A Conversation of Hope: Black & Jewish Voices in Harmony - Dec 11 at 7 PM

Via Temple Etz Chaim: 

"December 11, 2022 at 7:00 pm. Come attend a special presentation at 900 Washington St in Franklin. 

Rabbi Alpert will be among those presenting."

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

Franklin Observer provides updates on the event, including that while setting is limited, Franklin.TV will broadcast and live stream the event (12/03/22) ->   https://franklinobserver.town.news/g/franklin-town-ma/n/133668/conversation-hope-planned-temple-etz-chaim

A Conversation of Hope: Black & Jewish Voices in Harmony - Dec 11 at 7 PM

The Rescignos are scheduled to perform "Franklincense" - Dec 10 at THE BLACK BOX

Take a walk in a twin-ter wonderland! 

The Rescignos

For over a decade the Rescigno brothers have performed a brand new holiday show in NYC, and this year they are bringing it to Franklin! Critic Roy Sander writes of the show, "F**king brilliant...I would be hard put to think of anyone I would rather be entertained by for an hour than The Rescignos." Cabaret Scenes' Rob Lester says, "The Rescigno twins raise sibling squabbling to an art form." Paul and Robbie add, "We also look pretty good in our sweater vests." So join The Rescigno boys for the latest installment of their annual holiday show--it'll sugar your plums!

Opener: Ali Funkhouser with Raye Lynn Mercer (piano) and Irina Fainkichen (violin). An actress and singer with a love for all things silly, Ali's solo cabaret shows combining musical theatre, comedy, and jazz have been described as, "still going on."

Ali Funkhouser with Raye Lynn Mercer (piano)
and Irina Fainkichen (violin)

Tickets can be purchased by call the Box office or online ->

https://www.theblackboxonline.com/events.php?id=1637

Franklin Police: Annual Toy Drive, Photos with Santa, Dec 11

From the Franklin Police Dept: 

"On December 11 from 10 AM to 1 PM stop by the station for pictures with Santa as part of our annual toy drive. 

Pictures are free but we’re asking for donations of new and unwrapped toys for all ages. 

We hope to see you there!"

Shared from Instagram ->  https://www.instagram.com/p/CljXy4FOCmJ/

Franklin Police: Annual Toy Drive, Photos with Santa, Dec 11

Reminder: AcuPUNKture's Local Artisan Holiday Market - Dec 3

Join us for our first annual holiday market featuring 16 local small businesses and their amazing offerings!

This market will take place on the top* floor of 205 E. Central Street, Franklin, MA throughout our Community Event Space, Boutique & Clinic Space!

There will be 12 local vendors and 4 fun activities including Henna, Tarot Readings, Astrology Readings and Chair Massage so make sure to arrive early to secure a spot if you wish to partake in an activity!

Note: *Unfortunately, there is no elevator in the building.

AcuPUNKture's Local Artisan Holiday Market - Dec 3

Franklin Town Council meeting of Nov 30, 2022 video replay available (YouTube)

The Town Council met on Wednesday, Nov 30, 2022. One member was absent, one remote so all votes were via roll call. My full set of notes, along with the audio, will be shared in a day or so. 

In the meantime, here is the Franklin TV video replay via YouTube ->

https://youtu.be/FXWkMcix63s

Meeting agenda and documents released for this session ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/nov_30_town_council_agenda.pdf

Members of the Elks Riders presented a donation to the Veterans Fund

After a 2nd discussion, Economic Development still finds no consensus on approach to inclusionary zoning proposal

The Economic Development Subcommittee and Steering Committee met on Wednesday, Nov 30, 2022 in the Council Chambers with one member participating remotely. The discussion centered on the inclusionary zoning proposal carried over from the prior meeting. 

While the group had more time to review the matter, they still could not reach consensus on a recommendation and yet did move the item for discussion by the full Council. In my view, this group, which in principle approves of the concept, and yet can't recommend an approach, likely sets the full Council discussion up for failure. Stay tuned, this is an important discussion, and no matter the next vote, Franklin needs to address this properly.

My full set of notes and the audio will be shared shortly. The Franklin.TV video replay of the meeting is available via YouTube -> https://youtu.be/sUk0eqtUzXE

The agenda and doc released for this session ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/2022-11-30_edc_agenda.pdf

Franklin Observer also provides their recap of the meeting here ->

https://franklinobserver.town.news/g/franklin-town-ma/n/133423/edc-kicks-can-council-inclusionary-zoning

the zoning map shared on the screen attempted to focus the discussion

"The commission’s report also highlighted the many challenges that stand in the way of decarbonization efforts"

"A COMMISSION that spent the last 11 months studying ways to help the state meet its emissions reduction requirements by shifting to cleaner buildings and addressing heating fuels that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions released its final recommendations Wednesday, but was not able to come to consensus around a timeline for phasing out new fossil fuel heating equipment.

