Franklin Food Pantry Launches ‘The Pantry Food Elves Holiday Drive’ - "12 Days of Donating” Campaign Celebrates 17 Years

The Franklin Food Pantry is excited to announce Food Elves 2022. This year the Franklin Food Elves “12 Days of Donating” Campaign marks 17 years of helping neighbors in need during the holiday season and beyond. Between December 1 through 12, the neighborhood collection by local middle and high school students serves as the largest fundraiser for The Franklin Food Pantry. In 2021, the Food Elves collected over $95,000 and we are excited to see what they accomplish this year!  

 

The Elves collect monetary donations only for The Pantry. With several food and fund drives underway, the Pantry is quickly filling up its small warehouse. The Pantry uses monetary donations to purchase chicken, beef and other meats, dairy products, eggs, fresh vegetables, and fruits at a deep discount from the Greater Boston Food Bank at a time when the need for those items is highest. With food prices increasing nationally by 13.1% and locally by 10.9% this year, it’s more expensive than ever to serve our neighbors in need. 

 

“Our amazing community is highly involved at this time of year, collecting food for the Pantry and educating their neighbors about food insecurity,” said Tina Powderly, Executive Director for the Franklin Food Pantry. “We are grateful for the bountiful donations of food we receive. But, after the holidays, when end-of-year giving naturally subsides and food drives lessen, monetary donations help us continue to meet the increasing need through the leaner months that follow.” 

 

“Our Food Elves are amazing students who are dedicated to giving back to the community. We appreciate their commitment and hard work as well as the tireless efforts of our district parents. Special thanks to Colleen Bond, Lisa Frankina, Deb Morandi, Denise Flynn Wright, Kathleen McGuigan, Laurie Cain and Kristen DeMayo.”  

 

The Food Elves distribute flyers about their donation drive and our signature purple envelopes in their neighborhoods. Their flyers direct community members about how to donate. Donations can be made in two ways: through a check donation that the Elves will pick up personally; or through each Elf’s own online personal campaign page. Each Elf sets their own fundraising goal and will be able to keep track of how much they personally raise. Students will receive 12 community service hours for in-person fundraising and 10 hours for online only fundraising.  

The deadline to sign up as an in-person Food Elf is 11/4. After 11/4 students can sign up for online fundraising only. The Food Elves program is a wonderful way to develop and encourage a lifelong commitment to service. Students can sign up to be a Food Elf and get more information here. 

 

If an Elf doesn’t visit your neighborhood, you can donate to the general page here. 

Franklin Food Pantry Launches ‘The Pantry Food Elves Holiday Drive’

About the Franklin Food Pantry 

The Franklin Food Pantry is not funded by the Town of Franklin. As a private, nonprofit organization, it depends on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other strategic partners. It is grateful for its many partnerships, including that with the Greater Boston Food Bank, that allow us to achieve greater buying power and lower our costs. Donations and grants fund food purchases, keep the lights on, and put gas in the food truck. Other programs include home delivery, Weekend Backpack Program for Franklin school children in need, mobile pantry, emergency food bags and holiday meal packages. The Pantry is located at 43 W. Central St. in Franklin on Route 140 across from the Franklin Fire Station. Visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org for more information. 

 

Please don't make this an "apathy election" - get out and vote on or before Nov 8

“There does seem to be a certain lack of intensity.”

⁃ Sec. of State Bill Galvin on the 2022 state election

There’s your early leader in the clubhouse for understatement of the year. And according to Galvin, the “slow” pace of mail-in voting points to a turnout of hundreds of thousands fewer voters than the last midterms.

It’s not as if the 2018 ballot was significantly sexier than this year’s uncompetitive dud. The Warren-Diehl Senate race never polled closer than 22 points. The Baker-Gonzalez gubernatorial matchup was like an old Mutt & Jeff comic strip without the hilarity. The ballot questions were low-key affairs.

This cycle features an open governor’s race that held the potential for competitiveness until GOP leadership drove their chances into a bridge abutment, vacancies for attorney general and auditor, and ballot questions touching on third-rail issues of taxation and immigration. And while the Congressional seats are barely contested, a red-hot battle for Capitol control in the lower 49 states could have conceivably pulled out some message-sending locals."

