinated. The School Committee amended their policy in November to allow for masks to be optional at FHS for vaccinated individuals if the 14-day % positivity rate is below 4% (the current rate is above 4%). Therefore, masks are still required at FHS currently. Optional masking at FHS will also be discussed at Wednesday's meeting.

Masking will continue to be required on all school buses, per federal order. Masking is also required, per DPH, in school health offices.

Shared from FPS page -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/events/scagenda_2-16-22_special_mtg.pdf

Special School Committee Meeting - February 16, 2022 at 5 PM

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Virtual Meeting, Thursday, February 17, 7:00 PM

Our next 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node meeting will be this Thursday, February 17, 7:00-9:00 pm. (We schedule two hours to leave time for discussion and conversation, but feel free to leave early if necessary.)  

Join on Zoom

https://zoom.us/j/544734092?pwd=N3hwYzZBazRYZG9ycHRsbmliVkMxZz09  

Meeting ID: 544 734 092

Password: 350ma

Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

 

During the meeting, we will address climate bills being considered by the state legislature, actions to promote national changes, and local developments.

We will also continue to discuss the 350 Mass campaign, Building the Green New Deal, that promotes energy efficiency in houses and buildings, retrofitting and electrification of homes, updated building codes, and other actions by individuals, communities, and the Commonwealth. We'll consider opportunities we can pursue in our region.

We hope you can join us Thursday at 7:00. We'll send a reminder Thursday afternoon. 

Thank you for your commitment to the struggle for a transition to a just, equitable, and clean energy economy.

Node Co-coordinators,

Carolyn Barthel

Ralph Halpern

Ralph Halpern

ralph.halpern@comcast.net

781-784-3839 (h)

339-203-5017 (c) 

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Virtual Meeting, Thursday, February 17, 7:00 PM

Reminder: subscribe to stay in the know as we 'follow the money'

Since 2007, Franklin Matters provides a daily digital newsletter for Franklin residents and taxpayers to find out what is happening.  

How do we do that?

We 'follow the money' reporting on the Finance Committee, School Committee and Town Council meetings. Given the pandemic circumstances and with a consideration for the schedule, we are either in-person or reporting in real time on the meetings.

In addition to following the money, we look at the quality of life that this brings to Franklin. We report on the Board of Health, Community Preservation Committee, and as many others as possible.

What does this reporting provide for you?

Accurate and timely info, rich with details, and links to valid source materials including (in many cases) the recordings of the meetings of themselves. 

Thanks to the collaboration with our Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Town Council Chair Tom Mercer, we conduct and share a twice monthly series of conversations as we "Talk Franklin" and do some "Town Council Quarterbacking."

Since October 2019, producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This daily newsletter 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 reading, sharing, sending information along, and (of course) asking questions.

Subscribe here ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

• Meeting archives back to 2007 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/meeting-notes.html
• Franklin Matters audio recordings -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/fm-podcasts.html
• Franklin TV page -> https://franklin.tv/
• Franklin Public radio page -> https://wfpr.fm/
• Franklin Public Radio podcasts -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/franklin-matters-radio.html

Reminder: subscribe to stay in the know as we 'follow the money'

Franklin School Committee: Community Relations Subcommittee - Meeting agenda - Feb 17 - 6:00 PM

Community Relations Subcommittee Meeting

Municipal Building - Training Room (Virtual Link in Agenda)

Thursday February 17, 2022 - 6:00 PM

A G E N D A

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

• Call to Order
• Review Community Relations Subcommittee goals
• Legislative Forum - Date, Questions
• Coffee Chat
• Confirm schedule for upcoming meetings

Shared from FPS page ->  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/community_relations_sub_comm_agenda_2-17-22.pdf

Community Relations Subcommittee - Meeting agenda - Feb 17 - 6:00 PM

Both FHS girls and boys basketball teams posts wins vs. Milford on Tuesday

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of the FHS winter sports action on Tuesday:

Boys Basketball = Franklin, 73 @ Milford, 53 – Final 

– Franklin connected on seven three pointers in the second quarter alone, blowing the game wide open in a win on the road at Milford, which was the 200th career win for FHS head coach CJ Neely. The Panthers jumped out to a 17-10 lead after eight minutes but junior Geino Scaringello and freshman Caden Sullivan each hit a pair of second quarter threes while Evan DaSilva, Will Tracey, and Sean O’Leary each had one as Franklin’s lead ballooned to 43-22 by halftime. Franklin finished with 13 three-pointers in the win and had 10 players find the score sheet, let by O’Leary’s 19 points and Sean Vinson’s 10 points.