The Commission on Clean Heat’s final report recommends that Massachusetts develop and implement a “clean heat standard” that could incentivize cleaner heating technology and promote the electrification of building stock, encourage joint natural gas and electric system planning, and reorganize existing energy efficiency and clean energy transition programs to be more user-friendly for residents, businesses, and contractors.

The commission’s report attached some urgency to the recommendations. The residential and commercial building sector-specific sublimits established in keeping with the state’s 2021 climate law require a 28 percent reduction in emissions by 2025 and a 47 percent reduction by 2030, all compared to the baseline of 1990 emissions. As of 2020, the commission said, emissions for the residential and commercial buildings sector were 18 percent below 1990 levels."

Continue reading the article online at CommonWealth Magazine ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/energy/no-consensus-on-moving-on-from-fossil-fuel-heat/ 

Download the full report to review at your leisure

https://www.mass.gov/doc/massachusetts-commission-on-clean-heat-final-report-november-30-2022/download

This was mentioned in our recent Making Sense of Climate episode #19. State Rep Jeff Roy was anxiously looking for the report as it was due during November and indeed released on the last day.  Listen to #19 here ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/11/hear-about-green-banking-and-more-in.html

A heating oil truck makes a delivery in downtown Boston with the old city hall in the background. (Photo by Andy Metzger)

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Thursday, Dec 1, 2022

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

9:00a/12:00p/6:00p   A Priest, A Minister and a Rabbi

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p   Frank’s Music – Frank Falvey and Jim Derick

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm   Frank Presents – Frank Falvey Presents 

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

7:30 am The Only Cure Is Education

8:00 am Veterans' Call: PACT Act

9:00 am Franklin Interfaith Thanksgiving 2022

10:30 am SAFE Coalition: The Hamlins

11:30 am Comfort Food: Comfort Food

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Brownies

12:30 pm Sandhya: Eclairs

1:00 pm Physician Focus: Electronic Medical Records

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Emergency Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 Show 7

3:00 pm Joe Landry: Downtown Franklin

4:30 pm Frank Presents: Caron Grupposo

5:30 pm Battleship Cove: Inside the History Pt. 2

7:00 pm Extended Play Sessions: Roberto Morbioli

8:00 pm Metrowest Symposium: Festivals & Community Celebrations

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

7:00 am Public School Event: Annie Sullivan Winter Music 2021

8:30 am Sons and Daughters of Italy: Carlo Geromini

12:30 pm Metrowest Arts & Culture Symposium

2:00 pm All-Town Showcase: Band

3:30 pm Battleship Cove: Inside the History Pt. 2

4:00 pm Arts Advocacy: Fundraising

5:00 pm Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 1 03-14-18

6:30 pm FHS Varsity Football: v King Philip 11-24-22

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

8:00 am Conservation Commission: 11-10-22

12:00 pm Economic Development: 11-16-22

2:00 pm Conservation Commission: 11-10-22

7:00 pm Conservation Commission: LIVE, Chambers 847 2624 7969

7:30 pm Zoning Board of Appeals: LIVE, Remote 890 1179 3651

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)

Franklin Cultural District: The Nutcracker, holiday fairs, winter farmers market and more

Christmas classics like The Nutcracker and holiday fairs open this weekend along with the Farmers Market and Dean student showcases for acting and dancing. Yes, #artshappenhere in Franklin!

Wednesday, November 30

Escape Into Fiction

6:00pm - Poetry for the People (Escape Into Fiction)

6:30pm - Pointy Strip Star (quilt $kit & class) (Emma’s Quilt & Cupboard)

Thursday, December 1

4:00pm - Tree Lighting (Dean College)

4:00pm - Lego Masters Club (4 weeks $) (Creative Corner Art Studio)

5:30pm - Ken Barney (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

6:30pm - Franklin LGBTQ Alliance (monthly meeting) (Franklin TV Studio)

7:30pm - New Thespian Showcase (ticketed event) (Dean College)

Dean College

Friday, December 2

5:00pm - Cousins Maine Lobster (food Truck) (La Cantina Winery)

5:30pm - Joshua David (live music) (67 Degrees Brewing)

7:30pm - New Dancer Showcase (ticketed event) (Dean College)

Saturday, December 3

9:00am - Christmas Fair (St John’s Episcopal Church)

10:00am - Winter Farmers Market (Fairmount Fruit Market)

10:00am - AcuPUNKture's Local Artisan Holiday Market (AcuPUNKture)

10:00am - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

11:00am - Bollywood Dancing (Franklin Public Library)

2:00pm - The Nutcracker (ticketed event) (FPAC Holiday Productions at Franklin High School)

2:00pm - New Dancer Showcase (ticketed event) (Dean College)

