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Saturday, May 28, 2022
Missed the 2nd Franklin For All Forum? Catch up on the info with these links
Drought status hasn't changed for the better
The overall drought status has worsened and with little precipitation in the outlook, things are not likely to get better soon. We are not yet moved up a level but it seems to be a matter of time.
US Drought Monitor site -> https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap.aspx
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| US Drought Monitor status for Mass |
The MA DEP drought status page can be found https://www.mass.gov/info-details/drought-status
The Town of Franklin water conservation info -> https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/water-conservation
Franklin Public Library Closed for Memorial Day - along with Town of Franklin offices and schools
Franklin Public Library Closed for Memorial Day
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| Franklin Public Library Closed for Memorial Day - along with Town of Franklin offices and schools |
The Franklin Public Library will be closed Sunday, May 29 and Monday, May 30 for Memorial Day.
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/news/franklin-public-library-closed-may-29-may-30-memorial-day
Friday, May 27, 2022
Franklin's Event Outlook: May 27, 2022 to June 2, 2022
Ah, the traditional start of summer has arrived. Concert opportunity this evening, stretch out with yoga choice on Saturday, car show photo opportunity on Saturday and the Memorial Day Parade and ceremonies on Monday. Be safe this weekend!
Friday, May 27
6:00pm - Hit the Bus with Laura May
Saturday, May 28
10:00am - Fuel’d Up Franklin - charity car show
10:00am - Historical Museum (always free)
11:00am - Goat Yoga is back!
11:00am - Yoga in the Taproom
Sunday, May 29
1:00pm - Historical Museum (always free)
1:00pm - Historical Museum (always free)
Monday, May 30 = Memorial Day
10:30am - Memorial Day Parade & Ceremonies
Wednesday, June 1 = First Day of LGBTQ+ Pride Month
7:00pm - Franklin Art Association
7:00pm - Franklin Art Association
Thursday, June 2
7:00pm - 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node
7:00pm - 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node
Find the full calendar https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html
If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6
The Town meeting calendar is found https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26
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| Community Calendar |
MA House Passes Legislation to Address Teen Sexting and Image-Based Sexual Assault
The Massachusetts House of Representatives today (05/26/22) passed legislation addressing teen sexting and image-based sexual assault, commonly referred to as “revenge porn.”
“I’m proud the House today passed a bill consistent with our intent
during criminal justice reform to provide intervention through diversion
instead of incarceration for minors,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano
(D-Quincy). “Additionally, the bill criminalizes image-based sexual assault by
adults and affords victims of this crime protections, including the opportunity
to get a harassment prevention order against their perpetrator.”
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| L-R: Speaker Marino, Lt Reilly, St Rep Roy |
“Under current law, when faced with an incident of sexting among
teenagers, the police are forced with either charging them with a felony or
doing nothing,” said State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin). “The bill passed today
provides law enforcement officers with a middle ground that will allow them to
educate kids about the consequences of their actions without ruining their
lives. It will have a tremendous impact on people who have become entangled in
the web and transmittal of images that can cause traumatic and lifetime harm
through a diversion program that will educate them about the legal and personal
consequences of “sexting.”
Currently, minors who possess or share explicit photos of themselves or
other minors are charged with violating Massachusetts child pornography laws
and are required to register with the Sex Offender Registry. “An Act
relative to transmitting indecent visual depictions by teens and the unlawful
distribution of explicit images” (H.4498) allows minors to be diverted
to an educational program established in the bill prior to delinquency
proceedings.
The educational diversion program, to be created by the Attorney General
and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), would provide
teenagers with information about the legal and nonlegal consequences of
sexting, which would be made available to school districts. DESE should also
encourage districts to implement media literacy programs in their schools as a
prevention measure.
A district attorney, however, is allowed to petition the court to bring
criminal charges in extreme cases. The bill creates a new misdemeanor offense
specifically for minors who possess or disseminate explicit images.
In addition to teen sexting, the bill addresses the nonconsensual
distribution of explicit images by adults by establishing a penalty in the
existing criminal harassment statute, including prison time and/or a monetary
fine for first and subsequent offenses. Under this bill, a victim may also
petition the court for a harassment prevention order against a person who has
violated this statute.
“An Act relative to transmitting indecent visual depictions by teens and
the unlawful distribution of explicit images” (H.4498) passed the House of
Representatives 154-0. It now goes to the Senate for their consideration.
State Representative Jeff Roy's floor remarks can be found in this PDF
Franklin, MA School Committee hears District Improvement Plan updates, recognizes 19 retirees (audio)
FM #803 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 803 in the series.
This session of the radio show is the audio recording of the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting conducted on Tuesday, Sep 24, 2022. All seven members of the committee were present. After the set of retiree recognitions, the meeting took a break and then resumed.
The recording runs about 2 hours and 27 minutes, so let’s listen in.
Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-803-school-committee-mtg-05-24-22
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Agenda document -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_5-24-22.pdf
Meeting packet folder with documents released for this meeting -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/may-24-2022-school-committee-meeting-packet
Franklin TV YouTube video -> https://youtu.be/gP5hyu8WZ3I
My notes via Twitter -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pO0ZkELeiMwFcz4sZg_NGLfujYDkmuo-/view?usp=sharing
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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"
Town Council budget hearing #2 - 05/26/22 (video)
The Town Council budget hearing #2 and vote on the FY 2023 budget was held Thursday, May 26, 2022 is available for replay via YouTube. Link => https://youtu.be/aY0ikJDyUTE (meeting starts at 2:28 of video)
My recap and audio will be available in a couple of days. In the meantime, my Twitter notes are available in one PDF
FHS baseball tops Natick, advances to Pedroli Tournament Finals
Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of the FHS spring sports action on Thursday:
Baseball = Franklin, 5 @ Natick, 0 – Final
– Franklin’s Jacob Jette and James Kuczmiec combined for a shutout performance with just three hits allowed and a total of 13 strikeouts to lead the Panthers to a win over Natick. Jette allowed just one hit and one walk in five innings of work with nine strikeouts to earn the win. Kuczmiec came on in relief to finish the game and struck out four with two hits and one walk allowed. Offensively, Franklin jumped ahead right out of the gates as Evan Raider smacked a two-out double to score Chris Goode in the top of the first inning. An inning later, Franklin struck again with two outs as Ben Jarosz singled and Joe Tirrell followed with a home run to left field to make it 3-0. The visitors added two more runs in the top of the fifth when Goode drove in both Ryan Gerety and Jack Marino, who both walked, with a double.
– Franklin’s Jacob Jette and James Kuczmiec combined for a shutout performance with just three hits allowed and a total of 13 strikeouts to lead the Panthers to a win over Natick. Jette allowed just one hit and one walk in five innings of work with nine strikeouts to earn the win. Kuczmiec came on in relief to finish the game and struck out four with two hits and one walk allowed. Offensively, Franklin jumped ahead right out of the gates as Evan Raider smacked a two-out double to score Chris Goode in the top of the first inning. An inning later, Franklin struck again with two outs as Ben Jarosz singled and Joe Tirrell followed with a home run to left field to make it 3-0. The visitors added two more runs in the top of the fifth when Goode drove in both Ryan Gerety and Jack Marino, who both walked, with a double.
Next up: The Pedroli Finals, Saturday, May 28th @ Mahan Field vs Hopkinton at 7pm. https://twitter.com/FHSCoachZBrown/status/1530015901671628806
Softball = Franklin, 0 @ King Philip, 14 – Final (5 Inn.)
– King Philip opened the bottom of the first with five straight hits and turned nine first-inning hits into eight runs, and never looked back in a big win over visiting Franklin. Ava Kelley (3-for-3) led off with a double and the hit parade was on as Ava Lanza followed with an RBI single, Meg Sherwood singled, Taylor Regan drove in two with a single, Charlotte Raymond followed with an RBI double, Maddie Paschke then tacked on a two-out RBI, Sarah Cullen smacked an RBI double, Kelley singled again, Lanza drove in another run with a single, and Sherwood reached on an error to bring in KP’s eighth run of the inning. KP added four runs in the third and then two more in the fourth on a two-run blast from Cullen. Jordan Bennett earned the win in the circle, allowing just two hits and no walks with six strikeouts in five scoreless innings of work.
For other results around the Hockomock League
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| FHS Panthers |
Editorial Statement: For Crying Out Loud (audio)
FM #802 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 802 in the series.
This session of the radio show is an editorial statement. Something I don’t do often, in fact rarely do but given the circumstances of this week, I feel compelled to share this.
The recording runs about 7 minutes, so let’s listen.
Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-802-for-crying-out-loud-05-25-22
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The text
“For crying out loud”
For, crying out loud
We’ll begin with a moment of reflection, take a deep breath, centering where we are in the present
The headlines yesterday were all over DESE going after Boston Public Schools for insufficient progress on a “myriad of problems”. In their 120+ page assessment, the litany of errors, shortfalls, discrepancies out outlined in detail with a particular focal point, rather myopic in that, DESE is the same organization that throughout the pandemic struggled to generate timely and accurate guidance. Those who live in glasshouses should not throw stones!
For crying out loud
The headlines were all about Boston and DESE until word came on yet another shooting, another elementary school, lives young and old cut short by someone misguided at best, armed unnecessarily, who likely had cried for help and the yet system did not respond. You can say it starts at home. He did. He shot his grandmother first.
For crying out loud
Perhaps lost among the other news headlines, was one that 12 students at FHS received the Commonwealth seal of biliteracy, achieving proficiency in two languages. It had been 11 when I created the headline Tuesday. It was raised by one more to 12 as another confirmation of a student award was received. Not unlike the initial reports or 14, then 18, 19… where will it end
I recall a poem by Robert Bly
“Let's count the bodies over again.
If we could only make the bodies smaller
The size of skulls
We could make a whole plain white with skulls in the moonlight!