Continue reading Jon Keller's opinion online -> 

https://massterlist.com/2022/10/25/the-apathy-election/

The Election Collection contains all the info that should be helpful to Franklin voters. If you don't find something, please let me know and we'll se if it can be obtained.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/10/election-collection-2022-state-election.html

Election Collection 2022: State election November 8

Franklin Fire Dept schedules Open House & Touch-a-truck for Saturday, Oct 29

The @Franklin_fire_department will host their annual Open House on October 29th, 2022 from 10am - 2pm at the 40 West Central St. Headquarters! Explore our firetrucks and meet Sparky the fire dog. Feel free to wear your Halloween costumes and trick or treat around the station!

Shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CkGsgmkMhoD/

Fire Dept schedules Open House & Touch-a-truck for Saturday, Oct 29

SAFE Coalition schedules take back your medications day - Oct 29

Get those old medications our of your house and disposed of properly!
Join us October 29th - it could save a life!

shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CkHb2GSLV7Y/

SAFE Coalition schedules take back your medications  day - Oct 29

Boston Globe: "What should be on the Massachusetts state flag? Readers weigh in"

"Massachusetts is reexamining its state seal and motto — and by extension the state flag — after a special commission voted unanimously in May to recommend replacing both. The decision was seen as a win for activists and members of the state’s Indigenous population, who have long objected to the current image, which depicts a Native American man standing before a blue shield, a bow in one hand and a downward pointing arrow in the other. Above him is a broadsword brandished by an upraised arm; below him is the Latin motto, which translates to “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.”

But as reported in August, divisions still existed among the 19-member volunteer commission. One Indigenous member said he regretted his vote and worried that an important piece of history would be lost should the state seal be replaced."

Continue reading the Boston Globe article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/25/lifestyle/what-should-be-massachusetts-state-flag-readers-weigh/

Boston Globe: "What should be on the Massachusetts state flag? Readers weigh in"

Franklin Public Library: teens Murder Mystery Party - Oct 26 at 6 PM

Teen Murder Mystery Party! Wednesday October 26th 6:00PM 

Teens (ages 13+) are invited to step back in time this Halloween to solve a murder inspired by the true events of the Salem Witch Trials!

Shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CkGTUIkuqMu/

Franklin Public Library: teens Murder Mystery Party - Oct 26 at 6 PM

The Guardian: "Virtually all children on Earth will face more frequent heatwaves by 2050"

"The climate crisis is also a children’s rights crisis: one in four children globally are already affected by the climate emergency and by 2050 virtually every child in every region will face more frequent heatwaves, according to a new Unicef report.

For hundreds of millions of children, heatwaves will also last longer and be more extreme, increasing the threat of death, disease, hunger and forced migration.

The findings come less than a fortnight before the Cop27 UN climate talks get underway in Egypt, and after a catastrophic year of extreme weather events – heatwaves, storms, floods, fires and droughts – have demonstrated the speed and magnitude of the climate breakdown facing the planet.

According to Unicef, 559 million children currently endure at least four to five dangerous heatwaves annually, but the number will quadruple to 2 billion by 2050 – even if global heating is curtailed to 1.7 degrees, currently the best-case scenario on the table."

Continue reading The Guardian article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/25/global-heatwaves-2050-unicef-report

   

A Palestinian mother showers her child during a heatwave in the southern Gaza Strip in August 2022. Photograph: Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Wednesday, Oct 26, 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 my conversation with State Senate candidate Rep Shawn Dooley https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/10/conversation-with-state-representative.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

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 hour features my most recent Making Sense of Climate, episode #16 features a return visit with Rep Jeff Roy https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/10/now-that-climate-bill-was-signed-whats.html

