Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER told lawmakers on Tuesday that Massachusetts can easily afford his package of $700 million in tax cuts, and the state needs some of the changes benefitting higher-income taxpayers to prevent them from moving elsewhere.
“Not only can we afford this tax relief proposal, we believe it’s time to give Massachusetts families back some of the tax revenue that they created through their hard work,” Baker told the Legislature’s Revenue Committee at a hybrid hearing held in person and virtually on the first day the State House was open in nearly two years.
The tax relief package in some sense pits a Republican governor against a Democrat-controlled Legislature whose leaders to date have not made reducing taxes a high priority. During the hearing, Democratic lawmakers focused most of their attention on the governor’s proposed reductions in the estate tax and the income tax on short-term capital gains — two taxes that benefit wealthier individuals. They suggested the money for those tax breaks could be better spent on reducing taxes paid by lower-income taxpayers."
"THE STATE WILL OWE cities and towns more than $2 million to keep polling places open for additional mandated voting hours during the September 2022 state primary and November 2022 general elections, Auditor Suzanne Bump said Tuesday.
Under the 1983 Uniform Polling Hours Law, cities and towns must keep polling locations open for at least 13 hours on primary and general election days, an increase from the previously-required 10 hours of voting. The law also directs the auditor to certify what offering the extra hours will cost municipalities with the costs to be paid through the secretary of state’s office."
Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell, recently appeared on a segment broadcast by Quincy Access Television commemorating Black History Month and recognizing distinguished African Americans with ties to Norfolk County.
“There are a number of prominent African Americans with ties to Norfolk County”, noted the Register, “ranging from world-renowned figures like Booker T. Washington, who summered in Weymouth, to lesser known but important figures such as Florida Ruffin Ridley, a nineteenth century civil rights activist from Brookline, one of the first black public schoolteachers in Boston and editor of the Women’s Era, the country’s first newspaper established by and for African American women.”
Some of the other African Americans mentioned by Register O’Donnell in the segment include historic figures like William B. Gould, after whom a park in Dedham was recently renamed, Henry W. Diggs from Norwood, former Boston Celtic and Sharon resident Sam Jones and more contemporary individuals like Randolph’s Audie Cornish, a reporter and host on National Public Radio, William (“Mo”) Cowan from Stoughton who served in the United States Senate and former Governor Deval Patrick, a resident of Milton from 1989 to 2016.
“I appreciate Mark Crosby and the folks at Quincy Access Television providing me the opportunity to expound on some of the rich history of Norfolk County and honor some of the contributions of African Americans from our communities here in Norfolk County that have been a part of that history”, stated Register O’Donnell.
To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds and Instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds.
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street in Dedham. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry’s website www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center via telephone at (781) 461-6101, or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.
9:00 AM 12:00 Noon and 6:00 PMFranklin Matters Radio/FPS Voice – Steve Sherlock Franklin and its local government, services and events (repeats Saturday at 9 AM)
Please join me for an informative and informal Q&A session. This will be a hybrid meeting. I plan to be in the Senior Center and will have the Zoom conference bridge available for remote participation.
We will try something new this time with a special guest: Town Councilor Ted Cormier-Leger will join us for the discussion.
When: Wednesday, Feb 23,2022 at 11:00 AM
Where: Franklin Senior Center (conf room upstairs on left) and via Zoom
The Franklin Historical Museum is the place to be to celebrate the 244th birthday of the Town of Franklin. In the midst of our young country’s Revolutionary War, the residents of the western precinct of Wrentham established their own charter and the town of Franklin was incorporated on March 2, 1778.
All are welcome to stop in for a piece of cake and catch up on Franklin’s history. Residents sharing the same birthdate have received special invitations to share their mutual birthday together. All attendees sharing the same birthday as the town will be entered into a drawing for a bank note with none other than Ben Franklin’s photo adorning it! The fun starts at 1:00 PM Sunday. March 6 with the drawing held at 1:45 PM.
This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum. When visiting the museum, please bring a non-perishable food item for the Franklin Food Pantry.
Admission to the museum is always free.
The Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central St, Franklin, MA.
OnSaturday March 5at 4:00 PMDemocrats will convene virtually to elect delegates and alternates to represent Franklin at the 2022 State Democratic Convention.
Registered and pre-registered Democrats in Franklin 16 years old by February 4, 2022 may vote and be elected as delegates or alternates during the caucus. Youth (age 16 to 35), people with disabilities, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community not elected as delegates or alternates are encouraged to apply to be add-on delegates at the caucus or by visiting massdems.org/convention.
