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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 *
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Town of Franklin: newsletter for January 2023
CommonWealth Magazine: "Understanding the new concept of zoning capacity"
The first of a five part series by CommonWealth Magazine on the MBTA community zoning changes underway in Franklin (and elsewhere). The Economic Development Subcommittee is leading this effort which is active.
Any proposed changes got to the full Town Council for referral to the Planning Board before coming back for discussion and vote to approve. There is plenty of time for asking questions or providing input but the time is NOW.
"THERE IS A NEW concept in zoning, invented this year by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In promulgated guidelines, the concept has been dubbed “minimum multi-family unit capacity.” I refer to the concept as “zoning capacity.”If you live in a community served by the MBTA, the concept may soon animate discussions at your town or city hall, or in local on-line forums, or between neighbors about how much multi-family housing the community should allow."
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examples of current Franklin housing from Cobi's bike ride around Franklin |
CommonWealth Magazine: "Mass. shows interest in financing Maine wind project"
A 1,000 MEGAWATT onshore wind project planned for northern Maine and an associated transmission build-out “would provide benefits to Massachusetts and the region,” the Mass. Department of Energy Resources said as it determined that it makes sense to have Bay State ratepayers cover 40 percent of the project costs as part of a multi-state clean energy effort.
The Maine Public Utilities Commission selected the two projects — Longroad Energy’s King Pine 1,000 MW land-based wind generation project and LS Power Base’s 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission line project — in October to fulfill that state’s clean energy law requirements. The anticipated net cost of the two projects is $1.7 billion over 30 years, but the Maine PUC directed its staff “to look to other states to assess if there are partnerships that could reduce the costs to Maine.”
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CommonWealth Magazine: "Mass. shows interest in financing Maine wind project" |
Follow events in outer space with NASA's 2023 calendar
"Happy New Year!
Here's to another year in space with our International Partners as we plan exciting missions, spacewalks, and science benefitting humans on and off the Earth.
Download our 2023 calendar... https://go.nasa.gov/3C5LAHu"
Follow events in outer space with NASA's 2023 calendar |
Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Tuesday, Jan 3, 2023
- wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Tuesday
2 hours. An insightful tour of Jazz Greats in a golden era
- Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = TUESDAY
- Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = TUESDAY
- Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) = TUESDAY
Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)
Monday, January 2, 2023
Economic Development Subcommittee + Steering Committee Meeting Agenda for Jan 4, 2023
a. 23-891: Area on and near Lincoln Street
a. 22-889: Use Regulations Schedule - Residential
One book, One Community -> Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation
What is "One Book, One Community?"
The goal of the Franklin Library’s One book, One Community program is to help build a better sense of fellowship through a shared reading experience.
What are we reading?
Beginning January 1st, 2023, we'll be reading Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Octavia Butler, adapted by John Jennings and Damian Duffy. The novel, first published in 1979, is Butler’s most celebrated, critically acclaimed work and tells the story of Dana, a young black woman who is suddenly and inexplicably transported from her home in 1970s California to the pre–Civil War South. As she time-travels between worlds, one in which she is a free woman and one where she is part of her own complicated familial history on a southern plantation, she becomes frighteningly entangled in the lives of Rufus, a conflicted white slaveholder and one of Dana’s own ancestors, and the many people who are enslaved by him.
During numerous such time-defying episodes with the same young man, she realizes the challenge she’s been given: to protect this young slaveholder until he can father her own great-grandmother.
For more about the book and this reading https://vbuchanio.wixsite.com/onebook
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One book, One Community -> Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation |
FHS boys hockey tops East Greenwich 7-1 on Sunday
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FHS Panthers |
Reminder: A new Support Group for Parents forming at St John's
Love Parenting is a 6-week series created by Collette Potts, who also created the Love First children's curriculum that St John's uses.
For more information:
Call 508-528-2387 Email Rector@StJohnsFranklinMA.org
Like us on Facebook and Twitter
See our website at www.stjohnsfranklinma.org
Register O'Donnell Wraps Up 15th Annual Toys for Tots Drive
Why did the US just ban TikTok from government-issued cellphones? | TikTok | The Guardian
"The US government has approved an unprecedented ban on the use of TikTok on federal government devices. The restrictions – tucked into a spending bill just days before it was passed by Congress, and signed by Joe Biden on Thursday – add to growing uncertainty about the app’s future in the US amid a crackdown from state and federal lawmakers.Officials say the ban is necessary due to national security concerns about the China-based owner of the app, ByteDance. But it also leaves many questions unanswered. Here’s what you need to know.Why did the ban happen?The US government has banned TikTok on federal government-issued devices due to national security concerns over its China-based parent company, ByteDance. The US fears that the Chinese government may leverage TikTok to access those devices and US user data."
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The US Congress banned the use of the TikTok app on government-issued devices. Photograph: Florence Lo/Reuters |
Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Monday, Jan 2, 2023
- wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Monday
2 hours of awesome blues music, info, interviews
- Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = MONDAY
- Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = MONDAY
- Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) = MONDAY
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Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) |
Sunday, January 1, 2023
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2023!
- Will storm water remain on the watch list?
- What else should be on the watch list?
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Franklin, MA: Town Council - Meeting Agenda for Jan 4, 2023
a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.
a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.
a. November 30, 2022b. December 14, 2022
a. Proclamation: Franklin Chargers 4th Grade Football Team
a. Capital Budget Subcommitteeb. Economic Development Subcommitteec. Budget Subcommitteed. GATRA Advisory Board