Girls Basketball = Milford, 19 @ Franklin, 80 – Final 

– All 14 players scored for the Panthers, as they continued their unbeaten run. Milford stayed within seven after the first, but Franklin scored 24 points in each of the second and third quarters to take complete control. The Panthers held Milford to six points in the second half. Olivia Quinn was Franklin’s top scorer with 13 points (11 in the first half). Stefany Padula added 11, knocking down three from beyond the arc, and Katie Peterson and Sasha Tracey each finished with 10 points. Brooke Ferreira scored all of her team-high eight points in the first half and the Hawks also got three points from Erin Michelson.

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-02-15-22/

FHS Panthers

Franklin School Committee - Budget Subcommittee - February 17, 2022 - 5:00 PM

Franklin Public Schools

Franklin School Committee

Budget Subcommittee

February 17, 2022 - 5:00 - 6:00 PM
Municipal Building 3rd Floor Training Room

A G E N D A

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at

the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be

brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

● Call to order
● Approval of minutes
● FY23 Budget Development discussion
● Adjournment 

The full doc has remote connection info ->  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/agenda-bsc_2_17_2022.pdf

Franklin School Committee - Budget Subcommittee - February 17, 2022 - 5:00 PM

Location, location, location: Even stores within a chain differ by location

“I could go into a supermarket, and I can tell everything about the people who live [in the area] based on what’s in their carts, based on what’s at eye level, what’s not at eye level,” said Phil Lempert, also known as the “Supermarket Guru.”

In retail, specific product placement — not just a store’s inventory — heavily influences a shopper’s experience. So shouldn’t responsible markets encourage shoppers to make better choices?

“There’s a lot of racism, to be honest, I think, behind these decisions, whether it’s unconscious or implicit,” said Andrea Richardson, a policy researcher focused on nutrition epidemiology at the Rand Corp. and professor at the Pardee Rand Graduate School. The presence of a supermarket in your neighborhood should signal that you aren’t living in a food desert, but, I wondered, if the supermarket isn’t guiding you toward more healthful food choices, you might as well be.

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/02/16/lifestyle/what-does-it-say-about-your-neighborhood-if-supermarket-isnt-so-super/

An endcap display of marked-down items at the Stop & Shop on 460 Blue Hill Ave. in Dorchester shows discounts on cake frosting, two for $3, and cake mix, four for $5.CHASEEDAW GILES/KHN

Mass. Public Health: updated guidance on masks

Mass. Public Health (@MassDPH) tweeted  Tue, Feb 15, 2022:

Massachusetts Department of Public Health releases updated face covering advisory: https://t.co/1HtpRtg0rj 

#Covid19MA https://t.co/v1ACvsrRnD

"Today (2/15/22), the Department of Public Health (DPH) released updated guidance regarding the use of face coverings and masks by individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Recognizing that Massachusetts is a national leader in vaccine acceptance, and in light of recent improvements in COVID-19 indicators, DPH now advises that a fully vaccinated person should wear a mask or face covering when indoors (and not in your own home) if you have a weakened immune system, if you are at increased risk for severe disease because of your age or an underlying medical condition, or if someone in your household has a weakened immune system and is at increased risk for severe disease or is unvaccinated.

Individuals who are not fully vaccinated should continue to wear a face covering or mask when indoors with others to help prevent spreading COVID-19.

Individuals who have tested positive or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 must follow the isolation and quarantine guidance which includes wearing a mask in public for 5 more days after leaving isolation or quarantine on Day 5, regardless of vaccination status.
All people in Massachusetts (regardless of vaccination status) are required to continue wearing face coverings in certain settings, including on public transportation and in health care facilities.  

Please see www.mass.gov/maskrules for a complete list of venues where face coverings have remained mandatory since May 29, 2021.

https://twitter.com/MassDPH/status/1493634973257064450

Ben's guide to mask wearing - #DoYourPartFranklin

Boston Globe: "What to do about your cable bill"

"Last year, I got tired of paying Comcast $14 a month to rent a modem and router, especially because the Wi-Fi service I got at home was so spotty. So I purchased my own modem and router for $290.

I now have better Wi-Fi and lower monthly cable bills. What I am saving monthly will soon exceed the cost of my new equipment. After that, it will be like getting a $14 discount every month.

I continued, however, to pay a very steep price to rent three digital adapters, which I need for the three “extra” TVs in my house. In December, Comcast hiked the fee for each adapter to $8.50. How can I justify paying $25.50 a month for adapters to TVs my wife and I only occasionally use?

I can’t. And so began my long-overdue quest to free myself of those infernal adapters, spurred on by Comcast’s latest round of price increases. I finally figured it out, and I will soon be rid of them. In the process, I realized cutting cable altogether isn’t such a scary prospect, even for a somewhat technophobic baby boomer like me."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/02/15/business/angry-that-your-cable-bill-went-up-again-heres-how-save/

A man holding a television remote.CHRIS RATCLIFFE/BLOOMBERG

February Vacation COVID Kids flyer - Feb 23

February Vacation COVID Kids flyer

Kids Clinic - Feb 23

Shared from Town of Franklin  https://www.franklinma.gov/recreation-department/news/february-vacation-covid-kids-flyer

To register -> https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/franklin

February Vacation COVID Kids flyer - Feb 23

Rockland Trust: Our 2022 Scholarship Program is Open!