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

7:30 am It Takes A Village: Philip Hulbig

8:30 am Metrowest Symposium: Sharing Identity on Social Media

10:00 am Lessons For Littles

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Apple Crisp

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Stromboli

12:30 pm Sandya: Pasta

1:00 pm Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Healthy Communities

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Meat-Lovers Pt. 2

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 Show 5

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 7

5:30 pm Veterans' Call: VA Pension

6:00 pm Celebrate With Pride: Pt. 2

7:30 pm 4th of July 2022: Granite Brass

9:00 pm Franklin Cultural Council: Pamela Means

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

7:00 am Public School Concert: Sullivan Winter Music 2019

8:30 am Pack 92 Pinewood Derby 2022

10:00 am SAFE Coalition: Michelle Palladini

11:00 am Public School Concert: Elementary Winter Music Pt. 1 12-11-18

1:00 pm FHS Girls Varsity Soccer: v Untitled

3:00 pm Let's Talk Sports: Episode 7

3:30 pm U. S. Army: Jazz Ambassadors 04-01-19

8:00 pm FHS Varsity Field Hockey: v Taunton 10-17-22

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

8:00 am Town Council: 10-19-22

2:00 pm Town Council: 10-19-22

7:00 pp Finance Committee, LIVE, Chambers, 814 8702 6597

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)

Tabulator/voting machine testing - October 26 at 9 AM

Our Town Clerk Nancy Danello has scheduled the tabulator/voting machine testing for Wednesday, Oct 26 at 9 AM in the Council Chambers at the Municipal Building.

Observers welcome!

• See for yourself how voting is paper ballot based
• See how the machines have no connection to the internet

This is an opportunity to ask about how the vote is tabulated by the machine, cross checked manually, and then tallied in a spreadsheet to produce the 'unofficial results'. The Town Clerk then has time in the office to validate the checks, etc. to confirm and produce the 'official results'.

The testing was completed prior to the September primary and reported on previously: https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/08/town-clerks-office-completes-testing-of.html

Town Clerk notification of testing -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/news/tabulatorballot-testing-october-26th-see-attached

All of our tabulators have been tested for accuracy & have been confirmed as ready for voters (Town of Franklin photo)

"The Great Pumpkin Weigh In" at the Farmers Market - Oct 28, 2022

"The Great Pumpkin Weigh In" is scheduled for the 'last' Farmers Market of this season on Friday, October 28, 2022. 

Don't forget to stop by this Friday for the Touch a Tractor and a Pumpkin Contest to finish out the market season!

We will also have the music stylings of Peter Salzberg with his saxophone all afternoon...

SHARE this with your friends you want to come with you & we'll see you there!

Shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CkGBB7itw8s

"The Great Pumpkin Weigh In" at the Farmers Market - Oct 28, 2022

MA Senate Enacts Bill to Limit the Use of Step Therapy

The Massachusetts State Senate on Monday enacted legislation to limit the use of step therapy, or 'fail first' protocols that too often direct patients to cheaper medications rather than those more suitable to treat their condition. The bill, An Act relative to step therapy and patient safety, gives health care providers more leverage in determining the most effective treatment options for patients, saving patients expensive and painful regimens on medications they know to be ineffective or harmful. This bill builds on similar legislation passed by the Senate in 2020.

 

"Today, the Senate has taken action to reinforce its belief that health care decisions should be made by patients and their providers," stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "I'm proud that the Senate has consistently led on the issue of limiting the use of step therapy as part of a wider strategy to shift the balance of health care back in the direction of the patient. I want to thank Senators Cyr, Friedman, and Rodrigues for continuing to work to get this important legislation onto the Governor's desk." 

 

"Providing access to groundbreaking treatments that help improve the quality of life for those fighting cancer, debilitating diseases and a wide range of other medical conditions is a vitally important step we need to take, which is why the Senate acted again today to pass this critically important legislation," said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. "I applaud Senate President Spilka for her continued leadership, Senator Cyr, Senator Friedman, our colleagues in the Senate and the coalition of patient advocates for their dedication, desire and hard work to help us enact legislation that provides necessary guardrails around the use of step therapy, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of patients in need."