If we could only make the bodies smaller
Maybe we could get
A whole year's kill in front of us on a desk!
If we could only make the bodies smaller
We could fit
A body into a finger-ring for a keepsake forever.”
Written during the Vietnam war, and the repetition of body counts the news broadcast daily.
For crying out loud
We’ll come back to FHS. There are more than 20 languages heard within the halls of FHS and these 12 students have mastered a couple. Maybe, there is hope. Maybe, among the halls of students, mastering language, they can lead us to a better place. Maybe they can bring a cracking (some would say breaking) system to its senses.
I hope so, I am tired of crying out loud
We’ll end with a moment of reflection, take a deep breath, centering where we are in the present. If we don’t use the past lessons to foster change, what will our future be?
For crying out loud
I’ll close with my own poem written in the pandemic
sherku: fear knot
I wake fearful
take a breath
realize
it is a
new day, we
can do this!
For more about Robert Bly -> https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/robert-bly
--------------
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"
 |
| Editorial Statement: For Crying Out Loud (audio) |
Veterans Coffee Social - All Vets are Welcome! - Jun 1 - 10:00 AM
June 2022 Coffee Social - All Vets are Welcome!
Join us June 1 at 10:00 a.m. at the Senior Center
Join us for coffee and conversation!
If you know of other veterans who'd like to join us, feel free to bring them too!
Shared from Town of Franklin page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services/news/june-2022-coffee-social-all-vets-are-welcome
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| Veterans Coffee Social - All Vets are Welcome! - Jun 1 - 10:00 AM |
FHS Senior Awards Night 2022 (video)
The FHS Senior Awards Night was broadcast via multiple channels Thursday evening and is available via YouTube for replay. Link -> https://youtu.be/soSP9PeOPKM
Showcase Cars Coming to NETA Franklin on Memorial Day Saturday - A Great Photo Opportunity!
What do SHOWCASE CARS and CANNABIS have in common? See for yourself Memorial Day Saturday! NETA will host a charity car show ‘Fuel’d Up Franklin’ on Saturday, May 28th in the NETA Franklin store parking lot at 162 Grove St.
The event will be held from 10 AM - 5 PM. Admission is free.
Everyone must be 21 years or older. You must show a legal ID to enter.
NETA is collaborating with “Pull’d Up” a national car show company – the event will benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. The pantry will have a donation station where you can support their work in the community.
You will see showcase cars including ‘Muscles’ and ‘Exotics’ while you can enjoy the other festivities of the day with:
• Local Franklin companies
• Food trucks
• NETA swag and products
• Pax engraver
• Adopt a dog program
• Live entertainment
• Food trucks
• NETA swag and products
• Pax engraver
• Adopt a dog program
• Live entertainment
Parking is available and police will be on hand to help guide traffic.
We look forward to seeing you there!
NETA always promotes responsible and safe use of cannabis.
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| Showcase Cars Coming to NETA Franklin on Memorial Day Saturday - A Great Photo Opportunity! |
BFCCPS Is Now Hiring for the 2022-2023 School Year
May 26, 2022
The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School (BFCCPS), is excited to share employment opportunities for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year.
BFCCPS is a regional public charter school for students in Kindergarten through Grade Eight located in Franklin, Massachusetts. Founded in 1995, BFCCPS is one of the oldest and most successful charter schools in the state of Massachusetts.
The school provides a well-rounded, rigorous academic program designed to educate the whole child providing courses in art, music, languages, technology, and physical education. The school's integrated character education, community service, and strong parent partnerships, have led to local, state and national recognition. In the fall of 2019 BFCCPS moved to a brand new 72,000 square foot facility located at 500 Financial Park in Franklin and added a gymnasium to the building in the spring of 2022. 
BFCCPS Is Now Hiring for the 2022-2023 School Year
Enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year will be 867 students who will be supported by 175 members of faculty and staff.
Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School provides competitive salaries, a positive work environment and a substantial benefits package for full-time and part-time employees, including health insurance, dental insurance, paid time off and tuition reimbursement.
At the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunity and will not unlawfully discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, medical condition, marital status or veteran's status. We conduct a criminal background check prior to employment.
Current openings include Elementary & Middle School Classroom Teachers, Classroom Assistants, Inclusion Teachers & Assistants, Math Interventionist, School Counselor, Physical Education/Health Teacher and Music Teacher. Additional opportunities may become available in the months ahead. We encourage interested candidates to learn more about the school on its website or Facebook Page.
Employment applications are accepted exclusively via SchoolSpring, and are listed on the school's website at http://bfccps.org/about/employment Please contact the school's Human Resources Director Kathy Lacana with any questions at klacana@bfccps.org
About the Benjamin Franklin Charter School
The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School's mission is to assist parents in their role as primary educators of their children by providing students with a classical academic education coupled with sound character development and community service. Our mission is supported by four distinct, yet interconnected pillars that provide for a collaborative, rigorous education for all students. These pillars guide, direct and define the school in all it does.
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| BFCCPS Is Now Hiring for the 2022-2023 School Year |
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