FPAC Holiday Productions

7:00pm - The Nutcracker (ticketed event) (FPAC Holiday Productions at Franklin High School)

7:30pm - New Thespian Showcase (ticketed event) (Dean College)

Sunday, December 4

7:00am - “Finding the Light” (free art scavenger hunt, find clues on Facebook @PaintingVenus)

1:00pm - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

2:00pm - The Nutcracker (ticketed event) (FPAC Holiday Productions at Franklin High School)

Tuesday, December 6

6:30pm - Popcorn & Pride (LGBTQ Pride event at 99 Restaurant)

7:00pm - Christmas Trivia Night (St Mary’s Parish) 

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

The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Visit the Cultural District page ->  https://www.franklinculture.org/

Find the full Community event 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 

Franklin Cultural District: Arts are happening here!

FPAC announces guest artists for The Nutcracker performances Dec 3-4

Melissa Chapski

Melissa Chapski (Sugar Plum) was born in Medfield, Massachusetts. She trained at BalletFranklin under the instruction of Cheryl Madeux from the age of 11. She danced in FPAC Holiday Productions’ Nutcracker for 6 years, featured in roles from Marzipan to Party Girls and Cousins, Snow, Flowers, Arabian, and Clara. In 2015, she graduated from the Ellison Ballet Professional Training Program in New York City.
 
Melissa danced with the Dutch National Ballet for five years and now dances in Munich, Germany with the Bayerisches Staatsballett (Bavarian State Ballet). Most recently, Melissa performed ‘Embers’ in the Opening Gala at Beijing International Ballet Competition in China. 
 
She was also featured as ‘Emma’ in the movie High Strung: Free Dance and has done ad campaigns for Huawei Mobile, Nikon Europe, TCL Electronics, Discount Dance Supply, Capezio, Body Wrappers, and Russian Pointe. She is currently working towards an undergraduate degree in social sciences at Harvard University's Extension school. 

Sava Milojević

Sava Milojević (Cavalier) was born in Kragujevac, Serbia where he began his ballet training at age 11. He trained from age 14 in Belgrade at Ballet School Lujo Davičo for two years. He soon moved to John Cranko Ballet Academy in Stuttgart, Germany where he was taken into the main company as an apprentice after only two years. After one season with the Stuttgart Ballet, he joined the Bavarian State Ballet’s junior company where he spent two seasons. In 2018, he was promoted to the main company under direction of Igor Zelensky where he is employed presently. Sava has also been awarded numerous medals at Serbian national ballet competitions. In 2018, Sava debuted multiple roles in John Neumeier’s Der Nussknacker with the Bavarian State Ballet. 

 
Some of his most notable performances include tours to Japan and South Korea with the Stuttgart Ballet in productions of both Onegin and Romeo and Juliet. He also danced in Romeo and Juliet at the famous Salzburg Festspiel. Later on Sava toured to Hong Kong with the Bavarian State Ballet dancing in La Bayadere.

Purchase tickets online -> https://www.fpaconline.com/events.php?id=1598&month=12&year=2022

FPAC announces guest artists for The Nutcracker performances Dec 3-4

Reminder: Franklin Garden Club to Sell Decorated Holiday Wreaths and Arrangements - Dec 3

The Franklin Garden Club will sell decorated holiday wreaths and cemetery arrangements on Saturday, December 3 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Daddario Hardware Store, 528 West Central Street, Franklin, MA.  

In addition, holiday fresh floral arrangements will be sold  on Instagram beginning December 17. The Franklin Garden Club Instagram handle is @franklingardenclubma. The sales will benefit several different club activities.

The real wreaths will be decorated in a variety of colors and styles and will include eye-catching bows and other ornamentation. Many will include a variety of greens, as will the cemetery boxes.  All items will be reasonably priced from $25 - $40.  The floral arrangements, created with fresh flowers and greens, will feature either holiday or winter themes and will be priced from $15 - $40.

Payment for the wreaths and centerpieces may be made through credit card, check, cash, or Venmo.

Club Co-Presidents Janice Cederquist and Mary Anne Dean stated, “We are very excited to offer area residents the opportunity to purchase beautiful holiday wreaths and arrangements created by members of the Franklin Garden Club.  This will help those who may not have the time to decorate their own wreaths or make arrangements, while also assisting the Club." 

All proceeds will benefit Garden Club activities, including the Club scholarship, pine tree seedling program for elementary school students, some of the Franklin Common and library plantings, and education programs open to the public. 

The Franklin Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts.    https://www.gcfm.org/franklin-garden-club

Franklin Garden Club to Sell Decorated Holiday Wreaths and Arrangements 

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Virtual Meeting, Thursday, December 1, 7:00 PM

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node

Our next 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node meeting will be on Zoom, this Thursday, December 1, 7:00-9:00 pm.  

Please see below for information about this meeting and an upcoming march and rally in Boston on December 10.