The 2022 Convention will be a hybrid convention, with in-person proceedings taking place alongside virtual participation options on June 3 and 4 at the DCU Center in Worcester. Delegates will convene to endorse candidates for statewide office ahead of the September Democratic Primary. The MassDems are closely monitoring changes in public health guidance and will update plans accordingly.
Those interested in getting involved with the Franklin Democratic Committee should contact Rachel Plukas at chair@FranklinDemocrats.org.
Franklin Democrats to caucus virtually on March 5, 2022
"The high school gymnastics community has been buzzing the past two years over the emergence of Masconomet sophomore Bella Misiura and Franklin senior Emma White. Due to the pandemic, Misiura and her two-time state champion Masconomet teammates had not had the opportunity to face Franklin, which jumped into the spotlight last winter thanks to White’s high-level gymnastics.
Misiura and White’s first all-around high school battle at Monday afternoon’s Massachusetts High School Gymnastics Coaches State Individual Championships at Tewksbury High School lived up to expectations.
The title came down to the last event, floor exercise. Both completed difficult double back tumbling passes, Misiura’s front tumbling was the difference-maker, earning her a 9.575 score that gave her the title over White, 38.275 to 38.125. "
Despite her execution of a difficult double back tumbling pass, Franklin's Emma White (above) came up just short of Masconomet's Bella Misiura, whose narrow victory on the floor exercise propelled her to the all-around title. ERIN CLARK/GLOBE STAFF/ERIN CLARK
Via Twitter, a video of Emma's floor performance:
Emma White’s floor routine for @FHSSports, earning a 9.550 to help her finish second at the all-around championships. pic.twitter.com/MGH0BZaFuF
Via HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the FHS winter sports action on Monday:
Boys Basketball = Franklin, 43 vs. Leominster, 30 – Final – Anchored by one of its best defensive efforts of the season, Franklin landed an impressive win over one of the two ranked teams in Division 2. Junior Ben Harvey had a fantastic showing on the defensive end, holding one of Central Mass’ best players Justin Dadah Jr. to just one three-pointer in the fourth quarter. The Panthers used a 16-0 run across the first and second quarters to create separation. Sophomore Sean O’Leary scored eight of his 11 points in the opening half while Harvey got it going on the offensive end with six points in the second. Geino Scaringello gave the Franklin offense a big boost in the second half with all of his nine points coming over the final two frames.
"In this episode, Dr. Pandora Carlucci and Jay Horrigan are joined by Reverend Junger, Reverend McAdams and Rabbi Alpert to discuss the topic of overwork; how work can bring meaning to one's life, when work starts to become overwork, how to find time for rest and recovery, balancing family and personal relationships and so much more. "
Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) has put together a storymap, an interactive presentation of text, photos, video, and maps. The storymap explains the impacts of several dams along the Charles River and how removal of these dams could help (1) restore the river to its original flow, (2) allow various fish species to return and thrive in their natural habitat, and (3) potentially mitigate for climate change.
DOER Announces Public Hearings on New Stretch
Code Proposal
Dear Building Energy Code Stakeholder,
DOER will hold five virtual public
hearings to receive comment on its Straw Proposal for Stretch Code
update and New Specialized Stretch Code released on February 8th. The following
information can be reviewed in advance of the hearings at DOER's new Stretch Code Development
webpage:
DOER will provide a brief presentation to
respond to clarifying questions received in advance of the public hearing,
however the majority of the time is reserved to hear public comments. Public
comments will be limited to 3 minutes per person to ensure all participants
have a chance to provide comment.
To submit questions or to sign up to give
public comment at a hearing please send an email to stretchcode@mass.gov with the title ‘Comment for Public
Hearing’ and include your name, organizational affiliation and municipality
where you work or reside, as applicable. There will be four regional hearings
and one additional hearing dedicated to Environmental
Justice communities statewide. At each regional hearing, comments and questions from
participants representing communities in the designated region will be
prioritized. Visit the Green Communities webpage to find out which region your community is in.
REMINDER: DOER highly encourages written
comments on the Straw Proposal for Stretch Code update and New Specialized Stretch
Code to be submitted electronically to stretchcode@mass.gov with the subject line “Stretch Code
Straw Proposal Comments”. Written comments will be accepted until 5 pm
EST on March 9th, 2022
Thank you,
Maggie McCarey, Director - Energy Efficiency Division
"depending on which calendar you are using, Washington was born on both Feb. 11, 1731, and Feb. 22, 1732. They were the same day. ...
This may sound goofy and old-timey, like bleeding or quill pens, but the modern American government made its own awkward calendar change as recently as 1971, with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. That officially changed the holiday marking Washington’s birthday to the third Monday in February. Depending on the year, the holiday falls anywhere between Feb. 15 and Feb. 21.
It never falls on Washington’s actual birthday, regardless of which calendar you use."
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