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 *
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)
MassHire Career Centers and the Town of Franklin Veterans Services have collaborated to provide job seekers of all backgrounds and experience the opportunity to virtually apply and meet with a variety of employers throughout Franklin and Surrounding Areas.
Using the Premier Virtual platform, MassHire Career Centers will work with Job Seekers and Employers to make those important connections at your convenience from your own home!
Please find the attached Capital Plan for FY23, as well as the five-year capital plan from each department as required by the Town Charter. Included with this memo is a sheet with the 20-year free cash history. The average is $3.26 million over the past ten years and $2.75 Million over the past 20 years. FY22 an unusually large year in excess, unspent revenue due to the continued adaptation around symptoms from the pandemic.
From the certified total, there are several policy commitments that eat into the total right off the bat, most notably contributions to stabilization accounts (per town policy) as well as the usual recommendation from staff to hold revenue for annual snow and ice removal. See narrative below for more specifics.
These recommendations are Round 1 of the FY23 Capital program. Once we know the final totals of the winter costs for snow removal, if there are remaining funds, staff will propose a “Round 2” Capital later in April. Traditionally we have used this excess to fund road and infrastructure projects.
The following is an overview of certified free cash status for FY23:
"As a real estate agent, I get asked a lot about the state of the housing market. Buyers are worried about mortgage rates. Sellers want top dollar for their home but wonder where they will move to. People 55 and older are thinking about downsizing but sometimes do not know where to begin.
So please join me and Bob Melone on Thursday, 11am at the Franklin Senior Center. We will keep it light, fun and informal. And it’s FREE. Thanks! "
Rep Jeff Roy talked about his visit to the wind turbine blade testing facility in our recent episode of "Making Sense of Climate" series. The Museum of Science produced this video about the visit and work being on wind power technology.
"In the case of #climatechange, the evidence is compelling: climate change is increasingly affecting the Northeast. Climate change threatens the Earth, social connectedness, infrastructure, and our public health. To combat it, Massachusetts must continue to invest and enact evidence-based policies that protect Massachusetts and our region from climate change.
This past July, Massachusetts passed An Act driving clean energy and offshore wind, a landmark climate bill that expands clean energy and sets ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With cooperation and innovation from the government, academic, industry and public sectors, the green economy in Massachusetts will positively impact citizens for generations to come.
The Museum of Science is grateful to the Mass Clean Energy Council and the Wind Turbine Testing Center in Charlestown for hosting us at their facility to learn more about this industry. And, thank you to Jennifer Dalosio CEO of the Mass Clean Energy Center, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Representative Jeff Roy, and Representative Dan Ryan for speaking to the legislation and what offshore wind means for their districts and for the future #STEM workforce in Massachusetts.
Among the world's largest science centers, the Museum of Science engages millions of people each year to the wonders of science and technology through interactive exhibitions, digital programs, giant screen productions, and preK – 8 EiE® STEM curricula through the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Science Education Center. Established in 1830, the Museum is home to such iconic experiences as the Theater of Electricity, the Charles Hayden Planetarium, and the Mugar Omni Theater. Around the world, the Museum is known for digital experiences such as Mission: Mars launching in 2022 on Roblox, and traveling exhibitions such as the Science Behind Pixar."
Via HockomockSports.comand Twitter, we share the results of the fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Monday, January 9, 2023. We also provide the link to the full set of Hockomock League results below.
Gymnastics = Franklin, 131.60 @ Mansfield, 137.60 – Final
North Attleboro, 125.35 @ Mansfield, 137.60 – Final
North Attleboro, 125.35 vs. Franklin, 131.60 – Final
1 win 1 loss for FHS tonight. Franklin beats N. Attleboro 131.6 to 125.35 and losses to Mansfield’s 137.45.
Top 4 on Vault - Senior Captain Emma Nelson posting her season high of 9.15, Junior Ryann Chandler 8.7, Sophomore Molly Chandler 8.35, Sophomore Maly D'Amato 8.05.
Starting this week, we will be posting a “Weekly Recap” which details our weekly calls for service in more depth than our traditional public information daily logs.
Hands-on education is a critical part of vocational high schools and we are looking forward to welcoming a new group of children to the Tri-County Children’s Center.
The Early Education Program prepares high school students for various careers working with young children. The ability to work directly with preschool children within the on-campus facility located in Tri-County Regional High School in Franklin at 147 Pond Street allows students to acquire skills and confidence in teaching.
Tri-County Children’s Center is led by three highly qualified teachers in the Tri-County Early Education Program and assisted by students in the Early Education Major. The preschool sessions are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:50 to 11:20 a.m. for the three-day program. Class size is limited to 30 children and tuition is $36.00* per week (*subject to change).
Placement is limited to the residents of the 11 towns within the Tri-County District: Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole, and Wrentham. Admission is decided through a random draw which will take place on Monday, March 6th, 2023. Names not selected in the drawing will be placed on a waiting list.
Registration begins on Monday, January 23, 2023. Applications will be accepted through Friday, March 3, 2023. Registration is limited to children who are at least 3 years of age by September 15, 2023. Birth certificates for children being registered must accompany all registration forms. Enrollment is limited to two years or part of two years for the preschool program, as long as the child is age eligible. For more information about Tri-County’s Preschool Registration, please visit https://tri-county.us/tri-county-childrens-center/
Tri-County RVTHS’ Early Education Program Opening Preschool Registration
"The Legislature’s energy experts say it makes sense to penalize CommonWealth Wind and Mayflower Wind if they default on their recently approved power purchase contracts, but the lawmakers don’t want the penalties to include a ban on participation in an upcoming offshore wind procurement.
The House and Senate chairs of the Legislature’s Utilities, Telecommunications, and Energy Committee say the state needs to walk a fine line between penalizing the companies but not penalizing itself. "
Continue reading the article at CommonWealth Magazine
Sen. Michael Barrett of Lexington (left) and Rep. Jeffrey Roy of Franklin, the chairs of Legislature's Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee.
The Franklin Conservation Department hopes everyone had a warm end to the year 2022 and a happy beginning to 2023.
Landowner Webinar Series
MassWoods from UMass – Amherst is hosting a FREE six-part webinar series for landowners interested in planning the future of their land. The MassWoods webinar series is designed to help you, the landowner, determine the future of your land and take steps to formalize a plan to achieve your personal and financial goals. Topics for this series include, “Deciding Your Land’s Future”, “Reducing Your Property Taxes and Stewarding Your Land”, and “Choosing a Conservation Tool”.
To express interest in an estate planning workshop in Town or how this relates to the 2023 Open Space and Recreation Plan update process, contact Breeka Li Goodlander via email at bgoodlander@franklinma.gov or via phone at 508-520-4847.
To register for this webinar series, click here ->
"Relentless drought in California, extreme rainfall in the UK, record heat in China – some of the most severe weather events that have occurred around the world in the past few years were made far more likely due to the climate crisis, new research has found.
The analysis of extreme events in 2021 and 2022 found that many of these extremes were worsened by global heating, and in some cases would have been almost impossible in terms of their severity if humans had not altered the climate through the burning of fossil fuels.
“The extreme nature of these events is very alarming,” said Stephanie Herring, a climate scientist at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa).
“We need to understand if these events are signs that things are getting hotter faster than we had expected. We know extreme heat is going to get worse, and additional research will help us better quantify future change.”
The lakebed of China's largest freshwater lake, Poyang, is exposed in August last year due to high temperatures and drought. Photograph: VCG/Getty Images