Here are the Zoom details.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88924607755?pwd=bHl1empTRVFxYzdZUmVBSGl1Q0p3Zz09
Meeting ID: 889 2460 7755
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

As always, we welcome you to the meeting, whether you have participated in the past or not. Join our discussion of climate and energy developments locally, across the state, and nationally. Learn about planned advocacy and protest actions organized by 350 Mass and other groups. Help to plan for events in our Greater Franklin region. If you have items you would like to announce or add to the agenda, please reply to our Node Co-coordinators, Carolyn Barthel (carolyncbarthel@gmail.com) and Ralph Halpern (ralph.halpern@comcast.net). 

350 Mass and other climate organizations in the Mass Power Forward coalition are deciding on campaigns and legislative priorities for 2023-2024. At our Thursday meeting we will discuss the status of these deliberations.

On a related matter, Massachusetts should see progress on climate and energy policy with the change in the Governor's office. One department that must change is the Department of Public Utilities (DPU): for the last four years, the three Baker-appointed DPU Commissioners have acted as if protecting the natural gas industry and slow-walking the transition to renewable energy is their most important job. We are asking incoming Governor Maura Healey to establish DPU leadership that works FOR the ratepayers to reduce energy costs instead of those who have been in sync with the utilities working AGAINST ratepayers!

The Climate Courage Working Group of 350 MA is calling for a rally and march against the actions of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU). The march will be SATURDAY, December 10 from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. in Dewey Square across from South Station in Boston. We encourage you to join us there. Information and registration here.

We hope you receive 350 Mass' Climate Weekly email. It's a good way to keep up with key issues and actions on their behalf. You can sign up here.

We will send a reminder about the Node's meeting on Thursday. 

Thank you.

 

Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern

Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)

Reminder: "Finding the Light" in Franklin through Dec 18

"Greetings art lovers!  

Beginning on holiday weekend, Nov 27- December 18, I will leave a piece of art at an undisclosed location for the Franklin community members to find.  

This collection is called "Finding the Light" and it is part 2 of last year’s kick off. 

I created this series during my Artist in Residence role for Natick 2021. I had just lost my father. This prompted me to imagine how many others are coping through pain and loss around the holiday season, sparking the need to share "light".   

In that same spirit, I mean for it to be uplifting, bring hope, joy and giving around the holidays.  

Come to this page for clues and an image to help you find it easily. The clues may be released early each week, but the art will be placed on Sunday mornings. "

Shared from Amy Adams Facebook page 

https://www.facebook.com/PaintingVenus/posts/pfbid0exj6oVK1Amc8xaEQAQrRetqorqAH9fdtGaDuxVmWjHpbZNcaxtiLodBrcyQFSSE3l

Find the clues online ->  https://www.facebook.com/PaintingVenus

"Finding the Light" in Franklin through Dec 18

Inclusionary zoning and tax rate hearing on tap for meetings Wednesday night

Two meetings on tap for Wednesday at the Municipal Building. First up at 5:45 PM the Economic Development "Plus" subcommittee, followed by the Town Council meeting at 7 PM. I plan on reporting on both meetings. Franklin TV will be broadcasting both via cable (Verizon or Comcast), live streaming, Zoom, and YouTube. So there are multiple ways to view and/or participate in the meetings.

1 - Economic Development Agenda

1. Discussion: Zoning

a. Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw

Agenda doc and remote connection info

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/2022-11-30_edc_agenda.pdf

The prior meeting started this discussion and as time ran out, the discussion resumes at this session. Catch up to the discussion before the meeting:

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/11/economic-development-subcmte-recommends.html

2 - Town Council Agenda

Full agenda and docs released ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/nov_30_town_council_agenda.pdf

Charts explaining the tax rate history can be found ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/11/good-news-tax-rate-is-going-down.html

the "Plus" Cmte gets into housing density proposal

"The decision clears another hurdle"

"MASSACHUSETTS MADE some headway on its clean energy goals on Tuesday, but moving forward on key offshore wind and hydro-electricity projects remains an uncertain process.

A Massachusetts-financed transmission line carrying hydroelectricity from Quebec into Maine cleared another legal hurdle on Tuesday as the Maine Supreme Court overturned a lower court decision that had blocked the state from leasing 32.4 acres of public land for the line.

The Maine Supreme Court held that the Bureau of Parks and Lands acted within its authority in granting the lease to Avangrid and concluded the public land would not be “substantially altered” by the project."

Continue reading the article online at CommonWealth Magazine -> 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/energy/maine-hydro-project-clears-another-hurdle/

This has been a recurring item on the "Making Sense of Climate" podcast series

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html

A photo of new work done on New England Clean Energy Connect after the referendum that shut down the project. All work was subsequently halted. (Photo taken November 12 by Edwin Buzzell)