 

"Today, we are taking action to ensure that patients with complicated illnesses receive the medications that their doctors know they need—not repeatedly taking medications that are ineffective," said state Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Recovery, who sponsored the legislation. "Waiting for treatment to fail first before utilizing a preferred medication often leads to worsening symptoms that cause complications and needless suffering for patients; it is a shortsighted practice that puts patients at unnecessary risk. I am grateful to Senate President Karen Spilka for her leadership and vision on health equity. Thank you to Senator Friedman, Senator Rodrigues, and our colleagues in the House, Representative Roy, Representative Decker, and Representative Lawn, for their partnership in advancing this legislation to the Governor's desk."

 

"This bill is a major step forward in ensuring patients and doctors have access to the right medication at the right time," said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. "We are finally joining over half the states in the nation in reforming step therapy practices, putting the focus back on health care providers working with patients to offer the best treatment possible."

 

Step therapy serves as a cost-saving mechanism that can limit a patient's ability to access the medication that is most suitable for treating their condition. Insurers that utilize step therapy protocols require medical providers to prescribe lower-cost medications to patients first, and only grant approval for alternative medications when the cheaper options have failed to improve a patient's condition. In practice, this results in insurers effectively choosing medications for the patient, even in cases where their providers have recommended an alternative. When patients change insurers, they are often forced to start at the beginning of the step therapy protocol again, which results in wasteful health care expenditures, lost time for patients, and potentially devastating health care impacts on the patient.

 

Step therapy is not limited to specific diseases. It affects patients across the healthcare spectrum, with particularly dramatic impacts on the allergy and asthma, antipsychotic, arthritis, cancer, coronary artery, depression, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's patient communities.

 

To address this, the bill establishes guardrails to protect patients in circumstances in which following step therapy protocols are counterproductive or harmful. The bill prohibits insurance providers from establishing a step therapy protocol that requires an insured individual to utilize a medication that is not likely to be clinically effective for the prescribed purpose. When establishing clinical criteria for step therapy protocols, the bill would ensure that insurance providers determine effectiveness through clinical review and take into account the needs of typical patient populations with similar diagnoses.

 

The bill provides patients who are subjected to step therapy sequences with an accessible exemption request process whenever coverage is restricted. The legislation enumerates specific timelines for insurers to review requests and grant exceptions, and in cases where interruptions in the patient's medication schedule puts them at considerable risk, the turnaround time is faster. Under the bill, providers would accept or deny a request within 3 business days or within 24 hours if additional delay would significantly risk the insured individual's health or well-being. If an exception to step therapy is denied, the bill includes a process for the decision to be appealed.  Upon granting exemptions, MassHealth and private insurers would be required to provide coverage for the drug recommended by the patient's provider.  

 

To assist in future reforms, the bill would create a commission on step therapy protocols within MassHealth to study and assess the implementation of this bill and any future step therapy reforms.

 

If passed, Massachusetts would join 28 other states in curbing unfair step therapy practices. The bill, An Act relative to step therapy and patient safety, is now before the Governor for his consideration.

 

The legislative text can be found -> https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H4929

MA Senate Enacts Bill to Limit the Use of Step Therapy

Franklin Residents: 2022 Town Annual Report

2022 Town Annual Report

2022 Town Annual Report

The Town of Franklin has released the Annual Report for FY2022. 

You may access it here:   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2022_annual_report_0.pdf

FHS field hockey, volleyball and both girls and boys soccer teams post wins on Monday

Via HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Monday, October 24, 2022. We also provide the link to the full set of Hockomock League results below.

Boys Soccer = Franklin, 1 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final 

– Franklin converted a penalty kick 15 minutes into the second half to get a win on the road over Attleboro and clinch the Kelley-Rex division title. An unlucky hand ball on a service into the area from Noah Cain gave the visitors a chance from the spot. Senior Trey Lovell stepped up and buried a low shot for the only goal of the game.

Girls Soccer = Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 4 – Final 

– Anya Zub’s hat trick pushed the Panthers to a big home win and maintained their lead at the top of the Kelley-Rex. Selene Hammad opened the scoring for Franklin just two minutes into the game, with Zub picking up the assist. Zub would score the next three goals. Kelly O’Connor, Olivia Costa, and Hammad had the assists. Jamie Davies added a late goal for the Bombardiers, converting a penalty after Tatum O’Brien’s nice run into the box drew a foul. Alexis Campbell made double digit saves in the loss.