We are thrilled to announce that our 2022 Scholarship Program starts accepting applications today, February 15, 2022. Sixteen $3,000 renewable scholarships will be awarded to students enrolling into a part-time or full-time secondary education program for the 2022-2023 academic year. Through the process of students submitting their applications, they will receive communications from rocklandtrust@scholarshipamerica.org, which is our online application system, Scholarship America. The Scholarship portal will close on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, or before, once 1,500 applications are fully submitted. For more information on the program and eligibility requirements, please click below.  Learn More © 2022 Rockland Trust. All rights reserved. Member FDIC This email was sent by: Rockland Trust Company 288 Union St, Rockland, MA, 02370-1803 US Privacy Policy

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Wednesday, Feb 16, 2022

•  wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Wednesday

9:00 AM 12:00 Noon and 6:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio/FPS Voice – Steve Sherlock
Franklin and its local government, services and events  (repeats Saturday at 9 AM)

• This slot features the School Committee Superintendent Search Workshop -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/school-committee-hears-options-for.html

10:00 AM 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM  The Wonderful World of Wine – Mark Lenzi, Kim Simone    All about wine, its culture, lore and finer points

• This slot features Episode 197 -> Wine Needs Millennials, New Wine TV Shows ->   https://www.podpage.com/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www/episode-197-wine-needs-millennials-new-wine-tv-shows/

11:00 AM 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock

Franklin and its local government, services and events (repeats Saturday at 3 PM)

• This slot features  the Finance Committee meeting as they review the capital budget for this year -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/finance-committee-approves-fy22-capital.html 

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = WEDNESDAY

7:29:00 am Mass Department of Public Health: CO-VID 19

7:30:00 am It Takes A Village: Dementia

8:30 am Second Sunday Speaker Series: Dennis Sardella

10:00 am Franklin Art Association: Joyce McJilton Dwyer

11:30 am Whole Health Visions: Life Coaches Pt. 1

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Waffles

12:30 pm Sandhya: Donuts

1:00 pm Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: L. E. A. P.

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Healthy Pizza Crusts

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Show 3

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation Show 1: Show 1

3:30 pm Veterans' Call: Robert Pierson

4:30 pm Arts Advocacy: Fundraising

6:00 pm Cooking Thyme: Candy Apples

6:30 pm Concerts on the Common: Jamie Barrett & Electric Youth

9:30 pm ArtWeek: Airmen of Note

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = WEDNESDAY

7:00 am Public School Event: Lifelong Music Pt. 1 01-28-19

8:30 am Public School Concert: FHS Winter Music 2018

10:30 am FHS Boys Varsity Basketball: v Taunton 02-08-22

12:30 pm Arts Advocacy: Fundraising

1:30 pm FHS Girls Varsity Hockey: v Mansfield-OA-Foxboro 02-03-22

3:01 pm Public School Event: Jazz Cafe 02-07-20

4:31 pm FHS Varsity Wrestling: v King Philip 12-22-21

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) = WEDNESDAY

8:00 am Town Council: 02-02-22

11:00 am Finance Committee: 02-09-22

2:00 pm Town Council: 02-02-22

5:00 pm School Committee: LIVE, Chambers, 823 9340 3278

Passcode: 842401

7:00 pm Town Council: LIVE, Chambers, 829 4067 4951

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)

"Love Letters to the Presidents" audio recording of State Rep Jeff Roy - 02/13/22

 FM #731 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 731 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the presentation and talk titled “Love Letters to the Presidents”. Franklin’s State Rep Jeff Roy presented at the Franklin Historical Museum on Sunday, Feb 13, 2022 to a full house. Jeff shared his adventures as he traveled to each of the Presidential libraries and museums.

Mary Olsson, Franklin Historical Commission, provides the very brief introduction to Jeff.

The link to the presentation document is included in the show notes.

The recording runs about 1 hour and 53 minutes, so let’s join Jeff on his journey to the Presidential libraries and museums.

Note: I think you should be able to follow along. While Jeff doesn’t provide page numbers, he does talk to a number of the photos and identifies which one is which on a page.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-731-love-letters-to-the-presidents-ma-state-rep-jeff-roy-02-13-22

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

Rep. Jeff Roy

• Jeff.Roy@MAHouse.gov

• www.JeffreyRoy.com

Link to the presentation document -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q7qkNZZzOcYLV9-WGt8AUYBhQx1RvxNn/view?usp=sharing 

Link to the National Archives -> https://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/visit 

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

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!

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

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

 "Love Letters to the Presidents" audio recording of State Rep Jeff Roy