Field Hockey = Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final 

– Attleboro kept it close, trailing just 2-0 at halftime, but Franklin scored a late goal in the third quarter and two more early in the fourth to pull away for the win. After a scoreless first quarter, Emily Carney scored three minutes into the second (from Kaitlyn Carney and Sophia Cuneo) and then again with under a minute to play until halftime (from Haley Wernig and Cuneo). Payten Crandell (from Kaitlyn Carney) pushed the Panthers’ lead to 3-0 with just over a minute to play in the third, and both Wernig and Kaitlyn Carney scored inside the first five minutes to make it 5-0. Siany Ortez made 10 saves in net for the Bombardiers.

Volleyball = Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 3 – Final 

Ryan Lanigan, founder and Editor-in-Chief of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap: 

"It’s getting crowded at the top of the Kelley-Rex division standings. 

Despite falling behind after an epic opening set, Franklin volleyball rallied for three straight wins to secure a 3-1 victory over Attleboro (33-35, 25-16, 25-19, 25-19), moving the Panthers into a three-way tie in first place along with the Bombardiers and King Philip, who also won on Monday. 

All three teams split their respective season series and sit at 13-2 in league play with one match left, none of which are against one another. 

The battle between the Panthers and Bombardiers — a clash of two top 10 teams in Division 1 in the latest MIAA rankings, and a rematch of a superb five-set thriller from earlier this season — started with a first set that neither side wanted to lose, as seen by the score."

Continue reading the game recap -> 

https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-volleyball-earns-redemption-with-win-over-attleboro/

For a photo gallery from this game -> https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2022-2023/Fall-2022/Franklin-Attleboro-Volleyball-10-24-22/

For other results around the Hockomock League

https://hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-10-24-22/

 

Franklin freshman Makayla Kuykendall (20 kills) attacks the ball in the second set against Attleboro. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

Reminder: The 47th Annual Franklin Newcomers Craft Fair is scheduled Nov 5

The 47th Annual Franklin Newcomers & Friends Craft Fair is set for Sat. November 5, 2022 from 9 AM to 3 PM.

It will still be held at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, 147 Pond St., Franklin, after taking a break following two years of COVID.

This year, the craft fair will be held at the school’s gymnasium. Plenty of space for mingling, browsing, and shopping. Enter at the left of the building instead of the front doors. Lots of parking right in front of the entrance.

47th Annual Franklin Newcomers Craft Fair

This popular and well-established event features hand-crafted items from artists throughout New England. You’ll find a wonderful selection of items to give yourself or to recognize a birthday, holiday or any other special occasion.

Here’s a sample of what you can buy: home décor and housewares, jewelry,  paper crafts, pets, wood crafts, glass crafts, handbags, health and wellness products, food, holiday, art and photography, bath and body, adult and children’s clothing and accessories.

The club is accepting donations for the Franklin Food Pantry. The entry fee is $3 for people 12 years of age and older.

Visit Franklin Newcomers & Friends Club (FNC) on Facebook for more Craft Fair details: @FranklinNewcomersCraftFair

For club information and activities, visit them on Facebook page: @FranklinNewcomersFriends Club.

Senior Center: Rainbow Café - Tuesday, October 25 at 2:30 PM

Hello All,

Tuesday at 2:30 is our monthly Rainbow Café gathering and we hope you will join us at the Franklin Senior Center in friendship and conversation.  

Our Rainbow Café is multigenerational and open to all in the LGBTQIA+ community.  

Tomorrow we welcome members of "True Colors" from Dean College and the Franklin High School FGSA. 

We look forward to seeing you all.  Please feel free to share this event with other like minded folks who may be interested in joining us. 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Ariel at 508-520-4945.

Ariel

"It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences."  ~ Audre Lorde

Rainbow Café - Tuesday, October 25 at 2:30 PM

--

Ariel Doggett

Respite Coordinator

Supportive Day Coordinator